Chapter 61

In the small building's hall, only Lu Zhengxiong, Xiao Lin, and Su Hao remained.

"Let me introduce myself, my name is Xiao Lin. I am a B3-level researcher at the Academy of Sciences."

Her manner was poised and graceful, yet she did not extend her hand in the customary greeting, nor did she even give Su Hao a proper look. Her expression remained cold and proud, showing no trace of the enthusiasm and passion she had displayed when leaving KD03 with Li Daoyuan.

"B3-level researcher..."

This title was clearly unfamiliar to others, but Su Hao's lips curved slightly.

This was not out of respect, but rather a reflection on the memories deep in his mind.

He had once been a researcher at the Academy of Sciences, and his level... was higher, B1.

In the future world, everything is under military management, and research institutions are no exception. For ease of management, all researchers under the Academy of Sciences are divided into three basic levels—A, B, and C—based on their experience, ability, and achievements. Each level is further divided into 1, 2, and 3 sub-levels. There are a total of nine ranks from highest to lowest, corresponding to different classes of generals, colonels, and captains.

The research institute system was implemented in 2019, the year before the virus outbreak. When the Academy of Sciences initially submitted the grading plan to the General Staff Headquarters, it was rejected by some people who were unwilling to dilute their power. The fiery-tempered President Wang Qinan immediately rushed into the General Staff meeting hall to argue his case, and finally, by threatening to resign and halt several important research projects, he forced the General Staff Headquarters to recognize the grading system and provide corresponding military rank benefits to relevant personnel.

It is said that the old president once roared at the military high command: "Even a singer can be awarded the rank of a brigadier general, so why can't those who conduct scientific research enjoy the same treatment? Winning a war requires the most advanced weapons. If you think that dragging the cultural troupe to the front line to shout at the enemy will make them surrender, then you can go ahead and try—"

A B3-level researcher is equivalent to a major.

Su Hao was somewhat curious—Xiao Lin was too young.

She might be twenty-two, or twenty-three, at most not exceeding twenty-five. Su Hao could only guess based on her appearance, but women have a mysterious quality that men cannot see through. They use cosmetics and clothing to hide their true age, and use a deliberately coquettish voice to appear young and lively. There are too many makeup techniques that can turn a devouring witch into Snow White, making it impossible for young, infatuated men to distinguish between truth and falsehood, leading them to happily embrace a sixty-year-old woman and walk into the civil affairs office to get a marriage certificate. It is only on the wedding night, when they strip off their clothes and lie in bed, that they stare in shock, bursting into desperate, regretful, terrifying, and mad screams.

If judged solely by appearance, Su Hao found Xiao Lin's B3-level researcher status somewhat unbelievable. Her youth did not seem to match this position. Of course, if she had made significant contributions in scientific research, that would be a different matter.

Su Hao's thoughts were somewhat scattered, making him appear distracted.

"Are you listening to me?"

This distracted expression greatly displeased Xiao Lin. She frowned, her eyes piercing like steel nails.

Su Hao snapped back to reality, smiling apologetically: "Sorry, other things have disturbed my thoughts. Yes! Please continue, I'm listening."

Xiao Lin coldly stared at him for a few seconds, then forced a smile from her cold face. She opened her briefcase and took out a document.

It was a copy of the notebook Su Hao had given to Wu Guoguang.

"Zombies are a completely new species that have never been discovered on Earth before. Your observation notes are very detailed, but some descriptions are vague. For example, the contraction of the zombies' leg tendons and muscles, and the fact that the observed zombies did not eat for eleven days, and on the twelfth day, you fed them ants... We have had similar research projects. Zombies consume a lot of energy, their body water loss is rapid, and cell division accelerates. All of this requires sufficient energy. This notebook makes me skeptical, and it's hard to believe the observations recorded. You should understand that scientific research is a very rigorous matter, allowing no room for falsehood, and even less for speculation or conjecture."

Xiao Lin's tone was severe, like a homeroom teacher ridiculing a student who failed an exam.

Su Hao sat silently in his chair.

His mind raced, wondering why this woman was saying these things to him.

The content of the notebook was actually a true record of the initial struggles and discoveries of survivors against zombies during the virus outbreak. Su Hao had been very careful when excerpting the content, avoiding any points that might reveal his identity. This notebook had a reference value at least two to three years ahead of current Academy of Sciences research, and it was far from as worthless as Xiao Lin claimed.

Su Hao had traded the notebook for the required weapon parts and ammunition from Wu Guoguang. He was well aware that the value of the notebook far exceeded the materials he requested. He had been waiting for the military's response to the notebook, but he never expected a female researcher to come seemingly to accuse him.

