Day 147 - 10:21 PM - San Pedro Poblacion, Municipality of Viga, Catanduanes
A middle-sized settlent surrounded by farm fields, that was the Town of San Pedro. Back then, it was a location centered on agriculture and a place where the Municipal Hall of Viga, Catanduanes, was located.
It was located in the middle of the flatlands and was a central location between three more towns. And to say, it was a place filled with potential to be dug up.
Now, however, this place was a location that most unaffiliated people would not dare go to.
Unaffiliated to who?
Of course, the aggressive faction of the Rebels.
Being in the middle of the flat farming fields served as an advantage for the rebels. It was a strategic place that was hard to infiltrate without getting spotted.
As such, the aggressive faction took the opportunity to secure this place, turning it into their own fortress.
And to say, the aggressive faction did not dilly dally on developing this area. From walls to new buildings and training facilities, this place was packed. Although its developnt was slower due to lack of heavy equipnt, it was not lagging behind. It might even have the most changes compared to the Codon after the outbreak started.
Unfortunately, unlike the Catanduanes Settlent that was built by combined efforts, this one was by sheer forced labor.
Almost all the previous residents of San Pedro, no, it could be even the majority of Viga, had fallen into the hands of the rebels.
Capable n were trained and drafted to the ranks of the rebels, while won and children were put to other necessary things like agriculture and crafts. As for the rest, they were the ones that were made to build the current state of the town.
But of course, not everyone would dare try to join their ranks voluntarily. Thus, those people had so of their family mbers held by the rebels for assurance, especially for the most capable people.
For the majority, though, they had no choice but to obey. It was not like the survivors could go sowhere else. In this place, only the fortress the rebels own was the safest place. Leaving and venturing to the mountains was suicide. It was the sa for living outside.
The only good thing, however, the rebels had so line drawn that they were not crossing.
The NPA wanted a change of governance. They were not bandits. As such, they had their own laws to be obeyed. As such, no won were forced to give their bodies to the rebels. Nevertheless, it was another thing if the won decided to sell themselves for extra food and supplies.
Of course, there were so bandit minded people among the rebels. However, those that broke the laws were subjected to inhumane punishnt.
Once, there was a mber that molested a child. And then, ended up killing the poor girl in the process. Unfortunately for the guy, he was caught while trying to dispose of the body.
The perpetrator was then hanged naked in the central plaza to be an example for everyone. His confessed deed was posted on a sigh with a small rack containing a stingray tail. Anyone was free to pick up that stingray tail to whip the criminal.
And, of course, the criminal died in that event.
That was why no one would dare break the laws at present.
Why was that? Well, it was because the leader of the aggressive faction was also a woman. That was why.
But of course, being a woman, she did not hold the authority over the whole faction.
And that was why, even though the leader seed to be a decent person herself, a suicide attack was conducted.
The culprit for that was no other than the in-charge of their military forces. He was called Lorenzo Esperanza, going by the alias Renz.
Renz heard about what was happening a the settlent and sent so strike forces over. In fact, he had been waiting for this chance for a long ti. He already deployed his army in advance and could be moved at a mont's notice.
That was why the soldiers of the rebels arrived too early during the attack at the Catanduanes Settlent. If they had to deploy their forces from the base, it might take a half-day to traverse the road, after all.
And now, Renz was spending ti with his won, waiting for the good news to arrive.
While the giggles and moans of pleasure could be heard from his quarters, the ssenger finally arrived.
"Sir! A ssage from the field had arrived."
The ssenger knocked on the door, reporting at the sa ti.
"Co in."
Renz's voice was heard.
The ssenger ca in, only to see that Renz was still in the middle of playing with two won, unashad that one of his n could see them.
Fortunately, it seed that the ssenger was already used to this scene and could keep his composure. He could only sigh inside as he stared at the middle-aged man playing with two decades younger girls.
"How is it? Did those the governnt settlent fall already?"
Renz asked, confident at the fall of the settlent. He already heard that the situation was not good at the infected's side. The soldiers of the governnt were having a hard ti defending their walls and port. If their plan to attack succeeded, the governnt settlent would be destroyed. Even if it did not fall, it would be severely damaged.
Their plan was to send an assault party to ambush the walls. Of course, it was a suicide since it was only a small number of people. But that was the point. When the soldiers thought they won after killing the assault party, the actual ambush would finally start. It would send the governnt forces in disarray, without a doubt.
"S-Sir Renz..." The ssenger stuttered as his attention was now back to the report. "The attack had not begun..."
"What?!" Renz stopped humping in utter surprise. "What ti is it already?! Why haven't they started?!"
"W-wait, Sir!" The ssenger hurriedly said. "They already sent the assault party. B-but..."
"BUT WHAT?!"
Renz roared.
"The assault party strangely vanished after entering the forest near the governnt settlent."
The ssenger explained.
Renz could not help but frown. He turned to the two girls lying on his bed.
"You two, get out."
