Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

The next morning, before dawn, Staff Officer Chen had already packed up and was ready to depart.

He stood at the entrance of the barracks, and soon two soldiers arrived in a tracked vehicle.

Just as I was about to board the train, I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

"Old Chen!"

Song Jiangtao strode up and blocked his way.

"Would you like me to come with you today?"

Staff Officer Chen glanced at him and shook his head.

"Never mind. There shouldn't be any danger over there." He paused. "Your mission today is pretty urgent. You need to clear out the zombies along the route to the wildlife park. We can't do without you."

Song Jiangtao didn't respond to that. He was silent for two seconds, then suddenly said, "I think you can take He Jun with you."

Staff Officer Chen was taken aback.

"He Jun? That S-rank lightning-type He Jun?"

"right."

"He's a key member of your team clearing zombies," Staff Officer Chen frowned. "If we let him come with me, won't the situation on the front lines become even more precarious?"

Song Jiangtao shook his head.

"Old Chen, you're going there to discuss cooperation."

He stared into Staff Officer Chen's eyes and spoke slowly, word by word.

"We can't let our reputation be tarnished."

Staff Officer Chen remained silent.

Song Jiangtao continued, "Sometimes, when it comes to cooperation, if the difference in strength is too great, it's impossible to reach an agreement. It's not that we can just talk whenever we want; we have to make the other party feel that we are qualified to talk."

"The enemy reportedly has a large number of S-class units." Staff Officer Chen gave a wry smile. "What's the point of sending just one?"

"At least we have it." Song Jiangtao's voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable weight.

"If we don't have any at all, it will be even harder to negotiate. Bringing He Jun along will at least let the other side know that we also have high-end combat capabilities. Even just one will have a deterrent effect."

Staff Officer Chen remained silent for a while.

He recalled what Commander Peng had said yesterday: "Let's talk first and see what his attitude is."

Attitude is never something that can be determined unilaterally.

"...Now that He Jun is gone, what will happen to your operation? Will it be hindered?"

"It shouldn't be a big problem."

Song Jiangtao grinned: "Our greatest advantage has never been individual ability, but discipline and teamwork. Now that we have enchanted weapons, many of our brothers have also reached Tier 3. Zombies of this strength shouldn't be a problem."

Staff Officer Chen looked at him.

a long time.

"Okay." He nodded. "Then I'll take He Jun with me."

He Jun was quickly summoned over.

Standing at 1.9 meters tall, he resembled an iron tower. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He was wearing a slightly thin winter coat.

"Commander." He stood at attention and saluted, his voice deep and resonant.

Staff Officer Chen explained the situation in detail.

He Jun simply nodded after listening, his face expressionless.

"Understood." Just three words.

Looking at this face, Staff Officer Chen suddenly understood why Song Jiangtao had recommended him.

This person doesn't talk much, but just standing there is a sentence in itself.

Just as they were about to set off, another figure caught up from behind.

"Staff Officer Chen!"

Tang Xiaoran was a little out of breath from running, her face covered with a thick mask, only her eyes were visible.

She wore a thick winter coat underneath and an oversized military overcoat on top.

"I heard you're going to the Mountain and Water Garden?" Her eyes lit up. "Can I come with you?"

Staff Officer Chen was taken aback.

"What are you going to do?" Tang Xiaoran blinked. "I want to go and see what it's like."

Staff Officer Chen remained silent for two seconds.

Since leaving the Fire Seed Shelter, Tang Xiaoran has been engrossed in her research and hasn't really gone out to see what's going on outside.

This trip is just to discuss cooperation, there shouldn't be any danger. It's good to take her out for a walk to relax.

"Okay." He nodded. "Follow me, but don't wander off."

Tang Xiaoran's eyes narrowed into crescents. The bitter cold of the apocalypse was indeed unbearable, and the reputation of the Mountain and Water Garden was extremely high. She really wanted to go and see it for herself.

A group of five.

Staff Officer Chen led the team, with He Jun and Tang Xiaoran, two soldiers responsible for driving, quickly boarding the vehicle.

The tracked vehicle roared to life, rolled over the snow, and slowly drove out of the camp.

They traveled along the same transportation route they had previously cleared with the Chang family. The tracked vehicle moved slowly, and after more than two hours, they arrived at the official shelter in Yangcheng.

Through the car window, Staff Officer Chen's gaze fell on the doorway.

The plaque that once read "Guangzhou Official Shelter" is no longer there.

Instead, a newly made wooden sign, with somewhat illegible handwriting, prominently reads "Dawn Shelter".

Tang Xiaoran also saw the plaque through the car window and paused for a moment.

She recalled some unpleasant things. Just a few days ago, she and her father had been under house arrest here for many days.

"They changed their name?" The voice held a complex, indescribable tone. "The Chang family no longer wants to use the 'official' name?"

Staff Officer Chen glanced at her.

This girl stays cooped up in the lab all day, oblivious to what's going on outside; she probably doesn't know what's happening.

He shook his head, then nodded.

"As expected," he said. "You're always hiding in the lab, you probably don't know—the Chang family is gone."

Tang Xiaoran's eyes widened in surprise.

"Gone?" she blurted out almost immediately. "When did that happen?"

"yesterday."

Staff Officer Chen gazed at the brand-new plaque outside the window and stated calmly:

"And it's the place we're going to today—the leader of the Mountain and Water Garden, Lin Chen, who is dry."

Tang Xiaoran was stunned.

Before she could ask, Staff Officer Chen gave her a brief account of the matter.

Tang Xiaoran listened, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.

She recalled the days she was under house arrest, and the night before she was rescued. If her father hadn't arrived in time, she probably would have fallen victim to Chang Hao's cruelty.

"This Lin Chen is not bad." She suddenly smiled slightly, her eyes crinkling, and she was even more looking forward to the trip.

Staff Officer Chen looked at her.

"To kill someone is to destroy their spirit," Tang Xiaoran said, her tone filled with barely suppressed satisfaction. "This is even more gratifying than killing Chang Chengye outright."

She paused, then added:

"Where's that bastard Chang Hao? Is he dead or not?"

Staff Officer Chen shook his head.

"His whereabouts are unknown. Some say he was taken away by Lin Chen's men."

Tang Xiaoran remained silent for a while.

"That would be even better," she said, her voice lowering as if she were speaking to herself. "For someone like that, just killing him would be too easy."

The tracked vehicle continued forward.

Before long, a relatively complete complex of buildings made up of countless shipping containers came into view.

We've arrived at the Shanshui Garden's residence.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the camp, Staff Officer Chen was stunned by the scene before him.

Countless snowmobiles were leaving the shelter, heading in all directions. Their bodies were covered with a thin layer of snow, and the roar of their engines rose and fell like an expeditionary force.

Further away, there were even more survivors—some riding homemade sleds, others walking in small groups, following behind the snowmobiles, making their way towards the city.

Staff Officer Chen squinted.

The scene was much larger than he had imagined.

Their tracked vehicles drove in the opposite direction, their military green paint standing out starkly against the gray and white backdrop. The crowd at the entrance turned to look, some stopping in their tracks, others whispering amongst themselves, their gazes filled with curiosity, wariness, and a complex mix of emotions.

The tracked vehicle was parked steadily not far from the gate.

Staff Officer Chen took a deep breath and opened the car door.

"Get off the bus."

He Jun, Tang Xiaoran, and two other soldiers followed behind. The five of them trudged through the snow to the gate.