The night before the promotion

Chapter 37: Strengthen your troops
Under the dim street lights, the tired figure hunched over, moving forward in a panic like a homeless mouse.

When he left, Zhou Si's white coat was clean and white, as if it had just been taken off the clothesline, and it still smelled of sunshine. But when Zhou Si returned, the white coat was tattered, covered with stains and coagulated blood, and even his whole body was covered with scars.

Zhou Si pushed open the door of the clinic, held the threshold, and took a deep breath, as if he was enduring pain, or as if he was accumulating strength.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, Zhou Si had just been away for an hour. Half of the time was spent fighting with the incarnated killers on the light rail, and the other half was spent trying to find ways to get back.

Zhou Si was lucky. Before the light rail completely stopped operating, it miraculously sent him back to the nearby platform.

It took Zhou Si a lot of time just to escape from the light rail station. After all, when facing the security personnel, it was difficult for him to explain why the carriage was blown up like this and why there were iron corpses all over the ground.

Zhou Si felt that he was lucky, but he didn't know how long this good luck would last.

When Zhou Si opened his phone, he found that Li Weiyu had received a scheduled email, but he did not reply. Zhou Si guessed that Li Weiyu was probably still participating in the capture operation of Lou Tong.

Hope everything goes well on his end.

Opening the refrigerator, Zhou Si picked out several boxes of medicines, as well as some injection needles, bandages, etc.

He was injured. Although the injury was not serious, it seriously affected Zhou Si's activities.

He is in the real world, not some movie plot. Even if the protagonist is hit by several bullets, he can still fight the powerful enemy to the death.

In the absolute real world constructed by matter, a bullet weighing a few grams is enough to easily take Zhou Si's life.

Zhou Si took off his white coat and the shirt underneath it, revealing the black bulletproof vest he was wearing next to his skin.

This bulletproof vest was specially given to him by Li Weiyun. Although he was unable to provide him with the standard weapons of the Supervisory Bureau, he was still able to allocate a few bulletproof vests to him.

There were many holes on the bulletproof vest. Zhou Si took out the polyethylene insert and saw that it was covered with traces of melted and solidified polyethylene.

When the bullet rotates at high speed, the frictional heat causes the polyethylene to melt. When the bullet stops rotating, the polyethylene cools and hardens again.

After carefully checking his body, Zhou Si discovered a deeper wound on his abdomen in addition to numerous scratches and bruises. As his adrenaline was consumed and his nerves relaxed, the pain finally came, tormenting Zhou Si so much that he gritted his teeth.

When the explosive detonated, a piece of iron pierced into Zhou Si's body. The location of the wound was very tricky, and the bulletproof vest and polyethylene insert could not block it.

Ordinary people who have not received professional training often feel extremely difficult and uneasy when faced with situations that require direct manipulation of their own bodies, whether it is a simple injection or a more complicated surgery or suture.

Zhou's Orthodontics is not a formal clinic and does not have anything like morphine. He could only pick up a few ibuprofen tablets and swallow them according to the maximum dose.

In order to relieve the pain and stay awake, Zhou Si used the techniques he learned in mental training to divert his attention.

Thoughts spread out like ripples in the water, spreading irregularly.

Zhou Si thought about it.

In the past, after work, he often discussed human spirit and philosophy with Chen Wen-Ge. They analyzed that this psychological state might be a self-protection instinct formed in the long-term evolution process of human beings.

In ancient times, any form of physical injury could directly lead to a survival crisis. Therefore, the fear of physical injury is deeply engraved in our genes.

Even in modern society, advances in medical technology have greatly reduced the risks of self-operation on the body, but this instinctive fear and rejection still exists, reminding us not to "take action" on our own bodies easily unless we have undergone professional training and have the necessary knowledge and skills.

Picking up a bag of saline solution, Zhou Si repeatedly rinsed the wound to remove dirt and bacteria.

Sweat flowed down Zhou Si's cheeks. He could deceive his mind into not feeling the pain, but he could not deceive his physiological reactions.

Staying calm and trying to slow down his breathing, Zhou Si gently opened the wound with his fingers. The intense pain made his legs tremble instinctively.

Picking up the tweezers, Zhou Si carefully inserted it into the wound, feeling for the hard metal object.

Zhou Si's thoughts wandered aimlessly.

With the advancement of science and technology, the traditional value system is gradually disintegrating and everything is being deconstructed into a new form.

Zhou Si thought of Pei Dong and the elevated consciousness. He also thought of the ideal human form proposed by Nietzsche, an individual who transcends traditional human limitations and moral frameworks.

superman.

