Chapter 28: The House That Hunts (Part I)

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Zhu Ning opened the folder, and she had to admit, Liu Niannian was quite something—this was an internal document. It appeared to be a plan for attracting investment, circulated exclusively among internal shareholders.

“Immortality Pharmaceuticals ‘Superior Body Plan’ Proposal.”

Superior Body Plan? Is that the official name for the experiment the hotpot restaurant owner participated in?

Ding—

At the exact moment she opened the folder, the system notification popped up:

[Long-term side mission: Uncover the truth behind death. Key clue found. Progress: 30%]

The mission progress bar moved—this was a crucial lead about her own death.

Zhu Ning carefully read the proposal. In the third year of the New Calendar, shortly after the radiation fallout, when humanity had just built high walls to fend off the outside world, the Federation implemented a human classification plan.

Through a large-scale genetic screening, people were divided into five levels. Although this seemingly unequal regulation appeared harsh, it served to protect the overall interests of the Federation to some extent.

But at the same time, the Federation officially abandoned fifth-class citizens. Most fifth-class citizens were forced to go to Zone 103’s garbage dump to await disposal.

Being classified as a fifth-class citizen was tantamount to a death sentence. One could even check on the official system how many years of life remained.

Some people gave up, squandering their lives. During that period, crime rates soared in the Federation. For a long time, fifth-class citizens were synonymous with criminals—a prejudice that still lingers today.

Yet some refused to accept their fate and actively sought salvation. That’s where the business opportunity arose, and Immortality Pharmaceuticals seized it.

They launched the “Superior Body Plan,” an experimental project targeting defective individuals, which has been ongoing for nearly eighty years.

This experiment has lasted almost as long as the Federation itself, deeply rooted within its system. Over the past seventy years, the Superior Body Plan grew larger and more conspicuous.

From underground experiments at first, it gradually moved to semi-public recruitment of subjects. More and more defective individuals voluntarily joined the Superior Body Plan.

This document contained little detailed information; the latter part was full of investment pitches, boasting high annual profits and a bright future.

The last page bore a slogan: “Immortality Pharmaceuticals—Change Your Genes, Create Your Future.”

That was all.

No case studies, nothing to infer the current progress of the Superior Body Plan.

Zhu Ning had the keywords, so she used her auxiliary brain to search online. There was no related information—likely erased shortly after being posted.

She asked Liu Niannian, “How are the experimental subjects recruited?”

Liu Niannian replied instantly, “As far as I know, it’s not fully public. Defective individuals who want to extend their lives buy certain medications or register when receiving gene injections. Immortality Pharmaceuticals sends targeted recruitment information to these groups.”

A very precise marketing strategy—aimed solely at defective individuals.

Like some cult recruitment methods—they wouldn’t recruit openly on public platforms but must do so offline, one-on-one.

Moreover, they select those most motivated. Many defective individuals either lack money or are apathetic, just waiting to die.

Those willing to inject gene drugs and buy medicines demonstrate a strong will to survive.

At this moment, suddenly receiving an experimental recruitment plan from a major pharmaceutical company with advanced technology and free of charge—most would grasp at this last lifeline.

Unexpectedly, the lifeline turned out to be a straw. Defective individuals became pollutants. No, some successful defective subjects became super-powered individuals.

Where did the successful experimental subjects go? Take the hotpot restaurant owner, for example—if after the experiment he didn’t become a pollutant but retained his rationality as a super-powered being?

He certainly wouldn’t continue running a hotpot shop but would choose a safer place.

They evolve from fifth-class citizens to sixth-class citizens—what departments could absorb them?

Where else could a sixth-class citizen go besides some wealthy families?

The Clean-up Center.

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Zhu Ning’s pupils constricted sharply. The destination chosen by super-powered individuals must be the Clean-up Center. In this department, they could openly use their abilities and receive services from the Federation’s official experimental medical labs.

If the successful subjects still maintained intricate ties with Immortality Pharmaceuticals, would their entry into the Clean-up Center count as a form of infiltration?

Humanity had built high walls to fend off the outside world but could not defend against threats from within.

Immortality Pharmaceuticals has operated for such a long time—did the Federation know? Did the Clean-up Center know?

Wait, Zhu Ning suddenly realized.

This might explain why Prometheus issued the “Obituary” post—the Clean-up Center had some factions moved underground. Was this Prometheus’s attempt at self-preservation against the Superior Body Plan?

To prevent total infiltration of the Clean-up Center?

The thought sent chills down Zhu Ning’s spine. How many within the Clean-up Center belonged to Immortality Pharmaceuticals? How many high-ranking officials? Was Fang Ying one of them? The head of the Clean-up Department?

What was Immortality Pharmaceuticals’ real intention?

If so, then her original self had already participated in the Superior Body Plan?

It didn’t add up—she lacked many core pieces of information. There was no evidence, only Zhu Ning’s speculation based on one document.

