Chapter 64: Chapter64-Smith Brothers

After we decided to continue moving, we walked through the ruined streets for another thirty minutes. When we turned a corner, a horrifying scene appeared in front of us: hundreds of zombie bodies scattered across the ground, blood covering the pavement, and an eerie silence filling the air. It was clear this wasn't a random event; someone had recently killed these zombies in a methodical manner, leaving their bodies still fresh. I could tell they were killed recently because if they hadn't been, their bodies would have disintegrated in to the air by now. As I carefully looked over the scene, something stood out to me. These zombies weren't killed by just one person. Why? Some of the bodies had different injuries and marks, suggesting they were killed by a group of people. This means a group killed all these zombies and then left. As I thought more about this, a realization hit me. Left? They couldn't have left already because we would have seen them if they had. Which means... It's a trap... "Everybody be-" Before I could finish warning them, a gunshot rang out loudly beside us... Damn, they've surrounded us from all sides, cutting off any chance of escape. Suddenly, a voice broke the silence, ordering us not to move. "Don't move!" I recognized the voice of a young man. I turned swiftly to see three figures approaching us. Another surprise... As our eyes met, both their expressions and mine revealed surprise. The three guys were the Smith brothers. As they came closer, I could see their distinct appearances and personalities clearly. The oldest brother, Jack, claimed to have faced many battles with monsters, though I couldn't verify his said stories in interview... His dark eyes revealed determination and experience, and he was respected for his leadership and ability to stay composed in risky situations. Next to Jack was Sam, the middle brother. He had an average build but seemed strong in how he carried himself. Sam had green hair and blue eyes, and he was the brother I knew the least about. He was quiet and didn't speak much, which made it difficult for even reporters to get information from him. Bringing up the rear was Allen, the youngest brother. Although he was shorter than his brothers, he was quick and known for his agility. Allen had blue hair and ordinary black eyes. He was the only brother who enjoyed appearing on TV interviews. As they came closer to us, their expressions softened a bit, showing both relief and caution. Why? All because our families have been friends for a decade and have been business partners in many projects, deals, and transactions. Their family ranked as the eighth wealthiest in the human domain. The previous Michael rarely went to parties but would often run into at least one of the three brothers. You could say they were like friends. Even though Michael never called them friends, only business partners, they always considered him a friend. It was strange but true. I knew them well, and they knew me, but their surprise must have been for different reasons than mine. Why? Unlike them, who regularly faced interviews with reporters, I rarely revealed myself in public, making it difficult for them to encounter me easily. I could easily tell that they were surprised to see me here... I looked at Kiara, Alex, and Lia, and gestured for them to lower their weapons. As the Smith brothers approached, Jack, the eldest, stepped forward with a cautious yet determined look in his eyes. "Well, well, well, if it isn't our old friend," he said, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and suspicion. I nodded, keeping my tone calm. "Jack, Sam, Allen. It's been a while." Jack's expression softened slightly as he glanced at his brothers. "We weren't expecting to run into you here. What brings you to this part of town?" I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words carefully. "Just passing through, like everyone else. We saw the commotion and decided to investigate." I told them a lie without any specific reason. It just felt right at the time, especially considering the situation we were in. Allen raised an eyebrow. "Commotion, huh? You mean the pile of undead back there?" He gestured towards the scene of slaughtered zombies behind us. "Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my explanation simple. "It looked like trouble, so we approached cautiously." Sam, who had been silent up until now, spoke up with a hint of curiosity. "Who are the other three with you?" I briefly introduced Kiara, Alex, and Lia. I was a bit stunned when they didn't react to Lia's identity at all. It seemed strange to me, so I asked them directly. Jack mentioned there was a specific reason, but he didn't elaborate, so I didn't press further, even though I was curious to know more. After that, I explained how we had been traveling together, searching for a safe place to stay. Jack nodded thoughtfully. "Your journey here must have been tough. Would you like to join us?" I looked at him, puzzled. "I mean, you're welcome to join us. We're heading to a safe spot nearby. There's safety in numbers." Why wouldn't I? I was out searching for a group in the first place. What could be better than receiving an invitation to join one right in front of me? But I hesitated. I knew I had to wait before replying. If I responded too quickly out of excitement, they might become suspicious of me. There was a slim chance of them being suspicious, but it was still possible. The previous Michael had always turned down most requests and offers from the three brothers, except