In the early morning before the operation to retake Tokonosu City started, a group of white helicopters, each emblazoned with the Freedom Carrier logo, could be seen taking off from the helipads behind the Freedom Carrier HQ as they flew towards various points in the city to announce their company's intention of turning the city into a war zone and also warning every survivor in the city to get the hell out of there immediately.
In the cockpits of the helicopters were all Zeno's shadow clones in the white uniforms of the Freedom Carrier deliverymen, aviation headsets, and sunglasses, who all had spent the entire year learning how to operate the helicopter while the original Zeno was just fooling around with his beautiful Stand in his office most of the time while leaving all the menial work to his shadow clones without remorse.
To be honest, the learning process is not that hard; the clones just can't help themselves from trying to master every acrobatic move with the helicopter that they could think of, so it took them quite a while and dozens of helicopter crashes, of course, for them to actually master the art of flying a helicopter like a professional stuntman.
And after seeing them showing off their skill as they performed a crossing double barrel roll with two helicopters while being blindfolded and did not manage to crash, Zeno can only say that there's no helicopter pilot more skilled than his shadow clone pilots in this world.
Back to the present, the shadow clone pilots' flight this time was far simpler than their flashy stunts: just fly above the city with a warning message broadcast through loudspeakers for the remaining survivors to evacuate the city before the upcoming operation. The message is kept very clear and easy to understand, so no one should be such a dumbass that they still choose to stay in the city despite the Freedom Carrier repeatedly warning that they will be considered collateral damage when the operation begins.
The message also promised the survivors safety in the Freedom Carrier temporary shelter camp with all their basic needs guaranteed if they don't have anywhere else to go, so if any civilians somehow still ended up dying in the upcoming operation despite everything Zeno did, then they can only blame themselves for being such dumbasses that were too eager to be enlisted in the very long list of Darwin Awards.
As the helicopters flew over the city with the message broadcasting for all to hear, the zombies below immediately looked up with their lifeless eyes as they raised their arms towards the sky, while some of them also followed along with the sounds of helicopters that attracted them.
Fortunately, the sound of the speakers is echoing through the city, so the zombies didn't form a large horde while chasing the helicopters around, as they can only move towards the general direction that the sound of the speakers comes from while they stumble upon a wall or other obstacles.
As for the survivors who were still holed up in their makeshift fortresses or hiding spots in the city, they got startled by the sudden loud voice from the sky as they heard the message with a mixed reaction.
Some who had lost everything in the chaos of the apocalypse were indifferent towards the message, and some who were still skeptical of the foreign company's intentions were panicking, while the others who regretted their action of refusing to go with the Freedom vans were quite relieved since they already ran out of food, and now hearing that the Freedom Carrier still welcomed survivors into their shelter, they immediately decided to go to the camp, seeing the Freedom Carrier as their last saving grace from starvation.
Meanwhile, in one of the cafes in the shopping district, a small group of survivors, who had banded together out of necessity, gathered around on the rooftop of the building they were staying in as they looked at the helicopter in the sky while listening to the Freedom Carrier's message broadcast.
"Attention, citizens of Tokonosu City! This is an important message from the Freedom Carrier..."
The messages echoed through the loudspeakers were very concerning, as the group felt dread for what was about to happen to the city according to the broadcast. They don't doubt that the company was capable of raising hell in the city from what they had seen from the Freedom Carrier deliverymen who were sweeping through the city for survivors in the previous days.
"Shit, we can't stay here anymore…!"
A young woman with a metal baseball bat in her hand, spat with an angry expression. She was very angry with both the situation they were forced into and the Freedom Carrier company that doesn't seem to want to leave them the hell alone for some reason.
"They're telling us to leave the city before 6 AM tomorrow..."
One of the women in the group muttered softly, her voice trembling slightly. The group of survivors then exchanged uneasy glances before a spectacled young man with worn-out bandages wrapped around his hands spoke up.
"But where will we go? And most importantly, we don't have much food or water to last us all before we can get to another safe place..."
