“God, God, you’re awake! Captain, are you okay? Are you feeling alright?”
Before Hill could turn around, Zhao Xiaokui kicked him in the butt, saying, “If you don’t get me pants, it won’t be good.”
Hill, far from being upset, was almost jumping with joy. “You being okay is the best thing…”
Noticing Zhao Xiaokui’s death stare, he silently pulled out a pair of pants from his own space.
Zhao Xiaokui shook out the pants and started putting them on.
She had no concern about any accidental exposure; there had to be something to expose in the first place. The layers of scales on her body covered everything that needed covering.
“Want to eat something, Captain?” Park Huiya asked.
“Eat!” She didn’t need to say more; as soon as she spoke, Zhao Xiaokui felt her stomach echoing emptiness, and hunger pangs hit her. Hill astutely pulled out a special nutrient solution. She took it, knocking the lid open, and poured it down her throat.
The taste of the special nutrient solution was mediocre, but it could fill the stomach. After two gulps, Zhao Xiaokui felt much better.
She crushed the bottle, closed her eyes, and let out a long breath.
“Ah…”
At this moment, she finally turned her attention to the rescued researchers.
Seeing her awake, Lin Bai hurried over, asking with concern, “Captain Zhao, how are you feeling?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
Among the escaped researchers, many had already fallen asleep on the ground from exhaustion. There were Asians, Africans, and Caucasians, roughly making up a third each. This surprised Zhao Xiaokui, “So many Asians?”
Lin Bai chuckled and said, “It’s not that there are many Asians, it’s that there are many people from Huaxia. I asked around; among the researchers in this research base, except for a few from the United States, most are members sent from our Huaxia to assist brother countries. Also, in reality, this group of people is not as numerous as it seems compared to the total number in the base. It’s just that when we left, Huaxia people trust Huaxia people, so all Huaxia people followed me and ran out, making it seem like there were many people.”
Zhao Xiaokui fell silent for a moment. “So, what about the others?”
“Captain, this is not your fault.”
“I know.”
If Zhao Xiaokui hadn’t done what she did in the end, none of these people would have escaped. She simply made a choice between zero-sum outcomes for a few. As for the others, it could only be said that they didn’t grasp their own fate.
“I just feel… fate is somewhat cruel.”
To let this world suffer such unwarranted calamities.
Even though she had witnessed the passing of life more than once, every time a new life vanished before her eyes, Zhao Xiaokui still felt sorrowful, with a vague sense of heaviness in her heart.
She thought, perhaps this was the biggest difference between herself and the evil god.
Compassion still lingered in her heart, and she continued to hold respect for life.
“Where are we now?” Zhao Xiaokui asked.
Lin Bai took out a tablet, pulled up a map, and pointed to a spot on it. “We’re almost at the center of the continent. I just asked some well-informed researchers, and they said we’re nearing a place called the Sacred City.”
Recalling the administrative map she had seen before, Zhao Xiaokui asked in confusion, “Is there such a place in Africa?”
“The map probably doesn’t have it. In fact, our electronic maps don’t. Locals told me it’s a newly built city, supposedly a super luxurious modern city modeled after Dubai…”
“Ha, in a place like this?” Hill questioned, “Dubai has oil. What do they have here? Did they discover a gold mine or something?”
“I don’t think so,” Lin Bai said, “That’s why it’s strange. Some locals mentioned that this city started construction three months before the apocalypse, and the speed was remarkably fast, surpassing their usual construction standards. This matter has even made it to local newspapers and hot searches on the internet, with ongoing discussions on whether the construction team was from our Huaxia.”
“A city called the Sacred City built before the apocalypse, the place where the evil god Isaac descended…”
Zhao Xiaokui speculated, “Do you think this Sacred City might have been specially built by the End of the World Sect for the evil god Isaac?”
“To be honest, that possibility can’t be ruled out.” Lin Bai said.
“I think it’s these damn bastards’ doing.” Hill said disdainfully, “I’ve interacted with them. They’re just a bunch of lunatics capable of anything. Back in the United States, they’ve committed massacres multiple times to summon the evil god. The illusions they created still remain unbroken.”
The others looked at him with surprise. Hill belatedly realized what he had said and shrugged, adopting a nonchalant demeanor. “Anyway, these things, as long as we get out alive, we’ll know sooner or later. Maybe we’ll have to ask you to help us solve the local illusions problem.”
Honest about it, Arthur also said, “This resembles the handiwork of the End of the World Sect. They are close to the Dark Council, and we’ve had a few encounters with them. This group has the support of many major corporations; they indeed seem capable of such actions.”
