Ch.199Chapter 21. The Art of Deceiving Each Other (11)

Without a nuclear bomb falling across the entire country, a nation doesn’t collapse overnight.

A country is built on the sum of everyday lives accumulated by each individual. Whether done with care or carelessly, everyone still invests the same 24 hours. Even creating a single, half-broken paving stone requires countless layers of daily routines stacked upon one another.

Solid time becomes the foundation firmly planted on the ground to stand upon.

The citizens of Elza were no different.

Elza is a small, weak nation. Perhaps because of this, its citizens could stubbornly continue their lives. They told themselves that what happened to their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers was simply happening to them now—just one of many inevitable events.

When a threat that had been visible only beyond their anxiety suddenly approached, people simply resigned themselves, accepted it, and adapted, thinking, “What was bound to come has come.”

Anywhere in Elza, you could hear stories about “crazy old folks.” They screamed every night, hung mesh bags filled with vegetables and canned goods all over their homes, and kept shelves stocked with water bottles.

These mentally broken elderly would tolerate someone touching their bodies, but would violently resist if anyone tried to throw away the rotting vegetables in their mesh bags.

“So this is how it was.”

People set out to find things to do. They recalled, shared, and improved upon the small but crucial survival tips that their departed loved ones had casually mentioned or shared while reminiscing.

“At least we’re better off than our fathers.”

At least shooting a neighbor who had turned into a zombie caused less guilt than shooting a neighbor who had betrayed your family.

At least as long as reliable neighbors and family stood guard with guns, there was no need to fear secret police knocking on the front door.

And so, day by day, people rebuilt their routines.

But when the time for rest came and personal maintenance was done, when they lay down on their narrow, smelly beds, the anxiety they had pushed aside would begin to stir.

So people turned on their phones and connected to the internet.

Acting Administrator Virginia Helford had publicly vowed to defend power plants and communication facilities at all costs. Thanks to that, Elza’s national telecommunications network was still operational.

People who once had to watch their words due to censorship and control now freely hurled insults and spread rumors. Even if someone openly wrote “I want to fuck Virginia,” no National Guard would kick down their door.

The nation was crumbling day by day, but the freedom of communication that people had longed for reached its peak. People gathered in communities both large and small.

Two topics dominated conversations among people.

One was about the Baptist of the Midwest.

He had everything people wanted: the ability to walk safely among zombies, vast supplies of water and food, and reliable companions. But because he seemed too ideal, many doubted whether such a person could actually exist.

The other hot topic was Acting Administrator Virginia Helford herself.

Though born into Römer nobility, she was the youngest administrative head in history and also the most competent. Her handling of matters was decisive and rational, and she kept the promises she could keep.

“Declaring war on Minsk—isn’t that insane?”

“Idiot, she’s doing that to push back the zombies. The National Guard’s pathetic firepower can’t even clear the zombies around the capital region.”

“But even if war breaks out, what difference would it make? The west is nothing but zombies. If Minsk clears them out, that’s good for us too.”

Then came an unexpected marriage announcement.

“Virginia married the Baptist? When? What are you talking about?”

“Is there any National Guard member here?”

“This is the first we’re hearing of it too…”

“That’s not the important part. The bigger issue is that she’s telling everyone to gather near the capital. How are we supposed to get there? Is there even a plan?”

“I heard they’re securing small cities and strategic points to use as bases. Focusing on places where electricity, water, and transportation networks are still intact. They’ll mobilize the National Guard to relocate people.”

It was an understandable directive. With proper infrastructure, survival chances increase. Perhaps they could even return to some semblance of normal life, albeit in a limited way.

The problem was that the remaining survivors had already established their own living spaces to some extent. Abandoning the foundations they had barely secured to move to a new location was not an easy decision.

Moreover, there would already be original residents in those places. It was a decision that seemed beneficial to neither party.

“Still, Virginia must have something in mind…”

Everyone thought that way until a certain video was uploaded.

* * * * *

Once again, her phone rang. Restricted caller. She didn’t need to check to know who it was. Virginia answered.

“Yes.”

The caller paused for a long moment before responding.

– So, a declaration of war on Minsk.

It was Virginia’s father, the Senate Chairman of Römer.

“If Minsk invades, Römer will automatically have to send troops to defend Elza. As soon as Römer troops arrive on this soil, I will transfer Elza’s military command authority to you, Prime Minister. With Elza civilians already incorporated into the volunteer army, Elza can become a complete vassal state of Römer. Are you satisfied now?”

– You’ve accomplished what I instructed, albeit in a more grandiose and chaotic manner than I intended. So, do you plan to return home after transferring command?

“I’m married, Father. You should know that if you’ve seen the news.”

– Who would care about that ridiculous charade? There are countless ways to nullify a marriage, especially one that exists only on paper. Only if you accept this marriage will the Helford political assets enter a more stable phase.

Virginia bit her lip. She didn’t think it was a shallow scheme. It was just that the politician on the other end was too old.

“Anyway, I’ve made the declaration of war, so let’s wait until Minsk troops cross the border.”

A few days after the call ended, the Minsk ambassador returned to his country. Numerous Minsk military reconnaissance units were detected in the border region. Reconnaissance aircraft were increasingly spotted in Elza’s airspace.

