TIC Chapter 59

 Chapter 59

The two of them took their seats at a table; Xiao Yan ordered an apple pie and some french fries—foods that, as it happened, were not among Jian’s favorites.

The guy detested any food that had been designed and synthesized by a terminal program, simply because the taste was invariably monotonous.

Xiao Yan slid a beer across the table toward Jian. The moment Jian took a mere sip, however, a look of disgust crossed his face; propping his chin in his hand with an air of boredom, he pointedly avoided making eye contact with Xiao Yan.

“Hey! Don’t be mad! When the time is right, I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on! And please—don’t tell *anyone* about what you’ve seen!”

“Are you hoping I won’t report this to Major General Gordon? Major General Gordon is my superior officer; I have both the obligation and the duty to report matters concerning you up the chain of command. I don’t care if it’s the X-Virus or some other damn thing that’s granted you these powers—if it starts causing damage to your body...”

Xiao Yan quickly reached out and pressed his hand over Jian’s mouth. Although there were only a few scattered patrons in the restaurant at that hour, Xiao Yan knew that with a Special Forces soldier’s acute hearing, Jian’s words would be heard loud and clear.

“Listen—if this secret gets out... the ‘Surge’ organization might stop at nothing to take my head.”

Jian let out a sigh, then looked Xiao Yan dead in the eye and spoke with utmost seriousness: “Which is precisely *why* I need to report this to my superiors. If you feel you can’t bring yourself to tell *me* everything, then at least report it to Major General Gordon. This isn’t just about indulging your personal wishes. Xiao Yan—your life isn’t just vital to the ‘Char’ organization; it is—on a deeply personal level—vital to *me* as well.”

Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan fell into deep thought for a moment before replying: “If you absolutely *must* report it... then give me three months.”

“Three months?” Jian stared at Xiao Yan, his expression shifting to one of steely vigilance. “Impossible! Do you have any idea how much can happen in three months? Major General Gordon once ordered me to hold a specific platform for three months—and in those three months, I lost a third of my men!”

Xiao Yan froze, suddenly recalling the biochemical weapon that the “Surge” organization had developed back then—the one that caused Special Forces soldiers to lose their respiratory functions.

He had known that they had lost a great many soldiers, but he hadn’t realized the casualty count was as high as one-third of their force—and that was to say nothing of the fact that Jian’s unit consisted of the absolute elite.

The reason Jian was reacting so intensely now was simply that he couldn’t bear to lose *him* as well. “A month... not even a month?”

Jan closed his eyes and turned his head away—a silent acquiescence.

“Thank you!”

“Then show me you really mean it.”

“Huh?”

In the instant Xiao Yan stood there, dumbfounded, Jan’s fingers hooked beneath his chin, drawing him slowly closer.

Jan braced one hand against the table while still holding his beer in the other; Xiao Yan remained frozen on the spot. Jan’s profile was breathtakingly beautiful; he possessed an innate charisma that stirred the soul, and Xiao Yan felt his heart plummet violently in his chest.

The moment the tip of Jan’s tongue brushed against his own, Xiao Yan’s spine went rigid involuntarily. Before Jan could truly deepen the kiss, Xiao Yan scowled deeply and jerked his head away, instinctively thrusting his elbow against Jan’s shoulder. As he spun around to break free, however, Jan clamped one hand down on Xiao Yan’s shoulder and cupped the back of his head with the other, effortlessly neutralizing his resistance. Jan’s fingers tangled in his hair, and the embrace—tightening relentlessly—finally left Xiao Yan breathless. From start to finish, Xiao Yan kept his lips tightly pursed, while Jan simply lowered his gaze to stare intently at the space between his brows.

“Have you fallen in love with Hein Burton?”

He finally broke free from Jan’s embrace—or perhaps it was simply that Jan had finally let him go.

“What... did you say?” Xiao Yan glared at Jan, his clenched fists trembling with rage. He had believed Jan was different—like Maya—that after enduring countless life-threatening moments together, this man would treat him as a brother, a comrade-in-arms, rather than a looked-down-upon, rookie researcher—a mere punchline for his jokes. If he had a syringe of serum in his hand right now, he wouldn’t hesitate to inject himself and show Jan Wallis exactly what he was made of!

“He’s saved your life plenty of times, hasn’t he? You admire him. In fact, it goes beyond mere admiration—you’re attracted to him. Even the way you tried to shake me off just now... it’s exactly like something that guy would do.”

Xiao Yan’s racing thoughts ground to a sudden halt in that instant; the rhythm of his heartbeat seemed to choke in his chest.

