Chapter Three: Biochemical—T Virus

"You're going to have to pay more!"

"What???"

Zera was momentarily stunned.

Ye Hai's reaction seemed to deviate entirely from the script he had prepared.

In Zera's estimation, Ye Hai would either refuse to cooperate at all costs or submit meekly.

No matter which path Ye Hai chose, Zera had ways to deal with him.

But asking for more money? That wasn't in the plan.

While Zera was still in shock, Ye Hai quickly added, "The third-stage mutant zombie I captured to become a Corpse Hunter—I caught it in the Radiated Zone."

"Although I never ventured into the heart of the Radiated Zone, I once escaped alive from a fifth-stage mutant zombie there."

"In the past ten years, no one who's gone into the Radiated Zone has come out alive... except for me!"

After a brief silence, Zera asked, "What do you want?"

Ye Hai grinned broadly. "Weapons!"

"I know you've picked up quite a haul from the Underflow Syndicate. I want ten automatic rifles and five thousand rounds of ammunition!"

At Ye Hai's demand, a cold glint flickered in Zera's eyes.

On the lawless Zombie Star, firearms were the ultimate truth, and justice extended only as far as their range.

Ten automatic rifles would be enough to support the rise of a small faction.

Since there was no way to manufacture weapons on Zombie Star, and all other planets enforced a strict arms embargo, even outdated chemical guns—long obsolete elsewhere—were worth a fortune on the black market here, let alone powerful electromagnetic or laser weaponry.

Ye Hai was obviously driving a hard bargain.

But Zera didn't hesitate for long. He nodded and agreed, drafting a contract and handing it to Ye Hai immediately.

Zera knew well the terrors of the Radiated Zone. An experienced guide familiar with its environment was worth a fortune.

"Black Market West District, Warehouse 001... present this document to collect your weapons."

Ye Hai chuckled, tucking the document carefully into his pocket, his face alight with satisfaction...

After the two of them ironed out some details, Ye Hai prepared to return to his room on the second floor to rest, but Zera suddenly spoke.

"Brother Ye Hai, these three women are now yours. Enjoy them..."

Ye Hai's eyes flickered as he looked over the three girls, then gave Zera a knowing smile that only men could understand.

"Your generosity is worthy of praise... Mr. Blackhand."

He then beckoned to the girls huddled in the corner, and they obediently followed him upstairs.

Zera's face split into a satisfied grin.

Once he’d brought the girls into the spacious, presidential-suite-like bedroom, Ye Hai eyed them up and down with a friendly smile, then pointed at the bathroom.

"Go wash yourselves thoroughly. If I step out and still catch the slightest whiff of that disgusting stench, I'll kill whoever it is."

The girls shivered, glancing at Ye Hai's gentle expression, but a chill ran down their spines.

As he watched them file into the bathroom, Ye Hai dropped onto the plush sofa, and the smile vanished from his face.

His earlier greed and lust had all been a ruse to mislead Zera.

The Radiated Zone? What could possibly be there that would compel a man of forbidden power to risk his life searching for it?

Could he get the real information from Zera if he killed him now?

After a moment's consideration, Ye Hai shook his head. Probably not.

For someone like Zera, a black market taboo, even a hint of probing into his secrets would only make him more guarded, and more importantly—there was no guarantee he'd tell the truth.

Yet the fact that Zera had come in person proved that the Radiated Zone held a temptation too great to resist. Otherwise, someone living as comfortably as Zera would never gamble his life, no matter how impoverished Zombie Star was; men of his standing were always flush with money.

As Ye Hai pondered, laughter drifted from the bathroom—the wide tub was already bringing joy to the girls, who hadn't bathed in ages.

A cold light flashed in Ye Hai's eyes.

"Are all three of them Zera's spies? He really is cautious. But what threat could a few inexperienced girls pose to me?"

He slid open the floor-to-ceiling window. A crow flapped its wings and landed on the balcony.

On closer inspection, this was no ordinary crow—its black feathers were dry and brittle, with hints of decaying flesh beneath, and its eyes glowed with a dim red light as it fixed its gaze on Ye Hai.

A zombie crow.

"Keep watch on those three downstairs. I want to know every word they say tonight."

At Ye Hai's command, the crow took off with a harsh, rasping caw, as if to acknowledge his order. Circling the villa, it dived and perched on a short tree outside the first-floor window.

Ye Hai smiled faintly and drew the curtains.

He then collapsed onto the vast, soft bed, drifting swiftly into sweet dreams.

By the time the three girls finished scrubbing themselves clean and walked into the bedroom, Ye Hai was already snoring.

The girls exchanged glances.

Once they were sure he was asleep, one whispered, "What do we do? If we don't sleep with him... what he'll do to us will be worse than death..."

At the thought of Zera's cruelty, they shuddered, paralyzed by fear. Even though they had been traded away to Ye Hai, they couldn't bring themselves to disobey Zera's orders.

Among them, the eldest—Liana—bore a striking resemblance to the heroine from The Vampire Diaries, her eyes like swirling vortices that could steal a man's soul...

Yet now, for the sake of survival, she had to let go of all dignity. Biting her lip, she stepped toward Ye Hai's bed...

"The girl called Liana has had the original Ant Queen virus strain implanted in her body..."

The instant Liana touched him, Ye Hai sensed it.

After the outbreak of the biochemical virus on Zombie Star, civilization was swept away almost overnight, and neighboring powers could not help but take notice.

Many also saw the terrifying potential of biological weapons.

Soon, other civilized planets began their own experiments. Over the next decade, the galaxy entered an age of unprecedented biochemical innovation.

Using the zombie virus from Zombie Star as a base, they developed a vast array of new and terrible viruses with diverse functions.

The Ant Queen Virus was one such creation, fusing the zombie virus with the genes of an ant queen from Chaos Star. It wasn’t harmful to humans per se.

But anyone infected would be compelled to obey the one who carried the original strain—just as ants obey their queen.

In terms of control, it was not unlike the T-Veronica virus from Resident Evil.

After it was developed, the Ant Queen Virus was strictly controlled on Chaos Star: its spread and trade were absolutely forbidden, and all the planet’s myriad ant species were kept in captivity, never to be exported.

For ten years, Ye Hai had sought the virus without success, despite all his efforts and connections. He never expected to encounter an original carrier tonight—a stroke of luck beyond belief.

Ye Hai was quietly grateful. "Zera is a true benefactor!"

"This is worth far more than any firearm! For this mission, Zera was willing to use even the Ant Queen Virus... Such a price! What on earth lies in the Radiated Zone that could be worth it? Damn, I’m starting to get anxious."

Anyone else, discovering that a woman lying next to them was an Ant Queen Virus carrier, would have broken out in a cold sweat—perhaps even fled in terror.

Although the Ant Queen Virus couldn’t spread through the air, the chances of infection via droplets or bodily fluids were extremely high.

Once infected, all status, wealth, and power would be forfeit; you’d become nothing more than a servant—perhaps even have your life decided by a single word from the queen.

Ye Hai, however, felt no fear.

Because within his body resided a virus even more domineering and powerful, easily able to crush the Ant Queen Virus.

The Tyrant Virus.

Known simply as the T-Virus...