Chapter 244 – Harassment Knows No Gender

“They are survivors too, found them over the past few days.”

Sun Zeya said, “There aren’t many survivors around here. We had given up hope on this street, but unexpectedly, we ran into you all. What a pleasant surprise.”

“I didn’t expect to run into you either. It’s quite a coincidence…” Ling Mo replied casually.

The survivors sitting on the makeshift beds were a mix of men and women, all looking somewhat listless and their eyes dull, clearly under long-term mental stress.

This expression was common after the outbreak, and Ling Mo himself had once looked the same.

So, after a casual glance, he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

In one corner of the room, there was a pile of beer bottles next to a large can of gasoline.

Some of the returning team members had already gathered around, instinctively starting to make new makeshift Molotov cocktails.

Ling Mo was quite interested in such small techniques; they could at least serve as a distraction when encountering a large group of Zombies.

But just as he was about to ask Sun Zeya for some tips, a tall, skinny young woman stood up from one of the makeshift beds.

Ling Mo vaguely felt that she looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t immediately recall who she was.

Probably not someone he knew well… She had a nice figure though, with an exaggerated hourglass shape, especially her unusually large chest.

She hesitantly walked around Tom and approached Sun Zeya.

Her face, which was relatively pretty, showed a trace of nervousness. “Captain Sun, do you know when you will take us back?”

“Hmm? Didn’t I tell you before? We’ll discuss it after we complete our mission.” Sun Zeya frowned and replied.

Ling Mo noticed that Sun Zeya even took a half step back, creating some distance between herself and the woman.

So she’s not that friendly with everyone…

Even Ling Mo felt a slight urge to step back; the woman’s scent was quite strong…

It wasn’t a sour smell, but the overpowering perfume she used to mask any unpleasant odors.

Ever since being tricked by what seemed like perfume but was actually a potion, Ling Mo had developed a deep aversion to such scents.

While he could still pretend to be unaffected, Ye Lian and the three girls simultaneously wrinkled their noses and took a few steps back.

“But… but I don’t want to stay in X City for another moment! This place is a meat grinder, it’s a cesspool!”

The woman’s voice suddenly became agitated, probably because she finally felt a sense of relief after being rescued, and the accumulated fear erupted.

She was showing signs of a breakdown: “At least give us a specific time… or are you not planning to take us back at all?”

“Calm down, I never said that.”

Sun Zeya frowned and said, “Our mission is to thoroughly search this area, gather as many survivors as possible, and bring back any medicines. We’ve only found a few of you so far, should we abandon our mission? We can’t determine a specific time right now. Until our search is complete, you’ll have to temporarily stay with us. We’re not putting you in danger; every time we engage Zombies, we draw them far away…”

“What’s the use of saying that? You’re soldiers! Ensuring our safety is your duty!” the woman shouted.

“Ha.”

Sun Zeya let out a cold laugh and took two steps forward.

Though she was short in stature, when she looked up at the woman, she exuded an immense sense of pressure.

Even Ling Mo felt the chill emanating from her.

It seems Sun Zeya is quite formidable…

“Responsibilities? You mean I should save you?” Sun Zeya seemed very annoyed by this notion.

The woman took a frightened step back, but after glancing towards the bed, she seemed to regain some confidence. “Of course! Weren’t you originally supported by the state? You’ve been trained for times like this! Now that a disaster has struck, you should be out here saving people. Even if the government hasn’t stepped in, it’s still your duty!”

“Even if you’re out saving people, you should take us back first! You’re dragging us into danger with you. We barely escaped from a heavily Zombie-infested area, and now you want to drag us back there… I heard you say yesterday that you’re low on bullets and only have those makeshift Molotovs. If you get overwhelmed by Zombies, won’t we be doomed because of you?”

By the end of her rant, she looked genuinely aggrieved. The other survivors began whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with doubt as they looked at Sun Zeya.

Following her gaze, Ling Mo noticed a man sitting in the corner with a sinister look in his eyes. He was bald, around 30 years old, and had the air of a street thug.

As Ling Mo made eye contact with him, he felt an uneasy premonition.

Ye Lian leaned close to his ear and whispered, “He’s… probably a superhuman… I can sense it…”

“No wonder,” Ling Mo nodded thoughtfully.

It seemed the woman had been prompted by the man to question them.

With a superhuman backing her up, she naturally felt more confident.

But even so, she was terrified, her face pale and her body trembling slightly.

Facing a group of armed soldiers, even if she chose the most harmless-looking one to question, nervousness was inevitable.

That man didn’t come forward himself but sent this rather dim-witted woman to be the front person; he wasn’t a decent person either.

“You sound like you have a point,” Sun Zeya said, seemingly softening as she noticed the survivors all watching her.

The woman’s eyes lit up, and she straightened her back. “Of course, I’m right…”

“Right, my ass!”

Sun Zeya’s mood changed faster than flipping a switch. She suddenly grabbed the woman’s collar, yanking her head down forcefully. “So if I beat you up now, are you going to report me? Call the police? Duty, my foot. I’m risking my life to save more people, not just you. Do you think you’re the only one worth us risking our lives for? Give me a break. If you don’t want to follow us, you can leave right now. This street is clear of Zombies, perfectly safe. Consider it a bonus from me.”

The woman’s face turned white instantly, and the sinister-looking bald man furrowed his brow.

What a commanding presence… Ling Mo marveled silently.

Sun Zeya’s actions and tone were almost thuggish…

Both the woman and the man were clearly taken aback by the sudden fierceness from the usually cheerful Sun Zeya.

From their perspective, the woman’s argument did have some validity, but unfortunately for them, Sun Zeya wasn’t about to entertain their concerns.

To live safely and long-term, taking risks is necessary.

In Sun Zeya’s view, the mission clearly took precedence, and the bigger picture was paramount.

Ling Mo speculated that the bald man probably hid the fact that he was a superhuman because he didn’t want to take risks with these soldiers.

Not wanting to contribute is one thing, but stirring up trouble behind the scenes…

Tom coughed, stepped forward, and grabbed Sun Zeya’s arm, releasing the trembling woman. “Sun Zeya, come on, let’s talk things through calmly. We just met Ling Mo and his group today; let’s not leave a bad impression…”

“Think you’re some kind of big shot celebrity? Not everyone’s going to bow to you…” Sun Zeya muttered, then turned to Ling Mo, her face breaking into a warm smile. “Hehe, didn’t scare you guys, did I? Shouldn’t have, right?”

“No…”

“That’s good. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. We can have a good discussion tonight. Your girlfriend…s can join in too; we can all discuss together.”

Sun Zeya’s eyes gleamed with excitement, but Ling Mo vaguely felt he had seen that look before…

Oh right, 2 had the same look when he wanted to know what Ling Mo’s superpower was…

Now Ling Mo understood why Sun Zeya was being so friendly; she had the same curiosity as 2.

As she was leading Ling Mo and his group away, Sun Zeya suddenly glanced back at the little celebrity and said softly, “Cause trouble again, and I’ll throw you out. This is the second time already.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly and added, “You can try if you want.”