Chapter 20. Patriot (6)
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I remember it was when I was a private. There were two corporals in the squad, and although they were friendly with each other, the way they handled their successors was completely different. One of them was able to get over it without making a huge mistake, but the other one was prone to complaining about even the smallest details.
Normally, people tend to like people who treat them well, and that was actually the case. But one day, someone made a ‘really big mistake.’
I don’t really remember what it was. However, I clearly remember the angel-like senior rolling his eyes and causing an uproar. It was such an extreme change that I wondered, ‘Was that person really like that?’ On the contrary, my senior, who usually found fault with me and behaved harshly, even stopped me by saying, ‘Hey, calm down.’
A lot has changed since that day. Stories circulated about the senior who seemed like an angel, saying, ‘I was disappointed, I didn’t know he was that kind of person,’ but the senior who always found fault with everyone came to be called favorably, saying, ‘But he also had a good side.’
I was surprised that my evaluation changed so drastically when I was always nice to him and then made him sad just once, and when he was always mean to me, he was nice to me only once.
The reason why I suddenly remembered my military days was because Leticia’s methodology was close to the latter.
I passed the tent village on the overpass and arrived in front of another tent village.
This neighborhood was a fairly large vacant lot, but with iron fences installed here and there, it resembled a maze. It would be easy to escape with a normal adult’s intelligence, but it seemed a bit difficult with a zombie’s mind. The fence post was firmly embedded in the ground and could not be pushed easily with any amount of force.
For a few days, Leticia watched the way I did things. I released the zombies as usual, led them to fight as many as possible, and covered our zombies while keeping watch to make sure no humans came. By the third day, Leticia seemed to have completely mastered my methods, and even without giving any specific instructions, she was able to do a good job of guarding, providing cover, and supporting zombies.
“So, how do you feel?”
Leticia answered my question without hesitation.
“I wish you were stricter with zombies. It was as if he was handling a pet dog. Is there a need for that?”
Those were Leticia’s first words.
“But I thought I should treat it like a dog. “That’s how you can maintain a good relationship for a long time.”
I watched a lot of pet YouTube videos, so I was confident in theoretical training. But Leticia seemed to think differently.
“I don’t consider animals that bite the hand of the person feeding them as pets. This is especially true when they show their teeth and growl at their owners, or when they don’t know who they are and don’t care. Of course, you clearly established a superior-subordinate relationship, but I think you’re trying to accommodate too many things.”
Then I became curious about Leticia’s method.
“What are you going to do?”
“Will you do as I do tomorrow? But it will be a bit difficult.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
The next day, I immediately regretted why I said that.
“Release the zombies.”
Leticia first released the zombies. The same day repeated itself again. After biting, infecting, and spraying, the remaining zombies in the area either fled, fell to the ground, growled, or were eaten.
If it were me, I would have left the bitten ones to get infected or even sprayed them, and put the obedient ones back in the truck. The military police zombies and the active four people also seemed to know this and wandered around the truck. However, it did not get into the cargo hold.
“Look. Those guys have some sense too. I know I have to go home because work is over. But what’s the reason not to ride it?”
Leticia really spoke like an instructor.
“Because I didn’t throw away the canned food?”
“That’s right. “Those guys are waiting for that.”
Leticia took out the items she had previously put in a plastic bag. It is an empty can. Leticia glared at the guys she was watching, and then she threw the empty can into the cargo hold.
Zombies rushed inside. After a while, a loud shout broke out. The military police guy jumped out of the cargo hold, swinging his chain. Leticia may have been a little scared, but she clung to me, but she still shouted with quite a bit of energy.
“Do you want to eat canned food?”
“Gyaaa!”
“Then pay for the canned food! Did you know that canned food is rotting on the ground and overflowing? We saved money by not eating or wearing anything to feed you all! “Don’t take it for granted!”
Leticia shouted. Her head was tilted in front of her and her upper body was tilted forward, giving me a strange sense of déjà vu. When she was dissatisfied with something, she had the same posture as the zombies.
‘Oh, really?’
“Kyaaak!”
“What, you bastards! What! I’m the boss! Run out now and catch more! Otherwise there will be no canned food!”
Leticia took a canned food out of a plastic bag and threw it on the other side of her fence. The local zombies who had retreated from the attack that had just happened were angry, but these guys’ anger was even greater.
“Kyaaruk, kyak! Wow!”
“… Why is this happening?”
Ridiculously, the guys who had been making a fuss just now rushed to the other side of the fence. Leticia put her hand on her waist as if to look at it.
“Doesn’t your arm hurt? “It must have been difficult to throw an empty can that far.”
