The Apocalypse Solution Provider

Chapter 31: Full Army Preparation

The next day, the biting wind howled once again.

The group rose early, forcing down a quick breakfast.

With actual professionals on the payroll, their R&D capabilities regarding the infected matter immediately skyrocketed.

SU JIN spent the morning harvesting ice. He sorted varying quantities of cubes into standardized containers, then heated them down to liquid.

This created samples with varying concentrations of the gray mist, each meticulously numbered and cataloged.

The sorting process relied entirely on his enhanced visual perception.

Using his naked-eye gauge of the mist’s density, he sketched out a grayscale gradient chart on blank paper to serve as a reference standard for the two experts.

Under the direct guidance of SUN YA and WEI DE, he made a few rudimentary adjustments to compensate for human error.

Thanks to the veteran researchers, the supernatural, invisible gray mist had swiftly been locked down into a quantifiable experimental metric.

By the time they wrapped up the initial prep, it was already noon.

The two seniors remained hunched over their work in the guest bedroom turned makeshift laboratory, utterly absorbed in their observations.

SU JIN stepped out of the lab, a heavy weight lifting from his chest.

The Fu family sat awkwardly in the living room, utterly devoid of purpose.

After hours of forced idleness, the anxiety gnawing at FU HU and his wife was practically vibrating off their skin.

SU JIN took one look at them and diagnosed the problem.

He had benched them out of a misplaced sense of courtesy.

Right now, this family needed KPIs.

Whether to distract them from the apocalypse or squeeze some actual value out of them for the team, letting them stew in their own thoughts would only lead to a psychological breakdown.

Sometimes, manual labor was the best therapy.

Before SU JIN could issue a directive, FU HU shot to his feet, stammering, “Director… is there anything I can do?”

“Hold that thought.” Dropping the command, SU JIN bolted up to the fourth floor.

Several round trips later, a bizarre assortment of items littered the living room floor.

Rocks of varying sizes, discarded clothing, rolls of aluminum flashing… and a massive sack of pig feed.

Catching his breath, SU JIN planted his hands on his hips. “Old Fu, the rocks and whatever’s in that sack? That’s your new training regimen. For you and your daughter.”

“Your only job description right now is indoor conditioning. Boost your strength and stamina! I want heavy focus on arms, legs, and lung capacity.”

“As for the bows, we’ll prop open the doors between our two apartments, tear down the entryway partitions… string up some quilts as targets. Drill it hard. You’re going to need it.”

SU JIN jabbed a finger at the massive sack on the floor. “That stuff right there. Take a scoop before and after every session. It’ll accelerate muscle growth and mitigate fatigue.”

FU HU scratched his head, staring at the label. “Director… isn’t that pig feed?”

“Pig feed? Please! That is a proprietary, high-performance nutritional supplement I sourced specifically for you. I just used an agricultural sack because buying in bulk is a logistical nightmare,” SU JIN lied with effortless, deadpan corporate ease. “If you don’t know the proper reps, I’ll walk you through the routine…”

Even though it literally was pig feed, the contents were absolute gold.

Unadulterated whey protein!

The fitness industry in this era was functionally non-existent, and the general market had zero concept of whey protein’s actual value.

The very same supplement that future gym bros would treat like holy water was currently being shoveled into rural troughs!

Finding it at the slaughterhouse earlier had been a massive stroke of luck!

A perfect protein source… with the added bonus of potent veterinary antibiotics mixed in to ward off livestock diseases!

That discovery at the slaughterhouse had also sparked a crucial realization.

Human pharmacies heavily regulated the good painkillers and stimulants, but the agricultural sector handed out veterinary drugs like candy.

He had easily scored a massive haul of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Sure, the purity standards weren’t exactly FDA-approved for human consumption, but given the current apocalyptic landscape, a few industrial impurities were the least of their worries.

The only tragedy was that he hadn’t managed to scavenge any raw testosterone.

If he had some T on hand, he could shoot FU QINGDAI up and watch her muscle mass explode overnight!

Side effects were irrelevant. If they ran into real trouble, he wouldn’t have to worry about the juice turning her into a mutant bodybuilder; the ZOMBIES would rip her apart long before the liver failure kicked in.

