Chapter 27: Undercurrents Stirring in the Shadows

Far beneath the northern wilderness of Huaxia, no one could have imagined a shelter spanning nearly two hundred square meters hidden underground. The refuge was extravagantly furnished, its survival systems meticulously designed—advanced water purification, ventilation, fire prevention, and more. Inside, cold storage held enough provisions for twenty people to live for ten years.

Wang Jiancong emerged from the gym, wiping sweat from his brow with a towel. As he appeared, a maid hurried over with a glass of juice, delicately placing it on the table. Wang Jiancong’s eyes lingered on her graceful posture as she bent forward; a lascivious grin crept onto his face, and he pulled her close, intent on indulging himself.

Suddenly, an urgent alarm blared from within the shelter.

Startled, Wang Jiancong shoved the maid aside and stood, turning to the monitors on the wall. When he saw that the entrance and alarms were functioning normally, he exhaled in relief. Yet he immediately pivoted toward the source of the warning, his expression darkening as he straightened his clothes and strode over.

Deep inside the shelter, a small room housed a metallic device—the source of the sound. Wang Jiancong drew a breath and pressed the connect button.

The signal crackled, static hissing before, after several seconds, a somber voice finally spoke.

"Wang Jiancong? Why did it take you so long to answer?"

Wang Jiancong coughed and replied, "President, I was just working out, so I didn’t hear clearly."

"...Static... Keep an eye on your progress. I’ve just received word that the southern F City shelter has been opened, but the prepared signal has vanished entirely. That’s your area of responsibility. Find out the reason and report to me as soon as possible."

Wang Jiancong was momentarily stunned, then quickly answered, "Please rest assured, President—I will dispatch someone to investigate immediately."

"Good... Hurry!"

The warning light on the device blinked, and the voice faded.

Sitting in the small room, Wang Jiancong’s face was cold and grim. "Damn it! The outside’s so dangerous, and I’m expected to cross thousands of miles to investigate?" He brooded for a moment, then took a key from around his neck and inserted it into the device.

He fiddled with it, the lights came on, and after a few seconds, a cool, clear female voice sounded.

"Number Seventeen! Is there something you need?"

Wang Jiancong sat upright, as if the owner of the voice possessed some power that made him uneasy. He composed himself and said, "Number Three, I need your support. The signal disappeared after the F City shelter was opened. Please send someone to help investigate."

A soft laugh echoed. "So you want me to clean up your mess?"

Hearing this, Wang Jiancong cursed inwardly. If his team hadn’t gone missing after the disaster, he wouldn’t be so passive now.

"Number Three, this is something Number One just asked about. You know my situation—only you’re close enough to F City, and you have enough personnel." He gritted his teeth. "If you help, I’ll give you one energy crystal."

The woman paused for over ten seconds. "Two energy crystals. I’ll give you results within a month."

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Upon hearing her demand, Wang Jiancong’s face darkened further as he drew a deep breath and agreed, "Fine!"

"Straightforward! Haha~ The energy crystals must be sent within a week. I’ll dispatch someone to F City right away."

In the remote mountains of the southwest, deep in a deserted valley, the air was filled with bustling voices. Anyone passing by would be shocked to discover a military camp here—hundreds of muscular, stern-faced men trained vigorously.

Beneath the camp, there was a shelter similar in size to Wang Jiancong’s, but here it served as a scientific research base. Ten or so researchers moved about below.

In a small room, a slender woman sat in a chair. Her skin was as pale as snow, her eyes pure and clear as spring water, radiating an icy, noble aura that made others hesitant to look directly. Her leather outfit clung to her flawless figure, and at her waist, two crescent-shaped daggers gleamed, betraying her bloodthirsty nature.

"Notify Squad Four. Proceed at once to F City to investigate the shelter’s intelligence system and check the signal transmitter."

A soldier, expressionless, emerged from the shadows at the back of the room, saluted, and departed without a word.

Morning, several dozen kilometers west of the F City camping base, in a small survivor camp, a young man burst into a dilapidated house, his face alight with joy.

"Uncle Zhao Wu! There’s news!"

Inside, several people stood up. Uncle Zhao Wu stepped forward, steadying the excited youth.

"Xiaoshan, what did you hear?" Liu Shanye, anxious and holding his child, approached.

Xiaoshan caught his breath. "It’s Wang Ji! News from the boss!"

