Chapter 39 – Unlocking Floors
The Cougar helicopter banked sharply in the sky.
"BOSS, everyone has been evacuated," Glenn's voice came through the radio. "We're heading toward the outskirts of the city."
"Received."
Wu Fan glanced at the dashboard.
Fuel warning light blinking.
Ammo nearly depleted.
"Return to base," he said calmly. "Be careful on the road."
"Clear."
The connection cut.
The helicopter accelerated, leaving Atlanta behind.
Below, the city shrank into a gray ruin—burning buildings, collapsed roads, endless walkers.
Everything slowly faded into the distance.
Twenty minutes later.
The familiar forest came into view.
The hidden clearing that didn't exist on any map.
Wu Fan lowered the helicopter into the open space.
The rotors slowed.
The forest trembled as if something massive was breathing beneath it.
Then—
The ground shifted.
The landing platform began to descend.
Trees disappeared above them.
Light faded.
The world turned into metal walls and dim industrial darkness.
Down.
Further down.
Then—
A heavy mechanical sound echoed.
DING.
The elevator stopped.
Bright lights snapped on instantly, illuminating the entire hangar-like space.
The Hive.
Wu Fan stepped out of the helicopter.
The three rescued survivors and a police officer followed behind him, still stunned.
They looked up.
Metal ceiling.
Armored walls.
A sealed world underground.
No sky.
Only control.
Ten minutes later.
After handing the newcomers over to Kyle, Wu Fan returned to his office on the third floor.
He lit a cigarette.
Sat down.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Amy entered holding a cup of coffee.
She placed it on the desk but didn't leave immediately.
She hesitated.
Wu Fan noticed.
"What is it?"
Amy looked down slightly.
"I was thinking about the new arrivals… how should we assign them?"
"Quarantine. Medical check. Registration," Wu Fan replied. "After three days, distribute them into teams."
Amy nodded.
But still didn't move.
Wu Fan raised an eyebrow.
Amy hesitated again.
Then finally—
"I learned a new dish…"
She paused.
"…Can I come to your place tonight and let you try it?"
Silence.
Wu Fan looked at her.
Then smiled faintly.
"Oh?"
"The food is gone… and you're the dessert?"
Amy's face turned red instantly.
But she didn't deny it.
She just stood there.
Waiting.
Wu Fan leaned back in his chair, amused.
"Seven o'clock?"
"…Yes."
"Alright."
Amy quickly turned and left, almost escaping the room.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Wu Fan's expression slowly cooled.
He opened the system panel in his mind.
[Current Points: 22560]
Enough.
Time to expand the Hive.
He opened the structure map.
[Hive Level 2: Administrative Office Center]
[Cost: 5,000 points]
[Hive Level 3: Standard Laboratory]
[Cost: 10,000 points]
Wu Fan thought for a moment.
Administrative systems could wait.
But the laboratory—
That was useful.
Edwin needed space.
Equipment needed expansion.
He made his decision.
"Unlock level 2 and 3."
[Confirm deduction of 15,000 points?]
"Confirm."
[Unlocking…]
[Unlock complete]
[Remaining Points: 7,560]
Wu Fan stared at the number for a moment.
A slight pain in his chest.
Gone.
Just like that.
Then he continued scrolling.
[Hive Level 4: Advanced Virus Laboratory – 20,000 points]
[Hive Level 5: Biochemical Weapon Cultivation Area – 40,000 points]
[Hive Level 6: High-Risk Research Zone – 60,000 points]
[Hive Level 7: Cloning / Memory Implantation Chamber – 80,000 points]
Wu Fan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Cloning.
Memory implantation.
Mass production of soldiers.
Immortality through replication.
A future that no longer relied on the fragile human body.
But—
Too expensive.
He leaned back.
"We need more people."
"The refugee camp… must be taken."
"And the city survivors too."
Points.
Resources.
Expansion.
Everything depended on that.
He picked up the phone.
"Bring Rick and Sean to me when they return."
Outside the CDC perimeter.
Two vans slowly arrived.
Security raised their hands.
"Stop."
The driver rolled down the window.
Rick's face appeared.
"We're with them."
The guard glanced inside.
Wheelchairs.
Elderly passengers.
Dozens of fragile survivors.
He paused.
Then waved them through.
"Go ahead."
Inside the base.
The convoy stopped.
Doors opened.
The elderly began to step out slowly.
Wheelchairs rolled onto concrete ground.
Canes tapped gently.
Confused eyes looked around.
High fences.
Guard towers.
Soldiers.
Order.
A woman helped an elderly lady down.
The old woman gripped her hand tightly.
"We're… really here…"
An old man looked around, tears forming.
"This place… is safe…"
Guillermo stood quietly, uneasy.
Rick patted his shoulder.
"You're safe here."
Sean looked around too.
Even he seemed a little stunned.
Glenn ran over.
"The boss wants to see you two."
Rick nodded.
"Let's go."
They walked toward the main building.
Behind them, the elderly survivors stood in the yard—
tired, confused, but for the first time in a long time…
smiling.