Underneath an unnamed island at the center of the Pacific Ocean, the surface of the island remained normal, but its interior had long been transformed into a spacious, thirteen-story underground base.
"Boss, our division in Huaxia is reporting that three of our five targets are dead."
Seated in the control room, the blond man nodded. He sat with his back to the person reporting, his tone suggesting the outcome was expected.
"It's okay. These five people are just experi—"
Before he could finish the last few words, he was lifted into the air by his neck, his throat barely allowing enough oxygen to sustain him as he struggled to breathe.
Only when he could no longer hold on did the blond man release him.
Without waiting for the man kneeling on the floor, pounding his chest and coughing incessantly, to speak, he interrupted, "Alright, you may go. Take a vial of serum. I will make my own decisions regarding the Eternal Life Cult."
"Thank you, boss," the man on the floor said before scrambling out.
The vast control room was left with only the blond man, his voice echoing slowly.
"The Eternal Life Cult, hah. Your pursuit is like the faith of rats in the sewers. HSAC (Human Survival Assurance Company) will crush you all!..."
The voice slowly ascended, drifting past the large symbol on the domed ceiling.
Two red snakes coiled around a green-purple thorny vine.
The voice dissipated into the sky, unheard by anyone.
...
"Captain, we're nearing the highway exit for Fan City. If we turn here, we can go directly to National Highway GS685. But I recall the survivor settlement on the map being at this Fan City service area. Should we check it out?"
After parting ways with Li Wen, Lin Yuan and his group encountered no further danger. Their convoy, bathed in sunlight, traversed the highway, crossing mountains, and was now approaching the Fan City toll station.
Lin Yuan, still looking at the map, said without looking up, "Of course, we need to see why these survivors can't accept the airdrop."
"The map doesn't give many details, perhaps we'll know when we get to the battlefield."
"Alright, let's stop about 300 meters outside the service area. We'll scout with binoculars first, then decide whether to help."
"Got it."
Half an hour later, after dealing with a few zombies on the road, the convoy had successfully reached a point 300 meters outside the Fan City service area.
"Qing Tian Jie, Meng Yao, any findings?"
Lin Yuan stood beneath the armored vehicle, asking the two women observing with binoculars atop the vehicle.
"Captain, something's not right," Mu Qingtian said. She raised her binoculars again before confirming, "There's no one at that toll station, not even a single zombie."
No one?
Cleansed by survivors?
Perhaps, after all, there were many people venturing out to search for supplies in this world.
"Everyone board. We'll go take a look. Combat team, check your weapons and equipment. Team members in the passenger seats, load your firearms and keep an eye out the window. If the situation becomes urgent, disembark immediately and use vehicle number three as cover. Understood?"
With the defense of the Saber-toothed Tiger, the weapons delivered by the airdrop were currently sufficient. Unless the enemy attacked with rocket-propelled grenades or hand grenades, they wouldn't be able to hit Lin Yuan's group.
As the convoy approached the service area, it entered the zombies' auditory range, yet no zombies emerged to attack them.
"All vehicles, attention. Combat team disembark, including Jiang Ziqi and Zhao Mengnan. Bring three smoke grenades. The rest will remain with the convoy. Contact us via walkie-talkie for any issues. Respond when received."
"Received." x4
"Combat team, advance in combat formation. Mu Qingtian, find a sniper position and be careful. Jiang Ziqi, free combat, be careful. Do not fire unless necessary. Understood?"
Jiang Ziqi nodded, carefully tucking her handgun away.
She had only learned how to load bullets and disassemble magazines, and was only just taught how to release the safety on the way.
After all, she had only joined them a little over a day before the evacuation, and hadn't learned anything.
However, after Lin Yuan and his group had searched all areas of the service area, they found no sign of people, only zombie corpses laid out on the ground.
"Captain, could they have evacuated in advance?" Zhao Anjing asked. They had scoured the entire place, and besides no people, they hadn't even found much in the way of supplies. It was eerily quiet.
"Not necessarily. Look at this vegetable patch. It looks like it was planted only a few days ago, some are just sprouting," Lin Yuan said, pointing to the flower bed beside the service area's washbasin.
The green plants here had been uprooted and turned into a vegetable garden.
"Let's continue shortly..."
Lin Yuan's words were cut short as Jiang Ziqi, with her superior hearing, interrupted him. "Wait, Captain, I hear something making a noise."
"It's over there!" Jiang Ziqi pointed in one direction and gave chase after glancing at Lin Yuan.
"Switch shooting mode to burst fire. Keep close to Jiang Ziqi!"