Chapter 46: Conversations with the Security Team
Where was this… so cold… so painful…
Like a drowning person on the brink of death, my body and thoughts were slowly dragged into an abyss by a sense of weightlessness.
My hazy consciousness desperately wanted to move my limbs to push my body toward the surface.
But my limbs, stiff as stone, wouldn’t budge.
In despair, I watched the light on the water’s surface fade further away.
The suffocating isolation from air grew stronger.
A piercing cold spread through my body…
Yet that subtle chill didn’t seem to come from external invasion, but from… my heart?
Suddenly, a viscous black liquid, like sludge, surged from the abyss below, tightly wrapping my body.
The nauseating sensation on my skin was irresistible.
It flowed and enveloped me, until the last trace of light in my vision was stripped away.
That feeling was inescapable, until I sank completely into endless darkness…
“Stone, don’t sleep. It’s time to wake up. We’ll check your injuries before the operation starts.”
My fading consciousness snapped back with a call that shattered the chaos.
Opening my eyes easily tore through the haze clouding my vision.
Beyond the torn chaos was Han Nianling’s face, veiled with a linen scarf.
The sky in the background was still dim, but faint rays of dawn glimmered at the horizon’s edge.
Judging by the season, it was likely around four or five in the morning.
My muddled brain pieced together last night’s memories after a moment’s thought: the corrosive vulture’s attack, losing two more teammates, being forced to the edge of Sector 01B by monsters, and, at the critical moment of nightfall, luckily finding a high-rise safe zone above the pollution layer to survive a night full of danger…
“Han… ugh! Cough cough… cough…”
I moved my lips, intending to speak, but a sharp pain in my throat choked my vocal cords.
My throat was so dry it felt blocked by an indigestible foreign object.
Even coughing was excruciating.
As if she had anticipated this reaction, Han Nianling handed me her water canteen, which I snatched immediately.
The obstruction in my throat made me gulp the water eagerly.
My cheeks puffed out with desperate thirst.
With the water’s moisture, the stinging in my throat finally subsided.
Drinking too hastily, I gasped heavily twice, but my throat felt much better.
“Phew… burp!”
“Your crude manners really don’t match your appearance.”
Han Nianling, taking back the canteen, grinned as if she’d seen something amusing.
“I told you, I used to be a ma—”
I frowned, ready to retort, but stopped abruptly.
To my surprise, I saw Han Nianling raise the canteen and tilt her head back.
Her slightly chapped lips met the canteen’s rim.
A few glistening water droplets slid down her delicate neck, disappearing into her collar.
It was just normal drinking, but I realized then that I had used Han Nianling’s canteen.
My own was still intact in my protective vest’s pocket.
But if Han Nianling didn’t mind the saliva contact, I certainly wouldn’t fuss over such a trivial matter.
“I’m impressed by your mindset. Sleeping so soundly even in Sector 01. Did you have a good dream?”
After drinking, Han Nianling tucked the canteen back into her waist pouch.
Her teasing words made me suddenly realize something.
Last night… What did I dream about?
Forgetting a dream’s contents was common—a process of the brain clearing meaningless memories, like self-optimization.
But I didn’t believe that dream’s memory was meaningless.
On the contrary, I felt deeply concerned, as if it was a crucial memory.
Ever since I became like this, I never doubted these sixth-sense-like feelings.
But why couldn’t I recall it?
“Sleeping well is a good thing. Staying energized helps us complete the mission better, doesn’t it?”
At that moment, a vaguely familiar yet strange voice interrupted my struggle to dredge up the memory.
Before I could look up, a right hand in a tactical glove extended toward me, holding a tube resembling toothpaste.
The cream-colored packaging read ‘Energy Paste (Milk Flavor).’
Smaller text below detailed the formula’s ingredients and energy ratios.
“What’s this…”
Sitting on the mat, I looked up in confusion.
The man’s unremarkable face had no standout features.
His rough, slightly dark skin and scattered stubble on his chin suggested he was in his mid-twenties.
“Security team’s special energy paste. Tastes much better than standard rations.”
The young team member smiled.
“It’s extra provisions for missions. Take it.”
“Th… thank you.”
