Post-Apocalyptic Super Merchant #201-300
Author: 雨水
Date: 2026-03-04T18:05:31+00:00

Chapter 201: Global Premiere

August 18th was a somewhat important day for Zhou Yuanqiang, because Doomsday Storm, which he had provided, after two full months of promotion, was finally released on August 18th, a week after Resident Evil 4 was completed.

Many people felt a sense of curiosity about this suddenly appearing Doomsday Storm. They wondered how such a large-scale production could have been kept so well hidden, with news only truly leaking out after filming was complete. This was especially true for the mysterious cast, the mysterious director, the mysterious investment company, and so on.

This curiosity and the film’s mystery were exactly what Warner Bros needed. As long as you were curious, they had ways to get you into the cinema.

However, worldwide, the most dismayed individuals and companies were probably those related to Resident Evil 4. From the trailer alone, it was clear that the scale of Doomsday Storm was incomparable to Resident Evil 4. Furthermore, Warner Bros’ promotion was wild, directly igniting this “zombie fever.”

Paul W. S. Anderson stated in an interview with reporters, “Doomsday Storm is undoubtedly an excellent work. There’s no denying its outstanding aspects in terms of spectacle and prop effects. However, in terms of plot, it cannot compare to ours. We have been working hard. After completing filming ahead of schedule, we originally planned to release it early on August 27th to give our fans a surprise, but now it seems the release date will have to be September 10th, as officially announced.”

Regarding the reporter’s question of whether they feared Doomsday Storm overshadowing them, Anderson replied, “Of course not. After all, competition between two films allows for comparison. Why should we be afraid? The reason for the delay is simply that I suddenly discovered a few minor details in the film that needed changing. I believe it will be even more perfect then.”

Hollywood film critics, however, had all expressed their opinions, but as the movie had not yet officially premiered, they all maintained a cautious attitude.

Domestically, films of this genre were difficult to get approved. So, the so-called global premiere only referred to most countries, excluding China itself.

Zhou Yuanqiang had watched the movie several times already. He was quite confident in it. Otherwise, Warner Bros, this distribution giant, wouldn’t have signed such a contract. And having invested heavily in promotion, they must have certainly seen its value.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t witness the grand premiere, as he was already preparing to leave his hometown and return to City S. This was mainly because he couldn’t stay there for too long. The construction of the skyscraper would take at least six months to complete, so staying at home was pointless.

Zhou Yuanqiang also had a plan for his parents and little sister: he would bring them to City S. For him, the skyscraper was more of a symbol, a place where he might only return to live during Chinese New Year. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang also asked Li Yihan to help him find a villa complex near the sea, intending to buy one there. This way, his parents and little sister, who had never seen the sea in their lives, could enjoy the sea view of City S.

The box office for the first day of a global premiere could not be calculated immediately, so the truly calculated figures were the North American box office.

On its first day of release, Doomsday Storm earned $9.5 million, an incredibly crazy number. On the second day, it reached $10.7 million, and on the third day, $11.2 million. Ultimately, in its first week of release, the total North American box office reached $80 million—an unbelievably insane figure.

Stimulated by this, the second week generated $110 million, and the third week, $130 million.

Three weeks had already amassed $300 million in box office, undoubtedly an incredibly exciting dream start. Mel was even incoherent when he called, saying, “Zhou, God, do you know? We’ve made history! This is only three weeks of box office. Based on my experience, our global box office will be at least $1.5 billion!”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart also pounded wildly. $1.5 billion! After deducting the 35% paid to Warner Bros, he would still have nearly a billion. Even after deducting the $200 million previously paid and taxes, he would have about $700 million in income. Without even realizing it, he could enter the top 20 richest people in China.

It was originally hoped that it could break the Titanic’s global box office myth of $1.8 billion, but in the third week, Resident Evil 4 also officially premiered, starting to divert audiences. Moreover, the advent of the internet age reduced the appeal of cinemas, otherwise, there was a real possibility of challenging that record.

Through Mel, Zhou Yuanqiang learned that Resident Evil 4, heavily influenced by Doomsday Storm’s frenzy, also achieved $23.5 million in box office in its first week of release. It was estimated that its global box office would reach around $350 million, doubling that of its third installment and far exceeding Anderson and his team’s expectations.

Doomsday Storm also received rave reviews. Kirk Honeycutt, film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, commented, “It is absolutely a thought-provoking movie. If you walk into a cinema and watch it, you will understand that living is not easy. The meaning it conveys makes us ponder, ‘Is this our human destiny?’ It’s like an alarm bell, constantly reminding us humans to protect the environment, cherish the Earth, and prevent a post-apocalyptic world from happening.”

Robert Koehler of Variety magazine believed, “What I saw wasn’t the dazzling special effects, but humanity’s indomitable spirit, the courage to fight for survival at all costs when facing extinction, which is worthy of our admiration. It shows on another level that the spirit we humans possess is the foundation of our survival. It also calls for all countries’ ongoing biochemical experiments to be stopped. Everything in Doomsday Storm should not be allowed to play out.”

While there were praises, there were also those who jumped out to vehemently criticize it, but that had nothing to do with Zhou Yuanqiang. At this moment, he was already taking his parents and little sister by plane to City S. In City S, Li Yihan had already found several villas that met Zhou Yuanqiang’s requirements, but Zhou Yuanqiang needed to return to confirm.

The trading company only had two vans, which Li Yihan also dispatched to pick up Zhou Yuanqiang and his family.

Although the two vans seemed a bit humble, they were more than enough for Zhou Yuanqiang’s parents. After all, it was a part of their son’s business, wasn’t it? Zhou Yuanqiang, however, was somewhat lost in thought, staring at the cars. “There are many cars in the post-apocalyptic world. In some city sales points, there are still a large number of new cars, all brand new. The company is so short on vehicles right now. If I get a chance to bring a dozen or so over, it would solve this car shortage problem.”

Thinking of cars, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but worry about the transportation problem in the Wasteland Settlement. The force had expanded to 60,000 people, yet they could only transport and deploy 3,000 at a time. This was unthinkable. What if there was an emergency? This transportation issue also had to be resolved.

Returning to the suite in his warehouse, after staying one night, Zhou Yuanqiang drove the van again, taking his parents to the various residences Li Yihan had found for him.

“Dad, look, how about this place? It’s three stories high, the area is quite decent, and the decor is very nice, very suitable for you. Of course, the key is its large courtyard. If you can’t stay idle, you and Mom can plant vegetables in the courtyard or something. After all, besides the landscaped garden in the large courtyard, there’s still some space. The weather in City S is very hot. There’s a swimming pool and an artificial coconut grove where my little sister and you can swim.”

Zhou Anpu and his wife had never seen such a luxurious place. Even on TV, they had seen them, but the gap between TV and reality was too great.

Su Lan was already startled and said, “Qiang… Qiang-zi, isn’t it too big? How much does this cost?”

“How much?” Zhou Yuanqiang also didn’t know whether he should say. He couldn’t tell his parents that the area of one tile they were standing on could build two or three simple cement houses back home, could he? The 48-story skyscraper he built in the village had already left them speechless for several days. How could he dare to speak recklessly again this time? “Mom, it doesn’t cost much, just over a million. Look, we’ve even built buildings worth twenty or thirty million. Is it really a problem to spend just over a million?”

Heaven knew, this villa was worth 28 million, definitely in City S’s most prestigious wealthy district.

For a woman who had never seen the world, over a million was already an astronomical figure, so she was still incredibly distressed. Only Zhou Anpu really liked it, and he had also begun to get used to Zhou Yuanqiang’s habit of dealing in millions. He said, “I like it here too. Since Qiang-zi isn’t short of this money, we can relax. Qiang-zi is grown up now and doing big things, he has his own judgment.”

As for Zhou Xiaojing, she was already like a happy bird, looking around everywhere. Especially the simulated beach by the swimming pool and the artificial coconut grove, it was exactly like her childhood dream.

In fact, this place was near the sea, but City S only had a few beaches, which were already developed for tourism. And the beaches in other places were too dirty to allow people to enjoy the waves in the sea. Therefore, villas in City S rarely had direct sea access; they were all built by the sea, and adding a beach to the swimming pool was considered fulfilling people’s longing for the beach.

Seeing that her husband and daughter liked it, Su Lan no longer objected. Instead, she pulled her husband around to look everywhere, offering her opinions on some empty plots, suggesting what vegetables would be suitable to plant, which almost made the saleswoman who had been following them feel dizzy.

Buying a villa worth 28 million and moving in to plant vegetables? What a crazy idea, only nouveau riche like them could come up with it.

Chapter 202: Massive Profits from a Few Pieces of Fabric

Once his parents’ and little sister’s living arrangements were settled, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t need to worry much about things like furniture; the decoration company would handle all of that.

After settling them in, Zhou Yuanqiang got busy again. The various materials piled up in his three warehouses needed to be transported back to the post-apocalyptic world. It had been nearly a month since he left City S, and with the current consumption rate of the Wasteland Settlement, the warehouses there had become empty. Even the sixty thousand abandoned cars he had brought back from the United States had been converted into various metals for construction projects like the weapons factory. The problem of metal supply was once again haunting Zhou Yuanqiang.

After five days of grueling work and transferring all the supplies to the post-apocalyptic world, Zhou Yuanqiang had to start thinking about how to solve the steel problem locally. He couldn’t rely entirely on himself forever. It worked for the short term, but it wasn’t a sustainable lifelong solution; it simply wasn’t realistic.

“Hmm, here. And here. There are two small steel plants. And here, here… Tsk, why didn’t I think of this before?” Looking at the map of the post-apocalyptic wasteland, Zhou Yuanqiang finally laughed. He cursed himself for being a fool. How could he have forgotten that the wasteland also had underground mineral veins? It was just that they were somewhat far from the Wasteland Settlement, so he hadn’t paid them much attention.

If he wanted to solve the steel problem, occupying a few steel plants in the post-apocalyptic world was undoubtedly a good idea.

However, many problems remained. For instance, the mineral veins were far from the Wasteland Settlement, the nearest being over a hundred kilometers away. Second was the issue of security; occupying these plants meant establishing defensive forces to protect them. Third, there were likely few people in the Wasteland Settlement familiar with the industry. Starting up these steel plants and excavating the veins would require slowly training a workforce of steelworkers.

“These things have to be done sooner or later. Might as well start now.”

Since the hy-1 fighter jets entered service, along with the Sand-1 helicopters and the massive generator clusters, they had all been “oil-guzzling tigers.” Just looking at the two bombing runs conducted by the 62 hy-1 jets, they had consumed 137 tons of fuel. Zhou Yuanqiang almost felt like strangling Xu Dali over it.

Was it easy for him to transport fuel here? It wasn’t just a small amount. He didn’t know how much effort he had put into sweet-talking the manager of a gas station just to buy such a large quantity of fuel. But now, with the generators added into the mix, the fuel depot was empty again. Those fighter jets were great, but the problem was that a single mission cost him over a million in fuel expenses.

Now Zhou Yuanqiang finally understood why air force training mostly used trainer aircraft and rarely let trainees use real fighters. Wasn’t it all because of the cost of fuel?

Fortunately, good news arrived. After four months of repairs and Zhou Yuanqiang’s efforts in bringing over various equipment, the refinery was finally ready to officially begin operations. This news allowed Zhou Yuanqiang, who had been distressed over fuel, to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Although this small oil well only produced about 150 barrels a day, it was sufficient for the consumption of the entire Wasteland Settlement. People might not realize how much 150 barrels was, but based on conversion, about 7 barrels equaled 1 ton. 150 barrels meant roughly 21 tons of fuel per day, which was enough for daily use with a small amount left over for reserves.

For this oil well and refinery that had cost him so much blood and sweat, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally had to go see it in person for the official opening.

Learning from the lesson of the previous Administration, he first increased the height and thickness of the defensive walls for the refinery and oil well, then expanded the perimeter. Simultaneously, he stationed a force of three thousand soldiers within the refinery to ensure that even if a massive swarm of zombies attacked, they could hold out until reinforcements arrived from the Wasteland Settlement a dozen or so kilometers away.

At the same time, he deployed five Sand-1 light helicopters at the refinery to patrol the vicinity and prevent any surprise attacks by zombies.

The entire refinery was twice the size of the one the Administration had originally run—this referred to its physical area, not its capacity. There was no helping it; since refining equipment was typically massive, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t bring it over whole and had to transport it in parts. Even so, with the industrial mother machine available, the lathes manufactured specifically for the refinery were a huge help in successfully repairing the equipment.

No wonder oil was considered liquid gold. Comparing it to current domestic oil prices, Zhou Yuanqiang felt a cold sweat. He reckoned his home country’s fuel prices probably ranked in the top five globally—nearly three times more expensive than in the United States. Yet the oil companies there still cried about prices being too low and needing to raise them… Seriously, was the company claimed to be the most profitable in all of Asia built on those price hikes?

Calculating it out, 21 tons of fuel per day, converted to domestic fuel prices, was worth 240,000 per day. And then think about the refineries elsewhere where daily production was 200,000 to 600,000 barrels, or even over a million barrels. Ten printing presses combined couldn’t match their money-making ability.

No wonder Arab nations like Saudi Arabia were so rich they practically dripped with oil. No wonder the United States was willing to approve hundreds of billions in military spending just to take Iraq.

In reality, while 21 tons a day seemed like a lot and was enough for now, it would be a drop in the bucket in the future. According to the plan, the settlement’s production of hy-2 fighter jets would reach between 250 and 300 units. Adding in various other planes and airships… even a production of 200 tons a day wouldn’t be enough for those fuel-hungry beasts.

“Future problems are for the future. When the time comes, if I have to, I’ll just go and seize it from Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan. Anyway, with airships and fighter jets, I won’t have to worry about not being able to get there.”

Time marched into September. Over the span of two months, the 170,000 pieces of clothing produced by the Wasteland Settlement were finally sold out. Using hunger marketing tactics, the original turnover was increased by 20%. This was a massive fortune, enough to at least allow Zhou Yuanqiang to upgrade to a Level 2 ring.

Mu Gushan brought back news that Lu Yanjiong’s small settlement was finally completed. With various weapons and defenses in place, it could now withstand an attack by tens of thousands of zombies.

For the hundreds of thousands of people on the Tianzhou Plain, 170,000 pieces of clothing averaged out to less than half a garment per person. This meant the Tianzhou Plain remained a massive market. However, Zhou Yuanqiang doubted whether they would risk their lives against the zombies just to buy clothes. After all, those 170,000 pieces had already harvested a lot of crystals; many settlements had used crystals originally meant for weapons and ammunition to buy clothing instead.

Those with clothes looked sharp, while those without could only watch with envy.

Aside from a small amount of crystals, the acquisition of garment materials went exceptionally smoothly. Some large settlements did indeed have stockpiles of these items. Though they knew the materials were being bought to manufacture clothes, they lacked the capability to do it themselves—they couldn’t just let the materials rot in their hands, could they? So, they were willing to hand them over in exchange for a large quantity of finished clothes. Since they couldn’t wear raw cotton, selling it was an indirect way of converting those materials into value.

Faced with this win-win situation, Lu Yanjiong finally established a firm footing.

It made sense; while clothes were profitable, they weren’t weapons, so many people didn’t think much of it and didn’t have many designs on the suddenly appearing Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Some even mocked them, saying that in this post-apocalyptic world, instead of making progress by manufacturing weapons to fight back against zombies, they were doing this kind of business. If their brains weren’t broken, what was?

But how could they know just how high the profit margins for clothing were? Without exaggeration, among those 170,000 pieces, even the cheapest items cost as much as a decent gun for every two pieces. Not to mention the more fashionable items, which commanded even higher prices.

The person in charge of the clothing factory was a sexy former model. Having fallen victim to the industry’s unspoken rules countless times, she naturally understood what men needed and what they wanted women to wear. Thus, quite shamelessly, among the 170,000 items the clothing factory released into the Tianzhou Plain, over ten thousand were pieces of intimate lingerie…

Well, Zhou Yuanqiang had to admit, when he saw that dizzying array of intimate lingerie, he couldn’t help but feel “stirred.” But he didn’t feel he was being vulgar. He was a man, after all; who didn’t have dreams? As for the pricing of this batch of lingerie, Zhou Yuanqiang could only slap his forehead and shout, Dark… so dark…

Just a few thin pieces of fabric sewn together, and the price was actually ten times that of ordinary clothes.

Yet the results shocked Zhou Yuanqiang. The first things to sell out were those pieces of lingerie, and they were in such high demand that there was no supply left. How long had the poor overlords of the post-apocalyptic world gone without seeing such intimate apparel? They scrambled to buy it for their women, only to have them wear it for them day and night.

Consequently, the “overtime” hours for these overlords inevitably became longer and they became much more diligent in their duties.

Ten thousand sets of this lingerie earned as much as a hundred thousand sets of regular clothes, yet the material used was less than a tenth of an ordinary garment. This business… tsk, even Zhou Yuanqiang was starting to get greedy. Damn it, this was a hundredfold profit, even more lucrative than the arms business.

According to the analysis of Chen Ruiyuan—the manager of the clothing factory and former model—men would always get bored quickly or lose interest in a single set of lingerie, and they would seek out newer, more exciting styles. A woman would always need a dozen or even dozens of sets of such intimate apparel and outfits. The entire market was essentially infinite.

Zhou Yuanqiang was stunned by this conclusion and asked, “There’s really that much demand?”

Chen Ruiyuan smiled seductively and said, “My dear Chairman, how could there not be? I used to have over a hundred sets in different styles myself. Sadly, they can’t be found now, otherwise I’d be more than happy to model them for you one by one. Or, Chairman, perhaps you’d like to come to my room now? I’ve specially custom-made a dozen sets for myself. It’s the perfect chance for the Chairman to see if they fit well and if they’re attractive enough… so the Chairman can experience a woman’s charm from a man’s perspective after she puts them on…”

Zhou Yuanqiang stood there like a stone statue before fleeing the clothing factory office in embarrassment.

“Damn it, if I stayed a moment longer, wouldn’t she have eaten me alive?” Thinking of Chen Ruiyuan’s nearly ten-year career as a model, how many people had “unspoken rules” with her? Dozens? Hundreds? He still cared about that very much, no matter how sexy or attractive she was. But if she really wore them out for him to see, would he mind?

He would…

He wouldn’t… He would… He wouldn’t… This question really was too agonizing!

Chapter 203: Malice

Night on the Tianzhou Plain was different from the wasteland, especially during these days at the end of September approaching October. A gentle evening breeze brushing against the skin provided a summer-like coolness. Compared to the wasteland’s climate, where it was hot enough to kill during the day and freezing enough to kill at night, there was simply no comparison.

If one were to speak of the person whose fame had rung the loudest since June, no one would dare claim the top spot other than Lu Yanjiong.

First, there was that sizeable cache of weapons. Although some were nearing the end of their service life, being able to procure so many weapons was a first for the Tianzhou Plain. Then came the clothes, which quietly became a hit and forced people to see Lu Yanjiong in a new light. By the time the fashion trend swept across the entire Tianzhou Plain, Lu Yanjiong and the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had officially entered everyone’s field of vision.

Whether you knew Lu Yanjiong personally or had ever seen someone from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, you had definitely heard the name and knew of the organization.

If you said you hadn’t heard of them, your friends probably wouldn’t even want to admit they knew you. With the popularity of the clothes, who wasn’t driven mad trying to get their hands on a set? Who wouldn’t be swelling with pride after putting on a brand-new outfit, itching to wear it every day just to show off in front of their ragged neighbors and companions?

The more people harbored this mindset, the greater the provocation to others. Inevitably, they too began to wonder if they should go without food and water for a few days just to buy a set. As the competitive vanity grew, so did the demand for clothes, and naturally, the prices began to soar.

The situation was quite farcical; even in this post-apocalyptic world—especially on the Tianzhou Plain, where people didn’t have to worry about finding food—the desire for beauty was inevitably intense.

Lu Yanjiong’s settlement was built along the highway exit leading into the Great Mountain Range, nestled against the foot of the mountains. With cement provided by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, a five-meter-high brick-and-cement defensive wall ensured the safety of the small settlement. It was far from any mobile zombie swarms, and as long as no accidents occurred, the lure teams kept the herds diverted, meaning there was no need to worry about them appearing before the settlement.

By absorbing several small mobile teams, Lu Yanjiong had managed to gather about a thousand men under his command. Since they were all equipped with firearms, their strength was quite formidable.

However, at this moment, in a small grove about a kilometer outside Lu Yanjiong’s settlement, three men were lying flat on the ground. The tall grass hid them completely. Since it was night, no matter how bright the moonlight was, it was impossible to spot their silhouettes.

“Third Brother, do you see it? That’s Lu Yanjiong’s nest. Don’t be fooled by that tall defensive wall; I’ve been inside. It’s only two cement bricks thick. A light ram from a vehicle would knock it right over.”

The speaker was a man with a face full of beard, his eyes shining as he stared at the settlement under the moonlight. Beside him were two sturdy men of impressive build. The one called Third Brother, in particular, had bulging muscles that spoke of incredible strength. He was holding a pair of crude binoculars, carefully observing every movement within the settlement.

However, these crude binoculars were clearly of poor quality. Combined with the darkness of the night, the settlement appeared as a blurry mess. He couldn’t see anything clearly at all.

Frustrated, Third Brother shoved the binoculars back to the man beside him. “Old Four, what kind of technician did you find? Recommending someone who can’t even make decent binoculars… it’s damn infuriating.”

The man called Old Four only gave a cold, dry laugh. “Third Brother, just be content we have a pair at all. It’s the middle of the night; it would be a miracle if you could see clearly.”

“Then didn’t we come here tonight for nothing?” Third Brother seemed a bit angry as he turned to the bearded man. “Wang Gang, is your intel actually accurate or not?”

Wang Gang was the bearded man. He patted his chest and said, “How could I dare deceive you, Third Brother? In this region, who doesn’t know the great name of Shi Lei? The man brave enough to lie to you hasn’t been born yet. My intel comes from a brother I’ve shared a life-and-death bond with. He joined Lu Yanjiong’s crew, and his news is definitely reliable.”

The name Shi Lei was indeed famous on the Tianzhou Plain. He was the Old Brother of the largest roaming settlement on the entire plain, commanding nearly five thousand people. Their firearm distribution was high, with at least three thousand men armed with weapons.

His style was also that of a wanderer, but unlike Lu Yanjiong, if they ran out of grain, they would rob others like bandits. They collected protection fees from small fixed settlements, acting like a literal gang of thugs. However, they usually only took a bit of grain and rarely harmed people, so many didn’t mind giving up some food to settle the matter.

After two months of wandering, they had arrived in this area and inevitably heard news of Lu Yanjiong. Under Wang Gang’s instigation, they had set their sights on Lu Yanjiong’s small settlement.

The three of them were here tonight for reconnaissance. They didn’t dare come during the day for fear of alerting the target, so they had chosen the night.

“Wang Gang, are you sure Lu Yanjiong has countless crystals and a massive hoard of clothes?” Shi Lei licked his lips. Honestly, when he first heard what Wang Gang said, his heart had skipped a beat. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked coming here in the middle of the night.

Wang Gang nodded vigorously. “Third Brother, I’ve been observing them for a while. You know they send a truckload of clothes out to sell to various settlements every day? When they return, that truck is always loaded with crystals, gold, and grain. They’ve been doing this business since June. According to my brother, their warehouse inside is piled high with crystals and other treasures.”

Shi Lei said, “But I heard Lu Yanjiong is backed by some Commercial Association. If we move against Lu Yanjiong, won’t they come looking for trouble?”

“They’re called the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. They have some strength, but we don’t need to fear them. Think about it, Third Brother; ‘distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.’ They are over in the wasteland, hundreds of kilometers from here. It’s not like they can just show up. They only come here once a month, and with no communications these days, we could swallow Lu Yanjiong whole, and it would be a week or two before they even found out.”

Wang Gang worked harder to sell the idea, continuing, “Besides, Third Brother, with so many crystals, do you think we’d still be worried about not being able to trade for weapons? Once all your men are equipped with good guns, won’t you be the one calling the shots on this plain? Even if those Commercial Association people eventually react, given your strength and how we’re always on the move, they’ll just have to swallow the bitter pill and suffer in silence.”

Old Four, sitting nearby, struck the grass hard and said, “Men die for wealth just as birds die for food. Third Brother, I think this job is worth it.”

Shi Lei was a man who was rough on the outside but calculating on the inside. He hesitated for a moment, weighing Wang Gang’s words, and found them more and more reasonable. He stared at Wang Gang with a strange expression. “I’ve known you so long, and this is the first time I’ve seen you analyze something so well. It’s actually pretty damn surprising.”

This casual remark struck fear into Wang Gang’s heart, but he forced a smile. “Third Brother, what’s so strange about that? Can’t I be smart for once?”

Shi Lei didn’t notice Wang Gang’s expression. He looked at the distant wall and patted Wang Gang’s shoulder. “If we take it, I definitely won’t mistreat you. You’ll get your fair share of rewards.”

Wang Gang immediately showed a look of intense excitement. “Thank you, Third Brother! Thank you, Third Brother!”

The three of them observed for a while longer before quietly retreating.

However, what Shi Lei didn’t know was that after returning to their temporary camp, Wang Gang quietly slipped away again. Using the moonlight, he ran a long distance before pulling a motorcycle out from a familiar patch of tall grass. He started it up and vanished into the night.

Over an hour later, the bearded Wang Gang finally arrived in front of a massive settlement. After providing the secret code, someone quickly came out to lead him inside.

This was a settlement of tens of thousands of people. The buildings inside were crisscrossed and well-planned, resembling a large town. Wang Gang was led to a small hill within the settlement where a block of buildings stood—the leadership center of the entire community.

As soon as Wang Gang entered one of the halls, a man was already sitting there. He spoke to Wang Gang calmly. “Is it done?”

Wang Gang shuddered and replied, “Yes, everything was done according to your instructions. Shi Lei has confirmed he will launch the attack tomorrow evening to take down Lu Yanjiong in one fell swoop.”

The man nodded and clapped his hands. Immediately, a dozen or so women, dressed in the beautiful clothes produced by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, walked out from a side room. The sight made Wang Gang’s eyes go wide.

“You’ve done well. These women belong to you for the night. Enjoy yourself.”

With that, the man put his hands behind his back and left the hall. He walked to a three-story building in the rear. Under the lamplight, he was revealed to be a pale-faced young man. He knocked on one of the doors. After a “Come in” was heard from inside, he pushed the door open and sat down casually.

“Shi Lei took the bait.”

The man in the room was in his forties with the tall stature of a Northerner. He showed no signs of sleepiness on this late night. Hearing the young man’s words, he burst into laughter. “Very good. Once Shi Lei takes the bait, the show is about to begin. I trust you are prepared?”

The young man was full of arrogance. “Uncle Tian, you underestimate my Xu family too much. Dealing with them is child’s play.” He stared at Uncle Tian. “I only hope that once you get that batch of crystals, our agreement won’t turn out to be a worthless piece of paper.”

Uncle Tian smiled. “Of course. We might lack other things, but we have no shortage of weapons and ammunition.”

“It better be. I’ve heard this Yuanqiang Commercial Association is no pushover.” Xu Wenjia sighed. “I really don’t know what you were thinking, Uncle Tian. Why fixate on the crystals they earned? Couldn’t you have just traded your weapons to them directly?”

Uncle Tian shook his head. “If they were willing, I would have traded long ago. Why go to all this trouble? Their clothes have practically harvested every crystal on the plain. Without crystals, I can’t answer to my superiors. Thus, this was the only recourse. Besides, the other party is just a commercial association. How much strength could they possibly have?”

His real name was Tian Yun, an old-fashioned name. He had come to the Tianzhou Plain to bring weapons and ammunition in exchange for large quantities of crystals.

Because the distance between the two regions was so great, trade dates were set for the 15th of every month. But who would have thought that starting in August, the weapons that were usually so popular suddenly stopped selling? Only a measly dozen or so rifles were sold per day. This was beyond belief for Tian Yun and his people. Had the Tianzhou Plain run out of crystals?

But after investigating, they discovered it wasn’t a lack of crystals, but rather that all those crystals were being earned by a man named Lu Yanjiong.

The strongest commodity in the post-apocalyptic world was universally acknowledged to be arms. But Tian Yun and his counterparts never expected that a simple set of clothes could actually surpass weapons and become the most popular item on the Tianzhou Plain. Countless people were driven mad for them, which, amidst their shock, forced Tian Yun and his men to admire Lu Yanjiong.

Weapons that usually sold out within a day or two took a full week this time, and that was even with significant price cuts.

When Tian Yun and his team returned to the North, they naturally had the worst performance of all the trade routes, making them unable to hold their heads up. Furthermore, the fury of their superiors terrified them. They had hoped September would be better, but Tian Yun found that even when they lowered their prices to a point where they were practically giving the weapons away, they still couldn’t sell them. This was because September was the peak of the clothing craze; anyone with crystals in their hands spent them all on clothes.

This was when Tian Yun and his associates began to panic. They knew very well that if they returned empty-handed again, their fate would be very, very grim.

Left with no choice, Tian Yun refused to accept his fate. Naturally, he sought out Xu Wenjia, who possessed significant strength on the Tianzhou Plain. After offering certain terms, Xu Wenjia had no reason to refuse such a good deal. In his eyes, Lu Yanjiong was just a buffoon, and the Yuanqiang Commercial Association behind him was ultimately just a commercial association. What could they possibly achieve?

Furthermore, Xu Wenjia had a bit of cleverness; a man of Shi Lei’s character was the perfect tool for his plans.

Now that everything was settled, Xu Wenjia was just here to complain a bit to the other party; he wasn’t quite satisfied with Tian Yun’s terms and wanted to squeeze out a few more benefits. But what kind of person was Tian Yun? To be the leader of a merchant caravan, he was equally shrewd. However, he also knew that if you want the horse to run, you have to give it enough grass to eat.

“Brother Xu, since you call me Uncle, I will personally promise you an additional ten rocket launchers.”

Upon hearing “rocket launchers,” Xu Wenjia’s expression shifted slightly. “Uncle Tian truly is straightforward.” He smiled. “Well, it’s getting late. Uncle Tian, Lu Yanjiong’s clothes really are quite nice. I’m sure you’d like to take a look, wouldn’t you?”

At his call, several more women with slender figures entered, wearing outfits that were incredibly revealing.

Xu Wenjia said, “I think you’ll want to take a close look at the charm of these clothes, Uncle Tian. After all, is it not said: know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated?”

Chapter 204: Farce

Shi Lei seemed wild, but he wasn’t a fool. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to get over five thousand people to follow him. Of course, his lack of stupidity was specifically directed toward dealing with Lu Yanjiong’s settlement; as for Xu Wenjia, he had no idea that man was even involved in this matter.

Since he had decided to swallow Lu Yanjiong whole, he couldn’t just rely on Wang Gang’s intelligence. Early the next morning, he personally took several of his most capable subordinates and headed straight for Lu Yanjiong’s small settlement, pretending to be customers looking to buy clothes. Only after seeing it with his own eyes could he truly feel at ease.

Because the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s core principle was trade, their Tianzhou Plain branch naturally kept its gates wide open to do business.

From the “seeding” strategy in June where they released five thousand garments, to the “hunger marketing” tactics of July, every move had been a calculated business maneuver. When August arrived, after having sufficiently whetted everyone’s appetite, they finally began officially shipping large quantities of clothing into the Tianzhou Plain. Many people were dissatisfied, however, that these clothes were all common in style and lacked variety. They were only suitable for ordinary people; how could those with power and status settle for that?

Naturally, this was another sales tactic, intended to make the wealthy even more desperate for high-end options.

By September, the clothing lines targeted at both the upper and lower classes officially appeared, immediately triggering a fanatical following. This drove clothing sales to a frantic peak. This madness almost swept the entire Tianzhou Plain clean of crystals. Amidst the competitive vanity, people didn’t even care about weapons anymore; they bought clothes first, wanting to look decent above all else.

In such an atmosphere, Lu Yanjiong’s small settlement was naturally flooded with people. All sorts of peddlers and those who wanted a piece of the action came knocking at the door.

Lu Yanjiong also had an interesting policy: if you wanted to enter the settlement to look around, you were welcome. But if you wanted to see him personally, you were rejected. It wasn’t that Lu Yanjiong was arrogant, but there were nearly a thousand people wanting to see him; how could he possibly find the time? A man has to live. Besides, he already knew exactly what they were thinking. Not seeing them saved him a lot of trouble.

Lu Yanjiong operated the entire settlement like a market. In addition to his own established stores, the two rows of streets had vacant commercial stalls. His intention was to attract investment and build the place into a permanent market. Once the foot traffic was established, wealth would naturally follow.

Because of this, there was basicially no interrogation for those entering and exiting the settlement.

Shi Lei and his men entered the small settlement easily. The things they couldn’t see clearly the previous night were now laid bare. The settlement covered an area of just over 13,000 square meters and consisted of two streets. Even though it was morning, it was teeming with people, showing signs of great prosperity. Some shops had already been snatched up by far-sighted individuals and stocked with various goods.

“Tsk tsk, just looking at this bustle… it would be a shame to destroy it!”

The entire settlement was only two streets long. There wasn’t much to browse, and Shi Lei finished his tour in moments. The area behind the streets was a restricted zone; that was likely where Lu Yanjiong and his people lived. Shi Lei didn’t plan on sneaking in. Having seen enough, he basically confirmed the strength of this settlement. In short, it was fragile and could be taken with ease.

This assessment was enough for Shi Lei.

Completely unaware, Lu Yanjiong followed his usual routine as dusk approached. He began clearing out the visitors and closing the settlement gates. He reinforced the guards on the defensive walls and set up sentries. Afterward, the weary workers returned to wash up, eat dinner, and prepare for rest.

Shi Lei had originally intended to bring two thousand men to consume Lu Yanjiong, but on second thought, he felt it wasn’t safe enough. Instead, he brought all three thousand of his armed men. At dusk, they began their approach toward the settlement. Shi Lei’s style was always wild, so he didn’t bother with stealth. Three thousand men marched grandly toward the settlement.

It made sense. It was only a settlement of about a thousand people, half of whom were the elderly or weak, leaving only five or six hundred combatants. What was there to fear?

The movement of three thousand people was not small. Even though it was dusk, they appeared as a vast, dark mass. The people in the settlement had binoculars supplied by the headquarters. After confirming the arrivals were not zombies, they didn’t sound the alarm initially, thinking it was just a wandering group passing through.

However, the three thousand men soon reached the highway in front of the settlement. Their murderous aura was so obvious that anyone could tell things were wrong. Immediately, the settlement’s alarm blared, and men clutching weapons scrambled up the towers behind the defensive walls.

Shi Lei didn’t care. With a wave of his hand, someone ran to the settlement gate and shouted, “Listen up, people inside! You are surrounded! If you don’t want to die, come out and surrender immediately. Otherwise, once we charge in, it will be a slaughter!”

Lu Yanjiong hadn’t even had time to eat dinner when the alarm rang. Startled, he immediately ran outside. By the time he reached the tower and heard the opponent’s words, his brow furrowed. “Who are you? I am Lu Yanjiong. I don’t believe I’ve offended you brothers in any way?”

Shi Lei looked at Lu Yanjiong with curiosity. “So you’re Lu Yanjiong. You really are young. Actually, you haven’t offended us. We just heard you’ve made a fortune recently. You see our brothers here; we’re dressed in rags and want to look a bit more decent. But… the brothers really can’t produce the money, so we were forced to take this path.”

Lu Yanjiong knew the Tianzhou Plain like the back of his hand. Looking closely at the man, he suddenly understood and laughed. “So it’s Third Brother. Truly, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner.”

Shi Lei wasn’t afraid of being recognized. “That’s right, I am Shi Lei. I won’t make things difficult for you. Hand over the crystals in your warehouse, and I’ll let you go. Anyone who knows Shi Lei knows I only want wealth, not lives.”

“Is that so?” Lu Yanjiong flicked his fingers. “You should know that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association is behind me. You can’t afford to provoke them.”

Shi Lei sneered. “I don’t care about ‘Yuanqiang’ or whatever. The arrow is notched on the string; there’s no turning back now. Either you cooperate, or we take it ourselves.” He pointed to the mass of brothers behind him. “I hope you’re as smart now as you are when doing business. Don’t do something impulsive and end up making a losing deal.”

Lu Yanjiong’s current strength, despite the small numbers, was backed by excellent equipment. He remained very calm. “Since Third Brother wants to test us, then fine. I also want to see what level my subordinates are at.”

“Very well…” Shi Lei didn’t waste any more words. He hadn’t expected to take the place smoothly tonight anyway. He waved his hand and roared, “Let them witness the glory of our boys!”

What was Shi Lei’s fighting style? Their backgrounds made it easy to understand. They were like ancient rebel armies—no discipline, no formation, and certainly no command structure. Upon receiving the order, the entire force of over three thousand men launched a charge toward the defensive walls.

The only notable feature was several cars interspersed within the crowd, speeding toward the walls in an attempt to ram them down.

Lu Yanjiong stared for a moment, then burst into laughter. “You think you can cause trouble with just this?” His blood also began to boil as he shouted, “Boys, let Third Brother know who he can and cannot provoke! Let him know that although we are few… you don’t win wars just by having more people! Mount the heavy machine guns! God dammit, to hell with them!”

As the first branch, Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t been stingy. He had directly allocated over a hundred machine guns and a thousand Type 81 rifles to them.

However, in Lu Yanjiong’s view, there was no need to put so many on display for defense, so the machine guns were usually kept hidden. He hadn’t expected this low-key approach would make Shi Lei think they were easy pickings. Without a careful observation, Shi Lei had led his men in a charge. In his mind, how could a battle happen without people dying? A few deaths were acceptable to get the cars to ram the defensive wall; everything after that would follow naturally.

Hadn’t he always fought his way through like this? How many settlements had surrendered just like that?

But now, when he heard Lu Yanjiong mention heavy machine guns, his heart skipped a beat. If they really had heavy machine guns, the consequences… even if they won, the casualties would be astronomical. But there was no room for retreat now; they could only bite the bullet and press forward.

Fighting humans was different from fighting zombies. In an instant, the light and heavy machine guns were mounted. They opened fire from their elevated positions on the people who had entered within three to four hundred meters. Although only a dozen or so machine guns were deployed on this side, the metal storm they created was enough to shatter anyone’s resolve, making them wish they could turn back right then.

But Shi Lei’s men were already in mid-charge; how could they just stop?

The spitting tongues of fire were like scythes harvesting lives. Wherever they swept, screams followed. Rows of men collapsed, and the momentum of the charge was instantly broken. The cars in the crowd received special attention; a concentrated barrage of bullets pounded them, turning the vehicles into swiss cheese.

Poor Shi Lei was stunned. Everyone was stunned, standing there in a daze. They couldn’t have imagined the opponent’s firepower would be this fierce.

After a few moments, the machine guns stopped. The people who had been charging and screaming just moments ago now shut their mouths, staring in horror at the dozen or so machine guns on the wall. Hundreds of people had been wiped out, becoming sacrifices to the charge. Looking at their fallen companions who had stopped breathing at their feet, no one dared to move an inch.

The entire scene fell into an eerie silence. Lu Yanjiong and his men on the wall didn’t continue firing, and Shi Lei and his men were smart enough to stay frozen in place, not daring to move.

Lu Yanjiong muttered to himself, “You call this a battle? God dammit, it’s nothing but a farce.” The more he thought about it, the more he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What the hell was this? The whole thing started for no reason and ended just as absurdly. Was he dreaming?

Chapter 205: Planting an Excuse

Xu Wenjia’s family lineage ran quite deep. At their peak, his ancestors held the military rank of Thousand-household Commander during the Qing Dynasty. Although the highest rank achieved after that was only of the Sixth Rank, and no one managed to surpass the Fifth Rank, they remained a family of career military officers for generations. By the time of the Republic, sons of the family often joined the army; even if they were merely common soldiers, they were considered to have spent their lives in service.

In Xu Wenjia’s generation, he was the only son. Out of parental affection, he was not sent to join the army. Instead, he was forced to diligently study the ancient military manuals passed down through the family. To modern people, this seemed like an eccentricity. In the age of firearms, ancient military texts held little practical use, and with advanced reconnaissance methods available, tactics like “borrowing arrows with straw boats” were things of the past.

However, it was undeniable that Xu Wenjia possessed the leadership techniques of ancient generals. The settlement he established single-handedly had reached a population of over sixty thousand, with an armed force of eighteen thousand men. Under his brutal training, their strength was unquestionably the best in the Tianzhou Plain.

In military movement, Xu Wenjia prioritized steadiness. Thus, his force of ten thousand men moved silently toward their objective as night fell, the entire battalion advancing in a hushed, disciplined column.

The sudden sound of gunfire echoing through the dark night brought a smile to Xu Wenjia’s face. He breathed a sigh of relief and remarked, “That Shi Lei truly takes the bait easily.” He licked his lips, his reservations vanishing. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, “Listen up, everyone! Full speed ahead!”

His subordinates naturally obeyed. The column, which had been crawling at a snail’s pace, immediately shifted into a forced march, rushing toward the source of the gunfire.

Strangely, the intense sounds of strafing stopped after only a few moments. Xu Wenjia was momentarily stunned, but then he became even more excited. He muttered to himself, “And here I thought Lu Yanjiong had some competence. He was overrun in just a few minutes? If I’d known it would be this easy, I wouldn’t have needed to use Shi Lei as cannon fodder. I could have just led my own men to seize it.”

Xu Wenjia knew of Shi Lei’s ferociousness; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen him to be his stalking horse.

The rapidly advancing force was already near Lu Yanjiong’s settlement, and with the forced march, they arrived before the small settlement in no time. The vanguard ignored the frozen, motionless Shi Lei and his men. Following the plan, they fanned out, quickly surrounding both Shi Lei and the entire small settlement.

When Xu Wenjia reached the settlement from the rear of his troops, he found it odd. Given Shi Lei’s personality, why wasn’t he resisting? When he saw the bitter, terrified expressions on Shi Lei and his men—who didn’t dare move—and then noticed the perfectly intact defensive walls of the settlement, his heart skipped a beat.

This isn’t good, he thought.

At that moment, Lu Yanjiong’s cold voice rang out. “Is that not the Great Master Xu Wenjia? What, are you also short on funds like Third Brother and looking to me for a loan? Heh, what a coincidence. The Great Master’s home isn’t exactly close, yet the moment gunfire breaks out here, you appear.”

“Great Master” was the title outsiders used for Xu Wenjia, signifying his status as the head of a major household.

Hearing the sarcasm in Lu Yanjiong’s words, Xu Wenjia’s face flushed red one moment and turned ashen the next. His heart raced with agitation. He had no idea what was happening; the script wasn’t following his design at all. It had started as planned, but the ending had been rewritten.

Xu Wenjia was left with only two choices. The first was to use his superior numbers to forcibly crush both Lu Yanjiong and Shi Lei, tearing off his mask and completely breaking ties with the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce. The second was to stick to the excuse he had prepared beforehand and claim he had come to the rescue.

The second option would mean his schemes had failed, and it would leave his suspicious motives exposed. But if he didn’t want to start an all-out war with the other party, the second option was undoubtedly the only path available.

Inwardly, Xu Wenjia did not want to provoke the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce since he didn’t know the full extent of their power. But if this operation failed, what about his agreement with Tian Yun? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a chance to make himself even stronger and gain the power to dominate the Tianzhou Plain.

Lu Yanjiong couldn’t see Xu Wenjia’s hesitation, but he assumed the lack of response meant the man was having an internal struggle. To be honest, Xu Wenjia was not someone a person like Shi Lei could compare to, and his force of ten thousand men was something Lu Yanjiong couldn’t hold off forever, no matter how many heavy weapons he had. If a real fight broke out, it would lead to mutual destruction. Even if Xu Wenjia won, the price he would pay would be devastating.

Lu Yanjiong knew he couldn’t let a battle start now. He took a deep breath and said, “Every man on the Tianzhou Plain knows the Great Master Xu is well-versed in military strategy and comes from a lineage of generals. Naturally, your priority is to protect the people and ensure the peace of the region. I, Lu, am very grateful to the Great Master for coming to our aid today; otherwise, it would have been difficult to prevent Shi Lei from getting his way.”

Below, Shi Lei nearly spat blood.

Getting my way? If I hadn’t moved fast and stopped even faster, it wouldn’t have been me getting my way—it would have been Lu Yanjiong getting his way with me! With those heavy weapons, if I had kept charging, I would’ve been devoured until not even my bones remained! What kind of ‘getting my way’ is that? It’s a disaster!

Thinking of Xu Wenjia, Shi Lei realized, no matter how dull he was, that he had been played. He had been used as cannon fodder, a mere weapon in Xu Wenjia’s hand.

He suddenly thought of the abnormal behavior of Wang Gang and fell into a rage. However, Shi Lei was a man who was coarse but observant; he knew Xu Wenjia was currently struggling with a decision. Therefore, no matter how much fury he felt, he had to suppress it and pretend he knew nothing.

If he acted out rashly, Xu Wenjia might stop hesitating and order a hard assault. If that happened, Shi Lei would definitely be the first to die.

Damn you, Wang Gang, you bastard! To think I treated you like a brother, but you’re just a backstabbing villain. And Xu Wenjia, you motherfucker, if I’m lucky enough to survive this, I won’t let you off for plotting against me.

Lu Yanjiong understood that if he didn’t put more pressure on Xu Wenjia, he wouldn’t be able to sway the man’s hesitant mind. He waved his hand again, and his men brought up even more machine guns, lining them up on the tall towers behind the defensive walls. His meaning couldn’t be clearer: if there was a hard assault, he wouldn’t back down, and the result would be for both sides to perish together.

Just as Lu Jiong suspected, Xu Wenjia had been on the verge of ordering the attack. If Lu Jiong hadn’t timely demonstrated such overwhelming firepower, causing Xu Wenjia to hesitate once more, the situation might have become uncontrollable.

“A tiny settlement, merely a branch of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce, yet it possesses such strength. How powerful must the Chamber of Commerce behind them be?” Xu Wenjia sighed to himself. “One must know both oneself and the enemy to be victorious in a hundred battles. I haven’t even fully gauged a small settlement, let alone the Chamber of Commerce behind Lu Yanjiong.”

Xu Wenjia felt a profound sense of regret, but he made his decision and laughed loudly. “Boss Lu, you misunderstand. I merely heard from my scouts that Shi Lei was making suspicious moves and feared he intended harm toward you. I was shocked by the news. Thus, I hurried here with my men, hoping to help Boss Lu out of a bind. I didn’t expect that Boss Lu, being who he is, would find someone like Shi Lei to be no match at all.”

Lu Yanjiong felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Ah, so that’s how it is. The Great Master has truly worked hard. Fortunately, Shi Lei’s abilities are indeed lackluster; otherwise, tonight might have been a disaster.”

Shi Lei’s heart was a knot of frustration. He cursed inwardly, Great, I’m the villain no matter which way it goes. Xu Wenjia, you bastard, you dare call me a small-time crook? Then aren’t you a total hypocrite? The aggrieved Shi Lei was already thinking of how to pay Xu Wenjia back for that “small-time crook” comment.

Xu Wenjia shook his head and said, “Who doesn’t know of Boss Lu’s strength? And with the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce backing you, you naturally have nothing to fear from a clown like Shi Lei. Since Boss Lu is safe tonight, we shall take our leave. When there’s time another day, I’ll come by for a visit.”

Decisively, Xu Wenjia waved his hand, turned around, and left.

The ten thousand men arrived suddenly and left just as abruptly. In just over ten minutes, they had vanished back into the dark night.

Lu Yanjiong felt his back was completely drenched in cold sweat. Now that Xu Wenjia was finally gone, the memory of that pressure made him tremble. Being able to escape this catastrophe today was entirely thanks to the four words “Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce” behind him which had made Xu Wenjia wary. After all, if Xu Wenjia had slaughtered the entire small settlement along with Shi Lei, word would have eventually leaked out. And from what he knew of Boss Zhou’s character, revenge would be absolute.

Humanity had suffered enough from the zombies in this post-apocalyptic world. So why, as soon as life became slightly stable, did they have to attack one another? Was it out of envy for the massive profits Lu Jiong earned? Or were they eyeing the crystals in his warehouse? Unfortunately for them, even if they had breached the settlement, it would have been useless—the crystals had already been transported back to the Wasteland Settlement by helicopter a few days ago.

Lu Yanjiong looked down at Shi Lei. Something seemed to occur to him, and he let out a cold laugh. He said flatly, “Third Brother, you’re still not leaving? Are you waiting for me to invite you in to have tea with my ancestors?”

Shi Lei was also surprised that Lu Yanjiong was letting him go so easily. Reflecting on today’s events, he suspected Lu Yanjiong was a shrewd man who was also using him. But this time, Shi Lei was grateful. He said, “Thank you, Boss Lu. I, Third Brother, am not an unreasonable man. I will never come within a step of this place again.”

With that, Shi Lei waved his hand and roared, “Boys, let’s go! We have an account to settle with Xu Wenjia!”

As Shi Lei and his men vanished into the night, Lu Yanjiong slumped against the tower, staring up at the night sky. He murmured to himself, “With Shi Lei around, Xu Wenjia will live in constant anxiety. And Xu Wenjia’s actions today… haven’t they just planted a perfect, legitimate excuse for the Chamber of Commerce to act in the future?”

In that moment, Lu Yanjiong suddenly smiled. He felt that tonight had been very productive indeed.

Chapter 206: Inspiration

A few days later, news of the attack on the Tianzhou Branch finally reached Zhou Yuanqiang’s ears. After reading Lu Yanjiong’s letter, Zhou Yuanqiang merely smiled without much of a reaction. He casually handed the letter to Mu Gushan and remarked, “This Lu Yanjiong is thinking quite far ahead.”

With the current strength of the Commercial Association, removing Xu Wenjia would be a simple matter.

However, the people of the Tianzhou Plain had always been a tight-knit group. Moving against Xu Wenjia would mean making an enemy of everyone on the Tianzhou Plain. Zhou Yuanqiang had no desire for world domination, so he naturally wouldn’t mobilize his full strength to fight them. Such an action didn’t align with the Commercial Association’s core objectives. Since Xu Wenjia had dared to target the Commercial Association, as Lu Yanjiong noted, he had already provided them with a perfect excuse for the future. For now, he could enjoy his freedom a little longer.

Mu Gushan’s friendship with Lu Yanjiong had been deepening. Seeing his brother suffer a loss, he said, “Boss, are we really just going to let this go? Isn’t this like a slap in the face to our Commercial Association?”

Zhou Yuanqiang sighed and replied, “If we don’t let it go, what would you have us do? Take the air fleet over there and raze Xu Wenjia’s entire settlement to the ground? We aren’t executioners. Furthermore, I don’t want us getting dragged into the cycle of humans slaughtering one another. Our species is already at a disadvantage in this world; if we keep fighting internal wars, do you think humanity has a future? We’ve been provoked, but in the grand scheme of things, what does that really matter?”

He paused for a moment before adding, “Still, if we truly do nothing, they’ll think our Commercial Association is a pushover. Pass my orders to Xu Dali. Tell him to take his men for a stroll over Xu Wenjia’s settlement to intimidate them. Let them know it’s not that we can’t strike back, but that we are looking out for the greater good of humanity. Hmm, aren’t there a lot of barrens in front of Xu Wenjia’s settlement? Have Xu Dali put on a bombing exercise for them in those open spaces.”

Upon receiving the order, Mu Gushan felt a bit reluctant, but after thinking it over, he realized Zhou Yuanqiang was right. Did humans really have to kill one another to solve every problem?

When Xu Dali received the command, he immediately led eighty fighter jets into the sky. They formed a massive formation in the air, howling toward the Tianzhou Plain. For them, the performance of these jets was more than enough to fly a thousand kilometers and back, but the Commercial Association’s standing orders forbade leaving a hundred-kilometer radius of the settlement unless it was for a mission or war.

Now that they had such a perfect opportunity to flex their might, how could the hot-blooded Xu Dali and his pilots not be excited?

The Wasteland Settlement was over 300 kilometers away from the Tianzhou Plain settlement. At the high speeds of the aircraft, it took just over twenty minutes to cross the jagged mountain ranges.

Over the radio, Xu Dali said, “All units, pay attention. Minister Mu’s intent is for us to provide some moral support to our brothers at the branch. Everyone, drop to an altitude of 200 meters and maintain a cruising speed of 200 kilometers per hour. We will pass over the branch in this formation.”

Under Xu Dali’s command, the jets quickly completed their aerial formation. In a triangular echelon, they began to lower their altitude, sweeping toward the plains that had appeared on the horizon.

It was currently midday, and the sky was cloudless. The roaring of the engines was so immense it sounded like thunder rolling across the horizon. How massive was a formation of eighty fighter jets? Against the sky, they looked like a swarm of giant birds.

Thanks to the production speed of the aircraft factory, the manufacturing quota for 100 hy-1 fighter jets had already been met. Meanwhile, the hy-2 fighter jets currently under testing would be a completely different concept from the hy-1. This was only possible due to improvements in research capabilities and manufacturing standards.

Aside from twenty jets left to guard the settlement, Xu Dali had brought the remaining eighty jets specifically to thoroughly shock the entire Tianzhou Plain. The Boss’s intent was clear: let them know that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had enough power to blow the so-called Xu Wenjia to smithereens in an instant. They chose not to engage in mutual slaughter only out of a sense of human morality.

A roar this massive could be heard from a great distance.

Inside the small settlement of the Tianzhou Branch, the place was currently swarming with people. Many from various other settlements were picking out clothes they liked. Ever since the Tianzhou Branch stopped retail sales and introduced sub-agency services, many settlements had eyed the lucrative clothing trade. They had come in droves to order large quantities to sell back in their own settlements.

Because of this, the small settlement had become an extremely bustling and prosperous place. There were at least several thousand people present, crowding the two main streets and the outskirts of the settlement.

In front of the Tianzhou Branch’s main gate flew the flag of the Commercial Association. The seven-colored umbrella on the flag was dazzling in the sunlight. The first thing anyone passing by saw was this fluttering seven-colored umbrella flag. This umbrella, representing protection and shelter, always gave people a deep sense of security.

When the roar first drifted over, everyone was struck with terror. In this post-apocalyptic world, people’s sense of crisis was highly sensitive, bordering on paranoia.

Lu Yanjiong, influenced by Xu Wenjia’s recent actions, had been strengthening his defenses. The moment he heard this deafening roar, regardless of the cause, he ordered all his men into a state of high alert. Machine guns were mounted, and squads of armed personnel rushed out of the nearby barracks, entering combat positions.

Even Lu Yanjiong rushed out as fast as he could, immediately directing his men to scale the watchtowers.

Within moments, the entire small settlement fell into chaos. Panicked people acted like ostriches, wanting nothing more than to find a place to hide. But in the small settlement, there were too many people and too few buildings; where could they possibly hide? Many people were already crying out in distress.

“Look, what is that… Oh my god! It’s planes! So many planes…”

The observer stationed on the high tower with binoculars was already screaming. By then, the massive fleet of jets had finally entered everyone’s field of vision. At this point, no binoculars were needed to clearly see the massive formation flying at low altitude.

When the panicked people heard it wasn’t zombies, their tense hearts finally relaxed. But fighter jets? How long had it been since that word had entered people’s sight? A year? Two years? Or even five? Driven by curiosity, people flooded out of their rooms again, standing in the crowded streets and looking up at the massive fleet appearing over the settlement.

A collective gasp escaped the crowd.

The formation of eighty jets was simply too massive, blotting out the sky and nearly blocking out the sun entirely. At an altitude of 200 meters, one could clearly see every part of the aircraft. The large aerial bombs hanging under the wings and the bellies of the planes sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

At that moment, the entire world seemed to be filled with the silhouettes of these fighter jets.

The crowd below was completely stunned. They couldn’t believe that humanity still possessed such formidable military might at this stage of the apocalypse. Many who had lost hope in the post-apocalyptic world were suddenly filled with boundless confidence. At the very least, humanity still had enough power to deal with the zombies; humanity could return to the age of civilization, reclaim the cities, and continue to breathe freely under this sky.

The seven-colored umbrellas under the wings glittered in the sun, flashing into people’s eyes. In that instant, they finally realized where these jets had come from.

“The seven-colored umbrella! It’s the seven-colored umbrella! It’s the seven-colored umbrella!”

Shouts broke out across the settlement. No one inside the small settlement was ignorant of what the seven-colored umbrella represented. It stood for the Yuanqiang Commercial Association and the mysterious power behind the Tianzhou Branch.

Lu Yanjiong was stunned for a split second. When he snapped out of it, his blood began to boil. He roared frantically, “Those are our planes! Those are our planes!” At that moment, Lu Yanjiong could only vent his emotions through shouting.

Indeed, he had been feeling suppressed for a week. He had been anxious, fearing that the Commercial Association he had joined would be unable or unwilling to help him. He was also afraid that if the Association didn’t respond this time, he would become a laughingstock and lose his footing in this region.

But at this moment, all his anxiety and hesitation proved to be entirely redundant.

Look at this massive fleet! What a powerful response this was. His Commercial Association had shown the world its overwhelming and matchless strength. At the same time, Lu Yanjiong was deeply moved. The size of this fleet showed how much the Association valued him, proving all his worries were for naught. His heart surged with a joy so intense it felt like he had won the world’s largest lottery; words were simply insufficient to describe it.

There were many people who felt the same as Lu Yanjiong. The entire settlement broke into cheers, with people constantly waving their hands toward the massive fleet above.

The only ones who felt differently were likely the vendors visiting the settlement and the merchant representatives from other settlements. What grew in their hearts, however, was mostly awe—a reverence for the strong. This kind of overwhelming dominance left them without a shred of desire to resist; there was only a deep sense of submission.

The realization that this massive fleet of jets belonged to the famous Yuanqiang Commercial Association left everyone stunned. They couldn’t imagine how a single commercial association could possess such immense power. Simultaneously, they began to view the small Tianzhou Branch with newfound importance. The way everyone looked at Lu Yanjiong changed instantly—from dismissiveness to awe, from admiration to worship.

Sometimes, a person’s reputation changes in a single instant. Many people lamented: how did Lu Yanjiong manage to find such a powerful backer? He truly had struck gold. And they all knew that from this moment on, Lu Yanjiong and the Yuanqiang Commercial Association would be the most talked-about topics on the Tianzhou Plain.

The massive fleet glided over the small settlement in moments, then suddenly pulled up, gaining altitude as they flew deeper into the heart of the Tianzhou Plain.

Everyone knew exactly where that fleet was headed…

Chapter 207: Deterrence

This past week had not been easy for Xu Wenjia. First, he had suffered a defeat at the hands of Lu Yanjiong’s subordinates. Then, upon his return, he had gotten into a heated argument with Tian Yun. Xu Wenjia still remembered the look in Tian Yun’s eyes as he stormed off in anger—they were cold and dark, nothing like the person he usually knew.

After Tian Yun left with his people, Xu Wenjia remained extremely wary of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association that stood behind Lu Yanjiong.

On the surface, the whole affair seemed to have nothing to do with Xu Wenjia, but that was only in the eyes of ordinary people. To any clever person, a moment’s thought was enough to understand the sequence of events. To be honest, many people had their criticisms regarding Xu Wenjia’s actions. No one could complain if he had the talent to make money, but it was another thing entirely to target his own countrymen. This was the post-apocalyptic world; how many humans were even left?

The reason the people of the Tianzhou Plain were united was that everyone understood that internal strife would only lead to humanity’s destruction. Only by standing together could they survive. This was the true reason why hundreds of thousands of people still lived in the Tianzhou Plain.

However, Xu Wenjia’s actions seemed to have brushed against this unspoken rule. If he hadn’t backed off at the end, the others might not have tolerated his continued presence in the Tianzhou Plain. Who knew if Xu Wenjia would target someone else next?

A week had passed, and while no response had come from Lu Yanjiong, Shi Lei had become a major headache for Xu Wenjia. He hadn’t expected Lu Yanjiong to be so generous as to release Shi Lei, let alone allow him to keep his weapons. One didn’t need to guess to know what Lu Yanjiong was plotting; Xu Wenjia understood it perfectly.

Shi Lei truly lived up to his “Hooligan” nickname. He didn’t have the strength to actually assault Xu Wenjia’s settlement, but that didn’t mean he would swallow his pride. His tactics were simple: run if you can’t win, and swarm if you can.

People from Xu Wenjia’s settlement eventually had to leave. In the beginning, caught off guard, groups as large as a hundred men were surrounded by Shi Lei. Knowing that killing would stir up public outrage, Shi Lei didn’t take lives. Instead, as long as they didn’t resist, he would strip them of all their clothes, weapons, and supplies. Then, he would send them back completely naked.

This shameful tactic naturally drove Xu Wenjia mad. If he sent a large force out, Shi Lei would vanish; if he sent a small force, they would inevitably return buck-naked before long. Since Shi Lei had no fixed base and moved like a ghost, Xu Wenjia had no chance to strike back. He was so angry he felt like he was about to cough up blood.

The actual losses weren’t massive, but this constant harassment disrupted life in the settlement, causing widespread panic. People were afraid to step outside.

Those who knew of Xu Wenjia’s predicament were secretly laughing. Since Shi Lei hadn’t caused any fatalities, no one was going to step in to help Xu Wenjia. Given what he had done before, this punishment was considered light—a small lesson to keep him from getting too arrogant just because he had more men.

After a week of continuous harassment, Xu Wenjia simply stopped bothering with Shi Lei. As long as no one died, he treated the lost materials as a cost for pacifying the hooligan. As for Wang Gang? Xu Wenjia had dragged him out from a pile of women, tied him up naked, and sent him straight to Shi Lei. He didn’t care how Shi Lei handled him, though he had heard rumors that someone saw Wang Gang’s bearded head tossed onto the highway. Whether it was true or not, he didn’t know.

At this moment, Xu Wenjia was walking past the rows of crude houses in the settlement, his head aching. The respectful cries of “Boss Xu” from the people he passed failed to bring him his usual sense of pride. He was racking his brain for a way to drive Shi Lei away. If this continued, his entire settlement would fall into chaos.

“That Shi Lei is just a crude man; you can tell just by his nickname. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and send him some grain to settle this.”

Xu Wenjia stared blankly at a sapling in the settlement. It was a small tree that had been transplanted only a few months ago and was just starting to sprout a few buds. “But if I send him grain and he refuses, and word gets out… where will I put my face?”

Agitated by his own thoughts, Xu Wenjia felt a surge of regret and muttered hatefully, “If I had known Shi Lei would be this much trouble, I should have done whatever it took to take down both him and Lu Yanjiong back then. What’s a few deaths? What successful man doesn’t have a path paved with withered bones?”

When a faint “droning” sound drifted from the sky, Xu Wenjia didn’t pay it much mind at first. It wasn’t until the people around him started screaming in alarm that he looked up toward the source of the noise.

In the distance, a vast swarm of small black dots appeared. Within moments, the droning became ear-shattering. He could just barely make out that it was a massive fleet of aircraft.

Such a fleet was rare even in the modern era, let alone in the post-apocalyptic world. Very few people had ever seen anything like it. The appearance of this massive formation immediately drew every eye. Nearly the entire settlement was disturbed, as people ran out of their homes, staring at the fleet and shouting in wonder.

When Xu Wenjia saw the fleet, his eyes changed, gleaming with intensity. “Where on earth did these planes come from?” Currently, no one could answer him, as everyone shared the same question. In this post-apocalyptic world, no one had heard of any power possessing such terrifying force.

The fighter jets were too fast. From the moment they were sighted to their arrival, barely a minute had passed.

The massive fleet suddenly performed a sharp low-altitude sweep in the distance. Then, at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour, they roared directly over the settlement. A piercing whistle suddenly stabbed into people’s ears. The massive aerial bombs hanging under the jets looked close enough to touch. The turbulence from the low-altitude flyover blew the laundry hanging in the settlement everywhere, with some pieces even swirling up into the air.

“This… this… this is impossible. It’s impossible…”

As the fleet roared overhead, the familiar seven-colored umbrellas marked on the planes caused Xu Wenjia’s mind to go blank. He stared at the planes as if he were losing his mind. “Impossible, there’s no way. How can a commercial association have so many fighter jets? It’s an illusion, it has to be an illusion…”

A chill surged up from the bottom of his heart, and his curiosity about the mystery of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association instantly turned into terror. Xu Wenjia suddenly realized that the association he had deemed insignificant completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.

After passing over the settlement and reaching a distance, the fighter jets completed a turn, reformed their formation at high altitude, and flew back toward Xu Wenjia’s settlement.

On the communication channel, the pilots’ excited shouts echoed. Peng Feiran, who had been promoted to a team leader, still possessed a fiery spirit. He laughed, “That was exhilarating! Did you guys see that? I was less than twenty meters above those tents. Haha, when the air pressure hit them, they all flew up like leaves in the wind!”

“That’s nothing! I just buzzed that main road, and the people on it were all blown over. Even the saplings they just planted were bent sideways.”

Xu Dali smiled at the shouting in his ears and said, “Alright, boys. Next is our specialty performance. Follow the formation we practiced during training. Don’t go making any mistakes and embarrassing yourselves. If you do, even if the Chairman doesn’t skin you when we get back, I certainly will.”

Laughter filled the channel. A moment later, the fleet reached a vast stretch of wasteland in front of Xu Wenjia’s settlement.

The six lead jets of the delta formation suddenly broke rank and dived. The aerial bombs hanging under their wings detached and went into a freefall toward the ground. Having completed their run, the jets pulled up and soared back into the sky.

The following jets followed like a line of diving penguins—leaping up, سپس diving down. The formation remained absolutely perfect.

Boom… Boom, boom!

The entire earth seemed to tremble. For those who hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, it was impossible to imagine the collective bombardment of over 80 fighter jets. Even though the hy-1 fighter jet wasn’t a dedicated bomber but a fighter with auxiliary bombing capabilities, the effect was nonetheless staggering.

A massive area was completely engulfed in a fog of dust and debris.

The soil thrown into the air by the shockwaves flew incredible distances. The grass on the wasteland was leveled and ignited by the high temperatures. Charred earth and massive craters appeared; in just moments, the entire area was unrecognizable, the ground churned over countless times.

Finally, dozens of incendiary bombs were dropped, turning the vast area into a sea of fire. Amidst the violent inferno, the fleet began its departure, quickly disappearing into the horizon.

The thunderous roar of the explosions left Xu Wenjia slumped on the ground. In that moment, he suddenly realized how small he was. Before this level of military might, he was absolutely nothing. He thought back to how ambitious he had been, planning a grand future for himself. But… he had been too naive. There were always higher heavens and greater people; he was merely a frog in a well.

Xu Wenjia couldn’t possibly be ignorant of what the seven-colored umbrella represented. It stood for the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

If those bombs had been dropped on the settlement just now, the entire place would have been leveled. With tens of thousands of people living there, how many would have died in such a bombardment? Against those screaming jets, he currently had no counter whatsoever. Furthermore, if the force they used to deter him and the Tianzhou Plain was already this powerful, what would happen if they truly got serious?

Xu Wenjia didn’t dare think any further. He realized with bitter grief how foolish it had been to provoke the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. The only thing to be thankful for was that the other party was merely providing a warning. Otherwise, the bombs wouldn’t have fallen on the wasteland outside, but on the heads of everyone in the settlement.

Chapter: The Final Burning Battle!

I didn’t originally want to post a dedicated chapter just to plead for monthly votes. However, when I woke up this morning, I realized that someone was breathing down my neck. A book that had seemingly posed no threat at all had caught up to me after just one night’s sleep.

A cold sweat instantly soaked through my clothes.

It was terrifying. Before I went offline yesterday, the fifth-place book was still many votes behind. But upon waking, they had surged by over 400 votes. That sense of crisis chilled my heart.

Everyone can see the effort that I, Rainwater, have put in this month. Just look at the chapter directory; that long list of updates is staggering. After all, that entire volume of work was produced in just a single month.

I have no backlog of prepared chapters; I write and upload everything in real-time. You can imagine how difficult it is to sustain that.

My writing speed isn’t fast—only about a thousand words per hour. Maintaining a daily output of twelve thousand words means sitting in front of the computer for thirteen or fourteen hours. It is exhausting, especially for my eyes. My prescription is already at 5.0 diopters. Because I don’t wear my glasses while working, my head is practically pressed against the monitor as I type. Every day when I log off, my eyes are bloodshot, and everything I see is shrouded in a layer of mist.

For those who have visited my personal space, you know that the monitor I use is still an old 17-inch flat-screen CRT monitor. I don’t need to tell you how much that strains the eyes; everyone knows.

I’m sharing all this just to say that I am truly working hard and writing with all my heart.

I am deeply grateful to the brothers and friends who have consistently supported me with their monthly votes.

However, I also want to appeal to the many brothers who subscribe but haven’t voted yet, or those who are still hesitating about whether to support this book. I earnestly ask for your support through your monthly votes. After all, a book only gets one chance at the New Book Monthly Chart in its entire lifetime. I don’t want to see all this effort vanish into obscurity in these final few days.

I’d also like to take this moment to look ahead at the update plan for July.

I had originally promised that if we reached third place, I would continue to update at a rate of 12,000 words a day next month. At the moment, the chances for third place don’t look great, as we are trailing by about 400 votes. Of course, I would love a sudden surprise that lands me in third—but that is entirely up to all of you!

Regardless of our final rank, and in consideration of my physical health and eyesight, I believe a baseline of 4,000 words a day should be no problem. There will also be occasional bursts of extra chapters.

So, please continue to support the book next month. With you, this story will be even more exciting. Rainwater bows in thanks to everyone!

Chapter 208: Communication and Reform

The greatest problem currently facing the events in the Tianzhou Plain was the means of communication.

At present, communication in the Wasteland Settlement primarily relied on ground-based transmission towers for wireless calls. Their coverage area was quite limited. Despite a great deal of effort, the twenty-meter-high towers could barely cover a radius of one hundred kilometers centered on the Wasteland Settlement. Once a person moved beyond that hundred-kilometer mark, they lost all communication with the settlement.

Back when the airships were first being manufactured, work had already begun on utilizing them as specialized communication platforms to address this very issue.

The design blueprints also came from the modern world; Zhou Yuanqiang had commissioned them from the premier airship design and construction company in his home country. The company’s progress hadn’t been particularly fast, but he managed to obtain all the design samples after two months. This type of communication-focused airship had three primary characteristics: first, a much longer endurance for staying aloft; second, a higher service ceiling; and third, superior wind resistance.

Constructing such an airship required various types of equipment and instruments that the Wasteland Settlement simply did not possess. However, for Zhou Yuanqiang, these were obstacles that could be overcome. At the cost of a massive amount of time and money—and through methods involving theft, looting, and buying—he eventually managed to scrape together all the necessary communications equipment and miniature radars.

In truth, the communication airship had been under construction for half a month before the Tianzhou Plain branch was even established. However, two other airships of the same specifications as the Wasteland were being built simultaneously, which significantly slowed down the completion progress. Under pressure, Zhou Yuanqiang had been forced to suspend the construction of the other two airships and redirect all resources toward the communication airship.

With full effort, the construction speed naturally doubled, and its early completion was well within expectations.

The communication airship was much larger than the Wasteland, measuring 178 meters in length with a maximum width of 61 meters—enough to make the Wasteland look like a child in comparison. Since its gondola primarily housed various communication equipment, it wasn’t as large as the one on the Wasteland.

Its endurance was an astonishing seventeen days, and it could operate in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20,000 meters. This would grant it a coverage radius of approximately 600 kilometers centered on the Wasteland Settlement. This solved the settlement’s communication problems in one fell swoop, allowing fighter jets to operate within this range while the command center tracked their every move.

The communication airship’s only weakness was that it had to return to the ground once every fifteen days. This would plunge the Wasteland Settlement back into the predicament of having only a fifty-kilometer communication radius. Maintenance, refueling, replenishing supplies, and rotating the crew required about five days.

To address this, the newly established Communications Department had officially submitted an application to Zhou Yuanqiang for the construction of a second communication airship. They argued that a five-day communication blackout posed unpredictable risks to the Commercial Association’s subordinate branches. During wartime, an enemy could carry out a series of actions to threaten a branch within those five days.

Furthermore, a branch could suffer a tragedy due to its inability to receive support from the main headquarters once communication was lost.

Of course, these were all hypothetical scenarios for the future. Currently, there was only the Tianzhou Plain branch. Moreover, after the fighter jets had issued their warning, who would dare plot against the branch? Unless they wanted a taste of cluster bombing, it was better to stay honest.

Zhou Yuanqiang understood the importance of planning for a rainy day, so despite it being a painful financial blow, he could only approve the construction.

Heaven knew that a single signature from him meant tens of millions of yuan were growing wings and flying out of his pocket. At 178 meters long and 61 meters wide, how much helium would it need? If he built a few more, he could practically file for bankruptcy. Even with the massive profits from Doomsday Storm, he couldn’t survive this much expenditure indefinitely…

With the completion of the second and third transport airships, and with the Wasteland having passed its testing and break-in period, the three airships officially formed the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s First Airship Merchant Fleet. Their first flight route was from the Wasteland Settlement to the Tianzhou Plain. They would transport large quantities of surplus daily necessities, clothing, and small amounts of fuel to the Tianzhou Plain in exchange for crystals, gold, grain, and various raw materials.

In the Wasteland Settlement, the massive project of the defensive wall—ten meters high and five meters thick—was finally completed after five months of construction. This officially signaled that the entire defense system of the Wasteland Settlement was in place. Countless heavy machine guns, mortars, recoilless rifles, successfully manufactured miniature missiles, and rocket launch towers were all deployed along the wall.

The construction of the seventh, eighth, and ninth Corridor Residential Areas was also finished. The immigrants from the Great Canyon, after being squeezed together for two months, finally had rooms of their own.

With the successful manufacturing of the hy-2 fighter jets and the munitions factory finally overcoming the hurdles of medium-to-short-range missiles, these series of successes caused the Wasteland Settlement’s power to grow at lightning speed. The thriving prosperity shown by the entire Wasteland Settlement was no different from a rising city gradually taking shape in this wasteland.

The problem currently plaguing the Commercial Association was raw materials.

Whether it was steel, plastic, or timber—any raw material was a scarce commodity in the Wasteland Settlement. Previously, Zhou Yuanqiang could rely on what he brought from the modern world to support the settlement’s growth. But now, factories were everywhere—from large ones like the munitions factory and the airship manufacturing plant to small ones with only a dozen employees producing plastic goods. All of them required a massive amount of raw materials.

Think about it: even if one person could carry over 2,000 cubic meters of materials at a time, it couldn’t keep up with the consumption of nearly a hundred factories, large and small.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to work himself to death, so he had to implement reforms for the current situation. If things continued this way, the entire settlement would be completely dependent on him, which was contrary to his original intention.

What was the reason he had risked coming to the post-apocalyptic world? That’s right; initially, it was to make money—tons of money—so he could live a life of luxury in the modern world and be a wealthy man. He wanted to raise birds, walk his dogs, and occasionally act like a nouveau riche by showing off his wealth. Oh, and there were also the fast cars and beautiful women, living a colorful life among the flowers.

But the problem was, Zhou Yuanqiang found that while he seemed to have made money, he was living like a mule, with endless supplies to transport and endless things to buy every day. It felt like the money he earned wasn’t for his enjoyment, but rather to serve this Wasteland Settlement.

However, reform was easier said than done. All the factories in the settlement were currently held in the hands of the Commercial Association. With hundreds of thousands of people essentially being employees of the Association, how could he reform? Furthermore, the sources of raw materials in the post-apocalyptic world were extremely limited. Many factories relied almost entirely on what Zhou Yuanqiang brought over to operate. Reforming under these circumstances was undoubtedly fraught with difficulties.

The current structure of the Commercial Association reminded Zhou Yuanqiang of state-owned enterprises from the 80s or 90s. The workers felt they had an “iron rice bowl,” so they worked half-heartedly and without a sense of responsibility, simply passing the days until they could collect their wages at the end of the month.

It really was like that. The entire settlement belonged to the Commercial Association, including the factories and housing. The hundreds of thousands of people living here were equivalent to employees of the Association, and working in the various factories was like having a guaranteed job for life. Although this was the post-apocalyptic world and those who had suffered knew to cherish their current work—meaning they worked hard and diligently for now—who could guarantee how long this passion would last?

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want the Commercial Association to go down the path of a stagnant state-owned enterprise. He didn’t want the Wasteland Settlement to lose its ability to compete for markets and survival space in this world, only to have its living space slowly squeezed until it went bankrupt and was acquired by someone else.

But how to reform?

This was a problem that not even Zhou Yuanqiang could solve easily. Even when he discussed it with the various department heads, no one could offer a good suggestion. After all, such a reform would be conducted under the premise of damaging the Commercial Association’s immediate interests. It was impossible for the Association to simply hand over the factories it had worked so hard to build for others to manage, wasn’t it? Such a reform was fundamentally impossible.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang felt like he was grasping at something. He looked down at the department heads who were arguing loudly and thought deeply.

“Actually, it’s not impossible to succeed with reforms; the key is whether we have the courage to execute them. In the short term, it does indeed seem like it’s being done at the expense of the Commercial Association’s interests. But has everyone thought about the future? If the Association continues to control these factories, there won’t be a problem now, but the issues that arise later will destroy our entire Association.”

Zhou Yuanqiang finally seized the idea and said, “From the beginning, our Commercial Association was established with the entire settlement as its operational center. Even if we reform, this center remains unchanged. So, why don’t we try to push our reforms forward by using a proxy production method?

“First, we can take some small factories—for example, those producing daily goods, food processing, or raw material processing—and spin them off from the Commercial Association. We can sell them in the form of an auction to people in the settlement who have the drive, vision, and courage. Let them take over these small factories.”

Chen Jianliang raised his doubts. “But Boss, right now, not many people in the settlement have that kind of purchasing power. And once they buy these factories, if they lose our support for acquiring raw materials, they won’t be able to run them. Many people will certainly think of this. If we can’t provide a solution, no one will dare take the enormous risk of taking over these small factories.”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed and said calmly, “Given your ages, some of you must have experienced the housing market, right? I wonder how many of you were unable to buy a house outright but were still able to live in one? We only need to implement a similar system, and I think the number of people capable of purchasing small factories will not be small. Furthermore, we can implement a system where the Commercial Association retains a certain percentage of shares to mitigate their risk and lower the purchase price.”

The key remained the raw materials. This was the crux of the reform’s success or failure. Whether the people below would accept it depended on the solution for raw materials!

Chapter 209: Gold Everywhere

Change was a daily occurrence in the Wasteland Settlement.

One only had to look at the trees planted along the Corridor Streets. They had already begun to sprout new buds, and it wouldn’t be long before they grew into a lush canopy of green. Many people sat on benches beneath these trees every day, wondering what it would look like once they were fully grown. Surely, it would be a street filled with poetic charm.

Those in power understood the importance of the right to speak. Controlling the discourse among the people under one’s rule was a vital task.

The Wasteland Settlement relied primarily on newspapers and radio. In their spare time, people could be seen under the shade of the trees, carefully poring over their papers. Newsboys darted through the streets hawking the latest editions, their cries making one wonder if they had traveled back in time to the Shanghai of the old era—it was all so strikingly similar.

