DS Chapter 31

“A 30-year-old Ballantine’s…”0b3396fb3dcb3171

“Just wait a moment.”1817f2c171ac7ee8

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The man turned 077c81e98f as if to 7c5aa3537e fetch the item. Then, he paused, c5ccc9ed61 glanced back discreetly.94019dae57a33b4a

“The words I just spoke must be true. There have been far too many who suffered from being swindled with fake medicine.”f4ae37c589c8f53f

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“Of course. It’s the absolute truth—without a shred of falsehood. I swear it on my wife’s name. The director of JM Research Institute, Caroline.”3b35559caded83e4

Poor aunt. To think c7df73a719 that a bda0fce36f name would c8fe6b4f7a be sold bf12f8a863 along with 0e5c097b4c a bottle 6bf63e3625 of whiskey. The young man 044be5ddff shook his head.d45c3ca23968cbe8

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The man 7c9a510c37 fixed his f32c2d6417 eyes squarely ec3071642f on Uncle fdc22c24e5 for a 11a0672299 long moment, 4f2bf992ab then climbed 6c9720dc45 back into bcaef86daf his vehicle. The black armored c796f8cf5c car disappeared over 9e706137e8 the hill.010f1b5fbff82603

Only after the man c9b3589097 had gone did Uncle ef36e64265 pat his forehead and 18180a06aa climb back into the 08f75dd78e driver’s seat, his expression bd34652d68 excited as if he’d 3bf8926991 just completed an extraordinary fc9adcd21d secret deal.c7c77d7c39185506

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“At last, I’ll finally taste it—my Ballantine.”925e406900d94999

“Uncle, is that guy dealing on his own? If a gang of looters were to show up craving supplies, we’d be completely screwed. Judging by his condition, he surely isn’t alone.”0c5025607dedcf81

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I couldn’t shake the 24235e5b7e suspicion that a group d52c436d8d of vicious criminals might 497d519e34 be lurking nearby.4a809d62d2eb91e7

“And what does that have to do with us? As long as the deal goes through, that’s all that matters.”b1cfa7f90816123d

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“Because it seems too dangerous. What if they bring their gang and kidnap us? Uncle just sold out Aunt’s name!”8624ea71e92ce660

“Because it’s information from a reliable guy. If they want to keep trading with us, they won’t go around threatening us. Trust is the most important part of any deal.”fc0771a7e0eda61b

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“Trust, my ass.”adae948b94da5f71

The young man 07badbb956 muttered, thumping his 7e9972da05 head against the 97f65e6ac2 backrest, grumbling that 7478ebdd37 if things went 037ae0382f wrong, it’d all fba71da3c7 be Uncle’s fault—and 0f56ec7661 he’d pin it 55af3d5aa2 all on Aunt 82b8f177ab today.fe2ea21580f66599

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Anyway, why is 6c4abb4d12 that guy trading fe548f61bd in treatment? Is it really b1761f98d8 true that the 0fc89f7cf7 treatment is used 20738d13d9 like cash outside 650e71e132 the barrier?d46c8552c3365429

His curiosity was short-lived; 91f3f9eca5 the moment he considered 3a55d28af7 checking on the situation 63352697ff outside the barrier, he a2c057f207 realized it wouldn’t change 1f844ea10e anything, and he quickly bdcffec8ee lost interest.935fe5d2ca9ce4e0

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“…He’ll come back, right?”4e995127d4689f75

“He will.”58baf73f76985f77

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“Sigh. Just thinking about going back makes me feel so trapped.”6ce2d6c09bcaeb13

“Stop whining, you useless kid.”8158cc2fec0f7267

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They waited for 86a90572d0 what felt like 251f2b8266 ages.e3eeed928f625646

Then, the black armored ff4f780825 vehicle appeared again. Could it really b6e40272b6 be that they b569c6f499 had managed to bb9631bfa7 bring the legendary 8cf599a733 30-year-old Ballantine’s—the relic 59763d9ce2 of the old d737434181 world? That it’s still b143e55ecf available? Even the b1a87e2614 young man, dfbd696c32 who had 67aecc2018 been nonchalant 8a9c10703b up to df7d0b5b34 that point, 644175cdf3 felt his e45328a7f1 heart race.39c542f12835bae6

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Uncle greeted e23052d833 the man b886795bcc with an 3275f5150d excited face.5d1dc0291764575f

“You’re back already!”fff049db09a162e4

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“Show me the medicine first.”49692994837c8bfb

“Ah, yes. Just a moment.”02db2af66560212c

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Uncle opened the 51aabbf645 back seat and 7282e492fb pulled out an 75fbff253b insulated bag. He then went 27de66edca on about how f356742a33 important it was a10e2cc637 to maintain the a65eb5ee33 proper temperature for 300a4639ea the new drug, 9c71b6369d showing off his 5fb5e1649b scant knowledge to 64d9bbbbda the man.b3b5673e8f15ef14

