Chapter 53: The Safe

With two slashes, the zombies were dealt with, and Fang Heng took the opportunity to step into the room.

*Huh? What was that sound?*

Before he could explore the Dean's office, Fang Heng suddenly heard something.

He turned around, took two steps back, and looked toward the end of the hallway.

There were three short, squat shadows.

Threatening low growls emanated from their mouths.

"Damn it, Zombie Dogs!"

Fang Heng muttered to himself, realizing this was going to be a hassle.

Like the Spider Zombies, Zombie Dogs were known for their movement speed; they were extremely difficult creatures to handle! Their sprinting speed was even faster than that of the Spider Zombies!

"ROAR!!!"

The three Zombie Dogs had clearly been attracted by the sound of Fang Heng's gunfire. They suddenly accelerated, charging toward him.

"Shit!"

Fang Heng hurriedly ducked into the Dean's office, slammed the door shut, and dragged a nearby cabinet over to block the wooden door.

Here they come.

*Thud! Thud-thud!*

Fang Heng could clearly hear the three Zombie Dogs slamming their bodies against the door.

This damaged wooden door wouldn't hold for long.

With a cold sneer, Fang Heng extended the muzzle of his shotgun through the hole he had just blasted in the door.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

After a few shots, all movement outside ceased completely.

[Prompt: You have killed 3 Zombie Dogs using a shotgun. You have gained 15 Survival Points. Your Firearms Proficiency EXP +21.]

"Troublesome Zombie Dogs."

After confirming the deaths of the Zombie Dogs in the game log, Fang Heng muttered under his breath and pushed the door open again.

The advantage of Zombie Dogs lay in their burst speed and quick evasion; they were not high-tier zombie species, and their health was actually lower than that of ordinary zombies.

Consequently, they did not drop complete evolution crystals upon death.

Fang Heng ran out of the room and dealt with the ordinary zombies that had been drawn by the gunfire one by one.

Turning back to the Dean's office, Fang Heng began a thorough looting spree.

[Prompt: You have found 2 packs of cigarettes, 10 high-grade coffee beans, 1 worn-out shirt, 1 Dean's magnetic card, 2 milks, 3 chocolates, 1 first-aid spray.]

After searching the room carefully, Fang Heng found no trace of the T-Virus serum, but he did find some quite useful survival supplies.

For instance, the first-aid spray was an extremely rare item capable of significantly restoring HP.

Cigarettes were also a great item for increasing NPC favorability in the game.

However, he still hadn't found the T-Virus serum.

Strange. Where could it be hidden?

Fang Heng narrowed his eyes and scanned the entire room once more.

He had been very thorough during his previous search.

Could it be...

A picture frame?

Fang Heng's gaze focused on a photograph hanging on the wall.

Movies often played it out this way.

He remembered seeing similar posts on forums before—some rooms had hidden safes, and the area behind a picture frame was one of the common hiding spots.

Fang Heng walked up to the frame containing the Dean's photo and moved it aside.

Sure enough, a metal safe was revealed behind the frame.

"Trouble. I don't know the password."

Fang Heng tried striking the safe with his stone hammer.

*Thud!*

A dull sound.

[Prompt: You have dealt 7 damage to the metal safe.]

A long health bar appeared in Fang Heng's vision.

The safe had 20,000 durability. Even if he used his shotgun or had his zombie clones constantly "chipping away" at it without regard for wear and tear, it would still take an entire day to break through.

The only way to open it quickly was to find the password.

"Think. An average player wouldn't have a shotgun and zombie clones like I do; it would be impossible for them to break the safe."

"The game won't set an impossible task. There should be a hint."

Fang Heng calmed down to think, looking for any reading materials in the room.

There were none.

Then he could only try his luck.

"12345."

*Incorrect!*

"1024."

*Incorrect!*

"Dark Knights."

*Incorrect!*

"V*ron (The Dean's name)."

*Incorrect!*

"T-Virus."

*Incorrect!*

Fang Heng scratched his hair.

What on earth was it? Was the hint not here?

Unknowingly, more than ten minutes passed, and Fang Heng was still empty-handed.

He calmed himself, walked to the center of the room, and scanned the surroundings once more.

Right!

Fang Heng thought of something.

The computer!

There was a desktop computer on the Dean's desk.

There might be information regarding the password inside!

But there was no power; the computer couldn't be turned on currently.

Power!?

The generator set!?

"Damn!"

It clicked!

Fang Heng narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin in thought.

It was highly likely that this mission required him to first activate the generator set to power the computer, and then use the computer to obtain the safe's password!

That meant the next task would be to find a way to repair the generator set to restore power!

As for why Old Black had destroyed the generator set...

Perhaps he didn't want anyone else to complete the Dark Knights mission?

Fang Heng felt he had likely guessed correctly.

Just as he was about to return to the basement, he noticed the game log flash.

[Prompt: Your Survival Radio has received an emergency communication.]

*Huh?*

Fang Heng stopped in his tracks and opened the radio to check.

Hao Zhou: "Fang Heng, how are things on your end? I've found the location of the generator set, and I've discovered something else."

Hao Zhou had also discovered the issue with the generator?

He immediately replied to Hao Zhou.

Fang Heng: "I'll be right back."

He rushed back to the generator room on the first floor.

Hao Zhou and the others were studying something in front of the generator set.

"What did you find?"

"Fang Heng, you're just in time. Come take a look; we found that the generator set is running."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Fang Heng was stunned.

The generator set was running?

He had just been thinking about how to persuade Hao Zhou to try turning the generator set on.

Now Hao Zhou was telling him that it was already running?

This completely contradicted his previous deduction!

For a moment, Fang Heng was bewildered.

He tried to clear his thoughts and asked, "Are you saying the generator set is intact? And it's running? Then why isn't the building getting power?"

Kun Ta, who was studying the circuitry in the back, poked his head out to explain to Fang Heng.

"I just studied the generator set. I found that this unit isn't meant to provide power to the main building."

Fang Heng was stunned again, feeling even more surprised. He pressed further, "Not the main building? Then what is it for?"

"I'm not sure, but the circuitry seems to lead downwards."

"Downwards?" Hao Zhou also frowned. He picked up the hospital map he had just searched and examined it closely.

"The only thing below the hospital is the mortuary."

The mortuary?

Strange expressions appeared on the faces of the team members.

Why had a perfectly fine post-apocalyptic survival game suddenly become a bit creepy?

Fang Heng was also confused.

What kind of logic would lead a hospital to prioritize the mortuary's power supply with its backup generator?

To prevent reanimation?

But would ensuring power supply actually prevent reanimation...

Fang Heng looked up and asked, "Kun Ta, do you have a way to reroute the circuitry? For example, providing the generator's power to the building?"

"Uh... it's possible, but my skill level is too low. Doing that would take at least three hours."

Alright then!

It seemed his previous guess was most likely wrong.

Fang Heng had ruled out one incorrect answer.