Chapter 254

At the temporary camp in the Ice Field Mountains, the emergency light in the tent cast a pale, sickly glow.

Sister Chu Yao Yao crouched on the ground covered with cold-resistant mats, her fingertips pinching a portable detector,

her gaze locked tightly onto A Nian's right calf. Lu Ran stood guard nearby,

the bloodstains on his body not yet cleaned off, his chest heaving violently, the anxiety in his eyes almost overflowing.

A Nian gritted her teeth, cold sweat on her forehead streaming down her cheeks,

yet she clutched the signal receiver with the cracked screen tightly, refusing to let go. Sister Chu Yao Yao lifted A Nian's pant leg. As soon as the detector's probe touched the blackened bite mark, the alarm light on the screen flashed wildly, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

Turn it off!

Sister Chu Yao Yao's voice was extremely deep. Lu Ran immediately reached out and pressed the alarm to silence it.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's fingertips lightly brushed the skin around the bite mark; she could clearly feel the black veins protruding under the skin,

those patterns like spiderwebs, having already crawled below A Nian's knee and still spreading toward her thigh at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's brows knitted together fiercely, and she gasped, her voice filled with unbelievable shock: "The black veins have spread to A Nian's knee. This rate of spread is ten times that of the conventional zombie virus."

Lu Ran's pupils contracted sharply, and he grabbed Sister Chu Yao Yao's wrist, his force so great it almost crushed her bones.

Is there a way to suppress it?

What about the serum?

Can the emergency serum we brought be used?

Sister Chu Yao Yao pried his hand away and shook her head: "Conventional serum is useless. This virus is a mutant strain, and its characteristics are completely different from the secondary infection virus. Now we can only temporarily use inhibitors to delay the spread, but it won't last long. We must find the Human Alliance headquarters; they might have the corresponding antiviral medicine."

Lu Ran's face turned deathly pale in an instant. He turned his head to look at A Nian, who was curled up on the cold-resistant mat.

A Nian's lips had already turned black, her breathing becoming weaker and weaker, yet her eyes were still fixed on the light on the signal receiver. Lu Ran took a deep breath,

turned, and rushed out of the tent, shouting to the team members outside: "Pack up the equipment immediately. We leave in ten minutes. The target is the Human Alliance headquarters in the depths of the valley."

The team members immediately sprang into action, some dismantling the tents,

others checking their weapons, their movements crisp and efficient. Xia Nuan walked into the tent, holding an inhibitor, and handed it to Sister Chu Yao Yao,

"This is the last one.

How long can it last?"

"Three hours at most." Sister Chu Yao Yao took the inhibitor and skillfully injected it into A Nian.

As the medicine was pushed into her bloodstream, the spreading speed of the black veins on A Nian's leg slowed down significantly, and her breathing also became a bit steadier.

Outside the tent, the wind and snow gradually lessened, and sunlight spilled down through the cloud layer,

landing on the vast white snow, reflecting a blinding light. Lu Ran held A Nian,

carefully placed her in the back seat of the modified snow vehicle, and wrapped her tightly in a cold-resistant blanket.

At the same time, in the conference hall of the Qingshi Safe Zone, the atmosphere remained solemn.

Representatives from over a dozen safe zones sat on both sides of a long table, their gazes fixed squarely on Lin Chen, who was beside the main seat.

Wang Hu stood at the front, cleared his throat: "Everyone, the threat of the Black Scorpion organization is imminent.

The spread of the secondary infection virus is growing wider. Now, please have Captain Lin of the Starfire Safe Zone speak on behalf of the Starfire Group."

Lin Chen slowly stood up, holding a document containing the Starfire Group's compiled distribution of Black Scorpion organization strongholds and an analysis of the virus's characteristics.

His gaze swept over every face in the room, his voice neither humble nor arrogant, clearly reaching every corner of the hall: "On behalf of the Starfire Group, I will only say two things today."

