28: Chapter 28 Coping Strategies

The small building was very quiet outside, with no signs of human activity. The doors and windows were closed, and the walls were covered in vines, making it look as if no one had visited for a long time.

But the radar showed life signals inside.

More than one.

"Snipers, take the high ground," Wang Jie said in a low voice. "The rest of you, follow me in."

Two Snipers quickly climbed onto the nearby factory building and set up their rifles.

Wang Jie led the others as they crept toward the entrance of the small building.

The door was locked, but that kind of lock was no match for a Gene Warriors. Unit 01 stepped forward, grabbed the doorknob, and gave it a forceful twist—the entire lock was snapped off.

The door opened.

Inside was a corridor; it was very dark, with only a faint glimmer of light at the far end.

Wang Jie made a gesture, and the team entered in single file.

There were doors on both sides of the corridor with labels on them: Sample Storage Room, Data Analysis Room, Gene Cultivation Room... Every name was unsettling.

They reached the end of the corridor, where there was an iron door standing ajar.

The faint light was coming from inside.

Wang Jie listened intently; someone was speaking inside.

It was very quiet, making it impossible to hear what was being said.

He gestured to the Gene Warriorss. Unit 01 and Unit 02 stepped forward together, pushed the door open violently, and rushed in.

A cry of surprise came from inside, followed by a brief silence.

Wang Jie walked in.

It was a large room filled with various experimental equipment. Several people in white coats stood in the corner, hands raised, their faces full of terror.

One of them was an old man in his sixties with graying hair and thick glasses.

He froze for a moment when he saw Wang Jie, then asked:

"Who are you?"

Wang Jie looked at him and suddenly asked, "Are you Chen Jianguo?"

The old man's pupils contracted slightly.

"You know me?"

Wang Jie nodded. "Chief Scientist of the Academy of Sciences. I've been looking for you for a long time."

Chen Jianguo remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

"It seems what was meant to come has finally arrived."

He lowered his hands and said to the people behind him, "It's alright, they're not King Kong's people."

The others lowered their hands as well, but their eyes remained wary.

Chen Jianguo looked at Wang Jie. "Are you from the Alliance?"

Wang Jie shook his head. "No. I'm independent."

Chen Jianguo was stunned for a moment. "Independent? Just you?"

Wang Jie pointed to the soldiers behind him. "Not just me."

Chen Jianguo looked at the heavily armed soldiers, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"These people... are they all your soldiers?"

Wang Jie nodded.

Chen Jianguo was silent for a while before saying, "Young man, you are quite extraordinary."

He pointed to a nearby chair. "Sit down and let's talk. I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

Wang Jie sat down and looked at the old man.

He knew that what he was about to hear might change everything.

Chen Jianguo's story was long.

He said that the Academy of Sciences was indeed a secret national research institution studying human genetic modification technology. When the apocalypse virus broke out, they were researching a serum to enhance human immunity. But the virus leaked, infected the test subjects, and then spiraled out of control.

He said the "new human project" was a task assigned by the higher-ups with the goal of creating super soldiers. But they didn't expect this project to turn into a disaster.

He said that the person called "K" was the liaison for the higher-ups. After the apocalypse, he disappeared, but the Academy of Sciences continued to receive instructions from him. Those instructions became increasingly insane and inhumane.