Chapter 27: Too Weak to Dictate

Inside the central command tent, General Vincious Jerald ordered everyone to clear the room, leaving only himself, Summer, and the Professor.

Captain Robin escorted Jacob, Mary, Ella, Ilas, and Angela to a nearby medical shelter to rest, get their wounds treated, and receive emergency rations.

Then they would be allocated to their own tents.

Before leaving the tent, the three girls lingered near the entryway, crowding around the Professor.

Ella pointed a finger at the taller man’s face, her tone firm. "Hey, Professor. You better make sure that old man doesn’t bully Chubby while we’re away."

"Yeah," Ilas agreed, nodding vigorously. "If he tries anything sneaky, tell us immediately!"

"Chubby?" The Professor blinked, pushing up his thick glasses as he looked back and forth between the three girls. "Who is Chubby?"

The three girls exchanged quick, synchronized glances before turning their bright eyes toward the pale zombie girl standing nearby.

"It’s her nickname," Angela explained, stepping up and poking a small finger into Summer’s left cheek. "Look at her cheeks. They’re so full and chubby!"

The Professor stared intently at Summer’s face for a moment, taking in her remarkably soft, puffed-up cheeks beneath her glowing crimson eyes.

A sudden spark shone in his eyes as he nodded in total agreement.

"Fascinating," the Professor whispered. "A fitting title. Boss Chubby it is."

"But don’t dare to touch her. She doesn’t like it," Ella warned.

"Of course..." The Professor vigorously nodded his head, though Ella felt that lacked conviction.

"Hurry up..." Captain Robin said, "my body is tingling for a bath."

As Captain Robin urged, they had no choice but to obey.

"I don’t think this idiot can bully that rebellious girl. He might be eaten up by her if he tries," Mary said. For the first time, Summer found herself agreeing with the older woman.

She is a bit smarter after all. Though slightly less than One. Mary did not know she was being compared to a Zombie now.

If she did... well.

Angela, Ella, and Ilas nodded in agreement before turning around and exiting the tent alongside Captain Robin and Major Imani.

With the entrance flap closed, silence fell over the large canvas tent.

General Vincious walked around his heavy wooden desk and sat down in his leather chair, resting his crossed hands on the cluttered surface.

He stared across the room at Summer, who was standing in the middle of the dirt floor with her iron gauntlets resting casually by her sides.

"Let’s get straight to the point," Vincious began, keeping his voice formal and authoritative.

"The civilian population is terrified of you. If I am to allow a zombie entity to remain inside this safe zone, I need to pacify the survivors. I can calm the people down and guarantee your stay, but in exchange, you will have to perform several high-priority missions for the military."

Summer stared at the old man without blinking. She puffed out her cheeks slightly as she processed his words.

Was this human stupid? She wondered.

"Why would I care if those humans accept me?" Summer asked, her voice clear, straightforward, and entirely devoid of any mockery. "I don’t want them to accept me." She paused.

"It’s a good thing if they accept me, and it’s fine if they don’t. I will do the same to them as well. Then, if one day they need my help, I will never help them."

"Pfft... ahem." The Professor bit back his laugh, but a stifled chuckle leaked out.

Vincious frowned, leaning forward slightly. "If they do not accept you, you cannot stay here in the Northern Settlement."

Summer looked at him again as if he were an absolute idiot.

"Then I will leave," she said simply, tilting her head.

"You..." Vincious froze, completely speechless. He had expected her to negotiate, not outright reject his offer. Who didn’t want protection from the military, even if they were strong?

He took a heavy breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "Living inside a fortified settlement is far safer than roaming the ruins outside. You have a haven of safety here, protection from waves of infected, and structure."

Summer tilted her head to the other side. "I am strong enough to make everywhere I go safe. Also, unless I attack them first, they never attack me."

Vincious opened his mouth to argue, but Summer continued before he could speak a single word.

"Besides, if anything comes here that is strong enough to pose a threat to me, no one in this camp could do anything to stop it anyway," Summer stated plainly.

"It is literally the exact same whether I am outside the settlement or inside the settlement. Humans are far too weak."

She was not saying it to mock him, nor was she trying to boast about her power. She was merely stating basic facts based on what she had observed since her evolution.

That was precisely what left General Vincious utterly speechless. He stared at the pale little girl, realizing the brutal truth staring him in the face.

This zombie girl was brutally honest, completely unbothered by human social standing, and possessed zero desire for safety because her own physical strength was her sanctuary.

Once again, memories of that stubborn girl resurfaced in his mind. It was not a surprise. She, as a human, was also the same.

She fought the entire military without any power. What would stop her now when she no longer lacked that power?

There was nothing the military could offer her that she could not take or create for herself. He had zero leverage over her.

Just like before...

Vincious rubbed his aching temples, letting out a deep, tired sigh. He needed her combat power, and more importantly, he needed her to explore the Seattle River.

Throwing her out over civilian complaints was out of the question.

Clearing his throat, Vincious adopted a stern look, attempting to save face as if he were granting her a generous mercy.

"Fine," Vincious declared, raising a hand. "You can stay here. But as for the people... you will eventually have to find a way to earn their acceptance on your own if you want to walk around freely."

Summer opened her mouth, fully intending to tell the old man once again that she did not care about human acceptance in the slightest.

Before she could speak, the Professor quickly stepped forward, grabbing her by the shoulder and dragging her backward toward the tent exit.

"Thank you for your overwhelming generosity, General!" the Professor called out sarcastically, pulling the tent flap open and ushering Summer out into the cool air before she could provoke the old man any further.

Once they were a good distance away from the command tent, the Professor stopped under the dim glow of a street lantern.

He looked down at Summer, his dark eyes sparkling with pure admiration.

"Boss Chubby, you are incredible," the Professor chuckled, pushing up his thick glasses. "You are only the second person I’ve ever seen make that old man puff up in anger like a frustrated toad. Haha!"

Summer felt a pleasant surge of pride in her chest. She was always happy to see someone recognize her extraordinary nature.

However, as the man’s words settled in her mind, her curiosity was piqued. She tilted her head, her ruby eyes fixing on his face.

"Who’s the first?" Summer asked.

"Oh..." The Professor’s smile faltered slightly, replaced by a subtle shudder as he looked up at the starlit sky.

"That’s a mad woman. Just so you know... only because it was bothering her did I even bother becoming the leader of the Rogues."