Apocalypse Survival Guide for a Beta [GB] - Chapter 22 Part 2

During lunch, everyone ate in silence, their moods visibly low. Xiang Cheng glanced at their expressions and had a rough guess of what was on their minds.

After the meal, the Military Defense Department members went into the office for a meeting.

Lin Bai, as a military affiliate, was assigned to a small room next to the main meeting area to rest. Xi Ya was with her.

At that moment, Lin Bai was sitting nearby, tapping a black blade against a metal piece and shaping it into an odd, irregular form, while Xi Ya was practicing reading.

Lin Bai glanced at the little girl and said, “This is a safe zone.”

Xi Ya blinked, realizing Lin Bai was talking to her. But what did she mean by that?

“You are safe here,” Lin Bai added.

Xi Ya had lost her parents at a young age and had always been a careful, sensitive child. She hesitated, her fingers pressing against her book, and then finally spoke softly, “Does that mean I can’t stay with Mom anymore?”

Lin Bai answered bluntly, “It will be very dangerous. You will die.”

“I’ll get stronger! Stronger than I was last night!” Xi Ya said urgently. She didn’t want to be left behind, even if this was a safe zone.

She tilted her head up to look at Lin Bai, and then bravely threw herself into her arms, her eyes red. Carefully, she pleaded, “I really will get stronger. I can already use a lot of ability energy. I can keep you warm. I’ll be very useful. I want to stay with Mom. Please?”

“Your own matters are for you to decide, but if you die, I won’t be the one collecting your body,” Lin Bai said. She never made decisions for others.

Hearing this, Xi Ya understood that Lin Bai had agreed. She happily snuggled into Lin Bai’s arms and said in a soft, sweet voice, “I won’t die! I’ll be really strong! And Mom will protect me too!”

“I won’t protect you,” Lin Bai corrected her seriously. In dangerous situations, she would only ensure her own safety.

Xi Ya buried her small face into Lin Bai’s chest, choosing to ignore those words, mumbling quietly, “Liar Mom.”

When voices from the meeting echoed in her earpiece, Lin Bai picked Xi Ya up and set her aside to continue practicing reading. Meanwhile, she focused on listening to the ongoing meeting in the Military Defense Department.

With the collapse of the network post-apocalypse, many high-tech devices had stopped functioning, including some surveillance tools. Fortunately, the mini listening device Lin Bai had hidden in Zhu Liang’s cufflink remained undiscovered.

Inside the Military Defense Department’s office, the atmosphere was heavy.

Xiang Cheng looked at the small group sitting around the round table and felt a sense of dissonance. In the past, these meetings had been filled with people, bustling and lively. Now, only about a dozen remained.

“The main agenda for today’s meeting is that the Federation’s leader has issued a mission to be carried out by the Third Squad’s captain, Luo Tiannan. The mission is to advance into the depths of Eastern District One and reclaim a safe zone.” Xiang Cheng did not mention anything about the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. Such matters were not suitable for open discussion.

“The mission is dangerous and the route from the New City Safe Zone passes through extremely perilous areas. Third Squad’s members have sustained injuries from recent battles and are not in the best condition for deployment. Tiannan and I have decided to recruit a few members from other squads to accompany him.”

“Sir!” Song Yan spoke up.

“Go ahead.”

“My injuries are minor! I can deploy with Captain Luo at any time!” Song Yan stood up, speaking clearly and firmly.

“Sir! Me too!” Zhou Yu also stood up and declared loudly.

“Sir! Me too!” Lu Jia followed suit.

“Sir! Me too!” Wen Xiaxia and Zhu Liang stood up at the same time.

Xiang Cheng’s eyes, lined with wrinkles, showed a hint of relief. “Tiannan, you choose.”

“I’ve already chosen.” Luo Tiannan nodded. The choices were obvious.

Xiang Cheng understood his meaning. “Alright. Before departure, we’ll do another health check. Don’t push yourselves. Acting tough will only slow your teammates down,” he said seriously.

After discussing the mission, Xiang Cheng had everyone share their encounters with zombies. The others expressed concern about the mutated ability zombie that the Third Squad had encountered, as it was an extremely dangerous development.

“Yes, that ability zombie had fire-based power, significantly higher intelligence than other zombies, and was incredibly strong. So far, no physical weaknesses have been found…” Song Yan reported the details she had observed.

“The specialized bullets the military developed can injure it, but two shots won’t kill it. Its body is extremely resilient,” Zhu Liang added.

“An ability zombie? This is the first time we’ve seen one and it’s already this powerful!”

“Does this mean zombies will keep getting stronger?” someone asked anxiously.

The question casts a shadow over everyone’s hearts.

Would the last remnants of human civilization eventually vanish too…?

Would the world be completely overrun by zombies…?

