Disband the Pioneer Team

After a brief commotion, the floors above fell silent once more.

The building felt even more deathly still.

This wasn't a building—it was a tomb.

Tu Ran felt suffocated by the oppression.

She hoped the Research Institute would make progress soon.

So that humanity wouldn't have to face the spread of this virus feeling so small and powerless.

All afternoon, Tu Ran brought Meng Fanchen along to treat critically ill patients three times.

In the evening, she changed everyone's dressings and distributed food again.

Until midnight, no one on the floor had mutated.

Ding Naiqing slept until midnight, then drank two bottles of nutrient solution and took over from Tu Ran.

The guards also changed shifts.

Tu Ran entered the temporary rest area.

There were no beds inside; everyone had laid out bedrolls on the floor.

Tu Ran picked a spot near the edge, set down the gun she'd been carrying all day, placed it beside her pillow, and lay down fully clothed.

She wasn't sleepy.

She browsed the Federation's latest progress on infectious exotic species.

There was no substantial progress.

The Research Institute worked through the night but still hadn't figured anything out.

Meanwhile, people who hadn't been injured or exposed to exotic blood were mutating one after another.

News of them biting family members and passersby alone numbered eleven cases today.

Fortunately, the Pioneer Team had people monitoring, so the contagion circle hadn't spread too wide.

But public dissatisfaction with the Federal Government was growing.

Some brought up the opposition rhetoric from when the Threshold first appeared.

"The Threshold is a harbinger of disaster."

"The Federal Government is digging its own grave."

"The Great Migration Plan is a joke!"

"The Pioneer Team founded by the Federal Government offended the creatures in the Threshold, and they're retaliating against the Federation, retaliating against humanity!"

"The Species Eradication Plan is utterly heinous!"

"Every species has the right to survive. After wiping out our world's species, the Federal Government wants to slaughter the species of other worlds too. I'm ashamed to be human!"

"Stop exploring the Threshold! We should keep our distance from it!"

"Disband the Pioneer Team! Disband the Pioneer Team! They're the source of all disasters!"

Cries of all kinds emerged one after another.

Among them, extremist protesters played a big role in driving the movement.

They had always been dedicated to stripping the Federal Government of public credibility, and with such a good opportunity now, they weren't about to let it pass.

From the photos in the news, Tu Ran could see that protesters were already marching on the streets of the Federal Center, holding signs with red lettering.

"Disband the Pioneer Team!"

"Oppose the Species Eradication Plan!"

"Refuse the Human Great Migration!"

Tu Ran turned off her communicator.

She knew these protests were useless.

Once the Federal Government weathered this storm, they would continue brainwashing the public.

And the people would once again wholeheartedly support the Federation, support the Pioneer Team, support the Species Eradication Plan.

Tu Ran rested her head on her arm and looked out the window.

It was late at night now, yet outside it remained as bright as day, with no stars in sight.

In this world of poor air quality, there were no stars.

The guard beside her let out snore after snore, growing louder.

Gunfire came from a distance.

Not from this building.

From others.

Tu Ran's consciousness gradually blurred.

She needed rest.

Tomorrow morning she'd have to relieve Ding Naiqing.

At four in the morning.

A rapid series of gunshots rang out from the other buildings.

At first, Tu Ran didn't pay them much mind.

But the gunfire kept going.

From every building, every floor, every direction, without stopping.