Zombie Apocalypse: Reborn With A Farming Space Chapter 852: Matkuna’s Eggs ( 4 )

Wei Yunli paused briefly before adding, "Regarding the Commander and the others, they have fallen victim to the parasites."

"Captain Jin and his squad administered a serum to combat the infection, yet the survival rate sits at only 20%. I require you to suppress this information and assume command of the base's security in his absence."

Ye Wuze’s brow furrowed slightly at these words. Overseeing the security of the whole base was well within his capabilities; however, his true concern was for Xie Zhou’s life.

Even though Xie Zhou was his current superior officer, they had forged a bond through countless near-death brushes on the battlefield. To Ye Wuze, he wasn't merely a superior—he was a brother.

Observing his clear anxiety, Wei Yunli hesitated momentarily before stretching out to pat his arm. "Do not fret. The Commander has fortune on his side and will pull through this. With the Phantom Team present, he will come to no harm."

Ye Wuze was taken aback by this sudden display of warmth.

Ever since they first crossed paths, he had been under the impression that this woman held some inexplicable distaste for him, so he had made it a point to keep his distance.

Since their duties rarely overlapped, their interactions were limited to formal meetings at best. Consequently, this marked the inaugural moment they had sat so close and engaged in conversation.

Despite his surprise, he found he didn't mind her touch. In fact, her comforting words seemed to lift his spirits, causing his expression to soften. "Thank you," he murmured.

Wei Yunli herself was stunned when she caught the faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He wasn't particularly ugly, nor was he striking; his features were entirely unremarkable, the kind that easily faded into any crowd. Were it not for his imposing presence, he might have been completely invisible.

That had been her assessment until this exact second. It felt as if a thick veil had been lifted from her vision.

This man was far from ordinary. His face, while not classically handsome, possessed a rugged, masculine charm. It was merely his perpetual, icy scowl that discouraged people from ever looking at him too closely.

Such was the reason she had rarely looked at him properly and could barely recall his appearance.

Noticing her steady gaze—the first he had received since they met—Ye Wuze felt a strange wave of restlessness. After shuffling uncomfortably in his seat, he cleared his throat and announced, "I shall go monitor the situation now."

With that, he exited the vehicle in long, hurried strides, his frantic pace making him look as if he were fleeing from some terrifying phantom.

As this thought crossed her mind, Wei Yunli couldn't help but laugh softly. Why was it that she only now realized how awkward this man truly was?

Fifteen minutes later, a portal the size of an entrance manifested on the spatial barrier. Feng Yun emerged at the head of the group, nodding to the sentries and stating, "They are safe. There is no requirement for quarantine."

"Comrade Feng, what is the situation inside? My brother is in there," one of the guards pleaded.

"I cannot provide a definitive answer yet. We must maintain caution before proceeding further." Seeing the guard's distress, he added, "We will exhaust every avenue to save them."

The guard understood that the odds were grim. Many had been infected, and none were known to have survived, leaving him with little hope.

Swallowing his tears, he whispered, "Thank you, Comrade Feng."

Feng Yun gave his shoulder a firm squeeze before turning back toward the building. With a flick of his wrist, the spatial barrier sealed shut, hiding all sights and sounds from those outside.

The heavy presence of guards around the health center made it obvious to everyone that an emergency had occurred, though the particulars remained a mystery to the populace.

By midday, the survivors swarmed the cafeteria, trading rumors about the parasites. Just as fear and panic began to grip the base, an official announcement echoed through the air.

The broadcast played three times before falling silent.

Upon hearing the message, the residents—both the commoners and the rougher sorts—descended into chaos. They relied on daily labor to earn points, and this lockdown would bring all productivity to a halt.

Even with the base providing rations, they still required other supplies. Fearing a return to the lawlessness of the pre-base era, many rushed to the supply stores to hoard food and water.

While this panic might have triggered a riot elsewhere, the Green Lake Base remained controlled. Having anticipated such a reaction, Wei Yunli had already stationed guards at the supply centers.

Restrictions on purchases were quickly enforced, and upon realizing the supply chain was intact, the residents calmed down and returned to their quarters in an orderly fashion.

While the base reached a state of relative stability, the members of the Phantom Team waited in agony for word from Jiao Lizhi.