As soon as they took down the zombies in the hallway, Adam and one of his team members immediately crouched down to extract the crystal cores from the five corpses, while Fred and Evelyn remained alert, scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes. Evelyn then stepped forward and kicked open the next door, revealing another group of zombies inside. It appeared to be yet another VIP lounge, similar to the one they had just cleared.
Recognizing the opportunity, the group entered the room to search for supplies. As expected, they found similar resources as before and quickly gathered everything they could. They distributed some of the supplies to the other teams before continuing their advance.
There turned out to be three VIP rooms on that floor, and at the end of the corridor stood an elevator. However, they deliberately ignored it and headed straight for the emergency stairs, making their way up to the third floor.
After reaching the third floor, Fred and the others swiftly cleared out the remaining zombies. Once the floor was secured, they made their way down to the second floor, which housed a series of office spaces. After neutralizing the threats on that level as well, Fred came to a sudden stop in front of one of the desks.
He turned to Rose and asked thoughtfully, "Rose, do you think we should bring the computer units back with us? We do have administrative tasks back at the base, and relying solely on paper documents can be inefficient. These computers might be useful for processing data and managing department operations. What do you think?"
His question was casual and subtle, and most of the team didn’t notice the exchange. Some were still busy extracting crystal cores from the fallen zombies, while others searched the offices for food and supplies.
After hearing Fred’s suggestion, Rose fell into deep thought. With the STAU accompanying them, they had the means to transport just about anything back to the base. And considering the recent advancements, it made even more sense—Dr. Shuveck and Engineer Steel might soon develop a functioning solar panel and had even succeeded in building a lightning-gathering machine that now powered the entire Central Hall and Supply Center.
Given that progress, it likely wouldn’t be long before the entire base was running on electricity again. When that time came, the department leaders would undoubtedly need computers to digitize operations and streamline workflows. Fred’s suggestion to salvage the computer units might not seem urgent now, but it would definitely be valuable in the near future.
Besides, they had the perfect opportunity—everything they needed was right in front of them. The office was fully equipped with the latest model iMacs, complete setups, large industrial printers, and a variety of other office supplies. It made sense to take everything back and let the department leaders decide how to distribute the equipment as needed.
After thinking it through, Rose nodded in agreement. "You make a good point," she said, tapping Fred on the shoulder. "Let’s bring it all back and inform the others later. If they need it, great—we made the most of the opportunity. If not, we can always break it down for parts and repurpose what’s useful."
With that, she called over one of the STAU members and relayed Fred’s suggestion. Fred, pleased to have his quick thinking acknowledged, he began scanning the room for anything else they could salvage. But before he could act, the STAU had already stored everything—computers, chairs, tables, and all—into his spatial storage, leaving the office completely bare.
Fred immediately sprang into action, signaling Rakan and his subordinates to secure the left perimeter. He then sent Clyde and Reeve to cover the right side, while he and Evelyn advanced through the center. Rose and the others remained behind, positioned safely under her protection.
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