“Not much? “I filled it with stones.”
“…… “
Our zombie guys worked hard to find the canned food that had rolled somewhere, not even knowing what was inside. Of course, the local zombies who retreated after being attacked had no way of knowing about such a situation, and were busy showing their teeth and attacking our zombies.
“Kyaaak!”
Of course, our guys did not take it lightly. As if he wouldn’t let anything get in the way of the can, he swung his arms wildly and even threw it away.
It was completely different from the previous fights. Until now, it was really a fight for ‘hunting’. But now, the biting and chewing movements have disappeared, and the ‘fighting’ aspect of chasing away annoying things has become more prominent.
As a result, there were quite a few loopholes, but thanks to Leticia and I taking proper care of them, no major problems arose.
Warrr!
“What the hell.”
Meanwhile, the trash can in the vacant lot overturned. The cans and cans inside were spilling out, as if they had been properly separated. Our zombies didn’t even care about the fight they had been fighting so far, and just randomly rummaged through the spilled cans.
“It’s so bad.”
The zombies who had become ‘on our side’ due to acute infection, and even the ones who had been bitten just now, were swept up in the atmosphere. Suddenly, he was rummaging through the trash without paying any attention to the fight, and it seemed like he was wondering if there was something there.
“It’s easy.”
Leticia crossed her arms as if it was no big deal.
“It’s easy?”
“It’s easier than dealing with new recruits. Just don’t let them buy snacks. They say it will take care of itself after 3 weeks. Can you tell me one thing? The same goes for officer candidates. Even if everyone is released and only snacks, drinks, and cigarettes are controlled, all sorts of things will be flattering? People are like that. If you tie everything up, they go crazy and run wild, but if you tie up even one very trivial thing, they try to compromise. “Those guys don’t seem any different, do they?”
Even though I said that, Leticia looked at me slightly.
“What do you think? “This is my methodology.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on his face like a puppy wanting some kind of praise.
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“That’s amazing. “If it were me, it would have taken two more days, but we’ve already pioneered that far.”
Leticia looked very proud.
“Did I do well? “At least you’re better than that b*tch, right?”
“Because what I expect from you and what I expect from Camilla are different. But it exceeded my expectations, Leticia.”
“Hmph.”
Leticia looked happily at the zombies rummaging through her trash. As I looked at her like that, I became curious about one thing about her.
“But when are we going home?”
Leticia looked at me strangely at my question.
“Where should I go?”
“… Uh?”
“Now look. We’ve just broken through here. Then you have to push it. ‘Don’t be satisfied with a small criminal record. If you open a gap, push it in and expand it into a bigger crime.’ It’s the basic of basics. That’s what my old boss said too. Surely it ends here?”
Leticia looked at me with her provocative eyes. When she says, ‘I wouldn’t say she’s worse than Virginia,’ she is provoking her even though she knows it. I know, but it’s a provocation that I have no choice but to overlook.
“How far will we go?”
“Until those guys can use all their capabilities. “Smoke as much as you can to make a mess, and pay as much as you can to make a fuss.”
Is it dangerous? That didn’t seem to be the case. Gangsters and fanatic patrols came, but they did not significantly participate in the zombie fight. So, as long as we hide our bodies well, I don’t think it will be a big problem. However, I was concerned about the gap between us and the main team, so I contacted Camilla.
– Ah ha. So, up until now, we’ve been releasing the zombies, but Leticia’s plan is to let the zombies clear the path and have us follow them, right?
“It’s like that. The risk is a little greater, but….”
– I don’t think it’s bad? Anyway, considering the risks, it’s not safe here. However, there are three cars here, and Cassandra and I can’t move them all. Should I go back and forth?
“I can’t help it. Please come first. “Do you know the address?”
After hanging up the phone, I felt angry at Leticia. Who are you comparing yourself to now?
“Leticia. “Would you like to come by for a moment?”
“Why?”
“Butt vs.”
He stretched out her palm and slapped her. Ah, a moan came out.
“What is it? Suddenly?”
“Are you comparing me and Virginia?”
Something sparkled in Leticia’s eyes.
“That’s right. Why? You always compare me and Camilla. “Can’t I do that?”
“Do I need to tell you who has the upper hand?”
“So far, Virginia is on top.”
Leticia shakes her buttocks with a wry smile. Feeling even more annoyed, she pulled him into the truck and dragged him gently.
“I need to tell you who the leader is before the others arrive.”
“You can’t do it with words, so you do it with physics? “It’s shabby, surprisingly?”
Leticia curled her thumb and index finger and brought them to her mouth. She couldn’t take it anymore.
* * * * *
Four days later, we reached the center.