Apocalypse Survival Guide for a Beta [GB] - Chapter 57

Their first reaction to Elena’s words was disbelief. But since the one speaking was Elena, their doubt was tinged with hesitation.

Some of them couldn’t help but wonder if Elena was trying to turn them against the Federation.

“Why do you say that?” Lou Tiannan’s deep gaze locked onto Elena, scrutinizing her.

Elena met his eyes without hesitation, her tone as calm as if they were merely chatting. “First, yesterday, Qiu Tu escaped right under the Security Bureau’s nose. You and I both aren’t new to the Bureau. If you had been leading the operation yesterday, Lou Tiannan, would you have let Qiu Tu get away under those circumstances?

“Second, when I left the Border Prison, there were no Blood Bone members being held there. From the guards’ casual conversations, I overheard that they had handed the Blood Bone people over to Aurora for ‘re-education.’ Do you know what kind of people make up Blood Bone? Does Aurora really have the ability to reform them? Or… did the Security Bureau strike some kind of deal with Aurora and simply trust them that much? Even someone like Jed has made it into the Bureau’s management.”

At the mention of Jed, the group fell silent. What’s more, when they left the Border Prison, they indeed hadn’t seen a single Blood Bone member. Not one.

Lou Tiannan said, “I will personally investigate the connection between Blood Bone and the Security Bureau. Until then, I won’t acknowledge what you’re saying.”

Elena wasn’t surprised by his response. She spoke slowly, “I’m just giving you a reminder. After all… given my current status, the Security Bureau’s future has nothing to do with me anymore.”

The topic was too sensitive and no one pursued it further.

Now that they had found Elena and Lin Bai had miraculously come back to life, the weight of exhaustion finally settled in. They hadn’t properly rested in two days.

Xi Ya had long since fallen asleep in Lin Bai’s arms.

The basement was fairly spacious. Everyone found a spot to close their eyes and rest, waiting for morning to come before heading to Eastern District One to carry out their mission.

Among them, a few were unable to sleep, occasionally glancing toward Lin Bai in the corner. It was clear they had something to say to her.

Bai Chuan looked around, then was the first to stand up. He said to Lin Bai, “A’Bai, come with me to the restroom.”

Before Lin Bai could respond, Tang Mary sneered coldly, “Hah, you’re an Omega and you’re asking a Beta like Lin Bai to accompany you to the restroom? What’s your real intention? Are you just going to the restroom or something else?”

Bai Chuan wasn’t angered by her words. Instead, he flashed an ambiguous smile at Tang Mary, a hint of teasing in his voice, “President Tang, we’re all adults here. We all know what’s going on but we don’t say it out loud. Now that you’ve made it obvious, if A’Bai refuses to come with me, I might just take it out on you instead.”

Lin Bai had something to discuss with Bai Chuan anyway. She carefully placed the sleeping Xi Ya on a wooden plank. The moment Lin Bai let go, Xi Ya stirred awake and mumbled, “Mom?”

“Go back to sleep. I’ll be back soon.” Lin Bai patted Xi Ya’s head dismissively. Once she saw the child settle back into sleep, she stood up and left with Bai Chuan.

As Lin Bai and Bai Chuan exited, Lou Tiannan’s gaze darkened. Tang Mary also frowned slightly.

Elena, on the other hand, silently watched Lin Bai’s departing figure, her eyes full of contemplation.

The moment Lin Bai lost all vital signs, Elena conducted a thorough examination of her body, confirming that she had indeed died. She had even performed CPR on Lin Bai for an hour.

For a full seven hours, Lin Bai showed no signs of life.

And then, over seven hours later, she suddenly came back to life. What kind of ability had side effects like that?

Now that she thought about it, there were too many suspicious points. Back then, there had been no energy fluctuations around Lin Bai at all. She had been speaking normally and had suddenly lost all vital signs. She hadn’t even finished her sentence.

