Chapter 197 Before Departure
In addition to "agent" related training, Lin Xi did not forget that he was also the director of the Dawn Research Institute, and took time to return to the institute to manage its affairs.
It mainly concerns the management and allocation of personnel going to the White Shield base.
After they leave, Professor Cheng Xiaoyang will serve as the interim director of the Dawn Research Institute, while Captain Qian Zetao will continue to be responsible for the management and supervision of the research institute.
Although Professor Cheng Xiaoyang was more outgoing than Song Heng and more considerate of her staff and students, she was also a workaholic. Therefore, after she took on the role of acting dean, most of the affairs were handled by her capable assistant, Wang Yitong.
Wang Yitong wouldn't handle affairs as fairly and impartially as Lin Xi, but Lin Xi wasn't worried about the research institute falling into chaos.
Guo Yanlin's team, which was on par with Cheng Xiaoyang's team, lost a large number of members. Song Heng's team, which had Lin Xi's support, also left. The remaining two teams were focused on scientific research and were not competitive. Now the base has sufficient supplies for the research institute. At most, Wang Yitong might show off her official power, but no one would quarrel over supplies.
Lin Xi explained the situation of the White Shield Base to the staff members who were preparing to go there.
"The following are the benefits for staff members who pass the White Shield Base's review during their exchange work at the White Shield Base..."
According to Lu Wei, the White Shield Base had been silent until Dawn Base mentioned that it might need equipment to develop a vaccine, after which it gradually became more active, but it only communicated with Dawn Base in a one-way manner.
In addition to the list of approved personnel, the Dawn Base also provided an overview of the base and information on the benefits for employees working in other locations.
The base overview provided by White Shield Base is likely only a general overview of civilian life; the undisclosed laboratories and military forces within White Shield Base are not known to outsiders.
Everyone had already packed their bags, but the trip was delayed for a while. Now, hearing about the better treatment and conditions at the White Shield Base, they all looked on with longing.
Lin Xi took in those glances.
She reiterated, "I warned everyone before that going to the White Shield base could be dangerous, so please be prepared."
"We're all prepared to pay it back."
Lin Xi nodded and continued seriously, "I want to ask, after using up the advanced equipment at White Shield Base, how many people want to return to Dawn Base?"
Upon hearing this, some people turned their heads decisively, some looked at their companions in bewilderment, and some hesitantly raised their hands.
"The White Shield Base has advanced equipment and offers good benefits to ordinary researchers, so staying there is a good option."
"That's right, I don't have any relatives at Dawn Base anyway."
"Ah... I just started dating someone, and we agreed to get married after I develop a vaccine."
"I'm fine with either way. Let's see what the professor decides. I'll go with the professor."
About six people raised their hands.
Some people asked Lin Xi, "Dean Zhang, will you come back?"
Lin Xi nodded.
After a while of whispering and discussion, Lin Xi heard the words "major general".
Ignoring these speculations, she said instead, "People may not be very familiar with the situation of each base. Given that the White Shield Base has always kept its scientific research results confidential, the relevant departments do not recommend that we reveal all our existing scientific research results."
In this time of crisis, sharing the fruits of our labor is essential.
Since the White Shield base has no good intentions and refuses to share its achievements, then its achievements cannot be fully shared either.
"There is speculation about the situation of the semi-infected special zombie in our laboratory, but we do not yet know what progress we have made from this special zombie."
"The semi-specialized zombie is an important experimental subject for the 'Dawn Base.' The base has decided that it will remain at the Dawn Base. In addition to protecting the subject, it can also serve as a condition and excuse for us to return to the base if necessary."
The research institute extracted Lin Jie's tissue samples and took away the antibodies they extracted from Lin Jie, but did not take away the originals.
The White Shield base only knows that they have some antibodies, but they don't know the source of the antibodies. Even if they turn against each other, they won't just wipe out everyone in the research institute on the spot.
Knowledge and skills are lifesavers.
After the meeting, Lin Xi still had some time, so she returned to Lab 5.
Seeing that she hadn't appeared for several days, Song Heng and the others looked at her solemnly when she came to the laboratory at this critical moment.
Lin Xi looked at them, intending to make her request directly, but the look in their eyes made her hesitate.
She said, "Say what you want to say."
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet and heavy.
Song Heng dismissed everyone and spoke with Lin Xi alone.
This situation was quite common at the Nanhua Research Institute after the apocalypse, but almost nonexistent after entering the base. The last time was when Song Heng came to test Lin Xi himself after learning that she was Lin Jie's cousin.
