30: Chapter 30 All-out Resistance

By the time Wang Jie rushed back to the base, he was already exhausted to the absolute limit.

He stumbled down from the tank, his legs buckling as he nearly collapsed onto his knees. Lin Waner rushed over almost instantly, reaching out to steady him.

"Are you hurt?" She scanned him urgently, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Wang Jie shook his head, his breath weak. "I'm fine, just exhausted."

Lin Waner looked at the mottled bloodstains covering him, and her eyes instantly rimmed with red.

"You scared me to death," she whispered, her voice filled with lingering fear. "I really thought... you wouldn't make it back."

Wang Jie looked down at her, a surge of warmth in his heart, and suddenly reached out to pull her into a tight embrace.

Lin Waner was startled at first, but then she slowly raised her arms and hugged him back tightly.

The two of them embraced at the base entrance, completely oblivious to the gazes of the surrounding soldiers. Silence fell over the area; no one spoke to break this tender moment of survival.

After a long while, Wang Jie slowly released her.

"I need to make a trip to the Alliance Base," he said in a low voice. "They saved me; I must thank them in person."

Lin Waner nodded in agreement. "I'll go with you."

Wang Jie shook his head gently. "Stay and guard the base. Keep an eye on things here; I'll go alone."

Lin Waner looked up at him and gave a solemn nod.

"You must be careful."

Wang Jie forced a faint smile. "Don't worry, it's not a battle this time."

With that, he turned and boarded another Infantry Fighting Vehicle, speeding off toward the Alliance Base.

Inside the Alliance Base, there was a scene of intense activity.

The soldiers who had participated in the battle were taking the time to rest and reorganize. Some were bandaging wounds, others were carefully cleaning their firearms, and some were counting the remaining ammunition. Zhou Jianguo stood at the entrance of the command center; seeing Wang Jie from a distance, he immediately stepped forward to meet him.

"Young man, are you alright?"

Wang Jie quickly nodded in greeting. "Captain Zhou, I'm fine. Thank you so much for this time. If the Alliance hadn't intervened, I'm afraid I would have perished there today."

Zhou Jianguo waved his hand dismissively, his tone straightforward. "No need for formalities. We are partners, after all; helping each other is only right."

He paused, his expression suddenly becoming grave. "However, the trouble you've run into this time is no small matter."

Wang Jie was slightly taken aback, a look of confusion on his face. "Trouble? What do you mean by that?"

Zhou Jianguo sighed softly, his gaze deep. "Do you know why those zombies suddenly gathered on such a large scale?"

Wang Jie frowned and shook his head.

Zhou Jianguo looked at him with a complex expression and spoke slowly. "It's all because of that Backup Laboratory—it hides secrets left behind by the Academy of Sciences. Those zombies were intentionally drawn there."

Wang Jie's heart jolted, his face filled with shock.

"Drawn there?"

Zhou Jianguo continued to explain, "The Academy of Sciences' research was far more than just genetic modification. They were also secretly developing Zombie Control Technology. In that backup lab, a Special Device was installed that could emit signals at specific frequencies to forcibly attract and gather zombies."

Wang Jie's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

"What is the status of that device now?"

Zhou Jianguo shook his head. "Its exact whereabouts are unknown. But since the zombie tide has dispersed, the device has likely been destroyed."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming even more serious. "But this matter has already alerted the powers above."

Wang Jie's brow furrowed deeper. "Above?"

Zhou Jianguo nodded solemnly. "There is a mysterious organization that has always been secretly investigating the remaining research of the Academy of Sciences. Their code name is—Ark."

"Ark."

This was the first time Wang Jie had heard the name, but a strong premonition rose in his heart: this unfamiliar code name was destined to be long entangled with his fate.