Since it was offered kindly, I accepted without further hesitation.
I was curious to try the taste of the nutrition paste exclusive to the security team.
Squeezing the paste into my mouth, the viscous liquid was rich in moisture.
As labeled, a strong milky flavor filled my mouth.
The luxurious sweetness instantly activated my salivary glands.
I couldn’t help but squint in enjoyment.
Compared to the tasteless instant rations I ate as a mercenary, this was worlds apart.
Sugar was not cheap in Chu Sheng City.
The most common sweetener among civilians was a simple syrup extracted from sugarcane juice.
Being able to eat something this good filled me with gratitude.
Since killing the crawling giant lizard, the other team members had become more open to interacting with me.
But in unfamiliar situations, even without gas masks, I couldn’t identify them by appearance alone.
Soon, I confirmed his identity through the ‘10-B4’ tag on his chest and his familiar voice: “You’re the medic?”
“Medic is just part of my duties. The security team has an emergency medical unit, but combat teams don’t have dedicated medics.”
The young team member grinned, but there was no real mirth in it.
I wasn’t naive enough to ask further.
I could deduce the reason.
As an elite force, the security team often undertook high-risk missions.
In such missions, injuries requiring specialized treatment were usually fatal.
A dedicated medic would be pointless.
Every security team member carried personal medical supplies, making a medic a wasteful use of manpower and resources.
“Don’t call me medic. Just use my code, ‘B4,’ like the others do… Sorry, for special reasons, I can’t share personal information.”
The teammate named B4 explained.
I nodded in understanding.
Security team members had sensitive identities, much like mercenaries using codenames for safety.
“By the way, how’s your injury?”
This question seemed to be the real reason he came, not just to deliver the energy paste.
Others had also expressed concern about my injury, as the action that killed the crawling giant lizard was the direct cause of it.
“It’s mostly healed. I can still move.”
I moved my left arm widely to demonstrate, but Han Nianling quickly stopped me with her hand.
“I know your recovery is strong, but don’t move recklessly without a check-up.”
Han Nianling’s tone left no room for argument, halting my intention.
B4 nodded in agreement: “Researcher Han is right. Better safe than sorry. Since that’s settled, I’ll head out. I’ve got other scouting tasks to finish.”
Having confirmed my condition, B4 left the small room without lingering.
Once his footsteps faded, Han Nianling began the purpose of waking me: “It’s almost time for the operation. Let’s treat your injuries first.”
“Yes… yes…”
I capped the half-eaten energy paste and tucked it into my pocket.
Rising from the mat, I pulled my clothing off my left shoulder.
Han Nianling peeled off the trauma patches on my shoulder and scapula.
“Hm?”
After removing the patches, Han Nianling let out a soft sound of surprise.
This unexpected noise made me tense.
If something was wrong with my shoulder, it could have immeasurable consequences for my future.
“Han… employer, is my injury serious?”
I couldn’t suppress the growing unease in my heart.
The pain had lessened significantly—surely nothing unexpected had happened?
“No, quite the opposite. Your injury… it’s healing remarkably well.”
Han Nianling applied a new trauma patch sprayed with medicinal liquid, murmuring as if she could hardly believe her eyes.
“The bruising has faded significantly, and the color has lightened from purplish-black to much paler. I might need to reassess your body.”
My body?
Her words let me breathe a sigh of relief.
No irreversible damage was cause for celebration.
But they also made me confront myself—or rather, this body.
In my two years as a mercenary, I’d been injured many times, with similar wounds not uncommon.
Comparing them, as Han Nianling said, this body’s self-healing ability was indeed exceptional.
This body… was it a transformation of my original one, or was it no longer my original body?
If the latter… was I still the same Zhong Jing?
“Three o’clock, we’ve got a situation!”
B4, who hadn’t been gone long, suddenly raised an alarm.
Severe interference had rendered the communication earpieces useless, leaving only verbal relays.
His voice was loud enough for all teammates to hear without risking exposure.
Chaotic footsteps immediately sounded outside.
Anything tied to Sector 01B’s name demanded constant vigilance.
I quickly geared up and hurried with Han Nianling toward B4’s position.