Chapter 170 – The Decision

Just as dawn was breaking, the scene downstairs was already a hive of activity.

The Survivors, having rested for a night, got up early. Some were gathered together cleaning their weapons, while others were checking their backpacks.

Ling Mo’s keen eyes noticed that the Survivor who had his arm chopped off was no longer there.

It seemed he didn’t make it through; perhaps after showing signs of mutation last night, he was dealt with swiftly.

Ling Mo appreciated this group’s approach to handling matters—neither abandoning comrades nor showing blind mercy.

Such an atmosphere was primarily due to Guo Chao’s leadership prowess.

A good leader is crucial for the Survival Squad.

Someone like Luo Heng, for instance, couldn’t handle so many people’s life and death. He had strength, but in terms of temperament and decisiveness, he could only work with a few people rather than making decisions for everyone.

At this moment, Guo Chao was outside the gate, pumping air into a few bicycles they had somehow found. When he saw Ling Mo, he promptly handed over the task to other Survivors and walked over with a smile, asking, “How was your sleep last night?”

“Uh…” Ling Mo’s back still felt a bit sore, but he replied, “Not bad, it was pretty quiet here.” Ling Mo glanced outside the gate and asked, “Are you all heading out today?”

Guo Chao nodded, saying, “Yes, today we plan to travel a bit further to gather more supplies and also check out the situation near the Armed Police Unit.” As he said this, he suddenly showed a slightly expectant yet anxious expression and nervously asked, “Xiao Ling, about what I mentioned yesterday, have you given it any thought…”

Ling Mo had actually already made his decision. Finding the Army or Biological Research Institute accurately on his own wasn’t an easy task.

Moreover, Guo Chao, being an official, had an advantage in dealing with the Army.

Even though the Army might not necessarily welcome them with open arms right now, it was still better than him, an ordinary person, barging in alone.

When it comes to negotiating and mingling with those in power, Guo Chao was undoubtedly more skilled.

“Let me ask you this: Is there any possibility that the Biological Research Institute still has Survivors? Given their strength and technology, are they actually capable of researching the Virus?” Ling Mo pondered for a moment before asking.

“Well, I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know much about the Biological Research Institute. But it’s located near the Military District, which underscores its importance. The place is almost always in a state of lockdown. I think there must be some Survivors there,” Guo Chao explained in detail. “As for the technology you’re asking about… I don’t have any knowledge in that area, but professionals should know more than us ordinary folks, right?”

Ling Mo felt reassured after hearing Guo Chao’s words.

If Guo Chao had spouted nonsense, Ling Mo would have given up on this idea.

Though Guo Chao is a public official, it’s impossible for him to know everything. If he had made baseless claims, it would have been obvious nonsense.

Guo Chao’s honest approach made Ling Mo both satisfied and appreciative.

“Alright, in that case, I’ll join you,” Ling Mo nodded in agreement.

Guo Chao instantly beamed with a delighted smile. Being shrewd, he didn’t directly ask Ling Mo if he wanted to join their team.

In fact, he merely sought cooperation with Ling Mo, without hoping to keep him in the team permanently.

The squad’s progress so far was significantly due to Guo Chao’s efforts, and he had already experienced the benefits of having a powerful individual in the group.

With someone possessing Superpowers, ordinary people are no longer ordinary. If they ever had conflicting opinions with him, whom would the Survivors listen to?

A squad needs only one voice, but cooperating with Ling Mo is a completely different matter.

At this moment, Meng Jiayu walked in from outside. She still wore her hat, and despite the bloodstains on her clothes, she looked spirited.

“Lian Lian, why are you bothering Ling Mo so early?”

In one glance, she noticed Ouyang Lian standing behind Ling Mo, tugging at his sleeve. She frowned and spoke immediately.

Ouyang Lian grinned, quickly running to Meng Jiayu’s side, and said ingratiatingly, “Jiayu, I went to show Ling Mo my loose tooth.”

“Don’t worry, she didn’t disturb me,” Ling Mo replied, waving his hand dismissively.

Guo Chao turned to Meng Jiayu with a pleased expression and said, “Jiayu, Ling Mo has agreed to cooperate with us. This means you all can catch up in the coming days.”

