Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Northern Celestial Kingdom!

“What should we do? Should I call for help and have them come over? Don’t they have a second-rate medic among them?” Shen Dong swallowed hard, nearly imagining the scene of Chu Wei after turning into one of the undead.

At that moment, Chu Wei’s fingers twitched, and slowly, she opened her eyes. It was a laborious effort, as if she had to summon all her strength to manage the movement.

“Captain Cao…”

“I’m here.”

“Where am I?”

Cao Fusheng shushed her with a finger, then bent down to retrieve a tiny device no bigger than a fingernail from under the bed. He gently pressed the miniature bug against her ear until the faint crackle of electricity came through, then carefully explained the situation and the events that had transpired, sharing even the doubts weighing on his mind.

After listening, Chu Wei fell into silence. Whether from weakness or deep thought, her complexion grew pale and increasingly haggard.

“Do you remember what I said earlier…”

“To throw oneself into a place of death in order to survive?” Cao Fusheng immediately recalled that half-phrase. It was because Shen Dong had added the latter part that had so unsettled her.

Chu Wei’s finger moved slightly as she whispered, “They… are not good people… Brother Cao… you should try to find out for yourself.”

But Cao Fusheng did not move. He simply stared at her intently.

After a long pause, Chu Wei seemed to feel her strength fading rapidly. As if resolved to a certain decision, she spoke shakily, “Brother Cao, I have something to tell you. Please, you must help me deliver this message to Tianzhu.”

“Tell me. I will do everything I can to help.” Cao Fusheng nodded firmly, silently thinking: In doing so, I am also helping myself.

...

Before the calamity struck Tianzhu, a ministerial-level meeting was held. The action units were ordered to dispatch various squads to gather supplies and seek assistance.

Chu Wei led a liaison squad, tasked primarily with contacting nearby survivors to seek aid from them.

Naturally, there was compensation involved. Tianzhu promised that those who made contact with the crisis would be admitted to the survivor zones within Tianzhu to live.

For those unwilling to enter Tianzhu, a generous compensation package was offered, including advanced precision equipment and facilities.

But the results were the opposite of what had been hoped. Not only did they fail to establish contact with any survivor zones willing to assist Tianzhu, but the squad also suffered heavy losses.

It wasn’t just Chu Wei’s team; other squads likely faced similar misfortunes.

Those survivor zones chose to attack these pleading squads. After two instances of ambush and slaughter, Chu Wei no longer trusted those sanctimonious survivor zones.

Everything within them filled her with unease and disgust; the infighting was even more brutal than inside Tianzhu.

After all, Tianzhu was a place governed by strict laws and order, with action forces and authority maintaining control—it was a world apart from the survivor zones outside.

In that respect, Tianzhu could indeed be called a paradise, free from much deceit and betrayal. Ordinary people only needed to take care of themselves and survive; nothing else was their concern.

While Chu Wei puzzled over why these survivor zones chose to attack them, she also uncovered the reasons through various indirect means.

It all began with a super survivor zone known as the Northern Kingdom.

Calling it a survivor zone was generous—it was more like a cult.

The number of survivors at the Northern Kingdom’s headquarters alone counted in the tens of thousands, making it the largest survivor zone and power in the north.

Their influence stretched across the entire country, relentlessly recruiting survivors to swell their ranks.

The Kingdom had many leaders; no one knew who truly held power. Above them were the Emissaries, who called themselves Divine Envoys.

Every follower worshipped a figure called the God of the Northern Kingdom. He was less a person and more a spiritual leader.

No one knew if this figure actually existed or was merely a fabrication.

“To throw oneself into a place of death in order to survive; to be born again from the jaws of death.”

This phrase was the Northern Kingdom’s internal motto.

It was also the reason why Chu Wei’s squad leader lost composure when Shen Dong repeated the latter part.

According to Chu Wei’s intelligence, the Northern Kingdom was plotting a grand conspiracy aimed at Tianzhu in ZZ City.

So far, only the location of Tianzhu in ZZ City was documented in the Survivor’s Log, and it was the only one publicly known in country Z.

Chu Wei did not know the details or how the scheme would be executed.

She only knew that the Kingdom’s agents had infiltrated Tianzhu, with insiders whose identities were top secret.

Naturally, she herself was not privy to their identities.

Moreover, this massive undead outbreak was very likely connected to the Northern Kingdom—though this was only Chu Wei’s speculation, lacking concrete evidence.

“The Northern Kingdom... they have long sought to overthrow Tianzhu. Their aim is to seize control of Tianzhu, to exterminate all who refuse to submit... We cannot let them succeed. I’ve also learned... their time to act is near. They may launch their assault amidst the ongoing undead chaos.”

“Brother Cao, trust me, the Northern Kingdom’s people are no good... Whether they are deluded by this so-called ‘God’ or not, their deeds are unforgivable... They devour other survivor zones. Any who refuse are eradicated... They’ve already destroyed many zones by various means.”

“I also heard that a large survivor zone near ZM City has been corrupted by their plans... They often use predators to eliminate zones that disobey... I suspect those dozen or so people here are tied to the Northern Kingdom... I... I’m failing... Brother Cao... please promise me! Take this message back... thoroughly investigate the people inside Tianzhu!”

“Be careful... wary of the outside world. ZZ City must have problems... And we don’t even know the level of technology and methods the Northern Kingdom wields... We may face a devastating strike without warning...”

*Cough, cough...*

Chu Wei was on the verge of losing consciousness again. Her temperature rose, her mind clouded and confused. If she fainted again, who knew what she might become upon waking.

Cao Fusheng gripped her hand tightly, his voice grave: “I promise you, no matter what, I will bring this intelligence back!”

“Thank... thank you...”

Tears of relief trickled from the corner of Chu Wei’s eyes as she slowly closed them.

“Brother Cao... do you remember when you asked me back at Lonely Ground who threw the bait mines around the survivor zone?” Shen Dong’s excitement grew; he finally understood what was truly going on.

The disaster at the Lonely Ground survivor zone was bound up with the Northern Kingdom!

It was far more complicated than it seemed on the surface.

Previously, Cao Fusheng had guessed that the internal security officer Xiang Kuan was accidentally infected, but now it seemed he was merely a pawn or an accident, not the true source.