They went to the cafeteria of the command center where it’s already filled with personnel eating various dishes. Those personnel who saw Adrian imdiately paused what they were doing and saluted.
"Please don’t salute whenever you see walking by, I’m not a king," Adrian said, easing them up. "Please continue eating your dinner."
They approached the counter where different dishes were displayed, mostly Filipino food such as Adobo, caldereta, sinigang, and a tray of fried fish lined up beside a pot of steaming rice. The sll alone cut through the tension that had been hanging on them since the mission.
Ryan stopped in front of the counter and let out a quiet breath. "Didn’t expect this."
Jake gave a short nod. "Yeah... this looks legit."
Behind the counter, one of the kitchen personnel stepped forward. He wore the sa uniform as the others but had an apron tied around his waist, sleeves rolled up.
"Sir," the man said, giving a quick nod to Adrian. "What would you like to eat?"
Adrian looked at the spread for a second, then back at him.
"You cooked all this?"
"Yes, sir."
Adrian frowned slightly, glancing at the trays again.
"Where did you get the ingredients?"
The cook wiped his hands on a cloth. "From the storage room, sir. Looks like it was stocked before the outbreak. Likely from the previous occupants... Philippine Army."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Ryan grabbed a plate and started serving himself rice. "Well, whoever stocked it, they did a good job."
Noah picked up a ladle and scooped sinigang into a bowl. "Hot al after that ss... I’ll take it."
Adrian didn’t move yet. He kept his eyes on the food.
"How much do we have left?" he asked.
The cook didn’t hesitate.
"Three days, sir."
That got everyone’s attention.
Ryan paused mid-scoop. "Three days?"
"Yes, sir," the cook replied. "If we maintain current consumption."
Jake glanced at Adrian. "That’s not a lot. Yet why are you cooking such an amount if we are running out? Shouldn’t we ration it?"
"I think it’s best for the morale of everyone in the base if they can consu normal amounts," the cook explained.
"Well it won’t be sustainable in the long run," Ryan comnted.
"I know, but it’s the early day of the apocalypse so we don’t really have to be stringent about it. Don’t worry, we will conduct scavenging operations to gather more food supply from the supermarkets and wet markets. Tomorrow would be the ideal start of such operation," Adrian said as he finally picked up a plate and started serving himself.
He scooped rice first, then added a portion of adobo and a bit of sinigang on the side. He moved out of the way to let the others step in.
Ryan followed, still thinking about it. "So we’re hitting supply points tomorrow."
"Yes," Adrian replied.
Noah took a step back with his bowl and leaned against one of the tables. "We talking supermarkets or warehouses?"
"Both," Adrian said. "Supermarkets for quick access. Warehouses if we want volu."
Jake grabbed a piece of fried fish and placed it on his plate. "Supermarkets are going to be ssy. I’m certain there will be zombies inside."
"That’s a given," Adrian simply said. "You know what, let’s talk about it tomorrow not today. Let’s eat first since we are running on fus."
He took his tray and moved toward an empty table near the corner, away from the heavier foot traffic. The others followed without saying much, each carrying their food like it might disappear if they waited too long.
They sat down.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. The only sound was utensils hitting plates and the low hum of voices around them.
Ryan broke it first, chewing as he leaned back slightly. "Still feels weird."
Jake glanced at him. "What part?"
Ryan gestured lightly with his fork. "All of this. We were just out there getting shot at by sothing that can tank missiles... now we’re eating adobo like it’s a normal night."
Noah let out a short breath through his nose. "Better than the alternative."
Mason sat down beside him and started eating without looking up. "Eat while it’s here."
Cole nodded once in agreent, already halfway through his plate. Ethan stayed quiet, focused on his food.
Adrian didn’t respond right away. He ate a few bites, like he was savoring every mont of this sense of normalcy. Like the world had gone to shit and he knew to himself that he could die in the first days of the apocalypse. But he awakened a gacha system that turned his life around.
This is the mont he’ll protect and maintain, with these powers, he’ll have to kill more zombies and rescue survivors from different parts of the country to gain points, and use those points to strengthen the base.
Speaking of points, he had gained a lot from the earlier operation, he thought of spinning the gacha later.
Adrian finished the last of his food and set his utensils down on the tray.
He didn’t say anything.
He just sat there for a second, looking at the empty plate, then reached for a glass of water and took a slow drink. Around him, the others were still eating.
Adrian finished the last of his food and set his utensils down on the tray.
He didn’t say anything.
He just sat there for a second, looking at the empty plate, then reached for a glass of water and took a slow drink. Around him, the others were still eating.
He walked past a few personnel moving between sections of the command center. So nodded as he passed. No one saluted this ti.
Good.
He exited the building and stepped into the open area near the temporary living quarters that had been set up for the rescued civilians.
Lights had been strung up across the space, powered by the base’s grid. It wasn’t bright like the command center, but it was enough. Shadows moved along the ground as people shifted, talked, ate.
A line of tables had been set up.
Civilians sat in small groups, so eating quietly, others talking in low voices.
Adrian scanned the area once, then spotted them.
Marco was seated at one of the tables, his back straight, posture still alert even while eating. Liza sat beside him, holding the baby in one arm while trying to eat with the other. Chandrika sat across from them, her younger sister beside her.
Adrian walked over.
Marco noticed him first and paused mid-motion.
"Adrian," he said.
Adrian gave a short nod as he stopped beside the table.
"How’s the food?"
Marco glanced down at his plate, then back at him. "Better than expected."
Liza looked up briefly. "Thank you," she said.
Adrian nodded once. "You’re welco. Just passing by. I hope you guys are comfortable during your stay here."
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