diskusbooks #344 - Infection spreads across the country, trains depart for Osaka (2-in-1 order required)
#344 - Infection spreads across the country, trains depart for Osaka (2-in-1 order required)
"Really?" Hanada Jiro's expression wavered.
Kitahara Kensuke simply tossed him the handgun.
Hanada Jiro fiddled with it for a long time, and after confirming it was indeed the case, he threw the gun back to Kensuke, muttering:
"Weird..."
...
After the brief lull in the commotion, Ueda Yusaku ran over and shook hands with Kensuke.
"Detective Kitahara, what a coincidence, I didn't expect to meet you here."
Kitahara shook hands with him as well:
"Indeed. Why are you on this train?"
Ueda: "Oh, I've been so busy with work lately, I wanted to go to the Kanto region for a few days to relax."
After the pleasantries, a strange look flashed in Kitahara's eyes:
"Mr. Ueda, what do you know about this incident? Is it related to the Arasaka Science Park's production accident?"
Ueda's eyes darted around: "I don't know anything. That production accident was handled properly and has nothing to do with today's events."
Kitahara: "Then, do you know where the other researchers from Arasaka Pharmaceutical's First Research Institute are now?"
Ueda feigned grief:
"Speaking of them, it breaks my heart. They all fled to avoid tax evasion."
Kitahara, remembering the secret mission he had, pressed on:
"Really? They all escaped? Not a single one left?"
Ueda stated categorically: "Yes, not a single one!"
Just then, the train announced:
"Attention passengers, this is the train's chief conductor, Ono Masayuki. Due to an emergency, this train will not stop at Hiroshima Station.
For safety reasons, please remain in your seats."
Upon hearing this, Ueda felt uneasy:
The researcher Endo Kazuki, hiding on this train, is a ticking time bomb. He had intended to leave him at Hiroshima Station.
After all, the longer he stays on the train, the more likely Arasaka Pharmaceutical's crimes will be exposed, which is unacceptable to him.
So, he anxiously grabbed the emergency call button in the car and scolded angrily:
"Chief Conductor? Is the chief conductor there? Do you know what's going on?! Why aren't we stopping at Hiroshima Station? The train is full of infected zombies, are you going to make us stay with them forever?"
Ono Masayuki replied: "This passenger, we are well aware of the current situation. JR Kyushu's vehicle scheduling is now entirely managed by JR Tokyo. We are also helpless; this is the instruction from the Tokyo Traffic Control Center. Please follow the instructions and remain seated."
Ueda hysterically said: "Everyone is reaching their limit, and you're still talking about the Traffic Control Center. We demand to stop at Hiroshima Station, understand?!"
...
At this time, inside carriage 12, the passengers who were still in shock were discussing and comforting each other.
Hanada Jiro carefully checked his daughter and was relieved to find that she was not hurt.
"Misaki, are you hungry?"
He tidied his mohawk and said to Shimazaki Kazuya:
"Hey, you kid, do you have any leftover water and snacks in your bag? Bring some out."
Misaki scolded: "Dad, don't be like that. Shimazaki-kun is already very scared; you'll frighten him."
Hanada Jiro laughed: "Heh, this kid called me 'Father,' taking advantage of me. But when I ask him to give his girlfriend some water, you feel sorry for him?"
After experiencing the escape just now, Hanada Jiro seemed satisfied with Shimazaki's performance in escorting his daughter, and his hostility towards him was not as strong.
Shimazaki also noticed this from Hanada's expression and was overjoyed. He quickly nodded and took out drinking water, stuffing it into Misaki's arms.
On the other side, Kitahara Kensuke's phone suddenly rang. The caller was his father-in-law, Nagasawa Masashi.
After marrying Emi, his father-in-law rarely called Kensuke, so he was a bit puzzled.
He glanced at Emi, who was resting her chin on her hand and looking out the window. Kensuke quietly answered the phone and whispered:
"Dad, what's the matter?"
On the other end of the phone, Nagasawa Masashi's voice was a little weak. He seemed to be panting heavily, trying to maintain his sanity:
"Kensuke, you and Emi got on the train, right?"
"Yes, we've successfully departed and are on our way."
Various strange roars were constantly coming from the receiver.
"Dad, where are you now? Why is it so noisy?"
"I don't know what's going on, but all the neighbors around here are fighting. Your mother went out to buy groceries this morning, and when she came back, she was completely different. She...she turned into a monster. We've been married for decades, and I've never seen her so fierce."
Nagasawa Masashi's voice trembled slightly.
Kensuke's heart tightened. He glanced at Emi and lowered his voice: "Dad, how are you? Is your body still normal? Is there a shelter nearby where you can hide?"
His father-in-law's voice trembled more and more:
"It's no use. My arm has already been bitten by Mie. This is the end for us as husband and wife."
Kensuke said painfully: "Dad, do you...want to say something to Emi?"
Nagasawa Masashi's voice was intermittent:
"No...I don't want...her to know that her...mom and dad turned into monsters in the end.
Kensuke, you must protect Emi. You...you must live a good life and raise Minako to adulthood...
This is...a promise between men..."
