Chapter 7: The Tacit Understanding of Black-Hearted Individuals
After several twists and turns, the group finally embarked on their journey.
Zheng Zha, Spence, and Matt, who were considered suspects, along with Chu Xuan carrying the box, were surrounded by the team in the very center, with Fang Ge and Zhan Lan following closely behind.
Those holding firearms were on either side, while JD brought up the rear of the team.
It was a very secure way of moving, with a compact formation and mutual supervision—which also meant the pace wouldn't be too fast.
“No need to keep an eye on me… I won’t fall behind,” Zhan Lan said softly, indicating to Fang Ge that he didn't need to worry.
Blocker injections are commonly used in competitive sports and other occasions, so their effectiveness was beyond doubt. Zhan Lan felt her condition was even better than usual.
She remembered that Fang Ge had been assigned the task of carrying the T-Virus, so he should be watching that box.
Fang Ge didn't reply, simply continuing to move forward in silence.
This gave Zhan Lan a very classic misconception.
“Is he interested in me?”
Staring at his delicate and handsome face, she couldn't help but let her thoughts wander, nervously fiddling with the strands of hair beside her cheek.
This was clearly the glasses-wearing girl, whose mind was filled with romance, overthinking—although Zhan Lan's most correct way of being utilized was indeed to enhance her will to survive and subjective initiative through “falling in love.”
But that wasn't Fang Ge's primary concern.
He was already thinking ahead about the various events that would unfold and rehearsing them in his mind.
As a top-tier virtual game, Infinite World also featured a classic character creation segment at the start.
Fang Ge was born with distinct facial features, a high nose bridge, and a few strands of hair falling casually, which couldn't hide his handsomeness at all.
Simply put, he had delicate features, a broad back, and a strong, masculine charm.
This was a “Long Aotian”-esque appearance, and he even suspected that his smooth-sailing life was due to this.
In any case, whether for immersion or practicality, he never altered the character's appearance, only modifying the character's initial attributes.
As is well known, the six dimensions in Infinite Horror are: Intelligence, Mental Power, Muscle Strength, Nerve Reaction Speed, Cell Activity, and Immunity.
A normal adult's six-dimensional attributes average 100 points, with a total of 600 points, which is also the maximum attribute points for a starting character.
Fang Ge's attribute distribution choice was extreme: Immunity was the highest at 200 points, while the other five items were the lowest at 80 points.
This way, the threat of the T-Virus and “Lockpicking Backlash” would be greatly reduced for him, and later, when performing “Formula Reinforcement” in the Main God Space, the success rate and reward point utilization rate would also be greatly increased.
To put it bluntly, it was “greed”! It was the pursuit of extremes! This was the true meaning of speedrunning.
With mercenaries protecting him, his physique was irrelevant, but his meager intelligence meant that if he didn't have “emergency plans” in his mind, it would be difficult for him to have “quick wit.”
For example, when Spence suddenly attacked just now, Fang Ge was half a beat slow, and at first, he could only watch Mou Gang resist and then get riddled with bullets.
The group continued to walk up the platform and soon arrived at the laboratory entrance, where a sealed steel door blocked their way.
When they reached the door, Alice, dressed in a fiery red gown, suddenly asked the black captain:
“I think… shouldn’t I also be restrained?”
She stroked the wedding ring on her finger and murmured, “If Spence really is the culprit, I might be an accomplice.”
—It's hard to imagine why Alice would have such a personality. What was Dr. Isaacs's mental state when he designed the clones?
To create a saintly figure he despised, only to be completely annihilated by that saintly figure?
From the final installment of the series, Alice was merely a clone of Dr. Marcus's daughter, Alicia Marcus, the founder of the Umbrella Corporation.
But as a major capitalist, even if Alicia were kind, she wouldn't be to the extent of a “saintly figure,” would she?
James Shade turned to look at her, shaking his head, “You are not married. This is just a cover, and it's your symbol for protecting the Hive… You and Spence are just colleagues.”
He was already going crazy with the spy situation. If he kept catching traitors like this, he might as well just shoot everyone dead.
He waved to the other mercenaries, who quickly took out some machinery from their bags and began to hack at the large door.
“We wasted a lot of time just now… Let me do it, I designed this part.”
Entering his area of expertise, Chu Xuan unceremoniously squeezed next to Kaplan, sitting on the box.
Kaplan immediately looked at the black captain, and only after seeing James Shade nod slightly, he suspiciously handed over the computer in his hand.
“Oh, this computer is specially made, it uses…”
Chu Xuan's actions caused Kaplan, who was eagerly trying to share his insights, to gradually lower his voice.
He was surprised to find that Chu Xuan barely needed any time to adapt; his fingers already formed streaks of afterimages on the keyboard.
