The passage ahead gradually fell into darkness, the dim yellow lights along the way completely vanishing in this section.


    Allen and Ethan couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief, the oppressive tension in their chests easing slightly.


    "The lights are off, so it seems this isn''t an area where the rat-men are active," Allen said in a low voice, though his tone remained highly cautious.


    Ethan glanced around and added, "This area should be temporarily safe."


    However, Eli''s steps didn’t relax in the slightest. In a low voice, he said:


    "The lights are off, which indeed means the rat-men aren’t active here. But why don’t they come to this area?"


    Allen and Ethan froze.


    "Most likely," Eli continued with a hint of coldness, "it’s because something far more terrifying than the rat-men is ahead."


    Eli’s words sent a chill through the two, instantly heightening their tension.


    Then Eli changed his tone, softening it slightly.


    "Still, for now, this place is relatively safe. We can rest here for a bit."


    Allen and Ethan were filled with doubt. They couldn’t understand how Eli had come to this conclusion.


    Even so, they nodded, choosing to trust Eli’s judgment.


    Eli immediately focused on a corner, walking over and gently setting Langdon down, ensuring his body rested steadily against the wall.


    Watching Eli’s careful actions, Ethan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Eli, do you know Langdon?"


    Eli replied calmly, "No, but that doesn’t stop us from becoming comrades in the future."


    Allen raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile of approval forming on his lips.


    "Good answer," Ethan said, a hint of admiration in his tone.


    Eli looked at Ethan, his gaze carrying a trace of curiosity as he asked,


    "Still, I have a question. During the earlier fight, you went to great lengths to protect Langdon. For a moment, I thought you knew him."


    Ethan was silent for a moment, his gaze dropping slightly as he replied in a steady voice:


    "I don’t know him. But I once had a young colleague, about Langdon’s age. During an operation, he died from a drug dealer’s bullet—because I didn’t protect him."


    Allen’s expression grew complex, as if he were recalling something, and he fell into brief silence.


    Eli lowered his head for a moment, expressing his respect and condolences.


    After the moment of silence, Allen was the first to speak. His voice was low, carrying a suppressed anger and pain.


    "Eli, I know this may not be something we should ask, but I still want to know—what’s really going on with this disaster?"


    He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Eli, heavy with indescribable gravity.


    "My family… they might have… perished in this disaster…"


    His voice trembled slightly but was quickly suppressed. He tried to stay composed, but the pain in his eyes was unmistakable.


    Ethan also turned his gaze toward Eli, his stare steady and intense.


    He said nothing, but his eyes carried an unspoken pressure, demanding an answer.


    Meeting their gazes, Eli’s voice was low but resolute:Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Believe me or not, I truly don’t know why this disaster broke out. But one thing I’m certain of—it’s not the work of humanity. Our technology hasn’t reached such a level."


    After a slight pause, his eyes swept over the two of them as he continued:


    "As for my abilities… to be honest, I’m as clueless as you are. But I do know this—if this secret falls into the wrong hands, I will be in extreme danger."


    Eli’s tone lowered slightly, becoming even calmer and firmer:


    "I have to survive. I need to uncover the whole truth. For that, I’m willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means doing things that… violate ethics or human rights."


    After a second of silence, he added, "Because this is my mission."


    Ethan nodded slowly and said in a deep voice:


    "I get what you mean. If the government or those big corporations find out about your abilities, there’s a high chance you’ll be taken in as a test subject. Those wealthy and powerful people would do anything for immortality or eternal youth."


    He paused, his tone turning colder:


    "Even if it doesn’t come to that, someone with your rare abilities would never be sent to the front lines. They’d ''protect'' you, but in reality, it’s just imprisonment, monitoring you for life. Freedom? Keep dreaming."


    Eli nodded slightly on the surface, as if agreeing with Ethan’s assessment, but his thoughts were elsewhere.


    What he truly worried about wasn’t exposing his transcendent abilities


    but rather those deeper, more terrifying secrets:


    The terrifying intuition and that vague, unclear dream were the real secrets he didn’t want to reveal.


