Chapter 66

Xiao Lin has always believed herself to be very capable. Her beauty, combined with a master's degree obtained during peacetime, made her feel that she must climb higher and stand taller than others. She must obtain this coveted dual position as both a military officer and a researcher. Although these steps seemed simple, they required the approval of six departments and over twenty officials of different ranks before she could get the necessary signatures. Xiao Lin spent nearly three years, expended a large amount of money and resources, and even submitted herself to hundreds of men to obtain the transfer form from the Institute's Archives Bureau. After repeated lobbying by Lu Zhengxiong at the base and the military personnel department, she finally received the official appointment letter for the rank of major last week.

Xiao Lin was well aware that her plan, in a sense, was a form of deception. The Institute would undoubtedly be furious, and her researcher status would likely be downgraded, perhaps by one, two, or even three levels. However, even with the lowest "D3" status, her military rank would advance much faster. With this connection and her special public relations skills, Xiao Lin believed she could reach the rank of general within five years.

This was not an unrealistic fantasy—during peacetime, many so-called "artists" had been granted the rank of major general. As long as one could grasp the preferences of the highest power figures, even an idiot who couldn't use a pistol could wear the gleaming general's badge.

Lu Zhengxiong's words knocked Xiao Lin off her high perch. For several minutes, she still felt that this was a despicable tactic by the man to threaten her into maintaining their abnormal relationship.

"I have no reason to lie to you."

Lu Zhengxiong saw through her thoughts, stroking his rough, bearded face with a sinister smile. "I checked. The order to revoke your researcher status was personally signed by the director, Wang Qinan. That fat old man is clearly very dissatisfied with you. Heh heh heh! I'm curious, you're a smart person, why didn't you smooth things over with him? Get him to recognize your recent activities? You know, a mere major's rank is not as valuable as a 'B' level researcher. You've slept with many men, why didn't you try to seduce that irritable fat man?"

His words were too direct, filled with ridicule and mockery.

Xiao Lin gave Lu Zhengxiong a cold look, her eyes filled with a strong and fierce warning. She glared at the man who had just been intimate with her, clenching her teeth.

Xiao Lin had certainly tried to seduce Wang Qinan.

In the laboratory, in the cafeteria, in the library, and in many other places where they met, Xiao Lin tried to display her alluring and seductive side.

She pretended to stumble under the weight of books, her chest buttons popping open to reveal a pink silk bra and a deep, ample cleavage.

She deliberately slipped in the cafeteria, tearing her hastily sewn skirt to reveal her long, white thighs and a tiny thong to Wang Qinan.

She even tried to encounter him on the road, greeting him and very "accidentally" spraining her high heel, using the momentum to press her body against him. Any physiologically normal man would not refuse such a beautiful and soft body.

Unfortunately, none of Xiao Lin's plans to seduce Wang Qinan ever succeeded.

She still vividly remembered: that damned old fat man calmly watched her fall with a stack of books. His cloudy eyes glanced at her chest, then he shook his head, pursed his lips, and said casually, "Too small, only a C cup. I can make a robot maid with F-cup breasts."

In the cafeteria, when she looked up at him with disheveled hair and a pained expression, the old bastard chewed on his braised pig's trotter, picked out a few hairs the chef had missed with his chopsticks, and mumbled, "So much pubic hair, can't even be shaved clean, and you still wear a thong?"

When she lost her balance and wanted him to catch her, the old bastard dodged so quickly, it was more mysterious than the "Ghost Step" in "The King of Fighters." He sneered, "If you can't handle high heels, don't wear them. Even a fat bear in a circus is more flexible..."

In short, the old bastard could be described with the most vicious language in the world, but he was not a lecher.

Was he naturally impotent?

Did his reproductive organs get dissolved by sulfuric acid during an experiment?

Or perhaps, he had a special taste and preferred men?

Regardless, this stubborn old fat man controlled the vast Institute and revoked her researcher status.

...

On December 6th, Wang Qinan received the second zombie observation report from KD03 base. The notebook clearly noted the observer's name, Su Hao, on the first and last pages.

The fat director, as usual, sat behind his desk, carefully reading the opened notebook.

Su Hao's observation report was about 30,000 words long. It lacked a formal and rigid introduction and avoided empty, formalistic phrases. The entire content was detailed observational data of zombies in a cold environment. The more tedious and technical the numbers and terms, the more they piqued Wang Qinan's interest.

