Chapter 62

Xiao Lin clenched her teeth and said fiercely, "Help me one more time, delay the issuance of this commendation order for a few days."

Lu Zhengxiong raised his head, his expression full of surprise: "What do you want to do?"

"You forgot, I already transferred his identity file to the Academy of Sciences. Now, he is a D3-level researcher."

Xiao Lin's dignified and beautiful face was filled with a sinister smile: "I will make the Academy issue a transfer order for this person as soon as possible. Since he is unwilling to leave, he can stay there forever."

Lu Zhengxiong, seeing Xiao Lin's distorted face, subconsciously withdrew his hand that had already reached between her legs.

D3 is the lowest level for all researchers at the Academy of Sciences. If converted to military rank, it is equivalent to a common non-commissioned officer, or even a lower rank.

Xiao Lin's move was very clever. Lu Zhengxiong could easily guess the woman's next move—placing Su Hao in a city infested with zombies as a D3-level researcher. Due to the time and administrative constraints, the promotion order from the group army would no longer take effect, and the commendation would be forgotten. Xiao Lin would naturally turn Su Hao into the lowest-level staff member at the Academy of Sciences. Without military protection and a stable food supply, he would essentially be a wanderer in the city, surviving with nothing more than a meaningless title.

Humans, after all, are no match for zombies.

A city infested with zombies is like the front line in wartime. There, danger can be encountered at any time, and the probability of death is much higher than in the rear bases.

"He has so many friends, doesn't he? He was willing to bear the consequences alone rather than give up. Then let him stay with those monsters forever, without any military rank or commendation."

The sound of the propeller's "rumble" masked the mad laughter, carrying away Xiao Lin's face, filled with anger and madness, into the distance.

...

When the first ice rain fell, it was a Monday.

The sky was overcast, with no sunlight all day. A gray, heavy mist enveloped the city from morning, making people feel a chill.

Su Hao held a steel bar with a sharpened tip, weighed it in his hand, and struck the forehead of a zombie lunging at him from the front. The stinking head burst open, splattering a mess of foul, rotten fluid.

It had been nearly two months since Xiao Lin left.

There were no orders for commendation or news of material aid.

Su Hao had once gone to the garrison headquarters and received a researcher's ID card with a blue plastic cover from Wu Guoguang, who looked somewhat guilty. The most eye-catching part, besides the smiling photo on the front page, was the "D3" label next to the silver national emblem.

"I am really sorry, I don't know why things turned out this way. According to my knowledge, the group army has already issued an order to promote you to an officer. However, the Academy of Sciences believes that your research on zombies is unique, so they have included your file and listed you as a researcher. To put it bluntly... this is really unfair. Even as a researcher, it should be a C3 corresponding to a second lieutenant, not a D4."

When Wu Guoguang said this, his eyes kept dodging. This rough, middle-aged man did not participate in Xiao Lin's conspiracy and did not know that Lu Zhengxiong played a very despicable role in it. He just felt that the second lieutenant insignia on his shoulder was entirely due to Su Hao, and the KD03 commander, Lieutenant Colonel Li Daoyuan, also held the same view. From their perspective, they could only voice their opinions about the higher military's decision but could not change the established facts.

Out of guilt and a desire to compensate, Wu Guoguang and Li Daoyuan added six 12.7mm heavy machine guns, fifty "Type 95" assault rifles, sixty powerful 9mm pistols, hundreds of grenades, and over 50,000 rounds of various caliber ammunition to the original exchange with Su Hao.

In addition to weapons, Su Hao also received over 600 boxes of canned food and 500 sets of military winter uniforms.

When meeting Wu Guoguang, Su Hao remained silent, his expression numb and disappointed, looking dispirited and losing interest and confidence in everything.

False appearances are always the best way to deceive others.

In fact, Su Hao was quite satisfied with the current outcome.

Living in this new world for several months had changed some of his initial thoughts.

If, on the day the virus outbreak occurred, Su Hao had only been a fugitive who wanted to survive, now his mind was filled with a desire for power and strength.

This was not his fault; no one could resist the environment's influence on their desires. When Su Hao met Xin Yan, Old Song, Tao Yuan, Du Tianhao, the Han sisters, and later Cao Rui and others, the increasing number of strangers joining the team made it impossible for him to remain aloof. He was no longer living just for himself; he had to consider the team's interests and the lives of more people.

A low military rank and a researcher's title were of little use.

A mere "second lieutenant" or "D4" was far less useful than the hundreds of team members.

They were the "worker bees."

