My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 264

"Is it really true that the City Lord and her ’guard dog’ are strong enough to take down hundreds of zombies?" asked an older man, his eyes lighting up with a flicker of hope as he imagined Kisha battling at the gate, just as the rumors had described.

"Guard dog?" The soldier murmured, recalling Zeus. He knew for certain that Zeus was so formidable that even the soldiers combined couldn’t bring him down.

"Yes, her ’guard dog’—the man who always stands beside her, looking so fierce and intimidating. They say that with just a swing of his spear, he can take down dozens of zombies. Is that true?"

The soldier was momentarily taken aback by the description of the City Lord’s husband as a "guard dog," but he couldn’t help but find it fitting. Duke was always by Kisha’s side, not just guarding her from danger but also keeping other men at bay. The soldier chuckled to himself, recalling the dynamic between Kisha and Duke.

"You can’t just say that—he’s our Vice City Lord and the City Lord’s husband!" the soldier interjected. While the description of Duke as a "guard dog" was somewhat accurate, he felt it was important to set the record straight out of respect. Besides, Duke’s impressive strength and formidable battle style were enough to make anyone shiver at the thought.

"Wait, husband? But I saw the City Lord with a strikingly handsome man standing beside her yesterday. They looked great together, and I thought he was her husband," one of the men interjected, his eyes widening with realization. "Was he also in disguise?"

The soldier nodded in agreement. Before he could continue sharing more about their City Lord’s achievements, the middle-aged man from earlier spoke up again. "Sir, is it true that the City Lord will fight alongside us in battles and that the compensation will be increased?" His voice trembled slightly, and hope flickered in his eyes.

His expression was a mix of determination and vulnerability, with his eyes reddening as he awaited a response.

"I can’t guarantee that the City Lord will be present for every battle," the soldier explained, "but one thing is certain: she will be there when we need her most. As a City Lord, she has many responsibilities and tasks to handle. However, I can tell you that she and the Minister of Defense are currently discussing adjustments to the compensation.

They’re planning to announce the changes at the training grounds where the warriors are being led by the Vice City Lord. It would be beneficial for you to witness this for yourself."

Although the soldier knew he shouldn’t disclose sensitive information about important discussions or the whereabouts of the City Lord to avoid potential schemes from those with malicious intent, he saw this as an opportunity to show the people that Kisha was trustworthy and considerate.

By sharing this information, he hoped to demonstrate that Kisha was fair and genuinely concerned for the well-being of her people while making decisions.

With this, he hoped that Kisha’s actions would win the people’s hearts and help recruit more individuals into the base’s defense, just as the City Lord intended. True to his expectations, after extending the offer, many who hadn’t found suitable jobs from the bulletin board listings followed the soldier to the square, which served as a temporary training ground for the warriors.

Since the square was not far from the Central Hall, they arrived just in time to see Duke making his rounds among the soldiers. The soldiers were performing horse stances, shouting at intervals as sweat trickled down their foreheads and drenched their bodies.

Despite the hardship and pain, the determination on the warriors’ faces was evident. Not far from them, Kisha sat under a tree, engaged in a serious discussion with Aston, the new Minister of Defense.

Soon, the soldier made his way to where Kisha and Aston were conversing. The trainees couldn’t help but watch the entourage with curiosity as they approached Kisha. Duke, noticing the commotion, remained in his position, confident that Kisha could handle the situation herself. A smug smirk played on his lips as he watched her.

"City Lord, Minister of Defense, I apologize for the delay. I’ve brought some civilians interested in recruitment, but they want to see the compensation details before making their decision," the soldier explained, handing the recruitment poster to Kisha. She sat at a table, her expression serious and indifferent. Nodding at the soldier, she took the poster and began to read it carefully.

No one noticed Kisha’s cold and indifferent demeanor as all eyes were on the poster, eager to learn about the updated compensation. The crowd was a mix of anxious and hopeful—some worried that the compensation might be reduced, while others hoped for an increase, hoping it would be enough to afford at least two meals a day and prevent their families from going hungry.