Without saying anything, the two girls grabbed their scattered clothes and scurried out of the room, naked.
Renz donned his clothes, and it seed that he was going to take things seriously now.
"We are going to the comms center. Tell what happened along the way."
Renz said as he went out of his room, followed by the ssenger.
"Actually, Sir, there's nothing much to report." The ssenger said. "Aside from a few noises from the forest, no one noticed anything else. There was no battle that happened either along the walls."
"So, are you saying that they vanished just like that?"
Renz asked, making the ssenger fall silent.
With a frown, Renz asked the ssenger another question.
"What is the possibility of them escaping or turning over to the military?"
"Very low, Sir." The ssenger thought about the answer for a second before replying. "The mbers of the assault party consisted of people who had relatives under our custody. We also handpicked those that seed to have stronger bonds to ensure that they will not ss things up."
That was how the assault party, which was obviously a suicide mission, was created. The mbers could not decline, escape, or betray them. If they did, their loved ones would be implicated.
Then, the assault party vanishing like that was definitely an odd situation.
Renz and the ssenger made their way towards the comms center of the base. The place where communications between the deployed ard squads were centralized.
Opening the door, however, Renz could only frown.
"You are finally here, Renz." A woman was already waiting inside. "What is this assault party I'm hearing about?"
The atmosphere inside the comms center was quite cold. It was clear that it was because of this woman.
This woman, without a doubt, was the leader of this faction, Ellynn Aguillera. She was a woman in her early thirties with a strict looking face. Just a stare from her fierce eyes could shake a person with a weak heart.
Being started by those questioning eyes made Renz feel unpleasant. However, being an older man with a trained body, Renz would not back down from such a stare.
"A plan I made to ensure success in our attack at the settlent," Renz replied, staring straight at Ellynn's eyes. "This ti, the settlent is under attack by the infected. It is the perfect opportunity to deploy such pla-URK!"
Renz was not able to finish his explanation. It was because, by the ti he knew, his neck was already grasped tightly by Ellynn's cold right hand.
More than just a woman with stature, she was also an [Evolver] and a [Level 3 Mutator]. That was why, even though she had lesser influence over the rebels, no one would try to confront her face to face. It was especially because of her hot temper in contrast to her cold abilities.
"Calling it an assault party like an icing in a cake even though you just pushed them to suicide. I already told you, Renz. I don't want unnecessary deaths in our camp. Our goal is to overturn the governnt. Not to dispose of people who would be under us after we achieve that."
Ellynn's tone was extrely chilling. No, it was not just her tone. Even the surrounding temperature was decreasing.
"I-I understand." Renz tried to reply even though he was lacking air. "I will recall them."
But then...
BAM!
"AGH!"
Renz was slamd into the wall beside the door.
"You really think that I'm stupid? They are already missing. How the f*ck are you going to recall them."
"Ma'am. Please calm down."
A few people started to appease the angry woman.
Ellynn took a deep breath and begrudgingly released Renz, causing him to collapse to the ground and release a few loud coughs.
"Recall the remaining soldiers there," Ellynn ordered. "As for the disappearance of the assault group, send soone to investigate it."
"Recall?" Renz argued. "The settlent is under attack at the north and west sides! It's our opportunity to take them down!"
"You're already late." Ellynn glared. "The people I planted in the settlent already sent a ssage. Their battle already ended. The governnt settlent is safe. That is why there is no point in attacking anymore."
Renz was surprised as he turned to his ssenger.
"Didn't you say that the governnt settlent is under threat?"
"I-I did, Sir!"
Renz could tell that his ssenger was not lying. Then, as he looked at the other people in the room, their expressions showed that sothing odd had happened.
"I tell you," Ellynn spoke once more. "Recall our forces that you mobilized."
With that command, their cold tigress left the comms center, leaving Renz disgruntled. He was also a Mutator. However, compared to Ellynn, he was weaker. That was why he could only sche behind her.
"This is not over..."
Renz murmured as he grit his teeth. But for now, he told the people in charge of the communication to recall their soldiers. There was no point in making them attack anymore.
***
Day 147 - 11:26 PM - Abandoned Farmhouse, Catanduanes Circumferential Road, Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes
It should be just an abandoned house near the roadside in a small village northeast of Catanduanes Settlent. Now, there seed to be human activities at present in the middle of the night.
A shadow of a huge winged lizard could be seen guarding the place, especially a small cottage where several n were tied up inside.
Inside a room in the farmhouse, Michael lay down on a slightly dusty bed. Soon, he abruptly opened his eyes, rembering that they were supposed to be on the way to attack the governnt settlent. It was a suicide mission, but there was nothing else he could do.
As he woke up abruptly and imdiately sat down, he felt a little dizzy. That was when he noticed that he was in an unfamiliar environnt. And at the opposite side of the room near the door, he saw a silhouette of a person.
And then, while recovering from his dizziness, he heard the person spoke.
"Hey, you. You're finally awake."
In an odd voice.
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