In this post-apocalyptic world, the internet had long since vanished along with the destruction of global infrastructure. The intercontinental servers had failed one after another after intermittent periods of struggle. No one knew if these servers could ever be restarted. Moreover, even if they were, without the support of other servers, one could get online but find no websites to browse.

Without a network, people in the Wasteland Settlement used to receive information through public notices. Later, with the establishment of the radio station, news could be broadcast. However, broadcasts were cumbersome, and many people didn’t even bother to listen. Thus, the newspaper—a medium that had existed for centuries—appeared before the public once again.

The newspaper, titled the Commercial Association Gazette, was designed to announce the decisions of the Commercial Association and the progress of various factories so that the common people would stay informed.

Even without entertainment news, everyone loved to buy a copy and read it with relish. Some would read it for an entire day, going over the articles repeatedly without feeling bored. This opportunity to read filled many with gratitude; they had thought they would never have such a chance again in their lives.

“Old Yang, you’ve read that thing over a dozen times. Have you found something new?” a thirty-year-old man asked, wiping away sweat. He had just finished delivering fuel. In the Wasteland Settlement, daily cooking and other tasks relied mostly on fuel and electric rice cookers. Electricity for rice cookers was only provided to ordinary residents twice a day for one hour each time. If you wanted to eat, you had to keep an eye on the clock; if you missed it, you went hungry.

Fortunately, after the refinery was repaired and more people switched to fuel, their dependence on electricity decreased significantly. Cheng Ning was a worker specifically responsible for delivering fuel to the First Corridor Street. He and three others were in charge of that street, while other workers handled the different corridors.

The man he addressed, Old Yang, was over sixty and currently lived on the guaranteed grain rations provided by the Commercial Association. However, seeing the rapid development in the settlement, he couldn’t just sit idly by and wait for his rations. His pride drove him to find work whenever possible; he was even happy to work for the Commercial Association for free.

Hearing Cheng Ning’s question, Old Yang snapped out of his contemplation. “Oh, it’s you, Cheng Ning. What’s up? Finished your deliveries?”

Cheng Ning nodded. “Old Yang, is there more news from the Commercial Association? Seeing you so deep in thought, I Figured something big must have happened.”

Old Yang nodded. “The Commercial Association issued a notice. They’re going to reform the factories within the settlement. They plan to lease or use a mortgage system to hand some of the smaller factories over to us.”

“What…?” Cheng Ning jumped in surprise. “How can that be? Those small factories are all the Chairman’s property. How can the Chairman be so confused?” The honest man couldn’t sit still. “No, I have to go find the Chairman. How can we let him take such a loss?”

Old Yang barked, “Sit down! I think you’re the one who’s confused. You have no idea how brilliant this decision is. Have you ever heard of ‘storing wealth with the people’? Right now, we rely entirely on the Commercial Association, but can we rely on them for our whole lives? The Chairman is wise; he has a long-term vision. Seeing this, I can finally retire in peace, knowing I won’t have to worry about being displaced again.”

Cheng Ning was a simple man and couldn’t grasp the complexities. “Old Yang, I’m just a rough fellow. Don’t go fooling me.”

Old Yang laughed and patted the seat beside him, signaling for Cheng Ning to sit. “Ning, you and I have known each other for a long time, and we hit it off well. For that reason, let me give you a tip: try to contract the fuel business for the First Corridor Street. It’s a sure thing. I guarantee it will bring you great fortune for the rest of your life.”

“Contract it myself?” Cheng Ning’s tone shifted. “Uncle Yang, you must be joking. I’ve got nothing to my name. How could I possibly contract it?”

Old Yang flicked the newspaper. “How can you be so dense? The Association’s proposal says you only need to pay a certain amount upfront, and the rest can be converted into a loan. Or, you can buy a portion of the shares and partner with the Commercial Association. Once you’ve earned enough, you can buy the remaining shares. It says right here that current contractors will have the right of first refusal.”

Cheng Ning was tempted, but he thought about it and still didn’t understand. “Uncle Yang… only the Commercial Association has the fuel. Where would I buy it from?”

“You’re going to be the death of me!” Old Yang tapped Cheng Ning on the head with the folded newspaper. “Won’t you buy the fuel from the Commercial Association and then sell it to the residents on the street? You’ll earn the price difference or a delivery fee. Do you finally understand?”

Once he understood, Cheng Ning couldn’t sit still. He rubbed his hands together and said, “Thank you for the tip, Uncle! I… I’ll go find a few of my colleagues right now and talk it over. We’ll see if we can pool some crystals together. We can’t let someone else beat us to it.”

Cheng Ning was about to bolt when Old Yang called him back. Old Yang went into his house and soon returned with a small cloth pouch, which he handed to Cheng Ning. “Keeping these with me serves no purpose,” he said calmly. “It’s better to give them to you to help you out. Take them. Once you’ve secured the business, make sure to work hard. You have to be worthy of the Chairman and the Commercial Association, do you understand?”

“Uncle…” Cheng Ning accepted the small bag of crystals with a complicated mix of emotions. He gave Old Yang a fierce hug. “Don’t worry, I won’t let the Chairman down. Once I start making money, I’ll take care of you, Uncle. That’ll be one less burden for the Chairman.”

Scenes like this played out in every corner of the settlement. Everyone was buzzing over the Commercial Association’s decision.

Although the reforms only applied to small factories, it was enough to get everyone’s blood pumping. People were rearing to go, shouting about how they were going to make it big. However, beneath this fervor lay a specific trend: everyone was eyeing the service industries. Almost no one was looking at manufacturing.

This was because the Commercial Association had explicitly stated they would not provide raw materials for manufacturing.

Under such circumstances, who would dare touch it? Even if you acquired a factory, what good was a bunch of idle machinery without raw materials? You’d still have to pay workers’ wages. Only a fool would do that. Of course, knowing this was the Chairman’s decision, many people—out of sheer admiration for Zhou Yuanqiang—wanted to take over the factories regardless, simply to help shoulder his burdens. Zhou Yuanqiang was touched, but he kindly rejected such offers.

In reality, manufacturing wasn’t like the service industry. It required a large investment, and while the potential output was high, the risks were too great.

Faced with these concerns, Zhou Yuanqiang had to step forward. Through the radio system that reached every corner of the settlement, he addressed all the residents: “Everyone, please quiet down. Temporarily set aside your work. This is Chairman Zhou Yuanqiang.”

His immense charisma and popularity meant that the moment he identified himself, the entire settlement fell silent.

People walking on the streets stopped. Workers in the factories paused. Loud machinery was powered down, and cars were turned off. Even conversation ceased. The entire settlement became deathly quiet.

“The Commercial Association’s decisions were made after careful consideration. Regarding the raw material issue you’re worried about, it’s actually quite easy to solve. We should use our human ingenuity. For example, a metal products factory could go door-to-door collecting scrap metal. You can also follow the Commercial Association’s airships to the Tianzhou Plain to acquire materials. The Tianzhou Plain is practically virgin territory; I imagine there is plenty of scrap metal there. Even if you just commission the Mercenary Department to post an acquisition notice, having someone tow back a single abandoned car would provide enough material to produce for quite some time.”

“Furthermore, the world is vast, and there are many places where zombies do not exist. Let us remember the explorers of 15th and 16th-century Europe. Their spirit of exploration revealed continents and nations to the rest of the world. Why can’t we learn from that spirit? Step out of the settlement, search for raw materials, and seek out other settlements we don’t yet know about.”

“You all understand the rules of the Commercial Association. Discovering a new human settlement will easily earn you a medal, which can reduce your tax rates, provide more discounts, and grant you special privileges within the Association. This is a win-win scenario, so why wouldn’t you try it?”

“Raw materials? Eventually, they won’t be an issue at all. As long as we find places where people live, we can establish Commercial Association branches and have them help us collect and provide materials. The transportation of these materials will be handled by the Commercial Association. You will only need to pay a small shipping fee to bring those materials back to the settlement and turn them into finished goods. You then have two choices for those goods: first, sell them back to the Commercial Association for acquisition; or second, lease our airships to deliver the goods to the human activity zones of your choice.”

“The post-apocalyptic world is an era where every single commodity is scarce. The cities and coastal regions are ruled by zombies; not just us, but no one can easily retrieve resources from the cities. This is a blank era—an era where gold is scattered across the ground, and business opportunities are everywhere. As long as you have courage and wisdom, you can create your own legend.”

“Now that the Commercial Association has provided such excellent conditions, giving everyone the chance to get ahead of the rest, why not seize the opportunity? Whether it’s transportation or security, the Commercial Association provides the guarantee, ensuring your goods can be safely and effectively delivered to the market. As long as you can manufacture it, you can trade it for gold, crystals, and more.”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s concluding remarks were filled with stirring emotion: “To all my friends with ambition, why are you still hesitating? We could not participate in the magnificent Age of Discovery of the 15th to 17th centuries, but we can participate in the exploration and survival of the post-apocalyptic world. At the same time, let the regrets of the colonial era end here. We will possess the ability to explore the survival zones of the entire world. Use our goods to knock on the doors of every survival point, settlement, base, and survivor camp. Warriors, just like the great voyages of old—set sail!”

After a brief, heavy silence, the entire Wasteland Settlement erupted into a chorus of roars. The people’s blood was instantly boiling.

Like a great voyage, set sail…

What a domineering declaration! It made everyone feel an immediate surge of strength.

They imagined the sky destroyed by zombies, the loss of communication, and the severed transportation. It was like a vast, confusing ocean filled with unknowns and the potential traces of human survivors. They imagined themselves as brave captains leading a fleet across this sea to discover more of humanity.

Even if they only brought back various raw materials from abandoned villages, towns, or factories, it would be enough to amass a fortune. Once they discovered a large-scale settlement, not only would they receive a medal, but they would also gain priority rights to sell their manufactured goods in that settlement.

This level of temptation was impossible for any normal person to resist.

People listening to Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly realized that wealth was all around them. Metal they had previously dismissed as scrap could now be exchanged for a bit of grain or crystals. Abandoned cars that sat on the highways like trash were now essentially piles of crystals. As long as they brought them back to the settlement, they represented a significant sum or enough food to last for quite a while.

Countless people, having reached this epiphany, worshipped their Chairman to the extreme. He was a super-merchant who could truly turn stone into gold.

In truth, only Zhou Yuanqiang knew that this change was built upon the industrial system of the Wasteland Settlement. Previously, the settlement had nothing; even if they had scrap cars, they had no way to smelt them into anything useful. Now it was different. The continuous expansion of the smelting plant allowed any metal to be turned into ingots and then into various products or equipment.

The establishment of small factories for things like washbasins and plastic buckets meant that even a discarded plastic bag could be recycled.

Even dead branches became useful after the paper mill was established; they could be turned into paper for the newspapers.

It was this industrial support that allowed for the ability to turn waste into treasure. This was impossible before, when people could only wait helplessly and pitifully for the administration to distribute relief grain. Their attitude had been one of merely surviving one day at a time.

But now, it was different. As long as you were able-bodied, you didn’t have to worry about finding work. There were always positions in factories, construction, shops, or as delivery workers for service stations. And now that the concept of “turning waste to treasure” had been introduced, even those who weren’t moved to change jobs—specifically the tens of thousands of elderly and children—finally saw their “Spring.” They could use their own hands to create their own wealth.

Stimulated by this, the thirty-odd small manufacturing factories approved by the Commercial Association for contracting and acquisition were all snapped up by passionate citizens. Some bought them individually, some as partnerships, and some through neighborhood cooperatives. they had every reason to believe that through their own hard work and the support of the Commercial Association, they could run these businesses successfully.

The Commercial Association’s promise was that any manufactured goods would be bought back by the Association’s trade caravans for sale. Individuals could also lease space on the Association’s caravans to bring their own goods to market. The only difference was that owners might have to send their own sales personnel along to handle the business at the destination.

To further support this trend, the airship factory rushed the completion of ten small airships to be leased to those who loved exploration. These small airships were only 30 meters long, carried a maximum of six people, and had a range of 600 kilometers—putting them well within communication range.

The rewards for exploration were potentially enormous.

For example, if one discovered a resource point, they could report it to the Association if there weren’t too many zombies. The Commercial Association would then send large airships or helicopters to clear the area and occupy it, bringing useful materials back to the settlement. Based on the discovery, the explorer would receive 10% of the value of those materials as a reward.

Discovering a settlement offered even greater rewards. A single medal could instantly elevate one to the status of a privileged citizen, and the explorer would earn 5% of the trade profit from that settlement for two years. This was an astronomical sum. If one discovered a settlement of over 100,000 people, it would be enough to make them one of the wealthiest people alive.

The charm of exploration lay exactly there. Though death was a possibility, the high returns led many to apply for the Commercial Association’s explorer training classes. Once certified, they would receive the title of “Explorer” and could lease airships to begin scouting uncharted territories.

The implementation of these measures finally gave Zhou Yuanqiang enough free time. Aside from mechanical equipment and electronic components that he still had to bring over himself, he no longer had to source raw materials personally. He could rely on local gathering. He believed that if development continued this way, the Wasteland Settlement would evolve a complete industrial system, truly entering a phase of self-sufficiency and exporting.

At the same time, the emergence of private factories and shops officially signaled the Commercial Association’s transformation into a higher-tier entity, functioning via taxation, self-production and sales, and acting as a sales agent.

Chapter 210: The Mysterious Zombies

Xu Yuhai was probably the person who appeared least often in the entire settlement. A clever young man, he had completely changed since taking up the position of Intelligence Chief, becoming inscrutable, his eyes gradually turning cold and grim. His face was perpetually stern, as if someone owed him millions.

Heaven knows, in Xu Yuhai’s words, his promising youth had been ruined by the Boss, making him suspicious of everyone. But he had no choice; Xu Yuhai felt somewhat guilty. After all, he was in charge of the entire settlement’s intelligence and reconnaissance system, yet he had made a huge mistake before – failing to detect the zombie horde’s gathering in time.

Although Zhou Yuanqiang and the entire Commercial Association hadn’t blamed him, Xu Yuhai still considered it his fault.

To atone for his mistakes, ever since the zombie horde retreated, Xu Yuhai had been diligently focused on intelligence work, especially reconnaissance. Almost every day, applications were submitted to Zhou Yuanqiang, requesting various equipment, personnel, and even an exclusive helicopter fleet for the Intelligence Department.

Having experienced it once, Zhou Yuanqiang also attached sufficient importance to such reconnaissance. No matter how difficult, he would find ways to acquire enough equipment. Even the few helicopters from the aircraft factory were transferred to Xu Yuhai’s command. With as many as fifteen helicopters, the Intelligence Department became the department with the most helicopters, currently unrivaled.

Moreover, the application of various reconnaissance methods allowed the Intelligence Department’s eyes to penetrate every corner of the entire settlement.

In Xu Yuhai’s words: “Boss, even if you want to know what color underwear Fang Xinxiang from the Third Corridor is wearing today, I can find out for you within ten minutes. Of course, if you want to see her intimate photos, that’s also no problem. I guarantee that by tomorrow, your office will be filled with pictures from all angles, allowing you to have a manual morning exercise.”

Fang Xinxiang was indeed a beauty in the Third Corridor, and Zhou Yuanqiang had seen her; she was quite good. However, Xu Yuhai’s words… made Zhou Yuanqiang furious, and he roared: “Is that the kind of person you see the Boss as? Bastard, do you even know the color of the Boss’s wife’s underwear?”

Xu Yuhai didn’t react immediately. He nodded and said, “Of course, if the Boss needs it.”

The result was, undoubtedly, that poor Xu Yuhai was magnificently “taken down” by the Boss, sent flying directly out of the office door. Although afterwards, he explained to those who saw it: “I was just making an analogy to demonstrate my current methods and capabilities, I didn’t genuinely intend to peep at the Boss’s wife’s underwear color.”

But who would believe him? What he received were countless disdainful looks. Later, Ren Xinyun and Jiao’er even paid Xu Yuhai a “cordial visit,” but when they left, people were surprised to find that the poor Minister Xu was bruised all over, clearly having received a “forceful” visit.

However, Xu Yuhai’s efforts in intelligence and reconnaissance were undeniable. The panopticon system he established was enough to monitor all movements within a 50 km radius of the settlement. Concealed cameras were ubiquitous, transmitting and receiving data through the communication platform. This data was then sent to the Intelligence Department for processing.

Especially in Qingyuan City, they even risked installing cameras near the streets for surveillance.

With the manufacturing of airships, reconnaissance teams were formed. Three airships circled the vicinity of Qingyuan City daily to ensure that any movement by the zombies inside would be immediately reported back to the Wasteland Settlement.

Zhou Yuanqiang had already approved Xu Yuhai’s application to upgrade the panopticon system. The aircraft factory would manufacture drones to patrol the skies above Qingyuan City alternately around the clock. The airship factory would build unmanned airships, hovering at an altitude of 3000 meters above Qingyuan City, monitoring the entire area to ensure every single zombie’s movement, no matter how small, would be recorded.

At this moment, Xu Yuhai, with a solemn expression, knocked on Zhou Yuanqiang’s office door. After gaining permission, he pushed the door open, then gently closed it again.

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at Xu Yuhai with some surprise and said, “What’s up? Got time to come here? Have you collected a few pairs of Fang Xinxiang’s underwear? Don’t hide them, take them to the street and shout, they’ll definitely sell for a good price.”

Instantly, several black lines appeared on Xu Yuhai’s forehead… Why did the Boss always harp on this matter?

“Boss, after analyzing our reconnaissance data from the past month, we’ve found abnormal results in Qingyuan City.” This was not the time for jokes, so Xu Yuhai directly stated the problem. Otherwise, this scoundrel of a Boss might bring up who knows what. He continued, “We haven’t relaxed our vigilance on Qingyuan City for a moment. The entire Intelligence Department has almost been dedicated to it.”

Hearing that it was a problem with Qingyuan City, Zhou Yuanqiang stopped joking and became serious, asking, “What kind of abnormality?”

Qingyuan City was too close to the Wasteland Settlement, less than fifty kilometers away, like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. Therefore, everyone maintained sufficient vigilance regarding Qingyuan City. The nearly one million zombies still inside could threaten the settlement’s safety.

Xu Yuhai took out a USB drive from his pocket, inserted it into the computer, and as the images played, he pointed to one and said, “Boss, look, this one is from a month ago. The number of zombies on the streets wasn’t that many. But look at this one, taken just a few days ago. The number of zombies on the streets has significantly increased. To confirm our discovery, we dispatched a helicopter team the day before yesterday, boldly entering the city…”

He opened a video file on the USB drive, and immediately, footage filmed from a helicopter appeared.

On the streets of Qingyuan City, zombies were moving, densely packed. The once empty streets were now filled with zombies. Moreover, the helicopter had only just entered the suburban area when it began to be attacked. From the footage, continuously ascending green liquid could be seen; it must have been from the mutants. From time to time, “flesh balls” could be seen launching into the air from some rooftops, forming a large arc of electricity in the sky, emitting “crackling” sounds.

From the perspective of this helicopter, another one could be seen getting too close. This high-voltage electricity, up to 1 million volts, directly killed the pilots on board. Some electronic components of the entire helicopter were burned out, emitting thick smoke, as it plummeted towards the streets below.

Xu Yuhai calmly said, “Out of three helicopters, two were destroyed by Volt-Zombies. In this situation, the last helicopter had to retreat.”

Zhou Yuanqiang could infer many things just from this footage. He said, “Qingyuan City only had a population of 1.6 to 1.7 million. In the last offensive, almost half attacked, and we wiped out nearly 600,000. Theoretically, Qingyuan City should now have only about a million zombies, and the number of Special Infected should be greatly reduced. So why are there so many zombies in the footage?”

Xu Yuhai did not answer Zhou Yuanqiang’s question but instead opened another video file and said, “Yesterday, I applied to the Aviation Department for fighter jet reconnaissance. This is the footage obtained from the fighter jet. Since we don’t have high-altitude reconnaissance capabilities, the footage is very blurry, but for us, it’s enough.”

The footage started recording 10 km away from Qingyuan City. The fighter jet’s altitude was 5000 meters, and its speed was slowed as much as possible, but the scene changed too quickly, with many things flashing by. By the time it flew over Qingyuan City, tall buildings appeared like matchsticks, and streets like mere finger-widths below.

On these streets, a dense, dark mass could be seen, with countless zombies crowding together.

From such a high altitude, with a camera not specialized for strong image capture, it was impossible to clearly see what type of zombies were below. However, based on their density, an approximate number of zombies could be estimated.

It wasn’t just the west district of Qingyuan City that was densely packed with zombies. After several passes by the fighter jet, the entire city was finally photographed. Picture after picture, and segment after segment of video footage, all indicated that the entire Qingyuan City was completely filled with zombies.

“How could this be?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s breathing became strained; this news was too astonishing. He roared, “Last month, the number of zombies was still at a level we could control. How could it change so drastically in just one month? The number of zombies, no, it should be even larger than before. Where did they come from?”

He stared at Xu Yuhai and asked, “Didn’t your Intelligence Department monitor Qingyuan City 24 hours a day? Why are you only discovering the abnormality now?”

Xu Yuhai also looked ashamed and said, “Boss, we mainly monitored the west district. Due to our reconnaissance methods and the reconnaissance airships not being put into use in time, we didn’t pay attention to other areas. The zombies in the west district indeed only started gradually increasing in the past few days. From image analysis, they all slowly crowded in from other areas during the night.”

Zhou Yuanqiang calmed his agitated mood and said, “I just want to know how these zombies came to be, whether zombies from other areas entered Qingyuan City.”

“We have already investigated and found no traces of large-scale zombie movement in the wasteland, which rules out the possibility of zombies moving in from other regions,” Xu Yuhai replied calmly. The less the Boss flared up, the more it indicated his anger was building, he answered cautiously, “After analysis, we found a clue from a few pictures…”

Xu Yuhai then opened another image on the USB drive. It was a clear picture of a single zombie.

Through the picture, this zombie could be seen to be completely smooth-skinned, wearing nothing, not even a single strand of hair. What was even more unbelievable was that its facial features had almost disappeared; its eyes, nose, and mouth seemed to be squeezed together. But looking at its appearance, its offensive power seemed to have grown stronger, as its arms had become longer, and its fingernails were slender and narrow. In the picture, a glint of cold light could still be seen flashing on its nails…

Now Zhou Yuanqiang also saw the problem, because this zombie, apart from these features, had none of the characteristic decay of zombies; instead, it resembled a naked human…

Everything was too mysterious, so mysterious that even Zhou Yuanqiang felt cold sweat break out all over his body. What on earth had happened in Qingyuan City to suddenly produce these unseen zombies? Moreover, how could true zombies look like this?

In the post-apocalyptic world, whenever zombies were mentioned, everyone probably pictured tangled, infinitely dirty hair, clothes corroded by time, hanging in tatters on their bodies, and due to the virus, cell destruction, widespread muscle tissue death, leading to decay, ulceration, and other phenomena – that was the image of a zombie.

Some zombies that were killed and infected, with various wounds, appeared increasingly terrifying. Many zombies had their entire abdominal area rotted away, mainly because the skin there was too fragile, one of the easiest places to decay.

If you encountered a zombie without a belly, or dragging shriveled intestines that day, don’t be alarmed; this was very common in the post-apocalyptic world. They were just ordinary members of the zombie horde, perhaps with rotted or incomplete facial features, and so on.

This was the image of a zombie.

But what Zhou Yuanqiang was seeing now resembled a baby’s skin, very soft and white. Its limbs and facial features were like those of a deformed person, completely naked, as if it had never worn clothes. This completely overturned Zhou Yuanqiang’s understanding of zombies. He couldn’t help but ask himself, “Are these still zombies?”

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head, staring at Xu Yuhai, and said, “Why do I feel like these zombies are like newly born babies?”

Xu Yuhai was startled. His short life experience meant his imagination wasn’t as rich as Zhou Yuanqiang’s. He said, “Bo… Boss, you mean like ba… babies? That’s impossible, look, it’s clearly mixed in with a pile of zombies. If it were a baby, wouldn’t it have been devoured by other zombies long ago?”

As if to dispel the Boss’s absurd idea, he opened a few more pictures and said, “Boss, look, there are many zombies like this. I don’t see anything particularly special. Maybe it’s due to the infection that they’ve become like this. Look, some of them also have decay on their bodies. It seems these skins can’t last too long.”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s breathing grew heavier. These pictures further confirmed his suspicion. He stared at Xu Yuhai and said, “Yes, I confirm, these are babies, but not real babies.” He looked out the window and said solemnly, “It should be said, these are babies that are adults from birth…”

Xu Yuhai stared at the Boss in astonishment, seemingly having guessed something as well. His face instantly turned pale, and even his fingers began to tremble.

(First update in the early morning, friends. What have you guessed? Still asking for Monthly Votes, I know some friends might not want to vote if the chapter isn’t exciting.)

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Chapter 211: Preparing for the Worst

The sudden upheaval in Qingyuan City truly came as a surprise.

To be honest, Zhou Yuanqiang had previously only thought about how he would properly deal with Qingyuan City once he was fully prepared, bombing the bosses that had made him so miserable there over and over again. But he hadn’t expected things to change like this. Unbeknownst to him, the number of zombies had recovered, perhaps even swelled into a larger horde.

As of now, the zombies in Qingyuan City haven’t shown any unusual signs of gathering, which suggests their abnormal increase was detected relatively early. But who can guarantee they won’t launch a surprise attack like last time?

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, Qingyuan City and its zombies were like a cup and the water within it. Once the water overflows, it will naturally spill out, leading to an attack on humans. The focus now wasn’t on why the zombies had multiplied, but on how to deal with the potential crisis.

“Weak nations have no diplomacy,” this concept also applies to settlements.

Consider the wars fought by the great powers during the Qing Dynasty, always taking place on the mainland. The highest casualties in such wars weren’t the soldiers on either side, but the civilians in the war zones. Similarly, the heaviest losses weren’t suffered by the warring parties themselves, but by the people in those conflict areas.

After a war, villages became no-man’s-lands, flattened. Towns were destroyed, houses collapsed, and people had nowhere to go, nowhere to flee. Their lives and property were constantly under threat. When truly tallied, the losses in war zones were often several, even more than a dozen, times greater than those of the warring factions.

The Wasteland Settlement’s first zombie attack happened right at its gates. The losses then included the newly built defensive wall becoming ruins, and the tents housing tens of thousands of people turning into piles of scraps. The grain that couldn’t be salvaged was contaminated by the zombies.

Weren’t these additional losses due to the settlement becoming a combat zone?

Now, the Wasteland Settlement’s defensive wall has been completed. With numerous long-range weapons and fighter jets providing support, there’s no need to fear the destructive power of a million-strong zombie horde. However, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want the battlefield to be right in front of the settlement; it was simply too insecure.

Why should he wait for the zombies to attack? Why not attack the zombies himself?

Zhou Yuanqiang had considered this question many times. Previously, he wasn’t sufficiently prepared and lacked the power to threaten the zombies within the city. Or rather, conquering the city would incur too many casualties, far beyond what Zhou Yuanqiang could bear. According to the Analysis Department’s findings, recapturing Qingyuan City would require at least 30,000 sacrifices and the loss of hundreds of fighter jets.

Such heavy losses were unacceptable to Zhou Yuanqiang, so he had been working hard to improve the settlement’s armed forces, trying to accumulate more strength to reduce potential losses.

But from the current situation, it seemed the zombies wouldn’t give the Wasteland Settlement such an opportunity. The way they surged through the streets suggested they could break out of the city at any moment, gather outside, and rush towards the settlement. Therefore, the Wasteland Settlement wouldn’t have much time to prepare.

Although he didn’t want the battlefront to be around the settlement, he couldn’t ignore the possibility of a zombie surprise attack. So, after a meeting with the department heads, the munitions factory began mass-producing landmines, a simple yet very effective defensive weapon. For this, Zhou Yuanqiang even flew to the United States specifically to sign another contract with DuPont for the procurement of gunpowder.

Landmine production was truly simple. With the munitions factory’s capabilities, they could produce tens of thousands of landmines a day at full capacity.

It wasn’t practical to bury landmines all around the settlement; cleaning them up later would be too much trouble. So, during production, a small modification was made: the landmines were simply laid exposed on the ground.

Zombies have no consciousness; they don’t know what these things are. They will only move forward, ever forward. Even landmines simply laid exposed on the surface could be used to defend against them. And this had another benefit: the landmines could be easily removed and recycled later.

The last lesson was indeed significant; no one wanted to suffer the hardship of lacking long-range firepower again. So, after producing over 200,000 landmines, the munitions factory shifted to mortars and recoilless cannons, equipping them in large numbers to the troops and installing them on top of the defensive walls.

As for the more powerful and longer-range howitzers, cannons, and self-propelled artillery, they were still in the experimental manufacturing stage. However, given the munitions factory’s technical capabilities, it would take some time to overcome the technical difficulties.

Having modern-day resources as a strong backing was convenient. For artillery pieces, there was no need for research or researchers who understood them. All they needed to do was go online in a modern city, search for information, and old artillery blueprints were easily found. Even blueprints for main battle artillery from the 1980s were collected by many military enthusiasts and not hard to find.

Therefore, what the munitions factory needed to overcome was fully understanding the blueprints and attempting manufacturing.

But artillery manufacturing wasn’t simple. Many critical parts, especially those requiring high precision, often led to failures at the munitions factory. However, compared to manufacturing missiles, artillery was much simpler. Since they could even manage missiles, with a little more time, the manufacturing and deployment of various artillery pieces wouldn’t be too far off.

Speaking of artillery naturally leads to armored forces.

For manufacturing tanks, the most critical component was the fire control system. This was a problem the Wasteland Settlement simply couldn’t overcome. Zhou Yuanqiang was keen to obtain blueprints for older fire control systems from the modern world, but fire control systems break down into several functional subsystems, each involving even more specific electronic devices. Finding all these “classified” blueprints wasn’t an easy task; at least, Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t finished collecting them yet.

Zhou Yuanqiang even wondered if, failing anything else, he should simply go to a developing country and buy a complete set of blueprints with money. Many small countries, or individual researchers, would be very willing to sell such old fire control systems for some cash. After all, old fire control systems weren’t top-secret classified information.

On another note, a tank was an absolute monster made of steel.

The demand for steel in the settlement was always the highest, and no matter how much Zhou Yuanqiang tried, it wasn’t enough to meet consumption. Think about it: at this time, who would dare to build such a war machine made entirely of steel? The aluminum alloy for fighter jets already exhausted Zhou Yuanqiang to death; if he were to build tanks… Good heavens, each one would require thirty to forty tons of steel. How could that even be managed?

It was for this reason that the settlement hadn’t put tanks and armored vehicles on its development plan before securing a stable source of steel.

If it were just this, it still wouldn’t be entirely safe, at least in Zhou Yuanqiang’s opinion. Who knew if even more powerful Special Infected abilities might emerge? Especially the “gross monster” – if he truly intended to reclaim Qingyuan City, he would have to face this type of zombie, the long-range variant that posed the greatest threat to humans.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang sat in a café in City S, taking a light sip of coffee, which he wasn’t particularly fond of, before asking, “Dr. Du, do you think it’s possible to design this kind of bulletproof vest? Price is not an issue. Once the prototype passes testing, I will place an order for 20,000 sets. And your design fee will not be a problem either.”

Sitting opposite Zhou Yuanqiang was a man in his fifties, whom Zhou Yuanqiang addressed as Dr. Du. He was currently looking down at the资料 Zhou Yuanqiang had given him. Hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, he smiled, looked up, and said, “Honestly, these design requirements are quite unreasonable. But as an internationally renowned security manufacturing company, I suppose it’s simply a matter of turning a bulletproof vest into something like a waterproof suit, enveloping the entire body except for the head. It’s not difficult.”

Dr. Du hesitated for a moment and then said, “But you should understand, for a bulletproof vest to defend against this intensity of decay, the materials used will probably need to be increased beyond what’s used in traditional bulletproof vests. Moreover, a bulletproof vest with such extensive coverage, solely in terms of area, will be three times that of a traditional one. So, if truly designed, the final price might be seven to eight times higher than a regular bulletproof vest.”

A common bulletproof vest made in China might cost around 500 US dollars, while foreign ones could range from around 800 US dollars upwards.

According to Dr. Du’s analysis, just the materials for this type of bulletproof vest, capable of defending against blades and bullets, would be different. And its coverage area was too extensive; except for the head, almost the entire body would be protected by the vest. Calculating it, the price for such a specially requested bulletproof vest reached an astonishing 6,000 US dollars per piece. For 20,000 pieces, this was a massive order worth over 100 million US dollars.

But Zhou Yuanqiang had no choice. For the lives of more soldiers, even if it cost twice as much, he would pay it.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s plan was simple: in close combat with zombies, the biggest concern for humans was infection. Once scratched or bitten by a zombie, it was like having one’s life marked by the grim reaper; within just a few hours of infection, one would turn into a zombie.

And in battles against zombies, casualties were unavoidable. Many times, just a moment of carelessness would result in a zombie scratch. During the previous zombie attack on the settlement, half of the tens of thousands who died were infected after being injured. Before truly turning into zombies, they were painfully executed by soldiers with precision firing to the head, ending their lives.

Zhou Yuanqiang watched it. Former comrades, simply because their skin had been scratched a tiny bit by a zombie, had to scream and beg their companions to kill them under infection. Such a cruel method made Zhou Yuanqiang almost unable to watch, but from his position, he had to.

Thousands of soldiers, just like that, closed their eyes in relief under the muzzles of their teammates’ guns.

To prevent such a tragedy from happening again, Zhou Yuanqiang, inspired by his own steel armor, thought about the soldiers’ defensive issues. Naturally, bulletproof vests entered Zhou Yuanqiang’s sight. But bulletproof vests only protected the upper body and chest area, which simply didn’t meet the requirements of the post-apocalyptic world.

And an order for tens of thousands of such sets obviously couldn’t be entrusted to domestic bulletproof vest manufacturers because of domestic regulations; Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t an approved entity, so no one would produce them for him. Some private manufacturers couldn’t overcome the problem of full-body defense, and their materials didn’t reassure Zhou Yuanqiang, which was why he had to find a French company.

Furthermore, compared to the profits from taking over all of Qingyuan City, what was 100 million US dollars? Think about it: just the gold in the banks, and all the raw materials in the entire city, plus various goods, etc. It was simply impossible to calculate. Even if he just took the gold, it would be enough to recoup this 100 million US dollar investment; it was definitely a worthwhile business deal.

Having understood this, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate and said, “Dr. Du, I’ll leave this matter to you. Don’t worry, this is just the first design fee. If this matter is completed, and when I receive the goods, another design remuneration will also not disappoint you, Dr. Du.”

Speaking, he gently pushed a check for one million US dollars across the table to Dr. Du.

Of course, Dr. Du wouldn’t refuse such a good offer. The commission from this order alone amounted to over a million US dollars, not to mention that this young man was also very generous, offering a million upfront. In fact, for an order like this, as long as it was reported to the company, he wouldn’t even need to design it himself; the company would naturally design and manufacture it according to customer requirements, as this was an order worth over 100 million US dollars.

As for the client being an individual rather than a unit approved by the mainland government, Dr. Du couldn’t care less. For a security manufacturing company based in France, these things were also not within their scope of consideration.

However, thinking about the issue of delivery, Dr. Du frowned slightly and said, “The mainland has regulations on this. Tens of thousands of such bulletproof vests cannot be shipped in.” He added, “Mr. Zhou, you know that our company is a reputable security manufacturing company and has some influence in France. But it’s impossible for us to try and influence the government for this one order. You should understand what I mean by that.”

In this world, if Zhou Yuanqiang were asked to infiltrate America’s Area 51, he admitted he didn’t have that capability. But when it came to transportation, Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and said, “Dr. Du, please rest assured on this point. I will handle the transportation issue. You only need to be responsible for manufacturing these bulletproof vests, and I will personally go to France to collect them.”

Dr. Du looked at Zhou Yuanqiang with some surprise, unable to figure out why, if he had such customs capabilities, he must be a very important person. Why wouldn’t he order them directly in his own country instead of going through all this trouble to come to his company?

But thinking about the commission he would receive and the remuneration after the deal was done, Dr. Du pocketed the check from the table, took a light sip of coffee, and said, “The coffee is good. If it’s according to your wishes, Mr. Zhou, then please rest assured. You just wait for the delivery, and I will personally oversee it to ensure there are no quality issues whatsoever.”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Dr. Du.”

Chapter 212: Fire Bats

Complementing this full-coverage bulletproof vest was an anti-riot helmet produced by an American company, made of a superior alloy capable of withstanding zombie attacks and the corrosive effects of Spitters. However, against Volt-Zombies, a million volts of high voltage offered no defense at all, leaving one to pray that the discharge balls wouldn’t land nearby.

Zhou Yuanqiang once considered what kind of weapon would be best for dealing with zombies in a city.

The city’s terrain was too complex. Qingyuan City was a new-old city with towering skyscrapers, yet nestled among them were countless small alleys. These alleys contained historical ancient buildings and two or three-story houses belonging to old residents. Some streets even had century-old towering trees that almost wholly covered them.

Fighting in the city, high-level zombies would geometrically enhance their abilities.

Consider their speed, jumping ability, and how they could hide in hanging houses, even in piles of rubbish or abandoned cars. These were all possible hiding places. Many times, they would pounce from an unexpected corner, delivering a fatal blow. Many elite soldiers had fallen victim to such attacks.

Using fighter jets wasn’t a foolproof solution. In the city, ranged zombies often lurked in high-rise buildings, and you’d never know if they were present in a particular building. As a jet flew by, a discharge ball might suddenly shoot out from an adjacent corner, electrocuting the pilot and destroying the jet’s electronic components.

He thought of using artillery, but the buildings on the streets varied in height, and artillery shells couldn’t be fired vertically. Even a forceful attack would only destroy buildings with very limited casualties to the zombies. Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to take over a city that looked like a ruin. If that were the case, why bother fighting for it?

Perhaps the only truly effective weapon would be an airship, capable of hovering.

With their formidable carrying capacity, hovering ability, and long endurance, airships would become the zombies’ nightmare. Carrying enough bombs, they could clear zombies street by street. Although it would take a long time, it was one of the safest methods currently available.

However, the number of airships was still too small. Currently, one communication airship was out of the question. Three cargo airships could be repurposed, but the exploration airship had limited carrying capacity and couldn’t be relied upon. Even the three Wasteland-class airships under construction in the airship munitions factory would take a month to complete, and it was uncertain if their power could be utilized.

There was another problem: the destructive power of bombs on the city was immense. If airships were allowed to bomb streets indiscriminately, even if the city were taken over, the entire city’s streets would be riddled with craters, requiring months of repairs. Collapsed high-rise buildings would also demand enormous manpower and resources to clear.

“I’m here to make money,” he thought. “If I have to spend massive funds on repairs afterwards, then… then…”

A conflicted Zhou Yuanqiang could only think of incendiary bombs; fire attacks seemed to be the only way to protect the city. If Qingyuan City were in another region, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t mind coming up with a plan to use water to wash the city clean—doesn’t “washing make it healthier”? But the problem was, this was the wasteland. Where would he find giant reservoirs? “This path is blocked. I still have to use fire.”

The manufacturing of incendiary bombs was somewhat troublesome, and their temperature was too high, easily burning through metal and destroying too many things. Therefore, besides incendiary bombs, Zhou Yuanqiang had to find another solution, a more effective method.

Thinking of fire naturally led to fuel, and thinking of fuel brought to mind oil wells and fuel trucks.

The perpetually burning oil pipe in the oil well, combined with the image of a fuel truck, made Zhou Yuanqiang seem to grasp something. He said, “That’s right, why didn’t I think of it? It’s about manufacturing specialized flame-throwing vehicles to deal with zombies. Think of fire trucks with their high-pressure water cannons, capable of spraying dozens of meters. If we modify them to spray fire, they would be even more effective against zombies than firearms.”

With one idea, more possibilities emerged. For instance, using air-drops to deploy oil barrels onto the streets; barrels and barrels of fuel pouring onto the streets. Once ignited, the entire street of zombies… just imagining it was terrifying. A ground covered in gasoline, how could it not burn for several minutes? Within those few minutes, zombies would probably only be able to dance on it, eventually getting scorched and cooked, meeting their bitter end in that fuel.

What other fire weapons were there?

Zhou Yuanqiang scratched his head, and quickly a unit from “StarCraft” came to mind. Flamethrowers. Everyone knew their attack power wasn’t particularly strong, but they had a certain “double-edged sword” feel to them. There were similar units in this kind of armor, but with technological advancements, some close-range units began to lose their purpose.

But dealing with zombies was different; the spraying distance didn’t need to be too far, a few meters would suffice.

The only trouble was that the fuel for these flamethrowers needed special treatment, and physically, the soldiers had certain requirements. After all, carrying a fuel tank weighing dozens of kilograms while fighting was tough for those not strong enough.

After summarizing these ideas, he naturally sought out Chen Xun’an, the head of the munitions factory.

Chen Xun’an merely frowned, looked at Zhou Yuanqiang’s proposed plan, and pondered for a long time before saying, “These aren’t very difficult. It’s mostly the high-pressure system that’s tricky, but it’s not insurmountable. But Boss, are you sure these flame-throwing vehicles and flame soldiers will be effective?”

Zhou Yuanqiang retorted irritably, “Isn’t that obvious? Imagine a whole street full of zombies, with flame soldiers lined up, spraying fire at them, covering their heads and faces. Tsk tsk, the flames sprayed out will cover a large area. They’ll be very effective against zombies.”

“But Boss, according to the design, the temperature won’t exceed 100 degrees Celsius, and the maximum spray distance is 20 meters,” Chen Xun’an scratched his head and said. “What if they can’t quickly eliminate the zombies? A distance of 20 meters can be quite dangerous. High-level zombies, for example, could charge and reach the soldiers in an instant.”

Zhou Yuanqiang tapped the desk, a sinister smile playing on his lips. “Only 100 degrees Celsius isn’t high? How about I have someone boil a pot of oil? Hey, its temperature won’t exceed 200 degrees Celsius. I wonder what your hand would look like after a few seconds in it?”

Chen Xun’an shivered, and the scene Zhou Yuanqiang described immediately played out in his mind: his hand, fried crispy golden in seconds, a mutated golden pig’s trot. “B-Boss, I was just joking! How could a brilliant idea like yours, Boss, not be able to deal with zombies? 100 degrees Celsius is enough to scorch their surface and cook their internal tissues in a few seconds. B-Boss, if… if there’s nothing else, I’ll go get it done right away!”

Watching Chen Xun’an flee the office, Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, licked his lips, and mused, “Golden color? Tsk tsk. I’ve decided, I’m going to eat golden roast lamb later!”

Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s pressure, Chen Xun’an truly worked hard. He assembled a team of technicians who spent three days designing the flamethrower equipment. After creating a prototype, they conducted experiments while collecting data for improvements. As Chen Xun’an had mentioned before, the most critical aspects were the high-pressure device and the choice of metal for the nozzle.

But these were also surmountable. A week later, a formal set of flamethrower equipment was completed.

Zhou Yuanqiang inspected it at the testing grounds. The entire set, empty of fuel, weighed 80 kg. The maximum fuel capacity was 160 kg, which could fluctuate based on the user’s ability. The fuel used was highly concentrated fuel, characterized by high temperature and durability. One tank of fuel was enough for a flamethrower soldier to operate continuously for about half an hour.

Complementing the flamethrower soldiers were, naturally, logistic fuel trucks.

These modified fuel trucks were fully loaded with highly concentrated fuel. Once a flamethrower soldier’s fuel ran out, they could retreat to the fuel truck to refuel and return to combat.

Not only these, but flame-throwing vehicles, with a spray distance of 50 meters, were also successfully modified based on the fuel trucks. More powerful high-pressure devices ensured sufficient pressure.

These flame-throwing vehicles, filled with highly concentrated fuel, could no longer use the old fuel tanks. A single stray bullet could pierce the fuel tank, causing a violent explosion. Imagine what it would be like if a fuel truck carrying 6 tons of highly concentrated fuel exploded? It’s estimated that no one within several hundred meters would survive.

Therefore, for sufficient safety, Chen Xun’an had to install a layer of armor specifically designed for the fuel tanks. It might not withstand sniper rifle or bomb attacks, but it was sufficient to defend against rifle bullets.

There weren’t many fuel trucks in the Wasteland Settlement, only a few, all used for transporting the settlement’s fuel. They couldn’t be repurposed for modification. So, Zhou Yuanqiang had to secretly “acquire” over twenty fuel trucks from a certain Oil Company in the city, causing all gas stations in the city to go into a frantic state, loudly proclaiming the appearance of the “great oil thief” in the city.

Equipped with over twenty flame-throwing vehicles and conscripting 80 physically strong soldiers, after simple training, they were formally named the “Fire Bat” Unit and incorporated into the Chamber of Commerce’s army formation.

Chapter 213: Discussion

Only deputy-部长 level officials from various departments were aware of the changes in Qingyuan City; the news hadn’t spread to the settlement. However, clever individuals could still sense the increased tension in the settlement over the past month, with the entire atmosphere becoming heavy and oppressive.

It seemed as if the munitions factory had entered a state of war, the aircraft factory was accelerating tests on its HY-2 fighter jets, and the airship factory had added three new production lines, gaining the capacity to manufacture six Wasteland-class airships per month. In the military barracks, bugle calls were constant, and the soldiers’ roars during training grew louder and louder.

The biggest change was outside the settlement. The previously empty land around the settlement had, in a matter of days, become covered with countless bare landmines. Apart from the roads, the entire area was almost completely dominated by landmines. Squads of soldiers began to stand guard along the edge of the minefield to prevent anyone from trespassing.

The accelerated pace across all departments made even the most obtuse person feel the tension of an impending war.

“Wei Yi, is there any news in the newspaper?”

Dong Haoshi, nearing forty, sat down on a chair by the Corridor Streets, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. He looked up at the high-hanging sun, then at the trees that had only recently sprouted a few dozen leaves, and said, “This devilish October weather, not a single breeze, it’s unbearably hot.” He added, with a hint of meaning, “And the air right now is still so hard to breathe.”

Wei Yi was a young man. When the Commercial Association was recruiting, he applied but only passed the first two rounds, failing the third. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t become soldiers. At least those who passed the second round would be kept and trained as street guards, patrol officers, Commercial Association guards, and so on. Wei Yi, fortunately, became a street guard.

Street guards were essentially soldiers standing guard on various streets, and they held considerable power. They also had the strictest requirements: they had to know the Commercial Association’s code by heart, and when enforcing the law, they had to display exceptional intelligence. Not just anyone could serve. Although they didn’t pass the third round and were dropped, their abilities were not much different from elite soldiers.

Patrol officers were easier to understand—a variation of street guards. Their function was to patrol the entire street, deterring those with ulterior motives. However, in the current Wasteland Settlement, everyone was united, and no one had to risk danger due to hunger, as everyone had a job. Those with ulterior motives were few and far between, so patrol officers’ work was currently very simple. Perhaps their function of protecting peace made them very popular with the public.

Because their requirements were not as strict and they had much more freedom compared to street guards, they could respond and converse when someone greeted them.

Commercial Association guards were a protective measure introduced by the Commercial Association for the settlement’s high-ranking officials. After all, this was a chaotic world. Although the Commercial Association had strictly prohibited ordinary residents from owning firearms, many still hid them. Who knew what sudden incidents might occur? Furthermore, with the rise of the settlement, things would become even more unpredictable in the future. Equipping them now allowed time to train more qualified guards.

At this moment, Wei Yi had finished his shift. The three-shift system meant he could get off work early at two in the afternoon.

He looked at Dong Haoshi, stood up, and greeted him, “Oh, isn’t this Uncle Shi? Look at how tired you are, come sit down quickly. Uncle Shi, just finished being busy?”

Dong Haoshi was indeed a bit tired, so he didn’t decline and sat next to Wei Yi, wiping the sweat from his body with a towel. He said, “Yes, just finished being busy. The atmosphere in the whole settlement feels off, so I came to ask you. You’re a true employee of the Commercial Association, after all. Many neighbors in the family workshops are discussing this privately now, don’t you have any news?”

Wei Yi waved his newspaper and said, “Uncle Shi, I’m just one of several hundred street guards, not some officer. How would I have news? Isn’t this why I’m staring at the newspaper every day? If you ask me, you’re worrying too much. If it were really as you say, would the Commercial Association still be holding back? Look, isn’t this perfectly normal?”

Dong Haoshi tossed the towel over his shoulder and glared at Wei Yi, saying, “Stop trying to fool your uncle; ‘perfectly normal’? Did becoming a mere street guard make you so great, you little scoundrel? Don’t you want to acknowledge me as your uncle anymore? Let me tell you, if it weren’t for me, you little brat would have starved to death long ago. How could you be this impressive street guard? Heh heh, be careful, or I’ll go complain about you to the Commercial Association. Let’s see if you’ll still be so proud.”

According to the Commercial Association’s regulations, every resident had the right to complain about employees of various departments. Once a complaint was received, the Commercial Association would investigate the employee. If found true, different penalties would be given based on the severity of the offense, with the most severe possibly even leading to the death penalty.

It was this strict punishment system that prevented power-holding employees of the Commercial Association from acting recklessly, ensuring everyone was diligent and responsible.

Hearing that Uncle Shi wanted to complain about him, Wei Yi also grew anxious and said, “I say, Uncle Shi, please don’t scare me. If you complain, whether it’s true or not, I’ll lose my job. I really don’t have any news, otherwise, why would I hide it from you, Uncle Shi?”

Seeing that his threat had no effect, Dong Haoshi also deflated, saying, “You still say it’s normal? Look at the landmines outside, densely packed. Who knows how many there are? Every time I enter or exit the city gates, my scalp tingles. I still have nightmares about what happened last time, Uncle. What if it happens again?”

“Haha…” Wei Yi laughed and said, “Uncle Shi, ‘what if’? I wish the zombies would come again. A man who puts on this uniform should strive for achievements. If the zombies don’t come, how do we accumulate military merits? Just by standing guard here? I think it would take several years to even become a leader, so when will I get to lead troops into battle?”

Dong Haoshi exclaimed, “Young man, what do you know? Look how many people died last time? Your uncle’s best old friend was splashed by that damnable liquid and just… just…”

Wei Yi disagreed, saying, “Uncle Shi, times have changed. Compare the settlement now with the settlement half a year ago. What’s different? Look at the fighter jets we have, look at our army of over sixty thousand people, look at our airships, and then look at the densely packed artillery on the walls, and the countless landmines outside? Can that be compared to before?”

He gestured, speaking in an exaggerated tone, “Uncle Shi, you haven’t seen the power of those hundreds of kilograms of aerial incendiary bombs. During our training, an officer called for fighter jets to perform. Tsk, tsk, if you were there, Uncle, you’d be scared to death. The towering flames, the rolling fireballs spreading out, enveloped several hundred meters. When the flames dissipated after ten odd minutes, the entire ground was scorched and cracked.”

“Scared your uncle to death?” Dong Haoshi scoffed, saying, “What kind of world hasn’t your uncle seen? Let me tell you, your uncle fought his way out of Qingyuan City back then.”

Wei Yi merely snickered. He knew perfectly well what Dong Haoshi was about to say next; his ears were practically calloused from hearing it. Wasn’t it just about how he bravely killed zombies and saved damsels in distress? It was too cliché. He had, after all, also fled from Qingyuan City himself. He interrupted Dong Haoshi, who was about to speak, saying, “Uncle Shi, I think this matter will be decided soon. Don’t you think? They started making moves a month ago, and it’s been a month now, so it should be about time, right?”

Dong Haoshi said, “Are you saying the zombies are coming soon?”

Wei Yi shook his head and said, “Uncle Shi, why are you so slow? What ‘zombies coming’? If zombies attacked a month ago, would they still not have reached us after a month? I reckon this time, nine times out of ten, we’re proactively launching an attack to retake Qingyuan City…” He suddenly reacted, shouting, “Retake Qingyuan City?”

Wei Yi’s sudden shout almost made Dong Haoshi, sitting next to him, fall over in fright. He said displeased, “What are you YELLING about? What retake Qingyuan City? Eh, you… what did you say? Re-retake Qingyuan City? Are you saying retake Qingyuan City?”

Both of them froze simultaneously, looking at each other, reading a kind of fanaticism in each other’s eyes.

Previously, everyone had been thinking whether zombies would attack, or if the Commercial Association was conducting an exercise, or perhaps launching an operation against some target. But very few people would consider the idea of retaking Qingyuan City. Because they always believed humanity was in a disadvantaged position, and merely surviving at the hands of zombies was difficult enough; who would ever come up with such a notion?

But Wei Yi’s unconscious remark just now suddenly felt like a profound enlightenment. The confusion from before was instantly cleared, like the parting of clouds to reveal the sun.

“You… you… you mean, could this be true? The Commercial Association really… really decided this?” Dong Haoshi clutched his chest. Heaven knew how many times he had dreamt of his home. Although his wife and son were gone, for some reason, he just missed home, missed it very, very much. Sometimes, he even had the thought of sneaking back to take a look.

Wei Yi was already excited, as if this wasn’t just his guess but something that had already happened. He tightly clutched the newspaper and said, “It should be true. The Chairman is a man of great ambitions; he can’t possibly stay confined to this settlement forever. Only by taking Qingyuan City and obtaining vast resources can he truly have the sky as his limit.”

Dong Haoshi calmed down slightly, saying with concern, “But isn’t that too risky? Zombies will be many times more terrifying in the city.”

Wei Yi shook his head. He looked up at the cloudless sky, as a helicopter flew directly overhead, quickly disappearing from sight. He murmured, “Zombies are indeed terrifying, but with so many brave men like us, why should we fear them?”

He suddenly remembered the toy fuzzy dog that had grown up with him since childhood, lying on his bed at home… Five years had passed. He wondered if it was still alright.

Chapter 214: General Mobilization

Can we really not wait any longer?

Zhou Yuanqiang stood with his hands behind his back, looking out the window at the verdant trees and, in the far distance, a sliver of sunset slowly descending toward the horizon. The afterglow of the setting sun, like a mythical wealth-giving child, cast golden light across the entire wasteland. Moments later, this golden light gradually turned a dark yellow before finally disappearing into the wasteland.

The entire wasteland, deprived of the sun but having been baked for hours, was still scorching, and the air temperature remained unbearable.

Xu Yuhai remained silent for a long time, accompanying Zhou Yuanqiang as he watched the sunset fade, until the last glimmers were gone. Only then did he say with emphasis, “Boss, we can’t wait any longer. The zombies in the city are starting to become restless. Their numbers are also increasing. As time goes on, more and more high-level zombies are mutating…”

“Originally, I thought of arranging something outside the city to lure them out, making them easier to deal with,” Zhou Yuanqiang took a breath and said. “But hearing you say this, it seems things aren’t right. It’s as if the longer we drag this out, the more disadvantageous it will be for us.”

Xu Yuhai nodded and said, “Boss, that’s exactly it. We’ve discovered that over the past month, the probability of these deformed zombies evolving into high-level zombies is very high, and the probability of mutating into Special Infected is also extremely high. Based on image analysis, their abilities have been preliminarily identified and already submitted to the Military Department.”

Zhou Yuanqiang rubbed his hands, then sat back in his chair and said, “Since we can’t wait any longer, then, notify everyone to prepare for general mobilization.”

This was a simple sentence, yet Xu Yuhai suddenly felt his blood surge. He gave Zhou Yuanqiang a military salute, then exited the office.

Only those at his level could understand how this ordinary sentence would decide the activation of a war machine, and determine the fate of as many as sixty thousand soldiers.

After Xu Yuhai left the office, Zhou Yuanqiang leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, and said faintly, “Is it starting?”

Despite a month of painstaking preparation, even without news leaking, the busy workers could still guess. The Chamber of Commerce’s large-scale production tasks were enough to hint at a special atmosphere. However, no one could guess whether the Chamber of Commerce was preparing to attack the Tianzhou Plain or Qingyuan City.

Most people guessed it was the Tianzhou Plain, as there had been conflicts between the Tianzhou Plain and the Chamber of Commerce previously. In fact, some passionate people in the Wasteland Settlement had even gathered in front of the Chamber of Commerce headquarters, protesting to support the Chamber of Commerce in punishing those who infringed upon their interests. People living in the Wasteland Settlement had long been proud to live in this settlement. Everyone genuinely hoped the Chamber of Commerce would become stronger. When the Chamber of Commerce’s interests were harmed, they simply wanted to stand up and support it in this way.

Some also guessed the Chamber of Commerce might be preparing to use force against Qingyuan City, but not many believed it. Conquering a city—how much courage and strength would that require? With the settlement in a period of great development, attacking Qingyuan City now seemed rather illogical.

But regardless of the guesses, the fact that the Chamber of Commerce was making a big move was undeniable.

The night Zhou Yuanqiang made his decision was calm. He calmly slept embraced by Ren Xinyun and Long Jiake’er. Everything he did seemed exceptionally peaceful.

The entire settlement was equally tranquil, with no sounds—everything was as calm and serene as usual. Only by looking into the houses would one realize how many eyes were open, their excited gazes twinkling in the darkness. The strange orders they received before nightfall made them understand that the eagerly anticipated event would likely unfold tomorrow.

“Everyone’s mission is to sleep well.”

This was the order from above, but who could truly sleep? This seemingly non-order, in the eyes of many, held the same meaning as the starting horn.

No matter what enemy they faced, the soldiers showed no fear. More than anything, it was a surge of pre-war excitement. They wished they could throw themselves into battle right now.

The night that left countless people sleepless passed in silence. As dawn broke, early risers had already left their homes to begin their daily chores.

Facing the rising sun, some who had received the news silently stood by their doorsteps. They weren’t rushing to work like usual but were quietly watching the loudspeakers on the street. Some who were unaware, seeing so many people with solemn expressions, finally realized that this day was destined to be an extraordinary morning.

At exactly seven o’clock in the morning, a static crackle from the loudspeaker made everyone stop moving and hold their breath.

Zhou Yuanqiang, in the broadcast station, adjusted his collar and slowly walked to the microphone. He lightly tapped the mic and said, “Residents of the entire settlement, I am Chairman Zhou Yuanqiang. Today, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, I officially issue the general mobilization order to the entire settlement! Effective immediately, all personnel and individual departments will serve the Military Department, and all personnel will enter a state of war!”

As Zhou Yuanqiang spoke, a piercing air raid siren, adapted from a civil defense alarm system and distributed throughout the settlement, blared across the entire area.

The shrill alarm rang out, and the blood of everyone in the settlement began to slowly warm up, gradually transforming into a fervent excitement. To activate a general mobilization order, it certainly wasn’t a minor matter. Everyone knew that the answer they had been guessing for a month was about to be revealed.

“I believe everyone can somewhat guess that a month ago, the Chamber of Commerce began emergency pre-war preparations. The entire system has subtly entered a state of war. Diligent workers have been working overtime, tirelessly manufacturing countless resources.”

The newly formed helicopter squadron, consisting of twenty H-1 and thirty H-2 helicopters, had their engines started at the air base. Powerful air currents blew away the fine dust on the ground. In front of the helicopters were a hundred fully armed snipers, each with a light sniper rifle manufactured by the munitions factory slung over their backs.

As Zhou Yuanqiang’s words resonated, Zhao Hongyuan, who was in charge of the entire sniper unit, waved his hand. The snipers began to jog steadily, boarding the helicopters one by one.

“Since the virus suddenly swept across the globe, humanity’s disaster began. Countless people became repulsive zombies, our natural enemies, our ‘friends’ who are actually the culprits behind our demise. Cities fell one after another, and the survivors embarked on a five-year escape. The torrents of zombies, like they were chasing our footsteps, pressed closer and closer, squeezing our living space.”

Fighter jets were lined up at the air training base. Opposite the H-1s were the newly mass-produced J-2 fighter jets, of which only twelve had been made so far.

Thousands of logistics personnel were busy refueling these fighter jets, loading missiles, aerial bombs, and autocannon rounds. Inside the cockpits, the most elite pilots had already taken their seats. As the equipment was finalized and logistics personnel withdrew, the fighter jets, under the control of the command tower, ignited their engines and slowly began to move, entering the runway.

“The zombie attack of six months ago almost destroyed our Wasteland Settlement, making us realize the horror of zombies. various Special Infected appeared, entering our human sight. It was like a fated battle: either we die, or they perish, with no room for hesitation in between. Fortunately, we had the last laugh. The zombie hordes were repelled by us and slunk back to their lairs.”

Six airships were being loaded with incendiary bombs by logistics personnel. They would form the sole airship squadron, led by Tu Long, to carry out carpet bombing.

“Now, after more than half a year of development, we are no longer who we once were. We possess eagles soaring in the sky, awe-inspiring behemoths, an army more than double its previous size, and a population three times larger than before. We have developed various factories, and all sorts of equipment have been distributed to our defensive units and soldiers.”

In the vast wasteland outside the military camp, Qiu Guorui walked sternly past ten massive formations. He stared at the soldiers he had personally trained, dressed in uniform, khaki-colored clothes that always stirred the blood. For some reason, Qiu Guorui suddenly felt an urge to cry. Five years ago, he had many comrades, but now they were all just memories.

The rising sun on the horizon cast a light crimson glow on the soldiers. Each of them had a resolute expression, their eyes gleaming with determination, silently watching Qiu Guorui.

Qiu Guorui, after slowly walking past each formation, suddenly stopped. He sharply saluted the sixty thousand soldiers below.

With a “whoosh,” the sixty thousand nearly perfectly synchronized salutes ignited the passion in everyone. The formation facing Qingyuan City took a turn, advancing toward the city, followed by the second, then the third, and so on, until the tenth formation moved out.

“Today, this very day, we will end the situation of being chased and attacked by zombies. At this very moment, as I speak, our settlement’s army has already begun its advance. Our target is not our compatriots, nor any other humans, but our homeland, Qingyuan City! They will use their abilities to prove that humans are the true masters of this sky! Our goal is to reclaim Qingyuan City!”

As Zhou Yuanqiang’s roar erupted, the entire settlement went wild. Frenzied shouts echoed through every street.

“Reclaim Qingyuan City! Reclaim Qingyuan City! Reclaim our homeland!”

These shouts became the only theme in the settlement. People could only express their emotions in this way. Yes, we must prove that we are the masters under this sky! We must reclaim our homeland and make the zombies get out from under this sky!

The “buzzing” sound produced by the twenty H-1 helicopters was deafening. As the first wave of forces to take off, they were the first to lift off from the helipad, appearing in the sky, then flying toward Qingyuan City. They soared over the magnificent Corridor Residential Area of the settlement, past numerous enormous factories, and then over the outermost defensive wall.

Zhao Hongyuan sat calmly in an H-2 helicopter, holding the Barrett “Mighty Fire” sniper rifle that Zhou Yuanqiang had given him. He absolutely adored this sniper rifle, which was even better than a regular sniper rifle. Normally, he treated it like a precious treasure, carefully wiping its smooth barrel with a gun cloth.

The H-1 was merely a light helicopter, while the H-2 was designated as an armed helicopter, so it could only barely carry five people. Their fifty men would be transported by fifty helicopters and deployed into the tall buildings of Qingyuan City to occupy strategic high ground.

Once the helicopter squadron left the settlement, after flying for a few minutes, they could see the surging tide of ground forces below.

Zhao Hongyuan leaned out, seeing an endless tide of soldiers below, all on a forced march toward Qingyuan City. The Wasteland Settlement still hadn’t solved the transportation problem, so they had to rely on the soldiers’ two feet. Fortunately, the distance was only about 40 kilometers. They would only need three hours to reach the city’s edge.

It was currently around 10:30 AM. They estimated they could launch the attack on Qingyuan City by 2:00 PM.

Perhaps seeing the massive helicopter fleet overhead, some soldiers below occasionally waved to them. Naturally, this immediately drew a silent response from the snipers. Only some experienced veteran snipers made no movement, closing their eyes, seizing every second to conserve their mental energy.

The helicopter fleet quickly left the infantry far behind. For helicopters, a distance of over 40 kilometers was nothing more than twenty minutes. They were already able to see the outskirts of Qingyuan City. However, the troops would not directly engage in battle. They would first gather at the perimeter for a coordinated action.

The sniper unit’s mission, upon arrival, was to blockade the streets of the west district to prevent zombies from surging out.

Due to a month of prior preparation, the former temporary camp of the old Administration had been renovated and now served as a temporary resting place for the arriving troops. It would provide water, grain, some tents, and even cotton clothes for the night, essentially moving a portion of the Logistics Department to the front lines.

Upon Zhao Hongyuan’s arrival, logistics personnel would naturally make arrangements.

Having just left the settlement, he let his subordinates rest while he ordered his helicopter to ascend once more, flying towards Qingyuan City. After crossing the Ring Road, the helicopter climbed higher, hovering at over 1,000 meters. Zhao Hongyuan took out his binoculars and began observing the high ground in the west district.

People of Zhao Hongyuan’s caliber would certainly know the situation in Qingyuan City, though only through photographs and images. Now, it was clear that the situation in Qingyuan City was very serious. If it hadn’t been discovered early, at the current rate of zombie evolution, it would have become terrifying in a few months.

The situation in Qingyuan City, to be honest, was quite bizarre. Compared to zombie situations in other places, the sheer number of high-level zombies and Special Infected in Qingyuan City was almost unbelievable.

It gave the impression of a zombie hive, continuously churning out zombies. And the current situation was indeed precisely that.

Do not doubt it, and do not find it inconceivable. In the world of zombies, nothing is impossible. Just as no one could have imagined the post-apocalyptic world and this human catastrophe before. The wonders of the world are omnipresent and all-encompassing.

There were still many high points in the west district. In Zhao Hongyuan’s view, any building over ten stories high could become a battlefield for snipers. From a commanding position, it would be enough to send high-level zombies and Special Infected straight to hell.

After waiting three hours at the temporary camp, the ground forces finally arrived.

At 2:00 PM, the ground forces, after a five-hour rest, began to assemble under the command of their various officers, slowly pressing forward towards Qingyuan City. They would block the outer perimeter of the west district, engaging in a defensive battle. For the next two days, the showtime would belong to the snipers and air force.

The sniper unit once again boarded the helicopters, rushing towards the west district of Qingyuan City.

According to the plan, the helicopters would seize the rooftops of all buildings over ten stories high in the west district. So, as soon as they entered the west district, the leading helicopters began descending onto tall buildings. The helicopters behind them still needed to go deeper.

The “buzzing” sound of the helicopters was too loud. Even at high altitude, it stirred up the zombies below. They raised their heads, looking at the helicopters appearing overhead, and instinctively began to surge towards the helicopter landing areas.

“Everyone, attention! Entering zombie territory, watch out for their ranged units!”

The helicopter leader’s voice reached every pilot’s ears. Those who qualified as helicopter pilots certainly possessed such basic knowledge and had undergone training regarding zombies. Hearing the leader’s words, they all focused intensely.

Given that it was the city’s outskirts, the numbers of high-level zombies and Special Infected would not be extensive, but they weren’t non-existent either.

Out of fifty helicopters, only about a dozen stopped on the rooftops of high-rises; the others had to go a bit deeper. Suddenly, from the dense hordes of zombies below, a cluster of green liquid shot out, heading straight for a helicopter that was attempting to land on a fifteen-story building.

At a distance of just over a hundred meters, and coming too fast, the pilot had no time to react. The helicopter’s belly was already hit.

This sudden development made everyone break out in a cold sweat, while simultaneously feeling relieved. Fortunately, it wasn’t a Volt-Zombie; otherwise, all six people on board, including the pilot, would have been the first casualties. As for this acidic liquid, its corrosive nature could only corrode a little of the metal surface and would not pose a fatal threat to the helicopter.

As soon as this helicopter landed on the rooftop, a small team of snipers quickly disembarked.

As per their training, the first thing snipers needed to do was seal off the rooftop stairwell to prevent zombies from entering the rooftop from there. Only after completing this could they select their sniping positions and enter a firing state.

Rooftop designs varied. Some were well-type, others door-type. Well-type rooftops were the easiest to handle; they just needed to be weighed down with something. Zombies couldn’t use ladders, so it would be naturally difficult for them to push open the manhole cover and enter the rooftop. Door-type rooftops were more troublesome; even if locked, with the zombies’ impact force, a sufficient pile of zombies could potentially batter open the iron door to the rooftop.

Fortunately, this particular squad of snipers had landed on a building with a well-type rooftop. So, under the captain’s command, one sniper took out a steel cable and locked down the entire iron mesh well. This area should now be safe.

“Everyone, find your positions!” the captain yelled. In fact, four people quickly scattered in four directions to the edge, setting up their sniper rifles.

Considering maneuverability and the possibility of an emergency retreat, this helicopter would remain on the rooftop until the sniping mission in this area was completed.

“Son of a bitch, that almost scared me to death just now…” A sniper dove onto the railing. After setting up his sniper rifle, he quickly locked onto a Spitter mixed within the zombie horde about a hundred meters below. It was its liquid that had just hit the helicopter.

With a “bang” of a gunshot, this small-caliber sniper rifle didn’t have the muffled boom of a heavy sniper rifle, but rather a sound similar to a regular rifle. With this single bullet, the Spitter below had its head blown off, spewing a pile of green liquid. It struggled a few times, then became completely still.

Affected by the gunshots, the zombies below struggled and surged. Discovering prey, their instincts made them restless.

Compared to the good luck of this small team of snipers, an H-2 helicopter, as it flew past a skyscraper, suddenly had a flesh ball ejected from a broken glass window in the adjacent building. It then violently exploded at the helicopter’s rear.

Terrifying electrical arcs instantly attached themselves to the helicopter. The pilot and five snipers inside, before they could even react, were scorched all over by tens of thousands of volts of high voltage. The entire helicopter, under the high voltage, made crackling sounds, and plumes of green smoke billowed from its fuselage. The roaring engine, as if its neck had been twisted, emitted a screeching sound.

The entire helicopter plunged headfirst toward the street dozens of meters below. In the blink of an eye, it crashed heavily into the sea of zombies below, utterly deforming, and then exploded violently, turning into a huge fireball.

The Volt-Zombie, which had just released its electric orb, didn’t get to launch a second attack. Snipers who had already landed earlier had noticed it. A bullet was fired from a rifle barrel over a hundred meters away, making a soft “pshh” sound in the air. It directly hit the Volt-Zombie’s hideous head, blowing it apart.

As more and more helicopters successfully landed on various high-rise buildings, the scene began to be controlled by the snipers.

Meanwhile, the Wasteland Settlement’s fighter jet squadron appeared on the horizon. They would carry out the first round of targeted bombing.

Chapter 508: Landing

“Deputy, West Virginia is just ahead…”

The adjutant promptly reminded Zhou Yuanqiang, implying that after West Virginia, a bit more to the northeast lay Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. Named after the founding father of the United States and Columbus, the discoverer of the American continent, this place had been the heart of the U.S. government since its independence.

The population of the United States is primarily concentrated in the east. Upon entering West Virginia, one could already see human settlements.

Now, everyone across the United States knew about the failure of the nuclear missiles. It could be said that nothing could stop this fleet, which had journeyed from the Eastern nation. As if having suddenly lost its core, city after city plunged into chaos. Those who reacted quickly rushed home, packed their valuables, got into their cars, and drove out of the city.

Evil was magnified infinitely in that instant. Under panic and immense pressure, some people became violent and lost their minds. “Bang!”

With a loud crash, a small Molotov cocktail was thrown by a colorful-haired young man, dressed like a pimp. It slammed violently onto the front of a shop, erupting into a ball of flames upon impact. Splashing gasoline adhered to the shop walls, instantly creating a large inferno.

“Hahahaha!” The young man roared with laughter. He and several of his subordinates rushed into the shop, knocking down the terrified owner with a few punches. With a wave of his hand, he looted all the valuable items. In mere moments, everything valuable in the store was swept clean, and then they swaggered away.

By the time they sprinted out onto the road, several cars speeding ferociously suddenly approached. Just as a collision seemed imminent, a swift turn of a steering wheel barely avoided them. Amidst the screeching of tires, a burly man extended his head from a car window, brandishing a pistol. He roared, “Damn it, looking for death? Can’t watch where you’re going?” As if remembering something, he quickly started the car again and soon disappeared down the street.

In this chaos, plumes of thick smoke constantly billowed from some high-rise buildings, and fires frequently blazed in the streets. Alarms blared everywhere, and police officers were still trying to fulfill their duties. Unfortunately, there were too many rioters in the chaos, and many of them possessed standard-issue weapons. The most ferocious even engaged in firefights with the police.

The first city the fleet entered in West Virginia was Burkesburg.

When the massive fleet appeared at the city’s edge, the overwhelming, dark battlecruisers seemed to possess an endless aura, suffocating onlookers. Burkesburg, already consumed by panic, fell into a strange, terrifying silence and standstill after the fleet’s arrival. Everyone froze their movements, their only remaining action being to look up at the fleet that had appeared in the sky above the city.

Hundreds of massive battlecruisers passed over Burkesburg, seemingly with no intention of stopping, which made the struggling, bewildered people below breathe a sigh of relief.

But just as they let out their breath, ten battlecruisers from the rear of the massive fleet detached themselves. Then, under everyone’s gaze, they slowly began to descend towards the city. The roaring sound of their engines grew deafening as they approached the city streets.

“God, run!”

Amidst the stunned crowd, a tall, burly man yelled and sprinted into his car like the wind. Before others could react, the car emitted a piercing starting sound, as if trying to escape from the hell that was about to descend.

His actions instantly made many people react. The previously quiet and stunned crowd began to scream, frantically surging towards the city exits.

Like fleeing a disaster, everyone pushed through the crowd with all their might, trying to get ahead.

The cars on the streets started slowly, but within moments, the streets were completely packed with surging crowds. This made the cars unable to move an inch, and eventually, they came to a complete stop. Drivers, who initially thought they would be faster, were infuriated to find themselves moving slower. They honked their horns furiously and cursed out loud.

This was a time of escape. People, under panic, were like powder kegs, ready to explode at any moment. So, during the escape, gunshots rang out sporadically. Sometimes, people in cars shot those blocking their way; other times, pedestrians, annoyed by car horns, pulled out their guns in a fit of rage and shot the occupants of the cars. The legal order, which had been established only a few years ago and was far from perfect, was instantly trampled into dust.

However, the ten battlecruisers arrived too quickly. They soon landed on several main thoroughfares. From the opened underbellies of the battlecruisers, teams of crystal warriors, clad in crystal combat armor, poured out.

Each battlecruiser carried a detachment of the fleet’s landing force, all composed of crystal warriors. After the crystal warriors landed, the battlecruisers quickly ascended, hovering in the sky above them. The crystal warriors, using their landing tools, swiftly used the cars on the streets to construct a temporary defensive line. Heavy machine guns, specially developed for crystal warriors, were quickly mounted. Soldiers carrying ammunition boxes speedily brought up crates of ammunition and loaded them into the machine guns.

All of this was completed in mere moments, happening with lightning speed.

On the ascended battlecruisers, missile turrets revealed their menacing faces, their missiles aimed at the surging crowds on the streets. External loudspeakers broadcasted an announcement: “Everyone listen! Stop what you are doing immediately and return to your homes. Do not attempt to challenge our patience. Repeat, stop immediately!”

The enormous loudspeakers were loud enough for everyone in the entire city to hear, but most people turned a deaf ear, still desperately pressing forward.

“Buddy, maybe we should stop? Who knows if they’ll really shoot?”

Perhaps the warning from the battlecruisers’ loudspeakers had an effect. A large Black man slowed down, speaking to his friend beside him.

“No, no, no. Buddy, don’t listen to them. They wouldn’t dare do anything. Have you forgotten? Don’t they consider themselves a celestial empire? A nation of etiquette, a civilized great power? How could they do anything to us? They’ll definitely let us leave. Trust me, I’m not wrong. My former neighbor was Chinese, it’s true.”

It was precisely this archaic understanding of China that made many people completely disregard the warning ahead. In their view, the Eastern nation only ever protested, then protested again, warned, then warned again. They never used any harsh methods or iron-fisted tactics, so there was no need to fear. With this mindset, people continued forward relentlessly, even facing numerous machine guns.

On one of the main thoroughfares, over a dozen rapid-fire machine guns were set up. A Crystal Warrior Major paced along the temporary defensive line. Seeing that the warning had no effect, he stopped, raised his hand, and all the crystal warriors entered combat readiness. Specifically, the dozen or so crystal warriors acting as machine gunners disengaged their safeties, their dark muzzles aimed at the surging crowd ahead.

This scene made all the crystal warriors present recall the post-apocalyptic world, when zombies charged in the same way. Under such charges, even with machine gun lines, humans couldn’t suppress the fanatically surging zombies. Bullets hitting their bodies caused little damage; as long as their heads weren’t hit, they would continue to charge forward. Machine gun lines were powerless against such zombie charges.

But now, could human flesh and blood also charge a defensive line made of machine guns?

The Crystal Warrior Major let out a cold laugh. In a defensive battle like this, there was no need to activate super-enhancement. Crystal combat armor had evolved to today, weighing less than 10 kilograms. The soldiers were elites, handpicked from thousands, so this weight was nothing. The crystal combat armor, capable of defending against bullets up to heavy machine gun rounds, was even better than bulletproof vests; it protected the head and limbs too, unlike vests which only protected the torso.

“Prepare!”

The Crystal Warrior Major roared, his eyes filled with immense coldness, as if the thousands surging towards them were not humans, but zombies. Among those who had experienced the post-apocalyptic world, there was not a single soldier without strong willpower and iron resolve. The “nation of etiquette” was a thing of the past; the current Chamber of Commerce possessed its own authoritative methods. To use killing to stop killing — that was the Chamber of Commerce’s motto towards the outside world.

The surging people before them had not yet realized that killing intent had descended upon them.

The Crystal Warrior Major estimated the distance of the approaching crowd and calmly said, “Open fire!”

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers unhesitatingly pulled their triggers. Tongues of fire from the heavy machine guns instantly erupted from the previously dark muzzles. Bullets, like a furious storm, rained down upon the crowd ahead. In less than a second, the bullets tore through the people in the front row. The formidable force penetrated the front individuals, continuing to strike down two or three more people behind them before finally lodging in someone’s body.

Most of the people in the front were ripped into mangled flesh by dozens or hundreds of bullets, their forms too gruesome to behold, like
piles of rotting meat.

As the machine guns swung, the surging crowd fell like wheat being harvested, row after row. In this dense human tide, the power of the machine guns was unleashed to its fullest.

All those hit stared with disbelieving eyes. They had never imagined that one day they would be massacred, and by the Chamber of Commerce, whom they considered a “nation of etiquette.”

Throughout Burkesburg, the sound of machine guns merged into a single roar. Beneath the sound of strafing was an endless chorus of screams.

Yes, the Chamber of Commerce’s Eastern Expeditionary Fleet had limited manpower and could not take over every city. To suppress these cities with hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people with only a small number of personnel, iron-fisted methods were necessary. Only by striking fear and pain into them would they become obedient and accept control from the invaders.

For the Chamber of Commerce, the goal was not to rule here, but to conquer it. If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to xxx.com. There are many chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!

