38: Chapter 38 The Hidden Price

The air in the underground garage was filled with a mixture of engine oil, blood, and gunpowder smoke.

Commander Lin Dong leaned against a load-bearing column, pressing his left hand against the wound on his right arm.

Shrapnel had grazed his biceps, carving out a three-centimeter-long gash, and the pain only made his mind clearer.

On his personal panel, a line of small red text was flashing:

【 HP: 87 / 100 】

【 Status: Mild blood loss, combat effectiveness reduced by 7% 】

"Company Commander!" A Conscript ran over quickly, his face under the steel helmet covered in sweat. "The criminals have retreated, leaving behind eleven corpses. We captured two alive."

Commander Lin Dong nodded, his gaze passing over the Conscript's shoulder to land on the silver-gray heavy truck twenty meters away.

The base vehicle.

To be precise, it was the base vehicle that had deployed to 67% progress before being forcibly interrupted.

At this moment, it was in a bizarre state—the front half had completed its physical projection, its heavy alloy armor plates gleaming coldly under the dim emergency lights of the garage; however, the rear half remained suspended in the void, with countless fine energy patterns flickering in the air like the nerve endings of some massive creature twitching.

【 Red Alert Outpost Base vehicle (Deploying) 】

【 Current progress: 67% 】

【 Status: Deployment interrupted 】

【 Warning: Deployment interrupted for over 4 hours will trigger energy regression, resulting in a 30% loss of consumed resources 】

4 hours.

Commander Lin Dong calculated rapidly. It took 47 minutes to repel the criminals. Cleaning up the battlefield, treating the wounded, and re-establishing defenses would take at least another 2 hours. The time was barely enough, but only if there were no further interruptions.

"Company Commander!" Another voice came from the direction of the garage entrance; it was another Conscript. "Comrade Li Na has been shot!"

Commander Lin Dong's pupils constricted. He sprang up instantly and strode towards Zone B of the garage.

Li Na was leaning against the side door of a military off-road vehicle, her face as pale as paper. Her left hand was pressed tightly against her right shoulder, with fresh blood constantly seeping through her fingers. A small pool of dark red blood had already gathered at her feet.

Commander Lin Dong crouched down and placed his hand on her carotid artery—the pulse was weak, but it was there.

"Bullet penetration wound, it didn't stay in the body." He quickly checked the wound, his voice as calm as if reporting tactical data. "But it hit the suprascapular artery. The blood loss..."

He glanced at the ground, and a stream of data flashed in his pupils.

【 Estimated blood loss: 1400-1600 ml 】

【 Remaining safe time: 12-15 minutes 】

"Company Commander..." Li Na's lips moved, her voice so weak it was barely audible. "The base... the base vehicle..."

"Shut up and save your strength." Commander Lin Dong didn't look back and ordered the Conscript beside him, "Where is the Medic? Do we have a Medic?"

The Conscript's panel data unfolded in his field of vision:

【 Conscript 003 】

【 Lv.3 】

【 HP: 300 / 300 】

【 Equipment: ak-47 assault rifle / Magazine ×6 / Grenade ×2 / Bulletproof vest 】

【 Special ability: None (No medical skills) 】

Five Conscripts, all purely combat units.

Commander Lin Dong's fingernails dug almost into his palms. This was his mistake—the Barracks had just been built, and he was eager to acquire combat power, so he chose the most standard Conscripts. He had forgotten that in the apocalypse, besides bullets, one also needed hemostats and blood plasma.

"Company Commander, there is an infirmary in Zone B3 of the garage." Another Conscript suddenly spoke up. "I saw it during the search earlier; there's a red cross hanging on the door, but it's locked."

"Lead the way."

Commander Lin Dong scooped Li Na up. She was lighter than he imagined; the blood loss was causing her body temperature to drop. Commander Lin Dong could feel her heartbeat transmitting through her thin tactical vest to his chest—fast and weak.

Zone B3 was at the very bottom of the underground garage. Most of the emergency lights here had gone out, and only dim lights spaced thirty meters apart barely outlined the contours. The air was filled with a damp, musty smell, mixed with a faint scent of blood.

The infirmary door was an old-fashioned security door, and the red cross emblem was particularly conspicuous in the darkness. Commander Lin Dong gently set Li Na down, leaning her against the wall, and then raised his foot—

"Bang!"

The first kick deformed the door frame, but it didn't open.

"Bang!"

The second kick sent the latch flying, and the door swung inward.