Is this my computer or yours?
In just a few breaths, the sound of machinery operating could be heard.
“The door is open.”
Chu Xuan revealed a faint smile and handed the computer back to the almost petrified Kaplan.
As if everything was just a trivial little job.
Everyone present was stunned; Zheng Zha's jaw momentarily forgot to close.
“That's it? You get three times our salary? And a talent like Chu Xuan works security here?” JD patted Kaplan's shoulder, indignantly.
“…My salary is not low,” Chu Xuan said impassively, as if stating an ordinary trivial matter.
This made JD, who was poor and had many problems, curse “fuck.”
The group gazed at the other side of the large door, looking inward at the pitch-black void; there was nothing but darkness.
James Shade remembered the virus and zombies Fang Ge had described earlier. After a moment of hesitation, he turned and ordered:
“Everyone put on night vision goggles and proceed. Turn on infrared aiming. Those without night vision goggles, do not leave the protective circle formed by the infrared light source.”
The black captain was cautious his entire life.
“Those in the middle maintain physical contact. Remember your positions. If anyone takes abnormal action, report it immediately. If necessary, please fire directly.”
Chu Xuan said, carrying the suitcase in one hand, while his other hand casually rested on Spence.
His statement drew approving and admiring glances from the mercenaries.
On the surface, this could both resolve the current trust crisis within the team and serve to buy time.
But in reality… Fang Ge vaguely guessed Chu Xuan's idea; he smelled the scent of a side quest.
A slightly cool, soft touch interrupted Fang Ge's thoughts. Zhan Lan's small hand quietly reached out and held Fang Ge's right hand.
Fang Ge instinctively lightly scratched her palm.
Anyway, he didn't have to obey real-world laws and morals; he always played games very flamboyantly… nothing else, just out of familiarity.
Zhan Lan trembled slightly as if electrocuted, quickly averted her head, and offered her other hand to Alice.
Alice gladly took it, seemingly sensing Zhan Lan's “unease and awkwardness,” and the white woman gave her a reassuring smile.
This was also a formidable character, both powerful in combat and blessed with a protagonist's halo.
Fang Ge raised an eyebrow, his free left hand patting Spence's shoulder, not bothering to hide his suspicion of him.
“Why are you all staring at me? Leaving the real spy alone?”
Spence still spoke with a slight lisp. He insisted on slandering Zheng Zha, trying to win support for himself: “What if Zheng Zha escapes in the chaos?”
Zheng Zha found that Chu Xuan and Fang Ge were on his left and right, like two door gods occupying Spence's left and right arms. He couldn't help but chuckle mischievously:
“I'm upright and honest, I won't run away! Why didn't you save a spot for me?”
The one with the biggest grudge against Spence was clearly him, who had been wrongly accused, so why was he left out now?
After much thought, Zheng Zha chuckled awkwardly, put his arm around Chu Xuan's shoulder, and then forcefully squeezed his other hand into Spence's lower back.
“You'll understand when you see the surveillance!” Spence roared, his eyes red, whether from emotional agitation or pretending to be helpless from being wronged.
—No, you won't live to see the surveillance. This “Werewolf” game is about to end.
Fang Ge's heart was calm, waiting for the team to advance into the darkness.
As long as Red Queen wasn't shut down, the zombies would be controlled, so it was very safe here.
There were still nearly three hours until the main quest ended, and currently, no one had obtained a side quest. It was far from the time when the Main God would increase the difficulty for them.
Confirming that everyone was ready, Captain James made a forward gesture, then led the way into the darkness.
The group followed closely, one by one their figures swallowed by the darkness, leaving only a few red dots flickering in the dimness.
Quiet, very quiet.
Zhan Lan held her breath, no longer caring about being “teased” just now, and her grip on Fang Ge's hand couldn't help but tighten.
A group of people advanced shoulder to shoulder like this, the Hive's ventilation system blowing cold air, making Zhan Lan, who was lightly dressed, shiver down her spine.
In the darkness, she could only hear the rustling footsteps inside the room, bringing her an unknown fear.
Suddenly, she felt the person beside her move abruptly.
To her left… that is, Fang Ge. What was Fang Ge doing again?
The next moment, the shouts rising and falling told her the answer.
“Spence! Spence is trying to escape!”
“Fire quickly, Spence is running!”
“Don't let him run, Spence is the mole!”
Three voices rang out almost simultaneously.
She immediately understood and, disregarding her lady-like image, shrieked in a high-pitched voice:
“Ah! Who is it! Who is touching me!”
“Da da da da da~”
Hearing the sound of a clip being emptied, Fang Ge, one of the culprits, couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.
—Oh! How did we think of the same thing?