Chapter 51: Introductions [50 PS Bonus Chapter (1)]

The officers refilled their tanks at the fuel station, then turned back and led the modified student bus to their base.

The journey was silent, and Leon could sense that the mood of the students had improved.

They had finally seen the common, friendly, and reliable government agents—police.

The vehicles moved down the road, and luckily, there was nothing major blocking their path.

The stray zombies attracted by the sounds of the engines were taken down by Selene.

Leon glanced at her, understanding what she was doing. She wasn’t merely killing the zombies because she was the best option to do it without getting out of the car.

She was also doing it to make the police officers aware that their team wasn’t weak at all, and they wouldn’t just submit to the police’s authority.

After about ten minutes, they finally reached the place where the NYPD 48th Precinct Station House used to be.

What had once been a police station now stood at the heart of the camp, a grim, stubborn relic of the old world. Its brick facade was blackened in places, windows either boarded up or reinforced with metal grates.

Faded lettering still clung to the entrance, barely readable beneath soot and time, but the structure itself remained solid and unyielding.

The streets around it had been transformed into a fortress.

Abandoned police cruisers and civilian vehicles were dragged into place, forming a crude but effective outer wall. Their doors hung open like broken wings, some welded together with sheets of scrap metal, others reinforced with planks and wire.

Chain-link fencing stretched between them, layered with barbed wire that glinted faintly in the light. At intervals, makeshift watchtowers rose from scaffolding and fire escape parts, each one manned by figures silhouetted against the sky, their rifles slung low but ready.

The vehicles slowed as they approached the main gate.

It wasn’t a proper gate. Not anymore. Instead, it was just a narrow opening between barricades, sealed off by a heavy slab of reinforced steel and debris.

Sandbags were stacked high on either side, and a pair of armed guards stepped forward, their movements sharp and practiced. Above them, more eyes watched from elevated positions, tracking every inch of the vehicles’ approach.

Inside the perimeter, life continued—but it wasn’t peaceful.

Tents and tarps filled the open spaces between buildings, strung together in uneven rows. Laundry lines sagged between poles. Small fires burned in metal drums, sending thin streams of smoke into the air.

People moved carefully and deliberately, with no wasted motion, no careless noise. Some carried supplies, others stood in quiet lines near what looked like a ration point. A few simply watched, their expressions unreadable.

The station itself loomed over it all, its entrance now fortified with steel plating and barricades. What used to be glass doors were gone, replaced by something far more permanent. Just beyond them, faint light flickered—generators, maybe. The last heartbeat of electricity in a dead city.

Lauren parked his own car and waved at the guards manning the gates to open them.

After recognizing him, the armed guards opened the gates and they drove in. Unfortunately, the bus had to stay outside since it wouldn’t be able to pass through the gates.

For the first time, it seemed the spikes arranged on the bus became a disadvantage.

The students alighted from the bus and were ushered in warmly.

Leon stepped into the camp, his eyes narrowing faintly. He studied a few people wearing police uniforms and realized they actually weren’t police officers.

Instead, they were merely agile men and women who had probably volunteered to become guards.

"Haley, you work on the assignment of rooms for them." Lauren said to one of his colleagues, then turned to Leon.

"The ones who are evolvers among you can come with us for a lengthier discussion."

Reymond and Selene exchanged glances and nodded. Leon was also slightly interested, so he decided to join in.

However, before that...

He walked back to his little team and gathered them together.

"While we discuss with them, I want you guys to explore this place." He said calmly, his voice was low. "Check if there are any abnormalities, and once I’m back, report to me."

Cassie nodded readily, while the others seemed confused.

Miguel scratched his head and asked, "Is that necessary? They’re the police and..."

Leon gave him a flick in the forehead. "Have you forgotten? Just do what I say."

"Ow, ow. Fine." The blonde guy groaned.

"Good."

Leaving them behind, Leon joined the rest as they were ushered into the police station. Although its exterior was rough and had some bloodstains, the inside was surprisingly clean. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Lauren noticed this and smiled. "Even though the world has been turned upside down, we still value hygiene."

Chuckling, he led them into a meeting room where some people were already waiting.

"Please have your seats." He gestured to the empty seats, then sat in one himself.

Selene, Reymond, Gwen, and Leon sat together in that arrangement, facing the other four people present in the room.

"I’ll start the introductions." Lauren said calmly. "As I have said earlier, I’m Sergeant Lauren, but you may call me Lauren."

He gestured at a woman sitting next to him. "This is Lieutenant Zhong. Yes, she’s from China, and she’s my superior."

The pale-faced woman gave a polite nod to the students without saying a word.

Leon quietly wondered if she was related to Selene in any way. Their demeanors were quite similar.

’Yeah. Chinese, American. No way.’

Lauren glanced at an older man who sat at the head of the table, and respectfully introduced him.

"This is Captain Jester. He’s the one in charge of the camp."

The middle-aged man looked at the students and smiled.

"Welcome." His greeting was short and warm—classic police.

Then, Lauren turned to the last person at the table. Even from his dressing, it was obvious that he wasn’t a police officer at all.

He wore a plain black singlet that exposed his toned arms, and there was a cigarette in his mouth.

His fierce-looking eyes shot over to the students, sizing them up. Then, he commented with a dark chuckle.

"Interesting."