Chapter 216: Bombing

Many people in the settlement might ask, “Why bother attacking the city? Are you out of your mind?”

For such questions, Zhou Yuanqiang could only offer a wry smile. How many industries are needed to support a complete industrial system? How many specialized factories of various types are required? If they didn’t occupy the city and acquire its vast resources, industries, and so on, when would he be able to achieve his original goals by relying solely on himself?

Was he supposed to remain a beast of burden? Carrying things from the modern world indefinitely? Spending all the money he earned in the post-apocalyptic world?

Zhou Yuanqiang admitted he wasn’t that noble. He risked his life entering the post-apocalyptic world, going through countless dangers. Was it merely to save the people of a parallel dimension? Had everyone seen too many heroes? Was it even necessary? He could perfectly well live a safe and comfortable life in the modern world.

Even if a person carried various equipment, supplies, raw materials, etc., every moment, it would never be enough to meet the consumption needs of a settlement with hundreds of thousands of people. Did he want to be a laborer for a lifetime? That was impossible. As mentioned before, all his current hard work was just an initial investment. If it couldn’t bring returns in the mid-to-late stages, he might as well pack up and live a comfortable life with the hundreds of millions of dollars he had already earned in the modern world.

From another perspective, humans have a very strong sense of homesickness. Most people in the settlement fled from Qingyuan City, some from surrounding areas, and others from very distant cities. People missed their former homes, their hometowns, and their lost relatives.

To truly consolidate all their strength, retaking the city was the best method. It would give the people of the settlement a sense of home, stabilize their wandering hearts, and make the Chamber of Commerce a belief in their minds. Only then, no matter what setbacks the Chamber of Commerce might face in the future, would they remain loyal and continue to protect it.

Faith, in fact, was the strongest power.

The bombing of Qingyuan City was still dangerous. Furthermore, some of the designated bombing targets, such as important government agencies, key factories, and research laboratories, would be of great use to the Chamber of Commerce. Apart from these, some dangerous goods factories and reserve warehouses were also off-limits for bombing.

To prevent the city from turning into ruins, the fighter jets’ bombing was mainly concentrated on the main roads that were over 20 meters wide.

In small alleyways and narrow roads, the number of zombies was not very high. Moreover, the targets were too small, the fighter jets were too fast, and the pilots’ flying experience was still limited. Considering all these factors, small targets could only be handled by the airship squadron.

How large was a formation with as many as 200 aircraft? You can look up some aerial combat movies; dozens of planes are already a spectacular and shocking sight, seemingly filling the sky. So, what would 200 fighter jets look like? “Overwhelming” might not even be enough to describe such a formation.

A month ago, Xu Dali had already received clear instructions. For that entire month, he practically immersed himself in the map of Qingyuan City, studying every suitable street for bombing. Combining this with the street images from the Intelligence Department, he began to formulate bombing targets and assign them to each fighter jet.

As soon as the formation entered the outskirts of Qingyuan City, the integrated formation suddenly seemed to explode, scattering into small teams that swooped towards Qingyuan City.

The fighter jets were too fast, making precise bombing difficult. In fact, modern fighter jets typically employ guided missiles for bombing. Once a target is locked, these missiles don’t require further attention after launch; their guidance systems allow them to quickly find and destroy the target.

However, the wasteland settlement did not have the capability to develop such missiles. Even if Zhou Yuanqiang tried to find a way in the modern world, such absolute secrets were not something one could simply find. Therefore, the missiles developed by the settlement were based on old-style missiles from the 1960s and 1970s, with some improvements.

Precision was out of the question; they couldn’t compare to modern military missiles. But for dealing with zombies and such large streets, they were sufficient.

As the fighter jets entered their designated targets, three jets in a small team first flew over the Ring Road, appearing above a main road connected to it. From the belly of one of the jets, two air-to-ground missiles detached and shot towards the street below, which appeared as narrow as a finger from that height.

In an instant, two fiery blossoms erupted on the street. The intense explosions lifted zombies within tens of meters into the air, tearing them into pieces.

Due to the speed of the fighter jets and the fact that they weren’t designed for professional bombing, it was impossible to execute bombing at such a high altitude. At that height, dropped bombs would be too inaccurate and could easily hit adjacent buildings.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang felt pity for the destroyed buildings; it was that bombing buildings would have limited killing power against zombies. If large numbers of zombies weren’t killed, it would be pointless.

So, after firing all four air-to-ground missiles from its belly, this small team of fighter jets immediately lowered its nose and roared down towards the street below. This street was lined with towering buildings, some over 40 stories high. Although they weren’t skyscrapers, they were still quite tall. As the fighter jets flew past overhead, the immense sound could even shatter the glass of the buildings.

Once within bombing range, the fighter jets released the aerial bombs from their weapons bays onto the zombies below.

Like carpet bombing, each fighter jet dropped more than ten aerial bombs, immediately triggering a series of explosions. The dense zombies below were ripped apart and blown into the air by this chain of explosions. Wherever the bombing passed, the zombies were churned up as if a plow had gone through them. Given the density of the zombie hordes in the streets, the effect was imaginable: over ten percent of the zombies on the entire street were killed or maimed.

This was just one small team of fighter jets. If one were to look down from the sky, they would see scattered fighter jets flying over street after street. Wherever they passed, a string of fireballs would appear on the street, repeatedly plowing through the zombies filling the thoroughfares. Zombies with no air superiority capabilities had no power to retaliate under such bombing, being reaped in swathes.

The incendiary bombs carried by the fighter jets were very limited. A large number of incendiary bombs were concentrated on the airship squadron. Due to the high speed of fighter jets, incendiary bombs could easily miss their mark and, upon hitting buildings, could easily cause massive fires. Therefore, fighter jets were almost exclusively equipped with aerial bombs and missiles. Even if one was mistakenly dropped on a building, it would at most create a large hole, far less destructive than an incendiary bomb.

On the outskirts of the west district, under the fighter jets’ bombing, zombies fell in droves. Gouts of flame rising represented the reaper’s scythe, harvesting zombies one by one, sending them directly back to where they belonged.

However, as the fighter jets advanced deeper into the west district, danger began to emerge.

The zombie structure seemed to suggest that the deeper one went into the city, the greater the resistance would be. This was because the number of Special Infected and high-level zombies would increase, and these were the true killers that could threaten humans.

On the top floor of a building, three Volt-Zombies were slowly moving. After reaching the edge of the rooftop, their massive flesh tubes extended, and their entire bodies began to tremble and contract. In the far distance, a small group of three fighter jets screamed past overhead. Occasionally, one would dip down, like an artistic touch, dropping bombs before pulling back up to altitude.

According to the intelligence, Volt-Zombies could spray up to about 100 meters, with a spray height of about 50 meters, effectively acting as an anti-aircraft gun. They posed a serious threat to airborne fighter jets and were the number one killers of fighter jets and airships.

The three Volt-Zombies had very strong sensory and calculation abilities. Even a fighter jet at a distance of dozens of kilometers could be sensitively tracked. As their contraction finished, three discharge balls shot out from the flesh tubes of the Volt-Zombies, tracing a mysterious parabolic arc in the air, rushing towards the fighter jets flying past the edge of the building.

“Attention, we are under attack!”

The leader’s shout suddenly boomed. The other two pilots instinctively pulled their fighter jets up. The three fighter jets were flying in a line, and these three incoming discharge balls flew almost directly beneath their bellies, shooting into the distance. If the fighter jets had maintained their previous altitude, they would likely have been hit by the discharge balls and become the first fighter jets to be destroyed.

“That was close!” The leader, having narrowly escaped, naturally couldn’t let these three Volt-Zombies go. He pulled up sharply, flipped around, and then aggressively swooped down over the Volt-Zombies, who hadn’t yet managed to prepare for their second wave of attacks.

A missile detached from beneath the wing, trailing a fiery plume, and surged towards the three Volt-Zombies.

As the fighter jet screamed directly over the three Volt-Zombies, the missile hit its target. With a violent explosion, the three Volt-Zombies were torn apart. The high temperatures from the blast incinerated their scattered flesh, which continued to burn even after falling onto the rooftop.

The power of the missile directly blew a large hole in the rooftop, exposing the top-floor rooms below.

The leader, having successfully killed the three Volt-Zombies, finally smiled and said, “Team, be aware, we have entered the dangerous zone. Watch out for potential threats that could appear at any time in the streets and buildings.” After aligning back with the formation, the leader added, “Once we drop the remaining bombs, we can return.”

Encouraged, the other two pilots were also excited. After flying over the streets, they pressed a button, the weapons bay opened, and a series of bombs emitted a sharp whistling sound as they plummeted from the sky towards the ground. Upon landing in the dense zombie hordes, their fuses were triggered, detonating the warheads and causing violent explosions.

A large pile of zombies was blown away. After the explosion, there was a rain of mangled limbs and a large crater.

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Chapter 217: Airship Carpet Bombing

Compared to the lightning speed of fighter jets, the airship fleet, consisting of six airships, was like a slow ox, ponderously flying towards Qingyuan City from the horizon. Its speed, to a fighter jet, was no different from a snail’s. Xu Dali often used this to provoke Tu Long: “The meat has long lost its nutrients, having been stewed into a soup. All the nutrition is in the soup, you should be happy.”

Tu Long’s head always sprouted a few black lines at Xu Dali’s words.

For this, Tu Long had put a lot of thought into perfecting his airship concept. Of course, this concept was somewhat far-fetched, but it wasn’t entirely impossible. The key was that he needed to produce a feasible conceptual blueprint to obtain the Chairman’s approval; after all, this was a massive undertaking.

From a distance, through binoculars, one could see the sky above the west district of Qingyuan City. Fighter jets were like a flock of seagulls, constantly frolicking, soaring at times, diving at others. The intense explosions made the entire city tremble. After nearly ten minutes of bombardment, the entire west district was shrouded in smoke.

Having expended all their ammunition, the fighter jets quickly climbed, soon turning into tiny black dots and vanishing into the sky.

Tu Long wiped the sweat from his forehead, watching the ever-decreasing, and eventually all returning, fighter jet squadron. His depressed mood was palpable as he murmured, “These guys are truly ruthless. I’m afraid every street in the entire west district has been reduced to rubble by them. How much labor will it cost to repair these streets and buildings later, you wasteful bunch?”

On the ground in the west district, six hundred thousand soldiers formed a long battle line, constructing defensive works amidst the roar of the fighter jets.

Viewed from the sky, the soldiers’ efficiency was remarkably high. In just half an hour, they had already dug three trenches capable of obstructing the zombies’ advance. At this rate, by nightfall, they could form as many as 20 trenches, turning this area into a net. As soon as zombies entered this net, they would be trapped by the trenches, slowing them down and giving the soldiers more time to shoot.

It was already afternoon. The evening in the wasteland would come a little later, around seven o’clock, before it grew dark. This meant that the battle would enter a pause in four hours.

As soon as the airships appeared in the sky, the soldiers below, who were constructing defensive works, all waved their arms at these six behemoths. This was where Tu Long’s pride lay; even if the airships’ combat power wasn’t as strong as fighter jets, their ability to draw attention and their sheer impressiveness were absolutely incomparable to fighter jets. Even the HY-2, with the aesthetic beauty of a modern fighter jet, could only concede defeat in front of the airships.

“These bastards, they really just left some soup after eating all the meat.”

Through the binoculars, Tu Long saw the ruined streets and dense zombie hordes, which had been plowed through by the bombing. If they were humans, they would have long since fled to who knows where. But for unconscious zombies, they still moved sluggishly during the bombing until their bodies were torn apart. Even after the bombing, they would still wander foolishly on the damaged streets.

Tu Long remembered someone once saying that the most terrifying thing about zombies was when they got close to you.

Indeed, looking at it now, against airborne targets, ordinary zombies were simply living targets, falling in droves under the bombardment. Their unconsciousness meant they didn’t know fear or dread. But the ground was different from the air; if ground troops entered the city, you could truly feel their frenzy.

“Everyone prepare… identify targets…”

Tu Long’s roar, transmitted through the communicator to everyone, immediately made them tense, pacing back and forth in the airship cabin. As the airships gradually reduced speed, they glided into Qingyuan City’s urban area at a mere 15 kilometers per hour.

Despite the airship being a colossal entity, it was very afraid of gross monsters, which fighter jets didn’t fear. And Volt-Zombies could deliver a fatal blow to airships. So, to ensure the airship’s safety, firstly, the snipers already deployed in the west district had the remote-capable zombies as their targets. Secondly, the airships maintained an altitude of 2300 meters, trying to stay out of the Volt-Zombies’ attack range.

Now Tu Long realized that airships were indeed quite inferior to fighter jets. Fighter jets could use their speed to evade Volt-Zombies’ discharge balls, but airships were inherently large and slow. If an airship was within a Volt-Zombie’s attack range, once the Volt-Zombie attacked, the airship would essentially be unable to dodge its attack.

However, from an altitude of 2300 meters, the city streets below appeared extremely narrow, making it necessary to rely on instruments to calculate bomb drop points.

Each of the six airships was responsible for a single street. After slowly spreading out, the formations flew over their respective assigned streets.

Tu Long gazed at the narrow streets below, frowning slightly, and said, “Calculate bomb drop points…” Shortly after, the data was handed to him. He looked at it and said, “Observers, pay attention to changes in wind direction and speed, report immediately. Test drop two bombs…”

As Tu Long spoke and the bomb release mechanism, which corrected data, opened, two aerial incendiary bombs with tail fins were released and plummeted downwards. Two seconds later, two fiery blossoms appeared in the street below, engulfing a large section of the street. Where this fiery wave passed, zombies were splashed with napalm, burning and tumbling on the street in their struggles.

Seeing the bombing was effective, Tu Long also smiled, thinking, “Bombing from such a high altitude isn’t easy. Good thing the wind in the wasteland isn’t strong, otherwise Xu Dali and those bastards would laugh me to death!” He clenched his fist and said, “Bombardiers, commence carpet bombing. I want this entire street to have not a single standing zombie.”

The several bombardiers, receiving the order, naturally responded loudly. Under their control, all the bomb release mechanisms beneath the airship cabin were opened. Incendiary bombs manufactured by the munitions factory were released one by one, falling downwards the moment the mechanisms opened.

The street, only thirty to forty meters wide, was completely within the incendiary bombs’ coverage. As bomb after bomb was discharged from the airships, they heavily impacted the pockmarked street.

The rumbling explosions became the sole theme song of the entire city. Under the rolling flames, zombies on the street were splattered with napalm.

If they were living animals, they would have long since wailed or struggled. But the nature of zombies was like puppets; though one might say they have no life, they retain some characteristics of life, yet they lack consciousness, fear, or any reaction to pain.

Napalm, splattered all over their bodies, burned on them, yet they still moved leisurely. Even if their limbs were burned away, they still moved unconsciously, showing no sign of fear or anything else they should. These were zombies, humans infected by a miraculous biochemical virus, another form of life we cannot explain.

The airship’s speed of 15 kilometers per hour was slightly faster than a person running. Its massive body glided through the sky, and incendiary bombs fell one after another.

This virtually continuous bombing method engulfed every zombie on the street within the incendiary bombs’ splash range. The dense hordes of zombies were piled together, and often a single incendiary bomb could involve dozens or even scores of them in the inferno. With this bombing, lacking any distance interval and with the effects of each bomb overlapping, it was difficult for the zombies on the entire street to escape, all of them burned into charred corpses.

The incendiary bombs also caused damage to nearby buildings. Some shops along the streets, with wooden doors, caught fire under the incendiary bombs. The flames then rolled into the shops, igniting the goods inside and other items, triggering even larger fires. Some bombs would go astray, falling onto adjacent buildings, causing the entire west district to be engulfed in thick smoke, as if the whole west district was ablaze.

Fortunately, such situations were rare; otherwise, the Commercial Association would not have approved the use of incendiary bombs against zombies, as no one wanted to reclaim a ruined city.

Tu Long seemed quite relaxed. At first, he thought this kind of bombing would be exhilarating, but he found it somewhat monotonous. From such a high distance, in the airship, he couldn’t feel the blooming flowers of death below; it was just like training.

“Only when performing in front of the Great Canyon, that situation was truly thrilling. The cheers of the audience, that’s our motivation.”

The massive body of the airship was the best target for remote-capable zombies, and its appeal to them was equally highest. So, as soon as the airships entered the west district, sporadic gross monsters and Volt-Zombies began attacking them. However, given the airships’ altitude, the gross monsters were out of the question; their effective attack height was only 800 meters, rendering them useless. Only Volt-Zombies occasionally managed to discharge balls up to about 2000 meters, still 300 meters away from the airships, posing no threat.

Tu Long had been keeping a close eye on these Volt-Zombies. Almost every time an attack occurred, a crisp sniper rifle shot would usually be heard a few to over ten seconds later, often signifying that the remote-capable zombie attacking the airship had been taken care of.

“It seems that using airships to attract the firepower of remote-capable zombies and expose their positions is also a good option!”

However, Tu Long’s good mood vanished after the zombies on two streets were completely incinerated. The reason wasn’t from the zombies, but from a large group of black dots appearing on the horizon. The “buzzing” sound reaching his ears, without needing to think, told him it was the fighter jets, having re-armed, once again plunging into battle.

Tu Long harshly spat, “That goddamn Xu Dali, couldn’t he just give us a little more time? Rushing back and then rushing here again, only half an hour. He’s so damn fast, is he rushing to be reborn?” He raged, shouting, “Everyone, speed up! I want to see whose combat results are greater in the end.”

The people below, receiving the order, naturally worked even harder, bombs falling like freebies, madly pelting downwards.

Chapter 218: Trenches

The October heat was unbearable. It peaked in the afternoon, with not even a hint of a breeze.

Outside the west district, the wide expanse of sand and rock was scorching under the sun, radiating a suffocating heatwave. Working in such an environment was undoubtedly the most arduous task, especially with the constant, irritating rumble of explosions in their ears.

Zou Chengcai, at forty, was definitely one of the oldest soldiers in the Wasteland Settlement. Years of training had made his skin dark and his build powerful. He forcefully scooped up a rock, piling it by the trench, not forgetting to take a drag on his cigarette and exhale a puff of smoke. But this action made him cough. His dry, burning throat, aggravated by the smoke, stung painfully with each cough.

A quick-witted young soldier next to him immediately unhooked his canteen from his waist and handed it to Zou Chengcai. “Team Leader Zou, hurry, have some water,” he said.

Zou Chengcai took it, took several large gulps, then returned the canteen to the soldier, patting his shoulder. “Xiao Gao, good job, very sharp,” he said. Wiping the water that had trickled down his neck, he looked at the dusty construction zone and cursed, “This damn weather, it just doesn’t let anyone rest.”

The soldier, called Xiao Gao, fastened his canteen and patted the sand and dirt around the edge of the trench with his entrenching tool. He grumbled, “I don’t know what the higher-ups are thinking, why are they making us stay here to build these useless fortifications? I think it’s better to charge directly into the city and have a big fight with the zombies—that’s a real battle.”

Xiao Gao seemed to recall something and pointed at the fighter jets, looking like tiny black dots in the city sky, and the gigantic airships. “They’ve got it good, they can fight freely. Sigh, looking at them, getting a combat medal must be incredibly easy,” he said, touching his chest. “We ground troops are miserable. We haven’t even gotten a single hair from a gross monster yet. When will we get our medals?”

Facing Xiao Gao’s complaints, Zou Chengcai merely chuckled, then soberly said, “Xiao Gao, remember our identity. We have no right to question orders from above. We only need to obey, and obey again. Besides, do you really think it’s useless for us to build these fortifications here? If so, you’re wrong. I can tell you responsibly that these fortifications will ensure our safety.”

Zou Chengcai continued, “You don’t need to envy those pilots, hehe, they can’t experience the joy of combat. Moreover, when it comes to medals, have you ever seen a General who isn’t from the army receive the most medals in any country? Xiao Gao, getting a medal isn’t difficult. Perform well, achieve something noteworthy. I’ll help you apply then.”

Hearing Team Leader Zou’s words, Xiao Gao cheered up and vigorously shoveled sand and dirt.

In the city, the fighter jets’ display continued, but their bombing targets were only the large main roads. In some small streets and alleys, stimulated and surging zombies began to charge out of the streets in an uncontrolled frenzy, crossing the Ring Road and appearing before the soldiers.

Zou Chengcai’s team was positioned closer to the city, so upon seeing the surging zombies, he immediately threw down his entrenching tool, grabbed the rifle strapped to his back, and roared, “Soldiers of Squadron 107, enter combat readiness!”

Squadron 107 was the designation for Zou Chengcai’s team. The entire team of 150 men was not divided into squads, platoons, or companies. Instead, the sixty thousand soldiers were subdivided into squadrons, each with a primary and secondary leader, and small squadron leaders. Hearing Zou Chengcai’s shout, the soldiers of Squadron 107 quickly dropped their entrenching tools, grabbed their rifles, and took positions along the trench, aiming at the surging zombies.

Zou Chengcai walked behind the prone soldiers with his rifle, occasionally kicking a soldier whose posture was incorrect to correct them.

In the distance, due to the segmented defense strategy, soldiers from Squadron 106 and Squadron 108 paid no attention to Squadron 107’s actions and continued building their fortifications.

The several trenches already built were not deep, only about half a meter, and were not designed to be particularly sturdy, just quickly dug small trenches. These trenches were spaced about ten meters apart, appearing awkwardly and unaesthetically twisted across this wasteland.

Zou Chengcai walked behind Xiao Gao and said indifferently, “Didn’t you say these trenches were useless just now? Watch closely, and in a moment, you’ll see how useful they are.” He stared at the surging zombies who had spotted the human soldiers, letting out a cold laugh.

Dealing with zombies wasn’t an ambush, nor was it about avoiding ‘beating the bushes to startle the snake.’ So, Zou Chengcai estimated the distance. At 200 meters, accurate sharpshooters could hit a zombie’s head six or seven times out of ten shots. Thus, he said without hesitation, “Free fire.” As he spoke, he aimed his rifle slightly. With a “bang,” a bullet hole appeared in the head of a charging zombie in the running horde, and it tumbled down.

Most of the soldiers had trained for over half a year and many were recruited from former Zombie Hunters, so their marksmanship was naturally better than green recruits who knew nothing.

According to the tactics taught by the instructors during training, ‘free fire’ didn’t mean everyone randomly shot at the zombies. Instead, soldiers had to decide whether to shoot based on their own ability. This was free fire in the post-apocalyptic world; according to doctrine, firing was not allowed if one wasn’t confident in hitting the target, in order to conserve bullets.

Even so, many of these former Zombie Hunters-turned-soldiers had precise marksmanship. After Zou Chengcai’s shot, sporadic gunfire erupted. Running hordes of zombies toppled one by one, falling heavily into the sand and raising a cloud of dust. The zombies behind paid no heed; driven by instinct upon spotting humans, they only knew to approach, tear, and devour.

This wave of zombies charging out of the streets wasn’t large, estimated to be around a thousand, but it still looked like a huge mass.

Not many of the 150 soldiers in Squadron 107 opened fire. They all lay prone in the trenches, watching the fiercely advancing zombies. Some experienced soldiers even casually smoked cigarettes, took a moment to check their firearms, and occasionally pulled out a magazine to check the bullets inside before reinserting it.

To the nervous new recruits beside them, these experienced veterans often looked disdainful, saying, “Rookies, they’re still over a hundred meters away. Look how nervous you are. Got some guts now?” At this, the new recruits would often say, “What if those gross monsters start spitting liquid?”

“Don’t you have brains? The gross monsters’ spitting range is about 1500 meters. If they were in this zombie horde, clumps of liquid would have already rained down. Would they wait until now?” The veteran still scoffed. “Rookies, zombies should be shot when they’re within 50 or 60 meters. Do you think your marksmanship is as good as theirs?”

“Theirs” naturally referred to the veterans who were currently shooting. Their skill was something new recruits couldn’t compare to; they could always take down a zombie with one or two shots.

After roughly a hundred of the thousand-plus surging zombies were sporadically taken down by accurate sharpshooters, they finally reached the first trench. Xiao Gao’s eyes widened as he saw the zombies in the front row, like blind creatures, completely ignore the half-meter-deep trench. Without any hesitation, they simply lifted their feet and continued forward.

As expected, with a half-meter-high trench and the zombies completely unprepared, they simply fell into it.

Since the trench wasn’t deep, these zombies that had fallen in struggled to get back up. However, the zombies behind had no idea what was happening in front and kept charging straight. The poor zombies that had fallen first hadn’t even managed to get up before they were pressed down by the surging zombies behind them, getting buried at the bottom of the trench.

Obstructed in this way, the charging zombie horde immediately became a chaotic mess, pushing and shoving each other, practically grinding to a halt.

Xiao Gao’s mouth gaped open. He mumbled, “So that’s how it is!” At this point, the zombies were less than 60 meters from the soldiers, and with the trench stopping them, hitting their heads was much easier than hitting targets 100 meters away during training. The biggest advantage was that they were stagnant, not closing the distance with the humans, giving the soldiers enough time to shoot.

Within the 60-meter range, even the rookies no longer hesitated, aiming their rifles at the zombies.

Intense gunfire rang out, and the zombies in front fell one by one. They wanted to keep moving, but there were struggling zombies in the trench, and their chaotic movements greatly disrupted the zombies trying to advance, entangling them there.

A thousand or so zombies were not enough to make the rifle barrels of Squadron 107’s 150 soldiers even warm before they were completely wiped out.

Xiao Gao, who had only fired fifteen shots, was still unsatisfied. He turned to Zou Chengcai and asked, “Team Leader Zou, is that it?” Zou Chengcai just smiled and replied, “That’s not ‘it,’ what else do you want?” He clapped Xiao Gao’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, there are plenty more zombies. This is just the beginning. More will come out later, and there might even be high-level zombies that slipped through the net.”

Veterans like Zou Chengcai, of course, knew this was merely a warm-up.

By the day after tomorrow at the latest, a full-scale urban war would begin, and that’s when things would get truly brutal. You never knew if a zombie would suddenly burst out from some corner. Thinking of the full set of bulletproof armor issued by the higher-ups, Zou Chengcai still couldn’t feel happy.

Yes, with this set of bulletproof armor, he and the other team leaders would be safe, but what about the ordinary soldiers?

Chapter 219: Counterattack

The entire west district had been ravaged by fighter jets and airships all afternoon. As night fell, the swarms of planes finally departed, leaving only six airships hovering in the air over the west district, monitoring all activity. This could be a peaceful night, or a crazy one; no one could tell.

In anticipation of potential zombie frenzy at night, the troops had already made preparations, closely monitoring every movement in the city.

However, to everyone’s disbelief, the zombies seemed to have collectively vanished. The entire night was so quiet that not even their characteristic “woo woo” sounds could be heard. This left the soldiers, who had been on defense all night, utterly frustrated, having endured a frigid night for nothing.

As the sun rose, fighter jets once again roared down the runways and took to the skies from the aviation training ground in the Wasteland Settlement. They formed various formations and headed towards Qingyuan City. After an entire afternoon of bombing, at least half of the zombies in the west district were either dead or incapacitated, an undoubtedly glorious achievement.

The command center’s plan was to clear out the west district, then, under the protection of snipers, ground troops would enter. After occupying the west district, defensive works would be built, gradually pushing into the entire city, proceeding steadily and without haste, occupying the city bit by bit.

The pilots had no chance to enjoy the morning breeze. The sun had not yet fully risen, and the entire wasteland was still somewhat misty, with visibility not as good as it would be after midday. However, the morning had its own charm; even if they couldn’t enjoy the breeze, their spirits were nonetheless invigorated.

According to the plan, the west district would undergo more bombing today to reduce the number of zombies to a minimum, ensuring that ground troops could occupy the entire west district with minimal casualties. With yesterday’s bombing experience, every pilot felt very relaxed today, as if it were just a flight training exercise.

As the planes flew over the temporary camp of the ground troops, the soldiers below were already lining up, formally relieving the night shift soldiers. Their mission today was no longer to dig trenches, but to rigorously prevent zombies from charging out. So today would be a very relaxed day, even more relaxed than yesterday.

When the aircraft arrived, taking advantage of the hazy sky, the early-rising airship crews had already begun their intense bombing operations.

As the aircraft appeared, Tu Long’s communication connected to Xu Dali’s channel. He said, “Dali, tell your lads to be careful.” Xu Dali was puzzled and replied, “What? Are you afraid we’ll steal your credit? Haha…”

Xu Dali certainly had reason to be happy because, during yesterday’s bombing, even though the airships carried enough bombs, what difference did it make? They still only got the scraps! But the incendiary bombs were indeed powerful. The destructive power of six airships was almost equivalent to 120 fighter jets. In the streets they had bombed and swept, the remaining zombies were scattered and no longer posed a threat to the ground troops.

Tu Long, however, was in no mood for jokes. He said seriously, “For the sake of the Commercial Association, I have to warn you, some zombies from other districts flooded into the western district last night. While not as exaggerated a number as yesterday, there are still many. And I have a bad feeling. Don’t you think we had it too easy yesterday?”

“Easy?” Xu Dali shook his head and said, “Do you know how long it takes the munitions factory to produce the amount of bombs we used? We lost several helicopters and dozens of lives. This isn’t easy; at best, it’s just a decent start.”

Hearing Xu Dali’s dismissive tone, Tu Long knew that Xu Dali was becoming careless. In other circumstances, Tu Long wouldn’t mind letting him suffer a bit. But not now. The Commercial Association’s strength couldn’t withstand any turmoil, and at this critical juncture, there was no room for any mishaps. “Leader Xu, I hope you live up to the Chairman’s expectations…”

In the entire settlement, once the word “Chairman” was mentioned, it was absolutely a serious warning.

No matter how unruly Xu Dali usually was, he immediately straightened up, shaking off his nonchalant attitude. He said, “Leader Tu, thank you for your kind intentions. My brothers appreciate it.” He also felt scared. If any mishap occurred and he failed the Boss’s expectations, even if he died, he wouldn’t be able to recover the loss of the fighter jets. These were the war eagles that the Commercial Association had painstakingly built piece by piece, with countless efforts.

After receiving Tu Long’s warning, Xu Dali sternly notified all flight personnel, and only then did the aircraft group enter Qingyuan City.

As Tu Long had said, the scarce number of zombies in the west district yesterday had now reappeared on the streets. Faced with this result, Xu Dali was, frankly, a bit depressed. The command center had been too cautious; the ground troops should have entered the city yesterday after the bombing. If they had, the entire west district would now be in human hands.

“Brothers, let’s get to work…”

With this shout, the aircraft once again fanned out just like yesterday, swooping towards the streets that had been assigned to them. The sharp roar of engines once more echoed throughout Qingyuan City.

The streets of the west district, after being subjected to bombs and incendiary bombs, were not only riddled with potholes but also scorched black. Pulverized concrete debris and charred zombie bodies, along with severed limbs, lay mixed on the road. Along the sides of the streets, billboards had become victims of the fire, burned beyond recognition. Occasionally, one could still see burnt-out shops and entire buildings that continued to emit faint white smoke.

As the fighter jets roared, snipers in the tall buildings of the west district had spent the entire night on the rooftops. Fortunately, logistics had anticipated the cold weather of the wasteland, and anti-cold clothing was available on the helicopters. However, they mostly huddled on the rooftops throughout the night and had no idea what had happened to the zombies.

At this moment, inside a tall building, a zombie with its two hands severely deformed, evolving into the shape of fleshy wings, was slowly approaching the building’s glass window. This special evolution granted them temporary gliding ability, and a tail growing from their femur allowed them to maintain balance and make quick turns while gliding.

Unlike the small, fleshy-membraned zombies seen attacking the Wasteland Settlement, these zombies were tall, about a head taller than ordinary zombies. Their clawed hands, transformed into fleshy wings, were extremely sharp. Upon closer inspection, they appeared somewhat bony, suggesting they too had undergone mutation.

The powerful hind limbs of this fleshy-winged zombie gave it a sense of strength when standing. Its sensitive ears, upon reaching the glass window, constantly moved, catching sounds propagating through the air. As a small team of three fighter jets approached from a distance, it suddenly used the claws on its fleshy wings to violently shatter the tempered glass blocking its way. With a powerful thrust from its hind legs, it lunged out from the shattered opening, where glass shards were still flying.

“Woo…”

A blurry cry rang out. As the fleshy-winged zombie that had lunged out spread its wings, propelled by the air currents, its fleshy wings snapped open, turning into a glide. It suddenly pounced on a fighter jet that was roaring past the side of the building. The zombie’s speed was extremely fast and completely unexpected, coupled with extremely high precision. It directly struck a passing hy-1 fighter jet.

With a “bang,” the pilot, driving the fighter jet, felt as if the jet had been heavily hammered. It suddenly lost control, and its nose veered, crashing into a nearby building. At the speed the fighter jet was traveling, this happened in but a single breath. It violently smashed through the glass facade of the building, and the entire fuselage disappeared inside the structure.

The pilot’s mind went blank. Before he could even activate the emergency escape system, the fighter jet shook intensely, and a powerful vibration transmitted through it.

“No…” The pilot’s scream in the channel had just rung out when the entire plane violently crashed into a concrete pillar inside the building. The immense impact turned the fighter jet into a pile of parts, which then ignited the fuel tank, followed by all the bombs the fighter jet was carrying.

The violent explosion pulverized everything on that floor. The shockwave from the explosion, carrying countless fragments of parts, surged out from where the fighter jet had entered earlier, like a burst of sparks suddenly erupting from within the building, clearly visible even from a great distance.

Meanwhile, the fleshy-winged zombie that had struck the fighter jet had already turned into a pile of shattered meat the instant of impact. The fighter jet’s collision force was simply something it could not withstand.

This was no accident. Almost simultaneously with this zombie’s lunge, as if a signal had been given, the fleshy-winged zombies that had been lurking in wait launched their attacks on the fighter jets. One by one, they leaped from the tall buildings, pouncing on the roaring fighter jets.

Screams continuously emanated from the communication channel.

Those who reacted quickly steered their fighter jets to dodge, but those who reacted slowly had their jets directly struck. In a brief loss of control, the fighter jets crashed into nearby buildings, exploding into huge fireballs. For fighter jets traveling at such high speeds, flying among tall buildings, even one or two seconds of lost control was catastrophic.

Even the quickest pilots had no way to activate the escape system in such a short time. The few who could activate it were just ejecting, but under the inertia of the fighter jet, they were violently slammed against the buildings, their bodies flattened, with not a single bone fully intact; all were crushed to smithereens.

This sudden turn of events was so abrupt that it left no one a chance to react.

“All climb, climb…”

Xu Dali roared, staring at the dozen lights that had gone out on the screen, representing the dozen fighter jets destroyed and their crews killed in the first wave of the zombie counterattack.

Chapter 220: Early Assault

Why are cities referred to as human-forbidden zones?

Many fervent individuals from the past led their gathered forces, shouting slogans about reclaiming cities. Yet, for five years, all large-scale cities remained in the hands of zombies. The most humanity had managed to retake were small county seats. Over these five years, countless humans fell in battles to reclaim cities.

Eventually, everyone understood that without sufficient strength, a city was a hellish place; once entered, there was no coming back.

In open areas, like the wasteland, zombies were fully exposed to human sight, making them much easier to deal with. However, in cities, the towering buildings were a paradise for various types of zombies. Zombies with different abilities lurked in every corner of the city, and you never knew when they would launch an attack.

The abilities of zombies were hard to estimate. After all, this world was too vast, and every region, every climate, or rather, every profession, could produce different kinds of zombies. For five years, humanity had done nothing but retreat, and their understanding of zombies remained superficial. Compared to the ocean of zombies, humans knew too little. You could never imagine what bizarre zombies might appear in coastal areas, where they were most densely concentrated.

The miracle of the virus lay in how superior genes led to different outcomes. Why were ordinary zombies the most numerous? This was the same as how human society was structured: why were there the most poor people? It’s because there are too many ordinary people, so naturally, there are the most ordinary zombies. The more specialized the work, the easier it was for specialized infections to mutate and produce Special Infected. These usually came with some kind of special ability.

No one knew what these zombies, with their transformed, fleshy, bat-like wings, mutated from, but their displayed abilities were alarming. Even if they missed their target, they could glide using their fleshy wings, use their tails to change direction, cling to tall buildings like bats, then shatter the buildings’ glass and vanish into them in the blink of an eye. Everyone knew that they were now lurking inside the building, ready to strike like lightning again at any moment.

By the time the entire air fleet climbed out of the city’s range, Xu Dali painfully realized that sixteen fighters had been turned into burning fireballs by these lightning-fast attacks. Now he finally believed why Tu Long had said something felt wrong. His intuition was spot on. He had been careful, but these sudden, lightning-fast attacks were truly impossible to defend against.

This situation was quickly relayed to headquarters.

The incident, though unexpected, was also within reason and did not cause any commotion at headquarters. From the moment the decision was made to assault and reclaim Qingyuan City, everyone understood that casualties would be inevitable, perhaps even severe. So, what happened today was just a matter of sooner or later.

Since the settlement was not far from Qingyuan City, and there were communication airships, the command center was set up in the Military Department at the Commercial Association headquarters in the settlement.

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Yuanqiang remained silent for a moment before calmly stating, “Have the fighters perform high-altitude operations. We cannot bear such losses.” He then added with a touch of self-deprecation, “It’s time to get guided missiles, otherwise our fighters are not living up to their name… Brother Qiu, deploy ground troops ahead of schedule.”

Even if Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t said it, Qiu Guorui would have deployed ground troops early.

After yesterday’s cleanup, there weren’t many zombies left in the entire west district. Even if some surged in from other districts last night, the number wouldn’t be too large. Deploying ground troops now, casualties should not be too high. Moreover, there were snipers positioned on the tall buildings providing cover. High-level zombies and Special Infected were their targets; as soon as they showed themselves, they were always killed immediately.

When the command from headquarters arrived, the ground troops, who had initially thought they would be inactive, were astonished, then became excited one by one.

The ground force of 60,000 people was too massive, and coordinating and commanding them couldn’t be as convenient as with fighter jets. Once the order was issued, all 400 platoons sprang into action, checking their equipment and reconfirming their numbers. Only then, led by their respective platoon leaders, did they advance towards the west district.

The bulletproof vests that Zhou Yuanqiang had spent 130 million US dollars to create finally came into use at this moment.

From Platoon 001 to Platoon 100, an entire hundred platoons were equipped with these full-body bulletproof vests, which would protect them from zombie attacks. However, there were also drawbacks: their mobility was reduced, and wearing them in this weather was like being in a furnace, terrifyingly hot. But for the sake of their lives, no matter how hot, they had to endure.

Leading the charge were the troops equipped with full-body bulletproof vests. Under the command of their officers, they steadily crossed the Ring Road and formally entered the city. Behind them were the ordinary soldiers. The entire ground force would advance in this manner, ultimately occupying the west district.

In the areas of the west district near the Ring Road, the fighter jets had not bombed. These areas were mainly composed of sparse trees and low-rise houses, with many factories situated there. To prevent bombing from affecting factories outside the suburbs, the zombies here had not been targeted. As if unaffected, they continued to roam these streets and areas.

As soon as the ground troops entered their visible range, the zombies stirred and then lunged at the human forces.

Looking down from high in the sky, you would see the ground troops, like a swarm of ants, divided into dozens of teams, advancing into the city from various street entrances. Meanwhile, the zombies from the city — from alleys, streets, buildings, courtyards, and factories — emerged one after another, quickly gathering on the streets to form torrents that crashed against the iron currents of humans.

Among the zombies, it was always the high-level zombies that initiated the attack.

As for the gross monsters, those Special Infected, the snipers positioned on the rooftops of buildings had already taken care of them. So, in the current human offensive, there was no sign of them. When zombies were still, high-level zombies, especially those below Level 5, didn’t appear much different from ordinary zombies. Snipers in high positions couldn’t always distinguish them. Therefore, the deployment of ground troops made them realize that their period of leisure was over. Because once the zombies moved, the behavior of high-level zombies would be distinctly different from ordinary zombies.

The soldiers advanced into the streets. Facing the surging zombies, the squad leaders’ reactions were the same: “First row prone, second row half-crouch, third row standing…”

With these commands, the soldiers quickly formed rows as trained. The first row unhesitatingly dropped prone on the street, while the second row half-crouched, clutching their guns and aiming forward. The third row stood, raising their rifles to aim.

Bang! A Level 3 zombie charging at the front was hit diagonally in the head by a bullet and crashed onto the street. The momentum of its charge made it slide forward several meters before stopping.

The first to fire was not one of these three rows of soldiers, but a sniper on a tall building. After successfully hitting the zombie, the sniper gestured to the soldiers below, then re-entered sniping posture. With a series of gunshots, high-level zombies charging at the front fell one after another.

In street combat, the tactical principle was not for everyone to bunch together. After the three front rows of soldiers were positioned, there would be a certain distance from the soldiers behind them. In fact, these third-row soldiers served a defensive purpose. Yes, defense.

Further back, a dozen mortars were set up, and several recoilless rifles were carried by soldiers, aimed at the zombies rushing down the street.

“Ready… Fire…”

With a shout, a dozen mortars fired simultaneously, sending shells flying. For mortars, their closest firing range was about 300 meters. This range didn’t require precise aiming; the shells accurately landed on the zombies running on the street. Rumbling explosions erupted, tossing zombies into the air.

Despite the small size of mortar shells, their power was quite considerable. One shot could always ensure that several or even a dozen zombies could no longer get up.

The addition of mortars made the entire city rumble with cannon fire once again. The fighter jet squadron high in the sky continued to circle, with enough fuel in their tanks to stay airborne for an hour. As for the airship, it was even more capable, with a week of endurance, allowing it to participate from start to finish in this battle of reclamation.

Artillery fire only made the zombies more frantic, so amidst the explosions, the zombies continued to charge at the soldiers.

Qingyuan City, situated in the wasteland, was still very hot and muggy despite the city’s lush greenery. Wearing these almost airtight full-body bulletproof vests, the stuffiness was imaginable. Rows of soldiers were already drenched in sweat, their palms virtually soaked in sweat inside their gloves. They stared intently at the surging zombies, calmly aiming at their locked targets.

“Everyone, full freedom to fire…”

The platoon leader’s roar, after the zombies entered a 100-meter range, rang out, officially announcing the start of the soldiers’ attack. Tongues of fire flashed simultaneously from three rows, and the moving zombie horde in the front suddenly seemed to be hammered hard, stopping abruptly and falling down.

When dealing with zombies, rifles are often more effective than machine guns.

The primary purpose of machine guns is suppression. For zombies, their characteristics mean that unless shot in the head, they are almost impossible to kill. Even if they are cut in half by machine gun fire, their heads still need to be shot afterward, which is very troublesome. Therefore, machine guns are used to suppress the speed of large-scale zombie movements. To kill zombies, a rifle capable of precision firing naturally becomes the preferred choice. As long as one’s marksmanship isn’t too poor, hitting a zombie’s head within 50 to 60 meters is not difficult.

From the very beginning, the entire assault was a one-sided affair, with the zombies having almost no ability to fight back.

Chapter 221: West District

The reconnaissance airship belonging to the Intelligence Department was slowly gliding over the city center of Qingyuan City. It had been deployed in this area days before the attack, responsible for monitoring the entire central city area. Accompanying it, naturally, was the aircraft factory’s first unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Compared to the airship’s leisurely pace, the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was like a sprite, merely flashing across the sky, its shadow vanishing a moment later.

The main purpose of both the reconnaissance airship and the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was not to monitor the movements of ordinary zombies, but to keep an eye on the voice that had appeared before.

No one had ever seen what kind of zombie this was, but judging from its previous actions, it seemed capable of commanding the zombies. Even more terrifying was that the zombies in Qingyuan City were constantly increasing without a sound, as if zombies could breed other zombies.

This feeling was absurd, yet it was a very real sensation, and only this could explain why the number of zombies was growing.

It was this speculation that led Xu Yuhai to focus most of the reconnaissance efforts on this creature. According to previously obtained information, this leader-like zombie resided in the city center’s stadium. It was the discovery of its existence, and Zhou Yuanqiang’s act of “beating the grass to scare the snake,” that ultimately defused the Wasteland Settlement crisis.

However, since then, this zombie had mysteriously disappeared. No matter what reconnaissance methods were used, its tracks could no longer be found.

With the improvement of manufacturing capabilities, Xu Yuhai had also applied for the production of twenty unmanned helicopters to attack the stadium. But surprisingly, even after intense explosions, even leveling the diving hall within the stadium, the mysterious guards seen before did not appear. Undoubtedly, this zombie had long since moved.

Qingyuan City, while large, couldn’t compare to first-tier coastal cities, but it wasn’t as small as a second-tier city either. With a total of five districts, it was a bewildering expanse, making it seem difficult to find it. Even with Xu Yuhai’s best efforts, mobilizing maximum manpower and resources, there was still no harvest. As the operation to capture the city began, finding this zombie became even more crucial. Xu Yuhai’s primary mission was to scout and scout again, to locate this zombie.

The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was very fast, and combined with its small size, completing a circuit around Qingyuan City took only a few minutes.

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at the reporting Xu Yuhai and asked, “Still haven’t found it?”

Xu Yuhai shook his head, saying, “There are simply too many places it could hide in the city. For now, it’s very difficult to discover its踪迹. And we have already probed potentially hiding places, but still haven’t found anything.”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled, stood up, and said, “At this point, whether we find it or not doesn’t matter much, because I just received news that the ground forces have already occupied the entire west district and are currently constructing defensive works at the intersection streets of the north, south, and central districts.”

“Ah, that’s great…” Xu Yuhai was also happy; focused on reconnaissance, he hadn’t received this news yet.

Thinking about it, reclaiming and occupying the west district was reasonable. After continuous bombing by fighter jets and the widespread presence of snipers throughout the west district, with high-level zombies and Special Infected gone, and a large number of ordinary zombies dead, the ground forces’ advancement speed would be extremely fast.

But there was still pressure. Consider that the three districts still held a sea of zombies that would surge towards the west district simultaneously. Moreover, deep inside the city, the counterattack from Special Infected would be incredibly sharp. Whether they could resist it remained an unknown.

It was now three in the afternoon, with four hours until nightfall. A frantic counterattack was about to unfold….

Xu Yuhai saw Zhou Yuanqiang leave his desk, and seemed to understand. He said, “Boss, are you going…?”

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded, saying, “Our soldiers are fighting desperately on the front lines, so how can we, the generals, all hide in the settlement? That would surely discourage our warriors. Don’t worry, it’s enough for me to go out. You know my abilities; it’s not easy for zombies to harm me.”

The current situation was indeed like this. Almost all department heads were commanding the battlefield from headquarters. The highest-ranking officers among the 60,000 troops on the front lines were only squadron leaders, directly taking orders from headquarters. With modern communication methods, every movement in the city could be transmitted back to headquarters via reconnaissance aircraft, and headquarters would then issue orders based on the situation.

This seemed unremarkable, as modern warfare was fought this way, but Zhou Yuanqiang believed it was too impersonal and could easily demoralize the soldiers.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t being reckless. With his spatial teleportation ability, he could escape at any time, making it almost impossible for zombies to deal with him. Moreover, 33 times normal strength was no joke; one punch could certainly send a bull flying. And his storage space contained alloy steel armor, something zombies couldn’t chew through. At worst, he could just charge in and out again…

With this ability, building an image of a Chairman who advanced and retreated with his soldiers was crucial for consolidating his leadership.

“Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun”—that was the principle. Whoever held military power had a stronger voice than others. Although Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t afraid of anyone harboring ill intentions, wouldn’t allowing his prestige to permeate the thoughts of every soldier further strengthen the Commercial Association’s cohesion? Even ambitious individuals would only submit under such airtight authority.

A hy-2 fighter jet brought Zhou Yuanqiang to the west district.

The biggest regret, perhaps, was the weapon system issue with the Sand-2 helicopter. It was designed as an armed helicopter, but the munitions factory’s progress on its weapon system development was not very fast. According to the original plan, the offensive was to be launched only after the Sand-2 armed helicopter’s weapon system was fully developed.

Unfortunately, the zombies didn’t give the settlement more time, so to this day, this armed helicopter remained an empty shell, serving as a transport workhorse.

The Design Department of the aircraft factory, led by Wan Chongshan and his team, was incredibly fast at updating aircraft models. The Sand-2 had not yet perfected its weapon system, and the Sand-3 was already in design. It would be designed with the Apache armed helicopter as a prototype, or rather, directly copied as the most distinctive armed helicopter.

It was not surprising when one thought about it. Wan Chongshan completely designed aircraft updates based on the settlement’s manufacturing capabilities. For example, the biggest problem with the hy-1 fighter jet was its outdated layout. The hy-2 looked a bit like a J-10, but that was merely superficial; its performance wasn’t as outstanding as the J-10, barely reaching the initial level of third-generation fighter jets.

The hy-2 fighter jet was fine against zombies, but it couldn’t compare to a fourth-generation fighter jet.

It was perhaps fortunate that the existence of Special Infected like Army Soul prevented modern weapons from being dispersed, and the number that could be acquired wouldn’t be too great. Otherwise… while very effective against zombies, humanity wouldn’t have been bullied so badly. At the same time, larger-scale conflicts between humans would increase exponentially.

When the Sand-2 helicopter slowly landed at the temporary camp, the soldiers, knowing that the Chairman had arrived in person, were all exceptionally excited. As the news spread, all the logistics personnel remaining at the temporary camp came out to greet him. They, of course, knew the news of successfully occupying the west district. It was a moment of victory, and certainly a reason for joy….

Zhou Yuanqiang saluted the logistics personnel in front of the helicopter. Only then did he board the pre-arranged Dongfeng Mengshi and drive into the city.

Actually, Zhou Yuanqiang’s intention was for the Sand-2 helicopter to fly directly over the streets of Qingyuan City and land there. However, the accompanying security personnel would never allow Zhou Yuanqiang to do that. Although the west district had been recovered, there were still remnants of zombies, and the faint sound of gunshots was the best proof.

Under these circumstances, who knew if there were any Volt-Zombies that had slipped through? If one attacked the helicopter, the consequences would be too dire, and no one could afford it. So the guards ultimately chose a car, a safer mode of transport.

Currently, there were quite a few vehicles going in and out of the streets. Since zombies lacked intelligence, they naturally couldn’t know that a prominent figure like Zhou Yuanqiang was in this Dongfeng Mengshi. From a safety perspective, it was still guaranteed.

The streets were pitted and uneven, covered in crater holes. Zhou Yuanqiang could only force a wry smile; he didn’t know what else to say. Fortunately, Qingyuan City had a cement factory, so there was no need to worry about the massive amount of cement needed. It would just require some manpower. A destroyed city was far better than large numbers of casualties. A city could be rebuilt, but the dead could not be brought back.

Soldiers, in twos and threes, ran through the streets, advancing deeper into the west district. In every tall building, there were teams of soldiers clearing out zombies. On the rooftops, snipers began boarding helicopters, heading towards the convergence point of the three districts, where they would set up defenses to collectively snipe the zombies’ counterattack.

The airship fleet overhead did not begin bombing other areas. Such a large movement would make the entire west district like a magnet, attracting zombies from other areas. For these three days, what humanity needed to do was defend in place and suppress the zombies’ counterattack. Only after eliminating most of the zombies would it be time for a full assault on Qingyuan City.

There were five streets where defensive works were being built. They connected the north, south, and central districts, serving as major transport arteries.

When Zhou Yuanqiang arrived, the streets were packed with soldiers, and there were also soldiers visible in the buildings along the streets. Beyond these soldiers, countless zombies surged forward. This was a crossroads; the soldiers blocked one intersection, while the other three streets were filled with an endless, black mass of zombies.

(Fourth update, this chapter, I admit it took me six and a half hours to write, very painful… I don’t know why, sigh…)

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Chapter 222: Killing Intent in the Dark Night

As the lingering twilight began to fade, the soldiers, having battled all day, were utterly exhausted. Faced with zombies who knew no fatigue, their only task was to attack, endlessly attack. Zombies fell one by one, but behind them, more appeared, seemingly inexhaustible.

In just four hours, the streets were piled high with zombies, forming a massive corpse mountain seven or eight meters tall.

Even so, the zombies still frantically climbed this colossal mountain of corpses, continuing their charge towards the humans. The entire west district was filled with gunshots and the booming of mortars. Humans and zombies ceaselessly enacted a moth-to-a-flame spectacle.

The zombie bodies accumulated. Five streets were completely covered with a thick layer of corpses. Yet, on top of these bodies, the zombies continued to climb, stumbling forward towards the humans.

The soldiers on the streets could no longer attack these zombies. Only the soldiers in the tall buildings on either side of the streets could pose a threat to them. But with the entire street filled with zombies, and the soldiers exhausted from a day of fighting, their accuracy was steadily decreasing.

Wave after wave of soldiers were rotated, and no one knew how long this situation would last.

With the arrival of night, the soldiers didn’t
breathe a sigh of relief; instead, they grew more
nervous. The dark night would belong to the zombies. Under the cover of darkness, their offensive would become even more ferocious. Even with the power supplied by over a dozen generators, electric fences were erected on the streets, and uranium searchlights illuminated the streets with a stark white glow, but it couldn’t put the soldiers at ease.

To defend the entire west district, it might have been possible during the day, but at night, it became significantly more difficult.

Some residential areas, various unit apartment buildings, or private gardens were all riddled with vulnerabilities, making defense incredibly difficult.

At this moment, a squad of thirty soldiers was patrolling a private garden. This private garden was quite large, and it bordered a street, being on the edge of the west district and the south district. Outside the street, swarmed with zombies. What was worrying was that in several places, it was only blocked by iron railings. Zombies could easily break through.

The private garden had no lighting. Even with a squad of thirty, everyone felt a creeping unease.

The garden had a large green area. By the faint moonlight, one could see green trees swaying in the evening breeze, their shadows dancing. The crisp sound of military boots on the gravel path echoed far into the night. From time to time, the distinctive “wooing” sounds of zombies, like dying gasps, came from nearby.

Even people who had lived through several years of the post-apocalyptic world couldn’t help but develop strange thoughts in this atmosphere and environment. Even if they didn’t believe in ghosts, the superstitious ideas in their minds were impossible to shake off. Scary scenes from horror movies and ghost films they had seen before kept replaying.

“Old… Old Li, do you think there are ghosts in this world?” A young soldier, trembling slightly, pulled the person in front of him and asked, “Why do I always feel a chill down my spine? Did you feel it? This garden is full of eerie energy.”

The soldier named Old Li said impatiently, “Xiao Zhao, how many times have I told you? There are no ghosts in this world. Haven’t you seen zombies? Dammit, they’re scarier than ghosts. Or, how about this, just imagine the zombies are possessed by ghosts; otherwise, how could they move after dying?”

Xiao Zhao shrank his neck. Their conversation immediately made the entire patrol team laugh. Their leader, Xiao Hao, shook his head helplessly.

Actually, people in the post-apocalyptic world, after experiencing something as terrifying as zombies, had long developed an immunity to ghosts. Think about it, for several years you’ve been encountering nothing but zombies, of all forms, far scarier than the devils in hell. A few years were enough to desensitize one’s nerves to them.

Look at the zombie bodies piled on the streets outside, exceeding hundreds of thousands. They came in various forms, some directly torn into pieces. Piled together, they were a hundred times more horrifying than the piles of bodies in hell.

Despite this, weren’t the soldiers still fighting as usual? This was because their minds had become numb, accustomed to it. If it were peacetime, and you were suddenly placed on this corpse mountain at night, even the bravest person would be scared to death.

Not far from the garden was a street intersection, where fierce gunshots occasionally rang out, indicating that soldiers were stopping the frenzied zombies. There were many teams patrolling dangerous areas like this; their main responsibility was to defend vulnerable points from being breached by zombies, which would create gaps in the entire defensive system.

Xiao Hao saw that most of the team members were unaffected, but a few of them looked scared. He reminded them, “Alright, Xiao Zhao, stop being so paranoid. When have there ever been ghosts in this world? It’s all just scaring yourselves. Are you really afraid of zombies? We’re not even afraid of zombies, so why be afraid of something no one has ever seen?”

He glanced at his watch. The hands pointed exactly to eight o’clock.

There were some thin clouds in the sky, and when the moonlight fell, the light was significantly diminished, making everything hazy. Even Xiao Hao couldn’t help but feel a little scared, muttering angrily in his heart, “These unscrupulous merchants, why did they put so many plants in this garden for no reason? If they had built a few more residential buildings, it would save us trouble now.”

The team continued to advance, passing through streets beneath buildings and occasionally through artificial groves of trees.

Xiao Zhao felt an increasing chill in his heart, a very strong feeling he had never experienced before. As he patrolled with the team, his eyes constantly darted around, his entire being on high alert. When the team arrived at a flower bed, Xiao Zhao’s cold sweat instantly broke out, as if something extremely dangerous was staring at its prey.

Under the dim moonlight, Xiao Zhao saw a shadow flash across the flower bed and instantly disappear. A faint smell of尸气 (corpse odor) in the air, mixed with the floral scent, was almost imperceptible, but Xiao Zhao’s sensitive nose detected it. His intuitive reaction made him immediately raise his gun and pull the trigger at the spot where the shadow had flashed.

With a “bang,” a flash of fire illuminated the momentary darkness, hitting the edge of the flower bed and sending up a shower of sparks.

At the sound of the gunshot, the entire squad immediately went into combat mode, dispersing around the flower bed. Xiao Zhao even shouted, “Leader, there’s a zombie, there’s a zombie!”

However, they remained on alert for a while but found nothing. The entire garden was still quiet. Old Li became a little annoyed. He slung his gun over his shoulder, folded his arms, stood by a row of crimson flower trees, and snorted, “Xiao Zhao, can you stop being so paranoid? Everyone’s been tired all day, and we can’t handle your antics.”

Xiao Zhao shook his head and said, “Old Li, I really saw a shadow, and there was a faint smell of尸气 (corpse odor) in the air. I couldn’t have been wrong.”

Old Li sniffed hard, then laughed, “But why don’t I smell anything? It’s all floral scent here. Maybe your nose is acting up? Hmm, it’s very possible. You probably smelled too much putrid odor today, that’s why you subconsciously think everything smells like尸气 (corpse odor).”

Suddenly, he noticed. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him, and even in the darkness, he could see the expressions of fear on their faces.

“What’s wrong with you guys?” he asked subconsciously, “Are you being paranoid like Xiao Zhao?”

Xiao Hao was speechless, because behind Old Li, a tall zombie, its eyes glowing a pale green in the darkness, appeared among the crimson flowers. This zombie, a good head and a half taller than Old Li, its skin appeared intact by the moonlight, not like the decaying flesh of an ordinary zombie. Drool hung from its mouth, glistening with a watery sheen in the moonlight.

“No… Old Li, be careful!”

As if using all his strength, Xiao Hao roared, almost simultaneously raising his gun. The others’ reactions were also swift. They all raised their guns, aiming at the zombie that had suddenly appeared behind Old Li.

But it was too late. With lightning speed, sharp claws gleaming with cold light plunged into Old Li’s back, tearing through his chest, distorting the sound he tried to make in his throat. Blood gushed wildly from his open mouth. His body was carried away by the zombie like a toy.

A fierce strafing attack tore the branches and leaves from several crimson flower trees, but the zombie’s shadow had already vanished behind them.

Xiao Hao roared and chased after it. He ran past the crimson flower trees and found Old Li not far away, casually thrown onto the ground by the zombie. When Xiao Hao rushed to Old Li’s side, the latter only twitched a finger slightly. His head slumped, and he stopped breathing. The fatal blow had completely destroyed all his internal organs.

As if realizing something, Xiao Hao shouted, “Everyone, regroup!”

But it seemed a little late. The尸气 (corpse odor) reappeared, like a demon hiding in the darkness. The zombie flashed past from the nearby flower bushes, its sharp claws already slicing through the throats of two team members. This was just the beginning of its performance. Like a dancing sprite, it constantly flashed past the soldiers. Each time, a soldier was slapped to death, the attacked part becoming a pile of pulpy mess.

What this zombie now left Xiao Hao with was a single impression: speed, incredible speed. When it moved, only a blur could be seen.

Chapter 223: Level 8 Zombie

A twenty-person team was completely turned into mangled, bloody corpses in less than a minute.

Upon receiving the news, Zhou Yuanqiang also realized the gravity of the situation. He did not heed the guards’ suggestion to return to the settlement in the evening but insisted on staying. Zhou Yuanqiang understood that it would be an extremely difficult night, and there might be significant casualties from a zombie counterattack.

Zhou Yuanqiang knew that he was like a stabilizing force, capable of steadying the entire situation.

There were many patrol teams in the west district, and what Zhou Yuanqiang worried about most were the areas these patrol teams were responsible for. These areas were too vulnerable. Zombies might not breach them during the day, but when they went berserk at night, no one knew if they would attack these places. Moreover, with humans officially entering the city, the leader-like zombie couldn’t possibly be unaware of the human threat.

The news about Xiao Hao’s team was only a coincidence, but for someone at Zhou Yuanqiang’s level, it was already enough.

How much could be done in one minute? Many people probably hadn’t even had time to answer that question. Yet, the entire team had a member killed on average every few seconds. The whole team only had time to send out an alert.

Looking at the thirty scattered corpses around the flower beds, their deaths were gruesome; almost none were intact.

Their eyes were filled with terror. From their actions at the time of death, they hadn’t even had time to react. Aside from some bullets near a large red flower, there were no traces of gunfire elsewhere at the scene.

All of these corpses shared a common characteristic: their blood had been completely drained.

Zhou Yuanqiang scanned the area. The garden was pitch black, and in the faint chill of the wind, the air was filled with a subtle floral scent. Taking a deep sniff, Zhou Yuanqiang’s expression became serious, and he said with a sneer, “Everyone be on alert. This zombie hasn’t left. It seems it has also taken us as food.”

Hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, dozens of guards immediately tensed up. The leader of the guards, Lu Wei, positioned himself in front of Zhou Yuanqiang. He said, “Chairman, please leave here immediately, it’s too dangerous.” He then bellowed at the guards, “Escort the Chairman away, quickly!”

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t refuse, but he merely glanced at the depths of the flower bushes, his eyes full of meaning.

In fact, from the scene, Zhou Yuanqiang had already noticed that something was amiss. This was not something an ordinary zombie could do; it had to be a higher-level zombie or a Special Infected. The highest-level zombie Zhou Yuanqiang had seen was Level 6. Their strength was terrifying, their speed as fast as lightning, their power nearly ten times that of a normal person, and their nails had mutated to be as hard as steel.

When asked whether zombies had consciousness, Zhou Yuanqiang would almost immediately blurt out, “No!” when referring to ordinary zombies.

However, for high-level zombies and Special Infected, this question was somewhat difficult to answer. Consider, for example, Spitters; their super-sensory abilities and their ability to capture moving targets all proved that they were conscious zombies. Particularly high-level zombies, they occasionally exhibited consciousness, making it impossible to ignore.

Zombies originated from humans. No one could guarantee whether they would inherit human wisdom to some extent.

The above question arose because Zhou Yuanqiang discovered that the zombie that killed the entire patrol team could not be discussed in the same terms as an ordinary zombie, as it seemed to possess consciousness.

Of course, consciousness does not equate to wisdom; these are two completely different concepts. Consciousness merely refers to a reaction to things and the generation of some emotions. Wisdom, however, implies the ability to think and analyze a certain matter. A zombie’s brain is also destroyed by the virus, so Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know if the probability of developing wisdom was zero, but it was definitely not high. Nevertheless, the probability of developing consciousness, while not high, would definitely exist.

Consider the leader-class zombie; it definitely had consciousness, otherwise it wouldn’t summon other zombies to protect it out of fear.

As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang’s dozens of men began to retreat, the zombie hidden in the flower bushes seemed unwilling to let its prey leave. Without the ability to think, it did not distinguish between strong and weak humans. So, it reacted immediately, erupting with terrifying speed, crossing the flower bushes in an instant, and pouncing towards a guard who was slowly retreating.

Fast, it was truly fast.

The guard had not even reacted, only feeling a flicker of a shadow, and his chest had already caved in, sent flying by the zombie’s impact. While the guard’s body was still in the air, the zombie moved with the momentum, flashing past another guard, its claws, gleaming with a cold light, slicing open the guard’s waist.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s pupils contracted. With lightning speed, he snatched a gun from a nearby guard and strafed at the faint dark shadow.

As the zombie sent the third guard flying, Zhou Yuanqiang’s bullets arrived right on target, causing three gouts of blood to burst from its body.

With a loud “Roar,” the attacked zombie did not stop its movement at all; instead, it became even more frenzied. Like a mud spider in mud, it darted through the water like an agile novice. Any guard it touched was sent flying, and by the time they fell, they had already lost their breath.

Now Zhou Yuanqiang understood why a patrol team of thirty soldiers could be completely killed in one minute. It was because the zombie’s speed was too fast, incredibly fast. Dozens of guards, and in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen had already been killed by it.

Perhaps due to its injuries, the zombie, during its charge, leaped back into the flower bushes.

Feeling the faint scent of blood, Zhou Yuanqiang knew that this zombie would not leave, because its instinct would drive it to kill everyone until it was satisfied. In a zombie’s instinct, there was no retreat, only constant attack, attack, and more attack.

“Everyone, gather!” Lu Wei, fulfilling his duty as leader, said to Zhou Yuanqiang, “Chairman, we’ll hold it off, you leave quickly.”

Zhou Yuanqiang knew that if he left, these dozens of guards would certainly not escape the zombie’s clutches. He shook his head, saying nothing, but gripped the gun tightly in his hand. He understood that this zombie was not invincible; it could also be injured, and bullets still posed a threat to it. It was just that ordinary people couldn’t track its movements and therefore couldn’t hit its head.

Zhou Yuanqiang had only heard about the level system of zombies in the post-apocalyptic world. Only experienced soldiers knew how to differentiate their levels.

Lu Wei’s face turned pale. He gently tugged at Zhou Yuanqiang’s sleeve and whispered, “Chairman, this is a… a Level 8 zombie, Chairman, please leave quickly, we will hold it off.”

His voice carried a deep suppression; it seemed calm, but Zhou Yuanqiang could feel the underlying fear in his tone.

Zhou Yuanqiang understood that Lu Wei was truly looking out for him. The reason he whispered it only to him was out of fear that the guards, upon learning they were facing a Level 8 zombie, would panic and thus lose their duty as guards.

“Level 8 zombie?”

Indeed, upon hearing the term “Level 8 zombie,” Zhou Yuanqiang was startled, but was there still a path to retreat now? From the moment he stepped into this private garden, Zhou Yuanqiang understood that there could be no retreat. If this zombie was allowed to leave this place, once it appeared on the streets, it would cause havoc to the external defense system, throwing the entire front line into disarray.

With a Level 8 zombie’s abilities, it had the power to do so, because its strength and speed were far too great.

This Level 8 zombie was now like a beast, lurking in the darkness, eyeing all humans hungrily, ready to strike a lethal blow at any moment. But it underestimated humans too much. Zhou Yuanqiang, with his amplified perception, was already able to pinpoint its hiding spot.

Zhou Yuanqiang winked at Lu Wei, shook his head, and used his gun to point briefly at a corner, making an attacking gesture.

Being the leader of the guards, Lu Wei naturally understood Zhou Yuanqiang’s meaning well. He was surprised at first, but quickly thought of his Chairman’s abilities. He nodded, then made a few more hand gestures, pointing at the small corner Zhou Yuanqiang was staring at. After everyone understood, he suddenly roared, “Fire!”

Instantly, fierce gunfire erupted. Dozens of gun muzzles spat flames, and bullets were fired in an instant, tearing through the air and plunging into the flower bushes, concentrating on the small corner.

A resonating “Roar!!” was followed by whimpering sounds. The attacked zombie suddenly leaped out from the small corner. Ignoring the hail of bullets, it pounced with lightning speed, its target none other than Zhou Yuanqiang, who was slightly ahead. Its powerful body gave it extraordinary defense against bullets; although bullets caused blood to bloom, the damage was very limited.

“Gravity Manipulation, Lethal Strike!”

With a thought, both techniques were activated simultaneously. The multiplied gravity field slowed the zombie’s movements, almost like a slow-motion shot in a movie. It seemed not to understand what was happening, but the gun in Zhou Yuanqiang’s hand had already darted towards its mouth like lightning.

Within the range of the gravity field, Zhou Yuanqiang was unaffected by gravity. Coupled with Lethal Strike enhancing his nerves, his movements became indirectly faster.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang!!” A series of gunshots rang out. No matter how powerful this Level 8 zombie was, it couldn’t withstand an attack to its mouth. Bullet after bullet pierced its skull, and as crimson liquid spewed out, under the effect of Gravity Manipulation, it finally slammed to the ground.

The most pitiable were these guards; they had no idea what was going on. They were already pressed to the ground like dead dogs by the gravity. Unable to move, their bones emitted strong protests, the “creaking” sounds of bones turning their faces pale.

Chapter 224: Burning Mountain of Corpses

On the five main roads connecting the three districts, the stench of over a hundred thousand piled-up zombie corpses, carried by the evening breeze, was enough to make even the most accustomed person feel nauseous. The smell was so thick that people within it felt completely drowned, breathing and experiencing nothing but this foul odor.

The five main roads were divided into defensive positions No. 1 to No. 5. Positions No. 1 and No. 2 were somewhat manageable, simultaneously diverting the zombie flow from the south district. Positions No. 4 and No. 5 were also decent, diverting zombie hordes from the north district. However, position No. 3 was dire, nearly bearing the entire pressure of the zombies from the central district.

Qingyuan City’s central district, known as the “Sleepless District,” would be lit up like snow from dusk till dawn. Coupled with the frenzied populace, it created a situation with even more people than during the day. At night in the central district, people frequented the streets for evening strolls. Strangely, the true corporate office areas were in the east district, while the central district was a commercial area, integrating shopping and entertainment.

The bright lights illuminated the entire No. 3 defensive position. Under immense pressure, the gunfire here was
unceasing, sometimes even requiring airship support.

In the dark night, gross monsters and Volt-Zombies finally arrived from other areas and began their long-range assaults. Sometimes, dozens, even hundreds, of liquid masses came crashing down fiercely, and swathes of soldiers rolled on the ground, screaming and struggling desperately. This highly corrosive liquid was like torture. For soldiers who were splashed, they would rather be hit by a Volt-Zombie’s discharge balls, which would offer immediate release.

Li Junjie walked calmly behind rows of soldiers, his hands clasped behind his back. The green liquid appearing in the sky looked like fireworks to him. The soldiers occasionally screaming, rolling, and struggling on the streets had no effect on him whatsoever. It wasn’t that he was cold-blooded, but rather, he had become numb.

Li Junjie had unbuttoned his beige military uniform, yet the cold night offered him no chill. His military boots trod on the road, which was covered in a layer of disgusting black liquid. This liquid flowed from the mountain of corpses before him, entirely made up of fluids from zombie bodies. It was incredibly nauseating, and the suffocating stench induced an urge to vomit.

As the leader of the 230th squadron, Li Junjie had led his team in battle here for almost half an hour.

The battle truly was brutal. Out of a 150-person squadron, only a little over a hundred remained. Under the cover of darkness, the gross monsters posed too great a threat. The snipers had been tired all day, and it being night made it difficult to locate them. Once the snipers’ effectiveness diminished, the consequence was heavy casualties for every squadron on rotation.

When the 229th squadron withdrew before Li Junjie’s team took over, only 43 soldiers were left.

“All of you, open your eyes wide and pay attention! These damned zombies are very cunning; they will climb over this mountain of corpses and deceive our eyes,” Li Junjie roared at the firing soldiers, shaking off the disgusting liquid from his military boots. This was because just moments before, several high-level zombies had nearly charged to the front of their squadron by exploiting the cover.

He checked his watch; it was already one in the morning. They still had a few minutes until the next rotation.

Under the cover of the dark night, behind the mountain of corpses, a tall black shadow moved within the zombie horde. Its octopus-like figure was as massive as a Giant Zombie. Its eight agile legs moved through the zombie horde like a dragonfly skimming the water, extremely fast. In the night, if it weren’t for its enormous size, it would have been truly difficult to spot.

Of course, the airship forces were the first to discover it. Faced with this gigantic Octopus-Zombie, everyone aboard was dumbfounded.

If Xu Yuhai were here, he would also remember this type of zombie from the second wave of zombies that attacked the Wasteland Settlement. It was strange, however, that no matter how hard Xu Yuhai tried afterward, he never saw it again. It seemed to have disappeared along with that mysterious, unknown zombie.

Upon receiving the notification, Tu Long instantly perked up and roared, “Everyone, pay attention! A big fish has arrived! Concentrate all your efforts! Whether we get a medal depends on this performance!”

From the airship, an illuminating flare descended, lighting up the entire street and fully revealing the appearance of this giant Octopus-Zombie. Beside it were countless octopus-men, following this large Octopus-Zombie forward. Looking at the tentacles on their upper bodies, Tu Long, who was observing with binoculars, almost immediately vomited. It was truly disgusting.

“Prepare large incendiary bombs…” Tu Long bellowed. It was better to eliminate such disgusting things early. Judging by its appearance, it was clear it was extremely ferocious. Who knew what special destructive power it might possess?

Not only Tu Long and his team discovered this Octopus-Zombie; the ground troops and snipers on high-rise buildings also noticed it. Its size, even larger than a Giant Zombie, truly made it stand out. Especially its eight legs, which moved as if twitching, each twitch spraying some transparent liquid. Any zombie that touched it would be unable to break free, stuck to the ground and unable to move.

Among the ground forces, the only unit not yet deployed was the Fire Bat unit, but they were still positioned along the defensive line.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang was on a high-rise building, observing the entire battlefield. The casualties of the soldiers pained him deeply. After some thought, he finally said, “This can’t go on. The city can be destroyed a bit; at worst, I’ll work harder and be a laborer for a longer period.”

He turned to the messenger and said, “Send the Fire Bat unit out to drench the entire mountain of corpses with fuel, and order the airship unit to drop oil drums.”

The consequence of doing this was that these streets would be thoroughly incinerated. From a modern economic perspective, the value of the buildings on these streets alone would absolutely be in the tens of billions. Thus, with Zhou Yuanqiang’s single command, hundreds of billions worth of high-rise buildings, shops, malls, and residential buildings would turn to ashes.

The messenger, having received the order, repeated it. After confirming it was correct, he immediately began to relay the order to the command center, which then forwarded it to the airship unit and the Fire Bat unit.

Tu Long, having received the order, swallowed hard and said, “The Chairman is truly the Chairman; he has real courage.” He was well aware of the cost of this order. This area of streets, being close to the central district, was very prosperous, and future repairs would not be simple. But then he thought, if it could prevent thousands of casualties, what did a few dead buildings matter?

“Open the hatch…”

Upon Tu Long’s command, large oil drums from the airships were dropped onto the streets covered with zombie corpses. The moment they hit the ground, the open oil drums continuously spilled gasoline, infiltrating layer after layer of the thick zombie corpses. Some zombies walking on them struggled in the gasoline, their bodies completely drenched.

The airships moved, slowly spreading the oil drums across the entire street. The strong smell of gasoline could still be detected from above.

Meanwhile, the twenty oil trucks deployed by the Fire Bat unit did not start their ignitions. Instead, they sprayed concentrated fuel out like fire hoses, drenching the ten-meter-high mountain of corpses.

Three entire oil trucks emptied their fuel, soaking every corpse on the entire mountain of corpses and even extending it onto the street. It was like an oil rain, and the pungent smell of gasoline suppressed the corpse odor. The soldiers had long stopped firing and were retreating.

On the layers of zombie corpses, many zombies were climbing. They were drenched like drowned rats, but they couldn’t grasp what this gasoline was. They only knew to crawl forward. Even the giant Octopus-Zombie, completely covered in gasoline, continued to advance.

Once the oil drums on the airships were deployed and the Fire Bat unit began to retreat, Li Junjie looked at the mountain of corpses, at the zombies desperately climbing over the bodies. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and after a few drags, a cold smile appeared on his face. He lightly flicked the cigarette, sending it tracing a perfect arc through the air before it dropped onto the gasoline-soaked road.

And in the sky, an incendiary bomb was released from the airship’s launcher, flashing briefly in the darkness before heavily slamming down beside the gigantic Octopus-Zombie.

That tiny speck of smoke and fire, in the right place, would lead to disaster. The cigarette, upon touching the gasoline, ignited with a “boom,” swiftly climbing up the mountain of corpses. In moments, flames dozens of meters high erupted. A massive conflagration was ignited, burning ferociously.

The explosion of the incendiary bomb was even more intense. As the gasoline ignited, the residual gasoline inside each oil drum exploded.

The towering fire engulfed all the crawling zombies on top. They moved while burning, then turned into charred corpses, finally reduced to ashes.

The zombie’s rotten “meat shields” were full of fat, and with gasoline, they could burn even more fiercely. These hundreds of thousands of corpses, by common sense, could burn for at least seven or eight hours. It would completely cut off the confrontation between humans and zombies below. And the zombies that had already climbed onto the zombie corpses would not survive.

From the moment the incendiary bomb struck, this Octopus-Zombie struggled to move. However, its speed was slow, impeded by numerous other zombies, so it naturally couldn’t outrun the flames. In moments, it was ignited. The frenzied octopus instantly became a huge fireball. Its eight legs, like burning ropes, continuously flailed. With terrifying elasticity, they stretched out like old men’s limbs, hooking onto buildings, using its tentacles for lightning-fast movement.

Unfortunately, it was too late. In moments, its tentacles were burned away, and it retracted into a ball, rolling. The smaller octopus-zombies following it had long since fallen amidst their struggles.

This was an extraordinary type of zombie, but its abilities were ruthlessly destroyed by the massive fire before they could even fully manifest. It felt like a pity, but for humanity, they would rather not see its terrifying abilities unleashed, as its danger could be judged at a glance—it was absolutely above other Special Infected.

Chapter 225: Appearing

The fierce blaze burned for a full six and a half hours before gradually dying down.

As previously speculated, the five streets were almost completely destroyed. Under the high temperatures, the concrete pavement had dried out and crumbled. The thick layer of zombies was incinerated by the flames, turning into a charred black ash covering the ground. Countless visible and invisible corpses lay in heaps, these being the ones that hadn’t completely burned away.

The smell of burnt decaying flesh was incredibly foul, permeating the entire city’s air with its acrid odor.

Thanks to the deterrent effect of the inferno, the zombie offensive finally halted, allowing all the physically and mentally exhausted soldiers to breathe a sigh of relief and rest for a few hours. At least until dawn, there was no need to worry about further attacks from them. Even if zombies charged forward recklessly, they would still meet their end, burned to death by the flames.

The blazing fire, which had raged all night, had just extinguished when battle formations, prepared throughout the night, appeared in the city’s skies. They swooped towards the south, north, and central districts, launching bombing runs on street after street.

Throngs of zombies, pushing and shoving all night, densely packed the main streets and alleys. One bomb detonated, signifying the demise of dozens of zombies. In a continuous barrage of bombings, bombs fell from the aircraft as if they were free. The bombs, accumulated over two months, were reserved precisely for this moment of fierce bombardment.

