Apocalyptic World: Surviving with my husband and my cute little babies-Chapter 285: Intel

Ethan was about to discuss matters with Ramon when he noticed several children gathering near the Paradise shop.

Intrigued, he paused and, together with Ramon, quietly hid to watch and listen.

The children were none other than the Paradise Home kids, who had been out gathering information and finally returned.

Their leader, Keith, counted them one by one, making sure no one was missing.

"One... two.... nine... ten, we’re missing two. Where are they? Does anyone know?" Keith asked.

According to their plan, everyone should have regrouped by now.

"I saw them," an eleven-year-old boy reported, clutching a torn notebook.

"They’re watching the higher-ups’ floor. That area’s on high alert—no one is allowed in. So they stayed behind to gather more information. They should be back soon."

There were twelve of them in total, ranging from ten to thirteen years old. Keith, being the eldest, naturally took on the role of guardian.

At first glance, the group looked innocent, ragged, and dirty.

Yet beneath that appearance was a sharp, well-coordinated network of informants—children carefully trained by Xander whenever he had spare time.

He wanted them to be worthy of their sponsorship while also helping them survive on their own in the apocalypse.

The results spoke for themselves. They had lived up to expectations, working hard for months as the eyes and ears around the center.

Ethan hadn’t seen them for a while, truly fascinated by this bunch of kids.

They were nothing like they had been when they were first taken in. With proper food, training, and care, they had changed so much that they were almost unrecognizable from their past selves.

Though they appeared dirty and unsightly to others, a closer look showed that they were healthier than most.

Their shabby clothing was deliberate, meant to help them blend into the crowd.

"If they don’t return within ten minutes, fetch them quietly. Now, let’s head inside the shop—two at a time."

Keith gave the order, and soon, one by one, they slipped into the closed Paradise shop without being noticed.

Feeling hungry, they went straight to the kitchen and grabbed the food prepared for them, waiting for their mentor to arrive.

"Haah, this is the best food I’ve eaten so far—fried chicken with mashed potatoes. So good," a twelve-year-old boy exclaimed dramatically.

"Tsk. You say that every time there’s meat," a twelve-year-old girl retorted, though she wore a blissful expression as she ate her chicken. "To you, everything is delicious."

Ever since they were taken in and trained by the Paradise shop, their meals had been consistently good—nutritious, and tailored to their bodies’ needs.

Still, they weren’t spoiled.

Most of the time, they were made to eat the same food as the other residents to ensure they adapted fully.

The only difference was that their mentor freely provided them with complete vitamins.

Now, today’s meal was special. It had been prepared by Ramon, who called it a celebration meal for the birth of the young masters, but he did not explain it.

"There’s even rare juice and ice cream for dessert," another child said in awe. "What’s the celebration? Last time, it was the boss’s niece’s birthday. Could it be the boss’s birthday this time?"

"Stop talking nonsense," Keith reprimanded calmly. "We’re not allowed to discuss them. Just be thankful they remember us during every celebration. Eat quickly—we still have a lot to do."

Curiosity could be dangerous, and Keith didn’t want them to know more than they should.

"I know, Leader," the boy replied softly. "I’m just grateful for the food and the help they give us."

"Then work harder and never betray them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Leader."

The children resumed their meal, happiness clearly written on their faces.

Ethan and Ramon watched from afar, choosing not to disturb them, giving them time to eat their meal.

"No awakeners among them yet?" Ethan asked through telepathy.

"So far, none," Ramon replied.

"It’ll happen soon," Ethan said confidently, sensing faint spiritual energy lingering around the children.

"Then I’ll let them stay here for now, and posponed their tasked. Should we show ourselves?" Ramon asked, seeing that the kids had easily swallowed their meals and finally finished them thoroughly.

"Alright," Ethan agreed. "Let’s hear what information they’ve gathered."

Seeing the two masked men suddenly appear, the kids quickly stood up and greeted them nervously.

"Be at ease," Ethan said calmly. "You may not know me, but I am a friend of your mentor. He’s unavailable for now, so I’ll be the one receiving your report."

