Chapter Sixty-Five: Zuo Hao

Ji Cheng went to Chen Qian’s room to greet her. This mission would take them deep into the wild, far beyond the reach of supply center transmissions, so she wouldn’t be joining them.

The two of them took the lift platform to the surface, boarded their designated vehicle, and set out for the Westwind Bastion, ten li away.

The Hive Laboratory lay west of Southport New City, so their departure point was practically at their doorstep.

As the first line of defense on Southport New City’s western front, the Westwind Bastion was also the last checkpoint before leaving the city. It was built on a grand scale, a heavy shield standing firm against the boundless, dusky world beyond. Compared to the fortress itself, the soldiers patrolling below seemed as insignificant as ants circling a mountain.

The ten-li journey passed in no time, and soon the vehicle neared its destination.

“Identification approved. You may proceed.”

Cleared to pass, the driver made a turn toward the right.

The tires hissed on the sand as the vehicle came to a halt.

They had arrived at an open ground outside the Westwind Bastion, spanning four or five hundred square meters. The sandy earth bore a massive white-painted circle, its perimeter cordoned off by security lines—no unauthorized personnel would ever cross here.

“All right, time to get out,” Ji Cheng said, patting Luo Rao, who was perched on his lap—she was delightfully bouncy.

“Let’s go,” she grumbled, sliding reluctantly onto the leather seat before pushing the door open.

Stepping outside, their shoes sank into the sand. Even through layers of special material, they could feel the scorching heat pressing in.

“So hot.”

“It wasn’t nearly this bad up on Hill 304,” Ji Cheng remarked.

On the open ground, more than twenty empowered individuals had already gathered. About half of them, fully armed and visibly nervous, were clearly among those assigned to the Hive mission.

As Ji Cheng and Luo Rao arrived, several gazes turned their way, and Lu Shangbai approached, helmet still on.

“Brother Ji, why’s your sister here too? The radiation at the Hive site is intense, aren’t you worried—”

Ji Cheng coughed lightly, covering his mouth. “Her original form is a Phoenix. She can handle it. I just wanted to show her a bit of the world.”

“Oh, I see,” Lu Shangbai replied without further question, grasping Ji Cheng’s hands. “By the way, thanks for last time, brother. If you hadn’t taken that mission off my hands, I don’t know what I would have done.”

“No problem. But you never did tell me what happened back then,” Ji Cheng said, his curiosity obvious.

Last time, Lu had rambled anxiously, never giving a clear explanation. Ji Cheng had accepted the mission in a haze of confusion, his curiosity only growing.

“It’s the old shrew at home. She heard there was some Su girl on the team—one of the top ten beauties. She was willing to kill or die to stop me from going,” Lu Shangbai grumbled. “Take it from me, brother—never get married. Speaking from experience, it’s a nightmare. Especially don’t marry a woman.”

Ji Cheng hadn’t expected that. He smiled, shook his head, and smoothly extricated his hands before taking Luo Rao’s.

His sister’s hand was still the most comfortable—soft, smooth, delicate.

After speaking, Lu Shangbai glanced sympathetically at Luo Rao. “But honestly, all this talk of beauties is overrated. Your sister is truly beautiful. In my thirty-some years, I’ve never seen anyone as stunning, though she is a little...”

“I’m just a bit of a pervert, that’s all,” Luo Rao declared proudly.

Ji Cheng didn’t respond to that, instead greeting Zhou Ze as he walked over. “Hello, Brother Zhou.”

“What are you all chatting about?” Zhou Ze asked with a smile. Today, he was dressed in combat gear, the tailored cut and intricate designs giving him an impressive, heroic air.

As one of the council members leading this mission, Zhou Ze would also be departing.

“Boss,” Lu Shangbai said, clasping Zhou Ze’s hand in greeting, “just talking about the mission transfer last time.”

Zhou Ze nodded, took a thumb-sized hard drive from his pocket, slipped it into Lu Shangbai’s jacket, and patted him lightly on the back—a clear signal to step aside.

Then Zhou Ze turned to stand beside Ji Cheng, completely ignoring Luo Rao, his gaze deep and clear.

“This Hive operation—don’t worry too much. I, Councilman Huang, and Councilwoman Yao, the three of us leading the team, won’t be going in.”

