Captain Meng Qilin

Only after hearing the student's explanation did Meng Qilin understand what had happened. He was particularly curious about the Dark Night Squad. From the student's description, they seemed to be a civilian organization, probably a team of volunteers.

He hurriedly asked, "How many people are in the Dark Night Squad?"

They were short on manpower right now. Judging by the student's description, these people were so kindhearted that they had to be decent folk. There was a very good chance they would agree to join the organization!

Besides, a team capable of clearing all the zombies out of University Town had to have plenty of members, and powerful ones at that. His manpower shortage could be solved in an instant!

"The legends of Dark Night have Twelve Members, one dog, and one tree. They're all freaking amazing!" Li Pengliang replied.

"What? Only twelve people? Twelve people cleared all the zombies out of University Town?" Meng Qilin asked in surprise.

"Not twelve people. Twelve Members, one dog, and one tree! Dog Brother is super powerful!" Li Pengliang's follower corrected him, his eyes shining.

Meng Qilin asked, "By one dog and one tree, do you mean a mutant beast and a mutant plant?"

"Yes! Dog Brother is freaking awesome!" the follower added again.

Once Meng Qilin understood, he said, "Hurry over to the entrance and gather there. The vehicles are ready. They'll take everyone to the Safe Zone we've already cleared."

With his plans disrupted, Meng Qilin hurriedly reassigned tasks to the various groups and had them set out immediately to support the others.

He took ten members of the Special Operations Team and drove to the villa district near Phoenix Cry Mountain to pick up Professor Lin Zhengying.

Professor Lin Zhengying was a famous biologist in Huaguo. He normally spent most of his time in Kyoto, but with some time off, he had wanted to visit his hometown. He had never expected to run straight into the apocalypse.

The organization had issued orders to ensure Professor Lin Zhengying's safety at all costs.

As soon as they arrived in the villa district, they found it strangely quiet, with barely any zombies in sight. When two zombies finally appeared, everyone eagerly rushed over to kill them.

"Captain Meng! There are people on the second floor of that villa up ahead!"

Meng Qilin looked up and suddenly thought of the Dark Night Squad that the H University student had mentioned: Twelve Members, one dog, and one tree. Although he couldn't see the dog or the tree, he could faintly hear barking.

So he called out directly, "Are you the Dark Night Squad?"

"Holy crap, what's going on? Are we that famous?" Monkey asked in surprise.

Xiao Shiliu clapped too. "Dark Night rocks! Even the authorities know us!"

Bai Yaoyao was a little puzzled as well. "We're Dark Night. What can we do for you?"

Meng Qilin was delighted. He really had stumbled across them! He hurriedly said, "I'm Meng Qilin, captain of H City's Rescue Action Team. Would you have a moment to talk?"

Bai Yaoyao nodded. "Sure. Come in."

Captain Meng brought one team member inside and sent the others to find Professor Lin Zhengying. Seeing that there were no zombies in the villa district, he knew there was no need to worry about danger. Finding a way to win over this Dark Night Squad was the real priority!

The moment he stepped inside, the hot pot on the table caught his attention. Just how well-off were these people, to be eating hot pot under the current circumstances? At the sight of a table covered in meat and vegetables, he couldn't help swallowing.

Although he and his people weren't going hungry, they only had instant foods like cup noodles. Every meal was rushed; they never had the chance to sit down and eat a proper one.

Only then did it belatedly hit him. Holy shit, they've even got fucking air conditioning.

At this temperature, he suddenly felt like tugging at his short sleeves. It was even a little chilly.

"Hello, Captain Meng. My name is Bai Yaoyao."

Bai Yaoyao remembered Meng Qilin very well. He was an old partner of hers. In her previous life, he had been one of the authorities' representatives. His combat abilities were average, but he excelled at management. In the later years, he had been an administrator with considerable influence at the Main Base in A City.

He was upright, sincere, and wholly devoted to his country and its people. If she had to name a flaw, it was that he was a little rigid and far too persistent. In her previous life, he had talked himself hoarse countless times trying to persuade her and the others to join the authorities.

She hadn't expected to meet him so early in the apocalypse this time around.

"Hello, Captain Bai! I heard about you from the students at H University. On behalf of the authorities, I'd like to offer my heartfelt thanks for everything you've done.

There were so many students. If you hadn't helped clear out the zombies, I'm afraid..."

One look at Meng Qilin's excited expression told Bai Yaoyao what he wanted to say. She knew that expression far too well. She quickly interrupted with a smile. "You're too kind. We're not that noble. We did it for the crystal cores."

"Uh, crystal cores..." Meng Qilin was momentarily at a loss for words, but he didn't believe Bai Yaoyao's explanation at all. He thought she was simply being modest.

Otherwise, why would they have made it public that crystal cores could be used to advance? And why would the students admire the Dark Night Squad so much?

"I'll report everything accurately to my superiors and do my best to secure the rewards you deserve!" Meng Qilin said earnestly.

Bai Yaoyao nodded. "Then thank you, Captain Meng. What brings you to this villa district? There aren't many zombies left nearby."

Meng Qilin replied, "We're here to pick up someone important. Would you like to come to the Safe Zone with us? It's in the north of the city. We've established a safety line there, and we have enough supplies for everyone."

At this point, there was no real concept of bases yet; they were still called safe zones. Bai Yaoyao remembered that everyone in H City had eventually relocated to the Central Region. This area lay at the very edge of Huaguo, and to consolidate their forces, they hadn't established a safe zone nearby.

Moreover, factors such as the local geography meant that H City had far too many mutant animals and plants. In the end, they had paid a considerable price before they could lead everyone out.

"No, Captain Meng. We still have plenty of supplies, and we don't plan to move just yet," Bai Yaoyao refused outright.

Meng Qilin had intended to talk more once they reached the Safe Zone, get to know one another, then take the opportunity to invite the Dark Night Squad to join the authorities. He hadn't expected Bai Yaoyao and the others to have no intention of going there at all.

From the group's attitude, both in what they said and what they left unsaid, he could vaguely sense that they were doing quite well on their own and were somewhat resistant to and wary of him. He abandoned the idea.

As for supplies, would they be eating hot pot and enjoying air conditioning if they didn't have enough...?

So he said no more about it.

"All right, then we'll be leaving. Once the rescue operations are over, we'll probably all leave H City together. You can come with us then," Meng Qilin said.

"Okay. Thank you, Captain Meng," Bai Yaoyao agreed.

She had initially chosen H City as her first stopping point mainly because of Little Crook. Now that she had Little Crook, leaving was only a matter of time.

Many things in this life were already different from what she remembered. Leaving with the main group would indeed be safer, so she didn't refuse.

She motioned for Monkey to fetch a few bottles of chilled mineral water from the fridge and hand them to Captain Meng and his people, then waved goodbye.

Captain Meng had intended to refuse, but Monkey left immediately after setting the bottles down. Looking at the ice inside them, already on the verge of melting, he couldn't bring himself to turn them down after all. He called his team members over to quickly share the water.

A mouthful of cold water went down. So refreshing!