Suffering Harm (Chapter 192)
Finally, they were about to return to the base's safe zone, but at that moment, they were targeted by crossbows, immediately terrifying the members of the several teams, their faces pale, unsure of what had happened.
They had only gone deep into the wilderness to complete a team mission.
They hadn't turned traitor.
Just as everyone was panicking, the team leaders remained calm. They quickly selected one person to use a loudspeaker and shout towards the base: “What's going on? We're the Blaze Team, just returning from a mission.”
“The base is under orange alert. Please do not make any sudden moves. Inspection personnel will check and verify your identities shortly.”
Fortunately, the massive crossbows mounted on the city walls were only a warning and did not fire arrows indiscriminately.
Upon hearing that the base had issued an orange alert, the team leaders were all shocked.
The base's alert levels, from highest to lowest, are black/red/yellow/orange. Although this was the lowest level, alerts were not usually issued unless something extremely severe had occurred.
“Wow, the last time an orange alert was issued was when Erensu went on a killing spree in the safe zone. It was said to be so brutal that people wanted to faint at the sight. The blood and flesh debris on the ground that day couldn't be cleaned no matter how much they tried.”
Hearing the base's broadcast, Mo Lin, sitting in the back seat, couldn't help but speak up, immediately catching Ye Sheng's attention.
She turned around, leaning on the back of the seat, her face full of curiosity, “Is Erensu that arrogant? She dares to kill in the safe zone?”
Ye Sheng had heard about Erensu for a long time. Ever since she arrived in this post-apocalyptic world, she knew about Erensu, a figure like a landmark.
A ruthless person who could stop children from crying at night!
Seeing someone listening, Mo Lin spoke with more enthusiasm: “Of course, she dares. As the fastest-growing Esper in the base, to be honest, Erensu can do whatever she wants. The base even covers for her... Not just killing a few people, even slaughtering an entire district would go unpunished.”
“...”
Gu Luoyu, sitting in the driver's seat, twitched her lips speechlessly. She glanced at Ye Sheng, who was listening with great interest, and couldn't help but think how absurd the rumors had become.
A killing spree in the safe zone? When did she ever do that?
All sorts of black hats were being thrown at her.
Even though she had occasionally felt a desire to kill due to her psychic abilities, Gu Luoyu mostly killed powerful contaminated creatures.
Fighting these beings gave her the thrill of near-death experiences; killing humans wasn't that satisfying.
Just a pastime for amusement.
Moreover, the base authorities had always wanted to pull her into special experiments, contributing to the lab's work, but they lacked a reason... If she had truly done something harmful to the base, the authorities would have acted long ago.
Would they have waited until now?
But now, with Ye Sheng, Gu Luoyu hadn't killed anyone for a long time. The side effects of her psychic abilities had lessened, and she hadn't had an episode.
Thinking of this, Gu Luoyu's lips curved into a smile, her red eyes showing a hint of amusement.
Then she looked at Ye Sheng and exclaimed, feigning relief, “Thankfully, Erensu has disappeared. Otherwise, staying in the base, if we were unlucky, we might have been killed!”
Seeing her reputation tarnished, the amusement in Gu Luoyu's eyes turned to helplessness as she tried to explain, “I didn't know Erensu did such things. It's all just rumors, don't believe them.”
Hearing another voice, Ye Sheng became conflicted, unsure of the truth.
However, she didn't dwell on it for too long. After all, Erensu was just a legendary figure she couldn't interact with in reality. Why overthink it!
She simply reached out and hugged Gu Luoyu's arm, resting her head on it, no longer mentioning Erensu, but asking about their future plans.
“Ah Yu, what will we do after returning to the base?”
Originally prepared with a lot to say but without the chance to speak, Gu Luoyu sighed inwardly, feeling that her secret identity must remain hidden at all costs.
Thinking this didn't stop her from speaking: “Rest at home for a while, then take on team missions. This time, we won't team up with others or join the gold-digging team. It'll just be the two of us.”
Gu Luoyu had had enough of others holding her back. Rather than dragging along a bunch of deadweights, it was better to just bring Ye Sheng along.
Thus, these words were also meant for Mo Lin in the back seat, letting him know in advance.
And such a stroke of good fortune, Mo Lin naturally wouldn't foolishly push away... After experiencing this supply transport mission, Mo Lin felt he wasn't suited for team missions.
It was better to stay in the base honestly!
Now, with Gu Luoyu taking on more missions, he, as the team leader, could just relax, and still earn team points. Such a good deal, he could even laugh in his dreams.
While the three were talking, the base's gate finally opened from inside. A dozen people in white hazmat suits walked out, quickly approaching the vehicles of the teams.
Seeing the hazmat suits, people couldn't help but wonder: had some unknown contamination appeared again?
Before people could continue their wild thoughts, those approaching loudly announced: “Everyone, please cooperate with our inspection. We won't harm you, just a quick check on your physical condition.”
The inspection method wasn't complicated, like stamping a seal on paper. A rectangular device was pressed on their wrists, immediately displaying a green light indicating safety.
A red light, on the other hand, indicated extreme danger.
The team members, having been exposed to the elements, hadn't had time to come into contact with anything else, so they all passed without exception.
When they saw the inspectors' relieved expressions through the transparent visors, someone couldn't help but ask curiously, only to learn that some special organizations had begun infiltrating the base's safe zone to cause havoc.
Among them, the Black Spring Freemasonry and the Shackles of Sin were the most active.
Not only did they destroy property, but they also developed an appetite for ordinary humans... As previously mentioned, the base's official conversion serum required consuming flesh and blood, even just a little.
Those with strong willpower could control their consumption, like drinking a little blood each week.
However, the transformation potions developed by other organizations weren't as mild. Besides causing users to become grotesque, they also drove them into a frenzied state.
Desperate to pounce on people and devour them.
And the recent stringent security measures at the base undoubtedly meant someone had done just that in the safe zone…