Chapter 1361: Chapter 1362: We’ll talk after I’ve finished my business

Seventeen, who emerged from the laboratory, joined forces with Nineteen and Twenty, who came in later, to surround the player without a number on their head. Seeing the player without a number falling into a disadvantage, he turned and rushed into the laboratory, simultaneously throwing out a mask—which, upon hitting the ground, caused the protective shields worn by the three numbered players to drop in unison, halting their pursuit into the laboratory.

The three exchanged looks, and Seventeen transferred a sticker prop onto Nineteen’s new protective shield. Then they and Twenty left the defensive barrier, leaving Nineteen to enter the laboratory.

A faint white gas permeated the laboratory, potentially a poison gas, so the players entering all wore protective shields.

Thanks to the laboratory’s leaks everywhere, it was not hard to see the situation inside. Apart from eleven players scattered at various locations still fighting, more players had already gathered before the reinforced warehouse at the center of the laboratory, engaged in a standoff.

Including some staff in white coats, fifteen people were stationed within a small blue barrier. This barrier, similar to the large one outside, had three layers from the inside out, each layer thicker than the last. It protected injured players and ordinary staff, as well as enveloping the entire reinforced warehouse behind.

These people all had no numbers on their heads.

Outside the barrier, there were nine people, each with a number on their head.

It was apparent that the no-number side used some prop to distinguish friend from foe, while the numbered side seemed to be the intruders.

The numbered group was attempting to break the defensive barrier. While both sides had injuries, theirs were lighter, allowing them to continue exchanging positions.

After such a long fight, it’s clear not many more players can come for reinforcement. It seems both sides are at a deadlock.

Most outside-zone spectators showed little interest in this “weaklings pecking” fight. Only a few entered the laboratory to loot, and upon finding nothing, they were attempting murder out of frustration.

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

Props struck the barrier repeatedly, causing those inside to worry. After a while, an elderly figure in a white coat finally spoke, “Dongfeng Laboratory truly has not conducted human experiments. This warehouse contains samples from gene disease experiments meant to save the people of the Secondary City, and cannot be contaminated… You’ve seen other areas, so you should know we’re not lying. We really don’t have what you want…”

Outside the barrier, Number Three stood ahead of his companions, his protective shield concealing his expression. However, his motionless stance and indifferent posture made it clear that he didn’t believe the elderly figure, and his subordinates continued aggressively striking the barrier, soon forming a small crack.

This caused panic among the staff inside the barrier, leading to outbursts, “You Ya Clan people should have perished long ago! If we hadn’t pitied you and given you a place in Zone 023, on what grounds could you settle here? We should have wiped you out from the start, you’re the ones who should be dead. Are the diseases in the Twin Cities your doing too, you heartless dogs!”

Though the Ya Clan people remained unseen, the laboratory side was convinced of their identity—even if not of the Ya Clan, they would blame them anyway. They were mortal enemies, and if not, they wouldn’t insist on such a ruthless approach now!

The numbered group remained unfazed by the insults, and Number Three turned to his companions, “Stop wasting time.”

Number Six nodded slightly, pulling back two who were attacking the barrier and setting down a seemingly old iron box on the ground.

“Deploy the missile!” Seeing this, those inside the barrier changed expression, and a female player, holding an arm with visible bone due to injury, stood up, fuming with hatred, “If this explodes, the entire laboratory will be razed to the ground, killing at least hundreds, all for human experiments that don’t exist!”

The so-called missile was actually a modified high-destructive bomb, the strongest thermal weapon available in Zone 023. Making it wasn’t easy, whether for Zone 023 or any Ya Clan people who got it, it was an absolute last-resort weapon.

“Wasting it on a laboratory is unfortunate, but if it severs the chain of evil, it’s worth it.” After Number Three finished, he signaled his people to withdraw, adding, “If you think we wronged you, ask He Yong and his two colleagues behind you. They should have transferred to Dongfeng Laboratory half a year ago, right?”

The barrier staff turned to see He Yong and his two companions nervously attempting to justify, “Inciting discord, the Ya Clan uses old tricks!”

Number Three said no more, only pressing the remote control when his companions exited the laboratory, but suddenly found it empty. Shocked, he noticed someone standing ahead, with “23” on their head, holding his remote control, saying, “That was close, if the laboratory had been blown up, this instance would’ve been a waste.”

“Who are you?” Number Three initially intended a forced retrieval of the bomb but felt a sudden chill at the man’s turned head, instinctively choosing to retreat.

With distance opened, Xu Huo stated, “Everyone calm down, wait until I’ve finished my business first.”

Without allowing any objections, he raised his hand and pulled He Yong out of the protective barrier, injecting a potion into his neck.

“Don’t be nervous,” he gestured for the laboratory side to stay calm, his gaze fixed on the other two, “This is a potion for interrogation, should work very well on ordinary people.”

The two remaining were chilled halfway, as the interrogation potion affected He Yong, causing him to show symptoms of poisoning, leading to death in mere seconds.

No one was foolish; a seasoned researcher on the laboratory side said, “He Yong pre-emptively injected an anti-interrogation potion. Our laboratory doesn’t administer such drugs!”

All attention shifted to the two remaining individuals, who, ridden with guilt, attempted to flee into the warehouse, only to be caught by an injured female player. She placed a circular prop on one of them, “I have a question, and you must answer truthfully!”

The prop took effect, and the staff member, now calm, nodded earnestly.

“Is there a living person experiment?”

“Yes.” The person answered the question without resistance.

The female player kicked him in rage, sending him crashing into the warehouse door, whereupon he died instantly.

Only the last person remained, kneeling weakly, “We were just here to receive experimental data! The head of Fragrant Grass Laboratory told us to get the new set of data from Dr. Duor!”