Chapter 768: Is This a Side Effect?
It took a full three minutes before the gunfire finally ceased.
The entire open area fell silent instantly, with dozens of people lying on the ground, creating a particularly eerie scene.
The Experimental Subjects, however, were sprawled out in the blood, some still twitching slightly, but not far from death.
After a few more seconds, the Niepan Members, still in a p.r.o.ne position, slowly began to lift their heads in a daze.
“Are they done shooting?”
“Looks like they really are…”
“Didn’t they just change their guns?”
“So, does that mean they ran out of bullets?”
The Members cautiously looked around, and seeing that it really had quieted down, they showed a hint of relief, grateful to have survived.
It was really too dangerous just now…
Trapped in this corner with no cover around and bullets seemingly honed in on them…
If the opponents hadn’t spared them, how many of them would still be standing now?
Speaking of which, if they hadn’t followed orders from above, they wouldn’t have come together and walked right into the fire pit.
The expressions of some instantly became complicated, and someone in the crowd asked in a low voice, “Does anyone know what happened tonight?”
“No idea, but I saw the Deputy Team Leader of the Experimental Group. Could it be a defection?” someone replied.
“Defection? Possible. There must be insiders, wasn’t there a spy hunt just now? Unfortunately, they didn’t catch anyone, and instead, they let the others escape with a hostage.” The tone was dripping with sarcasm, which made everyone nod continuously in agreement.
“That person was really powerful!”
“Yeah, but was he really mental ability?”
As soon as Ling Mo was mentioned, the Members immediately became interested.
Although they were on different sides, Ling Mo’s remarkable actions had stirred quite a discussion among them.
Feeling envious, someone said, “If I had someone to coordinate with, I could do that too.”
“You? Forget it! Do you even have the guts for it?” someone next to him laughed heartily.
That person fell silent immediately. If superpowers were software, then courage would be the hardware.
With dozens of superhumans underfoot and yet managing to remain unfazed while taking someone away, just this courage alone made many bow in admiration.
“Desperado,” someone summarized.
“Nonsense, I think he values his life quite a lot,” immediately came a voice of reb.u.t.tal.
The first person who spoke let out a couple of cold laughs and said, “Getting into such a mess because of one person…” He glanced towards the school bus and continued, “The response was just too poor.”
“Yeah…”
“We were completely led by the nose.”
“Who wouldn’t agree?”
Outside the crowd, Team Leader Li struggled to stand on his shaking legs, his face twitching uncontrollably.
Listening to these discussions, Team Leader Li’s expression became somewhat peculiar.
He knew that this matter was far from simple. The number of opponents was unclear, and one tactic followed another.
The only one who stepped up, “Ling Ge,” also displayed formidable strength.
Niepan was caught off guard, and everything they did was used against them, with traps laid out in advance.
This wasn’t just a failure in response; it was a loss in the game of strategy.
But how could the ordinary Members think that far? To them, if Niepan failed, it was the leaders.h.i.+p’s fault.
As Team Leader Li’s gaze swept toward the barbed wire, a hint of anger inevitably appeared in his eyes.
The Iron Rod Man, who was previously hanging there, was now nowhere to be seen.
Moreover, those who had followed the sungla.s.ses man out of the car were also missing.
“Spit!” Team Leader Li angrily spat on the ground and murmured, “You deserve it if you got caught!”
He clearly remembered that when the gunfire started, that sungla.s.ses man actually hid behind him…
But everyone cares about their own life, especially these days.
It’s already hard enough to survive; who would worry about others?
Just like those ordinary Members, when they talked about Ling Mo, who thought about the sungla.s.ses man?
Some people did make a few comments, but they were soon drowned out by other voices.
After cursing twice, Team Leader Li’s face gradually returned to normal. Dragging his legs, he slowly walked towards the school bus.
This mess was waiting for someone to step up and clean it up…
“Hah…”
Inside the car, under the worried gaze of the senior management, the Big Boss finally showed some signs of reaction.
A strange, guttural sound escaped his mouth as his upper body jolted upright before he bent over as if to vomit.
Maintaining this posture, his limbs began to shake as if electrified.
At the same time, his head also kept twitching, and he occasionally let out groans of unbearable pain.
“There’s movement!” one of the senior management exclaimed.
However, the expression of this senior member was also somewhat uncertain. While there was movement, it certainly didn’t look good.
Another person, looking grim, said, “I mean… doesn’t it look like the Big Boss is possessed by a ghost?”
As soon as he said this, everyone felt a bit spooked.
Though possession wasn’t likely, it did look quite horrifying…
“It really does…” someone else nodded in agreement.
