Day 40 - 10:05 PM – Barangay Dinahican, Infanta, Quezon
The Municipality of Infanta, it was a first class municipality in the province of Quezon. It was located at the east of the Municipality of General Nakar and to the northeast of the Municipality of Real that belonged to the sa province. Infanta was the largest manufacturer of lambanog, the only native alcohol traditionally distilled in the Philippines. However, that was only before the apocalypse ca. Now, Infanta was nothing but an easily defensible place against the infected and feral evolved animals.
Infanta, Quezon was filled with branching rivers of various sizes and there was only one way to make it to the easternmost part of the municipality due to these rivers. However, also due to these rivers, a large number of farms and fisheries could also be found in this place. While these facilities and businesses relied on water, another larger part of the municipality was covered with plantations of coconut trees which were the main ingredient to make lambanog.
At the easternmost part of Infanta, at the Barangay of Dinahican, the Infanta Settlent, also known as the East Port Settlent was located. It was because the core area of the settlent was built at the past Infanta Municipal Fishport. It was the most secure area in the settlent and the newly built manors of the three leading families of the settlent lived near the port.
The settlent was being led by the three main families. First was the Ruanto family which was the family of a local politician in Infanta. The second was the Cristobal Family which monopolized a large share in the fisheries in the municipality. Third was the Salvador family which was a rich family that owned the largest coconut plantations in the area before the outbreak.
With the effort of the three families, the East Port Settlent was built even before both the Port of Real Settlent and Death Valley Settlent was finished. Due to that, they managed to avoid the full brunt of the attacks of the infected and the evolved animals and managed to keep the majority of the population in the area near the settlent. In addition to that, the other two settlents were nearer to the city than this settlent. Because of its location, most that East Port Settlent needed to fend off against was evolved animals from the forests and the sea. Of course, there were still tis that Mutated infected would be able to wander near the settlent due to their erratic behaviors.
This ti, four people were walking at the northern entrance of the East Port Settlent, an average looking man, two beautiful won and a three year old cute girl. The three adults were wearing jackets with strange ornants and armors on different parts of their bodies while the child was wearing a simple dress.
Of course, it was Mark, Miracle, Alana and Karlene. On Mark's shoulder was Amihan while on a clear divided tube that was hanging beside his backpack was Oracle, Crimson and Ivy.
Mark was wearing his usual clothes and weapons but Alana and Karlene looked quite different. Inside their jackets, the two girls were wearing the armor Mark made for them. It was a different design and was made lighter due to their bodies. Karlene and Alana both had pistols on their waists and an assault rifle hanged on their backs but that was not the most eye catching thing.
On Alana's hands, a pair of different sized gauntlets was equipped. The gauntlet on her right hand was normal sized but the one on the left was slightly bigger. Not to ntion that it had a large and thick disk around the wrist and the back of the gauntlet had a rectangular protrusion.
Karlene on the other hand had her pistol on her right waste but a strangely shaped long dagger sheathed on the left. If it was unsheathed, it looked like a double edged long dagger with a wide blade but the placent of the handle was odd as it leaned to the one side of the blade than the center. It looked like a double edged cleaver shaped dagger that was should be held the wrong way. She was also wearing bracers on her arms but the bracers were normal defensive armor unlike Alana's.
Their group was walking towards the gates after leaving Chaflar quite a distance away from the settlent. The place Chaflar was left was a secluded part of the forest where it was free to hunt other animals as long as it would not burn the forest. It was fine to leave it there as Mark was connected to it and he prepared a sort of signal to make it co when needed.
"Stop!"
Their group was stopped by the guard atop the gates. Soon, the gate opened and people to check the newcors ca out.
"Who are you people?"
A man in his thirties led the group of eight people. They were all ard with guns and cold weapons. However, it did not matter to Mark that they all had weapons but…
'They are all Mutators.' Mark thought as he looked at every one of the guards. 'Low level Mutators.'
Out of the eight guards, seven of them had obvious mutations on their bodies like arms covered with animal fur, strange colored eyes or fangs. Only the leader that spoke did not and looked like a normal human.
Mark glanced at the two girls and they nodded. The two had been here before and with their popularity as actresses, it would be impossible that no one noticed the two before. It was just that the two were wearing the hoods of their jackets now that their faces could not be seen clearly.
"We ca from the Military Settlent. The two of us had been here before with the army on a mission."
Alana spoke as she and Karlene removed their hoods. The n, seeing two beautiful won froze. It was just the leader who kept his composure but it was obvious that he was also surprised.
"So, it was Ms. Bautista and Ms. Garces."
The guard leader smiled respectfully. It seed that rather the two's status as actresses, he knew their other status as the Major's daughter and the niece of the leading scientist of the Military Settlent.
"You know us?"
Alana asked.
