The group of six threw their machetes to the ground without hesitation. After seeing this group of soldiers, each of them had different thoughts but supported one another in front of these people.
The captain in charge of the squad gestured to the men behind him, and immediately, two soldiers stepped forward, aiming their weapons at the group of six with watchful eyes.
"Don't do anything foolish, come with us!"
Everyone silently nodded at the sight of this group and followed them. Jazmín, who was injured in her ankle, was supported by two of her companions, and they all followed the group into the depths of the forest without asking any questions.
After passing through the dense woods for some time, they estimated they had been walking for at least thirty minutes. Eventually, Ramón noticed many stakes driven into the ground, and when he looked up, his pupils shrank at what he was seeing.
A massive wall structure appeared before his eyes. When he glanced at the indifferent eyes of the soldiers, they all understood that this must be their base. Soldiers were walking along the walls of this intimidating fortress. At first glance, six enormous towers could be seen in various locations around the base. From the small windows, thick metal barrels protruded from the gun ports of each tower.
There was no doubt that these towers were equipped with heavy machine guns, ready to open fire at any moment.
But beyond the massive walls of the base, there was also a huge metal fence outside its perimeter. Within the area protected by the fences, there was farmland.
At that moment, many people were diligently working. From the faces of those who occasionally looked up to check the sky or wipe the sweat from their brows, one could see a mix of enthusiasm and, most importantly—hope. This made the group tremble with emotion. Wasn't this what so many people were searching for?
Inside the enormous walls, four even taller towers stood, completely enclosed, with only a few gun ports visible around the structures.
At that moment, everyone's eyes met, and they all had the same thought.
The six individuals looked around with extreme curiosity, and the soldiers beside them did not stop them from observing. They simply quickened their pace, leading them toward the main gate.
The group soon arrived at the outer gate of the wire fence. The soldiers guarding the gate first saluted their superior officer before opening it. They all passed through the gate and soon reached the inner entrance.
The inner gate was massive and imposing. Few knew that inside the walls and doors, there were steel plates over a centimeter thick that extended throughout the base. There were two medium-sized towers on either side of the gate, each with people stationed at the top, holding rifles.
However, as they approached, they discovered something that greatly surprised them all. It turned out that there was an artificial moat surrounding the enormous walls of the base.
The moat was about ten meters wide. Along the way, Ramón noticed fish swimming in the water, groups of them moving slowly, occasionally splashing up from the surface.
Some who had been starving for days stared hungrily at the large fish, tempted to jump in and catch some to eat, but seeing the heavily armed soldiers around them, those thoughts quickly faded.
Everyone was lost in their thoughts, and the group's pace slowed as their eyes remained fixed on the artificial moat and the towers, unwilling to move on.
The soldier leading the way noticed the group's hesitation, looked at their expressions, and immediately understood what they were thinking. He pointed to the gate near the base and said, "Move along, there will be food for everyone once you're inside."
Upon hearing those words, the six curious individuals quickened their pace, and the men in the group felt the urge to cry.
Ramón had initially thought that the exterior of this place was much better built than anywhere else, but that the interior would likely be more ordinary. However, after they passed through the inner gate of the base, the sight before them made them tremble.
The large inner plaza was open, with fountains of crystal-clear water and well-maintained emerald-green shrubs—not just for decoration.
On the other side of the plaza stood rows of large wooden barns. Pigs, cows, sheep, and horses were being cared for by a group of people.
In the middle of the plaza, two very tall watchtowers stood. Walking beneath one of them, Ramón finally got a full view of their design. The upper part of the towers resembled a saucer, but was slightly wider and taller.
The tops of these towers were circular, with a broad space that appeared to be an observation deck, while the lower part had gun ports. Judging by their size, they could easily accommodate multiple people inside.
Looking further inward, an imposing structure dominated a large section of the site. At its center, there was another wall with a double gate. The gate appeared to be made of steel, but it was open at the moment, with several soldiers in black tactical uniforms stationed there.
As they watched the group approach, the soldiers inside began to move, leading the six newcomers further inside.
As soon as they stepped through this new gate, the scenery changed drastically. The ground beneath their feet was completely paved with concrete. Beyond the plaza stood large two-story buildings.
At a glance, photovoltaic solar panels could be seen, and the two buildings on the sides were connected by a roof. On both sides, two more watchtowers stood, identical to those in the outer courtyard.
To one side of the buildings, there was a fenced-off area filled with playground equipment, where some children were playing. Pregnant women stood nearby, their smiles calm and content.
On the other side, there was a separate house with a closed door. Its purpose was unclear, but two soldiers were guarding it.
Ramón finally focused on the largest structures in front of them. Although the exterior walls of the buildings had been painted over, it was clear that this place had once been a prison.
Suddenly, Ramón and the others saw a young woman emerging from the main building. She had large black-framed glasses, her long hair tied in a ponytail, and carried a clipboard in her hands.
Dressed in a training outfit with military boots, she quickly walked toward them.
The woman spoke as soon as she respectfully greeted the leader, "Captain Shane, are these the new survivors from outside?"
Shane nodded, pointed to Ramón and the others, and said, "Indeed, Nara. These people need to be fed first, then bathed, and finally tested."
Nara nodded at his words, lifting her clipboard to jot something down.
"Then, as you mentioned, let's take them to eat first."
Ten minutes later, in a large dining hall, several women entered carrying plates of food. The six rescued individuals looked at the food with bright eyes.
As soon as the plates were set down, several people eagerly reached for them, but each of them warmly handed out forks to one another before eating. The guards around them quietly left.
The six ate as quickly as they could. Ramón even licked his lips, realizing he had eaten too fast, but the feeling of fullness in his stomach made him feel comfortable.
It seemed that Shane, the only one who had remained in the room, noticed their thoughts and spoke again: "Looks like you haven't eaten well in a while! Don't overdo it. Alright, get ready for the test."
After speaking, Shane called for people outside to clean up the table, and the six individuals were led into a special room.
Just as they exchanged glances, Nara entered with a stack of documents. Shane took them and distributed one to each of the six.
Ramón looked at the paper's contents and found several strange questions with multiple-choice answers, asking about various situations.
Nara pulled up a chair, sat down in front of them, and said calmly, "There are some tests that will be done later, but for now, just answer the questions honestly. Time is limited. If any answer turns out to be untrue, it will have a major impact on your evaluation and future here. Hurry up."
After speaking, she pulled a delicate pocket watch from her pocket and signaled for everyone to get ready. Nara's slender fingers lightly pressed the button on the watch, and a voice echoed in everyone's ears.
"Hurry up!"