Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 1171 - 50: Escaping to Heaven (645 monthly votes, additional release)

Chapter 1171: Chapter 50: Escaping to Heaven (645 monthly votes, additional release)

"Ouch!" Tang Zheng took a sharp breath of cold air. Only after the crisis was resolved did he begin to feel pain all over his body, including a burning sensation that was intensely uncomfortable.

"You didn’t get touched by that monster, did you?" Seeing that Tang Zheng had no wounds directly made by the zombies, the man with short hair praised him again, patting his shoulder, "Don’t worry, you won’t get infected."

"Let’s go," Tang Zheng said urgently to the policeman, while also deliberately showing weakness.

"Right, I don’t want to stay here another second," Susan said, nearly developing a psychological shadow, feeling suffocated at the sight of the cables and wildly dancing blue electric arcs.

The man with short hair and the policeman took on the role of pioneers. It took them ten minutes, but the five of them carefully made their way through the Power Zone, reaching the central area of Section Nine.

According to the map, the route was strewn with zombies and human corpses. While Tang Zheng and his group were fighting the monsters, the French Group Leader Lebaye had already arrived with a fake virus strain, confronting other forces. Though seriously injured, he managed to escape.

Tang Zheng’s group arrived towards the end of the battle; there was not much left for them to do.

"This is good. We’ll work harder on the next mission!" Tang Zheng reckoned that there were many teams that failed to complete their missions, so the punishment shouldn’t be too severe. He was not seriously injured but had many minor wounds and needed to recover.

Tang Zheng had blown up the Hydrogen Production Room, destroying one-sixth of the electrical equipment and power lines. The laboratory’s voltage became unstable, flickering on and off, and could go out any moment, plunging them into darkness. They did not dare to delay and hurried on their way.

There were three ways to the surface: first, the elevator, which no one dared to take; second, the stairs, which Tang Zheng vetoed as he wouldn’t want to waste his limited energy on traveling.

"Then we can only take the commuting car. If the power goes out, it won’t be dangerous. Worst case, we walk!" The policeman, who had arrived this way, referred to a vehicle like a subway carriage, which could carry twenty people at a time.

Five minutes later, everyone arrived at the waiting room and saw the carriage parked on the tracks. It was painted in an ugly shade of green with the logo of Anlanke Company.

"Are we really taking this?" Susan looked apprehensive, noting the numerous bullet holes and shattered glass. One side of the carriage was even caved in, clearly having been struck by something heavy.

"You can choose to walk up instead." The door was jammed due to the deformation of the carriage and couldn’t be pulled open, so the policeman simply climbed in through the window. "Hurry up, I’m starting the car."

Susan had just stepped onto the window frame when she screamed. Inside the carriage, there were over a dozen zombie corpses, all mangled and reeking of blood.

Tang Zheng hopped in, choosing a spot one-third from the front, next to a window. This was the safest position, leaving enough time to react to any emergencies.

"Hey, we’ve fought together. What’s your name?" The man with short hair asked, running his fingers through his hair and slicking it back into a pompadour as he looked at the blond policeman operating the commuting car.

The policeman pressed the start button. An antenna on top of the carriage connected to the circuits above and, after emitting some sparks, the power was on. Pulling up the brake, the carriage began moving.

"Hey, didn’t you hear me talking?" The man with short hair was dissatisfied at being ignored, "That’s very rude of you. Even if you won’t tell me your name, at least take off the gas mask so we can have a look. Are you hiding an ugly face or something?"

The policeman ignored the man with short hair’s attempt to provoke a reaction and leaned back in his seat, removing the gas mask to reveal a handsome visage with slightly long blond hair and bangs covering one eye. He smiled charmingly at the man with short hair then took out a cigarette and lit it.

Exhaling a smoke ring, the policeman closed his eyes lazily, enjoying the moment of tranquility.

The operation of the commuting car was simple, requiring no control because the computer program took care of everything, even maintaining a constant speed.

"Show-off," the man with short hair said, eyeing the handsome blond policeman with envy. He glanced at Tang Zheng and noticed he was also good-looking, with an upright stature, perfect physique, and an aura of quiet confidence.

Susan’s gaze shifted between the two men, weighing their appeal. She thought that either would be the envy of her friends if he became her boyfriend.

Tang Zheng watched the policeman, furrowing his brows. The man bore a strong resemblance to Leon from the Biohazard series, who was also an unlucky policeman entangled in the crisis of Raccoon City. However, unlike that rookie, this one was highly experienced in combat and appeared to be somewhat older.

"Leon, it’s nice to meet you, friend!" Leon, with a cigarette between his lips, approached Tang Zheng and extended his right hand.

"Tang Zheng!" Tang Zheng shook Leon’s hand, a little surprised at the name. Could this guy also be a character from the plot?

Tang Zheng wanted to ask for some information, but unfortunately, Leon was tight-lipped.

"How are you going to get back?" Yuliya was more concerned about this, worrying about encountering other policemen, as everyone was still essentially enemies.

"I don’t know," Leon shrugged his shoulders, looking somewhat helpless and disappointed.

