Chapter 24 - The Beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse

The next morning, the battle on Reach had ended after Atlas and Vale collaborated to authorize the carpet bombing on the area concentrated with Zombified Grimms. However, despite the victory. The morale around the town is at an all time low.

"Remember, this is an order approved by the council for the sake of humanity. Everyone must not spread this information in any shape or form and method." Nicholas said with a solemn tone, addressing all the weary Huntsmens and those who participated in the defense of Reach. "Anyone that are found breaking the order will be answering to the martial court."

"Additional, no one is allowed to leave until any further notice."

"What!"

"This is unfair! I have a family to return to!"

"You can't do this to us after all we did!"

From murmurs to full blown shouting, protesting the order of the councils.

Nicholas hardens his face while facing the burnt of the criticism. He also wants to flee with his family to Mistral or Atlas, to another continent away from this outbreak. However, he also has his responsibility as the Garrison Commander.

"Calm down, people. Calm down. This is just a temporary measure until they figure out how to effectively screen out the infection." Nicholas added. Which is like adding fuel to fire.

"What! We fought hard in the battle only to be treated like this!" Someone shouted.

To that, Nicholas has to agree but he is just a local Garrison Commander, he isn't that cowardly councilman that did all this bullshit because they fear the disease can spread into Vale. However, the disease has proven that the Zombification only takes minutes and in some rare cases, hours. If the wound is small or the person has a good antibody. Rarely taking more than 8 hours.

But the Councilman and other bureaucrats need concrete proof first before they are willing to lift the travel ban into Vale.

After informing the crowd, Nicholas left the stage and the crowd also dispersed. He still has many things to do such as damage report, casualty report, and many more reports while still having to find a way to accommodate the Huntsmens. Which thankfully the Guild are willing to help.

———

Back at Vale.

The population is still blissfully unaware of what happened in Vale. The government issued a gag order to not cause panic and buy time for them to devise countermeasures.

"No, I am not going to send those children to death."

"You do not have an option, Ozpin. Huntsman-In-Training can be subjected to conscription during martial law."

"What! Those rules didn't exist!" Ozpin slammed his desk while on a video call with the councilmens.

"Indeed it doesn't. It's a new law implemented yesterday."

"We didn't need to make this difficult, Ozpin. Don't force our hand. We must unite together to resolve this crisis."

"Unite together? Peh! All of you cowards are so afraid to fight on your own that you are willing to throw even children into the enemies to save your skin! Don't you all dare act like I didn't know your true motive." Ozpin held back the revolting feelings deep in his gut after hearing what they suggested.

"It's a shame, Ozpin. We could have resolved this in a more peaceful manner but you must force us."

"Oh well, you can wait for the formal conscription order. If you dare defy that order, we have to arrest you for disruption of law."

The councilmens smiled and ended the video call.

Ozpin silently grips his fist until it turns white while staring at it. He felt helpless. He had turned soft or perhaps even senile. He knows those councilman's true faces. Yet, he let them be because they were also good at getting their job done. It's fine during peaceful times. But he never expected this and the competent puppet he put on the Valeian Councils to help him govern Vale in his stead became the very thorn in his side.

"If only I still had some of my power…" Ozpin lamented as he stared at his fist, reminding himself how powerless he is right now.

Bereft of his arcane power, competence chess piece and even his influence. Ozpin for the first time in forever, found himself in such a powerless state.

"Headmaster! What is the meaning of this?" A stern and sharp blond beauty walks into Ozpin's office holding her Scroll. "Why is the government conscripting the students?"

To that question, Ozpin didn't lift his head to look at Glynda. His eyes remain on his fist.

"I'm sorry, Glynda. I was powerless to stop those rotten pigs." Ozpin is shivering in anger as he said it. "I am a failure as the Headmaster."

Glynda obviously noticed the state Ozpin is in. The clenched fist, grinding of teeths and face that showed anger and disappointment on himself while his body was shivering.

Then Ozpin suddenly stopped and suddenly regained his vigor.

"Glynda, please help me with something." Ozpin asked. In which Glynda nods without even hearing his request first.

"Expel all the students and revoke their status as Huntsman-In-Training. Those idiots are a thousand years too early to challenge my authority."

"Even if Vale is going to fall. I will make sure it holds on as long as possible and no one will be sending those children into a war."

A silhouette of a regal king overlapped with Ozpin for a moment in Glynda's eyes as he walked to the elevator with his walking stick.

No longer does he look like a harmless and grandfatherly Headmaster of Beacon, but a mighty warrior marching into battle.

"But first I must seize control of the government and cleanse it from those traitorous pigs. Even if I have to wash it clean with their blood."

———

In Atlas.

"Congratulations, Miss Winter. You are elected to be the successor of James Ironwood." The politicians and bureaucrats clap their hands with a pretentious smile while congratulating her.

The former supporters of James Ironwood see Winter, his closest aide, as the most worthy of the position as a member of James' group. Some are bribed by Jacques because he wants to gain a higher standing in the politics through Winter and another group who knows Winter is a good soldier but not leader, wants to place a puppet leader for their agenda.

