Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Baize City, also a populous city, though not as large as the million-strong Chuxi City, still housed several hundred thousand people. After the apocalypse, the city was overrun with zombies, making them impossible to fully eradicate.

However, a positive aspect was that many zombies were controlled by Professor Zhang, allowing the city's residents some respite. Many even pledged allegiance to him.

"Another group established a new base on Half Moon Island, but the dense fog there makes it unsuitable for human habitation. The remaining people formed various organizations within the city. The food at the institute is provided by these organizations. They are hoping for a zombie vaccine from us, but after more than a year of research, we've come up empty. Many have lost hope."

Ran Qing explained the situation inside the city while in the RV. Speaking of this, her face showed signs of weariness. The indescribable responsibility weighing on everyone was nearly crushing, compounded by the helplessness and guilt over the elusive zombie vaccine.

Lin An wanted to comfort her but was at a loss for words. Finally, it was the straightforward Xu Fang who reassured her, saying they would definitely develop the vaccine, or, failing that, they would enhance their abilities and eventually eradicate all zombies.

Ran Qing managed a smile, shifting the conversation away from this heavy topic. She pointed to a map on the table, showing that Professor Zhang controlled a large area around the medical building. To enter, they would need to bypass the surrounding security.

"The key challenge lies in how to enter the building without drawing attention among the mix of power users and ordinary people."

Ouyang Dong, arms crossed, studied the map, "I somehow feel that this Professor Zhang isn't entirely bad. Despite his unrealistic ambitions, his actions do benefit the residents."

"Indeed, his control over the zombies has indeed relieved the residents' burden. But..." Ran Qing's expression turned serious, "We've received information that Professor Zhang is conducting human experiments in secret, turning some of his followers, both with abilities and ordinary people, into zombies. This trip is not only about retrieving documents from the medical building but also to verify these allegations. We've tolerated his actions so far, but if he's really breaking Baize City's rules and engaging in prohibited activities, I won't let him off."

Ran Qing's expression was cold, and at this moment, she bore a striking resemblance to Shen Xiuzhe, even their demeanors were uncannily similar.

“Isn’t it risky to just barge in like this? They're on guard. Finding evidence of their human experimentation will be much tougher,” Wu Duo analyzed carefully.

Ran Qing looked at the short-haired girl beside her, calm and astute. Such wisdom in someone so young, she was destined to be a formidable person in the future.

“Right, that’s why my plan involves us splitting into two groups upon approach. One will stealthily infiltrate to find the drugs and documents, while the other confronts them head-on to search for evidence of Professor Zhang's human experiments.”

Xu Fang thought this was a good idea: “How do we split up, then?”

Half an hour later, Xu Fang, looking at the group opposite him and then at Ouyang Dong by his side, felt frustrated: “Hey! This division isn’t fair. All the skilled ones are on your side. We're just two here. No, I want to join your group.”

He tried to walk over but was held back by Ouyang Dong, who asked sinisterly, “Where do you think you're going? Stay put.”

“Mostly because many here recognize me and Xiuzhe, and it's not suitable for the young girl to go. The city's in chaos, who knows what kind of freaks are out there. Grandma Wu’s health is unstable; it’s better for her to stay with us. Lin An can’t go either, his identity being exposed would cause major chaos.”

So, it seemed that only the two of them could go in front?

"With the two strongest fighters gone, Xu Fang felt they might not be up to the task."

“That's the point! You’re not supposed to be strong,” Ran Qing said, patting Xu Fang's shoulder, trying to alleviate his concerns.

Xu Fang: ?

This statement was hardly uplifting.

“As Xiuzhe's allies, your abilities are definitely stronger than most here. Ouyang Dong’s plant-based ability is already powerful, the strongest I’ve seen among similar ability users. I haven’t seen your ability yet, but I believe you must be even stronger.”

Xu Fang nodded without modesty, grinning broadly.

“So once you get there, confront them head-on and start a fight to facilitate our infiltration. Make sure to put on a strong display during the fight, the stronger the better, and then pretend to get captured later on.”

Ouyang Dong suddenly felt uneasy: "What happens after we get captured?"

Ran Qing replied, "If Professor Zhang isn't conducting human experiments, seeing your powerful abilities, he'll surely try to recruit you. But if he is, you’ll become prime material for his experiments."

Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong: “…”

This sounds dangerously risky.

"Don't worry, we'll come for you once we've secured the drugs and the documents."

Lin An realized Aunt Shen was quite persuasive. Under her influence, Xu Fang happily dragged Ouyang Dong away.

Grandma Wu vigilantly surveyed her surroundings, feeling uneasy in unfamiliar places. Watching Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong walk away, she opened her mouth as if to speak, but eventually chose silence.

They were now on the rooftop of a building, from where they could see Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong heading towards the street. Nearby, a barricade of wire and fences stood, and people emerged from within as the two approached.

The two sides appeared to be talking, and soon a fight broke out.

Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong were overwhelmingly dominating their opponents, and soon, reinforcements arrived.

Still, the duo continued to overpower the group.

After traveling so far and defeating so many zombies, honing their skills, their abilities, although not on par with Lin An and Shen Xiuzhe, stood out among others.

"Let's go," Shen Xiuzhe said, seeing the duo could handle it. It was time for them to act.

The area was vast and not all places could be guarded. With Lin An's extraordinary sense of smell, they could easily avoid people ahead, making infiltration relatively simple.

