Read Novel Full Chapter 401: Wrong Intentions
Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Wrong Intentions
Embarrassment washed over them.
They had eaten at least a hundred and fifty instant noodles each in a single day, an amount that could bankrupt even a well-stocked base.
’She’ll definitely kick us out if she finds out...’
Just as that anxious thought surfaced, both of them suddenly felt a strange sensation on their hands.
Something crackled faintly, followed by an itchy feeling crawling along their skin.
They instinctively rubbed their palms.
The next second, several small seeds appeared on the sofa.
Both of them froze.
Their eyes widened as they stared at the seeds, then at each other, utterly stunned.
Moona tilted her head, a sudden playful thought crossing her mind.
"What if... these are hybrid seeds? The kind that can grow even in the apocalypse?"
Maxi’s eyes shimmered, a shy excitement blooming within them. She nodded.
"If that’s true, then we should grow them... and give them to Ivy as a thank-you gift."
Hearing that, Moona’s hesitation vanished.
They both agreed instantly.
Without wasting another second, they carefully gathered the seeds, stepped out of the apartment, and scooped up soil from the nearby ground, their movements filled with quiet determination.
After placing the soil into a pot, both of them carefully sowed the seed and began tending to it with an almost reverent seriousness.
Every day, they watered it, loosened the dirt with their fingers, and checked its surface, as if afraid even their breathing might disturb its growth.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
Outside, the extreme heat reached terrifying heights.
The air shimmered under the sun, and sickness spread rapidly across the country, bodies collapsing from dehydration and heatstroke.
Yet amid the chaos, their base slowly emerged victorious.
It was one of the rare places capable of providing IV drips, saline, cooling packs, and medicines that no longer existed elsewhere in the apocalypse.
As a result, it became one of the most sought-after bases.
The number of people begging to enter reached its peak. Long lines stretched endlessly, desperation thick in the air like smoke.
Even the military base nearby was slowly crumbling, its authority rotting away from the inside.
Moona and Maxi, however, weren’t concerned about any of that.
Their entire focus was on the pot sitting quietly in their room.
The seed had grown.
And on its branch hung a strange red apple.
The moment they saw it, both of them froze.
They stared at the apple for a long time, its surface glossy and unnaturally vibrant. It didn’t look rotten, yet it didn’t look normal either. For a brief moment, fear crept in.
’What if it’s poisonous?’
Moona frowned slightly, and Maxi swallowed. The thought lingered, heavy and uncertain. But then another realization followed.
They were already half zombies.
’Even if it’s poisonous... what’s the worst that could happen?’
"At most, we’ll die," Maxi muttered quietly.
Without further hesitation, both of them bit into it.
During this entire period, they had also been cooperating with the base’s research institute. At first, fear clung to them tightly.
They had been certain the researchers would mistreat them, act arrogantly, or take advantage of their condition.
Yet reality turned out to be very different.
None of the researchers behaved arrogantly. Instead, they were cautious, so cautious that Moona and Maxi felt as if they were being treated like fragile porcelain.
They still remembered the first day they entered the experimental lab.
White lights hummed overhead. Researchers stared at them with shining eyes, excitement barely concealed beneath professional expressions.
For a brief moment, panic surged through them.
’We made a mistake.’
But it was already too late. The contract had been signed, and there was no turning back.
With no other choice, they decided to go along with it.
The head of the department, a man named Jay, approached them. His movements were careful, almost hesitant.
"Please, sit," he said gently.
After a pause, he continued, "Is it alright if you donate some blood?"
Moona and Maxi exchanged a glance before nodding.
Their blood was drawn. As they watched the vials fill, unease twisted in their stomachs.
’This is it... the real experiment will start now.’
And it did.
One researcher requested their saliva. Another asked for strands of hair. Someone else requested a couple of nails.
The scene felt surreal, so strange that Moona and Maxi even wondered if this truly counted as experimentation.
As time passed, the researchers became engrossed in their work, fiddling with samples and murmuring excitedly among themselves.
Strangely enough, they barely paid attention to Moona and Maxi anymore. No one brought out sharp instruments near them. No one tried to restrain them.
That day, when they returned home, they devoured two hundred instant noodles in one sitting.
As usual, seeds slipped from their hands and scattered onto the sofa. They collected them absentmindedly and chewed on them as well.
Days passed like this.
They continued going to the lab. Sometimes they were asked to donate blood. Other times, they were simply told to sit and wait, doing absolutely nothing.
Gradually, they realized something.
Even though experiments were ongoing, they hardly had to put in any effort at all.
It slowly became a routine.
Work no longer felt like work. It was merely an activity they went through every single day.
Then, one day, something changed.
A researcher finally stepped forward and asked, "Would either of you allow us to dissect you?"
Both sisters stiffened instantly.
Their minds went blank.
’If we refuse... will they force us?’
’Or will they beg?’
Before either of them could respond, Jay noticed their discomfort. His expression darkened.
"Enough," he snapped sharply. "Shut your mouth."
Turning back to Moona and Maxi, his tone softened immediately.
"I’m sorry. Ivy made it very clear. You are never to be forced into anything. If you’re uncomfortable, you can simply say no."
Relief crashed over them like a wave.
They hadn’t expected to find someone sensible here.
When they returned home that day, both of them believed nothing more would happen.
They were wrong.
The next day, when they arrived, the same researcher was waiting for them. He grinned unpleasantly.
"I’ve already asked everyone to take the day off," he said. "I’ll be taking care of you two today."