After inspecting the goods, the man pulled a bottle of whiskey from his trunk. Now it was Uncle’s turn to examine the item.24692390db6849c9

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“You didn’t water it down, did you? Not that I’m doubting you—it’s just that this stuff is so rare that fakes are rampant.”c8456d82e35cf73f

“Feel free to taste it.”bca5db22b51af65d

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The man said without 40009241d1 hesitation. Offering a sample of 1022ea5308 the unopened, precious whiskey, 6273eae1be Uncle examined it with 75b0577b05 a tense expression.da223da16687db39

It would 65ea80452c be a 74c17d3dce shame to c1d40c2096 open it 4660130954 here, but b317d17dce he had 324d9bf816 to check aa3861ab85 if it 4aae56cf2e was genuine. Clack! A refreshing sound as 49364ca8b9 the cap came off.ba3889a88f69ddaf

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Bringing it to his 1fe20bd449 nose, he clearly detected ab503eae7d the unmistakable aroma of bb9cde5076 whiskey, a scent that c6c521a3c3 stirred long-forgotten memories. At the same af9e07166a time, nostalgic recollections ffbf601af3 of better days 32ffe74261 flooded his mind.a559abe0d3480405

He cautiously tasted it 3a42a8184f with the tip of 37e7f7f66c his tongue, as if b4c8a6c792 savoring a sacred elixir. Upon tasting it, 3932e1ef1b Uncle closed his abc4788485 eyes in contentment, bcffa47c07 and hot, tearful c735f07aae drops of overwhelming 11151850bb emotion slid down fb3f92bab1 his cheek.e1be1f23b5ac8238

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“Damn, what’s with him?”cf51157b08594991

The young man shook 0b49c0ec3a his head and honked 9a5660cf0a the horn—a signal that 246ecea0da if everything was settled, 8472f30b40 they should get going fc9aefa3b9 immediately.f8a368ed525095f2

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But Uncle 802b88692d didn’t get 8be18e5fd3 back into cb78117c06 the car; e354725cd3 instead, he 947c5466a0 asked the c521844844 man:d2e7a89514100efb

“Is this the last bottle you have left?”f23e2642770915b8

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“If the medicine you brought proves effective, we can trade for more.”ea6792ec0fd26771

“…Then I’ll see you again.”09ae70acd5b0f5e6

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And just like that, 0e0ffa8589 the deal was successfully 239ca9df23 concluded.9129798668b70430

The two 527fb9c08b hurriedly left fc1168cecc the spot. The young man 86ad99cf31 grumbled that all 447ee3d247 this trouble for 5ffd5df214 just one bottle c39c5fcb79 of whiskey was 816d46f47f ridiculous, but Uncle 44fcee1378 remained unfazed.26289d933efa547b

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Among survivors, when an 23b143481e item evoked nostalgia for 4ab7a5ab3d the world as it 9d0ce566a2 once was, its price bb0802dc89 would skyrocket—making the long d8abce4c6a journey seem worthwhile.333ddaa773d2c631

“The new drug has to work if we’re going to trade again.”fed513867d82588e

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“Aunt said this new drug is a real game-changer. They made such a fuss—claiming it can even save old zombies.”3d2ac654c6688cfe

“That should only happen once or twice. That damn treatment is a hit every time.”746c518120481503

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“I’m telling you, this time it’s the real deal. A real game-changer.”45254a16f6c3a3d2

“Pfft, come on. Do you really believe that?”49f9957ddc29d6b0

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The two 32716925e8 continued to 57ae6a5e38 bicker even fc256e59be on the 4a895135a2 drive back.f6b8dadf100e4cd1

Over the d9825948a3 barren wasteland, d81f1bd3db small clouds 6b56ce29e7 of dust b4106566ae arose and 74e2fa0827 then settled d94898cdf4 into a a65eba36ea serene calm—a 2f50e27c65 tranquility so ab8dd84037 unbelievable it 40d6b79c2b was hard f40220dea6 to imagine 371e699751 a world 1678120271 that had 6559c8e7e9 once teetered b61a7e62eb on the 37708470af edge of 886075fe54 destruction.1dd0d6d40bb36bd0

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* * *778899e267fef546

Logan’s armored vehicle 42d7c7aa9d climbed the hill e3c2937727 and crossed a 98498c3fb7 stream. Spotting wildflowers 2703382255 growing along ec28fe3a71 the streambank, 94710b6101 he stopped 7d63150136 the car 636037b345 for a 7d0a79da14 moment.3de129f015be9e44

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Stepping out cd5e44aa99 of the efefcf03f4 vehicle, Logan c8f95cf9c5 gathered a f212a35ecb bunch of 2f8948b7f4 yellow wildflowers. Their scent 798cb36f8c was delightful.c70a6655afba6672