    Allen remained silent for a moment before speaking bluntly:


    "Listen, Eli. I want to figure all this out too. That’s why I want to join your team. Not just to survive, but to uncover the truth."


    He stared into Eli’s eyes, his tone carrying a hint of pressure:


    "You saved me at Grand Central Station, wasn’t it because of my status as a cop? I can use my position to help you keep these secrets hidden. Whether it’s files, identities, or other troublesome matters, I’ll do my best to handle them."


    Ethan spoke up without hesitation:


    "Count me in too. I’m not good with flowery words, but whatever you need, I’ll follow through."


    He spread his hands, his gaze frank:


    "Whether it’s to stay alive or uncover the truth, I’m on your side."


    Allen nodded and said firmly, "We’re in the same boat now. Cooperation is the only way we have a chance of surviving."


    Eli’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Alright then, it’s settled. Let’s work together."


    Allen wasted no time and asked directly, "Alright, so what’s next? What’s the plan?"


    Without hesitation, Eli replied:


    "First, we need to leave New York immediately. This place is done for. The longer we stay, the more dangerous it gets."


    He glanced at the two of them and emphasized:


    "This is the top priority."


    "Second, we need to understand the current situation. Not just in New York, but across the United States and globally."


    Eli’s tone grew more serious:


    "We’re completely in the dark right now. It’s too passive."


    Allen nodded and added, "Phones have no signal, and the internet is down. If we want information, we’ll have to wait until we’re out of New York."


    Ethan agreed, looking at Eli, waiting for him to continue.


    Eli went on:


    "Third, if the U.S. government hasn’t collapsed and social resources are still functioning normally, they will definitely establish some specialized agencies to investigate this disaster. Whether it’s the CIA, FBI, or some other department, there’s bound to be one like that."


    Eli’s voice lowered:


    "When that happens, we’ll have to make a decision—do we all join? Or does only one of us go in while the others stay outside, preserving more freedom of movement?"


    As he said this, his gaze shifted between Allen and Ethan, making it clear:


    At least one of you needs to go.


    Ethan barely hesitated before saying:


    "I’ll go. This is my field. I’ve worked undercover in drug cartels and dealt with all kinds of people. I can handle this."


    Allen nodded, clearly agreeing with Ethan’s suggestion.


    At the same time, he thought to himself: One of us has to stay in the team to keep an eye on Eli and ensure that his only goal is to uncover the truth about this disaster—not to hurt others or chase some dangerous ambition.


    Eli''s eyes flickered slightly. With his powerful intuition and keen insight, he could clearly "hear" Allen’s unspoken thoughts.


    But he said nothing, his expression remaining utterly calm.


    Allen broke the silence and spoke:


    "If this disaster really spreads worldwide and all governments collapse, with no one able to mobilize societal resources, then what do we do?"


    Eli replied without hesitation:


    "In that case, we’ll have to build a new government ourselves in the wasteland, form an army, rescue as many people as possible, and continue investigating the truth of the disaster."


    Ethan shook his head, a faint bitter smile on his lips:


    "Look, it’s a decent plan, but do you have any idea how hard that would be? Managing a wasteland isn’t a joke."


    Eli looked at him, his tone calm but resolute:


    "No matter how hard it is, it has to be done. If it comes to that, there won’t be any other choice."


    He paused, his tone softening slightly:


    "To be honest, I don’t want to see all governments collapse. If they can still function and mobilize societal resources, then we can focus entirely on uncovering the truth without being dragged down by other problems."


    Eli stopped for a moment, his expression growing heavier.


    His gaze swept over Allen and Ethan, his voice low and grave:


    "Listen, if human civilization truly enters a wasteland era, given the current circumstances, there’s a high chance human civilization will face extinction."


    Allen and Ethan’s expressions grew complicated, though they didn’t show any surprise or shock.


    Clearly, this wasn’t a possibility they hadn’t considered before.


    "Why? I’d like to hear your thoughts," Allen said, his voice low yet steady.