Chapter Sixty-Four: Pressing On

And precisely because of this, the laboratory was preserved amid controversy and opposition. However, even when results were achieved, they never saw the light beyond these walls.

As a result, the researchers stationed here became increasingly lax, and their output dwindled. Aside from a handful of committed personnel, most simply went through the motions, leaving the lab frequently deserted.

At this point, Zhang Desen continued, “Our luck isn’t entirely rotten. All we need to do is, after we’re done with this mission and withdraw from here, plant more explosives and blow this place up.”

“Agreed!” everyone responded in unison.

Now, according to the original plan, the team prepared to leave a contingent behind and began to unlock the laboratory door, ready to rush out and head straight for the command center of the Fearmen’s mountain base.

But just as they were about to open the door, a clamor of hurried footsteps echoed from outside. It sounded as if a large force was maneuvering, drawing ever closer to the lab entrance.

Zhang Desen was startled but instantly snapped to action, directing everyone to take defensive positions and prepare for battle. A fierce confrontation seemed imminent.

As the footsteps grew louder, tension mounted among Zhang Desen and his companions—the closer the footsteps, the closer the fight. Soon, the noise halted right outside the laboratory door.

Yet, to their surprise, the footsteps did not stop; instead, they passed by the entrance, moving swiftly from left to right, then faded into the distance.

Everyone glanced at each other, bewildered and a little unsettled. Zhang Desen pondered for a moment and realized it might not be so strange after all—they hadn’t done anything to trigger an alarm.

With this in mind, Zhang Desen immediately contacted the guards stationed at the corridor entrance, who were monitoring the computers. “Entrance, entrance, this is Zhang Desen. Do you read me?”

Zhou Yongli’s voice came through the communicator. “Zhou Yongli here, Young Master, your orders?”

Zhang Desen shuddered, still unaccustomed to being addressed this way. There was an unbridgeable gulf between him and these men. Li Longfang, beside him, commented, “Desen, it’s just the custom here. Don’t dwell on it.”

Zhang Desen considered this and agreed—when in Rome. Besides, there were more pressing matters. He continued, “Comrade Yongli, can you see our position on your computer?”

“Yes, Young Master,” Zhou Yongli replied. “According to the map, you just need to open the door and proceed forward. After a short distance, you’ll reach a passage going both up and down. Go up several levels, and you’ll find a place that seems important to the Fearmen—it’s specially marked.”

“Good, understood. Is there anything unusual in the vicinity? We just heard a lot of footsteps pass our door. Can you tell me what’s happening around us?”

“Oh, Young Master, let me check… wait… Yes, there is something…”

Zhang Desen pressed, “What is it? What’s going on?”

“It appears,” Zhou Yongli replied, “that there are many Fearmen who look like civilians in your area. They seem to be trying to enter your sector but are being blocked by another group who look like soldiers. The two sides are at a standoff, which could persist for a while.”

“Understood. Over and out,” Zhang Desen responded, then switched off the communicator. He turned to Li Longfang and the others. “This is an excellent cover for us—a rare opportunity. We must act decisively. Ignore everything else and proceed as planned. Move out!”

“Yes!” came the resounding reply.

Immediately, the group executed the plan: some stayed behind to hold their position while Zhang Desen, Li Longfang, and the rest burst through the laboratory doors, advancing toward what was likely the command center of the Fearmen’s mountain base.

...

Meanwhile, inside the command center of the Fearmen’s mountain base, Chief of Staff Dadu Kur was watching the evolving situation with growing anxiety. Suddenly, a guard burst in, startling him. “What’s got you so rattled?” Dadu Kur scolded. “Don’t do that again!”

The guard apologized. “Sorry, Chief of Staff, but I have an urgent report…”

Dadu Kur snapped, “What military news is ever truly urgent? Out with it!”

“It’s like this,” the guard began. “Our communicator picked up a strange signal—they’re speaking a language we don’t understand…”

“Is it another alien transmission? From the Sirius sector again? That happens all the time.”

“No…”

“Then what is it? Something from underground?”

“Actually… yes…”

“We’re already underground. How much deeper could it be? Where exactly?”

“It’s within our base, and it sounds like a human language.”

Dadu Kur was taken aback. “Impossible… Wait, none of the captured human specimens have escaped, have they?”

“We’re not sure. We suddenly lost contact with the specimen sector, so we thought—”

“That’s enough. I don’t want excuses. Send reinforcements to the specimen sector immediately. Everything must be secured. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

...

After some effort, Zhang Desen and his group reached the staircase leading to the command center. The stairs were much like those built by humans, but, like the Fearmen’s uniforms, they exuded a futuristic aura.

Little did they know, they were drawing close to a meeting with Chief of Staff Dadu Kur—unless he was abruptly called away. What would happen during this encounter? And could they escape the Fearmen’s mountain base safely after completing their mission?

But let us not dwell on idle speculation. Zhang Desen and his team climbed the futuristic staircase without hesitation. Along the way, they took several Fearmen guards by surprise, dispatching them swiftly. Perhaps the Fearmen, preoccupied, hadn’t paid attention to the stairwell, even though surveillance cameras were installed throughout.

Zhang Desen had noticed the cameras—small, but present—yet chose to ignore them. His sole focus now was to reach the command center as quickly as possible, to finally uncover the truth behind the Doomsday Weapon. Without this knowledge, resistance would be futile.

With this urgency, Zhang Desen, Li Longfang, and more than forty of their loyal followers accelerated their advance toward their goal.

Of course, even in chaos, someone would eventually notice. In the command center, Dadu Kur was closely monitoring the situation. He watched as civilians and military police clashed outside the command building, his expression grave.

The situation was spiraling out of control. If things didn’t stabilize soon and the Coastal Base sent investigators, not only he, Dadu Kur, but even Chief Goba Xiaofu’s position would be at risk.

For now, all he could do was watch. Yet, as if sensing something amiss, Dadu Kur suddenly switched the monitors to the stairwell—and was shocked to see humans ascending.

He immediately summoned a guard. “What is going on? Humans have made it inside the command building! What are you all doing?”

The guard stammered, “Humans? That’s impossible…”

“Come here and see for yourself.”

Obeying, the Fearman guard approached the screen and exclaimed, “Impossible! Chief of Staff, we’ve seen no specimens escape the specimen sector!”

Dadu Kur barked, “No matter how it happened, mobilize forces to block them. Surely you can handle so few?”

The guard replied, “Chief of Staff, we have no available troops.”

“What? How is that possible? Where is our entire standing force?”

“Our main strength was dispatched to deal with the monsters. Then, as citizens tried to break in for shelter, more were sent to maintain order. Chief Xiaofu took another contingent to the Gekur Base. We lost contact with the specimen sector and sent troops to investigate. There are barely any left, Chief of Staff.”

Dadu Kur cried out, “What? Heaven itself conspires against me… No, I refuse to go down so easily. How many do we have left?”

“No reserve units remain. If we all take up arms, maybe just over twenty.”

“Fine! All of us. Bring me a fully charged thermal radiation gun. We must defend the command center at all costs!”

“Yes, sir!”

Swiftly, under Dadu Kur’s command, a squad of just over twenty Fearmen prepared for battle. Zhang Desen and his men pressed forward relentlessly.

Zhang Desen now realized their earlier ease had been due to the chaos outside. But surely, a fight awaited them at the top—the Fearmen would never leave their command center undefended.