202 - Cinderella’s Dream: Together Forever

Chapter 202 In this operation, Chen Wan was joined by Yi Yi and Jiang Wan Ning. With Jiang Zhao Yuan and Ye Lan looking after the little ones at home, and with the presence of the four flowers, Chen Wan felt reassured. Upon arriving at the departure plaza, Chen Wan quickly tallied the number of people in her squad and confirmed the list of thirty military soldiers assigned to the mission. Once everything was verified, Chen Wan and her team boarded the first armored vehicle to lead the way, while the remaining soldiers took the other two armored vehicles and a truck. Yi Yi drove for Chen Wan and her team as they sat in the back to rest. Thinking about the study materials, Chen Wan smiled and asked Wei Si Yu, "Si Yu, how's your study of those materials going?" Wei Si Yu, blushing at the ears, replied, "It's alright, but sometimes it gets me all worked up, and if I read it at night, I can't sleep." She wanted to ask Yi Yi how she had gotten hold of such intense stuff, but everyone was busy with the mission in the capital city, and she hadn't found the chance to ask until now. Chen Wan nodded with a laugh and teased Wei Si Yu, "Once we're back, I'll make you a calming salad." Qi Jing, looking back and forth between Chen Wan and Wei Si Yu, was utterly confused and asked Wei Si Yu, "What's this about being worked up and insomnia? What are you talking about?" "Nothing, it's just about watching the movies Yi Yi sent me. You'll understand someday." Wei Si Yu gave Qi Jing a pure-hearted smile. Even Chen Wan couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle her laughter. The group continued driving toward the capital, occasionally encountering zombies, which they shot from the car windows. The journey was relatively smooth, and they arrived in the capital around 11 a.m. The Agricultural Research Institute was not in the city center but in the high-tech district. Yi Yi quickly navigated the vehicle onto the main road leading to the institute. The scene in the high-tech district was desolate, with many bodies of those who had frozen to death during the previous snow, now decayed and emitting a foul stench. The bloodstains on the roads had long since dried and turned black. Nevertheless, having experience with such apocalyptic scenes, the group managed to endure these strange odors. Yi Yi drove the vehicle along the main road, turning twice before reaching the institute, which consisted of four tall buildings and a spacious courtyard. Chen Wan got out to move aside four barricades at the entrance, ensuring their vehicles could enter smoothly. Yi Yi drove the car inside, followed by the rest of the vehicles. As they progressed, Chen Wan scanned their surroundings, sensing an unusual quietness in the institute—no zombies in sight, which was uncommon. Soon, Yi Yi and the others parked the car. Upon exiting, Yi Yi activated a scan of the surroundings and immediately noticed something was amiss. "There are people in this building, quite a few—at least twenty or so, and they're armed. Everyone be careful," Yi Yi quietly warned. "Which direction? What floor?" Chen Wan continued to inquire. "They're on the fourth floor lobby, watching us," Yi Yi replied. "Alright, let's encircle them. We'll approach from the front entrance, while others take the rear. Everyone stay safe," Chen Wan advised in a low voice. She gestured to the soldiers to swiftly retreat, keeping close to the building and maintaining cover. The soldiers, being well-trained, promptly took action. Moments later, under Chen Wan's instructions, they all advanced towards the building, hidden from view. Chen Wan led them into an empty lobby, the long corridors on either side also empty. Quickly, she ascended the stairs toward the fourth floor. With a rifle in hand, Chen Wan carefully advanced, finding the second floor similarly deserted. Without delay, she moved upward. The people upstairs, hearing footsteps, could no longer remain seated. "Brother Cong, those people look like they're from the military. You hear their footsteps? They're coming up. What do we do?" someone panicked. "The nearest army base is District One, and it's said they have strict control. I bet they won't dare to act rashly. Just follow my lead when the time comes; they won't dare harm us good citizens, right?" Liu Cong sneered. "Alright, we'll do as you say," agreed a ruffian with a rooster haircut, clutching a machete tightly. Among them, only five carried guns, and even those were just handguns, acquired during their perilous journey to the capital, making them extra cautious with ammunition. Meanwhile, Chen Wan and her team had reached their floor, splitting into two groups to block the exits, trapping their adversaries. Leading them, Liu Cong quickly wore a smile and said, "Everyone, there's no need to rush. We're all good citizens here, seeking survival. Don't shoot, let's talk." Chen Wan assessed them with a skeptical gaze, immediately discerning their malevolence. Despite their deceptive appearances, these individuals were no strangers to killing. The blood on the rooster head's machete was dark red, indicating