"Find hemostatic bandages, blood plasma, and antibiotics." Commander Lin Dong ordered while carrying Li Na into the infirmary and placing her on the examination bed.

The Conscripts quickly rummaged through the medicine cabinets. Commander Lin Dong tore open Li Na's tactical vest and used scissors to cut the clothing at her shoulder. The wound was exposed—a coin-sized penetration wound where the bullet had entered from the front and exited from the back, bringing with it a small piece of shattered bone.

【 Injury assessment: Scapula mildly fractured, suprascapular artery ruptured 】

【 Surgery difficulty: B-Class 】

【 Required conditions: Hemostat / Sutures / Blood plasma / Antibiotics 】

"Company Commander, found them!" A Conscript ran over carrying a pile of items—hemostats, gauze, sutures, and even two bags of freeze-dried blood plasma.

"Saline, quickly."

Commander Lin Dong took the hemostat and took a deep breath. He had learned battlefield first aid in the military and had even personally treated three arterial ruptures—but those were in field hospitals, with shadowless lamps, professional equipment, and comrades holding down the wounded.

Now, he only had a pair of blood-stained hands and a group of standing-guard Conscripts.

The hemostat probed into the wound. Li Na's body shuddered violently, and she let out a suppressed groan.

"Hold her down."

Two Conscripts stepped forward and held Li Na's shoulders and waist tightly. Cold sweat seeped from Commander Lin Dong's forehead, but his fingers were as steady as a precision instrument. The data stream in his field of vision updated in real-time—

【 Blood vessel position deviation: 2mm 】

【 Clamp angle: 37° 】

【 Success rate: 84% 】

"Click."

A slight sound. The hemostat precisely clamped the ruptured blood vessel. The bleeding stopped instantly.

Commander Lin Dong did not stop; he flushed the wound with saline, sutured, bandaged, and then hung the blood plasma. The entire process was smooth and fluid, as if he had done it a thousand times.

When the last stitch was finished, he realized his back was soaked with sweat.

【 Li Na · Status update 】

【 HP: 42 / 85 】

【 Blood loss: Controlled 】

【 Status: Unconscious / Receiving blood transfusion 】

【 Estimated recovery time: 4-6 hours 】

"Leave two people to watch over her." Commander Lin Dong stood up and glanced at the wall clock. "Check her blood pressure and pulse every fifteen minutes. Call me when the plasma transfusion is finished."

"Yes, Company Commander."

Commander Lin Dong walked out of the infirmary, his steps suddenly stopping.

At the end of the corridor, the thin man wearing glasses was looking back at him.

That was one of the members of the criminal gang. Commander Lin Dong remembered him—throughout the entire battle, this person had barely fired a shot, just hiding in the back, staring fixedly at the base vehicle with his eyes. Now he was mixed in with the fleeing criminals, running wildly toward the garage exit.

Their gazes collided in the air.

The next second, the man disappeared around the corner.

Commander Lin Dong did not pursue. His intuition told him that this person was more dangerous than all eleven corpses put together. But Li Na was still receiving a transfusion, and the base vehicle was still deploying; he could not leave.

"003." He called out to the Conscript beside him.

"Present."

"Remember that person's face. Report it the first time you see him again."

"Yes!"

Commander Lin Dong returned to the base vehicle. The deployment progress was still stuck at 67%, and those energy patterns were a bit dimmer than before.

【 Remaining time: 3 hours 47 minutes 】

He leaned against the load-bearing column, finally having time to open the system panel and carefully examine the notification that had flashed by earlier.

【 Base Log 】

【 14:37:22 - Encountered attack from hostile unit, deployment interrupted 】

【 14:37:25 - Detected special energy fluctuation 】

【 14:37:26 - Unlocked hidden tech tree condition: 1 / 5 】

【 14:37:26 - Fluctuation source analysis: Individual within hostile unit (Locked) 】

Commander Lin Dong frowned.

Special energy fluctuation? Hidden tech tree?

He enlarged the log and clicked on the details of 【 Fluctuation source analysis 】.

【 Analysis Report 】

【 Target characteristics: Human male, age 35-40, height 172-175 cm 】

【 Energy type: Unknown (Does not belong to existing database) 】

【 Energy intensity: E-Class 】

【 Energy characteristics: Possesses the ability to briefly interfere with the base system 】

【 Note: This individual released a directional interference pulse during the base vehicle's deployment, causing the deployment process to temporarily stagnate. If not for the combat interruption, the interference effect would have lasted 17 seconds. 】

Cold sweat broke out on Commander Lin Dong's back again.

17 seconds.

