Chapter 4, Beyond the Passage

At this moment, Zhang Jie and another mercenary returned. As he passed by Zhan Lan, he deliberately gave the girl a hard slap on the backside. Caught off guard, Zhan Lan could only let out a sharp scream, while Zhang Jie laughed heartily as he walked towards Matthew

However, the brutal scene of blood and brain matter splattering did not unfold before everyone's eyes; the bullet merely grazed the scalp of Mu Gang, as he fell at the moment J. D. fired, having been tripped while running past Wang Zongchao.

Uh... no, not yet... actually, I'm not sure either. Zheng Zha suddenly felt awkward; due to the restrictions imposed by the main god, he was currently unable to mention the existence of the laser passage.

You also know that my identity is a security guard and a martial arts coach, so it's not surprising that I possess such skills? Wang Zongchao kept his hands raised above his head, smiled, but in his heart, he was well aware that he had indeed done something unnecessary, which led to the exposure of some of his abilities

Matthew hesitated for a moment before deciding to respond: "About five hours ago, the Flame Empress manipulated and sealed off the entire hive, then began to kill using the internal defense system, releasing toxic gas, cutting off the elevators, and shutting down the laboratories. Just like that, it exterminated all the people within this experimental area"

One of the mercenaries said: "To reach the Flame Empress, these laboratories are the necessary passage. Now they are all flooded, and I do not believe we can still get in."

Commander, we have found another route, but it is estimated to take more time to traverse. We will first return here, then pass through Restaurant B, and proceed directly to the destination from there. This route may take twice as long.

You should also be aware that we mercenaries are authorized to execute individuals who obstruct our missions. If you attempt to stop us again, my subordinates will certainly open fire!" Matthew said coldly, then abruptly grabbed the disoriented Miao Gang from the ground, pressing the gun against his forehead, and coldly asked, "Why did you run? If I believe you are lying, or if anyone speaks on your behalf, I will shoot!

The young man named Matt, still handcuffed, showed no awareness of being a criminal and spoke up: "There must be some secrets that certain companies do not want the outside world to know..."

Matthew cast a strange glance at the young man upon hearing his words, likely growing more suspicious of his identity. However, at the same time, he agreed with what the other had said. He turned to instruct his subordinates: "J.D., Ryan, Zhang Jie, you stay here to watch the prisoner and guard the exit. Be on the lookout for any survivors"

I merely want to prevent him from escaping Wang Zongchao cooperatively raised both hands high, holding a metal rod horizontally, presenting a look of a law-abiding citizen

The plan has failed! Wang Zongchao, who had just gotten up from the ground, helplessly shook his head. He had just tried to remind Matthew that there was something wrong with the corpse, but the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to say them. It seemed he was restricted by the 'Lord God'. Meanwhile, the corpse did not exhibit any other significant movements, indicating that it had not yet regained the ability to move like a zombie while in a state of oxygen deprivation in the water

The mercenaries were transporting the equipment to shut down the system when Zheng Zha suddenly interjected, raising his voice: "Wait, hold on a moment, don't you find this a bit strange? This computer is rather useless; you are just going to restart it like this. I don't think things are that simple."

At that moment, Matthew had already said: "Alright, let's get started, the rest of you come with me"

Kaplan's voice came through the intercom: "Don't worry, it's just an automatic sensor light, there's nothing to be concerned about"

A soft sound was heard as the mercenary opened the door leading to the mainframe on the other side of the passageway

Wang Zongchao's performance, however, seemed even more dismal than theirs. In the process of retreating in shock, the iron rod he was holding struck a decorative mirror behind him, shattering the glass into countless pieces, and he himself lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Matthew nodded and said: "Rein, J.D., you two go check if there is still a possibility to drain the water."

Another female mercenary couldn't help but ask: "How could it take so long?"

Hearing the mercenary captain's response, Alice gritted her teeth and said with concern, "Why is it doing this? Isn't it an intelligent computer system?"

Matthew carefully inspected the corridor once again. He found that the tempered glass decorations on the walls surrounding the entire corridor were completely sealed, and each piece of glass was immovable. This meant that the possibility of a machine gun suddenly emerging from somewhere was eliminated, allowing him to breathe a slight sigh of relief

I... I..." Miao Gang opened his mouth several times as if to speak, but the words stuck in his throat and could not be uttered. It seemed that he was also restricted by the 'Master God'; in any case, he was unable to disclose the existence of the laser passage.

