My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 739

As Duke quietly focused on making tea, the atmosphere remained calm and almost domestic. But when Kisha, now comfortably seated, pulled out a folded map from her inventory, the mood shifted. The weight of their mission settled heavily in the open space.

She unfolded the map and laid it across the coffee table, placing small stones on each corner to keep it flat. It was already marked with notes and symbols—evidence of prior planning.

"So, hubby," Kisha said, her voice calm but focused, "where exactly is the factory you mentioned?"

She looked up at Duke expectantly.

Without hesitation, Duke looked over and confidently pointed to a specific spot on the map. "Right here," he said.

Just then, Sparrow and the other core members of the Winters' men, noticing the subtle shift in energy and the appearance of the map, began to gather around. It was clear to everyone—the planning had begun.

Dracon noticed the shift in atmosphere and turned his attention to the group. The light-hearted calm from earlier was gone—replaced by focused silence. Even the elders, who had been quietly sipping tea, now leaned in to study the map with grave expressions.

Kisha took command of the meeting. "Alright, everyone. We're heading in this direction."

She pointed to the same location Duke had pointed at earlier, then circled the area boldly.

"This place is a factory—and as some of you already know from experience, these sites usually house a large number of workers. Which means... we'll be fighting our way in."

She then tapped four major roads surrounding the facility, each connected to larger factories and other establishments.

"These main roads are off-limits. They're crawling with zombie hordes, and trying to push through would cost us too much time and energy."

Her finger traced another route, a less prominent road veering around the chaos.

"Instead, we'll take this path. It's longer, yes, but it's also more secluded. That increases our chances of avoiding large hordes. However, this road is narrow. Our trucks won't make it through—we'll need to go on foot for about three kilometers."

She looked around the group, her gaze steady.

"We'll need to sprint at times depending on the situation, so I hope everyone is physically and mentally prepared."

Sparrow raised his hand. "Then, Young Madam, I'll handle reconnaissance as usual and update everyone on the road conditions so we can prepare for any potential threats."

Kisha nodded. "Take Tristan with you this time."

Sparrow blinked, surprised by the unexpected instruction. She didn't need to explain further—he understood immediately. Kisha wanted him and Tristan to learn how to work together, to study each other's movements and tactics.

Up until now, Sparrow had always operated solo. He was the lone scout the group relied on, moving ahead to assess danger before anyone else.

But that needed to change.

Kisha remembered what happened in the northern forest—when Sparrow was ambushed by the mutated tree and had no backup. That incident had clearly left an impression. This time, she wasn't willing to take that risk again.

By pairing him with Tristan, she was laying the foundation for a more reliable system—doubling their coverage, adding a layer of safety, and creating a backup plan if one of them was compromised.

Sure, she could've just used the Scarlet Bees to do the job. They were faster, more efficient, and under her full control. But... what if she wasn't around next time?

Kisha wasn't planning just for the present—she was preparing for a future where others could take the lead without depending solely on her.

Her people couldn't depend on her for everything. They needed to stand on their own, especially in dangerous situations. Besides, Tristan hadn't even used his awakened ability yet—and Kisha knew it was an impressive one. She was curious to see just how effective it would be in action.

Hearing his name, Tristan jolted slightly, caught off guard. But he quickly straightened and responded without hesitation, "Understood, Young Madam."

If anyone could match Sparrow's agility, it was Tristan. Not only was he quick, but his speed came with the added weight of strength—his movements packed power. Before all of this, he had been Duke's second-in-command.