Chapter Fifty-Four: The Primal Virus

Zhu Lan had no idea that Kong Yan’s attempt at quantum communication had been intercepted by the military. In the end, it was Zhu Lan’s blind trust in Kong Yan’s Model -1000; he believed that such advanced technology was undetectable, let alone interceptable. With the company affairs settled, Zhu Lan was ready to thoroughly explore the base.

His original purpose had always been to uncover what secrets this base held. If Yu Dongming followed his instructions, then Fantasia Technologies would be safe. No matter who tried to make a move against Fantasia, the military’s involvement would ensure their failure—unless the military abandoned Zhu Lan. But that was impossible. Even if, hypothetically, they did abandon him, it would still not succeed, because the military had declared Fantasia Technologies an official partner, and any investigation now would be a slap in the military’s face.

In Huaxia, reputation was paramount in every aspect. To embarrass the military? No matter how powerful one’s background, it would be futile. Ultimately, the military played a formidable role in Huaxia. Though they rarely interfered with government affairs, when they did, a military exercise or deployment could silence any objection—refusing would be deemed a threat to national security, and the central authorities would not intervene.

Zhu Lan had already changed out of his casual attire; he was now fully armed, holding an M4A1 rifle, several high-explosive grenades strapped to his waist, and a knife sheathed on his thigh. Since he had chosen to explore this place, he naturally prepared his gear. His outfit was American-style, the type he was most familiar with. Though Kong Yan’s database contained many Huaxia and Russian military films, American gear was what Zhu Lan knew best—not out of preference for foreign equipment, but because he had grown accustomed to it during his time in the Middle East.

His weapon was still the M4A1 rifle, but an extensively modified version from an American apocalyptic film—its caliber increased to 9mm, firing high-velocity armor-piercing rounds capable of penetrating even standard armored vehicles. The rifle’s body had been enlarged to hold more ammunition.

“Still not connected?” Zhu Lan asked.

Kong Yan disengaged from line 1, shaking her head. “No connection. Something is interfering with the signal.”

Zhu Lan frowned. Interference?

“Alright, let’s move on. We’ll find out what’s happening at the control center.” Zhu Lan opted not to head for the experimental sector, but instead made for the control center.

He was not especially clever, but he was diligent, often reading up on various subjects. When entering a military base, the priority was not weapons or food, nor even experimental subjects—it was to find the control center. Every base had multiple lines; even if one was cut, there were backups. Once the control center was secured, he could assess the situation and devise the best plan. Wandering aimlessly was suicide—no one knew what lurked within the base.

Kong Yan, though unfamiliar with the base’s map, knew the location of the control center. Zhu Lan’s goal was to reach it and uncover what was hidden in this base.

“There’s something ahead,” Kong Yan said, suddenly stopping Zhu Lan as they exited a corridor.

Zhu Lan pressed himself against the wall, listening intently.

Thud, thud, thud...

Though faint, he heard the sound of footsteps.

He frowned; the noise was not made by monsters, but by humans.

“Six people, fully armed,” Kong Yan quickly reported.

“Could it be Mo Long and his team?” Zhu Lan wondered, but dismissed the idea. He knew his own speed—none could catch up with him, especially with so many monsters on the way.

“They’re foreigners,” Kong Yan clarified.

“Foreigners?”

Kong Yan soon displayed the images of the six. Zhu Lan frowned. Foreigners? How could that be?

He suddenly recalled military files he had seen—some foreign special forces had their eyes on this place. These must be one of those teams. Yet, he wondered how they had managed to penetrate so deep—thirteen levels below ground, each five meters high, sixty-five meters underground.

He had already witnessed the horrors here; without Kong Yan, he wouldn’t have gotten past level five. Kong Yan estimated there were over three hundred monsters per floor.

It was unimaginable how many monsters the Japanese had created in this facility. On his journey, he had seen all manner of creatures—there was nothing that didn’t exist, even grotesque hybrids like an ape’s body with a shark’s head.

“What should we do, boss?” Kong Yan asked.

