[1] Apocalypse: Third Rebirth

Chapter 182: Sacrifice

"We will help you, but we won't be leaving for at least a day or two," I said as soon as the messenger entered our home. It would take me at least a day to figure out supplies and all that crap. Hopefully we will be able to do some hunting of our own on our way to City Y.

The messenger looked worried, but cautiously nodded his head. "You don't agree?" I asked raising my eyebrow. He glanced at Wang Chao as if he didn't know if he should speak to me or not. "Let me make all of our lives easier, shall I?" I said, crossing my legs in front of me and resting my arms on the armrests. With two giants standing on guard behind me, I was sure that I would be able to get my point across.

"Unless Wang Chao is speaking, you don't need to worry about him. I understand that he was an important person in the military. But here, he is my General. Do you understand? If decisions need to be made, if orders are given, it will be done through me. If I am not present, it will then be handled by one of my men."

I stared at the man in front of me and watched as he gulped. This time his eyes darted to Liu Wei. "Major?" he asked in a hesitant voice. Liu Wei didn't answer him, didn't even bother to blink.

"Do you understand?" I asked. "Because if you don't, we will be more than happy to stay here."

"You will be dead if you stay here," said the 2nd Lieutenant as he stood up straight, this time looking at me. "The only way to stop this horde from attacking your base is to stop them at City Y."

I chuckled at his naivety. Did he really think that that was the way the world still worked? I scratch your back, you scratch mine? That idea would quickly disperse when they saw what was actually coming for them. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if people snuck out the back door once they saw the zombies, trying to save their own lives.

"Sure, you keep thinking that," I said with a wave of my hand. "We will be leaving in two days. Tell whoever you need to. But remember, this base is mine. The people in it? Mine. They will only listen to my orders so you might want to show me the very basics of respect before I decide that you are not worth the trouble."

No longer caring, I stood up and walked over to the kitchen, letting the men figure things out on their own.

*****

"Do you understand where you went wrong?" asked Wang Chao from where he was sitting on the couch. With Li Dai Lu gone, Liu Wei and Chen Zi Han took their usual seats and the four of them stared at the messenger who had not left yet.

"No, Sir," admitted Xun Qian Guo as he looked at the men in front of him. Two of them he didn't know, but he recognized the bloodthirsty aura that they had, similar to those that had spent decades in war zones. Combined with the General and the Major, there should be no problem once they arrived at the Sanctuary.

"You don't seem to understand the landmine you just stepped on," said Liu Yu Zeng as he pulled out a cigarette but didn't light it. "She is the commander of this base. She can be considered a Full General if you will, someone that even the General must listen to. If you disrespect her like that again, you will find yourself on the menu faster than you can blink."

Xun Qian Guo swallowed. "Yes, Sir," he said, saluting. They didn't have many women in their Sanctuary, and those that were were not high up in terms of power. They simply did not have the ability to stand toe to toe with the men. And that was fine. That was what they were there for. To protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

He just assumed that that was the same here at this place too.

"Never assume anything," said Wang Chao before nodding towards the door and dismissing the soldier.