The corridors of B7 were colder and darker than any other area on the island. Nora Su kept close behind Adrian Fu, feeling the tension in his muscles, coiled like a leopard ready to pounce.
"You shouldn't have followed," Adrian said without turning his head.
"If the intruders are carrying the virus, you need professional assessment," Nora adjusted the temporary earpiece Lin Xiu had provided. "Besides, I'm curious about your so-called 'restricted zone.'"
Adrian abruptly stopped, and Nora nearly collided with his back. He turned, eyes sharp as blades. "Curiosity kills the cat, doctor. Remember that."
Ahead came the sound of scattered footsteps and clanging metal. Adrian gestured for her to stay put and moved forward silently. Nora hesitated, then quietly followed.
At the corner, the sight made her gasp. Three researchers in lab coats huddled around an open safe. One of them held a vial of blue liquid—the same kind she had seen in Adrian's office.
"Put it down," Adrian's voice was ice-cold.
The three men spun around, panic written on their faces. Nora recognized them as members of Lin Xiu's team, but she had never seen them like this.
"Mr… Mr. Fu…" stammered the man in front. "We were just… just trying to help…"
"Stealing top-secret material is called helping?" Adrian stepped forward, a silver pistol now in his hand. "Last warning. Put down the Ω-7."
Ω-7. Nora memorized the name silently. As the man holding the vial trembled, ready to comply, chaos erupted. His companion suddenly pulled a scalpel from his pocket and pressed it against the first man's throat.
"Don't move!" he yelled hysterically. "Or I'll kill him and inject the virus into myself! We're leaving this hellhole!"
Adrian stopped, expression eerily calm. "Interesting choice, Dr. Zhang. But I'm curious—where exactly do you intend to go? There's no safe place left in the world."
"The military has safe zones!" shouted the third researcher. "They promised protection if we bring the sample!"
Nora's heart skipped a beat. The military? That meant outside organizations were still operational, and Adrian was not allied with them.
Adrian didn't seem surprised. "So General Wang finally couldn't restrain himself," he said, glancing at Nora hidden in the shadows. "See, doctor? This is the humanity you admire—betrayal and greed."
Dr. Zhang's hand trembled on the scalpel. "We just need a speedboat! Let us go!"
"I'm afraid not." Adrian sighed, then raised his gun.
A single shot rang out. The bullet pierced Dr. Zhang's forehead, and his body fell back. The scalpel left a shallow mark on the throat of his companion. Before the others could react, Adrian lunged forward, kicking the blue vial away.
Nora instinctively dove to catch it but was intercepted by Adrian, who held her in his arms. The vial shattered on the floor, the blue liquid instantly vaporizing into an eerie mist.
"Idiot!" Adrian shouted, pushing Nora behind him. "That was a concentrated viral sample!"
Nora's heart nearly stopped. The three researchers recoiled in terror. The man with the throat cut began violently coughing.
"N… no…" he gasped, touching the wound, face paling. "I came in contact with… my God…"
Adrian quickly grabbed an emergency protective hood from the wall and threw it to Nora. "Put it on! Evacuate this area immediately!"
Flustered, Nora donned the transparent hood and saw Adrian do the same. The three researchers were not so lucky—the injured man knelt, dark veins spreading unnaturally beneath his skin.
"Save… save me…" he reached toward Adrian.
Adrian stepped back, gun raised. "Too late."
"Wait!" Nora grabbed his arm. "Maybe we can still do something!"
"For example?" Adrian asked coldly. "Watch him turn into a monster and bite us to death?"
Nora had no reply. At that moment, the injured researcher let out an unhuman howl and lunged at his nearest companion. Adrian fired three precise shots, and all three collapsed.
The gunfire echoed through the corridor, rattling Nora's eardrums. She stood frozen, staring at the blood spreading across the floor, mixing with the blue liquid to form an eerie purple.
"Move." Adrian gripped her wrist, dragging her away. "This area needs full decontamination."
Back on solid ground, Nora finally found her voice. "What exactly was that? Why would your researchers… betray you?"
Adrian removed his hood, his expression dark and terrifying. "Ω-7 is the core product of the 'Fireseed Project.' It allows immunity to the Blood Moon virus. The military has always wanted it."
"So… you have a cure?" Nora asked, incredulous. "And yet you watch people die outside?"
Adrian's gaze instantly hardened. "It's not a cure—it's a prototype. Success rate under 30%. Side effects include organ failure and mental collapse." He gestured toward the distant sea. "You want me to release it to civilians? Watch thousands suffer and die with false hope?"
Nora fell silent. Adrian's words made sense, yet she could not accept such absolute control.
"At least notify outside agencies. Collaborate…"
"And let the world know the Fu Group is behind this disaster?" Adrian sneered. "You're too naive, doctor."
Nora's eyes snapped up. "What do you mean? The Blood Moon virus… is connected to your company?"
Adrian's face stiffened for a moment, then returned to icy calm. "Rest. Tomorrow, I need you to analyze the contact history of the three traitors. Find the military infiltration channel."
He turned and left, tall and solitary. Nora stood still, realization dawning—Adrian Fu knew far more than he revealed. And the so-called "Fireseed Project" might hold the key to unraveling all the mysteries.