He stared into Jan’s eyes, yet found himself utterly unable to utter a single word. He thought he had concealed his feelings perfectly, yet Jan Wallis—a man he hadn't seen in nearly six months—effortlessly saw right through to the secret buried deep within his heart.

"It’s hard for anyone *not* to be drawn to him."

Xiao Yan saw no point in trying to hide anything from Jan; he knew that if he did, the man would only take even greater pleasure in brazenly calling him out on it.

"Someone once told me that it’s hard *not* to be drawn to *me*, too. Yet you seem to be naturally immune—completely indifferent to my charms."

Jan set down his beer and rose to his feet; the sheer grace with which he nodded and smiled was enough to make one’s heart flutter.

"Hein Burton made you forget one thing."

"What’s that?"

"I nearly kissed you just now."

Only then did Xiao Yan realize what had happened: he had originally intended to give the guy a piece of his mind, but the moment Jan brought up Hein, he had completely forgotten his anger.

At that moment, Jan—his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his military uniform—turned to leave. Pausing at the doorway of the dining hall, he slowly turned back, a familiar, languid smile playing upon his lips. "The next time you try to use the tricks Hein Burton taught you against me, I guarantee I’ll snap your arm like a twig."

Xiao Yan pursed his lips and rubbed his temples. *This guy... why does he always have to come to me just to validate his own sex appeal?*

*Even if I am drawn to Hein, you remain—to me—an irreplaceable presence.*

*I will never forget the sound of your bones shattering. It may have seemed like a trivial thing to you, but every time I recall it, I feel a pang of pain.*

Only his research into X-2 could truly command Xiao Yan’s undivided attention. If his research proved successful—if he could one day tell Jan that he no longer had to live each day as if it were his last—perhaps then, he might finally see a different expression on that man’s face.

In that instant, a sudden flash of insight struck Xiao Yan: the X-virus could adapt to the human body, whereas X-2 could not. It was highly probable that he had inadvertently removed a specific gene sequence responsible for maintaining stability; he needed to locate that sequence and modify it accordingly.

With this new hypothesis taking shape in his mind, Xiao Yan—brimming with excitement—headed toward his laboratory. As he made his way down the corridor, he noticed a flurry of activity among the special forces troops. Although they were not Hein’s unit, Xiao Yan sensed—with a growing unease—that something significant was about to unfold. Perhaps having lived through too many peaceful days, Xiao Yan had forgotten that this world was not safe—not even within the hermetically sealed confines of Shire City.

A squad of guards approached him from the opposite direction, led by none other than Maya. The man’s expression was grave, devoid of the carefree, goofy grin he usually wore.

“Maya?” Xiao Yan paused in front of him. “Has something happened?”

Maya offered a reassuring smile and clapped a hand onto Xiao Yan’s shoulder. “It’s nothing. The Surge Organization is always stirring up trouble. There’s no need to worry.”

Despite these assurances, Xiao Yan could faintly sense that the atmosphere within the Special Task Force was far more tense than it had been in recent days. Yet, no matter what was unfolding, his primary objective remained the same: to complete his research.

Two minutes later, Hein Burton stepped into Major General Gordon’s office. The Major General—who typically enjoyed savoring a cup of black tea during his leisure hours—skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point.

“Colonel Burton, our base in Antarctica is currently under siege by the Surge Organization.”

Major General Gordon leaned back against his desk, his back turned toward Hein. Although his expression remained hidden from view, the low, heavy tone of his voice signaled that this was a matter of the utmost gravity. Indeed, the frequent troop movements observed within the Special Task Force in recent days had been undertaken precisely to reinforce the defenses of their other research bases.

Yet, from every conceivable angle, the Antarctic base stood as a truly unique entity. Due to the extreme sub-zero temperatures of the polar region, it remained the only place on Earth entirely free of zombie infestations. Furthermore, the primordial Comet Virus itself lay dormant beneath the vast Antarctic ice sheet. To facilitate the monitoring of this virus, Shire had established a state-of-the-art research facility in Antarctica—a base permanently garrisoned by two Special Task Force units. Stationed there was a scientific team—considered the most elite in existence outside of Shire itself—which had dedicated decades to research at the Antarctic base, continuously transmitting invaluable data back to Shire. “Because Antarctica harbors the most pristine, unmutated strains of the Comet Virus, it holds critical reference value for the development of a complete X-Virus.”