From around 10:00 AM when he received the report until 4:00 AM the next morning, the fat director sat there, immune to the risk of hemorrhoids and other terrible diseases, repeatedly studying every detail in the notebook.

"Tap tap tap..."

The sound of high heels tapping on the floor came from the corridor outside. This special sound, which only women or cross-dressers could make, stopped quietly as it approached the room. The door slowly opened, revealing the slender, cold figure of a female officer. She walked directly to the desk, her expression stern as she looked at Wang Qinan, who was reading the notebook.

The room was brightly lit, clearly showing the new lieutenant colonel's badge on her shoulder.

"Speak! What is it?"

The almost bald old fat man asked casually.

"The 13th Research Group report: Zombies numbered 41, 89, 2201, 2203, and 3011 all show varying degrees of deep mutation. Zombies 41 and 89 have increased bone density by 16.5%. Zombie 2201 has a completely new nervous system. Zombies 2203 and 3011 have significantly enhanced hearing, and their incisors and molars have become sharper."

As she spoke, the female officer took a file from her briefcase and placed it on the desk.

Wang Qinan grunted indifferently, his eyes never leaving the notebook.

No one spoke, and the room seemed devoid of any living presence.

After about ten minutes, a hint of dawn appeared on the horizon outside the window.

It was morning.

Wang Qinan lifted his head, rubbed his sore, swollen eyes, and yawned wearily. He took a sip of the cold, strong tea on the side, pushed his chair back, stood up, and walked to the window, opening it. Immediately, a fresh, cold breeze filled the room.

"Give each member of the 13th Research Group five military merit points."

The old fat man greedily breathed in the fresh air, but his expression was not particularly happy. "These guys' research progress is too slow, and their minds are as rigid as wood. In comparison, the notebook from KD03 is more interesting."

The female officer's cold demeanor seemed to be embedded in her skin, a part of her body. Her voice was sharp and precise, "Your meaning is that the 13th Research Group's report is not timely?"

"If you include the time for air transport and personnel handover, they are at least 72 hours late."

The old fat man, Wang Qinan, had a faint look of anger on his face and growled, "Transmitting the data from KD03 by laser fax would save a lot of time. However, next to the normal observation records, the young man often leaves some personal insights. Some are about feeding times and types of food for the zombies, others are descriptions of the zombies' skin color. This young man has a flexible mind and strange ideas. Heh heh! He even tried rubbing garlic and chili on the zombies' bodies or injecting them into their eyes to see if the blood vessels and nerves would react like a human's... Damn! Why can't any of the over a hundred research groups under me think of these things? They just shock the zombies! Shock! Shock! Why don't they use some special methods? Why do they always follow the book? Don't they know that zombies have never existed on Earth before? These disgusting, perverted creatures don't fit any biological theory, so why do these fools try to classify them? Amphibians? Reptiles? Mammals or crustaceans? Idiots! They don't deserve any military merit points, they don't deserve—"

Wang Qinan grew angrier as he spoke, waving his hands and roaring, "Night Shadow! Cancel my previous order, don't give these useless guys a single point. Copy the notebook from KD03 two thousand times and distribute it to every research department. Let those idiots open their eyes and see how a true elite works. The Institute is not a factory, and researchers are not mass-produced sculptures. I want people with unique thinking, not pigs that just eat and defecate—"

The female officer, Night Shadow, was clearly immune to the fat director's hysterical outburst. She picked up the notebook, nodded without emotion, thought for a few seconds, and asked, "What should be done with the observer in Kunming?"

The old fat man turned around, his eyes rolling rapidly as he thought, "Give him all the military merit points I promised to the 13th Research Group."

"All of them?"

Night Shadow's rigid face finally showed a hint of surprise, "Sir! The 13th Research Group has 22 researchers. Five points each, that's a total of 110 points."

"So what?"

The old fat man, Wang Qinan, looked unconcerned.

Lieutenant Colonel Night Shadow patiently explained, "According to the Institute's promotion system, Article 9, Section 11: If military merit points exceed 100, the researcher will automatically be promoted one level."

Wang Qinan said impatiently, "Then promote him."

"But, this researcher named Su Hao only joined the Institute last month. His status is only D3. Promoting him in just one month... seems to be against the rules."

"Rules are made by people, and they can be changed."