Fang Ying claimed the Clean-up Center staff were all screened by Prometheus—so he must know who was problematic.

Could the sixth-class citizen selection process be different? If this were a puzzle, Zhu Ning had barely glimpsed one corner.

She asked, “No experimental data?”

Liu Niannian: “I can’t access that.”

She was just a wealthy heiress with nothing to do; Liu Niannian even wanted to visit the lab. Immortality Pharmaceuticals agreed, but what they showed was all superficial, nothing core. Liu Niannian couldn’t get near the real data.

Makes sense—if the core data were so accessible, Immortality Pharmaceuticals would have collapsed long ago. If Zhu Ning wanted access, she could sign up for the Superior Body Plan.

But she had yet to find a way.

Zhu Ning: “Thanks.”

Liu Niannian’s family must have business with Immortality Pharmaceuticals. As a spoiled heiress, what she could access was surely with mutual consent.

This meant the info was only the tip of the iceberg; Liu Niannian could only see so much; the rest Zhu Ning had to dig out herself.

Liu Niannian: “When do we start the mission?”

Zhu Ning: “…”

Had she really become her underling? She couldn’t fathom the mindset of a wealthy heiress.

To Liu Niannian, Zhu Ning was definitely a big shot. After returning home, she asked her family’s super-powered member—being able to make polluted areas self-destruct, Zhu Ning must be a super-powered individual herself.

Her ability was likely mental—something like suggestion or control.

Though super-powered individuals were sixth-class citizens, they were certainly talents of the Federation. Not only the Federation, but major conglomerates actively recruited them.

But Zhu Ning seemed unaffiliated with any organization; this big shot might be an undercover agent in the Clean-up Center, aiming to expose some earth-shattering secret. She even seemed to care little for money, harboring some lofty ideals.

Sounds thrilling.

Liu Niannian’s curiosity stirred; her family allowed her to act as she pleased as long as family interests weren’t harmed. She offered Zhu Ning a harmless file—if she gained her trust, it would be a very profitable deal.

Zhu Ning asked, “Why help me?”

Liu Niannian sincerely said, “I feel like I’ve found my life’s direction. I want to be like you—cleaning up the trash.”

Zhu Ning, suddenly idolized: “?”

Was this girl under the impression she was in a movie?

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Liu Niannian: “If you need missions, just call me.”

Zhu Ning could feel Liu Niannian’s enthusiastic sales pitch even through the screen.

Zhu Ning maintained her boss persona: “I’ll notify you.”

She closed her auxiliary brain. This matter was far more complicated than she had thought, and she hadn’t yet formed a clear plan.

Originally, Zhu Ning had been changing clothes in the locker room, using the cabinet door as a shield while reading the file. She instinctively wanted to shut the door, but suddenly froze.

Without warning, she locked eyes with a pair of dark eyes. The other person stared at her silently, for an unknown length of time.

“C-captain?” Zhu Ning snapped back to reality.

Xu Meng: “What are you looking at, so absorbed? You didn’t respond when I called you earlier.”

Xu Meng’s locker was right next to Zhu Ning’s. She was tidying personal items and asked while doing so.

Xu Meng’s movements were very natural, but Zhu Ning, perhaps biased, felt a strange aura about everything Xu Meng did.

Since reading the Superior Body Plan, she felt the Clean-up Center was unsafe.

…

After bidding farewell to Xu Meng, Zhu Ning returned to the Hive. She pondered before a wrinkled wall.

She hung a whiteboard on the wall, writing: Immortality Pharmaceuticals, Clean-up Center, Prometheus.

Under Immortality Pharmaceuticals: Superior Body Plan.

Under Prometheus: Obituary.

Under Clean-up Center: a question mark.

What was the relationship among these three forces? A tripartite standoff? What role did she play?

Following the thread, she never expected to uncover a massive pharmaceutical company. Immortality Pharmaceuticals was likely the mastermind behind her death.

She had been played.

The system and Prometheus had led Zhu Ning into danger. She was already trapped in the scheme; escaping would be difficult. Her original self died once and might die again.

The killer was either the Clean-up Center or Immortality Pharmaceuticals—both formidable foes she couldn’t provoke.

She now realized how adorable the zombies she’d encountered last life had been: simple-minded, cute, easily eliminated with a headshot, and even boringly chatty.

The wasteland world was truly ruthless.

The situation was unclear yet clear at the same time. To avoid being assassinated again, she must improve her strength. To level up quickly, she must keep completing missions.

Moreover, the system and Prometheus seemed to be guiding her path—missions were not random but highly related to Immortality Pharmaceuticals.

If before she was being pushed along, this time she chose to take the initiative.

With the system bound to her, Prometheus watching her, and Immortality Pharmaceuticals possibly lurking behind the scenes, taking the initiative might be her only chance.

She hoped this mission would activate her mutation panel.

At midnight, Zhu Ning opened the Clean-up Center forum. The screen flickered, and amidst the flashy interface, a gray post appeared.