His deep, authoritative voice only made the children more anxious, afraid of making a mistake.

"Good afternoon, sir," Keith replied, trying to steady himself and look composed. "We’ve just returned from outside with new information."

He then signaled to his team, and a thirteen-year-old boy stepped forward, pulling out his worn notebook as he began his report.

"At the lower ground, a lot of people are lining up at the main entrance. They’re coming from different areas after hearing that the military is accepting everyone, especially those who were unconscious."

"At first, things looked optimistic. But when people started pretending to be unconscious just to get in, it gave the military a huge headache. Conflicts broke out soon after. Still, faced with the military’s strong force, most people backed down, though the situation remains tense."

Ethan already knew about the growing lines, but hearing that people were faking unconsciousness left him momentarily speechless at their foolishness.

"On my side," a twelve-year-old girl continued, "the situation inside the building is bad. People are packed together, and fights have started because of space issues. If this isn’t addressed soon, it could turn into a disaster."

Ethan nodded. This was exactly what he feared—the military struggling to handle the sudden influx.

"What do you think their solution will be?" he asked.

"I heard a rumor," she replied, "that once things stabilize, they’ll leave this center and move everyone to the main evacuation center."

"I see," Ethan said quietly. "That’s new information. Good job!"

After the children finished their reports, Keith then stepped forward to finalize their intel.

"Sir, I received information that there are mutated rats around Building A," he said grimly.

"Aside from that, there are also mutated dogs on the east side of Camel Tower. According to survivors from that area, they’re extremely savage. Out of fifteen people, only three survived a life-and-death battle. I’m afraid they’ll move into this area soon."

"Another mutated animal lurking around..." Ethan muttered, sensing even more trouble ahead.

"Yes, sir." Keith paused briefly, then continued, "Also, the top floor where the higher-ups are staying is on full alert. Something seems to have gone wrong with one of the generals."

As far as they knew, two generals were stationed in this centre—General Mason and General Kaiser—but the officers were tight-lipped, making it unclear which one was in trouble.

"It should be General Kaiser," Ethan said. "Brother Elias mentioned it to me. Anything else?"

"I believe the military is preparing to defend against the mutated rats," Keith went on.

"They seem determined to hold the building as long as they can, but they need more supplies. As for further details, two of our members are still outside gathering information."

"Hmppp," Ethan murmured, noting that this could work to his advantage.

"How long have they been gone—your comrades, I mean?"

"It’s been a while," Keith said anxiously. "May I request permission to fetch them, sir?"

Ethan looked at him closely. "Not you. Aren’t you feeling drowsy?"

"I..." Keith hesitated. He did feel sleepy, but he was forcing himself to stay alert.

"Let the others handle it," Ethan decided. The boy was capable, but pushing him now wasn’t wise, as he might faint in the corridor.

"Yes, sir." Keith hesitated again, then asked, "Sir... may I ask what happened to the kids from the Paradise Home in Building A?"

"You don’t need to worry. They’ve been secured in a safe place."

Keith finally let out a breath of relief. The safety of the younger children—especially the infants—had weighed heavily on him.

"Thank you, sir."

"You all stay here for now," Ethan instructed. "Don’t leave the shop, aside from the those who will fetch your two comrades. The situation outside is dangerous. Once your teammates return, rest and wait for further instructions."

"Yes, sir," the kids nodded simultaneously.

Soon after, Ethan and Ramon moved to a secluded area, leaving the children behind.

"I’m afraid it’s not just mutated dogs," Ramon said quietly. "There may be more out there."

"I know," Ethan replied. "One step at a time. Their survival rate was truly astonishing, after months of disaster they still alive. The real problem now is that if any of them already evolve into Tier 1, it’ll be a disaster."

He glanced toward the upper floors. "Let’s go. It’s time to speak with the higher-ups and assess the situation ourselves."

They urgently needed spiritual items. Mutated cores weren’t available yet, so this center was their best option—for now. Of course, they would pay for everything through service.

The two quickened their pace as loud explosions echoed again and again in the distance—a clear sign that the abbots were fighting with everything they had to eradicate the mutated beasts.