Song Heng said, "Your decision to leave Lin Jie at Dawn Base makes sense. If the teacher can find out your identity, White Shield Base certainly can too. Then you will..."
Lin Xi looked at him with an ambiguous expression.
Song Heng said, "You are a precious antibody holder and the hope for developing a vaccine. You cannot be in danger. I have already told them that your relationship with Lin Jie must never be revealed."
Lin Xi was silent for a moment, then hummed in agreement.
Song Heng continued, "I was too hasty in making you a guinea pig back then, it was... it was..."
The older and old-fashioned Song Heng was too embarrassed to say those words, and Lin Xi didn't care much: "If you can't say it, then don't say it."
"You came to see me specifically after the meeting just to talk about this, right? Don't worry..."
"You're overthinking it." Lin Xi interrupted Song Heng and got straight to the point: "I'm here to ask for your help."
Lin Xi needs very little help, and her way of thinking is different from everyone else's; what she wants to do is extraordinary.
Lin Xi: "Before I leave, I need to prepare some pills and medicines."
Song Heng's eyes lit up with curiosity: "What?"
Lin Xi: "The medicine you used to knock me out last time worked really well. I want the formula for that medicine."
In order to mend the rift between him and Lin Xi, and also to contribute to some unspeakable special agent mission, Professor Song Heng, a highly respected professor in Laboratory No. 5, is working overtime late into the night to prepare medicine for Lin Xi.
These fast-acting "date rape drugs" and "anesthetics" are not available on the market. To prevent criminals from using these things to harm people, the related key raw materials are also not available on the market.
However, Song Heng is knowledgeable and the laboratory has abundant materials, so setting up the equipment was not difficult.
-
The night before their departure, the four of them had a hot pot dinner at the major general's house.
The four of them lived together and usually ate in the cafeteria. When they took turns treating each other to better meals, Lin Xi would cook something if she had the time and inclination, but the other three couldn't cook. So when it was their turn to treat, it was always hot pot, hot pot, hot pot...
After cleaning up the mess, they discussed some strategic plans.
The people who entered the White Shield Base this time were Lu Wei, Lin Xi, and Xiang Xin. After escorting them to the White Shield Base, Liang Hui temporarily left and waited at the Ark Base, which is the closest to the White Shield Base, to receive the people inside at any time.
Some trustworthy and capable individuals who had not been developed since the apocalypse also accompanied them.
Having finished explaining things, Xiang Xin jumped up, ready to go home and rest early. Suddenly, she saw Lu Wei take out four sealed leather bags, and she immediately wilted. Even though she had just eaten, she now said weakly, "Ah... writing again..."
After Lu Wei handed out a sealed bag to everyone, he took one for himself and sat down to quietly open it.
The three of them were familiar with the process, and Lin Xi followed suit and twisted open the sealed bag.
I thought it would contain some top-secret documents, but it turned out to be just a few envelopes and some letter paper.
"?"
Xiang Xin: "Write a will."
"Oh," Lin Xi replied. She had heard of this segment, but she didn't expect it to be her turn.
She then asked Xiang Xin, "You said 'again,' have you written it several times?"
"This step is always done before carrying out dangerous missions." This time, it was Lu Wei who answered.
The three of them developed their careers in the military, and due to their outstanding abilities, they were often assigned to carry out dangerous missions. For example, after the rampant zombies outside the city, the risk of searching for supplies and various operations increased, but they still participated in most of the missions.
As Lin Xi witnessed, "Old Yuan" committed suicide; anyone could potentially lose their life during a mission if they were not careful.
Lin Xi had heard during the training that this step could help people psychologically anticipate and accept the possibility of their own death, which would help them let go of their mental burdens and devote themselves to the task.
From another perspective, one can also say goodbye to the people they cherish in a suicide note.
In times of crisis, a will written by someone on a dangerous mission that includes provisions for their estate is legally binding.
Lu Wei, Xiang Xin, and Liang Hui all have living family members. Although their points at Dawn Base cannot be transferred to other bases, if the apocalypse ends or the outside world becomes more peaceful and frequent exchanges between bases are possible, their assets and finances at White Shield Base can be transferred through wills.
Xiang Xin kept saying "bored" and "writing again," but when she actually picked up a pen, she became very serious.
Lu Wei and Liang Hui were the same.
Lin Xi gripped the pen and stood there stunned for a moment.
Writing a will?
To whom is this written?
Her parents had long since passed away, and her life was dedicated to fighting to defeat zombies and end the apocalypse, as well as fighting for her own survival.