If this person was not a fugitive, but a spy from some faction; if his energy intensity was not E-Class, but C-Class or even B-Class; if he had launched the interference after the base vehicle was fully deployed—

The consequences would be unimaginable.

The Red Alert base is most vulnerable during deployment. If the core program is interfered with, the best-case scenario is a loss of resources, and the worst-case scenario is permanent damage to the tech tree. This man with glasses almost destroyed all his trump cards.

【 Mission update: Track unknown energy source 】

【 Difficulty: C+ 】

【 Reward: Hidden tech tree progress 1 / 5 】

【Prompt: The target is currently "Severely Injured", movement speed reduced by 40%, tracking success rate increased.】

Severely injured.

Commander Lin Dong recalled the battle just now. He hadn't hit the man, but shrapnel from the grenade might have injured him. If he pursued him now, with the mobility of the Conscripts and his own tracking skills from his days as a scout, he had a 70% chance of catching him.

But Li Na was still unconscious. The base vehicle still needed 3 hours and 47 minutes to complete its deployment. The perimeter defense of the garage had not yet been fully established.

Commander Lin Dong clenched his fists, then relaxed them.

"004, 005." He called over two Conscripts. "Go out and scout. Follow the route the criminal took and look for bloodstains. If you find the target, do not engage. Track him, record his location, and then return to report."

"Yes!"

The two Conscripts quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Commander Lin Dong leaned back against a load-bearing pillar and closed his eyes. His brain was working at high speed, replaying everything that had happened in the past hour.

The timing of the criminal group's appearance was too coincidental.

They arrived just as the base vehicle began to deploy. There were over a dozen entrances to the underground garage, yet they happened to choose the one closest to the base vehicle. After the battle started, the man wearing glasses barely participated in the attack, instead hiding in the back and staring at the base vehicle.

This was not a normal robbery.

This was a targeted attack.

The problem was, how did they know there was a base vehicle here? Only he knew about the system binding. Although the projection of the base vehicle made quite a commotion, it was confined to the underground garage. Unless—

Unless that person could also see the system panel.

Commander Lin Dong's eyes snapped open.

This possibility made him feel cold all over. He had always thought he was the only Awakened one, the only "Chosen One". But if the man with glasses could also see the data, and even interfere with the system—

"Company Commander!"

004's voice came from the direction of the garage entrance, filled with suppressed excitement. He ran over, his face under the steel helmet flickering in the emergency lighting.

"Found him! The man passed out in an alley three streets away. His left leg has a large gash from shrapnel, and he's bleeding everywhere. There are no zombie hordes or accomplices nearby."

Commander Lin Dong stood up.

【Remaining time: 3 hours 32 minutes】

【Round trip time: approximately 25 minutes】

【Risk: Medium】

He glanced in the direction of the infirmary. Li Na was still receiving a blood transfusion, guarded by two Conscripts; she was safe for the moment.

"004, lead the way."

The distance of three streets would have taken only two minutes by car before the apocalypse. Now, on foot, it would take ten minutes to cross streets filled with abandoned vehicles and scattered zombies.

Commander Lin Dong and 004 moved quickly along the base of the wall. His right hand rested on the type 92 pistol at his waist, the safety already off. In his field of vision, data on zombies flashed by every few seconds—

【F-Class Zombie · HP · Facing: Away】

【F-Class Zombie · HP: 112 · Distance: 27m · Facing: Front · Target Detected】

【Warning: Target is approaching!】

Commander Lin Dong raised his hand, and the suppressed pistol made a soft "pfft" sound. A flower of black blood burst from the center of the zombie's forehead 27 meters away, and it fell silently.

【Kill +1】

【Energy Points +2】

The two continued forward.

The man wearing glasses lay at the end of a dead-end alley. Just as 004 had said, there was a deep wound on his left leg, and blood had stained his entire pant leg dark red. He leaned against the wall, his glasses crooked, his chest rising and falling weakly.

Commander Lin Dong approached and aimed his muzzle at the man's forehead.

The man's eyelids twitched, and he opened his eyes. The moment he saw Commander Lin Dong, his pupils contracted, and then he actually revealed a faint smile.

"You... still came."

His voice was hoarse, but his tone was surprisingly calm, as if he had anticipated this moment long ago.

Commander Lin Dong did not lower his gun: "Who are you?"

"Me?" The man coughed twice. "My name is Chen Mo. Before the apocalypse, I was a researcher at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, specializing in quantum field theory. And you? A former soldier?"

"Answer my question. How did you know about the base vehicle?"

