Chung Hong's idea of finding out the headquarters' location from the liaison had completely fallen through.
She hadn't expected them to rely on satellite phone contact.
She had thought of many methods.
But now it seemed that those methods were clearly not going to work.
"Are you looking for Trinh Thien Hao for something?" Chung Hong asked casually.
"Ahem." The liaison coughed, "It's none of your business. You really shouldn't ask too much."
Chung Hong said, "You're looking for Trinh Thien Hao, so you must have a matter for him to handle. Now that he's dead, your matter still needs to be handled. In that case, you might as well tell me."
The liaison looked at Chung Hong, lowered his head, ran his fingers through his hair, and thought about it carefully. It seemed to make a lot of sense.
"The organization needs some Awakened to test a new serum."
"What serum?"
"How would I know that?"
"What a pity. I've always acted alone and have no subordinates. You'll have to find someone else for this."
Chung Hong spread her hands, helpless. At the same time, she wondered who the liaison would look for next. Besides those few, there was probably no one else.
She also couldn't be sure whether the liaison knew the location of the headquarters or not.
...
Mutator Headquarters.
A group of people were gathered together, discussing the news that the liaison had just relayed back.
This news was like a clap of thunder, a direct explosion that left this group of researchers completely dumbfounded.
At least, they had never imagined such a situation would occur.
"We must get him. He is a very perfect research subject. If we can decipher the secrets within, we can create the strongest creature."
"I agree. To be able to plunder an Awakened's ability just by gnawing on them is too miraculous."
"I think the most terrifying part isn't the plundering. Fusion-type zombies can already gain abilities by devouring their own kind. But this guy, when he devours an Awakened with the same ability, he can actually enhance his existing ability. This situation is extremely incredible."
"Where are we going to find him? The area is too vast. It's no different from looking for a needle in a haystack."
"That's true, but no matter how difficult it is, we have to find him."
Everyone present, thinking of such an existence, revealed a greedy look.
In the bodies of Awakened who had become Mutators, they had discovered a longevity factor that was stronger than that of ordinary people, capable of rapidly repairing DNA, and so on. All of this allowed them to see the hope of a long life.
And for anyone, longevity was an irresistible temptation.
At this moment.
The crisp sound of footsteps came.
The researchers' expressions grew slightly solemn, and they straightened their sitting postures.
The number two figure of the headquarters had arrived.
Don't be fooled by the fact that she was a woman. She was extremely ruthless. Everyone in the headquarters knew that no one dared to offend her. Upon her arrival, the meeting room became extremely quiet.
Even if a needle fell to the ground, it could be heard clearly.
The number two woman walked to the front of the table, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone present. The researchers who were seen by this gaze felt very unnatural, as if they were being stared at by some kind of fierce beast.
"The organization has two matters to handle recently."
"First, the death toll of the twelve perfect Mutators is too high, and there is a serious shortage. We need to replenish with new perfect Mutators. I'll leave this matter to you to handle. Is there any problem?"
The widow who was looked at by the number two woman couldn't help but straighten up and hurriedly nodded, "No problem. We have already sent liaisons to look for suitable candidates."
The number two woman nodded, "The second matter is to find Kim Phu Thien with all our might. No matter what, we must find him."
Clearly, Kim Phu Thien's appeal was extremely high.
Everyone knew it would be very difficult to find him, but no one voiced the difficulties. After all, in their view, if the matter wasn't difficult, she wouldn't have let them do it.
They never thought that even after the apocalypse descended, they would still be working stiffs.
At this moment, a researcher said, "If we find him, how should we capture him? With his own ability, I don't think even a perfect Mutator would be his match."
The number two woman said, "Inform Thoi Tieu Phi. Let him make a move."
Thoi Tieu Phi was their headquarters' top Mutator. His own level of evolution naturally went without saying, powerful to the extreme.
...
Two days later!
Hoang City Sunshine Shelter.
"How have you been lately?" Lam Pham didn't expect Thu Hai to actually come. It seemed he was still thinking about those few children in his heart.
Thu Hai said, "I'm fine, nothing for now. I haven't found any information about the headquarters yet, but yesterday, the headquarters sent out a message for us to find Kim Phu Thien."
When he learned about Kim Phu Thien's situation, he was very shocked.
He didn't expect such a terrifying figure to exist.
This ability of his was simply too abnormal.
"It seems it's just as I thought. They are coveting Kim Phu Thien's ability and probably want to capture him for research," Lam Pham said with a smile.