Could she be hiding another secret?

And then there was what Lin Bai had mentioned before. Her partner was someone from the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute…

The 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute…

Elena silently repeated the name in her mind. Her instincts told her that Lin Bai’s anomaly was closely tied to the research institute. She recalled the types of research conducted there; plant-based pharmaceuticals, animal-based pharmaceuticals, mineral-based pharmaceuticals, along with extensive studies on bionic organs and advanced android experimentation…

Before Elena could piece her thoughts together, there was a sudden movement beside her.

Tang Mary had stood up, gripping her spiked club as she walked toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” Lou Tiannan asked her.

“If something happens to those two while they’re out there for so long, then what?!” Tang Mary’s sudden concern for Bai Chuan and Lin Bai’s well-being was completely out of character and made no sense.

Both Lou Tiannan and Elena could tell what Tang Mary was up to but they didn’t understand since she had never been the type to care about other people’s business.

Tang Mary didn’t care what they thought. She ran a hand through her red hair and walked out of the basement. She was the straightforward type. If she didn’t get answers to the questions in her mind, not only would she be unable to sleep that night but she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all in the future.

Bai Chuan and Lin Bai hadn’t gone far. Zombies roamed the area and it was nighttime, so no one wanted to cause any unnecessary commotion.

Bai Chuan activated a wind shield around them, ensuring their conversation wouldn’t be overheard. It would also allow them to detect anyone approaching.

Inside the shield, he examined Lin Bai up and down while firing off questions like a rapid-fire cannon, “What happened to you today? Did you run out of power? Or did my boss recall you? Did she say anything to you? Did you mention me? Is she doing okay?”

“I was recalled. No idea where she is,” Lin Bai answered casually before adding, “Master wants you to prepare some materials; photoreactive triodes, lithium alloy, silver film, and metamorphic crystals…” Since there was a willing helper, she didn’t hesitate to give orders.

“Slow down, slow down…” Bai Chuan carefully memorized the list. He had a background in scientific research and recognized that those components were likely for an oscillator but a few of them were unfamiliar. With a troubled expression, he said, “The first few should be fine. I can have my men find them. But metamorphic crystals… Tang Mary has a monopoly on those. She’s the only one who has them. Ever since the apocalypse, she’s been treating those rocks like treasure, saying she’s saving them for her daughter, Vera. Getting them from her won’t be easy…”

“What does your master need these for?” Bai Chuan asked. If he knew the purpose, he might be able to find substitutes.

Lin Bai replied coldly, “That’s none of your business.”

“…” Bai Chuan was momentarily speechless. “Fine, fine, I’ll figure something out. Someone’s coming.” He sensed a change in the airflow and immediately stopped talking. Retracting the wind shield, he casually placed one hand beside Lin Bai’s ear and leaned in slightly toward her face.

Tang Mary arrived just in time to see the ‘scandalous’ scene. Without hesitation, she strode forward, grabbed Bai Chuan by the collar, and yanked him away. Then, she turned to Lin Bai and scolded, “Can you have better taste?”

Lin Bai blinked in surprise, completely caught off guard by her words.

Bai Chuan was equally baffled. Feeling insulted, he retorted, “President Tang, that’s way out of line! Who are you saying has bad taste?!”

“I meant her. You shut up. You’re done with your restroom trip, so get lost. Now I need Lin Bai to accompany me to the restroom.” Tang Mary nudged Bai Chuan away with her spiked club.

It was obvious that Tang Mary wanted to talk to Lin Bai. Bai Chuan felt uneasy about leaving the two of them alone. With suspicion, he asked, “President Tang, you’re pushing forty. Are you trying to rob the cradle?”

Tang Mary’s temper flared instantly. “Say that again and I’ll make you sleep hugging this spiked club tonight. Now get lost.”

Lin Bai shot Bai Chuan a look, silently telling him to leave. Bai Chuan had no choice but to walk away, glancing back every few steps.