"Perhaps my words were a bit harsh, but I must regretfully tell you—some of the content in this notebook is absurd and illogical. I have already recommended that the Supervisory Administration Bureau review you. This is a very serious offense during these extraordinary times. Any behavior that misleads national research institutions is a grave crime. Although your intentions were good, the consequences are severe. We have invested three research teams to verify the content of the notebook, and the accuracy rate is less than twenty percent... Using a worthless notebook to obtain military supplies is fraud!"

Su Hao's face showed no expression. He sat upright, like a student listening to a scolding.

Su Hao had already determined that Xiao Lin was lying.

If things were as she said, Wu Guoguang would never have brought the required weapon parts and ammunition in a truck.

Moreover, the lieutenant colonel, Lu Zhengxiong, had previously affirmed the value of the notebook, which contradicted Xiao Lin's claims.

Why did she not let others participate in the conversation?

What was her true purpose?

Su Hao could not see through it, nor could he guess.

After all, in the time and space he once belonged to, he did not know and had never heard of a woman named Xiao Lin.

Thinking about this, Su Hao displayed a nervous and fearful expression that matched his current twenty-year-old appearance. He shook his head repeatedly, stammering nervously: "No... I, I never had such thoughts. I am not lying, nor am I deceiving anyone. The content recorded in the notebook is all true. I can take you to see the zombies in the basement right now. I have been feeding them various things. Ants, cockroaches, dragonflies, and mice..."

This performance was exactly what Xiao Lin had expected.

A victorious smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and with a look of regret as if viewing a wayward young person, she said earnestly: "I understand your thoughts. It's already very difficult to survive in a terrifying environment full of zombies, and it's commendable that you are still thinking about helping others. According to Lieutenant Wu Guoguang's report, you are an amateur enthusiast with a strong interest in biological research. I came here because I don't want to see a talented young person be imprisoned for this mistake. This matter is not beyond redemption, and I can help you correct the errors in the notebook."

Su Hao's eyes flickered slightly.

Although his appearance was young, his mind had the experience of nearly sixty years of life. How could he not see through the deep thoughts of the woman in front of him?

Sure enough, Xiao Lin's next words confirmed his suspicions.

"There are many places in this notebook that need to be revised. You should supplement it according to my suggestions. Then, submit it to the higher review authority in both our names. With me as the lead, the Supervisory Administration Bureau will not make things difficult for you over such a small mistake."

"Really?"

The corners of Su Hao's mouth curved again. Although he was smiling, it was filled with a sarcasm that was invisible to the naked eye.

"Really."

Xiao Lin nodded solemnly.

When Li Daoyuan delivered the notebook to the Chengdu base, Xiao Lin happened to be having a rendezvous with Lu Zhengxiong. Her taste in partners was not different from that of ordinary people. If it were not for the goal of converting her Academy of Sciences status into a real military rank and transferring out of the Academy, Xiao Lin would not have willingly let the rough man Lu Zhengxiong dominate her.

A B3-level researcher enjoys the benefits of a major but is not a real officer.

This notebook gave Xiao Lin a new path for advancement—since Lu Zhengxiong was fully responsible for handling the matter, she asked him to delay the submission of the notebook to the central base. During this gap, the two of them took the promotion orders for Li Daoyuan, Wu Guoguang, and other relevant personnel to Kunming.

Xiao Lin's goal was clear—she wanted to fully utilize her network of connections, take advantage of the time difference, and gain the maximum benefit from this matter, which had nothing to do with her.

The method was simple and direct. As long as Su Hao agreed that the notebook was a joint effort and signed Xiao Lin's name at the end, with her name appearing before his.

This was not arrogance.

Xiao Lin had carefully studied Wu Guoguang's report—mentioning that Su Hao was only in his twenties.

This meant that Su Hao was just entering society, full of ideals and enthusiasm, but lacking experience. To him, both the military and the Academy of Sciences were towering mountains. Intimidation, pressure, inducement, and persuasion—this was Xiao Lin's plan.

In peacetime, countless people used the most despicable means to achieve their goals for fame and profit.

Now, with the world in chaos, who would personally come from the central base to verify the authenticity of a notebook's signature?

The notebook was very valuable. As a reward, the group army had already decided to promote Su Hao to a second lieutenant.

Xiao Lin could easily imagine that if her name could also be signed, she could at least advance one level in her current Academy of Sciences status. When she was officially transferred to the military, she would be a lieutenant colonel, on par with Lu Zhengxiong.

To ensure that the plan had no flaws, when they left the Chengdu base, Xiao Lin had already changed Su Hao's status to a D3-level researcher at the Academy of Sciences. The difference in status and the rapid entry of his personal file into the computer provided sufficient grounds to claim that the notebook was part of a biological research project she led. As for why the research was conducted in Kunming, it was to observe the zombies at their origin and obtain valuable first-hand materials.

