Chapter 112、Interrogation in Accordance with the Commander's Orders

The Chief of Staff stared ahead, his eyes fixed on the crowd at the far end of the pedestrian street. Slowly, the mass parted, revealing a towering young man—over six and a half feet tall, his body bulging with muscle—stepping forward.

He looked surprisingly clean, handsome even, not a day over twenty-eight, exuding a certain uprightness and confidence. His appearance didn't match the image of the ruthless killer, the "Little White Bear" whose name had long been feared across the land. It was hard to imagine that someone so calm and approachable could hold the position of destroying entire safe havens.

"You are Little White Bear?" the Chief of Staff asked, stepping off the military vehicle with a stern expression. He moved forward, his gaze scanning the young man from top to bottom.

"That's me," the young man answered without hesitation, his face showing no fear. However, as his eyes briefly swept over the soldiers and tanks behind them, a deep, helpless expression crossed his face. The firepower on display was enough to crush anyone's hope.

No exaggeration—this force, modeled after the Chinese military, with its modern army, could make even an SSS-grade combat talent hesitate. After all, talents required time to develop, and only a month had passed since the apocalypse. Who could stand against a regular army? Especially one of the world's most powerful?

The Chief of Staff raised an eyebrow. "May I ask, who are you exactly?"

The young man cautiously looked at him, his tone polite yet cautious. "I'm just... a survivor. No intentions of causing trouble."

"I'm asking the questions here," the Chief of Staff snapped, pulling out a small notebook, pen in hand, and lowering his head as he continued. "Name."

The young man blinked, still processing, before the Chief's voice raised slightly. "I'll ask. You answer. Name!"

"Chen Dafu," he replied after a brief pause, his voice steady.

The crowd around them held their breath, the tension in the air palpable. This scene felt surreal.

Everyone had grown accustomed to the cruel new world, where the strong ruled, and had reluctantly aligned themselves with Little White Bear. Now, here came a modern military force, questioning him in front of everyone with an air of authority that felt like a throwback to the old days of peace and order.

They couldn't believe their eyes. It was as though the old world, with its laws and order, had returned. Silence had fallen over the crowd, with even Little White Bear himself uncertain of how to handle the situation.

"Age?" the Chief of Staff asked.

"Twenty-seven," Chen Dafu answered after a beat. "Well, almost twenty-eight."

"Be more specific," the Chief of Staff instructed.

"I'm twenty-seven, comrade," Chen Dafu replied, his voice more subdued.

"Place of birth?"

"Local, rural. Just transferred my household registration to the city before the apocalypse hit."

"Occupation?"

"After graduation, I took out a loan to start a business—a gym."

"Level of your safe haven?"

"… Level 1."

Chen Dafu hesitated slightly, not expecting the inquiry to turn toward the apocalypse's operational details. The Chief of Staff, undeterred, scribbled more notes and continued: "Talent type and effects."

There was a long pause, as Chen Dafu didn't respond immediately. The Chief of Staff looked up sharply, locking eyes with him. "Chen Dafu! Answer the question. Cooperate with the investigation."

Chen Dafu looked behind him at the massive military presence and tanks, his expression one of resignation. He finally lowered his gaze and answered in a voice that lacked its usual firmness: "Combat-type, S-rank, called [Butcher]."

"'Butcher'... Sounds like you've killed quite a few people," the Chief of Staff remarked, narrowing his eyes.

Chen Dafu remained silent, unwilling to answer. The Chief's expression hardened. "Specific effects of your talent."

"I… destroy safe havens, the more I destroy, the stronger I become," Chen Dafu muttered, barely above a whisper.

The Chief of Staff wasn't satisfied. "Explain in detail. How strong are you now?"

The air around them thickened with tension. Chen Dafu felt the eyes of his subordinates on him, his own men watching as he was interrogated so openly. There was a deep sense of humiliation inside him, and his thoughts turned into frustration.

"Who are you, really?" Chen Dafu asked suddenly, his voice cold and accusatory. "I remember the army was withdrawn during the apocalypse. There were no officials left. Who are you? What's your identity? Are you really the national army?"

A tense silence fell over the crowd. The challenge in his words wasn't lost on anyone. But there was something in the way he spoke that suggested he wasn't afraid. In this new world, power was everything, and he wasn't about to be cowed by military force.

"You have quite the nerve," the Chief of Staff replied, a bitter smile twisting his lips. He hadn't expected anyone to question him in this way.

Before Chen Dafu could respond, the Chief's radio crackled to life. It was Lin Yue's voice, calm and firm: "We act openly and transparently. We'll tell him the truth."

"Understood," the Chief of Staff replied, his eyes never leaving Chen Dafu.

"We are not the national army you think we are," he continued, his tone composed. "We belong to another gathering place. We fight for the citizens, to overcome this disaster, and to liberate more survivors."

Chen Dafu's face twisted in disbelief. "Then what? You've been trying to play us the whole time?" His anger flared. "You're not an army, and yet you bring all this military force and interrogate me like I'm a criminal!"

The Chief of Staff remained unfazed. "You've been terrorizing this area for weeks. Your name is known to every survivor in the city. You've killed countless people, destroyed many safe havens. Whether by the laws of peace or the basic values of the people, you're guilty."

He didn't wait for a response. "As a soldier, I defend my country, punish evil, and uphold justice. What's wrong with that?"

Chen Dafu laughed bitterly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Hah! And you're going to 'punish evil' in the apocalypse?" He stepped forward, eyes gleaming with contempt. "You think you can stop me, huh? Let's see if you can take me down in front of your tanks and guns!"

The Chief of Staff didn't flinch, but before Chen Dafu could make another move, a large hand landed on his shoulder.

"Listen to the Chief of Staff, and cooperate with the investigation. You'll be treated leniently," came a calm, gravelly voice.

Chen Dafu froze, terror creeping up his spine. He hadn't sensed anyone approach.

Instinctively, he tried to step away and strike back, but his body felt weak and unresponsive, as if held in place by an invisible force. It was as though the very air around him had become an impenetrable wall, rendering him helpless.

With a shudder, he twisted his head to see who had appeared beside him.

The man standing next to him wore a military uniform, but it was slightly different. His build was massive, his face cold and unyielding. They locked eyes silently.

In that moment, a warning flashed in Chen Dafu's mind.

Warning! You have been restricted by a magnetic field and are unable to resist.

Chen Dafu's mind raced. How could this be? He was an S-rank talent, and yet, here he was, helpless. The magnetic field was the last thing he expected, and it only deepened his confusion.

"This is… impossible!" he hissed, struggling against the invisible force.

The man nodded at the Chief of Staff. "Don't bother trying to resist. It's a waste of energy."

The Chief of Staff held up his notebook again. "Tell us about your talent. How powerful are you now? How many people have you killed? How many criminals are in your safe haven? What's your stockpile situation?"

He paused, then added, "If you refuse to answer, I'll be forced to apply the protocols of Section 36, Clause 2, as signed by the Commander. That means you'll be subject to immediate execution if your crimes are confirmed."

"Answer, and you might receive clemency. At the very least, cooperating will lessen your punishment."

Chen Dafu's resistance shattered. His defiance was gone. He lowered his head, his voice subdued. "I'll answer."

The man nodded calmly, his gaze unwavering. "I have the most advanced lie detection system. If you lie, that's considered resisting the investigation. Your punishment will be severe. Do you understand?"

"Understood," Chen Dafu muttered bitterly. He had no choice but to comply. He had no strength left to resist.

In this new world, power was not just physical—it was absolute. Those who wielded it could reshape the world, and in this moment, the power of justice was something he could neither escape nor challenge.