"The higher-ups asked us to recommend candidates, and I want to recommend you. Don’t get me wrong, you are truly outstanding in my eyes. It’s precisely because you are outstanding that I want to recommend you. Because if you go, there’s a good chance you’ll come back alive. Do you understand what I mean?" The captain stared at them intently.
"I understand, I’m willing to go." Xu Yuxi nodded.
"I’m also willing." Zhou Shiqiu quickly added.
"I want to go too, as long as you don’t mind." Zhang Qiang promptly said.
"Good, good, good! Thank you, thank you." The captain said gratefully, a bit overwhelmed with excitement, "Thank you for your contribution. As long as our experts get the data, I believe we’ll soon develop an effective serum and vaccine! We fight together, but your contribution is greater than ours."
"No, captain, you shouldn’t say that. We’re all working for the future of humanity, there’s no difference in rank." Xu Yuxi deeply respected the soldier who served the country and its people, "By the way, captain, there’s something I hope is just my imagination, but I think I still need to tell you." Xu Yuxi’s expression was serious.
"Tell me." Seeing Xu Yuxi’s serious demeanor, the captain couldn’t help but stand up straight, feeling a bit tense.
"Didn’t Shiqiu and I go to rescue people that day? We found a zombie that was noticeably faster than the others. Could it be that zombies can mutate again? Level up? Like when we play games, small monsters turn into big ones, then into bosses?" Xu Yuxi asked with confusion.
"What? Are you sure?" The captain’s expression changed.
"I’m sure. Although Shiqiu and I successfully killed that zombie, we are very certain that this zombie was really different from the other slow-moving ones." Xu Yuxi nodded firmly.
"Okay, tomorrow someone will come to arrange your trip to R Country. If this is true, then it’s serious. I’ll report it upwards; if zombies can really mutate, we need to prepare early. Xu Yuxi, thank you so much, truly, truly!" The captain gave Xu Yuxi a deep look and thanked him again.
"It’s what we’re supposed to do. Captain, take care, and when we return, throw us a welcome party." Xu Yuxi smiled.
"That’s a must, you all have to come back safely." The captain extended his large hand and patted each of their shoulders.
After saying goodbye to the captain, the three looked at each other and laughed, then, as if by prior agreement, looked forward. A new journey was about to begin.
...
To R Country, a total of fifty superpower users were dispatched, along with two hundred soldiers. They all traveled on one ship to R Country. R Country is an island nation, not very large in area, but very developed and densely populated. This time, caught off guard by the virus outbreak, they suffered massive losses and had no choice but to request international assistance from the nearest country.
On the ship, Xu Yuxi, Zhou Shiqiu, and Zhang Qiang stood on the deck, feeling the sea breeze.
"It’s my first time going to R Country; I never thought it would be in this way, with this identity." Zhou Shiqiu sighed.
Zhang Qiang, somewhat wistfully, said, "This anime powerhouse, sigh, this viral outbreak is an unprecedented blow to all of human civilization."
"Yes, but I firmly believe it will recover." Xu Yuxi said softly as the sea breeze blew, "The strength humanity can unleash at the last moment can reach the heavens."
"Yes, I believe it too." Zhou Shiqiu also smiled.
"Sister Xu." Suddenly, Zhang Qiang spoke softly.
"Hmm?" Xu Yuxi turned her head, puzzled.
"Did you know? You’re like a sunflower in the apocalypse, always blooming towards the sun, always believing in the light." Zhang Qiang smiled and said, "It’s really nice."
"Are you complimenting me? Then I’ll be proud." Xu Yuxi laughed.