ATPnovel Chapter 47 Solving the Trouble
Chapter 47 Solving the Trouble
After lunch, it's time for a break.
The newly arrived survivors returned to their rooms to rest. After three days of tension, their nerves finally relaxed, and many of them fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.
The elderly residents of Building 3 each had their own tasks: Sister Sun led the kitchen helpers to clear the dishes, Zhao Yongqiang led a few people to the first floor to clean up the bloodstains splattered on the corridor during the morning's battle, and Shen Qingci returned to 506 to organize the list of newly added survivors for the day.
Gao Yuan didn't rest. He took his notebook and started visiting each room on the third and fourth floors.
Upon arriving at each room, he would first ask if I was comfortable with the accommodations and if I needed anything, then naturally sit down and begin chatting about what had happened that morning.
He would mention how Lu Chen cleared out the zombies, how he recruited the elite zombies last night, and finally end with a seemingly casual remark, "We are able to sit here alive, and we really have to thank the captain."
Lu Chen could occasionally feel a new warm current suddenly flowing into his wrist.
Each time, Gao Yuan would be in a room, guiding another survivor to sincerely say, "Thank you, Captain."
Lu Chen was increasingly satisfied with Gao Yuan.
Such talent is rare even in peacetime, and even more precious in the apocalypse.
He was even seriously considering how to keep Gao Yuan on his team.
He wouldn't feel bad at all if the military took away the other survivors, since they could exchange them for military merits, which could then be used to exchange for equipment and resources.
But Gao Yuan is different. If the military were to take away Gao Yuan, a talent who can manage logistics, do ideological work, and take care of the food, drink, and toilet needs of dozens of people, he would truly be heartbroken.
However, this matter cannot be rushed. He plans to find some time later to have a proper talk with Gao Yuan.
Even now, while everyone else is resting, he still has things to do.
He selected five of the strongest zombies from the horde and then headed straight for the 10th floor via the fire escape staircase.
That survivor, whose malice was more than half-hearted, needs to be dealt with.
When they reached the fire door on the 10th floor, Lu Chen paused for a moment.
The nylon rope he locked himself from the inside yesterday is still hanging on the doorknob, the knot is tied very tightly, and there is no sign that it has been untied.
Two low, guttural sounds came from inside the fire door; those were the two zombies he had deliberately left in the corridor yesterday, still wandering back and forth.
Lu Chen untied the knot and pushed open the fire door.
Hearing the noise, the two zombies wandering in the corridor turned their heads instantly, let out two roars, and pounced on each other.
Lu Chen didn't move. Tie Zhu and Er Zhu stepped out from behind him, one on each side, and grabbed the two zombies by the neck, pinning them to the ground.
The two zombies struggled desperately, but the difference in strength made their struggles futile.
Lu Chen did not kill the two zombies.
Keep it for now!
The corridor quieted down again. Lu Chen walked to door 1003 and knocked twice.
The door opened almost immediately, as if the person behind it had been standing at the door waiting all along.
The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man, around fifty years old. Even in the apocalypse, he was still wearing a dark gray suit, with the collar of his white shirt buttoned up meticulously. On his left wrist was a brand-name mechanical watch, the dial reflecting a cold light in the dim light.
The moment he stood at the door, his first impression was more like a manager who had just come out of a meeting room than a survivor who had been trapped for three days.
The middle-aged man glanced at the row of fully armed zombies behind Lu Chen, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he took a half step back, a clear hint of fear showing in his eyes.
But when his gaze shifted from the zombies to Lu Chen, the fear in his eyes vanished almost instantly, replaced by an indescribable composure.
He looked Lu Chen up and down, then slightly raised his chin.
"Young comrade," he spoke, his tone carrying a hint of accusation, "why are you only arriving now?"
Lu Chen leaned against the corridor wall, arms crossed, a look of great interest on his face.
He didn't speak immediately, just stared at the other person as if looking at something unusual. After several seconds, he finally spoke slowly, "I can come whenever I want, what's wrong?"
The middle-aged man frowned, seemingly very dissatisfied with Lu Chen's attitude.
He straightened his suit collar, straightened his back, and spoke in a stern and rigid tone, as if he were reprimanding a late intern in an office.
"How can you talk like that? Don't you know about the nation's Dawn Project? I'm a department manager at Daxing Company. Shouldn't talented people like us who contribute to the country be rescued immediately?"
He spoke more and more fluently, and his tone became increasingly firm.
"I heard it clearly on the radio these past two days: Project Dawn was officially announced, encouraging you superhumans to help us law-abiding citizens."
"I've been trapped here for three whole days. There are two zombies blocking the door outside. I only dared to open the window to call for help today because I heard noises downstairs. You guys are too inefficient."
He pointed at Lu Chen.
"Once the official rescue team arrives, I will definitely file a complaint against you for this."
Lu Chen didn't think much of what was said earlier. A person who had been trapped for three days and still dressed in a suit to maintain his dignity was probably the kind of person who liked to put on airs, liked to use his status to intimidate others, and habitually used the social status he had before the apocalypse.
He'd seen plenty of people like this before the apocalypse, but this was the first time he'd encountered one in this world. It was a bit comical, but nothing serious.
But that last sentence made him narrow his eyes slightly.
This afternoon at 3 p.m., he made his first official appearance in the military's sight. He wanted a clean and impressive resume, showing a large number of people rescued, well-organized survivors, and a high degree of mission completion.
It's obvious what someone who constantly says "I want to complain" will say when they meet the military.
He wouldn't allow anyone to sabotage his efforts to quickly gain reputation and rescue his parents!
"Looks like you're not very smart." Lu Chen shook his head, his tone very soft, as if he were talking to himself, and turned to walk back.
The middle-aged man froze. "Hey—hey! What do you mean? You stop right there!"
He tried to chase after it, but the elite zombie took a step forward, its body blocking the doorway like a wall, its chest directly in front of him.
The middle-aged man staggered back two steps after being knocked away. He looked up and saw the elite zombie's emotionless eyes staring down at him.
He finally started to get scared, and his voice began to tremble.
"You...you can't do this. What are you trying to do? The country is still here, the law is still in effect...you dare to kill someone, you will definitely be punished by law. Do you hear me! You dare!"
Lu Chen had already reached the fire escape entrance. He turned around and met the middle-aged man's fearful gaze through the elite zombies.
His expression was calm, and his tone was as if he were talking about something trivial.
"Who said I was going to kill someone? I just failed to provide adequate assistance."
After saying that, he stepped over the fire door and closed it behind him.
At the same time, Tie Zhu and Er Zhu released their grip.
The two zombies that had been pinned to the ground, no longer restrained, roared again as they saw living people in the corridor, their eyes instantly filled with bloodlust.
The department manager of Daxing Company stared in horror at the two zombies rushing towards him and let out a terrified scream.
The elite zombie stood still, coldly watching the scene unfold, as if it were a piece of meat that would scream.
After everything was over, the fire door was reopened.
Lu Chen walked in and had Tie Zhu and Er Zhu kill the two zombies as well, and the corridor became completely quiet.
At this point, all the zombies in the three buildings have been cleared.