The purpose of him recording Kim Phu Thien in the "Zombie Illustrated Guide" was to tell everyone that this guy was extremely dangerous, and that those with hope in their hearts must not be deceived by him.
And the Mutator organization would definitely be full of interest in Kim Phu Thien.
If the organization's headquarters really found Kim Phu Thien, there would definitely be a battle. In his view, it would not be that simple to capture Kim Phu Thien.
At that time, they would definitely make a perfect Mutator make a move, and then Chung Hong or Thu Hai would surely inform him of his location.
Then he would eliminate Kim Phu Thien and inject new hope into the apocalypse.
Just thinking about it made him feel that this method was very good.
Thu Hai said, "Are Tieu Khong and the others doing well? I want to see them."
His feelings for the few children were very deep.
When he was outside, he was always thinking about how they were living in the shelter, whether they were unaccustomed to anything.
Of course, he certainly hadn't thought that they would be bullied here. He had great faith in Lam Pham, and also in the survivors in the Sunshine Shelter.
"They are doing very well. I'll have someone inform them that you're here," Lam Pham said with a smile.
As he finished speaking, a cheerful cry came from the distance.
"Prince Brother..."
"Prince Brother..."
He saw the children running over excitedly from the distance. Not just the five of them, but also other children, among them a little brother who looked to be only four or five years old, with snot hanging down to his lips.
When Thu Hai heard them shouting "Prince Brother," his mood was naturally very good, but this title... he said awkwardly, "Being called this in public still feels a bit strange."
"It's not strange. It's a great title. The prince of an alien Royal family," Lam Pham said.
Thu Hai: ...
Was this a joke, or was he being serious?
In an instant.
The children all gathered around.
"Brother Tieu Khong, is he the alien prince you were talking about? Why does he look the same as us? His head isn't big at all."
"That's right, that's right! Are you lying to us?"
The children who had followed along looked at Thu Hai curiously.
After Tieu Khong and the others came to the Sunshine Shelter, they got along well with the other little friends, and also secretly told them that they had an alien Royal prince as their big brother.
He had come to our galaxy from another star system.
He would have to go back in the future.
Hearing these words, the children's mouths were wide open, their eyes wide, their big eyes full of curiosity. They even thought they also wanted to have a relationship with the prince of the Royal family of a certain star, so they accepted Tieu Khong as their big brother, hoping that he could take them along in the future.
Tieu Khong argued, "It's not fake! Prince Brother is an alien prince!"
"Really? You'd better not be lying to us, or we won't accept you as our big brother."
"That's right, that's right!"
"But this alien looks so ordinary."
Tieu Giai: "Brother Tieu Khong isn't lying to you. It's true."
Tieu Quy: "Our prince brother is super powerful! He can transform!"
Tieu Ky: "Prince Brother said he would make me an alien Royal princess in the future."
A group of children chattered and argued.
On the side, Thu Hai blinked. A crow flew over his head, cawing. His identity as an alien prince was completely established. He could even sense the curious and somewhat fawning gazes of the other children.
They wanted to establish a relationship with him, the alien prince.
But seeing Tieu Khong and the others getting along so harmoniously with the other children, he was also relieved.
The Sunshine Shelter had brought them a normal life, which was what he had hoped for the most in the apocalypse.
A carefree life.
No need to worry about being awakened by zombies in their sleep.
Thinking back to when he stepped into Hoang City, he had a feeling of being stared at. Only later did he discover that there was actually a terrifying Creator in Hoang City.
Just when he thought something was about to happen, an old man appeared in front of the Creator.
This shocked him greatly.
A Creator and a human living in peace?
The old man told him that this was his son, which shocked him so much that he couldn't even say a word.
After learning everything, he also returned to normal, and at the same time, was even more at ease with the Hoang City Sunshine Shelter. This level of safety was really too high. Who could possibly bring danger to Hoang City?
Lam Pham let the five children go for a walk in the farming park. They should be given some of their own space. Thu Hai's purpose in coming here was to play with the children for a bit.
Because he bore the kindness of the children's parents, and even more so, in getting along with them, he had developed a deep affection for these children.
Like a brother, like a father.
...
Farming Park.
Thu Hai held the children's hands. The sunlight enveloped them, and the scene looked extremely warm.
"Prince Brother, can you not go?"
The children looked at their prince brother. They really didn't want their prince brother to leave this place. When they saw their prince brother, they were very, very happy, as if their parents who had been away from home for a long time had returned.
