49: Chapter 49 The Price of Steel 2

4:37 AM, the second-floor office of the East Suburb Gas Station.

Commander Lin Dong stood by the window, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the window frame, making a dull "thump-thump" sound.

Outside the window, five Conscripts were conducting pre-battle preparations in the open space in front of the gas station; their movements were uniform, as if they had been carved from the same mold.

On the cot behind him, Li Na's face remained pale.

After the blood transfusion, her vital signs were clearly displayed on the panel: 【Blood pressure 90/60, heart rate 92, blood oxygen saturation 94%, still requires 24 hours of rest】.

"Company Commander." A low voice sounded outside the door.

Commander Lin Dong did not turn around: "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and the one who walked in was the Conscript with the highest panel data among the five—【ID: DB-001, Lv.3, HP 300, Strength 14, Agility 12, Spirit 8, Constitution 15】.

The system displayed his name as Zhang Lie, but Commander Lin Dong was more accustomed to calling him 001.

"Ammunition inventory complete." 001 handed over a handwritten list, the handwriting as neat as printed text, "347 rounds of 5.56mm rifle ammo, 120 rounds of 7.62mm machine gun ammo, 2 grenades, 1 smoke grenade, 1 directional mine."

Commander Lin Dong took the list and his gaze swept over it.

The data automatically converted in his mind: 【347 ÷ 5 ≈ 69 bursts, 120 ÷ 200 = 0.6 minutes of machine gun fire, effective kill radius of grenades 15m, can cover approximately 706㎡】.

Not enough. Far from enough.

According to the ore detector, the energy reaction gathering in the direction of the Iron Mine was intensifying.

From last night until now, the frequency of roars coming from that direction had increased by 30%, which meant that either a new horde of zombies had joined, or a Mutant was evolving.

"What about the gas station resources?" Commander Lin Dong asked.

"8.7 tons of gasoline, 12 tons of diesel. The convenience store food inventory is complete; calculated for 7 people, it can last 23 days." 001 paused, "But most of it is puffed food and beverages, lacking a source of protein."

Commander Lin Dong nodded, his gaze shifting to the oil tanker outside the window.

The yellow body of the vehicle was covered in rust, but the tire pressure was normal, and the fuel gauge showed two-thirds of the diesel remaining.

A plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Five minutes later, Commander Lin Dong stood in front of the oil tanker, his palm pressed against the cold metal surface.

The panel automatically popped up the data:

【Dongfeng Oil Tanker】

Model: EQ5250GYY

Total mass: 25000kg

Tank volume: 25m³

Current fuel load: 16.5 tons of diesel

Armor thickness: 4mm steel plate for the tank, 1.2mm for the cab

Status: Engine normal, tire wear 67%

4mm steel plate. Commander Lin Dong calculated; this thickness could not stop rifle bullets, but for the claws and teeth of zombies, it was enough.

"What does the Company Commander want to do?" 002 walked over; his panel data showed his specialty was 【Mechanical Repair】.

"Turn this vehicle into a mobile bunker." Commander Lin Dong pointed at the oil tanker, "Weld angle steel around the tank, hang wire mesh to create an anti-climbing layer. Install firing ports on both sides of the cab, and build a machine gun nest on the roof."

002's eyes lit up: "I need materials. Angle steel, wire mesh, welding machine..."

"There is a car repair shop behind the gas station." 001 suddenly spoke, "I saw it when we arrived; the rolling door was closed, but there were no bloodstains at the entrance."

Commander Lin Dong looked at 001. The latter was expressionless, but a glimmer flashed in his eyes... what was it? Commander Lin Dong couldn't quite put his finger on it; it was something an ordinary soldier shouldn't have—initiative.

Were the units summoned by the system really just tools without thoughts?

This thought existed for only a second before being suppressed by reality.

"001, take 003 and 004 to the repair shop to collect materials. 002, stay behind and study the modification plan with me. 005..."

He looked at 005, who was guarding the entrance of the gas station, the Conscript whose panel showed 【Specialty: Reconnaissance】: "Maintain vigilance, report immediately if there is any situation."

"Yes!" Five voices sounded at the same time, neat enough to be reassuring.

The repair shop was two hundred meters to the east of the gas station, the rolling door half-closed, with a pitch-black gap in the doorway.

001 made a gesture, and 003 and 004 immediately split to both sides, their guns aimed at the entrance.

003 took a glow stick from his waist, cracked it to light it, and rolled it into the gap of the door.

The green light illuminated the scene inside: a van jacked up on a jack, several scattered tires, walls covered in tools, and two corpses on the ground.