A hush fell inside the carriage as each person contemplated their fate once they reached the surface.

After killing a rare monster, which was likely to drop a Star Seed or some rare equipment, it’s just too bad the raging fire in the power zone has made it impossible for Tang Zheng to sweep the battlefield, which really frustrated him.

Unknown to Tang Zheng, the Trojan had added a thousand points and a Golden Seed to his evaluation as the group leader for killing the monster.

"The first stage of the mission has ended, and the second stage has begun. Please, survivors, evacuate Chicago within one hour."

The sudden announcement from the Trojan startled him, and he warily looked around before relaxing, noticing that no one else seemed to have heard it. However, his brows quickly furrowed again, deeply enough to almost trap a crab.

"One problem after another, is Trojan trying to kill us all on purpose?" Tang Zheng was super frustrated. Not to mention the difficulty of getting back to the hotel in time, it was almost certain that those who had not come to the laboratory would not wait for him and would have left early. Probably by now, having heard the announcement, they were already in a heated argument.

This game was designed to test the comprehensive strength of the group leaders, as well as to compete for the tickets to the Holy Land; hence the survival of the newbies was of no concern to Trojan. They were merely weights for measuring the leaders’ abilities. Not just Tang Zheng, but all group leaders were at this moment away from their teams, facing the same dilemma.

Before coming to the laboratory, the Trojan had given the newbies the choice to select on their own, as a test of the leaders’ coordination abilities. However, since none succeeded, it forcibly chose for them, and the relationships were divided: oppositional, neutral, and supportive. The ones who remained were of similar mixed relationships.

The Trojan provides opportunities, and if the survivors do not make choices in time, then the outcomes it forces upon them are certainly harder. This is the rule.

If the group leader had not communicated well with others, had not attracted some followers, or had threatened others with violence, then they would inevitably be abandoned. And in this game, without the newbies, the difficulty for the sole group leader would multiply significantly.

Every group leader was on tenterhooks, cursing the Trojan while rushing back to their hideouts as quickly as possible.

"Tang, I heard an instruction, what should I do? Will they abandon me?" Susan sat down next to Tang Zheng and tugged at his sleeve, asking softly. Her face was filled with deep worry, showing her complete bewilderment.

"I don’t think so," Tang Zheng sighed inwardly. After all, Susan was not part of his team, and she was still thinking of returning. Moreover, thinking of how she had only cared for her own life back at the processing area’s platform, he decided not to help her anymore.

"Don’t worry, you’ll be fine," Tang Zheng said, stroking Susan’s hair, but his thoughts were wandering elsewhere, "Should I kill her? After all, she knows a lot about me. Wait, maybe this can be utilized as well; planting a spy in her team might not be a bad idea..."

As the commuting cars moved along, Tang Zheng considered how to deal with Susan. Meanwhile, the newbies staying at the hotel were having a fierce argument because of him.

The Trojan’s announcement had been delivered to all survivors promptly, causing the unsettled newbies to become extremely anxious.

People’s adaptability varied; those who could adjust in time had a higher chance of survival. Despite being conceited and disdainful, Li Wenbo had excellent qualities and was among the quickest to regain composure.

"Everyone pack up, we’re ready to evacuate," Li Wenbo said without any intent of deliberating with others, and he immediately issued orders. He then walked over to the window to peek at the situation on the main street.

During the time Tang Zheng and his group were away, the virus spread further, carried by creatures like rats and flies, infecting more people—soldiers included. Along the edge of the city wall, more than a dozen corpses had been abandoned, creating a tense atmosphere that was close to boiling over.

"The whole city is filled with zombies, and there are soldiers outside. How can we leave?" Cao Rongxuan was eager to leave this cursed place, but he needed a foolproof plan.

Most of the newbies also hoped to leave, looking towards Li Wenbo.

Li Wenbo was speechless, not having given it any thought, and the hopeful gazes turned into disappointment.

"We find someone to negotiate with them. There’s always a way," Li Wenbo quickly tried to compensate upon sensing the shift in the mood.

"Who will go?" Cao Rongxuan and Li Wenbo exchanged glances, both looking toward the middle-aged Ding Jian.

Ding Jian, a cunning old fox, didn’t want to draw trouble upon himself and was about to change the subject when Zhao Dongtao interjected.

"Are you planning to leave Tang Zheng and the others behind?" Zhao Dongtao asked bluntly, "Isn’t that a bit too selfish?"

"What do you mean selfish? What does their mission have to do with us? They’re just unlucky to have been chosen by the Trojan, that’s all," Xiao Hu retorted, siding with Li Wenbo.

"What about Dong Zixuan, your female colleague? You’re not waiting for her either?" Zhao Dongtao snorted coldly, turning to the other newbies, "Don’t forget, neither of them was chosen; they volunteered to go out."

.......

PS: I can’t hold on any longer; I’ve been sitting in front of the computer all day, my eyes hurt, I need to rest. Keeping my spirit up is the only way to write a good plot,

I haven’t forgotten about the extra updates; judging by this speed, I’ll be able to complete them soon. Lastly, I humbly ask for monthly ticket support, thank you! (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian with your recommendation and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)