“No!” A firm voice interrupted their fearful thoughts.

Luo Tiannan stood tall in his black combat uniform, his gaze sweeping across the room. His voice was calm and unwavering. “Human potential far surpasses that of zombies. One day, we will defeat this virus and its corruption. The Federation’s Military Defense will never retreat.”

His resolute words dispelled the gloom in the room, filling everyone’s eyes with renewed determination.

The Federation’s Military Defense will never retreat!

Morale surged as the team began discussing strategies for countering ability zombies. Members of the Second and Fourth Squads were assigned tasks to implement their defense plans.

After the meeting ended, Xiang Cheng asked Luo Tiannan and the selected mission team members to stay behind.

“Let’s talk about that person in your team, the one claiming to be a relative of the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute’s researcher,” Xiang Cheng said. “Can you confirm that she’s actually a family member of a 621 researcher?”

The others had expected him to bring up Elena’s betrayal, but instead, he shifted the focus to Lin Bai, catching them off guard.

Luo Tiannan was the first to respond. “She hasn’t provided any solid proof, so we can’t confirm if she’s a researcher’s family member. But we can be sure she has ties to the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute.”

He recalled Lin Bai mentioning the original blood vaccine, something he had only learned about when the First Squad was assigned their mission.

“Minister, even you don’t have clearance to check her background?” Song Yan asked curiously.

“All records of the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute’s researchers and their families are classified at the highest level. Only the institute’s director and the Federation’s leader have access,” Xiang Cheng replied.

Aside from Luo Tiannan, the others were surprised. They had always known the institute maintained strict confidentiality, but they hadn’t realized just how high the clearance level was.

“Perhaps…” Xiang Cheng hesitated. He thought about Elena’s close ties to the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. Maybe she knew something. But he didn’t voice that suspicion. Instead, he changed the subject. “During these past few days traveling with her, what kind of person is she?”

“She’s very capable,” Luo Tiannan was the first to answer.

Hearing such an evaluation from Luo Tiannan was already a high compliment. Xiang Cheng was a bit surprised. He had been the one to bring Luo Tiannan into the team and no one knew his pride better than he did. The last person Luo Tiannan had spoken so highly of was Elena.

“Even without abilities, she can fight a third-tier zombie,” Song Yan added.

‘Really? That was quite impressive,’ Xiang Cheng pondered.

“She doesn’t talk much, but she’s not a bad person,” Zhu Liang said.

“Brother Liang, not a bad person you say?!” Lu Jia, a devoted admirer of Luo Tiannan, was unconvinced. “Back then, Captain Luo was right next to her and she didn’t even lend a hand!” He glared at the bandage on Luo Tiannan’s forehead, still frustrated.

“At that time, Captain Luo’s ability energy hadn’t dissipated yet. The heat must have been intense. She’s just an ordinary person, she would’ve gotten burned,” Wen Xiaxia said fairly, speaking from a medic’s perspective.

Hearing her reasoning, Lu Jia knew she had a point, but he still felt Luo Tiannan had been wronged. He had seen it clearly that Lin Bai had stepped back without hesitation, not even a second of doubt!

Zhou Yu actually had a rather decent impression of Lin Bai. He interjected, “She seems to understand abilities to some extent. My ability improved under her guidance.”

“Really?!” Wen Xiaxia and Song Yan were both intrigued, already considering when they could ask Lin Bai for advice.

Then Luo Tiannan added, “For this mission, I’m taking her with me.”

“You’re taking her?” Xiang Cheng’s expression showed disapproval. This mission was already extremely dangerous and bringing along someone with an unclear identity would only increase the risks.

“I promised to take her to the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute,” Luo Tiannan said.

Seeing how firm Luo Tiannan was, Xiang Cheng said, “I’ll meet with her personally. I’ll decide after I’ve spoken with her.”

As the meeting ended, Zhu Liang noticed that the minister hadn’t brought up Elena’s situation. He glanced at Luo Tiannan, hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately chose not to ask.

With that, the meeting concluded.

Meanwhile, Lin Bai lounged lazily in a chair, looking at the map while analyzing everything she had overheard.

Luo Tiannan’s mission was to reclaim the safe zone in Eastern District One, which happened to be near the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute.

From the New City Safe Zone to Eastern District One, they had to pass through at least three regions and not a single one was marked green. One was gray and the other two were black.

One of them was the base of Blood Bone.

She absentmindedly tapped the map, silently counting down in her head.

15, 14… 3, 2, 1.

The countdown ended.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door and Xi Ya ran over to open it.

Standing outside was Luo Tiannan. He didn’t step inside, just looked at Lin Bai and said, “The minister wants to see you.”