He held up one finger, his tone steady: "First, cooperation. The Starfire Group is willing to form an offensive and defensive alliance with every safe zone to share intelligence, coordinate resources, and jointly fight against the Black Scorpion organization and the mutant virus. The Starfire Group will provide three hundred elite troops to be responsible for the main battlefield's breakthrough; each safe zone will provide personnel and food according to their strength, and no one is to shirk their duty." A wave of whispering immediately broke out below the stage; several representatives lowered their heads to confer, their faces showing hesitation.

Lin Chen did not pause, holding up a second finger: "Second, rules. After the alliance is established, all actions must follow the unified command of the Joint Command Headquarters. Those who act without authorization will be considered as having betrayed the alliance, and the Starfire Group will unite with other safe zones to eliminate them."

"By what right should the Joint Command Headquarters be decided by you, the Starfire Group?

" The short, stout representative from the Yellow Sand Safe Zone slammed the table again, "Our Yellow Sand Safe Zone also has a team of two hundred people. Why should we listen to you?"

Lin Chen sneered and signaled to the team members behind him. Two members carried a box forward,

opened the lid, and inside were the confession of the Black Scorpion organization's third-in-command, Poison Fang, as well as evidence of private dealings between the Yellow Sand Safe Zone and the Black Scorpion organization.

The short, stout representative's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and he slumped into his chair,

unable to speak another word. Seeing this, the other representatives' expressions changed one after another; in their eyes as they looked at Lin Chen, there was only awe left.

"The evidence is conclusive. The Yellow Sand Safe Zone colluded with the Black Scorpion organization and betrayed humanity.

" Lin Chen's voice carried a hint of coldness, "According to the rules, they should be eliminated. Considering this is a first offense, we will temporarily revoke the Yellow Sand Safe Zone's alliance qualifications and have them perform service to atone for their crimes, with a decision on their future status based on their subsequent performance."

The short, stout representative slumped in his chair, nodding repeatedly, his mouth continuously saying "Thank you, Captain Lin." The other representatives no longer dared to have any objections, one after another expressing their willingness to join the alliance and follow the Joint Command Headquarters' orders.

Seeing this, Wang Hu immediately stepped forward, a smile on his face: "Since everyone has no objections, I announce that the Human Safety Alliance is officially established, with Captain Lin serving as the Commander-in-Chief."

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience, and the representatives' faces showed expressions of relief.

Lin Chen watched the scene before him, his heart without the slightest ripple. What he wanted was not applause, but the power to truly fight against the Black Scorpion organization.

After the meeting ended, Lin Chen took his team members, along with the new intelligence and the alliance covenant,

and walked out of the conference hall. In the plaza of the Qingshi Safe Zone, ten off-road vehicles were parked,

and the team members were already ready to go. Wang Hu saw Lin Chen to the vehicle and whispered: "Captain Lin, the Black Scorpion organization's headquarters is in the eastern ruins. We have already sent people to scout the terrain and can coordinate with your actions at any time."

Lin Chen nodded without speaking and turned to get into the off-road vehicle. The team members boarded their vehicles one after another, and the ten off-road vehicles lined up and drove toward the western hills.

Outside the car window, the sun was setting, dyeing the sky a blood red.

Lin Chen looked at the covenant and intelligence in his hands, his gaze becoming increasingly determined. He knew this was only the beginning; the real battle was still ahead.

The off-road vehicle sped along the dirt road, the tires crushing gravel and making a crunching sound.

Lin Chen took out his communicator and dialed Lu Ran's number, but there was only the static of current in the receiver.

He frowned, hung up the communicator, and calculated silently in his heart. The situation in the direction of the ice field was unclear, and the safety of Lu Ran and A Nian was unknown.

He had to rush back to the safe zone in the western hills as soon as possible to reorganize his forces and be ready to support the ice field at any time.

The off-road vehicle's speed increased, driving toward the direction where the sun was setting, and the Qingshi Safe Zone behind them gradually disappeared from sight.