Park Huiya added, “I don’t understand what these people are thinking. What benefits do they get from summoning evil gods? Why do they want to destroy our peaceful world when they already have countless wealth in reality?”
“People are always greedy. With money, they want power; with power, they crave more strength…” Lin Bai said, “I think Marx had a good point. For 100% profit, capital dares to trample on all human laws; for 300% profit, it dares to commit any crime, even risking the danger of hanging. If this group successfully summons an evil god or even lucks out and summons a communicative one, do you think they can gain benefits?”
Park Huiya said, “But they are playing with fire. They will play themselves into it sooner or later!”
Ye Ying, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, “Before the day comes when they play themselves into it, they all believe they can escape in time.”
Even though these people probably had a premonition that they had no way out and nowhere to turn back.
“What should we do with these people?” Arthur asked.
“Leave them here. There are abandoned towns nearby. After we deal with the evil spirits, it should be enough to support them for two or three days. At that time, we sneak into the Sacred City, find the evil god, and then use instruments to break the illusion. Someone else will take care of the rest. What do you think?” Hill suggested.
This was their original plan, but there were too many variables, leading to delays until today.
As the team leader, Zhao Xiaokui, first voiced agreement with Hill’s proposal, “We have our own mission to complete, and it’s impossible to take them with us. And honestly, Loisette is still lurking around, and it’s a highly dangerous evil god. I can’t tell you what happened before; all I can say is the sooner we solve the problem with the evil god, the sooner the world can return to peace.”
The existence of Loisette was like the Sword of Damocles, hanging menacingly above everyone’s heads.
With heavy hearts, everyone drifted into a deep sleep, preparing to set out early the next day.
Under the rotation of duty, as the day began to dawn, several people stood up.
Some alert researchers had already awakened from their slumber, asking softly and anxiously, “Hey, where are you guys going?”
“We still have our own mission to complete. Remember the small town we passed by earlier? We’ll clean up the evil spirits nearby and also set up a simple defensive formation. After you wake up, you can go to that place yourselves for shelter. Don’t worry, it will be safe on the road within the first two hours after we leave. But you need to hurry. We won’t wait for you,” Lin Bai explained quietly to the awakened individuals.
“No, you can’t abandon us! We can’t beat those monsters at all. If you leave, we’re as good as dead! You can’t go!” Suddenly, a man shouted, “Hey, friends, they want to abandon us. I guarantee, yesterday when they took us, it was just to attract the attention of those monsters—”
Bang!
Hill kicked the man onto a tree trunk.
The man, standing at least 1.87 meters tall, with muscles all over his body, instantly curled up under the tree, in pain like a shrimp.
Hill scanned the somewhat agitated crowd with a gaze full of killing intent, “We don’t have an obligation to save you. If you want to stay alive until the rescue team arrives, it’s best to follow our arrangements. Of course, if anyone among you is dissatisfied, feel free to speak up. We don’t mind ending your suffering early.”
Compared to Lin Bai, who seemed approachable, Hill’s physique and gaze were quite persuasive.
No one dared to make reckless comments now.
After Hill walked over, Lin Bai whispered, “Thanks.”
Hill smirked slightly, “These people are like this. In your Huaxia words, what is it? ‘Uncle doesn’t eat, eat five uncles’?”
Park Huiya chuckled, “It’s ‘Respectful toasts, but not eating or drinking punishment1if someone offers a toast or extends a gesture of goodwill, but their actions or behavior don’t align with those sentiments, there may be consequences or punishment. It suggests a disconnection between words and actions, highlighting insincerity or inconsistency in behavior. In the context of the conversation, Hill used the phrase to emphasize that appearances can be deceiving and that people should not underestimate others based on their outward demeanor..'”
Hill nodded repeatedly, “Yes, that’s it, exactly.”
Zhao Xiaokui glanced back, and many people had already awakened from their slumber, watching their departing figures.
In their eyes were anticipation, expectation, as well as confusion, tension, and fear.
Zhao Xiaokui didn’t look again, “Hurry up, clear out their shelter, and see if we can find some means of transportation. Let’s go directly to the Sacred City. There shouldn’t be any other territories of evil gods nearby. Hill, do you have gasoline and diesel in your space?”
Hill replied, “I prepared two large barrels, don’t worry.”
Zhao Xiaokui waved her hand, “Let’s go!”
They disappeared from the sight of the crowd like lightning.
