The underground storage room was located on the first basement level of Shang Shan City's theater. Originally used for storing stage props and miscellaneous items, it had been largely cleared out due to the removal of materials when the doors and windows were sealed off. With its vast empty space, it naturally became the best place to detain suspected infected individuals.
At this moment, the dim and damp underground corridor echoed with the furious roars of men, the despairing cries of women, and the wailing of children. Combined with the heavy thuds of bodies slamming against iron doors, the atmosphere created an almost surreal sense of time displacement, as if one had been transported to Auschwitz during World War II—a place drenched in blood and oppression, a land of death.
"This is no place for a human being…"
"Agreed."
Chang Ziteng waved a hand in front of his face, trying to dispel the persistent moldy stench in the air, his brows furrowed in displeasure. Du Zhizhang immediately chimed in, seizing the opportunity to comment.
Dong Tian instinctively glanced at the two masked individuals, a man and a woman. Although he was curious about their identities, their familiarity with Xu Mo made him suppress his questions.
This damned place was already a mystery, and the masked youth who slaughtered zombies like chopping vegetables was another enigma. Now, with the addition of two more masked individuals, it hardly seemed worth questioning anymore… Dong Tian had long since grown numb to such things.
Perhaps because they had too much faith in the security of the iron-barred warehouse, only a single young man had been left to guard the area. When Dong Tian arrived, the young man immediately rushed up to him, looking troubled as he stammered, "Officer Dong, can someone else take over this job for me? I'd rather clean toilets than stay here—I really can't take it anymore! I feel like I've become a complete monster…"
Human hearts are not made of stone. The people locked up here weren't hardened criminals but ordinary citizens, including many women and children. No matter who it was, anyone with a conscience would struggle with this kind of torment.
The young man's complaints were understandable. Dong Tian patted his shoulder reassuringly and nodded. "That's exactly why I'm here. Open the doors and let these people go. I've received reliable information that these injured individuals will not turn into zombies, nor will they infect others."
"Really? That's great! I'll open the doors right now!"
The young guard, overjoyed, pulled out his keys and rushed to unlock the doors. But just then, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed down the stairwell. A sharp male voice suddenly shouted, "Stop! Who gave you the authority to open that door? Do you have any idea how dangerous these people are?"
Before the words had fully settled, more than a dozen individuals hurriedly descended the stairs. Among them were both men and women, with none other than Minister Wang—he of the infamous "Local Support for the Central Government" hairstyle—leading the way. Behind him were several members of the temporary leadership committee, while the last few were burly young men with the demeanor of street thugs, likely bodyguards recruited on short notice to bolster their presence.
Among these committee members was a direct superior from Dong Tian's precinct, someone he couldn't afford to offend. Rushing forward, he quickly repeated what Xu Mo had just told him.
However, Minister Wang remained stubbornly unconvinced. He pointed a finger at Xu Mo's nose, adopting the patronizing tone of an elder lecturing a younger generation. "Don't think that just because you can kill a few zombies, you can start giving orders! Who gave you the right to represent the government and make decisions for the people? Someone like you—carrying a concealed weapon, unwilling to even show your face—if this were normal times, I'd have the police arrest you immediately! Who knows if you're a wanted criminal? In any case, for the safety of the people, these individuals cannot be released!"
Xu Mo gritted his teeth. "These people are not infectious at all! Even wounds caused by zombies are nothing more than regular injuries! And yet you dare call yourselves government representatives while trampling on the most basic human rights of these citizens!"
"In an emergency like this, there are no human rights to speak of! Everyone must obey the government—what do you think would happen if we were all disorganized? If not for your contributions in killing zombies, I'd have you arrested right now!" Minister Wang threatened, his voice carrying both intimidation and menace. Behind him, the young thugs stepped forward, adding to his show of force.
With a swift motion, Xu Mo conjured the Spartan shortsword into his grip, positioning it across the narrow corridor. His icy gaze locked onto the group ahead as he commanded, "Dong Tian, open the doors! Let's see who dares to stop us!"
Xu Mo's overwhelming display of power from slaughtering over a hundred zombies had left a deep impression on all who had witnessed the battle. Now, as his killing weapon resurfaced, the gang-like youths behind Minister Wang trembled in fear, their legs turning to jelly. They exchanged uneasy glances, each hoping someone else would step forward—yet none dared to risk their lives.
"You… you're openly defying the government!" Minister Wang bellowed, his voice still brimming with false bravado. Perhaps it was ignorance that made him fearless, or perhaps he believed his official title granted him some form of protection.
"Let's calm down. Why don't both sides take a step back?" At this critical moment, a woman from the temporary leadership committee stepped forward, attempting to mediate.
She appeared to be in her forties, with a kind face and a warm smile that exuded approachability. Xu Mo vaguely remembered that she was some kind of official from the district women's federation—her surname was Ma, though he couldn't recall her exact position.
"Young man, I know you mean well, and Minister Wang is also acting in the interest of public safety. You both share the same goal, so let's try to understand each other. How about this—we move these people to a small screening room on the third floor and allow one family member per person to care for them. However, they will still need to remain under temporary quarantine until we can confirm that they won't mutate."
"I've already made it clear that these people aren't infectious—"
"Now, now, let's not be so hasty. Young people tend to overlook things," the middle-aged woman interjected with a gentle smile. "Even if we believe you, how can you guarantee that everyone else will? The idea that zombie infections spread has been deeply ingrained in people's minds through movies and books. If we release these injured individuals into the main hall, it will cause panic and potentially lead to violence. Keeping them in isolation isn't just for safety—it's also for their own protection."
Her words made Xu Mo hesitate. She wasn't wrong. Most ordinary citizens wouldn't trust his explanation. If the injured were released among the general population, mass hysteria could erupt, and extremists might even try to harm them. He had indeed overlooked this factor.
Still, Xu Mo was not so easily deceived. He was certain that these officials' initial decision had nothing to do with "protecting" the wounded—otherwise, they wouldn't have locked them away in such a wretched place.
Now that both sides had a way to de-escalate, negotiations became much easier. Minister Wang, conveniently forgetting his previous threats, suddenly started addressing Xu Mo as "little brother," his tone overflowing with fake warmth. His true intention—probing for secrets about the Apocalyptic Mirage—was all too obvious.
Although Xu Mo had no fondness for bureaucratic small talk, maintaining public order still required the presence of these so-called government officials. So, he selectively revealed some information about the Apocalyptic Mirage, particularly emphasizing the twelve-hour reset cycle.
While the officials remained somewhat skeptical, the thought of only having to endure this nightmare for twelve hours visibly eased their nerves.
Not long after they finished relocating the injured, a lookout stationed on the rooftop came rushing down the stairs, gasping for breath. "They're… they're coming… All of them are coming!"
Minister Wang's face darkened. "What do you mean 'all of them'? Speak clearly!"
"Zombies! I saw them through the binoculars—there's a massive horde headed this way! A dark, endless swarm… at least five or six thousand of them!"