“I know, Brother Zhou.”

“But once inside the laboratory, stay vigilant. This time, besides our people from Southport, there are empowered individuals from many other city-states—something that’s never happened before.”

“I understand.”

Zhou Ze produced another hard drive and handed it to Ji Cheng. “These are some files on the Hive Laboratory. You don’t have clearance to access this level, so I’ve downloaded them for you.”

“If this mission is so important, shouldn’t information about the Hive be made public?” Ji Cheng asked, now thoroughly confused.

Logically, that would make sense.

Zhou Ze sighed faintly, seeming reluctant to say more. After a dozen seconds of silence, he spoke quietly, “Don’t ask about this.”

Chairman Zhang again? Ji Cheng quickly guessed.

His feelings toward Zhang Sheng were complicated. On one hand, Zhang’s selection process for empowered individuals had nearly gotten him killed—half the parachutes were duds, and a bit of bad luck could have cost him his life. On the other hand, according to Zhou Ze, when Councilwoman Yao wanted to move against him, it was Zhang who ordered his protection.

Ji Cheng pondered, “Brother Zhou, why isn’t Chairman Zhang here today? I’ve never actually met him.”

“My old man’s busy elsewhere,” a lazy voice interjected from behind.

Ji Cheng was taller than Zhou Ze and easily glanced over his shoulder.

Two women stood there, identical in appearance. They wore form-fitting combat suits and appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five, with striking figures—fiery, to say the least.

The one on the left had a mane of large, wavy curls obscuring half her face, her lips curled in a wide, sardonic smile. The one on the right had a neat bob and a serene expression.

“Brother Ji, let me introduce you—these are Chairman Zhang’s daughters. The one on the left is—”

Lu Shangbai hurried to make introductions, but was cut off without mercy.

“Ji Cheng,” Zhang Lingfei’s voice was languid and a little husky, pleasing to the ear. “You can call me Lingfei. This is my sister, Zhang Jing’e.”

Zhang Jing’e greeted Zhou Ze politely, then looked at Ji Cheng with some shyness.

“Oh, it’s you two!” Luo Rao suddenly popped out from behind Ji Cheng, excited.

The sisters responded with equal delight.

Ji Cheng was dumbfounded. “You know each other?”

“Ah Cheng, don’t you remember? When we first arrived in New City, I told you—when I went out grocery shopping, I got their address…” Her words were cut off by Ji Cheng’s swift hand clamping over her mouth.

Damn.

Ji Cheng still remembered it clearly—he’d just crossed over to this world, living in that shabby shack in Zone Four. Luo Rao, with those bewitching eyes, had excitedly told him she’d found two absolutely gorgeous girls.

So, those empowered individuals she’d wanted to kidnap were actually them!

You’ll be the death of me one day.

Not far away, Yao Lun watched the merry gathering with a fierce glint in his eyes.

“If Yuan’er were still alive, he’d be the one everyone’s fawning over.”

Despite Yao Zhenyuan’s terrible reputation in Southport New City, his father Yao Lun didn’t see it that way.

“Captain,” a young man at Yao Lun’s side said quietly, “Since he’s on our squad now, we can do with him as we please.”

The young man sported a close-cropped haircut, a short scar above his eyebrow. Though his features were unremarkable, there was a sharpness about him.

Yao Lun ground his teeth, hesitated for a long moment, then shook his head. “Chairman Zhang has given strict orders—he’s not to be touched.”

“Captain…”

“Zuo Hao!” Yao Lun hissed, his voice low and threatening. “That’s Chairman Zhang’s command!”

Zuo Hao replied quietly, “Once we’re inside the Hive Laboratory, who’s to say how he dies?”

Yao Lun fell silent.

If asked whether he wanted Ji Cheng dead, he wanted it more than anyone—he’d gladly tear Ji Cheng to pieces and grind him into pulp.

“We council members won’t be entering the Hive—you know that.”

Yao Lun’s triangular eyes bored into Zuo Hao, his imposing stature creating an oppressive aura.

Zuo Hao nodded. “I know.”

A withered twig silently snaked from Yao Lun’s sleeve. Zuo Hao started in surprise, then his face lit up.

He closed his fingers around it, and a red card the size of a playing card appeared in his palm.

“At your command, Captain!”