Chapter 24

【System Prompt: Detected unknown personnel lurking around the safe house, danger coefficient increased to 40%, suggest starting material transfer immediately】

Just as dawn broke, Lin Chen kicked Xia Nuan awake: "Pack up, moving to Tianyu Building now."

He hoisted the Gatling gun onto his shoulder and picked up two boxes of Molotov cocktails, "Where's Su Qing? Tell her to load the medicine into the car."

Xia Nuan got up rubbing her eyes, glancing at the basement entrance: "Didn't see her... haven't seen her since the shift change this morning."

Lin Chen's heart sank, just about to take his phone to call Su Qing, when he caught a glimpse of a familiar pendant dropped on the ground—it was the one Su Qing had always worn, with the character "Hao" engraved on it.

Memories of the previous life suddenly surged up, and he clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

【System Prompt: Detected Su Qing's vital sign signal deviating from the warehouse range, moving toward the east side of the city, suspected of meeting with unknown personnel】

"No need to look," Lin Chen's voice was as cold as ice, "She went with Zhang Hao."

Xia Nuan was stunned: "Zhang Hao? The one from the previous life..."

"Right, the one who threw me into the snow with her, watching me freeze and get gnawed by zombies."

Lin Chen threw the Molotov cocktails into the trunk, "Ignore her, we move the materials, it'll be too late if we're slow."

He didn't mention looking for Su Qing again—the taste of being betrayed by the two of them in the previous life was something he remembered for a lifetime.

Now that Su Qing jumped into the pit voluntarily, he wouldn't waste any more time, cursing in a low voice: "Don't let me catch you two, or I'll freeze you to death directly!"

【System Prompt: Host's emotional fluctuation value briefly rose to 60%, automatically triggered "Calm Buffer", suggest prioritizing material transfer】

The two spent two hours moving materials onto the truck.

Weapons were loaded by category, the Gatling gun and AKs fixed on both sides of the cargo bed; medicine was packed into 10 first-aid kits, antibody serum placed separately in an insulated box; food and daily necessities were piled at the back and covered with a waterproof tarp.

Just as they were about to drive, a siren suddenly sounded in the distance.

Lin Chen frowned, moving the truck deeper into the garage, looking out through the cracks—the men surrounded by police were Zhang Hao.

"How did they find this place?" Xia Nuan's voice trembled.

Lin Chen didn't speak, staring at the material list in Zhang Hao's hand—it was the one Su Qing gave, even marking the quantity of weapons and medicine.

He gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white: "Su Qing tipped them off, wanting the police to confiscate our weapons."

【System Prompt: Detected police carrying weapon detectors, heavy weapons in the truck have been scanned, suggest taking response measures immediately】

The police soon found the garage, knocking on the truck window: "Open the door, accept inspection."

Lin Chen took a deep breath, pushing the car door open: "Officer, something wrong?"

The lead officer held up the detector, the instrument beeping incessantly: "What's loaded in the cargo bed? Open it and let's see."

Lin Chen didn't resist, lifting the waterproof tarp—the barrel of the Gatling gun was exposed, and the police instantly drew their pistols: "Don't move! Illegal possession of heavy weapons!"

"Officer, it's a misunderstanding," Lin Chen raised his hands slowly, "I'm in the security business, these weapons are prepared for clients, they're registered."

He took out the fake contract he had prepared in advance, "If you don't believe me, look, the paperwork is all complete."

Zhang Hao suddenly leaned over: "He's lying! This medicine is hoarded for the apocalypse, he even said he wanted to kill me!"

Lin Chen turned to look at him, the chill in his eyes making Zhang Hao shrink back.

The officer looked at the contract, then at Lin Chen: "Even if they are security supplies, you can't transport so many without authorization."

"I accept the fine," Lin Chen pulled out 9,000 yuan and handed it to the officer, "This is the fine, please accommodate us, the client is waiting to use them."

The officer hesitated for a moment, taking the money: "Don't let it happen again, transport must be reported in advance in the future."

