Rotting Land: Survive

"Everyone shut up!!"

The stern roar. It turns out Watanabe’s authority among these "Japanese" students was not weak at all.

With his roar, the originally rowdy "Japanese" students who were about to get rough with Derek and Xu Renjie immediately quieted down.

Watanabe parted the crowd, walking toward the inside. Once he reached Derek, his face gradually became serious: "Derrick, do you remember the agreement between us?"

"I remember!" Derek responded firmly, but inside, a sense of unease rose.

"Since you remember, you’d better give me a reasonable explanation. Where are the supplies?"

"This... cough cough!" The wounds on Derek made him groan twice, clearly the earlier "abuse" by the skinny boy caused him significant harm.

Seeing Derek struggling to speak, Xu Renjie awkwardly offered: "Um, boss Watanabe, Little Der is too injured to speak, how about I explain for him?"

Watanabe squinted his eyes slightly, glancing at Xu Renjie with a gaze sharp enough to devour him, as if telling Xu Renjie: Did I ask you to speak?

Old Xu wasn’t foolish; he knew the consequences of interrupting at this moment.

But there was no choice, Derek’s state was evident, and he was not suitable, mentally or physically, for the following discussion.

After all, Watanabe’s inquiry related directly to their actions and everyone’s safety.

Thus, for the sake of safety, Old Xu could only take risks.

"Boss Watanabe, um... please don’t be angry, I didn’t mean to butt in, it’s just... you see Little Der’s condition, I am afraid to waste your time."

Feigning a timid appearance, Xu Renjie understood the feeling these "Japanese" students wanted.

These young lads, fresh out of school, eager for success, long to be regarded highly.

Coupled with that inherent national superiority from "Japan," it forged the twisted psychology of these students.

Sure enough, after hearing Xu Renjie’s words, the nearly furious Watanabe gradually calmed down.

Although his facial expressions remained stiff, the relaxation of his eyebrows told Xu Renjie his "nonsense" had some effect.

"Alright! You explain the cause, but let me declare in advance. If the answer doesn’t satisfy me... hmm hmm, don’t blame me for being ruthless with you!"

There’s no need to doubt Watanabe’s resolve; his sudden vile aura explained everything well.

"Uh... yes, yes!" Xu Renjie replied fearfully twice, continuing his act: "We encountered Little Der on the street, that day he and I..."

Pointing at Lei Tong, who was still kneeling in the middle of the classroom: "He and I were also out scavenging for supplies, and we found Little Der surrounded by zombies. At that time, his situation was dire, encircled by at least 10 zombies. Later, I pretended to be a decoy, making noise to lure some away, allowing Little Der to escape through the gap they left. We then met on the main road. Little Der introduced that you had a safe shelter here, so after discussing with my buddy, we came along."

"Is that so?" Watanabe didn’t judge Xu Renjie’s words but turned his glance toward Derek.

Derek was already instructed on how to handle the current situation, so he coughed dryly a few times, nodding: "Yes, yes it’s like that, I almost didn’t make it back, these two saved me. I saw they were capable and brought them back."

That was the pre-arranged story by Old Xu and Tang Xiaoquan. They knew what the "Japanese" students lacked. So they deliberately steered the topic toward "skills."

Because at this point, only by proving their value could Old Xu and Lei Tong have a chance to survive.

Seeming to be somewhat swayed by the words, Watanabe looked Xu Renjie up and down with interest.

Xu Renjie kept a fawning smile, but unconsciously straightened his back, revealing his robust muscles.

"You both are capable fighters?"

Watanabe’s question was indeed difficult.

If you answer yes, you might be seen as a threat.

If you answer no, it would be like slapping Derek in the face. It might even get you thrown out to feed the zombies.

Without understanding Watanabe’s intentions, Old Xu chose the middle way his ancestors often used, giving an ambiguous answer: "Not bad, I dare not say much else, but going out to gather supplies is no problem."

"Cough cough!" Derek coughed violently again: "That’s what I value, why I hurried to bring them back. Boss Watanabe, you know, each time I go out alone, no matter how hard I try, what I bring back is limited. But with so many people at school, relying solely on the supplies I gather isn’t enough. So keeping them could surely boost our scavenging efforts, and everyone would live better than now."

Upon hearing this, those "Japanese" students who were so angry a moment ago relaxed their troubled expressions.

In retrospect, while hiding in school guaranteed their safety, life resembled that of a landlord’s, but the quality, truth be told, was worse than pigs and dogs.

It’s no wonder, relying solely on Derek’s efforts to support so many, no matter how well distributed, the scarcity issue couldn’t be solved.

This was also what troubled Watanabe, who had considered sending his people to scavenge.

But crowded with zombies outside, like an impenetrable wall, killed all his hopes.

They lacked Derek’s wall-climbing "techniques," or the courage to face the undead outside.

Though they put on airs before students, 13 of them together were less effective than Derek alone against zombies.

This is why, when Derek requested "resources for girlfriend safety," Watanabe agreed.

Understand that "Japanese" men have an almost perverse desire for women.

Asking them to stay away from Demmi and Zhao Lina, to not be tempted, demonstrates Derek’s importance here.

"Are you sure they can help you?" Watanabe was indeed tempted, but it didn’t mean he believed Derek.

"I’m sure! Not to mention anything else, just the fact they could climb in today shows they have the capability to scavenge with me."

"Hmm," as Derek mentioned this, Watanabe suddenly realized.

Indeed! Since these two could scale a 10-story building and reach here smoothly, they truly possessed the ability to enter and leave the campus.

Even so, Watanabe’s eyes shot two sharp glints... (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)