Volume One, Chapter 16: The Secret Behind

Lin Xue followed closely behind, her eyes clouded with a complex mix of emotions.

Inside the factory stood a man who claimed to be Zhou Cheng, the replacement for the leader Zhao Feng, waiting for them.

A faint, knowing smile played on his lips, as if he had long anticipated their return.

“Impressive, truly the efficiency of those with special abilities,” Zhou Cheng said, clapping his hands and signaling his men to take away the locked case.

“Wait a moment,” Gao Yang’s voice cut through coldly. He didn’t loosen his grip on the backpack strap, his gaze sharp as a blade fixed on Zhou Cheng. “We risked our lives retrieving this. The very least you owe us is to tell us what it is.”

Zhou Cheng’s smile stiffened briefly but quickly returned to its usual ease.

He spread his hands in a casual gesture and said with a hint of nonchalance, “Of course, you have the right to know. This is a special device developed by the military before the apocalypse to store classified information.”

“There may be answers inside—answers about the origins of this apocalypse.”

“Are you sure it’s not meant for your own use?” Lin Xue suddenly interjected, suspicion threading through her tone.

Zhou Cheng turned to her, still smiling faintly. “That depends on how you define it. If we can use the intelligence inside to save more people, isn’t that for everyone’s benefit?”

Gao Yang didn’t argue further. Instead, he said coldly, “Open it. We want to see what’s inside.”

Zhou Cheng hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Very well.”

He instructed his men to place the case on a crude metal table and then produced a set of keys, deftly unlocking it.

As the lid creaked open, a faint metallic scent wafted out.

Inside lay several documents and a small storage device.

The papers were yellowed with age, but the handwriting remained clear.

“What are these?” Lin Xue leaned in carefully and began to leaf through the documents.

The title made her pupils constrict sharply: “Project Sky Curtain: Confidential Summary?”

“So it’s related to the Sky Curtain Project after all,” Gao Yang murmured, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

Zhou Cheng didn’t glance at the papers but instead picked up the storage device and handed it to a technician. “Quickly, decode the contents.”

The technician nodded and swiftly connected the device to a modified laptop.

---

The screen flickered with rapidly scrolling lines of code that held their attention captive.

Minutes later, the technician looked up, shock etched across his face. “Boss, the contents… these are military experimental data, and there’s a predictive model on zombie evolution!”

“Predictive model?” Gao Yang frowned.

The technician nodded. “Based on this data, the zombies evolve faster than we ever imagined.”

“The military tried to control them through mechanical augmentation but failed. More importantly, the data mentions something called the ‘Mother Nest,’ which seems to be the origin of all zombies.”

“Mother Nest?” Lin Xue gasped, her face pale.

“Yes,” the technician’s tone grew grave. “The military’s plan was to destroy the Mother Nest and end this disaster at its source, but the plan failed.”

“They even suspect the Mother Nest has begun actively controlling the zombies.”

Silence fell over the room like a shroud.

“So that’s why you guarded the case so fiercely?” Gao Yang asked coldly, his gaze locked on Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng’s smile vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing look. “Exactly. Our New Order Alliance’s goal is to find the Mother Nest and destroy it.”

“But it’s no easy task. The Mother Nest’s location is extremely dangerous—even the military couldn’t penetrate it.”

“We know it’s dangerous,” Gao Yang said skeptically, “but what do you intend to do with this data? Are you really just aiming to destroy the Mother Nest, or do you have other motives?”

Zhou Cheng’s eyes flickered briefly before settling back into calm. “I understand your suspicion, but that’s not your concern.”

“You’ve passed the trial. Now you can stay and enjoy our protection or continue on your way. The choice is yours.”

Gao Yang didn’t answer immediately but glanced at Lin Xue before saying, “We need time to consider.”

Zhou Cheng nodded and gestured for them to leave. “Tell me your decision whenever you’re ready.”

Back at the camp, Lin Xue couldn’t hold back any longer. “Gao Yang, what do you think?”

Gao Yang dropped his backpack onto the floor and said coldly, “These people are untrustworthy. Their reason for wanting to destroy the Mother Nest sounds noble, but this data is too valuable. They might not risk it solely for everyone’s sake.”

Lin Xue nodded. “I feel the same. But what do we do next? Stay here or leave?”

Gao Yang thought for a moment, then said slowly, “We stay a few days, watch their movements. If they truly have ill intentions, we find a way to take this data with us.”

---

Lin Xue drew a deep breath, whispering, “But if we’re discovered, the consequences will be grave.”

Gao Yang stared out at the darkening sky, his voice calm but resolute. “This is the apocalypse. Danger is everywhere. But if we don’t uncover the truth, we’ll remain nothing but pawns controlled by others.”

No sooner had he spoken than a commotion erupted outside.

“What’s going on?” Lin Xue asked.

Gao Yang rose swiftly, pushing open the door and stepping outside. At the camp’s center, beneath the flagpole, several Alliance members were dragging a ragged man. His face was smeared with blood and dirt, evidence of recent torture.

“He’s a traitor!” someone shouted. “Tried to sell the data to rival factions!”

Zhou Cheng stood among the crowd, coldly watching the man, holding a pistol in his hand.

“Traitors have only one fate,” he said icily.

“Wait!” Gao Yang called out, stepping forward. “Maybe he still has information we need.”

Zhou Cheng turned to Gao Yang, a warning in his eyes. “This is our internal matter. You’d better not interfere.”

Gao Yang smiled coldly. “But your internal problems might affect all of us.”

Zhou Cheng’s gaze turned icy, yet he did not stop Gao Yang. He nodded reluctantly. “Fine. You have five minutes. If you don’t get anything useful, his life will be mine to deal with.”

Gao Yang crouched before the man, speaking softly, “What exactly are you trying to do?”

The man lifted his head weakly. “They won’t tell you the truth… This data isn’t just to destroy the Mother Nest… they want to use it to create… new zombies…”

Before he could finish, a gunshot rang out.

Gao Yang whipped his head around to see Zhou Cheng lowering the pistol, his voice cold: “Five minutes are up.”

Lin Xue stood at a distance, pale and shocked.

Gao Yang rose slowly, his gaze icy. “You killed him. Aren’t you afraid we’ll start doubting you too?”

Zhou Cheng smiled. “You can choose to trust us or walk away. But leaving here won’t come cheap.”