Report

Chapter 135 Report

The pickup truck lurched along the gravel road, kicking up a trail of yellow dust. In the back of the truck, Xu Mo steadied himself by holding onto the guardrail, his gaze passing over the dust billowing behind the truck to the G-2 area, a mix of hills and ruins, that they had just left.

Zhang Yun leaned against the partition of the opposite carriage, staring blankly at the G-2 area.

Amidst the roar of the engine and the vibrations of the metal panels of the carriage, Xu Mo suddenly felt a different, heavier, and more oppressive vibration coming from beneath his feet.

The vibration came from ahead of the road, initially low and muffled like distant thunder, but quickly became clearer.

The pickup truck veered sharply to the right of the road, coming to a stop almost scraping against the roadside ditch. The moment it came to a stop, that torrent of steel appeared at the bend in the road.

What came into Xu Mo's view was the thick, long cannon barrel, followed by the low and sturdy turret with its sloped armor covered in digital camouflage paint, and then the wide tracks that made a powerful metallic clang and a muffled thud as they rolled over the road.

tank.

It wasn't one tank, but a combat squad of four.

Leading the way was a main battle tank. Next to the anti-aircraft machine gun on top of the turret, the commander, wearing a tank helmet, leaned half his body out of the hatch, vigilantly scanning both sides of the road.

Following closely behind were three tanks of the same model, with a communication antenna atop the last tank. The entire convoy maintained a tight formation, like a giant steel python crawling along the ground, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

The pickup truck looked as tiny as a beetle in front of it.

Xu Mo clearly saw the number on the side of the tank turret and the simplified markings of its unit—this was indeed the main armored force belonging to the Jiangcheng Garrison Command. Their direction of travel was directly towards the G-2 area from which Xu Mo and Zhang Yun had just withdrawn.

As the lead tank passed the pickup truck, the commander on the turret noticed the vehicle parked on the side of the road. He raised his heavily gloved hand and made a simple gesture in their direction—not a wave, but a tactical hand signal meaning "Understood, continue." His gaze then returned to the front.

The escorting officers driving the vehicle gave the tank convoy a thumbs-up. Without exchanging any words, the two sides completed a seamless handover of tasks in an instant.

The steel tracks rolled over the road, the heavy body causing continuous vibrations, and the roar of the diesel engine almost drowned out all other sounds.

The armored convoy moved slowly, but each step carried immense force, raising even denser dust that completely enveloped the pickup trucks.

Xu Mo squinted, watching through the swirling dust as the iron torrent resolutely headed towards the place they had just fled.

The cannon muzzle was lowered slightly, pointing in the direction of a possible threat; the infantrymen on the armored vehicle had lowered their masks, and their gun muzzles were cautiously protruding from the firing ports.

This is the most direct and forceful response from the Jiangcheng authorities.

They discovered a threat that could not be dealt with by regular patrols; the response would be steel, flames, and overwhelming force.

Without probing or hesitation, they directly dispatched a regular armored force capable of destroying a small to medium-sized group of martyrs.

The pickup truck restarted and drove onto the main road, going against the tide of steel.

For a moment, no one spoke in the carriage except for the sounds of the engine, the wind, and Wang Jing's occasional painful groans.

"They moved really fast." Zhang Yun finally spoke, her voice a little hoarse. She watched the tanks kicking up dust as they drove away in the rearview mirror, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Xu Mo nodded. From the time they called for support to the arrival and withdrawal of the medical team, and then to the deployment of this armored unit, it took less than an hour.

Jiangcheng's military response speed and determination are evident. This is undoubtedly reassuring, but on the other hand, it also indirectly confirms the danger of that monster—an individual target requiring tanks to deal with is probably extremely rare since the apocalypse.

"That's all we're doing now," the escort driver said loudly, turning around, his tone more relaxed. "Leave the professional stuff to the professionals. Our job is to bring them back and report the situation."

The logic was sound. Xu Mo leaned back against the side panel of the carriage, feeling the bumps of the vehicle's movement. He and Zhang Yun, as the first discoverers and witnesses, had completed their mission. Clearing out monsters was the military's job. He was just a D-level survivor, a temporary patrol member; there was no reason, nor any need, for him to get involved any further.

But the monster's eerie red eyes, its unsettling "smile," and its extraordinary ability to observe and assess beyond that of a wild beast always felt like a tiny thorn pricking deep within Xu Mo's consciousness.