Winter isn't stupid, she knows it because James explained to her before the true nature of these people.

It's a very depressing matter. People are dying right now to a deadly infection that has already started spreading to humans. Yet they are still busy with power struggle, spending money and time on this useless ceremony. She cannot find herself working for this rotten government. Not anymore.

Without James Ironwood, the Atlas military that she knew is no longer here. Now it's just a den of power hungry bastards that isn't worth her time.

Yes, she didn't care about the Atlas military anymore.

A place that once helped her gain freedom had now become a cage that will soon bind her down once again. So, why would she stay?

"I am rejecting the promotion. I do not see myself as a worthy successor for General Ironwood and I will be resigning from the Atlas military." Winter declared like a thunderous boom and left before anyone could react.

"I have to leave Atlas quickly before they dare lock me down." A grim look appeared on her face, knowing what those rotten politicians would do to those that oppose them.

Winter is important to them because she worked very close and often as James' aide. She knows many of his secrets, which is what they aimed for.

Winter took out her scroll and contacted a number.

"Yes. I will join his side. Better than this shit hole anyway."

'Excellent, Miss Winter. Wait at that location, a transport will be there waiting for you upon your arrival.'

"Alright." Winter ended the call and immediately went to the marked location.

When Winter arrives at the designated location, an unknown aircraft is waiting for her and Agent is standing next to it, welcoming her with an open hand.

"We meet again, Miss Winter." Agent politely greeted Winter. "My Master will be pleased to learn you are joining his faction."

"Really?" Winter was happy to hear that.

"Yes. After all, Master's ultimate goal is the preservation of Humanity which he unfortunately has to shoulder alone. That's why I am recruiting people to help him. We are in need of many talented and strong individuals like Miss Winter."

"I see…" Winter looks a little sad to hear Adam have such a heavy burden weighing on his shoulder. "I will do my best to help him. For the preservation of Humanity." Winter reaffirmed her goal with eyes burning with determination and that is to help her 'amnesiac' little brother in his quest to save humanity.

Agent also nodded her head satisfied after seeing yet another brainwashed tool for her Master is secured. They quickly boarded the stealth aircraft and left Atlas.

———

Back at Adam's Base of Operations.

Agent was and is, dutifully attending to her still unconscious Master. Until his finger suddenly twitched and his eyelids were squeezing together.

"Ughhh… did I die?" Adam asks as he recalled his final moment is his throat being cut open.

"Thankfully no, Master. Good afternoon, you finally woke up."

"Agent?" Adam turned his head to the side and saw his maid standing next to him. "I really didn't die…" Adam still registered the shock while he felt his throat and felt no scar or anything to indicate it was slashed open.

"Master has a very powerful regeneration. It was healed a few moments after it was slashed open." Agent help fill in what happened after he passed out.

"Right, the Virus Serum." Adam finally recalled and tried to sit on his bed. "So, what happened with Reach? Did they win?"

"Yes. However some Huntsmen were unfortunately infected by the virus and the virus now is spreading amongst humans."

"Not just that, the implications of the outbreak are even worse. The four kingdoms are in a massive panic. Gag order was issued to keep the population unaware while the politicians and government either scramble to find a solution or save themselves first." Agent gives Adam a short recap of everything that happened when he was unconscious.

"Then, how about our preparation? The preparation you made."

"They went smoothly, Master." Agent replied. "With the current situation. The government is too busy to notice our activities while the upper class and the wealthy are abandoning their assets which we managed to acquire and bolster our production of military robots."

"Good. In such a chaotic time, we cannot establish order without the power to back our words." Adam felt a little relieved.

His plan was to turn Vale into a stronghold against the Zombies. It has the necessary industrial power and proper fortifications which were originally made to stop Grimms. This place is perfect to be a stronghold against the Zombified Grimms. With this stronghold, Adam will create robots which will cull the Zombies in the wilderness of Sanus. It would be difficult, take a lot of time and be resource intensive. But it is the most stable and has the highest possibility of success.

However, before he can put that plan into motion. He must first seize control of Vale. He will need to do that in order to concentrate all its industrial power to manufacture robots for him to send out into the wilderness of Sanus.

"I see… If the preparation is ready. Then we can initiate the second phase." Adam looks thoughtful for a moment while staring at the wall before he mentions it.

"Indeed. Our allies had completed their preparation too and are ready and I have personally removed all possible risk factors. The coup we staged will definitely be successful, Master."

"Then get ready. We will overthrow this useless government." Adam stood up from his bed and equipped his gear while Agent excused herself to do the final preparations.

The Valeian Councils aren't bad. They are competent but that is during the peace and prosperous time. But now the kingdom have a looming threat that will wipe out humanity and they are doing as well as Adam expected, fumbling on their mistakes, incapable of mustering even the most basic countermeasures and instead of prioritizing their people, they are more concerned to saving themselves even if that means condemning millions to their death.

—————

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