“However, Char must abandon the Antarctic base. It lies too far from Char; the logistical and defensive challenges are immense. As long as the Swarm continues its relentless assaults, the Antarctic base is destined to fall sooner or later. What is your assessment?”

“From a purely strategic standpoint, the Antarctic base possesses no value whatsoever. Yet, from the perspective of virological research, it is akin to a ‘rib of a chicken’—a resource too costly to defend tenaciously given the lack of commensurate returns, yet one that, if rashly abandoned, entails forfeiting an unpredictable wealth of research potential.”

Major General Gordon nodded. “According to the report filed by Colonel Luther, the Antarctic base’s commanding officer, the Swarm’s next offensive is expected to strike within twenty-four hours. We must evacuate all stationed personnel and secure a sufficient quantity of Comet Virus samples before the base is overrun. The High Command and the Central Academy of Sciences have held a joint consultation; the Antarctic base predates even Char itself, and after so many years of intensive research into the virus’s epicenter, we have already secured every piece of valuable intelligence available. As for the Swarm—their desire for the Comet Virus stems from the very same objective: to synthesize a complete X-Virus. For us, a futile, last-ditch defense holds absolutely no strategic value.”

“Sir, please state my mission directly.” Such a momentous decision failed to elicit even the slightest flicker of emotion on Hein’s face; it was precisely this unwavering composure that led Major General Gordon to consistently place Hein Burton in the position of his most trusted confidant. “This time, your mission is to ensure the successful evacuation of the troops stationed at the Antarctic base. Furthermore... the environment in Antarctica is a delicate one; the fact that it has kept the Comet Virus in a stable state for tens of thousands of years is nothing short of a natural miracle. Lieutenant General Averell intends to dispatch a researcher from Shaer to conduct a final, on-site study of the stabilized Comet Virus within the limited time remaining. What is your opinion of Lieutenant Colonel Casey?”

“The fact that you would pose such a question, Sir, suggests that you are not entirely at ease with Lieutenant Colonel Casey undertaking this mission.”

Major General Gordon gave a light chuckle. “Lieutenant Colonel Casey does indeed possess formidable research capabilities; however, he lacks any experience conducting field expeditions outside of Shaer, and he possesses no capacity to react to unforeseen dangers. Of course, I am well aware that no matter which researcher the Central Academy of Sciences selects, you would be capable of protecting them. It is simply that time is of the essence; we must select an individual capable of conducting research of the greatest breadth and depth within the shortest possible timeframe—an individual who may very well determine the future of Shaer. I will give you three seconds: tell me, who is the candidate you have in mind?”

“Xiao Yan.” The moment he uttered that name, Hein realized he hadn't needed to think at all.

The so-called “three seconds” had, in truth, been entirely superfluous.

Major General Gordon nodded. “I will inform that fellow Averell that only Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan can maximize the efficiency of this mission. Go now, Hein.”

“Yes, Sir.” Hein executed a crisp military salute, then strode calmly out of the office.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was feeling a profound sense of despondency due to the lack of progress in his research. He harbored a deep-seated intuition that, in order to successfully synthesize a stable variant of X-2, he would require another stable, homologous virus to provide the necessary parameters. And the entity of greatest potential reference value was none other than “Comet”—the virus lying dormant beneath the Antarctic ice sheets.

With his train of thought at an impasse, Xiao Yan was conducting test-firings of a “condensation gun” within his private laboratory. Of course, he was likely the only person in the entire Academy of Sciences who treated the development of a condensation gun as a form of recreational diversion to occupy his mind whenever he felt mentally fatigued.

His previous project had involved the development of a pistol; now, he was keenly interested in modifying the condensation gun into a sniper rifle—or perhaps even a weapon system possessing far greater firepower. He had delved into the structural mechanics of various firearms, and after designing several distinct models, he was now putting them through their paces within a simulated testing environment. The cost of condensing agents had always been exorbitant; fortunately, the military held his research lab in high regard, and their pledge to support his research "at any cost"—as they put it—extended even to the financial expense.

The simulation system indicated that the accuracy of a modular sniper rifle he had designed had already met military operational standards.

A faint smile touched his lips; just as Xiao Yan was about to resume his research, his terminal suddenly flashed a "Connection Lost" status.

"What’s going on?"

Removing the terminal connector, Xiao Yan realized that Hein was standing right beside him—his expression composed and unhurried, yet he was fully clad in combat gear.

"...Are you heading out on a mission?"

"No—*we* are heading out on a mission."

