Chapter 67-I Clean Up Garbage in a Wasteland World

Chapter 67 Safe House

"I want to blow up Eternal Pharma."

At the Dignified Queen, Zhu Ning consumed at the bar for the first time. The first thing she said upon sitting down was, "I want to blow up Eternal Pharma."

Zhu Ning and Eternal Pharma's assassins hadn't fought. They seemed to have just come to disgust her. After walking out of the phone booth, Zhu Ning's first reaction wasn't to go to the Hive, but to go to the Dignified Queen.

She came to consume Song Zhizhang's services, ordering the cheapest drink, though she couldn't even understand what that drink was.

Song Zhizhang couldn't refuse his own customers. He personally received her. Song Zhizhang looked left and right. To protect customer privacy, blue virtual walls were activated between each position at the bar.

If customers needed, they could raise black virtual walls so they couldn't be seen or heard. Currently, the blue state had soundproofing effects—customers in a row at the bar could see each other but wouldn't hear what each other was saying.

If customers were interested in each other, they could turn off the barrier walls. If not interested, they could maintain their own privacy space.

Although Zhu Ning's words wouldn't be leaked, her courage was a bit too much. She actually openly discussed Eternal Pharma with him in a semi-public setting.

Moreover, she seemed to regard him as a teammate, partner, or confidant. Song Zhizhang couldn't figure out why Zhu Ning's first reaction when encountering this kind of thing was to come find him.

Song Zhizhang was mixing a drink for Zhu Ning. "You met people from Eternal Pharma?"

According to the progression, Zhu Ning should have dealt with them by now.

Zhu Ning: "Yes, he said his surname was Chu."

Song Zhizhang was mixing two liquids together—red and blue mixed together to become purple. Hearing this, his brow didn't furrow at all. "It's him?"

Zhu Ning asked: "You know him?"

Song Zhizhang pushed a cup of purple unknown liquid to Zhu Ning. "This question requires payment."

Zhu Ning very straightforwardly transferred him twenty thousand NewCred. Song Zhizhang raised an eyebrow. "Made a fortune?"

Information all had value. This question was crucial—Zhu Ning felt it was worth the money.

Zhu Ning looked at that cup of purple liquid, frowning continuously, and asked: "What is this?"

Due to professional requirements, she was very strict with her self-management. She didn't consume tobacco or alcohol at all, nor would she drink beverages of unknown origin. Anything that tried to destroy her nerves made her vigilant.

Song Zhizhang: "Don't worry, it contains no alcohol or stimulants. I wouldn't harm you."

Hearing this, Zhu Ning actually took a sip. It tasted a bit sweet—she couldn't taste what flavor it was, but it was quite good.

Song Zhizhang leaned on the bar, watching Zhu Ning drink it. She was really interesting—she had extraordinary calmness and caution beyond ordinary people, but could openly display trust toward him.

You would unconsciously draw closer to this kind of person, as if you were on the same side.

This should be one of Zhu Ning's ways of managing people—displaying trust to suitable people, like taming an unfamiliar wild animal.

You knew the other party might bare their fangs, but if you wanted to touch their soft belly, you always had to give something.

Like opening your arms to indicate: I'm safe, I can accept you. It had to be said, it made him feel quite appreciated.

Song Zhizhang: "If I understand correctly, the person you met should be Chu Qing. He graduated from First Military District University's medical department—a medical genius. He graduated from university at 11, got his doctorate at 17, and joined Eternal Pharma's laboratory at 18. They all call him Professor Chu."

First Military District University. Zhu Ning thought of Bao Ruiming's information. Eternal Pharma had always been recruiting geniuses from various fields.

However, for such a huge pharmaceutical company, absorbing geniuses wasn't difficult for them.

Song Zhizhang pulled up Chu Qing's personal information for her. It was very limited—it must have been scrubbed from the entire network, leaving only a personal ID photo and a very brief introduction.

The introduction only revealed one piece of information: this person was a genius among geniuses. Nothing more.

In the photo, Chu Qing looked very pale, with extremely black pupils like a bottomless well. Just looking through the photo felt eerie.

Worth noting was that he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his rather refined nose bridge.

Humans had long been able to replace eyes with mechanical prosthetics. Zhu Ning actually rarely saw anyone wearing glasses. The glasses they wore generally weren't for nearsightedness—either they had some AI embedded, or they were some kind of high-tech device.

