RIACMET chapter 230

 

The entire Team 017 had made breakthroughs in their superpowers. Their combat strength had increased exponentially, and their authority over non-staff superpowered troops had grown stronger.

On the surface, the team members were scattered across different responsibilities. However, once they were ready to act, their ten-person core team always reassembled in standard formation. Depending on the situation, they might also bring Chu Yi, Tang Ji, and Gao Xuyang, followed by others as needed.

Field operation teams sent out from the base would no longer act independently. Cheng Jing proposed this rule, which received formal approval from Minister Wang.

As for the other superpowered personnel deployed from the legion, they usually coordinated with the base’s armed forces and did not need to lead independently. All that was required of them was to submit mission reports.

So, when Minister Wang announced that a special storage facility for crystal-core-powered generators had been built and that their team was needed to quietly collect zombies as an energy source for the apocalypse, the team adjusted and prepared within a single night.

The plan was for Chu Yi and Gao Xuyang to accompany the main group and for Tang Ji to remain at the base. In addition to his usual duties, he was assigned to assist in developing the first-generation detoxification serum in the laboratory building alongside others who carried the antibody.

Originally, Yang Kai was also supposed to stay. However, this time he had to accompany Gao Xuyang on the mission.

Cheng Jing and the others had already determined that if Gao Xuyang was separated from Yang Kai for too long and left alone with others, he would become anxious and restless.

When Yang Kai was around, Gao Xuyang acted like a normal person. But when Yang Kai wasn’t around, Gao Xuyang reverted to a zombie-like state, ignoring everyone and seeming like he could lose control at any moment.

According to Jiang Nian and the research professors, this behavior was normal for a Zombie King. Although Gao Xuyang retained human cognition, as a Zombie King, he also carried the instincts and behavioral traits of the undead.

Caught between those two “natures,” it was only natural that he treated his partner differently from everyone else.

“Brother Chu, can’t you please take me with you? Just stuff me in that space of yours, silently…”

Early in the morning in the staff dorm of Laboratory Building No. 3, Tang Ji, with hair like a bird’s nest, circled Chu Yi, who was preparing to leave, and made one final attempt.

Since entering the South City Base, Chu Yi had been in charge of keeping an eye on Gao Xuyang. Since his powers had no effect on Chu Yi, they ended up as roommates.

They got along well enough, but it would be heartless if Chu didn’t take him along this time. He just wanted to help the team.

“No, you’re a designated special staff member in the lab building. You have shifts to cover right now. Next time we go zombie-catching, you can join us. With the Zombie King on our side, this job will be done quickly. Your presence won’t make much of a difference.”

Chu Yi refused, leaving no room for negotiation.

Tang Ji pouted and muttered miserably,

“It’s not like I’d make a big impact. I just wanted to help Brother Nian stand out.”

Joining a powerful field team, not having to worry about safety, having fun along the way, and getting to watch the Zombie King summon the undead — who wouldn’t want that?

Chu Yi chuckled and said,

“Don’t worry. Given Jiang Nian’s personality, once the antidote serum is developed, there’ll be plenty of chances for him to drive you mad. For now, get going, and don’t forget to report to the lab on time.”

With that, he grabbed his gear and walked out the door.

Tang Ji called out casually.

“Got it. Be careful.”

“…?”

Chu Yi paused midstep and turned back to look at him.

Tang Ji scratched his head and asked,

“What?”

Chu Yi tilted his head and thought for a moment.

“It’s nothing. It’s just the first time anyone’s said that to me. It feels kind of strange.”

With that, he gave a small smile and left.

“Huh?”

Tang Ji frowned, confused. He thought about it for a moment, but he didn’t think it was odd. Wasn’t that just a normal, polite expression?

When they first met, Tang Ji had been intimidated by Chu Yi’s rank. Chu Yi had been cold and rigid, like a commander—no-nonsense and unsympathetic.

Over time, though, he realized that, as long as it wasn’t serious, Brother Chu was actually quite approachable.

