Read Novel Full Chapter 512: Gratitude
Chapter 512: Chapter 512: Gratitude
They simply could not endure reality anymore.
’I will not let that happen again,’ Ivy had decided.
So she ordered the creation of spaces where people could train, relax, and rebuild their sense of normalcy.
The responsibility had been handed to Martha, who then delegated the planning work to Mia.
And now, Mia had just found someone who might be perfect for it.
Greta.
Not only did Greta have the right skills, but Mia also remembered the sincerity she had shown earlier.
...
Back at their apartment, Greta returned home.
She saw her mother sitting quietly, looking just as defeated as she felt.
Greta wanted to say something comforting.
"It will be all right," she almost said.
But the words refused to come out.
Because she did not believe them herself.
Instead, she silently walked into the kitchen and began preparing a simple meal.
The faint sound of cooking filled the small room, but neither of them spoke.
Both of them were weighed down by the same thought.
Even though they had enough to eat today... no one knew how long that would last.
Just as the two of them were eating together, the quiet clatter of chopsticks against bowls was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
The sound echoed through the small apartment, sharp and unexpected, making both of them pause mid-bite.
Greta’s mother lifted her head, her brows knitting slightly as unease crept into her chest.
"I will check who it is," she murmured, already wiping her hands on the edge of her apron.
Greta nodded, though a strange tension lingered in the air.
’Who could possibly come at a time like this?’ she wondered, listening to the faint creak of the wooden floor as her mother walked toward the door.
When the door opened, Greta’s mother found a man standing there in a crisp uniform.
His posture was rigid, his expression professional, and an official badge gleamed faintly under the dim hallway light.
She instinctively looked at the identification he presented, her eyes scanning every detail as if afraid it might vanish if she blinked.
A polite smile slowly formed on her face.
"Is there something wrong? What has happened?"
Without wasting a word, the official extended a sealed letter toward her.
The paper felt heavier than it should have, almost as if it carried the weight of fate itself.
Greta’s mother unfolded it, and the moment her eyes landed on the contents, her entire body froze.
The color drained from her face. Her fingers trembled. Tears gathered without warning, blurring the ink.
For a heartbeat, she could not breathe.
Then she suddenly turned and rushed inside.
"Greta, look at this. Quickly."
Greta took the paper, confusion flashing across her face.
As she read, her lips parted, and her vision swam. The words felt unreal, like a dream she feared to trust.
She had gotten the position.
The very one she had been striving toward for so long.
Her knees nearly gave way as emotion surged through her chest.
A sob threatened to escape, but she bit down on it, clutching the letter tightly.
’We can survive now. We really can survive.’
Her eyes hurried to the benefits section.
No rent.
Free food.
And on top of that, fifteen thousand zombie crystals during probation.
Once she passed, her monthly salary would rise to thirty thousand zombie crystals.
The numbers seemed to glow on the page.
Greta looked up at her mother, tears streaming freely now.
"We are saved."
Her mother nodded repeatedly, unable to form words, her own tears falling just as fast.
The relief that washed over them felt almost painful after so many months of fear and scarcity.
With that amount of money, they would no longer have to count every grain of rice.
They could finally live like human beings again.
Greta saw the moisture in her mother’s eyes and suddenly thought of her brother.
’He would have been so proud of me if he were here.’ The realization pierced her heart.
The more she thought about him, the heavier her chest felt, but she forced herself not to cry again.
Instead, she clenched the letter.
’Maybe Mia left a good impression of me. There is no way I earned this solely on merit.’
Her mother suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.
"This is wonderful. You should buy new clothes for the office."
Greta shook her head gently.
"My current clothes are already fine."
Despite Greta’s refusal, her mother later went out into the streets, clutching the precious zombie crystals, and borrowed a set of formal clothes for her daughter.
When Greta tried them on, standing awkwardly in the faded mirror, she looked unexpectedly professional.
Her mother covered her mouth, nearly breaking into tears again.
Before the apocalypse, she had dreamed of seeing her daughter walk into a grand multinational company dressed like this.
After the apocalypse, she had only dared to hope that Greta might find any job at all.
Now, that impossible dream stood right in front of her.
’If life ever gives me the chance, I will repay whoever saved us,’ she vowed silently.
The next day, Greta arrived at the office early.
The building smelled faintly of disinfectant and recycled air, a sterile reminder of the world they lived in now.
She worked diligently, drafting several plans for the entertainment sector, her pen moving steadily as determination replaced lingering disbelief.
By lunchtime, the atmosphere relaxed. Colleagues gathered, chatting casually, and Greta joined them, trying to learn more about her new environment.
As she listened, she realized nearly everyone was discussing the same topic.
The antidote.
Rumors claimed that it was already under development, and there was a high chance it would be released within six months.
Greta froze.
Her chopsticks hovered in midair.
"You did not hear about this?"
She shook her head slowly, still stunned.
"I only knew that some half-zombies were cured. I did not know there was progress toward a full antidote."
A colleague laughed and lightly slapped her hand.
"Of course you did not know. You are new here. This has been the hottest topic in the entire base."