But for some reason, Zhu Ning felt these were just nearsighted glasses.

Zhu Ning: "He hasn't undergone modification?"

"Smart," Song Zhizhang said. "This is the most interesting part. The experimental subjects his subordinates have developed are countless, with an extremely high success rate. He's also participated in various human modification projects and artificial human development projects. But he himself is an absolute conservative—he cannot accept any form of bodily modification."

Zhu Ning: "..."

He really was quite perverted—modifying humans but unwilling to let himself undergo any changes.

Zhu Ning: "He's an X-Class Citizen Natural?"

Song Zhizhang: "Yes, with very excellent genes."

And genes that had undergone natural selection, without any artificial components.

Good-looking, high intelligence, belonging to the elite of natural genes. Even in Zhu Ning's world, he would definitely be heaven's favored child.

No wonder he was so annoying, Zhu Ning thought. When Chu Qing spoke, it was with a condescending, looking-down attitude. He probably had rarely spoken to people on equal terms his entire life.

Because he wasn't just a genius—he was also an X-Class Citizen.

For Naturals, this world was created by them. The other four types of citizens were all born with their permission. Even the rules of this world were written by them. Chu Qing was already very close to the role of a creator.

Actually, the X-Class Citizens of this world were the ordinary people of Zhu Ning's world. Zhu Ning had originally thought that meeting a Natural human would feel like meeting her own kind, because she'd been a Natural for over twenty years. But she hadn't expected the first Natural she met to be this annoying.

Without exaggeration, Chu Qing looking at Zhu Ning was probably like looking at livestock or objects.

Song Zhizhang: "What did you two say?"

Zhu Ning: "I wanted to be his mole. He rejected me."

Song Zhizhang: "..."

Song Zhizhang laughed. How could Zhu Ning be so interesting? No one would accept a mole who came to their door.

But Zhu Ning's move was very effective. If Zhu Ning had already appeared in Chu Qing's line of sight, Chu Qing must have had thoughts of recruiting Zhu Ning, but they were still in the contact phase. Zhu Ning directly displayed her "value."

It was like someone coming to rob you, and before they even started saying "hand over the money," Zhu Ning proactively handed over an empty wallet.

I'm giving up. Do whatever you want.

Zhu Ning: "He said he wants to observe me."

This time Song Zhizhang frowned. He was generally smiling, but hearing this, he showed a very annoyed expression. Although it was only for an instant, Zhu Ning caught it.

Was Song Zhizhang one of Chu Qing's experimental subjects? Had they been in contact before? Had Chu Qing's theory of observation been used on Song Zhizhang?

Zhu Ning imagined a story of an experimental subject defecting and finally joining Prometheus's camp. Although she imagined it, she felt it was very reasonable.

Song Zhizhang: "No wonder you want to blow him up. What do you plan to do next?"

Zhu Ning: "Find a place to sleep."

She really needed rest.

"..." Song Zhizhang: "This isn't a hotel."

Knowing she was being observed by Eternal Pharma, Zhu Ning's first reaction was actually to sleep.

He seemed to understand the meaning of Zhu Ning coming to find him. She'd been targeted by Eternal Pharma. The Hive wasn't very safe for her. She needed to find a safer nest.

Zhu Ning finished that cup of purple drink. "I think your place must be very safe."

Song Zhizhang's Dignified Queen was like a shelter. It could contain Contamination Spores—the security level must be very high.

Zhu Ning: "Don't worry, I won't freeload. I'll openly pay. Can I order you?"

Song Zhizhang: "..."

Zhu Ning's expression was very matter-of-fact. She looked at him with an exploratory gaze, as if very interested in him.

Song Zhizhang wasn't that narcissistic. Her interest wasn't on a romantic level, but on the level of him as a person. She knew Song Zhizhang must have many secrets and held key information she didn't understand.

Song Zhizhang still maintained an elegant smile: "Baby, I don't serve customers."

Zhu Ning showed a disappointed expression. "Then I can only order a room. I want long-term residence, starting at one month."

Song Zhizhang was in the business of doing business. "Any requirements?"

So there really was this kind of service. The Dignified Queen's business scope was indeed very broad.

Zhu Ning: "It needs to be safe, especially safe for B-Level Contaminants."