In short, Xiao Lin was a very beautiful woman. She had many ways to complete this plan, or rather, this conspiracy.

The premise of all this: Su Hao must agree to her signing the notebook.

However, the words that came out of Su Hao's mouth tore apart her fantasy with a devilish grin.

"No! This is unfair to you. I will take responsibility for my actions and do not need anyone to bear the blame for me."

A flash of anger and panic appeared in Xiao Lin's beautiful eyes. She swallowed hard and smiled: "You have a talent for biological research and should not ruin your future over this mistake. I have listed the notebook content as a new research project, and you will join as a D3-level researcher. We will take you away from here. The Chengdu base has a good research environment, and the living conditions are much better and safer..."

"Leave here?"

Su Hao interrupted her, his face showing a probing, meaningful smile.

Xiao Lin's expression softened slightly. She thought Su Hao was beginning to be swayed by her words, so she added more incentives: "You can become a formal soldier, no longer worry about food and water, and no longer have to..."

"Wait!"

Su Hao interrupted again: "You said leave here, is that true?"

Xiao Lin smiled arrogantly: "Of course it's true."

Su Hao spoke again, his tone serious, but his eyes showed a mocking glint that no one could see: "I am not alone; I have friends. We have been through the toughest times together, and I cannot abandon them."

These words felt like a heavy stone crushing Xiao Lin's heart. Even Lu Zhengxiong, standing beside her, shook his head. She felt her mind and consciousness collapsing, with anger and disappointment gradually taking over her brain.

She suppressed her anger and asked in a feigned surprised tone: "Your friends? You mean those outside?"

Xiao Lin still had a glimmer of hope—if Su Hao's friends were not too many, three or five people, she had the authority to bring them back to the base for resettlement.

Of course, on the condition that he agreed to her signing the notebook.

Su Hao nodded and then shook his head: "Not just them, there are more."

Xiao Lin's voice trembled: "...How many of you are there?"

Su Hao's answer almost drove her mad: "More than four hundred. To be precise, four hundred and twenty-six."

This was the total number of team members who had received blood injections in the field camp and the bank building as of yesterday.

Even Lu Zhengxiong could not bring so many people back to the Chengdu base for resettlement.

Moreover, Xiao Lin was not a formal officer.

She struggled to calm her anger and made one last attempt, but her voice was hoarse: "You can go first, and when the situation improves, come back to get them."

Su Hao's eyes were full of the innocence and sincerity of a twenty-year-old: "They saved my life. Without them, I would have died long ago, and there would be no notebook."

These words were not empty. Wu Guoguang's report had mentioned that Su Hao's combat will and physical condition met the selection standards for reserve personnel. However, he refused to join the military, citing that he had many comrades who had shared life and death with him.

More than half an hour had passed.

Xiao Lin wanted to continue the conversation, but Su Hao had no interest in playing along with this greedy woman. He stood up, opened the door, and let Wu Guoguang and the other soldiers waiting outside see the scene inside the room. He said in a grateful and sincere tone: "Thank you for your advice. However, I must learn to face certain things on my own. Whatever the outcome, it is my own choice."

He never exposed Xiao Lin.

Su Hao had no good feelings towards this woman, even a sense of disgust.

Since he could not kill her, he had to maintain a superficial relationship that appeared to have no conflict of interest.

As a time traveler, Su Hao was very clear about the value of the notebook at this stage.

Xiao Lin dared to find him at this time and openly wanted a share, indicating she had special backing. Since he decided to let her leave alive, it was best to avoid unnecessary trouble.

...

Leaving the bank building, returning to the military command, and boarding the helicopter to take off.

Xiao Lin's face remained tense, like a block of ice that could freeze any object it touched.

She instinctively felt that there was something wrong with Su Hao.

This young man's behavior did not make sense.

At least, not according to the logic of self-interest she recognized.

Lu Zhengxiong's rough hand was still caressing inside her skirt. He laughed without restraint: "I like this Su kid. His boldness suits my taste. He should join the military, not stay in this place... Wait! Oh no, we left too quickly and forgot to announce his commendation order."

As he spoke, Lu Zhengxiong suddenly remembered and took out the document from his briefcase, flipping it open with regret. Xiao Lin glanced over and saw the paper with the group army's red seal, featuring Su Hao's photo and the words "promoted to second lieutenant."

For some reason, a thought suddenly appeared in Xiao Lin's mind, something she had never considered before. She asked Lu Zhengxiong: "You said he would be a good fit for the military?"

Lu Zhengxiong nodded affirmatively: "He has good physical fitness, is very smart, and has a good understanding of zombies. Survivors in the city have rich combat experience, and we need people like him. In these extraordinary times, if he joins the front-line combat units, he can quickly advance through his military achievements. Lieutenant and captain are not problems."