Aboard the helicopter flying over the harbor, Tristan and Milton gazed down at the densely packed zombie horde covering the ground below. The sight filled them with dread.
The zombie attack had begun yesterday. In barely more than ten hours, the number of people infected with the zombie virus had already exceeded 10,000.
If Tristan hadn’t ordered an immediate evacuation of nearby civilians, the numbers would’ve been far worse. His quick response had kept the outbreak from spiraling completely out of control.
Even so, 10,000 bulletproof zombies posed a terrifying threat. Tristan had already launched multiple rounds of airstrikes and artillery bombardments to slow them down.
Half the harbor was now in ruins, yet the damage to the horde itself had been minimal. All he could do now was try to contain the spread and buy more time.
“Your Highness, we’ve managed to lure almost all the zombies from Harbortown to this location,” Milton reported after receiving a message through his earpiece. ” Our teams are tracking down the few that slipped through. They shouldn’t affect the overall situation.”
“Well done. Now we wait for that powerhouse to make their move,” Tristan replied with a nod.
The horde had gathered, just as planned. All that was left was for the powerhouse to strike. One decisive blow would wipe out the zombies and end the crisis for good.
“Your Highness, what if that powerhouse doesn’t show up?” Milton suddenly asked.
“The message from Grace should be reliable,” Tristan replied, shaking his head.
“Your Highness, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We’ve been using human lives to attract these zombies. If the situation spirals out of control, the consequences would be unthinkable,” Milton said with a grave expression.
He didn’t say it outright, but the implication was clear-staking the future of the entire city on a stranger’s promise was a gamble they might not be able to afford.
“You make a valid point. I actually do have a backup plan, but the losses would be too great. I won’t resort to it unless necessary, “Tristan replied.
“As long as you have contingencies in place, Your Highness,” Milton said with a nod.
In moments of crisis, it was more important than ever for a future ruler to stay calm and in control.
“Oh, by the way, what’s the current situation in Thornwick and Sommertown? “Tristan asked.
Milton answered, “Thornwick is in complete chaos. When the zombie army invaded, Prince Matthias’ first reaction wasn’t to retreat and regroup strategically.
Instead, he deployed troops for a direct counterattack.
“As a result, over 1,000 soldiers are dead. Civilians got caught in the crossfire, and now the number of people infected with the zombie virus is rapidly increasing. It’s probably several times worse than our situation here.”
Tristan shook his head with a faint smile. ” Matthias is still as impulsive as ever. He thinks he can solve everything through brute force and lacks an understanding of strategic retreat. All he’s doing is dragging others down with him.”
The more chaotic Thornwick became, the better it was for him.
If the outbreak in the city couldn’t be contained and the zombie virus spread on a large scale, there would only be one solution for the sake of national security-use overwhelming firepower to destroy the entire city.
When it came to that, Matthias would lose all qualification to compete for the throne.
It wouldn’t matter how many supporters he had. A prince who allowed an entire city to be destroyed because of one reckless decision could never be trusted to rule. If someone like that became king, Dragonmarsh would be finished.
Tristan wasn’t the only one who’d oppose it. The entire court-civil and military-would stand against him. Even Valon would never approve of Matthias becoming the ruler.
So now, Tristan was hoping Thornwick would fall as quickly as possible. Once Matthias was out of the picture, the pressure on him would ease significantly.
“What about Sommertown, where Nathaniel is stationed? Has the zombie virus spread there yet?” Tristan asked again.
Milton replied, “Sommertown’s situation is a bit worse than ours here in Harbortown, but not as bad as Thornwick. It’s somewhere in between.”
He added, “I have to admit, Prince Nathaniel does have some real capability. Since Sommertown was the first to face the outbreak, it’s impressive he’s managed to hold things together this long.”
“He’s always been smart,” Tristan remarked. “Honestly, I expected him to handle things better than Matthias. But Nathaniel only cares about short-term gains. He has no real grasp of the bigger picture.”
His expression remained calm as he went on, “I heard that during the scarlet mist crisis, Nathaniel was more focused on extortion and seizing resources. That didn’t sit well with the nobles and officials in Sommertown.
“Now that the zombie virus has broken out, these nobles and officials are not only refusing to cooperate but are actively sabotaging his efforts. At this rate, I estimate he won’t last much longer either.”
He had a clear grasp of both his brothers’ movements because the spies he had planted around them reported back regularly.
“Prince Matthias and Prince Nathaniel are nothing compared to your wisdom and strength, Your Highness,” Milton said, seizing the opportunity to flatter him.
He continued, “Your Highness has both courage and strategy. You carry the people in your heart. No one but you is fit to be Crown Prince. No one else is worthy of the throne.”
Tristan laughed, clearly pleased. “Milton, you really do know how to talk.”
If his mother’s family had wielded absolute power, would he have ever been overshadowed by Matthias or Nathaniel? When it came to strategy, political skill, or leadership, he outshone them both. The throne should have been his all along.
Just then, Milton seemed to notice something and suddenly pointed into the distance.
“Your Highness, look. The powerhouse has arrived,” he said.
