Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: A Good Offer (I)

Grace stayed in Unit 2203 while Kevin, Dr. Kian, and Rio worked on taking care of the research team.

Over an hour had passed since she completed the mission and successfully rescued Professor Neil along with his team of fifteen researchers. Since then, the researchers had calmed down to a certain degree when they noticed how well they were being treated.

All the patients had been taken care of by Dr. Kian and Maria. The research team had been served warm food and drinks so that they could regain some energy.

In a time where the researchers had been left abandoned in the extreme cold, next to no food or water, and were struggling to fight the zombies, it was almost unbelievable for them to have a warm house, hood food, and safety.

And yet, there was one particular person who had been constantly glaring at Grace and her team from the very first minute. Suspicion, and fear was filling his experienced eyes that had seen decades pass by.

Grace finished pouring the freshly brewed herbal tea in the cup and made her way to Professor Neil, noticing how he immediately stiffened but remained sitting his place to show that he wasn’t afraid of her.

“Here. The herbs will help you calm down.” She said while offering him the cup.

Professor Neil didn’t accept the cup immediately, instead, he stared at her while switching his gaze between the cup and her face as if to show just how little trust he had in her words.

A sigh escaped her lips before she could have stopped it. Just in half a year, she seemed to have forgotten just how tiring it could be to deal with fellow humans.

“Listen, Professor, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths yo save you. Besides, I have more creative ways to kill you other than poisoning.” She didn’t try to sweet talk because she knew it wouldn’t help at all.

The entire living room was listening to the exchange and she heard some deep intakes of breath at her clear warning. But at least it made Professor Neil finally accept the cup from her, though he didn’t drink it immediately and just held it in his hands.

“You said you don’t work for the government. Did the lab sent you?” Professor Neil asked, his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone.

Since there was no point in dismissing the topic, Grace decided to answer his questions for once and for all. She grabbed one of the empty chairs and pulled it closer to where Professor Neil was sitting before she too settled down.

“Your lab is almost gone, Professor. The flood during the rain disaster hit it first, before it went down in an earthquake. As for the researchers, some of them are no longer alive. As for the rest, they are struggling to save their lives. Why do you think they have the time and luxury to think about saving you and your team?”

There was a deep silence and she watched as Professor Neil exchanged a quick look with her team. Everything she said, they already knew half of it and were expecting the other half when they constantly failed to get in youch with the higher ups at the center.

“Then who are you and why did you save me and my people?” Professor Neil asked the next question, one that both he and his team desperately wanted to be answered.

While they were grateful that someone had saved them, finding out that they had no relation with her only made them question her motives.

Grace didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point. “Let’s put aside my identity for now. As for why I saved you and your team – it’s because I have something to ask for in return. I want you and your team to work for me from now on.”

Once again there was a deep silence and Professor Neil shared a look with his team. This one lasted longer than the previous one, and once again it was Professor Neil who asked the next question. “What kind of work?”

Grace wasn’t sure exactly what was going through his mind, but she went ahead and answered, “I have been trying to study the muatation that Shadow and Blood Rain have brought into plants and animals. But I have way too many responsibilities to completely devote myself to this research. That’s why I want someone to do it for me. Considering you were already planning to study this matter, I’m sure this is a good chance for you.”

“And why do you think I will accept your offer?” He asked, his tone remaining calm and not showing any sort of hostility so far. He just wanted to understand what he had gotten himself into and his team. “Even if my lab is gone, I can still offer my help to the government. I’m sure they will provide me the same benefits you are thinking about giving me.”

Grace wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he was expecting from her, but the soft chuckled that escaped her lips was definitely not it because he appeared taken aback.

She cleared her throat to get a grip on her herself. Fixing her cold gaze at him, she spoke, “I’m sorry, but you are kind of funny, Professor. It’s hard to belive that even after being abandoned by the same government, you are ready to put so much faith in them.”

She watched him opening his mouth as if he was ready to defend either his choice or the government, but something stopped him and he just closed his mouth. It was probabaly the realization that she was speaking the truth.

“But you are not wrong. If you go to the government and offer them your help, they might accept you under their safe wing. But what about your team? Do you think they are going to accept a bunch of people who are heavily injured and can only be a liability?”