【Data Analysis in Progress... Time of death for the corpses is approximately 60 hours, fatal wound is tearing of the neck, probability of turning into a zombie 97.3%】

001 made a fist in front of his chest—stop advancing. Then he pointed to his own ear, and then pointed inside the door.

The three of them held their breath.

Three seconds later, a slight friction sound came from inside the door, as if something was crawling on the ground.

003 held up three fingers—three targets.

001 nodded, extended two fingers, pointed at himself and 003, then made a fist and swung it forward—you two go, I'll provide cover.

003 gently lifted the rolling door, and the door hinge made a slight "creak" sound.

As soon as the sound stopped, a black shadow darted out from the gap in the door!

It was a zombie, but the panel data made 001's pupils shrink:

【F-Class Mutant (Speed Type)】

Lv.3

HP 200

Movement speed 7.5 m/s

Threat rating: E

Fast! Too fast!

But 001's movements were faster. He didn't raise his gun, but instead directly sidestepped, letting the zombie's pounce pass, while his right leg swept horizontally, hitting the zombie's knee joint squarely.

【Hit Judgment: Strength 14 vs Weight 75kg, Success】

The zombie lost its balance and fell forward. 003's muzzle was already pressed against the back of its head—

"Bang!"

The gunshot exploded on the street in the early morning, startling a group of crows in the distance.

【Killed F-Class Mutant, gained +15 energy points】

More intense movement came from inside the door. 001 and 003 quickly retreated to the sides of the door, and 004 took a grenade from his chest and looked at 001.

001 shook his head, pointed to the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall, and then made a twisting motion.

004 understood immediately, rushed in, pulled down the fire extinguisher, pulled the safety pin, and sprayed violently into the door.

White dry powder instantly filled the entire repair shop, and the growls of zombies and violent coughing sounds came from inside—yes, zombies could also cough; their respiratory tracts had not yet completely rotted away.

"Now!" 001 shouted in a low voice.

The three of them stormed in simultaneously, their muzzles searching for targets in the white smoke.

The panel's thermal imaging function was activated, and three red humanoid outlines were clearly visible.

Three gunshots rang out almost simultaneously.

【Killed F-Class Zombie × 3, gained +30 energy points】

The smoke dissipated, and the interior of the repair shop was a mess.

Two corpses wearing work clothes lay in a pool of blood, and there was another one that was female; judging by her attire, she might have been a customer who came to fix her car.

003 stepped over the corpses expressionlessly and began to inventory the tools. Welding machine, angle steel, wire mesh, and two large tanks of acetylene and oxygen.

"Enough," 003 said.

001 was about to speak when his gaze suddenly froze—on the workbench in the corner, there was a walkie-talkie, and the red indicator light was flashing.

That was signal reception status.

Someone was listening.

At nine in the morning, the sun had completely risen, but the sky was gray, as if covered by a layer of dirty gauze.

The modification of the oil tanker had begun.

002 wore a welding mask found from the repair shop, the welding torch in his hand spitting blue flames, welding angle steel onto the sides of the tank one by one.

003 and 004 were weaving wire mesh, using iron wire to fix the barbed wire mesh between the angle steels.

【Modification progress: 12%... 17%... 23%...】

Commander Lin Dong stood on the side, holding the walkie-talkie in his hand.

The indicator light was still flashing, but no matter how he called, there was no response from the other side.

"Could it be that the battery is running out?" Li Na had come downstairs at some point, her face still pale, but her eyes were much clearer.

"No." Commander Lin Dong pointed to the signal strength bar, "Full bars. The other party is listening, but not speaking."

"Could it be other survivors? Afraid of us?"

"It's possible." Commander Lin Dong pressed the talk button, "This is the East Suburb Gas Station. We are survivors, we have weapons, we have food. Please reply if you receive this, we will not harm you."

Silence.

Commander Lin Dong waited for ten seconds and put down the walkie-talkie.

"Maybe..." Li Na was about to speak when the walkie-talkie suddenly made a harsh static sound, followed by intermittent speech:

"...zz... save... us... zz... at... the east... Iron Mine... zz... help..."

Signal interrupted.

Commander Lin Dong immediately pulled up the data from the ore detector.

In the direction of the Iron Mine, the energy reaction had increased again ten minutes ago, and now it showed:

【Energy level: B-, estimated number of units: 300-500, high-risk units: 1-3】

"Li Na." Commander Lin Dong's voice was very calm, "You stay at the gas station and be responsible for radio monitoring."

"But..."

"This is an order." Commander Lin Dong looked at 002, "How much longer for the modification?"