The mercenary's objective was right in front of them, and the captain, Matthew, was the first to venture in, finding no traps. At this moment, to stop him would be tantamount to opposing the mercenaries. This guy seemed to have been navigating the city for quite some time; I had always thought he had been corrupted by this decaying metropolis. I never expected him to still hold such naive thoughts. Wang Zongchao sighed with a smile in his heart.

Matthew shook his head and said, "We do not know either; it could be due to external influences, such as a computer virus... It is also possible that internal personnel manipulated and sabotaged it, all of this..." As he mentioned internal personnel, his gaze swept over Wang Zongchao, Alice, and others.

Suddenly recalling the plot introduction of Zhan Lan, Wang Zongchao's mind conjured up a plan, and he pressed his hand against the glass window, exerting a forceful tremor.

Kaplan, the most computer-savvy among the mercenaries, directly opened three laptops and began to type away on them with remarkable skill. However, after several minutes, the door leading directly to the central computer remained tightly sealed.

Wang Zongchao furrowed his brows and appeared deep in thought, murmuring: "How could this happen... Leaving aside why that artificial intelligence malfunctioned, the fact that no one from the laboratory escaped and no one contacted the outside world indicates that this massacre was likely planned and executed with rationality. In other words, we cannot regard it as a typical intelligent system that has gone out of control due to program chaos. If this laboratory is still under her control, we are likely facing a rational and cunning enemy. What kind of 'gift' will she prepare to await our arrival?"

In a state of helplessness, Wang Zongchao and others had no choice but to follow the main group back along the route. Fortunately, this time the mercenaries did not run. After an unknown distance, the group finally stopped outside an iron gate. One of the mercenaries used a computer to open the gate, and then several armed individuals cautiously entered.

There is nothing unusual; fresh corpses still contain certain living cells, and sometimes, under the influence of bioelectricity, there may be slight muscle movements. Matthew approached to observe closely but did not see any subsequent actions after the female corpse opened her eyes, thus he reached a conclusion

Matthew gazed at him meaningfully and said, "Well, if you cannot articulate any questions, then you, and you as well, will come in with us." As he spoke, he gestured towards Zheng Zha and the middle-aged man named Mou Gang.

After hearing Kaplan's words, Matthew clearly felt much more at ease, but others who were familiar with the plot of the film involving the laser channel displayed expressions of skepticism.

A mercenary looked at the computer and said: "This is Restaurant B... the map says so."

When he saved Mou Gang, he did not think too much; he simply felt that this honest middle-aged man should not die, just as he had thought when he saved the chubby boy, Zeng Rong

At this moment, Zhang Jie appeared quite natural, as he kept following behind the main group. His demeanor suggested that he was constantly searching for something to his left and right. The mercenaries noticed this but said nothing. Only Wang Zongchao and the others understood that this was because Zhang Jie could not be more than 100 meters away from Matthew Addison, so he had to stay behind the main group

At that moment, unable to think of an answer, Wang Zongchao let out a quiet sigh. He raised his head and happened to see Li Xiaoyi, who was feeling weak from vomiting, leaning helplessly against the glass window. Behind him, a figure gradually appeared, prompting a kind reminder: "It seems there is someone behind you"

Is he going to reveal his true origins and the existence of the 'Supreme God'? Zhang Jie felt a chill in his eyes; he was well aware that while the 'Supreme God' had restricted them from mentioning the T virus and the laser passage, revealing his own origins was still permissible. Although doing so would result in a deduction of points, the loss of his own points was inconsequential; what mattered was that it would implicate others.

After such a long time, he finally stood before the Flame Empress, and the mission was about to be completed. Matthew couldn't help but let out a sigh. He called out to the mercenaries outside, "Alright, bring the items over." He had no fondness for this laboratory either; years of life-and-death experiences as a mercenary had given him an instinct akin to that of an animal. It made him feel uneasy here, as something terrifying could very well emerge. He decided to hasten the completion of the task and leave this cursed place. He called out to the mercenaries outside, "Alright, bring the items over." He had no fondness for this laboratory either; years of life-and-death experiences as a mercenary had given him an instinct akin to that of an animal. It made him feel uneasy here, as something terrifying could very well emerge. He decided to hasten the completion of the task and leave this cursed place.

