The abilities of the rookie squads weren’t weak, but they lacked experience. Fear often led to mistakes. With the little zombie girl assisting them, they gradually steadied themselves. Once their nerves settled, killing zombies became oddly satisfying!

They slowly adapted to the combat rhythm of the 3A Special Operations Team.

By the time the zombies in the area were mostly cleared, the ground was a mosaic of flesh and gore.

Chunks of zombie remains were piled into small mountains, and the rookie squads were utterly exhausted, their faces numb from fatigue.

Qin Luo announced a temporary "end" to the mission, granting everyone a half-hour break.

Chen Xiaofei was busy collecting mutation cores. Using his wind ability, he created mini-tornadoes to lift the zombie remains and separate the cores. The method was highly efficient, though the scene resembled a grotesque meat grinder.

Upon hearing the announcement for a break, the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team finally let go of their last shreds of energy, collapsing in exhaustion. Even so, they instinctively shuffled toward cleaner spots near the walls to catch their breath, avoiding the gore-covered ground.

Bai Shu was busy capturing footage for his report, while Chen Xiaofei continued extracting mutation cores. Wang Weihu patrolled the area, delivering finishing blows to any lingering zombies.

Qin Luo ventured ahead to scout the route and check on the Rose Team’s progress.

Meanwhile, the little zombie girl, Xu Duoduo, was looking for Qin Luo. Not finding him, she wandered over to Chen Xiaofei, who greeted her with a grin and handed her a bag of mutation cores.

"Here, Little Squad Leader, take these. From now on, all the important stuff for our team will be stored with you."

After sorting the cores, Chen Xiaofei pulled out a burlap sack from his spatial storage card. Once the sack was full, he handed it to Xu Duoduo, who happily stored it in her spatial cube.

Standing beside him, Xu Duoduo diligently collected the sacks, one after another, her mood visibly brightening.

She loved hoarding things.

Watching her spatial cube fill up gave her immense satisfaction.

Since the zombie-clearing operation was split into two fronts, the 3A Team had handled the bulk of the fighting up ahead, so the mutation cores from that area naturally belonged to them.

Having participated in the rear-end cleanup, Xu Duoduo also received a third of the mutation cores from that section.

The Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, still sprawled out in exhaustion, marveled at how the 3A Team continued their post-battle cleanup with unwavering efficiency. They couldn’t help but voice their awe.

"Are they even human? No wonder the forums call them beasts!"

"Same battle, but we’re on the verge of death, and they’re still moving like it’s nothing."

"That’s why they’re the 3A Team! They’re ranked in the top twenty squads nationwide."

The official ranking system wasn’t formalized yet, but the forums had an unofficial leaderboard. The top twenty squads didn’t have their exact rankings disclosed, partly to prevent power-hungry ability users from becoming uncontrollable. However, any squad that made it into the top twenty was undeniably formidable.

The gap between the top twenty and those ranked twenty-first to thirtieth was significant, with another noticeable divide between the thirty-first and fiftieth ranks.

The Rose Team and Golden Eagle Team often competed for the twenty-first spot, taking turns holding the position. Currently, the Golden Eagle Team was in the lead, occupying the twenty-first rank, while the Rose Team trailed slightly at twenty-second.

Stolen novel; please report.

To the Cheetah Team and White Dove Team, these squads were already legendary figures.

The 3A Team? They were legends among legends!

Eventually, Chen Xiaofei finished sorting the mutation cores from the rear section. In front of the two rookie squad captains, he divided the cores evenly.

"A total of 12,000 mutation cores. Each squad gets a third—4,000 cores each."

The Cheetah and White Dove Teams quickly expressed their gratitude, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in their excitement. Missions like this were dangerous, but the rewards were undeniably worth it.

Xu Duoduo clutched her burlap sack and promptly stored it in her spatial cube.

"Brother Chen, does everyone in your team really have a spatial storage card?"

"Yeah, is that true?"

Chen Xiaofei chuckled at the question. "Of course it’s true!"

At that moment, Wang Weihu finished delivering the final blows to the remaining zombies and walked over. He tossed two packs of cigarettes to each of the rookie squads.

"Good work today. You all did well. Take a break here for now."

This gesture elicited a chorus of astonished exclamations.

"Whoa, seriously?! Cigarettes?! Brother Wang, you’re the best!"

"Thank you, Brother Wang!"

"Thanks, Brother Weihu!"

After the apocalypse began, items like cigarettes and alcohol became rare luxuries.

Even if they wanted to buy them, they were hard to come by.

Unless they ventured into the black market and paid exorbitant prices or waited for headquarters to distribute them as mission rewards, their only option was to stash some away during supply runs.

But the areas near the base had been scavenged repeatedly.

Unless they ventured farther into more dangerous territories, resources were becoming increasingly scarce.

Most places were now just empty shells of buildings.

Wang Weihu’s sudden generosity with two packs of Huazi cigarettes thrilled the rookies to no end. They eagerly lit up, the act helping to ease their frayed nerves.

Chen Xiaofei, who didn’t have a smoking habit, waved Xu Duoduo away. "Little Squad Leader, let’s go. Stay away from these stinky guys. If Captain Qin finds out we let you inhale secondhand smoke, he’ll kill us!"

Not wanting to get scolded, he quickly distanced himself.

Xu Duoduo, who also disliked the smell of smoke, wrinkled her nose and followed Chen Xiaofei.

The two of them found a second-floor platform, which seemed to have once been part of a café. The open-air terrace felt like a good spot to rest.

Although most of the zombies had been cleared, stragglers occasionally wandered over.

To truly rest, they needed a higher vantage point where they could feel safe.

Qin Luo, having just helped the Rose Team clear a large wave of zombies and divided the mutation cores with them, returned to find Chen Xiaofei in his bird form. His talons were gripping the back of Xu Duoduo’s dress as he carried her up to the second floor.

Oh, great.

Messing around the moment I step away?

Spotting a few more zombies emerging in the distance, Qin Luo efficiently shot them down before shouting to Wang Weihu and the others, "If you’re resting, do it on the second floor!"

Better safe than sorry—he didn’t want anyone else getting scratched. One rookie had already been injured earlier, and if not for their healer, it could’ve been a serious problem.

Wang Weihu quickly ushered the rookies upstairs. After receiving the gift of cigarettes, the rookies were now incredibly obedient, following instructions without hesitation.

Bai Shu, having finished documenting everything, easily climbed up to the second floor. Watching Wang Weihu manage the rookies, he couldn’t help but comment, "Old Wang’s getting better and better at this. He’s got those rookies wrapped around his finger."

Chen Xiaofei, waiting for Xu Duoduo to bring out some food, glanced over at the opposite building where Wang Weihu was leading the rookies upstairs. "Of course. Old Wang’s perfect for this. He’s great at sweet-talking people."

After all, he was the 3A Team’s top "diplomat."

The two troublemakers couldn’t help but laugh.

Xu Duoduo efficiently pulled out four large Northeastern rice wraps, a box of boneless chicken feet, a box of fried chicken, and four cans of hearty soup from her spatial cube.

The rice wraps were filled with mashed potatoes, egg sauce, sautéed eggplant, sausage, and peanuts, all wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves.

Bai Shu ate in silence, while Chen Xiaofei couldn’t stop exclaiming with delight as he devoured the food.