Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

After I said that, I could only shake my head in disappointment because none of them got it—including Cynthia—but it didn't take long before the mess the previous guy made was cleaned up, and the next person was brought in front of us. The guy looked like a regular ol' joe with glasses but it looked like he was more interested in talking to me than Kaley.

"Hello, my name's Isaac," the person said while looking straight at me, "I'm… I'm not from any family—actually, I haven't pledged to any family yet but I have purchased a few months' worth of residence here in this place just to have a chance to meet you."

Kaley interjected, "So… you wanna join us? Can you tell us a reason why?"

Isaac turned to Kaley for a moment and nodded at her before turning to me again, "I'm… this is embarrassing but I also practice the same—well, not the same technically… but I'm from the Kishin-Ryuu School of Martial Arts. I was enrolled for two years and I'm a 2nd-Dan practitioner before… you know—"

'Fierce God-Dragon, no way. Not in a million years this kid is a student of that place. Besides, they don't have "School of Martial Arts" at the end of their sign…'

"Kishin-Ryuu School of Martial Arts?" I asked with a faint smile.

"You— You know my school?"

"No— It kinda rings a bell but I doubt there would be an actual branch or any other branch here."

Isaac looked a little offended, "Do you know all of the branches—"

"I do, actually. Everything from the AJKF(All-Japan Kendo Federation) to the old, old schools you probably haven't heard of."

"C-Can I ask which school you learned from?"

"Yeah, no. You probably haven't heard of it even if I tell you."

'Ours isn't as cool sounding… so, no…'

"..."

From his silence, I thought it was over and as I was about to turn to Kaley so she could continue her interview, Isaac cut her off.

"Can… Can you tell me and take me in if I score a point off you?"

A few raised their eyebrows as they turned in Isaac's direction though most of them didn't know what Isaac was talking about.

"A point?"

"Basketball?"

"What are they talking about again?"

I chuckled as I stood up from my seat, "I accept the challenge if and only if you'd run 10 laps around this place naked if I score a point off you first."

Isaac was a little taken aback but a look of excitement replaced his expression before he nodded several times.

At this point, the interview process had taken a pause but I guess it was better than seeing another person's dick while everyone was still fucking tired and a little hungover. To my surprise, the twins had brought over actual shinais or bamboo swords we could spar with but Isaac was in the process of wearing his full kendo gear.

"Dude. Seriously?"

"Ah— You didn't bring yours?"

I instantly facepalmed, "D'you seriously think I'd bring my—"

"O-Of course, I'd let you borrow my spare—"

"You have a spare too?! No. I'm fine as is."

"B-But what if you get hit?"

"I'll take some painkillers."

"F-Fine…"

Looking at the guy, I had no clue as to how he ended up in this place but seeing another "practitioner" in the flesh was a breath of fresh air. It didn't take long before he donned his helmet and approached me in the circle-like stage I drew on the dirt though his whole demeanor changed when he raised his shinai—holding it with both hands—and assumed his stance.

But on the other hand, I was just so fucking casual, I was resting my shinai on my shoulders while my whole body was relaxed.

I would always do this type of thing to irk my opponent just to get a small reaction or to throw off their game by a little bit, but all I received was a short exhale as Isaac continued to concentrate.

And the moment the signal was given, his shinai just suddenly looked like a round, white object heading for me as he opened up with a quick thrust.

The motherfucker was actually aiming for my throat and even if it was in the confines of the actual rules, it was still fucking dangerous.

But yeah, this kid got some balls on him.

It's just that much to his surprise, I easily knocked the tip of his shinai with the butt of my own—coming from my original stance of resting my shinai on my shoulders—before I blew his helmet off with a sudden switch mid-swing.

I could've done it with a simple flick of the wrist but I decided to use my freehand to help change the trajectory of my strike by placing it right at the end of the handle, and an attack made with both hands would 100% of the time be stronger than an attack with a single one. Good thing I did it at an angle away from his head or he'd have several concussions.

​ Our match was over in a matter of seconds and he was just looking at me stunned but it wasn't for disappointment but for amazement and awe. However, it was only for a few seconds that the realization struck that he had to run 10 laps around Cuervo Heights nude.

The look of horror and dread on his face was just so fucking priceless and even if he turned to me for mercy, I just chuckled as I shrugged my shoulders.

"Why are you looking at me like that? A bet is a bet, no? And yeah, if you won't do at least that, I won't fucking take you in."

"I… T-Thanks for the match! I'll complete the 10 laps while thinking of you, sensei!"

"Ah— N-No, I'll fucking kill you if you do that."

"Yes, sensei!"

"And don't call me sensei."

"Shishou?"

"No."

"Daimyo?"

"No."

"Onii-chan?"

"You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

"No?"

"I'll count to three and if you're not—"

"I'M GOING! I'M GOING! I'M GOING!"

Without further ado, Isaac just started to sprint away while chucking out pieces of his clothing. But while that was happening, Kaley was looking at me amusedly but I just shook my head and sighed heavily before I turned to the twins.

"Can I get some more info on that guy?"

Ruru nodded, "Yeah, he came here a few months ago but he was probably present the first time you came here. He mostly just watched anything that's happening around here but he would sometimes rent some "entertainment" from time to time. He mostly keeps to his room but we'd also see him exercise in the gym or run laps around in the morning."

Riri added, "Oh! He hadn't been with us, before you ask."

I lightly chuckled, "I see no problem with that even if he already has."

Ruru pouted, "It would've been nice if you cared a little…"

Riri chuckled, "Anyway, that's because he has a little preference… We'll just leave it at that to give him a little bit of privacy."

Quinn joined in, "Hah! That's funny coming from you two since you gave away every bit of info from my crew."

"W-Well they're rude but he's nice. There's a difference."

With that said, as things went on, Kaley managed to interview a few more people but a couple of people—Quinn and Tatiana, were getting a little too bored so they proposed something to move things along.

"Alright, listen up! If you don't have anything to offer except muscle, come over on that side and we'll be the ones to test you. If not, just act like you heard nothing but we do welcome challengers."

Almost immediately, half of the people in the line walked over to the side where Quinn and Tatiana drew a line and it didn't take long before screams of pain and horror came from their side. However, it did make Kaley's job a little easier and she discovered a few more interesting ones among the bunch she was interviewing.

We found a personal trainer, an ex-cop, a bladesmith, a "Marital Aid" manufacturer, a watchmaker, and a circus performer.

Each of them had their own stories to tell and as much as I would've liked to have an actual bladesmith in my fold, I doubt that he'd pass my over-the-top standards. However, not everyone had the opportunity to wield a priceless treasure like mine and witness a grandmaster blacksmith do his work, so having regular old blades that were readily available to the public was a plus in my book.

'As long as it could cut open heads and chop off limbs without breaking or bending, it's good. Sometimes, quantity is better than quality…'

With that said, I was still listening to their replies to Kaley's question but my attention was caught by another dick flapping in the wind.

"ONII-SAN! I FINISHED THE TEN LAPS! ONII— OW! WHY ARE YOU HITTING ME?! AH! AHHHHH~! HELP! HE'S FUCKING CRAZY!"