In those days of Plants vs. Zombies

University gathering place, southern residential area.

The sniper wearing a military cape looked around and confirmed that there was no one nearby before he walked into the former university dormitory building with confidence.

He walked up the stairs to the fourth floor, walked to a door, stretched out his fingers, and knocked on the door according to a specific pattern.

Not long after, a low and hoarse voice came from behind the door: "What do you like to drink?"

If others heard this, they might feel confused and not know how to respond.

But the sniper knew this very well, because it was the secret code he and his companions agreed upon.

Only when you say the correct code will your companions in the room open the door.

"Coconut juice, the Coco Tree brand from Long An is the best."

The sniper received the signal with ease, and the door in front of him slowly opened, leaving a gap large enough for him to pass sideways.

The sniper flashed into the house, closed the door casually, and then looked at his two companions in the room.

The wanderer who asked him for the secret code stood on the left, his silver hair shining brightly in the dim light.

Under the thick eyebrows, the dull black eyes stared at the sniper quietly, and a fleeting hint of blood red could be vaguely caught in them.

The rebreather mask covered his mouth and nose. The old shell was covered with rust and scratches. Through the filter, his pale lips could be vaguely seen moving from time to time.

The butt of the M249 light machine gun in his arms was always pressed against his right shoulder, and his calloused fingers habitually rubbed the trigger guard.

It can be seen that this wanderer is a warrior who has experienced hundreds of battles and has been tempered by iron and blood.

Another Ranger sat cross-legged in the corner of the room, a heavy Hecate II anti-material rifle leaning against his left shoulder.

Compared with the previous wanderer, he wrapped himself up even more tightly, without any airtightness, and not even a piece of skin was exposed.

The dark grey goggles flickered with tiny halos of light, and the pupils behind the lenses shrank into sharp needle points.

The tactical mask covers his face, making it impossible to guess what he is thinking while he is quiet.

Although he is a little thin, his back is always straight as a bowstring, exuding the cautious temperament unique to scouts.

It is obvious that the sniper's two companions are no ordinary people.

"Qianming, Shunjue, I found a good place."

The sniper took off the military cloak, revealing a handsome face with a slightly rebellious look.

His brown eyes were sharp and alert, and seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

The brown military uniform and the scratched armband inadvertently revealed his identity as a federal soldier.

He slung his small-caliber sniper rifle across his shoulder and said to his two companions in the room, "There's a war yard hiring people right now. Do you want to try your luck?"

Upon hearing this, the two wanderers first exchanged shocked glances with each other, and then showed an incredible expression.

To be precise, only Shunjue's expression could be seen on his face, while Qianming, who was sitting in the corner, did not show his face at all.

Soon, Shunjue's hoarse male voice, as if coming from a broken bellows, rang in the sniper's ears: "Simmons, do you want to listen carefully to what you are saying?"

"You know our true identities, and you still let us go to the courtyard?"

Qian Ming added silently, and his puzzled gaze was cast at Simmons not far away through the tactical eyepiece.

They were very curious about why the coconut sniper plant spirit named Simmons would say such almost unreasonable words.

"Of course, of course, I know."

However, Simmons just smiled, with a confident arc at the corner of his mouth.

He first looked at Shunjue beside him, then glanced at Qianming in the corner, and said slowly:

"Shunjue, real name unknown, species zombie, former member of the 59th Imperial Army. Served as a firepower officer in the rd Squadron of the th Company of the th Battalion, with the rank of Private First Class."

When Shunjue heard Simmons reveal his past experiences, his face suddenly turned black and he had an ominous premonition in his heart.

"On the first day of your awakening, you chose the skill 'Sound Wave Perception'. This gave you excellent battlefield monitoring capabilities, and the ability to accurately identify any living being with vital signs."

"Wait, Simmons, what exactly are you trying to do by saying this?"

Shunjue suppressed his anger at being "opened" and questioned Simmons.

But Simmons did not stop his "opening the box" behavior. Instead, he intensified it and revealed a lot of information related to Qian Ming.

"There's also Qian Ming, whose real name is also unknown. He's also a zombie. He was also a member of the Imperial 59th Army, serving in the vanguard reconnaissance unit.

On the first day of your awakening, you choose the skill 'Thermal Vision', which allows you to observe and locate targets regardless of obstacles, creating a first-mover advantage for your side.

Although Qian Ming didn't say anything, his eyes turned unfriendly when he looked at Simmons, and his hand involuntarily grasped the handle of the anti-material rifle.

"Well, now that I've said this, don't you understand what I mean?"

Simmons spread his hands calmly: "A scout with X-ray vision and a firepower specialist with super hearing, this is exactly where your value lies!"

Thanks to the tacit understanding they had developed from working together for a long time, Qianming and Shunjue chose to temporarily suppress the urge to beat Simmons up and decided to listen to him continue.

"More importantly, out of disgust with the empire's ideologies, anti-war activists like you chose to resist, defecting and becoming wanderers, leading this life of wandering and living a life of uncertainty."

Seeing that Qianming and Shunjue did not refute him, Simmons continued:

"I know what you're worried about. You're worried about your identities as soldiers of the Old Empire, you're worried about your race as zombies, and you're worried that you won't be accepted into the Federation.

But think about it, those courtyards of the Federation originally existed to fight against the Empire. In Long An's words, the so-called enemy of my enemy is actually a friend, right?

A courtyard that chooses to come to this wanderer gathering place to recruit people means that they need strong warriors, and they will definitely not miss outstanding talents like you.

Besides, zombie spirits and plant spirits can coexist peacefully. I've been with you for so long, and I'm a living example of that."

Simmons expressed his thoughts with an irresistible appeal in his voice.

Qianming and Shunjue were silent. They both understood that what Simmons said made sense.

However, the piercing sound of gunfire still echoed in Qianming and Shunjue's minds, and the blood spilled before their eyes in the past still made it difficult for them to let go.

It is not easy for Qianming and Shunjue to completely let go of their past identities and emotional knots and calmly accept a new beginning.

Once they make up their minds, their former comrades may stand on the opposite side and become their enemies.

"By the way, there's something I need to mention. We're running low on world points, and neither is food."

Simmons' reminder sounded faintly, and Qianming and Shunjue's expressions immediately changed.

In the face of survival, they had to re-examine Simmons' proposal carefully.

After a long while, Shunjue slowly said, "Just think of it as finding a temporary place to stay. Qianming, what do you think?"

Qian Ming nodded slightly, then looked at Simmons beside him, and said solemnly:

"You can give it a try, but Simmons, you have to find out whether that courtyard will accept people like us."

After he finished speaking, the room fell into silence.

Qianming and Shunjue felt mixed emotions. They knew that it was not easy for them to make this decision.

On the one hand, they long to have a stable place to settle down and live a relatively peaceful life.

On the other hand, they worry that past experiences will haunt them like nightmares and they will not be able to let go completely.

"Okay, leave it to me."

Simmons patted his chest, then put on his cloak and left, leaving the space to the confused Qianming and Shunjue.

[Perhaps, as Simmons said, that courtyard would be a good place...]