ICUGW Chapter 28

Chapter 28 The House Where People Are Chased (I)

Zhu Ning opened the file and had to admit, Liu Niannian was really something. It was an internal document, probably a plan for attracting investment as it was specifically catered to internal shareholders. It read:

[Eternal Life Pharmaceutical's "Excellent Body" Project]

The "Excellent Body" Project? Was this the official name for the experiment that the hot pot restaurant owner joined in?

Ding–

[Long-term side quest: Search for the truth behind the death.

Key clues have been found.

Search progress: 30%]

Zhu Ning read the plan carefully.

In December of the third year of the new calendar, when the humans had just built a high wall to defend against the outside world, the Human Classification Plan was implemented within the Federation.

Human beings were divided into five classes through genetic screening. This seemingly unequal classification guaranteed the best interests of the citizens; they were treated according to their worth. Those who were strong and beneficial to the Federation were well protected and given the best resources, while those who were deemed weak and useless were abandoned–the fifth-class citizens.

Most of the fifth-class citizens were forced to go to Area 103, the garbage dump of the Federation, to wait for their lifespans to end.

Once you were classified as a fifth-class citizen, it was almost equivalent to being sentenced to death. You can even check the official system to see how many years you have left to live.

Some people gave up on themselves and squandered their lives. During that period, the federal crime rate soared. For a long time, the term "fifth-class citizen" was synonymous with criminals. In fact, it still is to this day.

But some people were unwilling to accept their fate and actively tried to save themselves. This was where the Eternal Life Pharmaceutical smelled an opportunity.

They took advantage of the situation to launch the "Excellent Body" project, an experimental project targeting defective products. It has now been going on for nearly seventy years; as long as the history of the Federation. It can even be said that it was essentially rooted to the entire federal system.

Over the past years, the "Excellent Body" project has grown larger and more high-profile.

From the initial underground experiments to the semi-public recruitment of experimental subjects, more and more defective products voluntarily participated in it.

The document does not contain much information, only stating some investment-attracting rhetoric, such as "this is a high-quality project", "the annual profit is as high as X", and "the future is bright."

The last page of the file also contained the slogan: "Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, change your genes, create your future."

That was all.

Without any case studies, Zhu Ning couldn't even deduce how far the "Excellent Body" project had progressed.

Still, Zhu Ning got the keywords and searched in her secondary brain. However, there were no relevant information about the Excellent Body project on the Internet. They were probably deleted as soon as anything was posted.

Zhu Ning had no choice but to ask Liu Niannian: [How were the experimental subjects recruited?]

Liu Niannian replied immediately, [As far as I know, it's not completely public. Usually, defective products would purchase medications to prolong their lives or register when they receive genetic injections. Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals will then send targeted recruitment information to these individuals.]

Very precise marketing. Only targeting the defective products.

Just like the recruitment methods of some cults, they cannot recruit directly on public platforms and must recruit face to face, point-to-point. And the ones selected were the ones who were most interested.

Many defective products were either poor or very "Buddhist" and just lie down to wait to die. Those who were willing to inject genetic drugs and buy medications prove that they have a strong desire to survive.

If they suddenly receive an opportunity to be a participant of a trial experiment project plan that has a high chance of prolonging their lives, most people would grab it. Not to mention that it was free and that the offer was also from a large pharmaceutical company that has the most advanced technology.

Unfortunately, the life-saving straw turned out to be just a straw. They had fallen for a fraud where their lives were the price. However, it was also possible that some of the experiments were successful.

Where do the successful experimental subjects go? For example, what if the hot pot restaurant owner did not become a contaminant after participating in the experiment, but instead became a mutant? He certainly wouldn't continue to run a hot pot restaurant, but will choose a safer place.

The successful subjects have gone from being fifth-class citizens to sixth-class citizens. Who would hire them?

Where else can sixth-class citizens go besides joining some wealthy families?

The Cleaning Center.

Zhu Ning's pupils suddenly contracted.

