Chapter 169: Liu and Number Seventeen

Military equipment and patrolling soldiers immediately came into view. In fact, the exact spot where he jumped down from the wall was right behind a tank. Searchlights crisscrossed the sky, and though their beams could not pierce the thick red fog, they made the entire compound look even more heavily militarized.

"Can this thing still be used?" Liu Chang stood behind a tank, examining it closely. There were aged traces on the tank, and the tracks beside it showed no recent signs of movement.

As it turned out, this thing was far more decorative than practical. Ever since the apocalypse began, limited visibility and ruined road conditions had forced people to abandon most vehicles. Standing outside, one couldn't even see the end of the cannon barrel, let alone aim and fire effectively. Those inside had to rely on instruments to observe the exterior, but delicate components like observation lenses, once extended, would immediately be smeared over by the red fog, blinding the crew to everything in front, behind, or to the sides. Such vehicles were therefore intensely troublesome in the end times.

Even if someone possessed extraordinary eyesight capable of seeing dozens of meters away and actually attempted to drive the tank, the ruined roads, giant trees, and dense thickets of various plants would utterly shatter any such fantasy.

Thus, after casting a single glance at the heavy machinery that once held such terrifying power in the old world, Liu Chang felt scales slowly sprout across his face and his muscles expand. He began his transformation.

Transformation.

Liu Chang loved the word. Having watched Dragon Ball since childhood, he had always fantasized about one day becoming as formidable as a Super Saiyan. As a kid, he would often roughhouse with his classmates while shouting at the top of his lungs, "Transform into Super Saiyan Generation X!" just to vent his emotions.

Yet, as he grew older, he realized that childhood slogan was nothing more than an out-of-reach dream. He had never imagined that one day his life would actually intersect with this concept.

Though he did not become a Super Saiyan, he had at least transformed into a monster.

Possessing overwhelming strength and an ugly exterior.

Following the transformation, Liu Chang felt his body grow much heavier, yet also remarkably more grounded. Relying entirely on his superior vision, which far surpassed that of ordinary people, he walked through the government compound without encountering the slightest trace of danger.

Without needing to deploy his military crossbow or dagger, he smoothly toured the entire government compound, then roughly deduced the zoning of the various areas based on what he observed.

Which sections were military supply zones, which were soldiers' barracks, where the officials lived, and which areas were heavily guarded, highly restricted, specialized zones...

Having roughly mapped these out in his mind, Liu Chang locked onto his target: the specialized zone.

He saw many strange objects there, housed inside a large building with a locked door. However, the lock posed no challenge to Liu Chang. After snapping the alloy lock apart with his bare hands, he slipped through a vacant gap and squeezed inside. The items here looked far less hyper-modern than those in Li Qingshui's laboratory.

Once inside, Liu Chang found himself deeply disappointed. Although many oddities were displayed here, most were merely maps, food seeds, and experimental supplies. Furthermore, the items were quite old, clearly leftovers from the previous era still being used today.

A small city possessed neither high-end scientific researchers nor advanced equipment. While everyone valued such things since the apocalypse, neither human resources nor material wealth could compare to the standards of the biological research parks. After wandering around for a few minutes and finding nothing he needed, Liu Chang left.

Infiltrating all the way from the specialized zone back to the government perimeter wall, Liu Chang felt as though he were taking a leisurely stroll. The sheer disparity in visual range granted him an immense advantage. It allowed him to move through the most heavily guarded place in the entire city without a shred of the thrilling suspense experienced by secret agents in television shows.

It was like entering an empty realm.

It was like a person with clear, sharp vision walking among the blind.

Even so, after searching extensively inside, Liu Chang still failed to find what he was looking for. By the time late night arrived, exhausted and irritated, he scaled the wall and left.

He had gained nothing tonight.

Returning to Li Feng's stronghold and reverting to his normal human appearance, Liu Chang caught up on some sleep in the room. The next morning, at the break of dawn, he dutifully sought out Zhou Kai.

The two men ended up staring at each other in blank silence all the way until noon.

At noon, someone naturally brought over food. While eating, Liu Chang muttered to Zhou Kai, "Is finding someone really that hard?"

"We genuinely haven't found them!" Zhou Kai sighed. "You've been here all day, you know the situation. I've truly done my best."

"Hmm." Liu Chang nodded. He did believe that Zhou Kai had tried his best, but he still felt somewhat puzzled as to why not a single person had arrived.

There had been several batches of Amphibians. Combined with Liu and his own group, a considerable number of people had migrated northward into the Maze Forest, or at least had the potential to enter it. If they were ordinary people, they might not have been able to find this isolated city in the forest, but among their ranks were individuals with powerful brain domains. Those people had photographic memories and extraordinary intelligence; it was impossible that not a single one of them could locate this place.

After all, this was an excellent resting and supply point, and the city wasn't newly built—it was clearly marked on maps of China as Xingtai. Had it not been for the Maze Forest, it would have been a very easy place to find.

And while the Maze Forest could disorient Li Qingshui's clone, it certainly wouldn't trap them for long.

With this thought in mind, Liu Chang demanded, "Listen here, I don't have much time and can't wait any longer. Perhaps they've already left this city. Step up the search efforts. If there is no news within three days, this matter—"

Knock, knock, knock!

Before Liu Chang could finish his sentence, a knock sounded at the door. With the permission of the disheartened Zhou Kai, a young man rushed inside excitedly.

"Boss Zhou, there's news! Word just came from the government side—the exact kind of creature you described is currently blocking the entrance of that compound!" Rushing in, the youth blurted out everything he knew to claim credit before either of them could speak.

"According to reports from people over there, its appearance matches your description: white skin, over five meters tall, and it's holding a human infant in its mouth. It seems to be demanding something from the government?"

"Over five meters?" Hearing the youth's words, Liu Chang sprang up from the sofa in shock. "It's Liu!"

"Is that the monster you mentioned?" Seeing that his task was complete, Zhou Kai felt a wave of relief.

"Yes, he really did head north. I never expected him to move so fast. Why would he go to the government..." Liu Chang stood in place, pondering the purpose behind Liu and Number Seventeen's visit to the government. A minute later, his expression changed drastically.