Chen Mo's smile deepened, revealing blood-stained teeth: "Because I can see it too."

Commander Lin Dong's finger rested on the trigger.

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous." Chen Mo raised his hands. "I'm not with those criminals. I was captured by them; they needed someone who understood electricity to help them open a bank vault. I was just... taking the opportunity to escape."

"You interfered with the base vehicle."

"Yes." Chen Mo did not deny it. "Because I wanted to see you."

Commander Lin Dong's brow furrowed even tighter.

Chen Mo continued, "When I saw that thing project out of the void, I knew you weren't an ordinary Awakened one. Your system is far more advanced than mine. My system only allows me to see some vague energy fluctuations, but your system can create matter—that is power only gods possess."

"What is your talent?"

"Observation, nothing more." Chen Mo gave a bitter smile. "I can see energy, especially abnormal energy. The fluctuations released by your base vehicle during projection were as bright as a bonfire in the night to me. Those criminals were just moths attracted to the fire, but I... I am the one who wanted to see the fire."

Commander Lin Dong was silent for a few seconds, the muzzle still not lowered.

"Why did you interfere with it?"

"To prove it to you." Chen Mo looked straight into his eyes. "To prove I have value. If I can interfere with your system, it means your system is not invincible. If it was me today, tomorrow it could be someone else, and the day after, someone even stronger. You need someone to study this, to study the essence of this energy, to study how to protect it and how to utilize it."

He paused and pointed to his own chest: "And that person should be me."

Commander Lin Dong stared at him for a long time.

On his panel, Chen Mo's data was being displayed—

【Chen Mo】

【Lv.2】

【HP: 23/68 (Blood loss status)】

【Talent: Energy Perception (E-Class)】

【Description: Can perceive abnormal energy fluctuations within a 500-meter radius, and can perform weak interference on specific energy sources.】

【Threat Rating: D-】

D-, almost no threat.

But Commander Lin Dong did not lower his guard because of this. D- is for now, but who knows what it will become in the future?

The roar of zombies came from afar, getting closer. The scent of blood was starting to attract a horde.

Commander Lin Dong put away his gun, pulled a roll of tourniquet from his waist, and tossed it at Chen Mo.

"Bandage yourself."

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "You made a wise decision."

"Don't be happy too soon." Commander Lin Dong turned around, his voice cold. "If you show any sign of abnormality, I will kill you with my own hands. 004, take him."

The Conscript stepped forward and lifted Chen Mo up, as if lifting a chick.

The three walked back. In the darkness behind them, the roars of the zombie horde were getting closer and closer.

When they returned to the garage, 2 hours and 41 minutes remained.

Commander Lin Dong threw Chen Mo into a corner, told 004 to watch him, and went to check on Li Na. Her complexion was a bit better than before, the blood transfusion was finished, and her breathing had stabilized.

【HP: 58/85 · Stable】

Commander Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief.

He returned to the base vehicle and leaned against the load-bearing pillar. For the next two-plus hours, he had to guard this place without stepping away. Chen Mo's words echoed repeatedly in his mind—

"Your system is not invincible."

Indeed, it wasn't.

If someone could interfere, someone could destroy, someone could seize—

He looked up at the base vehicle. Those energy patterns were dimmer than before, but they were still stubbornly flickering, bit by bit completing the process of deployment.

【Remaining time: 2 hours 34 minutes】

Just as he was preparing to close his eyes and rest for a few minutes, the system suddenly popped up a new prompt—

【Special energy fluctuation detected · Source: Unknown】

【Fluctuation characteristics: Similar to the sample captured 17 minutes ago, but intensity increased by 300%】

【Distance: Approximately 2.7 km · Direction: East-Southeast】

【Warning: This energy source is approaching rapidly!】

Commander Lin Dong stood up abruptly.

2.7 kilometers, approaching rapidly.

That wasn't Chen Mo. Chen Mo was right there in the corner, on the verge of death.

This was another one.

A stronger person.

His gaze crossed the dim space of the underground garage and landed on the eastern wall. Behind the wall was the unknown approaching from 2.7 kilometers away.

【Remaining time: 2 hours 32 minutes】

【Enemy situation: Unknown】

【Force: 5 Conscripts + 1 severely injured person + 1 unconscious injured person + 1 unfinished base vehicle】

Commander Lin Dong's thumb rubbed against the safety of his pistol, and a cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

Good.

Just in time to test whether the first batch of bullets from this Red Alert Outpost Base are hard enough.

【End of Chapter】