She specifically emphasized B-Level Contaminants. Song Zhizhang frowned. He'd already heard about what happened at the Mechanical Oceanarium. They never found that Source of Contamination in the end.

The purification method was also very strange. The contamination zone wasn't purified, but the Source of Contamination disappeared. Zhu Ning actually brought a Source of Contamination into the Dignified Queen.

His shop had automatic identification devices installed. If someone brought Contaminants or a Source of Contamination in, his identification device would sound loud alarms.

In other words, no one could bring Contaminants in past him. Zhu Ning brought one in?

She must have a containment device on her that could avoid everyone's inspection.

Song Zhizhang instantly understood how Zhu Ning had bypassed the Sanitation Center Inspection Department's checks and Yue Kaiyuan's interrogation. This person was indeed more valuable than they thought.

He even felt fortunate for a moment that although Zhu Ning said she would sell out Prometheus, overall she was closer to their faction.

If this kind of person became his enemy, he would probably have a hard time.

Song Zhizhang smiled and nodded. "At your service."

...

The space of the Dignified Queen was much larger than Zhu Ning had imagined.

Because the entire block was almost empty, theoretically whatever happened here would be hard to affect others. The underground of the block was actually all Song Zhizhang's territory.

Song Zhizhang led her into the basement. The decoration style was similar to upstairs—colorful, with neon lights covering the floors and walls.

There was actually a man in the middle of the corridor. Zhu Ning looked closely and found it was a virtual man.

He was performing a striptease. His white shirt was soaked, faintly revealing the muscle definition underneath, and a narrow waist. Because it was a virtual figure, the edges of the character had a layer of ambiguous electronic light. He had just untied his tie and was unbuttoning his shirt button by button, slender fingers extending downward from his Adam's apple.

This place was very much like somewhere conducting illegal transactions.

The corridor was very deep. Zhu Ning followed Song Zhizhang. They'd already passed that virtual dancing man.

Zhu Ning asked: "Can I ask what this place is for?"

Song Zhizhang: "Are you interested? It's used to serve certain rich ladies with special preferences. If you live here, they'd be your neighbors."

Song Zhizhang casually opened a door. Zhu Ning glanced in and was a bit stunned. A purple-decorated bedroom filled with adult toys. In the very center was a hanging bed, and there were even some large props.

Things like crosses, beds she couldn't understand, operating tables she couldn't understand.

Summary: She didn't understand, but was greatly shocked. Weren't these a bit like torture devices?

"Rich ladies have too much pressure. They always need to find a way to release it." Song Zhizhang closed the door.

Worthy of rich ladies—even their ways of releasing pressure were so unique.

However, Zhu Ning really felt that people in the Wasteland all had a lot of pressure, like pressure cookers that could explode into Contaminants at any time. Having a way to release pressure was quite good.

Song Zhizhang: "There are various themed suites to choose from—hospitals or prisons are also available. If you want, I can give you a 20% discount. The minimum price is one million to play once."

"..." Zhu Ning: "I don't have that much pressure."

Poor people didn't deserve to release pressure. Poor people's pressure could be digested by themselves.

Only now did she realize how quickly her forty million wasn't enough to spend. She couldn't even enjoy this kind of wealthy service a few times.

Song Zhizhang looked back at Zhu Ning. Zhu Ning was joking, but he was a bit serious. She really didn't seem to have much pressure.

Being watched by Eternal Pharma, scrutinized by the Sanitation Center, led around by Prometheus—she didn't have any special emotional fluctuations.

This corridor went deeper and deeper. Zhu Ning calculated that if converted to ground level, they might have almost walked out of the block.

Song Zhizhang brought her into a room at the end of the corridor. It was a suite—two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, two bathrooms. A very ordinary house, but the ideal home Zhu Ning imagined.

This room's decoration style was natural wood—pure white walls plus a full set of wooden furniture. It looked very calming and was completely out of place with the other rooms' styles.

It looked like no one had lived here for a long time, but there was no musty smell. It had been maintained very well.

Song Zhizhang turned on the lights. "Full anti-contamination system throughout. It can be locked and can only be opened from outside. If contamination breaks out inside, after locking it will only form a closed contamination zone and won't infect other places."