The crazed fighter planes paid no mind to the fleshy-winged zombies that burst out of the tall buildings, nor did they fear the discharge balls that surged upwards.

After the snipers boarded the helicopters, squadrons of helicopters took off from the tall buildings in the west district, swarming towards these three areas like a flood. They braved the rising liquid masses and the terrifying discharge balls, surging towards the tall buildings in these three regions.

As soon as the helicopters landed on the rooftops, the snipers aboard, spurred by their leaders’ shouts, jumped off. Clutching their sniper rifles, they split into four groups and quickly spread out. Setting up their sniper rifles, they aimed at the endless stream of zombies on the streets below, blowing the heads off active high-level zombies one by one.

The ground forces, having rested for a night, began to advance across the long streets of charred corpses at the roar of their squad leaders, rushing towards the zombies with their guns drawn.

Various vehicles modified with machine guns moved ahead of the soldiers, strafing the zombies on the streets. Rows and swathes of zombies were torn apart by the furious roar of the machine guns. The power of these heavy machine guns might not be precise enough to hit their heads, but it was sufficient to rip their bodies to shreds.

Particularly with the deployment of riot control armored vehicles, which had been modified and equipped with Gatling heavy machine guns that Zhou Yuanqiang purchased from the United States, no zombie remained intact in their wake. Wheels crushed over these zombies, and the streets were littered with severed limbs and broken bodies. Occasionally, zombies blasted into two pieces could be seen crawling along the streets using only their upper bodies, dragging their desiccated intestines.

“Attack, attack, full-scale attack!”

The shouts of the squad leaders ignited a fervor in every soldier. They followed behind these modified vehicles, delivering finishing shots to the heads of the maimed zombies sprawled on the streets. With these metal storm creators, the soldiers barely needed to act themselves.

Behind them were teams of recoilless artillery units. They followed the main force, occasionally crouching to fire shells into the zombie hordes, blowing them into pieces.

The settlement’s only five Type 96 tanks were also deployed in the full-scale assault.

These steel behemoths were the most terrifying weapons against zombies. Their armor, with the exception of Volt-Zombies, could not be breached by any other zombie. The roaring sound of their engines was chilling, and their grim gun barrels occasionally spit out flames, launching shells that brought death to swathes of zombies.

Tanks were weapons that the settlement could not forget, and Zhou Yuanqiang certainly could not forget them.

Although their manufacture had not yet been put on the agenda due to a shortage of steel, the peripheral aspects, such as the manufacturing of parts and shells, were already quietly underway. Tanks were definitely major consumers, whether of fuel or parts; their logistical strain even surpassed that of aircraft.

It was thanks to the settlement’s efforts in manufacturing their peripherals that these five tanks could freely maneuver through the streets. Otherwise, with the wear and tear on their parts, they would never have lasted until now.

Yes, this battle had officially entered full-scale combat.

Previous caution was cast aside by the command center. After extensive analysis, the conclusion was that while a steady, step-by-step approach would indeed reduce casualties, it would put too much pressure on the settlement’s logistics. Moreover, the slower they went, the more opportunities the zombies would have to recover, only leading to soldier fatigue.

Such an all-out blitzkrieg would incur heavy casualties, but the effect would be equally significant, using humanity’s sharpest offensive to decimate the zombie numbers and compress their living space.

Another reason was that if things continued as they were, the zombie threat to humanity would remain too great, especially since the commanding zombie had not been found. No one knew what other tricks it might pull. The settlement had to use this lightning-fast force, at all costs, to take over the entire city in the shortest possible time.

Once the command center’s decision was issued, the true war machine was activated. As dawn approached, the various units, like tigers unleashed from their cages, delivered a crushing blow to the zombies.

Whistling fighter planes, skillfully operated by their pilots, swept across the streets, with tall buildings instantly left behind. Aerial bombs constantly detached from under their wings, plummeting into the streets, exploding into colossal mushroom clouds. In that instant, zombies were flung skyward, disintegrating in mid-air, their dismembered bodies violently crashing into buildings along the street.

The forcibly landing helicopters forced the monstrous zombies on the rooftops to helplessly attempt to create distance at this range. However, the snipers descending from the helicopters gave them no chance at all; they could easily shoot them down with their sniper rifles, even without aiming scopes.

After the high ground was secured, gunshots periodically echoed from the tall buildings, signifying that zombies were having their heads blown off by sniper rifles one by one.

The fleshy-winged zombies remained frenzied; occasionally, a fighter plane would be struck by them. Off balance, it would plunge into the street below or an adjacent building, turning into a massive fireball. But aware of the existence of such zombies, the pilots had spent two more days adapting to the city. By increasing the speed of the fighter planes, the effectiveness of the fleshy-winged zombies diminished further.

Fighter planes in the sky would return to base immediately after dropping their bombs.

People in the settlement were all standing on the streets, on rooftops, and on top of the defensive walls, watching the fighter planes return from afar and land on the runways of the aviation training base. They, too, were following this battle, each one silently blessing the soldiers.

At the training base, as soon as a fighter plane landed, dozens of logistics personnel would rush over with bombs. The moment the plane stopped, they would begin their busy work, hoisting bombs onto the aircraft. Sometimes, the pilots wouldn’t even leave the fighter plane, merely opening the cockpit canopy to drink some water and rehydrate.

The entire process, from a fighter plane landing to taking off again, usually took only thirteen minutes. Thus, on the runway, as one fighter plane landed, another was already ascending, heading towards Qingyuan City. Their mission was to drop bombs on the zombies as quickly as possible, then return to reload, and continue ascending to drop more bombs.

Under this fierce, reckless blitzkrieg tactic, the ground forces advanced incredibly rapidly, already occupying one-third of the three districts.

The bombing by the fighter planes finally demonstrated their value at this moment. A large number of zombies died or were disabled in the bombing. Coupled with the ground forces’ various artillery bombardments and machine gun strafing, one could not imagine what kind of scene this truly was—it felt like a doomsday war. However, it was not between humans, but a battle for survival between humans and zombies.

The six airships did not participate in this battle, or rather, they stayed on its periphery.

The conquest of the south, north, and central districts began to steadily reclaim Qingyuan City, with humanity recovering it piece by piece. Only the east district showed no activity; it was merely affected, with all its zombies surging towards these three areas. The six airships had now split up, searching inch by inch for possible hiding places.

The reconnaissance aircraft, with its small frame, was flying low, constantly searching for possible hiding spots. Reconnaissance airships even lowered their altitude, scouring every street.

That’s right, Xu Yuhai’s intention was to definitely find this commanding zombie. Regarding its disappearance, no one could guarantee what changes might occur before it made an appearance. The moment the full-scale offensive was launched, it meant that one of the two sides would inevitably lose its space for survival.

As the ground forces advanced, in just three hours, half of the three districts had fallen into human hands.

A “squeak… squeak…” sound suddenly emerged, almost drowning out the gunshots and artillery fire.

The sound pierced the clouds, as if tearing through space. Under this sound, the previously sluggish zombies seemed to be stimulated, entering a berserk state. The crystals in their brains were directly activated, exploding with formidable power.

Their slow movements transformed into frenzied charges under the crystal’s energy, fiercely扑向 human soldiers. Even machine gun suppression couldn’t halt this unconscious, fearless charge.

Upon hearing this sound, Zhou Yuanqiang, whose face had been devoid of expression, suddenly cracked a smile. With such a fierce rate of advance, it finally couldn’t hold back and began to resist. What Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t expected was that it could also emit this catalyzing stimulus sound, something only Catalysts could typically do, and it was an ultra-wide-range catalysis.

“Is that Xu Yuhai? Confirm the sound’s origin as quickly as possible and notify the air force. Tell them to flatten its location.”

Xu Yuhai, having received Zhou Yuanqiang’s order, naturally complied. For him, he had actually been looking forward to this sound for a long time. Wasn’t the reason he had been working so desperately in the Intelligence Department to find it? He licked his lips and said faintly, “What exactly is your true appearance?”

Chapter 226: Underground Sewers

The places everyone had been looking at earlier, based on the environment where this commanding zombie was discovered, must have been quite spacious. This was precisely what misled everyone, including Zhou Yuanqiang himself. But who could have imagined that the sound this zombie just made actually came from a low-rise residential complex in the central district, near the east district?

The high-pitched “squeaking” sound, similar to glass being scratched, was incredibly piercing.

Especially with high-decibel sound engulfing almost the entire city, at first it wasn’t too bad, but as it persisted, the soldiers’ eardrums began to ache faintly. Some soldiers closer to the sound couldn’t even bear it, covering their ears and crouching on the street. Even worse, some were already rolling on the ground.

Normally, this might not have caused any issues, but now, it was a terrifying disaster.

The catalyzed zombies, with their abilities boosted threefold, became sharper, faster, and incredibly frenzied in their attacks. The soldiers on the front line were already struggling to suppress them, and now, with the front-line soldiers subjected to this sound attack, they instantly crumbled. Zombies, like ferocious tigers unleashed from their cages, leaped over the gaps and surged into the soldier ranks, grabbing terrified soldiers who tried to fight back, opening their mouths and biting savagely at their necks, faces, and other parts.

Bloody chunks of flesh, savagely torn off, looked gruesome in the zombies’ disgusting mouths.

“Hold the line! Hold the line!”

The squad leaders, enduring the ringing in their ears, desperately shouted. But most of the soldiers were experiencing hearing loss, so how could they hear their leaders’ shouts? Only a few strong-willed soldiers endured the bomb-like pain in their ears, clutching their guns and frantically strafing the lunging zombies.

The entire situation was completely out of control, with humans and zombies entangled in a chaotic melee. In close-quarters combat, humans were no match for zombies.

At this moment, the full body bulletproof vests Zhou Yuanqiang had prepared earlier finally proved their worth. Protected, the zombies couldn’t directly bite through the vests. Instead, the intense pain from biting fueled the soldiers’ frenzy. Drawing their bayonets from their waists, they didn’t even bother attaching them to their rifles, but directly thrust them fiercely at the zombies…

Qiu Guorui, receiving the front-line reports, was practically going insane, yelling, “Where’s the air force? Tell the air force to eliminate that damn sound! Quickly!”

Without Qiu Guorui’s command, Xu Dali and his team had already received instructions from Xu Yuhai. Over thirty fighter planes, without any formation, swooped towards the source of the sound.

With the speed of fighter planes, they arrived over the old residential area in moments.

“Indiscriminate bombardment!” Xu Dali’s eyes seemed to be spitting fire. The fighter planes roared past. Fortunately, the pilots had helmets and headsets for protection, coupled with the cockpit’s soundproofing, so they weren’t affected by the sound. Otherwise, wouldn’t out-of-control pilots plunge their fighter planes straight into the city below?

Bombs detached from the aircraft’s belly and wings, plummeting towards the old residential area below.

This commanding zombie’s sensory abilities were incredibly strong. The moment the fighter planes roared in, it sensed danger. Especially when the bombs fell from the fighter planes, the piercing scream abruptly ceased, replaced by the rumbling explosion.

Dust flew everywhere. These old residential buildings were torn apart piece by piece by the powerful impact of the bombs. Some bombs directly pierced the rooftops, landing on the lowest floors. At the moment of explosion, the violent shockwave, like a destructive force, leveled all four walls on that floor. The entire multi-story residential building collapsed, turning into nothing amidst the sky-high smoke and dust.

The precious green trees that had grown on the wasteland were severed in the bombardment, their leaves and branches scattered in the air.

In just a few minutes, not a single building in the entire old residential area remained intact; the bombardment had turned it into a desolate wasteland. But this was only the beginning. More and more fighter planes soared through the sky, continuing to unleash bombs here. The addition of airships turned the area into a sea of fire.

Under direct threat, the zombie seemed to lose control over the other zombies. All the zombies in the city paused, then resumed lunging at the human soldiers. But now that the sound no longer harmed the soldiers, coupled with the full body bulletproof protection, the zombies couldn’t be as relentless as before. The intense gunfire once again became dense, and using mobile warfare, the soldiers continuously widened the distance between themselves and the zombies.

In the initial chaos, many soldiers died, primarily those without full body bulletproof vests.

The recovering snipers rejoined the battle, pinning down and shooting high-level zombies that dared to show their faces. Especially when the armored vehicles started moving again, strafing with their “thud-thud” sounds, reaping zombies in swaths. Under the heavy machine gun fire, the zombies were facing a disaster.

Indeed, in these streets, heavy machine guns were the most effective weapons. Their power ensured that once a bullet hit a zombie, the result was being torn into segments, with limbs flying everywhere. Even if not dead, they would be completely crippled, losing their ability to move.

Think about it, can a zombie still be called a zombie if it can’t move? They just struggled, lying on the street. All human soldiers had to do was walk over, aim at their heads, deliver a finishing shot, and eliminate them without any danger.

The drawback of heavy machine guns? Perhaps it’s…

As is well-known, the terrifying existence of Army Soul zombies made the acquisition of weapons for humanity very difficult. Anti-riot police certainly had some, but the numbers were too few. If they couldn’t form a metal storm to adequately suppress the zombies, the effectiveness would be greatly diminished. Furthermore, their ammunition consumption was enormous; they were simply bullet-eating machines, capable of firing at least a thousand rounds per minute.

Logistics in the post-apocalyptic world weren’t like modern times; ammunition manufacturing speed was slow and couldn’t sustain such consumption.

Only someone like Zhou Yuanqiang, capable of spatial teleportation, could carry enough steel and raw materials to manufacture enough heavy machine guns and sufficient ammunition. He could even acquire some high-performance heavy machine guns through various means.

It was Zhou Yuanqiang’s efforts that led to a very high rate of heavy machine gun outfitting in the Wasteland Settlement’s forces, along with a massive supply of ammunition for them to expend. In dealing with zombies, this far surpassed what other factions could achieve. Thus, the firepower to conquer a street using several, or even a dozen, heavy machine guns emerged, rapidly increasing the advance speed while minimizing casualties.

Regarding the zombie’s momentary pause, Zhou Yuanqiang finally had a glimmer of understanding. He muttered to himself, “It seems this zombie can indeed control and command these zombies through some power. So, has it died in the bombardment, or is it still controlling the zombies?”

Xu Yuhai was only twenty-one years old. In peacetime, he would have just been a university student. Pranks, for him, would have been an occasional indulgence.

Xu Yuhai couldn’t possibly be unaware of the zombies’ sensitivity to sound. He had even experimented by using loud noises to lure zombies out of the city and eliminate them little by little. Unfortunately, his plan was sound, but the result was unexpected. At first, the zombies were attracted by the sound and moved towards its source. But soon, they suddenly lost interest in the sound and returned to the city, hunkering down.

After several experiments, the idea of using sound to attract zombies was abandoned.

Clearly, the zombies in the city seemed to be under the command of some force, making them immune to the temptation of sound. Now, it appeared it must be this commanding zombie at play! Otherwise, there’d be no explanation for why such sound-sensitive zombies weren’t lured, considering they lacked consciousness!

The recovering troops continued their advance, and an hour later, they finally occupied the area of the old residential complex, which had been leveled to the ground.

Under orders, soldiers surrounded the now-ruined old residential area, entering a state of maximum alert and glaring fiercely at the debris. Other units continued to push forward. If all went according to plan, at this rate, Qingyuan City could be fully occupied by afternoon, and the zombies completely annihilated.

In the face of victory, every soldier’s face was beaming with smiles. For them, this was absolutely a historic turning point. Five years later, humanity had finally successfully recaptured a city. They didn’t know what impact this would have on the future, but at least it proved to be a personal honor for them.

The Dongfeng Mengshi vehicles drove along the pothole-ridden streets. Zombie corpses were visible everywhere on the ground, and occasionally, bodies of human soldiers could be seen. A large number of logistics personnel, with the help of trucks, were already throwing zombie corpses onto the vehicles. The trucks would gather them in a large depression in the south of Qingyuan City, and after collecting the crystals, they would be uniformly incinerated.

When the Dongfeng Mengshi stopped, Zhou Yuanqiang jumped out of the car. Several soldiers saluted Zhou Yuanqiang, who returned the gesture. Looking at the ruined area, he contacted Xu Yuhai and asked, “Are you certain no special zombies left?”

Since the bombing began, Xu Yuhai had been directing reconnaissance airships to hover over the residential complex. A dozen cameras were working, monitoring the area from all angles. Not to mention a single zombie, not even a single fly could escape Xu Yuhai’s eyes. So he firmly stated, “Boss, no anomalies have been found. Given the zombies’ abilities, such a fierce bombardment could not possibly have left any survivors.”

As if remembering something, he added, “Boss, previous data indicates that this type of zombie has some ‘Dark Guards’ who can briefly become invisible.”

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded and said, “I know. I won’t take risks. Keep an eye on it, report any unusual activity to me immediately.” After hanging up, he waved his hand. Several prepared squads, wearing full body bulletproof vests and alloy steel helmets, clutching their guns, carefully advanced into the ruins.

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, seeing the corpse even in death, he wanted to see what kind of zombie could stir up such a huge disturbance.

What if this type of zombie wasn’t unique, but a species? Who could guarantee they wouldn’t encounter such zombies again in the future? Now that he understood, he would be more confident and dealing with them would be much easier.

Zhou Yuanqiang deeply understood the zombie’s power; the death of over 3,000 soldiers in half an hour proved just how formidable it was.

As soon as the situation was under control, Li Xiao, the great director, rushed over with his crew, directing the setup of cameras.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t miss the larger-scale battle of retaking Qingyuan City. The nearly one billion US dollars earned from the post-apocalyptic movie had given him a taste of success, so how could he give up this big cake? Once production began, Li Xiao’s task was to start filming from the very beginning of preparations, advancing the production of “Doomsday Storm.”

Thus, almost every squad had several crew members, lugging cameras and running alongside the troops.

At the same time, Zhou Yuanqiang also gave orders to Xu Yuhai that all camera records must be perfectly preserved. A more prepared shoot like this one would definitely be more spectacular than the previous one, with an even grander scale, involving a full sixty thousand soldiers, hundreds of fighter planes, and nearly a hundred helicopters.

What makes a blockbuster production? If all equipment and personnel were factored in, the investment would be at least hundreds of billions of US dollars. Would people in Hollywood still dare to boast about their “big productions” in front of him?

After several small teams advanced into the ruins, they found no anomalies.

More and more soldiers began to enter the ruins, searching for possible zombie corpses among the debris. However, unfortunately, despite the soldiers’ efforts, the zombies they uncovered were all quite ordinary. In ruins like these, relying solely on human labor to find anything was somewhat difficult.

After an unsuccessful search, Xu Yuhai, who had also been observing everything through the reconnaissance airship, connected with Zhou Yuanqiang and said, “Boss, could our bombardment have smashed it to smithereens? This place is so small, it couldn’t have escaped. Why can’t we find anything?”

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and said, “Search a little longer, perhaps we weren’t thorough enough.”

Some of the larger concrete blocks couldn’t be moved by human strength. So, Zhou Yuanqiang had his subordinates find several trucks, tied them with steel cables, and pulled them away one by one. He also dispatched mechanical repairmen, who disassembled parts from a dozen excavators, repaired two of them, added fuel, and they rumbled towards the ruins of the old residential area, joining the excavation.

With the help of machinery, the complex was quickly cleared, but still no unusual zombie corpses were found.

Zhou Yuanqiang frowned. He didn’t believe his monitored prey could have escaped just like that. He had all the machinery and soldiers stop their movements, then concentrated his strong sensory abilities, activating the “Lethal Strike” skill to heighten his nerves.

In this state, Zhou Yuanqiang became very serene. Gradually, he heard the faint sound of water in his ears, very slight, drip by drip.

“Wait a minute!” Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly noticed something, as if something was moving beneath, with a frequency like a zombie moving. Occasionally, he could hear a faint sound of touching water. At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang finally reacted, letting out a heavy sigh and saying, “Damn it, why didn’t I think of the underground sewer system?”

Beneath a city, there always exists a vast underground sewer system. These sewers crisscross in all directions, capable of reaching almost every corner of the city. Generally, the scale of underground sewers varies according to the city’s layout during construction. In some foreign cities, like London, their underground sewers can almost form an underground city, massive in scale, often referred to as a “hollowed-out city.”

Qingyuan City, without considering the construction of its subway system, has main sewer channels that are larger than corridors, standing five to six meters high and about three to four meters wide.

As the entire city was uninhabited, and the water supply system was paralyzed, coupled with the almost rainless weather on the wasteland, the sewers had dried up years ago. It was not impossible for zombies to move within them. And from the sounds just now, there was indeed a main sewer channel beneath this residential complex.

Now Zhou Yuanqiang finally understood why this zombie would choose this low-rise old residential area—it was because of the main sewer channel here.

With these discoveries, Zhou Yuanqiang finally smiled and said, “No wonder my instinct told me it wasn’t dead yet. So that’s it. Dig, dig for me, dig this whole area open.”

As Zhou Yuanqiang’s order was given, the two excavators started working, digging at the spot Zhou Yuanqiang pointed to.

The main sewer channels are usually a certain distance below ground. But for some reason, the ground here was very thin. After just a few minutes of excavation, and after clearing a large amount of soil, large concrete structures were exposed. This should be the top of the underground sewer.

To deal with this, Zhou Yuanqiang just gestured. Several demolition soldiers, carrying explosives, ran up. No special skill was needed. They placed the explosives and, after signaling everyone to retreat a safe distance, detonated them. A mushroom cloud soared into the sky, sending concrete debris flying everywhere. After the smoke cleared, a large section of the concrete structure had been blown open, revealing the dark, ominous mouth of the underground sewer.

A foul odor wafted out, almost suffocating. This smell was a mixture of zombie stench, sewer odor, and a moldy scent.

And the dark opening of this underground sewer, like the gaping maw of a monster, waited for prey to walk in automatically. Just thinking about this zombie’s abilities and the terrifying power of its Dark Guards, Zhou Yuanqiang knew that things wouldn’t be so simple.

Chapter 227: The Mystery of Beauty

A soldier poked his head into the opening. Inside, it was pitch black, with very poor visibility. Faintly, he could make out the dry bed of the sewer, with black, cracked mud. Looking further into the depths, he saw shattered, shell-like objects strewn across the ground.

The soldier raised his head and shouted, “No signs of zombies found. It’s very dark down here, get some lights!”

Flashlights were quickly brought over, and three soldiers lay at the opening, shining their lights inside. The shattered, shell-like objects on the ground gleamed under the light.

Further away was a long, straight sewer pipe. The flashlights couldn’t illuminate it clearly, nor could they reach its end.

In the far distance, there was a faint reflection of water, which must have been a small amount of seepage after the water supply system had shut down.

The entire sewer system was extensive and complex, making the situation seem very troublesome. It was impossible to turn the entire city upside down to find it. Moreover, from the current perspective, the sewers were not simple; who knew how many zombies were lurking inside? As Xu Yuhai had mentioned, the Dark Guards were too formidable; their temporary invisibility, coupled with the darkness of the sewers, made them even more dangerous.

Zhou Yuanqiang furrowed his brow, as if remembering something. He turned to Lu Wei beside him and asked, “Where can we find the city’s sewer structural maps?”

Such a massive underground sewer system required annual maintenance, and sometimes new cables had to be buried in the conduits beside the sewer pipes. Without structural maps, how could they dig accurately? How could they maintain the entire sewer system to prevent blockages? Furthermore, there should have been blueprints when it was originally built.

Lu Wei was indeed a native of Qingyuan; he paused before understanding Zhou Yuanqiang’s meaning. He replied, “The government’s Urban Construction Bureau should have them, and some construction companies might also keep them. But for sewers like this, usually one company handles a section, so it would be difficult to find them by searching through companies.”

“Urban Construction Bureau?” Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and said, “Take your men to the Urban Construction Bureau immediately. You must find all the structural design maps for the sewers.”

Lu Wei didn’t hesitate. He nodded and led a few guards onto a Dongfeng Mengshi, speeding away on the bumpy streets. He knew it was already noon, and they had to resolve the sewer zombies before dawn. The most terrifying thing was that these sewers stretched in all directions, allowing the zombies to appear in many places and cause more trouble for the settlement.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t idle either. He contacted Xu Yuhai, instructing him to have the Design Department develop a tracker. His biggest concern was getting lost in the sewers. With a tracker and the design maps, Xu Yuhai and his team could guide the soldiers in the sewers via reconnaissance airships, telling them the correct path and preventing them from getting lost.

Zhou Yuanqiang had faith in the Design Department’s capabilities. He remembered how they had produced dozens of small electronic gadgets in just an hour, outwitting the envious Tian Ying. Now, with the many electronic components he carried, manufacturing a batch of trackers wouldn’t be too difficult.

Across the city, the battle continued. The west district, central district, north district, and south district successively fell into the hands of the settlement.

Subtracting the more than ten thousand casualties, nearly fifty thousand soldiers began to close their net, gradually compressing the zombies’ living space and trapping them in the east district.

However, there weren’t many zombies in the east district to begin with; large numbers had poured into the central, south, and north districts, and many had been killed by bombardments. Now, only about a hundred thousand remained. Although their figures were still seen everywhere on the streets, everyone knew that the extermination of the zombies was only a matter of time.

After repeated bombardments, only half of the fighter jets remained circling in the air. The other half, having exhausted the settlement’s stored bombs, were parked at the airfield, staring longingly at the munitions factory, calling every few minutes, urging them to deliver newly manufactured bombs.

Imagine, at the crucial moment, suddenly running out of bombs, like impotence. Isn’t that torture?

Zhou Yuanqiang would surely cough up blood upon realizing that such a huge reserve of bombs had been squandered by these wasteful guys. This time, DuPont would get rich again, with an order likely worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In their minds, Zhou Yuanqiang, this mysterious Asian man, was a gift from God this year!

More than an hour after they left, Lu Wei and his team finally returned in the Dongfeng Mengshi.

Jumping out of the vehicle, he didn’t even bother wiping the sweat from his forehead. He said, “Chairman, we finally found it! These bastards, they don’t properly store these kinds of documents. They actually put them under a pile of useless archives. Damn it, it took us over an hour to dig them out.”

If the Urban Construction Bureau staff were still around, they would probably shout injustice. In this era of rapid information technology development, such design maps were long stored on computers. These paper design maps were rarely used. What else could they do but store them with useless archives?

Unfortunately, the city’s power grid system was down. Even if Lu Wei thought of this, without electricity, he could only stare frantically at the computers.

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at the several boxes of design blueprints Lu Wei and his team carried down and felt almost dizzy. There were at least a hundred sets of design drawings here. If they had to carry all these documents into the sewers, just lugging them would probably kill people from exhaustion. What was even more maddening was that even if these documents were given to Chen Wenbo and his team, they couldn’t produce electronic structural maps within six hours.

He looked at Lu Wei and asked, “Are the computers and everything in the Urban Construction Bureau still intact?” Lu Wei thought for a moment, then nodded and replied, “The mainframes are basically fine, though some monitors were smashed. Chairman, your meaning is…”

Zhou Yuanqiang said, “Yes. Take your men back to the Urban Construction Bureau. Call for a helicopter. Move all the data, computer mainframes, servers, and everything else back to the settlement. Also, relay my order: tell Chen Wenbo and his team to get ready. Once these documents and mainframe servers are back at the settlement, they have one hour to turn the structural maps into electronic maps and connect them to the trackers.”

Upon receiving the order, Lu Wei hurried off with a few soldiers again. Time was tight; they were racing against every second.

The soldiers, who had completely surrounded the east district, were preparing for the final offensive. For everyone, at this moment, no matter how many casualties or hardships they had endured, at least their efforts had paid off. Victory was at hand. Once the zombies in the east district were annihilated, the battle could be declared over, and humanity would once again set foot in the city, the symbol of human civilization.

By now, every soldier was exhausted, but everyone gritted their teeth and persevered. After all, the allure of the final battle was too great. No hot-blooded man could refuse this ultimate battle for honor.

It must be said that the efficiency of the entire operation was absolutely top-notch. From the moment Zhou Yuanqiang issued the order to the delivery of dozens of trackers, it took only a little over an hour. A locator, similar to a防 (defensive device - likely meant for tracking), also arrived. Unfortunately, its function was merely to pinpoint locations within the city, not global navigation.

“Lu Wei, based on the number of trackers, organize the strongest unit.”

Zhou Yuanqiang dropped this command. He then refused his guards’ escort, ducked into a building, and took out the high-density alloy steel armor from his storage space. Looking at the three-meter-long alloy sword, Zhou Yuanqiang cracked a faint smile.

Yes, the situation in the underground sewers was too complicated. If it were ordinary soldiers, they might not be able to defend against the Dark Guards’ attacks. It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang was being impulsive; with this alloy steel armor, the zombies would be completely helpless against him. Moreover, with the spatial ring allowing him to teleport at any time, if things became too difficult, he could simply escape; there was no real danger.

Zhou Yuanqiang had already refined this armor, adding a machine gun mount to the back to attach a machine gun, and an ammunition belt around his waist to supply the machine gun. Of course, all this was just for show; if there weren’t other people around, Zhou Yuanqiang’s storage space would be even more convenient.

On the chest of the armor, Zhou Yuanqiang spray-painted a colorful umbrella, making the entire suit of armor even more beautiful.

When Zhou Yuanqiang emerged in his armor, all the soldiers outside paused, then erupted in a series of roars. Because at this moment, their Chairman was no longer an ordinary man, but a hero of the settlement, a guardian deity. His superhuman abilities, like those in movies, still felt like a myth, embedded in the hearts of every soldier and every resident of the settlement.

Now, seeing the Chairman emerge in this steel armor, how could it not ignite their passion?

Lu Wei was excited for a moment, then immediately remembered Zhou Yuanqiang’s identity and rushed over. He said, “Chairman, you… what are you planning to do?”

Zhou Yuanqiang merely smiled and said, “Alright, my chief guard, you don’t need to be nervous. With my abilities and this bulletproof armor, what do you have to worry about? Is the unit ready? Time is short; we must depart immediately.”

“But… but…” Lu Wei was speechless, but then, remembering the Chairman’s abilities, he stopped arguing. He pointed to the rows of soldiers lined up nearby and said, “They’ve been selected. They’re the strongest physically and have excellent military skills; they’re elite warriors among the soldiers.”

These soldiers were all wearing full-body bulletproof vests and steel helmets. Through the bulletproof glass, their fervent and resolute eyes could be seen.

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded, walked to the front of the unit, pointed to the nearby opening, and said, “The mission ahead may be a matter of life and death. We are going into the sewers, where terrifying zombies are hidden. Since you are standing here, you know you have made your choice. Now, everyone, follow me, and let’s bravely charge into the zombie’s nest!”

“Charge the nest! Charge the nest!”

The others brought tactical flashlights, which the soldiers skillfully attached to their weapons. To be safe, the trackers were all installed inside their bulletproof vests, and each person was also equipped with backup light sticks. As auxiliary support, more than a dozen units were stationed on the streets above ground. They would wait for orders on the surface. If the battle in the sewers went poorly, they would appear above the combat zone in the sewers, breaching them to provide support.

With preparations complete, Zhou Yuanqiang waved his hand and was the first to slide down into the blasted opening.

As mentioned before, the air inside smelled foul, a mixture of several odors that was hard to bear. As the soldiers descended into the sewers one by one, Zhou Yuanqiang had already somewhat adapted to the smell. He shone his tactical flashlight around and indeed saw broken shell-like objects not far away.

“Could those mutated zombies have emerged from these shells?”

Zhou Yuanqiang frowned, pondering this to himself, then spoke into his communicator, “Command Center, which direction should we go?”

In the Command Center, Qiu Guorui was personally overseeing operations. Upon receiving Zhou Yuanqiang’s communication, he said, “Boss, your front connects to a large network of sewers, and your rear is similar. So I suggest, Boss, you look for any clues down there. If this zombie escaped from the sewers, it will definitely have left traces.”

As Qiu Guorui said, after searching for a few minutes, a soldier shouted, “Chairman, quickly look! There’s some liquid here.”

Zhou Yuanqiang went to investigate. Following the liquid, he quickly found a passage entrance, which connected to the old residential area above. It seemed this zombie had submerged and left from here. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t understand why such a large passage entrance was open here. Didn’t the people in this old residential area used to mind the smell?

But this was not the time to think about such questions. Zhou Yuanqiang observed for a moment, then advanced towards the city’s north, because the liquid trailed all the way to the north.

Zhou Yuanqiang grinned. He had thought it would be very difficult to find their target, but unexpectedly, it had left such a clue. He hefted the heavy machine gun in his hand and said, “The entire team, follow this liquid. The enemy hasn’t escaped for long; we’ll soon see its true form. Stay alert! I’m still waiting to award everyone medals!”

Hearing “medals,” the entire squad’s morale soared, and they advanced cautiously.

Along the way, all the sewers were dry and cracked, with shattered shell-like objects scattered everywhere. Zhou Yuanqiang observed that these fragments were very thin, like dried liquid. From the visible traces, many footprints indicated movement in this area. In the city above, many manhole covers had been opened.

With the design maps, navigation instructions, and the liquid to follow, there was no need to worry about getting lost in these sewers.

After turning several corners, the squad arrived at a wider section of the sewer. Qiu Guorui checked the data and said, “This is the main sewer channel in the central district. All the underground water from the central district collects here and is discharged uniformly. It connects to the drainage ditch in the south district.”

After walking for a few minutes, a soldier leading the way gasped in surprise.

Zhou Yuanqiang took a few steps forward, and the sight that met his eyes immediately left him dumbfounded. The entire sewer was filled with countless half-human-height egg-like structures, at least several hundred of them. These egg bodies were all surrounded by transparent liquid, and through the liquid, human-like figures could be seen inside.

Zhou Yuanqiang swallowed hard and said, “I was wondering why the zombies were multiplying. So this is how they increase in numbers.” Thinking of this method of reproduction, Zhou Yuanqiang’s scalp tingled. If zombies were given enough time, couldn’t they mass-produce?

Fortunately, such a situation had never been heard of before; it must be an extremely rare type of zombie with reproductive capabilities. Otherwise, where would humanity have living space in the world? Such a heaven-defying ability should also have limitations. Just like the Alien Queen in “Alien,” she needed to rely on human bodies to reproduce new Aliens.

“Could this zombie’s reproductive ability also require human assistance to complete?”

Lost in his thoughts, Zhou Yuanqiang waved his hand. The soldiers raised their guns and strafed the egg-like structures, destroying them one by one.

As if sensing something, as soon as these egg bodies were destroyed, a piercing sound abruptly rang out. Faintly, a sense of grief could be felt.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s spirit jolted, and he said, “This zombie is not far from us. Everyone, chase!” He rehung his machine gun on the back of his armor, shouldered the three-meter-long giant sword, and spun through the egg-like structures like a tornado. With the giant sword’s sharpness and Zhou Yuanqiang’s abilities, every egg body was cleanly sliced in half, revealing the disgusting, still-unformed zombies cut into two.

After dealing with this, the entire squad followed the direction of the sound.

The ground forces had also heard the sound and had already begun to surround the area. Therefore, under direction, Zhou Yuanqiang and his team didn’t need to worry about getting lost in the underground sewer channels and quickly approached the location from which the leader-class zombie had just made a sound.

After turning a corner, Zhou Yuanqiang waved his hand and shouted, “Everyone, stay alert!” His powerful sensory abilities told him that the target he had been searching for was just ahead. After the turn, there seemed to be a patch of white ahead. He shone his tactical flashlight in that direction—

“What?!”

Almost everyone seemed enchanted, unable to believe what their eyes saw in that instant. Because around the corner, more than half of a woman’s head was revealed: a face of breathtaking beauty, with a small part hidden behind the corner. But even just this greater half of the face was enough to make people gasp. The soldiers had never seen such a flawless face, especially those eyes, which could easily make one lose their soul.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart also gave a violent leap. He was momentarily stunned, because this face was countless times more perfect, beautiful, and shocking than Jiao’er’s. The two were completely incomparable, as if all of humanity’s beauty was concentrated in this one face. You simply couldn’t find any words to describe the beauty of this face—it was a beauty that instantly captured your soul.

However… Zhou Yuanqiang’s extraordinary perceptive abilities suddenly made him feel an impending sense of danger.

Chapter 228: The Corpse Queen

Zhou Yuanqiang extended his head, his eyes suddenly blinking, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smiling crescent.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuanqiang felt his heart suddenly clench, a sensation as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest. It was like a magical pull, causing him to involuntarily take a few steps forward.

Even Zhou Yuanqiang, a man with far greater self-control and willpower than ordinary people, lost control under that smile and gaze. One could only imagine the soldiers beside him; they had no self-control whatsoever, all walking forward mechanically and foolishly, giggling to themselves.

“Damn it, this isn’t good!” Zhou Yuanqiang snapped back to reality, instantly filled with a trembling chill.

But Zhou Yuanqiang’s reaction was too slow. These elite soldiers were now like idiots, their expressions vacant, their movements stiff and mechanical as they walked forward. Mysteriously, Zhou Yuanqiang felt the air subtly distort, and suddenly, blood spurted out from the bellies of more than a dozen soldiers at the front.

A刀-like mark appeared on their bellies; even their bulletproof vests couldn’t protect them.

Shrieks suddenly echoed through the quiet sewer. The intense pain finally woke these dozen soldiers from their trance. But it was too late. The blood gushing from their bellies, like their very life force, was quickly dissipating, taking their lives with it. Even their strong bodies couldn’t sustain them as they clutched their wounds and softly collapsed.

These ten soldiers were just the beginning. That lightning-fast strike reappeared moments later, targeting another dozen soldiers.

It was like an invisible, sharp blade, piercing mercilessly into the soldiers’ chests or bellies. Some even pierced through their backs. Bulletproof vests were like paper; you couldn’t imagine how sharp this unseen weapon was.

In just a few breaths, out of the elite soldiers, only nine remained standing. The rest were either already dead, twitching, or struggling in pain. But without exception, none had any chance of survival. The wounds were too large, practically ripping open their chests and bellies, exposing severed intestines.

“Damn it, damn it!” Zhou Yuanqiang was on the verge of going mad. With a sudden sidestep, he rushed to the forefront of the remaining nine soldiers. Turning around, his three-meter giant sword swept horizontally. He used the flat side of the blade to push them back, roaring, “Wake up, you bastards!”

The immense force threw the nine men two meters back, where they landed on the dry sludge. With groans of “Ouch!”, they immediately snapped out of their trance, gazing in horror at the bodies of their comrades strewn across the sewer.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s sensory abilities allowed him to easily perceive something approaching him, and a “clink” sound came from his high-density alloy steel armor. The force of the attack was immense, but the steel quality of his armor was beyond what bulletproof vests could compare to. It unexpectedly withstood the elusive strike.

Feeling that he was under attack, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate to swing his giant sword, spinning in a whirl. The three-meter giant sword was just long enough for the six to seven meter wide sewer.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s reaction and speed were too fast, and this spinning attack was too sudden. He felt his giant sword cut through two targets. They were then flung into mid-air. It was only then that Zhou Yuanqiang finally saw what these things were.

The sharp giant sword had cut the small bodies of these Dark Guards into two segments. Under the force, they were swept into the air.

These Dark Guards resembled small women, entirely white. Their palms had long since mutated into sharp daggers. The moment they revealed their bodies, illuminated by the tactical flashlight, these bone daggers flashed with a bloodthirsty glint.

The Dark Guards, cut in two, fell to the ground, their lower halves twitching and trembling, while their upper halves struggled, defiantly crawling towards the beautiful head that had emerged.

The elite soldiers selected were indeed strong-willed. From shock to clarity, from terror to composure, they only took a dozen seconds. Death was too common in the apocalypse; the loss of comrades was almost routine, so its impact wouldn’t show in combat.

The two Dark Guards that appeared were crawling with their upper bodies. Two soldiers didn’t hesitate to raise their guns, shining their tactical flashlights on the creatures’ heads. With two “bangs,” the Dark Guards’ heads were struck by bullets, revealing bullet holes. They collapsed directly into the sludge, never to move again.

Zhou Yuanqiang retreated a few steps, shouting, “Everyone be careful! Don’t get too close. These Dark Guards also have limitations; they won’t leave this gross monster too far. And their invisibility is also temporary.”

From the recently deceased soldiers, this mysterious gross monster had at least a dozen Dark Guards. Don’t be fooled by the empty space; there were over ten invisible Dark Guards silently lurking, ready to deliver a fatal blow to approaching soldiers. “But,” Zhou Yuanqiang smiled, “would their attacks work on me?”

Meanwhile, this beautiful head merely smiled gently as Zhou Yuanqiang swept away the two Dark Guards. Carrying this stunningly beautiful grace, it slowly disappeared around the corner. Following that, a slight tremor indicated that the gross monster was moving.

Zhou Yuanqiang was also confused. Just looking at this beautiful head, it was no different from a human. What would its true appearance be? Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t imagine, but this charm-like ability was indeed powerful. Look at the thirty-six fallen soldiers, once called the elite of elites, now carelessly eliminated by the Dark Guards.

“You follow me, maintain your distance. Only come forward after confirming there’s no danger.”

Zhou Yuanqiang shouted to the remaining nine soldiers behind him and quickly set off in pursuit. Zhou Yuanqiang knew that once he rounded this corner, he would see the gross monster’s true face. He was even a little expectant: what would a gross monster possessing such non-human beauty truly look like? Or, would it be like a human woman? But wasn’t that too big a joke? Looking at that head, with its expressions and eyes, it seemed more human than human. Could a gross monster truly possess such attributes?

Wearing this full set of armor, Zhou Yuanqiang’s speed couldn’t be as fast as if he were unburdened. Yet it wasn’t slow, and in the blink of an eye, he had already crossed the boundary where the soldiers had been ambushed.

For gross monsters without consciousness or emotion, they simply couldn’t distinguish fear or dread. They relied on instinct to attack anything that came close, or anything they saw or heard. It was this characteristic that often allowed humans to easily lure them with various methods into pre-arranged traps.

Zhou Yuanqiang had just directly killed two Dark Guards, but it would absolutely not affect the other Dark Guards’ emotions, because they simply didn’t possess these human emotions. When Zhou Yuanqiang stepped into their attack range, a distortion clearly appeared in the air, and bone daggers shot out like lightning.

Of course, all of this was perceived by Zhou Yuanqiang’s powerful sensory abilities. In the eyes of outsiders, in the darkness, it would be impossible to detect this sudden murderous intent.

Zhou Yuanqiang was waiting for this moment. As a cold laugh emerged in his heart, he once again used his spinning attack. For these invisible Dark Guards, this kind of area-of-effect attack was undoubtedly the most effective method. They could become invisible, but they didn’t completely disappear; they merely became translucent. With Zhou Yuanqiang’s spinning sweep, these approaching Dark Guards had no chance to dodge.

If they were human, perhaps they could roll away or jump to avoid it.

But gross monsters were not human. Relying on instinctual attacks, without consciousness, how would they know this giant sword would bring death? They were like monsters in a game; no matter how slow the player, they wouldn’t evade, but instead, they would approach and attack even more frantically.

With three “clink, clatter” sounds, the bone daggers struck Zhou Yuanqiang’s steel armor. As they recoiled from their strike, Zhou Yuanqiang’s giant sword also arrived. The sharp giant sword, under Zhou Yuanqiang’s strength, became unstoppable, sweeping three more Dark Guards into several pieces at the waist. They were flung against the sewer wall and then fell to the ground after impact.

With his senses amplified, Zhou Yuanqiang muttered to himself, “There are still thirteen. It seems she has as many as eighteen Dark Guards.”

Zhou Yuanqiang paid no attention to the three Dark Guards that hadn’t died, continuing to advance. The soldiers behind would naturally deal with them. In truth, within Zhou Yuanqiang’s several-meter range, with his super strong sensory ability, invisible Dark Guards couldn’t escape his perception. So Zhou Yuanqiang hung his giant sword at his waist, letting it drag on the ground. He then took the machine gun from his back, pulled out a bullet belt from his waist, and connected it.

Within Zhou Yuanqiang’s sensory range, four Dark Guards, sensing his approach, approached him nimbly.

It was a wonderfully strange feeling; with his nerves enhanced dozens of times, his perception was incredibly keen. As the Dark Guards approached, Zhou Yuanqiang aimed the machine gun’s muzzle in the direction of the Dark Guards he perceived and directly pulled the trigger. In an instant, the machine gun spewed tracers, illuminating the sewer with an orange-red glow.

Under the strafing, these four Dark Guards were directly hit by bullets, making them visible, and they were torn to shreds in moments.

“Command center? This gross monster is fleeing in the sewer not far ahead of me. Send people ahead to blow up the sewer and intercept it.” After turning a corner, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t find any trace of the gross monster. Instead, he found a large quantity of liquid on the floor of the sewer, on both side walls, and on the ceiling, seemingly left by the gross monster.

Receiving Zhou Yuanqiang’s order, Qiu Guorui did not hesitate and immediately sent the command to the team leaders in the city.

“Demolition soldiers prepare, the whole team follows me.” Li Junjie, who was responsible for this area and had received the order, quickly passed through a residential area under the command center’s remote guidance. On a section of a street, after confirming that the sewer was below, several demolition soldiers merely measured the sewer’s structure and immediately used tools to drill explosive holes, then began installing explosives.

This kind of work wasn’t very complicated, but this time the requirement from above was to blow up this entire section of the sewer, which correspondingly increased the difficulty.

Fortunately, there was plenty of explosive material. After all, this was one of Chen Xunan’s specialties; the munitions factory under his charge inevitably produced large quantities of such explosives. Several demolition soldiers took out almost all their explosives, arranging them at various structural points, determining the placement and power of each charge.

Li Junjie checked the time and shouted, “Other soldiers, get into defensive positions! Demolition soldiers, hurry up!”

After installing all the explosives, several demolition soldiers quickly ran down the street, soon retreating beyond the blast radius. Unlike artillery shells, everyone immediately ducked down when the demolition team triggered the explosives. A dozen blast points detonated simultaneously, creating an astonishing force that caused everyone’s eardrums to ache. Cement debris rained down, stinging their skin.

The entire section of the street was blown away. Since it wasn’t a main road, the concrete wasn’t very thick and was located on the sidewalk next to the street. So, the power of the explosives directly turned the area into ruins. After blowing away the concrete above, the dark sewer was revealed.

“Quick, quick, set up defenses, set up defenses!”

With the shouts, the squad of only more than 120 soldiers scrambled towards the hole, setting up their machine guns. The three recoilless rifles in the squad were also shouldered, and the soldiers half-crouched, aiming at the opening.

The force of the explosion had blocked half of the other side with cement debris. Based on Zhou Yuanqiang’s estimation of its size, the gross monster had no way to escape through the sewer except through this newly blasted opening.

With the defenses set up above, Zhou Yuanqiang felt much more at ease. Carrying his machine gun, after turning another corner in the sewer, an incredibly foul stench assaulted him. It carried a strong, concentrated smell of decay, almost suffocating.

Zhou Yuanqiang instinctively shone his flashlight forward, only to see the entire several-meter high and several-meter wide sewer space packed with lumps of flesh. It was like countless intertwined snakes coiled into a ball. Enormous, reddish-brown snake-like bodies were shifting, and with every movement, the massive body would displace. In the sewer, you couldn’t tell what it truly was; all that met the eye was a mass of reddish-brown flesh.

“What the hell is this monstrous thing?”

The moving, giant fleshy “intestines” almost made Zhou Yuanqiang vomit. “This is so damn disgusting!” What he saw was probably the most repulsive thing Zhou Yuanqiang had ever encountered in his life. Imagine countless reddish-brown fleshy “intestines,” each thicker than a human waist, all intertwined and mixed together like knotted ropes. Even more terrifying, these fleshy “intestines” were moving like snake bodies, constantly oozing liquids that clung to the walls.

With every extra glance, Zhou Yuanqiang’s stomach would cramp. The breakfast he’d eaten that morning kept threatening to come up his throat.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t be polite to something so disgusting. Carrying his machine gun, he wildly strafed these fleshy “intestines.”

Bullets struck the fleshy “intestines,” tearing through the surface, and columns of blood spurted from the bullet holes. It was like a breadfruit tree in Africa; just scrape off a little bark, and the stored water would gush out. The current situation was the same as a breadfruit tree, but what gushed out were columns of blood.

Under attack, all the fleshy “intestines” suddenly contracted, and a sharp screech abruptly rang out. It was very familiar; it was precisely the same gross monster that was a leader-class monster. While contracting, it suddenly continued to flee down the sewer, but the front was already blocked, and its huge body simply couldn’t pass through. Left with no choice, it abruptly burst out through the blasted opening.

The soldiers guarding above first saw the breathtakingly beautiful head, followed by a long, snake-like neck.

You simply couldn’t believe that beneath such a perfect head, the connecting neck was so hideous and nearly two meters long. As the entire neck fully extended, what then surged out of the opening was the fleshy, reddish-brown body. Like a mainspring-driven snake emerging from its hole, it moved, leaving a trail of blood.

Every soldier who saw this gross monster stood with their mouths agape, unable to believe that such a hybrid could exist in the world. Anyone who saw this gross monster would understand: the face of an angel, the body of a demon—that was how this gross monster was described.

When the gross monster was fully revealed on the street, its head held high, its nearly two-meter-long snake-like neck, its incredibly massive body of intertwined fleshy “intestines,” and the more than a dozen tentacle-like suckers branching from the “intestines” left one speechless. Describing all beauty on its face was not an exaggeration. But similarly, describing all ugliness on the parts below its neck was also not an exaggeration.

Beauty and ugliness were perfectly embodied in this Corpse Queen.

After the entire Corpse Queen fully revealed itself, its head, towering like a game’s man-eating plant, reached nearly ten meters high. Its body of intertwining fleshy “intestines” was the size of a basketball court. Humans seemed like tiny specks before it; even a Giant Zombie would appear dwarfed in front of this Corpse Queen.

The moment it was revealed in the sunlight, its head tilted back, letting out a roar towards the sky. The head, normally the size of an average human, now produced a sound immeasurably louder than human cries. A “squeaking” piercing sound became incredibly grating, and its two-meter-long neck constantly retracted with the roar.

The enormous sound emanated from this elongated neck. If a biologist were present, they would instantly identify that this long neck possessed at least dozens of vocal cords. Furthermore, the constant contraction of the neck would generate resonance, further amplifying the sound.

“Stop it from making sounds, and don’t look at its head!”

Zhou Yuanqiang roared loudly. Some soldiers could still endure the sound, but no one could resist being enchanted if they looked at its face and its eyes. Even upon seeing its hideous body, and having mentally prepared for resistance, they couldn’t refuse this charm-like ability.

But Zhou Yuanqiang spoke too late. This was a face no human could resist, so many soldiers looked at it. In moments, they lost their wits, actually standing up from behind cover and approaching the Corpse Queen. A few soldiers who hadn’t looked at the face were still troubled by the sound, desperately struggling while covering their ears.

More than a dozen thick suckers, at this moment, seemed to come alive, trembling violently. They extended and retracted nimbly in the air, like elephant trunks. As these soldiers walked out of cover, the suckers suddenly whipped out, extending more than ten meters, coiling around one unfortunate soldier. The suction mouth latched on tightly.

With immense suction, the soldier was instantly sucked into a bloody mess, his flesh and blood continuously devoured. Before long, his entire body disappeared into the sucker.

Without aerial support, Li Junjie’s entire squad might have been wiped out by the Corpse Queen’s attack without any ability to retaliate. This was because its area-of-effect attacks and its ability to influence human minds were far beyond what nearby soldiers could handle.

But were humans limited to just these forces? Look at the fighter jets screaming overhead, and in the far distance, recoilless rifles shouldered and aimed at its massive body. Moreover, snipers in tall buildings had already gotten it in their sights. The previous attack had been its last desperate act.

With Qiu Guorui’s calm command to fire, a fighter jet first roared past. An air-to-ground missile detached from beneath its wing, then plunged towards the mountain-like body of fleshy “intestines.” Meanwhile, the snipers, who had already aimed at the beautiful head, didn’t hesitate to pull their triggers, sending bullets flying.

The missile successfully plunged into its fleshy intestinal body. The violent explosion, like a swift blade, shattered the “intestines.” The head, which had no time to react, was simultaneously hit by several heavy sniper rifle rounds, directly transforming into countless pieces of minced meat in the air.

And the last few recoilless rifles fired, their whistling shells utterly transforming the mountain-like body into scattered碎肉 that splattered across the street and both sides of the buildings. Every tree was covered with disgusting strips of flesh. The entire street reeked of a foul, bloody smell combined with the putrid stench unique to gross monsters, making it unbearably noxious.

Among the splatter, many unformed “egg bodies” could be seen within the fleshy “intestines,” also turning into bloody rain in the explosion.

Having lost their core, the last remaining Dark Guards, after revealing themselves from invisibility, immediately collapsed to the ground. Their heads naturally shattered, a survival mode where they lived if their master lived, and died if their master died.

Chapter 229: The Golden Flower on the Banknote

The afternoon air carried a stifling heat. Even if you did nothing but stand still, sweat would drench your clothes in moments.

In the central town of the barren settlement, due to insufficient power that couldn’t supply ordinary residents, no one wanted to stay indoors on such unbearably hot days. Especially over the past three days, people felt the heat grow even more intense, as if their hearts were gripped and roasted over a stove.

Unlike the sparse, newly sprouted leaves of trees planted on the Corridor Streets outside, some trees in the central town’s forest had been growing for forty to fifty years, easily qualifying as towering giants. Every day, whenever they had free time, people would gather in the shade of these trees to escape the heat, play chess, card games, and discuss the current situation. This had become a common sight.

The assault on Greenmount City had entered its third day. With only two or three hours remaining before nightfall, everyone looked anxiously towards the east, where Greenmount City was located.

“Do you think we can take Greenmount City? It’s been three days already. Every day I see the fighter jets taking off and landing, and my heart aches, always feeling heavy.”

“Exactly. No news has come out in these three days. I don’t know what the Commercial Association is thinking. If there’s any situation, they should announce it. If there are difficulties, everyone in our settlement will face them together. Even if we fail, it doesn’t matter. We can try again in another year or two and still have a chance to take Greenmount City.”

“Fail? No way! Look at those fighter jets, flying into the city constantly every day. I think… it won’t be long before good news arrives.”

“What do you know, kid? The more frequently the fighter jets are dispatched, the fiercer and more intense the fighting in the city. It’s truly a fifty-fifty chance who wins or loses.”

A cacophony of voices filled the tree shade, everyone expressing their opinions—some optimistic, some despondent, and some acting as if the sky had fallen. People of all stripes offered their views on this recovery battle. But with no news coming, it seemed no one could convince anyone else.

Wang Qingyang slowly emerged from his courtyard. As he turned onto the street, before even reaching the tree shade, he was spotted by a sharp-eyed person who called out, “Old Wang, Old Wang… come quickly! You’re the most far-sighted among us, and you have a good son working at the Commercial Association headquarters. You must know some inside information.”

“Know what information?” Wang Qingyang remained unhurried, completely ignoring his neighbors, who were like ants on a hot pan.

Li Zelin, who had just called out to Wang Qingyang, said somewhat angrily, “Old fellow, why are you playing dumb? The entire settlement is discussing the same thing right now; how could you not know? Is there some news you’re unwilling to tell us?”

Wang Qingyang rolled his eyes at Li Zelin and said, “What news could I have? I think all of you have too much time on your hands. It’s just that there’s no news from the front. If you ask me, no news is the best news. At least it means the front hasn’t lost ground yet, or is slowly gaining the upper hand.”

Hearing Wang Qingyang’s words, everyone’s spirits lifted. “No news is the best news” was truly a profound truth, far better than hearing bad news, which would be difficult to accept. No news at least proved that there were no problems on the front line.

Almost everyone who had been lacking confidence felt their anxieties halved.

Li Zelin gave a thumbs-up to Wang Qingyang and said, “Old Wang is truly Old Wang, your insight is convincing. So, Old Wang, everyone has different opinions now. In your view, is it possible for us to recover Greenmount City? Look, the neighbors around here are almost arguing over this matter.”

Wang Qingyang smiled calmly. The people nearby immediately made space for him, and some even fanned him with their hands.

“To discuss whether we can recover Greenmount City, if everyone analyzes it, the outcome isn’t difficult to see. Gross monsters, for example, their weakness is air superiority; they have little that can threaten fighter jets. When faced with our settlement’s air fleet, gross monsters can only be bombed to death. Also, we have a 60,000-strong army, well-equipped, and their use of various weapons is incomparable to previous forces. Dealing with gross monsters is like slicing watermelon.”

Wang Qingyang concluded, “In my opinion, recovering Greenmount City is only a matter of time. Furthermore, don’t you know? Chairman Zhou Yuanqiang already arrived in Greenmount City yesterday. With the Chairman personally taking action, how could recovering Greenmount City still be difficult?”

At the mention of Zhou Yuanqiang, a fervent glint flickered in everyone’s eyes, even among those who were already quite old.

Anyone who had experienced the gross monster offensive or seen movies would know about the Chairman’s god-like abilities. His aura, moving freely through endless hordes of gross monsters and taking heads amidst armies of thousands, was deeply etched in everyone’s hearts. His giant sword was even described as the Grim Reaper’s scythe, the bane of gross monsters.

Now, hearing Wang Qingyang say that the Chairman had arrived at the Greenmount City front yesterday, everyone was moved. With the Chairman personally taking action, what could be difficult for him? It now seemed that the original 40% chance of recovering Greenmount City had increased to at least 60% with the Chairman’s intervention.

As they were talking, static crackled through the public address system, like magic, causing everyone who heard it to hold their breath. They knew that using the city-wide broadcast system definitely meant something significant needed to be announced.

And the most significant matter now was the battle to conquer Greenmount City. Undoubtedly, news must have arrived from the front.

Ren Xinyun, taking over Zhou Yuanqiang’s duties, was flushed with excitement, even immense emotion. Her hand holding the microphone trembled as she said in a changed voice, “To all residents of the settlement, the Commercial Association, fifteen minutes ago, officially recovered Greenmount City, occupying the entire city. By Chairman’s order…”

Ren Xinyun’s words were then drowned out by an endless roar of cheers. The combined sound of shouts was like a tsunami, and the entire settlement became an ocean of joy.

Yes, ever since the Corpse Queen was killed, the final offensive in the east district had also intensified fiercely. The roar of fighter jets and the strafing of machine guns systematically eliminated the compressed mass of gross monsters. No further accidents occurred. Without the Corpse Queen’s control, the gross monsters fought purely on instinct, forming chaotic clumps, and even the slightest sound could attract their attention, causing them to scatter in all directions.

After Zhou Yuanqiang took off his power armor, his main concern was naturally the extent of damage to the entire city.

Streets, needless to say, had few intact sections. Many buildings bore some scars, and some large skyscrapers were even half-destroyed. Although this was unavoidable, seeing it clearly, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but sigh in despair. “Damn it, one building, one bomb, and it turns into this. When it has to be completely demolished and rebuilt, how much material and manpower will that take?”

Speaking of the city, Zhou Yuanqiang was most interested in the bank vaults.

Although banks weren’t the primary storage for gold and other precious metals, every bank vault typically held some amount of gold. For instance, in City S, Zhou Yuanqiang had seen a considerable amount of gold reserves in the head office of a certain bank. Sometimes Zhou Yuanqiang wondered, if a conquered city had a gold reserve center, just imagining dozens or hundreds of tons of gold, how spectacular would that be?

Unfortunately, a city like Greenmount City wouldn’t have a gold reserve center. So, for Zhou Yuanqiang to see hundreds or thousands of tons of gold, apart from the People’s Bank Gold Reserve Center in Shanghai, he would have to travel abroad. For example, the United States’ gold reserve center held over several thousand tons of gold.

To use Zhou Yuanqiang’s perverse imagination, if he could move a few thousand tons of gold… needless to say, it was a crazy thought.

Although Greenmount City wouldn’t have a gold reserve center, banks, some gold and silver companies, jewelry stores, and shopping malls all contained large quantities of gold. If the gold from these places were collected, it would definitely not be a small amount. If diamonds, silver, and platinum were added… Zhou Yuanqiang was already drooling.

“Seal off all places related to gold. Assign soldiers to protect all important locations. No one is allowed to enter or exit these places without orders.”

As Zhou Yuanqiang’s order was issued, teams of soldiers began sealing off all banks, gold shops, and other important factories and research institutions.

Currently, apart from soldiers, no other people were present in the entire city. But Zhou Yuanqiang had to guard against soldiers who might succumb to greed. He didn’t want these meritorious individuals to lose their lives over gold and silver, instead of receiving their due recognition.

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t fully understand the apocalypse. While gold was very valuable, it wasn’t the only circulating currency. With the existence of crystals, the allure of gold naturally diminished significantly. Even if someone wanted it, no one would risk stealing it, because simply finding a slightly higher-level gross monster and digging out its crystals would yield a considerable amount of wealth. Why bother with gold? After all, both were currency and could buy things.

It was just Zhou Yuanqiang’s modern mindset at play. He couldn’t use crystals in the modern world, but gold was different; it represented the pinnacle of wealth, so Zhou Yuanqiang naturally coveted it. Perhaps he didn’t realize that even all the gold in Greenmount City combined might only amount to one or two tons, worth about 500 million yuan, which was merely one-tenth of one of his movies.

The largest bank in Greenmount City was probably the ICBC, located in the south district, in the ICBC Building, which was about as tall as the Trade Mansion.

This was the head office of the ICBC in Greenmount City, controlling dozens of its branches and sub-branches throughout the city. Every day, armored cash transport vehicles from the branches and sub-branches would deliver large sums of cash to the head office, and every day, large sums of cash would be transported from here to the various branches and sub-branches, making it ICBC’s financial transit hub.

When Zhou Yuanqiang was young, he often saw bank robbery scenes in Hong Kong movies, where vaults were filled with countless banknotes. Naturally, absurd dreams would arise in his mind, such as his entire home being paved with money, even his bed being built from stacks of cash.

But it was just a dream. For someone like him, without connections, how could he ever truly see a bank vault? Before acquiring the ring, the most money he could touch, or rather, own, was probably only twenty to thirty thousand.

After sealing off the banks, Zhou Yuanqiang’s first order of business, of course, was to rush to this largest bank.

It was impossible to open the vault without triggering the alarm system, but in this apocalyptic world, this city was essentially Zhou Yuanqiang’s property. He simply waved his hand, and demolition experts naturally proceeded to plant explosives directly. In the explosion, the vault door was blown open, and even the vault’s alarm system, which had an independent power supply, had its circuits cut by Zhou Yuanqiang’s orders.

“I wonder if people would call me crazy if I told them I just brazenly blew open a bank vault with a team, and then, amidst the alarms, brazenly led everyone inside?” At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but feel his blood boil. This… this was a bank vault!

Zhou Yuanqiang was the first to enter. The enormous underground vault was as vast as a supermarket. Rows of metal shelves were neatly arranged inside, but instead of supermarket goods, they held stacks upon stacks of perfectly organized cash, densely packed, layer upon layer. Here, all your eyes could see was money, and always money.

“Damn, damn, damn…”

Aside from that, Zhou Yuanqiang could only gulp. The estimated cash stored in this entire vault was at least several hundred million. It truly lived up to being the ICBC’s main vault in Greenmount City. Just seeing the stacks of cash filling the shelves would make you understand what “money” truly was.

Zhou Yuanqiang had billions of dollars, probably even more, but that was just a set of numbers in a bank account. The difference between that and seeing actual cash with your own eyes was like heaven and earth. The shock was immense. Just imagine, several hundred million yuan, how much would that be? What would it look like if it were laid out? It’s unlikely anyone could remain calm under such a monumental sight.

The apocalypse had created a divergence from the original world, but many things remained the same, many things hadn’t changed. Yet, at the same time, many things had.

For example, the money Zhou Yuanqiang was looking at now seemed almost identical to the fifth series of Renminbi at a glance. But when Zhou Yuanqiang rushed to the shelves, picking up a particular stack of money as if examining a beloved treasure, he finally got a clear look at it. Immediately, he felt as if struck by lightning, staring dumbfounded at the stack of money in his hand.

“H-how… how could this be?”

On the Renminbi he held, a blooming golden flower was distinctly embossed over the numerical value, cradling the number in its center. Apart from this, it was identical to the modern fifth series of Renminbi, even down to the individual lines.

Zhou Yuanqiang collapsed, clutching his head. “No, God, this isn’t how you play games with people! My money…”

For the apocalypse, money was already a pile of waste paper. Zhou Yuanqiang’s last shred of hope was shattered because of that single golden flower. It meant this money was still useless, a pile of waste paper even for the modern world. Zhou Yuanqiang’s little plan of taking it back to the modern era to spend was utterly crushed by the golden flower on the numbers!

Chapter 230: Integration

You have to admit, heaven and hell are often just a step away.

Just like Zhou Yuanqiang now, one moment it was heaven, the next it was hell. This shocking pile of banknotes instantly became waste paper, worse than blank paper. Blank paper could still be used, but these colorful banknotes, what could they be used for? For paper mache? They were too small, and no one would want them anyway.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang’s mood hit rock bottom. The previous passion and excitement were doused with a pot of cold water, extinguishing the raging flames.

Fortunately, in a corner of the vault, Zhou Yuanqiang discovered something else that excited him. These were neatly cast gold bars, conforming to standard specifications, displayed on a metal shelf. Although not many, there were 200 to 300 kilograms of them, glittering golden and dazzling to the eye.

“You guys wait outside for a bit…” Zhou Yuanqiang feigned calmness. After the accompanying soldiers exited, he swiped his hand, having already stored all the gold into his storage space. Then he swaggered out of the vault, waved his hand, and said, “Protect the entire banking system well; it will be very important to our Chamber of Commerce in the future.”

A city and a settlement are completely different concepts.

A settlement is like a town or a county seat. It simply cannot compare to a city with a fixed population of 1.6 to 1.7 million and a floating population of over a million. Perhaps five or six Wasteland Settlements combined wouldn’t be as vast as Greenmount City.

Undoubtedly, after retaking the city, there were countless things that needed to be handled in the aftermath.

For example, cleaning up the millions of zombie corpses was already a troublesome matter. For this, on the second day, tens of thousands of ordinary residents had to be dispatched from the Wasteland Settlement to act as temporary corpse collectors, clearing away the zombie corpses from the streets, buildings, and underground sewers.

Moreover, a city is enormous. The scattered zombies that remained also had to be found and eliminated one by one. Sewers, for instance, were too complex, making it very difficult to clear out zombies. Over several days, zombie egg masses were discovered multiple times in various locations, usually numbering in the hundreds. These were all ticking time bombs for the city’s future and absolutely had to be found and destroyed.

In reality, the reason the biochemical virus was able to cause the apocalypse was entirely because it spread globally through various channels right from the start. People with no immunity whatsoever died one after another, turning into zombies. The consequence of this biochemical virus, which suddenly turned most people into zombies, was dozens, or even hundreds of zombies chasing and biting a single surviving human.

Inevitably, the surviving humans would be surrounded and killed.

As time passed, people with a certain level of immunity could already live freely under this sky. Unless directly attacked by a zombie and infected through contact, there was generally no need to worry about any infections occurring.

It was because of this change that in human settlements of the apocalypse, even if hundreds of thousands lived there, anyone infected would quickly be dealt with. Even if zombies appeared within a settlement, they couldn’t stir up any trouble and would quickly be eliminated by ordinary residents or soldiers.

Besides these, many other problems needed to be resolved, such as damaged streets and local fires that had yet to be extinguished. It was impossible for Zhou Yuanqiang alone to solve so many problems. Therefore, as soon as the fighting ceased, helicopters returned to the settlement to transport the pre-prepared staff from various departments to Greenmount City. All matters would be handled by them, divided according to their respective departments. It was believed that with the settlement’s complete departmental system, the entire city could be operated effectively.

In the initial stages of organization, the entire city remained sealed off, not allowing anyone other than Chamber of Commerce employees to enter.

Despite this, large numbers of people in the Wasteland Settlement, after the general mobilization order was lifted, began heading towards Greenmount City, even on foot. They wanted to see the homes they had left five years ago and search for the beautiful memories they held.

On the roads leading into the city, countless people could be seen gathered, pointing and gesturing towards Greenmount City. Whenever vehicles drove on the road and then sped into the city after inspection, it would always trigger a chorus of admiring cheers from the crowd.

It was the Chamber of Commerce’s successful recapture of the city that made its dominant position in the entire settlement impregnable. People were willing to obey the Chamber of Commerce’s orders, even if they longed deeply for their hometowns, and even if there were numerous entry points into the city, making it riddled with loopholes. Yet, people consciously adhered to the Chamber of Commerce’s directives. Without permission, no one took a single step into the city.

According to the Analysis Department’s estimates, it would be at least a month before the settlement could be relocated into the city.

Relocation was not as simple as merely moving people to Greenmount City. A series of plans also needed to be made. Greenmount City was a city capable of accommodating over four million residents, whereas the Wasteland Settlement only had over 400,000 people, which was just about one-tenth of Greenmount City’s capacity. Therefore, residential areas needed to be properly planned. It wasn’t possible for people to pour into the city haphazardly and live wherever they pleased.

The consequence of that could be the entire city falling into chaos, bringing endless trouble for management.

Therefore, according to the Chamber of Commerce’s plan, one of the five districts would be designated as the residential area for the relocated settlement population. This area would also implement the management methods used in the settlement. The other four remaining districts would be sealed off and only opened for residence when the settlement’s population grew to a certain level.

This approach naturally offered benefits like easier management and slow expansion, allowing the management to fully keep pace with the rhythm of development, preventing the Chamber of Commerce’s operations from descending into chaos.

After the relocation, the fate of the Wasteland Settlement, after study and decision, was to be fully developed into the Chamber of Commerce’s military base and fortress. It would become an integrated military base for the air force and army, with formal airfields, official army training bases, and so on. Moreover, military factories like the aircraft factory would also remain in place, belonging to the military base. This would make the entire military base completely independent, able to sustain itself even without support from Greenmount City.

As for Greenmount City, it would gather equipment from various research institutes, agencies, and companies to form a massive Greenmount Research Institute. It would also centralize equipment from various factories, utilizing them uniformly, mobilizing all resources, and begin constructing even larger aircraft factories, airship factories, and armored vehicle factories in Greenmount City.

For example, the Armored Vehicle Factory was a newly established factory. The first step in its planning was not to put the “tank,” this steel behemoth, on the agenda. Instead, it was to design and manufacture new troop carriers specifically for transporting soldiers. The Chamber of Commerce had suffered enough headaches with deploying troops. They couldn’t possibly rely on soldiers’ legs for hundreds of kilometers in the future, could they?

Airships had strong transport capabilities. However, their cost was too high. One airship for troop transport was far less efficient than two troop carriers.

For troop carriers, the preliminary design was similar to a train carriage, equipped with a high-power engine. One troop carrier could deploy over a hundred soldiers to the battlefield at once. Of course, this type of troop carrier also had drawbacks: its excessive size, poor speed, and lack of maneuverability. But for now, in flat terrain like the wasteland, it was perfectly usable.

If the former Wasteland Settlement was a small pond, then Greenmount City now was a river, immeasurably vaster than a small pond.

Perhaps you wouldn’t notice how many resources are everywhere in a city. Just think about how much stuff is piled up in every store and market you’ve seen, and you’ll understand that the resources in a city are simply immense. If Zhou Yuanqiang alone were to carry them, even if he carried something once every minute, it would seem impossible to finish moving all of a city’s resources in less than several years.

Steel, in particular: before the apocalypse, Greenmount City was in a period of economic recovery. Several large development zones were planned and ready to be launched. Large quantities of steel were being transported to Greenmount City from both domestic and international sources. In almost every steel market and in the warehouses of various construction companies, steel was piled up like mountains. All kinds of construction equipment and materials could be seen everywhere.

Originally, all construction companies wanted to seize this large slice of the pie offered by these major development zones. But who would have thought that many buildings were still in the planning stages, and their preparations had just been completed when the apocalypse struck. Now, it seemed only Zhou Yuanqiang would benefit.

Greenmount City also had a large number of electronics factories. Many electronic components that previously needed to be brought from the modern era would, after the recapture of Greenmount City, at least not be a concern for short-term shortages. Even after removing some electronic components damaged due to lack of management and maintenance, the remaining quantity was still astonishing.

To inventory the usable resources in a city was not a simple task. The manpower and time required would be enormous.

But even the preliminary data had left Zhou Yuanqiang wide-eyed and dumbfounded. If all these resources had to be carried by him alone, it would be God knows how long until they were all moved. This also meant that, apart from carrying items with core foreign-held technology, he would have a lot of free time.

When attacking Greenmount City originally, the biggest intention was to lighten his own burden, obtain large quantities of resources, and expand the aircraft factory, among other things.

Now, it seemed this was undoubtedly a very correct choice. The enormous resources would allow the Chamber of Commerce to develop rapidly. At least many previously formulated plans could begin to be implemented and advanced with the assurance of resources. The role of occupying a city could never be compared to that of an ordinary settlement.

If the former Wasteland Settlement was a small boat, then Greenmount City now was a giant ship. It could allow the Chamber of Commerce to sail towards a farther and deeper sea, instead of being confined to this desolate wasteland.

Chapter 231: A New Mode After Level 12

Aside from the enormous amount of supplies, the biggest收获 was naturally the crystals.

There were many types of high-level zombies in the city; Level 7 and Level 8 zombies also succumbed to human firearms and were shot dead. As the zombies in the city were cleared out, workers collecting crystals finally finished excavating the millions of zombies outside the city after half a month of work. The severely decomposed zombie bodies were then burned with gasoline.

In the apocalypse, crystals are an undeniable form of wealth.

Zhou Yuanqiang, who managed the entire Commercial Association’s Main Warehouse, naturally knew how many crystals he had. Previously, the Administration’s crystals had been completely consumed to upgrade his ring, but when zombies attacked the Wasteland Settlement, he restocked with over 600,000 crystals of various levels. Subsequently, the trade in Tianzhou Plain brought in over 400,000 more crystals of different levels.

This was already an enormous crystal fortune, but compared to the harvest from conquering Greenmount City, with over 1.3 million crystals, it was more than the sum of all previous efforts. Standing in the crystal warehouse, an entire warehouse full of crystals, illuminated by the lights, sparkled with a dazzling array of colors.

Zhou Yuanqiang probably had everything except Level 9 crystals and rainbow crystals. Even very rare Level 7 and 8 crystals were already displayed on the storage racks in the crystal warehouse.

Anyone who learned about this crystal fortune would surely go mad, because with the purchasing power of crystals in the apocalypse, there’s no doubt their value far exceeds imagination. Yet, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, while the value was high, for the ring’s upgrade requirements… such a vast amount of crystals seemed like a drop in the bucket.

Currently, Zhou Yuanqiang’s ring is Level 11. Following the pattern of a new skill appearing every three levels, Level 12 would generate another new skill.

From the first three skills, it’s clear that the skills produced by the ring are incredibly practical.

Fatal Blow: Increases neural capacity by 50%, allowing for more precise shooting accuracy. The increase scales with level, improving by 5% per level.

This is an excellent skill. At least in Zhou Yuanqiang’s opinion, it allows him to achieve higher accuracy with firearms. Fatal Blow can be leveled up to Level 10, with a maximum neural capacity increase of 75%. However, he was too short on crystals in the early stages, so Fatal Blow is currently still at Level 1.

Gravity Manipulation: Can release a five-times gravity field with a 15-meter diameter centered on a point. The gravity multiplier increases with level, increasing by one-time gravity per level.

There’s no need to think about it; this skill is absolutely game-changing. Imagine being unaffected within this gravity field while your opponent has to contend with five times the gravity. Unless your ability is five or six times stronger than the user’s, you won’t be affected by the gravity field. But Zhou Yuanqiang’s ability is already 33 times that of an average person, so it’s doubtful if anyone five times stronger than him has appeared in this world yet. Within the range of Gravity Manipulation, even the fastest zombies can only meet their end by Zhou Yuanqiang’s hand.

The third skill is even more monstrous: Permanent Enhancement. Its effect is to permanently strengthen DNA enhancement, allowing the user to use DNA-enhanced abilities at any time, instead of worrying about DNA enhancement suddenly failing as before.

Each of the first three skills is indispensable to Zhou Yuanqiang.

It was precisely because of the excellent performance of the three skills, with each one being stronger than the last, that Zhou Yuanqiang was even more eager to know what kind of skill would appear if he upgraded the ring to Level 12. He was truly looking forward to it.

Unfortunately, when he upgraded the ring to Level 11, almost all the crystals were consumed, making the entire Commercial Association practically bankrupt. If Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t possessed the ability to carry things across space, allowing the Commercial Association to operate with grain and supplies, it’s hard to imagine how a penniless Commercial Association could have maintained the daily needs of over 100,000 people when he first took over.

The matter of upgrading the ring’s level had thus been dragging on.

Although he harvested a massive amount of crystals after the zombie attack, Zhou Yuanqiang sadly discovered that upgrading from Level 11 to Level 12 was like a watershed moment; the crystal energy required suddenly became even more enormous. Even with hundreds of thousands of crystals, he couldn’t upgrade to Level 12.

This discovery, of course, drove Zhou Yuanqiang mad. To earn more crystals, he naturally launched a trade offensive on Tianzhou Plain.

The profits from clothing were indeed astonishingly high, earning Zhou Yuanqiang hundreds of thousands of crystals and making him grin from ear to ear. This huge amount of crystals, combined with his previous harvest, finally met the requirements for the ring’s upgrade. At that moment, Zhou Yuanqiang almost had the impulse to upgrade the ring to Level 12.

However, good things always take time. The changes in Greenmount City forced him to dedicate all his energy to improving the Commercial Association’s combat capabilities. For a month, he ran around day and night, acting as a laborer, bringing countless supplies to the Wasteland Settlement, all to preserve his enterprise in the apocalypse.

Fortunately, it was successful. The Commercial Association, equipped with numerous combat aircraft, was simply incomparable to the zombies. After three days of arduous fighting, the city was finally recaptured.

After the recapture, a series of events kept Zhou Yuanqiang spinning like a top. With abundant supplies, Zhou Yuanqiang no longer needed to painstakingly transport resources. However, the scope of managing the entire city was simply too vast, far beyond what a settlement could compare to. He had numerous matters to handle; almost every department faced headaches, and the final decisions rested with Zhou Yuanqiang.

Now that various departments were finally managing and handling everything, Zhou Yuanqiang felt relieved. Seeing such a massive store of crystals, his once dormant heart naturally became active again. His desire to upgrade the ring to Level 12 grew even stronger.

Greenmount City’s new Main Warehouse is enormous, located in the least damaged south district, connected to the west district where people decided to live, and comprised of the south district’s subdivided South 27th District.

The security here was naturally strict. The diligent Zheng Daguan, naturally, with the expansion of the Main Warehouse, also saw his authority become even more extraordinary. Now he was in charge of a thousand soldiers in the entire Main Warehouse, overseeing all its affairs. He enjoyed the trust of Chairman Zhou Yuanqiang. In ancient terms, he was a close minister to the emperor, the most trusted confidant.

The crystal warehouse is a sub-warehouse within the Main Warehouse, and next to it is the gold warehouse.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s Level 11 ring storage space is currently 2048 cubic meters, which is extremely large. However, his storage space contains many things Zhou Yuanqiang needs, such as escape tools, weapons, survival rations and water, tents, quilts, clothes, and so on. These already occupy several hundred cubic meters of space.