Su Hao was not foolish enough to give up what he currently had and go to the Chengdu base to seek military commendation.

What he needed now was a large amount of food and weapons. With these, he could support more people and consolidate his existing sphere of influence.

As for the notes... ha ha! That kind of thing was just a bargaining chip to exchange for supplies and to test the higher-ups in the military and the Academy of Sciences.

Su Hao did not care about the schemes and intrigues Xiao Lin played.

He possessed the technological secrets of the future world for nearly a century, a vast bargaining chip to exchange with the military. Silver bones, advanced machinery, biotechnology... Su Hao would reveal them bit by bit at the right time. He did not want to change history too early; he just needed to announce them a few months before the original inventors to gain sufficient benefits.

Su Hao now needed "worker bees."

When the "hive" grew to a certain size, it would be enough to make everyone pale.

Xin Yan walked up from behind, drew the fire axe slung on the outside of her backpack, and swung it in a smooth, bright arc, accurately splitting the buttocks of a zombie that had fallen to the ground and was no longer moving.

Last week, all the *** Su Hao had brought from the future world were used up. Correspondingly, the underground vault at the campsite in the wild was filled with a large amount of rotting hormone. The quantity was so vast that even Su Hao himself felt a chill.

"Crack——"

The hard metal blade of the axe pried open the pelvis, making a crisp sound. Su Hao turned around and saw Xin Yan bending down to pick up the silver bone from the blurred, soft flesh. Her legs were spread, and the high-elasticity tight pants stretched her thighs straight, fully displaying her perfect, beautiful curves.

This was a residential area about half a kilometer from the bank building. Most of the nearby stores had been looted by Su Hao's team, leaving nothing of value. Following Su Hao's orders, the team members who went out to hunt began entering residential buildings last week to search for and collect food that had not yet spoiled.

Xin Yan wiped the silver bone on the dead zombie's body, held it with her thumb and index finger, raised it, and looked at it against the dim light outside the window, saying uncertainly, "It... seems to have grown a bit."

Su Hao smiled slightly, took the silver bone without comment, and put it in his pocket.

The zombie he had just killed was stronger and faster than its counterparts, perhaps by 20% or 30%. This change was fatal for ordinary people who had not yet evolved, but it was completely ineffective against Su Hao. He could still kill them with direct physical combat without using weapons like guns.

The stronger the monster, the more silver bones it produced, and the larger they were.

There were only Su Hao and Xin Yan in the room.

He subconsciously focused his gaze on the woman in front of him.

Xin Yan's face was slightly flushed. Although their relationship had broken the boundaries of young love, she still felt shy or bashful when alone with Su Hao. The light coming in from the window was not very bright, but in the dim environment, it created a unique atmosphere.

Su Hao stepped over the corpse lying on the ground, grabbed the hand Xin Yan was not holding the axe with, and felt a very comfortable, smooth softness. He continued to move closer, his right hand circling Xin Yan's slender waist, caressing the smooth surface of her tight clothing. The distance between them was very close, and Xin Yan's prominent breasts were completely pressed against his broad, solid chest. The touch of skin and the warmth of their breath made Xin Yan feel stimulated. She slightly opened her tender, soft lips and let out a fine, rapid breath. Her shy and angry expression made Su Hao smile. He hugged Xin Yan and led her in a standard waltz step, sliding to the side and spinning around in the empty living room. His right hand took the opportunity to rub Xin Yan's round, firm buttocks, pressing his chest tightly against her full breasts, showing no intention of letting go.

No one knew that his actual age was over sixty.

No one knew that this young, strong body contained a wise soul that had experienced much and seen through the world.

Now, he was a tall, handsome man, strong and powerful, gradually becoming stronger due to the prototype drug.

In the future world, Su Hao had given up too much.

He did not want to lose the same things in this era.

For example... love.

There was no gentle, elegant music, no roses or moonlight. The sky outside was overcast and gray, and the city was faintly echoing with the distant howls of zombies.

It was not the least bit romantic, but neither Xin Yan nor Su Hao wanted to let go of each other.

Her eyes were filled with a watery, shimmering light.

His black, pure eyes were like ink jade.

Xin Yan felt a heat below, with a hard bulge pressing against her raised mound. Su Hao smiled, leaned over, and rubbed his cheek against Xin Yan's snow-white neck.

The two of them held each other quietly, without more actions, and without needing vows or sweet words.

Su Hao gently kissed Xin Yan's fragrant long hair, his tongue quickly and lightly licking her round, jade-like earlobe, making Xin Yan feel a tingling sensation. She clenched her teeth, and her frail body trembled slightly.