Only then did Zhu Ning notice the walls seemed to be made of different material, emitting a cold light. This wasn't a normal house—it should also be made of Contaminant materials.

Sure enough, she'd found the right person in Song Zhizhang. Placing Lin Xiaofeng here was safest.

Zhu Ning looked around the bedroom and asked: "Did you used to live here?"

Song Zhizhang's body stiffened. Zhu Ning's words were actually somewhat offensive, but he wasn't angry. He looked into Zhu Ning's eyes and said very gently: "Yes, I wasn't stable before."

Hearing this, Zhu Ning frowned. She imagined Song Zhizhang's past. Zhu Ning had confirmed on Lin Xiaofeng that the boundary between Sources of Contamination and Ability Users was very blurred.

So was Song Zhizhang an Ability User? Whatever he was, he'd been contaminated before.

When Song Zhizhang was unstable, he lived alone in this bedroom, always afraid he would lose his rationality.

If he lost rationality, the security system would lock down. A closed contamination zone would appear here.

He might not even wait for Demon Hunters to come purify, nor could he truly die. He would be eternally trapped in a dark corner.

Zhu Ning didn't mean to probe his pain—she just asked impulsively. She immediately apologized: "I'm sorry."

Song Zhizhang didn't care: "You're very smart."

Smart people's minds worked quickly. You basically didn't need to explain much—they could understand.

Moreover, Zhu Ning would very cleverly grasp the boundaries within, not being overly offensive. This saved a lot of interpersonal troubles.

Song Zhizhang: "One month's rent is three million NewCred, including meals, utilities, and property management."

Zhu Ning: "..."

Why was there property management?

"Okay." Zhu Ning didn't have a choice, and this equipment looked very expensive. Maintenance costs should be high.

Zhu Ning's previous place had monthly rent of only two thousand. Here the monthly rent was actually three million.

This room was called a house, but was actually more like an expensive cage.

Zhu Ning was starting to not recognize money anymore. She initially thought it was inflation, but later realized that in this world, the consumption gap between poor and rich people was really huge, almost like two different worlds.

If ordinary people just lived daily life, expenses wouldn't be large. But once they touched Contaminants, consumption related to contamination was all very high. For example, most people couldn't afford to see a doctor after psychic contamination.

On the premise of already distinguishing X-Class Citizens, the other four types of citizens were stratified again. Some people would never touch Contaminants their entire lives, while others could become Ability Users after touching Contaminants.

Human evolution actually used money as the boundary to leave some people behind.

"You really did make a fortune," Song Zhizhang received Zhu Ning's transfer. "Little rich lady."

The little rich lady's forty million NewCred earned with her life probably couldn't last three months. Zhu Ning had never received so much money before, yet still felt so poor.

For a moment, both poor and rich—hard to describe.

Zhu Ning: "Are there cameras?"

"No," Song Zhizhang said. "Respecting customer privacy is my duty. Inside the room there are only contamination concentration detection instruments and some necessary safety equipment."

Those in his line of work most taboo was exposing customer privacy. He only needed to watch a contamination observation value—he didn't need to see what actually happened to the people inside.

Song Zhizhang: "By the way, if you move into this room, then I'm your gatekeeper. If the situation isn't right, I'll seal you in."

This was a setting for safety considerations. Opening the safe house from inside required the gatekeeper's consent.

If contamination broke out, the people inside wouldn't have the rationality to make decisions. The gatekeeper would decide whether to seal the area.

Song Zhizhang: "Of course, if you want to change gatekeepers, I have no objection."

After all, this position was very special. Zhu Ning was equivalent to entrusting her life to someone else.

Zhu Ning: "No problem, you do it."

She thought carefully—she didn't know many people in the Wasteland, and even fewer she could trust. If she had to let another person decide her life, she chose Song Zhizhang.

Song Zhizhang was silent for a moment: "Are you trusting me too much?"

Falling asleep immediately, drinking whatever drink was given, giving money when asked, directly saying she had a B-Level Source of Contamination on her, willing to let Song Zhizhang be the gatekeeper.

This was their third meeting, right? Zhu Ning didn't even understand his past.

Zhu Ning: "I think you're a pretty good person."

Song Zhizhang: "..."

"I'm still first," Song Zhizhang didn't even know how to describe it, "being told I'm a good person."