"That's right…"
They thought back to what remained of their supplies and felt like giving up altogether. Then an old man in his fifties who was a college professor before the apocalypse happened stepped forward.
"I hate to admit it, but there's no other way for us; we can only go to their shelter camp unless anyone here volunteers to go scavenging for supplies in the grocery stores filled with the walking dead or, worse, the group of marauders."
The group remained silent, contemplating the risks and the potential rewards of choosing between the four options of going to the Freedom Carrier's temporary shelter camp, staying here in the city despite the warning, leaving the city with what supplies they have, or risking scavenging for supplies in the city before leaving.
"Damn it, aren't they just basically forcing us to go to them?!"
The woman with a baseball bat swings her bat in frustration after realizing that there's no need for useless thinking about their options since the first choice is the most realistic and safest one but still quite an uncertain one too since you never know what the condition of the camp is like until you go there and see for yourself. Who knows what kind of rules the camp will impose upon them? The Freedom Carrier company is not like their government with an obligation (that they failed) to help them after all.
"Onee-chan..."
The youngest among them, a little girl in a light green dress, tugged at the corner of the woman with the metal baseball bat shirt as she looked at her with a scared expression.
"Are we leaving? What if the monsters get us if we leave?"
Hearing the little girl concerned, the woman with the baseball bat could only force herself to calm down with a sigh and kneel down to comfort her; her face became complex as she remembered the horrors the girl must have faced before she found her alone in the public restroom.
"I'm sorry, but it seems we have to leave. Staying here is dangerous, and there's no food for everyone. Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, I promise."
The group then eventually agreed to go to the shelter camp as they nodded in solemn agreement, though the uncertainty remained etched on their faces.
They quickly gathered their meager belongings and supplies, whispering prayers to any god they believed in for protection and good fortune. With the sun rising and the shadows of the city's buildings stretching before them, they set off on their journey towards the Freedom Carrier's promise of salvation with little expectation while carefully avoiding any zombies along the way.
Many citizens of Tokonosu City now had made their choice. Some make the right call; some, unfortunately, don't, as their memories are to be forgotten by the world forever—such is life.
÷×÷×÷
Meanwhile, at the Takagi estate, before the helicopters arrived at the city, the air was thick with tension as the decision to scout for a new location for their base and gather supplies for the journey was finalized. The subordinates of Souichiro that already formed scout and scavenger teams are currently checking weapons and supplies as Souichiro oversees the preparation in the courtyard from his study with a stern look on his face.
On the other hand, Yuriko, who was walking by herself in the hallway of their mansion, walked over to the window and stared out at the once bustling city, now reduced to a silent ghost town. She thought of her daughter, Saya, and couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt again for not being able to save her.
Then suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden commotion outside. She turned to see her people pointing at the sky—a helicopter, the Freedom Carrier's insignia clearly visible, hovering in the air above their compound. Her eyes narrowed, and she immediately ran to her husband.
After finding her husband, Yuriko and Souichiro rushed outside of the mansion, and together they watched as the helicopter's loudspeaker blared to life, the voice echoing through the estate and the surrounding areas, causing the Takagi people's faces to turn grave, and some even cursed out loud, as the loud noise will definitely bring in the horde of zombies.
"Attention, citizens of Tokonosu City! This is an important message from the Freedom Carrier. At 06:00 AM tomorrow, we are set to launch Operation New Dawn, the retaking of Tokonosu City from the undead control with our military force. For the safety of all inhabitants, we recommend the citizens immediately evacuate the city. If you have no place to go, be advised that our shelter is still open for the survivors, and if you decide to remain in the city, then beware, as it is a great risk to your lives. This is your final warning."
The group inside the Takagi estate exchanged glances, the tension palpable. The Freedom Carrier had made their move, and it seemed that their plans to gather supplies for a couple of days were for naught. Souichiro's hand tightened on his sheathed katana as the voice from the speaker continued.
"If you do not evacuate, then with mildly inconvenient feelings and slightly annoyed hearts, we will have no choice but to consider you collateral damage and proceed with the operation accordingly."
"Damn it!"
