As the man spoke, more and more people realized their current predicament. This group of researchers didn't seem to regard them as equals.
It was like calling out to a pack of dogs, only needing to order them around, completely disregarding their lives.
Once this realization firmly took root in people's hearts, the seed of resistance was sown.
This was exactly what Xu An wanted.
It was the outcome she desired.
She didn't have any grand ambitions, such as wanting to dismantle the Lighthouse or anything like that.
She simply wanted to secure her own safety when facing these people whose hearts were blacker than ink.
Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they died.
The commotion here quickly drew the attention of the security personnel on the second floor.
Under the Lighthouse's nearly transparent, all-encompassing surveillance, no matter where or what happened, it couldn't escape the attention of the Lighthouse's higher echelons.
Let alone the White Building, which was considered the heartland of the Lighthouse.
Here lay the core that powered the Lighthouse's operations.
How could such a significant event occur without causing even the slightest ripple?
Xu An watched as the people on their side were about to rush forward and argue with the researchers when, from all directions, a group of uniformed security personnel emerged, subduing and pinning down the leaders of the scuffle.
Xu An calmly watched Qin Chuan emerge from behind the group.
For some inexplicable reason, she felt Qin Chuan's gaze had changed, carrying a hint of interrogation and appraisal.
These were things she had never seen in Qin Chuan's eyes before.
The current Qin Chuan was like a cat that had caught an unusual scent, sizing up Xu An, wanting to learn more.
This realization made Xu An quite uneasy.
"Release them!" Qin Chuan's sharp voice cut through the air.
"This is the Lighthouse, not your backyard vegetable market. Don't you researchers have any discipline, getting into fights? Is your experimentation too leisurely?"
He then turned his attention back towards Xu An's side. "You lot too. You have so much energy? Why not save it for killing zombies instead of fighting your own people here? Have you no shame?"
Someone in the crowd protested.
"We didn't start it. They were too overbearing, treating our lives as nothing."
"Yes, why aren't you questioning them before scolding us!"
Qin Chuan's gaze swept over the individuals who seemed to be instigating the riot.
He saw someone he didn't expect to see on the Lighthouse.
The moment he saw Chu Yu, Qin Chuan's movements faltered for a fraction of a second.
But he quickly recovered.
However, Qin Chuan's momentary hesitation was observed by Xu An, who had been watching him.
Qin Chuan frowned. "What happened?"
After his subordinate inquired about the cause and effect, he reported to Qin Chuan.
Upon hearing the report, Qin Chuan's displeasure turned into a cold fury, his entire demeanor changing like a furious lion.
His eyes were filled with a ruthless glint.
Qin Chuan turned his head and looked at the group of white-coated researchers before him, his voice colder than ever.
"Did you use extrajudicial punishment?"
Faced with Qin Chuan's imposing presence, the bespectacled researcher felt his legs go weak.
It was as if an invisible pressure enveloped him completely.
He stammered, "Captain Qin... Captain Qin Chuan... please let me explain..."
But Qin Chuan's expression clearly conveyed, "You can quibble all you want, but if I believe a single word you say, I'm a fool."
The researcher finally seemed to feel fear.
"It has nothing to do with me. These inferiors started the riot first; they provoked us. We were merely acting in self-defense. If they hadn't rioted, how could we have killed anyone?"
"Their lives are cheap. Why would we risk our lives for them? Captain Qin Chuan, you must uphold justice for us. We have surveillance footage; it was they who caused trouble, and that's why we shot them."
The researcher spoke without restraint, even revealing his innermost thoughts.
As the man continued to speak, the previously quiet crowd erupted into renewed commotion.
"Inferiors... cheap lives..."
These words were repeated, and they reacted like cats whose tails had been stepped on, unable to restrain their anger.
"Damn it, you pretty boy, who the hell are you calling inferior!"
"Exactly, you useless bookworms. Without people like us risking our lives outside, do you think you could be so leisurely experimenting in the labs? What a joke."
"Exactly, I don't know what makes these people so arrogant."
"Exactly, I thought that guy who went to confront them earlier was a bit rash, but now I think he did the right thing. These people sitting in their offices don't treat us like humans at all!"
"..."
Seeing that the situation was on the verge of escalating into a riot, Qin Chuan quickly signaled his subordinates.
The men below understood Qin Chuan's intent.
Within three seconds, an entire squad changed formation, forming a human wall that firmly separated the mercenary team and the researchers, creating a solid barrier.
Before anyone could react, Qin Chuan raised his gun and fired repeatedly into the air.
After emptying an entire magazine, the surrounding commotion finally died down.
Both sides calmed down, looking at each other, speechless for a moment.
They could only turn away, their minds occupied with their own thoughts.
Among the mercenary team, Chu Yu, who had not participated at all from beginning to end, naturally became the target of some interested parties.
"I don't care what you're here for, but as long as you're on my territory, you will abide by my rules. Internal fighting, killing, and large-scale riots are prohibited on the Lighthouse. And you lot have violated every single one."
"Xiao Zhang, call for reinforcements from two detachments. Tie up these two groups and take them back for questioning to find out what happened!"
Almost the instant Qin Chuan finished speaking, the arrogant researcher's composure cracked.
"Captain Qin Chuan, we still have research tasks. It's not appropriate for you to arrest us like this, is it?"
The implicit threat was obvious.
However, Qin Chuan showed no respect. He scoffed disdainfully.
"Don't worry, the Lighthouse will continue to function without you. Let alone you, even if your Dr. Weng himself came, I would still arrest him."
"Take them away!"
The researcher tried to say something else but was escorted away by the guards.
As the escorts continued to leave, the previously noisy and crowded corridor became spacious.
Only Qin Chuan, Xu An, and Chu Yu remained.
Whether the guards had overlooked these two or if they were short-handed and left them to Qin Chuan, the fact was that Qin Chuan himself was escorting the two to the Lighthouse's special prison.
During the escort, Qin Chuan looked at Chu Yu's impassive face, finding himself intrigued.
"I didn't expect you to dare come back."
This was clearly said to Chu Yu. Xu An listened to their conversation in silence.
"Why wouldn't I dare come back? Captain Qin Chuan's words are rather strange."
Qin Chuan looked at Chu Yu putting on an act with immense anger, wishing he could shoot Chu Yu dead, but he couldn't because he had no evidence.
The group who had accompanied him to search for supplies, who could have testified that Chu Yu had instigated discord and divided the team, were all dead.
He had no way to deal with Chu Yu now.
But Qin Chuan had no intention of letting Chu Yu go so easily. Since the other party dared to return, there must be something more important than splitting their team for him to do.
Qin Chuan's voice was chillingly indifferent. "Was this riot also your doing?"
It was not entirely Qin Chuan's fault for suspecting Chu Yu, given his past record.
As the two remained at an impasse, Xu An suddenly interjected from the side.
"It wasn't him."
As soon as the words fell, two naked stares fixed upon Xu An.