“There probably aren’t any living humans around here.”

Just seeing the zombies wandering around sent shivers down my spine. Observing them actively searching for prey like hyenas, a strange question came to mind.

“It sounds absurd, but it’s like they knew in advance that someone would come here…?”

Otherwise, how could they make such a thorough search as if they were waiting?

As if someone had relayed information to them.

Yeah, it’s like talking about the culprit who controls the zombies like puppets.

A person came to mind to complete the assumption.

“Siena.”

Is that true?

“Your Grace?”

Rus, who noticed me suddenly stopping while walking, approached with brisk steps.

“Do you have any discomfort? Your complexion seems to be worsening. If you’re tired, please let me know anytime.”

Concern dripped from Rus’s eyes. As the practical leader of the zombie extermination team, I couldn’t show weakness, so I calmly spoke.

“It’s okay. It’s just that a passing thought bothered me for a moment. Don’t worry about it.”

After brushing it off, I tried to follow Rus again, but he whispered in my ear. In a voice small enough not to be heard by others.

“…Do you think the zombies around here have become more aggressive because of Siena?”

“!”

Rus also had similar thoughts.

It was a story with a high possibility at the moment, but without evidence, I didn’t try to say it. However, if Rus had the same thought as me, it seemed okay to share opinions.

“…Yes. Siena’s true identity is a zombie disguised as a human. Moreover, she seems to have intelligence that allows her to think rationally like a person, so she could inform the culprit behind us about our information.”

I had expected this to some extent since I brought Siena to Kitten Duchy.

Pretending not to see the clues of the culprit, I had planted seeds inside, so it was likely that information leakage would occur.

“But to act this quickly, is this it?”

The boiling anger ironically cooled my reason.

Rus nodded slowly as he spoke to me.

“Your Grace is right. And now we can be sure of Siena’s purpose.”

Noticing the seriousness in the atmosphere, Benedict and Mihael approached.

“What’s going on? Rus, what’s wrong for you to be like this?”

“I don’t know what it is, but it seems like a serious matter.”

As we started the conversation, the other members quietly stood by, waiting. They seemed to consider that we were coordinating because something was wrong with our opinions.

Since Benedict and Mihael needed to know about the situation going back, it was difficult to continue talking in whispers. Standing still for a long time was not good either.

“It’s better this way. Now let’s have a proper conversation.”
As I was still walking on the street, it was inconvenient to have a conversation with the zombies and the team on the narrow path.

“Let’s move to another place.”

Looking around, I saw a civilian store. It was a mess, with no owners or customers in sight, and the shelves were toppled over. However, it was the only cozy place where not even a single zombie could be seen.

“Let’s go there and talk. Rus, do you have another portable barrier artifact? Or can we share it?”

In response to my words, Rus pulled out a flat, clock-shaped artifact attached to his chest.

“It can be separated. There is a limited time available, though.”

“How long?”

“About an hour.”

“Then let’s talk during that time.”

Agreeing with my words, the three men instructed the other team members.

Leading the group of servants, headed by Emily and Rose, they carried the separated portable barrier artifact and entered another quiet store.

After confirming that they had safely entered, I walked and said, “If Siena leaked information, it will significantly impact our operation. Although time is tight, let’s think about how to prepare for the upcoming variables to quickly recapture the northern gate of Hwangdo.”

Siena, starving, found the presence of a maid walking around the mansion. Just seeing her made Siena’s mouth water and her stomach burn like a fire.

However, she had enough patience. Instead of indulging in the imagination of tearing apart a tasty human, she made an excuse to stay alone in the room, feeling unwell.

“I want to be alone. I don’t have an appetite, so I can skip lunch.”

Due to the absence of Emily and Rose, Lena was now responsible for monitoring Siena.

Lena had no complaints about this fact, but she welcomed the proposal because Siena seemed strangely wary.

‘She’s definitely not a zombie, but she eats well, sleeps well…’

Although her mind said she was a human, her intuition shouted loudly not to get close to that suspicious woman.

Siena also guessed Lena’s state well, so she coughed violently and gestured for Lena to leave.

“Cough, cough…”

She wiped the black bloodstains coming up due to the cough with a handkerchief. She planned to burn it later.

“Are you okay, Lady Siena?”