Welcome to the Wasteland - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: You Are Already Dead

Tony Parker was stunned!

Angelina Lawrence was stunned!

Catarina Mason was stunned!

Even Zhou Qingfeng himself was stunned!

‘We fought over it throughout the whole day, and yet all Miss Fox had to do was whistle and beckon to it with her finger?’

Tony Parker was initially smug, but he was now dumbfounded as he watched ‘Dog Meat’ circle Leila Fox while wagging its tail. He could not help but ask, “What’s the matter? Why would my dog listen to your orders?”

Leila Fox raised her head slightly and smiled elegantly. “I think I should re-introduce myself. I’m Leila Fox, I control the Fox Finance Group. I’m the youngest billionaire in America, and Time Magazine titled me the most elegant woman of the year.

“Fox Finance Group specializes in biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and biochemical weapons. The Babylonian Intelligence Lab was funded by the Fox Finance Group and was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration University, and Columbia University.

“Later on, even though the US Military showed great interest in the laboratory’s research projects, the Fox Finance Group still owed me more than 60% of the laboratory. I was the one who led the dog-shaped artificial intelligence machine project, and I was also the one who named it ‘Dog Meat’.

“To curry favor with me, the researchers in the laboratory obtained more research funds and solidified my information in Dog Meat’s biochemical brain. That includes my name, my appearance, my smell, my voice, and my identity. So, this dog is mine!”

At that moment, Leila Fox’s smile resembled one of a fox that had stolen a chick. Her beautiful eyes turned to look at Zhou Qingfeng, and she said, “I’m willing to give this mechanical dog which took me twelve years and two billion US dollars to obtain, to my loyal and brave guardian, Victor Hugo. Mr. Hugo, do you accept it?”

Zhou Qingfeng pursed his lips and thought that this fox lady was too narcissistic. Nevertheless, all he could do was nod and say, “I do.”

Leila Fox snapped her fingers. She then reached out and patted Dog Meat’s head before saying, “Good dog, this rascal will be your new owner. Say hello to him!”

‘Dog Meat’ immediately ran over to Zhou Qingfeng obediently. It placed its front legs on Zhou Qingfeng’s body and started barking with its mouth open. Zhou Qingfeng did not know whether to laugh or cry. So this was what it meant to work hard and fail, yet obtain something without putting in any effort at all.

At that moment, Tony Parker still refused to give up. He reached out his hand and complained, “Then what about me? I was the one who got the dog out.”

Leila Fox’s expression turned stern, and she said coldly, “As an employee of this laboratory, you dared to steal something that belongs to the Fox Finance Group’s. Consider yourself lucky that I’m not holding you accountable. However, to ask for something that doesn’t belong to you right in front of its rightful owner? How shameless!”

“I…” Tony Parker could not refute her words. In the end, he asked sullenly, “Will I get arrested?”

“Unfortunately, no. The police have disappeared now along with all the judges, so you’re still free. Alright, you can leave. Hugo and I still have some things to discuss, please leave the laboratory.”

Leila Fox’s stern expression carried a proud and cold aura. She gave others a sense of distance, not allowing them to approach her. It seemed like her friendliness was only reserved for those she was familiar with and those she trusted.

In the end, Tony Parker felt ashamed and frustrated. Catarina, on the other hand, was not bothered one bit. She waved her hand and led her team away. Only Angie stuck out her tongue. She shrugged awkwardly and said, “Victor, I feel that you’ve changed a lot recently. I mean to ask, are you still the friend I once knew?”

Regarding this question, multiple pairs of eyes fell upon Zhou Qingfeng, waiting for his answer. After contemplating for a while, he sighed and said, “No, I’m no longer the Victor Hugo you knew. But I hope that we can still be friends.”

Zhou Qingfeng’s words made Angie sad. She lowered her head and shrank behind Catarina, reluctant to show herself. Meanwhile, Catarina glared at Zhou Qingfeng angrily and closed the elevator door, leaving with Angie and Tony Parker.

The entrance of the Babylonian Intelligence Lab fell silent, and only Zhou Qingfeng remained with Leila Fox.

“You like that girl?” Miss Fox asked interestedly.

“She’s very important,” Zhou Qingfeng said in a low voice.

“Oh… I guessed it. Just like ‘Dog Meat’, the people and things that can catch your attention are very important. I’m listening, I want to know what’s happening to this world.”

“I do need a capable companion, so I can tell you a few things.” Zhou Qingfeng took two chairs from the laboratory and poured two cups of coffee with sugar and milk from the coffee machine. He sat down slowly and said, “Just as you guessed, I’m not a person from this world.”

Leila Fox’s gaze was filled with surprise and curiosity. She took a small sip of coffee and said, “Continue…”

“I come from the world in the year 2016. Three days ago, a guy who calls himself ‘God’ dumped me here in this world of 2030, a world that’s about to be destroyed.

“According to the message I received, the disappearance of the government, military, police, and financial groups is just the first step. In three months, there’s a chance the people who disappeared might come back.

“If the powerful institutions that disappeared return then the world would become stable once again. However, if they don’t return, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons will be unleashed automatically and the world will be destroyed immediately. Consequently, humanity will face extinction.

“What I have to do now is prepare as much as possible to face this unstoppable disaster. ‘Dog Meat’ is a very capable companion, so I was trying my best to get it.

“Moreover, out of the three people that just left, the girls were initially supposed to become my companions. Unfortunately, I had a fall out with the girl’s family.”

Zhou Qingfeng briefly explained the message he had received from the ‘Wasteland’ film. He talked about David Lawrence’s family, David Lawrence’s feat to save New York, and the tragic world after the hellish ending.

The more Leila Fox found out, the more terrible her expression became. Especially once she found out that all major cities in the world would be destroyed by a shower of nuclear bombs in three months, she became even paler. “So in three months, billions of people will die?”

“Yes.” Zhou Qingfeng nodded affirmatively. “The disaster is coming, and it will only get worse. We have to try our best to survive.”

“Is the Lawrence family that important?”

“Yes, they’re very important, including David Lawrence’s friends. However, I think that I am now more important than them.”

“What about me? In the message you received, what was my ending?”

“You? You were already dead. Three days ago, during the abduction, you were supposed to die.”