Chapter 099: The Search and Rescue Mission

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The setting of this mission is in a futuristic world. To suppress the mutant ratmen, the government provided the Extermination Squad with abundant resources and technology. The sci-fi weapons and genetic enhancement serums in the supply depot were developed by the squad’s research department using government funding.

Su Cheng browsed through the supply list. Among the weapons and gadgets, heavy firepower with high lethality dominated, as firearms are undoubtedly more effective against the countless ratmen.

However, Su Cheng’s proficiency with firearms was not high, making it less cost-effective to exchange contribution points for guns. After careful consideration, he chose the genetic enhancement serum to boost his own physical strength.

“This is your super genetic enhancement serum. It only takes effect the first time it’s used; repeated use won’t stack the effects,” said a blonde, busty supply officer with a professional smile. She took a blue vial from the cold storage and handed it to Su Cheng.

“Is the serum administered intravenously or taken orally?” Su Cheng asked cautiously, as some serums must be injected to work; oral ingestion would not be absorbed.

“Just take it orally. It activates within 24 hours and has no side effects,” the blonde glanced at Su Cheng again and explained the usage in detail.

In a private room at the Extermination Squad’s base, Su Cheng downed the genetic enhancement serum in one gulp.

To his surprise, the serum had no strange odor and tasted like sweet and sour blueberries—quite pleasant.

A cool liquid spread throughout his body, and the weakness caused by overexertion gradually faded.

“So, the Extermination Squad wants to form a special ops team, and players like us are the best candidates?” In the intensive care ward, Thor, wrapped from head to toe in bandages like a mummy, leisurely took a drag from a cigarette.

“Mr. Thor, please don’t smoke in the ward,” a fragile-looking nurse whispered timidly.

“I guess the squad values our strength and wants to use us for dangerous missions—basically cannon fodder,” Su Cheng said. Though aligned with the squad, he was not from this world and felt no real loyalty. He didn’t believe the squad was purely righteous; his instincts told him they harbored secrets.

But now was not the time to fall out with the squad. Su Cheng planned to use their intelligence network to investigate more about the ratmen.

“Our next mission is to join the special ops team. But there’s no way I’m working for free. I’ve submitted some demands to headquarters to secure as many privileges and benefits as possible. If the commanders aren’t idiots, they won’t reject my terms,” Su Cheng said confidently. The ratmen outbreak had severely impacted the squad, weakening their forces to an unprecedented degree. They couldn’t afford to ignore players like him.

The horror game had an automatic shielding function. When discussing the game or missions, any NPCs present would be automatically blocked, so there was no risk of being killed for revealing identities.

As expected, Su Cheng received a response from headquarters in less than half a day.

The squad accepted his conditions and quickly formed a special ops team under Su Cheng’s sole command to execute special missions from headquarters.

His team was unnumbered within the 23 squads, bearing the independent designation ‘Zero,’ meaning they were directly under headquarters’ control and immune to interference from other squads.

Normally, such demands would be impossible, but these were extraordinary times. As long as the conditions weren’t outrageous, they would be approved.

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One day later, Su Cheng emerged from the base’s training room drenched in sweat.

The genetic serum’s effects exceeded his expectations. His physical strength had increased by a whole tier. Now, even without activating his ghost mode, he could easily overpower monster-level foes like the ogre-like giant ratmen.

Leaving the training room, Su Cheng encountered Captain Ryuya Shiina, who seemed to have come specifically for him.

“Captain Shiina, has headquarters assigned a mission?” Su Cheng asked.

“Yes. Another squad went missing during an investigation yesterday. Headquarters wants the Zero Squad to conduct a rescue operation. Here’s the intel on the missing team,” Shiina replied.

Su Cheng studied the data carefully. The missing squad had five members and was ordered to investigate a group of highly dangerous mutant ratmen in the West District. They lost contact during the mission.

According to Shiina’s guess, the team was likely captured by those ratmen.

“West District?” Su Cheng mused.

During downtime, he researched the ratmen world. The underground city ruled by ratmen was ring-shaped around the Central District. The closer to the center, the higher the chance of encountering advanced mutant ratmen. Several areas near the center were human no-go zones, even commanders dared not approach rashly.

The missing squad had infiltrated the West District, home to many powerful mutant ratmen, making it extremely dangerous. They had been out of contact for over 24 hours, and chances were grim.

“These members have tracking devices. If they’re confirmed dead, bring back their belongings,” Shiina said, implying the missing squad carried something important.

Mission updated…

Objective: Reach West District and rescue missing squad.

Danger level: High

Reward: Random rare item, 5,000 team contribution points.

The rescue mission was difficult but well-rewarded.

Su Cheng had previously slain hundreds of ratmen in District 18, including many elites, earning only 10,000 contribution points. This rescue mission alone promised 5,000 points plus a rare item.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. With the horror game’s patterns, this mission must have a catch; otherwise, the rewards wouldn’t be so generous,” Su Cheng thought.

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Leaving the Extermination Squad base, Su Cheng and his team sprinted toward the location indicated by the tracking system. About three hours later, a massive crater, seemingly caused by a meteorite, appeared before them.

Zooming in, thousands of tunnels dug by ratmen could be seen within the crater.

A chilling, ghostly wailing echoed from the tunnels.

“Brother Cheng, the atmosphere here feels eerie. It seems like terrifying monsters are waiting inside,” Xu Xiaolong said, clutching a large magic staff, his face full of fear.

“Not seems—definitely,” Su Cheng said, drawing his swift blade, Shadow Gale, and moving toward the source of the wailing.

“If we encounter anything terrifying, you transform into a magical girl. While you’re transforming, we can sneak behind the monster for a surprise attack,” Su Cheng said seriously. “Even if we can’t win, your transformation will distract the monster long enough for us to escape.”

Thor and Zhang Wei shuddered at the mental image of a magical girl transformation—it was painfully awkward. Naoshima, the straight male, had bright eyes, apparently very interested in the idea.

The aloof boy remained expressionless, nocking an arrow onto his longbow, alert and cautious.

“Uh, are you serious?” Xu Xiaolong asked, tightening his grip nervously.

“Just kidding.”

“But your expression didn’t look like you were joking.”

After some teasing, Xu Xiaolong’s anxiety eased a bit.

At that moment, a strange sound came from one of the tunnels ahead.

Suddenly, a black spherical object rolled out like a cannonball, hurtling toward them.

Su Cheng noticed a blood-red single eye on the black sphere.

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