Chapter 167: Like Coffee That Had Gone Cold

Wei Guang entered the command trailer without knocking.

The military base, the one with no name that was outside Shen Rouxi’s mansion, was already in the middle of being dismantled. Soldiers moved between tents carrying crates, weapons, and communication equipment with practiced efficiency while transport trucks rumbled steadily outside. By morning, the entire convoy would be moving toward Rongdu City as if this pitstop had never happened.

Another relocation.

Another defensive line to build and take apart like a child’s toy.

Another attempt to keep civilization standing a little longer in a world that seemed to hate everything that was human.

Inside the trailer, General Sun Jian sat at the center of a folding table covered in maps, reports, and research documents while several scientists stood nearby discussing vaccine dispersal plans.

"So we are in agreement?" General Sun asked, his gaze shifting toward the lead researchers. Honestly, Wei Guang couldn’t be bothered to remember their names. At this point, they were completely interchangeable. "Once we arrive at the Rongdu treatment plant tomorrow, the vaccine will be introduced into the water supply."

Just hearing that caused Wei’s back to straighten. He couldn’t stop seeing the look on Shen Rouxi’s face when she pointed out all the pitfalls they had never considered before.

He looked around the room, hopeful that these people would hesitate, would see that it wouldn’t work they way they wanted it to.

Instead, he saw several scientists nodding their heads in agreement as soon as the words left the General’s mouth.

"It is the fastest method of large scale distribution. It also won’t burden the bases by trying to administer the vaccine and having people slip through the cracks. Or just refuse it outright. We know that people are irrational the second they hear the word ’needle’."

"We’ve already adjusted the concentration levels so that even half a cup of water would give the effects that we are looking for."

"If this is successful, infection rates will collapse within weeks and then we can mass produce it for the entire country. We’ll be known as the people who have stopped the zombie apocalypse."

Wei stopped beside the table beside the General and looked out at everyone. "The zombies don’t drink water." He said it the exact same way that Shen Rouxi said it. And he expected the same results.

The trailer fell silent and everyone thought about what he had said.

One of the scientists frowned immediately. "Excuse me?"

Wei turned his attention to General Sun. "Are we using this vaccine to protect civilians or eliminate the infected?"

"The ultimate goal is obviously elimination," one of the older scientists replied sharply. "But preventing infection among the surviving population is still a major victory."

Wei nodded once. "Then the delivery system needs adjustment," he said. Given the looks on the faces of everyone, you would have thought he had suggested that they cut off their own heads.

One of the scientist’s expression darkened. "Colonel, with all due respect, this formula was specifically developed for water distribution."

"And the infected do not consume water," Wei replied, his face blank as he continued, "they consume humans."

"Which means the vaccine would only spread after civilians are bitten first." The General picked up what Wei was thinking, his voice calm and even. "That defeats the purpose of rapid infected suppression."

Another silence settled over the trailer.

General Sun narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the reports spread across the table.

Not angry so much as coming up with contingency plans.

"What do you recommend?" the general asked finally.

"We continue development after reaching the city," Wei answered immediately. "The formula itself may still be viable. The dispersal method is the problem."

Several scientists immediately began objecting.

"We’ve spent weeks refining the concentration stability."

"The current version was built specifically for municipal water systems."

"Everything on earth drinks water."

Wei finally looked toward the scientist who said it. "Corpses don’t."

The scientist opened his mouth again before General Sun raised one hand sharply.

Silence returned immediately.

Wei continued. "If the vaccine works, then we adapt it properly. Aerosol dispersal. Contaminated bait. Direct exposure. There are multiple possibilities worth exploring."

"We’re losing valuable time," one of the younger scientists argued.

"We lose more time if we deploy something ineffective."

The trailer went quiet again.

General Sun leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers tapping once against the table as he considered the situation.

Outside, engines continued rumbling while soldiers loaded the final transport vehicles.

Civilization was still moving.

Barely.

Finally, the general nodded once. "The vaccine will not enter the water supply."

Several scientists stiffened immediately.

"We’ll continue testing once we reach Rongdu City," General Sun continued firmly. "The formula remains active research material until a proper deployment method is finalized."

The lead scientist looked furious. "What about the current supply prepared for water dilution?"

"We preserve what can still be used," the general replied.

"And the rest?"

General Sun’s expression hardened slightly. "Do what you want."

The meeting ended shortly afterward.

Soldiers immediately returned to logistics and convoy preparation while the scientists gathered their research materials with visible frustration. Wei remained behind long enough to review the updated movement schedule before stepping back outside into the cooling evening air.

The base was efficient even during withdrawal.

Tents disappeared section by section while supply trucks lined up near the road leading back toward the city. Floodlights illuminated the compound as soldiers worked steadily through the evening without complaint.

Wei watched the operation silently for several seconds.

The military was still functioning.

As long as structure remained, there was still a chance to hold the country together.

Even if that chance grew smaller every day.

-------

Near the pool house, several scientists continued arguing quietly while carrying insulated storage containers back inside.

"This entire batch is useless now."

"We should have continued testing."

"The formula worked."

"They don’t think that the delivery system will. They clearly haven’t thought this through. Water is the foundation of life. It was fool-proof."

One of the researchers stopped near the grass beside the building and pulled a sealed glass beaker from one of the containers. Dark liquid shifted slowly inside under the floodlights.

Weeks of research.

Testing.

Refinement.

Now reduced to waste material because the deployment plan had changed.

The scientist let out a long breath through his nose before pouring the liquid directly into the grass.

Like dumping out coffee that had gone cold.

The soil absorbed the dark solution almost instantly but the scientist didn’t notice.

He simply tossed the empty beaker into a nearby trash bin before turning back toward the pool house.