"This is really not a human job!"
Ning Yu stood in the research group's office, looking at the piles of documents stacked like a small mountain, while Lin Hao lay dejectedly among them.
"I forgot to tell you, he really isn't human..."
Ning Yu covered her mouth and chuckled softly, surprised that the situation was actually this tough.
Lin Hao looked at this troublesome little girl who had dragged him into this mess and couldn't help but sigh to the heavens. Then he picked up another stack of documents to process, muttering under his breath:
"I'll have to automate all these procedures when I get the chance..."
The leaders of the research group, exploration team, and other departments had already discussed this shocking matter in a unified emergency meeting.
Everyone was shocked and incredulous about the truth, with some even accusing them of 'usurping power.'
But faced with the task records and audio evidence presented by Lin Hao and Ji Mengyao, they found it hard to refute.
No one had expected that this seemingly beautiful vision of human unity was merely a scheme by Zhuang Wugou.
But at least he wasn't without merit; on the contrary, he had made significant 'contributions' to all of this.
The current operating mechanisms of the Ark Base, the distribution system, and the zombie-powered machinery in the lower levels all exist and will continue to function in the future. However, it seems unlikely that any new technology will emerge, as that responsibility now falls on Lin Hao.
"Any leads on the zombie-powered machinery and technology in the underground?"
Ning Yu asked, as this was a crucial part of the base's power supply.
Lin Hao opened a drawer, pulling out a thick stack of papers, and said:
"I've actually been curious and researched it before. Yesterday, I found some data on Zhuang Wugou's computer, so I should be able to figure it out in a while."
Ning Yu nodded and said:
"As expected of you."
Lin Hao scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, as if he had heard that phrase before.
"Oh, and there's one more thing."
He picked up another computer and showed Ning Yu:
"Zhuang Wugou seemed to be in contact with some organization, but the method of communication was very special, and I don't know how to establish it."
Ning Yu saw a series of records on the screen, apparently logs of some kind of communication.
"I suspect that his advanced technologies came from somewhere, and this is how they communicated."
Lin Hao presented his reasonable conjecture.
"If that's the case, and if they contact again while Zhuang Wugou is gone..."
Ning Yu followed his train of thought, making her own deductions.
"Exactly. Although their communication is encrypted, I'll try to crack it and see if I can fake it."
Lin Hao pushed the computer aside and shared his idea with Ning Yu.
"If we can extract more information, that would be great. They must know more secrets related to the T-virus."
Ning Yu nodded in agreement.
Leaving the research group's office, Ning Yu arrived at the middle layer of the Ark Base, which separates the residential and activity areas.
Recently, Ji Mengyao and Wu Di have been busy with exploration team matters, so they haven't had time to celebrate Ji Mengyao's birthday. Therefore, Ning Yu postponed the birthday dinner.
Today was another sunny day, and the Ark Base was bustling as usual, with people hurrying to and fro.
It appeared that without Zhuang Wugou, everything was still running smoothly, although this required countless efforts from many people behind the scenes.
But just as no one had noticed Zhuang Wugou before, now no one noticed the overwhelmed Lin Hao in the research group office.
Ning Yu felt like an outsider, leisurely watching the sunset.
In fact, she hadn't wanted to get involved in these matters, but it seemed that every event had her shadow in it.
Ning Yu suddenly had a thought about something that still needed to be done.
She returned to her apartment, picked up Wan Heng's diary, and then went to the other side of the residential area, to another apartment where Wan Heng and his sister had lived.
She thought that the young girl should have already...
Ning Yu didn't hold out much hope but still felt she should return the diary to its rightful owner.
She skillfully picked the lock with a tool and gently pushed the door open.
The room was still the same, with no changes to the furnishings. It seemed that the staff who cleaned up the body hadn't touched anything inside.
Probably due to a lack of manpower? They would clean up when someone new moved in.
Ning Yu thought so and walked into the living room.
Then she saw the young girl brewing tea, who was startled and put down her teacup, looking at Ning Yu who had walked into her home so boldly.
Ning Yu was also stunned, as the girl was none other than Wan Heng's sister.
"You..."
Ning Yu was about to ask how she hadn't died, but that seemed too impolite, so she stopped halfway.
She stared at the girl's neck, where the ligature marks were no longer obvious but still left faint bruises.
"Ah... it's you. I..."
The girl didn't question how Ning Yu had entered her home but quickly took another cup from the side and poured tea for Ning Yu.
Then she walked over and handed it to her, sitting awkwardly next to Ning Yu and smiling at her:
"It's a bit embarrassing... I failed to commit suicide..."
"Failed?"
Ning Yu was momentarily stunned.
"Yes... after the rope was cut, the knot I retied wasn't very secure..."
The girl nodded.
"Then I tried twice more, but I kept falling..."
She shook her head helplessly and picked up the photo frame with her and her brother's picture from the table.
The steam from the teacup blurred the plastic covering the photo, making her brother's face look misty and unclear.
The girl wiped the steam off her brother's face with her finger, looking at it with nostalgia.
"Falling really hurt, and it hurt so much that I didn't have the strength to try again."
She turned to look at Ning Yu, her expression hard to describe:
"I must... be really useless, right?"
"Maybe your brother didn't want you to die?"
Ning Yu didn't know what to say, so she pointed at the photo in her hand, saying something even a child wouldn't believe.
"You... are a gentle person."
"...so I eventually gave up."
The girl put the photo back on the table, hiding it in the shadow behind the sunlight.
"I came to return this diary to you."
Ning Yu handed her the diary she had taken from her, which didn't belong to Ning Yu in the first place.
Now that the girl was still alive, it was even more appropriate to return it to her.
The girl took the diary, affectionately stroking the cover with her hand, but didn't open it. She just asked:
"Have you found out anything?"
Ning Yu pursed her lips before telling her a version of the truth that omitted details she didn't need to know.
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of a key unlocking the door came from outside.