The only people she truly cherished in this world were her three comrades-in-arms who fought alongside her.
If they unfortunately die, they can start over in another world.
She glanced at Xiang Xin and Liang Hui; they had already finished writing one, put it in an envelope, and turned to the next page.
Lu Wei lowered his head and wrote earnestly.
Lin Xi thought: Even if I could be reborn, would I still write a will?
As Xiang Xin wrote, she said, "To be honest, I don't want people to receive my will in the future. Nor do I want to receive people's wills in the future."
She couldn't write a single word, but she was very curious about the contents of their suicide notes.
How exactly should a suicide note be written? They seem quite experienced. Xiang Xin and Liang Hui have already finished one and are writing a second.
Lin Xi unconsciously stretched her neck.
By the time she came to her senses, Xiang Xin had already caught her red-handed: "San San, why were you peeking at us writing our wills?"
Lu Wei and Liang Hui looked at her simultaneously.
Lin Xi: "Peeking...peeking doesn't count as stealing a glance."
"..."
The other three people turned their bodies slightly away at the same time, and their hands intentionally or unintentionally covered half of the letter.
"Sigh—" Lin Xi sighed and put all her blank letter papers back into the file bag.
She figured sitting here in a daze wouldn't produce a will, so she might as well go to her study and review the important literature on multispecific antibody research.
Lin Xi silently returned to her study, turned on her computer, and continued studying and working.
A moment later, Lu Wei came in with two file folders.
One was placed on the other half of the desk, in Lu Wei's territory.
One was handed to Lin Xi.
Lin Xi: "?"
Lu Wei: "I still suggest you prepare yourself mentally."
Lin Xi stared at the blank suicide note document bag that Lu Wei handed her for two seconds. She had made an excuse that she was busy with work and went back to her room in order to avoid writing her suicide note. She didn't expect Lu Wei to follow her into the study with the document bag.
Lin Xi tactically accepted the file bag.
She pretended to take out a piece of paper and tried to write again. Suicide notes are usually written to family and important friends, but she had no family.
Friend... Is this written for Lu Wei, Xiang Xin, and Liang Hui?
But they fought side by side, and even if they were to die, they would meet again in the next world.
Lin Xi looked up and glanced at Lu Wei on the other side of the desk.
His eyes were lowered, making it impossible to see the emotions on his face, as he held a fountain pen and wrote incessantly.
Lin Xi couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you finished writing yet?"
"Um."
Lin Xi asked curiously, "Are you going to write to a lot of people?"
As Liang Hui said, Lu Wei has many small groups for post-apocalyptic survival.
Lin Xi already knew that those small groups were all useful people Lu Wei had interacted with over several lifetimes. Among them were partners like them who had shared life and death, ordinary friends, and people like Yang Yicheng whose values didn't quite align with Lu Wei's but who he could cooperate with...
How many friends does Lu Wei care about? Besides his family, does he need to write many more letters?
“No.” Lu Wei paused for a moment. “My mind just went blank, and I couldn’t put pen to paper.”
"..."
Lu Wei then said, "Just like you."
"..."
Lin Xi simply stuffed the white paper back in and put the file bag aside.
Lu didn't press further: "Really not going to write?"
Lin Xi, in a fit of despair, said, "But you could tell my mind was blank."
Lu Wei looked at her silently, trying to persuade her again: "White Shield Base is dangerous."
“I know,” Lin Xi replied, glancing at the important documents on her tablet.
She probably knew that the purpose of writing a will was to help people build psychological resilience and break through the barrier between life and death. Having died so many times, she had long since seen through life and death and had no such obsession.
"We're going no matter how dangerous it is. Aren't we going together? Even if we die, we'll be reborn."
Everyone will still be there then.
Lin Xi was very determined: "Keep dying, until we can live again."
Lu Wei: "Have you ever thought... that we might not..."
"What do you mean by not finishing your sentence?" Lin Xi asked.
But Lu Wei couldn't continue.
Lin Xi found Lu Wei's hesitant manner strange. They were both people with the ability to be reborn, so why were they still so insistent on writing a will?
If they die, their lives can be restarted, and they can even return to a perfect initial world where all the relationships between people are still there.
Lu Wei shook his head and didn't try to persuade Lin Xi any further.
But he seemed to have found inspiration for his suicide note, and he bowed his head and began to write on the paper.
The desk was neither too big nor too small; the two of them faced each other and each used half of it.
Lin Xi sat opposite, and from this position, she could "peek" at the contents of Lu Wei's suicide note if she looked a little further away.
But Lin Xi did not do that.
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