‘Yes. Come.’

From Minsk’s perspective, they had no choice but to come. None of the three countries had yet found a vaccine for the Cro virus. Minsk, priding itself on its superior technology, would want to secure all of Kibele Corporation’s databases to obtain data…

The phone rang again.

“I clearly said to wait—”

– Virginia Helford!

It was a shout. Virginia flinched and gritted her teeth. But what followed was utterly bewildering.

– What the hell are you doing with your body!

“What are you talking about?”

– I never expected you to have good taste in men, you empty-headed, deficient girl! I thought whatever you did would be typical of someone like you, but of all the fake marriages you could have arranged, you chose such a filthy, idiotic man! Because of you, the Helford family can’t show their faces in Römer!

It was a confusing and perplexing conversation. Moments later, her aide rushed in, pale-faced, with news of a scandal published in a major Römer newspaper and a video shared on the newspaper’s social media.

Virginia ended the call and ordered her aide to play the video.

The first thing visible was a blue sky. The view was quite high, as if filmed by a drone camera. A small city center could be clearly seen from above. Tall buildings, abandoned and crumpled vehicles, broken windows, zombies wandering the streets—things visible anywhere in Elza.

Only one thing was different.

A group of people was walking among the zombies. There seemed to be more than twenty of them, all naked. Only the muscular man at the front, wearing sunglasses and gold-patterned underwear, had anything resembling clothes on.

The zombies pushed and clawed at each other, and when someone bled, they immediately devoured them. The camera showed these scenes very briefly.

The drone camera flew toward the man with sunglasses.

“…you.”

Virginia recognized who it was. The man she had registered marriage with. The one who had taken Cassandra and Letitia.

– I can speak now, right? Ah, thank you. Hello, everyone. My name is Johan. I’m Virginia’s husband, and this is… where are we again? Ah, Orkon City. Yes, I’m meeting you all from Orkon City. The people behind me are those who like me. Shall we take a short break here?

Naked men and women caressed Johan’s body. The Römer broadcast station had heavily pixelated their bodies, so their condition wasn’t clearly visible, but even accounting for that, their health didn’t look particularly good. Gun strap marks, various scars, ribs slightly visible with each breath. But their eyes shone.

– Ah, hmm.

As Johan sat in a chair, people surrounded him. One woman oiled her hair and used it to clean his feet, while a man with hands softer than a woman’s massaged his shoulders and back.

A large-breasted woman who kept trying to push forward like a hungry dog was subtly held back by other women, but thanks to merciful Johan raising his hand for her, she earned the honor of sucking his fingers.

– I don’t know much about powers. I was just an ordinary citizen. But people who have shared love with me, and others who have shared love with them… they’re relatively safe even among zombies like this. Not 100% safe, but still.

The camera focused on a man and woman gazing intently at each other. Soon, the two disappeared below the camera. As subtle yet intense moans were heard, others drooled and naturally sank down in that direction one by one.

– Virginia? We’re getting to know each other. She was the one who proposed marriage first. I just agreed. Hey, Ellie, don’t block the camera… in a hurry? Alright. Turn your bottom this way.

The man was simply standing there, but it seemed the woman was the desperate one, continuously trying to pull down his underwear with her mouth.

– You ask if I miss her? Of course I do. I miss her so much I can’t sleep and feel very lonely. But Virginia has given me many things. She gave me her most cherished aide to use freely, and also assigned the country’s top disease expert to me. ‘Johan, this is my gift to you.’

The next moment, a brief image flashed of someone presumed to be Letitia, naked except for a National Guard coat, making a V-sign with her fingers. A black mosaic line covered her eyes, making it unclear.

“This… bastard…!”

Virginia felt like her eyes would roll back in her head. But she needed to watch until the end. Soon, a group of men and women in bikinis approached. They were grinning but each carried a rifle.

– These people were hired by Virginia for me. Johanson, looking good! They may look like this, but they’re very skilled. Wow, what’s that?

A small squeal was heard. Two men were pouring wine over a woman’s body. The red wine-soaked swimsuit revealed her curves more clearly. Strangely, even though it resembled red blood, zombies would approach but then turn away.

– Honey, I love you! I’ll come see you again when my business trip is over! Is the camera off? Good, come here! I’ll pound you like a dog!

The video ended with the squealing of women.

“This… this…! It’s all lies! All lies! Aide, what do you think?”

The aide looked terrified. Virginia’s face turned bright red as she stomped her feet.

“I asked what you think!”

“Um, well… his face looks exactly like the man you announced your marriage to…”

“Aaaargh! What’s Römer saying about this…?”

Instead of answering, the aide handed her printed papers.

– Helford family takes in sexually promiscuous Elza youth as son-in-law. Other senators unanimously vote ‘veto’.

– Noble family’s son-in-law holds orgy amid chaos. Do Römer citizens bear no responsibility?

– Elite noblewoman’s terrible downfall… Virginia: “Johan was the only one I trusted.” Expresses anguish. <Exclusive>

“You sons of bitches! Army, Army Air Force, prepare now! I said prepare immediately! We’re deploying!”

Virginia let out a blood-curdling scream.

“W-where to, ma’am?”

“We’re going to Orkon!”