As soon as the planning concluded, and the transmission with President Barry ended, Richard heaved a sigh of relief. At last, it felt like they were inching closer to reclaiming the planet from the clutches of Lin Feng and the chaos of the zombie apocalypse. It had been nearly four months since the outbreak began, a stark contrast to the year-long ordeals often depicted in movies and anime. Richard was now convinced they could bring an end to it within eight to nine months.

But even when the plan has already been laid out, it doesn’t mean that they’ll work on it immediately. Richard has a plan.

In a few days, the year 2024 will begin. He wanted to celebrate the New Year First and then went all-out to prepare for their invasion of China or Lin Feng’s Base of Operation in Beijing. Speaking of Lin Feng, they still have their satellites tasked on them, and they are still in Beijing. Of course, if Lin Feng moved, he’d know immediately because of the constant surveillance they had set up. Richard knew the importance of keeping a close watch on Lin Feng’s movements; any shift in his location could significantly impact their strategic planning.

The next thing that came to mind was the zombie wave. Richard opened his system and as expected, it’s still ongoing. There hasn’t been any progress on the zombie movements, they still marched towards New Clark City, but their numbers are growing thin thanks to the efforts of the Blackwatch that is defending the perimeters. Of course, it came with a cons, one being the noise of the gunfire and explosions. Sometimes he would have trouble sleeping due to the earth slightly shaking from the blast and the walls vibrating.

He faced the team, who all turned their heads on him. He gave them a determined nod, telling them that it was finally drawing near.

***

December 31st, 2023.

In the Philippines, when that date arrives, every street will be roaring as sound systems set up outside their house boom with bass and fireworks lighting up the night sky, a tradition to scare away evil spirits and welcome the New Year with a bang.

In New Clark City streets, it was the same scene, speakers set outside, setting up a tent with beers and pulutan on the table as they sang in the karaoke, children playing and running around with sparklers in their hands, their laughter mingling with the sounds of celebration.

Richard walked around this street along with Sara and Lisa. They are disguised in civilian attire so as to not attract unwanted attention from the civilians. For him, celebrating New Year is important for the morale not only of the troops but also for the civilians depending and hoping on Blackwatch for their safety and the return of normalcy.

As they walked, Richard observed the faces around him. There was joy and celebration, but beneath it, he could sense the underlying tension and fear that had become a constant in people’s lives since the outbreak began. The presence of Blackwatch in the area provided a semblance of security, but everyone knew that the threat was far from over.

"Ready for your speech later at midnight?" Lisa asked, looking up at him with a cheery smile.

"Yeah..." Richard said, rubbing the back of his head as if he was not ready. "I have been working on a speech for the last few days."

"Why would you need such a lot of time? Just speak out from your heart."

"Well this is New Year Lisa, the speech must be inspiring and set the tone for the year ahead, especially under these circumstances," Richard explained.

"Ehh...it’s still best if you speak from your heart. That’s when it’s most genuine and people can really feel the sincerity and passion in your words," Lisa encouraged, her tone supportive.

Richard nodded, taking her advice to heart. And as they continued walking down the streets, they came across a vendor grilling barbeque.

"Free barbeque! Free barbeque!" the vendor shouted enthusiastically, recognizing the trio despite their civilian attire.

Richard, Sara, and Lisa approached the vendor. "Are you sure this is free? Aren’t you afraid to run out of supplies after the New Year?"

"It’s fine sir. This is for a special occasion. But of course, one barbeque per person."

Richard nodded, taking the barbeque stick, and smiled, understanding the vendor’s gesture of goodwill and the limitations he had to impose to ensure there was enough for others. They each took a skewer, thanking the vendor for his generosity.

After finishing the barbeque skewer, the vendor handed them a piece of paper.

"Please write down your name and sign," the vendor requested. Possibly a way for the vendor to record who had already gotten their barbeque skewer and that there’d be no repeaters.

The trio obliged, writing their names and signatures. After that, they walked away. Enjoying the scenery.

***

11:45 p.m. December 31st, 2023.

In the city’s square, Richard was standing on an erected platform in front of a podium. He cleared his throat, his eyes glancing at the civilians who gathered in the square to hear his speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Richard began. "In the next fifteen minutes, the year 2024 will arrive. Now, this is less dramatic than last year because the world was normal back then, but this year, it’s

different. We’re standing here, not just to welcome a new year but to affirm our resolve in the face of adversity that has tested us all."

He paused, letting his casual tone resonate with the crowd. "I know it’s been tough. Zombies roaming around like they own the place, and let’s not forget Lin Feng making life harder for us. But here’s the thing—we’ve held our ground. Thanks to each one of you and the relentless efforts of Blackwatch, we’re not just surviving; we’re preparing to take back what’s ours."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

"So, my New Year’s message isn’t filled with fancy words. It’s simple. We’re going to kick some serious butt this year. We’ll make those zombies wish they never left their graves, and as for Lin Feng, well, let’s just say he’s going to get a taste of his own medicine."

Laughter and cheers broke out among the crowd, with people clapping and some even whistling.

"Let’s not forget why we’re fighting. It’s for these moments—being able to stand together, share a laugh, and look forward to a future where we can do this without worrying about what’s lurking in the dark."

Richard’s eyes swept over the crowd, his gaze filled with determination. "So, here’s to a year where we fight back harder than ever. Where we reclaim our streets, our cities, and our lives. And most importantly, here’s to us, to humanity, proving that no matter what hits us, we hit back harder."

As the clock neared midnight, Richard concluded, "Thank you, everyone, for your courage and your spirit. Let’s welcome 2024 not just with celebration but with a renewed commitment to fight for a better tomorrow. Happy New Year!"

The crowd erupted into a deafening roar of approval and applause as Richard stepped down from the podium. As the final seconds of 2023 ticked away, everyone’s attention turned to the sky.

At the stroke of midnight, the sky above New Clark City was set ablaze with fireworks. Brilliant colors exploded in the night, each burst more spectacular than the last. People cheered and clapped, their expressions joyous.

Now with the new year celebrated, it’s time to go back to work, literally.