Wang Qinan yawned, rubbed his eyes, and walked back to his chair, sitting down and gently stroking his enormous belly, which even pregnant women found terrifying. He said seriously, "Regarding the military merit points, handle it this way. Also, this young man named Su seems to be in a difficult situation. The report from KD03 states that he wants to exchange this notebook for weapons, ammunition, food, winter clothing, and medicine. I don't want to deal with these things... um! You handle it. Contact the military logistics department, and provide him with double the requested supplies, or even triple."

"Triple?"

Night Shadow subconsciously opened her mouth slightly, unsure, "So many?"

The old fat man, hands on his hips, slowly twisted his waist, which was thicker than a gasoline drum. From any angle, he looked like a clumsy bear doing aerobics.

"Don't forget, he's a D3 researcher, one of our people."

Wang Qinan's voice was soft, but his tone was unyielding.

He always protected his own.

Night Shadow nodded silently, saluted, and turned to leave.

"Wait! One more thing—"

Looking at Night Shadow, who had turned around, the old fat man's face was serious and stern, "Go to the cafeteria and get me a large bowl of sour and spicy noodles, no scallions or garlic, extra chili oil, six boiled eggs, and four meat buns. I've been busy all night, and I'm starving."

...

Sixteen "Hongyan Steyr" heavy trucks slowly entered the headquarters of the garrison command, turned around in the parade ground, and parked neatly in a row along the yellow lines on the ground.

Su Hao jumped out of the cab of the lead truck, smiling, and walked to Wu Guoguang, who was already waiting on the nearby empty ground. The latter looked at him slowly, his face very stern. They stood in silence for about ten seconds, and then Wu Guoguang suddenly grinned.

He stepped forward, patted Su Hao's left arm, and said in a deep, masculine voice, "Let's go! You greedy guy."

Soon, under the lead of a military "Mengshi" off-road vehicle, the heavy truck convoy left the headquarters and sped quickly toward the eastern part of the city.

...

The trucks sped in reverse on the deserted highway.

The toll booth at the city exit was jammed. Wu Guoguang had to send a squad in advance to clear the road with a bulldozer, pushing the vehicles blocking the entrance off the embankment.

The noise of the diesel engine was deafening, and the massive metal blade cut through the smooth, beautiful car paint like a knife. The cars on the highway, like dominoes, were pushed, collided, and squeezed, and the tires screeched as they were forced to the side of the road, falling from the several-meter-high embankment and crashing into a pile of deformed scrap metal.

Wu Guoguang stood at the toll booth and watched the bulldozer clear the road for a while. He walked onto the concrete platform, frowned at the cardboard police sign, and looked up at the black letters, "Paying the toll is glorious, evading it is shameful." Then, he shook his head disdainfully and spat on the face of the stern paper policeman.

Most of the vehicles blocking the entrance were moved, leaving two wide lanes.

Waving to Su Hao in the back of the truck, Wu Guoguang turned and got into the military off-road vehicle, and the convoy started again.

...

It was nearly noon when the convoy left the highway, following a hidden side road to a military-controlled area near the KD03 base.

There was no one here, only a two-hundred-square-meter empty parade ground and three gray, dilapidated houses.

The soldiers jumped out of the trucks and quickly formed a perimeter.

Wu Guoguang walked to the edge of the parade ground, which had a dark red border, and took out a small electronic detector from his backpack. He walked along the line for a few minutes, then found a hidden hatch in the nearby grass. He lifted it, entered a code on the electronic lock, and the sound of gears turning came from below the concrete. The side of the parade ground slowly sank, revealing a sloping ramp.

This was the underground warehouse built when the KD03 base was established. It mainly stored weapons and ammunition.

Looking at the mountains of boxes in front of him, Wu Guoguang smiled faintly at Su Hao, who was standing nearby, and waved his hand forward, "Take as much as you can. Whatever you can carry."

Su Hao nodded and directed the team members who had gotten off the truck to start moving the supplies.

The Institute's opinion had been relayed to the Group Army headquarters. On one hand, it was the order of the fat director, Wang Qinan, and on the other, it was the goodwill of KD03's commander, Major Li Daoyuan, toward Su Hao, plus Wu Guoguang's intention to take care of him. The two zombie observation reports had brought Su Hao unexpected and generous rewards.

(If you need a character, please post in the first comment in the book review section. I won't reply to each one, thank you for your cooperation.)

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