Chapter 251 - 235: Matter and Faith

Chapter 251: Chapter 235: Matter and Faith

Deck Nine of the cruise ship.

This level was used as the prison deck because all its rooms were interior cabins, meaning they had no windows.

Once inside, it was a completely sealed space with no chance of contact with the outside world.

As long as the entrance was guarded, the prisoners had nowhere to run.

Yu Dong never imagined he and Officer Wang would meet again under such circumstances...

He entered the room where Wang Dingbei was being held and waved off his subordinates who tried to follow him in for protection.

Wang Dingbei had been locked up for two days, but he showed no signs of weakness. His eyes were still bright, burning with a fiery intensity.

Yu Dong knew that fire was directed at him.

"Are you still angry with me, Officer Wang?"

"What, did you expect me to applaud your dictatorship and arrogance?"

"I have my reasons. What I’m doing may be a sin now, but it will be a blessing for generations to come! But forget it... Let’s not talk about that. We can talk after I succeed. Why did you summon me?"

When Wang Dingbei summoned him, Yu Dong knew he had to come. In truth, he still wanted Officer Wang on his side, just like when they took down Yin Shuangyang and brought order to the cruise ship.

He craved Officer Wang’s approval.

Wang Dingbei looked at Yu Dong and asked, "Those two... how did it go? The vaccine you talked about... did it work?"

Hearing this question, the corners of Yu Dong’s mouth curled up into a slight smirk.

"So... you talk a big game, Officer Wang, but you can’t help but care, can you? You don’t want them to have died for nothing, do you?"

"Cut the crap. Just give me the results."

"It wasn’t a complete failure. We got some results. The other two died. Cai Hong... he’s become an intelligent zombie. He still has his old memories, but he’s rapidly transforming into one of those hulking brute-type zombies. And other zombies don’t attack him."

"What!?"

The moment Wang Dingbei understood the implications, he shot to his feet!

"You have to eliminate Cai Hong immediately! If he escapes, he’ll threaten the survival of this entire cruise ship!"

"Relax, Professor Meng has him contained. Officer Wang, don’t you see? This proves our research is on the right track! This ’prototype’ is already showing results. If we can create the final version... we can save the world!"

Wang Dingbei’s expression changed. After a moment of contemplation, he asked:

"So... you need more test subjects, don’t you?"

"That’s right. I can’t stop now, Officer Wang. You’re the one who asked about the vaccine’s progress. You must understand how important this is, right?"

Wang Dingbei shook his head.

"I’m not an idiot. But, Yu Dong, what you’re doing right now is destroying everything we’ve built on this ship over the last four months. The regulations, the order, the peace, the goodwill, the democracy... You’re tearing it all down with your own two hands!"

"You want my support for your experiments? Fine! Hold an open, fair, and transparent public trial. Sentence someone to the research institute, and let the people vote on it! If the vote passes, I’ll support it!"

"Didn’t you used to say that the people see things clearly? Why don’t you trust them now?"

"I’m not against developing the vaccine. If you wanted to send people like Lin Xiaojun, I’d have no objections. I’d vote yes myself. I’m confident we could get a majority vote in a public assembly. But... why are you in such a rush?"

"You were like this last time, too."

The core conflict between Wang Dingbei and Yu Dong had never been about whether to develop the vaccine, but about the methods Yu Dong was willing to use to achieve that goal.

It was the same situation all over again.

The last time, after a public vote, he had successfully stopped Yu Dong from wanting to just put a bullet in Lin Xiaojun’s head in private.

But this time, Yu Dong had skipped the meeting entirely and simply arrested anyone who voiced an objection.

’How fucking ironic!’

"We don’t have that much time to wait, Officer Wang! Every day we develop the vaccine sooner is a day we can start administering it. Think of the benefits! Look at the entire country. If we develop this and hand it over to the government, how many frontline soldiers will survive? Sacrificing a few bad people to protect many more good ones... Officer Wang, isn’t that the same logic you used when you opened fire?"

The two men stared at each other, each using the other’s logic to justify his own position.

Neither could convince the other.

Seeing that Yu Dong was dead set on his path, Wang Dingbei stopped wasting his breath.

He glanced at his watch and said, "It’s almost time..."

"Time for what?"

"Two hours ago... my people informed Commander Qiao of everything you’ve done. If my calculations are correct, the military should be arriving just about now. Yu Dong, are you prepared to take responsibility for your actions?"

Wang Dingbei let out a cold smirk. He stood up, straightened his police uniform, and looked at Yu Dong, his eyes filled with contempt for such clandestine schemes.

’Did he really think I, Wang Dingbei, wouldn’t have a backup plan?’

’If Yu Dong thought arresting me and my handful of allies was enough to let him rest easy, he truly underestimated me...’

"I’m a little confused, Officer Wang," Yu Dong said, puzzled. "What do you mean, ’your people’?"

"You placed Yang Ze by my side. How could I not return the favor? Your combat team... are you sure they’re all loyal to you?"

Wang Dingbei scoffed at Yu Dong’s naivety.

Yang Ze was an upright soldier, not a professionally trained spy. How could someone like him ever be a good mole?

He had seen through the ruse but hadn’t said anything. It didn’t matter most of the time anyway. He had even tacitly allowed Yu Dong and Lin Mo’s little schemes.

’I, Wang Dingbei, have always acted with integrity. What do I have to fear from spies?’

And a long, long time ago, he had placed his own people inside the combat team.