Once Bai Chuan was gone, Tang Mary grabbed Lin Bai’s wrist and urgently asked, “Where is Vera? What’s your relationship with her?”

Lin Bai was startled but kept a puzzled expression. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, President Tang.”

“Don’t play dumb with me. I got in touch with Peter. He said you opened his crystal lockbox. The only people who know the password to that box are Vera and me. You must know where Vera is!” Tang Mary’s tone was firm.

Lin Bai hadn’t expected Tang Mary to contact Peter so quickly. She must have done it back at the Border Prison. That was a bit troublesome.

As Lin Bai thought about how to brush Tang Mary off, Tang Mary, growing impatient with her silence, stepped forward and grabbed Lin Bai by the throat, her voice filled with shock and anger, “What did you do to her?!”

There was no way Vera would have given that kind of information to a stranger for no reason. If Lin Bai didn’t know Vera personally, then she must have used some kind of method to extract the Tang family’s password from her, which meant Vera had to be in danger!

“Keep your voice down,” Lin Bai gestured for Tang Mary to lower her volume. “She’s fine…”

“You’re lying to me!” Tang Mary snapped. But right after she spoke, something seemed to shift in her expression. In the darkness, her gaze toward Lin Bai wavered with hesitation.

“I’m not lying. I met her among the survivors at the mall. We became… good friends. I helped her and in return, she told me about the password. She also told me that if I ever needed help, I should look for someone named Tang Mary, who would assist me…” Lin Bai fabricated the story as she spoke, making it sound natural.

In the dim light, she failed to notice the change in Tang Mary’s expression.

The grip on Lin Bai’s throat loosened significantly. Tang Mary seemed to believe her. She stared at Lin Bai intently and asked, “Is she safe? Where is she now?”

Lin Bai hesitated for a moment before replying slowly, “She… is very safe.”

Tang Mary pressed on, “If she told you to find me, then why have you never come looking for me before?”

“Because… President Tang, you don’t seem very approachable. And besides, I didn’t have anything I needed your help with,” Lin Bai answered obediently.

Tang Mary finally let go of her completely and then asked slowly, “Is that really the only reason… Vera?”

Lin Bai froze, instantly on guard. What did she mean by that? Did she let something slip?

Tang Mary acted as if she didn’t notice Lin Bai’s wariness. She even put away her spiked club. In a soft voice, she said, “You’re not my daughter and yet, I’ve always treated you like one. Back then, when my family betrayed me, you were the one who pulled me up. You were the one who took me to the wastelands to mine. And it was you who helped me find the Heart of Light.

“Because of you, I, Tang Mary, was able to build the Tang family and the Guangming Tower. It doesn’t matter if you don’t acknowledge me. I just want you to know that I, Tang Mary, have never been an ungrateful person. No matter what you need to do, I will help you with everything I have.”

In the dark night, Tang Mary’s words were clear and sincere. After she finished speaking, she took out a crystal from her collar. It emitted a gentle moonlight-like glow in the night. It was a metamorphic crystal.

“This is what I didn’t get the chance to give you back then.”

She placed the crystal into Lin Bai’s hand. The moment she touched it, Lin Bai understood why Tang Mary had recognized her.

Among the crystals Lin Bai had taken from the Guangming Tower, there were also metamorphic crystals but none were of the high grade. Metamorphic crystals contained magnetic energy and when they were close enough to each other, they would react to the magnetic fields.

“You knew all along that the person who entered the Guangming Tower was me?” Lin Bai no longer tried to hide it.

“I knew it was Vera but I didn’t know you were Vera. Only Vera knew the room codes and safe combinations in the Guangming Tower. No matter how much she trusted you, she wouldn’t have told you these things,” Tang Mary said. She took a step back and, seeing that Lin Bai was willing to admit her identity, focused on observing her. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Vera, what happened? Why is there so much… metal in your body?”