If mutants were to find a safe place for them, then they would definitely go to the cleaning center. They would be able to use their abilities openly and have the federal medical department to provide them with services.

If the successful experimental subjects still have close ties with Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, would their entry into the cleaning center be considered an "infiltration"?

Humanity has built walls to protect against the outside world, but what about against those on the inside of the walls?

Does the Federation know what the Eternal Life Pharmaceutical has been operating for so long? Does the Cleansing Center know about it?

'Wait.'

It might be the reason why Prometheus issues "Grave Posts," and why there was a separate forum: part of the Cleaning Center's power has been moved underground.

Was this Prometheus's contingency plan lest the cleaning center be completely infiltrated by those from the "Excellent Body" project?

Zhu Ning felt a chill run down her spine at this speculation.

How many people in the cleaning center belonged to Eternal Life Pharmaceutical? How many of the executives were? Maybe Fang Ying? Maybe the head of the cleaning department?

What does Eternal Life Pharmaceutical want to do?

Had the original owner participated in the "Excellent Body" project?

It didn't make sense. She was missing a lot of core information. Furthermore, she has no evidence to back up her speculations. These were all just her guess based on a piece of information.

Fang Ying mentioned that all the employees of the cleaning center have been screened by Prometheus, so it was impossible for it not to know which ones have problems.

Unless...the selection method for sixth-class citizens was different?

If this was a puzzle, Zhu Ning has barely glimpsed a corner.

Zhu Ning asked: [Are there no experimental data?]

Liu Niannian: [I don't have access to it.]

She was just a rich second generation daughter who did nothing but live her life to the fullest. Liu Niannian did ask to see the laboratory and Eternal Life Pharmaceutical agreed, but the things she saw were just tricks to fool outsiders. Liu Niannian actually had no access to any important information.

Indeed, if core data were so easy to access, Eternal Life Pharmaceutical would have been dragged down long ago. If Zhu Ning really wanted access, she could sign up and directly join the "Excellent Body" project.

But she hasn't been recruited yet.

Zhu Ning: [Thank you.]

Liu Niannian's family must have some business dealings with the Pharmaceutical. Anything that Liu Niannian, a spoiled young lady, could have access to must have been deliberately shown with the tacit consent of both parties.

This means that this information was just the tip of the iceberg. It seems that she has to dig out the rest herself.

Liu Niannian: [When do we go on a mission?]

Zhu Ning: “…”

How did she recruit this young lady again? She really can't figure out the train of thought of a rich daughter.

In Liu Niannian's mind, Zhu Ning was definitely a big shot. After returning home, she asked the psychic at home. Since Zhu Ning can make the source of pollution commit suicide, maybe Zhu Ning herself is a psychic!

Her ability should be similar to mental suggestion or manipulation. People with special abilities are categorized as sixth-class citizens, they are talents who belonged to the Federation. If they're not from the Federation, major financial groups would actively recruit them.

But Zhu Ning doesn't seem to belong to any organization. This boss might be an undercover in the cleaning center trying to uncover a shocking secret. She doesn't even care much about money and should have some lofty ideals.

It sounds exciting!

Liu Niannian's enthusiasm was growing. She had given Zhu Ning the document to further embellish her trustworthiness to her boss. Now, she was definitely part of whatever Zhu Ning was snooping around for!

The Lu family has always allowed Liu Niannian to do whatever she wants as long as it does not harm the family's interests. What Liu Niannian had given to Zhu Ning was just a harmless document with no vital information involved. If their eldest young lady can gain her trust, it will definitely be a very cost-effective deal.

Zhu Ning asked: [By the way, why are you helping me?]

Liu Niannian said sincerely: [I feel that I have found the direction of my life. I want to sweep garbage like you in the future.]

Zhu Ning, who inexplicably became an idol: "?"

Does this girl think she's in a movie?

Liu Niannian: [If you need someone to help you with tasks, just call me.]

