Chapter 4: Hope of Mankind

Dr. Jenner was taken aback when he heard the voice. Since the departure of the army and other researchers, the couple had not heard anyone else for a week.

The voice in the headset persisted. "Hello!" "Is anyone there?" "I'm Leon Custer." "I want to talk to you."

Dr. Jenner held the headset but did not respond. He looked up at his wife, bewildered. "Melfa, what should we do? Should we respond?"

Dr. Melfa approached the display screen silently, bending down to scrutinize the figure that had suddenly appeared. He seemed to be in his twenties, about 1.9 meters tall, with a strong build and handsome features. He wore police riot armor over a gray-green county police uniform and carried a bloodstained, modified baseball bat.

Melfa frowned and manipulated the camera to scan the square in front of the door. She was surprised to see that the seven or eight zombies that had been wandering there were now all dead.

After a half-minute of contemplation, Melfa activated the headset, lowered the volume, and spoke softly: "My name is Melfa Pascal, director of research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Mr. Leon Custer, what is your purpose in coming here?"

Finally, there was a response. Leon felt relieved. Facing the camera, he spoke clearly and steadily: "Good afternoon, Dr. Melfa. I'm Leon Custer. I've come to propose a mutually beneficial cooperation."

The female voice responded calmly after a few seconds: "Cooperation? I'm sorry, Mr. Custer, but I don't quite understand. The CDC is a professional pathogen research institution. We don't typically engage in cooperation with individuals."

Leon maintained his composure, his expression resolute. "No, Dr. Melfa, I understand that you need help. The CDC's supplies are critically low. How long can your food and electricity last? Without outside assistance, do you intend to wait inside until the end?"

The voice fell silent for several dozen seconds before speaking again: "Mr. Custer, how did you obtain this information?"

Leon shook his head. "That's not important, Dr. Melfa. But I can tell you this. On my way to Atlanta, I met a fleeing researcher who had been bitten by a zombie. Before he died, he shared this information with me."

There was another pause before the speaker responded: "Let's assume this is true. Mr. Custer, you must understand the situation outside better than us. The CDC does require a substantial and consistent supply of resources. However, it seems impossible for you to achieve this alone. Additionally, we can't offer you anything beyond germ research."

Leon laughed briefly, then turned serious. "True, the CDC can't currently offer me much. But I know that the CDC in Atlanta is one of the few germ research institutions left in the world. Losing this place would mean humanity might never defeat the zombie virus. I aim to build a safe haven in Atlanta for survivors. Together, we can defeat the zombies, rebuild our homeland, and protect humanity's hope. Dr. Melfa, will you trust me and take a chance for the future of mankind?"

The female voice hesitated for nearly a minute before replying hoarsely: "What a noble idea, Mr. Leon Custer. Though we can't fully trust your words, for humanity's future, I'm willing to try."

The armored door at the main gate slowly opened. "Come in, Mr. Custer. Let's discuss the cooperation you mentioned in detail."

Dr. Melfa appeared to be in her forties, with an ordinary appearance and a serious expression. Her most striking feature was her deep, bright blue eyes.

After Leon entered the CDC, Melfa introduced him to the current situation, including material reserves, various equipment, machinery, and the progress of virus research.

"In other words, you urgently need virus samples and a large supply of diesel or gasoline for the generators?" Leon asked, arms crossed and leaning back in a leather chair.

"Yes. The base's power supply will last about thirty days. Despite the loss of many researchers, our food and daily necessities are sufficient for one hundred people for about three months. However, we've exhausted all crucial virus samples. Without these, all related research will halt," Dr. Melfa explained, her voice urgent.

"So, Mr. Custer, we need you to obtain new virus samples as soon as possible. Every minute's delay means the antibody serum will be one minute later."

Leon nodded sincerely. "It's alright, Dr. Melfa. That's why I'm here. Don't worry about my safety. I've survived alone for a month and know how to protect myself. Just tell me how to get those samples."

Hearing that Leon had been living alone for a month, Melfa's expression softened. "Your abilities are commendable, Mr. Custer. We need samples from four virus sources: the blood and DNA of unaffected humans, brain tissue and flesh from both living and dead zombies, and the brain tissue and blood DNA of infected humans. Of course, the fourth sample is not mandatory, but it would greatly aid our research. Ideally, we need at least ten hosts per sample type, replaced every fortnight. Today's task is to collect samples from the newly deceased zombies in the square."

Leon nodded, finding the task manageable. "I'll gather those samples before dark. Now, let's discuss my terms."

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