The long-haired female mercenary was surprisingly named Rain, a name that is quite masculine. Upon hearing this, she and another mercenary, J. D., both gripped their guns and proceeded deeper into the corridor

After Matthew finished speaking, he turned inward, moving very cautiously. Each step he took was imbued with carefulness. Even so, when he reached the middle of the corridor, he was still startled, as the glass walls around him suddenly lit up. This abrupt sensation was enough to make an ordinary person feel weak in the knees.

However, Miao Gang continued to speak.

Matthew nodded and said, "Alright, let us take the second path. There is not much time left, everyone hurry up."

Kaplan raised his gun towards the two following behind Ren, while Zhang Jie waved his hand to Zheng Zha and the others, seemingly walking over there with ease

"Damn, what the hell!" This scene is far more terrifying than a female corpse suddenly floating into view. Matt could usually remain unaffected by ordinary corpses, but this time it scared him enough to take several steps back. Although Zhan Lan and Li Xiaoyi had seen movies and were somewhat mentally prepared, they still screamed out loud.

There were no signs of struggle; she was knocked unconscious and drowned. Hmm, her colleagues must be very kind.

Li Xiaoyi turned around to take a closer look upon hearing the words, only to discover a female corpse behind the glass window, who in life must have been voluptuous and beautiful. Now, however, there was no trace of sensuality left, her face filled with rigidity and the pallor of death, staring directly at him. He let out a heart-wrenching scream, and his previously weak limbs suddenly surged with immense strength, jumping back as if electrocuted. If it weren't for Zheng Zha blocking him, he would have likely hit the back of his head against the other tempered glass and fainted.

With a loud "bang," the enormous gunshot echoed in the not-so-spacious area. The ordinary people witnessing this scene turned pale, as they never expected that the mercenaries would kill them at will. Li Xiaoyi's legs trembled uncontrollably, and he nearly collapsed.

Once again, the newcomers, akin to pigs, have caused trouble. Had I known, I should have let a few more of them perish earlier... Zhang Jie, filled with resentment, looked at Wang Zongchao with eyes full of anger

Seeing Matthew's gaze growing colder, just as he was about to pull the trigger, Miao Gang finally spoke up, gasping for breath as he stammered: "I, I am just an ordinary driver..."

The two individuals suddenly turned pale with fear, and Mu Gang suddenly cried out while holding his head: "No, I don't want to, I don't want to go in!" As he spoke, he turned around and attempted to run away.

Matthew looked at the research institute filled with water and said, "Kaplan, Zhang Jie, you two go find another way to the Flame Empress."

Behind the main gate is a corridor over ten meters long, flanked on both sides by glass walls. If it were not for the excessively cold and hard impression conveyed by the high technology, it would resemble a passage leading to a magnificent crystal palace, entirely different from the steel walls outside the gate.

At this moment, the other two scouts had also returned. A long-haired mercenary named Rain said, "Sir, it is completely impassable over there; this floor has been completely flooded."

The mercenaries came to a halt, while Zhan Lan sighed and quietly retreated to the side of the female protagonist. Wang Zongchao noticed that the girl kept pulling on Zheng Zha, reminding him not to speak carelessly

"Have you regained your memory? Then tell me, what is wrong with this passage?" Matthew suddenly asked

Oh no

You are quite impressive! Matthew's tone was very stern

But I must say, you are quite impressive! I am well aware of the marksmanship of my subordinates; at this distance, not even a wildly flying fly could escape his gun. Yet you made him miss, seizing the moment when he had just pulled the trigger and could no longer adjust his aim, causing that guy to fall at the right time. I believe that with your skills, even if two people were to shoot at you simultaneously with handguns, you could effortlessly evade them in advance by accurately gauging the direction of their shots

The three of them nodded slightly, but only Zhang Jie let out a cold laugh as he took out a cigarette from his pocket. Those who have seen the movie should know, survivors? No, there are no survivors, but there are quite a few zombies.

After everyone had walked away, Alice suddenly spoke up and asked, "What is going on? First, it was nerve gas, and then it was flooding. It feels like a massacre, doesn't it?"