Gold doesn’t take up much space, but the problem is that Zhou Yuanqiang can’t keep putting it in his storage space, then taking it out when carrying supplies, and putting it back in after transferring the supplies. Doing that would be too much trouble. Anyway, it’s kept in the Main Warehouse, guarded by heavily armed troops, so there’s no need to worry about anyone in the settlement being capable of breaking in and carrying off the gold.

As for the crystals, their quantity was simply too vast. Zhou Yuanqiang only selected crystals Level 6 and above to put into his storage space; all other Level 1 to 5 crystals were piled in the crystal warehouse.

Since he decided to upgrade the ring to Level 12, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally had to go to the crystal warehouse.

The diligent Zheng Daguan led a dozen soldiers to greet him. Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, was very fond of the loyal Zheng Daguan. He pulled out a pack of high-grade cigarettes specially made by the Wilderness Cigarette Factory for ministerial-level officials from his pocket, placed them in Zheng Daguan’s thick hand, patted his shoulder, and said, “Daguan, you’ve really been working too hard.”

Zheng Daguan’s greatest pleasure was a good smoke, especially these high-grade cigarettes. The cigarette factory produced them in small quantities, and most of the Commercial Association’s department heads were old smokers who treasured them like gold. For ordinary subordinates, there was no hope of getting any. So, almost every time Zhou Yuanqiang came to the warehouse, he would bring him a pack, which naturally made Zheng Daguan immensely grateful.

He unceremoniously took the cigarettes, sniffed them, and said, “Chairman, aren’t you spoiling my taste? How will I bear the taste of other cigarettes later?”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed and kicked Zheng Daguan’s backside, scolding, “Don’t be a cheeky beggar when you’ve already gotten a good deal. I specifically saved these cigarettes for you, so don’t be ungrateful.” Zheng Daguan just chuckled foolishly, quickly putting the cigarettes into his pocket, and laughed heartily, “Chairman, this entire cigarette factory is your original capital. You can have as much as you want, isn’t it all up to you?”

Zhou Yuanqiang froze for a moment, then burst out laughing, “You scoundrel, Zheng Daguan, when did you become so dishonest? Alright then, someday I’ll go to the cigarette factory and tell them to increase the production of these cigarettes and provide them as welfare to you all. How’s that? Are you satisfied now? Look at your ambition, how many times have you brought this up?”

Zheng Daguan just kept laughing, saying, “That would be wonderful, truly wonderful.”

When Zhou Yuanqiang arrived at the crystal warehouse, he was about to step inside, but suddenly remembered something, stopped, and turning to Zheng Daguan who was following him, he gossiped, “I heard you’re seeing a woman?”

Zheng Daguan nodded and said, “There is such a thing, but she’s not my wife yet. She hasn’t agreed to marry a rough fellow like me. We’re just dating, meeting up when we have time. It’s not a big deal, you don’t need to worry, Chairman.”

“Worry about what?” Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and said, “I’m just curious, huh. Next time you have a chance, bring her to my office to meet me.” With that, he smiled and entered the crystal warehouse. Naturally, Zheng Daguan and his men had no right to enter and all stood guard in front of the closed crystal warehouse gate.

The crystal warehouse was simply Zhou Yuanqiang’s name for the warehouse storing crystals. The warehouse’s actual name should be Warehouse Number Nine.

The Main Warehouse has its own independent generator sets, ensuring that the exterior of every warehouse is fully lit with abundant lighting. At night, all the lights are turned on, illuminating the outside of the warehouses as white as winter snow. Not to mention people, even a fly passing by would cast a shadow, so there’s no need to worry about anyone secretly sneaking into the warehouse.

After Zhou Yuanqiang entered the crystal warehouse, its internal structure didn’t immediately reveal stacks of crystals. Instead, after passing through several password-protected doors, he could formally enter the center of the warehouse, where the crystals were kept.

When the lights came on, a dreamy glow flickered everywhere, as if entering a fantastical fairytale world.

The crystals resembled diamonds somewhat, with colors like red, yellow, white, black, orange, green, and so on. Imagine almost two million diamonds of different colors laid out before you, shining under the lights. What would it look like? This scene surpasses anyone’s imagination, as even diamond-producing countries in reality couldn’t present such a sight.

Sometimes, Zhou Yuanqiang really wondered if these crystals were a type of diamond.

In modern times, a five-carat diamond can cost over one to two million. These crystals vary in size; small ones are two or three carats, while large ones reach over ten carats. With nearly two million of them, what an immense fortune that would be? Rich enough to rival a nation would no longer be a myth; even a typical great power wouldn’t be as wealthy as you.

But the problem is, these are definitely not diamonds. Just pick one up, and you can see the flowing energy inside with your naked eye.

“Tsk, tsk, truly perfect.” Zhou Yuanqiang’s hands glided over the crystals on the metal shelves, filled with admiration for them. If you hadn’t seen their disgusting appearance when extracted, you would never imagine such pure crystals could come from a zombie’s head.

Looking at these crystals, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but think maliciously, “In modern times, even the most chaste woman would turn into a wild, passionate lover under these dreamy crystals, wouldn’t she? Wouldn’t anyone she pursued immediately fall into her hands? But what a pity, these crystals…”

Zhou Yuanqiang waved his hand into the void, and the crystals on the shelves vanished into thin air. In just a moment, the dazzling glow in the warehouse disappeared, returning to ordinary lamplight.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t be sure how many crystals were needed to upgrade the ring to Level 12, so he collected all the crystals from the crystal warehouse into his storage space. Anyway, when absorbed, the ring would only take enough energy for the upgrade. To upgrade to Level 13, Zhou Yuanqiang would need to activate it with his mind, and only then would it absorb again, so there was no need to worry about wasting crystals.

“It’s a good thing everything in the Commercial Association belongs to me. Otherwise, with such a massive amount of crystals, how long would it take to earn them?”

Zhou Yuanqiang just had a slight headache contemplating future ring levels. He took a deep breath and mentally gave the command: “Absorb crystals…”

In the next second, a large portion of the crystals in his storage space vanished. On the ring’s information panel, the previously dimmed experience bar turned orange-yellow, and the “100%” figure made Zhou Yuanqiang happy. Without hesitation, he said, “Confirm ring level upgrade…”

As his thought dropped, the ring’s information panel, the experience bar suddenly dimmed again, and the experience number turned to 0%.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart also quickened with the dimming of the experience bar. The feeling that came with the ring upgrade made him feel a little lightheaded. But this time, there was no sharp pain like during Permanent Enhancement; it was very comfortable, his mind clear, and his entire being became exceptionally calm.

As this comfortable sensation slowly faded, Zhou Yuanqiang’s consciousness had just entered the ring’s information panel when a window suddenly popped up, and text slowly appeared on the information panel:

“Are you feeling that leveling up is getting harder? Are you feeling that the crystals you acquire cannot satisfy your needs? Level 12 will be a new world; you will find that you are merely a beginner user. The ring’s evaluation of you is that of a newly qualified user. You must advance toward becoming an excellent user, a perfect user, a heroic user…”

Seeing this paragraph, Zhou Yuanqiang was completely speechless. What the heck was this? But he also seemed to realize that the ring must have changed. He continued to read.

As Zhou Yuanqiang expected, more precisely, the ring had split into another upgrade mode.

Ring Upgrade Mode 1: Acquire crystals and use their energy to meet the ring’s upgrade requirements.

Ring Upgrade Mode 2: Complete tasks. After completing tasks randomly generated by the ring, acquire the energy needed for ring upgrades. The amount of experience gained for ring upgrades will vary based on difficulty and completion evaluation.

At the very end of this Ring Upgrade Mode 2, there was a small line of text: Once a task is retrieved, there will be a time limit. If it cannot be completed within the time limit, the degree of task failure will be judged according to the completion progress, and different failure penalties will be given to the task recipient.

If the previous line of text made Zhou Yuanqiang overjoyed, the small line of text at the end was like an ice cave, emanating a chilling cold that made him tremble.

Zhou Yuanqiang read it several times, shaking his head and muttering to himself, “What the hell does this mean? What’s going on with this ring’s function?” Yes, Zhou Yuanqiang was a bit confused. The second upgrade mode was simply an overbearing mode.

You don’t have to accept a task, but once you do, you must complete it, or there will be a penalty.

As for what the penalty was, it wasn’t specified. Based on Zhou Yuanqiang’s guess, it would only be displayed when he accepted a task. As for how much experience would be gained upon completion, it was already clearly stated that it would be given according to the difficulty and the evaluation during the completion process.

The difficulty of acquiring crystals was indeed growing, and the crystals needed for upgrades would increase exponentially. Zhou Yuanqiang had previously thought that, at this rate of increase, upgrading the ring to Level 13 or 14 might only take one or two years of crystal collection. But the problem was… what about levels beyond Level 14? How would he upgrade then?

Now the new experience acquisition method undoubtedly solved this problem, but after reading the description, Zhou Yuanqiang hesitated. Without knowing what the penalty was, the method of acquiring crystals felt much more reassuring.

But when Zhou Yuanqiang focused his mind on the crystal energy needed for Level 13, he was struck speechless as if by lightning, exclaiming, “No way? It’s actually twenty times that of Level 12, I… I…”

He stammered a few times, unable to make sense of it.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang almost felt like crying. To go from Level 11 to Level 12 took nearly two million crystals, more than half of the total. If upgrading to Level 13 required twenty times that amount, it meant Zhou Yuanqiang would need to find at least thirty million crystals of different levels.

“Damn it, do you think crystals are just rocks or sand in the wasteland? Just lying around everywhere? My heavens, one zombie only has one crystal. Even if a province has a Corpse Queen that can breed zombies, it’s only two or three hundred million crystals at most…”

Zhou Yuanqiang was going crazy. Even if he could kill all the zombies in the entire province and collect the crystals, how many supplies would be consumed and how massive an army would be needed to hunt down two to three hundred million zombies? Upgrading with crystals was almost like a bottomless pit… no matter how many crystals, it wouldn’t be enough to upgrade.

But fortunately, at least upgrading with crystals still offered hope, just that this hope was… too slim. But it was still an upgrade method, wasn’t it?

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, this second method of gaining experience was probably just a supplementary upgrade method given by the ring because the first method became too extreme in the later stages. From the current perspective, it seemed to be the only way to gain experience.

Zhou Yuanqiang was somewhat confused. Why did he have to constantly upgrade the ring’s level? Did his responsibility, by using this ring and gaining its abilities, solely lie in upgrading the ring’s level? And as the ring upgraded, his own abilities would grow stronger?

It seemed… like a cyclical relationship of utilization.

Shaking his head, Zhou Yuanqiang smiled bitterly and said, “Forget it, I don’t need to think about that problem right now. Let’s see what this task mode is all about!”

Activating the task retrieval function with his mind, a line of three question marks quickly appeared on the information panel in his brain. Although there was no “retrieve” button like in a game, Zhou Yuanqiang knew that as soon as his mind wanted to retrieve a task, a panel would pop up asking him to confirm again. As long as he confirmed a second time, the task would be considered retrieved.

“No, the task is still unknown? Do I have to wait until someone accepts it before the task description, including difficulty, appears?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was so frustrated, he angrily said, “What kind of broken mode is this? If it gives me a task to go to Mars, do I have to start building a spaceship and land on Mars? Or, am I supposed to go to the deepest part of the ocean and write ‘XX was here’?”

But the calmed Zhou Yuanqiang knew that what was mentioned above was unlikely to happen.

The ring provided a new mode, and the tasks it gave out were naturally determined by the user’s ability. It couldn’t exceed the user’s ability too much. Otherwise, if the task couldn’t be completed, how could the ring upgrade? The ring had recognized its master; if the user died, it couldn’t find another user.

Looking at these three question marks, Zhou Yuanqiang hesitated: “Should I accept one and see?”

Since there wasn’t much information to help Zhou Yuanqiang understand this mode, the best way was to accept a task, and everything would naturally become clear. However, Zhou Yuanqiang hesitated for a moment and finally gave up, for a simple reason: Zhou Yuanqiang himself was not ready.

Greenmount City had only recently been recaptured, the relocation of the settlement was underway, tens of thousands of lost soldiers needed to be re-recruited and trained, expended artillery shells and other items needed replenishment, and the city required repairs. Numerous factories were breaking ground. The west district, having been officially designated as the residential area after the settlement’s relocation, was also undergoing intense planning.

It could be said that not a single person in the entire settlement was idle; everyone had a pile of work to complete, keeping them incredibly busy.

In this situation, Zhou Yuanqiang dared not rashly accept tasks, because he simply couldn’t spare any additional resources to help himself. Before he could determine what type of task it was, Zhou Yuanqiang dared not face the potential penalties, because he also didn’t know what the penalties would be.

To use an analogy from malicious martial arts, if cultivation fails, one is directly forced to castrate oneself… If that were really the case, wouldn’t he be finished? Could a man who had that cut off still be called a man? He might as well just bash his head against a wall and die.

Withdrawing his mind from the information panel, Zhou Yuanqiang looked bitterly at the empty crystal warehouse. Of the nearly two million crystals, less than half remained. He had originally wanted to take out the crystals from his storage space and put them back in the warehouse, but then he thought about it—only several hundred thousand crystals, stacked up, wouldn’t take up much space. Now that his level had increased and his space had doubled, it was better to keep them on hand.

One cannot travel without money.

These crystals, in the apocalypse, were one of the hardest circulating currencies, alongside gold. Carrying these crystals on him would provide some confidence, wouldn’t it? Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want the scenario of a hero being thwarted by a single copper coin to happen to him.

Just as he was about to leave the warehouse, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly realized that he had been so engrossed in contemplating the task mode that he hadn’t yet checked what skill Level 12 had granted him.

With an excited heart, Zhou Yuanqiang quickly found the location of the skill.

The skill’s name was very ordinary, nothing particularly outstanding, but when Zhou Yuanqiang saw the skill’s description, tears suddenly flowed down. Not a flood of tears, but tears of emotion, because he realized that all his effort, risking his life to upgrade the ring to Level 12, was undoubtedly the right choice. This skill was the best reward for his hard work.

As the saying goes, “Heaven helps those who help themselves,” and this was precisely it.

(Where are everyone’s Monthly Votes? If you vote, I’ll tell you what this skill is… 555~ Can’t we break a hundred Monthly Votes today? Please vote with your Monthly Votes! This is a 7000-character chapter typed out little by little while enduring a stiff neck. If it’s not credit, it’s at least hard work, right?)

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Chapter 232: Promotional Poster

When the Commercial Association officially announced its relocation to the west district, hundreds of thousands of people erupted in a frenzy. Everyone flooded the streets, celebrating with acquaintances and strangers alike. Afterward, the crowds on the nine Corridor Streets dispersed, each person rushing home to pack their belongings and prepare for the move.

In truth, from the moment Greenmount City was reclaimed, everyone knew this day would come and had been waiting for it.

The census a week prior had made it clear to everyone that moving into the city was no longer a distant dream. The census primarily offered residents a choice: to settle in residential communities or high-rise apartments. They would choose their future living environment according to their own preferences.

Greenmount City was a newly emerging city. The main reason for choosing the west district was its dense residential buildings, numerous residential areas, and a considerable number of private gardens.

Originally, the plan offered ordinary residents three choices: residential communities, high-rise apartments, and finally, private gardens. However, the Commercial Association later considered that there were outstanding individuals in various industries who had made significant contributions to the association and whose social status should be highlighted. Thus, private gardens, being the best environment with the most ideal layouts and fully furnished, naturally became rewards for those who had contributed.

Private gardens would be uniformly arranged by the Commercial Association, allocated by size and location based on the magnitude of contributions. After all, private gardens also had different grades, didn’t they?

The new Commercial Association headquarters would be located in the west district’s ultra-five-star government building. In fact, before the apocalypse, this massive government building had only been in use for less than three months, because the interior decoration was too luxurious, exceeding five-star standards. From its completion two years prior, the central government had delayed approving its use. Finally, with the help of a certain official, its use was approved. Now, it was a bargain for the Commercial Association; everything inside was virtually brand new and not even slightly damaged.

The first time Zhou Yuanqiang entered the vast complex that was now the Commercial Association headquarters, he was stunned by the interior decoration.

“It’s too luxurious. I really don’t know if this place is for work or for enjoyment.” This sentiment probably wasn’t exclusive to Zhou Yuanqiang; it was likely shared by anyone entering the building. It was said that this massive complex cost 2.8 billion to build, including the sprawling government plaza in front, covering a total area of 250,000 square meters. How magnificent was that?

The government complex wasn’t just for offices; it also included extensive residential buildings and a large government leisure park at the rear. Just the enormous Workers’ Lake made one marvel at the nation’s wealth—a government in an inland city being so extravagant. It truly couldn’t be compared to other barbaric lands.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t particularly concerned about his living arrangements. He didn’t choose the large villa complex selected for him by the Commercial Association. Instead, he requested to live within the Commercial Association headquarters, just as he had before. After several unsuccessful suggestions from the Commercial Association’s planning department, they could only comply with Zhou Yuanqiang’s request, picking the most ideal location within the headquarters. They combined five apartments, creating a living space exceeding 800 square meters, which became Zhou Yuanqiang’s home in Greenmount City.

With Zhou Yuanqiang leading the way, some people at the部长 and deputy部长 level, despite some secretly wanting to move into villas, thought: if even the Chairman lives here, wouldn’t living in a villa seem like putting oneself above others? In this Commercial Association, are you superior to the Chairman? What kind of concept is that? The newly established military police wouldn’t mind inviting you to have tea with ancestors.

Precisely because Zhou Yuanqiang set the example, all management personnel at the部長 level in the Commercial Association resided near Zhou Yuanqiang. Other levels also chose to live in the residential area behind the Commercial Association headquarters, or in private gardens. Even more lived like ordinary residents, in residential communities or high-rise apartments.

On the day of the relocation, the sight of hundreds of thousands of people, dragging their children and families, was absolutely unforgettable. This continuous stream of people on the highway, like ants relocating, connected Greenmount City and the Wasteland Settlement.

The morning sun wasn’t hot. Excited people walked, discussing their future lives. Occasionally, someone would weep amidst laughter. This emotion of having been away from home for too long made them wish they had wings to fly directly into the city.

Although many people wouldn’t be able to live in their original homes with this arrangement, being able to live in the city, to return to their homeland, was already immensely satisfying. They naturally understood and appreciated the Commercial Association’s approach; nothing can be accomplished without rules. For the Commercial Association to develop, it needed a feasible and comprehensive set of management regulations.

What’s more, the Commercial Association had already announced that anyone who had previously lived in Greenmount City, upon providing their detailed address, would get one opportunity to return home and retrieve items of sentimental value. With this provision alone, what more could they be unsatisfied with? And people firmly believed that as the Commercial Association grew stronger and larger, it would eventually open up the other four districts and revitalize the entire city.

The Commercial Association had been preparing for a month and a half; it wouldn’t have executed the relocation plan without readiness.

Take the most basic water supply system. After immense effort, the paralyzed water supply system was finally restored. The price Zhou Yuanqiang paid was the purchase of dozens of high-power generator sets to provide dedicated electricity for the water supply system.

Water was resolved, but for the electricity problem, Zhou Yuanqiang currently couldn’t find a good solution.

Greenmount City’s electricity had always been supplied by the Lijiang Power Station in Lijiang City, south of Yuanshan City, over 400 kilometers from Greenmount City. Many of the high-voltage transmission lines in between were damaged. Restoring electricity would be incredibly difficult, or rather, beyond reach. The Commercial Association currently lacked the ability to extend its reach that far, so for this repair, they could only look on helplessly.

The Commercial Association’s plan was to build its own solar power plants, wind power plants, and also nuclear power plants.

The wasteland was abundant with strong sunlight and vast areas for construction, making it an ideal location for a solar power plant. However, to supply electricity for a city, building such a solar power plant would be a huge undertaking. With the Commercial Association’s current development, providing sufficient manpower would be incredibly difficult.

A nuclear power plant was merely an idea. The Commercial Association lacked talent in this area, and even if they had the equipment for a nuclear power plant, they had no one to assemble it. It remained merely a plan, to be implemented as soon as capabilities allowed.

Overall, solar power plants and wind power plants seemed more reliable.

Zhou Yuanqiang had inquired about some successful international solar power plant cases and had contacted a German company specializing in solar power plant construction. After providing Greenmount City’s data, their response was very positive: such a solar power plant could definitely be built and provide sufficient power output.

Generator sets could produce enormous electricity, but it was still far from enough for the city’s consumption. So, there was no hesitation; the construction of two 50-megawatt solar power plants was approved by Zhou Yuanqiang, and the Commercial Association officially sanctioned its launch. However, some lacking equipment and materials would require Zhou Yuanqiang to find solutions in the modern world; with plenty of cash, it shouldn’t be a difficult task.

Although the solar power plants were launched, they couldn’t realistically be put into operation within the current year. People would still have to endure half a year of lights-out nights.

As more and more projects were launched, the Commercial Association’s Human Resources Department began to go crazy.

Consider the Commercial Association’s structure: the independent military bases, officially renamed Wasteland Military Base, required immense manpower. The aircraft factory and Airship Factory within the military base alone had tens of thousands of people. Add to that the huge logistics personnel in the military base, the personnel in the plantation, etc., and it absolutely required a large amount of manpower.

Now, the Commercial Association was officially building a second aircraft factory, a second Airship Factory, and an Armored Vehicle Factory in Greenmount City… all the way to the current solar power plants. Which one of these didn’t require tens of thousands of workers? After a careful calculation, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, seemingly with over 400,000 people, actually had a manpower shortage of over 200,000. For a time, human resources became incredibly precious.

The news that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had officially occupied Greenmount City had been kept under wraps. Even the closest Tianzhou Plain had not been informed.

It wasn’t that the Commercial Association didn’t want to spread the news, but rather that its preparatory work wasn’t yet in place. Rashly disseminating this news would certainly cause chaos for the Commercial Association. Never underestimate people’s longing for the city, especially in the gloomy era of the apocalypse. Reclaiming a city represented the resurgence of human civilization. This single fact alone would attract people to Greenmount City by any means necessary.

Another attracting factor was probably the city’s housing and other aspects.

Consider the city’s supplies; how many families’ clothes were still wearable and intact? Obtaining a housing allocation meant inheriting all rights and property of that allocated home. Everything inside would be yours. Think about the lives people lived now, without even decent clothes. Compared to that, the result would be stark.

The city had many, many other attractions. For example, a government capable of occupying a city must possess strong power, and security would be guaranteed.

This point was undoubtedly the most appealing. In the apocalypse, life is as cheap as grass. Threats from humans and from zombies constantly put lives at risk. Who doesn’t want to live? Who doesn’t want to find a stable and safe place to live? If people, tired and fed up with displacement, knew about this, they would find ways to flock to Greenmount City, no matter the difficulties.

As the Commercial Association’s preparations were completed and the relocation of former residents concluded, the entire west district of Greenmount City entered a period of stability. Inevitably, the manpower problem landed on Zhou Yuanqiang’s desk.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s office was the most luxurious, largest, and best in the entire Commercial Association. At 280 square meters, it was beyond imagination. Originally, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to be so extravagant, but the problem was, if he didn’t use it, who would dare? As Ren Xinyun said, if he didn’t use it, no one would dare, and it would go to waste.

The relationship between Ren Xinyun and Zhou Yuanqiang was already established, but she still served as Zhou Yuanqiang’s secretary, helping him handle various affairs.

There was always a certain ambiguous relationship between a manager and a secretary, whether real or imagined; outsiders’ imaginations would certainly categorize it as “mistress.” Now, the relationship with Ren Xinyun added more fun to the office.

Zhou Yuanqiang admitted that he was a bit lewd, and he and Ren Xinyun had done some ridiculous things. For example, on the office desk, on the chair, on the sofa, on the floor… they had enacted battles between men and women. This feeling was indeed different from what could be experienced in bed, no wonder so many people liked this kind of excitement.

Ren Xinyun’s clothes were mostly acquired from internationally renowned brand stores in Greenmount City. As the Chairman’s woman, she naturally had the right to choose first. Today, she was dressed very sexily, her long legs tightly encased in flesh-colored stockings, especially when tidying the small coffee table in the lounge area, that short skirt and翘臀… made Zhou Yuanqiang feel another surge of excitement. He almost couldn’t resist lifting it and taking her right then and there.

However, thinking about the pile of current issues, his interest waned considerably under the stress.

“Sigh, being the Chairman isn’t easy…” Zhou Yuanqiang sighed, then picked up the Human Resources Department’s report, rubbing his temples, and muttered, “These people in Human Resources are really something. If there’s no one, go find them! Sending the report to me, can I conjure people out of thin air? If every department were like this, I’d need 24 hours, without eating or drinking, just to deal with these matters.”

Hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, Ren Xinyun, who had just finished tidying up the messy documents beside him, covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, “Chairman, you should be content. Look at your daily work; apart from a few important things requiring your signature, what else have you done?” As she said this, her face naturally flushed slightly, thinking of Zhou Yuanqiang’s frequent requests… Oh, it was truly embarrassing.

Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, glaring at the slightly flushed Ren Xinyun, and smiled, saying, “Tell me, what exactly do I do every day?”

Ren Xinyun turned her head away, ignoring the desire burning in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, and said, “You should still deal with this manpower problem when you have time. Look, people are needed everywhere now; many institutions are barely running as it is. It might be okay for the short term, but over time, problems will definitely arise.”

Zhou Yuanqiang was also troubled. He chewed on his pen, his brows furrowed.

The manpower problem was actually easy to solve; it just needed Zhou Yuanqiang to make the final decision. In Tianzhou Plain, there were hundreds of thousands of people, and with the Commercial Association’s current military strength, conquering them was not impossible. But Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to do that; raising a butcher’s knife against humanity was not his desire.

Besides Tianzhou Plain, according to information provided by Yang Shun, there was a market that formed west of his former Breadfruit Village every month. What was even more incredible was the existence of slave-based settlements there, which often traded weapons, grain, raw materials, and crystals for a large number of people. Some settlements, due to lack of grain or weapons, would choose to exchange people in their distress.

Yang Shun had done this a few times before. For instance, in the matter of seizing Yuanshan City, if Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t intervened in time, tens of thousands of prisoners would probably have been traded for weapons by him.

Yang Shun had never been to this slave-based settlement. He heard it was over 100 kilometers west of the market and had a population of 70,000 to 80,000. Being a slave society, Yang Shun couldn’t imagine what kind of society it was, but judging by the slave system, the living conditions of the people there couldn’t be good. Many words.

The apocalypse was a deformed society; you should never doubt the emergence of slavery.

Take Zhou Yuanqiang, for instance: if he wished, the entire Greenmount City could immediately transform into a slave system. As for resistance? The suppression by tens of thousands of soldiers was something ordinary residents couldn’t resist. It was just that Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to and wouldn’t do it. But just because Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t do it, didn’t guarantee someone else wouldn’t, right? After all, in slave-based settlements, power was truly immense; they could execute you without any reason if they wanted you dead.

Although the entire Commercial Association seemed to be Zhou Yuanqiang’s property, he dared not arrogantly claim it. Yet, in these slave-based settlements, they could loudly declare that everything belonged to them.

“Hmm, with the city’s appeal, spreading the news should still attract people. Tianzhou Plain is good, but we can’t touch it now. They can contain tens of millions of zombies on Tianzhou Plain. If they all joined Greenmount City, I might have to face the pressure of those tens of millions of zombies.”

Zhou Yuanqiang thought silently, “Since Tianzhou Plain can’t be touched, then, based on the current information, we can only spread the news to the area Yang Shun mentioned. Hmm, besides this slave-based settlement, didn’t Yang Shun say there were several other settlements? Their populations vary, but combined, they are also important human resources, aren’t they?”

With a decision made, the proposal was naturally handed over to the Commercial Association’s departments to formulate a plan.

If it were still in the Wasteland Settlement, military force might have been necessary, but now with Greenmount City, force was not what the Commercial Association desired. So, they could only use “soft power.” For example, propaganda, enticing them to join voluntarily, became the Commercial Association’s primary goal.

Soon, according to the needs of propaganda, a promotional poster was freshly produced by the Commercial Association’s planning department.

On this promotional poster, Greenmount City’s tall old government building was depicted, with more than a dozen soldiers planting the Commercial Association’s seven-colored umbrella flag on top. In the sky, several massive airships slowly glided by, casting huge shadows onto the streets below, reflecting the streets filled with zombie corpses. A large formation of aircraft roared past beneath the airships…

Chapter 233: The Mission

Don’t be fooled; this might seem like a simple promotional poster, but everything within it held a profound meaning.

For example, the old government building of Greenmount City, with the seven-colored umbrella flags planted by soldiers, represented occupation and the identity of the occupying force. The airships slowly gliding across the sky conveyed a deep sense of awe and visual impact. The vast fleet of aircraft was the most profound element, symbolizing the power of the seven-colored umbrella and its ability to guarantee everyone’s safety.

The poster didn’t feature any stirring declarations, only a few understated lines of text: “Humanity’s glory is reconfirmed, the civilization of yesteryear returns to human hands, prosperous cities have been occupied, humanity is on the verge of rising, reclaiming the civilization that belongs to it.”

From these lines, you couldn’t deduce much. If not for the date on the poster, you wouldn’t believe this was a post-apocalyptic poster; you’d think it was a promotional poster for some old movie. There was no mention of a desire for more people, yet simply by looking at this poster, you would be captivated, yearning for Greenmount City…

Relying solely on this one promotional poster wasn’t the most perfect propaganda method, so a second and third poster appeared consecutively.

The second poster depicted the west district of Greenmount City: people strolled leisurely on the streets, groups of elderly people played chess under the shade of trees, children chased each other playfully in front of shops, cars drove by on the main roads, and teams of soldiers patrolled, street guards stood at their posts, and patrol officers moved about.

It showcased to the world the stable and peaceful life in Greenmount City, revealing the gradual return of humanity’s past prosperity.

The third poster was a scene of bustling activity. The previously abandoned farmland of Greenmount City was being revitalized by machinery… Countless people were busy in the fields, preparing rows of plowed land, planting the grain of hope for human survival. In the far distance beyond the farmland, a cloud of factory chimneys could be seen, with huge smokestacks emitting plumes of white smoke…

This poster displayed a beautiful future for Greenmount City to those suffering from hunger; here, there would be no starvation, only boundless prosperity.

The appearance of these three posters, working together, was enough to convey all necessary information about Greenmount City to the world. When Zhou Yuanqiang saw these three meticulously crafted posters, he couldn’t help but praise them. If people in the apocalypse truly yearned for a stable life, this would be a refuge they couldn’t refuse.

The posters’ purpose was to convey everything about Greenmount City, laden with promotional intent. Once these three posters were decided upon, Greenmount City’s printing factory began printing them in large quantities. However, how to promote them and through what channels remained a question to be considered.

Currently, the Commercial Association only had information about a few locations, and Tianzhou Plain was not among them. The places available for promotion thus became limited, at most the few places Yang Shun had mentioned. Beyond that, if the posters were to spread further, they would have to activate the exploration plan that had been halted due to the occupation of Greenmount City.

The exploration plan was a commercial market-grabbing strategy announced by Zhou Yuanqiang.

Don’t underestimate this exploration plan; it would be a very important plan for the Commercial Association. The exploration plan would drive market economy, promote the discovery of raw materials, and encourage the exploration of human settlements, along with a series of other things related to the Commercial Association’s own development. Although the Commercial Association was indeed abundant in resources after occupying Greenmount City, there were also more places where these resources were needed. They might last for half a year or a year, but what about after that?

Being prepared for a rainy day had always been one of the Commercial Association’s core philosophies. To go further, one must plan far ahead.

The implementation of the exploration plan was a vast systems engineering project. It involved too many things, such as the distribution of benefits, rewards for discoveries, the awarding of medals, and the planning of achievements. These were just the basics; it would also involve later market operations, personnel safety, types of transportation, and so on. Finally, there was the management of exploration personnel and their weapons and equipment.

To manage the exploration plan, the Commercial Association had to establish a new department, the Exploration Department, to ensure the plan was implemented more efficiently.

As mentioned before, to become an explorer, one must obtain an exploration permit issued by the Commercial Association. This was not a restriction but a form of protection. Explorers must undergo training and pass to receive their exploration permit. The training curriculum included personal qualities, safety awareness, wilderness survival skills, interpersonal communication, mastery of vehicles, and more.

Without this, if everyone rushed to explore, the dangers of death would be too great in the perilous environment of the apocalypse. The apocalypse already had a small population, and the Commercial Association was unwilling to see such deaths.

Despite the strict requirements for exploration, a large number of people still signed up; out of over 400,000 people, more than 20,000 registered.

Upon receiving this data, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but lament the weight of profit in people’s hearts, surpassing even life and death. Exploration was dangerous, but it was directly proportional to the rewards. As long as you explored and found a new settlement, then… congratulations! The medal issued by the Commercial Association, along with 5% of the trade volume for the next three years, would make you one of the wealthiest and most respected people.

Of course, finding new settlements might be very difficult.

But that’s alright; if you can’t get the big share, you can still get a small one. For example, discovering areas without zombies, or materials that are easy to obtain—these all represent immense wealth. Or, accepting commissions from private factories and companies in Greenmount City to fulfill their demand for certain raw materials; the remuneration for this was also very generous.

In fact, the Exploration Department and the Mercenary Department had some overlapping业务, so they were straightforwardly merged, with the Mercenary Department falling under the Exploration Department to form a single entity.

The role of the Mercenary Department had become very small now. After all, with the Commercial Association’s weapon management system, all firearms acquired by people were registered. Coupled with the stable work available now, who would risk becoming a mercenary when they could eat well and dress warmly? Naturally, the once-flourishing mercenary system began to slowly decline. Currently, fewer than a thousand mercenaries were still registered.

The implementation of the exploration plan revitalized the mercenary system, giving it a new spring. They would be hired by explorers to ensure their safety.

According to the Exploration Department’s regulations, if discoveries were made, mercenaries would also receive rewards. These discovery rewards were not exclusive to explorers, thus ensuring the mercenaries’ enthusiasm and willingness to accept employment from explorers. While it meant explorers would share their profits, the effective guarantee of their safety made it worthwhile.

Exploration training took three months. This included the first month when Zhou Yuanqiang proposed it, the month spent preparing to occupy Greenmount City, and the month of relocation. This amounted to exactly three months. This also meant that the first batch of explorers had officially graduated.

Perhaps due to the strong physiques of people in the apocalypse, out of the 20,000 who registered and the 13,000 who actually came to study, 5,000 successfully graduated.

Don’t underestimate these 5,000 people. Considering the strictness and difficulty of the explorer exams, this was an astonishing graduation rate. Furthermore, 5,000 explorers represented a huge workforce for the exploration plan.

The Airship Factory had designed their latest exploration-class airship: 78 meters long, with a nose diameter of 17 meters, capable of carrying 16 personnel. It was equipped with four heavy machine guns (front, rear, left, and right) and six bomb launchers, making it an armed exploration airship. Compared to the previous exploration airship which was 30 meters long and 5 meters in diameter, this was a qualitative leap.

A total of thirty exploration-class airships were manufactured, all to be deployed for exploration.

With only thirty exploration-class airships, plus the twenty small exploration airships built earlier, this meant that the number of airships available for rent to explorers was limited. Only a few people could embark on exploration, and most could only use ground transportation for short-distance exploration.

The Commercial Association also offered good rewards for the discovery of wild animals, which was most suitable for small exploration teams.

After all this busyness, everything in the Commercial Association finally got back on track, and Zhou Yuanqiang finally had time to explore the mysteries within his spatial ring.

Zhou Yuanqiang had been longing for this mission mode for a long time. One idle morning, he hid himself in his residence, lying lazily on the bed. Jiao’er and Ren Xinyun had long since gone out for a stroll; the newly reopened commercial streets in the west district were indeed very appealing to women.

On the bedside table, there was a bottle of red wine, just taken from the refrigerator. The Commercial Association headquarters provided 24-hour electricity, so the furniture in Zhou Yuanqiang’s residence, like the refrigerator, had become functional. Of course, the television… with no channels, it was merely a pretty decoration.

After a light sip of the chilled red wine, Zhou Yuanqiang entered the ring’s information panel in his mind.

Nothing inside had changed; it was still the same as he’d last seen it. Zhou Yuanqiang directly switched to the mission panel, looking at the three question marks. Honestly, Zhou Yuanqiang felt a pang of frustration again, making him restless and a bit powerless.

Consider this: those three question marks represented too many unknowns. You would never know what mission you were accepting, what its requirements were, or what the penalty would be. At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart involuntarily pounded, exactly like the feeling of waiting for lottery results.

“Accept mission…” Zhou Yuanqiang felt his mental utterance tremble, like a child who had done something wrong, waiting for punishment.

Naturally, a confirmation window popped up. Zhou Yuanqiang took a deep breath, then mentally said, “Confirm.”

With Zhou Yuanqiang’s final confirmation, the entire panel, which had only shown three question marks, began to emit a faint glow. From its previous rigid appearance, it became vibrant. Densely packed mission descriptions appeared on it, along with the reward experience points and the penalty for mission failure.

The answer was revealed. Zhou Yuanqiang knew there was no turning back. He carefully read the mission description on the panel.

“In this terrifying apocalypse, zombies run rampant among humanity. Do you often feel lonely? Go out… discover new human settlements, promote the survival site under your leadership, and let them know that you have grown into a qualified leader, with sufficient ability to bring them a stable and prosperous life.

Mission requirement: Within one month, discover at least one human activity area with a population of no less than 20,000 people, and successfully convince over 5,000 people to join your leadership.

Mission reward: Ring experience increased by 25%; Mission failure: Randomly eradicate 1,000 to 3,000 people under your rule.”

After reading all this, Zhou Yuanqiang stood dumbfounded, shouting, “What… what the hell kind of mission is this?!” He felt entirely as if he were playing a game, yet everything currently happening, including the coldness of the red wine on the bedside table, was so real, simultaneously telling him that this was not a dream, but a true and tangible existence.

Alright, if even this spatial ring could appear, breaking all theories of time and space, making time travel as simple as drinking water, then what else could he not accept? What bothered Zhou Yuanqiang, however, was the eradication of 1,000 to 3,000 people under his rule – that was terrifying.

Just think, in the apocalypse, the population was already scarce, and thousands of people being brutally killed was utterly cruel.

At the same time, Zhou Yuanqiang breathed a sigh of relief. At least the penalty wasn’t directed at himself. To put it irresponsibly, if the mission wasn’t completed, people would die, as if they had sacrificed themselves in battle against zombies. One or two thousand people would not fundamentally harm the Commercial Association, which currently had over 400,000 people.

Honestly, this mission wasn’t too difficult. Discovering at least one human activity area with a population of no less than 20,000 within one month — up to this point, it would be easy to complete.

But the last part, successfully convincing over 5,000 people to join the Commercial Association’s rule, would be somewhat difficult. Every settlement had its ruling class. While many people might agree to Zhou Yuanqiang bringing 5,000 people out, how could these ruling classes possibly agree?

Fortunately, the mission didn’t specify the method, meaning it only cared about the outcome, not the process.

Thinking of his exploration plan and propaganda plan, Zhou Yuanqiang seemed to understand something and slapped his head, saying, “It seems the appearance of this mission is highly related to what I’m currently doing. For example, the Commercial Association is carrying out the exploration plan, and the mission requires me to go out. And the propaganda poster plan is precisely to attract more people to join us, so the mission requires me to get 5,000 people to join.”

This realization made Zhou Yuanqiang grin foolishly, because he found that if the pattern truly was like this, he could have a certain degree of control over the missions, preventing them from deviating from his grasp and giving him impossible tasks.

Thinking of this not-so-difficult mission being able to boost his experience by 25%, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly drooled. Based on the crystal energy needed for upgrading, this was worth seven or eight million crystals – an incredibly generous mission reward.

Zhou Yuanqiang studied it for a bit longer and discovered what seemed like a loophole: the 5,000 people required by the mission didn’t necessarily have to be found within a settlement’s population. It just meant that as long as 5,000 people joined within that month, it counted as completing one part of the mission.

“Tsk tsk, if it comes down to it, I’ll figure out a way to get a group of people from Tianzhou Plain to join, won’t that also complete this objective?”

Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly felt incredibly relaxed. The fear he originally had for the mission was cast aside at this moment; that feeling of ease was truly comforting. He exited the information panel in his mind, poured himself another glass of red wine, and drank it in one gulp, enjoying the refreshing icy coolness.

Getting out of bed, he put the remaining red wine back in the refrigerator. Zhou Yuanqiang tidied his clothes and muttered to himself, “With this upgrading method, if I work harder, it won’t be long until I can advance another level. Currently at level 12, I have over 4,000 square meters of storage space. If I upgrade two more levels…”

Zhou Yuanqiang started to look foolish again, because he realized that if the ring upgraded to level fourteen, he could store fighter jets inside. Calculating by the length and height of a fighter jet, he could carry several of them. Just imagine, carrying fighter jets in his ring – how crazy would that be? It would probably scare a whole bunch of people to death just by taking one out!

Of course, that wasn’t the most important reason. The most important reason was Zhou’s wicked idea, which began to target a certain country across the Pacific. It was said that their fighter jets were the most advanced? He wondered if he stole a few, would they fully display their nature as global police? Or perhaps loudly declare… they had suffered the greatest terrorist attack in prehistory?

This idea, and the thrill of getting away with it, just thinking about it made Zhou Yuanqiang’s blood boil.

“It’s a pity, while a stealth bomber’s length could fit, its wingspan is over fifty meters, so it wouldn’t fit in the storage space. Otherwise… I heard their airports are exposed, and there aren’t many defensive forces. If I stole a few, wouldn’t they cry themselves to death? I just wonder if a world war would break out? After all, stealth bomber technology has too much strategic significance. Who knows if the Americans would snap and lash out after losing them?”

The more Zhou Yuanqiang thought, the more excited he became. The storage space being able to carry fighter jets also meant that his arms business would step onto the historical stage. He could transport fighter jets manufactured by the Commercial Association to the modern world, in exchange for a large amount of needed supplies and so on, which would then lead to the production of even more fighter jets.

Like a cycle, many highly restricted items could be obtained through arms deals, and the Commercial Association’s power would only grow larger and larger…

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head, pulling himself out of his fantasy, and sighed, “Mere illusions, mere illusions. I’m only level twelve now, and there’s a long way to go to level fourteen. I should focus on figuring out how to complete this mission and get that 25% upgrade experience before I consider these delightful things…”

Chapter 234: Number 5000

The first airship from Yuanqiang Commercial Association was 125 meters long and 43 meters wide at the head. It looked like a big fatty, more purely a transport airship. In contrast, the exploration airship, at 78 meters long and 17 meters wide at the head, looked like a lean figure. Its slender airship envelope allowed the exploration airship to achieve superior speed, but at the cost of significantly reducing its carrying capacity.

Compared to the hundred-person capacity of the first airship, the sixteen-person capacity of the Type-1 exploration airship seemed rather stingy. However, in terms of speed, the exploration airship reached 158 kilometers per hour, which the transport airship couldn’t match. Specifically, the exploration airship was almost a combat-grade exploration airship; equipping it with weapons naturally reduced the number of passengers it could carry.

Due to the unknown dangers of the exploration industry, the Commercial Association had to approve the installation of two recoilless cannons on the exploration airship to enhance its survivability.

As numerous promotional posters were printed and distributed to every explorer, they were tasked with spreading these posters through various means during their explorations. In the Commercial Association’s words, this was to launch a carpet bombing of advertisements, striving to let every settlement, big or small, know about the recapture of Greenmount City.

With over 400,000 residents, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association could truly be called a super settlement. Therefore, even if an entire large settlement decided to join, the Commercial Association wouldn’t worry about them becoming too powerful. With the Commercial Association’s capabilities, as soon as they joined, they could quickly be assimilated.

The Exploration Department was not located within the Commercial Association headquarters. Instead, it was in District 11 of the west district, which had been renamed Exploration Plaza.

Today was an ordinary day for most people, but for some, it became immensely important. This was because today was the official day for the Exploration Department to accept applications for leasing exploration airships. Explorers with exploration permits nearly flooded Exploration Plaza, turning it into a sea of people.

The redesign of Exploration Plaza was quite interesting. In the center of the giant plaza stood a model sculpture of an exploration airship. The seven-colored umbrella on top could display magical light under a projector. Inside the gondola, a statue of Zhou Yuanqiang was placed, dressed as an explorer, with an exploration permit bearing the number 0 on his chest. His eyes gazed into the distance through a telescope, seemingly exploring something.

At this moment, in Exploration Plaza, people wearing exploration permits were enthusiastically shouting, seemingly recruiting team members to form exploration teams.

“The Fire Wolf Exploration Team is recruiting! This team is powerful, with a member who ranked seventh in the exploration exam. Three spots are left! Capable brothers, don’t miss out!”

“Heavenly Bird Exploration Team is recruiting! Our team has just been formed and urgently needs top experts. I ranked thirty-third in the exploration exam, absolutely capable of leading everyone to obtain their first explorer medal. Plus, I used to be an experienced backpacker, familiar with the terrain around here, definitely the best guide…”

“Recruiting, recruiting! Beauty Exploration Team is recruiting! Only female explorers, male explorers please do not bother us…”

In the chaotic Exploration Plaza, shouts echoed everywhere, and countless teams were formed in a short amount of time. According to the Exploration Department’s regulations, due to the scarcity of exploration airships in the early stages, only teams would have the opportunity to acquire leasing rights. Moreover, renting an airship required a substantial amount of crystals. It was indeed difficult for an individual to afford, so forming a team and splitting the cost was the best solution.

Furthermore, those who had obtained exploration permits were all elite individuals. Whether in combat power or other abilities, they were far superior to ordinary people. Forming teams would further increase their chances of survival, and they would have support in case of danger.

The current scene was somewhat like forming parties for dungeons or groups in a game, everything filled with a Western fantasy atmosphere.

With only thirty large and twenty small exploration airships, supply clearly barely met demand. It was not easy to pass the review and obtain the airship leasing rights. Precisely because of this, some who knew they couldn’t afford the lease and that their chances of success were slim didn’t compete for the airships. Instead, they made signs…

“Ground Exploration Team recruiting explorers! As long as you are an explorer, you can join! Maximum of 50 people. Once full, we depart immediately by vehicle.”

“Our team has six excellent performance cars and is sincerely recruiting members. Let’s explore familiar yet unknown territories together, discover everything overlooked. Our slogan: Like ants, clear out everything we see and discover…”

Compared to teams directly targeting airships, the requirements for ground exploration teams were much simpler. They barely needed to spend money; they just needed to join a team, then register with the Exploration Department. Once approved, they could depart. The only drawback was perhaps facing the danger of gross monsters. Hence, mercenaries’ most important clients also came from ground exploration teams.

Airship teams definitely aimed for large, lucrative targets like settlements, while ground teams had more varied goals. Finding a settlement was good, but if not, it didn’t matter; raw materials and the like would also be their targets.

Anyway, with the communicators issued by the Exploration Department, within a 600-kilometer range, if a certain amount of raw materials were found, and there weren’t too many gross monsters present, they could call the Exploration Department. After confirming the location, the Exploration Department would dispatch an airship to transport these discovered raw materials back. Rewards would then be given based on the amount of raw materials. Accumulating a certain amount could even lead to earning a medal.

To put it aptly, airship teams were specialized in fighting bosses, while ground teams specialized in hunting minor gross monsters and elite gross monsters.

While ground teams didn’t have to fight to the death over airship leases, the competition was fierce for teams aspiring to obtain airship leasing rights. No one knew the Exploration Department’s approval criteria, so they could only focus on enhancing their team’s overall strength, trying their best to recruit explorers with higher-numbered exploration permits to boost their team’s competitiveness.

The exploration permit numbers were indeed issued based on each person’s abilities and their scores in the assessment.

The Lan surname was also very rare. Lan Jianbo, at least in Greenmount City, couldn’t find another person with the surname Lan. This meant that among these hundreds of thousands of people, he was the only Lan living in Greenmount City. Lan Jianbo was very young. His parents had given him a strong body, which was his greatest asset for surviving the apocalypse.

The emergence of the exploration system suddenly awakened him. With his physical fitness and previous education, he stood out in exploration training. In the exam, he relied on his powerful strength, fighting through more than 13,000 people to achieve the ninth-place ranking.

Lan Jianbo truly admired the eight people ahead of him, because he knew how difficult it all was.

Now was the time to realize his long-held dream. Lan Jianbo was keenly watching every move of the Exploration Department. With his strength, his ninth-place ranking made him absolutely one of the most sought-after individuals. The Exploration Department did not announce who took first place, which was a very mysterious matter. Naturally, the second-place individual became the most prominent figure.

Guan Shanwu, who ranked third, also invited Lan Jianbo, but Lan Jianbo politely declined. This was because Lan Jianbo’s dream was to first become an excellent exploration leader, and only then an excellent explorer. Accepting Guan Shanwu’s invitation would certainly make him an excellent explorer, but absolutely not an excellent exploration leader.

It was with this dream that Lan Jianbo formed his own Blue Sky Exploration Team.

Lan Jianbo’s requirements for personnel didn’t actually focus on their ranking, because he knew that while rankings were important, many people in the exam were extremely powerful but simply didn’t perform exceptionally well. If you only looked at the numbers, you would definitely miss out on a lot of elite talent.

With Lan Jianbo’s ninth-place status, recruiting people wasn’t very difficult. After all, people with higher rankings naturally had a greater chance of obtaining airship leasing rights—that was the effect of their ranking.

With his own discernment, Lan Jianbo was very confident. So, among the explorers who came to sign up, he quickly recruited several very capable explorers. An airship, excluding the crew, could carry 16 people, meaning the maximum number of members for a team was 16.

Lan Jianbo’s greatest joy wasn’t about gaining immense profit; his greatest joy was experiencing the thrill of exploration. Therefore, he didn’t share the mindset of others where fewer members meant greater personal gain. Quite the opposite, he wanted to recruit more members to help him complete one exploration after another. Whatever he gained from exploration was merely to better secure his livelihood and fund his next expedition.

Lan Jianbo had too many fantasies about exploration. Even while recruiting members, his mind wouldn’t be idle; he had already begun planning the direction of his own exploration path. As for the recruitment work, the previously recruited members naturally assisted him, making things much easier for Lan Jianbo.

“Excuse me, do you still need explorers here?”

The sound of this voice brought Lan Jianbo back from his reverie. It was a tall, thin young man speaking, with very spirited eyes. Although he seemed very frail, the feeling he gave Lan Jianbo was somewhat peculiar, almost airy, as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind.

However, Lan Jianbo knew that anyone who could obtain an exploration permit was not as simple as they appeared. Otherwise, why did only 5,000 out of 13,000 people successfully graduate? He merely nodded and said, “Yes, we still need a few more people. If you’re interested, you can give it a try.”

The other party nodded, took out his exploration permit from his pocket, and said, “This is my exploration permit.”

Lan Jianbo took it, and when he saw the number on the exploration permit, he was stunned. He strangely scrutinized the person in front of him and said, “Number 5000? Heh heh, what a coincidence. You ranked last among five thousand people. I have to say, your luck…”

This young man was, of course, Zhou Yuanqiang in disguise. He had learned eight or nine tenths of Jiao’er’s makeup skills, so changing his appearance was very simple. As for the exploration permit in his hand, Zhou Yuanqiang was quite conflicted. Of all the numbers, why did he have to get number 5000? Didn’t that mean he was the last among the five thousand?

Actually, Zhou Yuanqiang had three exploration permits in total. Number 5000 was just one of them. Just as the number 0 exploration permit in the statue counted as one, there was also a number 1 exploration permit that few people knew about. With Zhou Yuanqiang’s authority, it was naturally easy for him to keep the identity of the first-place individual a secret.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to come here to show off; it was that the mission he received had been pending for several days, and he hadn’t found an opportunity to go out and complete it. It wasn’t that he was busy, but too many people were watching him. The pressure of wanting to leave Greenmount City was immense; people like Chen Jianliang would never agree. After all, exploration was too risky, and Zhou Yuanqiang’s status was different. What if something went wrong?

Because of this, Zhou Yuanqiang had to find an opportunity, put on makeup, changed his appearance, and snuck out. His idea was simple: blend into a team and complete the ring mission.

Seeing Lan Jianbo, who had exploration permit number 9, say this, Zhou Yuanqiang shrugged helplessly and said, “There’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s not a bad thing either. Among five thousand people, only I got this number, so it counts as luck.” He flexed his seemingly loose muscles and said, “My strength is still very strong, so I wouldn’t be ranked last, would I? Of course, someone always has to get the last spot. I’m just making a sacrifice and taking it for the unluckiest person.”

Zhou Yuanqiang spoke the truth, but it made Lan Jianbo’s team members behind him burst into laughter. A female explorer, who was indeed very formidable, stretched out her arm and compared it with Zhou Yuanqiang’s, chuckling, “You call that muscle? I even suspect you bribed the examiner.”

Zhou Yuanqiang feigned surprise and said, “You can’t just assert that. Bribery is a serious crime in the Commercial Association’s code of law.” He mysteriously smiled at Lan Jianbo and said, “Leader Lan, I have a small connection in the Commercial Association. While I can’t guarantee you’ll definitely get the airship leasing rights, I can certainly increase your chances.”

Although Lan Jianbo was a man of principles, he hesitated on this matter and didn’t insist. He said, “If you can help our team obtain this qualification, you’ll be a member of our Blue Sky Exploration Team.” In Lan Jianbo’s heart, he was willing to take even a useless person if they could provide that connection.

The fierce female explorer, however, didn’t believe him and said, “You’re just bragging, aren’t you? Doesn’t everyone know that all functional departments of the Commercial Association only uphold principles and don’t care about people, money, or even relatives? Even if you have connections, under the Commercial Association’s strict laws, they wouldn’t dare get involved with you, would they? The military police are not to be trifled with.”

Zhou Yuanqiang became smug, mainly because the code of law was his own initiative and had been very effective. He said, “You wouldn’t know, would you? The code of law is the code of law, but sometimes small, harmless favors can still be granted, as long as they don’t violate principles. With Leader Lan’s strength, getting airship leasing rights shouldn’t be a big problem. In such a situation, what’s a little favor worth?”

He winked at Lan Jianbo and said, “Leader Lan, I’ll go arrange things with my contact. You gather enough team members as soon as possible. Once the list of qualifiers is announced, we’ll depart immediately.”

A gleam flashed in Lan Jianbo’s eyes. He said, “Alright, since you’re so confident, I’ll trust you this once.” He waved his hand and said, “Okay, we’re still short five people. Everyone, shout a bit more, I believe we’ll finish recruiting soon.”

Zhou Yuanqiang slipped in and out of the crowd like an eel. Once he squeezed out of the plaza, he found an uninhabited spot, took out the communicator from his storage space, found Minister Mei Chenglin’s number in the Exploration Department, bypassed the central office’s password mechanism, and reported his exclusive password. Only then did the Chairman’s communication channel open, and after the signal was encrypted, he finally connected with Mei Chenglin.

This seemed somewhat complicated, but its advantage lay in security, ensuring that the recipient could verify the caller’s identity as the Chairman.

However, truly important matters still required additional procedures; a mere phone call couldn’t command crucial functional departments.

Mei Chenglin was also stunned when he received the Chairman’s call. He immediately shot up from his office chair, becoming extremely respectful, and said, “Yes, I am Mei Chenglin. How may I help you, Chairman?” The few staff members nearby who were reporting their work, upon hearing it was the Chairman, tried their best to straighten their backs, even though Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t see them.

Zhou Yuanqiang said, “Minister Mei, there’s no need to be so nervous. I know you’ve done excellent work. Well, nothing else, just wanted to ask, when will the airship leasing rights be confirmed?” Mei Chenglin answered without hesitation, “Chairman, our review mechanism will close applications at 12 PM noon. In the afternoon… all eligible teams will be confirmed, and the leasing rights will be issued.”

Nodding, Zhou Yuanqiang said, “Minister Mei, when you receive an application from Lan Jianbo, whose exploration permit number is 9, please expedite the approval. Also, don’t let anyone else know about this matter.”

Although Mei Chenglin didn’t know what this was about, the Chairman’s instructions naturally had the Chairman’s reasons. So he nodded without hesitation and said, “Please rest assured, Chairman, I will handle this matter well.” After hanging up the phone, he still couldn’t understand why Lan Jianbo, with exploration permit number 9, was connected to the Chairman. Hmm, he’d have someone investigate later. If there really was a connection, he would need to give him more consideration.

Being personally called by the Chairman, Mei Chenglin naturally dared not slack off. He sat back in his chair, thought for a moment, and said to one of the staff members, “Xiao Yang, which of the exploration airships is the best?”

Yang Li was responsible for the exploration airship data, so he was naturally very clear. He said, “Minister, the best exploration airship is probably Exploration 5. Its size hasn’t changed, but the key is that its interior has some improvements. In tests, its performance is the best.”

Mei Chenglin leaned back in his chair, his two fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk, making a crisp sound.

After a short period of consideration, he said, “Xiao Yang, reserve the Exploration 5 airship. Once an application is received from the person with exploration permit number 9, allocate the Exploration 5 to the person named Lan Jianbo. Hmm, this is an order from the Chairman, you must handle it perfectly, and keep it confidential, understand?”

Yang Li nodded, also a bit excited, and said, “Minister, don’t worry, I will personally oversee this matter.”

Having dealt with these matters, Zhou Yuanqiang frowned again, looking at the bustling Exploration Plaza, and with a wry smile, squeezed back into the crowd.

Actually, it wasn’t Zhou Yuanqiang’s choice to pick Lan Jianbo. He had tried several teams, but with his number 5000 permit, they wouldn’t even give him a glance, immediately knocking him out without any chance. As Zhou Yuanqiang grumbled, “This is basically a modern corporate interview. Education isn’t the most important thing, but the first hurdle is education. If your education isn’t enough, no matter how capable you are, don’t even think about getting to the second round. Their loss for not wanting me…”

As for the ground teams, some were willing to accept Zhou Yuanqiang, but considering the extreme dangers of the ground, they were not within Zhou Yuanqiang’s consideration. Moreover, the efficiency of ground teams certainly couldn’t compare to airships, there was no comparability.

By the time Zhou Yuanqiang squeezed back to Lan Jianbo’s team, it seemed they had already recruited enough people, and their sign had even been taken down. Seeing Zhou Yuanqiang return, Lan Jianbo asked, “How was it? Mission accomplished? Did you talk to your so-called connection?”

Zhou Yuanqiang made a shushing gesture and said, “Aren’t you afraid others will hear? If they complain to the Commercial Association about us, this airship deal will really go down the drain.” Upon hearing this, even Lan Jianbo immediately shut his mouth, letting out a silly chuckle. He then asked, “So, is it done or not?”

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded and said, “You go apply now. You should just wait directly in the Exploration Department, and there should be news very soon.”

After giving some instructions, Lan Jianbo took the documents and headed towards the Exploration Department hall. The other members were all introduced, and then the entire team left the Exploration Plaza. On the side, they agreed on a meeting time and then each went back to prepare various daily necessities needed for exploration.

The Exploration Department reviewed applications very quickly. In just two hours, the data of all teams that had obtained leasing rights were announced on the giant screen in the public plaza.

Those who qualified naturally cheered excitedly, while those who didn’t let out sighs of disappointment throughout their teams. Some teams would remain intact, while others disbanded immediately after failure. They had to make a choice: opt for a ground team, or wait for the next batch of airship leases.

The Blue Sky Exploration Team led by Lan Jianbo was naturally the most excited one, because they had obtained the airship leasing qualification. This meant that the team’s exploration journey was about to begin immediately. Fame, fortune, and wealth were no longer just dreams; as long as their exploration efforts were successful, everything would follow.

Lan Jianbo, having received the news, looked at Zhou Yuanqiang with an indescribable expression. Only Zhou Yuanqiang kept chuckling, as if obtaining this qualification was a matter of course.

(As it’s a long chapter, it took a bit more time, so the update is late, please forgive me… and please vote for recommendations, let me get over 100,000 recommendation tickets, thank you everyone!)

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Chapter 235: Exploration Airship No. 5

In the afternoon, everyone arrived at the outskirts of the west district, where all the airships were already parked.

Lan Jianbo went to complete the formalities. Nearly a thousand people gathered in the entire west district, each carrying large and small bags, their faces filled with excitement. Rows of exploration permits hung on their chests, guns tucked away, and luggage on their backs, looking just like soldiers about to depart for some destination.

Laughter was not scarce here. Further away, a forest of airships stood parked on the ground. After Lan Jianbo finished the procedures, he returned in a car, which was used to transport the explorers. Sixteen people squeezed into the car, making Zhou Yuanqiang feel like he had arrived in India, where cars are characterized by many people, much luggage, and bags hanging all over the vehicle.

Exploration Airship No. 5 looked no different from the other airships. They were neatly arranged here from numbers one to thirty. It was easy to find the location of Exploration Airship No. 5.

The manufacturing speed of airships was not very fast. The old airship factory could barely produce 2.5 airships a month, or 5 in two months. However, with the current expansion and rebranding as the First Airship Factory, the production speed has increased to four transport airships and three exploration airships per month.

As for the Second Airship Factory, its capacity will reach six transport airships and two military airships per month.

Just thinking about airships made Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart ache. All the helium for the airships was purchased from the modern world, making it the largest expenditure. To save his money, Zhou Yuanqiang had ordered the Petroleum Department to quickly come up with a plan to establish a helium extraction plant. But it seemed that for at least two months, he couldn’t count on the helium plant to save him any money.

Transport airships are different from military airships. The former has only a small amount of armament and is almost purely for transport, while the latter is a true war machine. The extensive use of surface-to-air missiles significantly increases its bombing capabilities. The next step for the Airship Research Department is to consider moving even larger weapon systems onto airships, turning them into true bombing machines.

The design of military airships is specifically for zombies; they will only appear in battles between humans and zombies.

While airships were developing rapidly, the Aircraft Research Department was also moving quickly. The production of the hy-1 model had ceased, replaced by mass production of the hy-2 model, and dedicated bombers were also being designed. It was foreseeable that the skies would soon be dominated by fighter jets. Zhou Yuanqiang had initially intended to commission research on large military transport aircraft, but Wan Chongshan responsibly informed him that large transport aircraft could not be designed and manufactured by the Commercial Association at present.

Because of this, Zhou Yuanqiang could only rely on airships for transporting soldiers.

If nothing unexpected happened, in two months, a truly colossal airship would appear in the sky, reaching the most glorious peak in airship history. This was the Hercules-class airship, with a length of 508 meters, surpassing the strongest historical record of 307 meters. It could transport over 1,000 soldiers thousands of kilometers away in one trip. The estimated cost reached 350 million US dollars, more expensive than the current largest commercial aircraft, the A380, which costs 295 million US dollars.

When he first heard this budget, Zhou Yuanqiang almost clutched his chest as he listened.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t need to worry, because all the materials, labor, and everything else for the entire airship came from the post-apocalyptic world. Even the helium would be supplied by the helium extraction plant, which would be completed in two months. This meant that the cost was merely a past estimate, and Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t need to spend a single cent.

The transport car brought everyone along the way. Apart from Zhou Yuanqiang, who remained composed, everyone else was extremely excited.

It was easy to understand. Airships were generally only accessible to military personnel; others could only catch a glimpse of their massive silhouettes gliding across the sky from afar. Such a close-up viewing opportunity was almost non-existent. Now, with such close contact, how could they not be excited? Its 78-meter length was not enormous compared to other giants, but standing beneath it, you still feel your own insignificance.

In fact, exploratory airships, in terms of length, are about 5 meters longer than the jumbo jet A380, making them very, very large.

Lan Jianbo, only twenty-seven years old, maintained a youthful spirit. Seeing the spectacular scene, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s truly breathtaking, so magnificent!” He glanced at the seven-colored umbrella on the airship and proudly declared, “We are the strongest.”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled beside him. Honestly, this was his first time being so close to ordinary people below, and it felt a bit like an incognito visit. He took over the conversation, saying, “Yes, we are the strongest, now and in the future… We are like the cornerstone of the Commercial Association, allowing the Commercial Association’s edifice to be built even higher…”

Upon finding Exploration Airship No. 5, the car stopped, and everyone jumped out, staring blankly at the exploration airship that would be theirs for the next month.

Four crew members stood in front of the airship. After checking Lan Jianbo’s credentials, Lu Man, the captain of Exploration Airship No. 5, shook hands with Lan Jianbo and said, “Welcome, I hope we can cooperate happily over the next month. Oh, by the way, although I am nominally the highest officer on this airship, I am only responsible for all matters concerning the airship itself. Things like the itinerary and direction will be decided by you. Our duty is to follow your arrangements.”

This was the power granted by the Exploration Department to the team leader of exploration teams, to prevent conflicts of authority between the two parties during exploration.

Lan Jianbo knew that anyone who could become an airship captain was not incompetent. Under the leadership of the Commercial Association, there were no “connected” individuals; everything was based on ability. Because of this, a large number of exceptionally capable people were promoted. Sometimes, you might see young high-ranking military officers or senior administrative personnel. Don’t be surprised; they are all outstanding individuals in terms of ability. Don’t belittle them because of their age.

“Captain Lu, I’m honored to cooperate with you. We are merely your juniors. We hope you can offer us more guidance.”

Lan Jianbo’s attitude let Lu Man know that this would be a pleasant exploration trip. After inviting everyone else into the gondola, he introduced the airship’s performance and some precautions. Then, he privately sought out Lan Jianbo and asked, “Captain Lan, do you have your exploration plan ready?”

Lan Jianbo nodded, pulled a plan out of his backpack, and handed it to Lu Man, saying, “Captain Lu, please take a look. If there are no issues, we’ll proceed according to the plan.”

Lu Man took it, flipped through it, a smile flashing in his eyes, and said, “Excellent. I believe this will be a successful exploration trip. Alright, since time is life and money, we’ll depart now, as per your request.” He closed the plan, informed the other crew members outside, entered the cockpit, and began to signal the upcoming takeoff.

For those who have never experienced an airship takeoff, it might be nerve-wracking, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll find it completely different from an airplane. It’s more like riding an elevator.

The moment the airship released its moorings, you would feel a jolt, somewhat like an elevator starting. The subsequent takeoff was very slow, almost separating from the ground inch by inch. Once it reached a certain altitude, being in the gondola felt different again. This sensation was like being on a boat, with some swaying. If strong winds were encountered, the swaying would be more pronounced, requiring passengers to hold onto their seats.

The weather in the wilderness was ideal for airship travel, with no wind and hot air currents providing stronger lift for the airship.

Exploration Airship No. 5 was the first airship to take off. By the time it ascended to an altitude of 2000 meters, not a single airship below had started to take off. According to the plan, the airship would proceed south, and then, upon reaching the former Breadfruit Village, it would head west.

This plan showed that Lan Jianbo had put in a lot of effort, having consulted many people and synthesizing a lot of information. It was almost identical to Zhou Yuanqiang’s plan. In fact, Lan Jianbo’s ambitions were even greater than Zhou Yuanqiang’s. His plan, beyond exploring this area of over 400 kilometers, only included a five-day stay there to collect some data before continuing west.

Exploration Airship No. 5 continued to ascend, ultimately reaching an absolute safe altitude of 2500 meters. The two engines at the tail started, their propellers whirling madly. The enormous thrust began to propel this massive airship forward. As the power increased, the airship’s speed grew faster and faster, gradually leaving Greenmount City behind.

Zhou Yuanqiang watched Greenmount City shrink and then disappear below the horizon, secretly pleased. He wondered if Ren Xinyun would be like an angry kitten when she saw his message.

After the airship maintained a speed of 120 kilometers per hour, Lu Man walked out of the cockpit and said, “Alright, our current speed is 120 kilometers per hour, which means we will reach our destination in another three and a half hours. During this time, everyone can enjoy the scenery below from above and experience the grandeur of the wilderness.”

Exploration airships are equipped with small radars manufactured by the Commercial Association, capable of tracking aerial targets within 20 kilometers, so safety is guaranteed.

All the explorers had only used model airships during their training; this was their first time on a real airship. Upon hearing Lu Man’s words, everyone relaxed and leaned against the windows, gazing at the golden-yellow wilderness below, pointing and exclaiming.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t particularly interested in these sights. He walked over and sat next to Lan Jianbo. He wanted to pull out a cigarette, but the gondola was sealed, so smoking would be inconvenient. He stopped himself, then asked lightly, “Captain Lan, I heard that the area you’re heading to might have settlements practicing slavery. Is this safe…?”

Lan Jianbo had actually been considering this very matter. He looked at Zhou Yuanqiang, his eyes full of curiosity, and laughed, “It seems you’re also very well-prepared; you even know this. You should know, I put in a lot of effort to get this information from the few people who knew about it in the former Breadfruit Village.”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed and said, “I just happened to overhear someone talking about it, that’s why I paid attention.”

Lan Jianbo’s brows furrowed, and he said with a wry smile, “Actually, given the situation in the post-apocalyptic world, we are all human, with a common enemy, so they should welcome our appearance. What makes me uneasy, though, is this slavery system. People who can implement such a system are certainly not normal. What if he doesn’t play by the rules, and the moment we appear, he ties us up and seizes the airship without a second thought? Then we’ll have big trouble!”

Lan Jianbo’s analysis made sense.

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and said, “Actually, we could do this: when the airship gets close, find a safe place nearby to stay, and we’ll go out first to scout the situation before deciding what to do next. I don’t think they just capture anyone they see to be slaves, do they? As for a stopping place, don’t they have a market every month?”

Lan Jianbo’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, exclaiming, “That’s right! I heard there are several settlements of various sizes around there. We can count them then, that would be a good harvest.”

Each exploration airship is equipped with two off-road motorcycles for convenient ground exploration, so Lan Jianbo didn’t have to worry about the inconvenience of ground operations. Moreover, that area was within the Commercial Association’s communication coverage, and every explorer had a communicator, ensuring that if any issues arose under communication, the airship could also react quickly.

The semi-armed exploration airship, with just four heavy machine guns front, back, left, and right, was not to be underestimated. It also had bombing capabilities and two recoilless cannons, giving it considerable firepower.

Lan Jianbo’s thinking was meticulous. Prompted by Zhou Yuanqiang, he immediately began to ponder and refine this series of procedural plans.

Looking at the deep-in-thought Lan Jianbo, Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head. Being a leader was not that easy. Other members could enjoy the high-altitude scenery, while he could only painstakingly refine every step. Moreover, no matter what they discovered during the exploration, his gains wouldn’t be much greater.

As one of only two female explorers in the team, Ma Wengying was the fierce woman who had compared muscles with Zhou Yuanqiang at the start. Seeing that Zhou Yuanqiang had finished discussing things with Captain Lan, she pouted and tugged on Zhou Yuanqiang, who was again leaning out the window. She brazenly asked, “Monkey, what were you and Captain Lan whispering about? Hmph, judging by your looks, I know this graduation must have been watered down.”

Zhou Yuanqiang was stunned for a moment, pointed at himself, and said, “You, what did you just call me? Monkey?”

Ma Wengying glared, saying, “With your scrawny physique, what else would I call you but a monkey?” Hearing this, Zhou Yuanqiang felt depressed. Actually, Zhou Yuanqiang’s physique was quite solid, but compared to these tall and burly individuals, he did seem a bit thin. However, it wasn’t so exaggerated that he should be called a monkey, was it? He smiled at Ma Wengying and said, “If I’m a monkey, then you must be a female gorilla, right?”

“Gorilla?” Ma Wengying nearly burst into flames. For a woman, no matter how tomboyish she was, wouldn’t she be quite offended?

However, to Zhou Yuanqiang’s surprise, Ma Wengying merely glared at Zhou Yuanqiang a few times but didn’t actually get angry. She said, “Good women don’t quarrel with bad men. Honestly tell me, what were you and Captain Lan just discussing? Seeing you two exchange glances, I know it wasn’t anything good.”

“Oh, oh, oh…” Zhou Yuanqiang let out a strange laugh, then suddenly whispered, “I know, are you sweet on Captain Lan?”

A blush flashed across Ma Wengying’s dark face. She said, “What nonsense are you spouting? I just wanted to know what you were saying.” Zhou Yuanqiang laughed and said, “What’s there to be shy about? A man and woman in love, isn’t that normal? If you want to know what we discussed, go ask Captain Lan yourself. I think Captain Lan is a very nice person, and you two have common interests. In the future, you can sing and she can follow, I don’t know how many people will be envious.”

Ma Wengying hesitated, “But with my conditions, I don’t know if Captain Lan would even like me.”

Zhou Yuanqiang rolled his eyes, genuinely wanting to say “you only just realized that?”, but after a moment’s thought, he didn’t voice it. Instead, he said consolingly, “What’s there to be afraid of? This isn’t peacetime; what can women with ‘devilish’ figures do? It’s voluminous ones like you who are reliable. When danger strikes, you won’t be a burden. In short, you’re a capable individual; others would be scrambling to get someone like you.”

Ma Wengying’s face turned beet red. She said earnestly, “Are you serious?”

Zhou Yuanqiang raised his hand and said, “Truer than pearls. Actually, love, you know, has to be bravely expressed to be gained. Besides, if you haven’t tried, how do you know Captain Lan doesn’t like your type? At least try it to know the result. Even if you fail, so what? At least then you can tell others that you once bravely pursued love…”

“Hehe, Monkey, I didn’t expect you to know so much.” Ma Wengying sized up Zhou Yuanqiang, saying, “How are you so familiar with this aspect?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s cold sweat immediately flowed. He chuckled and said, “I’ve seen a lot, so I naturally understand. Hmm, when you have time, you should still consider how to showcase your excellent side to Captain Lan.” He thought for a moment, then earnestly added, “Also, on account of my guidance, could you please not call me Monkey?”

Damn it, he was a big boss holding the power of life and death over hundreds of thousands of people, yet he was being called “Monkey”. If Jiao’er and the others found out, wouldn’t they laugh themselves to death?

Ma Wengying pouted again, muttering, “If I don’t call you that, I don’t!” then turned and left. Judging by her appearance, she was probably going to find Lan Jianbo.

Actually, enjoying the scenery along the way wouldn’t be boring; three and a half hours passed in a flash. The wilderness was still vast; for three and a half hours, they were almost entirely flying over the wilderness. However, as they headed west, green vegetation gradually became more abundant.

According to the map, west of the wilderness was a sizable plateau. Beyond the plateau, they would enter a desert region. In the past, this area was sparsely populated, but unexpectedly, after the apocalypse, it became densely populated.

Xu Yuhai’s Intelligence Department is currently not just focused on the territory under the Commercial Association. With the emergence of more advanced unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with longer ranges, intelligence gathering has extended further and further. Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft have begun appearing under distant skies. It is thanks to Xu Yuhai’s efforts that the Intelligence Department has acquired more and more information, and gradually, they have gained some understanding of the surrounding situation.

The focus of the Intelligence Department was entirely on the cities.

According to recently acquired information, traces of human activity are almost nowhere to be found in formerly densely populated areas. Instead, wandering zombies are everywhere. They sometimes move in groups, aimlessly, but steadily pushing deeper into the continent. After a long search, migrating groups of people are occasionally seen heading inland…

Synthesizing this information reveals many things. For example, the human population has begun to concentrate inland, in areas that were once sparsely populated, such as wildernesses, plateaus, and deserts.

Coastal areas have almost become uninhabited zones. The dense population made the coastal regions the most concentrated and powerful areas for zombies. Just think of large cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai, with tens of millions of people, now transformed into tens of millions of zombies. Under such circumstances, could any humans still survive? Even if there were, they would have long since moved inland.

Xu Yuhai’s conclusion was that humans and zombies would form two distinct regions. Humans would occupy the inland areas that were once sparsely populated, while the formerly densely populated areas would become the domain of zombies. Moreover, with humans being the weaker party and zombies the stronger, a confrontational situation would arise, forming an invisible defensive line.

It was this conclusion that suddenly made Greenmount City’s geographical location crucial. Its future role for humanity is still undetermined, but everything is foreseeable.

Zhou Yuanqiang merely pondered for a moment, but three hours had already passed. Lu Man’s voice came through the broadcast: “Attention, explorers, we are less than fifty kilometers from our destination. To ensure everyone’s safety, we will execute Captain Lan Jianbo’s plan, spending tonight at high altitude. We will choose a secluded area to land tomorrow morning to begin our exploration activities.”

Departing in the afternoon and traveling for three and a half hours, the wilderness sunset had already fallen, and night would soon arrive. It was indeed impossible to continue exploration activities.

The exploration airship’s service ceiling is 4500 meters. In the dark, as long as its lights remain off, it can almost hide among the clouds, making it impossible for people below to detect its presence.

Lan Jianbo also took advantage of dinner time to gather everyone around a table and explain his exploration plan. After everyone understood, he clapped his hands and said, “Tonight’s mission for everyone is to rest up. Haha… sleeping at this altitude is quite an exciting experience. I hope everyone has sweet dreams.”

However, with such an exciting experience, could anyone truly sleep peacefully? Where would they find sweet dreams?

Chapter 236: Azure Wolf

The sky was still hazy, and everyone, having been stimulated throughout the night, had only just fallen asleep when they were awoken again by the airship’s descent. Each of them sported dark circles under their eyes.

The airship had chosen a hidden spot in a undulating small valley, perfectly concealed. The moment it touched down, three crew members jumped out, pulled the cables from the bottom of the gondola, and searched for anchor points to secure the airship. These cables were specially designed to be quickly detached from the gondola in an emergency, allowing for an immediate takeoff without the time-consuming process of untying them.

Looking at his yawning team members, Lu Man smiled and clapped his hands. “Alright, fellas, you’ll get used to this life in a few days. Then you’ll realize how wonderful it is to sleep on an airship, just like a gentle cradle in childhood.”

Lan Jianbo had only slept for the second half of the night, but his spirits were still good. He called out names, and after confirming everyone was present, he said, “Now, we’ll set off according to the plan. No matter what, we must return before dark tonight at the latest. Also, everyone has a communicator, and you must report to the airship every half hour to confirm your safety.”

The two off-road motorcycles were not deployed. Lan Jianbo understood the principle of ‘a tall tree catches the wind.’ For an explorer, integrating into the local community was one of the most basic requirements.

For some reason, Lan Jianbo always felt that this guy with the number 5000 was not simple, so he naturally grouped Zhou Yuanqiang, Ma Wengying, and himself into one team.

Thanks to the benefits and conditions provided by the Commercial Association, people under its rule had at least three sets of new clothes. After conquering Greenmount City, many items were left behind in the allocated residences, including clothes. As a result, everyone’s attire became richer; you no longer saw ragged pedestrians on the streets.

However, these bright clothes looked out of place in this apocalypse, once outside the area governed by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Others were still living in dire straits. Their living conditions were extremely difficult; even if they had enough grain to eat, they might not have a good set of clothes. The wilderness was sparsely populated, and a large number of fleeing survivors continuously poured in. The scarcity of supplies was naturally imaginable.

