Mu Chenyi rode the electric scooter down the main road, surrounded by monsters undergoing their transformation.
Realizing the danger, he knew he couldn't continue traveling on the main streets any longer…
With that thought, he decided to take a detour through Jiangcheng No.1 High School.
He had attended high school there and was familiar with the layout of the area. More importantly, he knew of a "dog hole" behind the school—an opening in the fence that could serve as an escape route. Since today was Sunday and school was on break, as long as he avoided the security guards who stayed on campus, he could slip through the residential district behind the school and make his way toward the city center.
Back in his school days, those security guards had given him a hard time. Now, he wondered—what would they be like as green-furred monsters?
When he arrived at the high school gates, the surrounding green-furred monsters had already completed their transformation. Peering inside the security post, he spotted one of the transformed creatures still wearing a security guard uniform.
The security guard monster remained inside the booth.
Avoiding detection, Mu Chenyi moved along the outer wall and climbed over it.
Keeping low, he stuck close to the edge of the morning jogging path, quietly making his way toward the back gate.
While jogging forward, his sharp eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, staying on high alert for potential encounters with green-furred monsters.
Just as he was about to reach the sports field, a sudden force yanked him backward!
Before he could react, a deep voice whispered in his ear:
"Don't make a sound."
Hearing a human voice, Mu Chenyi's initial alarm eased slightly.
Turning around, he saw a stern-looking man in a suit.
However, after his experience with Chen Wan'er, Mu Chenyi had learned to be cautious. He kept his guard up and asked in a low voice:
"Are you human or a player?"
His question made the suited man look at him with a somewhat perplexed expression.
"I'm both human and a player," the man replied before countering, "Why would you even ask that? Everyone here is either a player or already dead. Have you encountered a human who wasn't a player?"
"I have…" Mu Chenyi didn't want to dwell on that topic, so he pressed forward, "Why did you stop me? I need to leave through the back gate."
He had to reach the city center as soon as possible—if Wang Zichen and the others fell into Chen Wan'er's hands, it would already be too late.
"The streets outside are crawling with green-furred monsters," the man explained simply, "and there were soccer team members training in the stadium earlier. They've all transformed. If you rush out carelessly, they'll tear you apart."
Hearing this, Mu Chenyi immediately calmed down.
He had assumed the school would be empty because it was Sunday. He hadn't expected players from the soccer team to still be on campus—right by the back gate.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked:
"I have to reach the city center now. Is there any way out?"
"Why are you so determined to go to the city center? Have you discovered a way to end this apocalypse?" The suited man's gaze sharpened.
Mu Chenyi's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
He didn't fully trust this man.
Sensing his wariness, the suited man chuckled slightly and said, "Relax, I'm not your enemy."
To prove his identity, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an official identification card, flipping it open and holding it out for Mu Chenyi to see.
"I'm Chi Weize, from the 'Apocalypse Management Bureau of Huaxia.' I came to Jiangcheng on official business and happened to get caught up in this disaster. Now do you believe me?"
The Apocalypse Management Bureau of Huaxia?
Was this an official government organization?
Mu Chenyi had never heard of it before, but considering that he had been an ordinary civilian until recently, it made sense that he wouldn't have known.
Noticing the change in Mu Chenyi's expression and the unwavering vigilance in his eyes, Chi Weize widened his own in disbelief.
"Don't tell me… You've never heard of the Apocalypse Management Bureau? Are you a newbie?"
Seeing the doubt in Chi Weize's gaze, Mu Chenyi hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
"Damn, a newbie...?" Chi Weize muttered instinctively before asking, "What's your skill?"
Being asked such a personal question, Mu Chenyi narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent.
"Sorry, that was rude of me." Realizing his mistake, Chi Weize quickly apologized. "I'm just surprised. You don't act like a newbie at all—you're way too calm."
Mu Chenyi curled his lips slightly.
If you had repeatedly watched yourself die in the most gruesome ways, you'd be calm too…
"I'm with the officials. You can trust me completely," Chi Weize reassured. "My main skill is an A-rank combat ability, [Dragon Arm]. Taking down two of those monsters isn't a problem for me."
Mu Chenyi, however, wasn't particularly inclined to trust him.
"If it weren't for my skill having a one-hour cooldown, I'd even demonstrate it for you," Chi Weize added, clearly frustrated. "I meet a newbie who doesn't even know about the Bureau, and now he's treating me like a potential enemy..."
"If you're really with the government, why are you at Jiangcheng No.1 High School?" Mu Chenyi questioned.
"In the real world, I'm a university professor. I was invited here by the school to give a lecture," Chi Weize explained.
A university professor?
Mu Chenyi pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright, I'll trust you for now. But we need to get to the city center immediately, or two people will be in danger!"
"Can you give me a quick rundown?" Chi Weize asked curiously. "Why are you so determined to go to the city center? And who are these two people?"
Mu Chenyi explained, "It's because the people from Anran Squad took the key artifact. They believe that Mayor Lü Mingtian and his son are the masterminds behind this disaster, so they're taking the artifact to confront them."
"Wait—are you saying the 'Ender's Dagger' mentioned in the system announcement was taken by Anran Squad?" Chi Weize's expression changed.
"I saw one of their members open a small box, and a dagger was inside," Mu Chenyi replied vaguely. "It should be…"
He had no intention of revealing that he was actually the one who had obtained the Ender's Dagger.
Especially considering that the dagger was a one-time-use weapon—it was his trump card, his ultimate weapon against Chen Wan'er.
"I think I've heard of Anran Squad before… But if they're the ones who took the dagger, why are you rushing there? What's the point?" Chi Weize frowned. "You don't even have the artifact."
"I made a promise to meet my two companions in the city center, and I'm worried they might be in danger."
Mu Chenyi was genuinely concerned about Wang Zichen and Lao Zhao.
After all, the most dangerous person in this entire apocalyptic scenario—Chen Wan'er—was with them.
Could it be any more dangerous?
Chi Weize studied Mu Chenyi's face carefully.
The more he observed him, the more convinced he was—
This guy was definitely NOT a newbie.
What kind of newbie acts this confident and decisive?
After a moment, Chi Weize suddenly reached into his inventory and took out a sheer, faintly glowing fabric.
"I have an item that can conceal our presence," he said. "But it only lasts for five minutes."
He shook the delicate veil in his hand before glancing at Mu Chenyi and adding, "It's a little small, though… If we're going to use it, we'll have to squeeze in together."