TWD - Zomboid - Chapter 312: The Attack (Patreon)

They have other experts too?

Graham looked genuinely stunned.

If Rebecca was telling the truth, then the Commonwealth had several different antidotes at its disposal, enough to place it firmly at the top of the food chain in this post-apocalyptic world.

This wasn't just an antidote anymore.

It was a damn strategic-level biochemical weapon!

"Miss Chambers, this... approximately how large an area can this medicinal mist cover? How much of a walker horde can you clear with a single deployment?"

"It depends on the dosage, wind direction, and method of deployment," Rebecca replied. "What you just saw was only a small-dose demonstration. With a larger dose and suitable weather conditions, covering an entire medium-sized city wouldn't be difficult."

An entire city.

Graham's breath caught.

Inside another lead helicopter, Jill and Claire had watched the entire demonstration below from beginning to end.

Jill's expression had shifted from shock to grim seriousness.

Having survived the Raccoon City incident herself, she understood better than anyone what the scene before her truly meant.

No wonder!

No wonder Luke had dared to ask the city-states for a nuclear bomb.

This stuff might genuinely be worth as much as one.

"So, what do you think, beautiful lady?"

Luke nodded in satisfaction, interrupting Jill's thoughts.

For once, Jill didn't argue with him.

"Mr. Li, does this biochemical weapon of yours work on humans?"

She pressed him further.

"That depends on your attitude," Luke replied.

The demonstration they'd just seen was only a tiny fraction of what he had to offer.

The Southern city-states would definitely be interested in the antidote, but Luke had no intention of trading this stuff to them.

Just tossing them a few pheromones would already be enough to extract enormous benefits.

He intended to maximize his gains.

"You've seen enough, haven't you? Time to talk business."

Luke picked up the communicator.

"Return to Greene Farm."

Several helicopters turned around, carrying cabins full of people still shaken by the miracle they'd just witnessed.

The formation began pulling away from Atlanta and headed back the way it had come.

Everyone's mood was completely different from when they'd arrived.

Graham, in particular, was excited.

If he could firmly secure this antidote, his prestige would rise even further.

He might even become the first president to bring an end to the apocalypse.

That wasn't impossible at all!

The formation turned toward Greene Farm.

Outside the windows, the fog-covered hellscape of Atlanta slowly receded into the distance.

The atmosphere inside the helicopters had lightened considerably.

There was no need to say anything more about the antidote's effectiveness.

Now it was Luke's turn to fleece them.

Just then, Luke suddenly frowned.

Something was wrong!

Why was his Perception warning him now?

He whipped his head around and looked toward downtown Atlanta.

Atop one of the high-rises, a dark figure seemed to be moving.

Almost at the exact same moment, a streak of fire trailing white smoke shot from the roof of the building.

It was moving fast.

And it was heading straight for the helicopter formation!

"Watch out! RPG!"

Luke shouted a warning on instinct.

But just because he could react in time didn't mean everyone else could.

The rocket was simply too fast.

From the moment it left the launcher to the moment it reached the formation, only two or three breaths passed.

Its original target seemed to be the lead helicopter carrying Luke.

But for some reason, perhaps because of the distance and the way the escort helicopters had been positioned, they actually formed an effective interception screen.

The incoming rocket narrowly passed beneath Luke's helicopter and slammed directly into one of the Southern city-state's escort helicopters!

"BOOM!!!"

A blazing fireball erupted in midair.

The unfortunate helicopter was instantly swallowed by flames and thick smoke.

Its fuselage broke apart, and like a bird with a shattered wing, it spiraled downward trailing black smoke before plunging into the walker horde below.

Everything changed in an instant.

"Enemy attack! One of our helicopters has been shot down!"

An alarm immediately erupted over the Southern city-state's communication channel.

"We've been hit by an unidentified weapon! Repeat, we are under attack!!"

Luke kept his eyes locked on the high-rise.

He raised his binoculars.

Even from that distance, he could still make out the lone figure standing atop the building.

The man wore a sharply tailored trench coat that snapped in the high-altitude wind.

A pair of sunglasses covered his eyes as he looked down at the helicopter formation from above, completely unconcerned by the walker horde below.

Fuck!

Luke recognized him immediately.

Albert Wesker.

So this bastard really wasn't afraid Luke would bomb his base!

In an instant, countless possibilities ran through Luke's mind.

The most likely explanation was that information had leaked from the Southern city-state.

Everyone in the Commonwealth who knew about the summit was one of Luke's longtime associates.

They were either back home resting because they were pregnant, or Luke had personally brought them to Greene Farm.

That left only Graham's side.

A city-state with two hundred thousand people, and apparently information leaked out of it from every direction.

As for why Wesker had launched the attack, Luke didn't even need to think about it.

Wesker had coveted his blood and his combat ability for a long time.

He'd always wanted to figure out just how far Luke's limits went.

Atlanta was clearly a perfect arena.

A million walkers.

What better grave could there be?

And even if Luke survived and made it back, the summit would still end in failure.

If the Commonwealth and the city-state turned against each other, an ambitious schemer like Wesker could profit from the conflict.

What a calculating bastard.

In the blink of an eye, Luke made his decision.

Without the slightest hesitation, he lunged toward the emergency equipment compartment, grabbed a parachute pack, and immediately strapped it onto Claire.

"Luke? What are you doing? Put it on yourself..." Claire blurted out, caught completely off guard.

"Cut the crap. Keep talking and I'll make you fly first!"

Luke quickly tightened the buckles around her.

The entire sequence happened so fast that no one else had time to react.

But Jill was sitting directly across from him, and she was a battle-hardened veteran.

From the attack itself to Luke's immediate reaction, it was hard for her not to become suspicious.

Her first thought was that Luke had arranged the attack himself.

Otherwise, why was he suddenly scrambling to put on a parachute?

Jill's hand moved toward the gun at her waist.

Luke didn't even look at her.

He kicked backward.

"Thud!"

In the confined cabin, the kick landed squarely in Jill's lower abdomen and sent her flying.

Jill let out a muffled groan as she slammed into the opposite wall.

For a moment, she couldn't even get back to her feet.

What incredible strength!

That was almost on the level of Nemesis.

This had to be a joke.

How could an ordinary human possess that kind of strength?

Jill glared at Luke, fury written all over her face.

"So you really were up to something!" she hissed through clenched teeth.

"Are you fucking stupid?! We already mixed both sides together when we assigned everyone to the helicopters! I'm on this helicopter too! How the hell would I know that thing could target your people with perfect accuracy?"

Luke cursed at her.

But the second rocket had already been loaded.

This time, the deadly projectile trailing white flame was aimed directly at Luke's lead helicopter.

"Whoosh—"

The rocket tore free of the launcher and streaked across the sky.