Apocalypse Survival Guide for a Beta [GB] - Chapter 59

Inside the Eastern District One’s office building.

Lou Tiannan’s team had successfully infiltrated from the outer perimeter and was now inside the building, observing the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute from a distance of four hundred meters. Meanwhile, Bai Chuan and Tang Mary were in contact with their Red Sand subordinates.

The hail continued to fall, mixed with torrential rain. The muddy ground made visibility and movement difficult.

Leaning against the wall, Lin Bai gazed at the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute amidst the storm, her expression unreadable.

From the outside, the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute looked like a completely ordinary and unremarkable building. Yet, within its walls, countless top-tier researchers of the Federation worked tirelessly, creating breakthroughs that had become blessings for humanity.

A drug capable of resisting various cancer cells, bionic limbs and organs that could help disabled individuals regain normal function, a compound for punishing criminals, and numerous other classified pharmaceuticals developed to meet the Federation’s needs…

Because it involved state secrets, the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute was heavily guarded within the depths of the military defense sector. Multiple defensive lines were established starting from a hundred meters away and inside, the security systems were countless.

Every researcher within the facility had their social relationships classified as top secret. Day after day, they immersed themselves in experiments, often forgoing rest and sleep. Each of them possessed an innate drive to dedicate everything, even their lives, to scientific research.

Lin Bai thought it was foolish. Just like Lou Tiannan’s repeated self-sacrificing acts, such things were the kind of stupidity only fools would engage in.

Sacrificing oneself for others; what a ridiculously foolish notion. Lin Bai lowered her lashes, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

Lou Tiannan’s gaze swept past Lin Bai, who was standing by the window. When he saw the expression on her face, he froze slightly. A voice in his mind told him that Lin Bai must have deeply cared for her partner. Otherwise, she wouldn’t look so sorrowful…

The rain poured down harder. Water had begun to pool in lower-lying areas and the outline of the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute grew increasingly blurred.

Zhou Yu and Song Yan were using binoculars to observe the surroundings and map out the area. As they marked zombie locations on their map, their expressions darkened. There were already so many zombies in sight, not to mention the ones lurking in the darkness, unseen.

“Captain Lou, here’s the map.” Song Yan handed the map to Lou Tiannan. When he didn’t immediately respond, she curiously glanced up, only to find him staring at Lin Bai.

Why was Captain Lou looking at Lin Bai?

Before Song Yan could dwell on it, Lou Tiannan had already withdrawn his gaze and taken the map from her hands.

Lou Tiannan swept his gray eyes across everyone in the room and said, “We don’t know the situation inside the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. Elena and I will go scout first. The rest of you stay here. If we don’t return within two hours, Zhu Liang, you’ll lead the team out of Eastern District One and wait for further orders.”

His gaze carried an unreadable warning as it landed on Bai Chuan and Tang Mary. “The Federation reinforcements will arrive in 36 hours.”

Tang Mary immediately understood that Lou Tiannan was calling them out. She scoffed, “I’m not one of Blood Bone’s people.”

Bai Chuan grinned and waved a hand dismissively. “Captain Lou, just go. We’ll be fine!”

“I’m going too.”

The room fell silent for a moment at Lin Bai’s words, only to be broken by Tang Mary’s sharp retort, “What the hell are you going for?”

Almost simultaneously, Bai Chuan straightened up. “You can’t go!”

Lin Bai didn’t even spare them a glance. She locked eyes with Lou Tiannan and spoke in a calm, almost casual tone, “I’m going too.”

Elena studied Lin Bai’s face, which looked relaxed and indifferent, yet there was something familiar about it, like she had seen it before.

No matter how much Tang Mary and Bai Chuan objected, they couldn’t change Lin Bai’s decision.

When it was confirmed that Lin Bai would enter the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute with Lou Tiannan and Elena, Bai Chuan and Tang Mary immediately demanded to go along but Lou Tiannan refused.

“If she can go, why can’t we?!” Tang Mary asked angrily.

“You two have unclear allegiances,” Lou Tiannan pointed out bluntly. The 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute held too many secrets and the two couldn’t be allowed in.

“I’ll join the Feder—” Tang Mary’s words were cut off by a silent look from Lin Bai.

When Bai Chuan received Lin Bai’s gaze, he also backed down, though he couldn’t help but mutter to himself. Why did the android woman’s eyes give him the same uneasy feeling as his boss’s?

Lin Bai knew that the two had high-level abilities and could be useful inside. However, they had different goals from Lou Tiannan and Elena, and it was clear they wanted to go in because of her. No one knew better than Lin Bai how dangerous the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute was, so they shouldn’t risk their lives for her.

Seeing Lin Bai actually persuade the two Red Sand members, Elena felt even more suspicious.

With the team members confirmed, Lou Tiannan quickly gave out orders.

The rest of the team was assigned to different floors to cover them. Xi Ya watched Lin Bai’s back, once again feeling the urge to become stronger.

The rain continued to pour as three fully protected figures dashed toward the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute from different directions.

Though the rain masked some of their human scent, the powerful energy waves of high-level ability users still caught the attention of nearby zombies.

The creatures, with their hideous faces and sharp claws, some purple while some black, howled and charged at them.

The zombies near the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute were all high-tier.

From a nearby high-rise, gunshots rang out, taking down several of the zombies for them.

The rain and cold worked in Elena’s favor, allowing her to unleash her ice abilities to the fullest.

