Chapter 260: Chapter 260- Tip

The doors of the building swung open, and the group stepped out into the morning light, only to be met with the curious stares of early-rising survivors.

Julian ignored them, walking a few paces ahead to a clear spot on the cobblestone street. He raised his hand, and with a faint, shimmering glow that made several onlookers gasp, his modified vehicle materialized out of thin air.

It was a formidable machine, a rugged off-road chassis reinforced with welded steel plates and darkened, reinforced windows. It looked less like a car and more like a mobile fortress.

"Get in," Julian said, his tone as efficient as ever, pulling open the driver’s side door.

The group filed inside, finding their accustomed spots in the spacious interior. Julian was the last to enter, settling into the driver’s seat.

He reached for the ignition, and from his pocket, he produced a keychain. It was a small, delicate trinket, a splash of soft pastel colors and feminine charm that looked utterly Incompatible in his calloused hand and within the vehicle’s harsh, functional interior.

He inserted the key and turned it.

The engine roared to life with a powerful sound. Julian glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting the eyes of his companions.

"Everyone ready?"

A chorus of affirmative answers came from behind him, a mix of determined and eager tones.

"Ready!"

"Let’s go."

"Of course."

A faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched Julian’s lips. "Then we’re off."

The armored vehicle had just cleared the main gates, rumbling onto the broken highway leading away from the safe zone. A tense silence had settled inside, broken only by the hum of the engine.

From the passenger seat, Beatrix finally spoke, her voice laced with a deep, weary suspicion. "Julian. I believe it’s time you told us exactly where we’re going. You were unusually vague."

Julian kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel relaxed. "A zombie nest."

The reaction was instant and chaotic.

A collective, sharp "Heeeee??!" erupted from the back seats, filled with disbelief and a tinge of panic.

Veronica was the first to articulate the outrage. "A nest?! And you didn’t think to mention this before we left?! We wouldn’t have wasted time getting ready! Look at my hair!"

Emma slumped in her seat, pouting. "I thought you were taking us somewhere nice! Like a scenic overlook or maybe that trader with the good coffee beans!"

Julian’s brow furrowed slightly in genuine confusion. "Did I say that?"

"You heavily implied it by not saying it was a infested death trap!" Celestia interjected coolly, though a slight frown betrayed her own displeasure. "Your exact words were, ’a location with high-value potential.’"

"And it is," Julian countered, unmoved. "I got a tip. There’s a cache of rare materials there. High-grade mutagenic crystals. Very ’nice.’"

Beatrix massaged her temples, feeling a familiar headache returning. "And where, pray tell, did you receive this ’tip’?"

"Noah," Julian stated simply. "I did him a favor. This is the reciprocation."

A long, groaning sigh escaped Beatrix. "That portal brat. This is why you don’t ask for his help. His definition of ’high-value’ is always catastrophically dangerous."

Julian gave a single, sharp nod. "Which is why I didn’t want this information getting out. I don’t need competitors."

He finally glanced in the rearview mirror, taking in the array of disappointed and anxious faces. His voice, while still flat, carried a thread of what might almost be reassurance. "Relax. You all look just as beautiful fighting as you do anywhere else."

The comment was so blunt and utterly Julian that it momentarily stunned everyone into silence.

Celestia was the first to recover, her voice returning to its practical chill. "...I suppose that’s... somewhat flattering? However, the more pressing issue is time. The celebration in Meltdown tomorrow. This little detour of yours had better not make us late."

A faint smirk played on Julian’s lips as he returned his gaze to the road, pressing the accelerator a little harder. The engine responded with a deeper growl.

"Don’t worry," he said, confidence dripping from his words. "We’ll be right on time. Now, everyone get your heads in the game. We’re hunting."

Beatrix let out another long, weary sigh, leaning her head against the window. The reinforced glass felt cool against her temple. "I already regret this."

Without taking his eyes off the ruined road, Julian responded, "Do you want to go to the celebration that badly?"

"It’s not that," Beatrix replied, her voice low. "I have no interest in the fanfare."

In the back, Emma piped up, her voice bright with a sudden idea. "Hey, why don’t they just hold the celebration right after a big fight? While the adrenaline is still pumping! That would be way more fun, right?"

Clarissa, ever the gentle voice of reason, answered softly. "Because after a big battle, many are wounded... or worse. The city needs time to repair the damage, to mourn the lost, and to relocate the displaced. A celebration immediately after would feel... disrespectful."

"Oh," Emma’s cheerfulness dimmed for a moment. "I see. That makes sense."

Veronica, who had been inspecting her nails, let out a haughty "Hmph." A confident smirk played on her lips. "Well, whatever. The faster we clear this nest, the faster we get back. I’m already looking forward to seeing what reward they’ve prepared for us. It had better be worthy of our efforts."

Her comment hung in the air, a mix of arrogance and anticipation. For a moment, the atmosphere lightened, the shared thought of a tangible reward a small comfort against the grim task ahead.

That was when Julian’s posture shifted almost imperceptibly. His hands tightened on the wheel.

"Get ready," he said, his voice dropping to a lethal calm.

Through the windshield, in the distance, a shambling mass emerged from the haze. It wasn’t just a few stragglers. It was a horde, a slow-moving river of decay and hunger, blocking the path ahead. Their low, collective moan was just barely audible over the engine’s growl.

The casual mood in the cabin vanished, replaced by a sharp, focused energy. Seatbelts were unbuckled. Weapons were instinctively gripped.

Zoe, who had been almost catatonic, slowly sat up straight, her eyes fixed on the approaching threat, her expression still blank but her body now humming with latent power.

"Looks like we don’t have to find the nest," Celestia remarked, her voice cold and analytical. "It found us."

Julian’s lips curved into that rare, sharp smile. "Perfect. Saves us the trip."

He slammed his foot on the accelerator, the armored vehicle surging forward with a roar.

"Combat positions! We’re carving a path through!" Veronica commanded, her earlier vanity replaced by the thrill of the impending fight.

As the distance to the horde closed rapidly, Julian’s final words were a cold promise to the undead mass ahead.

"Don’t worry. It’ll be over quickly."