To Luo Tiannan, Lin Bai didn’t seem to be in poor condition like Wen Xiaxia had suggested. At the very least, she still had the energy to put on makeup.

Lin Bai nodded, stood up, and followed Luo Tiannan outside.

Walking behind him, she observed his steady and even strides. Remembering the injuries he had sustained the night before, she wondered if he truly was recovering quickly, or was he just gritting his teeth and pretending to be fine?

She chose the latter. She had seen his injuries with her own eyes. Ability users weren’t gods; their recovery wasn’t that fast.

A few minutes later, she stood outside the office. Luo Tiannan knocked on the door, and then stepped aside, signaling her to enter.

Lin Bai walked in with a calm expression.

It was Xiang Cheng’s first time officially meeting her. At first glance, she looked like an ordinary female Beta. Aside from the makeup on her face, there was nothing remarkable about her appearance. But precisely because of that, Xiang Cheng didn’t dare to underestimate her.

His years in the military had sharpened his ability to remember details like eyebrow thickness, eye shape, and nose height, but after the brief encounter, he found that he couldn’t immediately recall Lin Bai’s facial features in his mind.

Xiang Cheng gestured for her to sit. “Lin Bai, right? Hello, I’m Xiang Cheng, the head of the New City Safe Zone.”

Lin Bai sat down and responded, “Hello.”

Xiang Cheng asked in a friendly tone, “I heard that your partner is a researcher at the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. Would you be able to share any specific details?”

“No.”

Xiang Cheng was momentarily taken aback. He had held his position for a long time and apart from Luo Tiannan, it had been a while since anyone had dared to speak to him like that.

Behind the thin wall, Luo Tiannan could already imagine Xiang Cheng’s expression.

“Miss Lin, this matter is very important. If you provide us with specific information, we can report it to our superiors and inquire about your partner’s safety.”

Lin Bai’s gaze lightly swept past the wall behind Xiang Cheng. Her response was firm and unyielding, “I know this is important. That’s exactly why I’m not telling you. The Federation’s information network is already down.”

The implication was clear—you can’t fool me. You can’t report to your superiors even if you want to.

After just two exchanges, Xiang Cheng had a rough understanding of Lin Bai’s personality. Dropping any pretense, he got straight to the point. “Luo Tiannan is about to lead a team to Eastern District One. What are your plans?”

Lin Bai replied, “I’m going. I need to confirm my partner’s safety myself.”

“Forgive me for being blunt, but even if your partner is already in danger, you would still go?” Xiang Cheng studied her carefully.

Lin Bai didn’t hesitate. “Yes, to collect the body.”

Xiang Cheng observed her for a moment, then said, “I need to verify your identity before I can allow you to accompany Luo Tiannan’s team. Otherwise, I won’t approve it.”

Lin Bai met his gaze directly. She reached into her pocket and when she pulled her hand out, a thin iron chain looped around her fingers. She spread her hand open, revealing an irregularly shaped metal tag swaying in her palm.

Xiang Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw it, but he pretended not to recognize it. “What is that?”

“You know what it is,” Lin Bai said, skipping any unnecessary explanations.

Xiang Cheng stared at her for a few seconds. Lin Bai met his gaze without flinching.

Click. The door closed behind her as she left.

A few seconds later, the door opened again and Luo Tiannan stepped inside.

“What did she show you?”

“The same thing you wear around your neck.”

Luo Tiannan frowned. “Are you sure? What if it’s fake?”

Xiang Cheng looked at him and said, “Even if it’s fake, you’ll still have to acknowledge her identity.”

Luo Tiannan was even more confused. “Stop talking in riddles.”

“That card is just like those researchers’ records, very few people know about it and even fewer have seen it. If you manage to enter the research institute, she might play a crucial role.” Xiang Cheng had no other choice. The complete loss of the First Squad had hit him hard.

The First Squad hadn’t even made it through the doors of the research institute before their vital signs disappeared.

He could only take a gamble on Lin Bai. Besides, from her demeanor and attitude during their conversation, his gut feeling told him that Lin Bai had a deep connection with the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute.

Luo Tiannan froze for a moment. He recalled Lin Bai mentioning the original blood vaccine to him and now she had an ID card from the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. A memory flashed in his mind of her standing in front of him, pointing a gun barrel. With a deep voice, he said, “I understand.”

***

Due to their abilities, Song Yan, Zhou Yu, and the others recovered much faster than ordinary people. After three days, their injuries had mostly healed.

Xiang Cheng led them to the armory and showed them the military’s latest anti-zombie weapons.

“Wow, isn’t this the same bullet Brother Liang used that night? The one that severely injured the zombie!” Zhou Yu picked up a bullet about nine centimeters long and examined it closely. “This bullet is really heavy.”

