novelraw Page 79
Page 79
Shizuka Marikawa was speechless; how could she possibly know?
She was just a school doctor who didn't have much contact with students, let alone be able to judge people's hearts in this apocalyptic environment.
Zhou Ye continued his cold, emotionless statement.
"I have limited patience."
“I can save people. But I won’t save idiots, and I certainly won’t save burdens that will cause me trouble.”
He paused for a moment, and every word he uttered struck Shizuka Marikawa's heart like a hammer blow.
"If you encounter that kind of person, don't even think about saving them."
Zhou Ye's voice suddenly dropped, but it was filled with a chilling meaning.
"I will not hesitate to pull the trigger and [clean it up]."
[Clean up].
That's the word he used.
It's not about killing, it's not about solving, it's about "cleaning up".
Like cleaning up trash.
Shizuka Marikawa was stunned.
She stared blankly at Zhou Ye, the man she had recently considered her savior.
At this moment, where was even a trace of the teacher's gentle and approachable demeanor?
In those deep eyes, there was no pity, no sympathy, only extreme calmness and an indifference she could not comprehend.
He doesn't act like a teacher.
He was like a cold-blooded and ruthless killer, a demon walking amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
"Teacher Zhou... Teacher Zhou..."
Shizuka Marikawa's voice was dry; she felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her throat.
"You...you're...really telling the truth?"
Zhou Ye did not answer her question, but instead asked her:
"You think I'm joking? I'm not afraid of god-like opponents, but I'm afraid of pig-like teammates, let alone pig-like teammates, let alone teammates who aren't even teammates. The past is the past, the present is the present!"
Shizuka Marikawa looked at the silent, solemn mechanical soldiers behind him, their guns gleaming with a cold metallic light.
They are extensions of Zhou Ye's will.
Their existence is itself the most direct proof.
This man possesses the power to easily take another's life, and he seems indifferent to using that power.
Nami sighed softly, walked over to Shizuka Marikawa, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Sister Jingxiang, the boss... he's not trying to scare you."
Nami's voice was very soft.
"Raccoon City has changed. Good intentions can sometimes kill people, and even kill more people."
Saeko Busujima watched this scene with great interest, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement.
Zhou Ye's undisguised ruthlessness and decisiveness gave her a strange sense of harmony.
That's how the strong should be.
Zhou Ye's inner world was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.
His [Fragment of the Herrscher of Reason] was operating at high speed, analyzing the pros and cons of the rescue operation.
More people might bring more strength, but they might also bring more burdens.
Yuriko Takashiro, the principal of Fujimi Academy and the head of the Takashiro family's finances.
Saya Takagi, her daughter, is a proud twin-tailed girl who calls herself a genius.
Nanri Kaori, a former police officer, is Yuriko Takashiro's bodyguard and Shizuka Marikawa's "friend".
The identities of these people flashed through his mind one by one.
What are its uses? What are its potential risks?
He's not a savior; he's just a selfish guy who wants to survive in this broken world and live a comfortable life.
His bottom line is to protect the people he approves of.
As for everyone else…
If they can bring enough value, or at least not be a burden, he wouldn't mind lending a hand.
But what if they're the kind of people who are overly compassionate or hopelessly stupid...
He wouldn't mind having his robot army have a few more "battle achievements".
History is the victory of ruthlessness over mindlessness!
"I need a guarantee from you, Professor Ju Chuan."
Zhou Ye spoke again, breaking the deadlock.
"I will make sure they don't act stupidly at crucial moments, don't question my orders, and don't try to blackmail me with their ridiculous morals."
"If they can't do it, I'll let them keep the zombies company."
Shizuka Marikawa trembled.
She looked at Zhou Ye; the man's words terrified her more than the monsters outside that devoured people.
At this moment, Shizuka Marikawa deeply realized that in the apocalypse, the human heart is indeed more terrifying than zombies.
Kindness and compassion are luxuries here.
Zhou Ye is clearly not a person who likes luxury.
"I...I understand."
Shizuka Marikawa nodded with difficulty, her voice carrying a hint of despair, but also a forced clarity.
"I will...I will explain it to them."
"If they... if they don't listen..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Zhou Ye understood what she meant.
"very good."
Zhou Ye's lips seemed to twitch slightly upwards, but the curve was so subtle as to be almost negligible.
"Then let's prepare to set off."
He turned to the mechanical soldier.
"Target: Teaching Building 4."
Without any hesitation, the mechanical soldiers, with the lead shield-bearing unit immediately adjusting its direction, prepared to clear a path.
As Shizuka Marikawa watched Zhou Ye's retreating figure, she felt a mix of emotions.
She didn't know whether asking for help was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do.
But she knew she had no other choice.
Rika...you have to be alright, please!
And the principal, Saya-kun...
Hopefully, they can understand their current situation.
Zhou Ye did not look at Shizuka Marikawa again.
He was just thinking that he hoped the person he was trying to save wasn't so brain-dead, otherwise he wouldn't mind turning them into a zombie and killing them, making them part of the system's points.
The group once again stepped onto the stairwell, a place stained with blood and death.
Chapter 60
They had just taken a few steps when a deafening explosion suddenly came from downstairs.
[Boom!]
The enormous sound wave, accompanied by a shockwave, made the entire corridor tremble, and dust fell from the ceiling.
"Holy shit!" Nami cursed instinctively, her body tensing up.
Saeko Busujima tightened her grip on the wooden sword, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Shizuka Marikawa was so frightened that she almost collapsed to the ground, but was fortunately supported by Nami.
Zhou Ye's expression remained unchanged, but his brows furrowed.
"Number 11, Number 12, what's going on?" he asked in a low voice, the sound transmitted through some kind of link.
The distinctive electronic sound of machinery rang out in his headset, clear and cold:
"Reporting to the commander. Encountered unidentified special infected entities. Number two."
"Characteristic 1: Obese, slow-moving, covered with pustules, and emitting a continuous gurgling sound. Its vomit has a strong attraction, and multiple ordinary zombies have been observed being attracted to it and gathering in this area."
"Feature 2: Abnormally large physique, distorted muscle structure, extremely thick single arm, and emits a deep roar. It has the ability to charge at high speed, and has been observed to smash through small vehicles and break through brick walls."
Several classic game monster images flashed through Zhou Ye's mind instantly.
Obese person? Tank?
Does the virus in this godforsaken place even have targeted evolution?
"Damn it, they really are a handful."
Zhou Ye muttered to himself.
"Commander, a large number of infected individuals have gathered at the entrance on the first floor, and their numbers are continuing to increase. 840 requests instructions." The electronic voice came again.
"Evacuate to the stairwell and lay motion-activated mines. Abandon the first floor defense. Then take the elevator to the roof."