Chapter Seventy-Four: Gathering Information

Rebuilding Civilization

"Unit I-18..." Xie Han softly recited the address, and soon located it among the forest of villas.

Hearing the elegant sound of piano drifting out from within, Xie Han couldn’t help but sigh—Gao Tianhao truly knew how to enjoy himself. In this oppressive apocalypse, he could still be in such good spirits, calmly playing piano music at home.

Although the metal card in Xie Han’s hand granted him the highest access to the entire villa, he did not enter through the main gate. Instead, he chose to climb over the wall, just as he had when entering the intelligent residential area. For someone as vigilant as Gao Tianhao, his residence could never be lax; the alarm system blanketed the entire inner courtyard, where even the slightest movement could be detected.

Unfortunately for them, such alarm systems were useless against Xie Han. The microwaves emitted by his metal card possessed the privileges of the owner.

Using the card, Xie Han quickly entered the villa through a side door. This was a township-level villa: the exterior was styled like a rural children's illustration, and the interior decorations were similarly infused with the breath of the countryside. But Xie Han had no mind to admire any of this. Once inside, he became cautious—who knew what unknown contraptions Gao Tianhao might have installed?

He skirted the hall where the piano was played and, relying on his miniature jammer, slipped up to the second floor. After confirming which was Gao Tianhao’s room, Xie Han didn’t enter directly. Instead, he pressed a listening needle into the wall’s surface beneath the window, then swiftly used his card’s access to open the second-floor window, leapt outside, restored the window, and hid himself in the villa’s landscaping.

In truth, Xie Han had planned this operation for a long time, only finding time to carry it out today. These little tools had all been produced after he met Wu Donglin, that genius, whom he had asked to create them. Sometimes, Xie Han would maliciously wonder: with Wu Donglin’s timid personality, how did he come to know so many clever, even sinister devices? Was there another side to him, hidden beneath that weakness? Otherwise, how could he be so gifted with these gadgets?

Xie Han had his reasons for spying on Gao Tianhao’s current activities. First, today’s hunt: he and Brother Chen Liu had tricked him, and knowing Gao Tianhao, he would certainly be furious and seek revenge. Second, Xie Han had received word from Taishan that lately, two mysterious forces seemed to be probing every move of the Apocalypse Company.

He didn’t need to guess who these two forces were: one was Gao Tianhao, and the other was the management of the base.

Given his own rising power, Xie Han posed a threat to ambitious men like Gao Tianhao. As for the base management, their motives were simpler. A company with such a unique existence would naturally arouse suspicion—they were only trying to find out the truth.

Apocalypse Company didn’t have many secrets now, but every single one was not meant for outsiders. These two groups had been investigating for days. Xie Han didn’t know how much they’d learned—or perhaps nothing at all—but it was necessary to find out. Just as he wanted to uncover Gao Tianhao’s ambitions now, only by understanding the opponent could he decide his next move.

This listening needle had a range of fifty meters, so Xie Han could clearly hear everything happening in Gao Tianhao’s second-floor room.

After waiting quietly outside for more than ten minutes, Xie Han’s ears twitched. Soon, the villa’s main gate slowly opened; Gao Zaitian returned from outside with several subordinates. After they entered, the piano music did not stop, but continued elegantly to the end of the piece before ceasing. Xie Han was at least thirty meters from the villa hall, able to hear only faint snatches of conversation between Gao Tianhao and Gao Zaitian.

A few minutes later, footsteps came through the listening needle; their voices grew from indistinct to clear.

"Have you figured everything out?" Gao Tianhao’s voice carried a magnetic timbre, tinged with the authority of a superior, and a trace of hidden cleverness.

"Uncle, from what we’ve seen, everything at Apocalypse Company is normal—so normal it’s like a peaceful age." Gao Zaitian sounded helpless. "Our men have been working hard these days, but the people they recruit can never get close to the company’s core secrets. In my opinion, only the management know anything. But besides staying at the company, they just go home. Our men can’t find an opportunity to make a move."

Hearing this, Xie Han was taken aback. So Gao Tianhao really was investigating him! But the surprise lasted only a second or two before he found it amusing. Running a company in the apocalypse was such a peculiar thing; it would be strange if it didn’t attract attention. If they didn’t investigate, that would be odd.

He heard Gao Tianhao answer calmly, "Zaitian, it’s precisely because they’re too normal that I suspect them. In this apocalypse, what’s his purpose in founding a company? What is the company actually doing? Even if, as your information says, they’re frantically researching all kinds of technology and storing it, supposedly to preserve human civilization—ridiculous. That’s just for outsiders. In this world, only interests exist. If there’s no profit, why would Xie Han spend so much food to support a bunch of useless people?"

He took a deep breath and continued, "Zaitian, remember—the more normal something appears, the more abnormal it is. With all my years of experience, this Apocalypse Company is definitely not simple. Tomorrow you don’t need to join me for the hunt. Stay behind and get to the bottom of everything about that company."

Gao Zaitian became anxious. "Uncle, you should stay instead. Hunting is too dangerous; let me lead the convoy."

Gao Tianhao said, "Zaitian, though the hunting convoy seems under our control, without me present to keep them in check, chaos will quickly break out. I must take the risk and stay with the convoy for a while to truly gain control."

"Uncle, are you also afraid of their so-called R3?" Gao Zaitian was puzzled. "Maybe it’s just a rumor. Haven’t we been safe all this time?"

Gao Tianhao grew angry. "Zaitian, do you remember the chaos during our first hunt? A third of the convoy was lost—caused by R3. Do you think it doesn’t exist? If others don’t believe, I’m not angry, but even you doubt it? That’s a real disappointment. Are you as shortsighted as the pigs in the base management?"

With Gao Tianhao’s scolding, the two finally entered the room. After closing the door, the sound of pouring wine echoed through the listening needle.