Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 916: Chapter 160: Worldly Passions and Karmic Obstacles Abound

Humans are rather peculiar creatures, and the human mind is the most complex thing; sometimes you can’t even understand your own thoughts.

Confusion, perhaps will persist until the day life ends, never dissipating.

…

Alec Pharmaceutical is a medicine company acquired by the Song Dynasty Group, and its returns are quite good. But the truth is, the initial acquisition of Alec Pharmaceutical was just the Song Family taking care of its own village.

Training warriors, when they are deployed and injured, requires many medicines. Some are hard to find in the market—rather than spending energy seeking necessary medicines from various channels, it’s more convenient and expedient to produce them ourselves.

Of course, owning a pharmaceutical company naturally includes departments dedicated to the development of more efficient medications—among these departments is a special team that analyzes pills provided by Mr. Blind—who is also employed within this group.

In Alec Pharmaceutical’s special research lab, recently, they are intensely studying something novel. More precisely, they are researching a live captured zombie.

This project incites fear and excitement among researchers, while also being a top-secret initiative. All researchers know that once involved with this special team, they essentially sever ties with the outside world.

Of course, the Song Family does not mistreat them. Their families outside are well taken care of, so they can work here in peace.

This day, Song Da arrived here again, carrying something like a sealed box and covered with cloth.

Why say again?

Naturally because Song Da comes every day lately, researchers are unfazed. In fact, the research team has drawn blood from the Song Big Three Brothers for study—after all, the Song Big Three Brothers possess superhuman physiques, which is quite intriguing.

But it turns out they are genuinely healthy and genuine humans.

Two men in security suits stand outside the door of a special room at this moment. They hold formidable assault rifles, poised, never relaxing—these two are from the village.

“Greetings, Instructor!” They salute promptly upon seeing Song Da approach.

Song Da merely nods simply and waves—these two guards then open the steel door behind them.

They do not follow Song Da inside but continue guarding outside the steel door—in truth, there is another heavier door inside the room, so Song Da enters merely into an antechamber.

Nonetheless, many devices are present here.

Song Da begins transferring protective gear, then approaches the second door, where he is immediately surrounded by a mist of water—this is a special disinfectant.

Before entering, comprehensive disinfection is required, and comprehensive disinfection is similarly required upon exit, as strongly requested by researchers—because, contained inside, is a live zombie.

No one knows what kind of external bacteria could trigger a reaction in the zombie, nor whether the bacteria carried by the zombie are truly air-resistant.

Song Da impatiently waits for a moment until the electronic voice indicates disinfection completion. As the second door can be opened, he frowns slightly and walks inside.

The room is dark, but as Song Da enters, it becomes extraordinarily bright, almost pure white. At the same time, a massive roar echoes with frenzied thrashing sounds.

In the center of the room stands a huge specially treated square glass enclosure, inside of which is the singular live-captured zombie: Natasha.

Natasha’s body has deteriorated to some extent from when she was in the hospital, her skin now gray, appearance altered. Currently, she ‘presses’ her entire body against the glass enclosure, hands constantly clawing at it.

It’s looking toward Song Da, but Song Da is uncertain if it truly sees him.

Around the enclosure are numerous instruments designed for monitoring Natasha’s various activity data… Song Da doesn’t understand much and doesn’t pay much mind, only fearlessly approaches Natasha.

Between them is merely a few centimeters’ thickness of glass, Song Da quietly observes Natasha’s appearance.

After a while, Song Da takes several steps back, then moves to the side of the enclosure where a platform is located. He opens what he has been carrying—a portable pet house.

Inside is a wild cat already unconscious. Song Da places the wild cat on the platform, which automatically opens to reveal a conveyance passage leading inside the glass enclosure.

Song Da presses the start button, commencing the transport system. Shortly thereafter, the floor within the enclosure also opens automatically, and this wild cat appears inside the glass enclosure.

Without hesitation, Natasha pounces on the wild cat, beginning to consume it live… the scene, naturally, is unpleasant.

Watching Natasha’s current state, Song Da vaguely wonders whether capturing it alive was the right choice… if he should have killed it outright with a palm strike.

Or whether, if efforts in the Dungeon Maze had been more thorough, she could have been brought out.

Humans are peculiar; if there’s no intention to save initially, nothing can be considered… but once accepted from the start, inexplicable guilt arises.

Song Da subconsciously sighs, feeling his thoughts redundant—during his studies in the bald-headed monks’ temple, the master often said he was not free from desire. Song Da didn’t care, but now it seems it’s true.

The karma of the mortal world is abundant.

After Natasha finishes consuming the wild cat, Song Da silently watches for a while before turning to leave the room—outside, he naturally undergoes another round of disinfection.

After removing the protective suit, Song Da does not immediately depart but sits in the changing area, pondering something unknown.

Suddenly, Song Da retrieves something from his clothes: a document.

This is Natasha’s identification document, found later by Song Da in the hospital, but the girl with the bright smile in the photo now transformed into a monster.

Gazing at the detailed residential address on the document, Song Da ponders something unknown… he furrows his brow and abruptly stands, then hastily leaves, even without greeting the outer guards.

…

…

“…Therefore, the monitoring agencies all consist of members from the Thirteen Clans.”

This is almost like a dialogue exchange… the subsequent conversation between Song Haoran and Gloria. Song Haoran knows that Gloria wouldn’t divulge much unless pressured—even what’s revealed now won’t extend beyond Song Haoran’s questions.

Thus, her answers are cautious and prudent; what she mentions is not genuine confidential information—these are known facts among the non-humans hidden in the dark world, but still largely unknown to humans.

“Indeed, this world is far more interesting than I imagined.” Song Haoran flashed a satisfied smile at that moment.

