Chapter 17: Human Rights March for the Infected

“Takashi, here. Take this gun.” Lin Yi handed the shotgun from the cabinet to Takashi Komuro.

Takashi accepted the gun with some hesitation. Although he had never handled firearms before, in this apocalyptic world, mastering a gun would certainly better ensure the safety of the team.

He gripped the shotgun tightly, feeling a mixture of nervousness and a hint of excitement in his heart.

Seeing Takashi take the weapon, Kota Hirano began to explain in detail how to use the shotgun.

Knowing that Takashi was a novice, he was exceptionally patient, teaching him step-by-step, from the most basic loading and chambering to aiming and firing.

“You don't need to aim precisely at an infected's head like you would with a sniper rifle. You just need to aim at their general area, and the shotgun's spread will cover that space, dealing heavy damage to the enemy,” Kota Hirano explained while demonstrating the operation.

Takashi listened intently, striving to memorize every detail Kota Hirano mentioned.

Once he came into contact with firearms, the aura Kota Hirano exuded was difficult even for Saeko Busujima to match.

This was the only field where Kota Hirano possessed absolute confidence. He kept muttering the specific models of the firearms in his hands, occasionally engaging the safety to check if the weapon felt right in his grip.

Kota Hirano meticulously organized the firearms in the cabinet, inspecting every single one to ensure they were in optimal condition.

Aside from rugged and durable weapons like the AK-47, most firearms required timely maintenance.

Unmaintained guns could easily suffer from jams, chamber explosions, or other accidents, and Kota Hirano had no intention of letting that happen while fighting the infected.

Lacking Kota Hirano's professional knowledge, Takashi could only sit on the floor, loading bullets into magazines one by one.

While firing bullets might feel exhilarating during combat, only the person doing the loading knew how grueling the process actually was.

In the military, the most nerve-wracking logistical task is ammunition loading—a punishment comparable to solitary confinement.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi took a pair of binoculars from the military equipment nearby and headed up to the rooftop. If he remembered correctly, a young girl was supposed to join the protagonist's group here.

Through the binoculars, Lin Yi witnessed the tragic scene on the bridge.

Flames soared into the sky, and burning cars were visible everywhere. Police officers were struggling to resist the onslaught of the infected by relying on barricades.

The infected moved in dense masses through the sea of vehicles. Many of them were the original owners of the cars; unwilling to abandon their vehicles, they ultimately turned to ash along with them.

Gunshots rang out intermittently in the distance, attracting even more infected to gather near the bridge.

Lin Yi knew that before long, that bridge would become a true death zone.

Unless the military used heavy firepower to clear the area, those infected would wander there indefinitely, becoming a persistent threat to human survival.

Perhaps out of boredom, Takashi turned on the television, loading magazines while watching the broadcast.

"The police's tyranny is unforgivable!"

"Unforgivable!"

"We strongly condemn the biochemical weapons developed by the government!"

"Strongly condemn!"

On the television screen, a middle-aged man wearing a cap was shouting with his arms raised, organizing a crowd to protest in front of the police.

The crowd was highly emotional, waving signs and flags while continuously chanting slogans.

The police, however, appeared somewhat helpless and exhausted; they had to deal with the zombies attacking from the other side of the bridge while simultaneously trying to appease the protesting crowd.

One could only say the Japanese people were strange. On the TV, Lin Yi even saw signs that read [The lives of 'Murder Disease' patients are also lives] and [ 'Murder Disease' patients also have human rights].

For a moment, Lin Yi couldn't tell if this group of citizens was truly foolish or just pretending to be.

Though Takashi was usually a man of few words, he couldn't help but comment: "These people... don't they realize what's happening right now? We can barely protect our own lives, yet they're worried about the human rights of the infected?"

Sure enough, shortly after the middle-aged man finished inciting the crowd, a police officer in a white uniform stepped forward.

The man's appearance brought a triumphant smile to the middle-aged man's face, as in his experience, such occasions always allowed him to reap significant benefits.

However, events unfolded beyond his expectations.

The officer gave him no chance to speak, directly drawing a handgun and pressing it coldly against his forehead.

This sudden action left the middle-aged man completely stunned; the smile on his face froze before he could even retract it.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the officer decisively pulled the trigger.

A crisp gunshot rang out, and a gruesome bullet hole appeared in the middle-aged man's head. His body collapsed heavily to the ground.

Blood gushed from the wound, quickly forming a crimson pool on the pavement.

This sudden turn of events plunged the once-noisy protest into instant silence.

Hundreds of people stared dumbfounded at the corpse on the ground, as if an invisible force had gripped their throats, making even breathing feel cautious.

"Now, everyone, step back." The officer's voice was firm and powerful; he understood that if the situation wasn't controlled immediately, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The atmosphere among the crowd turned tense instantly. The police raised their guns, aiming them at the protesters who were still hesitating.

Under the threat of death, those who had been attempting to persist chose to retreat.

They dropped their signs and turned to run, terrified that the next gunshot would be aimed at them.

The once-bustling street instantly became empty, leaving only the police and the corpse lying on the ground.

Blood continued to flow slowly, staining the surrounding ground and serving as a reminder of the bloody conflict that had just occurred.

A second later, the television screen turned to static; the live broadcast had been cut off by the police.

Just as the three of them fell into silence, Lin Yi suddenly felt someone hug him from behind, two large, soft masses pressing against his shoulders.

Turning his head, Lin Yi found Shizuka Mikawa leaning on his shoulder. A faint scent of alcohol lingered on her, suggesting she had just finished drinking.

"Lin Yi, do you want to have a drink?"

Shizuka Mikawa held an imaginary bottle, seemingly intending to pour alcohol into Lin Yi's mouth.

Lin Yi broke free from her arms and signaled to Takashi to tell Shizuka to be quiet so as not to attract the attention of the infected outside.

Kota Hirano followed behind Lin Yi, carrying weapons as they went to the balcony to begin keeping watch.

Perhaps because of the loud noise Shizuka had just made, the number of infected wandering below the building had noticeably increased. However, they had not gathered around the perimeter of the apartment; they were merely wandering continuously through the surrounding streets.