Doomsday Pillars

At this moment, from the northwest of Hong Kong, three ships were approaching Hong Kong island. This ship had a waving red flag with a star on its upper left corner and four smaller stars surrounding its right. It was the flag of China.

Not long after, the inhabitants of Hong Kong island began to shout in joy. They felt as though salvation had finally dawned upon them.

"We're saved! Help is coming!" someone shouted. It could be clearly heard from this voice that he was extremely happy.

Even though the people of Hong Kong were often not in harmony with the Chinese nation before the apocalypse, the conditions of the apocalypse made everyone no longer concerned with politics or the sort anymore, especially with their current condition. They were currently under tremendous pressure and they were starving. 

Only one out of the three ships was anchored. One of the other two ships was a destroyer, which was probably a ship to protect the main ship.. Meanwhile, the last of the three ships did not look like a warship at all. It looked just like an ordinary transport ship.

Inspector Tang and the Hong Kong police forces immediately headed to the wharf on the west side of Hong Kong island. Christina and Nam also followed suit.

When Christina arrived, Inspector Tang was welcoming a high-ranking Chinese naval officer and his entourage. Since this was possibly related to state affairs, Christina and Nam did not want to interfere and only helped in keeping watch from behind.

Not long after Inspector Tang spoke with the group, the inspector suddenly glanced at Christina and then walked over to her with two guests from the main ship.

They were an old man in a navy uniform and a very beautiful young lady.

The man in uniform, who seemed to be in a quite high position, looked very respectful to this young lady. As soon as he approached Christina, the lady immediately looked at him.

"This is the woman named Christina," Inspector Tang introduced Christina to them.

"…" The current situation was quite strange. Why were all these people now focused on her? The young lady approached Christina with a warm smile.

"Hello, Christina Tjie Tjie, my name is Zhao Wei. Can we have a private talk for a moment?"

Her 'request' surprised her quite a bit, but there was no reason for Christina to refuse her when she was being polite. This young lady wanted to speak privately with her, so they entered an empty building beside the wharf.

Christina, who was still confused, immediately asked while maintaining her politeness, "Do I know you?"

The lady shook her head. Looking closely, she noticed that this person was at least 20 years old, but her very amicable nature and self-confidence made it easy for Christina to talk to her without feeling as though she might be offended by her words easily.

"But I know you, Tjie Tjie," she told with a friendly smile on her face.

The lady mentioned Christina's complete information, from her family members and their condition, her origin, to the mission that the Singapore government had given her.

Christina began to feel a bit alert due to that, but she still maintained her friendliness. She felt that this person in front of her had no bad intentions, but she still asked, "How do you know so much about me?"

"Tjie Tjie may not recognize me, but you must recognize my Ama. Her name is Grandma Zhao Fan..."

"!!!" she was surprised. She did feel a bit familiar with her surname when she heard it the first time, but she didn't expect that she would be from the Zhao family she knew.

"You're that Zhao Wei! The youngest daughter of the Zhao family!" Christina exclaimed in recognition.

"Bingo!!" Zhao Wei's smile became brighter.

The Zhao family was one of the four largest families in China. Their power even surpassed the Chinese government itself. These four extended families controlled the flow of the Chinese government and economy, and even the world's economy. Of course, Christina, who was also a part of one of the large families in Singapore, knew about it. It was just that she had never seen Zhao Wei, the family's youngest daughter, before, so she didn't recognize her.

Christina thought for a moment before asking, "Zhao Wei, is your arrival here to look for me related to the mission that the Singapore government gave me?"

"Another bingo! Just like Ama told me, Tjie Tjie is really smart."

"But, Zhao Wei… I've never had the honor to meet her."

"Well, that's why I'm here, Tjie... Ama assigned me to pick you up... I'm here to take you to Beijing." she briefly explained with a light smile.

"!!!" She did not expect that at all.

Christina was getting more and more confused. In their current condition, why would the head of this distinguished family look for her? They even sent them ships in this apocalypse.

