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"Phew…"
"Finally lost those zombie dogs."
Only after the car had driven far enough did Asuka let out a long breath.
She'd been here before and thought it'd be safe. Instead, a few zombie dogs had scared her into hiding on the fourth floor.
"The zombies out there are only going to get stronger," Julian warned. "Don't go running around unless you have to."
Asuka had only drunk his blood once.
That was enough to handle normal zombies, and even some weaker mutated ones. But something like that hooded zombie they ran into today? She'd be dead for sure.
"I'm so pissed!!!" Asuka puffed her cheeks. "You have to clear that place out for me!"
"That area's packed with zombies, and it's dangerous…" Julian said calmly. "That'll cost extra."
He'd already been thinking about doing it anyway.
If he could squeeze some extra profit out of Asuka, even better.
"Fine!" Asuka agreed without hesitation. "I'll add another fifty bars. One hundred total! Just wipe that place out for me!"
She paused, realizing her gold stash was running low.
Guess she'd have to dig through her dad's No. 1 villa. There should still be plenty left there.
Julian smiled faintly.
Definitely not a wasted trip.
A rich client was a rich client. Generous as ever.
Now that he understood how useful gold was, he needed to gather as much as possible while he still could.
Once everyone else figured it out, it wouldn't be so easy anymore.
"Master… can I… recharge a bit on the way?" Hana asked softly, sitting between Julian and Asuka with her head lowered.
She'd used up quite a bit of energy earlier, forcing the zombies to clear a path.
"Uh…" Julian's face twitched slightly. "There are other people in the car."
"How about something… red for now?"
He held out a finger.
Left with no choice, Hana gently took his hand and started sucking on his finger.
Asuka stared, completely stunned.
She needs to replenish regularly?
So… the reason I'm not that strong is because I didn't drink enough?
Asuka's thoughts immediately drifted back to her dad's villa.
He had several boxes of gold stored there as part of her dowry.
There had to be a lot… right?
"Uncle, I want some too…" Asuka said, unable to look away.
She'd already seen Hana's strength—zombies on the roadside actually moved aside when she approached.
Asuka was insanely jealous.
Of course, she had no idea Hana was actually a zombie. She just assumed it was because she'd had more blood.
"Drinking that is nothing compared to—mmph—"
Before Hana could finish, Julian clamped a hand over her mouth.
I'm already exhausted dealing with the two of you. You want me to feed another one too?
Blood is enough!
"If you want to drink, we settle the price first," Julian said firmly, not about to miss another chance to earn gold.
"One sip… one gold bar?" Asuka asked cautiously.
Last time, he'd cut open his arm for her, so she paid more.
That had been a full transformation. This time would just be reinforcement… so a lower price should be fine.
"Deal," Julian nodded. "But this service doesn't include house calls."
"If you want more in the future, come to my base."
The "no house calls" rule was purely because he couldn't be bothered.
With Asuka's strength, getting from Donghu Villas to Donghu Island shouldn't be a problem.
Just like that, Julian secured another steady source of gold.
"Your base?" Asuka blinked in surprise.
She hadn't expected him to actually have one.
"Donghu Island, not far from the villas," Julian said. "You know the way, right?"
"What?!" Asuka's eyes widened. "You took over Donghu Island?!"
"I found that place first!"
She looked genuinely upset.
She'd thought it was close enough to home that she could check it out anytime. Who knew someone would beat her to it?
And judging by strength alone, she couldn't take it back from Julian…
She'd heard the infinity pool there had an amazing view, too.
What a waste…
Before long, Julian dropped Asuka off at the entrance to the villa district.
"Alright, don't forget the gold you owe me. Bring it next time."
With that, he drove off.
Asuka dragged her bloodstained axe under the streetlights as she walked into the neighborhood.
The guard at the gate reluctantly opened it for her.
On the way back, something felt… off.
The guards were whispering to each other now and then, and the way they looked at her felt strange.
Something wasn't right.
Asuka suddenly remembered a post she'd seen on a forum yesterday.
It talked about a residential complex where the guards, after clashing with residents, had deliberately let zombies inside…
…That's terrifying if you think about it.
After a moment's thought, Asuka made up her mind.
She needed to reinforce her villa.
All those traps she'd collected—bear traps, meteor hammers—she'd put them all to use.
Even the crossbows could be rigged with thin wires tied to the trigger.
If zombies broke in at night, at least she'd have something to hold them off.
After setting things up, Asuka grabbed the controller she'd brought back and started playing Monster Hunter again.
Slaying dragons felt great. Slaying dragons nonstop felt even better.
Before she knew it, it was already 1 a.m.
Most of the villa residents were fast asleep.
But in the central courtyard, forty people had gathered.
"Except for those on gate duty, everyone's here," the deputy security captain said with satisfaction. "Looks like we're pretty united."
As for the security captain, the property manager, and a few guards who refused to join…
They were tied up in the duty room.
What to do with them?
That could wait until after everything succeeded.
Tonight's goal was simple: take control of the entire villa district.
As for how…
Well, it was bound to get a little bloody.
But once they succeeded, it'd be their turn to live the good life.
"Listen up!" the deputy captain continued. "Forty people. Ten groups."
"We'll go door to door."
"Kill the men on sight. As for the women… bring them to the courtyard. Two teams will guard them."
"As long as we move fast, taking the whole place won't take long!"
He grinned smugly.
If this plan worked, he'd be the king here.
Food, drinks… women…
There were quite a few attractive young wives in this neighborhood.
"Deputy captain, is four people per group really enough?" one guard asked nervously.
"Use your brain!" the deputy captain snapped. "We'll knock on their doors under the pretense of checking for zombies."
"And when they let their guard down…"
He didn't bother finishing.
The guard nodded, understanding.
Honestly, his subordinates were pretty stupid.
But stupid had its advantages—less thinking, easier to control.
"Alright, no time to waste. Move out!"
At his command, the groups quickly dispersed.
Of course, the "difficult" job of guarding the women and children in the courtyard…
That one, the deputy captain reserved for his own team.
"....."