"Clang——"

At the open door, a man with a surprised look appeared.

His hair was messy, and he was wearing a gray-black coat with mud on the hem. His leather shoes had holes, and his toes were exposed from the torn socks. He held a thick wooden stick in his right hand, and the backpack in his left hand fell heavily to the ground. From his angle, he could see Su Hao and Xin Yan embracing in the living room.

"Who... who are you?"

The man's facial muscles began to twitch, and he gripped the stick tightly, letting out a hoarse, low growl.

Xin Yan reluctantly released her hands from around Su Hao's shoulders.

She had already detected this man who had come up the stairs a few minutes ago through her scattered consciousness.

Xin Yan believed that Su Hao and she had already locked onto the man with their search consciousness. But because the warm and intimate feeling was too wonderful, neither of them wanted to move away from each other, enjoying the short and precious tenderness.

As long as it was not a zombie and could not pose a threat, the rest did not matter.

Su Hao's hand moved from Xin Yan's waist. He sighed softly and picked up the steel bar leaning against the wall.

Xin Yan's eyes remained on him, somewhat resentful, with her disheveled hair falling over her shoulders. Her watery eyes still held the passion that had not yet dissipated.

The man outside the door bent over, leaning forward, and held the stick in a defensive fighting stance. He was sure that Su Hao and Xin Yan were not zombies, and his gaze and tone became fierce: "This is my house, my home. You... you better leave here as soon as possible."

The man wanted to appear more savage and strong—during his time wandering outside, he had already discovered that politeness was ineffective, and shouting and fists were the best way to solve problems. If not for the fear of the two of them and their weapons, he would have already swung the stick and struck them without a word.

Yes! This was indeed his home.

The best way to deal with intruders was to kill them.

Su Hao's face showed a bit of regret. He held Xin Yan's hand, and the two of them quickly ran out of the room like misbehaving schoolchildren.

He did not recognize the man.

He had been rummaging through the man's house and had killed a zombie that might have been related to the man.

Undoubtedly, the man was also a survivor of the virus outbreak disaster. He might have escaped the city with others and survived in the wild for several months.

Now, he had returned.

There was no place like home.

Today was November 23rd. It had been half a year since the virus outbreak.

The computer records from the future world showed that from early November, survivors who had fled the city began to return.

There was a lack of food in the wild.

After eating the first batch of humans in the city, the hungry zombies lost interest in concrete buildings. They began to leave the city and go outside to find more fresh food.

When the wild also became unsafe, the refugees naturally thought of returning to the city.

It was like a brutal guerrilla war, a test of endurance and intelligence. But from any perspective, the zombies had the absolute advantage.

Humans need food, need water.

In a few days, it would be December. The sudden cold weather made survival in the wild much harder than in the summer.

Many people who had fled had to return.

...

Shangjing Base, Science Academy.

Wang Qianian sat at his desk, focused on the rice and Beijing-style shredded pork in front of him.

He was very fat, with gray hair. He wore a simple "工" (gong) character sweatshirt on top and an extra-large Hawaiian-style shorts on the bottom. The colorful shorts easily made people imagine, and the large, protruding breasts on either side of the sweatshirt were enough to make most women feel ashamed and resentful. His belly, larger than that of a woman eight months pregnant, protruded, revealing a navel much larger than an anus. The fat squeezed the wrinkles all over his body, making the skin around his eyes and forehead smooth. He looked much younger than his actual age of 86, as stated on his ID card.

The room's heating was turned up high, and despite wearing as little as possible, the fat Wang Qianian still felt hot.

He scratched his crotch, then his hairy thighs, held the bowl of shredded pork, and walked around the desk in slippers. He looked through the sturdy steel bars with interest at the zombie on the other side.

A dirty white coat hung on the back of the chair, with an ID card pinned to the chest. Through the thick layer of grease, one could barely make out Wang Qianian's lecherous smile and the words "Science Academy Director."

He picked up a few strands of dark meat with his chopsticks and threw them through the bars. The zombie, with a face full of pus, sniffed the air, following the trail of the meat. The smell of ginger, garlic, and sauce had no appeal to it. It sniffed the ground, then turned its full attention back to Wang Qianian, who was standing a few meters away. It stretched its arms, hit the steel bars with its head, and opened its tongue-rotted mouth, making a simple, hungry "ho ho" sound.

"Waste of food, idiot—"

Wang Qianian picked up a few more strands of meat with his chopsticks and put