Caleb Colby took his coin and examined it from all angles. "No way," he said, puzzled. "I got this from a company safe. Why would anyone lock up an ordinary coin? Are they crazy?"

Everyone else’s attention, however, was on the palm-sized black notebook Faye Yardley had just taken out.

Flipping open the notebook, they immediately received a system notification: [Congratulations to the team for obtaining Dr. Audrey Shepherd’s diary. You may find some clues inside.]

"Dr. Audrey Shepherd?" Caleb Colby muttered. "Don’t tell me she’s a biochemist. Could she have been involved with the source of this infection?"

Many of the diary entries were just strings of data Dr. Audrey Shepherd had jotted down, the meaning of which likely only she understood.

Still, Faye Yardley patiently flipped through the pages, finally spotting a sentence: [The professors from Freyan and Ursia are arriving for the conference tomorrow as invited. Academician Shepherd will be there, too. I’m so happy! I’m going to present the proposal I’ve been preparing for so long in person. Don’t forget!]

There was no other information they could understand.

Zachary Pierce recalled carefully, "I got that set of metal cabinets from the 11th floor. Back then, I only grabbed the cabinets. I’ll go look for anything else now."

"Aren’t you guys tired? I know time in the Dungeon is different from the outside, but it’s still been over two hours. We should rest for a bit."

’Faye Yardley herself wasn’t sure what state she was in. Her stamina and energy seemed to be in ample supply. ’Maybe it’s just old habits making me feel like I should rest after such intense concentration and physical activity?’’

Zachary Pierce said, "You can rest, Yardley."

"I’ll go with Pierce," said Finn Ford. "It’ll be faster with the two of us."

With that, the two of them left quickly.

Faye Yardley thought for a moment and said, "I estimate we’ll be spending the next three days here. The clues we’ve found are too few. I suspect we’ll have to use the third method to leave this Dungeon in the end. For now, let’s clean up this temporary shelter."

The offices here were damaged, of course, but they were in much better shape than other places. The exterior glass of their current office was intact, so it wasn’t very dusty inside.

Caleb Colby and Gavin Donovan immediately started to tidy up the office.

"What are your Hunger Levels at now?"

"37," Gavin Donovan replied calmly.

"52."

Faye Yardley glanced at her own Hunger Level—a high 90—and kept quiet. She simply took out two bowls of Roasted Cold Noodles and two bottles of mineral water, setting them on the granite reception desk. "Come on, eat up. We’re definitely in for a fight later. You need a full stomach to have strength. Mr. Pierce and the others will get some when they’re back."

Gavin Donovan’s eyes lit up. He zipped over in a flash and said happily, "Thanks, boss."

They didn’t have to worry about chopsticks. Gavin Donovan simply used his long blade to split a nearby door, making five pairs.

’Faye Yardley made a mental note. ’Next time I enter a Dungeon or go to the island, I must not forget to bring cutlery. This is way too crude.’’

The sizable bowl of Roasted Cold Noodles was devoured in a few quick bites. Even after finishing, Gavin Donovan looked like he could eat more. Still, things were much better now that he had a boss; he no longer had to wait until his Hunger Level dropped below 10 before he would let himself eat.

By the time Pierce and Ford returned, the other two had long finished their meal. They were standing by the glass wall, observing the movements of the zombie horde around the City Science and Technology Museum, which had now become a massive, dark pit.

Pierce and Ford hadn’t found anything of note. They had searched the entire small company but came up with no new information or files.

They had, however, collected some gold bars and some gold and silver jewelry.

As they ate their Roasted Cold Noodles, Faye Yardley looked through the jewelry. Every piece was exquisite. What girl could dislike them?

"If you like them, Yardley, take them all," Finn Ford said cheerfully as he ate. "Consider it payment for the meal."

Faye Yardley was delighted. Since she had no shortage of food and drink, her interest in gold and silver jewelry was, of course, undiminished.

Without turning his head, Gavin Donovan said, "You two, eat faster. The horde is coming."

Faye Yardley rushed to the glass wall to look out. Good heavens, they were packed shoulder to shoulder, and this was just one small group.

But her heart was urging her: rush out and fight.

’Fighting is the only way to get stronger!’

"Are you scared?"

Zachary Pierce walked up beside her and asked, looking down at the scene below.

"I’m not scared. I want to fight. I need to get stronger!"

Caleb Colby slapped Faye Yardley on the shoulder. "That’s our Yardley! Go for it! I’m counting on you!"

"Donovan, save some for me later, okay?"

"Okay, boss."

The battle came even faster than they expected.

The vast majority of zombies continued toward the City Science and Technology Museum as if on a pilgrimage, but many others scattered into the surrounding area. Naturally, a good number of them headed for the office building where Faye Yardley and her team were located.

Zombies lingered in front of the first-floor entrance, while many others were already clambering up the adjacent collapsed building.

After quickly finishing their meal and gulping down some water, the group descended to the 5th floor as fast as possible. They had barricaded the stairwells on the 6th and 7th floors but had left a gap just wide enough for a person to slip through sideways. If they couldn’t hold the 5th floor, they could retreat to the 6th and add to the barricade.

Just as they reached the 5th-floor landing, they saw a zombie at a broken window, tentatively pushing at the debris blocking its way in.

Zachary Pierce immediately signaled for them to stop and crouched down, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The zombies’ hearing and vision were normal, but their sense of smell was still an unknown. By staying out of sight and making no noise, they could postpone the inevitable slaughter.

After all, a huge horde of zombies was nearby. If a fight did break out, there were only five of them. Even with their decent Attributes and four members skilled in lethal techniques, it wasn’t a reason to get cocky.

The THUMP-THUMPing continued for a while before the zombie gave up, turned, and left.

Zachary Pierce pointed upstairs, then began to slowly back away toward the 6th floor, still in a crouch.

All five retreated to the 6th floor and slipped into a south-facing office. The northern offices all faced the City Science and Technology Museum, so their chances of being discovered were much lower on the southern side.

But as soon as they entered the south-facing office, they saw a zombie clinging to the outside of the window, trying hard to peer inside. They had no idea if it was a special type of zombie with suction cups for hands and feet, but it had somehow managed to climb the sheer exterior wall.

Faye Yardley clutched her chest, her gaze burning. Her heart told her that only through battle, through relentless battle, could she grow stronger and become an indomitable powerhouse who stood above all others!

BANG!

THUD!

A sudden cacophony of slapping and thudding sounds filled the air.

It was joined by the irrepressible, gurgling sounds coming from the zombies’ mouths. GURGLE... GURGLE...

The sounds drifted clearly up from the 5th floor.

"Prepare to fight on this floor."

"Understood."

Gavin Donovan looked at Faye Yardley, gave her a nod, and said reassuringly, "I’ll protect you."

Faye Yardley told herself: ’I can do this! I know I can! I’m the one who will become the strongest!’

And just like that, the battle began...