Chapter 1: First Day on the Job—And I Shoot a Colleague
July 19, 2010 — State of Georgia
"Hey, boy, wake up."
The older cop gave the man in the passenger seat a rough shove.
Hanks yawned. "Old man, eyes on the road, will you? Try not to run anyone over."
The veteran officer shot him a fierce glare before turning back to chat with the prisoner sitting in the back.
The prisoner's name was Lee Everett.
Hanks ignored the two of them. He rubbed his temples—his head still felt swollen and foggy.
A short while ago, he had been doing statistical planning work. Now? He had somehow become police officer.
This transmigration was bizarre enough, but no way in hell would he admit it happened because he failed to resist temptation!
It all started at work—his computer suddenly popped up with an ad for a new 7 Days to Die: The Walking Dead MOD.
[Top-tier brand… guaranteed service… instant withdrawal!]
[Congratulations! You've been selected for the closed beta of the latest 7 Days to Die MOD: The Walking Dead!]
[Please select a profession:]
• Hunter
• Engineer
• Special Forces
• Police Officer
• Scientist
"Is that even a question? A Walking Dead world without a cop is soulless!"
The moment he clicked Police Officer, his vision went black. When he came to, he was being shoved into a patrol car and told to help escort a prisoner.
He had no time to process what happened, but one thing was clear—this had to be The Walking Dead world. After all, the 7 Days to Die interface came with him.
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[7 Days to Die A23 System]
Name: Hanks Adolf
Age: 20
Level: 1
EXP: 0/10
Profession: Police Officer
Talent 1: Police Instinct Lv.10 (Max)
Your intuition is razor-sharp. You can instantly tell truth from lies in a person's words.
Talent 2: Police Authority Lv.10 (Max)
Your law-enforcement presence is overwhelming. People instinctively obey you.
Talent 3: Weapons Mastery (Police) Lv.10 (Max)
You're proficient with pistols, shotguns, and semi-automatic rifles—far above the average cop.
Talent 4: Tactical Commander Lv.10 (Max)
You understand SWAT-level tactics and know how to lead even a squad of rookies into coordinated combat.
Talent 5: Special Vehicle Operation Lv.10 (Max)
Your American PIT maneuvering is top-notch, and your motorcycle skills rival those of India's most daring riders.
Attribute Points Available: 4
Attribute:
Perception: 1
Strength: 1
Constitution: 1
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 1
(Note: Average adult stat value is 1.)
Specialization: Judge of Loyalty & Treachery (Locked)
Unlock by raising any single core attribute to Level 7.
General Skills: Hidden (Tap to Expand)
Even with 99% talent, you still need that final 1% of hard work to make it real.
Hanks dismissed the system interface, deciding he'd sort out his attribute points later—this wasn't a game. One wrong click here could mean a real death.
He lifted his head to look out the windshield—
"Oh, sh*t!"
The old cop was getting way too into his conversation with the prisoner, even turning fully around to speak.
"Hey, I'm telling you—right now every available unit has been sent to Atlanta and Macon to deal with the riots. The whole state of Georgia is losing its mind—"
"Eyes front! Someone's on the road!" Hanks roared, gripping the seatbelt and the door handle at the same time.
The old officer flinched and jerked the wheel, but it was already too late.
The cruiser clipped the person, launching them into the air, then fishtailed uncontrollably. It skidded off the road, crashed through the forest brush, and slammed head-on into a tree before stopping.
The driver was thrown forward, smashing through the windshield, and landed motionless on the ground outside.
Silence flooded the forest like a tide swallowing the chaos of the crash—only the hiss of steam from the hood and frightened birds flapping away remained.
Hanks groaned, his skull feeling like it was filled with molten lead. The seatbelt had nearly crushed the breath out of him. He gagged a few times. After patting himself down and confirming no broken bones, he finally exhaled.
"Drive like that again and your family's gonna be crying at your funeral…"
"Old… man?"
He stared at the empty driver's seat and the windshield with a cop-sized hole in it.
Unbuckling quickly, he stumbled out of the vehicle to check on the officer.
The old cop lay face-down several meters ahead on the grass, unmoving. A dark pool of blood beneath him was spreading wider by the second.
"Hey! Old man! Stay with me!"
Hanks jogged toward him, but halfway there, he froze, then instinctively stepped back.
His right hand slid to his lower back—drawing his SIG Sauer P226.
His entire body bristled with goosebumps.
Police Instinct—that innate sense of danger—was screaming.
The old cop's body twitched once.
Then again.
A third time—awkward, jerky, unnatural.
With a sickening grind of bones, he pushed himself up on his arms, struggling to rise to his feet.
Already turning into a walker? That fast?
Hanks swallowed hard, pulse spiking, but his grip was rock-steady.
There was no denying it now—this really was The Walking Dead.
The officer finally staggered upright and turned around. His face was bloodless, pale with a bluish tint. A gaping wound split his forehead, blood smeared across half his face beyond recognition.
But the worst were the eyes—clouded, vacant, pupils blown out—filled only with a primal hunger for living flesh.
His jaw worked mindlessly, emitting a deep, inhuman growl, drool mixed with blood trailing down his chin.
"F**k…" Hanks muttered, flipping off the safety. "Old man, let me give you a merciful send-off."
He was already here—might as well fire his first shot in this world of walkers.
BANG!
Click.
A clean miss.
[Handgun EXP +1]
[Weapons Master bonus x10]
[Handgun EXP +10]
Handgun Lv.1: 10/100
Hanks' eye twitched. He adjusted his aim purely by feel and fired again.
A burst of blood blossomed on the officer's chest, but he kept shambling forward as if nothing had happened.
[Handgun EXP +10 x10]
[Handgun EXP +100]
Handgun Level Up
Handgun Lv.2: 10/200
Two shots of experience was enough. Hanks shifted his stance, exhaled, steadied his posture, and squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet drilled cleanly into the officer's skull. His head jerked sideways violently, his body drained of strength, and he collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
[Headshot Kill]
[Handgun EXP +100 x10]
[Handgun EXP +1000]
Handgun Level Up
Handgun Lv.5: 110/500
[Attribute EXP +1]
[Level 1: 1/10]
Hanks finally breathed out in relief—then suddenly spun around, raising his gun at the person behind him.
Lee had crawled out of the car, hands still cuffed, and threw both of them up in the air.
Brothers, who can relate?!
He had just climbed out only to see a cop shooting another cop.
Was this… internal conflict?
Corrupt officers? A mutiny?
He witnessed THE WHOLE THING.
What was he supposed to do now?!
Asking online, please respond!
A cold glint flashed through Hanks' eyes. He slightly shifted his aim and gently squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
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