Souichiro wants to slam his fist at something in frustration, but there's nothing for him to hit other than his wife next to him, which he's not going to do for obvious reasons. He then turned to his wife, his expression a mix of anger and determination.
"Yuriko, let's gather everyone who's willing to go with us. We leave immediately."
Yuriko nodded as she rushed out with him to gather people and prepare for their evacuation. The subordinates that stayed around the courtyard looked at each other with hesitation and uncertainty. They were not quite sure about traveling to another place without enough supplies and clear details of their destination, but they knew better than to question their Don's orders now. They had always known that the Freedom Carrier was planning something big after their extensive rescue of the survivors, but they had hoped it would be later when they were fully prepared.
The sound of speakers repeats the message, sending a pulse of dread through the compound as Souichiro quickly arrives at the armory, where his right-hand man, Hiroshi, is already packing his gear inside.
"Get everything out for our men. We might have to fight our way out."
Hiroshi nodded grimly, understanding the gravity of the situation. The undead wasn't just going to let them leave peacefully, not with how loudly the goddamn helicopter had been broadcasting their location to the world. Hiroshi immediately rushed to gather things in the armory after Souichiro departed, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he grabbed a couple of pistols and magazines. He couldn't help but secretly think that they should just accept the Freedom Carrier's help in the first place...
÷×÷×÷
At Zeno's office, a couple of hours after the citywide broadcast, that trouble many people in Tokonosu City.
"What right do you have to take over our city?!"
Currently the static-filled voice in Zeno's office crackled from one of the micro speakers installed around the room as the Japan Self-Defense Force representative questioned Zeno with a demanding tone after they learned of what was going on in Tokonosu City from the soldiers at the offshore international airport that heard the broadcast.
"What is your intention, and why have you mobilized such a large force within our country without proper authorization?!"
The JSDF representative's voice grew sterner, the tension palpable on the other side as they were dealing with something unknown, while Zeno leaned back in his chair in a relaxed manner, a derision-filled smirk on his lips as his feet were placed on top of the desk. He watches the hologram screen that shows live feed footage from the spy drones of the old man in military uniform or the JSDF representative on the bridge of an aircraft carrier.
"How odd~? Do I need anyone's permission to do my things here~? The last time I checked, Japan was already ownerless since you guys abandoned the country rather quickly. But I suppose that's a small detail for you, isn't it?"
Zeno's voice was filled with mockery as he played with the cameras of the spy drones to look around the bridge, searching for anything prettier to look at than the old man on the holographic screen. The JSDF representative, on the other hand, was taken aback by his flippant remark that showed that he didn't take them seriously.
"This is no laughing matter, Mr. Zavior! You must cease your unauthorized activities immediately and explain your real intentions to us!"
The JSDF representative's voice grew louder from frustration as he tried to maintain a semblance of authority despite the light attitude of the man who owned a private army that was trying to take over one of the cities from their country.
"Really now…"
Zeno chuckled to himself, finding it amusing that the military still thought they had any power left to enforce anything after most of their force had already been done in by the zombies and their own troops had mass deserted just only a week ago.
"Well, let me tell you something..."
Zeno's smirk grew wider as he spotted a quite pretty female soldier on the bridge before he finally continued.
"You see, Mr. JSDF representative, I'm just a simple businessman trying to help out in a time of crisis. My company, Freedom Carrier, is here to provide shelter, protection, and a future for the survivors of Tokonosu City. And as for my 'private army,' they are merely my employees, the employees who will ensure that our operations run smoothly and that no one takes advantage of our generosity."
Zeno's tone was as smooth as butter in a hot pan, but the underlying meaning was quite clear. He had no intention of backing down from his position, nor did he care for the laws and authority of the world before the apocalypse. The JSDF, once a defender of Japan, now found themselves in a powerless position, unable to stop the Freedom Carrier's actions on their homeland.
Their force is already spread thin throughout the country; barely functional after the outbreak and mass desertion of the soldiers who escaped to save their families, the JSDF had now become a mere shadow of its former self. The representative took a deep breath after understanding that Zeno will not stop before he speaks again.