Kensuke said urgently: "Dad, at least find a safe place first..."
Nagasawa Masashi's voice became increasingly strange:
"My Minako, my good granddaughter, it's a pity I won't be able to watch her grow up.
It's all the fault of those bastards in the street who bit my wife. Yes, it's all their fault, all their fault!!!
Ugh, aaaaaah——
Roar!!!"
The phone was hung up.
Kitahara Kensuke's mind went blank, and he just stared blankly, holding the phone.
Emi sensed something and turned her head to ask: "Was that Dad's voice? How are they?"
Kensuke tried hard to purse his lips to avoid revealing his emotions and shook his head: "It's nothing..."
Just then—
With a loud screech, the train carriages began to brake suddenly.
It turned out that the train had entered Hiroshima Station.
Emi leaned against the window, looking outside.
Suddenly, a man ran from outside to the window, constantly banging on the window glass.
Emi was startled, and Kensuke quickly pulled her up from her seat.
Immediately afterward, on the platform, more and more passengers were constantly banging on the glass, desperately begging for help:
"Stop the train, please stop the train!"
"Help, help!"
"Open the door, open the door!"
The next second, many passengers who were banging on the windows were completely bitten by zombies.
"Roar!!!"
More and more zombies began to pounce on the train windows, leaving streaks of bloody handprints on the glass.
At this time, the platform of Hiroshima Station had turned into a living hell.
Zombies were tearing at passengers, and fallen passengers quickly turned into new zombies, who then began to tear at those who had not yet been infected.
Emi was about to cry from fear, and Kensuke quickly put his arm around her, telling her not to look in the direction of the platform.
The train began to accelerate and leave Hiroshima City.
The entire city had turned into ruins, with buildings engulfed in raging fires and thick smoke rising into the sky.
A few minutes later, the television on the top of the carriage was broadcasting a press conference held by the Chief Cabinet Secretary.
"Fellow citizens, yesterday, riots occurred in several Kansai region cities, including Nagasaki City, resulting in many casualties on both sides of the police and civilians."
"The chaos caused by the incident has also paralyzed some cities."
"Some citizens have damaged police cars and attempted to hijack and damage public facilities."
"Therefore, the government has declared a state of emergency for the country."
Many passengers on the train were listening to the news while browsing various videos online:
In a certain park, all kinds of citizens were sitting on the ground, enjoying food and admiring cherry blossoms.
Just then, a Boeing 747 passenger plane on fire roared past at low altitude.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A large number of zombies jumped out from the gaps in the plane and crashed to the ground. They quickly got up from the ground and began to tear at the citizens in the park.
The entire cherry blossom park quickly turned into a living hell filled with screams.
The Chief Cabinet Secretary's voice continued to broadcast emotionlessly:
"However, please don't worry, thanks to the Japanese government's rapid response, the chaotic situation is being brought under control."
"It is expected that this disaster will be resolved soon."
"Really? Who believes that?"
Many passengers muttered, continuing to watch videos.
In the videos, cities in various regions had fallen into chaos, and the streets and alleys were filled with rampaging zombies.
In a video taken with a handheld DV, a citizen was trapped in a car, and zombies were besieging the car, with increasingly large cracks appearing in the front windshield.
The video taker's desperate cries were heard.
The passengers who watched these videos were also crying softly because of fear.
The television continued to broadcast:
"Fellow citizens, please do not easily believe unfounded malicious rumors."
"Please stay calmly at home and avoid going out."
"Please have full confidence in this cabinet. Let's face the problem together and overcome the obstacles."
"The situation is currently under control, and the country will ensure that your safety is not threatened."
As soon as the Chief Cabinet Secretary finished speaking,
Suddenly!
The bodyguard beside him, who had already turned into a zombie, pounced on him!
The Chief Cabinet Secretary, who was knocked to the ground, struggled.
Japanese netizens watching the news live were frantically posting rolling comments:
"Eh? Has the Prime Minister's Office been captured too?"
"Japan is doomed."
"So scared, so scared, what the government is saying is not the truth at all!"
The latest novels are first published on Liu Jiu Shu Ba!
"Indeed, since the nuclear accident, I haven't believed anything the Japanese government has said."
A few minutes later, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, who had turned into a zombie, got back up from the ground.
Wearing an ugly and hideous face, he kept mechanically bowing to the camera, his throat making strange noises:
"I'm very sorry!"
"I'm very sorry!"
"I'm very sorry!"
...
After the news ended, the chief conductor Ono Masayuki's voice came from the carriage broadcast:
"Um, please passengers, try to move towards the front carriages closer to the driver's cab, away from the carriages where the monsters are.
After arriving at a station where we can stop, we will arrange for everyone to disembark in an orderly manner."
The passengers supported each other and slowly moved forward.
Kensuke helped Emi and walked forward with the crowd while opening his phone to contact his parents in Hokkaido.
Emi asked: "Can you get through?"
Kensuke put down his phone and shook his head:
"Don't worry, the infection shouldn't have spread to Hokkaido yet. Minako is definitely fine."
After walking for a while, Kensuke found a spacious seat and let Emi sit down.
