Chapter 186 Inferences and Speculations

Su Ze's gaze did indeed linger for a few extra seconds on Zhuang Xiaoxin's fair little face, which still had a hint of baby fat.

In his mind, he was still savoring the effect of the Bond named [Learning].

The strategic value of this new Bond was immeasurable.

However, to those watching, his slightly scrutinizing and contemplative look took on an entirely different meaning.

Zhuang Xiaoxin felt a bit flustered under his gaze.

Two patches of crimson quickly bloomed on her fair cheeks. She lowered her head nervously, her small hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Standing to the side, Jiang Yuwan took in the entire scene. Her cool eyes remained calm, but in her heart, she had already cursed Su Ze over a hundred times.

This dog man!

He just finished a major battle and he's already thinking about adding to his harem?

He can't take his eyes off such a cute and innocent Young Miss?

There are already so many beauties in the Dormitory!

Meanwhile, Su Ze was considering another point.

However, this involved a person who was already dead—Zhuang Qianhao, Zhuang Xiaoxin's older brother.

He had died fighting for Jinghai University and was his subordinate.

Now, he was turning around and planning to take his sister into the harem...

This did sound a bit inappropriate.

But that thought only lingered in Su Ze's mind for an instant before he cast it aside.

In post-apocalyptic survival, there wasn't room for so many scruples.

Countless women wanted to enter the gates of his Dormitory and become his woman, but never had the chance.

Moreover, the Bond system was his core secret. He couldn't give up a Bond with such immense potential just for the sake of someone's feelings.

He would find an opportunity later to take good care of her and her family.

That would be doing right by the deceased Zhuang Qianhao.

More importantly, the description of the [Learning] Bond effect specifically noted that it "cannot take effect during the rest period."

In other words, even if he activated the Bond now, he couldn't use it before the next game started.

This gave him plenty of buffer time to handle the matter.

Having thought it through, Su Ze no longer hesitated. He nodded to Jiang Yuwan and said, "It's nothing."

Just then, the Young Miss who had been keeping her head down seemed to summon a lifetime's worth of courage. She suddenly looked up and spoke timidly.

"Boss Su Ze... do, do you know my brother, Zhuang Qianhao?"

Her voice was very small, carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling and deep expectation.

Su Ze didn't have time to answer yet.

Not far away, An Lan's figure approached.

Behind her followed a large group of people. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a weathered face—it was Zhuang Yi.

Beside him were four men who also appeared to be members of the Zhuang family, along with three haggard-looking women.

They all bore injuries and looked extremely disheveled.

But at this moment, the look in their eyes as they watched Su Ze was filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and unmistakable gratitude.

"Dad!"

Zhuang Xiaoxin's eyes lit up when she saw Zhuang Yi. She gave a cry of surprise and joy, then hurriedly ran over.

Zhuang Yi patted his daughter's head, then took a deep breath and led his family members to stand before Su Ze.

Thud!

Without any warning, the eight people led by Zhuang Yi all knelt down before Su Ze in unison and gave him a heavy kowtow.

"Thank you, Boss Su Ze, for saving us! My Zhuang family will never forget this great kindness!"

Zhuang Yi's voice was hoarse, yet it resonated with heartfelt sincerity.

Su Ze's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't go to help them up.

In the apocalypse, receiving a bow was no big deal.

He simply looked at Zhuang Yi calmly, waiting for him to continue.

After finishing the kowtow, Zhuang Yi slowly stood up. He looked at his daughter, Zhuang Xiaoxin, who had thrown herself into his arms.

As she looked at him with a face full of anticipation, his eyes instantly turned red.

An indescribable sorrow emanated from the middle-aged man's eyes.

He opened his mouth, his voice incredibly strained.

"Xiao Xin... your brother..."

Zhuang Yi couldn't go on. He turned to look at An Lan nearby.

An Lan remained expressionless.

This was the news she had told them after rescuing Zhuang Yi and the others from the Taoyuan Residential Area.

With confirmation, Zhuang Yi's last shred of hope vanished.

He turned back, looked at his daughter's innocent and hopeful face, and finally spoke those cruel words.

"Your brother... is dead."

Boom!

To Zhuang Xiaoxin, those brief words were like a bolt from the blue.

The smile on her face instantly froze, and her wide eyes were filled with disbelief.

"No... that's impossible..."

Tears surged from her eyes like a flood bursting through a dam.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuwan sighed and stepped forward, gently pulling the instantly broken girl into her arms and comforting her silently.

The atmosphere of the entire scene suddenly became incredibly oppressive and sorrowful.

Just then, Su Ze's calm voice suddenly rang out.

"Actually, it's not certain that you'll never see him again."

As soon as he said this, the crying stopped abruptly.

Whether it was Zhuang Xiaoxin, Zhuang Yi, or all the Zhuang family members behind him, they were all stunned. They looked up at Su Ze in unison.

Meeting their shocked and confused gazes, Su Ze continued with a calm expression:

"Based on some information I've obtained, the types of monsters that appear in each round of this survival game are different."

"In the next round, Supernatural Entity-type monsters will appear."

"Since they are Supernatural Entities, it means that after a person dies, they might not completely disappear. Perhaps they will continue to exist in another form."

"As long as his consciousness hasn't been completely annihilated, then one day, there might be a way to restore him, or even... resurrect him."

Su Ze's tone was very calm, as if he were stating a fact.

Of course, ninety percent of these words were his own conjectures.

He was simply making an inference based on intelligence and the crazed ramblings of Liao Long before he died.

Since the opponent was a veteran player and monsters like Supernatural Entities were going to appear,

then his inference wasn't without reason.

And right now, this inference could serve as hope and motivation for the group of people before him.

"Resur... resurrect?"

Zhuang Yi's lips were trembling. He stared intently at Su Ze, his gaze like that of a drowning man grabbing onto a final piece of driftwood.

"Boss! Is what you're saying true? My son... does he really still have a chance?"

Not just him, but the men and women behind him also became excited.

"Then my wife..."

"And my younger sister-in-law..."

They thought of their other family members who had also died tragically at Liao Long's hands.

Su Ze looked at the rekindled hope on their faces and nodded with a smile.

Receiving Su Ze's affirmative answer, the members of the Zhuang family were beyond excited. Their grief was replaced by a thick sense of hope.

Zhuang Xiaoxin, who was being held by Jiang Yuwan, also slowly regained her composure.

She wiped away her tears and looked at Su Ze gratefully with her red eyes.

"Thank you... Boss Su Ze."

After speaking, she glanced at her father, Zhuang Yi.

Zhuang Yi immediately understood his daughter's thoughts and nodded without hesitation.

Zhuang Xiaoxin took a deep breath, as if she had made a firm decision.

She carefully took something out from her bosom and held it out with both hands to Su Ze.

"Boss Su Ze, this... is for you."

"This is a special item we found earlier. It's useless for us to keep it, but maybe... it will be of great use to you."