The pickup truck screeched to a halt in the dust at the temporary assembly point at the east gate of Jiangcheng, the sand and gravel kicked up by its wheels settling down. Two guards jumped out first, cautiously scanning their surroundings before signaling the people in the back to get out, only after confirming it was safe.

Xu Mo and Zhang Yun jumped off the train one after the other. The air was filled with construction dust, vehicle exhaust, and the smell of food wafting from afar.

The assembly point square was still bustling with people. A new batch of patrol members, ready to change shifts, were gathered together listening to a briefing, while several people in community work uniforms were distributing walkie-talkies and route maps.

"We'll leave you here." The security guard nodded to Xu Mo and Zhang Yun. "Go directly to the temporary reporting area in the command center; someone there is waiting to record the situation. We'll take the wounded directly to the medical center. If needed later, we may contact you again to verify the information."

"Understood," the two replied succinctly.

Without saying anything more, the guards jumped into the pickup truck, which started up again and drove towards the inner city, quickly disappearing around the street corner.

Xu Mo watched the departing vehicles, the sunlight fading at the dusty end of the road. The monster's eerie smile still lingered in his mind—an expression far beyond that of a wild beast. And Wang Jing's wounds, though gruesome, showed no obvious signs of zombie virus infection.

"Let's go." Zhang Yun patted him on the shoulder. "Let's report the situation first."

The two walked through the crowd towards a large, dark green tent at the edge of the square. A sign at the tent entrance read "G Area Patrol Mission Reporting Station," and several squads that had just returned from missions were lined up outside. The line wasn't long, and it was soon their turn.

Inside the tent were two folding tables, behind which sat two officers, both dressed in field camouflage. Their shoulder insignia indicated that one was a captain and the other a lieutenant. On the tables were tablets, paper reports, and walkie-talkies, and a detailed map of the area hung on a shelf nearby.

"Number, mission area, any anomalies?" the captain asked without looking up, his fingers already poised to record on the tablet.

"G-2 area, Xu Mo (number 802561), Zhang Yun (number 610235)," Zhang Yun reported. "An anomaly has been detected. We have called the medical team to evacuate a critically injured survivor according to emergency procedures."

The captain stopped tapping his fingers, looked up, and gave the two men a sharp look: "Explain in detail."

Zhang Yun gave a concise account of the situation: the patrol route, the discovery of the injured Wang Jing, Wang Jing's account, the appearance and observation of the monster, and the evacuation process after the medical team arrived. Her narration was clear and well-organized, highlighting the key points, clearly indicating that she had received professional training.

Xu Mo added a few details, especially the monster's intelligent red vertical pupils and the chilling "smile" at the end.

"Are you sure it's observing, and not preparing to attack?" the lieutenant asked, frowning, his tone skeptical. "Many mutated creatures exhibit similar behavior before attacking."

"I'm sure." Xu Mo's tone was calm but certain. "It had at least three opportunities to attack us—the first outside the small building, the second when the medical team just arrived at the alley entrance, and the third before we were all on the bus and the vehicle started moving. But it didn't do any of them. It's more like it was gathering information. And Wang Jing said that it might have followed him all the way from Xiashan Town."

The captain and lieutenant exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

"Xiashan Town—" the captain repeated in a low voice, quickly flipping through something on his tablet. "It's 120 kilometers away. There have been a few sporadic reports from there before, but no assessment of a large-scale threat. If it really was wiped out by a single monster—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: this was beyond conventional understanding.

"How are the wounded?" the lieutenant asked.

"The wound is a laceration, and it's severely infected and suppurating, but there are no signs of zombie virus infection," Zhang Yun replied. "We've done some basic hemostasis and cleaning, but he needs professional medical attention."

"No signs of infection?" The lieutenant's brow furrowed even more. "Injured by a mutated creature, yet not infected with the virus?"

This is a crucial point of contention. The transmission of the zombie virus through bodily fluids is virtually impossible to counteract. If someone is scratched or bitten by an infected individual, mutation is only a matter of time unless they possess specific antibodies or undergo immediate amputation. If Wang Jing showed no signs of mutation more than three or four days after being attacked by that monster, there are only two possibilities: either the monster did not carry the zombie virus, or the monster itself is not related to the zombie virus at all.

"The medical center will conduct a full examination," the captain said in a deep voice, quickly recording on his tablet. "The information you provided is extremely important. Given the special circumstances, you will need to wait here for a moment; a higher-ranking official may need to hear your report directly."

