Chapter 103: A Mobile Research Institute?

At the entrance to the city leader’s residence in Wushan.

“I am a merchant from the end times. I’ve come to discuss supply matters with the highest authority in Wushan,” Yun Xuan said, looking at the two soldiers who had stopped him.

“A merchant from the end times? Wait here,” the middle-aged soldier on the left said after a slight start, his tone becoming respectful.

Less than five minutes later, a group of people emerged from the residence.

“Hello. I am Chen Dongcheng, the highest authority in Wushan. I wonder where the supplies are?” Chen Dongcheng asked excitedly.

“They have already arrived in Wushan. We were sent by the end-times merchants to discuss supply matters. In passing, we can also help you deal with the zombies surrounding the outer perimeter,” Yun Xuan said.

“Deal with the zombies outside? Really?” Chen Dongcheng said in shock. There were at least ten thousand zombies out there. Without advanced weapons, how could they possibly be dealt with?

“That need not concern you. Let us speak in detail inside,” Yun Xuan said expressionlessly.

“Please.” Chen Dongcheng waved a hand, and everyone stepped aside.

Chen Dongcheng, fifty-seven years old this year, was one of the most powerful figures in Wushan and commanded the city’s soldiers.

The others held considerable influence as well, and could be considered Chen Dongcheng’s partners.

The group entered the conference room. Yun Xuan sat opposite Chen Dongcheng, with Huihui and Ice Snow behind him; the little girl remained silent, hiding behind Ice Snow’s back.

“Our offer is forty gold coins per can. You have no objections to that, I trust?” Yun Xuan took out a document, and Huihui placed it in front of Chen Dongcheng.

“No objections. We want all the canned goods, but we need to see the supplies first,” Chen Dongcheng said with a nod.

“I will let you see them. As for clearing the zombies outside, we will use a secret weapon. The price is ten thousand gold coins. If you pay this amount, you can transport the cans yourselves. Otherwise, for each batch we deliver, you will need to pay one thousand gold coins. One hundred thousand cans, given the load a truck can carry, will require roughly ten trips,” Yun Xuan said, sweeping his gaze over the others without the slightest courtesy.

“One thousand gold coins per delivery! You’ve already made enough profit on the cans. Young man, greed like that will bring disaster sooner or later,” a middle-aged man said coldly.

“If you have a way through the horde, I won’t say another word,” Yun Xuan said with a shrug.

The middle-aged man fell silent. If they had a way through, they would have already left Wushan.

“We will pay the ten thousand gold coins, but you must clear the zombies outside first,” Chen Dongcheng said after some thought.

“No problem. We’ll clear them within today. If you renege on the deal and try to default, our secret weapon will land on your heads in one shot,” Yun Xuan said with a smile as he stood.

“I, Chen Dongcheng, am not so confused as to forget myself,” Chen Dongcheng said with a chill in his expression.

“That is good to hear.” Yun Xuan turned and left.

“Old Chen, why don’t we follow them and then…” The middle-aged man who had spoken earlier made a slashing gesture across his neck.

“If they truly possess a secret weapon, do you want Wushan reduced to ruins?” Chen Dongcheng said expressionlessly, staring out the window, worry flickering in his eyes.

...

The three of them, together with the little girl, left Wushan’s survivor settlement. They had not gone far when they were surrounded by a crowd.

“They have weapons, but they can only attack one person at a time. If we all rush them together, we can take them!”

“They’re the end-times merchants. They have cans!”

“Kill them! Then we’ll have canned food to eat!”

The people around them had clearly been driven half-mad by hunger. Their eyes were red, and each held a club or stick; there were at least several hundred of them.

Yun Xuan looked at the pile of bones nearby and realized these people had probably done this sort of thing more than once.

“Huihui, open your eyes and look at the ugly faces of these people. Even if I fed these cans to zombies, I would not let them fall into the hands of people like this,” Yun Xuan said lightly.

“I feel the same. They can no longer be called human,” Huihui said, removing her mask, her face icy with frost.

“Attack!” Someone shouted, and the whole mob surged forward.

Eight figures rushed in from the outskirts, swords in hand, carving out a bloody path.

“Leave none alive,” Yun Xuan said mercilessly as he looked at the stunned faces of the crowd.

The eight white-clad figures charged into the mass of people.

“Run! Get out of here!”

“Help me... save me...”

“Don’t leave me behind, please!”

In an instant, cries and screams filled the air as the eight white-clad figures harvested lives without the slightest expression.

“War between humans is the cruelest of all,” Yun Xuan said with a wave of his hand. Mutated bees appeared, and the three of them, along with the little girl, climbed aboard.

Eight nutrient pods appeared where they stood, and the eight white-clad figures climbed into them before vanishing.

Hunger drives people mad, even to the point of doing unimaginable things. Much less in an apocalypse like this.

Yun Xuan felt no joy at all, only a heavy sense of oppression.

“Yun Xuan, I’m sorry,” Huihui said, head lowered.

“It’s fine, little loli. My mental fortitude is strong,” Yun Xuan said, patting Huihui’s head.

“Li... little loli... I’m actually a little loli.” Huihui’s eyes went hollow, and she gave a self-mocking laugh.

“You’ve seen all of my secrets. If you’re of no value, I can only let you sleep quietly and permanently,” Yun Xuan said, looking at the little girl.

“Everything written on that note was true. I am the granddaughter of the director of Research Institute 258. I have the authority to open Institute 258, and Institute 258 is a mobile research institute,” the little girl said nervously.

“I hope that’s true. This is an electronic collar produced by Research Institute 1215. If you go beyond my range, your neck will be lost,” Yun Xuan said, holding a collar in his hand as he fastened it around the little girl’s neck.

“I only want to survive,” the little girl said, lifting her head. There was not a trace of fear in her eyes.

...

Research Institute 258, a mobile facility, was a giant walking robot, also made of super-memory metal, requiring no fuel, only electricity.

Originally, opening Research Institute 258 required the director’s highest-level authorization. The director was now dead, and this little girl was his only blood relative, thus she too possessed the authority to open it.

If they could activate Research Institute 258, it would be tantamount to gaining a safe residence, and one that was mobile at that. That was very attractive to Yun Xuan.

“It’s here,” the little girl said, pointing at an ordinary office building.

“It really is well hidden,” Yun Xuan said, studying the building that could easily pass for the real thing. Only after scanning it with a basic smart device did he see its true form.

The mutated bee landed on the rooftop. Yun Xuan looked at the door before him: fingerprint verification, iris verification, and DNA verification.

Click. The door opened.

“Please come in.” The little girl let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

Yun Xuan, Huihui, and Ice Snow entered the building. The mutated bee was withdrawn, and the little girl entered last.

“This is the elevator on the top floor. It goes to every level, and it is also the final cleansing mechanism. Right now, there probably isn’t even a corpse left inside,” the little girl said with a look of desolation as she pressed the button for the sixth floor.

“By the way, what is your name?” Yun Xuan asked curiously.

“I? My name is...” The little girl turned around and said.

P.S. Please vote for the recommendation list. Once the transaction is complete, we’ll head back, and let Huihui unleash a burst.