Clue

"Then just write down that I'm here to trade for goods."

Xia Leng finished this sentence casually and stopped paying attention to the fortress steward, preparing to find clues to the answers he sought on his own.

Just as he was about to leave, the steward hurriedly called out to stop Xia Leng again.

"Ahem, actually, the corporation recently had some friction with another hostile faction, and we've lost quite a few high-level members internally. That's why we've been recruiting new Baptized Ones lately, and the pay is quite generous..."

"Not interested."

Before the steward could finish his sentence, Xia Leng threw out a cold remark and prepared to leave again, leaving the steward completely speechless.

In truth, these stewards also served as recruiters, and for every Baptized One they successfully recruited, they received a corresponding commission.

Especially someone like Xia Leng, who had become a Level 2 Baptized One at such a young age; he was a highly sought-after commodity.

"Oh, right. I have a lead regarding the evolution of mutated creatures. I wonder if your upper management would be interested."

At this moment, Xia Leng pretended to have just remembered something and turned his head to speak to the steward behind him.

"Evolutionary lead? Are you saying you've discovered a new, unknown type of mutated creature??!"

The steward, who had been dejected just a moment ago, immediately perked up upon hearing these words.

After all, if a lead on a new type of mutated creature were truly discovered, the reward would be enough for him to live comfortably in the fortress for over a dozen years!

"Mm, something like that."

Xia Leng said indifferently. If the pair of purple eyes he saw in the Street of the Living Dead really belonged to the Zombie King, its value was no different from discovering a new mutated creature.

Upon hearing this, Jonathan, who had been the epitome of a gentleman a second ago, immediately became shifty and furtive, terrified that his peers might steal his business. After all, as long as he introduced this news to the leadership, he would receive a handsome reward.

"Ahem, if you aren't lying to me, I can take you to Parick, the person in charge of this fortress. But if you're telling lies, we'll both be in trouble..."

He leaned in close to Xia Leng's ear and whispered, his words tinged with unease, implying that he should think it over carefully.

After all, if they deceived the person in charge, given Parick's temper, they would likely both be thrown into the furnace of the giant generator as fuel.

"If you don't trust me, I can find someone else to take me there."

Xia Leng stopped wasting words and made a move to leave again. Seeing this, the steward Joseph hurriedly ran up and put on an apologetic expression; regardless of anything else, the reward for discovering a new mutated creature was enough to outweigh the risk.

"I'm sorry, of course I believe you. I'll take you to see our person in charge right now."

Following that, the steward Joseph began to lead the way in front of Xia Leng, heading toward the first office building.

As for the fortress's person in charge, named Parick, his office was located on the very top floor of that building.

He rarely showed his face, usually leaving his subordinates to carry out any instructions.

However, matters concerning the discovery of new mutated creatures and Baptized Ones who had acquired new abilities still required his personal confirmation.

Parick was a Tier 5 "Sage," which was to say, a brain-enhanced Baptized One!

When an ability reached Tier 3 or higher, it was highly likely to branch out into new sub-abilities. It was rumored that in addition to his superior intelligence, Parick had also developed something akin to a mental hypnosis ability.

Parick could manipulate those with weaker mental strength than his own, turning them into puppets who obeyed his every word.

As for the process of controlling others, no one knew it to this day, and it was estimated that he also possessed the ability to erase memories...

Xia Leng followed behind the steward. The other party didn't bother to introduce the situation inside the fortress, heading straight for the first building; it was clear that this Jonathan couldn't wait to claim his credit.

Arriving in front of the quiet building, Xia Leng saw several fierce-looking guards standing at the entrance, though they didn't emit the aura unique to Baptized Ones; they were all ordinary people.

However, Xia Leng could sense a spirit slightly stronger than that of the drifters from them; perhaps they were all drug-enhanced humans.

Certain corporations developed injections that could barely improve human physical functions, but the improvement wasn't significant, the price was high, and most importantly, there were potential side effects. Therefore, cases of large-scale use on corporate members were rare, mostly used just to put on a show.

"Jonathan, what is this guy behind you doing?"

One of the guards saw Xia Leng following the steward and asked as usual.

"This is my benefactor. He holds a lead on a new mutated creature, and I'm taking him up to see the boss."

The steward said with a grin, seemingly already very familiar with all the fortress staff.

"Oh? At this stage, there are still new mutated creatures for you to discover and pick up? Don't be like that idiot last time, bringing a deformed rabbit to the boss as a new creature, only to end up being thrown into the furnace along with the rabbit. Besides, the boss is in a bad mood because of the friction with the hostile group a few days ago. You'd better be careful, hehe."

The guard said with a wicked smile, but he still cleared the way for them to enter.

Upon being reminded by the other party, the steward Jonathan couldn't help but shiver.

He hoped this guy could really give him a surprise, rather than a shock...

Xia Leng, following behind, naturally saw that the steward was extremely fearful of their boss.

But fear was only natural. In the old era, if you angered your company leader, you would at most be fired.

But now, if you angered your superior, even if they killed you and scattered your ashes, no one would dare to voice an opinion...

Komodo Fortress was the only building within a hundred-kilometer radius with power generation facilities, so the elevators here were still operational.

Thus, they entered the elevator, preparing to head to the top floor. This was the first piece of modern equipment Xia Leng had seen in five years that was still running.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a pair of huge, furry palms suddenly reached in, blocking the doors from shutting!

Following this, two burly soldiers, both over two meters tall and wearing custom-made exoskeleton combat suits with bulging muscles, walked in. On their chests, the skull logo of the Komodo Corporation was clearly printed!

That wasn't all; as these two hulking men, radiating an aura of violence, lowered their heads to squeeze into the elevator...

Another youth dressed in gaudy, multicolored clothing with a wild, frizzy afro walked in with an arrogant air.

He cast a disdainful glance at Xia Leng and the butler Jonathan, who had entered the elevator ahead of him, but said nothing. He turned his back to them and had the two soldiers press the button for the tenth floor.

The moment Butler Jonathan saw this flamboyant man, he immediately bowed his head, his body trembling uncontrollably. The man who was usually so long-winded now didn't even dare to draw a full breath.

Xia Leng, however, remained standing there with his usual frost-cold expression. He even raised his head, locking eyes with the two stern-faced soldiers, whose muscles radiated explosive power!

These two soldiers exuded an aura even more formidable than that of the captain of the guards at the fortress gate!

Each of them was at least a Tier 3 Power-type Baptized One!

Xia Leng could also tell at a glance that these two soldiers were undoubtedly the bodyguards of this afro-wearing youth, who himself possessed no special aura whatsoever.