Da da da.
Pasha stepped inside the towering wall as the heavy iron gate fell, seemingly severing the connection between two worlds completely.
The buildings inside the wall appeared much cleaner and orderly. Some armored vehicles were parked by the walls, and even some modified tanks could be seen. The buildings were arranged neatly, and the ground was free of trash, likely because someone cleaned every day. This place resembled a military camp. Some people wore special mechanical wristwatches on their wrists, indicating higher status.
Pasha passed through each checkpoint without expression.
There were many guards here, not all of them human. Some robots with humanoid appearances scanned everything approaching with cold mechanical eyes, ready to unleash ruthless gunfire upon detecting any intruders.
Pasha finally entered a bright white office.
"Father," Pasha bowed his head respectfully.
"You've returned." Inside the office sat an elderly man whose face was much older than anyone Su Ziyu had seen here, possibly over seventy. The old man casually set down his documents and interlocked his fingers under his chin, scrutinizing Pasha with sharp eyes exuding an oppressive presence. He said slowly, "Did you meet the man who emerged from the shelter?"
"Yes." Pasha said, head lowered.
"You didn't bring him back. It seems he's unwilling to join us?" The old man rubbed his forehead with a hand.
Pasha remained silent.
"We are running out of time," the man sighed.
He stood up.
It was evident he was tall and hearty in his younger days, but now his frame was somewhat stooped. His exposed arms bore patches of dark blue liver spots. He turned to look out the window, contemplating for a moment before saying slowly, "In three days. Lead a team and set off again."
"We must find those documents."
Pasha nodded expressionlessly. "Yes."
A stiff smile appeared on the old man's face, his expression gentle as he said, "Go and rest well."
"Yes, father." Pasha bowed respectfully and left.
Click.
The office door closed.
The spacious, bright office remained silent for a long while, then suddenly a repressed and furious low growl echoed. The old man's face became twisted and terrifying, with cloudy eyes starting to show a hint of crimson. His emaciated facial muscles writhed incessantly as if worms were crawling inside, and his body surface showed many dark blue patches, while his sharp nails left marks on the desk.
He was trembling.
Struggling, the old man opened a drawer under his desk and swiftly injected an anti-radiation serum into his arm. Soon, his painful, frenzied breathing calmed, and the writhing muscles seemed to settle, with only the dark blue liver spots becoming more prominent.
"I don't have much time left…" the old man sighed, expression struggling and hesitant, mixed with a complex yearning.
He silently stared at the row of anti-radiation serums in the drawer, his expression somewhat mocking as he muttered, "Solomon. You found us the cure, which has now become humanity's poison..."
"What exactly are you trying to do?..."
"One day, I will find you!..."
.........
The wind was very cold tonight.
As Su Ziyu returned, he passed by the dark alley again, hearing the whistling wind and the whispers mixed therein.
"hungry!...meat!..."
"hungry!...meat!..."
Hungry...
Meat...
The eerie whispers made Su Ziyu's heart race, but this time he saw nothing—no people, no shadows. The pitch-black alley was empty, yet indistinguishable whispers drifted with the wind.
Su Ziyu felt goosebumps rising all over his body.
He placed his hand on the weapon at his waist, expressionless, as he stared at the alley like a giant black mouth, stepping back slowly until he entered the streetlight's range, then turned and walked quickly toward the hotel.
Something was lurking here.
Su Ziyu didn't know what it was, but he felt it was more dangerous and bizarre than the monsters he'd encountered before.
A group of people was fighting again.
Painful cries came from the alley, but nearby people ignored it; some even seemed entertained. The bar area was still bright with lights, the cowboy-dressed man standing at the entrance, smoking on a car hood, holding a heavily made-up woman.
Su Ziyu saw the skinny man who stole his wallet that day. He was standing with others on the street corner and quietly turned and slipped into an alley upon spotting Su Ziyu.
The man's leg wasn't broken.
Su Ziyu suddenly smiled, an expression full of sarcasm.
The guards had returned inside the walls, indifferent soldiers on duty ensuring no one approached the walls at night, unconcerned with anything else.
Several Indians were still selling roasted rats.
But the sturdy Indian was gone, replaced by someone else sitting on a chair, drinking, smoking, with a gun within arm's reach.
Su Ziyu wondered where they found so many rats.
Su Ziyu stopped abruptly while walking, spotting the man he saw this afternoon, the leader of a group of Scavengers, looking drunk, bottles scattered around him. He was holding a bottle, drinking, and then this burly man suddenly cried.
Crying silently, veins bulging, while trembling violently.
Passersby ignored this, while in a dark corner, several black men eyed him like prey, expressions akin to hungry vultures.
Su Ziyu didn't know what he was thinking. His mind was a bit muddled, so he walked up to the man, grabbing and throwing the bottle away, watching his eyes grow red and furious.
Slap!
A loud slap landed.
Su Ziyu tossed his wallet over, his expression calm. "Is there still hope?"
The enraged man, akin to a wounded lone wolf, paused, seeing a thick stack of cash in the wallet. A glimmer flickered in his muddled eyes as he looked up at Su Ziyu. The dim light obscured his face, but he seemed young.
"Is there still hope?" Su Ziyu asked again.
"Yes!" The man shot up; it seemed he recognized Su Ziyu from their earlier meeting. His drunkenness quickly faded.
Su Ziyu watched him, speaking in a deep voice, "So what are you waiting for?"
"Tha... thank you!..." The man rasped, bowing to Su Ziyu before rushing away.
Stunned looks surrounded them.
People nearby gazed at Su Ziyu with unfamiliar surprise. As he turned, he saw Old Bill not far away, the German man's shocked expression nodding at him.
Su Ziyu nodded in acknowledgment.
Then, he turned and headed towards the hotel, feeling his thoughts were a bit scattered today. He needed to calm down and rest.
.........