Chapter 8

The reading room was even darker than the corridor, and the air was filled with a stronger smell of mold and a strange, pungent smell similar to lime, which I thought was left by the bone spider that had been lurking here for a long time. Tables and chairs were tilted, and books were scattered on the floor, covered with thick dust and cobwebs (the usual kind).

Chen Mengzhou's eyes quickly scanned the room, finally landing on a row of metal filing cabinets against the wall. One of the cabinet doors bore the marks of having been forcibly pried open and then forcefully closed, and the dust on the surrounding floor showed signs of having been recently stirred.

Zhao Jun obviously noticed it as well. He took a step forward with an expression of "I'll help" on his face and easily pried open the damaged cabinet door with a crowbar.

The cabinet was not filled with documents, but with several bulging mountaineering bags with the logo of an outdoor brand printed on them, which looked relatively new.

"We have the goods!" Zhao Jun exclaimed with just the right amount of surprise in his voice. He looked around vigilantly before reaching out to pull out a backpack and opening it.

Inside were several unopened bottles of mineral water, some high-calorie energy bars, compressed biscuits, several boxes of antibiotics and basic medical supplies, even a small unopened bottle of vodka and a few packs of cigarettes. In the apocalypse, this was considered a considerable fortune.

"What good luck!" Zhao Jun's face lit up and he began to check the other packages with swift movements. The contents were similar. "It's enough to last us for a while!" He picked up a pack of cigarettes, squeezed it skillfully, and seemed very satisfied.

Chen Mengzhou's attention wasn't on these regular supplies. Her gaze fell on a small, unassuming metal box at the bottom of the filing cabinet. The box was locked, and the surface showed signs of wear and tear, indicating it had seen better days.

The moment she noticed the box, that strange feeling of a "future dream" intertwined with reality resurfaced. It wasn't a complete dream, but a strong intuition—did this thing seem to be connected to a vague fragment of a future dream? The system didn't indicate it, but the feeling was unusually clear.

Zhao Jun finished counting the supplies in his backpack and looked up to see Chen Mengzhou's gaze fixed on the metal box. His eyes flickered slightly, then he smiled and said, "Oh, that shabby box? I saw it just now. It's locked tightly. I guess it's just some useless old documents. The important thing is these food, drinks, and daily necessities!" He patted the backpack next to him, trying to divert her attention.

His reaction was too deliberate.

Chen Mengzhou didn't say anything. She squatted down, her fingers brushing the dust off the metal box, revealing a faint etched pattern—like a twisted lightning bolt piercing an irregular circle. This pattern...she must have seen it somewhere in her future dreams, perhaps on someone's armband, or on the panel of an instrument... The memory fragment was blurry, but the connection was undeniable.

"Open it." Her tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable tone.

The smile on Zhao Jun's face froze for a moment, and then he showed an embarrassment: "This... lock is quite strong, let me try." He picked up the crowbar and aimed it at the old lock, as if intending to break it open violently.

"No need." Chen Mengzhou stopped him. She stretched out her finger, and the energy in the space at her fingertips condensed extremely weakly, almost imperceptibly, like the most delicate key, probing into the lock.

Click.

With a slight sound, the internal structure of the lock core was directly destroyed by the force of space. The old lock popped open.

Zhao Jun's hand, holding the crowbar, froze in mid-air, his pupils constricting slightly. What kind of trick was this?!

Chen Mengzhou opened the box. There were no documents inside, only a sealed glass tube, about the thickness of three fingers, filled with azure liquid, resting quietly within the soft, shock-absorbing sponge. A label with tiny printed text and a serial number was affixed to the tube.

[Gene Enhancement Agent Type I (Standard) detected, stable energy. 87% similarity to the (defective) product carried by the target individual, 235% higher in purity and stability.] The system's notification tone was cold and precise.

Gene enhancement potion! And it's the standard version! Not the defective one Zhao Jun had hidden away!

Chen Mengzhou understood instantly. Zhao Jun had probably known about the existence of this cabinet, or even this box, for a long time. He might have discovered it during his previous solo exploration, but he couldn't open the lock, or perhaps the situation was critical and he didn't have time to deal with it. One of his fundamental reasons for choosing the library as his base was probably to get this box! He had just tried to mislead her and keep all the potions for himself!

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle and tense.

Zhao Jun's expression changed several times. Looking at the three azure potions, the greed and desire in his eyes could hardly be concealed. But when he met Chen Mengzhou's calm eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything, the greed was quickly suppressed and transformed into a deep fear and calculation.

He laughed dryly twice: "This...what is this? It looks quite special...Do you know Miss Shen?"

"I don't know him." Chen Mengzhou closed the lid calmly, took the metal box in his hand, and stood up. "It looks like it has some value. I'll take it away first."

She had no intention of sharing the profits and simply regarded it as her own spoils of war.

Zhao Jun's heart was bleeding, and his facial muscles twitched. He tried hard to maintain his expression. "As it should be, as it should be. You opened the lock... Hehe..." He had already cursed her in his heart, but he didn't dare to show it. This woman is too weird! Her abilities are strange, and her eyes are vicious!

Chen Mengzhou put the metal box into his backpack, then pointed to the mountaineering bag on the ground: "These supplies, divide them equally."

She showed strength, but also a cooperative attitude - regular supplies can be shared. Give her a good reward after a good one.

Zhao Jun took a deep breath, knowing that now was not the time to turn hostile. The other party's strength was unfathomable, and his hidden abilities might not be able to gain any benefits. Moreover, he would need her help to leave here or even go further. He forced a smile: "Okay! Listen to Miss Shen!"

The two of them quickly divided the supplies equally and put them into their respective backpacks.

Chen Mengzhou's backpack suddenly became much fuller, and Zhao Jun looked at his own supplies, and then thought about the three potions that flew away, and his heart felt like a stone was blocking it.

"Let's go, leave through the freight channel you mentioned." Chen Mengzhou put on his backpack and said in an unquestionable tone.

"Okay, this way." Zhao Jun suppressed all his emotions and played the role of the guide again, but his eyes were a little deeper than before.

The two walked, one in front and one behind, through the messy reading room and towards the back of the library. When passing the pile of bone spider remains, Chen Mengzhou did not stop, as if he had just run over an ant.

Zhao Jun followed behind her, looking at her calm and upright back, then glanced at the pile of bones. A thought popped up uncontrollably in his mind: Those crystals... does she also know their real function?

Because of a metal box and three potions, the undercurrent within this makeshift team finally surged to the surface.

Trust has long since disappeared, leaving only naked mutual exploitation and vigilance.

Chen Mengzhou's fingers unconsciously touched the metal box through the backpack.

Gene Enhancement Agent Type I (Standard)...

The variables in reality are constantly increasing, and the future she glimpses into seems to be becoming clearer and clearer, or... more confusing.