Tensions and Temptations

"I'm amazed you still have food like this despite the situation," Hiroshi muttered, his voice tinged with both awe and suspicion. His eyes flicked between the perfectly cooked eggs, crispy bacon, and a generous serving of rice.

Even side dishes—steamed vegetables and small cuts of marinated meat—were laid out as if they were in a high-end restaurant rather than a survival bunker.

Amanda, sitting across from them with her elbows propped on the table, smirked slightly. "These all came from Old Yuan. She owned the Cryptex Cybernatics Corporation."

Hiroshi's spoon clattered against his plate as he froze. His mouth hung open for a moment before he slapped a hand over it. "C-Cryptex Cybernatics Corporation?!" His voice shot up an octave, his disbelief bordering on hysteria. "You mean the largest gaming company in Asia?!"

Amanda simply nodded. "That’s what I heard. But remember—I don’t recall anything before the outbreak."

"Goddamn!" Hiroshi's palm slammed against the edge of the table so hard that their plates nearly jumped.

"Goodness! Hiroshi!" Victor groaned, gripping the table’s edges to steady it. "Control yourself before you send our breakfast flying!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm just—damn! I can't believe you don't know who Yuan Hwang is!" Hiroshi grabbed Victor’s arm and shook it excitedly. "She was huge in the industry! She practically shaped the modern gaming world!"

Victor sighed, prying Hiroshi’s fingers off his sleeve. "I never cared about games," he muttered, leaning back against his chair. "But if she’s that wealthy and still has access to luxuries like these, why the hell is she staying down here instead of living it up in some fortified mansion?"

Amanda twirled her spoon between her fingers before answering. "I don’t know all the details, but she once mentioned something about atoning for her sins. Apparently, she funded research for an antidote…" She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Only to get scammed."

Hiroshi’s excitement faded, his expression growing grim. "By Xianyu?"

Amanda shrugged, finally scooping up a bite of food. "Yeah, but I think there's more to it. You ask her once we come back. For now, we eat before we get left behind."

The meal was quick, but it was enough to give Victor a much-needed surge of energy. Now, the dining hall had mostly emptied, leaving behind the restless murmurs of survivors preparing for their journey beyond the walls.

Men and women alike—battle-hardened, desperate, or simply determined—gathered in the adjacent hall, checking weapons, tightening straps, and exchanging last-minute plans.

The air buzzed with tension, thick with the scent of gun oil, sweat, and something unspoken—fear, maybe, or the quiet resignation of those who had survived long enough to know that death lurked just outside those gates.

Victor adjusted the strap of his shotgun, ensuring it sat snug against his back. He caught Harold watching him, eyes narrowed as if trying to decipher whether he was an asset or a liability. Then, with an irritating smirk, Harold sauntered closer.

"So," Harold drawled, his tone laced with condescension, "what else are you good at?" His gaze flickered to the shotgun resting against Victor’s side, doubt clear in his expression.

Victor didn’t even bother looking at him. "I used to be a hunter," he answered flatly, his voice devoid of interest. He tapped the small key hanging from his belt loop. "I could probably knock you out with just this."

Harold scoffed, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—caution, maybe even mild amusement. He leaned in slightly, as if memorizing every detail of Victor’s face, committing it to some internal list of grudges.

Hiroshi, noticing the silent tension, stepped in at just the right moment. Without a word, he tugged Victor away, steering him toward the far end of the hall.

As they moved, Hiroshi chuckled under his breath. "He looks like he likes you."

Victor shot him a glare. "Shut your mouth, Hiroshi."

Hiroshi raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning, but Victor wasn’t done. He glanced at Hiroshi’s grip on his rifle and sighed. "And what did I say? Never put your finger on the trigger unless you're actually going to use it. If you trip, get startled, or let your intrusive thoughts win, you'll end up shooting someone—maybe even yourself."

"Oh, yeah!" Hiroshi exclaimed, quickly adjusting his grip like an embarrassed student caught making a mistake.

"Everyone, ready up!" Amanda’s voice rang out with authority, cutting through the restless murmurs of the gathered survivors. She stood at the front of the hall, flanked by Nathan and Harold, her presence more striking than ever.

Now that she had washed up, the layers of dirt and grime were gone, revealing a sharp, almost regal beauty that had gone unnoticed before.

Her skin was clear, her auburn hair neatly tied back into a high ponytail, and her features—once masked by the exhaustion of survival—were now defined and commanding. The combat suit she wore only added to the effect, hugging her athletic frame in a way that made her look more like a high-ranking officer than just another survivor.

Victor raised an eyebrow, barely concealing his surprise, but it was Hiroshi who reacted more dramatically.

"Proceed to your respective leaders now!" Harold barked, but Hiroshi barely heard him.

"Leaders?" he muttered, elbowing Victor. "Since when were there teams?"

Victor exhaled, gripping the strap of his shotgun. "Since now, apparently."

Before they could ask further, Amanda clapped her hands together and turned toward them with a grin. "Oh! You two are coming with me!" She motioned for them to step forward.

Hiroshi stiffened, blinking rapidly as if his brain was struggling to process what he was seeing. "Oh, shit," he muttered under his breath. "I think we're cooked…"

Victor shot him a side glance, unimpressed. "What are you babbling about now?"

Leaning in slightly, Hiroshi whispered, "She actually looks kinda… you know, pretty now, don’t you think?"

Victor’s lips thinned. "And here I thought gentlemen must remain loyal?"

"I'm just saying she's pretty, not proposing marriage," Hiroshi muttered defensively.

"It doesn’t matter," Victor hissed. "How do you think Adelina would feel if she knew you were over here admiring someone else?"

Hiroshi held up his hands. "Well, damn! I didn’t know you were that loyal."

Victor scoffed. "It’s called basic boyfriend etiquette. The only woman who should be ‘pretty’ in your eyes is your girlfriend."

Amanda, who had clearly caught their not-so-subtle exchange, arched an eyebrow. "You two done whispering like schoolboys?"

Hiroshi coughed, straightening up so fast it almost looked rehearsed. "Y-Yeah! Coming!"

Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. It was going to be a very long day. He was about to follow Hiroshi when he caught Amanda staring at him. He had to raise his brow for her snap back into her senses.

"C-Come on!" She stuttered and immediately turned away.