002 took off the welding torch and wiped the sweat on his face: "Two hours for the main structure, three hours for reinforcement and firing ports, five hours in total."

It was now 9:17 AM, and five hours later would be 2:17 PM.

"It must be completed before dark." Commander Lin Dong said, "Tomorrow at dawn, we go to the Iron Mine."

At 11 PM, the oil tanker modification was completed.

【Modification completion: 94%】

Tank anti-climbing layer added × 8 layers

Cab firing ports added × 4

Roof machine gun nest × 1 (compatible with 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun)

Front bumper reinforced into a bulldozer shovel structure

Commander Lin Dong walked around the vehicle, his fingers tapping on every weld point. 002's craftsmanship was very good; the weld seams were uniform, with no porosity.

"Company Commander, are we really going tomorrow?" 005 asked suddenly.

Commander Lin Dong looked at him; there was no fear on the scout's face, just pure curiosity.

"We must go." Commander Lin Dong said, "We need the Iron Mine to start the mining field; only with a mining field can we build more units, and only then can we survive."

"But there are hundreds of zombies there." 005 said, "We only have six people."

"Six people is enough." Commander Lin Dong pointed to the oil tanker, "This vehicle is loaded with 16.5 tons of diesel; do you know what that means?"

005 shook his head.

"It means that if it explodes, it is equivalent to 8 tons of TNT equivalent." Commander Lin Dong's tone was as if he were discussing today's weather, "It can flatten half a football field."

005's eyes widened.

"So tomorrow," Commander Lin Dong patted the body of the oil tanker, "we are not going to fight a war, we are going to deliver a package."

At 2 AM, Commander Lin Dong woke up.

Not awakened by sound, but by the panel's prompt:

【Warning! Abnormal energy fluctuation detected in the northeast direction, distance 12km, moving westward, speed approximately 30km/h】

Northeast direction? That was the opposite direction of the Iron Mine.

Commander Lin Dong rolled out of bed and walked to the window.

The sky in the northeast was faintly glowing red, as if something was burning.

The walkie-talkie suddenly rang; this time it wasn't a cry for help, but a hoarse, intermittent chanting, like a hymn for some religious ceremony.

Then, a clear voice came through:

"The iron monster... rises from the ground... the blood-red dawn... is about to descend..."

Signal interrupted.

Commander Lin Dong looked at the panel, the movement speed of that abnormal energy fluctuation suddenly accelerated: 【45km/h... 60km/h... 80km/h...】

Then, it disappeared.

As if it had never existed.

But Commander Lin Dong knew it had existed. Because 001 and the others had also woken up, five people standing in the open space in front of the gas station, their gazes looking toward the northeast, silent as five statues.

"Company Commander." 001 spoke, his voice a bit hoarse, "In that direction, something is calling to us."

"Calling you?"

"Not with sound." 001 turned his head, a look of confusion appearing in his eyes for the first time, "It's with... code. It's as if the underlying system has been triggered."

Commander Lin Dong's heart sank. He remembered the "initiative" 001 had shown earlier, and remembered the system prompt 【Conditions for unlocking hidden technology tree】.

The Red Alert system was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

At dawn, the strange phenomenon in the northeast had disappeared without a trace, as if everything last night was an illusion.

But on Commander Lin Dong's panel, that warning record was still there, that string of movement speed data was still there, and that vanished coordinate point was still there.

Li Na had already woken up; she was staring at the walkie-talkie, her face paler than yesterday: "That recording last night... I analyzed it. The voiceprint features show it was three people, two men and one woman, aged between 20 and 35. In their voices... there is fear, but also piety."

"Piety?" Commander Lin Dong frowned.

"Just like..." Li Na searched for the wording, "Just like the piety of medieval peasants when they saw a miracle."

Commander Lin Dong did not speak. He pulled up the system panel and looked at the two task options:

【Main Quest: Establish a mining field, distance to target 9km, estimated enemies 300-500, recommended troops: 10+】

【Hidden Quest: Investigate abnormal energy source, distance to target 12km, energy level unknown, recommended troops: unknown】

001 walked to his side: "Company Commander, where should we go?"

This question was very light, but the weight was heavy. Six people, one modified oil tanker, two targets, one clear but dangerous, one unknown but weird.

Commander Lin Dong did not answer immediately. He closed his eyes, letting all the data flow through his mind: the direction of the Iron Mine, the number of zombies, the TNT equivalent of the oil tanker, the energy curve in the northeast, that weird chanting, the "code calling" that 001 spoke of...

Then, he opened his eyes and made a decision.

【End of Chapter】