Upon arriving at the mid-route supply station in Feng City, Lin Yuan and his team replenished their equipment.
They each equipped a thermal imager and a wall-penetrating scanner (this technology is still quite nascent in China).
In addition, each team member was fitted with a Sky Eye single-soldier image transmission system and a Beidou single-soldier combat system.
The Sky Eye was mounted on the helmet rail, serving to transmit image data in real-time, collect and record evidence, and for personnel positioning.
The Beidou was attached to the arm, resembling a large smartwatch. Its functions were similar to the equipment of the hsac members Lin Yuan's group had eliminated, responsible for navigation and, combined with the Sky Eye, target analysis and real-time monitoring of team members' physical conditions.
Each person also carried a cardiac stimulant, a tranquilizer, and an adrenaline injection, all placed in the medical kit on their chests.
Zheng Mengmeng, as a communications soldier accompanying the operation, also carried a single-soldier communication radio. This was not like Lin Yuan's; it was similar to the single-soldier communication equipment used by Communications Officer Zhuang Yu in the movie "Operation Red Sea"—small, lightweight, easy to carry, and with excellent signal transmission.
After a brief five-minute rest at the supply station, the biu investigation team boarded a helicopter to head to the forward outpost base.
This location was 103 kilometers from Bailong County and would not be detected by wandering zombie hordes.
After dropping off the other members of the intelligence team at their designated locations, Lin Yuan and his group of seven arrived at the forward outpost base.
There was nothing here except for seven custom motorcycles and a detailed paper map.
The paper map was to ensure that if all personnel lost communication, they could quickly ascertain their location and evacuate.
According to satellite imagery observations, the location of the zombie horde in Bailong County was directly opposite to their entry point, ensuring safety.
"Attention, clear the wreckage on the road to leave a safe evacuation route."
"Understood."
The motorcycles roared past. When they encountered obstacles that might impede their retreat, they dismounted to clear them, eliminating potential hazards.
The chosen entry point was not an edge mall, but rather to enter Bailong County through a mall.
They did not take the main road, as even the custom motorcycles might be detected by the noise they made midway.
Therefore, Lin Yuan and his team dismounted as they were about to enter Bailong County, choosing to proceed on foot.
Lin Yuan walked at the forefront, already wearing a gas mask. Before entering the mall, he issued the order: "Check the fit between your gas masks and tactical goggles. Pass through the mall quickly. Shoot any zombies on sight. If there are special zombies, take photos for documentation."
Once the team members checked their gear, they found no leaks. These gas masks were specially made to fit the tactical goggles, transforming into full-coverage gas masks when worn. The tactical goggles could remain on the head when the masks were removed.
As soon as the team entered the mall, they were discovered by zombies hidden within. Most of them were incredibly strong, with mushrooms on their bodies that nearly reflected light; it was unclear how they had grown.
"Team Leader, these fungal monsters are so robust, what's going on?" Wan Changfeng asked (speaking through bone-conduction tactical earbuds, clearly audible even with the gas mask on), while firing precise shots at the charging zombies.
Their silencers were also custom-made, longer and larger than ordinary silencers, further reducing sound transmission without affecting shooting accuracy.
"I'm not sure. They must have fed on the corpses of their own kind. Otherwise, they wouldn't have grown this strong just by basking in the sun. Everyone, stay safe. I have a feeling something is strange about Bailong County," Lin Yuan said, frowning, a sense of unease growing in his heart.
They had already encountered such zombies before even entering; what would the scene inside be like?
The fungal monsters emerging from the mall numbered only a dozen or so, and they were quickly dealt with.
"Kong Ming, collect sample data. The rest of you, maintain vigilance. Be safe."
Kong Ming, whom Lin Yuan called out to, was a conscript in the action team responsible for treating casualties and collecting samples. He didn't have a entrenching shovel on his back, and even carried very little food or drinking water. The space these would have occupied was taken up by a large, battery-shaped sample collector.
Upon receiving the order, Kong Ming responded without a word, immediately taking out his scalpel to dissect. The body of the killed fungal monster was soft, and the blade cut through it with ease.
Comparing it to the knowledge in his mind, Kong Ming determined that this zombie corpse was the same as the one he had dissected at the training base; it had not undergone mutation, only that its internal organs were very strong. This was likely the enhancement phenomenon caused by consuming fellow corpses, as the Team Leader had suggested.
He took a piece of brain sample, placed it into a sample vial, and then sent it into the sample collector to be sealed.
"Team Leader, it's done. Let's move quickly."
"Proceed."
As they exited the mall, a faint mist, with a hint of green, wafted towards them.
The combat systems they carried also updated their data.
"Lethal spore concentration: 9.2%. Filter canister has 5 hours and 53 minutes of remaining support."
This was a bit high.
They were still a whole county away from the zombie horde, after all.
"Stay alert. Proceed along the planned route. Report any strange markings, symbols, or zombies promptly. Do not act without authorization.
After this mission is completed, we will have our own codename. Do not be careless, understand?"
"Understood!"
This "mist" grew denser as they moved south. The investigation team proceeded without making any discoveries.
As they were about to reach the town center, Lin Yuan instructed the team members to take a short break.
"Mengmeng, contact the intelligence team now and ask if there are any issues with the route they planned. We haven't found anything yet."
The command center had not sent them here to investigate without reason; they must have discovered some clues through satellite imagery to issue this mission.
The voice communication function of the combat system did not have such a long range, so they had to rely on Zheng Mengmeng to report via the single-soldier radio.
This device also served as a relay station, allowing each team member to view their own location and the locations of other team members in real-time.
Therefore, everyone had been protecting Zheng Mengmeng quite well along the way.
Although everyone here had considerable combat capability,
A communications soldier was always a valuable asset, no matter where they were.
"Team Leader, the command center has replied. They said the route is fine. The satellite imagery observation center detected the anomaly near this route."
"Alright, rest is over, let's continue!" Lin Yuan asked no further questions and pressed on.
According to intelligence, the observed anomaly was a red building hidden within a residential area. However, a poisonous fog later enveloped the area, and the satellite imagery observation center lost detailed positioning of the building.
Everything would now depend on Lin Yuan and his team.
"Lethal spore concentration: 17%. Filter canister remaining time: 1 hour and 51 minutes."
Looking at the remaining time displayed on the combat system, Lin Yuan sighed slightly, turned, and ordered, "Increase vigilance. We have entered the mission area. The spore cloud concentration may increase at any time. Be sure to replace your filters promptly."
Ahead of them, a pale green mist drifted, occasionally accompanied by the roars of zombies. If it were night, it would be no different from a ghostly realm.
"Forward!"