Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Liao Yu and the others didn’t understand why Jiang Nian was so excited, so Zhou Li explained Chu Yi’s dual-type Superpower to them.

After hearing it, they all gave thumbs-ups in awe—this was what it meant to be worth his weight in gold, and he was standing right here!

Department Head Wang waved his hand cheerfully:

“No need to thank me. This is also about solving a troublesome matter. Otherwise, Base S's pestering would never end.”

Glancing at his wristwatch, he continued:

“Jiang Nian, stay and wait for Chu Yi. Zhou Li, go assign personnel. Li Sheng, take the others to select some weapons and prepare. You’ll assemble and depart at 3 p.m.”

“Yes.”

Li Sheng quickly led the others away. Before leaving, Liao Yu gave Jiang Nian another glance, and Jiang Nian responded with a reassuring smile.

Soon, the once-noisy office fell silent.

Being alone with a senior officer for the first time, Jiang Nian politely spoke up first:

“Department Head Wang, did you want to talk to me?”

Last time, he had laughed at Brother Jing—now it was his turn.

Department Head Wang chuckled:

“Are kids these days all so perceptive?”

Jiang Nian grinned:

“No, no, maybe I just read too much into things.”

Department Head Wang smiled but nodded seriously:

“In these times, it pays to be sharp—especially for someone like you.”

Sensing the implication in his words, Jiang Nian sat up straight, hands flat on his knees:

“Department Head, to be honest, I’m quite nervous right now. Please don’t dance around it—just say it outright.”

He preferred directness. Dancing around it only made it easier for “veterans” to lead him into a trap.

“……”

Department Head Wang looked at him, suddenly recalling the frank talk he’d had with Cheng Jing before. These two really were two peas in a pod.

Deciding not to mince words, he got right to the point:

“Alright, then I’ll ask directly. Does your Purification Superpower work against the zombie virus? Have you tested it?”

“……”

Jiang Nian’s pleasant smile stiffened on his face before gradually settling into neutrality. Leaders truly were leaders—dropping a bombshell right away that caught him off guard.

Faced with admitting or denying, Jiang Nian chose silence. By now, a denial would be pointless.

Department Head Wang didn't seem upset or pushy, offering his reasoning instead:

"Relax. I haven't disclosed your superpower information. This is just my speculation based on the attribute of Purification. After all, you can purify the land, which is also contaminated by the apocalyptic virus."

"The emergence of superpowers is a survival evolution for humanity to resist the apocalyptic virus. Even just out of curiosity, you would try it on zombies, right? That’s just common sense."

"..."

Jiang Nian couldn't refute this—it was indeed a very reasonable guess. After some thought, he asked:

"If I admit it, what are the chances of being strapped to a lab table?"

With Brother Jing not around, everything goes wrong. Sigh!

Suddenly, he felt just like those side characters in TV dramas who get into trouble the moment they leave the protagonist's side!

"What nonsense are you spouting, kid? Do you think I'm some Unit 731 mad scientist?"

Department Head Wang scolded him irritably, then his expression turned serious and he said:

"The demand for antidote serum is astronomical. Even if your Purification Superpower is effective, using up your power would still be a drop in the ocean. If your superpower truly works against zombies, then you are a hope, not the final answer—direct application isn’t the solution."

"However, if possible, I hope you can provide some assistance in this area based on your abilities, guiding professionals to find answers from the ray of hope."

The military has always been a symbol of national order. He’d made his stance clear many times, yet this poor kid still didn’t trust him.

Moreover, Jiang Nian’s fear didn’t seem feigned—he was genuinely afraid. Could it be that when he was mistreated before, he sought help from the authorities but received none?

"..."

For some reason, Jiang Nian suddenly felt his composure broke. In his past life, the words he heard most often were:

‘With this kind of superpower, no matter where you go, the outcome will be the same. The moment it’s revealed, you’ll inevitably become a lab rat.’

‘Purification is the hope against the zombie virus, but hope is meant to be sacrificed…’

"..."

Seeing him lower his head, his eyes reddening, an air of broken despair radiating from him, Department Head Wang didn’t push him. He stood up, walked over, and patted Jiang Nian’s shoulder from behind.

Remembering that Jiang Nian was still a current student, it was natural for him to fear being treated as a lab rat after discovering his unique superpower. In a gentle, fatherly tone, he said:

"Antidote serum will definitely be developed—it’s only a matter of time. We must believe in science, not in the idea that sacrificing one person can end the apocalypse. Real life isn’t a movie."

"But reality can sometimes be crueler... I’ve heard some research institutes and labs are already conducting human experiments."

Jiang Nian struggled to compose himself for a while, his voice still slightly hoarse. His past life experiences had left him with a filter of trauma through which he viewed certain rules of the apocalypse.

Department Head Wang didn’t deny it:

"We can’t stamp out all the darkness. Even in a normal world, there are criminals engaged in black-market organ harvesting. Human experimentation in the apocalypse is a twisted trend, but that doesn’t make it right or normal. The research experiments in Nancheng Base will never harm innocent people."

"..."

Meeting his steadfast, principled gaze, Jiang Nian stood up and gave a deep bow:

"I understand. Thank you for your explanation."

He didn’t directly admit to the nature of his superpower. He would wait until officially surpassing the 500-meter limit to confirm its final attributes before making a decision.

Even so, Department Head Wang had gotten what he came for. As for whether Jiang Nian would cooperate, he believed Jiang Nian would think it through rationally.

The topic ended with an unspoken agreement. Just as Jiang Nian had adjusted his mood, Chu Yi returned with Zhou Li:

Dressed in a sleek black combat suit, he looked completely different from his usual suited appearance.

His hair was also cut shorter, giving off a formidable aura. If Jiang Nian had to describe it, he’d say Chu Yi had the bearing of a "master-level fighter."

Chu Yi was already accustomed to Jiang Nian’s unconsciously eager looks and greeted him politely.

Since they’d be working together, they needed to get acquainted.

After spreading out the map and outlining the mission, Department Head Wang only instructed Chu Yi to cooperate with Jiang Nian, leaving it at that.

Once everything was settled, Chu Yi produced for Jiang Nian a full set of field ops equipment and told him to change in the office restroom.

Jiang Nian made no fuss, making final adjustments right on schedule.

Zhou Li saw them off as Jiang Nian and the others prepared to leave.

Chu Yi hung back to receive Department Head Wang’s last instructions:

"Your task is to protect Jiang Nian and take his orders. Deal with other Superpowered individuals if necessary, but stay out of his family matters."

"Understood."

Chu Yi replied before exiting the office.

At exactly 3 p.m., the team set off. Chu Yi drove a modified seven-seat military jeep.

Jiang Nian sat in the passenger seat, sensing the constant hum of Chu Yi’s defensive Superpower enveloping the entire vehicle—ironclad security.

Once they left the base, they calculated they’d arrive by sunset.

Less than an hour into the journey, Chen Shanmin called again. Jiang Nian hung up immediately. With no hostages involved, he knew the family wouldn’t act recklessly before his appearance—let them sweat it out.

He handed out snacks, placing some easily accessible ones near Chu Yi.

"Thanks."

Chu Yi said politely before helping himself freely.

Between his job's demands and position, he rarely had time for snacks, much less this assortment.

Jiang Nian chuckled and waved it off, taking the opportunity to ask:

"Brother Chu, how many did you pack in your spatial storage?"

Though he’d requested a Superpowered rescue team, specifics mattered.

Chewing gum, Chu Yi answered:

"A full regiment. Though just twenty have superpowers."

Jiang Nian: "..."