This is a vast hall filled with countless small containers, each approximately several cubic meters in size, from which a chilling aura continuously emanates. Wang Zongchao noticed that the expressions of the mercenaries were merely ones of confusion, while those around him who were familiar with the storyline looked at the containers with evident wariness and fear. Wang Zongchao immediately understood that these containers undoubtedly housed dangerous creatures, most likely the "Crawlers" mentioned on the watch. According to Zhan Lan, once the main computer is shut down, these Crawlers will transform into the most terrifying alien beings, their terrifying power surpassing that of zombies by more than a hundred times.

Upon witnessing his actions, a sharp glint flashed in Matthew's eyes as he forcefully waved his hand. In less than a second, the mercenary named J. D. drew his handgun and unhesitatingly pulled the trigger at the back of Mu Gang's head

From the muscles and bones of these corpses, they appear to have the physique of ordinary individuals... Well, as researchers, their muscles are even more relaxed than those of the average person, which should also indicate that their bones are likely to be more porous...

All the mercenaries looked at him strangely as Matthew walked out of the corridor and stood in front of Zheng Zha, quietly observing him. His tall stature exerted significant pressure. However, Zheng Zha was not an ordinary person; in reality, he was a capable white-collar worker. Although the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, he remained outwardly calm.

After passing through several steel gates, everyone arrived at a central computer control room. However, the central computer, known as the Flame Empress, is now out of control, and it is no longer possible to directly operate the entire laboratory from here

Then he shrugged again and added: "After all, this is just a research center, not a military institution, nor the ancient tomb of a pharaoh. There is no risk of suddenly being mowed down by an automatic machine gun while walking down the road, or of a trap filled with steel spikes collapsing on us. Even if the computer closes the door, we can easily break through with our weapons."

Then ... the eyes of the female corpse suddenly opened, revealing a pair of pupils with blurred boundaries between the iris and the sclera, filled with a sense of death and terror, staring fixedly ahead

If the company wants them to complete a certain task, even if it involves killing to silence them, it should be after they have completed the task and left. How could they deliberately conceal the existence of the laser passage to kill them? ... ... Since Wang Zongchao had just heard the plot summary of Zhan Lan, he was also aware of this part of the storyline, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Kaplan said without turning his head: "The Flame Empress is an intelligent computer, and its defense system is highly sophisticated. If it could be easily breached, it would not be used as the main computer in the laboratory..."

Wang Zongchao was carefully observing these corpses, assessing their combat capabilities

Seeing him fall, J. D. did not continue to shoot at him, but instead turned the gun to aim at Wang Zongchao, and even Matthew pointed the submachine gun in his hand at Wang Zongchao

You stay here

As someone spoke these words behind him, Wang Zongchao turned around and saw that the young man Matt, who was also wearing handcuffs, was similarly observing the corpse, showing no awareness of being a criminal

Similarly, Wang Zongchao also sensed a hint of unease. Although he had already estimated that it might be a perilous place inside, he did not expect the sense of crisis to be so intense, as if a ferocious beast lurking there was waiting to pounce on its prey. The dazzling crystal passage resembled the esophagus of a beast, causing alarm bells to ring loudly in his heart

This tremor did not shatter the tempered glass, nor did it produce any sound; it was as if a hand had merely pressed lightly against it. However, the force transmitted through the glass caused the water behind it to splash onto the face of the female corpse.

"Suit, no wonder the commission is so high this time; it turns out Umbrella wants us to act as babysitters." Matthew observed everything and couldn't help but curse.

In fact, there is nothing strange about this; any military unit is entitled to execute a deserter on the spot when in a state of combat. This is the iron-blooded style of being a soldier, not to mention the mercenaries who are even more brutal and unscrupulous than regular troops.

Kaplan replied with certainty: "The means are quite limited, essentially just releasing gas to induce fainting and activating the fire suppression system to drown people. If the time is extended, it is also possible to shut down the ventilation system to cause asphyxiation. However, based on the information provided by the company, the gas has already been depleted after such a large-scale release, and as long as we disable the automatic closing system of the door while entering, there is no risk of being trapped and drowned."

Upon hearing Wang Zongchao's words, Matthew's expression suddenly became serious. He turned to the mercenary Kaplan and asked, "You are a computer expert; what methods would this computer use if it wanted to kill us?"

As he spoke, a soft sound was heard, and the tightly closed door finally began to open slowly. Matthew nodded and said, "Pack it up!" After saying this, he turned around to look at Zheng Zha and the others.