My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse-Chapter 708 - Preparing To Set Off For A New Mission

"Wifey, I propose that you stay here and oversee things while we head out," Duke suggested. "I can take Sparrow, Vulture, Eagle, and Hawk, along with some of the Winters' men, so they can gain more experience outside the base."

"Meanwhile, you can supervise the training and oversee the base's development. Plus, this would be a good opportunity for you to assess and decide which areas can be allocated to the HOPE base members, like the machine engineers and scientists working on our new technology."

"You make a great point, and I was thinking the same thing..." Kisha said thoughtfully.

Hearing this, Duke smiled, pleased that his plan was falling into place. His real intention was to ease Kisha's burdens by taking on the bulk of the responsibilities himself while letting her focus on planning and support.

Though she would still hold the title of City Lord, he would handle most of the duties, effectively acting as the true leader while positioning Kisha more like a Vice City Lord.

This way, she wouldn't feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on her, yet the people would continue to respect and revere her as their leader.

"But," Kisha continued, making Duke halt both in his steps and his thoughts. He turned to her with a nervous gaze.

"But I need to meet this Dracon Felix myself and assess whether he and his people could truly be an asset to us and our base," she stated firmly.

"After all, they could either be allies or enemies in disguise, infiltrating bases to gather intelligence on our forces and resources, only to strike when the opportunity arises. If that's their true intent and we let them into our base—or even just reveal our location—it could turn into a massive problem later."

"We might be able to eliminate them, but we have no way of knowing how far they'd go to retaliate. They could have forces hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"By the time you bring them back here for me to evaluate, it might already be too late. That's why it's better for me to go and assess them myself. If they prove to be trustworthy, I'll bring them back with us. If not… we'll deal with it accordingly."

"Besides, I know you felt it during the last zombie wave," Kisha continued, her tone firm. "We lack enough capable combatants. Yes, we may have more awakened ability users compared to other shelters or bases, but if another massive zombie wave—or worse, multiple waves—were to hit us, our people and our walls might not hold. If that happens, it'll only be a matter of time before we're overrun."

She met Duke's gaze, making sure he understood the gravity of her concerns. "That's why I want to personally seek out more skilled individuals to join us. We need to strengthen our forces before it's too late."

Though she deeply appreciated Duke's protectiveness and his efforts to ease her burdens, she knew that with the system bound to her, stepping back completely was simply not an option.

"We can train our people and assess the potential development of this hidden base after we complete our mission outside," Kisha explained.

"Until then, we'll continue as we are, and when the time comes, we can go there together. I'll also bring my family along to help them better understand what it's like outside the base and to build their combat experience."

Although Keith frequently traveled in and out of City A with Ethan and the other Winters men, he mostly stayed in safe zones or kept his distance from large zombie hordes. He may have fought a zombie once or twice, but he had never faced an overwhelming battle.

If confronted with a true horde, he might panic. Kisha needed her family to be prepared for every possible scenario because she refused to let them die the same way they had in her past lives. They had to be aware, strong, and composed—no matter the cost.

Seeing Kisha's determination to come along, Duke felt his resolve soften. He abandoned his initial plan and nodded at her.

After all, he deeply valued Kisha's thoughts and feelings—if this was what she truly wanted, he couldn't oppose her. However, what he could do was stay by her side, protect her at all costs, and ensure she never faced any danger.

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With that thought in mind, Duke gave a firm nod to himself before taking Kisha's hand in his, holding it tightly. "Alright, we'll do as my wife says," he declared.

Kisha nodded in acknowledgment, and seeing her agreement, Duke smiled. With their decision made, they continued on their way back to the hidden base, where everyone was waiting.

When Kisha, Duke, Sparrow, Vulture, Eagle, and Hawk stepped inside, the scent of sweat and damp earth filled the air. The people who had just finished their rigorous training were gathered in the cafeteria, gulping down water, their bodies drenched in sweat and streaked with dirt and mud.

The moment the Winters' men spotted Duke and Kisha entering, they immediately straightened up and stood at attention. "Good morning, Master! Good morning, Young Madam!" they greeted in unison, their voices filled with respect.

By now, every member of the Winters' forces recognized Kisha's strength and achievements. She wasn't just accepted—she was admired, just as much as Duke. Their unwavering respect for her was evident, and seeing this, Duke couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

Standing before his men, he felt a deep sense of pride. After all, these were the very people they had gathered to address about their upcoming plans.

"Listen up, everyone." Duke's voice carried through the room as he and Kisha stood before the gathered men. His sharp gaze swept over them, ensuring he had their full attention.

"My wife and I are heading out on a mission beyond the base. We'll be taking Sparrow, Vulture, Eagle, Hawk, and the other core members with us to gain more experience in the field. Anyone who wishes to join may do so—but remember, once we're out there, we're on our own. I expect every one of you to watch out for yourselves and your teammates."

His expression darkened slightly as he continued, "You've all heard the reports. There's been unusual movement within the zombie horde, and we have no idea how much stronger they've become or what they might do next. But no matter what, we must grow stronger as well and prepare for whatever the future has in store for us."

As soon as Duke finished, a wave of excitement surged through the room. The men erupted into cheers, eager for the opportunity to not only prove themselves but to witness firsthand the strength of their revered Master and Young Madam—legends whose feats had been retold countless times by Sparrow, Vulture, and the Winters who had fought alongside them at HOPE Base.

"Those who wish to join should register with Sparrow and Vulture, then make sure you're fully prepared," Duke announced. "In two hours, we'll all meet in front of the training grounds."

Kisha remained silent, knowing that Duke's words alone were enough to ignite their subordinates' fighting spirit. Instead, she focused on analyzing their status windows, carefully assessing who had the greatest potential for growth.