It is not the superman in the movies who can go to heaven and earth, but the philosophical and spiritual superman.

So, when human consciousness completes digital uploading and ascends to heaven, can the so-called "immortal" be regarded as a superman?
Zhou Si turned his attention back to himself, and he thought again, can he be a superman now?
Although he didn't have a definite answer in his mind, he vaguely felt that he might have touched the edge of superman.

The tweezers touched a hard object, and Zhou Si woke up from his fantasy. He took a deep breath, held his breath, clamped the hard object, and slowly pulled it out to avoid causing secondary damage to his body.

Shila-

The tweezers picked up the iron piece, and the accumulated dirty blood spurted out and spilled all over the floor.

Zhou Si’s face turned pale, as if he had lost all his strength. He loosened his grip on the tweezers and let them fall to the ground with a crisp sound.

Covering the wound, Zhou Si picked up a bag of saline solution, rinsed the wound repeatedly, and used medical sutures to sew the torn skin and flesh again.

Zhou Si's suturing technique was very rough and the lines were crooked, but he successfully stopped the bleeding. He picked up the gauze and bandage and wrapped them tightly several times.

"Ha ha……"

Zhou Si was breathing heavily, sweat covering his entire body, making him feel sticky, cold and hot, and he felt terrible.

He stood up and moved around a few times. The pain was still there, but there was no need to worry about the iron sheet scratching his internal organs due to movement. Zhou Si took out some medicine from the refrigerator and injected it into his body one by one.

Zhou Si didn't care whether the drug overdose was harmful to him. The artificial organs in his body would metabolize these toxins. As for suturing the wound, all he needed to do was stop the bleeding and make sure he could move freely in the next few hours. After that, he could just stay in the medical cabin for another week.

As for now...

Zhou Si changed into a spare shirt from the clinic, then picked up a brand new bulletproof vest and skillfully put it on over the shirt. Then, he picked up the tactical straps and walked towards the studio with slightly shaky steps.

On the charging stand in the studio, rows of cylindrical batteries are neatly arranged. They are all fully charged, like magazines loaded with ammunition, ready to go.

Zhou Si inserted the batteries into the tactical belt one by one, and also reserved space for hanging two hatchets around his waist. He then picked up a few new polyethylene plates and inserted them tightly into the bulletproof vest.

The polyethylene insert is very light and will not hinder Zhou Si's movements too much. The only drawback is that its bulletproof level is not high enough.

As for the steel and ceramic plates, the former are too heavy and easy to break and cause secondary damage. As for the latter, although the ceramic plate hardly produces plastic deformation, it is difficult to defend against shooting again after being hit.

Zhou Si began to complain about why there were no safer bulletproof plates, but then he thought, with the development of the incarnation body today, when faced with a high-intensity conflict, who would send their fragile flesh and blood body to fight?

The embodiment of steel is enough to destroy everything.

After checking the medical kit and making some choices, Zhou Si threw away his beloved hand saw. He was not going to practice medicine next, but to kill people, so there was no need to bring medical equipment like a hand saw.

Turning to look at the workbench, there was Zhou Si's previous work, an octopus-shaped mechanical spider. At this moment, it was curled up like a compressed small suitcase.

Previously, Zhou Si had been struggling with what kind of functions to add to it, but with the attack on the viaduct, Zhou Si had a clear idea and put it into action.

It's time to test the results.

He stuffed the dormant mechanical spider into the medical box. The size was just right. Even Zhou Si thought it was a coincidence. He looked at the time again. Zhou Si had wasted half an hour of rest. He couldn't help but become anxious. At this moment, the phone rang. It was Li Weiyun calling.

Zhou Si turned on the speakerphone.

"Doctor Zhou! Are you okay?" Li Weiyun's voice was urgent, "I just saw the email you sent me..."

"It's okay, all the troubles are solved." Zhou Si sat in the chair, enjoying the final peace.

"what happened?"

"Zhifu Le Tu threatened me with Pei Dong and asked me to keep the appointment. We just had a big fight on Line 2," Zhou Si said slowly, "You can check the internal channel of your Supervisory Bureau. There should be relevant information about the explosion on Line 2."

Li Weiyu was silent for a moment. It was unclear whether he was shocked by Zhou Si or went to check the information.

"Pei Dong... Pei Dong has reached an agreement with the Paradise of Bliss. She has chosen to cooperate with the Paradise of Bliss's upgrade test," Zhou Si paused and said without any emotion, "In other words, Pei Dong is now our enemy too. When you see her again, don't be soft-hearted or show any mercy."