With Gao Xuyang present, tracking and subduing zombies was effortless. Backed by Chu Yi’s squad, they weren’t afraid of any armed factions.

There were twelve people on this mission, departing in three off-road vehicles.

Rather than bringing a full squad, Chu Yi reduced the number of personnel and loaded over twenty custom-modified truck containers, which were extended and reinforced to hold as many zombies as possible at once.

Gao Xuyang said he could summon zombies near the base, but no one wanted to take that risk. It was safer to call them from farther away.

Throughout the trip, Teacher Gao used his unique zombie mental waves to sense his kin. Whenever he sensed a concentrated mass nearby, they moved in that direction and he began the summoning.

After parking along a deserted road, Chu Yi arranged ten large trucks in a line as Gao Xuyang instructed. Then, along with his teammates, he stood behind a low wall built by Lu Ningzhou to observe from a distance.

Gao Xuyang stood in the center of the road and let out a low, eerie sound. Before long, zombies began appearing from every direction.

They didn’t charge wildly or roar. Instead, they walked one by one into the open truck beds like lifeless dolls.

This strange and eerie sight sent chills down everyone’s spine. It was like watching a horde of zombies assemble—unnatural and terrifying.

They only needed regular zombies. Any mutants would be dealt with directly and stripped of their crystal cores. Gao Xuyang separated them accordingly.

“Teacher Gao’s range is at least twice mine. It’s insane.”

Even from a distance, Jiang Nian lowered his voice unconsciously.

Everyone — even Yang Kai — subconsciously held their breath. He truly was worthy of the title Zombie King.

After more than an hour, all ten trucks were full. A rough estimate put the number of zombies at between two and three thousand.

Liao Yu added a layer of ice around each zombie to stabilize them while Zhao Lei reinforced the trucks with various protective measures to prevent accidents.

Cheng Jing extracted the crystal cores from the mutant zombies.

Seeing how smoothly things were going, Zhou Rongbin sighed:

“Honestly, with our team’s strength, we could become a local power and crown ourselves emperors.”

The others just smiled, saying nothing.

Chu Yi glanced over and responded flatly,

“It’s natural to have ambitions and strive for power.”

Then, without pausing, he added,

“But I don’t think it’s necessary. You have plenty of supplies. You don’t need to exploit civilians for ‘protection fees’ or divide up your own resources. There’s no real benefit in that. In the end, the state will reclaim everything.”

After finishing, he stepped forward and placed the loaded trucks into his spatial vault one by one so that Gao Xuyang’s collected zombies wouldn’t be affected during the next batch.

“That’s true.”

Jiang Nian fully agreed. They weren’t being oppressed or starved. Chasing “independence” would only bring more trouble.

Seeing everyone chuckle, Yang Kai added from the side,

“Unless you’re trying to establish a new regime and separate from the nation. That might work overseas. If you’re going to do it, you’d better try it outside the country.”

“Pfft…”

“Hahaha…”

“Not wrong…”

Everyone laughed. After all, the authorities hadn’t collapsed, even during the early chaos. Now that things were stabilizing, they would only grow stronger. This country had thousands of years of experience managing disorder.

“All right, let’s move out and head to the next location.”

Yang Kai walked over to Gao Xuyang with a smile.

Gao Xuyang, having withdrawn his superpower, sat quietly on a stone pier by the roadside. Seeing Yang Kai approach, he spoke up.

“Yang Kai, I’m hungry. I’ve used up all the crystal cores I brought.”

Large-scale summoning like that wasn’t easy.

“Thanks for your hard work.”

Yang Kai replied as he took out a can filled with purified crystal cores from his bag. He opened it and handed it to Gao Xuyang.

Seeing the rest of the team watching, Gao Xuyang hesitated, then shyly said:

“I’ll eat it myself…”

Yang Kai knelt down in front of him, still holding the can, and smiled.

“No, I’ll feed you.”