Hein knew the layout of Xiao Yan’s laboratory like the back of his hand; he was even intimately familiar with the specific research projects Xiao Yan was currently undertaking. Opening a display cabinet, Hein deftly retrieved the sniper rifle Xiao Yan had just developed, swiftly disassembled it, and secured the components to his person.

"Hey... that’s just a prototype!"

"Only real combat can truly test them."

Having said this, Hein retrieved every available sample of the X-2 agent and hauled Xiao Yan out of his seat.

"Put on your combat uniform."

"I’m going on a mission with you?" Xiao Yan’s eyes widened—yet, unlike the fear and reluctance he might have felt in the past, a surge of eager anticipation now welled up within him.

"Yes. You have three minutes to get ready." Hein raised his wrist to check the digital readout on his comm-link.

Without a word, Xiao Yan stripped off his researcher’s lab coat and tossed it aside, then moved with practiced efficiency to shed the standard military uniform he was wearing underneath.

Compared to a year ago, Xiao Yan’s physique had undergone a dramatic transformation. His spine was now ramrod straight, his waist entirely devoid of excess flesh; his musculature flowed with a powerful, aesthetic grace—particularly the muscles of his glutes, which flexed and rippled with striking definition as he lifted his leg, right up until the moment the combat uniform slid into place to cover his body.

As Xiao Yan turned around, his eyes locked with Hein’s; his heart skipped a beat, yet Hein’s gaze remained utterly unwavering as he strode calmly toward him.

Hein lowered his head slightly to secure a sidearm to Xiao Yan’s waist, then tightened the strapping around his thigh and slotted a case of medical vials into place, ensuring Xiao Yan could easily draw a dose and self-inject at a moment’s notice. In a mere thirty seconds, Xiao Yan was fully outfitted; his gear was identical to that of a standard special forces soldier—save for the fact that instead of the customary twin blades, he carried the specialized terminal equipment reserved for technical specialists. Yet, the equipment Xiao Yan possessed was far more sophisticated and refined than that of the average soldier.

"Are you ready, Second Lieutenant?" Hein looked up, his face drawn so close to Xiao Yan’s that his warm breath brushed against the younger man’s lips—a breath steady, firm, and composed.

"Yes, Colonel."

Xiao Yan met Hein’s gaze without the slightest hesitation. Hein’s fingers drew near, his knuckles brushing gently against Xiao Yan’s cheek as if to verify something.

With his face turned slightly to the side, the other man’s handsome features were right before his eyes. Xiao Yan felt a sudden impulse—as if they were on the verge of a kiss. He still remembered that almost overpowering kiss from when Hein had been drunk—a kiss that had felt as if it would crush him completely.

"Move out."

A cold, crisp voice snapped all such fantasies back to reality. Xiao Yan gasped inwardly, suddenly feeling like a complete idiot.

Hein had already turned away. The moment the sliding doors parted, Mark, Liv, and the rest of the special forces squad were revealed, standing by in the corridor. As Hein strode forward with his long, purposeful strides, Xiao Yan hurried to keep pace.

Unlike on so many previous occasions, Xiao Yan did not feel weighed down by his gear; relying solely on his own strength, he kept up with the entire unit. Before his eyes was Hein’s tall, commanding figure. His mindset was different from any previous mission; for the very first time, Xiao Yan found himself caring neither about their destination nor the objective—driven purely by the impulse to simply follow this man.

Stepping out of the Special Mission Forces headquarters, Maya—who was waiting beside their aircraft—flashed Xiao Yan a broad grin. "I should have known all along! Aside from you, the Boss wouldn't want any other tech specialist!"

The last time he had departed from Xar, it was Maya who had practically shoved Xiao Yan onto the aircraft; this time, however, Xiao Yan climbed aboard with a confident, dashing stride.

As he glanced down, he was met with an expression of sheer astonishment on Maya’s face.

"You’re different now, Xiao Yan!"

The whirlwind generated by the aircraft’s engines whipped at Maya’s short hair; he instinctively reached up to smooth it down, then let his hand fall back to his side with a sheepish air. “How is it different?”

Maya did not answer the question; instead, she called out loudly, “Let’s do something that no other researcher can do!”

The cabin door closed. Xiao Yan lowered his safety restraints and let out a deep breath.

Judging by the tone, only Hein’s unit was being deployed this time; yet, Xiao Yan did not let his guard down. Whenever Hein was in charge, there was no such thing as a mission without danger.

“Hey, Lieutenant—aren’t you worried about your own neck?”

This was the first time Mark had addressed Xiao Yan as “Lieutenant.”