Xu Mo and Zhang Yun nodded in understanding and were seated on two folding chairs in the corner of the tent to wait. The noise outside continued, but the atmosphere inside the tent was somewhat oppressive.

The wait wasn't long; about twenty minutes later, the tent flap was lifted and an officer wearing the rank of major walked in. He was in his early forties, with a straight posture, wearing an immaculate uniform, a serious face, sharp eyes like an eagle, and a steady, powerful gait, exuding a special aura formed from long-term experience in key positions.

"Major Li!" The captain and lieutenant behind the table immediately stood up and saluted.

Major Li nodded in return, walked straight to the reporting area, exchanged a few words with the two officers in hushed tones, and quickly glanced at the records on the tablet. His brow furrowed slightly as he read, then he turned and his gaze landed precisely on Xu Mo and Zhang Yun.

He walked up to the two of them and stopped. Zi Guang first glanced at Zhang Yun, lingering briefly on the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle she was carrying and her smart attire, then turned to Xu Mo, scrutinizing him for a moment at the AWM sniper rifle on his back and his excellent equipment, before finally returning his gaze to the two of them.

"Xu Mo, Zhang Yun," Major Li began, his voice not loud, but each word clear and carrying an undeniable authority. "I am Major Li from the Special Operations Department. I will be conducting further verification of your encounter with the unidentified creature and the discovery of survivor Wang Jing in area G-2. Now, I need you to describe the entire process again, in as much detail as possible, focusing on all the characteristics and behavioral details of that unidentified creature."

He didn't exchange pleasantries or waste any unnecessary words; he went straight to the point.

"Yes, Major Li," Xu Mo and Zhang Yun replied, standing up.

"Sit down and talk." Major Li pulled up a folding chair and sat down, opened a heavy, confidential notebook, took out a pen, and gestured for the two to begin.

Xu Mo and Zhang Yun gave a more systematic and detailed retelling of their previous report.

Major Li took notes extremely quickly, his pen scratching across the paper, and he would occasionally interrupt them to ask follow-up questions on a particular point.

The questions came one after another, professional and tricky, as if trying to dissect every single aspect of the monster. When Xu Mo mentioned again that the monster seemed to pay more attention to them when they were armed, Major Li looked up, gave Xu Mo a deep look, and made no comment, but simply marked this point in his notebook.

Regarding Wang Jing and Xia Shan Town, Major Li asked more probing questions: "Did Wang Jing mention how the dogs, cats, or other animals in the town reacted when the monster attacked? Did they flee, attack, or show no reaction at all? Besides the lacerations, were there any other abnormalities in the victims' corpses? For example, changes in color, abnormal stiffness or softening, or unnatural shrinkage?"

Zhang Yun tried to recall carefully, but could only shake his head again. Wang Jing was on the verge of unconsciousness at the time, and the information he provided was extremely limited.

The interrogation lasted for nearly half an hour. Major Li finally closed his notebook, stood up, and his expression was even more solemn than when he came in.

"I have taken note of the situation. The information you provided is invaluable, especially the description of the creature's behavioral patterns." His gaze swept over the two men again. "Xu Mo, your observation skills are very sharp. Zhang Yun, your tactical awareness and reporting abilities are solid. Thank you both for your cooperation."

His wording remained official and restrained, but the words "valuable" and "sharp" coming from the mouth of a major who clearly held an important position were already quite high praise.

"Furthermore," Major Li paused briefly, his tone unchanged, but the content subtly different, "given the special nature of this incident and your performance in handling it, we may need your further assistance or consultation in subsequent investigations. Also, related information needs to be kept confidential by you two."

"Understood, Major Li," the two replied.

Major Li said no more, nodded, turned and quickly left the tent, clearly to deal with this urgent intelligence immediately.

Xu Mo and Zhang Yun stepped out of the tent; the afternoon sun was still scorching.

"This Major Li is no ordinary man," Zhang Yun said slowly, lighting a cigarette. "Some of the questions he asked went beyond the scope of an eyewitness report."

"It's like he's gathering preliminary intelligence for some kind of classification or countermeasure," Xu Mo interjected, gazing into the distance. "And, his last few words—"

"We suspect we've discovered something incredible new." Zhang Yun exhaled a smoke ring, his tone calm, but his eyes held a complex expression. "We don't know if it's a blessing or a curse."

"Let's focus on the present first." Xu Mo withdrew his gaze. "We still have to patrol tomorrow."

The two chatted briefly for a bit before going home.

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