Thu Hai stroked their heads and revealed a smile, "Have you forgotten what I came to the galaxy for?"
Tieu Quy: "To protect the galaxy."
Tieu Ky: "To travel."
Tieu Phuong: "To eliminate the bad guys in the galaxy."
Tieu Giai: "Just to find us."
Only Tieu Khong didn't answer. Although he was still a child, he understood a lot. He knew that his prince brother was not an alien, but he liked his prince brother to be an alien.
Thu Hai's gaze fell on Tieu Khong, then he said slowly, "It's very dangerous outside now. There are many people who need your prince brother to save them, so I can't stay here all the time. Can you understand?"
"Oh... we can understand."
The children were pure and kind. Hearing that their prince brother was going to save more people, they all felt proud of their prince brother.
"What do you all do here every day?"
Thu Hai changed the subject, wanting to understand the children's lives a little more. His greatest hope was that the children lived well, lived a life full of hope, without hunger, without fear.
As long as these could be achieved.
Then the few brothers and sisters in heaven could also rest in peace.
In the past, I was protected by you. No matter what, even if my bones are crushed, I will protect your children.
Tieu Khong said, "Every morning, Auntie Ly prepares porridge and fried dough sticks for us. Then we go downstairs and can get some delicious bread from Sister To's bakery. Then we go to school. The curriculum is very interesting. We learn the 'Zombie Illustrated Guide,' how to pick locks, simple wound dressing, vegetable planting, lots and lots of things. It's a particularly interesting curriculum."
Hearing Tieu Khong say this, Thu Hai could imagine how wonderful their lives were.
"What about in the afternoon?"
When Tieu Khong heard about the afternoon, he couldn't help but drool, "Lunch at noon is not fixed. The uncles and aunties are all especially enthusiastic. Sometimes we eat hotpot, sometimes we eat stir-fried vegetables. It's different every day. We eat until we're full, then we take a nap in the afternoon. We go back to school at two o'clock, for two hours, and get out at four o'clock. Then we can play with everyone."
"Oh, right, there's also homework to do. It's really hard. Our big sister, Phi Phi, doesn't really like doing homework."
Thu Hai: ...
Homework?
The apocalypse?
Is there a need to do homework?
And also...
He blinked, thinking to himself, "Are you sure you're not showing off to me?"
Bread?
Hotpot?
Stir-fried vegetables?
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed he also hadn't had hotpot or stir-fried vegetables for a long time.
Thinking of Tieu Khong and the others living such a life every day, besides envy, Thu Hai was also relieved. This was the scene he most wanted to see.
Enjoying the sunshine, enjoying a carefree and happy time.
Thu Hai and the children played happily in the farming park.
Blind man's buff.
Feeding the poultry.
The sound of laughter and talking spread through the farming park.
Although this kind of happiness was short-lived for Thu Hai, he was already very satisfied and cherished the present time. He didn't feel there was anything wrong with short-lived happiness. As long as one felt it with their heart, then even a second of happiness was happiness.
In the evening.
Thu Hai brought the children back.
Lam Pham was waiting on the road early on. When he saw the children and Thu Hai walking this way, he knew it was time for Thu Hai to leave again.
Although everyone was doing different things.
But the ultimate goal was the same.
It was to work together, to end the current terrible apocalypse, so that the survivors living in the apocalypse could see the light of hope.
"Are you preparing to leave?" Lam Pham asked.
Thu Hai said, "Can you let me eat hotpot before I go?"
"Huh?" When Lam Pham heard his request, he was slightly stunned, and then reacted in an instant, "Okay, no problem."
"Can you add two more hot dishes?"
"Okay, you can have whatever you want to eat."
Lam Pham knew that Thu Hai had been outside all this time and it must have been difficult for him to eat these things, so for these requests, he naturally guaranteed to provide them one hundred percent.
The dishes and hotpot were prepared by Sister Ly.
The hotpot base was an authentic one from the capital of hotpot. As the seasonings spread, the aroma immediately filled the entire room, making Thu Hai's mouth water.
He only felt that his taste buds had received a kind of stimulation. If he didn't taste it quickly, he would really be starved to death by the craving.
A moment later.
The hotpot was ready.
The stir-fried vegetables were also ready.
Fragrant rice was served on the table.
"Let's eat," Lam Pham said.
Thu Hai nodded at Lam Pham, picked up his bowl, and began to eat like a wolf devouring a tiger. He was not eating a delicacy, but a peaceful life of the past.