Zhu Lan hesitated. An encounter was imminent. What now? Kill them? The thought flashed through his mind.

He quickly dismissed it.

“Let’s go. Leave them be,” Zhu Lan decided, choosing not to confront the foreigners.

Just because Zhu Lan avoided confrontation didn’t mean the others would. As he moved to another passage, Kong Yan suddenly lunged at him.

Before Zhu Lan could react—

Boom!

A grenade exploded nearby.

Kong Yan grabbed Zhu Lan, dragging him into another room.

“O!” The last shout as they entered the room was clear to Zhu Lan.

“Damn!”

“Listen up, inside! Come out, and I’ll spare your lives!” A voice soon called out in two languages: English and Japanese.

Zhu Lan realized the foreigners had mistaken him and Kong Yan for the base’s researchers.

He found it odd that, after so long in the facility, he had not encountered a single researcher. There was plenty of blood, but all left by monsters, not humans. On the upper levels, he had found numerous living quarters, their contents pristine—evidence that people had been there only days ago.

No researchers here? Impossible. There were many; with over fifteen hundred monsters already counted, and possibly more below, it was inconceivable that there were no staff. The base was enormous, and some survivors might be hiding.

The foreigners must have assumed he was a researcher, which was not unreasonable.

Zhu Lan’s face hardened. “If you wish for death, I’ll oblige!” Being attacked with a grenade enraged him.

“Kong Yan, kill them!”

Kong Yan nodded, approached the door, then transformed into a puddle of liquid metal, slowly disappearing into the door.

Bang!

The door burst open. All six foreigners rushed in, guns trained on Zhu Lan.

“Hey, guys, check out what I found! An Asian, wearing our gear!”

Zhu Lan sneered. “Fools who don’t know their place.”

“Bastard, what did you say?” One man, who apparently understood Zhu Lan, moved his finger to the trigger, aiming not for Zhu Lan’s vitals but at his thigh—likely intending to teach him a lesson.

None of them noticed the puddle of liquid metal behind them, which gradually formed a human shape.

Squelch—

There was no sensation, no sound, only the cold edge of a sword.

The men were experienced fighters; as soon as one was killed, the others sensed it and spun around, guns ready to fire.

But Kong Yan’s hands moved faster. Her sword flashed, a cold gleam slicing through the air, and the remaining five were left with only a thin line of blood across their necks.

The five stared at Kong Yan in disbelief.

They could not fathom how a person had appeared in a place where there should have been none.

Kong Yan was a Model -1000 Terminator, composed of nanomaterials and liquid metal; normal sensors could never detect her unless she was seen directly.

Zhu Lan watched the six die, stood up from the floor, and said, “Next time, be quicker.”

Kong Yan said nothing.

Zhu Lan searched the bodies, soon finding what he wanted—a very peculiar computer.

“Let’s see what’s inside,” he said, handing it to Kong Yan.

Kong Yan took it; liquid metal flowed from her hand, forming a cable that plugged into the computer.

The password was swiftly bypassed, and Zhu Lan soon saw the files.

Upon seeing the contents, Zhu Lan frowned.

This was not an American special forces team, but mercenaries—hired by an unknown party. The files showed their objective: a so-called “primal virus.”

“So it’s true. This base is far more complicated than I imagined.”

Primal virus—neither Kong Yan nor the military database had any record of it. That meant the Huaxia military knew nothing about it.

If people were risking their lives for this virus, it must be extraordinary. The term “primal” suggested it was at least tens of thousands of years old, a relic from Earth’s ancient past.

Scientific studies had long shown that during the Ice Age, many animals and genes were frozen, especially in Antarctica. That was why Antarctic expeditions were so grueling and costly, yet nations still poured resources into exploring it—the secrets buried there were worth any price.

Now, this base contained a primal virus. Zhu Lan realized that everyone who came here might have different motives.

Primal virus, genetic serum, bioweapons—what else could there be?

He left the bodies where they lay and, accompanied by Kong Yan, proceeded to the control center. Only there could he truly understand what this base was hiding.