My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 266

"Don’t worry too much. I’ll help you carry this heavy burden, alright?" Duke said, kissing Kisha on the forehead reassuringly. Kisha felt a surprising sense of comfort and care from him.

"For now, let’s focus on sending people to gather bottled water and supplies nearby. We need to maintain the facade that supplies are continuously coming in and going out," Kisha said, her mind already formulating a plan.

Kisha signaled to one of the nearby soldiers, who had been stationed at the side, dutifully providing protection to Duke and herself. Though it was largely unnecessary given their own strength, it was part of the protocol to guard the City Lord and Vice City Lord at all times. This practice was a way for the soldiers to demonstrate their respect and loyalty to the two leaders.

After the soldier approached, Kisha instructed, "Have everyone in the shelter gather at the square while the warriors are on break. We have an important announcement to make." Following her orders, the soldier and his comrades left only one man behind to remain with Duke and Kisha.

The rest of the team dispersed with a megaphone to spread the word, ensuring that everyone would make their way to the square for the announcement.

As they waited, Kisha and Duke remained in their positions, discussing their next steps. "Should we go out to gather more bottled water and additional supplies? With the Supply Center starting to operate, we need to demonstrate that we have ample supplies for everyone," Kisha said, glancing at the crowd gathering below the stage.

"It’s up to my wife to decide, and it’s up to me to take action," Duke said teasingly, his tone suggesting he was referring to more than just gathering supplies.

Kisha ignored Duke’s comment and continued, "We should take the new recruits with us so they can start familiarizing themselves with what they’ll be dealing with in the near future." She leaned back against Duke’s sturdy chest as she spoke.

"I think that’s a good idea," Duke said with a grin. "We could have Sparrow handle the new recruits. Since he’s now the captain of the Advance Party leading the supply run and perimeter cleanup, it makes sense for him to supervise them." As he spoke, his hands slid around Kisha’s waist, occasionally pinching her sides in a playful manner.

He seemed to be making an effort to restrain himself, his focus lingering on her soft belly.

"That’s a good suggestion," Kisha agreed, "while we keep everything running smoothly inside the base and work on solving other issues." She then playfully swatted at Duke’s hands as if shooing away an annoying fly. To the onlookers, their interaction appeared as a loving, playful moment between a young couple.

Given their youth and evident affection for each other, no one seemed to judge or find their behavior inappropriate.

To Kisha, it felt like Duke was intentionally taking advantage of her, so she couldn’t help but pinch the back of his hands to keep him in check and curb his playful antics. Duke, however, found her reactions endearing and continued to smile broadly, enjoying their playful banter as if they were an old couple reminiscing about their fondest memories.

Before long, the square began to fill up with more people. Most of their attention shifted to Kisha and Duke, who, despite discussing serious matters, engaged in a playful banter. Their expressions remained indifferent, but their antics were endearing and amusing. The onlookers found the scene entertaining, making the wait feel less tedious.