Zhu Ning suddenly felt like she was talking to a sales lady trying very hard to sell their product through the screen.

Maintaining her boss persona, she replied: [Wait for my notification.]

Zhu Ning turned off her secondary brain. This matter was much more complicated than she had thought. She would need to think some more to figure out a clear idea of what she should do.

Zhu Ning had been changing in the locker room, using the closet door to block out the documents she was looking at. She subconsciously tried to close the door, but suddenly, she froze.

Without warning, she met a pair of dark eyes. Who knows how long has he been staring?

"Captain?" Zhu Ning came back to her senses.

Xu Meng: "What were you looking at? You were so engrossed that you didn't respond when I called you just now."

Xu Meng's locker was right next to Zhu Ning's. He seemed to have been packing some of his personal belongings, his movements extremely natural.

But Zhu Ning couldn't help but feel weird watching him go about his business.

Maybe it was because of her preconceived notions, but ever since she read the Excellent Body project, she felt that the cleaning center was no longer safe.

…

After saying goodbye to Xu Meng, Zhu Ning returned to the hive and sat in deep thought, facing her wrinkled wall masterpiece.

Zhu Ning had hung a whiteboard on the wrinkled wall and wrote down the words: Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, Cleaning Center, and Prometheus.

Written under Eternal Life Pharmaceutical was: Excellent Body Plan.

Written under Prometheus was: Grave Post.

And for the Cleaning Center: ?

'What exactly were these three forces? How do they stand in a three-way balance of power? And what role do I play?'

Following the clues of her death, she never expected it would lead to a large pharmaceutical company. This Eternal Life Pharmaceutical was likely the culprit that caused the original owner's death.

'I fell into the trap.'

The system and Prometheus had lured Zhu Ning into danger. And now that she was trapped, it would be difficult for her to escape. Her original body had died once, and it was likely she would die again.

The person who killed her was either from the Cleaning Center or the Eternal Life Pharmaceutical, both of which were behemoths that Zhu Ning could not afford to touch.

Only now did she realize how adorable the zombies she had encountered in her past life were. They were innocent, cute, and brainless. The type that could be eliminated with just a single headshot. If she got bored, she could even "chat" with the zombies.

On the other hand, this wasteland world was really a bummer.

The situation was not very clear, but at the same time, it was very clear. If she doesn't want to be assassinated again, she must improve her strength. If she wants to improve her strength quickly, she must continue to complete tasks.

Moreover, the system and Prometheus seemed to be deliberately guiding Zhu Ning to a specific path. Her next mission will probably be highly correlated with Eternal Life Pharmaceutical.

If Zhu Ning was forced before, this time it was her moving voluntarily.

She was already bound to the system anyway, and Prometheus has already set his sights on her. Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals may also be preparing to make a move behind the scenes to deal with her. If she takes the initiative at this time, there may be a chance of survival.

'I hope my next mission can trigger the alienation panel.'

At midnight, Zhu Ning opened the Cleaning Center Forum. The screen in front of her turned blurry, and a gray post appeared on the originally fancy forum.

The title was: "Help! A house is chasing me!"

A house? How can a house chase a person?

This time, the "grave post" was in the form of a video. Zhu Ning clicked to play it. In the video, a pale, haggard woman appeared. She looked to be in her thirties or forties, but it could be clearly seen that her mental state was extremely poor.

Her background was a bedroom, with a bed behind her.

"I'm sorry, I don't know who to talk to, and I don't know what to do. So, I decided to share my experience. Please help me."

The woman seemed to have not slept well for several days. She rubbed her face before continuing to face the camera: "My name is Huang Ya Ruo. I'm 35 years old, and I encountered a supernatural event."

---

The translator has something to say:

The third arc is coming!

By the way, if anyone was confused with Liu Niannian saying that Zhu Ning was a psychic, it was more of like guessing that Zhu Ning had a mental ability. If someone had a special ability, and it was connected to the mind, they're called psychics.

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