Opposite her, the old couple in beachwear who were there previously also sat down, staggering.
The husband saw that his wife's lips were dry and took out his travel water bottle, but not a drop of water could be poured out.
Seeing this, Emi took out a bottle of drinking water from her backpack and handed it to them.
"Old people, please drink this first."
The wife politely waved her hand and declined: "I couldn't possibly..."
The husband thanked her and took the water, saying to his wife: "Don't be stubborn, drink some quickly."
Seeing this scene, Kensuke took Emi's hand and left the seat, continuing to move forward.
The old couple sighed: "This girl is so understanding, it reminds me of our daughter."
Coming to a deserted corner at the junction of the carriages, Kensuke whispered:
"Emi, there's no need to do that at this time."
"What?"
Kensuke patiently said:
"In this kind of situation, we don't know how long it will last. Food and water are very precious things.
At this time, you have to take care of yourself first, understand?
Tighten your backpack and don't let others see that you still have extra rations stored."
Emi silently looked into Kensuke's eyes:
"That aunt clearly had symptoms of dehydration. If I didn't give her water, my conscience would be tortured.
Besides, I saw my mother's shadow in her... Tell me, they're okay in Nagasaki, right?"
"Emi..."
Kensuke was speechless.
Just then, the chief conductor turned on the in-car broadcast again:
"Attention passengers, this train is about to head to Osaka.
Due to scheduling arrangements, this train can only go to Osaka Station. The Ground Self-Defense Force has already been deployed there, ready to clear the train.
Once the train arrives at the station, please all passengers disembark..."
Hearing this broadcast, all the passengers breathed a sigh of relief:
"That's great, there are troops stationed in Osaka, so it should be fine, right?"
"We're saved, we're finally saved, hahahahaha!"
"This is killing me, I want to take a hot shower and sleep soundly."
Ueda Yusaku didn't feel happy at all when he heard this broadcast.
Hiding in the toilet, he secretly made a phone call:
"Hello, please connect me to Arasaka Councilor... Yes, this is Ueda...
Councilor, long time no see, I'm so glad you're okay. I would like to ask you, what cities in the entire Japanese region can be safely entered at present...
Not even Osaka? I see..."
Kitahara Kensuke, overhearing Ueda's conversation, frowned slightly.
As a police officer, he had a keen sense of smell.
Although the national cabinet had been zombified, high-ranking officials such as Arasaka councilors were still in safe places, secretly maintaining the operation of the state machine.
Currently, when they could continue moving forward, the higher-ups ordered the train to make a forced stop at Osaka Station, where the military was already on high alert...
This didn't look good at all.
Kensuke instructed, "Emi, wait here for me."
With that, he took out his phone and ran to another car to make a call.
...
Standing nearby, Hanada Jiro looked at Kensuke's departing back and sneered dismissively.
Hanada Misaki proactively smiled and said, "Madam... is Mr. Kitahara Kensuke really a police officer?"
Emi nodded: "Yes, he works at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and his police rank is Assistant Inspector."
Misaki: "Wow, as I thought! The way he fired his gun just now was so cool."
Hanada Jiro scoffed:
"Tch, a tax thief, a parasite of the country.
Judging by this guy's selfish appearance, he's probably already gotten a lot of dirty money from his profession as a police officer."
Misaki scolded:
"Dad, what are you saying to the police officer? This lady is his wife; that's very rude!"
Emi's expression dimmed:
"Soon, we're going to go through the formalities; we won't be husband and wife anymore..."
The atmosphere on the scene immediately cooled down.
Hanada Jiro coughed twice: "Sorry."
Emi looked at the Hanada father and daughter and Shimazaki Kazuya, and proactively changed the subject: "Are you a family?"
Before the Hanada father and daughter could react, Shimazaki nodded.
Hanada Jiro angrily picked up Shimazaki like a chick:
"You brat, I haven't settled the score with you for casually calling me 'Father' last time. Don't push your luck."
Shimazaki mustered his courage: "I will definitely prove my love for Misaki to you!"
Misaki quickly stood in front of Hanada Jiro, protecting Shimazaki:
"Dad, we're in a free relationship, please don't interfere with us!"
"Pfft!"
Seeing this scene, Emi couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle:
"Sorry, seeing Mr. Shimazaki and Miss Hanada, I thought of when Kensuke and I were young."
But her expression quickly dimmed:
"However, everything is irreversible."
The three people opposite her were sweating, unsure whether to comfort her or leave, muttering in their hearts:
Could this Miss Emi be prone to sentimentality?
...
Kensuke came to the car and made a call:
"Hello, is this Lieutenant Miyagi of the Ground Self-Defense Force? This is Kitahara."
Various noisy telegraph sounds and ringing tones came from the other side.
"Police Officer Kitahara, I'm very busy right now and it's not convenient to take calls."
"Lieutenant Miyagi, I'll just ask one question! Is Osaka safe right now?"
"O-Osaka? Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Kitahara said in a deep voice:
"I'm on the Shinkansen heading to Osaka right now. Your tone just now was hesitant, wasn't it? What happened in Osaka?"