Chapter 756: A Request, Returning to New Infanta Settlement Once More (1/2)

Day 156 - 3:21 PM - New Infanta Settlement, Barangay Banugao, Municipality of Infanta, Province of Quezon

Late in the afternoon, the temporary peace of the New Infanta Settlement was disturbed. It was no surprise if the people in the settlement were on edge as the place was prone to constant attacks. The infected from the south would wander from time to time, and mutated animals would go down from the mountains in the west to try and prey on them.

These past few days, however, the military noticed the sudden decrease in attacks of mutated animals. Thus, the people could not help but feel at peace, despite feeling strange.

A temporary peace indeed, although the air was a bit dustier for some unknown reason.

But with the usually eye-catching arrival of Mark's group, it was no surprise that the people would be stirred up. After all, they were the only ones that would use a dragon as transport every single time they arrived at this settlement.

The people in New Infanta Settlement would likely not get used to such a scene of a dragon entering and landing inside the settlement for a long time.

While the entire settlement was filled with murmurs, the cause of the commotion had just landed inside the military base. And as per usual, it was General Faustino who personally welcomed the group together with the mercenary Jones Galley and a few other soldiers as his personal bodyguards.

Mark jumped off Chaflar's back before assisting Elise down. Emika just went down on her own. Karlene was also present, following Emika. This time, it was only the four of them that came here.

While Mark prepared the items he had to give the General, Elise was sticking close to him. She seemed to be curious about the surroundings but was very afraid of the soldiers keeping watch.

”Nee, Uncle. I'll go ahead!”

Emika informed Mark before running off, not even waiting for a reply.

”Wait for me!”

Karlene followed suit, chasing after the green-haired girl. The two left without letting the General call for them at all.

Mark could only glance at the two as they left. It was a part of their plans.

”Nice to see you again.”

General Faustino greeted Mark with a relieved tone. This was not surprising, considering the journey that Mark's group must have gone through. They had been gone for more or less a week. In a world where the person you just met might die the next hour, it was definitely a relief to see them alive.

”Is it only you four? And who is this? I believe it is the first time we saw her.”

The General asked. One part, he wanted to know if something might have happened to the others. The other was just curiosity.

It was when Jones chimed in, looking at how Elise was closely beside Mark. Not to mention her holding onto the hem of his clothes.

”Is this your new wife? Did you replace the first one already???”

And... There was no reply.

All there was were Mark's eyes glaring coldly at the guy.

”Calm down with those eyes, alright? It's just a joke.”

Jones awkwardly said, taking a step back. Mark's eyes were saying that he could kill anytime.

It was all a joke, of course. But it sure was an inappropriate one.

”I believe we're not that close to exchange such jokes.”

Mark declared, drawing the line between him and Jones. He knew that, while good at acting during missions, Jones was never a serious type of person. Jones was the type of person that could easily blurt out jokes and nonsensical stuff.

It was just the joke he thought of this time was not a good one.

”Hah... Jones.” The General sighed. ”We are on official business right now. Take this seriously...”

”Okay, General.” Jones awkwardly replied. He knew that he stepped out of the line this time.

”I dropped my wife and everyone home first before coming here.” Mark finally replied to the General's question. He emphasized the word ”wife”  however while glancing at Jones.

”They are tired after a long journey.”

Mark added.

”That is good then.” General Faustino nodded. ”Let's go to my office. I'd like to hear some things along with the documents you brought from the settlement in Catanduanes.”

And with that, the General led Mark and Elise to his office.

***

Inside the office, Mark handed the documents. Most of it contained the reports of events in Catanduanes after the communication was cut off. As for the other information that was not included in the documents, the fall of the rebels, for example, was supplemented by Mark instead. After all, it all happened after the documents were handed to Mark.

Of course, Mark only told the information directly related to the military and nothing else.

Mark was also handed the copy of the research papers, following the deal with taking this job. Aside from those, Mark also received another case containing another set of [Regeneration Medicine]. Something that only this settlement could provide him so far.

”To think that Padilla tried to hide these for the sake of face.”

General Faustino complained, seeing that there were a lot of discrepancies between the actual report from Mark and the ones from back then.

”In any case, that won't be your problem soon.” Mark shrugged. ”With the leader of the rebels still alive, I doubt that he would still live for too long.”

That was a cold way to say it, but there was really nothing they could do. Not to mention that the politicians in Catanduanes were trying to wrestle control from the military.

Sooner or later, the Catanduanes Settlement would fall unto another person's hand. Unfortunately, there was no way that other settlements would be able to help.

”Seriously, these crocodiles are a pain,” Jones complained. ”These politicians don't really contribute much within the settlement. What's worse is that they are the loudest ones when it comes to complaining.”

It was a horrible truth. There were barely any decent people with a political position in the apocalypse. And when things took a turn for the worse, they were the ones to nag the military the most. Not to mention them having more influence than the military.

”That's not my problem.” Mark shrugged. ”If they were just freeloaders, you just better throw them out of the settlement.”

”It's not that easy, alright?” General Faustino sighed.

”It's not easy because you people are still clinging to the belief that Earth will go back to how it was before.”