"Take it slow, we're not in a hurry. There's a lot of food. Eat as much as you want," Lam Pham said softly, then sat there, said no more, and just watched quietly.
In fact, watching people eat was also a very enjoyable thing.
Especially since these dishes were all grown by the people of their Sunshine Shelter. This sense of accomplishment was naturally even more praiseworthy.
"Delicious, really delicious. I haven't had these things for a long time."
He said while eating, his emotions a little emotional.
Before, he had been eating instant noodles, blackened bread, and so on...
Hot dishes or hotpot were really unimaginable things.
Lam Pham always had a smile on his face and said softly, "These dishes are all grown by ourselves. After the apocalypse broke out, all industrial chains were abandoned. If we want to carry on civilization, we have to rely on our own efforts. After such a long period of development, we can already be self-sufficient."
"In the past, I was worried about the zombies in the apocalypse, but later I found that zombies were not what worried me the most. It was some people who took the opportunity of the apocalypse to release their ambitions, wanting to destroy human civilization. This is what I least want to see."
Lam Pham said these things not to explain anything, but to make Thu Hai understand that only when humans are united can there be better development, and civilization can continue to be passed down.
After swallowing the food in his mouth, Thu Hai looked up and said, "They are really very lucky to have met you. If we could have met you earlier, maybe their fate would have changed."
Lam Pham said, "I wasn't like this before. At that time, I thought of living my own life well, maintaining the civilized order in my own heart, paying for things I bought, going to work, and greeting people I knew or didn't know. But I was changed by them. It was when I met four old men. They were all people who had contributed to society and the country."
"Even in the apocalypse, they were still like dying candles, burning themselves to warm others. But those people were not grateful. Instead, they wanted to live a little longer and abandoned the four old men."
"At that moment, I felt I had to do something meaningful. These things included human inheritance, civilization, morality, and ethics."
"So meeting them... was my luck."
He rarely said these things to people.
Thu Hai listened, a little silent, a strange light flashing in his eyes as he looked at Lam Pham, then he said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I can't do what you've done. At that time, I was already in despair. If it weren't for the parents of those children pulling me along, I would have died."
"Don't talk about these things. You are the prince of an alien Royal family. How can you be defeated by these small troubles?" Lam Pham said.
"Hahaha."
Thu Hai laughed. After meeting Lam Pham, the smiles that appeared in their short contact were much more than in the past.
A moment later.
"Thank you for your hospitality. I'm full. I've found that old feeling," Thu Hai touched his stomach, savoring the taste, a satisfied smile on his face.
"If you want to eat in the future, you can come at any time," Lam Pham said.
"Okay, no problem. I'm leaving now. I will find a way to find the location of the headquarters. Although it's very difficult, I believe I can definitely find it."
Thu Hai and Lam Pham were already on the same front. His heart had not turned black. After so many hardships, he had not been assimilated by the darkness of the apocalypse. The greatest credit probably went to the fact that he had to take care of those children.
"Do you need to say goodbye to them?"
"No need, lest the children be reluctant to part."
Lam Pham looked at him. Perhaps the one who was most reluctant to part was Thu Hai. Seeing the children's reluctant gazes, his strong heart would probably become very fragile.
"Okay."
...
Far away from the Hoang City Sunshine Shelter.
A bonfire was burning in a room.
Some people were sitting on the sofa, some were reading a book by candlelight, and some were playing cards.
Beside the bonfire.
Ton Nang and Han Hieu Hieu were eating.
"Is it delicious?" Ton Nang asked with concern. This child had accompanied him all the way and had suffered a lot. She could clearly have stayed at the Hoang City Sunshine Shelter and enjoyed a good life, but she insisted on following him, which made him very helpless, yet a little touched.
Walkers are always lonely, but with Han Hieu Hieu's company, Ton Nang didn't feel very lonely.
"It's delicious," Han Hieu Hieu was very happy. The sweet potato in her hand was especially fragrant.
"If it's delicious, then eat more," Ton Nang smiled without showing his teeth, couldn't help but think of Ha Minh Hien. He didn't know what that guy was doing. He was probably living a carefree life in Hoang City and hadn't thought of him at all.
He no longer had any feelings for Ha Minh Hien.
This was a change in mentality. The person who had influenced this change in his mentality was Han Hieu Hieu. Now his only thought was to take good care of this child and let her live well in the apocalypse.
As for the reason why he was staying here, it was because he and Han Hieu Hieu had accidentally discovered this place. They hadn't expected there to be a group of survivors still alive.
