Chapter 11 G-City Base

Wang Xin started the car quickly. With a "screech...", it shot forward, leaving the mass of pursuing zombies behind...

The car raced down the road. Along the way, they could see zombies emerging in twos and threes from side paths, but they quickly vanished from sight...

Su Xiaomu sat alone in the very back, surrounded by food and other supplies. He curled up, head bowed low, eyes shadowed and contemplative.

The air inside the car carried a faint scent of blood. Every face was tense, an oppressive atmosphere filling the vehicle.

Time passed indeterminately. The car gradually left the city limits, and zombies became almost non-existent. Lush green trees lined both sides of the road.

"Screech...!" The car suddenly braked hard, emitting a piercing sound. Everyone jolted, instantly alert, scanning their surroundings. Finding nothing amiss, they relaxed slightly.

"Out!" Zhang Yi got out from the passenger seat, his voice icy as he addressed the people in the car.

The others got out without a word, lips pressed tight. Before the apocalypse and after, all they could rely on was themselves or trusted comrades...

Su Xiaomu stood in line with them, head lowered, staring at his dirty sneakers and the crushed grass beneath his feet...

"I don't want there to be a next time!" Zhang Yi started immediately. "I'd rather feed you to the zombies myself than see comrades plotting against each other!" His rigid face radiated a cold, fierce aura.

"Anyone who wants out, speak now... I'll release you immediately..." Seeing no one spoke, Zhang Yi stated firmly.

"No one talking?! Then I'll say it again: I never want to see anything like that happen again!" Zhang Yi's gaze swept past Zhao Sheng, finally landing on Su Xiaomu.

"The rest of you, get back in the car. Su Xiaomu, come with me!" Zhang Yi turned and walked towards a nearby dead tree...

Su Xiaomu followed him. He knew exactly what this man would say, feeling no particular resentment.

Zhang Yi leaned against the tree trunk, arms crossed. "Su Xiaomu, I don't care what grudges exist between you, but..." He paused before continuing, "When we're on a mission, don't pull any more stunts, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Captain, shouldn't you be saying that to your team member?" Su Xiaomu, who had been looking down, suddenly raised his head. His jet-black eyes, bright and piercing, met Zhang Yi's.

Seeing Zhang Yi's cold stare, Su Xiaomu continued, "I nearly got bitten by a zombie back there. Captain understands what that means, right?" Having said that, Su Xiaomu turned and walked straight back towards the car.

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest appearing in his eyes. The young master of the Su family... Before the apocalypse, he was a useless wastrel everyone despised, a playboy everyone scorned. After the apocalypse, how had he managed to survive safely on his own for half a month? Were the rumors exaggerated, or was the youth before him exceptionally good at hiding?...

The G-City Base was located not far from the suburbs. As the car approached its entrance, they could see dense layers of barbed wire fencing the perimeter. Occasional flashes of light hinted at the lethal voltage running through it...

Wang Xin stopped the car, got out, and handed something over. The gatekeeper opened the wire mesh, allowing them to enter smoothly. This was only the outermost perimeter, not yet the actual base.

Su Xiaomu remained unwelcome. Even though there was some low conversation in the car, no one spoke to him. He didn't care, instead observing the terrain and defensive capabilities.

Admittedly, G City was a high-tech hub. The base before him had multiple layers: the first was electrified barbed wire, the second consisted of sharpened metal blades, roughly head-height, gleaming silver in the sunlight, clearly designed to impede zombies. Tall concrete structures rose from the open ground, their walls solid except for sparse windows.

Su Xiaomu watched as Wang Xin handed over a large portion of their food before the car was finally allowed inside...

"Such ignorance!" Zhao Sheng, seeing Su Xiaomu's look of surprise, sneered contemptuously.

"The G-Base isn't large, and G City has a huge population," Luo Jiahui, the taciturn one, explained in his brief way. "When the apocalypse hit, only some people—those with power or ability—could take refuge here, but they had to exchange a certain amount of food for entry."

"If you want to survive here, you have to prove your worth..." He finished just as the car stopped...