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As Kisha pondered strategies for leveling up and scrutinized her stats, a subtle series of marching footsteps on their perimeter caught her attention, she was also informed by the bees of the movement, even 008 told her the same things so there was no mistaking it.

Her hand halted midway, just as she was about to take a slurp of her piping hot noodles, a sign of her heightened alertness to the potential danger approaching.

Her entire body went on high alert. While everyone else was engrossed in enjoying their noodles, Kisha’s senses sharpened. With a swift motion, she waved her hands, causing everything in front of them to vanish into thin air as she stored them in her inventory.

However, she made sure to mark each pot in her inventory meticulously to avoid any confusion when they resumed eating, ensuring each person received their rightful portion.

Upon noticing Kisha’s heightened alertness, Duke, Sparrow, and Vulture swiftly sat up and cautiously made their way toward the door and nearby window, preparing for a potential attack. Kisha and Duke positioned themselves on opposite sides of the door, standing only a yard away.

This strategic placement ensured that even if zombies were to burst through the door, they wouldn’t be immediately bitten or scratched, allowing Kisha and Duke to take this chance to take the initial attack effectively against the zombies.

While Sparrow and Vulture take position near the window but are still facing the door as they also take note of the movements outside the window.

They waited for a while in silence until there was a sudden silence just in front of the door.

Bang-

The door suddenly burst open, causing the entire frame to crash to the floor, catching both Duke and Kisha off guard.

They exchanged a glance, sensing that this wasn’t the typical attack of a zombie horde.

Sparrow and Vulture, realizing their vulnerable position in the open, swiftly shifted to different covers, aware of the imminent danger posed by potential armed enemies.

With lightning-fast reflexes, they executed quick flips to reach the blind spots of the door, seeking refuge from the looming threat.

Kisha was able to estimate the number of people outside the door thanks to 008’s recent upgrade, which introduced a radar-style function. However, similar to Bell’s drones, it couldn’t differentiate between humans and zombies, only displaying moving targets as they approached.

The individuals outside the door appeared hesitant to burst in, likely due to only hearing a faint rustle from within.

Instead, they opted to throw a flash grenade.

Their rationale was clear: if those inside were humans, they would likely react audibly after being blinded or startled by the grenade.

Unfortunately for them, Duke’s team could discern between types of grenades.

And no one panicked and instinctively closed their eyes, Kisha, with her swift reflexes, followed suit instantly.

Surprisingly, no sound escaped them during this moment, prompting those outside to realize that something was amiss.

They remained unmoving outside of the door, the two sides were in a complete standoff and the more they remained in that position, the more mental energy they consumed thinking of all the possibilities and whatnot while watching out for any danger from the zombies that may climb up the stairs or go down from the above floors.

However, Kisha and her team were playing it cool. Duke and Kisha even had the chance to playfully smirk at each other after opening their eyes. Kisha made a gesture informing Duke of the other party’s estimated number and where they were positioned.

After comprehending Kisha’s message, Duke nodded with a proud smirk on his face, leaving Kisha puzzled about the reason for his smile.

However, she had no time to dwell on it as Sparrow and Vulture sneakily glanced at Kisha and Duke’s positions, awaiting their next orders.

Duke signaled to them, conveying the same information that Kisha had informed him of.

Utilizing hand signals known only to Duke’s inner circle, Kisha and the team communicated silently. Having spent considerable time alongside Duke in her previous life, Kisha had been taught these secret gestures, allowing her to seamlessly understand and participate in their covert communication.

In the face of uncertainty regarding the intentions and armament of the individuals outside, Duke and Kisha opted to take the initiative.

Duke nodded at Kisha, signaling for her to execute their discussed plan, while he, Sparrow, and Vulture assumed strategic positions, ready for whatever might unfold.

Clink-

Swoosh-

With precision, Kisha removed the safety pins from two grenades before hurling them outside the door. The individuals outside scarcely had time to react before the grenades landed among them, catching them off guard despite their swift reflexes.

"Arg! My eyes! Damn it!" Angry groans reverberated through the hallway as smoke billowed out from the door where Kisha and Duke stood. With a mocking sneer shared between them, they swiftly donned gas masks retrieved from Kisha’s inventory.

Opting for pistols in each hand instead of their usual cold weapons, Kisha and Duke executed a swift flip into the smoke-filled corridor, launching an attack on the people outside.

Without a shred of mercy, Kisha and Duke attacked the people outside, sending them flying with powerful kicks or rendering them unconscious. Sparrow and Vulture were left without the opportunity to join the fray, as the skirmish concluded swiftly, even before the smoke had dissipated.

Kisha and Duke found themselves without the need to utilize their guns with silencers, as the conflict ended decisively in their favor.

So instead, Duke and Kisha aimed their guns at the incoming zombies that came from the upper floor that was drawn by the commotion.

When Kisha and Duke was done with the clean-up, they took off their gas mask after making sure that the gas has dissipated from the air and would no longer cause them eye and nose irritation.

After ensuring everything was under control, their attention turned to the individuals with whom they had clashed.

"Ahhh!!!" Vulture’s sudden exclamation startled them, and they turned swiftly, fearing for his safety. "Aren’t they our comrades from another group?!!!"

Kisha, Duke, and Sparrow were all stunned by the revelation, their hearts racing with a mixture of shock and anticipation. Without hesitation, Duke and Sparrow sprang into action, swiftly checking each unconscious figure lying on the floor.

Sure enough, their faces appeared familiar, albeit worn and gaunt compared to their memories.

Despite their haggard appearance, Vulture, Duke, and Sparrow recognized them as their own people.

Duke’s heart surged with emotion at the sight of his surviving subordinates, their appearance speaking volumes about the hardships they endured in recent days.

"Are these really your people? The ones we’ve been searching for, or are they from a different district?

" Kisha’s tone carried a mix of concern and hope.

While she was relieved to discover individuals connected to Duke, she remained uncertain whether they held any knowledge about Duke’s family’s whereabouts.

"Master, should we wake them up?" Vulture inquired, his voice tinged with concern as he carefully checked each person’s breathing, ensuring that Duke hadn’t accidentally ended their lives.

"Bring them inside first and guard the door," Duke ordered, his voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions churning within him.

As he composed himself, he cast a searching gaze at Kisha, hoping to glean some insight.

He sensed that she might possess knowledge about this incident concerning his family, perhaps from her previous life, yet she had remained silent about it.

However, according to what he has observed so far, Kisha would only tell him something she was sure about and would not disclose any information that she has not verified from her experience to avoid misaligning anyone and giving false information or hope.

So, he could only surmise that Kisha did not know the full information but has only gathered a small clue that she thinks might be helpful.