https://amzn.asia/d/iqxiNRl
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As time slowly passed, the pale afternoon sunlight couldn't bring any warmth to these people.
Jerry whispered to Mo Wen,"Will they kill us?"
"Why? Just because we saw them kill someone?"
"Do you think those who ran away might be infected?"
"Impossible. Experts said only animals could get infected."
The room fell silent. Mo Wen's thoughts returned to that strange symbol—a shield and an axe. He couldn't stop thinking about where it came from. His intuition told him it wasn't just an ordinary emblem.
Mo Wen shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He took out a few packs of chocolate from his bag and looked around. Everyone's faces were anxious. After a moment of silence, he said softly,"Anyone who wants some can come and get it."
A few people quickly gathered around, like they had found their last hope. Uncle Sima slowly walked over last and whispered,"Are you crazy? Giving away your food now? We don't know how long we'll be locked up."
"But we're all in this together. I understand the principle of helping each other," Mo Wen stubbornly replied.
Uncle Sima glanced at the others in the room and said meaningfully,"You still don't get it... Not everyone who looks like a person is actually human."
"We haven't committed any crimes. They'll let us go... right?" Mo Wen bit his lip, realizing he couldn't convince himself.
Uncle Sima sneered,"You're too naive. You believe such lies?" His cold tone was like the chill of the night, making Mo Wen shiver.
After speaking, Sima nudged Mo Wen and glanced at Jerry in the corner.
Mo Wen saw the journalist fiddling with something in the corner. He squinted his eyes and pretended to look for a place to use as a toilet, quietly approaching. When he got close to Jerry, he accidentally saw a storage device hidden in the metal rod of Jerry's backpack.
Jerry was wary of others approaching, but when he saw it was Mo Wen, he gave a strange smile and motioned for him to sit down. His eyes sparkled with excitement."They'll never expect it. I'm wearing electronic contact lenses, recording everything. It's all stored here!" He held a tiny magnetic storage device and whispered,"Just wait. When I expose this, I'll be famous!"
Mo Wen had a bad feeling and warned,"They won't show mercy. If they find out, you're done for."
"Coward!" Jerry waved dismissively."Fortune favors the bold!" His voice had a hint of madness, and his eyes greedily stared at the storage device, as if future wealth and fame were already in his grasp.
Mo Wen shook his head and walked away, trying to tap the walls around him. He found that the old house's walls were solid blue bricks. He went to the small fitting room at the back of the clothing store. The floor was fake wood made of synthetic leather, perfect for a toilet. He sat on a wooden chair, bored, looking around. The broken mirror reflected a tired young man. He sighed and instinctively stomped on the floor."Hollow, hollow, hollow," it made a hollow sound.
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The sun dipped closer to the horizon, its fading light spilling across the sky in streaks of deep crimson and golden hues. The world beneath was bathed in an eerie, foreboding glow, as if nature itself anticipated the turmoil to come.
The air was thick with unease when a group of soldiers marched through the shop's gates. At their head was an officer—tall, composed, with sharp eyes behind a pair of round glasses. His uniform was creased, suggesting he hadn't changed for days. A badge displaying a shield and axe was also visible. With a firm motion, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room grew silent. Volunteers who had been speaking in hushed tones stopped mid-sentence. They glanced at each other nervously, their feet shifting as if torn between approaching the officer and keeping a safe distance.
The officer scanned the room with a calm but calculating gaze. His presence was commanding, yet his expression carried a faint trace of weariness, as though burdened by responsibilities too heavy for one man.
"Who is Tanaka?" he asked, his voice measured but firm, cutting through the tension like a blade.
The young man hesitantly raised his hand."Here I am," he said, stepping forward, though his movements were tentative, betraying his unease.
The officer's sharp eyes settled on Dr. Tanaka, studying him for a moment before giving a slight nod."You, come out," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Dr. Tanaka froze, his face pale."Sir, we're volunteers! We didn't do anything wrong!" he protested, his voice wavering as he instinctively took half a step back.
The officer's lips curved into a faint smile, but it wasn't malicious. It had a hint of teasing and reassurance."Don't worry," he said."We're here to gather some information from you. We know your father well and respect him."
Tanaka's face showed a trace of relief. He let out a long breath and his tense body relaxed slightly. But then a thought suddenly occurred to him, and his brow furrowed again."What about my team?" He looked at his colleagues behind him, who were frozen in place, their faces filled with fear and confusion.
"That will depend on the truthful information you provide," the officer replied calmly.
The group's unease surged again, and they all eagerly looked at Dr. Tanaka.
Dr. Tanaka forced a smile to comfort everyone,"Don't worry, I'll get us to a safe camp as soon as possible."
The officer's expression softened, and he raised a hand slightly, a gesture that seemed to calm even the tense soldiers."My apologies," he said, his tone measured and sincere. He turned to address the group, his gaze sweeping across their anxious faces."Because you arrived precisely when chaos broke out. Investigations are necessary to ensure none of you were involved—or to uncover if someone here has been less than honest."
A murmur spread among the volunteers, but the officer's voice rose again, steady and commanding."Our soldiers are tasked with securing this place, and if their actions came across as harsh, I take full responsibility. I apologize for any discomfort they may have caused." He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect that seemed to catch the volunteers off guard.
"I promise," he continued, his voice firm yet warm,"we will complete this investigation quickly. Your contributions are invaluable, and we need your incredible work tomorrow. We're severely understaffed, and your expertise is crucial to saving lives."
As if to underscore the gravity of his words, he produced a tablet and tapped a few buttons. A video began to play, its screen glowing in the dim light. The footage was horrifying—lab workers in white coats fleeing in terror as infected individuals, their eyes blackened and veins pulsing with dark spores, attacked with inhuman ferocity. Screams echoed faintly from the device, and the volunteers recoiled in fear.
"These men," the officer said, his voice now laced with grim determination,"were infected by a black spore that turns them into mindless, dangerous creatures. What our soldiers have been shooting down are not men anymore—they are monsters. If you see anyone displaying bizarre behavior, or showing symptoms of infection, report it immediately. I repeat, do not engage with them. Our soldiers are trained to protect you."
The volunteers exchanged nervous glances, their fear palpable. But the officer met their eyes, one by one, his sincerity cutting through the dread like a beacon."Stay patient," he said, his voice steady."We'll ensure the investigation is swift, and you'll all return to your important work soon. Until then, trust that we are here to keep you safe."
The room was silent, the volunteers absorbing his words. Though fear lingered, there was now a flicker of trust in their eyes, a tentative belief in the officer's promise.
Dr. Tanaka left, envying the other volunteers. The officer smiled and reassured the others once more,"I am sure you will be released tomorrow, if you are honest and not hiding secrets. See you tomorrow."
As the officer and soldiers left, the heavy iron door closed again. Soft conversations began to emerge in the room, and the volunteers' worries and confusion started to ease a little.