To blend into the local community, these bright clothes naturally couldn’t be worn. So, every explorer began to change into the old clothes they had prepared, trying to make themselves look like they were struggling. For example, messing up their hair, dirtying their clean faces, and smearing a little mud on their old clothes. Even their firearms had to be disguised to look like old, rusty guns, to minimize drawing attention.

Disguise training was a mandatory subject for explorers, so everyone had good disguise skills.

About ten minutes later, all fifteen people, except for one explorer who stayed behind, had disguised themselves. After stepping out of the gondola, everyone looked at each other and laughed. Now, they all looked like poor farmers. If their clothes were a bit more ragged, they might not look any different from beggars.

Lan Jianbo had the team line up, and after inspecting everyone’s makeup, he said, “Alright, now let’s go. Your expressions should be natural; don’t break into a smile so easily.”

The fifteen people were divided into five groups of three, each group exploring in a different direction for potential settlements nearby. Since everyone had a communicator, Lan Jianbo didn’t say much. With a wave of his hand, the five groups left the small valley and advanced in their respective directions.

Ma Wengying was somewhat excited to be grouped with Lan Jianbo. She carried her backpack, following closely behind Lan Jianbo, and asked, “Leader Lan, how should we start?”

Lan Jianbo pointed to a road not far ahead and said, “We’ll follow this road straight west…” He took out a map from his backpack, looking at it as he walked. He had only managed to buy this map from the Commercial Association’s Logistics Department after pulling many strings. In this apocalypse, maps were hard to find, especially such detailed provincial maps.

“Hmm, about 20 kilometers from here, there’s a small village. That should be the market mentioned in the information we obtained,” Lan Jianbo said as he walked, occasionally pointing at the map. He wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or to Ma Wengying, who was now walking beside him… or perhaps to Zhou Yuanqiang behind him?

Zhou Yuanqiang felt a bit helpless about this situation, realizing he had become a third wheel.

This area had almost no villages and was far from densely populated places. It was also far from the city, so there were naturally very few zombies, making it most suitable for human settlements.

However, the abilities of zombies were very mysterious. If humans gathered in one place for too long, they would be discovered. Then, an overwhelming horde of zombies would form a massive zombie swarm, moving towards the human settlement. Faced with such an overwhelming number of zombies, humans lacking weapons would either be engulfed or forced to evacuate and choose a new settlement.

For several years, this cycle had continued, like a chase.

While humans could survive this chase, each chase made their living conditions worse and supplies scarcer.

Don’t think that simply cultivating peacefully will lead to a harvest. Consider the wilderness, the desert regions. Even if crops are planted, how good can the harvest be in such harsh environments? Barely sustaining oneself is already very optimistic. In bad years, there would still be periods of starvation to endure.

The wilderness was somewhat better, at least able to grow some drought-resistant crops. But for those forced to migrate to desert regions, their living conditions were truly harsh. How many people could a small oasis sustain? In the desert, it was almost like primitive society. Without mechanical civilization, it was like being exiled to a forgotten land.

Walking on the road, Zhou Yuanqiang inspected it. There were faint traces of cars, and from the look of them, they might have been there for some time.

Even though there were only a few traces, much information could be inferred. For example, this road wasn’t active; few cars traveled on it, or perhaps cars only appeared occasionally, likely when Zombie Hunters operated in this area. It also proved, on another level, that there were human activities in this vicinity, meaning they couldn’t be far from their settlement.

With these discoveries, Lan Jianbo grew excited. “Let’s speed up a bit. Hopefully, we can find a place to rest when the sun is at its hottest.”

The sun in the wilderness gradually rose, dispelling the night’s chill. Before long, under the sun’s rays, the sand would turn hot, and the temperature would steadily climb, eventually reaching around 40 degrees Celsius. Just thinking about the usual 30-odd degrees was already unbearable; what would 40-odd degrees be like? Coupled with the lack of shade and the ground heat generated by the sand, it created a suffocating sensation.

Since there were Zombie Hunters in this area, it indicated zombie activity. As they proceeded along the road, they occasionally indeed found scattered zombies moving about.

“What’s that you see?”

The dull and tedious journey finally became invigorating with Ma Wengying’s shout. Following the direction of her finger, they saw a small sand dune by the roadside with some xerophytes growing on it. This wasn’t particularly special; what was special were the three small black dots on the sand dune.

Most plants in the wilderness were withered. The three small black dots stood out, which was why Ma Wengying could spot them from so far away.

Lan Jianbo raised his binoculars, and upon seeing them clearly, his face immediately changed. He murmured, “They’re biochemical wolves. How did they end up here?”

Theoretically, in places where human settlements exist, with numerous Zombie Hunters, zombies, as long as they aren’t large in scale, are mostly human prey. After long-term clearing, zombies naturally become scarce near settlements. The appearance of biochemical wolves here seemed somewhat abnormal.

Zhou Yuanqiang also had his own binoculars. He observed the three biochemical wolves, which were the most common azure wolves in the wilderness.

What people feared most about biochemical beasts was their speed. Wolves were already incredibly fast in normal times, but after being infected by the virus, their speed increased severalfold, making them move as fast as lightning. Humans would rather provoke slow-moving zombies than these powerful biochemical beasts.

Fortunately, the number of biochemical beasts was not very large; many animals couldn’t transform into biochemical beasts. Moreover, among animals, many survivors currently remained, and finding them and bringing them back to the city was a goal the Commercial Association was committed to, to preserve more animal “sparks” for ecological balance.

If the location of these three biochemical wolves didn’t conflict with their path, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t bother with them, but their sand dune was right by the road…

Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled. The crystals of biochemical beasts were much more beautiful than human ones, even more brilliant than diamonds. Since he had encountered them, going around wasn’t his style. He said, “Leader Lan, Ma Wengying, you two wait here. I’ll take care of them.”

Ma Wengying grew anxious and said, “These are biochemical beasts; let’s just go around them.”

Only Lan Jianbo looked at Zhou Yuanqiang with suspicious eyes, his meaning clear: Do you really have the ability? In fact, Lan Jianbo had reason to doubt. These were biochemical beasts, and their speed was too great; a few hundred meters would be covered in just a few breaths. If they couldn’t be hit in the head within those few breaths, once they got close… no one could be their opponent.

“Don’t worry. If I didn’t have the skill, I wouldn’t take on the job.”

Zhou Yuanqiang checked his firearms. The rifle was fine, and the two pistols at his waist were also fine. The ones in his storage space, needless to say, were all checked before being put away. With his speed, he could definitely take them down within three seconds.

He gave the two an OK gesture. Instead of sneaking forward, he simply tightened his backpack and dashed towards the sand dune.

This action left Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying dumbfounded. Ma Wengying, with wide eyes, asked, “Is he crazy?”

The sand dune was only about six to seven hundred meters away. Zhou Yuanqiang had tried his best to control his speed, but he was still faster than ordinary people. It was as if the equipment on his body weighed nothing. This even puzzled Lan Jianbo; how could such a slender body possess such great strength?

The biochemical beasts had a very wide field of vision and extremely sensitive hearing. Zhou Yuanqiang had only entered within 500 meters when they discovered him. Their wild instincts, intensified by the viral infection, made them even more ferocious. Without any hesitation, they lunged at Zhou Yuanqiang.

Their powerful sprint sent plumes of sand flying with each of their four paws. Their rotting surface muscles looked incredibly grotesque as they ran, their bodies, completely devoid of fur, reflected a dark sheen. The lightning-fast speed they displayed would surely shock anyone who witnessed it.

But just as they started to accelerate, Zhou Yuanqiang, while still running, raised his rifle. With Fatal Blow activated, his enhanced nerve reflexes meant he barely needed to aim. Bang! With one shot, the head of the biochemical wolf charging at the front was pierced by a bullet, a layer of flesh blown off, and it instantly crashed onto the sand.

The two biochemical wolves next to it were completely unaffected. Their powerful limbs pushed their speed to the limit.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s movements were simply too fast. Before the rifle could recover, he released it. Before it even dropped, both his hands were already at his waist, drawing out two pistols. With two simultaneous shots, cracks appeared in the heads of the two biochemical wolves. At their immense speed, they tumbled like two wheels, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying only felt the three small black dots move like the wind. Their initial acceleration made the two change color, already fearing for Zhou Yuanqiang.

But then, almost in consecutive succession, three gunshots rang out. The three biochemical beasts, which caused people to pale at their mention, had their heads blown apart and plunged into the sand. That lightning-fast firing speed and incredible marksmanship left Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying dumbfounded, almost unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

“Amazing, truly amazing…” Lan Jianbo recovered his senses. He found it strange; why wasn’t such a capable person serving in the Commercial Association, and why did he only get a number 5000? It seemed there was something mysterious about this matter, and Lu Tianxiang was also a man with a story.

Lu Tianxiang was Zhou Yuanqiang’s alias, named after a childhood friend. Unfortunately, after middle school, Lu Tianxiang left home to work due to family difficulties, while Zhou Yuanqiang continued high school and university. If the story ended there, it wouldn’t be a story. When Zhou Yuanqiang was in high school, his childhood friend, Lu Tianxiang, encountered a thief in his rented room. In a fierce struggle, he injured the thief, who then fled. No one expected that a few days later, the thief returned while Lu Tianxiang was asleep and brutally struck him on the head with a thick steel pipe.

His life was saved, but he became a vegetabive state. Later, he was sent back to his hometown, where he endured two years of suffering. His family, exhausted physically and mentally, was unable to care for him, and with a slight sense of abandonment, he eventually starved to death in bed. (This is a true story of my childhood friend.)

It was this memory that made Zhou Yuanqiang use his alias, a way to remember and cherish their childhood times.

Compared to Lan Jianbo, Ma Wengying’s expression was even more exaggerated, describable as dumbfounded. She pointed at Zhou Yuanqiang, who was picking up his rifle, and stammered, “He, he…” unable to describe her feelings at that moment. In that instant, her earlier disdain vanished completely.

Zhou Yuanqiang, however, felt nothing. He picked up his rifle, pulled out a dagger from the sheath on his boot, put on gloves, and walked to the three biochemical beasts. He dug open their shattered heads and quickly extracted the crystals.

The crystals from the biochemical wolves were twice the size of human ones, as large as two thumbs put together. They were white, and even uncleaned, one could see energy flowing within them like a liquid. With Zhou Yuanqiang’s perception, he could feel the surging energy inside, its content approaching that of a human’s Level 8 crystal.

After finding the three crystals, Zhou Yuanqiang used his water bottle to wash off the rotten flesh and grime. Immediately, three crystals, more beautiful than diamonds, appeared.

Zhou Yuanqiang held them to the sunlight, and immediately, shimmering white light radiated from them. The energy within the crystals looked like a sparkling galaxy, achieving an indescribable perfection. If not for the mysterious nature of the crystals’ energy, Zhou Yuanqiang would have wanted to take them to the modern world to see how much such massive, diamond-perfect crystals would be worth.

Unfortunately, this was just a thought. Once such crystals appeared, their energy would undoubtedly trigger a storm. Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to be a storm creator, nor did he want to be caught in a national-level vortex like energy. So, this idea was just a fantasy.

When Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying walked over, Zhou Yuanqiang threw one to each of them, saying, “To the victors go the spoils; don’t decline. These crystals are even more perfect than the zombies’ and don’t give us a sense of disgust. You can use them as decorations.”

Ma Wengying accepted it without hesitation, looking at it happily. “It’s really beautiful, many times prettier than zombie crystals.” Only Lan Jianbo looked somewhat troubled but still put it into his pocket, gratefully looking at Zhou Yuanqiang. “Don’t do this again. After all, these are your spoils of war.”

However, engrossed in the beauty of these crystals, the three of them didn’t notice that amidst their joyful conversation, not far from the road, in a pile of grass and sand, the sand began to roll…

Chapter 237: River Dwelling

These slight changes in the sand barely made a sound. Even though Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying were among the best explorers, how could they possibly detect such subtle shifts?

Only Zhou Yuanqiang, from the moment the sand stirred, captured this minute change with his sensitive perception.

Humans are a very miraculous animal, and their greatest advantage is their potential. No one knows what human organs would be like if they were upgraded and strengthened. Zhou Yuanqiang currently had 36 times the normal ability. His muscles looked frail, but they were like iron. Especially his perception, this wondrous ability, had multiplied, allowing him to sense and detect impending danger.

Focusing his perception on the patch of grass, Zhou Yuanqiang merely remained vigilant, not acting as if a great enemy had arrived, because he didn’t feel any sense of danger from the grass.

Seeing Zhou Yuanqiang’s vigilance, Lan Jianbo and Ma Wengying immediately gripped their guns and looked in the direction Zhou Yuanqiang was staring. This process seemed slow, but it was over in the blink of an eye. They were all wide-eyed upon seeing the sand roll and the grass move. Ma Wengying even exclaimed, “What in the world is that?”

The three of them retreated a few steps, creating some distance, when they heard a voice from the grass: “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot…”

Hearing a human voice, Zhou Yuanqiang and the other two exchanged glances, all stunned. This was too unexpected.

The entire patch of grass was quickly pushed up and moved aside… A skinny old man poked his head out, then, after pushing the grass away, crawled out of the pit, his hands raised, saying, “Don’t shoot, I mean no harm.” Seeing that Zhou Yuanqiang and his companions weren’t vicious people, he clapped his hands. From the pit beneath the grass, a boy of fifteen or sixteen emerged.

“…” Zhou Yuanqiang was speechless and asked, “What are you doing?”

The skinny old man gave an embarrassed laugh, pulled out a homemade short gun from his waist, and said, “We are Zombie Hunters.” He glanced at the three azure wolf corpses not far away. Without him saying it, Zhou Yuanqiang knew their target must have been these three biochemical wolves. Unfortunately, he had killed them himself.

The young boy wasn’t shy. He moved very nimbly, standing beside the skinny old man. His two large eyes stared intently at Zhou Yuanqiang and the other two. He held a small steel fork in his hand, and like the old man, had a small short gun tucked into his waist. Although his clothes were somewhat tattered and covered in mud and sand, he looked exactly like a skilled young hunter.

Feeling a bit embarrassed for taking their prey, Zhou Yuanqiang said, “We didn’t know they were your prey beforehand.”

The skinny old man shook his head and said, “We didn’t come for this. We just admire your marksmanship, so we decided to show ourselves and meet you.” He pointed to the three azure wolf corpses and said, “Their speed is too fast. I’ve been planning for a long time and couldn’t find an opportunity to strike. If you hadn’t intervened, I’m afraid we would have just stayed here guarding all day, only to return disappointed.”

Zhou Yuanqiang understood. “So you dug a pit here and used this disguise to kill these three biochemical wolves?”

The skinny old man nodded. “Yes, these three biochemical wolves have been around for a long time, and this area is rarely visited, which gave me an opportunity.” He smiled bitterly, caressing his homemade short gun. “This gun isn’t very powerful. We won’t act rashly unless we are confident of a one-hit kill.”

The establishment of numerous factories by the Commercial Association, both its own and private ones, had led to a qualitative leap in material availability. For instance, after Greenmount City was recovered, because some raw materials could still be used, snacks like chocolate began to be sold in small quantities on the market again, making them extremely rare treats.

The young boy’s robust and endearing appearance made Ma Wengying’s heart melt. She took out a piece of chocolate from her backpack and said to the boy, “Big sister has something delicious here. Just tell me your name, and this chocolate is yours.”

Long-lost memories surfaced in the boy’s mind. The taste of chocolate he remembered made him unable to resist, and he looked at his grandfather.

The skinny old man looked at the boy with affection, thought for a moment, and finally said, “Why don’t you quickly tell big sister your name?”

The boy immediately brightened up and obediently said, “Hello, big sister. My name is Chen Xiaobao.” With that, he eagerly took the chocolate, but he didn’t eat it immediately. Instead, he carefully put it away, which puzzled Ma Wengying. “Xiaobao, why aren’t you eating it?”

Chen Xiaobao shook his head and said, “Thank you, big sister. Xiaobao won’t eat it. I’m going to trade it for sweet potatoes.”

Zhou Yuanqiang and the other two were taken aback. The skinny old man said a little awkwardly, “Please excuse him. Xiaobao, since it’s big sister’s kindness, you should eat it. This chocolate won’t get you much sweet potatoes anyway.”

Lan Jianbo observed them carefully and saw that the grandfather and grandson didn’t seem to be acting, as they couldn’t possibly have known they would appear here. He hesitated for a moment and asked, “Old man, do you live nearby?” It was only around eight in the morning; it was unlikely that the two had been hiding in the pit since six o’clock.

The skinny old man pointed far, far away and said, “We live there. Biochemical beasts are very sensitive, so we have to hide here before they appear in this area, and wait until they show up. It’s too hot here; we’ll leave by around 10 AM at the latest. Whether we have any harvest depends on these four hours in the morning.”

From the moment he saw people, Lan Jianbo was ecstatic. Regardless of the size of the other party’s settlement, it was still a good start.

Perhaps seeing that the biochemical beasts had been killed, the grandfather and grandson didn’t plan to stay here for long. After asking about Zhou Yuanqiang and their origins, they suddenly understood and said, “I’ve heard of Breadfruit Tree Village. It’s far, far to the east, about 200 to 300 kilometers from us. Did you walk all the way here?”

Ma Wengying shook her head and said, “Our car ran out of fuel halfway, so we walked for dozens of kilometers. This is our first time here. We heard there’s a market, and we want to trade for some things.”

This excuse was reasonable. Fuel in the apocalypse was a rare commodity, especially precious in this area. So the skinny old man had no doubts and said, “There’s a lot of stuff at the market, and it gets very lively. Many people from different places and settlements will come.” His two fervent eyes gazed at the guns in Zhou Yuanqiang’s hands. “If you have guns, you’ll be able to trade for the most things.”

Once they had common topics, people became closer. In the apocalypse, human numbers were scarce, so meeting people from other settlements and places naturally brought a sense of kinship.

Through conversation, Zhou Yuanqiang finally gained some understanding of the area.

Because this place was too desolate, there were no villages rooted in this area even during peacetime. It was truly a place with no village ahead and no inn behind. Many drivers who had to pass through this 200-300 kilometer stretch of no man’s land were terrified, fearing any car trouble, which would lead to immense problems. Freezing to death at night, dying of heat during the day… it was not a place one could stay for long.

Most drivers reported this situation to the local government. The local government even proposed solutions, but these repair shops and service stations, which enjoyed tax exemptions and other benefits, only lasted for a while before most moved away due to the lack of business and the harsh environment.

Over time, many drivers simply preferred to drive an extra hundred kilometers rather than take this section of the road.

The consequence of this change was that fewer and fewer cars used this road. Eventually, it became so desolate that a car might not pass by even after one or two hours.

But who would have thought that this desolate wilderness would become a human paradise in the apocalypse? Thanks to the harsh climate and the fact that there was no human habitation for hundreds of kilometers around, zombies were almost never seen. As more survivors moved in, settlements gradually formed, turning this into fertile ground for humanity, sustaining hundreds of thousands of people.

Some might wonder, with hundreds of thousands of people in Tianzhou Plain, hundreds of thousands in Greenmount City, and hundreds of thousands here, plus an unknown number in the north, aren’t there perhaps too many surviving humans?

Zhou Yuanqiang had actually submitted this question to the Analysis Department, and their analysis showed that the total number of survivors nationwide had reached nearly 20 million. This was already a catastrophic figure. One must remember that in this branch timeline, the national population had reached 1.6 billion. What was the infection rate if only nearly 20 million out of 1.6 billion survived?

It was this analysis that forced Zhou Yuanqiang to accelerate the Population Plan.

His Commercial Association only governed over 400,000 people. Compared to the figure of nearly 20 million, it was too small. He would never know if a settlement with millions of people might appear.

When he heard that there were hundreds of thousands of people here, Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes changed, becoming fervent. It seemed that what Yang Shun knew wasn’t entirely comprehensive, after all, he was over 200 kilometers away and only occasionally came to this market.

The skinny old man’s real name was Chen Wange, a very unique name. His settlement wasn’t very large, only housing seven or eight thousand people. There were many such small settlements, scattered like stars across this wilderness. Of course, under Zhou Yuanqiang’s intentional and unintentional questioning, he did uncover information about a slave-based settlement with a population of seventy to eighty thousand.

Chen Wange didn’t hold much animosity towards this slave-based settlement. He said, “Their power is very strong, especially their slave soldiers, who are all fearless. Their settlement can produce very good guns, and because it’s a slave system, they produce the most grain in this entire area. We often trade crystals with them for grain.”

“Do they oppress their slaves?” Ma Wengying’s memories were probably full of descriptions of ancient slavery.

Chen Wange laughed. “Actually, in the apocalypse, where isn’t there oppression? Becoming a slave means working desperately and giving your life to others, but at least you can eat your fill. We aren’t slaves, but our lives are worse than theirs. Perhaps the only thing we have over them is freedom.”

Seeing that Zhou Yuanqiang and the others seemed very interested in this, Chen Wange didn’t want to elaborate. “When you get to the market, you’ll naturally see what slaves are like. Honestly, who would willingly be a slave if they could survive otherwise? Heh, civilization, oh, civilization.”

Chen Wange didn’t mind Zhou Yuanqiang and the others following him, explaining various things about the area along the way.

His settlement was a long way from here. The reason no Zombie Hunters appeared here was that there were almost no traces of zombie activity in this area, so naturally, no one came here. To encounter zombies, one would have to head south, about a hundred kilometers from here, to Zhanghuang City. Most of the crystals here were obtained from there.

Along the way, it was indeed very desolate, even more desolate than the Wasteland Settlement before.

Thick layers of sand, rocky terrain, and alkaline geology meant that even wild plants were scarce, so how could anything be planted here? The only thing not scarce here was salt. Because in these geological layers, highly saline rocks could be found in certain places, from which salt could be extracted. It was somewhat similar to the salt well in the former Wasteland Settlement, but more convenient here.

Don’t underestimate Chen Wange’s frail appearance; the grandfather and grandson had practically run for nearly 15 kilometers. Now, walking with Zhou Yuanqiang and the others, they only moved at a slow pace.

It took three hours for the five of them to cover this 15-kilometer stretch.

Chen Xiaobao pointed to a flat area and said, “We’re here. That’s our home.”

Ma Wengying looked around. It was still a vast expanse of yellow sand, with no trace of a settlement. Having become quite familiar with Chen Xiaobao along the way, she glared at him and said, “Little one, don’t lie. Where is there a habitable place here? Don’t tell me you live on the sand?”

Only Zhou Yuanqiang knew that what Chen Xiaobao said was likely true; he could occasionally see people moving about in the nearby area.

Chen Xiaobao, seeing Ma Wengying doubt him, became a little displeased and said, “Big sister, I’m telling the truth, we really do live there!” To be convincing, he ran forward, and after running a good distance, he suddenly disappeared from the surface of the ground.

“Ah…” Ma Wengying gasped, startled. “Where’s Xiaobao? How did Xiaobao disappear?”

Only Chen Wange smiled nearby and said, “You’ll understand why when you walk over there.” He pointed to several tall wooden towers and said, “Those are our settlement’s guard towers, normally prepared for potential zombies, but now it seems they’re not very useful.”

Honestly, Zhou Yuanqiang was already immensely curious about this settlement. Was their settlement built underground?

As they approached with Chen Wange, a giant, artificially excavated crack imperceptibly appeared before their eyes. As they moved forward, this crack grew wider and wider. Looking along it, you couldn’t tell how long it was; it seemed to stretch endlessly.

Upon getting closer, Zhou Yuanqiang’s keen ears detected the sound of water. He asked, “Is there a stream here? But why are there signs of artificial excavation in the crack?”

Chen Wange became a little proud. “This was originally an underground river hidden below. After discovering it, to get water, we had to dig open the layer of sand above. Later, as more people arrived and the climate in the wilderness alternated between hot and cold, we had to use our imagination and wisdom to build our dwellings along both sides of the underground river. Well, actually, we dug out living caves from the cliffs we excavated on both sides.”

Under Chen Wange’s lead, this excavated underground river appeared before Zhou Yuanqiang.

The underground river wasn’t very large, a bit stronger than a typical small stream. Both sides were mostly composed of mud and rock layers, which provided solid ground for habitation, preventing collapses when digging out caves. Every few meters on both sides, there was a cave. And what amazed Zhou Yuanqiang and the others was that the excavated river channels on both sides were filled with various grain crops. Here, you could even see large watermelons that were almost ripe…

Following the excavated steps, as they walked onto the river channel, a cool breeze greeted them, an indescribably refreshing sensation.

Chen Wange said proudly, “How about it? No matter how hot it is above ground, our living place is incredibly cool and refreshing. And at night, when it’s very cold above, it’s warm like spring down here; you won’t feel cold at all.” He pointed to the plants along the long river channel. “We mainly rely on these to sustain our basic lives. Then, we go out to hunt for some crystals, and that’s enough for us to survive.”

The soil beneath the river channel was incredibly fertile, and the plants grew impressively, just like crops in the southern regions. You would never believe that this place was actually in the wilderness.

Facing all of this, Zhou Yuanqiang was nothing but amazed.

The human ability to adapt to natural environments was perfectly explained here. Human wisdom played a role in all circumstances. Or perhaps, human wisdom is limitless, capable of creating endless miracles. Even in this harsh wilderness, people could rely on wisdom to create this paradise.

Zhou Yuanqiang believed that this was just a small microcosm of human civilization, and there would be many more places where people would harness their imagination and creativity to create survival environments filled with the strong atmosphere of the apocalypse.

Chapter 238: The Psoriasis

Given the unique circumstances, Zhou Yuanqiang and his two companions didn’t return to the airship for the night, opting instead to squeeze into Chen Wange’s cave.

Thankfully, they had communicators, allowing them to relay messages to Lu Man on the airship so he wouldn’t worry. As Chen Wange had said, there were many settlements, large and small, in the area, so the explorers had made good progress. They had already recorded six settlements, with an estimated population of over 100,000.

This news was undoubtedly exciting, representing a substantial fortune, whether these 100,000-plus people eventually joined the Chamber of Commerce or simply contributed to future trade.

The night in the River Dwelling settlement was very quiet. Due to the scarcity of resources, people would return to their caves early after dark to rest. The male-to-female ratio in River Dwelling was 3:1, and women of all ages had formed new homes here. During the day, Zhou Yuanqiang had even seen many pregnant women.

Having children in the apocalypse was not a joyous prospect. Chronic hunger meant that both men and women were somewhat malnourished. Furthermore, the environment here was too harsh, unfavorable for a child’s growth. Another factor was the shortage of resources. Once infants were born, feeding them became troublesome, and the possibility of them dying young was very high.

However, in the apocalypse, pregnancy was unavoidable. Without contraception, and with long nights, what else could one do besides a certain activity?

It wasn’t long after dusk when Zhou Yuanqiang’s keen hearing picked up faint “heixiu” sounds from some of the caves. Even with all his self-control, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but think of those “type X” movies. His robust physique and vigorous youth meant he had a strong sex drive, something Ren Xinyun and Jiao’er knew well. Almost every night, he would toss and turn for half the night before finally falling asleep content.

Chen Wange’s cave was quite large, probably around 90 square meters. It was fine for him and his grandson, but with three extra people squeezed in, it inevitably felt a bit small. There wasn’t much furniture in the cave: just a small table from who knows where, a few stones serving as stools, and a small aluminum pot placed in a corner. As for a bed? It was just some straw laid on the ground.

You could never imagine how difficult such living conditions were, without a single decent item.

Perhaps because it was a cave by an underground river, the air was cool and there was no foul smell inside. This was why Zhou Yuanqiang decided to stay.

Dinner was a small aluminum pot of sweet potatoes, varying in size. Seeing Chen Xiaobao washing the mud off them in the underground river made Zhou Yuanqiang feel a pang of sadness.

Thanks to the superior conditions of the Great Canyon and the irrigation techniques introduced by the Chamber of Commerce, the entire Great Canyon had become a massive granary. The rice paddies, stretching across the entire canyon, now had drooping grain heads, indicating that harvest time was only about a month away. At that point, the canyon’s total yield would be enough to sustain the hundreds of thousands of people under the Chamber of Commerce’s governance for a year. Combined with the vast plantation now renamed Wasteland Military Base, its annual output could meet three years of consumption.

It could be said that residents under the Chamber of Commerce’s rule had no need to worry about going hungry. They only needed to rack their brains thinking about how to make vegetarian food more delicious.

The three men carried compressed biscuits in their backpacks, manufactured by a food processing plant and specifically prepared for exploration and marches. Once introduced, they were naturally popular among explorers. However, explorers didn’t just carry these; each person would carry 1 to 1.5 kilograms of rice so they could still enjoy fragrant rice in the wild.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate. He took out 1.5 kilograms of rice from his backpack, handed it to Chen Wange, and said, “Cook this!”

Due to the arid conditions of the wasteland, rice was an extremely scarce grain. There was no doubt about this, as the wasteland simply lacked the conditions to grow rice. The staple crops were generally potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cassava, with occasional sorghum and corn, but these were difficult to cultivate and not abundant.

Chen Wange was a southerner and hadn’t eaten rice in years since fleeing to this place. It occasionally appeared in the market, but at exorbitant prices. 500g of rice could buy a dozen kilograms of sweet potatoes. In this resource-scarce apocalypse, only wealthy upper-class individuals would trade for rice; ordinary people didn’t have that luxury.

Seeing the small bag of rice Zhou Yuanqiang pulled out, Chen Wange’s eyes widened. Without being polite, he personally went to wash the rice in the underground river, then quickly used dry branches to start a fire in a makeshift stove in front of the cave. The only drawback in this underground river channel was the huge amount of smoke produced when cooking, which didn’t disperse easily.

To solve this problem, River Dwelling regulations stipulated that fires for cooking had to be made on the surface during the day, and only at night could they cook in the river channel.

Dinner was prepared quickly. Under Chen Wange’s careful attention, a pot of fragrant rice was soon ready. Chen Wange’s cooking skills were good; at least the rice wasn’t burnt.

Noticing it was just plain rice, Ma Wengying took out a bottle of pickles from her backpack. Each person got a small pickled radish and a bit of pickled long beans.

These were very common and staple dishes in the Chamber of Commerce, but to Chen Wange and his grandson, they were incredibly delicious. The conditions here were too harsh, and even pickles were hard to come by. Undoubtedly, this dinner was the most sumptuous Chen Wange had eaten in years. In his heart, he hoped such days would continue.

The sky had already completely darkened, but with firewood used as light, the entire cave was quite bright. However, after a day of labor and not having rested well high in the sky the previous night, Lan Jianbo and the others were sleepy. After a brief chat with Chen Wange, they put out the fire and went to sleep.

Soon after, Chen Wange and his grandson also fell into a deep sleep. Throughout the river channel, besides the sound of flowing water, there was no other sound.

The next day, they ate sweet potatoes. Zhou Yuanqiang, having grown up in the countryside, wasn’t particularly fond of them. After eating a fist-sized sweet potato, he discussed with Lan Jianbo and the others and decided to hurry to the market. In addition to their exploration, they had another mission: to spread news and distribute posters.

Chen Wange had a good reputation in the River Dwelling settlement. Early in the morning, friendly hellos were exchanged everywhere.

Chen Wange explained, “Our River Dwelling is different from other places. We have a system similar to a neighborhood committee. Everyone gets along peacefully, and when there are problems, the neighborhood committee resolves them. In times of war, everyone in the settlement must participate in the fighting. We are unbound, and though life is difficult, we remain optimistic in the face of the apocalypse.”

Because of this, Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment, took out a set of three posters from his backpack, handed them to Chen Wange, and said, “These are promotional posters for our settlement.”

Chen Wange was initially puzzled. As he took the beautifully printed posters, a single glance was all it took for him to be utterly captivated, staring intently at the posters. He trembled all over like a madman, uttering incoherent words from his mouth, seemingly wanting to express something, but ultimately expressing nothing.

The three posters each conveyed a different message, eliciting different reactions from Chen Wange. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t imagine that a mere three posters could have such power.

“Are… are you… from there?”

After a long time, Chen Wange finally put down the posters with a heavy sigh, staring at Zhou Yuanqiang and his companions with eyes full of hope.

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded and said, “Yes, we are from Greenmount City. In fact, Breadfruit Tree Village already belongs to Greenmount City. We came here simply to deliver a message to everyone, to let them know that humanity’s hope still exists. At the same time, we want the world to know that zombies are not unbeatable. Our human civilization can continue to thrive.”

Chen Wange became excited. He paced back and forth in the cave, saying, “I want to tell this news to everyone in River Dwelling, and to everyone living in this area!”

Seeing Chen Wange’s reaction, the plan Zhou Yuanqiang had envisioned earlier resurfaced. He grabbed the excited, almost frantic Chen Wange and said, “Old Uncle Chen, I want to discuss something with you.”

What is the most effective advertising method? It’s like a carpet bombing, where everything you see, hear, and feel is the same advertisement. Whether you like it or not, under this bombardment, you will definitely remember the advertisement and remember the product.

Today’s market seemed to hold a certain mystique.

The number of people coming to the market was as high as ever. After all, it only happened once a month; who wouldn’t cherish this opportunity?

The market here was very unique. It was located on a very flat area, which also served as the central meeting point for various settlements. No one knew how this market formed; people just gradually started gathering here for trade. Gradually, everyone tacitly agreed on its trading dates.

The market had no management. People who came to trade would set up their own stalls, display their goods, and write down what they were looking for on a wooden board. As the crowd grew and the sun became too hot, some people built small shelters over their stalls using dried grass and the like, which led to the formation of a dozen fixed, long streets of stalls.

Although it was unmanaged, the people trading here were very disciplined, and there was no grabbing of stalls. After all, even in the apocalypse, every place still had its unspoken rules and a bottom line that no one was allowed to break.

Once a fixed market form was established, some people would reside there long-term, and some would open their stalls even on non-market days. However, it was usually a bit quiet, nowhere near one percent of the market day’s scale, yet it was already a very bustling area.

The reason today’s market was described as “mysterious” was because at several entrances to the market, people from River Dwelling were constructing a huge wooden sign.

What Chinese people lack least is curiosity. Whenever something happens, crowds always gather. In the apocalypse, this habit seemed not to have disappeared. As soon as the River Dwelling people got busy, people immediately started gathering, pointing and asking questions. Unfortunately, these dozen or so River Dwelling residents were simply focused on their work and paid them no mind. When pressed, they would simply say, “It’s for advertising.” This instantly caused those nearby to almost stumble.

Some busybodies were already making a fuss: “Oh really? Advertising? Are they so full they’ve nothing else to do? Who still advertises these days?”

“You don’t know? They’re advertising sweet potatoes. Hmm, authentic brand sweet potatoes, ha ha ha ha!”

But because Zhou Yuanqiang had given instructions, none of these people paid attention to the ridicule. Instead, they quickly began constructing the advertisement board. There was nothing difficult about it; it was just a matter of joining wooden boards to form a large flat surface for posting posters, which could be completed in one or two hours.

When they finished, it was the busiest time at the market, truly a sea of people of all kinds. Some came to buy, others to sell. The trading methods were still the same four: crystals, gold, grain, and bartering.

With such a crowd, and such a large wooden sign, like a wall, at these entry and exit points, it was hard not to attract attention.

The Chamber of Commerce had, of course, considered this situation, so they had also printed large posters. Zhou Yuanqiang naturally had many such posters in his storage space. Frankly, Zhou Yuanqiang was very fond of this “soft conquest” method; he could get everything he wanted without war. How could he not be enthusiastic about this low-cost, high-reward approach?

Once their curiosity was piqued, people were unwilling to leave. Instead, they gathered around, determined to get to the bottom of it.

The huge first poster, after being pasted with some sweet potato paste, was finally put up on the wooden board. Everyone who witnessed the first poster took a sharp intake of breath. The bustling buzz of discussion instantly vanished. Every face was filled with shock as they gazed at the seven-colored umbrella flag hoisted atop the government building.

As the second and third posters were put up, those below were already becoming excited.

For people who felt abandoned here, they yearned for any news from the outside world, no matter how small. But the dangerous transportation in the apocalypse made information flow very slow, creating isolated areas where news couldn’t spread. Each area felt like an independent entity, and it wasn’t easy to know the situation in other places.

Who didn’t long to return to bustling cities? Who didn’t hope for a stable life? Living in this wasteland was simply a necessity forced by the environment.

As soon as the three posters were displayed, the deeply hidden hearts of the people instantly softened and then gradually burned with fervent hope. Just like the line written below the posters, “Go to Greenmount City,” it deeply resonated, like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating their lost hearts.

This method of promotion alone was far from enough. Thus, the matter Zhou Yuanqiang had discussed with Chen Wange earlier was for Zhou Yuanqiang to provide a certain amount of grain or crystals to hire people from River Dwelling to help post these posters in every settlement.

“Psoriasis,” in modern slang, doesn’t refer to the actual skin condition, but to ubiquitous small advertisements, like those on utility poles, walls, roads, cars, etc. These small ads always advertise in ways you wouldn’t expect. Perhaps a small card-like ad might be posted at your front door when you’re not paying attention. Are your car’s windshield wipers often stuffed with promotional flyers?

Advertisements, they are everywhere, especially these “psoriasis-like” small ads. Whenever people think of them, they often think of treating venereal diseases, obtaining fake certificates, and so on.

If you had a need in these areas, wouldn’t these small ads on utility poles be the first thing you’d think of?

This is the success of “psoriasis” advertising. As soon as you step out your door, you enter its promotional field of view.

Zhou Yuanqiang was using this very method. He had plenty of posters in his storage space, so after taking them out from a hidden spot, without explaining where so many came from, he handed them to Chen Wange to manage this task. In return, he would pay a certain amount of grain or crystals for each poster put up.

This was clearly an inspiring endeavor that also offered remuneration, so naturally, no one would refuse. Almost all seven to eight thousand people of River Dwelling became Zhou Yuanqiang’s propagandists. Carrying posters, they headed towards familiar settlements, where they would, as requested, cover these places with small posters.

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, these hundreds of thousands of people here were essential for him.

What he was doing was not population plundering but seeking a happier and safer living environment for them. The living conditions here were indeed too harsh. Looking at the emaciated people, especially the children, who were like wild kids, unsupervised, hunger had made them sallow and emaciated, and long-term malnutrition had a huge impact on their growth.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart was not made of stone. Being a flesh-and-blood human, how could he watch these people, who were far more distressed than African refugees, continue to suffer? Even if not for his conscience or compassion, purely from the Chamber of Commerce’s perspective, vast human resources were what was most needed at the moment. There was no reason to let go of these hundreds of thousands of people.

Similarly, Zhou Yuanqiang understood that advertising was, after all, advertising. Its purpose was promotion, but to see results, one still needed to provide something tangible, something that would make them believe what the advertisement said. But how would they believe everything written on the posters?

Zhou Yuanqiang believed this required a small “catalyst.”

Chapter 239: Undercurrents

Sixty kilometers west of the market lay a stunning area, where fields of crops stretched for several kilometers on both sides of the road, giving the impression of endless expanse.

Perhaps seeing this, you might wonder: the wasteland, a perennial synonym for drought and scorching heat, only slightly better than a desert – how could such continuous expanses of cultivated plants exist? Could it be a mirage, a common sight in deserts?

The answer, of course, is no. What you see is not a mirage, but a real and tangible existence.

The wasteland indeed lacks surface water, but underground, its water resources are abundant. Digging just one to two hundred meters deep would reveal large flows of water. Just look at Chen Wange’s River Dwelling settlement; the underground river there is only a dozen meters below the surface.

However, regardless, cultivating such a vast area of crops in the wasteland still requires many conditions. For example, finding a spot with more soil, with soil quality that isn’t too alkaline, and most importantly, sufficient water for irrigation. After these are met, a large amount of human labor is needed to care for these crops.

Before the apocalypse, people’s lives weren’t solely about labor; they had various other things to do. In other words, crops were not their sole focus, merely enough to feed them. They needed to earn money. Inevitably, the time spent on crops was very little.

Under such circumstances, in harsh environments, it was naturally impossible for anyone to come and plant crops.

But here, it’s different. As far as the eye can see, countless people are toiling in these vast, endless fields. Almost every few meters, there is someone tending to the crops. The sight of tens of thousands of people working in the fields, even if some appear and disappear intermittently, is still incredibly spectacular.

Their labor isn’t just weeding; it also includes drawing water from deep wells, then carrying it bucket by bucket to the crops, carefully irrigating the roots. From time to time, they have to break up petrified mud with small hammers, occasionally loosening the soil around the crops. They also carefully bury manure and wood ash from burned plants where the crops can absorb them. You cannot imagine that their work is to care for these crops from dawn till dusk, day in and day out.

This terrifying utilization of human labor, with responsibilities divided into sections, allows the crops to enjoy three full irrigations a day.

Only when you witness this scene will you understand that these seemingly endless crops, under such conditions, consume immense human labor, improving the soil little by little. It takes two to three years for the soil to gradually show improvement and for the crops to be successfully cultivated.

In other settlements, such intense labor wouldn’t be sustainable. But here, it’s different. The laborers are slaves; they have lost their freedom, leaving only numb toil. Tending to the crops is their most basic task. They only get food and avoid punishment if they complete the tasks assigned by their superiors.

Don’t assume that slavery here is the same as ancient slavery. Once you truly understand the system implemented here, you’ll realize that what they call “slavery” is merely a term people use for them. It’s not like ancient slaves who had no human rights whatsoever. Hmm, the system here is more like the black factories of the old era, where the oppression of foremen forced hungry people, desperate for survival, to endure heavy labor in exchange for a meager amount of grain.

Indeed, the system here is a highly oppressive labor system combining elements of the old-era factory system with a touch of the slave era system.

For those who willingly joined this settlement, being able to eat their fill every day – what does a little hardship matter? At least it’s much better than those outside who eat one meal and don’t know where their next will come from. For the outside world to call them spineless, to call them slaves, becomes unimportant when faced with the ability to eat until full.

The fields are indeed very tough. The wasteland temperatures are high. Those assigned to crops like sorghum and corn fare a bit better, with some shade from the sun. But those assigned to potatoes, sweet potatoes, and watermelons are miserable, working almost directly under the scorching sun. The result is predictable: their skin peels off layer after layer. Many have died under the blazing sun.

Today’s sun was as scorching and chillingly hot as ever.

However, the people, who usually toiled in silent cultivation, were somewhat abnormal today, occasionally chatting in hushed tones. Even the foremen were distracted, furtively clutching a colorful poster in their hands, glancing at it now and then, afraid of being seen, regularly hiding it in their pockets.

“Do you think what this poster says is true?” a young foreman, nicknamed Haizi, raised the poster in his hand and discussed it with a colleague he got along with.

An older foreman, holding a whip, glared and said, “Haizi, can your movements be a little smaller? Do you want the higher-ups to find out?” He pointed to the iron plate on his chest, which represented a foreman, and said with a stern face, “You must remember how much effort we put in to get this iron plate. Don’t lose this foreman position over some baseless rumors. Do you want to work tirelessly day and night, exposed to the elements, like before?”

Haizi, however, scoffed inwardly and said, “Yang Hui, cut the official business act. I’ve known you for three years; don’t I understand you? It was hard for us to get this iron plate, but don’t forget where we live now? Who doesn’t yearn for city life? Under this system, even if we become foremen, we’re only slightly better than ordinary people. Aren’t we still at the mercy of others?”

Haizi laid the poster on the field and praised it with clicking sounds of his tongue, saying, “I just don’t know if this is true? If it is, I must go there to achieve my dreams.” He yearned even more when he saw the massive airship…

Yang Hui’s previously indifferent expression softened. He said, “I’m not just worried someone will report us. You don’t need a genius to know this poster conflicts with our system.” He pointed to the dozens of laborers they were supervising and said, “Look at their expressions; they probably know what’s on the poster. Think about it, slaving away here all day, barely getting enough to eat, and being executed at the drop of a hat. Who, knowing this news, would feel at peace staying here?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s strategy was truly successful, especially for this special slave settlement. Zhou Yuanqiang even paid a hefty price, and under the promise of great rewards, brave individuals naturally jumped out, tossing large quantities of posters into this enormous crop forest. Even the Stone City settlement, with its guard forces, had posters plastered everywhere.

Under this advertising offensive, combined with the shocking news, it naturally spread like wildfire—one telling ten, ten telling a hundred, a hundred telling a thousand… In just a few hours, almost everyone in Stone City knew the news. Looking at the distracted people, even though they were still working, one could tell how much impact this news had on them.

With foremen present, they couldn’t converse, but faint yet intensely burning fires of desire could still be seen in their eyes.

Yes. No one could resist the allure of the poster, especially the glamorous clothes, which evoked a deep yearning. No matter how simple and content you might be, facing your tattered clothes, you had to admit that your heart was stirred. And the stable city life, the powerful protection, and mechanized farming… all indicated that this was paradise, where one could eat well and dress well, living a whole new life, instead of staying in this cursed place.

Humans, when faced with no choices, mostly resign themselves to fate, just as they had lived here before, with no choice but to diligently adapt to everything.

But the appearance of these three different posters was like a giant rock violently thrown into a stagnant pool, stirring up a cascade of water, making the entire pool surge with huge waves, forming a massive whirlpool, and giving everyone an additional choice.

It might seem like nothing, but people with a choice in their hearts need only a spark to ignite a fierce blaze that will burn away all obstructing forces.

As the center of the entire slave system, Stone City symbolized a new model of governance.

This was a massive settlement, named Stone City because of the extensive use of stone as building material. Stone City was divided into inner and outer sections. The outer layer was where ordinary people lived, in houses made of stacked stones with timber for ceilings, then covered with a thick layer of corn and sorghum stalks.

But the inner city was different; it resembled a palace, constructed from huge square stones, incredibly magnificent.

Those unfamiliar with it would naturally feel a sense of awe. But those who knew were filled with disgust for this palace-like inner city. It was simple: thousands of people had died from exhaustion during its construction. You simply couldn’t imagine that behind this grandeur lay a foundation built from flesh and blood.

Because it was built from massive stones with great thickness, the scorching sun had no effect on the temperature inside. Being inside, one felt a faint coolness, an indescribable comfort.

However, this coolness brought no relief to Sun Wanru; on the contrary, he felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, with sweat dripping from him. It wasn’t the heat in the air here; the real culprit was the three posters on the stone table. Everything on them was like a great fire, roasting him… making it difficult to find peace.

Sun Wanru’s name sounded elegant, but he was at the very pinnacle of the ruling class in Stone City, holding ultimate power over the entire settlement. This improved system was his brainchild. As a former psychology professor, the system he devised, based on his understanding of human nature, allowed people to be exploited without inciting rebellion.

It was precisely by leveraging this human psychology that he slowly gathered more people from a small team of a few, developing from a small settlement into a large one. This system also became increasingly refined during its development. Now, it could be said to have entered maturity. Without major external factors, Sun Wanru was confident that this system could bind the people under his rule for a lifetime.

He wasn’t afraid of nearby settlements; his armed force of over ten thousand people was definitely the largest in the vicinity. Coupled with the special system, which ensured an abundant supply of grain, it was like having a thick checkbook, freely waving money to buy off anyone who stood in his way for his own use.

In the apocalypse, grain was the greatest weapon. Several crises had begun because of grain and ended because of grain. Sun Wanru knew the flaws of human nature deeply, so whenever there was anything unfavorable to him, he would immediately use grain to break these so-called alliances. After several such instances, no one could shake his rule anymore.

Sun Wanru had originally thought he could enjoy this life as an emperor of the apocalypse without worry, but the appearance of these three posters completely shattered his life. When he received these posters, he almost rolled off his bed.

Seeing Sun Wanru pacing back and forth, the several lackeys beside him all became nervous. One old man of over fifty with two wisps of a goatee carefully said, “City Lord, I think this news is nine times out of ten false. In this apocalypse, humans under the pursuit of zombies are like lost dogs. How could they possibly conquer a city?” As if reaching a point of pride, he picked up a poster and disdainfully said, “Look at their poster; it even has an airship. The quality of the forgery indeed can only deceive a three-year-old child.”

Once someone spoke, the others also became bolder. “I agree, City Lord. Could it be another trick from some restless people? Meant to challenge our system and sow discord among our subordinates?”

“I also concur with that statement. Now that harvest season is approaching, desperate people always come up with ways to beg for some grain from us. Hmm, this trick has been used several times; are we still going to fall for it? Before, our strength was weak, but now we have abundant troops, all fully armed. City Lord, in my opinion, whoever dares to cause trouble this year will just give us an excuse to expand and annex them.”

Sun Wanru’s heart stirred. He had always believed that his ambition grew steadily with the increasing number of his personnel.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to act against other settlements, but the settlements here were very complex. As fellow humans, no one would fault you for resisting zombies, and some might even help. But if you attacked your own kind, it would definitely provoke public outrage. After all, the total population of all settlements in this area combined was several times his own. If conflicts arose, his years of hard work would be wasted, benefiting others for free.

This was also why Sun Wanru ensured his laborers were well-fed and clothed – he feared that overly bloody exploitation would lead to resistance and dissatisfaction from other settlements.

As just mentioned, if someone was genuinely targeting him, wouldn’t this be an excellent excuse? After annexing a few settlements, his power would become even greater. Once the annexed personnel were assimilated, with a population of over ten thousand, nearly two hundred thousand, wouldn’t it be easy to integrate the entire region into his Stone City?

Sun Wanru gave a few light coughs, and the several lackeys immediately stopped their arguments.

“Regardless of whether it’s true or false, the first thing we must do now is to send people to arrest those who spread these posters to our Stone City; the second thing is to confiscate all posters, and anyone who secretly keeps them will be punished with a day of exposure to the scorching sun; the third thing is to gather external news, to see if this is targeted or if this kind of poster has spread throughout the entire area, and collect more information.”

After Sun Wanru finished speaking, he thought for a moment and said, “I always feel that this matter is a bit strange…”

Following Sun Wanru’s instructions, large numbers of Stone City soldiers were dispatched. They searched every house, tearing down posters plastered in the city, and stormed into the crop fields, confiscating and destroying every poster. At the same time, personnel were sent to the market to gather information about the posters.

During the confiscation of posters, violence was inevitable, and naturally, people below became fearful, their longing for what the posters described intensifying.

But it was better not to gather information; once he did, Sun Wanru’s heart grew heavier.

From the news, it seemed like a storm facing the entire region. As for who started this storm, few knew, only that people from River Dwelling had been putting up the posters. However, with Sun Wanru’s methods, it wasn’t difficult to obtain the most authentic news. He knew that it had been spread by several people who used to be from Breadfruit Tree Village.

Zhou Yuanqiang had long anticipated such leaks. The information he spread was meant to gain people’s trust, so it was naturally necessary for people to know that people from Greenmount City had arrived here, thus confidentiality was not an issue.

To increase people’s awareness of Greenmount City and strengthen their belief in the authenticity of the posters, Zhou Yuanqiang had to connect with the Commercial Association headquarters, stating his current location. He also requested them to bring the edited “Doomsday Storm 2” film, along with the first part, and screen it in an open-air projection, showcasing the Commercial Association’s struggle to everyone.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t believe that with these two films, he couldn’t win them over.

His ring mission was now halfway complete: discovering a settlement of over twenty thousand people. The remaining half was how to absorb five thousand people into the Commercial Association. Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t worried about this. As soon as the film was broadcast, he believed that those who believed would immediately act. Even those who didn’t believe would be in a wait-and-see state, and once definite news returned, Zhou Yuanqiang was confident they would make the most correct choice.

Busy as he was, Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, didn’t know that Sun Wanru, having already received the news, was letting out a cold sneer. For Sun Wanru, regardless of whether it was targeted at him, the appearance of the posters was a fatal blow to his system. For the sake of his rule, he had to do something…

Chapter 240: The Shock of Film and Reality

The people of River Dwelling settlement were now the most triumphant. In just a few days, they had become the center of attention, with everyone desperately trying to get information from them. This feeling was like drinking a large bottle of iced fruit drink on a hot day.

The news, spread days ago, about a film being shown in the market, had spread like wildfire, reaching everyone’s hearts. It was said that this film was a story of a settlement’s struggle, letting people understand everything from its rise to the recapture of an entire city.

People in the apocalypse lacked entertainment and yearned to know about the outside world. So, as soon as the news broke, everyone was stirred up, eagerly awaiting the day. Some clever individuals had already anticipated that it would be packed, so they packed their things early and secured a spot directly in the market.

Once someone took the lead, others, fearing they wouldn’t even get a spot, rushed to the market en masse.

Under this effect, people were frenzied. The market was twice as lively as on a regular market day, filled with surging crowds. Those who had never seen a scene of over 100,000 people could hardly imagine it.

Because there were too many people, the consequence was that those who arrived early had places to rest and live, while those who came later had to endure the scorching sun. The clever ones simply moved their tents here, setting them up in the vast wilderness outside the market, preparing for a long siege.

Chen Wange, seeing such a massive turnout, was also somewhat unprepared. The River Dwelling settlement was now an integral part of Greenmount City. If things went wrong, the entire River Dwelling settlement wouldn’t be able to survive in this area. So he nervously looked at Zhou Yuanqiang next to him and asked, “Is everything really okay?”

Zhou Yuanqiang glanced at his watch and said, “Old man Chen, don’t worry, there’s absolutely no problem.”

With communicators, they connected almost every half hour. Under such circumstances, what problems could there be? Now everything was ready, only lacking the appointed time. Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to give them more than just a simple film; the shock Zhou Yuanqiang would deliver in an instant would be enough for them to make any decision.

Showing a film, of course, was best at night, and Zhou Yuanqiang had decided on that.

The number of people who arrived was enormous, so as early as when the Commercial Association dispatched its teams, Zhou Yuanqiang had already discussed with the Commercial Association to use multiple screens. The projection would also employ new screen technology, playing the film on the massive airship balloons. This way, a few airships floating in the sky would be enough for everyone to see clearly.

There were still two or three hours until night, and to maintain security, Zhou Yuanqiang and his entire exploration team had to fully commit, organizing thousands of River Dwelling residents to maintain order everywhere. With such a crowd, if chaos erupted, the consequences would be unimaginable, an absolute disaster.

As time went on, the number of people who had gathered here exceeded 200,000, like an epic gathering.

To be honest, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know how the Commercial Association would arrange all of this, as he only provided some suggestions. The final plan was still developed by the Commercial Association’s planning department. After all, this was considered a promotional event, so it was naturally handled by the planning department.

To ensure warmth as night fell, Zhou Yuanqiang also arranged for personnel to collect a large amount of firewood and stack it into piles on the field for people to warm themselves. Their clothes were too thin for the wilderness night and might not withstand the upcoming cold.

While waiting, the sky finally dimmed. Everyone looked on with eager anticipation.

The sky above the wilderness was usually cloudless, even at night. So once it got dark, a quick glance upwards revealed a sky full of stars and a high-hanging moon. The night in the wilderness wasn’t pitch black; on the contrary, it was as if there were lights everywhere, illuminating everything in a stark white, like a snowy night.

Then, in the star-filled sky, a dense cluster of twinkling stars appeared in the far eastern horizon, slowly approaching.

At first, no one noticed, but soon, these moving stars quickly attracted everyone’s attention. Especially the faint “buzzing” sound that accompanied them forced people to focus on this group of moving stars.

“Look, what’s that…?”

Countless exclamations rose as people stood up, craning their necks to see. Whether you wanted to or not, you had to admit it was truly spectacular. This cluster of moving stars seemed to be composed of hundreds of them, twinkling and slowly drawing closer. From a distance, it looked like a massive, glowing sphere.

People stirred, a mix of curiosity towards the unknown and fear of it. These two conflicting emotions filled them with excitement and unease, their hearts churning with a myriad of feelings.

As these moving stars drew closer, people could discern individual blinking logos with their naked eyes. That splash of seven-colored light entering their vision made everyone gasp in surprise. They shouted, “It’s the seven-colored umbrella! It’s the seven-colored umbrella…!”

Yes, they were too familiar with this logo, even if it had only been a few days. But no matter where you went, all you saw was this seven-colored umbrella logo. No matter what you heard, it was all talk about the seven-colored umbrella. Even when you went to the bathroom, you could see ads for this seven-colored umbrella plastered on the wall in front of the latrine. You never knew if such a small advertisement would suddenly appear outside your home.

Over these few days, people finally understood what an advertising bombardment felt like. Their lives seemed to be lived inside this advertisement. Heaven knows how so many ads appeared. In short, these past few days, you had to face one fact: the entire area seemed to be covered in ad flyers. You might not know who the woman in your arms was, but you couldn’t possibly not know the unforgettable seven-colored umbrella logo.

The director of all this was, of course, Zhou Yuanqiang. The exploration airships had transported several batches of advertising posters, all of which he used for promotion. The effect he wanted was similar to a certain modern luxury brand, bombarding all your senses of sight and hearing. Whether you liked it or not, its success was undeniable.

It was precisely for this reason that when the seven-colored umbrella faintly appeared in the sky, it immediately ignited people’s passion.

With each shout, a unified roar soon formed. Nearly 200,000 people shouting was enough to reverberate through the clouds, creating a tsunami. Such passionate shouts easily got people’s blood boiling, and in an instant, people’s minds shifted… unconsciously, they subtly recognized the existence of Greenmount City and that seven-colored umbrella.

Amidst the frenzied shouts of the crowd, the stars in the sky grew larger, emitting dazzling light. The “buzzing” sound grew louder and louder.

By the light of the lamps and the moon, people finally understood what these moving stars truly were. Those who witnessed this scene would remember it forever. It was simply too astonishing; dozens of massive airships, after approaching, almost covered the entire sky. The twinkling lights on their gondolas — dozens of airships forming hundreds of lights — created a field of shimmering stars.

Even when the airship fleet was still far away, the overwhelming presence emanating from them gave people an urge to worship.

Those who had never seen an airship before would always be captivated by its colossal balloon at first sight. Even one was enough to impress, let alone dozens of airships appearing here, their massive silhouettes filling the entire sky. These airships ranged from 178 meters for the smaller ones to nearly 300 meters for the larger ones.

Perhaps everyone was awestruck, even Lan Jianbo and his companions, who had never seen so many airships at once, were equally stunned.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang, looking at the airships slowly gliding overhead, was filled with bitterness. “I don’t know which bastard came up with this idea. Ten or so would have been impressive enough. Now, they’ve almost sent all the Commercial Association’s transport and military airships. Don’t they know, damn it, that these airships’ engines are modified fighter jet engines? They’re fuel guzzlers… God, how much fuel will be burned this time?”

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang was stingy, but the oil field’s output could no longer meet the Commercial Association’s needs. Think of the vast numbers of fighter jets, the immense fleet of armed helicopters, and the massive airship fleet. With development, cars, transport vehicles, and the soon-to-be-manufactured tanks… 21 tons of fuel per day wasn’t enough even for training.

At this moment, Zhou Yuanqiang admitted that his previous words were a real buzzkill, so… this problem would have to be dealt with later.

The shock of the massive airships was immense. At the very least, their appearance completely confirmed everything stated on the posters. At this moment, no one doubted the authenticity of the posters anymore. Once doubt was abandoned, people would fully embrace Greenmount City. Without question, under the震撼 of the massive airships, many had already decided: they would go to Greenmount City.

The airship fleet hovered at an altitude of 200 meters, the seven-colored umbrellas glinting merrily under the decorative lights.

The seven-colored umbrellas twinkled for a moment, then slowly faded. They were replaced by a segment of pure white text: “It is a miracle, witnessing the rise of humanity… Do not doubt, what you see is a true record.” At the end, in anonymous small characters, were the words Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

This text shone brightly in the night sky, clear for everyone to see.

The text remained for over a minute, then slowly faded. Immediately, what came into view was the original appearance of the Wasteland Settlement at its very beginning, recorded through aerial photography, capturing everything within. The extensive development, resembling a construction site everywhere, allowed everyone who saw it to feel a surge of nascent hope. Especially the enormous settlement, with people working like dense ants, was shocking and gave them their first glimpse of humanity’s power.

But this comforting development had just begun. As the camera zoomed out, an endless horde of zombies came into view, moving ferociously. With film effects, as the scene pulled back, people could clearly see that their target was the Wasteland Settlement.

The people living here had never witnessed such a massive zombie horde. Seeing the towering Giant Zombies among them, along with a vast number of gross monsters, and high-level zombies leaping out like fish from water – at this moment, though they were watching a movie, no one failed to clench their fists for the Wasteland Settlement, sending silent blessings constantly in their hearts.

This was the first installment of “Doomsday Storm.” Its high box office success was due, first, to its grand scale; second, its documentary nature; third, the underlying message conveyed in the story; and fourth, its lifelike zombie props. Of course, these props were only considered as such by the modern outside world, and although some people pointed out that these were not props but real zombies, naturally no one believed them. How could there be zombies in this world?

Reality combined with special effects – this was the most successful aspect of the first film. Similarly, everyone who saw it, especially people in the apocalypse, was shocked. They couldn’t imagine how the people of the Wasteland Settlement mustered the courage to resist the zombies. The subsequent story was even more gripping, with dangers appearing everywhere, making people feel as if they were there, and gasps of surprise constantly echoed.

The protagonist highlighted in the film, with his unwavering spirit and power to sweep everything aside, made people feel as if they had found a savior, instantly recognizing his heroic status.

As the film approached its end, the retreat of the zombies caused the nearly 200,000 viewers to cheer, as if it were a battle they had personally experienced. Excited shouts roared like a tsunami. The hearts of the people, which had been suspended in mid-air, needed to vent that feeling of suspense.

“Our battle with the zombies has only just begun. No one knows what the future holds, but we will strive to prove that humanity is the master under this sky…”

The ending was even more classic, and it also set up the second installment.

The second part began with an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft flying at high speed over a huge city. A line of text appeared: “We never forget that the city below is where we live. We also never forget that it… does not belong to us now.” The camera cut back to the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, showing zombies wandering everywhere in the city. From time to time, blobs of liquid would erupt, attacking the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

When the scene cut back from the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to the Wasteland Settlement, what came into view were six massive Corridor Streets. Trees that had already sprouted green buds were planted, captured in close-up, giving a surging sense of vitality, seemingly signifying the rise of a settlement. In the distance, huge factories with towering chimneys emitted thick smoke, all indicating that the Wasteland Settlement’s industry had developed.

Seeing this scene, the audience gasped aloud. Compared to the first part, in the second part, there were no more endless refugee camps; instead, there were spacious and bright new homes. On the streets were well-disciplined street guards. People had changed from ragged clothes to neatly dressed, each with a smile on their face, going in and out of their jobs, happily commuting.

Children were like happy elves; they didn’t need to worry about zombies, nor hunger. Images of children chasing each other in the streets, and old people serenely playing chess on rows of benches. All of this was like paradise. Countless people who witnessed this scene shed tears. They suddenly realized how dull their current lives were.

The camera swept past these massive Corridor Streets, revealing the enormous defensive wall that cradled the entire settlement. On top of the wall, machine guns were mounted in every gun embrasure. Various cannons appeared in each turret, and隊 after隊 of soldiers in uniform marched by. All of this demonstrated that in just half a year, this settlement had undergone earth-shattering changes.

The camera once again swept over the defensive wall, and a colossal military camp appeared before the people’s eyes.

Dozens of training formations, rows of neatly arranged soldiers, roaring slogans, and outside, teams of fully armed soldiers conducting cross-country training. The immense impact all of this had on people was easily imaginable.

In the apocalypse, it was precisely due to weak military strength that humanity was constantly hounded by zombies. People once fantasized about a large number of ‘people’s fighters’ appearing, but after several years, everyone despaired. They also understood that the previous armies had been annihilated, and everything in the apocalypse had to rely on themselves.

Now, seeing tens of thousands of soldiers in the Wasteland Settlement, their majestic appearance and imposing figures holding standard-issue weapons made people believe that these were the country’s former troops, the people’s soldiers, their guardian deities.

The film slowly played on. Advanced projection technology turned each airship’s balloon into a movie screen, displaying every detail of the film to everyone’s eyes. No matter how far away you stood, the massive airships acting as screens would still allow you to see clearly.

If the vast army of soldiers could stir the people, then the subsequent scene appearing in the sky, a massive airship slowly gliding across, truly stunned them. As one, then two more appeared, the true strength of the Wasteland Settlement began to unfold before the people’s eyes.

But this was just the beginning. At the aviation training base, on the colossal airfield, fighter jets were arranged in long rows, and countless logistics personnel were equipping various bombs under their wings. Once completed, fighter jets taxied onto the runway. The roar of engines filled the air, and with immense thrust, they rapidly sped down the runway, ultimately pulling up their noses and soaring into the sky with a roar.

One, two… over a hundred fighter jets formed a massive formation in the air, showcasing immense military might.

From the moment the planes appeared, everyone was so excited they almost jumped up: “Look, it’s fighter jets, it’s fighter jets…!” Yes, they had reason to be excited, because the most powerful weapon they thought had disappeared had reappeared in their sight. They had reason to believe this was the strongest presence for humanity.

But the awe the Wasteland Settlement brought them wasn’t just this; there was also a huge fleet of helicopters, over a hundred of them, rising from the horizon. The armament hanging from them all indicated that their combat power was equally immense.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang knew that this segment was filmed later. The early helicopters, though designed as armed helicopters, only had a few machine guns as their weapon system. Later, through the efforts of the munitions factory, the helicopter’s weapon system was finally perfected, transforming it into a truly armed helicopter.

It should be said that when the Sand-3 model came out, its resemblance to the Apache made it a true armed helicopter.

At this point, the film began to delve into the circumstances under which the Commercial Association declared war. As soldiers advanced on the ground and massive air fleets appeared in the sky, all the viewers began to shout unified slogans. They were also worried about the Wasteland Settlement; this was a challenge to humanity’s current forbidden zone—the city. Could they succeed?

The fierce siege battle officially began, with excellent soldiers falling under zombie attacks. Fighter jet bombing, burning infernos, and the zombies’ frantic counterattacks. Under film special effects and some re-shot treatment, it became vivid, extremely brutal. It fully demonstrated the gore of the siege and how good men fell one by one.

Especially when the fighter jets flew by, the mid-air explosions caused by being hit by discharge balls. The explosions of entire fighter jets plunging into buildings captivated everyone’s nerves. Those jets turning into fireballs made them realize the immense price the Wasteland Settlement paid to finally reclaim control of the city.

The appearance of the Corpse Queen pushed the film to its climax, while also announcing that after heavy human casualties, humanity finally stood on the city streets, free to gaze at the starry sky.

At the end of the film, three posters appeared, like a silent call. They made the blood-boiling crowds not need to think at all; from the moment the airships appeared, they had already decided to go to Greenmount City. Now, it only served to solidify their decision.

Amidst the excited crowd, only Sun Wanru’s face was ashen. He had arrived with tens of thousands of armed forces, but the nearly 200,000 viewers and the shock of the airships made him lose any thought of taking action. And the film, like a murderer destroying his last shred of hope, made him realize that in front of this powerful opponent, he was like an egg—one light touch and he would be crushed.

He also understood that what followed would be a great migration; this place would become a memory…

Chapter 241: Short on Money Again

October in City S had no hint of coolness. The oppressive, hot humidity would only begin to subside around December.

Zhou Yuanqiang, lingering over his after-dinner fruit, leaned back comfortably in his spacious chair and addressed his parents and little sister across from him, “Do the dishes here suit your taste?” He had ordered a selection of excellent dishes, several of which were the hotel’s signature items, and the flavors were indeed exceptional.

Zhou Xiaojing patted her bloated stomach and nodded, “Out of all the places we’ve eaten, this one was the most satisfying.” She gazed wistfully at the large amount of leftover food on the table and said helplessly, “I want to eat more, but I really can’t.”

Su Lan also found the hotel’s food delicious, but looking at the table laden with dishes, she said with a pang of regret, “Eating like this, even a mountain of gold and silver wouldn’t be enough.” Just thinking that this one meal cost over 20,000 Renminbi, for a countrywoman like her, even after living in City S for almost three months, it was simply asking for the impossible to change her mindset in such a short time.

Only Zhou Anpu ate with a clear conscience, saying, “It’s rare for our son to have a chance to eat a meal with us. What are you worrying about? We don’t eat out every day. Occasional enjoyment is necessary, otherwise, what’s the point of earning so much money?”

Actually, Zhou Anpu was still very frugal. The villa’s yard was large, so he and Su Lan had cleared out some space and planted their favorite vegetables. Their usual meals weren’t extravagant, just two or three more meat dishes than their previous life. To be able to live in a villa and enjoy such a lifestyle was something Zhou Anpu had never dared to dream of in his entire life. Because of this, he was very open-minded; whether the food was good or bad, he could be satisfied.

Zhou Yuanqiang, likewise, rarely spent a full day with his parents, and naturally hoped they would live well. Spending over 20,000 Renminbi on a meal was nothing; compared to people who spent hundreds of thousands on a single meal, those were the truly rich. His own expenditure was not worth mentioning in the eyes of others.

He used to envy people who lived in villas,
but now that he lived in one himself, he realized that those who lived in villas were truly wealthy. It was difficult to even pretend to be one.

Take his own villa, for example. The monthly property management fee alone was over ten thousand Renminbi, and that didn’t include water, electricity, internet, and other utility fees. For such a large yard, the several servants Zhou Yuanqiang hired cost almost another 20,000 Renminbi. The eight security guards cost over 40,000 Renminbi. These were just the basic expenses, totaling nearly 100,000 Renminbi. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t imagine how much money others spent each month when they hired a dozen or so servants for their villas and hosted endless banquets and gatherings.

Of course, if one were to consider Zhou Yuanqiang’s previous wealth, emulating such a lifestyle would have been no problem at all. After all, seven to eight hundred million US dollars, converted to Renminbi, amounted to several billion, more than enough for anyone to squander.

But Zhou Yuanqiang knew that he was actually very poor now. The seven to eight hundred million US dollars had been spent almost entirely in three months of relentless activity. His current net worth was only about ten to twenty million Renminbi, and that was in Renminbi. It was quite terrifying to think about; such a massive sum had been spent in three months, absolutely insane.

The supplies needed to attack Greenmount City were maddeningly numerous. Just for artillery shells, Zhou Yuanqiang spent 200 million US dollars on raw materials. Specialty steel and various rare metals also cost hundreds of millions. But these were minor expenses; the truly expensive item was helium for the airships. Over three months, he purchased nearly 400 million US dollars worth of helium, making him absolutely the world’s largest helium buyer. Fortunately, these purchases did not go through Li Yihan’s trading company, otherwise, he would have become quite famous.

Besides these, there were various miscellaneous purchases, such as heavy sniper rifles that the munitions factory couldn’t manufacture and had to be purchased. Ordering bulletproof vests also cost over 100 million US dollars. All in all, nearly 800 million US dollars had been spent just like that. Thinking about it now, it was quite heartbreaking…

However, Zhou Yuanqiang still believed this money was well spent. Capturing Greenmount City yielded various materials worth over 2 billion US dollars. There was also gold and diamonds worth nearly 200 million US dollars. Most importantly, for a period of time, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t need to act as an endless laborer; the supplies in Greenmount City were enough to last for more than half a year.

Don’t underestimate that half a year; by then, the wealth created by the Commercial Association would be dozens of times 2 billion US dollars.

The only regrettable thing was that this value of 20 to 30 billion was reflected in weaponry, not in true gold and silver, meaning it couldn’t bring Zhou Yuanqiang greater wealth in the modern world.

But what pleased Zhou Yuanqiang was that his initial investments in the post-apocalyptic settlement were basically accounted for in the later stages. From now on, the Commercial Association would generate its own output, which meant that all the areas controlled by the Commercial Association belonged to him. The vast wealth would be at his disposal. The only thing he needed to consider was how to convert the wealth from the post-apocalyptic world into the modern world.

The Commercial Association’s strength lay in its increasingly完善 industrial manufacturing system, with two large Airship Factories capable of producing three fighter jets a day.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s idea was mainly focused on the arms business. He had already ordered the Commercial Association to begin designing fourth-generation fighter jets. If the design was completed, they could be manufactured and passed testing, these fighter jets would be transported to the modern world using his storage space and put onto the arms market.

Designing and manufacturing a new fighter jet was not a simple task. It could take several years. With the Commercial Association’s capabilities, Zhou Yuanqiang was confident that test flights could begin within a year. By then, his ring’s level would have upgraded enough for the storage space to carry fighter jets.

The arms market has always been the exclusive domain of nations. Private arms deals were merely small-scale skirmishes; occasionally, one might acquire some missiles or armed helicopters, but these were mostly retired models. To purchase standard or active-duty high-end weapons, one could only buy them from some developed nations.

Zhou Yuanqiang had also considered that the arms business wouldn’t be easy. As a private individual getting involved, it would definitely arouse suspicion. Furthermore, his aircraft type wasn’t any known model in the world, leading to many problems and loopholes. Once released into the market, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of other countries or international arms giants.

Zhou Yuanqiang had meticulously considered this issue and devised a perfectly viable solution. However, this method was somewhat earth-shattering, forcing Zhou Yuanqiang to be extremely cautious and plan every step. The entire plan was thoroughly conceived and perfected in his mind. (Don’t criticize by saying selling fighter jets and engaging in the arms business is a dead end and will be thwarted by other countries or domestically. I will reveal my plan then, it’s absolutely feasible!)

That meal was the most enjoyable Zhou Yuanqiang had eaten in the past three months.

For three months, he had almost constantly been engaged in transportation. Vast quantities of various materials, machinery, and parts needed to be moved from the modern world to the post-apocalyptic world. It was precisely because of this that the Commercial Association became incredibly powerful, and factories sprang up like mushrooms after a rain, allowing the entire Greenmount City to operate.

Rarely taking a few days off, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally cherished the opportunity. The first thing he did was spend a whole day playing with his family, visiting every interesting attraction in City S. However, City S’s beaches were somewhat disappointing. The only two spots were packed with people, making any desire to swim plummet to freezing point.

After a day of frantic activity, Zhou Yuanqiang’s constitution didn’t feel much, but his parents and little sister were too tired to move. They reluctantly ate some pastries, washed up, and then retreated to their rooms to rest.

The server room for the Global Protector antivirus software had long since been moved by Zhou Yuanqiang from the warehouse suite to the villa’s basement. With security from the property management company and the villa’s own security, this double protection naturally made it much safer than the warehouse. Moreover, this was now his home, so he had far more access, making maintenance much more convenient.

Over the past three months, Global Protector had operated very stably. Even with frequent daily attacks, it remained impregnable. The intelligent antivirus software evolved from the intelligent system was indeed formidable; for instance, its defense, having been running for nearly a year, still hadn’t been breached.

Global Protector’s earning potential was definitely strong. With a steadily increasing user base each day, it earned one to two million Renminbi a month, which, though not a huge sum, was impressive. It had been charging for close to half a year and still achieved such results, which was truly amazing. This was because Zhou Yuanqiang had basically never advertised Global Protector, relying entirely on word-of-mouth to win the market.

The reason for not advertising was, firstly, that his antivirus software was operated by an offshore company which was effectively just himself. Secondly, time simply didn’t allow Zhou Yuanqiang to focus his energy on Global Protector. Otherwise, if he were to promote his software with exaggerated claims like other manufacturers, his income would definitely multiply several times over.

Normally, Zhou Yuanqiang might not bother with an annual sum of two to three hundred million Renminbi, but he was desperately short of money now, and selling gold seemed inappropriate. So, when Zhou Yuanqiang finished washing up and entered the basement, looking at the rows of servers, he couldn’t help but ponder.

“Anyway, it’s already officially priced and released onto the market. Now, if I advertise more, I can gain greater recognition. Why not do it?”

Having made up his mind, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally began to act the next day. Through his control, he first registered a software company in China under the name of the offshore company. He found an inconspicuous office building in the outskirts of City S, rented an office of about 150 square meters, hired two receptionists with high salaries, and immediately put them to work. Even before the company’s official procedures were completed, they began calling major websites to discuss advertising placements for Global Protector.

The two clerks’ job was simple: under the name of Global Protector, they would request advertising rate sheets from websites, then fax them to Zhou Yuanqiang, who would conduct the final price negotiations.

For Global Protector, every software website had a love-hate relationship. They loved it because it was truly easy to use, received rave reviews, and brought traffic to their sites. They hated it because its owning company was too mysterious; even though it was operating, it hadn’t placed a single advertisement. This seemed… unfitting for a vendor, yet they could do nothing but watch its user base skyrocket, and their unrented ad spaces, sighing in admiration.

Now receiving calls from Global Protector’s manufacturer, especially these inquiries about price lists, undoubtedly thrilled the webmasters of major websites. They had been eyeing the money Global Protector had earned over the past six months, and now, finally, some of it would find its way into their pockets!

Zhou Yuanqiang, having experienced the poster ad bombardments in the post-apocalyptic world, seemed extremely enthusiastic about this method. His antivirus software was indeed excellent, and such an advertising blitz wouldn’t diminish the product’s reputation. Moreover, Chen Wenbo from the IT Department had already begun a second update and upgrade for the antivirus, which would make its functions even more powerful and fully integrate the antivirus’s attacking module, making it truly the best antivirus.

To achieve indiscriminate advertising bombardment, naturally, the advertising expenses would become enormous…

Zhou Yuanqiang only had about 20 million Renminbi left. After combining the various popular websites, including small and large software sites and portal sites, Zhou Yuanqiang found himself quite conflicted. To achieve indiscriminate advertising bombardment, the initial investment just for websites would require over ten million Renminbi. And this didn’t even include his own designs and other concurrent media advertising. This result meant that Zhou Yuanqiang would have to invest almost all of his remaining money.

“You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Today’s 20 million Renminbi advertising investment will definitely bring dozens of times the return. At worst, if I run out of money, I’ll sell the gold, and living won’t be a problem.” After some consideration, Zhou Yuanqiang finally gritted his teeth and decided to launch the indiscriminate advertising bombardment.

For major domestic portal websites, a floating advertisement cost about 200,000 Renminbi per week. Some large software websites charged 50,000 to 80,000 Renminbi a week, while smaller software sites cost even less, ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 Renminbi. It was impossible to negotiate with each one individually, and Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t expect the two clerks he hired to handle these negotiations.

Having no other options, his software company, which was essentially a shell corporation, couldn’t deploy more people. If it weren’t for Global Protector’s great renown among webmasters, probably no one would have bothered to negotiate with him.

The next few days were even busier, sending contracts to these websites and media outlets and settling payments. It overwhelmed Zhou Yuanqiang, so he had to entrust an accounting firm to handle these trivial matters one by one. Zhou Yuanqiang used to disdain such intermediary companies, but when he needed their services, he realized their importance. You just had to give instructions, and they would handle everything perfectly for you, though you’d have to pay a hefty fee.

As contracts were signed and advertising fees paid to various websites, the entire internet was suddenly flooded with Global Protector ads, a relentless, indiscriminate bombardment.

Whenever you went online, whether you logged onto a novel website, a movie website, a software website, a financial website, a portal website, a car website, or a shopping website, you would, without exception, see Global Protector’s eye-catching advertisements. There was no escaping this kind of advertising; even if you visited a small website, unfortunately, the “unscrupulous” Zhou Yuanqiang also placed Global Protector’s ads there.

This terrifying bombardment caught some software manufacturers completely off guard. Faced with such overwhelming and unlimited advertising, an absolute grand gesture, they could only choose to remain silently resigned. For half a year, they had almost given up hope; no matter what experts they sent, they could only shake their heads and sigh in defeat when confronted with the unshakeable server.