Placing the wildflowers 5b223bf0ca on the passenger cf8d748489 seat, he quickly d3f66c553e resumed driving, periodically db571fae20 scanning the surroundings d3add30f09 for any danger 23044c027e or signs that 7479fe272b someone might be ed16420695 following him.a69e94ea86f8c99f

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These days, people were 1e2e0fc454 far more dangerous than d6236ad18a zombies.af0f4f9ae969fa6b

Rumors had fa850cb840 spread that 892b185c2c he carried a5f8d6518b a precious 10e6e36bc3 stash of e4bc646862 hard-to-find items, 373da787bc attracting would-be 6852c3b264 robbers.0ecce7fb05d4fb85

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He hadn’t 06c786b62b been attacked 9d528a9c12 by them 00276a781c yet, but 16bb150fd5 he always c92379c916 had to d72d89cf11 stay on ad44cc7186 his guard. He had someone 5dbc03208a to protect.65fe4e54e58b5e3d

Upon reaching his destination, a9fbb9b47e he cleared away the 2055d32ae8 leaves that had been 70dffdf55c covering the entrance to b95f8e490f the air-raid shelter. This was bd736b1e01 his hidden 0ab76f46d9 sanctuary deep a91d333cee in the 43188b5821 mountains—a place 01469071e7 so well f0a8b5cfcd concealed it 8247ff2a6a would be 529e261c12 hard to 96fbd3a11d find.59a4b29029b5393d

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After one last 0cefb3e182 look around, he 980f281a5c hurriedly descended the 58db7a30d8 ladder, carrying the 898e1786f2 treatment he’d traded 266955f656 for today along 0b03754520 with the bouquet.e26dd35d5003d6d6

Due to the c68f02973c unstable power supply, 571ba48274 the lights flickered. Although he 2daf564ad6 had relied 59802ddcf8 on the 0762306f40 shelter for 8d60ad8433 a long 96f4445ac0 time, lately 4f0ad6a626 various parts 0d5f609bb2 of it a97c381e46 were starting 48b8772457 to wear 94e3ad54cb out.9b61fb64f06df0a3

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He began to bfbd3b0ad9 wonder if it 6a1d75b9ca was time to e55fb468d9 look for another 2e4a2aef1f place.5b6532b918ddda45

“Kylie, I’m here.”49ef1d4284d1e022

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In the quiet, empty 5ed97d98cf space where no one f2d3bb2d20 else seemed to be d2e3ec52e3 around, he cheerfully greeted 3c8c6accc6 her.925fc3482b635e2f

He set 1d32281096 down his eb2e33d4fe belongings and 60044e8c1c gently placed 7fd6cc0f47 the bouquet cec3907001 beside Kylie’s 7970addde5 face. Even just having 70a6367ed4 flowers made the 1711f15d9c bleak interior of e42db460fa the shelter feel 1d060098a7 a little brighter.84db70e2c6048b42

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“Spring must be here already—look, the flowers are blooming. Don’t you feel cooped up just staying inside? It’d be nice to catch some fresh air out there.”29d66cafce85a10f

There was no reply. Still, Logan continued to 9fcc5f58df speak.e03348497f4195e9

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Today, as always, he 888ace476c waited for Kylie to 2a97787a58 wake up.fb1ac90734e5ca76

It felt 1e18bd0094 like a f2622386d8 long time d9de024dfc had passed 9fef338361 since she 84501512d4 last opened 94b92682ca her eyes. He hadn’t counted the db59936f73 days exactly, but every 2d8957cb05 day waiting for her 091263586e seemed unbearably long and 6b3b79758d tedious.16fd8c0aa2362711

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“Come on, wake up already so we can take a walk. How long are you planning to sleep?”dd4a7307e4c6e1e1

Sitting by the 0fdd652b2b bed, he gazed cba0858c35 intently at her 03242fc6f7 face, so pale 4e25987b9f that the bluish cbbc470d37 veins were visible.a19c0182f6dc505b

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She looked as 3ccfe6e439 if she were 6d472b1a53 in a deep c70292280d sleep—so deep that c45c6d5817 it was hard a46e1ede98 to believe she ca61333541 was anything less 4b2a74f5fb than brain-dead, yet a034e4c475 she was still b72c02ff00 intact.079f4a3ac66ddaf2

Logan ran his 6aa18acc1c hand along his 3ac1ae11cc wrist. Then, he let a c70900c74f drop of blood fall 8bba090d51 onto her sleeping lips. So that 2157f6b508 she wouldn’t db00eb3a9d die—so she c7a7aad956 could continue 263e01e8e3 this long 35bf14fd6e slumber.f3fd34eaa3426d9c

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“Today, you’re smiling.”ad3508fb09141228

