Zhao Yan looked anxiously at Ding Junyi. Although she usually didn’t very much colleague who lacked emotional intelligence, she knew at this moment that the other’s rationality far surpassed her own, and it was precisely her communication skills and attitude that had secured Lin Xian and his team’s rescue.
At this moment, seeing Ding Junyi busy, Zhao Yan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and quickly called over her student, Xu Wen. "Xiao Xu, quick, let’s also copy our research data and take it with us."
"Ah? Why do we need to take that?"
"That’s the fruit of our labor!" Zhao Yan glanced at Ding Junyi and pulled Xu Wen aside, whispering, "If we get out, these materials can prove our value. Whether we look for our original organization or seek asylum with the Tianqi Federation, would you say these things are important?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Wen inhaled sharply and nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. As scientific researchers, their research data might very well become their capital for survival later on. With this thought, the two quickly ran to their computers and began downloading the data.
On the side, Han Qiming saw the actions of the three and understood what was happening, joining in the data downloading process.
Ding Junyi paid no attention to the thoughts of the other three. In addition to the research data, she also downloaded the holographic structure of the Underground City and notes for various compartment areas, as well as the most recent backup of the surveillance information, all of which she took with her. Then, looking at the surveillance screen showing three people rapidly moving, she thought of something else and began to search the system for related information on the internal operation of the Underground City’s transport trains.
Not long after, the figures of Lin Xian and his two comrades disappeared from the monitors. From their previous location, they had already passed through Area D23 and should only be a few hundred meters from F13 area where they were.
But the monitors in the outside corridors and passage areas had been damaged, so Ding Junyi could not see what Lin Xian and his people were doing.
After finishing everything, she stood up and walked quickly towards the laboratory, arriving at the sealed hall. There was an isolation door here, their last line of defense.
By now, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming also followed out. Seeing Ding Junyi standing by the door, none of them dared to approach.
"Are they coming?" Han Qiming shouted.
Xu Wen said anxiously, "Director Ding, are you going to open the door? It seems like there’s no one outside."
The three of them kept their distance, not daring to get close to the door, for fear that opening it would allow a horde of man-eating monsters to rush in.
Ding Junyi simply raised her hand to signal everyone to be quiet, then stood silently behind the isolation door, her slender finger lightly placed on the door opening button.
Thud-doom, thud-doom.
The highly enclosed and soundproof isolation door almost completely blocked out most sounds, and the hall was incredibly silent. The few waiting for rescue felt as if they could hear their own heartbeats.
No one knew what they would face once that door opened.
It could be rescuers descending from the sky, or it could be a swarm of terrifying monsters barging in.
At this moment, everyone’s hearts were suspended in the air.
Ding Junyi listened attentively to the sounds outside, her expression calm and unexcited, as if devoid of any emotional color. Suddenly, her gaze shifted, and she decisively pressed her finger down.
The long-sealed isolation door suddenly opened, and a chilly draft rushed in.
The intense sound of gunfire echoed. Almost the instant the isolation door opened, three figures wearing anti-toxic masks surged in, followed by the ghastly howls of countless zombies.
As KIKI rushed in and waved her hand back, an invisible Telekinesis Barrier surged and instantly blew away the pursuing zombies.
The horrific scene made Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming scurry into a corner, with Han Qiming clutching a chair in front of him for protection.
"Wow, the door was opened just in time." As soon as KIKI entered, she was immediately surprised by Ding Junyi standing by the door.
At that moment, Ding Junyi pressed the door closing button again.
The isolation door closed, cutting off the sky-shaking howls. The lighting in the Sci-tech area’s hall was bright, the interior clean and tidy, a world apart from the blood and death outside just moments ago.
Director Ding then turned around, facing the three people and slowly raised her hands.
"I am Ding Junyi. The air warning system has not issued any alerts, so you don’t have to worry about the air quality and can remove your anti-toxic masks."
Lin Xian aimed his gun at Ding Junyi, who had her hands raised high, her expression calm and her entire demeanor broadcasting harmlessness.
Seeing this woman, a flicker of surprise crossed his mind.
She was calm, her logic clear, seemingly devoid of emotional color. Her features were not stunning but nevertheless delicate and pleasing to the eye, with gold-rimmed glasses, a white lab coat, jeans, and short heels—a blend of intellectuality and aloof charm.
Lin Xian removed his anti-toxic mask, took a breath, then turned to look at Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and the others, scrutinizing them and saying, "So it’s just the four of you, right?"
"Zhao Yan, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, a Level One Scientific Personnel asset to the Federation, Xu Wen, Ph.D. in Biochemistry, a Level One Scientific Personnel asset to the Federation, Han Qiming, a Ph.D. in Microbiology as well as an expert in Ecology."
Director Ding introduced them calmly with her hands still raised, without any unnecessary words, quickly informing Lin Xian of the value of these people.
Her words were concise, without any beating around the bush, as if trying to tell Lin Xian that the people he rescued were not just anybody, and if he was contemplating killing them, he should at least think twice.
"We don’t have any weapons and are willing to cooperate with any action you take. If you rescue us, you can exchange us for certain benefits from either the original Federation Government or the New Apocalypse Federation Organization."
"Yes, yes, yes, we can provide value, please don’t hurt us!" Xu Wen pleaded desperately, nodding repeatedly.
"We’re just scientific personnel, no hostility here."
Zhao Yan and Han Qiming also hurriedly added.
Lin Xian’s gaze became sharp.
"Weren’t you just saying that you’ve been abandoned as assets?"
Director Ding did not argue, stating:
"When it comes to rescue difficulty, we are considered abandoned, but as long as we are alive, to the authorities, our existence still holds certain value."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xian couldn’t help but snort coldly in his heart.
Being abandoned and still discussing their value, was indeed the logic of intellectuals, profound yet messed up.
But from a survival standpoint, it made perfect sense. These scientific personnel only had a better chance of survival by joining a government organization. In this situation, what significance was there in dwelling on whether they were assets or about their human rights?
"Building, check them out." Lin Xian gestured to the Building.
Following that, the Building moved forward with his gun, his imposing figure frightening Zhao Yan and the others into stepping back repeatedly.
He lifted their lab coats with his gun to check, and upon confirming there were no weapons, he nodded to Lin Xian.
"Wow, what is this?!"
At this moment, KIKI, who had just removed her anti-toxic mask, suddenly saw something and hurried over. There, in the laboratory, was a sealed transparent culture chamber, within which grew a plant resembling a chrysanthemum. However, it was a nearly pure black color, with hints of scarlet at the center of its tufts, creating a highly eerie appearance.
"The Blood Calamity Disaster Plant, this one we refer to as Number 1, discovered during the first Extreme Night Event." The woman named Xu Wen approached nervously at that moment, "From the leaves, stems, to the flower head, they are clearly of the Chrysanthemum family, but this seems to be some kind of mutation because it was found growing on..."
"It’s growing on corpses!" Ding Junyi interrupted coldly.