Chapter 38 – The Announcement
The morning sun cut across the estate walls, bathing the courtyard in pale gold. The survivors were already awake, moving about with quiet energy. Some carried water from the well, others prepared food, and a few guards walked their patrols. Even in this fragile new world, routine gave comfort.
Gaius walked beside Souichiro through the paved path that led to the central square. His armored boots pressed down firmly, every step heavy yet controlled. The man beside him matched his stride, tall and commanding, but still dwarfed by Gaius's presence.
The closer they came to the square, the more eyes turned to follow them. Whispers spread among the people. Children peeked from behind their mothers. Guards at their posts stiffened, their hands brushing against the grips of their rifles though none raised them. They were not afraid of attack, they were simply overwhelmed.
The stranger from yesterday, the giant in blue armor, was walking openly with Souichiro.
Gaius said nothing as they moved. His eyes scanned the estate walls, the rooftops, the open ground of the yard. He was already cataloguing defensive weak points, noting how wagons or barricades might block the entrance, where the walls could be reinforced, how a proper defense could be built. In his mind, he saw a fortress rising in place of this estate. He knew it could be done. The problem was time.
When they reached the square, Souichiro raised his hand. His voice, sharpened from years of commanding both family and men, carried across the open space.
"Everyone, gather!"
The order echoed. Guards repeated it down the walkways. Survivors stopped what they were doing and moved toward the square. In minutes, dozens of men, women, and children filled the space. Those on the walls leaned over the edge to listen.
Gaius stood still, silent as a statue, letting Souichiro's presence settle the crowd.
Souichiro's voice rang out again. "Listen well. This man beside me is no ordinary fighter. He is a soldier, disciplined, trained, and far more experienced in war than any of us. From this day forward, he will take command of our defenses. His word is my word. Follow his orders, and together, we will survive."
The crowd broke into murmurs. Some exchanged uneasy glances. Others nodded, reassured by Souichiro's certainty. But the moment of doubt hung in the air, waiting.
Gaius stepped forward.
When he spoke, his voice was deep, calm, and steady. It was not loud, but every ear heard it clearly.
"I have fought wars far worse than this. Compared to what I've faced, these walking corpses are nothing. You don't need to fear them while I'm here. All I ask is that you listen, stay disciplined, and work together. Do this, and I will make sure this place holds strong. You will live to see the sun rise, day after day."
Silence stretched across the square. For a moment, no one moved. Then a man near the front, one of the older survivors, clapped his hands together. The sound echoed in the stillness.
Another joined him. Then another. In moments, the square filled with applause. The guards on the walls pounded their fists against the stone in rhythm. A wave of relief washed over the survivors, replacing their fear with hope.
Souichiro gave a short nod of satisfaction. The announcement had worked.
The next day passed in steady motion.
The remaining students and staff who had been left behind at the school were transferred safely to the estate. Guards escorted them, making several trips until every last one was inside the walls. The population of the estate swelled past a hundreds.
For the first time since the outbreak began, the survivors felt something close to stability. Meals were served at regular times. Guards rotated on a proper schedule. Families were given rooms, and children had space to rest without fear of attack.
Gaius spent most of the day inside a study, surrounded by maps of the estate and the surrounding city. His eyes moved across the documents at inhuman speed, memorizing every line, every street, every storage record. He knew the exact number of canned goods in the pantry, the amount of fuel in the reserve tanks, and the distance to the nearest river.
He understood the estate could become a true fortress, but the work would take weeks, maybe months. Time was the one resource he didn't have.
When night fell, Gaius sat alone in a quiet room. With a thought, the Multiversal Chat Group opened before his eyes. Messages scrolled past.
Saeko had posted an update about her patrol, describing the thinning numbers of zombies near the outer walls of the estate . Naruto's usual enthusiastic words filled the feed, encouragement, reminders never to give up. Mindy also cheered Saeko as well, as always.
Then Tony Stark's name lit up the screen.
Gaius typed: "Stark, send me weapons, guns, and a huge amount of ammunition."
The reply came almost instantly. "Sure."
Notifications appeared one after another.
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – M4 x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – HK416 x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – FN SCAR x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – Barrett M82 x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – FN Minimi x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – Sig Sauer x10] [Accept? Yes/No]
…and many more, along with crates of ammunition and grenades.
It didn't surprise Gaius.
Tony had likely predicted they might need many weapons and ammunitions since it's a apocalypse from Zombies and prepared a stockpile just for this moment.
Gaius closed the chat after thanking Tony Stark. His mind already pictured where the new weapons would be stored. He remembered the warehouses he had studied on the maps. He would need Souichiro with him.
The next morning, Gaius and Souichiro walked toward the largest empty warehouse at the far end of the estate. The building was vast, its sliding metal doors closed and rusted at the hinges.
Souichiro looked puzzled. "Why here, Sir Gaius?"
Gaius had told him before to simply call him by name, but Souichiro refused to drop the title.
"I have received a gift from a friend," Gaius answered simply.
Inside, the warehouse was empty. Dust clung to the corners, and the echo of their steps carried through the hollow space.
Gaius closed his eyes for a brief moment. In his mind, he clicked Yes again and again, his focus sharp and quick as lightning.
The air shimmered. One by one, weapons began to appear. Rifles stacked neatly in rows, machine guns set in heavy crates, sniper rifles placed carefully on racks. Ammunition boxes formed towers along the walls. Grenades filled metal containers.
Souichiro's eyes widened. He stood frozen, trying to keep his composure, but even he couldn't hide the shock.
Row after row filled the warehouse until it looked less like storage and more like an armory.
Souichiro let out a breath. "So it is true… you are truly a Marine from space."
Gaius didn't answer the remark. His gaze swept over the endless stockpiles. This was enough firepower to arm an army, not just a few dozen guards.
He turned to Souichiro. "Call your men. Arm them immediately. Organize them into proper squads. The time for makeshift defense is over."
Souichiro nodded, his voice steady but his eyes still lit with excitement. With these weapons, the estate no longer had to hide. They could fight.
And as Gaius watched the warehouse fill with steel and firepower, he knew the next phase had begun.
~~~
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