"What?!" Liu Shanye put the child down, grabbing Xiaoshan’s arm, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Is the boss alright? Where is he?"

"Hey, uncle, you’re hurting me!" Xiaoshan grinned, "Boss Wang Ji is at the camping park base! I heard there’s a military presence there, they’ve built a huge base, and Boss Wang Ji is inside—word is he’s even become a company commander!"

"Company commander? Xiaoshan, where did you hear that? Don’t fool your uncle!" Uncle Zhao Wu’s eyes widened.

Xiaoshan was indignant. "How could I lie to you? A hunting squad returning from outside met people from the camping base—they say it’s true!"

"Uncle Zhao Wu, we should hurry and find the boss!" Liu Shanye said excitedly.

Uncle Zhao Wu pondered, then slapped his thigh. "No matter what, let’s go and see for ourselves. Gather everyone, take out half our remaining ammo to trade for fuel with the camp, pack up, and let’s head out!"

"Got it!" Everyone in the ramshackle house began to prepare. After days of gloom, at last, hope shone through.

Meanwhile, at the camping base, as morning broke and people busied themselves, Wang Ji sat in his office, quietly awaiting the few candidates scheduled for today’s second round of interviews, while reviewing a set of technical blueprints.

After yesterday’s preliminary interviews, Wang Ji had singled out a few promising candidates, among them Li Qing and Li Jingyang, an executive from a major corporation.

On a nearby street, Li Qing walked with Xiao Deng, beaming as they approached the independent company’s administrative office.

"Daddy! I know you’ll pass the interview this time!" Xiao Deng, her big eyes sparkling, held Li Qing’s hand and shook it. Li Qing’s opportunity for a second interview filled her heart with joy.

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Li Qing, too, was in excellent spirits. His eyes shone with a vigor unseen in days past. "Don’t worry, Daddy will make it. Soon you’ll have a better life."

"Mm!"

Hand in hand, the two entered the office building, guided by staff to wait outside Wang Ji’s office.

After a few knocks, a refined young woman entered. She was Chen Lin, age twenty-five, whom Xiao Liu had found to serve as Wang Ji’s secretary. Previously, she had been a highly capable assistant.

"Company Commander, Li Qing is here for the interview. Shall I bring him in now?"

Wang Ji looked up from his stack of documents, interest flickering in his eyes. "Yes, please bring him in. And serve some tea."

"Certainly, Company Commander." Chen Lin’s gaze lingered briefly on Wang Ji; she was curious about this young, handsome man so close to her own age.

When Xiao Liu recruited her, Chen Lin had been on the brink of despair at the camp, lucky to receive the army’s only rationed half-bar of compressed biscuit. After two days of hunger, she joined thanks to Xiao Liu’s invitation.

She had expected to be secretary to a greasy middle-aged man, resigned to whatever fate awaited. To her surprise, she found a young man a year younger than herself, with a good temper.

This man, who gave Chen Lin a new lease on life, noticed her plight and advanced her month’s salary, letting her eat her fill, dress in clean clothes, and live in the staff dormitory behind the office.

Grateful, Chen Lin resolved to do everything she could for Wang Ji—even those things... Suddenly feeling she was thinking too much, Chen Lin blushed slightly.

Realizing she was distracted, Chen Lin took a few deep breaths to compose herself. She settled Xiao Deng aside, then led Li Qing in, served two cups of tea, and quietly slipped out.

"Mr. Li, please, have some tea. No need to stand on ceremony," Wang Ji said, smiling at Li Qing.

After more than three months, Li Qing finally saw such fragrant tea again. He sighed inwardly, his thoughts drifting.

"Ahem, Mr. Li, I invited you for a second interview today to learn more about your specialties—mainly your experience in communications," Wang Ji said, smiling gently to bring him back.

Li Qing snapped out of his reverie, smiling sheepishly but quickly regaining composure.

With confident smile and straightened back, he spoke.

"Company Commander Wang, as far as communications technology goes, I won’t claim to be the best, but I can guarantee I’m at least second in this camp!"

Wang Ji watched Li Qing’s confident demeanor. The resume Li Qing had submitted indeed backed up his expertise in communications.

Wang Ji handed him the materials he had studied all morning. "Very well, take a look at these. Can you help me build a complete communications system?"

Everyone knew the current communications network had failed. Even the army’s short-wave radios only worked within two or three kilometers.

Hearing Wang Ji’s request, Li Qing was surprised as he took the documents.

"How is this possible?!"

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