Lin Bai silently moved closer to Lou Tiannan. It was too cold.

As they fought the zombies, they sprinted toward the research institute’s entrance. Just as they were about to reach the door, Lin Bai suddenly sensed something. She grabbed both Lou Tiannan and Elena, yanking them backward several steps.

The moment they retreated, an explosion went off at the entrance of the research institute.

Elena’s usually gentle voice took on a rare note of seriousness, “Someone’s here.”

From their vantage point on a high-rise, Tang Mary and the others saw the ambushers before Lou Tiannan’s team did. When Tang Mary spotted Qiu Tu, she cursed angrily, “That rabid dog from Blood Bone dares to cause trouble again?! Those three will struggle against him. I’m going down there!”

She had fought Qiu Tu before. If Lou Tiannan’s group had to face him alone, they would be in for a tough battle.

“I’m going too!” Bai Chuan said.

Zhou Yu, Song Yan, and the others wanted to follow but Bai Chuan stopped them with a single sentence, “You weaklings just stay up here and help your captain find an opening!”

His words were infuriating but true. Their highest rank was only A-rank and fighting Qiu Tu would be pointless. They would be better off looking for ways to contribute from above.

As Tang Mary and Bai Chuan rushed downstairs, the battle between Lou Tiannan’s team and Qiu Tu had already begun.

Qiu Tu came fully prepared this time. He and his men forced Lou Tiannan’s group toward the zombie horde, throwing explosive packs at them one after another. With a sinister, bloodthirsty grin on his scarred face, Qiu Tu sneered, “The entire Military Defense’s First Squad died here. You might as well keep them company.”

Hearing that, Lou Tiannan’s gray eyes flashed with sharp killing intent. From Qiu Tu’s words, he instantly understood that the First Squad’s total annihilation was undoubtedly connected to him.

With clenched fists like iron, Lou Tiannan charged at Qiu Tu. But Qiu Tu showed no fear. With a twisted smile, he ignited the purplish-red flames in his hands and met Lou Tiannan head-on.

Their movements were so fast that, amid the heavy rain, their figures were barely visible. Only the occasional explosive clashes of black and purple flames lit up the downpour.

Lin Bai and Elena had no time to worry about Lou Tiannan, as they were surrounded not only by zombies but also by Blood Bone’s lurking ability users.

Some of the Blood Bone members, knowing Lin Bai had no abilities, attempted to sneak up on her with knives and guns.

Just as one of them was about to strike, Tang Mary arrived, witnessing the scene. Without hesitation, she swung her spiked club, roaring, “You worthless scum trying to ambush her?!”

The Blood Bone ability user let out a pained cry as the hundred-pound spiked club smashed into him, sending him flying straight into the zombie horde, where he was quickly devoured.

Seeing Tang Mary and Bai Chuan arrive, the Blood Bone members no longer dared to underestimate them and launched a full-scale assault.

Initially, they thought Lin Bai who had no abilities would be the weak link. But to their shock, the seemingly ordinary Beta wielded two black blades with such precision and lethality that none of them could get close.

“Ah!”

A Blood Bone wood-based ability user was caught off guard by Lin Bai. Her blade flashed, plunging into his chest, swift and ruthless. His vines barely managed to wrap around her wrist before his body fell silently and the vines withered, slipping off her hand.

“Ughh—”

A third-tier zombie, drawn by the scent of the ability user’s blood, stumbled toward Lin Bai. Without hesitation, she hurled the corpse toward it. As the zombie sank its teeth into the body, she swiftly drove her black blade into the back of its skull, prying out its crystal core.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Gunfire erupted non-stop from above; it was Zhu Liang and his team providing cover from the high-rise.

As more Blood Bone ability users arrived, the number of zombies at the entrance of the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute also grew. Lin Bai and Elena exchanged a glance. Before Elena could speak, Lin Bai turned to Tang Mary and Bai Chuan.

“Cover Elena. Get inside the research institute first.”

Upon receiving the command, Bai Chuan raised his hand, summoning a fierce gale that swept up rain and debris, blinding the enemies. Tang Mary followed up with a powerful swing of her spiked club, clearing a large area.

Elena wasted no time. She sprinted toward the entrance of the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. At the door, three layers of security awaited her; retinal scan, fingerprint recognition, and a sixteen-digit passcode.

Before the apocalypse, Elena, as the captain of the Law Enforcement Department’s First Squad, had frequent dealings with the research institute, so she still had clearance to open the door. She quickly entered the passcode and passed the retinal scan but hesitated before pressing the fingerprint verification.

Once the door to the research institute opened, it would automatically shut within three seconds and remain locked for a three-minute cooldown.

She glanced back at Lou Tiannan, who was still locked in combat with Qiu Tu, feeling uncertain. He might not make it in time.

Just then, a calm and steady voice rang beside her, “Open the door. He’ll make it.”

Elena’s hand trembled slightly as she pressed the verification panel. She turned her head toward Lin Bai but Lin Bai was focused on Qiu Tu. Without hesitation, she tossed something toward Qiu Tu and shouted, “Lou Tiannan, move! It’s G32 bomb!”

Qiu Tu heard her clearly. His body tensed and he instinctively stepped back. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Elena and the others had somehow managed to open the entrance to the 621 Biopharmaceutical Research Institute. At the same moment, Lou Tiannan was yanked inside by Tang Mary’s chains just as he retreated.

No way!!!

Rage exploded in Qiu Tu’s eyes. He lunged at the rapidly closing research institute door with incredible speed.