Even using human intelligence to investigate, they still couldn’t find out who or what company was behind Global Protector. The company operating Global Protector was simply an offshore entity with seemingly nothing else. Calls to them always went to a fax machine, driving people absolutely crazy.

After half a year of trying various methods, all manufacturers admitted defeat. Now, facing overwhelming advertising bombardment, they could only helplessly hope that Global Protector would show mercy and allow their own antivirus software a meager living.

For the internet, there is no such thing as a monopoly industry, nor are there regulations defining what constitutes a monopoly online. Even if one wanted to invoke anti-monopoly laws, there was no path to do so.

The massive advertising investment showed its effects on the very first day. The deposit figures in Global Protector’s bank account climbed rapidly. In just three days, the 20 million Renminbi advertising cost was recouped. It’s important to note that some of Zhou Yuanqiang’s ads ran for a week, some for a month, and some for half a year. This meant that as long as the ads were active, income would surge.

Looking at the string of numbers, Zhou Yuanqiang was excited, but also finally understood why a certain “pig” engaged in such terrifying advertising tactics, investing hundreds of millions annually. Even if a product was terrible, under such indiscriminate, year-round bombardment, it would become desirable. An investment of several hundred million yielded tens to hundreds of billions in return. This kind of return was astounding to consider.

“Could it be that I’ve already developed the evil advertising capabilities of a certain ‘pig’?”

Zhou Yuanqiang gave a wry smile. He hoped that netizens bothered by the ads wouldn’t blame him, after all, he was just learning from someone else…

Global Protector was just one issue Zhou Yuanqiang needed to handle in the modern world. For instance, his MC Design Company. Thinking of the pile of design tasks Yan Yuhe had handed him in recent months, Zhou Yuanqiang felt a tingling scalp. He really didn’t know where this little girl managed to pull in so many design orders, leading to the design company’s first profitable monthly performance.

(Monthly Votes~)

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Chapter 242: A Small Chance

Many people ask, does Zhou Yuanqiang possess killing intent?

Just think about it. He battles for survival in the apocalypse, constantly moving through hordes of zombies. That all-sweeping aura is enough to cultivate a terrifying bloodlust. What’s more, after relocating nearly 500,000 people from the Heju River area to Greenmount City and settling them in the north district, Zhou Yuanqiang, holding sway over two large districts, had implicitly controlled the life and death of nearly a million people. This kind of imposing demeanor, unique to those in power, is even more chilling than killing intent.

Under the rule of the Commercial Association, Zhou Yuanqiang, as its Chairman, and given his unique developmental history, was long destined for absolute authority. The Commercial Association’s code of law was densely packed with regulations, appearing to safeguard the people’s interests and freedom. However, the final article of the code clearly stipulated that the Chairman’s authority transcended all laws, and the code was premised on the Chairman’s primary will.

This was a terrifying regulation, completely pushing the Chairman to an unparalleled peak of power.

Many citizens were aware of this article, yet no one raised any objections. Throughout the entire development of the Commercial Association, the Chairman’s influence was evident in every single detail. It was his miraculous ability that forged the Commercial Association’s present success. More importantly, Zhou Yuanqiang had not done anything out of line; he could be considered diligent and conscientious, which was one of the reasons everyone tacitly accepted his absolute rule.

Even if newcomers later felt discontent, it should not be forgotten that the entire core of the Commercial Association was composed of original veteran residents. With their brainwashing mechanisms, they could quickly assimilate anyone into fanatical devotion to Zhou Yuanqiang. After all, Zhou Yuanqiang’s heroic image had deeply ingrained itself in people’s hearts.

It could be said that once Zhou Yuanqiang’s powerful aura as a leader was displayed, even a provincial Party Secretary leading over a hundred million people might not possess his considerable authority. This is because their levels were different, and the resulting impact of their power would naturally vary. If you offended a provincial Party Secretary, you might find it difficult to get by; even if they wanted you dead, they would find an excuse or act covertly. But Zhou Yuanqiang was different; he could openly decide your life or death. This more direct authority created the difference in their strata.

In the modern world, Zhou Yuanqiang always had a smiling face and was amiable to everyone, rarely seen losing his temper. Naturally, no one knew that beneath Zhou Yuanqiang’s seemingly easygoing and approachable exterior lay such immense power, an aura befitting a person of high authority.

This was also the result of Zhou Yuanqiang’s casual nature. In the apocalypse, he didn’t need to hide anything, but in the modern world, which was peaceful and tranquil, Zhou Yuanqiang had largely come to regard it as his safe haven. Regardless of the storms in the apocalypse, at least in the modern world, he could quietly face everything.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s popularity at MC Design Company had always been excellent. As soon as he arrived at the company, he was always greeted with heartfelt salutations.

Due to the Commercial Association’s emergency preparations, Zhou Yuanqiang had appeared at the company an incredibly minimal number of times over the past three months. Even Yan Yuhe had to leave messages for him on MSN, and all design tasks were sent to his email. The next time she saw him, he would quickly drop off the completed design tasks on a USB drive and vanish in a flash.

Because of this, Yan Yuhe had been brimming with frustration these past few days, frequently glancing at Zhou Yuanqiang’s office. The next time she saw him, she was absolutely going to give him a good talking to. What did he take the company for?

Yan Yuhe’s premonition was correct. Not long after starting work that morning, she had just finished processing a document when she heard a chorus of “Good morning, Consultant Zhou!” from outside. Her brow furrowed, and she checked the time on her laptop, gritting her teeth as she said, “Good morning? It’s already ten o’clock, and he still says ‘good morning’…”

When she heard the sound of Zhou Yuanqiang entering his office, Yan Yuhe stood up and walked over.

She had originally intended to push the door open directly, but remembering how he had lectured her last time, she could only knock on the door. After hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s “Please come in,” Yan Yuhe finally pushed the door open.

For three months, this was probably Zhou Yuanqiang’s first serious attempt to spend some time in his office. It hadn’t been used for a long time, but fortunately, someone had cleaned it, so there was no dust accumulation. He found it strange, however. He had just finished a pleasant breakfast with his family and only just arrived at the company, so how had General Manager Yan already come over?

“Oh… General Manager Yan, is there any good news today? Tsk, tsk, why do I suddenly feel that General Manager Yan has become so radiant and dazzling?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was not just flinging compliments around. Yan Yuhe’s attire today was indeed a departure from her usual style. A sexy, tight-fitting jumpsuit paired with sheer black stockings perfectly accentuated her curves, making Zhou Yuanqiang compelled to praise her. Actually, it was summer now, and everywhere on the streets, there were all sorts of girls dressed differently, but nearly all of them wore stockings, which would certainly leave you dazzled.

Yan Yuhe, who had been ready to launch into an interrogation, heard Zhou Yuanqiang’s compliment and instantly became a little shy. Her heart was also joyful, and she secretly thought, “I didn’t expect this blockhead to notice my different outfit at first glance.” Because of this, she seemed to forget the purpose of her visit and said, “Can’t I come to your office unless there’s good news?”

Zhou Yuanqiang froze for a moment and said, “Of course not, it’s a pleasure for General Manager Yan to come here.” He thought for a moment and added, “The design tasks you submitted can be completed in two days. It definitely won’t delay the design schedule.”

It was fine until he mentioned that. As soon as he did, Yan Yuhe immediately remembered the purpose of her visit. Her gentle expression instantly vanished, and she glared at Zhou Yuanqiang, saying, “Consultant Zhou, I actually came here today specifically for this matter. Look at the design tasks over the past few months—the quality of completion is poor, and the deadlines are constantly delayed. Sometimes, I feel too embarrassed to face clients. Our company is new and has no reputation in the design industry; this is a crucial time for us to build it up. But this design status will ruin our company.”

The moment Zhou Yuanqiang spoke, he realized his mistake. Facing Yan Yuhe’s barrage of complaints, he could only smile bitterly and say, “General Manager Yan, I understand all this. In fact, I came today to discuss this matter with you.”

Yan Yuhe snorted a few times. Coupled with what she was wearing, for some reason, it made Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart beat a little faster. He felt a strong urge to pull her into his arms and knead her. “Have I recently become too lustful? Why am I feeling something for her?” Zhou Yuanqiang’s physique was too strong; with a 36-fold increase, Ren Xinyun and Jiao’er alone simply couldn’t truly satisfy him, and this was an issue that bothered Zhou Yuanqiang.

“How do you propose we discuss it?” Yan Yuhe straightforwardly sat down in front of Zhou Yuanqiang’s desk, staring at him.

Zhou Yuanqiang organized his thoughts and then said, “Actually, our company’s design business has always been handled by the parent company. The initial goal was to share design resources with the parent company, reduce expenses for the mainland company, and avoid resource overlap. However, as our company has developed, the designers at the parent company have found themselves overwhelmed by the workload here. Therefore, the parent company’s decision is for us to establish our own Design Department here and recruit excellent designers to handle less complex design orders. If we encounter difficult ones, we can apply for the parent company to handle them.”

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to give up on MC Design Company; it was simply that he had too many things to do now and could no longer devote enough effort to this company.

Another reason was that all departments under the Commercial Association had heavy workloads and couldn’t spare more time to complete MC Design Company’s tasks. Not wanting to dissolve the company, the best solution was to perfect the non-existent Design Department within the company, recruit outstanding design personnel, and have them support the company’s operations.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s idea was simple: ordinary business could be handed over to them, while some important business could be handled by the Commercial Association. After all, Zhou Yuanqiang’s original intention in establishing this company was to use talent from the apocalypse to serve modern companies, allowing the company to develop and grow stronger. Then, it could compete for large design projects, perfect its own structure, and eventually become a large company integrating design, manufacturing, and sales.

In fact, Yan Yuhe had also considered this issue, but because the initial business volume was too small, she hadn’t submitted this suggestion to the parent company. Now that Zhou Yuanqiang brought it up, she also felt that for a design company, the Design Department itself was the core, the soul. If everything relied on the parent company, it would be greatly detrimental to the company’s development and easily lose competitiveness.

“Did the parent company really decide this?” Yan Yuhe was a little suspicious because she hadn’t received any relevant documents.

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded and said, “I also received the news not long ago. The parent company should send the document to you soon.” He scratched his head and added, “I’m afraid that by then, I will no longer be the actual head of the Design Department, but merely an honorary consultant.”

Yan Yuhe’s heart stirred. She looked at Zhou Yuanqiang and said, “Do you mean you’re leaving the company?”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and shook his head, saying, “I just won’t be responsible for anything. I’ll still have the title of honorary consultant, so I’ll still be part of the company. You know, I’m quite busy with other matters and don’t have much energy to devote to this aspect of the company. It’s better to hand it over to professional personnel and let them be responsible for the management and operations. I believe the company will develop rapidly then.”

“But… will you still come to the company?” For some reason, Yan Yuhe suddenly felt a wave of emptiness in her heart. Was it because of this ordinary man in front of her? But how could a pampered daughter like herself possibly fancy him? Even if she agreed, her parents would definitely object. The Yan family would never allow her to find such an ordinary person.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t sure if he would have time to come to the company again. Seeing the sense of loss Yan Yuhe expressed, he finally said, “Of course I’ll come. I’ll drop by whenever I have time. After all, we’ve worked together.” He then became playful and said, “This whole company is full of beauties, and I’m single. For my future happiness, shouldn’t I come here more often and move around? Who knows, maybe Cupid’s arrow will strike, and I’ll find my companion for the rest of my life here?”

Yan Yuhe giggled and said, “You’re so full of yourself, who would fancy you? You have no career, no background, and you’re not handsome… you’re simply useless.”

The suddenly somber atmosphere was swept away. As they entered these lighter topics, Zhou Yuanqiang stared at Yan Yuhe, sizing her up, and put on a sorrowful act. “No? Am I really so useless in your eyes? That’s too hurtful… Hmm, let me ask, for example, if I, your beautiful and noble General Manager Yan, were to pursue you, would you give me a small chance?”

Perhaps thinking of Zhou Yuanqiang’s departure, the romantic encounter that day on the bar street seemed to have touched a chord in her heart, making her mind, which had intended to refuse, waver for a moment. As if by some strange impulse, she said, “If you dare to pursue me, I don’t mind giving you a small chance…”

After saying it, Yan Yuhe herself was taken aback… She still couldn’t figure out why she had said that.

Not to mention Yan Yuhe herself, even Zhou Yuanqiang was slightly agape, staring at the blushing Yan Yuhe. He had only been joking, but he hadn’t expected to get such a response. How to describe it? It was unexpected. However, Zhou Yuanqiang was no Liu Xiahui. Such a delicate woman, who fit his aesthetic, and for whom he genuinely felt something, plus he was still single in the modern world, so he naturally smiled and said, “Does that mean you’re agreeing to be my girlfriend?”

“Ah?” Yan Yuhe desperately shook her head and said, “I only agreed to give you a small chance, I didn’t agree to be your girlfriend. To win me over, you still have to prove yourself.”

Facing this situation, which was both right and wrong, Yan Yuhe generously admitted it, and her heart also opened up. Zhou Yuanqiang was ordinary, but ordinariness had its own charm. She had seen many noble young masters, all of them playboys, out to chase women, or looking to gain benefits from her. How could Yan Yuhe fancy such noble young masters? Perhaps an ordinary person, receiving something they couldn’t believe they could get, would know how to cherish it!

Zhou Yuanqiang let out a faint chuckle and said, “Prove myself, huh? Let me think…” His consciousness entered his storage space, and he searched around. To his surprise, he found an exquisite rose within it.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuanqiang remembered that he seemed to have bought it from a flower shop in the modern world, intending to give Jiao’er a surprise. But he had so many things going on that he had forgotten, only remembering now. Well, good steel should always be used on a good blade, in the place where it is most needed. So, with just a turn of his back, he already had the rose in his hand. He turned and handed it to Yan Yuhe, saying, “This is for you. I hope you like it.”

Yan Yuhe looked at the rose in Zhou Yuanqiang’s hand, which seemed freshly picked, with some surprise. She asked, “You… where did you get it?”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled mysteriously and said, “I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone else. I can do magic, do you know magic? This rose was conjured with magic. Be careful with it, you have to protect it with love, otherwise, it will disappear!”

“Is it that magical?” Yan Yuhe, her curiosity piqued, carefully examined the rose. No matter how she looked at it, it looked so real.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t explain. Instead, he checked the time. Unconsciously, it was already eleven o’clock. “Yuhe, it’s almost time. How about it? Will you join me for a meal? Let me think, would you prefer my parents’ homemade food, or should we go to a restaurant?”

Yan Yuhe originally wanted to refuse; she still had a lot of things to attend to. But seeing Zhou Yuanqiang speak so entertainingly, she couldn’t bear to say no. She rolled her eyes and said, “Aren’t your parents in your hometown?” She knew a little about Zhou Yuanqiang’s background, and this was precisely what worried her… because Zhou Yuanqiang’s family would never enter her parents’ eyes. They would probably send people to forcefully take her back to Shanghai if they knew she was interested in dating such a poor young man.

“My parents were brought to City S three months ago; the conditions here are much better than in the countryside.”

Zhou Yuanqiang seemed to sense the meaning in Yan Yuhe’s eyes. He said calmly, “The fact that I can call you Yuhe simply means you’re on a level I also consider. Many things are completely opposite on the surface and within. You should trust your intuition… or you might find that you have chosen the most correct path.”

Yan Yuhe smiled, shook her head, and said, “There are many things you wouldn’t understand, nor could you comprehend. Alright, let’s not talk about these things. What’s in front of us is now, and the future is the future. Since you’re treating today, I’ll give you a chance, lest you say you were rejected on the first try and your heart was broken. How about we go eat… hmm, how about the snacks we had last time when you gave me a ride on your bicycle?”

Hearing Yan Yuhe say that, Zhou Yuanqiang understood that the impression he had made on her was from that time in the bar street.

Their relationship now had a hint of ambiguity, but it was still some distance from being clearly defined. However, for Zhou Yuanqiang, these were not issues. As long as a woman agreed to give you a chance, it meant that in her heart, you weren’t bad, and the chance of success would be very, very high.

When Zhou Yuanqiang and Yan Yuhe left the company, Zhao Caiying watched their slightly closer figures, lost in thought. She seemed to understand that the person she fancied would soon no longer belong to her. Perhaps her own happiness did not belong with Zhou Yuanqiang.

Chapter 243: A Million People

Actually, no one could accurately say how many people there were in the River Dwelling area initially. Everyone estimated the population by the number of settlements and approximate number of people, arriving at around 500,000. But 500,000 was just a vague figure, with a significant discrepancy from the actual number.

Zhou Yuanqiang would never forget how deeply astonishing the scene was when the entire River Dwelling area underwent its grand migration.

Along a road of nearly 400 kilometers, it was filled with people holding their children and leading their daughters. They carried luggage on their backs or pushed it on wooden carts. If the Commercial Association hadn’t repeatedly guaranteed that everyone would be given a house filled with everything they needed upon arrival in Greenmount City, these people, who had endured nearly six years of hardship, probably would have carefully brought along their own pots and bowls.

The leaders of some of the settlements naturally received promises from the Commercial Association for satisfactory arrangements. At the same time, they were the most comfortable group in this migration, as each settlement usually had several cars. Now, they were riding in these cars, heading towards Greenmount City. However, their speed wouldn’t be fast; the entire road was packed with dense crowds, and no matter how much they honked, their speed would not pick up.

The Commercial Association’s capabilities also did not allow for the transportation of hundreds of thousands of people. The only way was to dispatch enough airships and a large number of helicopters to escort them along the way, providing water and food, and prioritizing the transport of older people and children who were physically exhausted back to Greenmount City.

A migration of 400 kilometers was certainly a highly challenging task. The Commercial Association was on high alert, with its entire administration preparing for the migration.

Such a massive population migration, over such a long distance, spanning almost half a province and the entire wilderness, would undoubtedly be incredibly difficult in the interim. No one could predict what might happen. The only thing the Commercial Association could do was to list all possibilities, good and bad, and prepare corresponding countermeasures.

Perhaps the greatest threat to the migration came from the zombies.

Xu Yuhai’s Intelligence Department mobilized almost all its personnel, dispatching all helicopters and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to scout every possible location, ensuring they tracked every move of the zombies. At the same time, reconnaissance airships were sent to conduct targeted surveillance of several surrounding cities, constantly monitoring the zombies’ every action within those cities.

The Military Department dispatched a large number of soldiers, transporting them by airship to the River Dwelling area. They would embed themselves within the migrating crowds to look after the elderly and weak, and be ready to call for helicopter rescue at any moment.

It could be said that the entire Commercial Association was fully prepared along the 400-kilometer route, including managing the food, drink, housing, and travel for these hundreds of thousands of people.

The preparations took a full half a month. This marathon-like migration officially began, starting from the River Dwelling settlement. One by one, under careful arrangements, settlements left the homes they had lived in for several years, looking back with every step as they departed their settlements, walked onto the highway, and merged into the flow of people. Guided by airships and helicopters overhead, they slowly migrated towards Greenmount City.

The biggest problem with the migration was the scorching sun and the intense heat, which could easily lead to heatstroke, shock, and other issues from sun exposure and high temperatures.

To address this, the Commercial Association devised a method: they cut off the upper part of shipping containers from Greenmount City, creating huge water troughs. They lined these troughs with plastic film, filled them with cool, refreshing water, and used the airships’ tremendous transport capacity to deliver them to the roads along the route. They placed two troughs every 20 kilometers.

These enormous water troughs were meant to cool people down. Anyone passing by could jump into the chest-deep water trough and walk through the several-meter-long container waterway, certainly alleviating most of their fatigue and heat. Moreover, their water-soaked clothes would remain cool for a while, ensuring that people wouldn’t suffer from heatstroke or shock during the migration.

For drinking water, the airships’ vast transport capacity was also relied upon, carrying ten to twenty tons of water along the route.

A 400-kilometer migration was indeed too long, and Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but worry about potential disruptions. The climate in the wilderness, hot during the day and cold at night, was a persistent headache. The problem of heat could be solved with water troughs, but what about the night? It was impossible to provide hundreds of thousands of tents for such a large migration; at least in the short term, Zhou Yuanqiang thought there was no way to get them from modern times.

Thinking back to the Wenchuan earthquake, it took the effort of the entire nation to cope with that century-scale disaster. How could one person’s ability solve the problems of hundreds of thousands of people?

However, the clothing factory had rendered great service this time. The extra-large, elongated tents they produced, once unfolded and secured, were large enough for a hundred people to squeeze inside. Although only about a thousand had been manufactured during the preparation period, their impact was enormous. The Commercial Association had many tents from before, which were naturally taken out. Coupled with those carried by the migrants themselves, the issue of sleeping at night was thus resolved.

Due to the immense number of people and the distant journey, at a normal pace, it would take at least ten days to reach Greenmount City. This would undoubtedly be a difficult and protracted battle, and a true test of the Commercial Association’s management capabilities. If this migration could be smoothly completed, it would undoubtedly accumulate more experience for future work, making the entire Commercial Association more mature.

Perhaps Zhou Yuanqiang was so obsessed with money that such a spectacular migration scene naturally had to be meticulously filmed. Who knew if future movies would need such a plot? He was even considering whether to add some elements to this grand migration, such as zombie attacks and other thrilling elements, to make a new movie. Combined with the first two, forming a series, it should earn some money.

The first day of the migration was undoubtedly very smooth. Having suffered for several years, people’s physical condition far exceeded Zhou Yuanqiang’s imagination. In one day, the leading teams advanced a full 60 kilometers by nightfall. Although people had abundant energy on the first day, this result was normal, but it was still pleasing. At this speed, they could reach Greenmount City in seven or eight days.

The following days also went smoothly, with only occasional instances of elderly or weak children running out of stamina, who were then directly escorted to Greenmount City by helicopter.

By this point, the entire River Dwelling area was finally deserted. Even Sun Wanru, facing soldiers and slaves who were almost on the verge of rioting, could only announce the dissolution of the system, stating that everyone had the right to choose the life they wanted. Even Sun Wanru himself chose to migrate. He thought that even being an ordinary person in Greenmount City was better than living alone here.

Among the migrating crowds, everyone walked on the highway with smiles, despite their feet being very hot. But people seemed not to notice, only hoping to reach Greenmount City, their paradise, sooner.

Haizi didn’t carry much luggage. His firearms had been handed over to the Commercial Association’s weapon collector during the migration. He only carried some meaningful items that held memories, including clothes he had been reluctant to wear, along with some water and food. Beside him was Yang Hui, his sworn comrade of several years.

Undoubtedly, Haizi was excited at the moment. He looked up at the airships slowly gliding with the crowd high above and the helicopters occasionally making a “humming” sound as they flew overhead. All of it felt like a dream. “Brother Hui, do you think Greenmount City is really like what the poster says? Once we get there, what’s your ambition? Or, what do you want to do?”

Yang Hui walked with his head down. Hearing Haizi, he finally looked up. He still clutched the poster in his hand. He took a breath; his throat was a little dry, so his voice was somewhat hoarse: “Haven’t you seen the movie? And that short film introducing Greenmount City? How could it be fake?” He pointed at the gigantic airship overhead and said, “Just look at the manpower and resources the Commercial Association has mobilized for us. I feel it won’t be far off.”

Thinking about his ambition, Yang Hui smiled and said, “My ambition used to be to live well, and hopefully find a wife to carry on the Yang family line. But ever since I witnessed the astonishing power of the airship, my ambition has been to become an excellent airship captain, commanding an airship to glide through the sky. Once we reach Greenmount City, I’ll sign up to join… Haizi, how about you come with me?”

Haizi scratched his head. Under the scorching sun, his unkempt hair was full of dirt and sweat, making him somewhat uncomfortable. He said seriously, “Brother Hui, this time I might not be able to go with you.” He smiled, took out the poster from his懷 (pocket), and pointed at the fighter jet formation on it, saying, “I want to be a pilot, if possible.”

Yang Hui didn’t blame Haizi. Instead, he said worriedly, “Pilots and airship captains are very different, and the requirements for pilots are much higher. You know my age; perhaps an airship captain is more suitable for me. Haizi, you’re my brother, and like family to me. Whatever decision you make, I’ll be happy for you.”

Haizi nodded and said, “Brother Hui, if I can’t be a pilot, I’ll apply to be an airship captain and go with you.”

After finishing their discussion, a water trough appeared. The people on the road jumped into the water trough like dumplings, walking through the chest-high water. In the middle of the day, everyone felt a chill just seeing the water.

Fearing that too many people might crowd into the water trough and splash out water, wasting it, there were two soldiers specifically assigned to manage it, signaling for people to enter the trough a few at a time. Each water trough always had two side-by-side, so people passed through quite quickly. When Haizi and Yang Hui jumped into the water trough, the water, slightly warm from the brutal sun, still made them feel a rush of coolness.

After exiting the water trough, retrieving their luggage, they went to a massive airship nearby to collect some drinking water. After filling their bellies with water, they reluctantly put down their cups.

The supply airship was parked on the ground. This was the first time people had direct, close contact with such a behemoth. Its enormous body, towering over 30 meters high, was like a mountain. The huge seven-colored umbrella on top still made people feel secure under the scorching sun.

Yang Hui had also heard that this particular airship was an early model, and the smallest in size. There would be even larger transport airships, military airships, and so on, all of which were much, much bigger than this one, some even several times larger. This made Yang Hui unable to imagine what an airship two or three hundred meters long would be like. This further strengthened his desire to become an airship captain, as he fantasized about commanding such a behemoth in the sky.

In fact, there were many, many people like Yang Hui and Haizi, especially the younger ones, whose goals were already set on these behemoths.

And these two were just two among hundreds of thousands of migrants. Almost everyone on the road was discussing their dreams and aspirations. They yearned to become true members of the Commercial Association and contribute their strength to it.

Throughout the migration days, all zombie movements were under Xu Yuhai’s control.

However, the lines between humans and zombies were now clearly defined, forming a standoff. Like two battlefronts, humans couldn’t easily attack zombies, and zombies didn’t seem to pursue humans, but everyone knew that humans and zombies were absolute opposites, and eventually only one would survive under this sky. A showdown was only a matter of time.

When the first group of people, having migrated for eight days, appeared outside Greenmount City, both the welcoming residents and the migrating people burst into cheers. The thunderous shouts almost swept away everyone’s fatigue.

Looking at the tall buildings that soared into the clouds, and at the rows of welcoming residents on the streets, the people who had been worried about being deceived finally put their hearts at ease. Everything in the movies was real. The city was truly in human hands, and they, after eight days of walking, had finally arrived at this angelic city with incredible endurance and perseverance.

The migrating people would be arranged in the north district, an area that had already been cleared.

In fact, the migration was just the beginning of the Commercial Association’s work. Next, they also had to take responsibility for settling the newly arrived people. So, when the first group arrived, the temporary staff specially deployed by the Commercial Association offered them two choices after greeting them: either a high-rise residential building or a residential community. Once they made their choice, they would be grouped accordingly.

The plan listed all habitable places in the north district, to be arranged sequentially by number from the beginning.

With extremely high efficiency, as soon as the number of chosen people filled a community or residential building, someone would immediately lead them away and settle them as quickly as possible. This method, firstly, increased the speed of work, and secondly, allowed for a direct and very accurate count of the number of migrants.

The wave after wave of migrating teams were not far apart, so often as one wave was settled, the next would arrive. Just the settling process took several days. The entire north district, except for the villa area and a private garden, was filled with people.

After settling everyone, the Commercial Association’s work was still not finished; they could only breathe a slight sigh of relief. The Commercial Association also had to register the new residents, recording their basic information such as real names, birthplaces, family member situations, special skills, educational levels, and so on.

This registration would be a way for the Commercial Association to discover talents, a true census of all the population under its rule, and conducive to more refined management.

The entire migration, from beginning to end, lasted one month. The total migrating population reached 670,000, a number that completely exceeded everyone’s expectations. It also made everyone in the Commercial Association thankful that among these 670,000-plus people, formed into dozens of settlements, no unified powerful settlement emerged, allowing the Commercial Association to easily acquire this “fat meat.”

Such a vast population area, with the passage of time, would certainly eventually form a unified situation, or might be forced to disperse under the enormous, tens of millions strong zombie horde. Fortunately, none of these happened, allowing the Commercial Association to acquire the most precious population in the apocalypse, along with countless personnel from various industries, ensuring that factories lacking workers no longer had to worry about manpower.

The addition of this batch of personnel was enough to allow the Second Airship Factory, the Second Aircraft Factory, and the Armored Vehicle Factory to expand once again, further increasing production capacity.

By this point, the Commercial Association’s supervised population had broken through one million, reaching an astonishing 1.1 million, truly becoming a super settlement. It also gave the Commercial Association greater survival capability and space in the unknown apocalypse. With its massive population, the Commercial Association’s development would be even faster, making it more competitive in the apocalypse.

Hearing the news that his jurisdiction had over 1.1 million people, the worry that Zhou Yuanqiang had been carrying finally eased slightly. At least among the survivors in the country, he now controlled one-twentieth. Zhou Yuanqiang also knew that over a million people were still not enough. The apocalypse was full of dangers, and the Commercial Association under his leadership was like sailing against the current; one must advance or fall back. To go further, they needed to continuously grow stronger.

The newly added 670,000 people would keep the Commercial Association busy for quite some time, as it wasn’t just a matter of adding them; it involved logistics. The food, drink, housing, and clothing for 600,000 to 700,000 people was also a headache. This was why, even though they knew there were people in other settlements, the Commercial Association wouldn’t blindly expand.

If the population grew too quickly and the Commercial Association’s logistics couldn’t bear the burden, that’s when joy would truly turn to sorrow.

And after a month, the explorers who had previously gone out also began to return. What kind of harvest would the thousands of explorers under the exploration plan bring to the Commercial Association? At least Zhou Yuanqiang was full of anticipation…

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Chapter 244: Blooming Everywhere

The Explorer 9 airship’s narrow body glided slowly through the sky. Even when its propulsion speed reached 150 kilometers per hour with a tailwind, for the vast sky, its speed was still too slow. If you stood on the ground, it wouldn’t be out of your sight for at least twenty minutes, moving as slowly as a snail.

However, a speed of 150 kilometers per hour on the ground was quite terrifying. Not many cars on highways could reach this speed, usually maintaining between 80 to 120 kilometers per hour. Don’t underestimate this 30-kilometer speed difference; when you encounter an emergency brake, you’ll understand that this small 30 kilometers is the difference between life and death.

The Explorer 9 airship traveled from east to west, with mountains stacked upon mountains below. In this November weather, they were still lush green, showing no sign of winter.

In the airship’s gondola, several explorers were leaning against the windows, pointing at the mountains and forests below, occasionally commenting. For those who had grown accustomed to the wilderness weather and scenery a month ago, seeing these endless green mountains and trees naturally evoked a sense of intimate beauty. But once you grew used to these mountains, waters, and green grasses, you’d realize that the dry climate and endless withered plants of the wilderness were what truly tugged at your heart.

“Li Bin, do you miss home?” Wei Zhengyang played with a delicate little stone in his hand, its green and colorful stripes clear and smooth. This was a small discovery from his recent exploration. Having loved collecting stones since childhood, he naturally wouldn’t let it go. From the moment he found it, it had been inseparable from his hand; he’d always play with it when he had nothing to do, making others wonder if a mere stone truly possessed such charm.

Li Bin, true to his name, had a feminine appearance, earning him the nicknames ‘pretty boy’ and ‘sissy’ from the entire exploration team. However, don’t underestimate him; his combat skills were formidable. In the entire exploration team, no one was his match in close-quarters combat. Hearing Wei Zhengyang’s question, he chuckled, “Captain Wei, who doesn’t miss home? That spacious suite on the twenty-seventh floor, with a panoramic view of the entire west district from the balcony—who wouldn’t yearn for that feeling?”

“Indeed…” Wei Zhengyang sighed softly. “Even though we only moved into this new home a month ago before leaving, it’s still our anchor. But we’re back now, aren’t we? This expedition lasted a month, but the gains have been immense.”

At this, Li Bin grew excited and asked, “Captain Wei, do you think we’ll successfully receive the exploration medals?”

Wei Zhengyang smiled confidently and said, “Isn’t it already stipulated in the exploration regulations? Without a doubt, we have far exceeded the requirements. I believe we will definitely be among the first to receive the exploration medals.” He recalled the expedition; it had been incredibly arduous, and the dangers encountered were unforgettable.

Wei Zhengyang turned to look at the other members in the gondola. Of the sixteen explorers, only eleven could truly return home. Five team members had forever fallen on this path of exploration. Some died at the hands of zombies, others at the hands of humans. Even in this apocalypse, there were still some extreme elements among the survivors. Harsh living conditions had led some people to degenerate; their lives were, fundamentally, a tragedy.

Fortunately, not everyone was like that. This expedition also encountered many welcoming settlements, filled with joy at the appearance of Wei Zhengyang and his team.

The airship glided through the sky, quickly leaving the mountains behind. The distant green began to diminish, and further away, large swaths of green and yellow vegetation appeared. This scene was a clear reminder to those on the airship that it was about to leave the layered mountains and enter the wilderness.

This news caused the homesick explorers on the airship to cheer excitedly.

As the airship captain of Explorer 9, Luo Zhiqun timely announced, “Everyone, we’re about two hours away from returning home.” Hearing this, the explorers were even more delighted, high-fiving and celebrating.

In the wilderness, there was also a second-tier city with a population of several hundred thousand. Unfortunately, when the exploration airship passed through this area and stayed for two days, no traces of human activity were found. They must have either fled or perished completely. This second-tier city seemed to mark a defensive line, with millions of zombies roaming at the junction of the mountains and the wilderness.

Wei Zhengyang gazed anxiously at the dense zombie horde below. Although they seemed to be over 300 kilometers away from Greenmount City, no one could guarantee that these zombies wouldn’t pose a threat to Greenmount City. It wasn’t that Wei Zhengyang was overly concerned, but there were simply too many zombies below. Millions of them, a level that even the powerful Commercial Association couldn’t rival.

An unmanned reconnaissance aircraft streaked overhead from afar. It seemed to have spotted the Explorer 9 airship, gracefully diving from high altitude and sweeping over the airship’s massive balloon.

“Look. It’s our Commercial Association’s unmanned reconnaissance aircraft…”

The explorers on the airship became excited, constantly waving at the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft through the windows. The colorful umbrella logo filled them with warmth and peace, making them feel like they had found their way home. The appearance of the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft also meant that this area had been brought under the surveillance of the Commercial Association’s Intelligence Department, and that the zombie hordes here should have been discovered.

Upon truly entering the wilderness, the temperature suddenly rose. That sense of familiarity brought tears to the eyes of the explorers who had been away from home for a month.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. When Greenmount City appeared before their eyes like a giant, everyone was exceptionally moved.

Every airship, fighter jet, and helicopter bore the Commercial Association’s markings and was equipped with an identification system. Two communication platform airships and one special-function airship were positioned 20,000 meters above Greenmount City, performing communication duties and acting as radar. As long as an aerial target entered within 200 kilometers of Greenmount City, the radar could distinguish friend from foe, notifying the relevant departments of the Commercial Association.

As soon as the Explorer 9 airship approached Greenmount City, a Sand-1 helicopter rapidly drew near. Through the connected communicator, they could hear the voice welcoming them home.

Guided by the helicopter, the exploration airship quickly hovered over Greenmount City’s designated airship airport. When Wei Zhengyang and his team returned, more than a dozen exploration airships were already parked at the airport, and in the sky, two more exploration airships, almost simultaneously arriving, were being guided by helicopters to slowly descend to their designated parking pads according to their airship numbers.

With the continuous return of explorers, the entire Exploration Department also became busy and lively.

Compared to the airship exploration teams, the Ground Exploration Teams returned earlier, some after a few days, a week, or half a month. The main reason was that the food and fuel they carried were insufficient to support their exploration for too long.

The greatest contribution of the Ground Exploration Teams was bringing massive raw materials to the entire Commercial Association. Hundreds of ground exploration teams made substantial raw material discoveries every day. Their primary targets were small towns and some raw material production sites.

Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Commercial Association, the number of zombies in the wilderness was steadily decreasing. In many towns, zombies had even vanished. They might have left the towns for some reason and wandered off elsewhere. Such towns, unguarded by zombies, were the favorite targets of ground exploration teams. The raw materials and other supplies in small towns were usually very abundant, yielding considerable returns.

Once such a town was found, the Commercial Association could be called, and the coordinates reported. Before long, transport airships or helicopters would appear. Everything thereafter would naturally be handled by the Commercial Association, which would assess all aspects of the town. After the assessment, rewards would be given to the discovering explorers according to the exploration regulations.

Some Ground Exploration Teams targeted known mineral veins and small coal mining sites. These were crucially important for the sustainable development of the Commercial Association. Once discovered, they would naturally attract the attention of the Commercial Association and be included in their development plans.

However, these were just minor gains. The real big catches came from the airship exploration teams, whose main objective was human activity zones.

Each airship exploration team had a different direction and a different exploration area. Some daring teams even went beyond the Commercial Association’s 600-kilometer communication range, venturing into areas that even the Intelligence Department hadn’t charted for exploration.

As Xu Yuhai said, humans were forced by the zombies to retreat to plateaus, wilderness, deserts, and cold regions. Subtropical zones, as well as coastal areas and regions near the coast, had long since lost all traces of human activity. This characteristic undoubtedly reduced the explorers’ range. For example, plateaus, places more suitable for human survival than the wilderness, had been sparsely populated before the apocalypse, naturally leading to a large number of settlements there.

The most important discovery of the airship exploration team was the Lanxi Plateau, where human settlements were as numerous as forests, varying in size. Although they had not formed a unified government, they existed in the form of an alliance.

The entire Lanxi Alliance was home to at least two to three million people. They had reclaimed the plateau’s land and built relatively primitive towns and villages. Being an alliance, their army was formed by multiple settlements, jointly fighting against the zombie hordes that appeared on the plateau.

Years of accumulated experience had long taught people about zombies. As long as zombie gatherings could be detected in advance, they were easy to deal with. They could be annihilated or dispersed before they grew too large, using lures and other methods to disrupt their formation. If their movements couldn’t be detected in advance, once a zombie horde formed, it would be extremely terrifying, often requiring a huge price to stop their advance deeper into the plateau.

Towards the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, located over 700 kilometers away, the entire Lanxi Alliance showed friendliness.

Years of war against zombies, coupled with their alliance’s mutual assistance experiences, made the people of the Lanxi Alliance understand that only through mutual help and unity could they survive under this sky and resist the zombie chases. Especially now, with the zombies’ focus also shifting inland along with human traces, the situation was more severe. Uniting all possible forces was the Lanxi Alliance’s core principle.

The development of the Lanxi Plateau, spanning three and a half years, was already quite mature. People here lived in peace and prosperity, spending their days busy in fields of various sizes. The gradually developing villages and towns meant they didn’t have to worry about food and shelter. The only drawback was perhaps the very backward industry; people’s living standards weren’t very high, and material goods were scarce.

This situation was expected; after all, it was a settlement built from scratch on a blank slate of a plateau. Everything started from nothing, and being able to eat and have a house in a short time was already a huge improvement.

For the Commercial Association, an entity like the Lanxi Alliance could not be attracted by advertisements like the River Dwelling area. This was because they had enough food and housing, a large population, were not affected by zombies, and were nearly 700-800 kilometers away from the Commercial Association. It was simply too far, making them willing but unable to assist.

However, the Commercial Association had no such intentions for the Lanxi Alliance at present. The Commercial Association could not support a larger population. The six to seven hundred thousand people added from the River Dwelling area had already severely strained the Commercial Association. Grain reserves were depleting very quickly, and if it weren’t for the upcoming harvest, the Commercial Association might very well face bankruptcy due to food shortages.

At the very least, the Commercial Association would need six months to buffer before another Population Plan could be proposed.

The current population of over 1.1 million, if utilized well, could certainly reclaim the arable land around Greenmount City. A large number of agricultural machines poured out of the Armored Vehicle Factory, ushering the entire Commercial Association into an era of mechanized agriculture, where all cultivable land around Greenmount City would be planted with crops.

For the Lanxi Plateau, the Commercial Association’s goal was to leverage its powerful industrial system and abundant resources to acquire their crystals, gold, silver, diamonds, and various raw materials. The Lanxi Plateau was richest in iron ore and coal. These were extremely important for the Commercial Association’s sustainable development, and it was foreseeable that the Commercial Association would launch a powerful trade offensive on the Lanxi Plateau.

In addition to this major discovery, exploration teams in the south and east similarly found a considerable number of settlements of varying sizes.

As the Exploration Department gathered all exploration intelligence, a new map of the post-apocalyptic world was drawn. It clearly defined zombie-infested areas and human activity zones, marking where zombie numbers were high and attacks fierce, and where there were no zombies or only a few. This map displayed all surrounding dynamics to the Commercial Association.

In fact, the value of this intelligence was far greater than anything else. Once this map was completed, its strategic significance would be paramount, providing immeasurable value for the Commercial Association’s future plans, defensive priorities, and areas requiring attention.

The former unknown of the apocalypse, now thanks to the efforts of explorers and the Intelligence Department, was revealed to people like the clearing of clouds to reveal the sun. The terror caused by the previous unknown and confusion seemed to vanish with the appearance of this new strategic map. The unknown was the most terrifying; once known, it allowed people to relax.

To commend the explorers for their outstanding contributions to the Commercial Association, after review by the Exploration Department, the first batch of explorers to receive the exploration medals was finally determined.

Gazing at the hundreds of explorers standing in the Commercial Association Headquarters’ vast conference hall, Zhou Yuanqiang was slightly emotional. Their contributions held immense strategic importance for the Commercial Association. Receiving this exploration medal today was a recognition of their efforts and the risks they had taken with their lives.

Exploration medals were divided into three categories: the lowest was the Leaf Exploration Medal, the mid-tier was the Flower Exploration Medal, and the highest was the Umbrella Exploration Medal.

Although only Flower Exploration Medals were awarded at this ceremony, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that with more time, the highest honor, the Umbrella Exploration Medal, would not be just a dream for these young explorers. The fact that some already received Flower Exploration Medals so early was the best proof.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t even remember how many times he had presented medals—previously the Army Medals, Citizen Medals, and Air Force Medals. All those who had received honors had made outstanding contributions and were undoubtedly elites within the Commercial Association, contributing immensely to its development.

Although the first phase of the exploration plan had ended, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that the second phase would soon be implemented. More exploration airships would be deployed, expanding the exploration range and increasing the number of targets. Not only domestic areas, but foreign countries would also be included in the second phase of the exploration plan.

However, what was the situation abroad like?

At present, probably no one could answer that. With their own affairs not yet fully settled, reaching out to foreign countries was truly beyond their grasp. Even if foreign countries had richer resources, better industrial systems, and stronger technological crystals, these were not something the Commercial Association could currently covet.

Nevertheless, the Commercial Association’s guiding principle, “prepare for a rainy day,” had always been displayed at the entrances and exits of every department, constantly reminding every employee of the Commercial Association.

Chapter 245: Maple Leaf Town

Benefiting from the discoveries made by the exploration teams, the Commercial Association was bustling like a spinning top.

All sorts of goods manufactured by factories, large and small, were being packed into containers. After being registered and assigned numbers, they were loaded onto gigantic transport airships. These goods would be sent in all directions, to various human settlements, earning the Commercial Association immense wealth in crystals and various raw materials.

Accompanying them were the people responsible for establishing branch offices of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. They would be in charge of setting up direct branch offices of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association in certain settlements, and coordinating with the local ruling classes. Another function was to manage sales distribution, protect the Commercial Association’s interests in the area, and ensure that private enterprises under the Commercial Association’s jurisdiction were not oppressed by local authorities. This was akin to the function of an embassy for the Commercial Association.

With this, the Commercial Association officially launched its sales network covering the surrounding areas, integrating the discovered settlements into its product sales system.

Dozens of transport airships transported goods to various locations almost day and night, and in return, transported raw materials, supplies, crystals, and gold back to Greenmount City. It was a virtuous cycle: goods were sold, funds and raw materials were acquired, processed into new goods, and then shipped out again by airship. The entire Greenmount City operated like a massive manufacturing plant, working day and night.

Many settlements, knowing full well that this kind of sales by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association would gradually erode their own economies and have a huge impact in the future, nonetheless welcomed it enthusiastically.

Firstly, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association brought them various essential living materials, leading to a qualitative leap in their quality of life. Secondly, there was originally no real economy in these settlements. With the arrival of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association and the establishment of branch offices, it was like injecting life into stagnant water, invigorating the entire settlement. Economies that were previously unthinkable slowly began to recover. People first used crystals to purchase various items from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. As the Yuanqiang Commercial Association introduced wholesale services, some individuals began to evolve, bringing goods to every corner of the settlements.

For some settlements, crystals were simply useless because there was no circulation of goods; people lived by bartering.

The true use of crystals was in large settlements because they had the ability to research them and understood their future significance. For some remote or small settlements, or those blocked by zombies, crystals were not circulating currency but merely pretty decorations.

Now, upon discovering that these useless crystals could be exchanged for various daily necessities, food, and other goods, how could they not be ecstatic? How could they have any complaints about the Yuanqiang Commercial Association? On the contrary, some settlements even provided great support to the incoming branch offices and treated their representatives like VIPs.

As for settlements that had shown hostility during exploration, the Commercial Association was not currently considering them. In any case, the settlements already explored were enough to keep the Commercial Association busy. Especially the Lanxi Alliance, with its two to three million people. Even if the Commercial Association’s industrial capacity was strong, it was far from enough to satisfy them.

The Commercial Association’s strength developed rapidly, as if wound by a spring. More and more private factories were established, joining the trade.

Amidst the rapid development of the entire Commercial Association, five armed helicopters, similar in appearance to Apaches but more than twice as large, were soaring rapidly at high altitude. Various missiles were already mounted, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Several multi-barreled machine guns, with their cold muzzles, would surely make anyone tremble with fear.

These were the new Sand-3 type armed helicopters, named “Dune” armed helicopters in Chinese, by the Commercial Association. They had just been developed and put into production, with no more than ten manufactured in total. The appearance of five of these top-performing Dune armed helicopters here was indeed surprising.

The biggest improvement of the Dune armed helicopter was its expanded personnel cabin. Besides two pilots, it could carry up to eight soldiers. Similarly, the Dune armed helicopter’s firepower system was even more ferocious than that of modern Apaches, truly a war machine built for combat. Because it employed a more powerful engine, its load capacity increased, allowing its weapon system to become even larger, almost completely covered in mounted missiles.

The five Dune armed helicopters carried a total of forty elite soldiers. They already had the characteristics of special forces. This time, they were accompanying Zhou Yuanqiang as he left Greenmount City, heading east. Their target was Maple Leaf Town, 600 kilometers away from Greenmount City.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to risk venturing into this dangerous Maple Leaf Town. But upon seeing the task he had accepted, Zhou Yuanqiang was incredibly conflicted.

Ring Task: Maple Leaf Town is an outpost on the human front line, suffering from zombie attacks. Recently, there has been an even larger-scale zombie offensive, with a wide variety of Special Infected. Your mission is to help Maple Leaf Town withstand a zombie offensive and safely overcome the crisis. The number of people you command cannot exceed fifty.

Completion Reward: Ring upgrade experience 75%. Failure Penalty: Random reduction of Ring experience by 25%-50%.

The reward was undoubtedly tempting, but the penalty almost made Zhou Yuanqiang want to curse. Even more maddening was that the number of people he could lead could not exceed fifty. This meant that Zhou Yuanqiang could not rely on the Commercial Association’s strength to complete this mission.

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang had accepted a Ring task because he saw that the Commercial Association was developing on its own, with a healthy cycle, and no longer needed him to purchase and transport supplies from the modern world, leaving him with a lot of free time. The reward was indeed very generous: a 75% experience reward, absolutely crazy. This meant that if he completed it, Zhou Yuanqiang could advance to Level thirteen.

Zhou Yuanqiang had initially thought that after discovering the Lanxi Plateau, the task would somehow be related to it. However, the task given to him left him bewildered. He didn’t even know what Maple Leaf Town was or how it had appeared.

What was certain was that explorers had definitely reached Maple Leaf Town; otherwise, the probability of an unknown area appearing in a task would be very low. So, after searching for a long time through the Exploration Department, Zhou Yuanqiang finally found information about Maple Leaf Town. It was indeed discovered by an exploration team led by someone named Wei Zhengyang. Due to Maple Leaf Town’s distance from the Commercial Association and its harsh environment, it had not been listed as a trade point.

Through the information provided by Wei Zhengyang, the situation of Maple Leaf Town was laid out before Zhou Yuanqiang.

Maple Leaf Town was very special. Its location was somewhat interconnected, with a large population of over 50,000 people. Its position dictated that it would be constantly attacked by zombies. Almost every five to ten days, a wave of zombies would form and move towards Maple Leaf Town.

Therefore, all the people in Maple Leaf Town were excellent warriors. Years of continuous fighting had made them experienced, adept at dealing with zombies, and skilled in various tactics.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that the zombie hordes they had previously encountered were small in scale, lacked excessive Special Infected, and had few high-level zombies, which allowed them to survive safely and endure for several years. But with the task’s prompt, Zhou Yuanqiang at least knew that Maple Leaf Town was about to face a huge crisis.

According to Wei Zhengyang’s description, the people of Maple Leaf Town were very friendly. When he first arrived, he was received by the town mayor of Maple Leaf Town.

The maximum level flight speed of the Dune armed helicopter was 295 kilometers per hour. With internal fuel alone, its range was 500 kilometers. After adding external fuel tanks, its range could reach 890 kilometers. This also meant that the Dune armed helicopter would need to carry external fuel on its way to Maple Leaf Town, and upon arrival, it would only have half an hour of combat fuel remaining.

However, for others, this was a critical drawback, but for Zhou Yuanqiang, fuel? He already had a large fuel tank prepared in his storage space, enough for these five Dune armed helicopters to return safely to Greenmount City, where the Commercial Association was located. This was also why he had requested to use this type of armed helicopter.

After nearly two and a half hours of flying, a vast, seemingly endless expanse of fiery red maple trees came into view.

Maple Leaf Town’s origin, and its renown, came from this boundless maple forest.

It was currently the season when the maple leaves turned red, displaying the most beautiful aspect of the maple trees. Of course, the maple forest wasn’t a continuous stretch; in its breaks were abandoned, overgrown farmland and some small villages that appeared amidst the maples. Before the apocalypse, life here probably had a touch of an idyllic paradise, but unfortunately, in the apocalypse, it had become a series of uninhabited zones.

Through binoculars, as many as seven roads could be seen forming a cross in Maple Leaf Town, making it an important transportation hub.

Normally, such a transportation hub would provide good opportunities for Maple Leaf Town’s development, but in the apocalypse, it turned it into a terrible battlefield. Large numbers of zombies would move towards Maple Leaf Town from these seven roads, launching waves of offensives. In game terms, it was essentially an endless tower defense game.

Yet, in this constantly contested area, nearly 50,000 people had gathered, fighting for survival, using various methods to combat the zombies.

Zhou Yuanqiang found it hard to imagine what they relied on for battle. Could such a place, without massive material support, calmly face zombie offensives? This wasn’t once a year, but sometimes several times a month. Although the individual attacks might not be large, the total number of zombies over a year would add up to hundreds of thousands.

As the armed helicopters approached the perimeter of Maple Leaf Town, they saw that the roads below were already filled with moving zombies. The vanguard zombies had already clashed with Maple Leaf Town. From afar, huge explosions and gunshots could be heard.

Should he extend a helping hand early, or provide assistance when they are in dire need?

Undoubtedly, Zhou Yuanqiang chose the latter. Because the pressure on Maple Leaf Town wasn’t very great right now, if his group attacked, they would at most be grateful, far from considering them saviors. But providing help in their direst need was different; appearing when they were in their greatest crisis would have the effect of a savior, making them eternally grateful, and greatly increasing the chances of achieving his goals.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t let go of Maple Leaf Town, a place where everyone was experienced in combat. Every person in the apocalypse was extremely important, and elite warriors were even more crucial. Currently, the Commercial Association’s soldier count was still maintained at 60,000, which was incredibly low for an apocalyptic settlement with a population of a million. It wasn’t that the number of soldiers was too many, but too few.

Looking at other settlements, some with only 100,000 people, had 50,000 to 60,000 warriors; almost everyone was a fighter and could be deployed in wartime.

The million-strong population under the Commercial Association could also be like this, but for the Commercial Association, their role was in production, not as soldiers. The Commercial Association insisted that its soldiers be the absolute elite, brave and skilled in combat. Because of these requirements, the Commercial Association did not rashly expand the number of ground troops but focused on air force development. Large numbers of physically qualified people entered pilot training camps, and in the near future, they would become true pilots.

“Soldiers should be精 (elite), not多 (numerous)…” This development strategy led to a rapid increase in the number of fighter jets, now over three hundred various types, along with over two hundred armed helicopters, and dozens of military airships, all rapidly increasing the Commercial Association’s strength. Future strikes would primarily be long-range, eliminating all crises in their infancy.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang was thinking further ahead. Current strength was sufficient to deal with zombie attacks, but to conquer the next target city, the Commercial Association needed more thorough preparation. But while it was enough for zombies, what about human-to-human warfare?

Zhou Yuanqiang did not rule out this possibility. He might not resort to war, but others might not be like him. “The tree desires calm, but the wind keeps blowing”—that was the principle. So, of course, Zhou Yuanqiang needed to prepare defenses. At the very least, the current ground forces were far from enough and definitely needed to be expanded.

Throughout history, what major war was won by merely launching missiles and sending out fighter jets to drop bombs, making the enemy surrender? The true determining factor of victory and defeat was still ground forces.

The five armed helicopters found a flat spot on top of a mountain ridge. After landing, Zhou Yuanqiang walked to the edge of the cliff on the mountaintop and, through his binoculars, observed Maple Leaf Town several kilometers away. Faintly, he could see that the entire town was also surrounded by a defensive wall. Having withstood many challenges, the wall was very tall; he estimated it to be at least fifteen meters high.

The defensive wall was thick, and its top was packed with people throwing can-like objects rhythmically into the zombie horde below.

Violent explosions and powerful blasts often tore large sections of zombies to shreds. Without much thought, these had to be homemade explosives, and very powerful ones at that.

Due to the wall’s height, the zombies did not currently threaten Maple Leaf Town’s safety. The zombies merely pushed and shoved, crowding together, becoming denser and denser. This undoubtedly provided a more effective target for the people of Maple Leaf Town. A single homemade explosive could blow up and kill a large cluster of zombies, creating a vacuum zone.

“They usually rely on this tall defensive wall to resist zombies?” Zhou Yuanqiang speculated, “A defensive wall paired with powerful explosives certainly allows them to defend against zombies. But this is only for a limited number of zombies. This wave of zombies is truly enormous. How many homemade explosives do they have? Given their environment, where zombies arrive every few days, they probably don’t have many homemade explosives stored.”

Moreover, with such a large-scale zombie horde, the number of high-level zombies would sharply increase, and Special Infected would faithfully play the role of reapers, sending batch after batch of people to hell (the grave).

There was no doubt. Just looking at the scattered gross monsters, Volt-Zombies, and occasionally sighted Giant Zombies on the road, along with some strange zombies Zhou Yuanqiang had never seen before, would undoubtedly make this zombie offensive many times more intense and brutal.

Looking at the zombie procession, which resembled an ant migration, Zhou Yuanqiang wondered if he could complete this mission.

Even if the five armed helicopters had fierce firepower, their mounted ammunition was limited and could only be used at critical moments. This meant that the biggest factor in the success or failure of his mission largely rested on the people of Maple Leaf Town; they were the protagonists in this large-scale zombie attack. His role might be more of adding the finishing touch.

“Is that really so?” Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled. Knowing he had a storage space filled with ammunition, Zhou Yuanqiang became incredibly confident. He had a mobile armory, with enough ammunition to give the approaching zombies a good time. Moreover, the forty soldiers he brought were the elite of the elite, their combat power far from superficial.

However, what Zhou Yuanqiang truly relied on was not the weapons in his storage space, nor the forty soldiers he brought, but the skill that appeared when he reached Level twelve.

Those who had never witnessed this skill would never understand its terrifying power in dealing with zombies. Perhaps this was why the ring had given him this seemingly life-or-death mission—it was simply to test his application of this skill.

Chapter 246: The Art of Interception

For the people of Maple Leaf Town, years of experience had long prepared them for zombie attacks. Through countless battles, they had learned to utilize various techniques, leverage manpower, and make the most of their time, summing up all useful experiences.

Their method was simple: set up outposts along every road. These outposts were segmented, with one every certain distance, ensuring that zombies would be detected well before any danger, eliminating worries about one or two outposts failing and allowing zombies to reach the town walls undetected.

This was merely for vigilance. In dealing with zombies, they also displayed human creativity and imagination. For instance, knowing zombies’ keen sensitivity to sound and moving objects, they excavated and built a massive, cage-like valley enclosure with only one entrance and exit in the valleys alongside each highway. At the entrance, they constructed a defensive wall of cement, earth, and stones, leaving a wide gateway fitted with sturdy iron gates.

Each highway had three to five such transformed valley enclosures. As soon as zombies were spotted, their characteristics were exploited to lure them into the valleys. Once the iron gates were lowered, they became trapped like turtles in a jar. If there were too many, and one valley couldn’t hold them all, it didn’t matter; several more reconstructed valleys awaited them.

The transformed valley enclosures varied in size; smaller ones could hold a few thousand zombies, while larger ones had no problem containing twenty to thirty thousand. If a wave of zombies only numbered ten or twenty thousand, they were often lured into the valleys and calmly stayed put long before nearing Maple Leaf Town. There, they were leisurely hunted down one by one by the people of Maple Leaf Town, who treated it like a sport.

After eliminating the zombies in each valley enclosure, the people of Maple Leaf Town would swiftly remove the bodies, transport them to another location, extract the crystals, and then bury them.

If some zombies didn’t fall for the trap and enter the valley enclosures, that was also fine. What followed was Maple Leaf Town’s “Lost Array.”

The Lost Array was essentially designed to mislead zombies. Its construction was very simple: maples were transplanted onto the roads, leaving only the concrete road surface for a section. Once zombies attacked, if the valley enclosures couldn’t hold them all, Maple Leaf Town would activate the Lost Array, filling the road with maples for interception. To the left and right of the interception point, a transverse dirt path leading to another highway was cleared.

The zombies’ unconsciousness prevented them from distinguishing these dense, impassable trees as artificial. Once obstructed, they would randomly search for a way out, and this dirt path would become their objective. They would follow the dirt path onwards. The zombies behind would, strangely enough, follow those in front.

When the zombies exited the dirt path and faced another highway, they would again be deceived by human camouflage. Unable to identify the path, they would advance in the direction left for them, unaware that this direction led away from Maple Leaf Town. This method of diverting trouble was very effective, often preventing zombies from getting within five kilometers of Maple Leaf Town.

Of course, there had been accidents. Under the force of a zombie horde, the camouflaged maples used for interception were sometimes knocked down, and the zombies would then charge straight towards Maple Leaf Town. However, after all the various measures, the number of zombies that could reach Maple Leaf Town’s tall defensive walls would definitely not be large.

Maple Leaf Town’s unique feature wasn’t just its endless maples; it also produced another item: gunpowder.

Using gunpowder, countless homemade landmines were densely laid across the vast fields outside Maple Leaf Town. The sight of them would make anyone’s scalp tingle. This wide landmine array was also Maple Leaf Town’s sturdy defense line. Zombies, unable to identify these deadly landmines, would charge forward as usual.

The consequences of charging through the landmine array could be imagined just by using one’s toes.

Countless zombies were blown sky-high by the explosions of the landmines. By the time they fell, their lower bodies were shattered, their flesh ripped apart and scattered everywhere, disappearing into who knew where. Some, upon falling, would even land on another landmine, re-exploding into shreds in a spectacular fashion. Even if a zombie was lucky enough to only have its lower body blown off but not die, what would it use to advance without legs? What threat would it pose?

If, by some stroke of luck, they broke through the landmine array and reached the foot of the defensive wall, the people atop, who were already prepared, would unleash homemade explosives, each undoubtedly more ferocious than a landmine.

These many lines of defense were the true reason Maple Leaf Town had been able to stand firm for nearly six years in the apocalypse, surviving countless zombie attacks unscathed.

Do not underestimate these measures. Even a wave of over a hundred thousand zombies, after passing through the valley enclosures, could sometimes be neutralized by the Lost Array. Even if they broke through the camouflage, the number of zombies truly reaching the landmine array would definitely only be tens of thousands. After attrition from the landmines, only half of those tens of thousands would reach the defensive wall. Consider this: do ten to twenty thousand zombies pose a threat to Maple Leaf Town, with its population of nearly fifty thousand? Throwing a barrage of homemade explosives could easily deal with them.

The people, accustomed to countless zombie attacks, were extremely familiar with this system. Therefore, when zombies suddenly advanced along all seven highways simultaneously, although unexpected, it did not cause panic. People calmly went about their already familiar tasks.

Maple Leaf Town’s reconnaissance system, apart from the outposts, seemed to lack other scouting capabilities. Although there were many hills here, the tallest were only two to three hundred meters, unsuitable for watchtowers. Coupled with the fiery maple forest, visibility on the roads was severely impacted, making it impossible to accurately track zombie movements.

The outposts’ retreat was highly disadvantageous for Maple Leaf Town, as they could no longer monitor zombie movements from further away.

In their imagination, even if zombies attacked on all seven highways, the valley enclosures, their greatest trap weapon, would be enough to halve the attacking force. Due to the overwhelming number of zombies, the people of Maple Leaf Town did not pin their hopes on the Lost Array, as its effectiveness was limited to small groups of zombies; against large hordes, camouflage was meaningless.

Based on these calculations, only half of the attacking zombies would actually reach the outskirts of Maple Leaf Town. Then, after attrition from the landmine array, even if they had to face a million zombies, it would be no more than three hundred thousand once they reached the defensive wall. With Maple Leaf Town’s capabilities, although three hundred thousand zombies was a large number, divided among each person, it was only five or six per person. Don’t forget, with explosives in hand, if luck was on their side, the mission could be completed in one go.

The plan and estimations were good, but they clearly forgot that zombie numbers were immense once they started moving, numbering in the millions. Sometimes, even hordes of tens of millions could form, and it was by relying on this that they had pushed humanity back countless times, chasing them into harsh environments.

The formation of zombie hordes had no set pattern; you would never know when they would form or what their target would be. But if one carefully observed the history of human retreat over the past six years, a pattern emerged: once a settlement formed, it would gradually attract zombies. The longer it existed, the more zombies it attracted, eventually reaching a temporal tipping point that triggered a deadly zombie horde crisis.

For example, the Great Canyon Settlement and the Wasteland Settlement, both with large populations and long-established existences, had quickly attracted zombie attacks.

Compiling this pattern, it’s not hard to see that Maple Leaf Town, too, cannot escape this empty cycle. This attack should be a manifestation of this pattern. Even if Maple Leaf Town can survive this fatal crisis, if they do not relocate, perhaps in one or two months, or maybe half a year, or a year, zombie hordes will sweep over again, and their scale will be several times larger.

Maple Leaf Town estimated that this zombie attack would involve between eight hundred thousand and one million zombies, not exceeding one million.

Based on the scale of the valley enclosures along the seven highways, if lured properly, at least four hundred thousand zombies would be consumed. These imprisoned zombies would not pose an immediate threat. Subtracting those imprisoned, more than half of the zombies remaining would be killed by the more than two hundred thousand landmines outside, totaling at least one hundred ten to one hundred twenty thousand. The total number of zombies Maple Leaf Town would ultimately face would be around three hundred thousand, which posed little threat with their fifteen-meter-high defensive walls.

However, the subsequent situation exceeded Maple Leaf Town’s expectations.

The effectiveness of each valley enclosure was weakened; the number of zombies truly lured in was not as high as before. Facing zombies that entered and then prepared to leave, even if the enclosures weren’t full, the giant iron gates had to be lowered early. In this situation, the effect of the valley enclosures significantly diminished. The estimated capacity to trap four hundred thousand zombies ultimately only trapped less than two hundred thousand.

Upon receiving this result, Maple Leaf Town began to panic, as it meant that between six hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand zombies would be at their doorstep.

In Maple Leaf Town’s history, the largest zombie attack had only involved a little over a hundred thousand. Now, the number had suddenly grown six to seven times, and the sheer thought of such a massive zombie horde made everyone’s face turn ashen. Even the seasoned warriors frowned. Undoubtedly, this would be an attack concerning the very survival of Maple Leaf Town.

The only fortunate thing was that the area outside Maple Leaf Town was not very open, with limited space for zombies to deploy, capable of accommodating only about two hundred thousand.

As zombies entered the landmine array, violent explosions continuously erupted like popping soybeans. The booming sounds made some houses within Maple Leaf Town tremble, as if the entire earth was shaking.

Zombies knew no fear, surging towards Maple Leaf Town like an unstoppable torrent.

As Maple Leaf Town’s supreme ruler, Qiu Fengye stood on the defensive wall like a warrior. His name meant “autumn maple leaf,” a time of peak beauty and vibrant redness. Another meaning was a wish for his life to be as prosperous as a fiery red maple leaf.

Qiu Fengye frowned. The deafening explosions drowned out all other sounds in Maple Leaf Town. No warriors on the wall spoke; conversation was futile, as their voices were too insignificant amidst the explosions. The ineffectiveness of the front valley enclosures was what bothered Qiu Fengye most. He didn’t know if it was due to the zombies or his subordinates not luring them effectively.

The charging zombies were undoubtedly terrifying. The landmine array had no impact on them; they seemed to flood over the landmines, one by one. They emerged from all directions, ferociously attacking the defensive wall. From atop the wall, beyond the fiery red maple forests on the distant hills, all one could see was a dense mass of black zombies.

Nearly two hundred thousand landmines were still too few for the sheer number of zombies. In just half an hour, they had crossed the landmine array and reached the defensive wall.

Qiu Fengye did not rush to launch an attack. With the landmines no longer a factor, his voice could be calmly relayed: “Everyone, prepare. Let the zombies gather more densely before attacking. The number of zombies this time is too massive; we must conserve every explosive.”

Maple Leaf Town had not attacked, but the zombies had already launched their own offensive.

Among the zombies were bat-shaped grotesque monsters with a certain gliding ability. A fleshy membrane between their elbows and bodies allowed them brief gliding capabilities when extended. They were seen leaping onto the tops of the densely packed zombies, scrambling quickly. Once they gained enough speed, they violently spread their arms, and the fleshy membrane, catching the air currents and pressure, propelled them like arrows. They soared away from the zombie heads, gliding through the air towards the top of the defensive wall.

However, with only this simple assist, most bat-shaped grotesque monsters were unable to reach the fifteen-meter-high defensive wall. The majority would crash into the tall wall and fall back down. But a few succeeded in landing on the wall, spinning with outstretched claws and sending a circle of people flying off the wall.

Quick-reacting warriors, facing the lunging bat-shaped grotesque monsters, directly used their firearms or bladed weapons to stab the leaping zombies, sending them down.

These grotesque monsters, despite their intimidating presence, posed no huge threat. The damage they inflicted was very limited; a single wave of attack resulted in only about a dozen casualties.

The bat-shaped grotesque monsters were merely the first wave of attack. With the arrival of the slow-moving artillery platforms – the gross monsters – their fleshy tubes straightened up. Under strong muscular contractions, clumps of green liquid were ejected from these tubes.

If one were to disregard the terrifying nature of these gross monsters, the scene of them ejecting liquid was, from a purely observational standpoint, quite beautiful and spectacular.

Within the dense mass of black zombies, clumps of liquid suddenly rose, like a fountain, offering a profound sense of beauty.

However, this was not a movie but grim reality. Their aesthetically pleasing performance brought chilling death to humans. Frightening accuracy and a firing range of 1500 meters had earned them the title of mobile artillery platforms. Clumps of liquid, after a brief flight through the air, violently splattered onto the defensive wall and into the houses within the town.

With a “thwack,” the splashing liquid engulfed a large number of people in a shadow of death, and screams immediately erupted.

Qiu Fengye knew about the gross monsters, but he didn’t quite understand them because, over the years, the number of times gross monsters had appeared in Maple Leaf Town was very small. Furthermore, their numbers were never large, usually just a few, and never exceeding ten at most. Their power was strong, but their scarcity meant their impact wasn’t significant.

But this time, Qiu Fengye was stunned… a massive number of gross monsters. Clumps of green liquid soaring into the sky, like a green deluge, washed over the top of the wall.

The screaming warriors, corroded and injured, struggled on the wall. Some would even fall from the defensive wall amidst their agony, dropping into the zombie horde, only to be torn to shreds in a blink of an eye. Caught unprepared because they hadn’t taken these gross monsters seriously, the people suffered immense casualties, wounds that tore at Qiu Fengye’s heart.

Qiu Fengye considered a counterattack, but what drove him to despair was that the closest gross monsters were about a thousand meters away. How could they be killed?

Looking at the green liquid once again soaring into the sky, Qiu Fengye realized that Maple Leaf Town had no way to fight back against these ranged units. Therefore, facing the surging green liquid, he roared with a tearing heart, “Retreat! Everyone, fall back!”

The warriors, upon receiving Qiu Fengye’s command, all breathed a sigh of relief as they frantically swarmed down from the defensive wall.

The weakness of the gross monsters was probably that they could only eject liquid four or five times. So, Qiu Fengye’s action was undoubtedly correct. After intense firing, some gross monsters had already emptied their stored liquid, becoming useless.

After the liquid “baptism,” the entire top of the wall was almost completely covered in traces of liquid corrosion. Fortunately, the corrosiveness of these liquids was temporary and would quickly lose its effect. Understanding this, as the gross monsters ceased their attack, Qiu Fengye, whose belly was full of suppressed anger, waved his large hand and roared, “To the wall! Quickly, to the wall! Let the zombies know that our explosive satchels are not to be trifled with!”

The warriors, who had just retreated like a tide, once again rushed up to the wall through various passages, carrying explosives.

Having already understood the danger of the liquid, their first task was to give a quick end to the corroded and injured. As for those who were already dead, before they could turn into zombies, they were carried and directly thrown into the zombie horde outside the defensive wall.

The apocalypse was this cruel. A partner from moments ago would, in the blink of an eye, have to be killed by one’s own hand, and even their remains would be cruelly obliterated.

Chapter 247: Level 12 Skill

The wounded and dead soldiers on the wall were cleared away. The soldiers carrying explosive satchels approached the edge of the wall, took out homemade explosives from their packs, lit the fuses, and threw them down toward the zombie horde. For these mindless zombies, there was no need for a delay; they could be thrown immediately after lighting.

The corrosive effect of the liquid on the wall would only last a few minutes. Although there were patches of green liquid everywhere on the wall, filling every crevice, they no longer harmed humans. It was a viral substance that could evaporate and dissolve in the air.

Even with just two or three fist-sized explosive satchels, their power was considerable. A single toss could clear out a large cluster of zombies.

Though the high-level zombies among the horde were formidable, the 15-meter defensive wall offered them no room for development. Their jumping ability meant they couldn’t leap onto the wall. Their performance was limited to darting up and down within the zombie horde. Sometimes, the thrown explosive satchels would even be targeted by them, with predictable results. Clinging to the explosive satchels, they were engulfed in a violent explosion, transforming into a shower of flesh and leaving little more than scraps.

It had to be said, Maple Leaf Town’s offensive methods were truly terrifying. If they had an ample supply of these explosive satchels, let alone a mere few hundred thousand zombies, even millions of zombies would only be blown to bits, little by little, while being held back by the high wall.

However, the problem was that due to years of continuous zombie attacks, their explosive reserves were never abundant. Each batch of explosives manufactured would be consumed in repeated zombie assaults. Over the years, their stored quantity never increased, which meant they couldn’t sustain high-intensity battles.

The battle began in the morning and continued until midday, lasting a total of five hours.

Below the defensive wall lay countless dead zombies, mangled, shredded, or turned into pulp – a gruesome variety. But the piled bodies and remnants of hundreds of thousands of zombies formed a six to seven-meter thick mound around Maple Leaf Town. A fierce stench, under the midday heat, created a suffocating sensation.

Qiu Fengye’s face was ashen. The first reason was that Maple Leaf Town had severely underestimated the number of zombies; they weren’t the estimated 800,000 to one million, but over one million. Years of experience told Qiu Fengye how many explosive satchels were used and how many zombies would be killed. Calculating their current explosive satchel reserves, at least three to four hundred thousand zombies had been blown up. Yet, what lay before them was still an endless sea of zombies. On the seven highways, zombies still surged like water, seemingly inexhaustible.

The second reason was that the worst news had already arrived from the rear: explosive satchels were running low. Even if everyone was mobilized to rush production, it would be impossible to sustain such a high rate of usage.

The third reason was the landing of a new wave of gross monsters and Volt-Zombies, which caused Maple Leaf Town heavy losses. Of the first wave of 10,000 people, only 8,600 returned. The second wave was even worse; out of 10,000 people, only 6,000 could be rotated out, with nearly 4,000 dying from ranged zombie attacks.

These three were just the main reasons.

With the arrival and attack of the Giant Zombies, things became even more terrifying. Although there were only a few of them, their threat was deadly. The moment they appeared on the battlefield, they immediately charged, trampling through the other zombies like enraged mad bulls. Even explosive satchels couldn’t stop them as they fiercely slammed into the 15-meter high wall.

The ground shook as the immense impact caused small cracks, like spiderwebs, to appear in the defensive wall.

On the section of the wall that was hit, people could barely stand steady. Many were thrown off balance and landed on their bottoms, looking utterly disheveled. This single impact terrified everyone. Qiu Fengye, in a panic, pointed at the Giant Zombies and roared, “Quick, concentrate the explosive satchels, cripple them, quick…!”

Maple Leaf Town itself could stand firm only because of this tall defensive wall. But these Giant Zombies were like siege weapons. With their terrifying power, if they charged a few more times, wouldn’t the wall be in danger of collapsing?

Don’t be fooled by how humans were currently blasting the zombies into disarray. If there were no defensive wall, the nearly 50,000 people inside would be nothing but an easy meal. Surrounded by zombies from all directions, they would have nowhere to escape. In front of hundreds of thousands of zombies, everyone could be torn apart in mere moments.

Realizing the consequences, people desperately scrambled to their feet from the tremors, fumbled for their explosive satchels, lit them, and hurled them at the Giant Zombies.

With a thunderous “Boom…”, some explosive satchels hit the Giant Zombies and fell, while others exploded directly on their bodies. The immense power tore the flesh of the Giant Zombies, known as meat shields and tanks, in the explosions. Under a dozen explosive satchels, their massive bodies melted away like a snowman in the sun, their entire upper halves blown off.

There were several Giant Zombies. As one was killed, another immediately charged, trampling the tiny zombies below, and smashing into the wall with fierce intent.

Although Qiu Fengye shouted commands for a collective interception, once a Giant Zombie began its charge, it wouldn’t stop until its momentum was gone. Explosive satchels were tossed aside as it charged. With another earth-shattering tremor, the sound of the defensive wall cracking tore at everyone’s heart.

No need to look. Everyone knew that this Giant Zombie had successfully added another scar to the defensive wall.

Seeing fist-sized cracks on the defensive wall through his binoculars, Zhou Yuanqiang was also taken aback… When did these Giant Zombies become so fierce? Previously, during attacks on Wasteland Settlement, they seemed like mere sitting ducks, getting killed before they even got close.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know that the most terrifying aspect of Giant Zombies was their potential for collision. When attacking Wasteland Settlement, with numerous snipers, the Giant Zombies were killed before they could get close. They were never given a stage to perform, so naturally, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t know their true terror.

Now, seeing those fist-sized cracks, wasn’t he scared? What if these behemoths knocked down the defensive wall? The surging zombies would surely tear the people inside to shreds. By then, let alone himself, even a Golden Immortal descended from heaven would probably be powerless. The mission… would naturally end in failure.

What did it mean to provide timely help? Even he, merely observing, was scared into a cold sweat by this danger, not to mention the people of Maple Leaf Town. Wasn’t this their most dangerous moment? Don’t forget, there were still several Giant Zombies lurking, and further down the road, their moving figures could be seen.

“Board, let’s go… It must be our time to make an appearance!”

Zhou Yuanqiang put away his binoculars and waved his hand. As he returned to the helicopter, the alert team members, having received orders, had already returned to the helicopter. The pilot started the helicopter, and within half a minute, it slowly lifted off from the flat mountaintop.

The five Dune armed helicopters appearing together in the sky was quite a spectacular sight. They should have been visible from several kilometers away. But earlier, everyone in Maple Leaf Town had been focused on the zombies below the defensive wall, who had time to pay attention to the distant sky?

“Snipers, be vigilant against ranged zombies…”

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t even need to give the order. The elite soldiers selected were all powerful in combat and rich in experience. They understood that armed helicopters couldn’t operate at several thousand meters; the optimal attack height should be maintained at 50 to 100 meters above ground. Naturally, this brought them within the range of ranged zombies. Armed helicopters, being too slow, could easily be hit.

Why are armed helicopters often straightforward in many wars, only maintaining security in the rear and not participating on the front lines? With simple yet effective weapons like rocket launchers available, slow armed helicopters that need to operate at low altitudes are basically sitting ducks for rocket launchers and man-portable missiles. A few thousand yuan shell can easily destroy an armed helicopter worth tens of millions of dollars.

In the apocalypse, machinery doesn’t need to fear gross monsters, but the real threat comes from Volt-Zombies; they are the natural enemies of all humans and machines.

The “whirring” sound of the engines, though muffled by the booming explosions below, could still be faintly heard. When they were less than one kilometer from Maple Leaf Town’s defensive wall, the people who were intensely dealing with the Giant Zombies finally noticed the five fully armed helicopters in the sky.

Qiu Fengye rubbed his eyes, somewhat disbelieving that he was actually seeing armed helicopters. He foolishly tugged at the subordinate next to him and asked, “Did you see it? Don’t tell me I’m dreaming.” The subordinate next to him was already dumbfounded and replied, “Y-yes… it’s real, I saw them, I saw them!”

They couldn’t be blamed. In nearly six years, they had never seen any aircraft. The only previous instance was probably the exploration airship that arrived a month ago, belonging to an organization called the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Perhaps what Qiu Fengye remembered most vividly was the seven-colored umbrella printed on the massive airbag of the exploration airship.

“Wait… a seven-colored umbrella?”

Qiu Fengye seemed to catch onto something, as he noticed the seven-colored umbrella mark on these five roaring armed helicopters, so attention-grabbing.

Before Qiu Fengye could guess what these five armed helicopters intended, Zhou Yuanqiang, who had been clutching his sniper rifle, blasted a Volt-Zombie’s head into pieces with a “Boom!”. Meanwhile, Dune armed helicopter number 002 locked onto a Giant Zombie. A G-1 type missile, independently developed by the munitions factory, hanging from its hardpoint, launched with a trail of fire, streaking towards the Giant Zombie after detaching from its hanger.

