Chapter Forty-Three: The Allocation Ratio

Rebuilding Civilization

Zhou Ruomeng laughed and said, “Actually, you should be congratulated here for breaking through to the second genetic level. Your reading clearance has been upgraded to Level Two, and there just happens to be information about r3 in the database. Generally, starting from r3, their DNA is completely reorganized during evolution, which results in diverse and unique r3 forms. Take the r3 you encountered today—it evolved towards the limb type, what you call the physical attack class. There’s another kind of r3, though, that evolves closer to humans; their attacks don’t rely on their bodies but use mutated psychic energy generated during DNA reorganization. These attacks are terrifying—each strike is like a human rocket, capable of sending a car flying with ease.”

Xie Han’s mouth hung open, and then he gulped hard. “There are r3s that frightening?” These psychic r3s were like the mages in games, attacking silently from hundreds of meters away with mental force. If you imagined their attack style, the outcome would be chilling. This type of zombie r3 was humanity’s true nightmare—weapons and guns lost their last shred of threat before them.

Seeing the trace of despair on Xie Han’s face, Zhou Ruomeng laughed again. “Actually, things aren’t as dire as you imagine. The chances of this humanoid r3 evolving successfully are so low that, to use your words, you might as well buy a lottery ticket. Its successful evolution rate is one in ten million. There might be only a handful in the whole world. But if you’re talking about despair, if one of these humanoid r3s manages to evolve into r4, then humans surviving within its range would be just as likely as winning the lottery—hope would be faint indeed.”

Hearing this, Xie Han felt a sense of resignation and pressed on, “What if—just what if—this humanoid r4 could evolve into r5? What would happen then?” Zhou Ruomeng covered her mouth, laughing. “What would happen? Well, do you see the infantry cannon above your head? I think you should try it out—maybe you’ll find relief a little sooner…”

Xie Han was startled. “So, humanoid r5 is almost invincible?” Zhou Ruomeng pondered for a moment. “Perhaps. Anyway, Level Two records only speculate about r5. If we go by the supposed capabilities, it could wipe your entire base off the map with two attacks—or perhaps just a single psychic wave.”

Xie Han’s head spun. But considering r3 evolving to r4 required odds of one in ten million, and there were only a few r4s on earth, if any among them managed, by the same odds, to become r5, Xie Han was utterly speechless. Layer upon layer, the chance of an ordinary zombie evolving to r5 was surely one in a hundred billion. If that succeeded, it would truly be as if fate had decreed humanity’s end…

The database’s information was mostly about zombies. Xie Han had no idea how this data was gathered, but much of what was mentioned did exist. Looking at the evolution of zombies so far, no human really knew these secrets; those who did were likely to have perished at their hands and couldn’t tell anyone.

Thinking of the increasing number of zombies pouring out of Wangtian City, slowly converging towards the base, Xie Han felt the gravity of the situation. Perhaps he should notify the base management—after all, more than a hundred thousand people lived here. By Xie Han’s calculations, all the bases combined across the province amounted to less than a million people, making the residents here an invaluable resource.

Six hours was a long stretch, but Xie Han passed the time reading data. In those hours, he learned much, including zombie habits and their evolved abilities. He was also secretly pleased: after fighting the r3, his genetic strength had not only broken through to the second level, but his abilities had risen greatly, his strength now reaching 3700. This improvement thrilled him, but he didn’t dare risk fighting another r3—he’d be courting death.

To Xie Han’s surprise, after six hours, no one came to release him. Outside, chaos reigned as those in isolation began distributing flour. Xie Han didn’t know how the allocation worked; his battered minibus surely wouldn’t get much.

Half an hour later, the isolation zone manager came to inform Xie Han that his quarantine would be extended by three hours for further observation. Xie Han was annoyed but endured it—his neck had been injured, and precautions were for the good of the base’s residents.

Outside, the distribution chaos lasted over an hour before settling down. Xie Han found it odd; during the process, voices of argument and anger mingled, and there seemed to be two factions. Shaking his head, he lay back on his bed. It was already half past six in the evening. Perhaps after three more hours, he’d be allowed to leave this cold, uncomfortable isolation room.

Ten minutes after lying down, voices from Xu Qiang and the others came from outside. Xie Han got up and went to the window. “Why are you here?” To his surprise, Xu Qiang’s group numbered more than twenty or thirty, with Chen Liu, Xu Qiang, Taishan, and a few others leading the way.

Xu Qiang grew excited when he saw Xie Han, rushing to the window. Not skilled with words, he first saluted Xie Han, then said, “Captain, I thought I’d never see you again.” Taishan, beside him, gave Xu Qiang a hard shove and scolded, “What are you saying, Qiangzi? Boss is right here, safe and sound.” Taishan, who had once called him Old Xie, now simply called him Boss, showing he’d truly accepted Xie Han.

Chen Liu laughed loudly. “Brother Xie, your courage, I, Old Chen, truly admire. Just for your battle with r3 alone, we all have to respect you!” The crowd behind Chen Liu, mostly hard-edged types, now looked at Xie Han with gratitude, nodding and praising him in agreement.

Xie Han blushed. “How could I deserve such words?” Not wanting to linger on the subject, he asked, “What happened just now? It was a madhouse outside, felt like a market.”

Chen Liu, indignant, replied, “It’s all because of Gao Zaitian, that bastard! Damn it, trying to bully you and your busted minibus. He claimed you should only get two hundred kilos. Hmph, Brother Xie, everyone knows how righteous you’ve been. If not for you, the thirty-plus vehicles behind us wouldn’t have made it back. That contribution can’t be measured just by the minibus.”

“Gao Zaitian?” Xie Han asked. Taishan answered, “That’s the blond guy on the heavy roadbreaker. Damn, I’ve never liked him. If it weren’t for Old Chen and the others speaking up, he’d have run roughshod over us.” Xu Qiang added, “This time, the twenty heavy trucks brought back eighty-six tonnes of premium flour. After giving twenty percent to the base, there’s about sixty-eight tonnes left. Originally, by vehicle, each should get about a tonne, but Blondie wanted ten tonnes for the roadbreaker—absurd!”

To Xie Han, ten tonnes for the roadbreaker was excessive; five seemed reasonable. “How was it finally distributed?” Chen Liu took over, “The roadbreaker got five tonnes, the remaining sixty-three and a half tonnes—Brother Xie, you got three tonnes, and our sixty vehicles each got one tonne.”

Xie Han was stunned. His battered minibus got three tonnes? “Brother Chen Liu, is that a mistake?”