Chapter 951: Explosion
When Xu Huo emerged from the quarantine zone, the players had already discovered the anomaly among the infected. The infected in this area were all placed under surveillance. To avoid causing a bad influence, the government players did not seal off the area with great fanfare. Instead, they temporarily closed several entrances and exits of the quarantine zone and detained all the vehicles and people coming from the incineration plant.
Apart from communications, several players also left the quarantine zone during this time.
After waiting for about ten minutes outside the quarantine zone, a convoy marked with the "Mother River Biotechnology" logo drove over. This was an experimental company specializing in improved crop seeds. It was not unusual for them to come and go here, and they also had a confidential nature. Therefore, after they entered, the transparent glass walls turned black, blocking the view from both inside and outside.
The virus carried by the original infected individuals no longer met the conditions for causing death or widespread transmission. Therefore, even though a considerable number of infected people lived in the quarantine zone, it did not affect the normal operation of W37. Now that the virus had flared up again and the survivors were being re-infected, it was evident that the virulence of the virus carried by the living samples was no less ferocious than during the first outbreak.
It was unknown when the first living sample arrived, but the virus had likely already spread beyond the quarantine zone. A large-scale outbreak was only a matter of time.
After moving away from the quarantine zone, Xu Huo received a call from Shangguan Xi. The latter suppressed his excitement and said, "I knew that Teacher Ai guy was up to no good. Guess who he went to see? A retired security guard from a government laboratory!"
"Did you hear what they talked about?" Xu Huo asked.
"No, I didn't," Shangguan Xi said. "They used a prop. Now Teacher Ai has gone to that security guard's home. There's no movement for now."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure he hasn't left?"
"Of course I'm sure. I have that much confidence," Shangguan Xi paused, then added, "But I noticed some people seem to be watching this security guard."
"Where are you?" Xu Huo asked again.
Shangguan Xi reported his location. Xu Huo estimated the general area and said, "I'll be right there."
Using "Destination Arrival" to move quickly through the city, he weaved between the streets and reached the place Shangguan Xi mentioned in no time.
When he was two blocks away from the destination, Xu Huo put away the prop. No other reason—just that his use of the prop had already caught the attention of some Enforcement Team players, and he was being watched now.
Since this was a city where players were active, it was impossible for no one to use props. As long as they didn't cause trouble, the Enforcement Team wouldn't interfere much. Therefore, when he entered a restaurant, the two players who had been following him at a distance left.
After packing two portions of late-night snacks from the shop, Xu Huo walked to the place where Shangguan Xi had settled down—he had found a dance hall.
A dance hall in the truest sense, even a bit more primitive than some entertainment spots in District 014. A bunch of people were crowded together in a smoky, chaotic atmosphere, swaying their bodies. Among them were quite a few "couples" with their hands all over each other, passionately releasing hormones in the dim light. To one's astonishment, some players were even using props to have fun. As for stimulants and similar potions, they were scattered everywhere. Some people were even groveling and fawning over players just to get their hands on some potions.
Shangguan Xi was sitting by a small window, his arms around two scantily clad women, grinning and waving at him.
In front of him was a stack of White Notes, and a table full of fine wine. The seats around him were all occupied by strangers, demonstrating from head to toe what it meant to be filthy rich.
Two of the women surrounding him stood up. Xu Huo raised his hand to stop them. "Make room for me."
The women couldn't gauge his mood and obediently moved aside. After Xu Huo sat down, he looked towards the tall building across the street.
Before entering, he had observed that the streets in this area were arranged in a "well" pattern. The dance hall was at the intersection of a crossroad, and diagonally opposite was the residence of the retired security guard Shangguan Xi had mentioned.
From this distance, it wasn't difficult to ascertain whether anyone was actually in the retired security guard's residence. At the same time, he also discovered that two households on the same floor as the retired security guard, as well as one household two floors above on the opposite side, were all monitoring the same place.
Inside the room, Teacher Ai seemed to have finished catching up with his old friend. He was sipping tea and flipping through a newspaper, while the target, a man with a square face, was browsing the menus of nearby restaurants, apparently about to order food.
"Brother Xu, did you bring that food for me?" Shangguan Xi reached for the food on the table.
"It's not for you," Xu Huo interrupted him. "You have to prepare gifts when visiting someone."
Shangguan Xi couldn't figure out what he was planning. "I'm afraid a visit like this won't be welcome, will it?"
Teacher Ai had traveled a long distance to find a retired security guard with a sensitive identity. Saying it was just catching up was a bit of a stretch. But no matter what he intended to do, given their relationship, it would be strange if the other party didn't suspect their motives.
Besides, they were following Teacher Ai with ulterior motives themselves. Wouldn't going directly to his door ruin everything?
"You wait outside and cover me." Xu Huo didn't explain further. He picked up the two takeout bags and walked out of the dance hall, heading straight for the building across the street.
As he passed the main entrance, the security guard stopped him. Sensing that several other players were rushing towards this area, he explained that he was delivering food. But the guard wouldn't let him in and insisted he contact the resident.
Since there was an Enforcement Team nearby, Xu Huo took out his communicator and called the retired security guard's home.
Once the call connected, he said directly, "I'm Xu Gou. I'm delivering food to Teacher Ai."
After a two-second pause, the voice on the other end said, "Come on up. I'll let the guard know."
Xu Huo entered the residential complex. As he stepped into the elevator, he saw the player who had been monitoring from across the street leap down from the upper floor. At the same time, two or three players from the left and right also climbed over the walls.
The elevator went straight to the sixth floor. But when he stepped out, a player was already waiting at the door. The man reached out to take the things from his hands.
Xu Huo lowered his eyelids and simply walked past him. Seeing that he was being uncooperative, the man reached out to grab his shoulder. Just then, a crashing sound came from inside the room. The man's expression changed. Abandoning Xu Huo, he rushed straight for the room where Teacher Ai was and kicked the door open!
Almost the moment the door was kicked open, Xu Huo sensed that the two people inside the room had vanished. At the same time, something else appeared, accompanied by a faint, ticking sound...
With a single stride, he leaped out of the corridor window. The moment he pulled out the "Absolute Safe Distance," a massive flame, accompanied by a thunderous roar, erupted from inside the building!
The building exploded!
The protective layer formed by the prop isolated the scorching flames, but Xu Huo was still sent flying over ten meters by the shockwave. Without even turning his head, he knew that at least half the building had been blown up. The adjacent buildings and streets were all affected. The powerful blast wave and the glaring residual light spread for several hundred meters. The building debris from the explosion, along with the shattered glass and fragile objects broken by the shockwave, caused secondary damage. In an instant, it claimed many lives, and even several players who were nearby failed to escape!
(Chapter End)