Chapter 220

Inside the Equipment Test Institute.

The red light lit up, and despair spread.

Zhang Hai carefully tidied his clothing, as if wanting to leave decently at the last moment.

Behind them, two younger researchers gasped heavily, unable to accept this fact.

As senior researchers of the experimental weapon, each of them was a pride of heaven, graduating from prestigious universities.

Those able to work here had also passed multiple rounds of political review, defeating countless competitors.

However, due to funding constraints, their salaries and benefits as researchers were not high.

Therefore, after the Apocalypse broke out, most people held back a breath.

What right do I have, after studying hard for over ten years in cold windows, as a top-tier talent contributing my youth here, living in obscurity, yet ending up like this?

What about the military's rescue?

What about the superiors' orders?

If it weren't for working at the Research Institute, if it weren't for the Apocalypse.

They clearly could have gone abroad to enjoy the best treatment at foreign companies.

Now, nothing remains.

Even the life of secretly retiring after decades of struggle is gone.

All hope turned to nothing.

Living in fear and anxiety, unable to eat enough or stay warm, even unable to leave the outside world.

Under such a strong blow, they suffered immensely.

Now, the Director actually wants us to be buried with him?!

The two exchanged a glance, fists clenched, their eyes full of unwillingness.

What right do we have!?

If the superiors don't send rescue, that's bad enough; now they won't even let us flee?

I have already devoted my youth; I am already willing to live in obscurity and make contributions.

But now, a cold order wants us to die!?

Grief, despair, unwillingness, resentment.

One young researcher, holding onto the last sliver of hope, shouted at Zhang Hai's back:

Director!

We can escape!

The safety passage to the outside is right behind us, with complete disinfection equipment!

You know, we will absolutely not carry any virus or bacteria when we go out!

I beg you to give us a path to live!

Ten years! Ten years!

We work overtime every day designing weapons, with no time to accompany our children and wives; we have already given enough...

Why must we die now over a tiny, insignificant risk?

I am unwilling, I truly am unwilling!

Zhang Hai gave a bitter smile and turned around, yet his conviction remained unmoved:

Little Deng, we don't know that monster's methods.

Once....

Deng Xiang's eyes flashed with a hint of struggle, he thudded to his knees before the Director, his voice hoarse:

Director, my wife is also in our Research Institute.

She's right behind us...

You know! She's pregnant and still insists on working; you know what kind of person I am!

I'm not afraid of death! But I really want to see...

Deng Xiang wept bitterly, his voice choking:

I want to watch my child be born; I want my wife to make it out alive.

I beg you to give us a way to live!

That monster attaching to us is only a possibility!

The superiors worry he will become a threat, endangering other Survivors..

But what about us? Are we just supposed to die?!

Are our lives not lives?!

Director Zhang Hai sighed deeply, knowing Deng Xiang had been diligent and hardworking before the Apocalypse, working conscientiously every day, putting in overtime without complaint.

Even on the day his wedding ended, he brought his wife back to work overtime...

But.

The superiors dare not gamble, nor does he.

He, that man, that monster must not be let out of here!

Zhang Hai couldn't help but pat Deng Xiang's shoulder, wanting to advise him:

Little Deng, we are soldiers; this is our duty.

We should...

Kneeling on the ground, Deng Xiang's blood-red eyes suddenly flashed with intense hatred.

He suddenly stood up, his right hand reaching toward his waist.

Whoosh.

He drew his pistol.

Deng Xiang held his pistol with trembling hands, aiming at Zhang Hai, his eye sockets red:

Zhang Hai.

This is you forcing me....

I've already given enough, I've had enough!

Laozi is a genius! If it weren't for you bastards brainwashing me, how would I have ended up here!

Dedication! Dedication! Dedication!

You think it's still the 1970s! Why can't we get good treatment? Why must we only give?

Why, after making so many contributions, are we still being discarded!

Soldiers!? Bullshit, Laozi isn't a soldier!

Don't use that bunch of bullshit sense of honor as an excuse!

You've lived enough! I haven't lived enough!

You want to die! I'll grant you that!

Click.

The pistol's safety was disengaged, a round chambered.

The middle-aged researcher above the chicken coop looked on in horror at the scene before him, his heart pounding as he rose to his feet and spread his arms:

Little Deng! Don't act rashly!

Quickly put the gun down!

Fang Yan, you also hurry to persuade Little Deng....

Beside Deng Xiang, Fang Yan, who had remained silent, slowly lifted his head:

Persuade?

Why persuade?

Zhang Hai has enjoyed everything he deserved in his lifetime—status, fame—yet what about us!

His death bears no regret, but I do, Elder Deng does, and those behind us do!

I think Elder Deng is right; this is unfair.

I also don't want to die, especially to die so obscurely...

Not even a corpse can be left behind...

The middle-aged man above the chicken coop stared in disbelief at the two, unable to comprehend how the usually mild pair could have become so frenzied.

Suddenly.

In his peripheral vision, he saw a shadow outside the testing facility on the monitor, his heart jolted.

Deng Xiang drew a deep breath, his face ferocious:

Zhang Hai, Director Zhang!

If you want to die, I'll send you on your way!

His fingertip rested on the trigger, trembling.

As long as Zhang Hai is killed, no one inside the testing facility can initiate the self-destruct sequence!

In the instant before the gunshot, the man above the chicken coop, having cleared the monitor, shouted urgently:

Deng Xiang! Wait a moment!

Someone's coming! Looks like it's the military!

On the remaining surveillance footage, Lin An and the others, guided by Chu An in military uniform, gradually approached the underground testing facility.

Not far away, two armored vehicles stood out conspicuously.

Deng Xiang's expression stalled, and the safety warning above his head blared instantly:

The seventh safety door has been opened, opened by Wu Zhenhua 【Deputy Director】

Beep, unknown individuals have intruded the perimeter of the testing facility; should safety measures be activated? Should the main gate be opened?

After the mechanical prompt ended, Deng Xiang and the other wore looks of wild joy:

Do not activate safety measures! Open the gate! Let them in!

Zhang Hai drew a deep breath, glaring angrily:

Letting them in is just sending them to their deaths!

Deng Xiang! Put the gun down!

Don't do any more foolish things!

Upon hearing that, Deng Xiang couldn't help but snort:

Foolish things?

Old coot, I've figured you out. You're just seeking death.

Clearly military personnel have come; if we don't try, how will we know?

Consider yourself lucky—I won't kill you for now, let's see if they can handle the monster...

If they can't...

He had spoken halfway when he turned his head toward Fang Yan and slowly said:

Fang Yan, directly lead this crowd to the monster.

Then go back and summon everyone out; we're preparing to withdraw.