Gloria said coldly at this moment, “If you don’t have anything to ask, you’d better return my things… Don’t let your curiosity cause trouble for those behind you. Did you forget the warning given to you by that blind man in the treasury?”

“That’s why I came quietly,” Song Haoran shrugged, “Of course, I think he probably guessed I would do this. But in fact, that gentleman didn’t stop me further… so perhaps he tacitly agreed?”

“Return my things!” Gloria gritted her teeth and said.

“I still have many questions, no rush,” Song Haoran said playfully, “Anyway, you’re not planning to confess, so I can only ask myself. But I’ve learned quite a bit today; I need to digest it, think up some more questions, and come back tomorrow to ask you properly.”

Gloria was helpless. Smart men have always been frightening, especially smart men with low moral standards, even more so.

“It’s almost time; I should go back to the family party.” Song Haoran smiled at this moment but did not leave immediately.

Gloria wished this annoying guy would leave now, but Song Haoran picked up the bowl filled with blood — naturally, it wasn’t the blood of a cook who accidentally cut his hand; it was just duck blood found in the kitchen.

Song Haoran poured this blood into the toilet in the cell, flushing away the bowl of duck blood — this kind of cell was originally meant to imprison people, so of course, it had basic facilities like a toilet, along with a washbasin nearby.

Song Haoran seemed to be in a good mood, leisurely washing the bowl, while Gloria’s eyes almost shot fire.

At this moment, Song Haoran suddenly turned his body, curiously asked, “Suddenly thought of a question. You said bloodsuckers only drink blood, not eat anything… So do you actually go to the toilet?”

While speaking, Song Haoran moved his fingers, pointing at a surveillance camera in the corner of the room.

Gloria bit her teeth tightly, showing a look of hatred, Song Haoran shrugged indifferently, smiled, “Actually, this thing I never turned on. Don’t worry, I have no interest in peeping, because if I wanted to watch… I would do so openly.”

Gloria simply ignored… This man, he had no concept of the lowest moral baseline!

“Actually, you’re very easy to expose yourself.” Song Haoran walked back to the simple wooden table, placed the cleaned bowl down, turned his back to Gloria and said to himself, “Although you appear cold on the surface, the forced indifference is easily shattered.”

Gloria was startled, not because of Song Haoran’s words, but because she smelled a familiar scent — which instantly inflated her hunger.

“Your dinner, enjoy it well, Investigator Ms. Ren.” Song Haoran smiled as he turned around.

His right hand at this moment was gripping his left wrist, and in the palm of his left hand, blood was gushing out, while between Song Haoran’s fingers was a small dagger.

“Then, I won’t disturb you.”

Song Haoran left like that, Gloria waited for a while, but this bothersome guy did not return, and the air was filled with the scent of blood, almost pushing her endurance to its limit.

She had actually approached this ‘table’, staring at the almost half-bowl of blood.

Hunger instinctively opened her mouth, her hand trembled uncontrollably as it stretched out; at this moment, Gloria cursed angrily, “Damn… I will tear you apart into pieces!”

Gloria suddenly bit her lip, resolutely picked up the bowl, and walked to the toilet.

Just as her hand flipped over the bowl, Gloria suddenly stopped, the blood tilted towards the edge of the bowl, the tension of the liquid kept the blood from spilling out.

Gloria took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and drank the half-bowl of blood.

Gloria’s hands naturally dropped down, the bowl fell from her grasp, instantly shattered.

She tilted her head up, closed her eyes… after a while, she quietly walked towards the single bed, lay down, and slightly curled up her body.

“Why being so honest…”

Gloria held her head, closed her eyes.

…

Having left the Dungeon Maze’s confinement room behind, Song Haoran returned to the ground level, intending to head to the dining hall.

His mood was quite good, whistling, examining his left palm… The wound had stopped bleeding after he left, only a scar remained, showing signs of recent healing.

Song Haoran gently ran his fingers over the scar in the palm, the healing speed exceeded his expectations… Song Haoran whistled again, muttering to himself, “Transcendent…”

“Young Master!”

At this moment, a young servant from the Dungeon Maze, probably around twenty years old, approached, her features quite striking.

Song Haoran squinted his eyes, nodded, then said, “Oh, has anyone ever told you, you’re especially cute today.”

“How annoying!” Knowing this Young Master’s character well, the maid rolled her eyes at Song Haoran, then left.

Young Master Song was of course dissatisfied, quickly slapped the maid’s bottom playfully, eliciting another eye roll, and then contentedly twirled Gloria’s necklace with his fingers, walked out of the corridor.

“Oh, what a coincidence, Luo Qiu!”

Unexpectedly, Song Haoran hadn’t walked far before he ran into Luo Qiu, along with Gan Hong, who almost always stayed by Luo Qiu’s side these days.

“Just changed clothes, preparing to go to the dining hall.” Luo Qiu nodded, glanced at Song Haoran, suddenly said, “You look like you’re in a good mood, as bright as the sun.”

“Sun?” Song Haoran was taken aback, subconsciously looked up, seeing the sunset, “I prefer the sunset… Oh, speaking of sunset, I suddenly remembered an adventure story, come on, want to hear?”

Song Haoran directly put his arm around Luo Qiu’s shoulder, then turned to Gan Hong, “Borrowing your… Young Master, not mind, right?”

Gan Hong sighed helplessly, “As you please.”

“What kind of story?” Luo Qiu asked casually, freeing a hand.

Song Haoran replied with a smile, “It’s a snow mountain adventure story, starting at sunset, let me tell you…”

Gan Hong shook her head, unable to understand why Young Master would tell his adventure stories to women so often, yet hardly ever to men.

Why does he just like telling stories to Young Master Qiu?

Such a mystery.