"I am Epifanio jia, I was there at the previous trade. I belong to the house of Cristobal family so I was there to help with the matters that ti. If you two misses did not notice, I was one of the guards of Mr. Cristobal when Major Bautista introduced the two of you."
Mark nodded when he heard those words. It seed that there would be no problems for their entry here.
"Miss Garces, who are these two and why did you co from this direction? Normally, we would welco military delegations at the port."
The Guard Leader, Epifanio asked.
"We are here for personal matters this ti so we can't use the military boats for transport. As for our vehicle, we decided to abandon it quite a distance away since it broke down after we were attacked by a large animal."
Alana bitterly smiled and told the answer Mark prepared.
During Military missions like hiring Mutators or trades, the military would use boats to go to this settlent due to the fact that the only road that led to Eastport Settlent was close to the Death Valley settlent and the possibility of encountering the ruffians was very high. However, the sea was not without a threat and as such, the boats only traveled near land and where the waters were shallow.
"What is that?"
One of the guards asked while looking at Mark, no, he was looking at his shoulder where Amihan was sitting. His question took the attention of the other guards away from Alana and Karlene towards Amihan who could not help but flinch and hug the side of Mark's face.
Feeling her anxiety, Mark spoke with an indifferent tone but the fierce glint in his eyes could not be concealed.
"Don't stare too much. You all are scaring my companion."
His indifferent tone caused a change of expressions on the faces of the guards.
The Guard leader noticed that glint and signaled his subordinates to stand down.
"Please, pardon my n. It is just anyone would be attracted to the little girl with wings on your shoulder."
Epifanio then turned back to Alana and Karlene.
"You're group are free to enter but we needed to list your nas first in our ledger and everyone needed to sign the ledger. Please follow ."
Led by Epifanio, Mark's group entered the gates surrounded by the guards. The nas were listed in their ledger and were signed. Of course, Miracle and Amihan were exceptions to signing with just their nas being listed.
"Please take these cards." Epifanio handed three silver colored cards to Mark, Alana and Karlene. "It will allow you to access the middle district. I would not elaborate about the rules and regulations here since Ms. Garces and Ms. Bautista had already visited before. Just please, follow the rules to avoid trouble. We won't be consuming more of your ti."
After accepting the cards, Mark and his entourage left being led by Alana and Karlene who had been here before.
***
Epifanio and the guards watched the strange group as they walked away.
"Captain, we really don't like how that guy stared at us. Also his tone…"
One of the guards said which made Epifanio sigh and reply.
"You all needed to learn to read the atmosphere and people. You all stared at his companion without respect. Of course, anyone would be angry at that. It's also better that you all won't ss with that man. I may be just being paranoid but my intuition tells that that person had killed people that cannot be counted by your fingers on your hands and feet. The bloodlust around him is thick."
The guards were surprised. They knew that their captain's intuition was right most of the ti. If it was really the case, it was good that their captain stopped them from making any rash moves.
"But all of us here in guarding the gates are all Mutators. Why would we be afraid?"
At that point, Epifanio shook his head.
"All of you don't have direct connections to the family so all of you might not know. Rember the news about the four-thousand-infected horde that attacked the Military Settlent four days ago?"
"We do. They said that a powerful Mutator jumped in the middle of the horde and decimated the [Leader Types] to weaken the horde. He killed over a hundred infected while being surrounded by thousands of infected and still ca out unscathed."
One of the guards said the exaggerated rumor he heard from the other people and the other guards nodded as they heard the sa rumor.
The guards then froze.
"Captain, are you saying that the Mutator in the rumors could be that man?"
"I can't tell for sure but the possibility is very high. It was impossible for just anyone to be accompanied by the daughter and niece of the two of the most important people in the Military Settlent. Also, didn't all of you notice? Ms. Garces and Ms. Bautista seem to be his guides here."
Hearing those assumptions, the guards shivered.
"Captain, if soone like that is here, shouldn't we inform the house?"
"Alright. All of you stay here and continue guarding. I'll go inform the house head."
With that, the Guard Captain, Epifanio jia, left to inform the House of Cristobal about the arrival of Mark's group.
***
"Hey Mark, we ca here peacefully. Why would you do that?"
"Yeah. That glare was just looking for trouble."
Alana and Karlene complained to Mark about his actions.
"Well, there's no problem right? I just want to test things."
Mark replied with a shrug.
"Test what?"
Alana asked.
"Test if they have information about . You saw how respectful the leader of the guards. For sure, what happened in the Military Settlent several days ago had already made it here. That guard leader sure is fast to catch things around him."
Hearing that, the two finally realized. It was very possible for that to happen since there was a constant trade happening between the Port of Real Settlent and the East Port Settlent. In that case, Mark's arrival here would surely stir things up in this settlent.
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