"Once again, reminding all citizens that the temporary shelter is intended to ensure the safety of everyone. Please remain calm and orderly..."
The noise from outside the window mingled with the broadcast of various shelter regulations.
The overwhelming noise, while irritating, inexplicably offered a sense of stability in the reconstruction of order.
Given the current lack of understanding about the zombie virus, this military base has chosen to observe survivors for a period of time as a precaution.
Lv Bai leaned against the cold cement wall, idly observing the light filtering through the small window above.
Though called a single room, these rooms are probably converted from solitary confinement cells or prisons. They share a common trait: emptiness, with nothing to pass the time.
He was brought here yesterday evening, and now daylight has broken outside.
Under such circumstances, considerate management can only be a wishful thought.
Fortunately, there are designated personnel providing food and water on time, and most of the observed survivors have no complaints.
Well, naturally, there are exceptions.
"Iron gates~ Iron windows~ Iron~ chains~"
Listening to the mournful song rising from the next room, Lv Bai's eyelids twitched.
He's almost ninety percent sure that the guy next door is a Death Fighter.
After all, he has dealt with so many Death Fighters that even without location information, he can discern them from their mental state.
In the wake of the zombie outbreak, normal survivors wouldn't be this recklessly optimistic.
However, Lv Bai wouldn't take action even if there is a Death Fighter next door, not in such a place.
He'll deal with it after he gets out.
It just so happened that the singing next door had barely started.
Lv Bai then noticed the sound of military boots stepping on the ground.
Creaaak~
Two armed soldiers walked over, and one soldier opened the barred door, gesturing to Lv Bai: "Come out, please."
...
Led by the two soldiers, Lv Bai arrived at a place reminiscent of a service hall.
There were quite a few survivors like him brought over by soldiers, with staff busy while conveying an aura of orderly efficiency behind each glass counter.
Seeing Lv Bai seated, the staff member behind the glass smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, we just need you to answer some simple questions."
Lv Bai scanned the soldiers scattered around the hall and obediently nodded.
"Name?"
"Ke Jianghao."
"Age?"
"Eighteen."
"During the outbreak of this societal security issue, where were you? Did you have close contact with any infected patients?"
"School..."
"...Don't be nervous, it's safe here. Alright, thank you for cooperating, you can go rest in the tent assigned to you."
The staff member paused typing on the keyboard, glanced at the information displayed on the computer screen, and casually asked, "Xiaoke, do you have a younger sister?"
Lv Bai was ready to leave, but upon hearing the question, he showed a flash of surprise in his eyes, followed by an extremely excited expression: "Yes, that's right. Have you seen my sister?"
"Haha, you two are really lucky, huh? Let me see, your sister is in tent number thirteen in District Twenty-one."
...
Leaving the service hall, Lv Bai naturally composed his excited demeanor.
The sight before him was a dense array of military tents, bustling with people passing between tents, some even gathering to play cards.
Clearly, due to understaffing, the security measures are currently more lenient inside than outside.
In a region with over a thousand people, only two or three soldiers are allocated.
As long as there's no fighting, no one really cares.
Looking towards District Twenty, Lv Bai hesitated for a moment and decided to check out District Twenty-one.
If Ke Jiangni is in this shelter, it means others should be with her as well.
However, it's quite strange that Lv Bai posing as Ke Jianghao hasn't been discovered.
Could it be that Ke Jianghao met his demise on the way to the shelter?
Lv Bai pondered as he walked towards District Twenty-one, maintaining an innocent-looking smile.
In passing, at this stage, the temporary shelter enforces semi-military management, prohibiting civilians from crossing districts.
But this regulation, well... it's just like any principle not allowed.
If you're not caught on the spot, it's not considered a violation.
Sneaking around the soldiers along the way, Lv Bai easily slipped into District Twenty-one.
"Sigh~ When will these cursed days ever end?"
"Come out and soak up the sun."
"Don't cry, baby, mommy's here."
"It was really nuts, I tell you, that creature was just half a meter from me..."
It must be said, humans are incredibly adaptable creatures. No matter what happens, as long as they're still alive, life will go on.
Lv Bai looked around and didn't spot those familiar faces from school.
He started checking the numbers stuck on each tent.
Lv Bai stopped and peeked into a tent, but unfortunately, except for a few beds and blankets, there was no one inside.
He confirmed the number on the tent: "21—13, this must be it."
At this moment, a voice filled with delight yet laced with uncertainty sounded behind him.
"Lü... Lü, is that you?"
Lv Bai turned reflexively.
He saw a familiar, if not pretty, face standing behind him, causing him to slightly raise his brows: "Wu Ya."
Wu Ya nodded vigorously, her tone evidently joyful: "It really is you, I thought I was mistaken."
Lv Bai asked, "Are you alone?"
"Jiangni and Tian Wang are over there collecting food." Wu Ya pointed to a sunshade crowded by people.
"What about the others?"
Upon hearing his question, Wu Ya's joy faded quickly, replaced by an apparent gloom.
Lv Bai didn't press further but instead inquired why they left the supermarket.
Considering it's been less than a week, it seemed unlikely that the supermarket's supplies reached a point requiring them to take risks for food elsewhere.
"I don't even know how to put it."
Wu Ya was silent for a long time, seemingly afraid of reliving those memories: "In the night after you left, it seemed like there was an extra person in the supermarket."
"It seemed?" Lv Bai noticed her choice of words.
"Mm... all of us felt it, but Ke Jianghao searched the supermarket and couldn't find the person who seemed to appear."
Describing the situation then, even under the sunlight, Wu Ya felt chills down her spine.
"Supernatural occurrences like that." Death Fighter, perhaps?
Lv Bai contemplated, casually patting Wu Ya's head to comfort her.
With hearing far sharper than ordinary, he wasn't worried about a Death Fighter with stealth capabilities.
But from Wu Ya's description, it seemed more than just invisibility.