"We understand your intentions may be pure, but the presence of your heavily armed guards and the way you intend to take control of the city without the consent of the government is highly alarming. We demand that you stop your illegal activities and surrender your weapons to the authorities, or we will be forced to take action with deadly force!"
Hearing the JSDF response, Zeno's smirk slowly grew wide with malevolence as he slowly straightened himself from his reclined position as he removed his legs from the desk, his icy blue eyes glinting with the cruelty of a predator toying with its prey.
"Hoh~? You will take action? Against 'ME'? How amusing~"
Zeno's words echoed through the bridge of the aircraft carrier, which was anything but comforting to the JSDF representative on the other end. He knew that Zeno likely knew he was bluffing; they had nothing, no resources, no manpower to spare, and certainly no reasonable excuse to fight against a company that had just saved the lives of thousands of Japanese citizens.
"You do realize that your forces are barely surviving, yes? Do you want to abandon everything else and just come to fight me, really? Don't make me laugh!"
Zeno's voice took a cold turn, his casual amusement draining away like a river into the desert.
"Let me make this clear for you. This city is mine now. Whether you call it an illegal occupation or whatever, it's all the same. We're the ones keeping the lights on, the dead at bay, and the survivors from turning into ravenous beasts themselves. The government? They abandoned this place faster than rats from a sinking ship. So, tell me, what makes you think you have any say in this matter?"
Zeno's raw words without sugarcoating it made the JSDF representative go silent for a moment, likely weighing his dwindling options to respond to him.
"Very well…"
After half a minute, the JSDF representative finally responded, his voice tight with barely contained anger.
"We will observe your actions for now. But know that we are not so powerless as you think we are. If you cause harm to the citizens of this city, we will not hesitate to intervene."
"Ah, I appreciate your understanding."
Zeno said, his smirk almost audible even through the radio.
"But I assure you, the citizens of Tokonosu will be quite safe under my care. After all, I am the only one here who feeds them and also keeps the undead from feasting on them. But let's not forget the other... 'variety' of threats that may arise during the apocalypse, such as bandits... I hope you understand that we will have to get rid of them permanently; we can't support such a burden after all."
"Do as you will…"
The representative can only grunt in agreement since they also can't afford to care for such lowlifes in this situation.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a city to retake. And when it's done, do drop by for some friendly discussion when you're less… err… useless, won't you?"
"..."
The representative went silent for a few seconds before the JSDF representative spoke again, their tone begrudging.
"We will be watching your actions closely. Fucking foreigner bastard...!"
Zeno laughed at the last part that the representative said as the communication cut from the other side before he leaned back in his chair with an amused smirk. He knew that the JSDF was in no position to threaten him. But he had to admit, their resilience to perform their duties was... surprisingly admirable. He had expected them to crumble faster under the pressure.
"Ah, the resilience of Samurai spirit, I guess. It's truly inspiring,"
He murmured to himself, his gaze lingering on the holographic screen that displayed the old man who was just talking with him smashing his coffee mug on the ground as he kept swearing at him.
"The city will be under my control soon, and I bet that they will have to crawl back to ask for my help with how undersupplied they currently are..."
There's also the Takagi family that had not accepted his help. But he really had no use for them, so he doesn't care much about them. He knew that the key to their cooperation was their daughter, Saya, but why should he bother with it? They are basically strangers to him since he already cloned both the Takagi mother and daughter.
"I always wonder why many protagonists always want to be heroes or some good guy. Aren't they tired of living like a script character?"
Zeno muttered as he thought back to the previous life where he was just Noah, a normal salaryman who liked anything anime, games, manga, and comics.
"Now I'm remembering the games, books, and anime I will never finish…"
Zeno sighed with depression as he sank into his chair and wished he had never had a flashback to his old life.
"White Dream, go get some ice cream for me, will you?"
"Master, you should do such little things yourself and not be lazy all the time."
White Dream materialized beside him before she suddenly patted his head like he was a spoiled brat while delivering a lecture from Leila's hidden command.
"..."
Zeno wonders if his girls' hidden command will ever run out any time soon...