Grandma Wu moved with them, hiding together, but sometimes she was uncooperative. While everyone else hid, she would stand there blankly. When Wu Duo tried to pull her into hiding, she would end up getting her head knocked.

Watching someone notice the two standing in the middle of the road, Wu Duo was anxious, fearing this operation might go awry.

Those hiding around the corner remained calm, thinking that knocking out anyone who approached would suffice.

But as the two men walked and chatted, they passed by Grandma Wu and Wu Duo without any sign of noticing them, as if they were invisible.

In pre-apocalyptic times, such scenes were common due to everyone's busy lives, not paying attention to others. But now, in Professor Zhang's territory, even a passing rat would be scrutinized, let alone strangers.

They walked right past them without any hint of irregularity.

Wu Duo turned in surprise to watch the two men, puzzled by this anomaly.

“Is it Grandma Wu’s ability?” Lin An couldn't think of another explanation. A psychic ability could disrupt the thoughts of humans and zombies alike, rendering them unnoticed.

“Let's find out,” Shen Xiuzhe led the group forward without avoiding anyone, and indeed, they remained undetected.

Although uncertain when Grandma Wu activated her ability or when it would end, its current effect undoubtedly facilitated their infiltration.

They soon arrived at the medical building, a twenty-five-story structure resembling a book, seemingly unguarded and loosely secured, yet Lin An frowned in concern.

The interior reeked of zombies, a rotting, putrid stench so overpowering it nearly numbed his nose.

As they entered the building, they found an empty lobby. Lin An knew zombies lurked behind the reception, on the chandeliers, in elevators, and stairwells, with the strongest stench emanating from underground.

Shen's mother mentioned it was a parking lot. Why were there so many zombies there?

Although securing the drugs and finding documents were priorities, they unanimously decided to first investigate the parking lot. Grandma Wu's ability was effective, concealing them from both humans and zombies, and a quick look wouldn’t take long.

They descended the stairwell, where a zombie with human limbs and head but a brown gecko tail lay on the ceiling. Lin An recognized its palm and footpads, covered in tiny scales, quietly motionless.

It wore an unsightly metallic grey helmet, as hideous as ever.

The group passed through the stairwell, and the zombies showed no reaction.

Reaching the entrance to the parking lot, Lin An covered his nose; the smell was unbearable. Although his obsession with cleanliness had improved, he still struggled in extremely dirty and smelly places.

How he wished he could use his water ability to wash away everything emitting that foul odor.

No, he must endure. They couldn’t draw attention; they were here to sneak in.

"But when Lin An saw the source of the stench in the parking lot, he was so shocked that he forgot to cover his nose, staring wide-eyed at the scene before him."

"The parking lot was cleared of all vehicles, and the vast underground space was filled with zombies."

And these zombies were actively working.

Countless zombies, wearing metallic helmets, squatted on the ground, one hand holding a hammer, the other a piece of metal, continuously shaping it. Some zombies had already formed complete objects.

Helmets.

No wonder they were so ugly and each one unique; they were handcrafted like this.

The more humans zombies consume, the stronger they become. But these zombies in the underground parking lot were gaunt, skeletal, their bodies covered in dirt, mechanically swinging hammers. Once a helmet was completed, they immediately started on the next, without a moment’s rest.

They were like pitiful workers, exploited by a ruthless boss.

A 24/7 work schedule, no days off, and not even wages or meals.

How tragic.

Lin An: “…” For some reason, he suddenly felt a profound sense of empathetic sorrow.

If he had turned into a zombie while in Baize City, he likely would have been captured and put to work here.

Even Wudo couldn't help but show sympathy, "That said, doesn't Baize City have machines for metalworking? Using machines to make helmets should be faster."

"There are, but many are damaged, and some are occupied by organizations with powerful psychics. The rest are whereabouts unknown. To use those machines, not only is electricity needed, but also someone knowledgeable about machinery. In these times, the city's power equipment is all unusable. Our institute has strong generators and solar devices, and there's one electrically-powered psychic, so we don't lack power. The medical building, almost a hundred years old, has many deteriorated items. Getting machines to work properly is quite a hassle. However, this method is indeed excellent. Zombies don't tire or die from overwork, making them perfect laborers. Professor Zhang is quite clever, huh?"

Ran Qing looked on with admiration.

Lin An: "..."

These zombies can work non-stop like perpetual motion machines. Although this method is indeed good, he couldn't help feeling complicated about it.

Shen Xiuzhe observed his surroundings, noticing only hardworking zombies. No wonder he felt the area nearby had too few zombies; they were all here.



"Let's go first. These zombies won't pose a danger for now, and it's good to let them stay here. At least they have formal jobs, unlike those idle zombies wandering outside."

Ran Qing urged everyone to hurry along.

Lin An thought Shen Mama was quite humorous, but he probably wasn't considered an idle zombie, right?

Probably not.

Just as they were about to leave, the area behind them suddenly quieted down.

The clanging and banging sounds disappeared in an instant.

In the parking lot, countless zombies turned their heads to look at them, their crimson eyes staring intently, like overworked employees seeing their boss after a month of overtime.

Their eyes were filled with a murderous intent.

Granny Wu noticed those hostile gazes and even turned back, fiercely saying to the zombies, "What are you looking at!"

The zombies, filled with murderous aura, all stood up.

Why, at this moment, had Granny Wu's psychic abilities failed?