Chapter Eighty-Nine: United in Heart and Mind

At this moment, Zheng Xiaoda was truly overjoyed. He had finally managed to recruit someone genuinely willing to protect the crew at any cost.

Boss K had always been a general, but never regarded them as people. Zheng Xiaoda, as the vanguard officer, had always understood the difference between being used and true sincerity. Yet, for the sake of exchanging submission for peace among his comrades, he chose to compromise.

Chen Yi could see the resentment and grievance in Boss K's demeanor. People like him were the easiest to turn, especially since he had suffered enough from hunger—under such circumstances, he would do anything.

"What equipment does the warship have, and how long can it last?" Chen Yi quickly refocused, his gaze steady on Zheng Xiaoda. "For the upcoming battles against the zombies, I must know whether your forces are sufficient to satisfy me."

"Of course," Zheng Xiaoda replied, his eyes brimming with confidence. "Our warship is practically indestructible. The outer layer is titanium alloy, the interior is aluminum alloy. The hull is designed to withstand acid rain, and the rooms are built to resist zombie attacks."

Such a design made Chen Yi suspicious that the organization had anticipated the outbreak of a corpse tide. Gripping Zheng Xiaoda’s collar tightly, Chen Yi’s gaze darkened. "Speak—how did you manage to prepare such a formidable warship?"

Zheng Xiaoda saw doubt and unease in Chen Yi’s eyes and sighed. "You’re not wrong. We did know about the coming zombie outbreak in advance, but only because a certain doctor discovered signs early on."

Chen Yi kicked Zheng Xiaoda to the ground, his gaze growing even more intense. Lu Kai and Hu Sanhan subdued those who still resisted, giving Chen Yi time to deal with the troublemakers.

Now, the once self-assured Zheng Xiaoda had finally broken down. "I can tell you, but you must promise not to betray me!"

Chen Yi’s scythe fell three inches from Zheng Xiaoda’s throat, mocking him. "I don’t have time for your nonsense. Either you surrender, and I kill you, or you start telling me your plans!"

Zheng Xiaoda still shook his head. "My rank is too low, I really don’t know the details. Actually, instead of asking me, you’d be better off considering how to avoid risks in the future."

"What do you mean?" Chen Yi paid close attention to his indirect words.

"Tell me everything you know," Chen Yi insisted. "Whether I follow your advice or not, I’ll decide myself."

Zheng Xiaoda agreed. When Chu Yunxi and the others learned that the appearance of zombies was related to changes in the ozone layer’s air currents and the arrival of an extraterrestrial meteorite, Chen Yi began to calculate in his mind.

Most likely, these so-called experts, in their bid to prove they could control unknown forces, had orchestrated these events, only to lose many lives in the process. The outrage was palpable—because of a few people's schemes, the entire world was being dragged down with them.

Chen Yi’s gaze grew colder. If possible, Zheng Xiaoda’s head would have rolled right then.

"Don’t be rash!" Zheng Xiaoda hurried to explain. "Although I knew about this and didn’t speak out, it’s because once we joined the military, we were poisoned. You know how hard it is to get a reinforced room in the apocalypse."

Chen Yi scoffed, glancing at him with interest. "So this is why you targeted my friends?"

Thinking of how many had died because of this man’s actions—even those loyal to the X Organization had met tragic ends—it was easy to feel despair for having sacrificed so much for such a heartless entity.

What could possibly matter more than survival?

Chen Yi took a deep breath, struggling to restrain himself from beating the man. "Tell me—what is X Organization’s purpose, what does the code name mean?"

This time, Zheng Xiaoda didn’t hesitate and revealed everything. X, as the name implied, represented the organization’s secrecy, but more so for ease of memory. The founders of the organization didn’t originally intend to defend against zombies.

Though Zheng Xiaoda, as a vanguard officer, knew little, he had picked up enough fragments to understand that the organization was conducting a terrifying experiment, aiming to make humanity submit to artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence was X Organization’s ideal, their goal being profit. They hoped human brains would work for them like machines, laboring for free and handing over their earnings.

"Utterly shameless!" Chen Yaxi and Chu Yunxi’s faces turned ashen, anger boiling within.

"Do these people have no sense of honor?" Chen Yi waved his hand, fixing his gaze once more on Zheng Xiaoda. "Can you honestly say you never harmed innocent people?"

"I can!" Zheng Xiaoda’s gaze was resolute as he looked at Chen Yi. "I knew about many things, but I had no authority to act."

"Why?" Chen Yi was puzzled. Many adversaries they’d faced had lesser positions than Zheng Xiaoda, yet they fought on the battlefield, even to the death. Why was Zheng Xiaoda exempt?

Knowing Chen Yi wouldn’t let the matter drop, Zheng Xiaoda shook his head again. He took out a cigarette, drew a deep puff, and laughed bitterly, despair flashing in his eyes. "I didn’t have to go because my son was taken and used in zombie experiments. He died horribly at their hands!"

"You fool!" Lu Kai trembled. "I’ve never been a father, but if I had a child, anyone who tried to hurt them, I’d never forgive!"

"I know!" Zheng Xiaoda’s eyes were icy. "But when you’re forced to choose between one death and the deaths of your whole family, what can you do?"

Lu Kai was speechless. Indeed, what could be done in such a situation?

It was a question Lu Kai had never considered.

Tears streaming down his face, Zheng Xiaoda clenched his fists. "If we could resist, ask anyone on the warship—who wouldn’t want to fight back? But the reality is, we can’t! You can’t imagine how agonizing our choices are!"

Chen Yi was silent for a long time. After deep reflection, he finally answered.

"I can forgive the mistakes you’ve made in the past, but I absolutely won’t let you continue down that path!"

Chen Yi pointed his scythe at everyone. "From now on, I am in charge of everything you do. I want you to take charge of your own fate! As for your families, I’ll investigate whether they’re still alive, but if anyone betrays me now, I’ll make sure they die without a trace!"