recent use on someone. With her rifle poised, Chen Wan spoke authoritatively, "Disarm yourselves or we will exercise our right to neutralize threats." This right was granted to task forces or soldiers venturing out, allowing them to open fire when judged necessary to protect from potential threats. "But aren't you from District One, known not to harm civilians? We haven't done anything. Alright, alright, we'll put them down. Just don't shoot," Liu Cong, gritting his teeth, lowered himself, signaling a bald man and another man in a floral vest to raise their guns. However, Qin Ke, standing behind Chen Wan, already had her dual pistols trained on the pair. As Liu Cong and the bald man barely began to lift their hands, Qin Ke's bullets flew. Chen Wan wasn't idle either. Alongside Qin Ke's shots, Chen Wan's rifle aimed at the man in the floral vest, while the remaining wielding guns were swiftly dealt with by Jiang Yan Xin and Shen Ming Yan. Within moments, the main opposition force was subdued. The remaining ruffians, seeing Chen Wan and her group’s lethal efficiency, quickly turned to flee. Soldiers mowed them down, leaving only the rooster-headed man unscathed, caught in the crossfire. Finding escape impossible, he turned to Chen Wan and begged, "Don't kill me. I have important information. There are more survivors, and without your help, they won't last long." Chen Wan looked to Yi Yi, who nodded. In the urgency upstairs, Yi Yi had detected seven more survivors on the fifth floor, unable to relay this discovery to Chen Wan in time. "Were those people taken captive by you? What's your agenda?" Chen Wan demanded icily. "Relax, I'll tell you everything. Our leader works for the Canglong Bar in the city center. They've opened an underground arena, forcing people to fight zombies and mutated beasts, while some of the more notable squads in the capital wager on it. It's much like illegal fighting arenas before the apocalypse," the rooster head explained. "And what was your leader's role?" pressed Chen Wan, nodding at Yi Yi, "Yi Yi, take some soldiers and bring those captives down." "Okay," Yi Yi acknowledged, heading upwards with several soldiers. The rooster head, obviously intimidated, continued, "Our leader, Liu Cong..." Seeing Chen Wan's expression harden, he hastily corrected himself, "I mean, Liu Cong mainly transported people capable of fighting to that place for rewards in supplies." Chen Wan nodded, a cold smile on her lips, "Canglong Bar? More like a foul hive of flies, engaging in useless antics even in times like these." "Yes, the people at Canglong Bar are notorious in the capital. Officer, they're the real criminals; I'm just a lackey, trying to scrape by. I've told you everything. Please, let me go. I'm begging you," the rooster head pleaded, his manner utterly servile. He had been ready to fight moments ago, but witnessing the power imbalance, he seamlessly shifted to seeking mercy, his transition as smooth as silk, rivaling any pre-apocalypse actor. At that moment, Yi Yi returned with the survivors from the fifth floor, composed of males and females: three male Alphas, two female Alphas, and two Omegas. The Alphas had fared somewhat better, mostly with superficial injuries. The Omegas, however, were in bad shape. One younger Omega was particularly battered, with several gruesome wounds on his thigh, one already displaying signs of infection, oozing pus and blood. Jiang Wan Ning furrowed her brow as she examined the woman's wound and started to approach her. However, the woman, much like a startled bird, recoiled in fear at Jiang Wan Ning's approach. It was only when the older Omega accompanying her gently coaxed her that she calmed down a bit. With a gentle gesture, Jiang Wan Ning lightly hovered her hand over the woman's leg. The previously festering wound ceased to be inflamed, and new soft flesh visibly began to grow around it. Jiang Wan Ning had only recently acquired her healing abilities. Healing minor injuries for the little ones was manageable for her, but large wounds like this were taxing. Still, she was able to ease the symptoms and promote some healing, which was a significant improvement from before. The older woman, noticing the improvement in her companion with just a simple touch from Jiang Wan Ning, hurried to express her gratitude. "Thank you! That's really amazing. I was worried that if her leg wasn't treated soon, it would worsen. We're truly indebted to you." Jiang Wan Ning smiled and replied, "It's nothing. Since we came across this, it's only right to help if I can." Furthermore, improving her healing abilities required frequent use, which increased her power's threshold. The use of her abilities just now was a step in expanding that threshold. Chen Wan turned her attention to the survivors and said, "We are from District One. Liu Cong and his men have been dealt with. Could you briefly explain the situation? Those who wish to leave on their own can do so; those who would like to come back with us to District One for resettlement are welcome to follow the military vehicles." No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)