Chapter 248 - 232: Escape

Chapter 248: Chapter 232: Escape

"Dongzi, I heard from my people on the ship when I got back that Wang Dingbei arrested our men... I knew something was wrong and rushed over with my people. Are you okay?"

Zhao Youcai and the combat team would not let Yu Dong come to harm.

"What could happen to me... Officer Wang and her people wouldn’t get rough with me. They just found out that Cai Hong and Zhao Yun left and wanted an explanation."

"Alright, lower your crossbows. What is the meaning of this? We’re all on the same side! You don’t point Crossbow Arrows at your own people. Youcai, don’t do this again!"

Yu Dong gestured with his hand, and the combat team members lowered their crossbows. The tense atmosphere finally eased a little.

"Officer Wang, please uncuff Sun Yu and the other two. I’ll... tell you why."

Although Yu Dong verbally scolded Zhao Youcai, he finally felt a sense of security.

This was the confidence that having his own people gave him. Even if something went wrong, there were still people to back him up.

Wang Dingbei nodded. Xiao Dabe went to uncuff the three men. Sun Yu let out a cold snort and led the other two back among the combat team, as comfortable as if he had returned home.

’When things go south, these brothers really step up!’

The bond forged from months of killing zombies together was incomparable.

Since things had come to this, Yu Dong no longer hid the truth from Wang Dingbei and the others.

"We’re developing a vaccine. A vaccine that can make people immune to the zombie virus..."

Yu Dong explained the progress and requirements of Professor Meng’s vaccine research, letting the upper echelon understand what he was doing.

Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces, Yu Dong said calmly:

"This matter... Some will understand, some will not. That’s normal. Perhaps you think I’m crazy, but... this is a necessary sacrifice on the path of science."

"I will bear this sin alone, but I will not hoard the glory of success for myself!"

"When the time comes, I will share the vaccine with the military and the government to save our country."

"Even if you can’t understand me... do not stop me. Because this is the thing I must do above all else."

After saying it all, the feeling of unease that had been nagging at Yu Dong for days finally dissipated.

’In truth, my discomfort wasn’t with the experiment itself, but with the version of myself who was timid and overly concerned with his reputation, who didn’t dare to openly bear the sin.’

’This life, it felt like I’ve been trapped in a shell called "The Good Leader".’

’I was no longer myself. I was the cruise ship’s "Good Leader." My every word and action represented the face of the leadership team. I had to be responsible for everyone, which caused me to... gradually lose my true colors.’

’I’m no saint. I take revenge when I’m wronged. I like making friends. I’m good to my own people, and I’ll crush any external enemies. I can choose my own path under extreme pressure, rather than being swept along by the group to become an impeccable "Good Leader".’

’I can’t make everyone think I’m a good person.’

’With this vaccine, I had to choose between being a "Good Leader" and a "Dictator"... I choose the latter. My morals are flawed.’

’I have to see this through!’

"So, that is my confession to you all. Does anyone object?"

’Vaccine... test subjects... drug trials...’

No one present knew that such great progress had been made on that front, let alone that it had reached this stage.

The hope for a vaccine was actually in their hands.

No one had expected this.

After all, in everyone’s eyes, they were just a team of survivors from an ordinary city, not some professional research team. They never imagined... that Meng Dongqing would actually pull off something so huge.

Xiao Dabe’s jaw dropped. "Professor Meng... is that damn amazing? Well, if it’s really for the sake of the vaccine... I guess sacrificing yourself wouldn’t be out of the question..."

Jing Yanwei’s face was filled with disgust. "Despicable! No matter how noble the reason, you should never use people for experiments! That just covers up the fundamental problem. I object! I will never agree to this! How does this make you any different from those islanders!"

Chen Guangzong desperately wanted to object, because that was his third mate!

He’d been dragged off for drug testing!

He never would have imagined that his old colleague, who was just complaining to him last week about his Fleshlight being too loose, would be... gone, just like that.

He had even been thinking that after a few years in confinement, the man would be released once the apocalypse was over.

He had even prepared a handheld console and a power bank for him...

But when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t bring himself to say that one word: "Object."

’I’m afraid of dying.’

’Chen Guangzong knew he was a coward.’

This time, he fell silent once again...

Wang Dingbei hadn’t expected Yu Dong to be so frank about such a grave and terrifying issue. Yu Dong had actually gone this far. What would happen if he couldn’t find more subjects? Would he resort to using innocent people for experiments?

"Yu Dong, you didn’t tell me... because you were afraid I’d refuse, weren’t you?"

"Yes. You would have definitely refused. I know you, Officer Wang."

"You knew I would object... but you did it anyway. Aren’t you afraid of causing a riot? Even death row inmates have to sign consent forms for experiments, you know! And these people aren’t even on death row! Once you open this door, criminals will no longer need trials! Does this mean that those of us who oppose you today will also be sent to the research institute for drug testing? Huh?"

"No. I will detain you temporarily to prevent a riot. Once our vaccine research is successful... I will release you."

Hearing this, Wang Dingbei gave Yu Dong a long, hard look and sighed.

"You already have your answer, so why bother asking us? You’d better keep me locked up tight, because otherwise... the moment I get out, I will put a stop to this barbaric behavior of yours and bring a decisive end to your leadership career. You’ve gone down an evil path, Yu Dong."

Yu Dong hadn’t expected Wang Dingbei to agree. He looked toward Lin Mo.

Lin Mo had been deep in thought this whole time. By now, she had a rough understanding of why Yu Dong was so determined...

’He’s a multiple-time regressor. He doesn’t just have to consider this life; he’s also thinking about the next one.’

’This mRNA vaccine is what will allow him to save the world.’

’Yu Dong is doing what he believes is right.’

It was just that from their perspective, he was gradually going mad. But he held the greatest military power on the cruise ship. No one could refuse Yu Dong.

Every cent and every privilege the entire cruise ship had granted the combat team had, at this moment, transformed into a single, powerful word:

LOYALTY!

It was just that their loyalty was to the man who paid them and secured their benefits: Yu Dong.

’Yu Dong had chosen the path of a dictator to push the vaccine forward...’

’He was no longer playing the part of Mr. Nice Guy.’

Moreover, Lin Mo knew they didn’t have the resources to oppose Yu Dong.

’How many people did the security team even have?’

’Besides, from what she understood, Yu Dong’s power... was far greater than what was on the surface. The logistics team hadn’t even shown its hand yet.’

’If the logistics team made a move, no one would be able to stand against them.’

’The city defense team was just a bunch of fence-sitters. If Yu Dong applied pressure, they would follow him.’

Having figured this out, Lin Mo heaved a deep sigh. She didn’t choose to confront Yu Dong head-on like Wang Dingbei.

"Yu Dong, I understand you... I’m willing to join your team and help see this through. Let’s make the vaccine together. That’s what’s most important."

....

PS: It’s the beginning of the month, asking for monthly tickets!

My editor had me write a bonus easter egg Chapter before. It should be after the Chapter on the mobile app. You have to vote with a monthly ticket on the easter egg Chapter to unlock it, so don’t vote on the wrong one.

It’s a very interesting branching path, and it also hides a little bit of the story for a future volume...

Actually, there’s a lot more I want to talk about with everyone, but Volume Three is coming to an end, and my writing speed is very slow. I’m constantly deleting and revising, and the fewer updates are making me very anxious. So, I’ll save it for the afterword at the end of Volume Three.