Zhou Si picked up his cell phone, lifted the heavy medical box, walked clumsily to the computer, and turned on the screen.

"Come on, Team Leader Li, how is the situation over there? Is everything going well?"

After another long silence, Li Weiyu's voice rang out.

"It's very bad, Dr. Zhou."

"what happened?"

……

Li Weiyun answered the phone with a frown on his face, and walked into the bedroom with heavy steps.

The room was filled with a stomach-churning stench, as if a large piece of rotten flesh had been exposed to the scorching sun for countless days. The surface was swarming with maggots and covered with a thick layer of mold, which was unbearable to look at.

Pretty much the same, actually.

Li Weiyun's eyes were focused on the single bed in the middle of the bedroom, where a corpse in a highly decomposed state lay.

The corpse showed obvious signs of swelling and rupture. The corpse fluid produced by the decomposition of subcutaneous tissue had completely soaked the bedding and kept dripping onto the floor, forming patches of highly corrosive stains.

"Lou Tong is dead."

Li Weiyun said to Zhou Si on the other end of the phone, "According to our preliminary judgment, he has been dead for at least half a month."

He estimated the time, "It was about the same time we arrested Luo Yong."

June 6th, a day full of mystery, as if all the storms started from this day.

It starts with the death of Chen Wen Ge.

Li Weiyun suppressed the feeling of nausea and took a few steps closer. He saw that Lou Tong was wearing a neural connection helmet on his head. The corpse fluid had severely corroded the helmet, and the gaps were full of overgrown fungi, almost welding the two together.

"The body was wearing a neural connection helmet before death, and it seems that it has maintained a connection with the mind. A cursory inspection shows no obvious external injuries. We need to wait for the forensic doctor to come to find out the details."

Zhou Si's voice rang out, "It sounds like this Lou Tong is an abandoned pawn."

"Abandoned son?"

"A useless clue that diverts our attention. You also said that he died a long time ago."

Li Weiyun quickly realized, "Mrs. Cui lied to us?"

"I don't think so," Zhou Si said calmly, "Madam Cui couldn't have predicted our arrival. Similarly, she couldn't use a dead person to deceive us."

"Compared to these, I am more inclined to believe that our investigation so far has been designed by an invisible existence. He has tricked us into a fog where we can't see or touch anything."

Zhou Si's voice was low and hoarse, and he suppressed the pain. "Don't forget, Team Leader Li, our opponent may very well be a big shot in Shenwei Technology."

"An invisible being on high."

Li Weiyun walked out of the stinking bedroom, cursing angrily, "Damn it, then the only clue is also gone."

"Quite the opposite, Captain Li."

Zhou Si's voice became lazy, like a gambler who had got a good hand and was sure of winning.

"We have a new clue, one that could lead us directly to the real culprit."

……

Zhou Si opened the program, and the map of Anyan City appeared before him. Countless roads intersected and converged with each other, like cells that continued to proliferate under a microscope. To this day, it still absorbs nutrients from the world and grows wildly.

"Pei Dong sought the help of the Paradise of Bliss and decided to participate in the upgrade test in the hope of becoming an immortal."

Zhou Si narrowed his eyes and studied the map carefully. "But you have to know, Team Leader Li, the upgrade test is no joke. It requires a lot of equipment, a vast area, and a large number of people running around..."

"so what?"

"So, as long as we find Pei Dong, we can follow the clues to find their lair."

Zhou Si's eyes fell on the constantly moving red dots on the map, and a smile appeared on his tired face.

"What a coincidence! I just happen to know Pei Dong's destination."

……

In the dark night, the Bt-24 flapped its wings and gently landed on the edge of a tall building.

A sparrow that landed nearby noticed this brightly colored but somewhat strange fellow. It approached cautiously but was frightened away by the sudden sound of the motor inside the Bt-24.

Bt-24 tilted its head and adjusted the magnification of the high-definition camera to clearly capture the target. Like a falcon, it kept its eyes on its prey from beginning to end.

"I. Found. You."

The sound of the BT-24 was stiff, like an old typewriter, but strangely, no one asked about it in the empty night.

The magnification of the lens was adjusted again, and the field of view gradually expanded. Countless car lights gathered together, like flowing rivers of light. They came from all directions and gathered in the vortex.

Above the vortex, the Skyline Building stood silently. At its top, a holographic projection weaved out an image of a charming woman who looked down at the earth and reached out to all living beings.

Golden Dreamland, customize your sweet dream.

　Thanks to Squid’s teacher for the recommendation, thank you thank you thank you thank you.

(End of this chapter)