He also said to Xia Nuan: "Little girl, don't be afraid, it's just a routine inspection."

Xia Nuan nodded, not daring to speak.

【System Prompt: Weapon seizure crisis resolved, paid fine of 9,000 yuan, danger coefficient decreased to 25%, must be vigilant against Zhang Hao's subsequent retaliation】

After the police left, Zhang Hao also ran away, and Su Qing never showed her face from beginning to end.

Lin Chen stared in the direction they disappeared, not chasing—transferring materials was most important now, the score could be settled later.

"Drive," Lin Chen sat in the driver's seat, "Don't think about what just happened, install the protective railings first when we arrive."

The truck drove toward the city center, Xia Nuan couldn't help but ask: "Just let them go like this? In the previous life they..."

"Now is not the time for revenge," Lin Chen interrupted her, staring at the road ahead, "When the apocalypse comes, they'll pay the price."

【System Prompt: Apocalypse countdown: 6 days, 22 hours, 36 minutes, material transfer progress 60%, safe house renovation not yet started】

When they arrived at Tianyu Building, the property management was already waiting downstairs with workers.

Lin Chen directed the workers to move the materials: "Install the terrace protective railings first, use the thickest steel bars, then lift the generator and water tanks."

Xia Nuan was responsible for counting the medicine, suddenly shouting: "Lin Chen! The 10 antibody serums that were reshipped arrived, the medicine is complete now!"

Lin Chen nodded, just about to go help, when his phone suddenly rang—it was an unknown landline number.

After connecting, the police officer's voice came through: "Mr. Lin, we've caught Su Qing and Zhang Hao."

"What happened?" Lin Chen frowned.

"They were arguing on the side of the road, Zhang Hao hit Su Qing and even said he wanted to rob your materials, we happened to run into them on patrol."

The officer paused, "Do you want to come over and make a statement? Stay away from these people in the future."

Lin Chen pinched his phone, the scene of being betrayed in the previous life flashing back—in the snow, he was left with only one breath, Su Qing and Zhang Hao laughing in the distance.

He took a deep breath: "No need, just handle it according to regulations."

【System Prompt: Detected Su Qing and Zhang Hao have been detained, no short-term threat, danger coefficient decreased to 15%】

Hanging up the phone, Lin Chen walked to the terrace.

The workers were welding the protective railings, sparks sizzling as they hit the ground. He looked at the bustling traffic downstairs, feeling no relief in his heart—the police couldn't stop the apocalypse.

Xia Nuan handed him a bottle of water: "The police said... they'll send them to the detention center, at least lock them up for half a month."

"Half a month is enough for us to make preparations," Lin Chen unscrewed the water bottle, "Have the workers speed up, all defenses must be finished tonight."

【System Prompt: Safe house renovation progress 30%, material transfer progress 80%, expected to be completed before 24:00 tonight】

By evening, the protective railings were installed, and the generator was debugged.

Lin Chen stood on the terrace and looked with binoculars—there were a few zombie shadows swaying in the east of the city, arriving earlier than expected.

"Xia Nuan, bring two boxes of cold and fever medicine over," Lin Chen turned around, "Check the first-aid kits again, ensure there are tourniquets and povidone-iodine."

Xia Nuan was just about to go get them, when she suddenly pointed downstairs: "Lin Chen, look! Is that..."

Lin Chen looked in the direction she pointed, his face sinking instantly—several people in white lab coats were taking pictures of Tianyu Building, exactly the same as the laboratory personnel who controlled the zombie horde in the previous life.

【System Prompt: Detected traces of laboratory personnel, safe house exposure risk increased to 50%, suggest starting concealment measures immediately】

Lin Chen gripped the pistol at his waist.

He knew that Su Qing and Zhang Hao being caught was only a temporary calm, the real trouble had already found them.

Must make all preparations tonight.

Otherwise, once the laboratory people make a move, they won't even have a chance to resist.