This surprised him a little.
So he decided to stay here for a while and see the situation. Because the people here told him that a convoy had gone out to look for a way to survive and had not yet returned, so he was not in a hurry at all.
As for whether this place was safe, there was naturally no need to say more.
The doors and windows of this house were blocked with metal plates. Even if zombies discovered this place, it would be very difficult for them to break in.
"Brother Ke, thank you for the sweet potato."
A man walked up to Ton Nang, gnawing on a half-eaten sweet potato, and said with satisfaction.
Ton Nang smiled and said, "It's okay. We are all survivors of the apocalypse. It's natural to be united."
He was like an onlooker, observing everyone here. It seemed that everyone was very united, but he could also find that everyone had their own little plans. Human selfishness is innate, not acquired, so this can't be said to be anything.
"Brother Ke, have you thought about going to Hoang City?"
"Hoang City? You've also read the 'Zombie Illustrated Guide'?"
"Yes, I read it a long time ago, but it's really too far from here. It's really too dangerous to go. Just now, everyone was discussing whether we should risk it and go take a look."
"Is it because of the food shortage?"
"Yes. That unknown zombie passed by here and actually corroded our land. Nothing can be grown. If it weren't for the fact that our houses were sealed with metal plates before, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"Then what did everyone say?"
Ton Nang wanted to see what kind of intense sparks would fly when the survivors in the apocalypse faced some decisions.
He thought of the situation in the prison.
That group of survivors, under a little show of goodwill from Ha Minh Hien, all regarded Ha Minh Hien as a good person, as a savior. This made Ton Nang feel it was ridiculous just thinking about it.
So he wanted to see what kind of people the survivors here were.
"I don't know."
"Oh."
Ton Nang replied simply, then looked at the kitchen. A man and a woman were busy there. The woman's boyfriend was the man he was talking to. He had heard him say that for his girlfriend's safety, he could give up his own life. After countless hardships, he had come here and had a hope of survival.
As for the other man in the kitchen, he was one of the earliest survivors here.
He had some say and status here.
Although the kitchen door was closed, and the two of them looked like they weren't communicating.
But with Ton Nang's current ability, he could naturally hear the two of them chatting happily.
Man: "Come to my room tonight?"
Woman: "I can, but he sleeps late now. Sometimes he even goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I'm afraid he'll find out."
Man: "It's okay. I'll get you some sleeping pills later. Let him take them and sleep."
Woman: "Where did you get them?"
Man: "I secretly found them at a pharmacy when I went out a few days ago."
...
Ton Nang chuckled in his heart, then looked at the man beside him, "You're not going to find your girlfriend, but staying here with me? That's not very interesting."
The man said, "It's okay. She's washing the dishes."
Ton Nang: "Oh..."
He didn't remind the man, not wanting to destroy the balance here. And he was a newcomer. If he said it, the final result would be that everyone would unanimously target him and Han Hieu Hieu.
So he just quietly watched the situation develop.
The apocalypse really brought out all kinds of human nature to the fullest.
Not long after.
"Everyone, come and discuss."
At this moment, a woman with slightly dark skin spoke up. Her name was Lieu Na. In times of peace, she was a boxer. Although she was not an Awakened, her own physical fitness was very strong.
And after the baptism of the apocalypse, it couldn't be said that she was decisive in killing, but at least she was absolutely merciless when killing zombies. Even when she encountered humans who threatened the team, she would act without mercy.
There was no choice. In the apocalypse, it had to be like this.
If you are merciful, you will often bring a catastrophe to the team.
Unless you have the strength of someone like Lam Pham, otherwise, you are just looking for death.
"Brother Ke, this must be about discussing our destination," the man threw the sweet potato skin into the bonfire and walked towards the kitchen with great interest, calling his girlfriend to come to the meeting together.
Ton Nang said softly to Han Hieu Hieu, "Let's go take a look too. Don't say anything, understand?"
"Yes, I know," Han Hieu Hieu nodded, very obedient to Ton Nang.
At the dining table.
Everyone was sitting there. Because the seats were limited, Ton Nang and Han Hieu Hieu could only stand. The man who had been talking to Ton Nang wanted to stand up and let Ton Nang sit, but Ton Nang pressed on his shoulder and shook his head to signal that he didn't need to.
Lieu Na looked at everyone.
"You all know the situation outside. The land is no longer suitable for planting, and our supplies are running low. So we are discussing our way out."
"I hope everyone can think carefully and not make a rash decision."