It wasn't that Zhu Ning blindly trusted a host club madam, nor that she was careless, but that she had her own considerations.

"Prometheus led me here, proving you're relatively safe. He had me contact Eternal Pharma, he exposed me to Chu Qing, he can't just manage the killing but not the burial, right?"

Song Zhizhang wanted to kill her, he would have acted long ago. Moreover, she really didn't know other people with resources.

Song Zhizhang: "That makes some sense. Under Prometheus's supervision, I really can't do anything to you."

Zhu Ning looked at Song Zhizhang. He still wore the blue earring. She didn't know what relationship Song Zhizhang had with Prometheus. Why would Song Zhizhang listen to Prometheus?

Song Zhizhang noticed Zhu Ning's gaze. "This is a kind of human-machine interface device. Prometheus can only directly talk to humans through this. You should have used it already."

Zhu Ning nodded. The equipment she used in missions should be the same.

So Prometheus was restricted—he could only appear directly through special equipment.

Song Zhizhang: "I only have one here, but it's already invaded my nerves. My consciousness remains on it, so it can no longer be used by you. If you want to talk directly, it might be difficult. I can help relay your intentions."

Zhu Ning made a sound of acknowledgment. So that was the usage principle of this equipment. No wonder after she finished missions, that equipment was specially recovered.

Zhu Ning: "You work for Prometheus?"

Song Zhizhang: "You could understand it that way."

"Then we're temporarily on the same side," Zhu Ning emphasized the word "temporarily" so Song Zhizhang wouldn't have so much pressure. "Happy cooperation?"

Zhu Ning extended a hand to him. Song Zhizhang felt Zhu Ning was very childish, but considering she used to be an athlete, people who played competitive sports all seemed to have this problem. They liked inexplicable rituals.

And they liked team cohesion.

He thought about it and grasped Zhu Ning's hand: "Happy cooperation."

Zhu Ning yawned and asked: "What did you give me to drink?"

Wasn't it a bit late to ask now? Song Zhizhang: "I added a sedative to relax your nerves. No side effects whatsoever."

Zhu Ning experienced it for a while. Her head had hurt for several days. Even when it didn't hurt, there was still a faint discomfort. Now the discomfort seemed to have disappeared somewhat.

Song Zhizhang's drink was like a hand gently smoothing out the wrinkles on her body. Really so thoughtful—even a caring cotton-padded jacket wouldn't be better than this.

In Zhu Ning's heart, this madam's image was very much like a little fox—elegant posture, a bit cunning, but sometimes very cute.

Song Zhizhang paused and asked: "Are you really going to live with a Source of Contamination tonight?"

She seemed to plan to live with Lin Xiaofeng today. In Song Zhizhang's view, this was very dangerous.

Lin Xiaofeng wasn't an ordinary Contaminant. She was a B-Level contamination zone's Source of Contamination. At the Mechanical Oceanarium, it took an eight-person team to resolve this matter. Now Zhu Ning only had herself, and she had no firearms to use for self-defense.

Reportedly, those transparent people's characteristics were tremendous strength and transparency. Zhu Ning was equivalent to being unarmed while sharing a room with a Source of Contamination with a very high danger index.

If Lin Xiaofeng fell into a manic state, Zhu Ning would be crushed into minced meat.

"No choice," Zhu Ning said. "I have to talk to someone."

Zhu Ning herself actually didn't have confidence. She'd never gotten along with children—it was a bit hard to grasp that boundary.

Song Zhizhang: "Alright, after this the area will lock down. Next opening time is 6 AM."

"Good luck." Song Zhizhang: "Hope to see you tomorrow."

When Zhu Ning first met Song Zhizhang, he'd also said similar words.

After Song Zhizhang said this, he left. The door clicked shut. Zhu Ning could feel the security system here working.

She sat on the sofa in silence for a while. She was the only person in the entire room.

Zhu Ning held a card in her hand—it was a Joker card with a comical clown printed on it.

[Release Lin Xiaofeng?]

"Yes."

[Lin Xiaofeng successfully released.]

Zhu Ning stared at the empty room. She couldn't distinguish where Lin Xiaofeng actually was.

---

Author's Note:

Worked hard to produce a fat chapter. I've already paused nutrient solution bonus updates. Thank you for watering me~ I'll write more when I have time. Everyone doesn't need to specially water me.

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