Chapter 142: The Rendezvous

Before long, Lin Dong learned about the matter. Having stayed at home for over a month without stepping outside, he still felt it necessary to check on the situation regarding Tech Corporation.

Besides, according to what Big Ears had heard, they were planning to deliver some items to the Black Scorpion Organization.

Curiosity inevitably stirred in Lin Dong's heart: What exactly were they delivering? Why not intercept and collect it himself, so he could study it on their behalf?

With that thought, his figure grew dim and he vanished right where he stood.

For this operation, Lin Dong brought along a subordinate, Little Mushroom, intending to give her some special training and help her evolve further.

The two corpses passed through a station entrance and entered the pitch-black subway tunnels.

In the gloom, the air was intensely cold. Following the clues reported by Big Ears, Lin Dong walked to a specific location—a mandatory route for those Black Scorpion members.

Sure enough, a moment later, Lin Dong sensed the presence of humans.

"They're coming. Go."

"Oh."

Little Mushroom nodded obediently, and her physical form began to change. Her original tattered clothing transformed into a pitch-black nano-combat suit, complete with the Tech Corporation insignia on the chest. Her pale, grayish face became increasingly fair and flawless, eventually shifting into the visage of a stunningly beautiful woman.

Even her unkempt, grass-like hair turned dark and glossy, cascading down like a waterfall.

The terrifying zombie from moments before had transformed into the likeness of a female awakened from Tech Corporation, possessing an exquisite, near-perfect appearance.

Lin Dong looked her over and felt quite satisfied. It seemed Little Mushroom's mimicry ability had reached a state of mastery.

Immediately afterward, Little Mushroom walked forward alone, her figure melting into the surrounding darkness.

---

Not long after, the echoes of human conversation drifted through the empty subway tunnel.

"Shouldn't we be getting close?"

"Yeah, two more stations and we'll be there."

The short-haired man gazed ahead with narrowed eyes.

Beside him, Thick Lips continued to express his amazement.

"I never would've thought Tech Corporation would seek us out for cooperation one day."

"It just shows that our organization is growing stronger and stronger," the leading short-haired man said.

Before the apocalypse, the Black Scorpions were utterly insignificant, forced to hide in dark corners where a bunch of them amused themselves.

Yet, after weathering the developments of recent times, they had received an invitation to cooperate from Tech Corporation.

This was a form of "recognition"!

As the saying goes, the mighty river flows east for thirty years, then turns west for thirty...

Thus, the five of them inevitably felt a bit arrogant and pleased with themselves. But right at that moment, one of the girls furrowed her brow.

She was a mental-type awakened with powerful perceptive abilities.

"Gang, something... seems to be around here."

"Oh?"

The short-haired youth narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cautious. They hadn't encountered any danger all the way here.

Could there be monsters around?

Thick Lips thought about it for a moment.

"That can't be. Tech Corporation gave us this route, and it's been cleared several times. There shouldn't be any danger."

---

"We should still be careful," Tian Gang cautioned.

Surviving the apocalypse for this long relied primarily on caution.

Yet, moments later, they heard a faint sound of footsteps coming from ahead, drawing closer and closer.

There really was something...

The five of them stood frozen in place, watching with tense expressions.

Although the surroundings were pitch-black, with the enhanced vision of awakened ones, they could still see clearly. Rounding the bend in the subway tracks ahead was a slender figure.

The form-fitting combat suit outlined her curvaceous figure, her smooth long hair fell to her waist, and her fair face was striking.

Little Mushroom’s mimicry was not stiff; instead, her eyes were exceptionally bright, though deep within her pupils lurked a hint of bloodlust and the excitement of slaughter.

"Is that... someone from Tech Corporation?"

Tian Gang, leading the group, looked slightly surprised.

Beside him, Thick Lips nodded.

"See? I told you, Tech Corporation checked this route, there wouldn't be any danger."

"Then... why is she here?"

Tian Gang remained standing in place, unmoving.

It was Little Mushroom's first time doing something like this, and lacking experience, she inevitably felt quite nervous. Her immediate reaction upon seeing humans was still to lick her lips and teeth as saliva pooled in her mouth.

*Gulp.*

She swallowed slightly.

The scent of humans always tempted corpses to draw closer. Little Mushroom walked straight up to the five of them, stopping at a distance of about two or three meters, her bright eyes sweeping over them.

She thought to herself that when humans met, shouldn't they greet each other first?

"Hello."

"Hehehe, hello," Thick Lips grinned, a flash of astonishment crossing his small eyes.

Up close, he could truly appreciate her appearance.

It seemed Tech Corporation provided well for its people, keeping them looking so clean and fair. In the apocalypse, it was rare to see a woman so immaculate.

Especially the motion of her licking her lips just now, which hadn't escaped his notice, feeling somewhat seductive.

*For the sake of our cooperative relationship with Tech Corporation, I am willing to sacrifice myself and arrange a political marriage with them...* Thick Lips thought to himself.

Tian Gang narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Then... where am I supposed to be?"

Unsure how to answer, Little Mushroom subconsciously replied with a question, a hint of cute bewilderment flashing in her large eyes.

The five opposite her exchanged glances, finding the situation extremely bizarre.

Thick Lips spoke up, "Beauty, didn't we agree to rendezvous at the next two stations?"

"Oh, is that so?"

---

Little Mushroom acknowledged this, turned her head, and glanced back into the darkness behind her.

Tian Gang immediately noticed this detail, his expression instantly turning grave.

"What are you looking at?"

"No, nothing. I'm here to meet you guys in case you ran into danger."

Little Mushroom stared at them, subconsciously swallowing saliva.

Thick Lips quickly tried to ease the atmosphere.

"Everyone, don't be so tense. From now on, we're partners, we're all friends."

"I'm still a bit nervous," Little Mushroom answered honestly.

"It's fine, it's fine," Thick Lips chuckled awkwardly. "Actually, I'm a very gentle person. By the way, judging by your looks, you must be a newly advanced awakened one from Tech Corporation, right?"

"Mhm, mhm, I really am newly advanced."

Little Mushroom nodded like a chick pecking at grain.

"No wonder..."

The others relaxed slightly, feeling that she indeed acted like a newcomer who didn't know any better.

Consequently, a trace of their vigilance faded.

None of them would ever imagine that such a naive-looking human was actually a man-eating monster that drank blood.

Her "naive newcomer" persona had become Little Mushroom's camouflage.

"Then let's walk together," Thick Lips said.

"Oh, okay."

Little Mushroom agreed.

Immediately, the group walked forward together into the enveloping darkness.

However, the members of the Black Scorpion Organization remained cautious, always maintaining a distance of two or three meters from Mushroom—a habit formed by surviving in the apocalypse, never getting too close to strangers.

Only Thick Lips inched closer to Little Mushroom.

"Beauty, what's your name?"

"Mushroom," Little Mushroom replied truthfully.

Thick Lips looked slightly startled, wondering if this was a code name. Like "Potato, potato, this is yam," or something similar. Still, Mushroom sounded rather nice and had a lot of personality.

"That's a really nice name."

"Of course, my boss gave it to me."

Mushroom cast her bright eyes over the group. Her primary purpose in mimicking a Tech Corporation awakened one this time was to gather intelligence and remember their faces.

Moreover, the dark spot she had just glanced back toward was precisely where Lin Dong was stationed!