The table had already been cleared. Henry Sutton used a damp sponge dipped in detergent to carefully wipe away the remaining grease and grime on the tabletop. Only after making sure the surface was clean enough did he pick up his backpack and take out the packet of white powder he had retrieved from the wooden box in the underground parking lot storage room, along with the complete set of measuring equipment, laying them out one by one.

Tearing open the plastic seal, he used a measuring spoon to scoop out the white powder and placed it onto the scale pan, which was stabilized with weights. After carefully measuring the amount, he divided the powder into two 500-milliliter tubular polyester bottles, poured in homemade saline solution, and stirred thoroughly... Soon, the liquid inside the transparent tubes had turned a faint milky white, like diluted milk.

David Thompson came over, frowning, and stared at the two bottles of solution Henry Sutton had just made for a long time before asking in confusion, “What is this?”

He wasn’t the only one; curiosity filled the eyes of both Emma Harris and Grace Sutton as well.

Henry Sutton shot him a cold glance, methodically tidied up the scattered tools, and calmly replied, “It’s none of your business.”

...

The night was deep and very quiet.

There were two beds in the back room of the shop, occupied by Henry Sutton and David Thompson respectively. Neither man showed any intention of giving way, nor did anyone utter any nonsense like “ladies first.”

Henry Sutton didn’t think there was anything wrong with this—men’s unique physiological structure gave them far greater strength than women. In the survival battles against monsters that could break out at any time in the future world, enhanced humans—especially men—were the absolute main force in the struggle and slaughter. They had to secure enough food and a comfortable place to rest. Only in this way could the weaker ones they protected survive.

Lying on his back in bed, Henry Sutton’s eyes closed slightly, his breathing gradually becoming steady. The fully loaded M500 pistol was slanted in the belt at his right thigh, within easy reach. His left hand rested lightly on the dagger at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment.

This was a completely unfamiliar environment, with no trace of the future world he was used to. If he didn’t want to die without knowing why, he had to stay alert at all times.

There were only nine bullets left. Besides the already sharpened fire axe, there were also some sturdy steel pipes in the hardware store. These were all the weapons available for now.

His waist and shoulders ached slightly, which meant the silver bone he had taken a few hours ago was taking effect. Although the current enhancement was at most thirty percent, the hardness of his bones had already improved significantly.

The concept of an enhanced human was specifically reflected in two aspects—K value and P value.

K value was the enhancement index of human bone hardness. P value corresponded to comprehensive factors such as muscle toughness, strength, resistance to blows, and fatigue time. According to the universally recognized standard in the future world, only when both K value and P value reached twenty did a human qualify as an “enhanced human.”

The most significant sign of this comprehensive physical improvement was a dramatic increase in strength, speed, and mental reaction. Among these, the improvement in strength was especially obvious. Under normal circumstances, a first-level enhanced human’s punch would generate about 500 kilograms of force.

Human enhancement was a long process of exploration. According to known history, it would take at least another year from the proposal of this theory to its gradual acceptance as a public system.

Henry Sutton slowly opened his eyes.

The “Luther Condensation Layer” not only affected the bones, but also enhanced the central nervous system. He could already sense the presence of others in a small space, and discovered that the other three people in the room were all still awake.

David Thompson was snoring loudly, but turned over too frequently.

As for the two girls, Emma Harris and Grace Sutton, they were leaning against the corner of the wall, not huddled together as they had in the parking lot, but keeping about three meters apart.

Grace Sutton curled up, hugging her knees tightly. The faint light filtering in from under the rolling shutter illuminated her fair, slender legs and her body, which was trembling.

Even though it was summer, the temperature difference between morning and night in this city was still significant.

Henry Sutton got out of bed, picked up the quilt that still carried his body heat, walked over to the dazed girl, shook it out, and covered her with it.

Emma Harris had been watching Henry Sutton’s every move. Her trembling grew even more intense, and her expression was pitiful, like a stray cat suffering from hunger and cold.

However, Henry Sutton never once glanced in her direction.

...

In the morning, the sun rose as usual.

Henry Sutton got up early, casually ate two leftover steamed buns from last night, then decisively used an acetylene torch to cut open the rolling shutter and walked out.

The street was very quiet, and there were no signs of zombies nearby. In the distance at the intersection, there were faint, blurry figures, but they were too far away to pose a threat.

On the road beside the street trees, a silver-gray Chevrolet sedan was parked. Henry Sutton swung a steel pipe and smashed the driver’s side window, reached in to unlock the door, quickly yanked out the wailing electronic alarm wire, tossed his backpack into the passenger seat, and ducked inside.