FU HU stood there, utterly bewildered by the barrage of fitness terminology. “Director, I can handle the heavy lifting. But my daughter… she’s just a girl. What’s lifting rocks going to do for her? If she runs into a monster, her arms are too weak—”

“They’ll stay weak if she doesn’t train!” SU JIN snapped, slipping back into his commanding warlord persona. “Old Fu, I’m cutting the polite corporate chatter. Your mindset is an outdated liability!”

“We have a brief window of safety. Yes, FU QINGDAI is female and her raw muscle synthesis will be slower, but neurological muscle recruitment adapts fast. If you follow the routine I just laid out…”

The biomechanical jargon flew entirely over FU HU’s head, but the grim gravity of SU JIN’s tone hit its mark.

“Director, I didn’t understand half of that, but I’ll get it done.”

“Outstanding execution. Keep that energy.” SU JIN pivoted to the deeply uncomfortable ZHANG WAN, deliberately softening his voice into a placating purr. “Sister-in-law.”

“I know you’re terrified. But as a state-sanctioned official—and factoring in FU QINGDAI’s unique… assets—it is my sworn duty to ensure your survival. I will keep this family breathing. You have my word on that.”

Tears pricked the corners of ZHANG WAN’s eyes, and she nodded frantically.

“Compartmentalize the fear. I have an assignment for you, too.” SU JIN gestured to the pile of junk. “You’re skilled with a needle. I need you to reverse-engineer these garments. Sew deep pockets across the vital areas, shear that aluminum flashing into plates, and slot them inside.”

“Mobility is priority one, followed immediately by total ballistic coverage. No exposed seams, no blind spots. I trust your professional craftsmanship can handle a little apocalyptic tailoring.”

ZHANG WAN critically eyed the pile of materials and nodded firmly. “It’s not complicated. I can draft a pattern and make it work.”

“Perfect! Sister-in-law, this armor is the literal difference between life and death.” SU JIN locked eyes with her, dialing up the dramatic intensity. “Our lives are in your hands.”

“I… I won’t let you down. Not a single stitch out of place.”

…

By early afternoon, lunch was cleared away.

Layered in his heavy protective gear, SU JIN hurried downstairs, a broad sheet of thin sheet metal clamped under his arm.

He had officially tabled the tenant-recruitment project for the day.

The two eggheads were currently grinding away at the gray mist analysis, and he had a ZOMBIE dissection scheduled on his calendar right before sunset.

His own stamina bar wasn’t infinite. He needed to manage his energy reserves carefully to handle future recruitments and inevitable hostile encounters.

Besides, letting the remaining survivors marinate in their own terror for a few more days wasn’t a bad strategy. The longer they survived the pressure cooker, the harder their minds would become.

Rushing to onboard emotionally fragile liabilities was terrible management. If they couldn’t handle the stress, they weren’t worth the severance package.

Despite this cold-blooded logic, as he hit the ground floor landing, he still paused to hammer his fist against the two apartment doors.

He listened to the distinct sound of shuffling feet and mindless bodies thudding against the wood, sighed heavily, and pushed through the lobby doors.

Total squad wipe on the first floor.

Even though the floodwaters hadn’t breached the lobby, he recalled seeing ZOMBIES clawing at the ground-floor glass the morning after the storm. Both units had clearly left a window cracked. A fatal security breach.

The moment SU JIN stepped out into the courtyard, panicked survivors from the upper floors and the adjacent buildings instantly started screaming for rescue.

SU JIN completely ignored the wailing. He cleanly drew his weapon, calibrated the range, and executed the only two ZOMBIES wandering the immediate perimeter.

Holstering the gun, he grabbed the ankles of the nearest infected corpses, tossed the sheet metal over their upper halves, and started hauling them back toward the lobby.

Who knew if these bastards had a “play dead” mechanic? Covering their snapping jaws with steel plating gave him a crucial buffer if they suddenly decided to spring a jump scare on him.

Fortunately, the bodies remained thoroughly decommissioned. He dragged the two heavy corpses up the stairs, unceremoniously dumping both of them into the late Wang Song’s apartment for the upcoming autopsy.