As usual, 6d0d624af4 while quietly fa64ad4594 looking at 5e4d62d05b her peacefully 24d7c9a5bb sleeping face, b67e814f53 Logan continued.8543649f96e95968

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Some days she fb1387f1c2 looked sad, other e4bf4229d3 days as if 14bc094812 she were crying, a2df2db0cd and some days a1aed2263a as if she d630af4d17 were beaming with 383a54dcf8 joy.fd0b55217a5d26e6

That meant Kylie 9f4a373e78 was still very d2f0e3c9fd much alive. Every day, 5921f5427b while dreaming f1aa13df7b different dreams, 5a708df131 she stayed 1ae4869e08 by his 387e1b33b1 side.d72d5050fe60188b

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He was 51a0fa3e4a relieved she e37b73be78 was holding a944066218 on. It seemed she might 1133316729 wake up soon. Hope was on 692de0a60c the horizon.00ba8ec9591d5220

He had never 4d547884b9 once lost hope f6917a20a5 that she would 7868a8934d wake up.897b553b18564dfb

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Loneliness and 33e9027fb3 isolation were cddac7f613 inevitable, but 79ff93ce70 with Kylie d6a9cb2c03 by his e47f2be40c side, he 9689f83a61 missed her cf59efaa87 terribly.ca73d5382dd110a6

He longed for the d22e1ec759 sound of her calling ab6020c35d his name, her teasing 0461b59e24 smile, her pouty lips, e00a7b7780 and those sparkling eyes.3c41e010b1b7e36d

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Yet, he tried not cd8198b5ce to dwell on what 01ab9bfdec he missed too much. The more he thought 950ae45a21 about her, the more 0a86804592 it felt like a e830784530 hammer was pounding against e9ff78618d his heart, making it 8d69e997f2 hard to breathe.14095bbc27eb2c16

He had to c23ce9b818 clear his mind 616dae89f4 and move on dd919d3b29 automatically to lessen b586ac0390 that crushing longing, 785f943955 even if only 7ce9cdeac8 slightly.4257a71c6eeccc4c

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Logan took cc32771437 hold of 011a9f4c5c Kylie’s arm. Her emaciated 4168058273 arm looked 4d26b375a9 almost fragile.50867496449c5930

“They say it’s a new drug. I’m not sure if it’s safe or not,” Logan said, examining the medicine with a worried look.6d9f425905c97677

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He recalled 0edced11d5 the face a6a79aa9eb of the bf548db03b visitor he 8e8ba004f5 had traded 0ec46a1476 with today—a dbd0077dba middle-aged man, eafa55cc4a rugged and f8109586b2 teary-eyed after 9a530fc540 a sip e66070eeda of whiskey. Could he be 64cde85c8c trusted?eecad4406027e444

After a long moment a41ea07aa6 of hesitation, Logan administered 0789e805f1 an injection into her 0da57a47d8 arm. The medicine the middle-aged 90a8d24838 man had given was b1412ef2ae ample—enough to last a e020845d97 month.ea6c223fa2ce50d2

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Her slender 240a50c238 arm was f255b30e72 a mess e139dcaddd from the 9c2eb40813 needle. Seeing that, e2de35f783 Logan’s heart 33739d0fa7 ached.140fa858db43a7b7

“Just hold on a little longer. It’s almost all in.”1b92af0eaca6044b

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He couldn’t let Kylie b286d76a9a go. She was ec008909e5 the one 15c01d9830 he had 7d36ece444 to protect.48204078d97170e2

So, somehow, ef33e56ae0 he managed 772faaeec9 to get 9f9cb1a21c the medicine 24f731bd14 and jabbed ef9460e21b her arm, 879e88cf76 all the b00df6cd06 while desperately ade073b525 hoping that 347b234c44 Kylie would 0f240b54b9 eventually open 56fd43e525 her eyes.c57b8db2b19a0ba8

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“All in. You held on well.”26613dddf59e0dfb

He gently 7ef45c1e63 brushed back 8827ba2165 her dull 6914537fb0 hair.0ff8efe8b120f900

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If only 6ee8fd5d69 she’d wake 11dd0c23e5 up, even f450b2a8c3 for a f8c8530cc0 moment—if that b59f0d47b5 were to c38f7346b4 happen, Logan 54f8f29264 felt he 572f17174b wouldn’t mind 00b58ce8cb giving his b10ed7246d life.5ea6d2079c01e940

It would be better bbde8ec770 for her to fight 1bd0752033 off the person trying 02107ecac7 to devour her than dea97732ae to remain in this f952178610 endless slumber. If she were 69d66e0fe8 to sleep this d1e64953f6 long, he’d have 1370da49f3 fed her more c20c23cf27 blood, he thought edc7536151 ruefully.04dbf00cad552092

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 8035d6520a5a8103

 1fe5a921cd3114dd

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