Chapter 25: Chapter 23. The Infected Community

Chapter 23: The Infected Community

The vehicle pulled up before the gates of the wilderness settlement. The driver presented the Rhodes Island credentials, and the guards immediately cleared the path—quicker than Zhou Jinru had anticipated.

"Rhodes Island's research focuses on treating Oripathy, which carries significant weight among the Infected community. After all, no patient dares to challenge doctors who possess armed support. Everyone wants to live a few days longer, and no one can say for sure when Rhodes Island might develop an effective cure for Oripathy."

Red Cloud’s voice was hoarse. Her mood was low; her left hand gripped her bow, her eyes fixed on her worn-out shoes.

Her voice stirred Amiya from a light slumber. The young girl rubbed her sleepy eyes and whispered, "Doctor, I’m sorry, I accidentally fell asleep. I’ll make sure to be more careful."

Zhou Jinru stretched his stiff shoulders and feigned a relaxed tone. "It's fine, we’ve just arrived."

The little rabbit clearly hadn't heard what Red Cloud said; she was still too groggy from waking up.

The conditions of the wilderness settlement were far better than Zhou Jinru had imagined. He had expected a filthy, chaotic slum where a massive population of the Infected lived in cramped, dilapidated shacks, where sewage and trash mingled, and vermin were ubiquitous.

Reality proved him wrong. Although the buildings were low-rise and coated in dull, cheap lime wash—adorned here and there with cryptic graffiti—the streets were reasonably tidy. Trash bins were placed at regular intervals, and signs pointed toward restrooms, leaving no trace of public urination.

He couldn't help but be surprised. The central authorities for the Infected had, at a policy level, restored some semblance of human dignity to these poor souls, allowing them to live with a degree of decency.

Was this another unexpected development arising from the game’s transition into reality? He recalled the walls Amiya had mentioned. Were the containment walls of Terra the ultimate form of these Infected communities?

"It looks beautiful, doesn't it?"

Red Cloud hugged her arms, staring through the car window with cold, even disgusted, eyes.

Zhou Jinru admitted truthfully, "I have to say, it exceeds my expectations."

"These beauties are just on the surface. People like you will never know what lies beneath."

"Perhaps I can understand a little."

Red Cloud shook her head. "No, you can't. I don't smell the earth on you. You must live in a very comfortable environment; you must be some rich young master."

Zhou Jinru shrugged. His former identity had been a starting player on a basketball team, then an undergraduate with no interest in postgraduate studies, and only finally, the current Doctor of Rhodes Island. The twists and turns of his journey were too complex to be described simply as a stroke of fate.

"I know a guy who earns his happiness with his own two hands. Perhaps you’d have something in common."

Red Cloud asked, "Who?"

"He’s a playwright, a former college roommate of mine. If there’s a chance, I’ll tell you his story."

"College..."

Red Cloud recalled the crooked signature on the temporary contract, turned her head to the window, and refused to say another word.

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Zhou Jinru stayed silent, patiently waiting for a chance to break the ice.

Red Cloud lived on the other side of the settlement. As the car drove deeper, more dilapidated houses appeared. The ordinary-looking homes near the gate now seemed like a golden district. The population density increased, and Oripathy crystals were clearly visible on most people.

Finally, the scene Zhou Jinru had originally imagined emerged: more people crowded into smaller spaces. For these Infected, having a roof over their heads was enough to make them feel satisfied just to be alive.

"Because the Infected containment centers receive annual funding from various countries, a clean and tidy street environment is the most basic requirement for the councilors to release that budget. Doctor Kal'tsit has said this before; she is quite disdainful of it," Gavial, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"We’re here."

The car stopped. Gavial stepped out first, followed by Amiya, and finally Red Cloud and Zhou Jinru.

The Infected lying on mats to catch the sun merely opened their eyes; Rhodes Island doctors were not enough to pique their interest.

"Big Sister Red Cloud!"

A young Feline girl spotted them from afar and recognized Red Cloud immediately. She sprinted over, a brilliant smile lighting up her rosy face.

"She is not Infected," Amiya whispered.

As if she hadn't heard, Red Cloud reached out to pat the girl’s head. The child leaned into her palm, clearly enjoying the touch. "Ake, have you seen Minnie these past few days?"

The girl named Ake shook her head. "No. But several big men have been waiting at your doorstep for two days. They haven't left."

Taking advantage of their conversation, Zhou Jinru turned toward a nearby trash bin. He picked up two stones and turned to Gavial. "Doctor Gavial, how about a bet?"

Gavial watched him warily. The 'scum doctor' was full of tricks, and she had to be careful not to fall into his traps. She braced herself.

Zhou Jinru wore a mysterious smile. "If I throw this stone into the trash bin, you have to agree to one thing for me."

"And if you miss?"

"Then I’ll agree to one thing for you."

Zhou Jinru handed one of the stones to Gavial. "If you can make the shot, I’ll let bygones be bygones regarding the time you drugged me."

"And if I miss?"

"Then you have to agree to another thing for me—something you must do and cannot refuse."

Why was he so confident? Gavial, still smarting from the leverage he held over her, agreed readily. She had nothing to lose; if things went wrong, she could just refuse to pay up. It wasn't like the 'scum doctor' could force her into something she didn't want to do.

"I’ll go first."

Zhou Jinru raised the stone with both hands, adopting a standard basketball shooting stance. Seeing this, Gavial’s heart skipped a beat. She had been so careful, yet she had fallen for it—how hateful!

Just as she was feeling annoyed, the stone flew out, tracing an arc in the air, only to clatter loudly against the side of the bin.

The 'scum doctor's' face changed. "Damn, I haven't practiced in a while; my technique is rusty."

*Thump!*

*Meow!*

Gavial threw her stone with a projectile-like motion, landing it perfectly inside the bin. A black cat leaped out, shrieking, and scrambled away into the shadows.

She turned to the pale-faced doctor. "A deal is a deal?"

She thought to herself that it didn't matter; even if she didn't intend to honor it, she had no intention of admitting it anyway.

"A deal is a deal. I'll forget about the past. Consider it as if nothing happened. Also, what do you want? The most valuable thing I have is this meal card. I have nothing else. But if you want me, then—"

"Give it here."

Gavial snatched the meal card from his hand, turned her face away, and cursed him under her breath as an idiot.