Xiao Yan nodded honestly, then said with solemnity: “You guys absolutely have to make sure I come out of this alive!”

Sitting across from him, Liv flashed a bright, cheerful smile. “You *will* survive—and you *must* survive.”

“Sigh... Antarctica... Aside from special forces training, I haven't set foot in that place since!” Mark tilted his head back and let out a wistful sigh.

“What? We’re deploying to Antarctica?” Xiao Yan’s eyes went wide. He had assumed they were merely targeting some base belonging to the Surge Organization—but Antarctica? The very epicenter of the Comet Virus? Xiao Yan had never imagined he would have the chance to visit that place in his entire lifetime.

“What kind of look is that? You tagged along without even knowing what the mission was?” Mark looked Xiao Yan up and down. “You know, the way you carry yourself is starting to look more and more like a bona fide Special Forces operative!”

Xiao Yan’s heart skipped a beat as he suddenly recalled the moment Hein had helped him organize his gear. Hein knew his habits like the back of his own hand—he knew exactly where to place everything, from medical vials to sidearms, so that they would be most accessible and intuitive for Xiao Yan to use. And then—right at the very end—the sensation of Hein’s knuckles brushing against his cheek... it felt as though a gentle breath had been blown directly onto his heart.

“Given the tight timeframe, the Colonel likely didn't have the chance to brief you on this operation. Allow me to fill you in.”

Liv’s voice snapped Xiao Yan back to reality. “This time, our primary responsibility is overseeing the evacuation of the Antarctic Base.”

“What? We’re abandoning the Antarctic Base?” Xiao Yan was utterly astonished. The Antarctic Base was a place every virologist dreamed of reaching; although no data of significant new value had been transmitted back to Shire in recent years, to simply give it up like this...

“Yes—because of the Surge Organization. Six hours ago, the Antarctic Base successfully repelled an attack by the Surge. Within the next eighteen hours, however, it is highly probable that the Surge will launch a second assault on the base. According to intelligence from the commanding officer, Colonel Luther, the Surge is likely to fire ‘Ablation Warheads’ at the ice sheet upon which the base sits.”

Ablation Warheads were not offensive weapons in the conventional sense; rather, they were experimental devices designed specifically to induce deep-level melting in glaciers. Under normal circumstances, they would only cause localized melting; however, given the Surge Organization’s sheer fanaticism—should they deploy a sufficient payload of these warheads against the ice sheet supporting the base—the resulting glacial melt would cause the entire facility to collapse and vanish forever.

Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed deeply as he spoke in a low, grave tone: “If that is the case, our research into the Comet Virus will come to a complete halt! Even if we are forced by necessity to abandon the Antarctic Base, we must at least dispatch the scientific academy’s elite researchers to conduct one final round of environmental analysis on the Comet Virus!”

Liv tapped her finger lightly against Xiao Yan’s chest. “That person... is you.”

Xiao Yan stared back in utter disbelief. “What did you say? *Me*?”

Liv nodded. “Think to your heart’s content.”

In that moment, a surge of eager anticipation coursed through every cell of his body; he knew his opportunity had finally arrived! Closing his eyes, Xiao Yan silently contemplated the specific problems he wished to solve, organizing his thoughts with precision. He was acutely aware that his time in direct contact with the “Comet” would be fleetingly brief—he had to ensure that this limited window of opportunity yielded the absolute maximum utility!

Mark started to say something, but Liv silenced him with a stern look. The entire cabin fell into a profound silence; with a wordless, shared understanding, every special forces operative aboard worked in perfect unison to create the optimal environment for Xiao Yan to focus his thoughts.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yan gazed out the window. They had already entered the frigid zone; the climate was growing increasingly harsh, the temperature was plummeting, and a thin layer of white condensation had begun to form on the glass.

“Hey, Xiao Yan! Once we get to Antarctica, no matter what happens, you’d better not go blubbering like a baby!” Mark called out loudly, offering a playful warning. “Why?”

“Because your tears would freeze right on your face,” Liv explained with a smile.

Finally, they reached the Antarctic Circle—a world of pristine whiteness, utterly spotless. The ocean surrounding the Antarctic continent was dotted with countless floating icebergs, and beneath the sunlight, the glaciers refracted a crystalline, faceted brilliance; this white continent appeared at once sacred and solitary. It was completely cut off from the rest of the world; even when the entire planet was engulfed by the zombie crisis—of which this very place was the true epicenter—it continued to slumber in silence, remaining utterly undisturbed.