Back in the dorm, Tu Sanqi was still thinking about Cheng Shi’s words—“doesn’t affect others.”
Did that mean it wouldn’t affect anyone who isn’t malnourished?
Recalling the high-level zombie’s pale, emaciated face… well, it did look even more malnourished than her.
Tu Sanqi twitched the corner of her mouth and stopped thinking about the medicine.
Fei Yucheng returned from a mission, saying he had just collected a new material. Tu Sanqi eagerly went to find him.
The two of them were in the lab tinkering with new ideas. While talking, Fei Yucheng remembered something his uncle had instructed him and asked Tu Sanqi, “How’s your body doing?”
Tu Sanqi forwarded the report that Cheng Shi had sent her directly to Fei Yucheng.
Fei Yucheng paused, carefully reviewed the report, and finally felt a bit relieved.
“Looks like the medicine really works!” Fei Yucheng said happily for her. “I guess in another two months, your report won’t have the words ‘malnourished’ on it anymore.”
Tu Sanqi raised her eyebrows. “That’s fantastic!”
Because of this, her daily time in the lab was limited, unlike Fei Yucheng, who could stay there all day and night experimenting.
Fei Yucheng then said, “For next month’s field mission, I’d like you to come with me.”
“Sure!” Tu Sanqi agreed, curious. “Why invite me all of a sudden?”
Fei Yucheng’s expression drooped slightly, and he honestly said, “This time I’m going with my uncle. They want me to make ability-enhanced shells, but I can’t do it alone…”
Tu Sanqi couldn’t resist patting his shoulder. “You’re so capable? Last time I went outside the Special Zone and could run back on my own. You went with your uncle on a mission?!”
Fei Yucheng’s uncle, Mei Jun, was also a team leader of an ability-user squad, often deployed in dangerous areas on extremely difficult missions.
“I’m just holding everyone back,” Fei Yucheng sighed, then asked Tu Sanqi, “Do you want to come? Next time we’ll go together.”
“Sure!” Tu Sanqi wanted to continue working on those weapons integrating abilities, but she lacked materials.
If she went with Fei Yucheng, she wouldn’t have to worry about the materials.
Hearing this, Fei Yucheng got excited and immediately told his uncle, then pulled up a holographic screen to discuss weapon designs with Tu Sanqi.
“Last time it was ability-enhanced shells… if we could put abilities into bullets, wouldn’t that be much more convenient?” Fei Yucheng suggested immediately.
Tu Sanqi thought for a moment. “But bullets get used up quickly. If we make them, we’ll need to prepare spares in advance.”
Fei Yucheng looked a bit disappointed. “If only we had a machine…”
As soon as he said it, both of them looked up at each other simultaneously.
“You’re a genius, Fei Yucheng!” Tu Sanqi exclaimed and immediately pulled up a blank page to start designing schematics.
Half a month later, all the schematics and instruction manuals were finished.
The two of them double-checked all the component calculations, then finally called Li An via communicator.
Li An assumed these two newcomers had run into trouble and was about to ask patiently when Fei Yucheng spoke first:
“Teacher Li, we’d like to use your lab.”
Li An: “…Why?”
Tu Sanqi added, “We want to make a machine that requires your photonic device and cutter.”
Li An frowned slightly. After ending the call, she went straight to their lab.
Of course, the photonic device and cutter could be lent to them, but Li An couldn’t understand how these two kids, who had just joined the training camp, could be building something large enough to require a photonic device.
Meanwhile, Tu Sanqi and Fei Yucheng weren’t sure if Li An had agreed or refused.
After a moment of silence, Fei Yucheng said, “Why don’t we just go to my place? I have a lab there too.”
Tu Sanqi: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Fei Yucheng: “Going out is a bit troublesome. We’d have to get permissions from Teacher Li.”
Tu Sanqi: “…”
She anxiously called Li An again. The next second, the door beeped, and Li An appeared behind them.
Without asking a word, Li An gave them lab access. She didn’t speak and left firmly.
Tu Sanqi and Fei Yucheng: “…?”
Fei Yucheng looked down at the new permissions and murmured, “Looks like we don’t need to go to my place after all.”
Tu Sanqi snapped back to reality, grabbed their materials, and rushed with Fei Yucheng to the lab.
In the corridor, Li An watched them disappear around an inconspicuous corner. After a long silence, she lowered her head and sent out a brief communication.
Special Zone Leadership
Several messages came in succession. The person behind the chair lowered their head, reviewing each one with an unreadable expression.
“Captain Lu,” someone knocked and entered. “Screening report.”
“Hm.” Captain Lu turned his chair, extinguished his cigarette, and said calmly, “Go ahead.”
The subordinate projected the report onto the screen.
“From March until now, the Special Zone has screened 23 people meeting your requirements.”
Captain Lu looked up, reviewed the data for all 23 individuals, nodded, dismissed his subordinate, and called someone else.
Cheng Shi hadn’t even taken off his lab coat and was called in on short notice. He complained slightly, “Captain Lu, do you think I have nothing to do?”
Captain Lu gave him a long, unreadable look but said nothing, just had him review the data.
Cheng Shi lowered his head and immediately saw Tu Sanqi at the top of the list.
His expression became serious. He carefully reviewed the remaining individuals, then fell silent.
“First Special Zone’s secret search order,” Captain Lu asked, “What do you think should be done?”
Cheng Shi no longer looked relaxed. He rubbed his face, his brow still furrowed, and after a moment, reviewed the data again.
Aside from Tu Sanqi using the medicine, the others hadn’t—meaning that if controlled in time, they could still be like normal people.
He said, “If they want it, hand it over.”
Over the years, ability users had formed the Special Zones to combat zombies and later built bases to protect humans.
As the territory expanded, the Special Zone was divided—first two, then four. Currently, there are five Special Zones for ability users.
But the First Special Zone held absolute authority.
As head of the Fifth Special Zone, Captain Lu couldn’t disobey the First Special Zone’s orders. He was surprised that Cheng Shi, who looked so harmless, was actually so formidable inside.
He once had been a representative of the First Special Zone but left three years ago in anger over a scandal and joined his old friend.
Now, he had not disobeyed the First Special Zone’s orders.
Cheng Shi noticed Captain Lu staring and said with a hint of amusement, “What’s with that look? I’m a doctor. These people still have a chance to recover. If I can’t do anything, the First Special Zone surely can.”
Captain Lu agreed silently.
Cheng Shi added, “But this one must stay.”
Captain Lu looked down, his gaze landing on the first entry in the data.
Name: Tu SanqiAge: 17
Cheng Shi showed no expression. “If she’s sent back, it’s a dead end.”
Captain Lu narrowed his eyes, fixating on the words “red-eye disease,” and felt a headache coming on.
“She’s already awakened.”