Chapter 289: Mutation

With no one using vehicles, it’s no wonder Kawauchi Tarō saw many cars abandoned at the previous intersection.

“Michiko, let’s pack our essentials and head out on foot,”

Kawauchi Tarō told his wife before exiting the car to organize their belongings. Michiko joined in to help.

“Oh, we can’t leave this sleeping bag behind, can we? What if we need it?”

“Summer is almost over; we should bring a couple of thick clothes just in case.”

…

Michiko had a hard time deciding what to leave behind and what to bring, and soon their suitcase was stuffed full.

That’s how women are, especially when a couple might need to camp out at times; many things seem very useful then.

“Don’t be silly, we need to follow them and leave the archipelago; all of this is just extra baggage. Just bring some spare clothes and valuable items,”

Kawauchi couldn’t stand it and quickly helped Michiko streamline their packing before dragging their large suitcase and carrying a backpack down the slope.

Michiko reluctantly looked at the remaining items in the trunk, finally grabbing a few cans of meat and bottles of drinking water before stuffing them into a backpack and hurrying after her husband.

“Brother, are they really recruiting people to leave here?” Kawauchi asked, standing at the end of the line behind a tall, faceless figure.

Although it was September and not so hot, this person still wore a thick hooded windbreaker that completely covered their face.

At Kawauchi’s question, the figure turned around, their face wrapped in a scarf, revealing only the area above the eyes.

It was apparent though, that he was a young man.

The young man merely nodded before turning away.

Feeling bored yet curious, Kawauchi advanced and persisted, “I came from Chiba. Are you here alone? I heard this company only recruits young women; is that true?”

The young man, confronted by the incessant chatter, responded dryly, “They recruit professionals as well, anyone with a master’s degree or higher, regardless of the field.”

“Oh really? What about someone who graduated from police academy; would they need them?”

Kawauchi heard this with a mix of excitement and disappointment as police officers rarely held master’s degrees or higher.

“Not sure, you should ask at the front. If they’re not recruiting, you’re wasting your time in line.”

Kawauchi looked ahead towards the checkpoint where several people in some sort of protective suits were stationed. It was his first time seeing such gear; it wasn’t bulky, and the faces were visible through clear material, but their hands seemed unprotected from afar.

With some doubt, Kawauchi let Michiko watch the luggage while he ran ahead to bow before one of the individuals in protective gear.

“Excuse me, I would like to inquire if someone who graduated from a police university is within the recruitment criteria of your company?”

The person, an Eastern man speaking Japanese, eased Kawauchi’s mind.

“What’s your name? Age? Where did you serve as a police officer, and what was your position? Besides being a police officer, do you have any other skills?”

“My name is Kawauchi Tarō, 35 years old, serving as the vice-chief at a suburban police station in Tokyo. No other special skills apart from being a police officer.”

The man sized him up and then advised, “Just stay in line. Whether you can be recruited or not depends on what the interviewer decides.”

Kawauchi, somewhat disheartened yet persistent, asked further, “What about recruiting young women? Any specific requirements?”

“Oh yes, there are. Age between 14-35, unmarried, and those skilled in domestic work are preferred.”

“Only unmarried? What about married ones who are good at household chores?”

“No married ones.”

Kawauchi was taken aback, realizing that if Michiko couldn’t be recruited and he wasn’t selected either, neither of them might be able to leave the archipelago.

He was about to inquire further when sudden bursts of gunfire erupted from the other side of the checkpoint. The man in the protective suit shook his head, murmuring to a colleague, “Someone’s acting foolish again.”

His colleague chuckled, “Probably someone detected carrying the virus or disqualified by the interviewers.”

“Yes, the super virus has mutated again. It is said the asymptomatic incubation period has extended to 6 days now.”

Kawauchi felt a chill, understanding they were speaking Japanese and likely locals recruited by the company.

It was the first time he had heard of a 6-day asymptomatic incubation period for the super virus. On his way through Kashima, he had heard from the Self-Defense Forces that a low-quality vaccine had induced the virus to mutate, leading to a 2-3 day incubation period.

He had always been cautious, believing himself uninfected so far.

But hearing about a 6-day incubation period now gave him pause.

Kawauchi clearly remembered that six days ago, at a gas station, he had been attacked by an apparently sick person. They had made contact before he shot the man dead.

Due to the urgency, he didn’t linger long enough to confirm if the man was infected.

Subsequently, with heavy thoughts, Kawauchi and Michiko continued in line through personal information registration, security checks, interviews, and finally arrived at the blood test.

Earlier in the security check, Kawauchi’s handgun was confiscated.

The man in the windbreaker ahead of him also had a gun discovered on him; obviously, he wasn’t an easy one either.

After having a full tube of blood drawn, Kawauchi nervously awaited the results, fearing detection of the super virus would mean either being shot or expelled.

Indeed, during his time waiting at the checkpoint, he had seen vehicles transporting people away from the area, having picked up from overheard conversations they were likely those detected with the virus.

As Kawauchi’s anxiety peaked, suddenly, a long siren wailed.

He quickly scanned his surroundings only to see about ten fully armed personnel swiftly surrounding his group.

This was unexpected; previous detections of the super virus hadn’t triggered a siren before.

Kawauchi instinctively shielded Michiko behind him as around twenty anxious people in the waiting area watched the armed personnel aiming at them.

The lead armed person shouted at Kawauchi, “You on the ground, now!”

Kawauchi, startled, complied without a second thought.

He had a clear view; the armed personnel’s firearms were bullet-loaded and safeties off, with fingers hovering over triggers. He knew better than to disobey.

The commanding officer continued, without shifting his gun’s aim, “You in the windbreaker, hands on your head and get down!”

Was it not him?

Kawauchi glanced aside only to see the man in the windbreaker already prone behind him, having been just to his rear.

As expected, several armed personnel promptly detained the windbreaker man, binding him with special cords before carrying him away.

Kawauchi was somewhat amused; he had been too nervous, they were after the windbreaker man all along.

However, what had the man in the windbreaker done to warrant such a response?

While pondering, a person in protective gear approached and called out several names, leading them away.

Suddenly, only Kawauchi and Michiko remained in the waiting area.

Michiko, panic-stricken, clutched Kawauchi’s sleeve, “Tarō, are we infected?”

Then, another man in protective gear accompanied by two armed personnel approached, “Are you Kawauchi Tarō?”

“Yes.”

Today still has one more chapter.