“What the heck! Where’s the person you’re supposed to find?” the Experimental Group Team Leader shouted impatiently.
Seeing no one responded, he yelled hysterically, “Didn’t I say to get someone to take a look at him! Also, any word from the pursuit team? Send more people out there!”
As he said this, his lips twitched nervously, and he continued to shout, “We absolutely cannot let them leave the Medical University! Absolutely not!”
Someone could hardly resist the urge to remind the Team Leader that it was night, the Patrol Team was clearly done for, and sending more people out might not necessarily stop them…
But seeing his bloodshot eyes, everyone wisely chose to remain silent.
Only a guard poked his head in through the door, and replied reluctantly, “We already went to find a Member with mental ability…”
Just then, the Big Boss twitched a couple more times and suddenly managed to speak with difficulty, “No need…”
“Hmm?”
A senior management member was taken aback, immediately turning around to wave at the guard.
The guard, who hadn’t actually seen where the Big Boss was seated, glanced around in confusion before reaching to close the car door.
Another member of the senior management quickly handed over a gla.s.s of water, asking with concern, “Big Boss, are you alright now? What happened just now?”
“The situation was too chaotic; we couldn’t even get someone over here,” the Experimental Group Team Leader whispered, his lips trembling slightly.
The Big Boss seemed oblivious, remaining silent for about ten seconds before he slowly and deliberately asked, “Enough about me. Tell me… what’s the situation outside?”
“No significant casualties, but one person was captured, and…” The person answering glanced at the Experimental Group Team Leader, whose face had turned extremely grim.
After hesitating for a moment, he continued, “The Deputy Team Leader of the Experimental Group and his daughter… seem to have escaped.”
“Crack!”
The plastic cup in the Big Boss’s hand instantly made a crisp sound, and the clear mineral water flowed from his fist onto the ground.
His body began to tremble again, but this time it was clearly out of anger.
“We suspect… that someone infiltrated the headquarters and made contact with Deputy Team Leader Lan. This would also explain why the zombies from the Experimental Group suddenly escaped. It’s possible that the experimental subjects in Building No. 3 were also tampered with beforehand…” the Experimental Group Team Leader hurriedly added.
“Suspect?” the Big Boss repeated coldly, still looking down.
“Yes… but this is the most reasonable hypothesis…” The Team Leader glanced at the other senior management members as he spoke.
They pondered briefly before also speaking, “It makes sense…”
“Otherwise, it’s all too fishy.”
“Exactly…”
“Shut up, all of you!” the Big Boss suddenly growled.
At this outburst, the car instantly fell into complete silence.
The senior management members looked at the Big Boss in fearful silence, while the Experimental Group Team Leader turned pale with fright.
“There it is, the old Big Boss…”
This menacing way of speaking, and the ferocious tone, were exactly how the Experimental Group Team Leader remembered the Big Boss from their first meeting!
Back then, he was both ruthless and cunning!
But after Niepan had gotten on track, the Big Boss’s style had suddenly changed.
He became reclusive, his emotions no longer visible…
Yet the Experimental Group Team Leader had never forgotten the true nature of this Big Boss.
That’s why his reaction was so intense! Not just because of the Big Boss’s authority, but because his own life was on the line!
Tonight’s fire started in his Experimental Group, and thinking he wouldn’t have to bear any responsibility was something even the Team Leader couldn’t believe.
But how much responsibility he should bear and at what cost was entirely up to the Big Boss.
Knowing that his life and death were in the hands of this man-a ruthless individual who wouldn’t hesitate to kill-was enough to keep the Experimental Group Team Leader from collapsing on the spot. It already demonstrated his strong psychological resilience!
Feeling frantic was understandable; he wished he could escape immediately!
Especially now, seeing the Big Boss’s fury, the Experimental Group Team Leader’s legs felt like jelly.
The others didn’t share his deep-seated fear; their thoughts were surprisingly on a different matter.
The Big Boss’s voice seemed somewhat odd…
He had suddenly frozen, then recovered, but now he spoke with his head lowered and his tongue appeared nearly uncooperative.
Could it be… aftereffects from earlier?
“I don’t want to hear any guesses… I want results!”
The Big Boss clenched the shattered cup in his hand, saying, “I don’t care what methods you use, get those people back to me. Not just Deputy Team Leader Lan, but also that guy with the sungla.s.ses…”
After he finished speaking, he gently released his hand.
The completely deformed cup fell from his trembling fingers, landing on the ground with a soft “plop.”
Just then, the Experimental Group Team Leader caught a glimpse of the Big Boss’s eyes.
But as soon as he saw them, the Big Boss had already closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa.
“Maybe… I saw it wrong?” the Team Leader thought.