for business-related ones. They were skilled in business, after all. I pretended to carefully consider Jack's offer, aware of their reputation for survival skills and resourcefulness. "Thank you, Jack. Show me the way." The brothers exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging my acceptance. Jack shouted, "Come out, they're on our side." Following Jack's call, eight guys emerged from different directions, each armed with a gun. I asked, "Who are they?" Allen replied, "They're our servants." I asked again, "servants?" "No, wait," he corrected himself, "they're our friends." "But you just said Servants!" I was confused. Were they servants, friends, or workers? I couldn't make sense of it. Jack intervened, stopping Allen. "Michael, sorry about my little brother. He's just messing with you. They're regular hunters or people who got stranded here." I nodded in response. I wasn't upset by it. To me, it didn't seem like he was joking around. Jack then guided us through the desolate streets towards their group's stronghold, a fortified shopping mall. Approaching the shopping mall, my attention was drawn immediately to the heavily armed guards and barricades securing the entrance. It was clear that security was tight for their group. Jack inquired, "Impressed by our security setup? It's all overseen by our boss!" As we continued walking, I couldn't resist asking, "Who your leader?" Sure, here's a simplified version: Jack straightforwardly said, "Marcus Taylor." "Marcus, that guy? Seriously?" I replied. Jack nodded. I sighed. Marcus Taylor is Ross Taylor's son, the leader of the Hunter Association. He's essentially a potential future leader of the human domain. But here's the main issue: I didn't even know he was coming to the meeting. Lia, Anna, and Marcus all have mysterious identities in the human domain. Most people don't even know if they even exist because their associations strictly forbid them from showing their faces. So, for them to show up at the Cannes meeting makes it way more important than it already is. What is really happening here? Sam interrupted my thoughts with a phone call, asking, "Michael, have you met Marcus before?" Maybe he got that idea because I zoned out after hearing Marcus's name. I said, "No, I was just surprised to hear that he was at the meeting." "We were just as surprised as you when we first met him," Allen added. I nodded in acknowledgment, curiosity about Marcus growing with every step. "How did you all end up here?" Jack paused, as if considering how much to reveal. "It was 5 days back. We were scavenging nearby when we stumbled upon this place. Marcus found us before we even knew it was safe." "And Marcus... what is his strength?" I probed, eager to learn more about the mysterious guy who had apparently impressed the Smith brothers. Also marcus's strength is as mysterious as his identity so, I wanted to know everything about him... Jack's expression turned serious. "Marcus is... different. He's strong, both physically and mentally. He offered us to join his group, but we refused at first." "Why refuse?" I asked, intrigued by their initial rejection of such a person. Sam chimed in for the first time since our encounter. "We thought he was weak. Cocky, even. We challenged him to a fight." Allen smirked, recalling the memory. "Marcus, being Marcus, didn't back down. He made a bet with us. If we could defeat him in combat, he'd do anything we asked. But if he won, we'd have to join his group." "Bold move," I commented, imagining the tension of that challenge. Jack nodded ruefully. "We accepted. Thought we could take him. Turns out, Marcus is no pushover. He beat all three of us." "So, you had no choice but to join?" I surmised, picturing the scene where the brothers, proud and skilled as they were, had to bow to someone stronger. "Yeah," Jack admitted, a touch of respect in his voice. "He showed us what real strength looks like. Since then, we've been with his group." We arrived at the entrance where guards stood watchfully. While Jack spoke with the guards, I used my appraisal skill on him and his brothers to learn more about them. 'Appraise.' **Name:** Jack Smith **Height:** 6'1" (188 cm) **Weight:** 200 lbs (91 kg) **Personality:** Brute-headed, determined, experienced, composed, authoritative, have dimentia problem... **Evaluation:** Gold-Rank Hunter **Probability:** There's a 10% chance of reaching Ace rank by the age of 45. *** Name: Sam Smith Height: 5'11" (180 cm) Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg) Personality: Quiet, reserved, strong presence, introspective, mysterious Evaluation: Gold-Rank Hunter Probability: There's a 100% chance of reaching Platinum rank by the age of 45. *** Name: Allen Smith Height: 5'8" (173 cm) Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg) Personality: Playful, agile, enjoys public attention, quick-witted Evaluation: Gold-Rank Hunter Probability: There's a 69% chance of reaching Ace-Rank by the age of 50. *** I wasn't very surprised by their information since it was mostly what I already knew... I thought I would learn more about them, but I was wrong. There's nothing new except their future rank probabilities. *** Jack exchanged a few words with them, and soon we were inside the mall, walking through what had once been a bustling shopping center, now transformed into a fortified sanctuary. Inside, the atmosphere was surprisingly calm. People went about their tasks, securing defenses, tending to supplies. It was clear this was a community that had found stability in an unstable world. But, something shocked me...