Weber looked around as intermittent sobbing drifted from the distance.
Pricking up his ears, Weber stood and followed the sound.
Inside the guard post, an officer monitoring the screens rubbed his tired eyes. As he massaged them, he noticed Weber wandering aimlessly outside.
His face twisted in displeasure. "Weber! What are you doing? Get over here and help! Don't you know how critical the situation is?" he shouted irritably.
Weber didn't even turn his head.
"Damn it! Are you listening? Get your ass over here!"
Ignoring him, Weber kept searching for the source of crying, only frowning at how noisy the man was.
The shouting officer grew furious at Weber's attitude and rolled up his sleeves to confront him, but another officer pulled him back. "Don't waste your time. The kid's still dreaming of being some justice warrior."
Shaking off the restraining hand, the angry officer scoffed, "Justice warrior? Justice warriors still need to eat! He'll starve if he doesn't work."
With that, he returned to scanning the monitors.
Now undisturbed, Weber followed the sound to a shrub. Peering over the waist-high bushes, he spotted a child in a dirty, light-purple Rabbit Doll Costume, curled up and sobbing.
"Don't be scared, kid. I'm here!"
Weber hurriedly stepped over the bushes. As he got closer, a flash of crimson caught his eye. Startled, he knelt and helped the child up, revealing a large bloodstain on their chest.
His heart raced in panic.
"Big brother... it hurts..." came the weak, childish voice.
Without hesitation, Weber scooped up the child and sprinted to the police car.
"Hold on! I'm taking you to the hospital."
After buckling the child into the passenger seat, Weber rushed to the driver's side and started the engine with practiced ease. The tires screeched against the pavement, sending up smoke as the car shot forward.
Inside the guard post, an officer muttered curses at Weber's departure. Another suddenly exclaimed, "Stop!"
The monitor showed a child near the broken iron railings.
"You're overthinking it. How could a kid break railings that thick?"
"Who knows what weapons this secretive lab's developing against Naturals. Just keep watching."
...
Zhou Tianming leaned back in the passenger seat, hands covering his face as he whimpered. Through his fingers, his bright brown eyes observed Weber driving intently.
Weber gripped the steering wheel and spoke urgently, "Help me find the nearest hospital."
[Received. Searching for nearby medical facilities... 15 medical facility addresses retrieved. Please specify additional tags. What condition requires treatment?]
"Gunshot wound, treating gun—"
Suddenly startled, Weber's eyes widened.
At the same time, a loud voice came through the police radio: "The escapee is a 5-year-old child wearing a light purple rabbit doll costume! Repeat! The escapee—"
His scalp tingled, but before Weber could react, a corroded iron rod with a sharp tip extended from the passenger seat, stopping just a fist's distance from his neck.
"Drive properly and don't try anything. Just treat this like a taxi ride and take me safely to the spaceport."
Weber's grip on the wheel tightened, sweat beading on his forehead as he glanced sideways at the small figure of Zhou Tianming.
His face was deathly pale, and through the opening of the rabbit doll costume, faint traces of bandages could be seen wrapped around his chest.
Weber's eyes softened with concern as he gradually relaxed. "Don't be nervous. I'm with the security team—I'll protect you."
Zhou Tianming gave him a strange look, sizing him up. "Aren't you going to arrest me? I escaped from the research institute. I overheard everything while hiding—a year's worth of bonuses."
Weber frowned, his expression turning disgusted, but before he could speak, Will's booming voice crackled through the police radio: "Has anyone spotted the target? Report in now! Quickly!"
"Johnny Rant, no sign of the target!"
"Leon Kennedy, no sign of the target!"
...
Weber gestured to the radio. "Trust me, I won't betray you."
Zhou Tianming thought for a moment. Based on his earlier observations while hiding, he had chosen Weber precisely because he was the only one who had shown any sense of justice.
"Don't say anything unnecessary, and don't make any suspicious noises that could sound like a signal."
Weber nodded and picked up the radio. "Weber-Walter, no sign of the target!"
Zhou Tianming nodded in approval and lowered the iron rod, resting it across his lap.
Weber glanced at it. "That... isn't safe to keep like that."
Zhou Tianming's delicate face hardened as he raised the rod threateningly toward Weber's thigh.
Weber quickly shut his mouth.
"What procedures are needed to board a shuttle and leave?"
"Buy a ticket, verify identity, inspect luggage..."
Zhou Tianming noted it was similar to boarding a plane.
"If you buy the ticket, can I board the shuttle alone?"
"No way. No company would let a child board alone. At the very least, an adult has to accompany you."
"What if you accompany me?"
Weber thought for a moment, then glanced at Zhou Tianming and nodded. "I could go with you, but not now. With the current crackdown, me suddenly leaving would raise too much suspicion."
Zhou Tianming nodded and continued, "What if I don't have an ID?"
"Huh?"
Weber stared at him in disbelief, but Zhou Tianming's expression confirmed he wasn't joking.
Weber frowned, scratching his head in frustration. "That's a problem. Identity verification is mandatory for shuttle boarding."
As expected, Zhou Tianming fell into thought.
Weber kept stealing glances at him.
Noticing the stares, Zhou Tianming shot him an annoyed look. "Focus on driving."
"Are your injuries okay?"
"They're fine. I've done emergency treatment."
Silence settled in the car as neither spoke again.
The police car moved swiftly, arriving at Mendel's living facilities in just about ten minutes.
The place resembled a massive shopping mall, where all daily necessities—clothing, food, housing, and transportation—could be taken care of.
The plan to escape via the Spaceport had fallen through, forcing Zhou Tianming to consider how to evade the impending search within the satellite.
Although Weber had performed well, Zhou Tianming still maintained a hint of wariness.
"Pull into an alley," he ordered.
"Huh? Aren't we going to the Spaceport?"
"It's pointless now. Can you get me a fake ID?"
"Well..."
"Useless."
Weber wore an expression of helpless frustration.
The police car stopped in a deserted alley. Zhou Tianming unbuckled his seatbelt and pointed the iron rod at Weber. "Now! This is a robbery! Hand over your phone, tell me the unlock code, and your mobile payment password."
Weber's face darkened. "I could—"
"No, you can't. I don't trust you yet. Give it to me!"
Reluctantly, Weber pulled out a sleek, brand-new-looking phone from his pocket and provided the unlock code and other details.
Zhou Tianming entered the code to confirm, then opened the payment app to find a balance in the tens of thousands. "You're pretty well-off."
"Be careful with it—I just bought that phone."
Zhou Tianming nodded, but in his mind, he had already sentenced the phone to death. The way Weber said it practically guaranteed its demise.
"Thanks for your help, Officer Righteous."
Weber blushed at the praise, waving his hands dismissively. "No problem, no problem."
With that, Zhou Tianming turned to leave.
Suddenly, Weber called out, "Wait!"
Zhou Tianming narrowed his eyes and brandished the iron rod.
Weber quickly recited a phone number. "That's my backup line. If you need help, just call. Honestly, I can't stand the security team here either. Once this is over, I'm leaving too, so don't worry about dragging me down."
Zhou Tianming paused, then smiled and gave a small OK sign with his hand before walking away.
As Zhou Tianming's figure disappeared around the alley corner, Weber slumped back into his seat with a sigh. "Guess I'll have to ask my cousin for help. Ugh, she's never gonna let me live this down."