It felt like it weighed nearly half a pound per round, what’s more, an entire magazine. Song Yan tried lifting it and sighed, “Being a sniper is definitely not for everyone.”

While the two were still admiring the new tech…

Luo Tiannan, carrying a bag, swiftly swept all the guns and ammunition into it without hesitation.

Seeing this, the others immediately followed suit.

Xiang Cheng winced at the sight. “The military spent months developing this small batch of weapons and you guys are just emptying it out like that?”

Zhou Yu, stuffing his bag with bullets, gun accessories, and other gear, said, “Minister! Out with the old, in with the new!”

“Exactly, exactly!” Lu Jia chimed in, not even bothering to look up.

Xiang Cheng chuckled and scolded, “You’re all picking up your captain’s bandit habits!”

By the time they finished packing their military rucksacks, each of them was carrying nearly a hundred pounds of gear, Luo Tiannan’s bag being the heaviest. Xiang Cheng glanced at the enormous pack and then at the half-emptied armory, his eye twitching involuntarily.

In addition to providing them with the most advanced firearms and ammunition, Xiang Cheng also prepared a military off-road vehicle for them.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary vehicle, but inside, it was anything but. It was equipped with the latest autonomous driving system, it could accommodate more than ten people, and its exterior was made of new bulletproof and explosion-proof metal. The windows were made of high-definition, composite bulletproof glass and storage compartments were hidden beneath the seats. The seat covers and upholstery could also be repurposed for emergency defense.

In short, there was not a single unnecessary feature in the car.

“Wow, this is so cool!” Zhou Yu and Lu Jia climbed all over the car, inside and out, their eyes shining with excitement.

The high-performance off-road vehicle also piqued the interest of Song Yan and Wen Xiaxia.

Meanwhile, Lou Tiannan and Xiang Cheng stood outside the office, gazing at the overcast sky without saying a word.

After a long silence, Xiang Cheng finally spoke, “This mission is very dangerous.”

“Mm,” Lou Tiannan responded softly.

Seeing his calm and composed expression, Xiang Cheng sighed helplessly. He reached out and placed a glass bottle in front of Lou Tiannan.

Lou Tiannan’s eyes darkened.

Inside the glass bottle were several zombie crystal cores, glowing faintly.

“What’s this supposed to mean?”

“These are processed zombie crystal cores. The melanin inside has been removed as much as possible. Zombie crystal cores are indeed dangerous, but research data shows that they also contain immense energy. You might find them useful.”

Seeing that Lou Tiannan didn’t take them, Xiang Cheng added, “It’s not just me. Your parents also hope you can complete this mission and come back alive.”

Lou Tiannan reached out, took the glass bottle, and stuffed it into his pocket.

“I will bring them back alive,” he said solemnly, looking down at the excited team members below.

***

The departure was scheduled for the next morning. The meteorologists had confirmed that the day after tomorrow would be a full day of scorching sun, which would reduce zombie activity. It was the best time to set out.

That night before departure wasn’t much different from usual, except that everyone received a cup of beer.

“The minister is too stingy. One cup of beer isn’t even enough to get a taste,” Zhou Yu grumbled after downing most of his cup in one gulp, staring at the little bit left.

“Report! Minister, Zhou Yu said you’re stingy!” The infamous tattletale from the Second Squad immediately betrayed Zhou Yu upon hearing this.

Zhou Yu raised his fist, ready to hit the snitch. The two of them laughed and wrestled playfully.

Xiang Cheng said, “After the mission is completed, I’ll get you a whole truckload of beer.”

His words immediately sparked excitement. “Alright! Minister, you better keep your word!”

Laughter and cheers filled the air. Soldiers who could normally drink an entire case without getting drunk were now pretending to be tipsy after just one cup. At that moment, the apocalypse, the zombies, and the betrayal were all forgotten. The only thing on their minds was making sure the minister kept his promise. For now, they were just the carefree warriors they had been before the world fell apart.

Lou Tiannan emptied his glass, his mind replaying Xiang Cheng’s words.

“Elena’s betrayal is a devastating blow to the Federation. She knows too much. If she joins forces with Blood Bone, Red Sand, and the others, half of the Federation’s security systems will be as good as useless. The director of the Federal Security Bureau and the council members will all be in grave danger.”

Xiang Cheng was not exaggerating the consequences. As the most likely candidate to succeed the Minister of the Law Enforcement Department, Elena had risen to the rank of the First Squad’s captain at a young age. She was well-versed in the security and defense systems of both the Law Enforcement Department and the entire Security Bureau.

She would become the sharpest blade stabbing into the Federation.

“If you encounter Elena during the mission, you must do everything in your power to eliminate her.”

Xiang Cheng wanted Lou Tiannan to break that blade and eliminate any potential threat to the Federation’s security.