Master of the End Times

Chapter 588: Z’s Identity

The internal decoration of the hover copter was unimaginative. Despite that, there was a built-in heater inside and the warmth instantly comforted Qin Feng and Bai Li.

The old man looked even more ordinary after he had taken off his coat.

Hu San started the conversation like they were close acquaintances. “Qin Feng, I thought you were stationed at the North Sea. What’s your business here? Why was Z on your tail?”

Qin Feng stared at the old man as his mind was racing.

This old man in front of him was more informative than he initially thought. Even those in high rank would not be this resourceful and know every single detail. He even knew who he was and where he came from.

Perhaps the old man had paid attention because of his prodigy stature.

“I have been investigating about the Z Organization...” Qin Feng decided it was best to be honest and told him everything that had happened in Cheng Bei, Fu City, and Shadong Town.

Hu San was joyfully serving hot tea to them initially. The old man’s expression changed and shook his head when heard about the incident at Shadong.

“You are a persistent one. Just because one of your peers was kidnapped, you came all the way?”

This was not only about the kidnapping. If Qin Feng were not given a second life, he would not know that the contrast between his two lives would be this huge.

If his talent had not been taken away in his past life, his achievement, though might not be as high as his current potential, would not be just a normal A-tier in ten years.

All of his misery in the previous life stemmed from the day his talent was being forcefully stripped by the laboratory.

But he would not tell Hu San about this.

“I have been getting new leads constantly and could sense a looming threat. That’s why I continued to look into this,” Qin Feng explained.

“Threat? If I tell you that the main forces under Z are at best C-tier, will you still view them as a threat?” Hu San asked.

Qin Feng frowned and said, “How’s that possible? He is at least an S-tier!”

“S-tier? Haha...” Hu San laughed it off and drank his tea.

But Qin Feng had already caught the hint. ‘Don’t tell me, he is bigger than an S-tier?’

“Mister, may I ask who is this Z?” Qin Feng asked.

“Z?” Hu San paused for a while as if he was looking for the right words. He then said, “Before this era, this world was a prosperous place. It all ended when the calamity happened, the day we call Doomsday now.”

“There was a large scale of the mutated beast invasion. Other than primitive weapons and some declining ancient warrior families, the timid humans had little strength and didn’t stand a chance against the catastrophe. There was no Human Alliance back then. The world was divided into different countries, or nations. To save humankind, these once divergent nations decided to collaborate and run all sorts of experiments.”

Qin Feng was intrigued. “You are talking about the mutation experiment!”

“That’s right. Though in most records the experiments had all failed miserably, there’s actually one successful trial.”

Qin Feng immediately knew where this was going. He continued, “Z.”

“You are right. Z is the final alphabet and it symbolizes him being the last subject.”

“He was one of the researchers and had volunteered himself. His supervisor was the one who oversaw the project. In the end, none of the people in the facility survived. Z had turned into a horrific monster and he escaped with his supervisor.”

“Since the experiment was too unpredictable, the project was ultimately canceled despite Z being a success, sort of. Besides, at about the same time, other groups had successfully invented the awakening jab.”

“However, Z’s supervisor refused to stop. He insisted that his research direction was right. After all, he already had a living example at his disposal, who is Z. So they both set up a new lab and continued the experiment.”

Qin Feng said in bewilderment, “So Z had once belonged to the Human Alliance?”

“There’s no such thing at that time like I have told you.” Hu San laughed.

‘That’s true.’ The Human Alliance had just been established about 150 years ago.

In other words, Z was only a private organization in that era that believed mutation experiments could have saved humankind.

“After the invention of the awakening drug, S-tier elects began to emerge in just a few tens of years. The Human Alliance was then formed and the social structure underwent a drastic reform. Z’s supervisor had long died then. But Z refused to give up and wanted to continue his mentor’s experiment.”

“But his doing went against the ideology of the upper echelon.”

“Because he is working on a human experiment. Only the Dark Coalition would allow that.” Qin Feng said solemnly.

“That’s not entirely correct.” Hu San, unexpectedly, shook his head.

“Eh?”

Hu San asked Qin Feng, “Did Z tell you about his goal?”

Z was definitely a talker, but Qin Feng did not remember exactly what he had said. In fact, Z struck him as delusional.

“Z wished to turn every human being into elite aptitude or ability users.” Hu San revealed the answer.

“He did mention that.” Qin Feng nodded. He could still remember the maddening look on Z’s expression when he said that.

Hu San continued, “The elects and leaders are enjoying the power in their hands right now. They wouldn’t like Z’s ideology. They don’t even care about improving the awakening drug. To them, the commoners should stay ignorant and powerless. That’s their only way to hold firm onto their positions.”

Qin Feng’s expression changed.

He looked at Hu San and wondered whether the old man was being serious.

Sadly, Qin Feng was unable to refute Hu San’s words.

The strong ruled in this post-apocalyptic world. No ruler would like to see their thrones threatened.

Qin Feng’s power had rocketed quickly since his time in Chengbei colony. When he reached E-tier, he was a threat to the mayors. After D-tier, he was a threat to the dukes.

Now at C-tier, he had become a governor. Would those above him not be wary of him as well?

If Z’s experiment were to succeed, then everyone had a chance to be awakened. Not only that but people could obtain both ancient martial art and ability. It would be a groundbreaking development!

Such a thing had never crossed Qin Feng’s mind. “But what does this have to do with Z’s subordinates?”

Hu San explained, “Z has never swayed from his original intention despite his conflict with the upper echelon. If he wishes everyone to become strong, then he would only execute the experiment on commoners instead of awakened aptitude or ability users. That’s why his subjects are all C-tier or lower.”

Qin Feng had been wondering why Z only established a small laboratory in a remote place like Chengbei or Xue Yuan if he was an S-tier. It was extremely easy for an S-tier to take control over a large territory.

His perception had completely changed after meeting Hu San. Qin Feng had never met anyone like Hu San in his past life. Hu San’s power remained unknown but he must be at least an S-tier.

This old man was probably a hermit being told only in legends.