Bustling sound greeted me as soon as I entered the military cafeteria.
While it was called cafeteria, it was located outside. Three supply trucks were used as a kitchen and people sat around a long table under a simple roof created by clothes tied between wooden poles, like a picnic party.
A simple stool was used as the seat and a plastic bowl and wooden spoon was given for the meal.
The food was distributed by a group of women in the kitchen, and I saw Saya, Miss Shizuka, and Saeko were already eating at the corner. There were other people who seemed to be from a military group a bit away from them.
No one seemed to want to be near them. Maybe it was due to their beauty or their uniform.
Anyway, Leon and Miss Rika quickly went to the line and grabbed some food.
I was the same and waited behind them. In a few minutes, we got a tray of stew, bread and some fruits, and sat together at an empty space not far from my companions.
"Finally, you're here." Saya commented when she spotted us, "I'm hungry, so we've been eating."
"You can sit here, brother." Saeko patted an empty space between herself and Saya, "Come and eat."
I sat down and started to eat. It had been a long time since I had hot soup. I savored every bite as if it were a feast.
Saya and Saeko smiled, enjoying their own bowls of soup. I couldn't help but think how cute they looked when they were eating.
Meanwhile, Leon, who sat next to Miss Rika, ate silently. He gobbled the bread and fruits like a starved dog, as if he had never seen food in his entire life.
Like a real policeman, he finished his meal fast and stood up.
"I am going first. Don't forget our mission tonight, Rika."
"No worries. I won't forget." Miss Rika said and smiled.
Leon gave me a slight nod and then he left.
After he was gone, Miss Rika moved to the seat next to Miss Shizuka and smiled.
"Give it a try. Not the best you can find but this is a pretty decent meal, Shizuka."
"Is it? I think Saeko's food is more delicious than this." Miss Shizuka chuckled and tasted her food. "Hmmm. Not bad, though. You're right."
Miss Rika laughed and took a spoonful of her own bowl of soup, enjoying the flavor with her friend. I noticed Saya watching them from the corner of my eye. She seemed to be curious about what they were talking about, but I didn't pay attention to her.
This fresh food was good. We had been eating some canned food and dried meat since our ship crashed. I could see why Leon devoured the food like that.
Military really had it good in the apocalypse.
But they were also the ones getting hit the hardest. They had to help people in need and were forced to put their lives on the line.
'Not for me, certainly.'
After a while, the rest of us also finished our food. Miss Rika smoked a cigarette as she talked to her friend. They chatted and laughed like old friends, while Saeko, Saya and I listened to them quietly. The pinkette and Saeko were interested in the story that Miss Rika told.
A story about her mission here.
"Anyway," I interrupted them after they were finished, "I have something I want to discuss with you, Miss Rika."
"About the permission to go outside the city." I leaned in closer so that no one else could hear me. "I have an important business that I have to do myself. And I need to leave this place for a while."
Hearing what I said, Saeko narrowed her eyes dangerously. Her smile dropped and she put down her utensils.
"You're not going to do that again, right?"
"Do what again?" Miss Rika asked, looking at Saeko with curiosity.
Saeko sighed, but before she could reply, I answered instead.
"Adventuring outside the safe area, fighting zombies. Something like that."
Saeko shook her head and looked at me disapprovingly. However, she didn't stop me or even try to discourage me.
She only warned me with a stare.
The purple-haired woman looked at us weirdly but she seemed to understand that this wasn't the right time to ask about it.
"Well, what kind of business is that?" She asked.
"Just a simple hunt. I told you that I really liked guns back then, right?" I grinned and leaned back on the chair, crossing my arms. "So I want to hunt a few zombies outside."
Miss Rika chuckled and raised her brows.
"That's a dangerous hobby you have. You sure love to take risks." She commented and smiled, "You can't hunt outside without an authorization, though."
She took a long drag and exhaled a large amount of smoke.
"Is that why you asked that 4th request from Wesker?" She asked again, her tone became serious.
There was also something else I'd like to check alone.
Bringing other girls would be too dangerous. Here, they could be saved from any dangers and I could make sure they wouldn't be exposed to unnecessary dangers.
Checking Racoon City was one of my plans for the near future, but for now, I didn't want to do anything dangerous like that.
So a preliminary check was important.
Miss Rika hummed and put out her cigarette.
"I can't let you go outside without any reason, but I'll give you permission if it is something related to the military. That, I can promise." She looked at me, smiling, "What's your reason to go outside, exactly?"
Should I tell her honestly? Or should I hide my real intention.
Seemingly noticing my silence, Miss Rika gestured to me to follow her with her eyes.
I smiled at her, gesturing that I understood what she wanted. The purple haired woman stood up and went out of the cafeteria, so I followed behind.
She led me a bit far away from the cafeteria, where no one could see or hear us talking.
"What is it that you're hiding?" Miss Rika crossed her arm and looked at me.
I took a breath and nodded.
"I am looking for a certain facility, or something that can give me information. Umbrella Corporation's base is located in Racoon City." I said, making sure no one heard me.
"I see... I understand your situation, but I still can't give you the authorization. It is still too early and I am sure Wesker will be suspicious of you." Miss Rika put her hand on her chin and looked at me with interest. "Why are you so interested in the information about viruses, anyway?"
"Isn't it natural for people to be curious about what caused the apocalypse?" I lied.
Miss Rika narrowed her eyes, as if trying to read my face.
I couldn't let anyone know my true source of knowledge, not now. Not when I was around dangerous people like Wesker in this base.
It's not like I doubt Miss Rika's character, but she wasn't a powerful ally yet. She had her own problems and I didn't want to make her involved in something that could put her life in jeopardy.
Anyway, one of Umbrella's HQ was located in the city of Racoon. It would be a good place to get information about the viruses and the cure, which I would need sooner or later.
"That's why I want to go there." I added.
Miss Rika hummed and closed her eyes for a moment.
"Okay. That makes sense. You don't need to be so secretive." She sighed and patted my head, "Well, I am sure Wesker will let you go after you explain the situation. But you need to give me more details."
"I'll tell you more about it later."