NOVEL NEXT Chapter 280: 9.26
"Chief Fang, this is Professor Ling. The Gale Squad has safely retrieved him. Professor Ling, this is the leader of the City A base, Fang Jing."
Xiao Jinfeng's voice was steady, but inside he felt a faint unease. Bringing Professor Ling back had gone smoothly enough, but the unresolved problems gnawed at him: Fang Geng, Fang Jing's arrogant nephew, and the dangerous secret of Xue Fang.
During his brief encounters with Fang Jing, Xiao Jinfeng had never felt the man to be open-minded. Before the apocalypse, Fang Jing had been a small-time figure in City A, someone with local influence but limited reach.
But the world had changed. Awakening powers and building a fortress out of an old prison had turned him into the leader of tens of thousands.
Yet power hadn't humbled him. On the contrary, it had inflated his ambition.
The Gale Squad, the strongest and one of the earliest-established groups, remained independent. Still, Fang Jing's intent to recruit them was obvious.
This was likely why Fang Jing agreed to bring back Professor Ling, Chen Ran's recommendation, made on shaky grounds, and personally assigned the Gale Squad to assist him.
In truth, however, neither Xiao Jinfeng nor the rest of the Gale Squad had any intention of accepting Fang Jing's offer.
Fang Jing seemed vaguely aware of this.
If the alliance fell through, future conflict was inevitable. Everyone understood that much.
That was why Xiao Jinfeng's unease only deepened as he recalled the earlier incidents. He could already envision a split between the Gale Squad and Fang Jing's faction, two forces coexisting within City A's base, yet secretly working against each other.
Now, Fang Jing sat behind a broad desk inside a spacious office in the repurposed prison command building. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered faintly, and the air smelled faintly of iron and disinfectant. His slightly chubby figure, padded with a beer belly, made his attempt at dignity look faintly comical. But the arrogance in his eyes was sharp, predatory.
The Gale Squad stood in orderly formation. Chen Ran, composed but watchful. Jiang Jiamian and Jiang Qing at Ling Zhuang's side. Soldiers lined the walls, silent witnesses to the meeting.
Ling Zhuang adjusted his glasses with his usual grace. His smile was mild, his tone polite. "Chief Fang, hello."
Fang Jing's gaze swept over him. His lips curved, but his tone carried faint disdain. "Hello. You haven't awakened any ability, have you?"
It wasn't really a question.
Chen Ran had personally recommended Ling Zhuang, stressing how crucial he was. After all, no matter how terrifying the zombie virus seemed, it was still a virus.
And if it was a virus, the real solution wasn't slaughtering endless hordes of zombies, it was developing a vaccine.
Ling Zhuang's smile didn't falter. His eyes, behind the lenses, were as cold as polished glass. "No. I haven't awakened."
Fang Jing nodded, visibly relieved. A non-awakened professor would be easier to control. Without powers, Ling Zhuang could only rely on the base, and on Fang Jing. If the man achieved results, all credit would be claimed under his leadership.
Fang Jing leaned back in his chair, speaking with a politician's smile. "That doesn't matter. Professor Ling's abilities don't lie in combat. I've had the lab prepared, you can begin whenever you're ready. But first, you must be exhausted from travel. You'll need suitable accommodations. Therefore, I've decided to make an exception and grant you residence in the high-end district, the same as Captain Xiao and the strongest ability users."
The words hung in the air like bait.
Ling Zhuang lowered his eyes as though embarrassed. "Oh? How could I accept such an exception?"
Inside, though, he almost laughed aloud. Fang Jing's ploy was transparent: grant him special privileges, force him into debt, and simultaneously earn him resentment from others. A perfect way to isolate him while binding him to the leader's hand.
So childish. So foolish.
Fang Jing's smile widened. "Professor Ling is a vital worker, carrying the hopes of all humanity. He should be treated on equal footing with the most powerful. Don't refuse. The house has already been prepared."
Around the room, subtle reactions rippled. Soldiers exchanged glances. Even Xiao Jinfeng's jaw tightened. He risked his life daily fighting zombies, and yet this frail professor, who had done nothing but ride in their truck, would receive the same treatment?
Fortunately, he remembered Chen Ran's explanations, the potential value of research. The sourness in his chest faded, though not entirely.
Ling Zhuang, catching the stiffness in Xiao Jinfeng's expression, let his smile widen by a fraction. "If that's the case, I thank Chief Fang for his kindness. I will devote myself fully to research."
On the surface, humble. Inwardly, amused. Housing, supplies, why refuse? But Fang Jing's petty schemes? Those were laughable.
Well, at least it kept things interesting enough so he didn't die of boredom.
Fang Jing, satisfied, turned his gaze at last to the siblings standing behind. His eyes swept over them with careless disinterest. "And these two?"
"This is Jiang Jiamian and Jiang Qing," Xiao Jinfeng explained. "We encountered them on the road. Both are awakened. Jiang Qing has a water-type ability, with a score of 75. Jiang Jiamian possesses dual elements, space and poison. Score, 98."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Fang Jing's smile froze. His eyes widened. "How much?"
"98." Xiao Jinfeng repeated evenly.
It was impossible not to feel a little jealous.
After all, until now, he'd been the recognized leader of ability users in City A's base, holding a solid score of 87.
But Jiang Jiamian had effortlessly crushed that with a 98!
How could someone not only have such overwhelming power, but also dual elements on top of that?
Still, what he felt wasn't just jealousy, it was a sharp, competitive edge.
He had already absorbed crystal cores and could clearly sense his own power rising. Some cores he hadn't even used yet, saving them because he'd been rushing to travel. Once he got back, he planned to focus on them.
And he had a strong hunch that his power was about to break into a new level.
As for Chen Ran… Chen Ran seemed dazzled, full of admiration and affection for Jiang Jiamian. That, he absolutely could not allow to continue.