"Zhao Wei, the mission I got from the Singapore government is to explain the characteristics of the black-type zombies to the Chinese government. At that time, it seems that zombies of this type were still very rare... but I believe that nowadays, almost every fighter has fought against one or at least have seen one."

"Tjie Tjie, from the very beginning, your mission was only to meet Ama. The report about the black zombies was just an excuse so as not to attract suspicion. Unfortunately, at that time, the messenger we sent was trapped in chaos in the city of Hong Kong... but now, I'm here to pick you up in person..."

Christina was still confused. If it wasn't about the matter of the black zombie, then why were they looking for her?

"Don't be confused, Tjie Tjie. Ama said that you are a very special person. She is very interested in seeing you in person. That's all."

If it were the usual, Christina would have definitely complied with this lady's request. Not only was this a mission from her country, but Christina herself also wanted to get to know the Zhao family. But today, Christina had a lot of people who were depending on her. She was also eager to return to Singapore to meet her son, whom she had left for a long time. If she agrees to continue the trip to Beijing, who knew how many months it would take before she would be able to return.

But before Christina could voice her refusal, the lady in front of her seemed to have guessed it and spoke first.

"Tjie Tjie, Ama told me that you will definitely come with us as long as I come exactly today... if I come too early, you will refuse to come, and if I come a day late, you will already be dead..."

"!!!" Her words utterly shook her.

"The journey through Hong Kong that you're going to do today will take countless lives including yours, Tjie."

Christina suddenly remembered that there were rumors that said that Zhao Fan, the head of the Zhao family, was also a fortune teller. But at that time, she never believed it... but the events of the past few months made her more open to believing in anything strange.

"Tjie, Ama told me that you can bring along anyone you want to come to Beijing. We will also be responsible for helping the Hong Kong residents here. On the other hand, Ama also told me that you will face problems with your uncle in Singapore if you don't complete your mission..."

"..."

It was amazing how this lady in front of her was able to read all of Christina's conditions and worries. Christina seemed to have no other choice. She was worried that her uncle would make things difficult for her family in Singapore because of this...

"All right, Zhao Wei. As long as you're willing to help the people here, I'll follow you..."

"Of course, Tjie Tjie."

On that day Christina and the Firebirds decided to go to Beijing. Nam and some of his siblings have nowhere else to go. They also decided to follow Christina.

However, not all Hong Kong residents are willing to go to China. Zhao Wei gave the transport boat he was carrying to the inspector and some food. Approximately 30.000 residents decided to look for other places. Inspector Tang decided to go with this group.

That day, according to their previous plan, the residents of Hong Kong prepared to leave the island. But this time, it was for a different purpose.

Christina met the inspector one last time before separating.

"What's your plan, Inspector Tang? Where will you go?"

"Actually, I have close acquaintances in the Singapore government. And maybe you can help too," told the inspector.

Christina wrote a letter to be given to her uncle. She also left another letter to be given to her son, Caleb.

"I wish you well, Christina. I hope we'll be able to meet again, maybe in Singapore."

"Of course, Inspector. Be safe."

After they parted ways, Christina and her entourage sailed to the Chinese naval base and continued their two-day journey to Beijing.

During the journey to the city, Christina was amazed to see China's readiness in facing the apocalypse. The total lockdown was very regular, and the troop preparation numbered up to millions. It was much different from Hong Kong's conditions.

When she arrived in Beijing, Christina was amazed yet again to see that the city seemed to not have been affected by the apocalypse at all.

"Where are we headed?"

"The Forbidden City," Zhao Wei replied.

 "..."

The Forbidden City was a palace of the Ming dynasty in the 13th century. That place with an area of ​​70 hectares filled with over nine hundred buildings had now been made into the main defense base of the Chinese government to face the apocalypse.

Christina was invited alone to a small building, which was the residence of a very important person.

An old grandmother was sitting casually beside a small lake.

Christina had seen this woman before at several important events.

"Greetings to Elder Zhao Fan."

The old woman turned around and paid close attention to Christina.

"Hao, hao... good! Very good... Christina, do you know that you are very special?"

"Sorry, Elder, but I don't understand..."

"Christina, I will help you become the greatest fighter in the world."

"..."