Eagle, Si Ye, and Jiawu remained at the stairwell until Chen Jianguo left before finally emerging.

“Ranran, are we really going to cooperate with the military?” Jiawu asked, clearly skeptical.

As a former mercenary, he still had some wariness toward the Huaguo military.

“Xiao Liu examined those mutated trees—two of them bear fruit that significantly boosts abilities.

And those five trees? The highest mutation level among them is just level five. That’s challenging for their ability squad, but not for us,” Nan Muran explained. In other words, this partnership was a goldmine for them.

Si Ye nodded. He could sense Nan Muran’s obsession with strengthening her power. “The military team this time is led by Han Yingtin.”

Nan Muran was no stranger to that name.

In her previous life, he was the dominant figure on the combat power rankings across the top ten apocalypse bases. His squad, Night Star, was the strongest ability team in Huaguo.

He was also the military’s biggest trump card for fully controlling the West City Base.

“Before we leave, we should head back to the Hillside Villa and inform Sister Mei. The five trees are spread out, and we might not be back for a while,” Nan Muran said to Jiawu.

Over at the villa, ever since Nan Muran had tasked Tank with security, it led the three military dogs on daily patrols within a ten-kilometer radius around the villa without fail.

So, not long after their SUV entered the mountain, two figures came sprinting toward them.

One was Tank, and the other was Sky Wolf, one of the three military dogs.

As soon as Si Ye stopped the car, Tank jumped through the window straight into Nan Muran’s arms and began howling in protest.

“It’s not that I’m not taking you—it’s just that you need to guard the house,” Nan Muran said, stroking its head to soothe it, clearly understanding the little guy’s displeasure.

Tank didn’t accept that explanation easily and only stopped whining when it got tired.

Nan Muran broke into a cold sweat inwardly, turning to look at Sky Wolf, who was sitting primly on the ground—now that’s cute.

“Sky Wolf, hop in—we’re going home.”

Incidentally, she only learned the names of the three little guys thanks to the nameplates on their chests.

Sky Wolf tilted its head, glanced at its owner, then suddenly smiled and leapt into the vehicle.

Though the group had only been away for three days, Bai Mei was already growing anxious in the villa.

When she found out they were back just to pack up and head out again, she grew even more uneasy.

“Sister Mei, would you rather stay here in the villa, or go to the base at the foot of the mountain?” Nan Muran asked, concerned about leaving her behind, especially with her leg condition and uncertain return timing.

“I’ll stay at the villa,” Bai Mei replied. She liked solitude, and the hillside villa was very secure.

Jiawu frowned at this. “Once we leave, you’ll be all alone here.”

“I’ve still got Tank and Da Fu, haven’t I? Or are they going with you guys too?” Bai Mei asked, suddenly realizing something.

“No, they’re staying. Their mission is to guard the villa,” Nan Muran reassured her. From the very beginning, when she asked Eagle to help train the military dogs, she’d been thinking about the villa’s safety.

She had spent a fortune building the place—it was her biggest stronghold.

To her, this place was home. She would never abandon it.

Even if she wasn’t there in person, she’d make sure the villa remained well protected.

To fully rely on Tank, Da Fu, and the three military dogs, she needed to strengthen them as quickly as possible.

So, Nan Muran gave them ability fruits and helped them absorb mutated cores.

By the time the group left on the third day, both Tank and Da Fu had reached the mid-stage of level two in the mutation system, and even Sky Wolf and the other two dogs had awakened their powers.

Eagle watched the five creatures’ battle power with a twitching brow. He had a feeling that if all five attacked him together, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

Jiawu also felt more at ease thanks to their strength.

It had to be said—Nan Muran was truly rich when it came to ability resources.

She didn’t just have a lot—her plant-type power allowed her to maximize the effects of each resource.

By early morning on the third day, at the agreed-upon time with Chen Jianguo, the four of them packed up and headed straight for the entrance of the secure base.

Just as they arrived at the military’s secure base entrance—

Chen Jianguo, who had been waiting, immediately came forward, though he hadn’t yet introduced anyone when—

“Is that for us?” Nan Muran’s eyes lit up at the sight of the military-grade third-generation Warrior vehicle parked by the gate. This kind of thing couldn’t be bought with money.

Chen Jianguo was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected such a tough preference from a pretty young girl like her. “You like this sort of thing?”

“It’s not for us?” Nan Muran asked, clearly disappointed.

She was already calculating how to ask for one.

“Xiao Luo, go get one out for Miss Nan,” Chen Jianguo immediately instructed the guard behind him.

Nan Muran’s eyes sparkled when she heard that. She didn’t hesitate to flatter him. “Commander Chen, you’re so generous.”

Chen Jianguo chuckled.

Though Nan Muran might not care, she had once fought off a horde of over a thousand zombies on her own and killed five level-two zombies. She’d saved both the Sharp Blade Squad and Professor Chen’s team.

The military—and even the entire Huaguo base—couldn’t afford to ignore that, especially since Professors Chen and Qiu were key members of the research center.

Chen Jianguo remembered that favor. This vehicle? Consider it a gift for the mission.

(To be continued. Click next page to keep reading!)

To the side, the fifteen military ability users watched the four approaching with silent judgment.

Si Ye and Eagle were familiar faces, but several frowned at Nan Muran, who looked young.

Han Yingtin, the team leader, gave the four a slight nod.

Nan Muran returned it politely.

Soon, Xiao Luo drove the car over, and Nan Muran gratefully accepted the keys with a thank-you.

Only then did Chen Jianguo begin introductions. Besides team leader Han Yingtin, there was also a vice-captain named Chang Ming.

Because Chen Jianguo had already explained everyone’s ability types ahead of time and clarified that this mission would be led by Nan Muran, Han Yingtin, despite his doubts, made no objections.

After introductions, the group set off.

The military led with two SUVs, while Nan Muran’s group followed at the rear.

“Captain Han, is that girl really late-stage level three?” someone in the military vehicle couldn’t help but ask with suspicion.

Han Yingtin furrowed his brows slightly. “Commander Chen wouldn’t lie to us.”

Still, he found Nan Muran strange.

He had been among the first to awaken abilities in the military, right after the apocalyptic rain. The military had poured unlimited resources into his development.

Yet even with all that, he hadn’t reached the same level as this young girl. Why?

Han Yingtin didn’t doubt his own talent, nor did he think Nan Muran’s power level was fake. After all, Chen Jianguo wasn’t someone who would allow such deception.

But the more he thought about it, the more curious he became about what was behind her strength.