Meng Jiayu thought there wasn’t much to catch up on, but she was genuinely happy about Ling Mo’s decision.

However, as a woman, she keenly noticed Li Yalin’s slight change in behavior and immediately showed a hint of confusion before seemingly realizing something.

The faint noises from upstairs last night and Li Yalin’s slightly awkward stance today… Meng Jiayu’s face turned slightly red. She coughed to cover it up and quickly said, “So, are you coming out with us today, Ling Mo? You can familiarize yourself with the surroundings near the Armed Police Unit.”

“Sure, no problem.”

Ling Mo readily agreed, which would give him a chance to gauge the group’s true capabilities.

The Armed Police Unit was the first step in fulfilling Guo Chao’s plan. If it turned out to be a meaningless effort, Ling Mo would have to reevaluate the entire plan’s feasibility.

Guo Chao understood Ling Mo’s thoughts. He clapped his hands to gather a few Survivors.

These Survivors were young men, and Ling Mo noticed that several among them were the ones who risked their lives to save others yesterday.

Their eyes revealed that these were the cream of the crop among ordinary people.

One of them even gave Ling Mo the impression of being a soldier… Noticing Ling Mo’s curiosity, Guo Chao quickly introduced, “These guys are quite strong, and this is Old Wang, a retired soldier who now works as a Security guard in this community.”

“Oh, pleased to meet you.” Ling Mo smiled warmly.

The group returned his smile, showing respect for Ling Mo.

It seemed Meng Jiayu was also planning to go. She had a foot-long knife at her waist, the handle wrapped tightly in a darkened cloth, a sign that it had seen much bloodshed.

Yang Jia was also in the group. After chatting with Ling Mo last night, he found Ling Mo to be quite easy to get along with. He spoke more casually now.

“Ling-Ge, the others will stay behind, and the sisters-in-law should also stay here. There shouldn’t be any issues,” he suggested.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Na swung her Scythe and took a step forward from behind Ling Mo. Her icy stare made Yang Jia feel suffocated. “I’m going with Ling-Ge.”

Ye Lian said nothing but stayed close to Ling Mo, clearly indicating her stance.

In reality, even if they hadn’t behaved this way, Ling Mo would still never leave them behind.

Given the strength of his Psychic Power, the maximum distance he could maintain with his Zombie Puppets was about a kilometer, but that was pushing the limits.

“Yeah, I have to take all three of them with me,” Ling Mo stated.

Upon hearing this, Guo Chao couldn’t help but frown initially. But when he met the eyes of the three female Zombies, he felt a chill run up from his feet.

Could it be that these three girls are also superhumans? If that’s the case… then their support would be incredibly strong!

After all… He glanced at Xia Na and recalled that he had once tried to lift that Scythe. While carrying it wasn’t difficult, wielding it effortlessly with one hand, as she did, was impossible.

But looking at her slender arms, who knew where all that strength came from?

Despite his doubts, since the three girls seemed strong and Ling Mo insisted on it, Guo Chao could only nod. “Alright, in that case, let’s find two more bicycles. By the way, the Armed Police Unit is some distance from here. The streets around here are relatively clear with few vehicles, so we should be able to cycle through easily and quietly. To conserve energy, that’s our best option.”

“Where are the bikes from?”

“There’s a villa next door with a lot of them, and they’re all expensive mountain bikes. I guess the owner used to organize cycling groups,” Guo Chao explained.

That makes sense… It looks like these guys are pretty well-prepared. For ordinary people, having a means of transportation is definitely beneficial. It saves time and conserves energy.

However, in the city center, this method wouldn’t work. In those congested areas, biking would be impossible.

But Ling Mo didn’t notice that Meng Jiayu was secretly observing Ye Lian and the two other girls.

On the surface, Ye Lian didn’t show any abnormalities. Li Yalin’s eyes, however, were as cold as a venomous snake’s. Xia Na’s eyes had an oddly reddish tint that grew more noticeable upon closer inspection… “What’s the story with these three girls anyway?” Meng Jiayu wondered, puzzled.