At such close range, the missile’s initial velocity was very slow, giving the Giant Zombie’s peculiar muscle tissue a false signal, making it believe the missile wouldn’t threaten its safety, causing its muscles to harden significantly. The missile directly struck the Giant Zombie’s neck. The large-payload explosion enveloped the entire Giant Zombie, turning it into a shower of blood in the violent blast.

The armed helicopters whizzed past, using their speed to fly over the defensive wall. The massive airflow distorted the hair and clothes of the people below.

After crossing the defensive wall, the armed helicopters hovered, adjusted their noses, and slightly increased their altitude. Their advanced fire control systems quickly locked onto the remaining Giant Zombies. Several missiles, trailing fire, successfully hit the Giant Zombies that were preparing to charge, obliterating them right before everyone’s astonished eyes.

The immense power far surpassed that of explosive satchels by many times; some flesh and blood even splattered tens of meters away, landing on the people on the defensive wall.

The five armed helicopters hovered above Maple Leaf Town, using the long-range capabilities of their missiles to precisely clear out the ranged zombies, temporarily slowing down the zombies’ frenzied offensive. They also had another purpose: to let all the people of Maple Leaf Town, who would surely gather at the news, see the five armed helicopters assisting them, to clearly witness the seven-colored umbrella on the helicopters, and for them to acknowledge this favor.

With the armed helicopters’ firepower at full blast, the twenty missiles they carried could be half-fired in mere moments.

Having experienced the eerie existence of the Corpse Queen, Zhou Yuanqiang understood that zombies didn’t attack without purpose. They also had a hierarchy. Zombies like the Corpse Queen possessed the ability to command ordinary zombies. However, zombies had almost no intelligence; they commanded zombies based solely on a remnant instinct. For example, the Corpse Queen belonged to the leaderboard class of zombies.

Large-scale zombie hordes certainly had leader-class zombies.

The current situation was extremely dire. The number of zombies was too massive. Even if fifty more armed helicopters arrived, they wouldn’t be able to stop them with firepower alone. Coupled with Maple Leaf Town’s limited explosive reserves, stopping such a large-scale zombie horde was almost impossible.

Don’t assume that people inside are safe just because zombies can’t break through the defensive wall.

The horror of zombies lies in their numbers. As they push and shove, they will slowly pile up layer by layer, gradually increasing in height. Even fifteen meters is not absolutely safe. Millions of zombies, by stacking on top of each other to form a ladder, could easily allow subsequent zombies to break through the defensive wall guarded by humans.

Because of this, Zhou Yuanqiang did not expect the five armed helicopters to achieve much. To resolve this crisis, he needed to use the strategy of “beating the grass to scare the snake,” as he did during the Wasteland Settlement incident, to force the zombies to retreat. Even if they couldn’t be made to retreat, they could be threatened into losing their command.

So, after a brief hover and firing half their missiles, the five armed helicopters rapidly ascended to a perfectly safe altitude of 2,500 meters, splitting into five directions and advancing along the highways.

Finding this commander-class zombie wouldn’t be very difficult because its characteristics always led to a large number of zombies gathering around it for protection. Another characteristic was that this type of zombie usually had escorts. Furthermore, its location wouldn’t be far from Maple Leaf Town. These characteristics made it very easy for high-altitude reconnaissance to pinpoint its position.

“Chairman, target is southeast, in a village 37 kilometers from Maple Leaf Town.”

Zhou Yuanqiang, upon receiving the report, quickly rushed over.

This was a small village located by the roadside, surrounded by fiery red maple trees. It looked like an idyllic paradise, full of rustic beauty. But at this moment, it was completely packed with zombies, making it impenetrable. Various Special Infected and a very high number of high-level zombies, far exceeding normal levels, were present.

What made it even clearer was that as soon as the armed helicopters arrived above this area, the zombies below began to agitated, continuously moving closer to the small village.

“Chairman, we can’t get close…” the pilot yelled. Given the characteristics of armed helicopters, it was extremely difficult to attack ground targets from high altitude. Lowering the altitude was impossible given the gross monsters below and the considerable number of Volt-Zombies. Moreover, with zombies all around, it was impossible for the armed helicopters to lower their altitude and attack the village from a distance.

Zhou Yuanqiang had already anticipated this outcome. Armed helicopters didn’t have bombing capabilities. He somewhat regretted bringing armed helicopters. If he had used airships instead, carrying tens of tons of explosives, he could have easily leveled the area below, saving him much trouble and worry.

But it was too late for regrets. Maple Leaf Town was in imminent danger, and Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t afford to overthink. He had the helicopter approach the top of a maple forest, saying, “You provide support from above; I’ll deal with this zombie.” With his formidable abilities, he simply jumped out of the armed helicopter, landing in the maple forest, using the elasticity of the branches to cushion his fall.

“Chairman, good luck…” Armed helicopter number 003 quickly ascended, leaving the dangerous area.

Zhou Yuanqiang, using the tree branches and not falling from too great a height, quickly landed beneath a tree. In the past few years, this forest had accumulated a thick layer of fallen leaves, giving a floating sensation when standing on them. The entire forest exuded a strong smell of decaying leaves.

As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang landed, dozens of zombies immediately emerged from between the trees, pouncing on him through the gaps in the foliage.

Licking his lips, Zhou Yuanqiang grinned and said, “36 times the power, combined with incredibly tough armor and a three-meter giant sword, is absolutely a human-shaped tank, a nightmare for zombies.” As his voice faded, a faint silver light emanated from Zhou Yuanqiang’s entire body, as if he were surrounded by mercury. It began from his chest, expanding outwards, continuously engulfing his body.

In just a moment, armor resembling a mecha completely enveloped him, looking exactly like a mecha suit.

This… was the Level 12 skill, Armor Art. Through some material, it rapidly forms a defensively powerful battle armor, protecting the user within its hard shell from external damage.

(Ten thousand words update complete, please give Monthly Votes…)

Chapter 248: Sweeping Through

No one is fearless of death. It’s only when there’s no other choice that people become unafraid and move forward without hesitation.

Zhou Yuanqiang was no exception; he was also very afraid of death. The apocalypse was a world full of various unknown dangers. There was no order, weapons were severely unregulated, and almost everyone possessed one to several firearms. It was as if there were no restrictions. Every settlement seemed to be fighting for its life, dedicating every possible resource to weapon manufacturing, producing an endless stream of weapons and equipping them to everyone in the settlement.

With no order and everyone having guns, the entire apocalypse was fundamentally unstable. Although the Commercial Association had implemented various laws and imposed severe penalties for violations, who could guarantee that no one would act impulsively and disregard everything?

Since arriving in this apocalyptic world, despite having dozens of times the normal abilities provided by his ring, what good was it? His muscles might be much stronger than others, but they were still no match for a bullet. Any single bullet could kill him. Because of this, Zhou Yuanqiang had always been extremely cautious in the apocalypse, never daring to relax for a moment.

He risked his life to transport raw resources to increase the Commercial Association’s strength, to solidify his own position, and to ensure the Wasteland Settlement could survive and thrive in the apocalypse. Wasn’t all of this ultimately for the sake of his own life?

The emergence of Armor Art was like a timely help, its formidable defensive capabilities strong enough to withstand ordinary bullets.

Zhou Yuanqiang had an indescribable fondness for this humanoid armor. Anyone who had seen mecha in sci-fi movies could imagine what this armor was like.

Some might wonder if using high-density alloy steel armor wouldn’t achieve the same defensive effect.

Regarding this, the two simply weren’t comparable. Consider high-density alloy steel armor: putting it on would take at least ten minutes, it was extremely unwieldy, and using it severely tested one’s endurance. Even for a monster like Zhou Yuanqiang, each use left him panting heavily. Coupled with the 200kg alloy giant sword, just wearing this alloy steel armor alone would drain half of Zhou Yuanqiang’s strength.

But Armor Art was different. The armor it materialized was almost like the clothes on his body. Every joint was countless times more flexible than alloy steel, and using it felt like moving his own arms. With alloy steel armor, Zhou Yuanqiang could only perform actions like charging or sweeping with a large whirlwind. But this armor from the ring was different; it allowed Zhou Yuanqiang to move with dragon-like agility and tiger-like ferocity, to soar freely, performing a series of actions with ease.

In terms of defense, a level one Armor Art was indeed inferior to alloy steel armor. But don’t forget, each level up of Armor Art granted a 10% increase in density defense. It only needed to upgrade two or three levels to surpass high-density alloy steel armor. If it reached level ten… Zhou Yuanqiang simply couldn’t imagine how terrifyingly strong its defensive capabilities would be then.

As long as he had enough ability to ensure his own safety, Zhou Yuanqiang, with his abnormal strength, became capable of both offense and defense.

Zombies were formidable, but Zhou Yuanqiang’s strength was dozens of times greater than theirs, and his speed was also dozens of times faster. Moreover, with the armor protecting him, he didn’t have to worry about zombies harming his flesh, eliminating any chance of infection. This way, Zhou Yuanqiang could walk sideways through zombie hordes. Using the advantage of his storage space to carry a large quantity of weapons, wasn’t he essentially a mobile, super-powered fire platform? Even without firearms, his three-meter-long alloy battle sword was like the Grim Reaper’s scythe. A single large whirlwind cut a ring of zombies into two, its power absolutely terrifying.

The armor materialized by the ring was infinitely more beautiful than high-density alloy steel armor. Wearing it, the feeling of having the world in his grasp was absolutely exhilarating.

“I’ll use these dozens of zombies to test it out…”

His entire body was protected beneath the armor, even his eyes were shielded by a special material. From the outside, his eyes couldn’t be seen, but from within, he could clearly see everything outside. Since the armor added almost no weight, Zhou Yuanqiang’s movement speed was terrifyingly fast, far beyond what alloy steel armor could achieve.

The dozens of zombies that appeared in the forest didn’t care about the danger posed by the humanoid mecha in front of them; they naturally surged forward.

The maple trees in the forest were very dense, preventing him from going full speed. Despite this, Zhou Yuanqiang’s speed was still fast. Like an elf in the forest, he moved with a silvery blur. Zhou Yuanqiang’s method was simple; he didn’t even need a weapon. The sheer force of his fists, combined with the incredibly hard fists formed by the armor, was enough to smash a zombie’s head into fragments with a single punch.

In just a moment, Zhou Yuanqiang slowly walked out of the forest. Behind him, dozens of zombies lay on the rotting leaves, their heads smashed.

The battle had only just begun. These dozens of zombies weren’t even an appetizer; at most, they were a small warm-up exercise.

Outside the forest lay a considerable expanse of abandoned rice paddies. Amidst the overgrown weeds, some rice stalks that had grown wild and become deformed could still be seen, stubbornly persisting. Unfortunately, their efforts were once again trampled by zombies. The abandoned paddies were swarming with them, moving around, flattening all the weeds, and trampling them back and forth…

As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang appeared, the tens of thousands of zombies here swarmed towards him like sharks sensing blood.

Estimating the distance to the small village, Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head with a bitter smile, muttering to himself, “It looks like I’ll have to practice the trick of taking an enemy’s head amidst a thousand troops again.”

A level 7 zombie, at the forefront of the surging horde, sprang out of the crowd. With a few leaps, it surged forward like an arrow.

With Fatal Blow activated, his already monstrous neural reaction speed increased by another 50%. The actions of this lightning-fast level 7 zombie in mid-air appeared to Zhou Yuanqiang like an object moving in slow motion. Using his mind, a rocket launcher silently appeared in his hand. With almost no aiming, he shouldered the rocket launcher and fired a rocket directly.

This level 7 zombie, leaping through the air, had an intimate embrace with the rocket. In a deafening explosion, it turned into a puff of smoke in mid-air.

Looking at the “crunch, crunch…” sounds of fragments falling into the grass, Zhou Yuanqiang burst into laughter, shouting triumphantly, “Hah! Let’s see you act so arrogant now!” He never forgot how pathetic he used to be when encountering these high-level zombies. This truly was a case of the tables turning. With Armor Art, he didn’t need to worry about his safety, making zombies nothing more than a dish.

Putting the rocket launcher back into his storage space, the Gatling gun, known as the Vulcan, appeared in Zhou Yuanqiang’s hands. The long chain of bullets dragged on the grass, coiled in several loops.

A multi-barreled heavy machine gun like the Gatling was impossible for a human to use without being fixed or using a tripod. But with Zhou Yuanqiang’s 36 times normal strength, he was an absolute monster. Carrying a Gatling heavy machine gun as a single soldier was child’s play for him.

Immense power, stirring his blood. Choosing the fiercest, most violent method was naturally Zhou Yuanqiang’s favorite.

The spinning barrels began to spit out tongues of death in moments. Bullets, as if free, rained down on the charging zombies. The terrifying power tore zombies in half at the waist. In the face of this bullet-rain, no zombie could withstand it.

Zhou Yuanqiang advanced, treading on the already crushed grass. Wherever he went, it was like a disaster, as he savagely tore zombies apart one by one. In moments, the grassy ground was littered with incomplete zombie bodies. Facing Zhou Yuanqiang, who walked past them, those with their upper bodies still intact tried desperately to do something, but it was all in vain. All that was left for them was a shimmering silver background.

Playing with a heavy machine gun was indeed incredibly exhilarating; the frantic “hiss, hiss…” sound of strafing was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.

However, after only emptying one belt of bullets, Zhou Yuanqiang decided not to play anymore. Firearms were powerful, but in such a dense zombie horde, and with his immense strength, cold weapons were more practical. So, Zhou Yuanqiang retrieved his alloy giant sword from his storage space, gripped it with both hands, and delivered a sweeping whirlwind attack.

The sharp alloy giant sword, powered by his monstrous strength, became unstoppable. Zombies were like tofu; their hard bones, at this moment, were mere decorations, offering no resistance as they were sliced into two. So fast was the attack that even after being cut in half, the zombies could still take several full steps before breaking apart and falling.

With the dense zombie population, a single sweeping whirlwind often turned dozens of zombies into casualties under his sword, an efficiency many times higher than a heavy machine gun.

Once Zhou Yuanqiang charged, nothing could stop him. The dense zombie hordes were ferociously knocked away by the wildly rushing Zhou Yuanqiang. His terrifying strength allowed him to bore through countless zombies like a jet ski through waves, rapidly advancing. The zombies Zhou Yuanqiang impacted were all flung into the air. The massive impact force, combined with the hard armor, shattered their bones the moment they were sent flying.

The small village was originally 1.5 kilometers away, but such a distance was covered in the blink of an eye with his wild dash.

Looking back at the path of corpses he had carved, Zhou Yuanqiang grinned. At this moment, he felt the perfection of his abilities. The burden of worrying about his life being threatened was lifted, making him feel completely at ease. The thrill of going all out, Zhou Yuanqiang finally experienced it then.

Looking at the dilapidated small village before him, Zhou Yuanqiang sneered.

Several high-level zombies darted out of the small village like lightning. They raced across the zombie horde, then, with a forceful push, leaped high into the air, swooping down on Zhou Yuanqiang like eagles.

Zhou Yuanqiang simply chuckled. With a few explosive加速 steps, he used his alloy giant sword as support, forcefully pushing off the ground, and launched himself upwards like a pole vaulter. In mid-air, he met these high-level zombies. His slightly spread legs clamped down on one of the zombies’ heads. With a slight twist, he completely wrenched its head off. And the giant sword he carried, with a swing in mid-air, swept several zombies into pieces.

In a swift exchange, Zhou Yuanqiang plunged into the small village, while the several zombies he had cut in half were still falling from the sky.

Inside the small village, it was packed with gross monsters and Volt-Zombies. Facing Zhou Yuanqiang, who was right in front of them, their abilities were completely useless. They could only desperately contract their fleshy tubes and indiscriminately spray whatever they had. But their minimum spraying range was over 100 meters, so how could they harm Zhou Yuanqiang, who was right there?

Zhou Yuanqiang showed no mercy to these most dangerous zombies. A few sweeps of his giant sword quickly dispatched this group of ranged zombies.

On an old three-story building, a small, completely black zombie stood. As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang approached, it suddenly vanished from the rooftop. Zhou Yuanqiang thought it was playing invisible like the Dark Guards, but before he could react, a gust of wind suddenly appeared, and this small black zombie, which had been distant moments before, was now right in front of him.

Its mysterious ability caught Zhou Yuanqiang by surprise. The small black zombie’s claw struck Zhou Yuanqiang’s chest with immense force.

In the past, Zhou Yuanqiang would have been utterly finished. But protected by the armor, he only felt his body shake, and the immense strength actually pushed Zhou Yuanqiang back several steps before he steadied himself. He couldn’t imagine that his 36 times normal strength, even if he could only exert seventy or eighty percent of it in a hurry, was still pushed back several steps by a small black zombie. This was truly unexpected.

And after this small black zombie struck, it vanished again, reappearing on the rooftop in the blink of an eye.

“Damn, what kind of zombie is this thing?”

Zhou Yuanqiang glared angrily at the black zombie. In this world of zombies, truly nothing was impossible. Viruses, depending on different physiques and superior or inferior genes, mutated into zombies with different abilities. This small black zombie, seemingly weak and unthreatening, possessed both instant teleportation and terrifying strength, truly capable of a one-hit kill.

If he hadn’t been protected by the armor, that claw strike just now would certainly have torn out his heart.

This must be the guardian of the command-level zombie, because Zhou Yuanqiang keenly noticed over a dozen of these small black zombies throughout the entire building. What’s more, after he was pushed back a few steps, the black zombie standing on the rooftop only watched Zhou Yuanqiang and didn’t use its instant strike to attack again. It was likely that those few steps had brought him into their alert range, causing them to attack.

Sometimes, Zhou Yuanqiang found it amusing. The abilities of these guardians were terrifyingly strong for ordinary humans, but their operational alert range was like a rope binding them. No matter how powerful they were, as long as one didn’t enter their alert and attracting range, even if they discovered you, they wouldn’t step out of their boundaries to attack you.

In the era of cold weapons, humans could only feel helpless, but in the era of firearms…

Zhou Yuanqiang put away his alloy giant sword, and the rocket launcher reappeared out of thin air. He took out a rocket and slowly loaded it, then casually shouldered it, aiming at the black zombie on the rooftop. He sneered, “I wonder if your instant teleportation is faster, or my rocket.”

The rocket trailed a faint smoke tail, reaching the black zombie in the blink of an eye.

For the unconscious black zombie, facing this incoming object, its instinct was to simply teleport, appearing in mid-air, and directly embracing the rocket. What pitiful instinct, what pitiful unawareness. It had no idea what it was about to attack. In that embrace, the violent tearing force instantly shredded the black zombie into tiny fragments. No matter how strong it was, against a rocket, it was as fragile as glass, shattering on impact.

Sometimes Zhou Yuanqiang wondered if he could get cruise missile technology, then focus entirely on manufacturing cruise missiles. With the help of satellites or reconnaissance planes, he could then conduct precise, targeted strikes against Special Infected. What would that be like? For a small village like this, a single cruise missile could level it. In front of a cruise missile, no matter how powerful a zombie was, it would turn into nothing, saving immense time and effort.

However, cruise missile technology was not something the Commercial Association could currently produce. Even with ten more years of development, they might not be able to overcome some of the key technologies.

Undoubtedly, to develop cruise missile technology, he would have to leverage modern capabilities, such as the United States’ cruise missile technology, which was among the world’s top. If he could steal their technology and acquire a few cruise missiles, perhaps the Commercial Association could solve the cruise missile problem.

Thinking of the United States, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly wanted to laugh. The reason was simple: no matter what he wanted to do, his first thought was always of them. He could only blame them for having such advanced technology that made people inevitably think of them. Poor guys, with Armor Art and instant spatial transfers, the Americans’ secrets were probably in for a world of trouble!

But cruise missiles could be dealt with later. What needed to be solved most urgently right now was the command-level zombie inside.

If he wanted to kill it directly, it would be extremely easy with the ammunition in his storage space. But Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t do that. He needed to play with it slowly, to make it feel terrified. Only then would it emit threat signals, summoning more zombies to protect it, thereby achieving the goal of forcing the zombies to retreat.

“Hmm, how should I play this?”

Zhou Yuanqiang scanned his surroundings, finally locking his gaze on the small black zombies. He took a few steps into their alert range.

Chapter 249: Mission Accomplished

Two short, black zombies stood on the two broken windows. Below lay glass shards and twisted aluminum alloy, immediately showing that a fierce human-zombie battle must have taken place here. The moment Zhou Yuanqiang stepped into the black zombies’ attack range, these two short black zombies on the windows disappeared almost simultaneously.

Through his enhanced senses, he swiftly captured the faint distorted vibrations in the air. However, this instantaneous strike was too quick. Zhou Yuanqiang could at most detect the air vibrations, but couldn’t pinpoint their exact appearance location or when they would strike. But since it was an instant strike, it would definitely launch an attack on its target immediately after vanishing.

Don’t let their short, dark, and slippery appearance fool you; their strength, if it landed on an ordinary human, would at least cripple them, if not kill them.

Zhou Yuanqiang had personally experienced their power just now; even with his abnormal strength, he was repelled several steps. Imagine how formidable they were? Now, with two short black zombies attacking simultaneously, if not for the armor protecting him, Zhou Yuanqiang would undoubtedly face a near-certain death.

His thoughts lasted only a moment. Two shadowy figures had already appeared before him. The black zombies’ instant strike emphasized a critical kill, moving like lightning. Without consciousness, they wouldn’t consider anything; as soon as a person appeared, they would unleash a full-power instant strike as their ultimate move.

Gazing at the two claw attacks appearing simultaneously, Zhou Yuanqiang’s reaction wasn’t to dodge immediately. Instead, his alloy giant sword directly slashed towards the two black zombies.

“Clang, clang” came two sounds, the noise of claws striking armor, and as the immense force arrived, Zhou Yuanqiang’s alloy giant sword happened to cut through.

Black zombies possessed immense strength, and their bones were incomparable to ordinary zombies. As Zhou Yuanqiang was repelled, he felt a blocking force from the alloy giant sword. But how could bone block an alloy giant sword? This resistance only delayed the alloy giant sword by a few tenths of a second, but it still directly severed the two black zombies at their waists.

The tremendous strength of the two black zombies made Zhou Yuanqiang drag his alloy giant sword back six or seven steps with a “thud-thud-thud” before he finally steadied himself. Even with the protection of his armor, it still made Zhou Yuanqiang break out in a cold sweat. The strength of these two short black zombies was the strongest he had ever encountered among all zombie types.

Judging from the characteristics of these black zombies, Zhou Yuanqiang could confirm that the leader zombie inside was definitely not the Corpse Queen because the Corpse Queen’s guards were Dark Guards, not these inexplicable, dark, and slippery black zombies.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t injured, but the two black zombies struck by the alloy giant sword were out of luck. They were cut in half at the waist by Zhou Yuanqiang and fell straight to the ground. The structure of black zombies was vastly different from ordinary zombies; their cells remained intact, and various organs still retained some abilities. This particularity allowed them to possess strength many times greater than ordinary zombies.

Now, cut into two halves by Zhou Yuanqiang, ordinary zombies might still live if their heads weren’t harmed. But for black zombies, this attack was fatal. Severed at the waist, they struggled a few times before becoming completely motionless. Bright red blood flowed out, quickly saturating the ground.

The loss of three guards finally made the leader zombie inside realize the immense threat. They possessed rudimentary consciousness and could judge some very simple things, such as an extremely strong perception of danger. This also determined that upon encountering danger, if their consciousness told them it was very dangerous, they would send out a distress signal.

Although it had fifteen black zombies acting as guards, Zhou Yuanqiang had wiped out three of them in a single encounter. This sudden crisis made it begin to emit wave-like signals, spreading tens of kilometers in all directions.

The zombies fiercely attacking Maple Leaf Town paused noticeably upon receiving this information. However, only a small number of zombies began to withdraw; most merely paused before launching an even more furious assault. They climbed the piled-up corpse rampart, which had reached nearly ten meters high. Some high-level zombies could now use these corpse ramparts to jump onto the defensive wall.

Information from the armed helicopters constantly monitoring Maple Leaf Town came through his earpiece. Zhou Yuanqiang first used his giant sword to sweep clear a large vacuum zone of incoming ordinary zombies, then pulled out his rocket launcher again. After loading a rocket, he fired it directly at the exterior wall of the three-story house.

“Keep sending out distress signals, or you’re dead…”

As if it weren’t enough, Zhou Yuanqiang took out another rocket and loaded it. This time, he aimed at the three-story rooftop, the eave that rural folk used to cover the stairs. After firing, a violent explosion directly blew off the entire eave, leveling it in a burst of orange-red fire… The wood, burning from the high heat, made “crackle-crackle” sounds.

Thinking of the black zombies’ instincts, Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled again. In a word, they were too cooperative, too adorable.

Due to the fierce explosion, all twelve remaining black zombies poked their heads out, glaring menacingly at Zhou Yuanqiang. They simply didn’t understand what this person was doing. But for Zhou Yuanqiang, it didn’t matter; it was best that they didn’t know what he was up to. He pulled out a rocket and fired it directly at their location.

Just like the heroic black zombie that sacrificed itself earlier, because the rocket’s initial velocity wasn’t fast enough, they could keenly sense an object entering their attack range. Driven by instinct, three of this group of black zombies instantly vanished simultaneously, appearing in front of the rocket a moment later, launching a direct instant strike.

With a massive “boom,” three black zombies were torn to shreds. One even had its upper body blown off, its lower half hitting the ground in front of Zhou Yuanqiang. Its twitching legs gave Zhou Yuanqiang an urge to vomit. After finally suppressing it, he couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh at the half-torso: “Don’t you know this thing shouldn’t be hugged? Why do you insist on desperately hugging it?”

Of course, the above was merely Zhou Yuanqiang’s way of lightening the mood. He wished all the black zombies would use their instant strike together so a single rocket could finish them off.

It seemed somewhat cyclical; as Zhou Yuanqiang completed these actions, the surrounding ordinary zombies once again swarmed him. This forced Zhou Yuanqiang to put the rocket launcher into his storage space again, pull out his alloy giant sword, and fiercely spin like a top, sweeping out six- to seven-meter vacuum zones with a large whirlwind. In moments, the ground was covered with zombies severed into two halves.

Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s torment, the zombie, gradually sensing a fatal threat, finally let out a high-pitched roar.

Compared to the Corpse Queen’s sharp, glass-scratching shriek, this zombie’s roar carried a heavy resonance, like war drums on an ancient battlefield, beating continuously, subtly stirring a feeling of surging blood. Influenced by this roar, zombies’ brain crystals were continuously stimulated, sending them into a state of madness.

The surrounding zombies seemed to suddenly elevate in level, savagely lunging at Zhou Yuanqiang.

Meanwhile, the zombies attacking Maple Leaf Town, summoned by this roar, entered a state of destructive frenzy one by one. They retreated from the defensive wall without hesitation, withdrawing at an even faster speed than they arrived. They were like summoned warriors, going to protect their king.

This eerie turn of events left the people of Maple Leaf Town wide-eyed with astonishment, and then filled them with excitement.

They didn’t care why the zombies were retreating; they only needed to know that the zombies were retreating, and did anything else even matter? Looking at the bullet-riddled defensive wall, the fallen and injured soldiers, and the few remaining explosive satchels, they knew that if the zombies had persisted for just a few more minutes, Maple Leaf Town would have fallen, allowing the zombies to rampage freely and treat all the humans inside as delicious snacks.

Now, seeing the zombies retreat, they had every reason to cheer.

“Chairman, the zombies in Maple Leaf Town have begun to retreat. Please advise on the next course of action.”

The message from the armed helicopter above Maple Leaf Town made Zhou Yuanqiang breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, this zombie had begun summoning zombies to protect it. In fact, if it were intelligent animals, under these circumstances, they would only fight with all their might, unlike this zombie, which was driven by instinct.

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and said, “You continue to maintain your current position.”

The zombies had retreated, but not far. Zhou Yuanqiang still needed to further panic this zombie, even needing to lure it to attack him and take it as far away from Maple Leaf Town as possible. This zombie’s role was more like a banner, guiding the direction of the zombies. If he lured it away, he could naturally lead the zombies by the nose.

Rural houses generally didn’t have basements, so Zhou Yuanqiang was certain that this zombie was hiding on the ground floor.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s method was simple. He had plenty of explosives in his storage space, including special explosives from various munitions factories. For example, modified aerial bombs, weighing tens of kilograms, could be thrown after activating their redesigned trigger mechanism. Whoever encountered it would be unlucky. This was perfect for the nine remaining black zombies.

A tens of kilograms aerial bomb’s power was absolutely terrifying. When placed, its 80-centimeter height made it look like a small fatty.

Zhou Yuanqiang swung it by its tail fin. After activating the trigger, he swung it a few times and directly smashed it into the three-story building.

The remaining black zombies indeed fell for it. Such a large target prompted them to swarm forward, instantly appearing in front of the aerial bomb. As soon as he threw the bomb, Zhou Yuanqiang had already darted away like lightning, keeping a safe distance. After all, an aerial bomb, especially one weighing tens of kilograms, had immense power…

“Boom…”

A tremor shook the ground, and a massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The immense power and terrifying shockwave swept through everything; all house walls in its path collapsed. This force completely leveled the building, leaving Zhou Yuanqiang dumbfounded and extremely worried: “Is the power a bit too much? What if it directly kills this zombie… then the plan would be ruined?”

Amidst the swirling smoke, a roar suddenly erupted, and an extra-large black zombie emerged from the ruins.

Struck by this aerial bomb, all its guards were wiped out. Even though it was hiding inside, it was swept by the shockwave and severely wounded. The black zombie’s entire body was almost completely damaged, covered in gashes from broken bricks, and bright red blood was constantly dripping with a “splat-splat” sound.

The moment this leader-level black zombie appeared, it spotted Zhou Yuanqiang outside, swinging his giant sword. Without a moment’s pause or hesitation, it launched an ultra-long-distance instant strike. A black zombie of this caliber had an instant strike that was absolutely incomparable to that of guard-type black zombies; Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t even use his senses before it was already right in front of him.

The leader-level black zombie’s strength was many times greater than that of guard-level black zombies. It didn’t use its claws to attack; instead, it fiercely hugged Zhou Yuanqiang, using its arm strength to entangle him. With a sudden exertion of force, as its arms contracted, it tried to choke Zhou Yuanqiang to death.

However, when it came to sheer strength, Zhou Yuanqiang was not necessarily weaker than the black zombie. Seeing himself embraced by the zombie, he felt nauseated but also fiercely hugged the black zombie back. With a roar, he madly charged into the horde of ordinary zombies. The powerful impact force sent all the zombies in front of him flying and tumbling.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s idea was simple: since it wanted to hug so much, he would hug it and take it far away from here. This was even less trouble than luring it.

Being embraced by Zhou Yuanqiang, the black zombie, driven by instinct, did not let go. Instead, it gripped even harder, with an aura of not giving up until its goal was achieved. Unfortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang, wearing armor, was not afraid of this move. He simply held it, giving it no space to activate its instant teleportation, and used it as a human shield, frantically smashing its back against the zombies on the road.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s full-speed sprint was absolutely astonishing. At least, the armed helicopters high above were dumbfounded seeing Zhou Yuanqiang, clad in armor, sprinting wildly on the road, unable to express their admiration for him in words. Yes, he was too heroic, too cool, too flashy…

During this frenzied sprint, zombies constantly slammed into the black zombie’s back. Even with a body of steel, it couldn’t withstand it.

So gradually, this black zombie loosened its grip on Zhou Yuanqiang’s arms. It was already weak all over from the heavy impacts. However, Zhou Yuanqiang understood that a powerful zombie like a black zombie would never die from just a few impacts. He continued his mad dash without pity, sending zombies flying along the way.

After a short half an hour of frenzied sprinting, he had brought the black zombie tens of kilometers away. Zhou Yuanqiang rushed up a mountain peak from the roadside and directly threw the black zombie onto the grass at the summit.

This kind of colliding sprint was absolutely exhausting. After stopping, Zhou Yuanqiang felt his throat burning as if it could spew fire, and he was gasping for breath like an ox. He didn’t want to bother with the black zombie at all and simply flopped down onto the grass, weakly saying, “Damn it, this 75% experience isn’t easy to get; it’s killing me.”

But as soon as the black zombie was thrown onto the grass by Zhou Yuanqiang, it immediately became restless. It climbed up and, driven by instinct, activated its instant strike.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t even look. He simply did a carp jump, sprang up from the grass, and directly kicked at the empty air. Unfortunately, the black zombie appeared precisely from that direction. Before it could launch an attack, it was accurately struck by Zhou Yuanqiang’s kick, sent flying seven or eight meters, and rolled several meters like a snowball before stopping.

Zhou Yuanqiang then dashed to its front in the blink of an eye and delivered several fierce kicks to the black zombie, making it let out a shrill roar.

“Keep screaming, you damn thing! Call all your shrimp soldiers and crab generals here!”

Very decisively, Zhou Yuanqiang found a nearby tree with a thick trunk. He dragged the black zombie over, pulled out a steel cable from his storage space, and tightly bound it to the foot of the large tree. Then, with a cold laugh, he took out a fruit knife he used for peeling fruit and savagely stabbed it through the black zombie’s shoulder blade, pinning the knife firmly into the tree trunk.

The injured black zombie’s screams became even more terrifying, giving Zhou Yuanqiang a spine-chilling sensation.

The fruit knife stuck in its shoulder was now firmly fixed to the tree trunk. Almost every time the black zombie struggled, it would tear its wound, causing it to scream continuously. It simply didn’t understand what ‘lure’ meant, or that the more it struggled, the greater the harm. Everything it was doing now was completely driven by instinct.

“This should do it. With its instinct to seek protection, it can continuously gather zombies here, enough to resolve Maple Leaf Town’s crisis, right?”

Finding an angle where the helicopters high above couldn’t see, his armor silently retracted automatically. As he called for the armed helicopter to descend and pick him up to high altitude, the eight elite soldiers inside all showed fanatical admiration in their eyes when they looked at Zhou Yuanqiang, filled with endless worship.

From the high altitude perspective of the armed helicopter, one could see zombies
surging from valleys, roads, and woods like streams, covering the mountains and fields, all heading towards the location of the black zombie. The black zombie’s screams continued, transmitting a call for rescue through special zombie sound waves.

As the zombies retreated 30 kilometers away from Maple Leaf Town, a “ding” suddenly sounded in his mind. The words “Mission Accomplished” appeared on the information panel, and the 25% experience bar directly turned into 100%, then instantly faded to a gray 0%. However, his ring level had changed from level 12 to level 13.

The sudden breakthrough in strength brought by the upgrade made Zhou Yuanqiang’s abilities reach an astonishing 39 times.

Chapter 250: Judgement…

The fate of the black zombie, of course, was to be sent to hell (the grave) by two missiles fired from an armed helicopter, along with the trees it was tied to, after attracting enough zombies.

After the zombies had retreated from Maple Leaf Town, the five armed helicopters circled above for a while before returning. Everything about this rescue was filmed. Later, specialized personnel would come to persuade the people of Maple Leaf Town. Leveraging this crisis and the favor of reinforcements from the Commercial Association, they would convince them to join the Commercial Association. The chances of this were very high.

Such events in Maple Leaf Town, over 300 kilometers away from Greenmount City in the Tianzhou Plain, naturally remained unknown. Even the news that the Wasteland Settlement had recaptured Greenmount City, despite being three months old, had still not been leaked to them.

This secrecy was mainly due to the Commercial Association’s thorough security measures. The airship crew members were only responsible for piloting the airship. Once they arrived at the branch in the Tianzhou Plain, all unloading was handled by the branch’s porters. Even the sales personnel were trained in confidentiality and carefully selected before being assigned to the Tianzhou Plain, so it was naturally impossible for information to leak.

As the Branch Chairman, Lu Yanjiong was, of course, aware of this; it was also a form of encouragement from the Commercial Association. Naturally, understanding the Commercial Association’s plan, he was even less likely to speak of it.

The branch was no longer the small settlement of a thousand people it once was. The enormous fleet of the Commercial Association appearing over the Tianzhou Plain had caused an unprecedented sensation. Everyone, every settlement, suddenly realized that Lu Yanjiong had such a powerful backing. Naturally, everyone elevated this small branch settlement to the status of a super settlement, even if it currently had less than a thousand people.

Needless to say, the entire Tianzhou Branch developed at an unprecedented speed. Various wandering settlements applied to join, becoming members of the Tianzhou Branch. For wandering people, wasn’t wandering guerrilla warfare precisely how they avoided zombie attacks, fearing raids? Now that there was a better shelter, who would be willing to live a guerrilla life exposed to the elements?

One leader naturally led to others following suit… Soon, all the large and small guerrilla settlements across the Tianzhou Plain, with their families in tow, sought out the Tianzhou Branch’s location, requesting to join under the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s rule and seeking a stable place to live.

Understanding the Commercial Association Headquarters’ plan, Lu Yanjiong would naturally not refuse them. Before, no matter how he tried to win them over, these people were not moved. But once the powerful force behind him was revealed, there was no need for much persuasion; people who had suffered from zombie bullying immediately understood how to make their choice.

In just one month, the entire branch grew dramatically from over a thousand people to more than 30,000.

For this, Lu Yanjiong had to apply to the Commercial Association to send more management personnel. Otherwise, with his experience alone, it would be impossible to handle the daily management of over 30,000 people. This past month alone had been a frantic mess; the entire branch was in disarray, management was extremely chaotic, almost reaching a point where generals couldn’t find soldiers, and soldiers couldn’t find generals.

The Commercial Association, having anticipated all of this, had continuously trained grassroots managers. Faced with such an excellent situation for the branch, they naturally couldn’t refuse. They immediately transferred some key personnel from the Commercial Association, using helicopters to transport them directly to take over all matters of the branch.

Fortunately, those who came to pledge allegiance did not harbor ill intentions, and they brought grain with them, so there was no immediate concern about food.

However, when a new settlement is established, a small population is manageable, but with a large population, many things must be resolved. For example, their housing problem, and how to feed over 30,000 mouths after their brought-in grain runs out. Those who joined brought tents, and they all settled around the perimeter of the settlement. From a watchtower, one could see colorful tents of all kinds, a truly magnificent sight.

Especially when it came time to make a fire and cook, each tent had a fire, and tens of thousands of wisps of smoke rose, an absolutely spectacular scene.

However, this spectacle did not align with the image of a strong Commercial Association. Naturally, the first priority was to expand the branch. But the Tianzhou Plain was severely lacking in various materials. To expand, support from the Commercial Association Headquarters was essential. Relying entirely on transportation like this consumed too much manpower and resources.

Nevertheless, after discussion, the Commercial Association ultimately approved this application.

Thus, massive airships began their first transport mission to the Tianzhou Plain… A fleet of over a dozen transport ships slowly ascended, carrying countless types of materials and flying towards the Tianzhou Plain. A transport fleet of this scale was destined to give the people of the Tianzhou Plain another vivid lesson in formidable strength.

When these dozen or so airships appeared above the settlement, if not for their colorful parachutes, people might have already fled in panic.

Lu Yanjiong knew the Commercial Association had airships, but he had never imagined such a massive airship transport fleet. If the fighter jets from a month ago brought shock, this enormous airship transport fleet brought terror to the entire Tianzhou Plain. They suddenly realized that this already very powerful Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s massive fighter jets were merely the tip of the iceberg of its strength. What other power did it still hide?

It was thanks to this enormous airship transport fleet that an endless supply of materials was delivered to the branch, transforming it into a giant construction site where residential buildings began to appear. In fact, the Commercial Association mainly transported cement and steel. Bricks and gravel could be sourced locally.

With tens of thousands of people working, the speed was naturally very fast. Gradually, a settlement resembling a modern city began to emerge on the Tianzhou Plain.

From witnessing the airships to the transformation of the settlement, countless people were moved and began to leave their original settlements to join the branch settlement. With the Commercial Association backing him, Lu Yanjiong naturally had nothing to fear. He accepted everyone who came, incorporating them into his jurisdiction. This open-door policy quickly pushed the branch’s population past 50,000, and the numbers kept changing daily.

Very straightforwardly, some small settlements, seeing such powerful backing, the rapid growth of the branch settlement, and a series of welfare benefits, were tempted. With hardly any deliberation, some small settlements moved en masse to pledge allegiance and join the settlement.

As the population grew, so did the available manpower. Therefore, while addressing the housing problem, a cultivation plan was also launched. Utilizing various agricultural machinery brought in by transport and aided by manpower, vast areas of abandoned land were reclaimed to catch the last train of the autumn season and plant rice.

In just two months, the population of the branch settlement subtly exceeded 100,000, an explosive growth by any measure.

Facing the emergence of this behemoth settlement, other large and medium settlements across the Tianzhou Plain began to worry. Would their indulgence feed a fierce tiger? And let’s not forget, behind this fierce tiger stood a beast like a tyrannosaurus rex.

However, the branch’s development, backed by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association Headquarters, was simply beyond their control. This was why, even when they knew people from their own settlements were going to join, they could only watch helplessly, merely strengthening their own internal management. Were they to go and argue? In this apocalypse, the one with the bigger fist is the boss… If people had a good master, wouldn’t these other settlements just invite trouble by going there?

In this helpless situation, watching the increasingly strong branch settlement, and seeing people from their own settlements constantly trying to leave every day, the hearts of every ruler were as tangled as could be.

However, human cleverness and wisdom, whether it was cleverness or foolishness, in the face of this situation, some medium-sized settlements, with only 20,000 to 30,000 people, found that migration was not a big project. In their words, “the people of our settlement are running away simply because they know the other side is strong and can provide them a place of protection. If that’s the case, by moving our settlement and settling next to them, wouldn’t we also enjoy their protection?”

Thus, this seemingly desperate, clever yet foolish decision was embraced by many. Several settlements with populations of 20,000 to 30,000 people directly relocated en masse, settling not far from the branch settlement, beginning to set up camps and re-establish their communities.

When Lu Yanjiong learned of this action, he was utterly dumbfounded and found it rather amusing.

In Lu Yanjiong’s view, their little cleverness, if one looked at the long-term, was simply walking into a trap. Humanity’s biggest weakness is its susceptibility to assimilation. As long as they were nearby, he was confident that through various methods, he could assimilate them and eventually bring them under the Commercial Association’s rule. Lu Yanjiong refused to believe that they could withstand the rich material life offered by the Commercial Association.

With several settlements migrating to this area, the total population here quickly broke through 200,000, becoming the largest population center in the entire Tianzhou Plain.

Whether you acknowledged it or not, on the Tianzhou Plain, everyone knew a fact: this branch settlement, officially named Tianzhou Town, represented the new gathering center and the new human indicator on the Tianzhou Plain, holding one-third of the Tianzhou Plain’s population.

It was this achievement that subtly allowed Tianzhou Town to begin to supplant the power of the original Arbitration Tribunal of the Tianzhou Plain.

Previously, the Arbitration Tribunal on the Tianzhou Plain was composed of several large settlements and a dozen medium-sized settlements, aiming to unite forces, resolve disputes between various settlements, and act as a mediator. Its functions were similar to modern labor arbitration departments, but the Arbitration Tribunal on the Tianzhou Plain wielded immense power.

In the past, whenever conflicts arose between settlements, they would be subject to the Arbitration Tribunal’s regulation. Initially, this involved summoning the rulers of both settlements for mediation. If mediation proved ineffective, the Arbitration Tribunal could resort to forceful mediation, assembling the armed forces of several large settlements to arbitrate the two warring communities.

Another function of the Arbitration Tribunal was to maintain the unity and mutual assistance of the entire Tianzhou Plain.

This is why the people of the Tianzhou Plain were said to be exceptionally united. Under the Arbitration Tribunal’s command, each settlement could contribute, and a massive armed force could often be assembled within a few days.

This had always been Zhou Yuanqiang’s reason for not moving against the Tianzhou Plain. Given their unity, if he were to forcefully intervene, under the Arbitration Tribunal’s coordination, they could organize an armed force of over 300,000. Could he really raise a butcher’s knife against such a force? The world already had a small population in the apocalypse; why bother?

There were many ways to conquer them, and Zhou Yuanqiang certainly wouldn’t choose to raise a butcher’s knife at this point. A soft knife was the most terrifying weapon.

Indeed, the outside rumors were true: the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Tianzhou Town Branch Commercial Association had begun to exercise its power. First, naturally, was to manage the entire Tianzhou Town, which had already exceeded 100,000 people. Several thousand elite soldiers sent from headquarters, augmented by locally recruited armed forces, collectively formed the foundation for maintaining public order and security throughout the settlement.

Due to the complex composition of Tianzhou Town, formed by numerous guerrilla settlements, small settlements, and people from other settlements who had joined, disputes were frequent. People accustomed to a free life clearly initially disregarded or held slight contempt for the Commercial Association’s code of law, often observing it rather loosely.

The Commercial Association’s Military Police Department was eager to make an example of some people to establish their authority. Naturally, some stubborn troublemakers who refused to comply were singled out.

Following direct judgment by the Military Police Department, all those found to have violated the code of law and subject to the death penalty prescribed by it were escorted to the newly completed Tianzhou Plaza in the center of Tianzhou Town. After their crimes and the judgment were read aloud, a volley of dense, crisp gunshots rang out in the plaza.

Hundreds of people condemned to death fell in the plaza, their blood instantly dyeing a large section of the ground red.

This scene of hundreds being executed brought absolute shock to the tens of thousands of onlookers; everyone felt a chill down their spine. The execution of these hundreds also made everyone understand that the Commercial Association’s code of law was not merely for show; it also represented an order in the apocalypse, an order that protected everyone’s interests and personal safety.

Consequently, while the entire Tianzhou Plain was stunned, it also held a mix of admiration and fear for the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s robust enforcement capabilities.

The apocalypse was originally a world without order. Even within settlements, the maintenance of order was limited, confined only to the interior. Between people from different settlements, many times a disagreement of words would lead to drawing weapons and attacking. If someone was killed, it was simply considered their fate, and settlements rarely intervened forcefully, as it could escalate into a conflict between two settlements.

However, among those executed by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association were people from neighboring medium-sized settlements. For them, anyone who committed a transgression within the governed area, regardless of which settlement they belonged to or whether they were Commercial Association members, had to face the Commercial Association’s code of law. If they feared arbitration, they could simply move out of the Commercial Association’s governed territory; then, it wouldn’t matter whom they killed.

The settlements that had been warned upon joining naturally had no objections. They could only blame these individuals for being unlucky enough to be made an example of for the others.

After a large number of executions, the atmosphere throughout Tianzhou Town suddenly shifted. The laws and morals of peacetime reappeared, and everyone would consider, before acting, whether there was a regulation against it in the Commercial Association’s code of law. Those seeking loopholes in the code were bound to be disappointed, as the code was originally derived from peacetime laws, and any loopholes had been amended and supplemented. How could there be any?

This ironclad enforcement and the order that emerged in the apocalypse made the people of the Tianzhou Plain feel as if they had found a backbone. Whether they were residents of the Commercial Association or not, if they had problems, they would still come to Tianzhou Town and file complaints with the Commercial Association’s Arbitration Department. Even disputes between settlements often ended up in the Commercial Association’s Arbitration Department.

Facing this outcome, Lu Yanjiong was naturally dumbfounded again… These people were far from the Commercial Association’s governed areas. If he were to govern even them, it would implicitly replace the Arbitration Tribunal of the Tianzhou Plain, a consequence that would undoubtedly challenge the nerves of the other settlements within the entire Tianzhou Plain’s Arbitration Tribunal.

But the problem was, they had already sought help, trusting and acknowledging the Commercial Association. Not dealing with it would definitely harm the Commercial Association’s future development.

Such potentially escalating issues had moved beyond the scope of the Arbitration Department, including the Military Police Department. Even Lu Yanjiong, as the Branch Chairman of the Tianzhou Branch, was powerless to decide this matter. Naturally, he could only submit the issue to the Commercial Association Headquarters, and everything would be decided by them, including how to handle it.

Not only the people of the branch were awaiting this decision; even the original Arbitration Tribunal of the Tianzhou Plain was also watching this final outcome. If the Yuanqiang Commercial Association dared to arbitrate disputes between settlements not under its governed areas, it would undoubtedly challenge the authority of the entire Arbitration Tribunal and also the agitated nerves of the entire Tianzhou Plain.

There was no doubt this was a collision between a nascent force and existing powers, and it would also determine who was stronger, who was weaker, and who would continue to rule the highest authority, the Arbitration Tribunal, of the Tianzhou Plain.

While the Tianzhou Plain was fraught with tension, the Commercial Association in Greenmount City continued to operate as usual. This issue, seemingly deciding the fate of hundreds of thousands of people, didn’t even go through a Commercial Association meeting. When it appeared in Zhou Yuanqiang’s office, he merely smiled and wrote a large red character at the bottom of the document: “裁” (Cái - Judgement).

Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, knew what this character meant, but the problem was… the Tianzhou Plain had reached a point where it needed to be resolved!

Chapter 251: Subpoena

Against the Tianzhou Plain, after the recapture of Greenmount City, the Commercial Association’s strength was severely damaged. With no replenishment of weapons and ammunition, it could not withstand a large-scale, high-intensity battle. Of course, the battle the Commercial Association referred to was not against the survivors on the Tianzhou Plain, but against the vast number of zombies there.

The situation on the Tianzhou Plain was somewhat complex. There were massive zombie hordes moving across the plain, and millions of zombies in the cities. If the Commercial Association wanted to acquire human resources from the Tianzhou Plain, the first thing they would have to confront when deploying troops would be these millions of moving zombies. Although the “traction operation” on the Tianzhou Plain allowed them to lead the zombies by the nose, preventing them from attacking settlements, the Commercial Association believed this method required a complete solution.

The only way to deal with zombies was to annihilate them, and only by doing so could all future troubles be eliminated.

Millions of zombies. Even if they were scattered across the Tianzhou Plain, they were vulnerable before warplanes and spacecraft. The problem was, the Commercial Association also needed a chance to catch its breath. Let’s not forget, the attack and recapture of Greenmount City had almost depleted a month’s worth of the Commercial Association’s accumulated ammunition reserves. At this time, they truly lacked the capability to deal with these millions of zombies.

But now, things were different. Almost three months had passed since the recapture of Greenmount City. With the vast resources obtained from Greenmount City, all factories were operating at full capacity, producing ammunition, warplanes, spacecraft, and more, like a flowing river. The growing reserves were the Commercial Association’s current confidence, and precisely why Zhou Yuanqiang had so emphatically written “Judgement” in red.

Lu Yanjiong, upon receiving the Commercial Association headquarters’ reply, stared blankly at the blood-red “Judgement” character, especially with the Chairman’s personal signature beneath it. This matter was absolutely set in stone. And the fact that this reply came into his hands itself implied something: the headquarters had prepared everything.

The head of the branch’s Military Police Department was Xu Congliang, a tall, slender man with glasses. He appeared fair-skinned and refined. From his outward appearance, no one would believe it was he who personally signed hundreds of death sentences by firing squad — a refined man known as the “Smiling King of Hell.” Furthermore, he always seemed to be smiling, and you would never see a hint of anything different in his expression, no matter when he decided to turn his knife on you.

“The Chairman has signed the reply. Take a look…”

Lu Yanjiong handed the document to Xu Congliang. This was also why he had called Xu Congliang here.

Xu Congliang still smiled as he took it, his face devoid of expression even upon seeing the blood-red “Judgement” on the document. He gently placed the document on the table, looked at Lu Yanjiong, and said faintly, “Chairman Lu, what are your thoughts?”

Xu Congliang’s question had its reasons. Lu Yanjiong was a native of Tianzhou and must have feelings for the place. One “Judgement” character represented new and old factions, guaranteeing conflict. Although for now, the scale and existence of this conflict were unknown, or whether it would escalate into full-blown fighting, this “Judgement” was nonetheless a fuse, and no one knew what the consequences would be once it was lit.

As a native of Tianzhou, Lu Yanjiong, even with the headquarters’ approval, still had to express his opinion.

Clearly, Lu Yanjiong understood Xu Congliang’s intent. He looked at Xu Congliang and said, “The headquarters’ directive represents everything. I, Lu, will execute it unconditionally. Therefore, I earnestly request部長 Xu to immediately summon the other party and make a裁决… If they refuse, enforce mandatory arbitration.”

Xu Congliang maintained a faint smile, but the hint of killing intent in his eyes had vanished. He saluted Lu Yanjiong and backed out of the room.

“部長 Xu, I want to know, what would happen if I obstructed the headquarters’ orders?”

Lu Yanjiong’s question came from behind him. Xu Congliang, who was about to close the door, paused and said, “Chairman Lu, there are many people on the Tianzhou Plain. It’s a simple matter for the Commercial Association to choose a new agent. As for you…” Xu Congliang did not finish his sentence but gently closed the door. He knew that someone as intelligent as Lu Yanjiong would surely understand what he was trying to convey.

Yes, Lu Yanjiong understood perfectly. He knew the Commercial Association’s determination to annex the Tianzhou Plain would not change. It was a strategic necessity and a struggle for human resources.

With so few people left in the world, whoever controlled more people naturally held more power. How could the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, wanting to go further, abandon the hundreds of thousands of people on the Tianzhou Plain? Hadn’t he known about this plan from the very beginning? To be honest, Lu Yanjiong had no reason to stop it. While the Commercial Association stood to gain the most from annexing the Tianzhou Plain, when it came to personal benefit, he himself might be the true beneficiary.

The announcement of the Arbitration Department’s arbitration was undoubtedly like a giant rock thrown into the calm lake of the Tianzhou Plain, creating ripples across the entire surface.

Especially those who had raised a fuss at the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Tianzhou Branch settlements were completely dumbfounded. The reason they came here demanding arbitration was, to a greater or lesser extent, a test. Covertly, there was a hint of being instigated.

They had considered what to do if the arbitration was truly enforced, but they thought the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was far away and that people should not instigate trouble among themselves. The ideal solution, in their minds, was for the other party, upon acceptance, to hand the arbitration over to the Tianzhou Arbitration Tribunal. This way, approaching the Yuanqiang Commercial Association would gain them renown, and returning the arbitration to the Tianzhou Arbitration Tribunal would be an acknowledgment of the Tianzhou Arbitration Tribunal’s legitimacy.

But who could have imagined that this was merely everyone’s wishful thinking? As soon as the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s arbitration document was issued, those with good intentions were all dumbfounded.

Xu Wenjia, who had offended the Yuanqiang Commercial Association early on, upon hearing about the intentions of these settlements and the somewhat instigating Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, merely looked at the starlit sky outside and remarked, “What a bunch of foolish fellows. Their actions have completely given them a perfect excuse, putting them entirely on the side of righteousness. Don’t forget, it wasn’t them meddling; a few idiots came knocking on their door. If the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal has any grievances, they’ll have a reason to present.”

Xu Wenjia thought about the previous attack on Lu Yanjiong and also stared blankly at the starlit sky outside. He knew that he, too, would be drawn into this vortex. So… how should he decide?

Xu Wenjia’s premonition was indeed very accurate. He was, in fact, playing a leading role in the vortex created by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Before, when he attacked the Yuanqiang Commercial Association branch, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association acted as if nothing had happened. All they did was send warplanes to perform a bombing demonstration outside his settlement. From beginning to end, there was no sound, or rather, no written condemnation, giving the impression that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was swallowing its anger, suppressed by the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, tacitly accepting and daring not to cause trouble.

Little did they know, for the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, this was a buried excuse. They remained silent, only waiting to speak when it was necessary.

Since the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Arbitration Department dared to arbitrate even the matters of a few settlements, naturally, this previously buried excuse was also brought forth. With Xu Congliang’s shrewdness, and the directives from headquarters, an arbitration document was quickly drafted and, upon its public announcement, a copy was sent to Xu Wenjia, along with … Shi Lei. He, too, was not spared and also received a subpoena from the Arbitration Department.

The issuance of this subpoena against Xu Wenjia made the already rippling lake surface turn into tumultuous waves, instantly exacerbating the situation across the entire Tianzhou Plain. Everyone watched to see what kind of response Xu Wenjia, who had received the subpoena, would make.

One slap after another landed heavily on the face of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal. Yet, for both incidents, there was no legitimate reason for them to speak out. The Yuanqiang Commercial Association was entirely on the side of reason. If they chose not to reason with them… it was likely that the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal itself would suffer more grievous losses, especially given the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s power.

Undoubtedly, the people of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal also felt they had made a foolish mistake. Why had they hinted to those settlements to make trouble with the other party? Why hadn’t they considered the consequences if the other party actually arbitrated? At the time, they only thought about how to probe, but not about the repercussions.

Xu Wenjia’s matter was even more infuriating… Xu Wenjia had disregarded the rules and tried to “clean up” (attack) them. It would have been fine if he had succeeded, but instead, he couldn’t even touch a single hair and retreated. Wasn’t that like failing to steal the sheep but ending up smelling like sheep? Now, it’s payback time. Even if the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal wanted to help, they couldn’t find a reason to do so!

Left with no choice, once the subpoena for Xu Wenjia was issued, the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal had to invite him over before he could make a response.

The Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal was actually similar to a neighborhood committee, comprised of representatives from each large, medium, and small settlement. The entire Arbitration Tribunal consisted of one Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, four Elders, eight Deacons, and the rest were members. The entire Tribunal had nearly a hundred people and could be considered the highest authority on the entire Tianzhou Plain.

To be honest, Xu Wenjia wasn’t very fond of this Arbitration Tribunal. The people inside often bickered for the benefit of their own settlements, deliberately suppressing some settlements. An Arbitration Tribunal? It was nothing more than a way to better protect the interests of a few settlements… other settlements were merely tools in their hands.

Xu Wenjia was no fool. As soon as he received the invitation from the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, he immediately understood what was going on.

“I wonder what Chairman Li wants with me?” Xu Wenjia was clear in his heart but feigned ignorance on the surface, as this issue was truly too sensitive. It was true that his settlement had seventy to eighty thousand people, but this Chairman Li was not someone to be trifled with. He was also the leader of the largest settlement on the Tianzhou Plain and the Chairman of the Arbitration Tribunal, wielding absolute power.

Li Jifeng said, his face wreathed in smiles, “Boss Xu, please sit. No need to be so formal. We all grew up in the same place, so we’re practically family.”

Xu Wenjia didn’t stand on ceremony and sat below Li Jifeng. He looked at Li Jifeng and gave evasive answers to his questions, essentially dragging out the conversation. Most of Li Jifeng’s questions were about minor daily life matters, more like a senior’s concern.

However, in Xu Wenjia’s eyes, this so-called concern was rather sickening.

After chatting for a long time, the topic finally came to the point. Li Jifeng said, “I hear the Yuanqiang Commercial Association has issued a subpoena regarding your past actions. What are your thoughts on this matter? Don’t be nervous. The main reason I invited you today is to understand the contents of the subpoena. Hmm, feel free to speak your mind. After all, we’re family. How can family not help family?”

Xu Wenjia had long known the other party would ask this. He smiled faintly and said, “Thank you for your concern, Chairman Li. Actually, there’s nothing substantial in it. It’s just that they want me to explain the previous misunderstanding. It’s nothing major.”

Li Jifeng sneered, “The Yuanqiang Commercial Association is meddling far too much. Boss Xu’s matter is an internal affair of our Tianzhou Plain. Whatever happens, it should be resolved by our Arbitration Tribunal. It’s not their place to interfere. This time, they clearly don’t respect us…”

Xu Wenjia felt a surge of anger inside, thinking: What nonsense about the Arbitration Tribunal? When did my affairs become your business to manage?

He thought this, but couldn’t say it aloud. Xu Wenjia said, “I am still considering whether or not to comply with their subpoena…” At this, Li Jifeng stood up and interrupted, “Boss Xu, you don’t need to hesitate on this matter. You must understand, if you actually went, where would that leave the face of our Arbitration Tribunal? So, I’ve invited you here today to speak frankly: we hope you will refuse. All consequences will be borne by our Arbitration Tribunal.”

Li Jifeng paced a few steps, a fierce glint in his eyes. He said, “Don’t forget, our entire Tianzhou Plain has hundreds of thousands of people, and there are four to five hundred thousand able-bodied fighters. It’s true that their so-called Tianzhou Town Branch has two hundred thousand people, but they may have forgotten that all these people are native sons of the Tianzhou Plain. With a single command, couldn’t we overturn their nest?”

Xu Wenjia looked at the somewhat hysterical Li Jifeng, a cold smile on his face. People like him, who had never witnessed a massive fleet of warplanes, would never understand that kind of震撼.

Smart people know how to choose. Also, as the saying goes, a wise man doesn’t fight an uphill battle. Xu Wenjia said, “Chairman Li, please rest assured. I, Xu, am also a part of the Tianzhou Plain, and I already have an enmity with the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. I had long anticipated this day. Their subpoena is nothing but a joke. I will definitely follow Chairman Li’s advice and tell their subpoena to go to hell.”

Seeing Xu Wenjia fall in line, Li Jifeng was extremely pleased. He even wondered if his personal charisma had swayed the other party.

“Boss Xu truly is a fine son of our Tianzhou Plain. Rest assured, if this Yuanqiang Commercial Association dares to act, they will be making an enemy of the entire Tianzhou Plain. At that time, I will, in the name of the Arbitration Tribunal, gather all the sons of the Tianzhou Plain to seek justice for Boss Xu. We certainly can’t let an outsider bully our people from the Tianzhou Plain, can we?”

After giving Xu Wenjia a heap of promises, Li Jifeng had someone see Xu Wenjia out. Watching Xu Wenjia’s retreating figure, he cursed fiercely, “What an idiot.”

Li Jifeng, however, didn’t know that the departing Xu Wenjia had, in his own mind, certainly assessed Li Jifeng as an idiot. He couldn’t fathom how Li Jifeng had become the Chairman of this Arbitration Tribunal. Based on what he had shown, any incident arbitrated by him seemed like a tragedy.

Many people knew about Xu Wenjia being summoned by Li Jifeng. At the same time, people were closely watching the attitudes of these settlements and Xu Wenjia. If he accepted the subpoena, what would the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal do? If he refused, what kind of response would the Yuanqiang Commercial Association make?

However, most people believed that Xu Wenjia would definitely choose to refuse, because he had the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal behind him. Also, accepting the subpoena—given his violation of the Commercial Association’s code of law—would lead to a death penalty. Between life and death, everyone believed this choice was not difficult to make.

But the turn of events completely exceeded everyone’s expectations. Xu Wenjia suddenly announced that he was willing to accept the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s subpoena and was also willing to accept all penalties from the Arbitration Department, including the death penalty.

Once this news spread, the entire Tianzhou Plain first fell into a terrifying silence. People simply couldn’t understand how Xu Wenjia, who had always been known as extremely intelligent, could make such a foolish decision. Didn’t his statement mean he was sending himself to hell (the grave)? Had his head been caught in a door, turning him into an idiot?

Everything about Xu Wenjia was indeed too mysterious; no one could comprehend its intricacies.

Upon receiving the news, Li Jifeng was first stunned, then he went疯, yelling and smashing everything in his beloved study. He never expected something that was nine-tenths certain, and even secured by Xu Wenjia’s assurance, could change in an instant. Didn’t that idiot know that accepting the subpoena was equivalent to signing his own death warrant?

However, Li Jifeng was no longer concerned about Xu Wenjia, who was just a supporting character. His eyes flashed with madness, and he became sinister, roaring in a low voice, “Yuanqiang Commercial Association, is it? Since you disregard the Arbitration Tribunal’s dignity, then enjoy the zombie feast we’ll send you… Hahahaha…”

Chapter 252: Collusion

(Requesting Monthly Votes)

Everyone on the Tianzhou Plain would shake their heads and sigh whenever Xu Wenjia was mentioned, the reason being simple: how could such an intelligent man become so muddled? If he had refused, not only would the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal have backed him, but he would have also gained many benefits. Yet, he unexpectedly chose to accept the arbitration of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Wasn’t this making an international joke of his own life?

But was that really the truth of the matter?

Xu Wenjia, of course, knew the wild rumors circulating outside. He was currently living in the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Tianzhou Town branch, perfectly free. Aside from being unable to leave the courtyard for now, everything was going very well. They had even set up a generator and brought in a computer just for him, allowing him to enjoy long-lost single-player games. Living here, all the tasks he used to worry about were now handled by others. Even food and drink could be brought to him with a simple call.

This kind of life was something Xu Wenjia had fantasized about before. However, the apocalypse was too cruel; it was like sailing against the current—if you didn’t advance, you retreated. He had no choice but to desperately scheme and exhaust all his efforts to make his settlement bigger and stronger. To be honest, it was truly exhausting, as every aspect of the settlement required his meticulous attention and energy.

Now, things were great. He had food, shelter, and entertainment… Ultimately, Xu Wenjia was just an older youth. In peacetime, he might have been addicted to games.

As Xu Wenjia put it: “Others laugh at me for being too crazy; I laugh at them for not seeing through.”

Indeed, everyone considered Xu Wenjia the new generation’s representative of foolishness, but only Xu Wenjia knew that he wasn’t foolish; he was calmer than ever before. Their so-called reason for his foolishness was nothing more than him willingly giving up a bright future, only to walk into a trap and seek death.

“A bunch of fools, what do they know?” Xu Wenjia saved his game on the computer and exited. For him, the Three Kingdoms game never got old. The strategies used within it captivated him immensely. While generals leading millions of valiant soldiers was certainly exciting, it was the strategists’ flawless calculations that Xu Wenjia truly admired.

For the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, Xu Wenjia was absolutely floored with admiration, not for any other reason than their methodical approach.

Xu Wenjia clearly remembered that just as he was hesitating, even considering refusing the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s summons, an unexpected person came knocking. It was Lu Yanjiong, someone Xu Wenjia would never have imagined. Lu Yanjiong’s purpose was simple; upon seeing him, he merely said indifferently, “Boss Xu is a man of great talent. I don’t wish to see you embark on a wrong path.”

After saying this, Lu Yanjiong left three items and departed. He came in a hurry and left even faster, leaving Xu Wenjia no time to react.

The three items Lu Yanjiong left behind were very simple. The first was the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s code of law. Strangely, all other pages of this code had been torn out, leaving only the last few pages within the book cover. The second item was a USB drive. The third was a sealed file bag.

Even with Xu Wenjia’s intelligence, he couldn’t understand what trick Lu Yanjiong was playing.

Picking up the code of law with only a few pages, merely seeing the constitution on the last few pages, Xu Wenjia initially didn’t understand what was going on. He just felt that Zhou Yuanqiang, the Chairman of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, wielded such immense power that he could transcend the code of law and become a special existence. It was truly unfathomable.

And the USB drive?

Xu Wenjia had someone retrieve the laptop that had been carefully preserved in their settlement. The solar-powered battery, though slow to charge, could eventually provide one or two hours of use after a while. Now that Lu Yanjiong had so solemnly handed him this USB drive, there had to be a reason.

To be precise, the USB drive contained a film resembling a promotional video. From start to finish, Xu Wenjia’s mouth remained agape because the content was too shocking. On a massive airport, hundreds of fighter jets, airships that blotted out the sky… armed helicopters like a sea of stars, and a vast army of fully armed soldiers as numerous as ants. What Xu Wenjia found even harder to believe was that people actually lived in cities, with busy streets, people working, children playing happily, and elders enjoying their lives…

Xu Wenjia suddenly realized that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was like a giant, and he, along with the entire Tianzhou Plain, was so tiny, even fragile.

As for the third item, the sealed file bag, it contained a very simple pardon. Below it, Zhou Yuanqiang’s name was signed, along with his fiery red official seal.

Seeing this document, Xu Wenjia suddenly smiled—a wild, unrestrained laugh. In an instant, he completely understood why Lu Yanjiong had said he wanted to save him from embarking on a wrong path. Yes, everything, this single document, was like a stroke of genius, tying the entire outcome together.

The first item was nothing more than a reminder that there was a law in the code that transcended the constitution. The second was to let him know what kind of behemoth he was about to face. And the third was the pardon submitted by Zhou Yuanqiang to the Arbitration Tribunal, pardoning Xu Wenjia for all previous crimes.

Don’t forget, Zhou Yuanqiang was an existence above the constitution. The last article of the constitution clearly stated that Zhou Yuanqiang had authority superseding the constitution. This meant that to pardon someone, Zhou Yuanqiang only needed to nod his head and issue a formal document to exempt that person from something they had committed under the jurisdiction of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Understanding everything, Xu Wenjia naturally knew what to do. At the same time, he also knew that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was determined to conquer the Tianzhou Plain.

The world’s attention was fixed on the code of law, unaware of what the last article represented. If the Yuanqiang Commercial Association wanted to deliver a resounding slap to the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal and undermine their remaining prestige, why wouldn’t they show him leniency? Once the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal made an inappropriate or excessive move, it would give the Yuanqiang Commercial Association a moral excuse, allowing them not only to absorb the entire Tianzhou Plain but also to do so legitimately, without inciting resistance from its people.

“What terrifying calculation abilities. Everyone on the entire Tianzhou Plain is being played in their hands, yet sadly no one can see through all of this.”

Xu Wenjia was temporarily confined, but he was living very comfortably and happily. Because he found that joining the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was actually a very clear choice. The apocalypse was like a vast forest, and the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was the strongest and most robust tree… and he, was merely a discerning bird choosing its nest.

In contrast to Xu Wenjia’s relaxed state, the atmosphere in the meeting hall of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal was heavy. All members of the Tribunal were present, except for a dozen who had sided with the Yuanqiang Commercial Association and thus couldn’t attend. They had no choice but to come, as the situation had reached a very serious point.

Before the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, there were only two paths. First, to swallow this grievance, the consequence being that the entire Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal would lose face, its authority completely swept away, and it might even lose its power as the supreme authority center of the Tianzhou Plain. Second, to use military force to defend the dignity of the Arbitration Tribunal against the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, which was usurping its duties. But this consequence also had two sides: either the Yuanqiang Commercial Association would compromise, or it would lead to a war between the two old and new powers.

Li Jifeng sat calmly and elegantly in the Chairman’s seat. He quietly sipped his tea, occasionally sweeping his gaze over the people below. He said, “There are only two choices. Make your decision.”

In fact, the entire Arbitration Tribunal was almost a one-man show for Li Jifeng. If this matter hadn’t been so significant, the others would probably have just let Li Jifeng make up his own mind.

Being a Vice Chairman here already represented powerful backing. Tian Renqing stood up and said, “Chairman Li, what is your choice?” Seeing Li Jifeng’s calm demeanor, Tian Renqing couldn’t ascertain why the usually fiery and blunt Li Jifeng had suddenly become as composed as a wise man today.

Li Jifeng glanced indifferently at Tian Renqing, a smile spreading across his face. He said, “Brother Tian, does this matter still need to be asked? Their big slap has already landed on our faces. Are we still going to offer the other cheek and beg them to slap us harder? In fact, the whole thing was a dead-end from the beginning, an unsolvable knot.”

Everyone else lowered their heads. The Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s wolfish ambition was naturally understood by those present, but the problem was… this opponent was truly too powerful. Its influence had long permeated every corner of the Tianzhou Plain. Look at the market; every household was filled with Yuanqiang Commercial Association products, and the seven-colored umbrella was virtually ubiquitous.

Everyone present believed that their own homes, including all their women, used products from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. The seven-colored umbrella logo had almost permeated their bones.

“Chairman Li, you must have heard about the Xu Wenjia incident. The Yuanqiang Commercial Association has a considerable number of fighter jets, which is not something we can contend with.”

The person who raised this question was another Vice Chairman, Fu Bingfeng. He was also very powerful, only slightly weaker than Li Jifeng. This meeting today was essentially about maintaining everyone’s ruling status, because everyone knew that if the Yuanqiang Commercial Association really annexed the Tianzhou Plain, even if they received preferential treatment, they would only be assigned minor positions, unable to command the wind and summon the rain as they did now.

Li Jifeng laughed. He suddenly clapped his hands, and the conference room door opened. A person no one expected walked in. If Xu Wenjia were there, he would definitely recognize him: this was Tian Yun, an arms dealer from the north. It was unexpected that after abandoning Xu Wenjia and failing his mission, he could still be sent here again.

“I believe everyone here has dealt with Tian Yun, so I won’t mind saying anything.” Li Jifeng was very pleased with the astonished expressions of everyone below. He said, “Tian Yun’s identity, I needn’t say much. His arrival this time is entirely out of moral conviction, or perhaps because he disapproves of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s thieving predatory behavior. Out of moral conviction, he stands with us.”

Tian Yun nodded at those present, a smile creasing his lean face. “Mr. Tian and everyone here have had business dealings. From the standpoint of morality and clients, we cannot abandon you. So, upon hearing about the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s aggressive coercion, I am selling all the weapons I brought this time to the Arbitration Tribunal at half price, simply to recover the cost. I believe that after receiving my weapons, the Arbitration Tribunal will no longer fear the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s fighter jets.”

Li Jifeng seized the moment to say, “The weapons Tian Yun brought this time are true heavy hitters. They include their independently developed high-altitude-to-air missiles. With these, do we still need to fear the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s jets? I’m afraid that in front of the high-altitude missiles, they’ll just be sitting ducks.”

As soon as they heard “surface-to-air missile,” everyone started buzzing with discussion. This news was truly astonishing. Against surface-to-air missiles, all aerial targets would encounter their nemesis. Now that Tian Yun had brought surface-to-air missiles, it truly overturned the entire Arbitration Tribunal’s disadvantage in one fell swoop.

As if emboldened, everyone became excited, sweeping away the previous despondent atmosphere, and began clamoring to make the Yuanqiang Commercial Association look bad.

Li Jifeng pressed his hands down. Everyone quieted down for the moment, recognizing Li Jifeng’s increased prestige. This reaction also satisfied Li Jifeng, who was very eager for power. He said, “The crystals and other costs required to purchase the high-altitude-to-air missiles will be evenly distributed among each settlement. All members of our Arbitration Tribunal must contribute their share to the Tribunal.”

Although the people below were somewhat dissatisfied with this equal distribution, as large settlements contributed the same amount as small settlements, which was naturally very disadvantageous to small and medium-sized settlements, no one jumped out to object at this critical juncture. Thus, Li Jifeng’s proposal was passed.

“Since we choose to reclaim our prestige and dignity, we naturally have to go to war with the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.”

Li Jifeng paused, then continued, “It is the apocalypse now. We are absolutely indignant towards the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, because their annexation destroys human unity and turns us humans into backstabbers who devour each other. Whether it’s for our own interests or the interests of humanity, this battle of ours is a just war.”

“The situation on our Tianzhou Plain is different from other places. The massive zombie hordes have always been a pain in our hearts. To deal with these huge zombie hordes, each of our settlements has had to dispatch a large number of personnel to control their movement, which is how we’ve lived peacefully for the past few years. But this Yuanqiang Commercial Association insists on destroying all of this.”

A cold glint flashed in Li Jifeng’s eyes. He said, “Since they are heartless, then don’t blame us for being unrighteous. So my second proposal is to lead these massive zombie hordes to their Tianzhou Town branch. Didn’t they say they were wholeheartedly devoted to human development? Dealing with these mere zombie hordes should also be their duty, shouldn’t it? If they can’t even do that well, how can they claim to be wholeheartedly for humanity?”

“Hiss…”

Everyone who heard this proposal gasped, because it was too crazy. These were millions of zombies, overwhelming; they simply couldn’t be stopped by human power. If these massive zombie hordes were led to the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s branch in Tianzhou Town, then…

“Chairman Li, this… isn’t this decision too hasty? More than 200,000 people live there. If the zombie hordes appear there… they… they…” Tian Renqing felt a cold sweat breaking out on his heart. The consequences were too terrible. If they really did this, these 200,000 people would likely face grim prospects; fewer than 10,000 would escape millions of zombies.

Li Jifeng sneered and said, “Since some people have become traitors, they should be prepared for punishment. I want to see what the Yuanqiang Commercial Association will use to protect those who joined them, what they will use to safeguard the peace and shelter represented by the seven-colored umbrella… Send people to inform the guiding teams to carry out the Arbitration Tribunal’s orders. Any dissenters will be killed…”

Almost at the moment Li Jifeng issued the final judgment without a vote, those who wanted to voice opposition had not even stood up when countless soldiers surged in, filling the entire conference room. Although their guns weren’t aimed at anyone specifically, everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

Li Jifeng said blandly, “Now, does anyone still have an opinion on my proposal? I am a very democratic person, so feel free to raise your thoughts.”

But facing the heavily armed soldiers behind them, what opposing opinions could those present possibly raise?

“Very good. Since everyone has no objections, let’s collectively sign the order. Additionally, the situation is pressing, and for everyone’s safety, I hope you can stay here for a while. Once things calm down, Mr. Li will not stop you from going wherever you wish.”

After these people were led away by the soldiers, Tian Yun, standing nearby, smiled and clasped his hands, saying, “Congratulations, Chairman Li, on wielding such heavy power.”

Li Jifeng burst into laughter and said, “Same to you, same to you. I also congratulate you, great merchant Tian, on monopolizing the entire arms business of the Tianzhou Plain. Your wealth will flow in abundantly, and in the future, you will gain even more recognition from the General, achieving both official status and financial prosperity.”

The two looked at each other and laughed wildly. Yes, this was a win-win deal; both sides had their needs and each gained something.

(Desperately requesting Monthly Votes… Always working hard!)

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Chapter 253: The Opened Floodgates

What was the biggest distinguishing feature of Tianzhou Plain? In peaceful times, people might say it was the boundless fields of cultivated crops. But in the apocalypse, its most prominent feature was the colossal, nebula-like zombie hordes, numbering in the millions. They covered the land like a deluge, trampling all vegetation in their path, sweeping everything before them.

For several years, the people of Tianzhou Plain were able to live peacefully on this fertile land, enjoying stable sleep. Their greatest reliance was on the teams that guided the zombie hordes. These teams were enormous, comprising dozens of smaller groups. They used running, motorcycles, and cars, employing sound to direct the zombies’ movement, preventing the hordes from entering human settlements.

They were the most respected people in the entire Tianzhou Plain, and also its heroes.

For years, the zombies’ movement routes had almost never changed, operating stably. But no one anticipated that just as Tianzhou Plain was experiencing turbulent times, news would suddenly spread that the zombie hordes had lost control. This news was like pouring a bucket of cold water into the already sizzling oil pot of Tianzhou Plain, causing it to boil over.

What would happen if the zombie hordes lost control? No one dared to imagine the consequences; it would undoubtedly be a disaster for Tianzhou Plain.

Fortunately, just as everyone was in a panic, good news arrived once again: the zombie hordes were back under control, but their movement route had changed, and they were heading towards the Great Mountain Range.

Most people breathed a sigh of relief at this good news. Only the people of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Tianzhou Town branch immediately fell into a panic upon hearing it, because wasn’t the Great Mountain Range precisely where they lived? Just the thought of millions of zombies made everyone’s faces turn ashen. This was an existence beyond human resistance.

Reports from the guiding teams kept coming in, stating that they were trying their best to control the zombie hordes, but the effect was not ideal. It was estimated that in three days, the zombie hordes would appear within Tianzhou Town.

The people who had just settled down were terrified, and the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal even declared that this was divine punishment for the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, for interfering with the normal operation of Tianzhou Plain, destroying its peace, and breaking the rules between people.

This statement surprisingly gained widespread acceptance in an instant. The first to act were the settlements next to the branch. They had already begun mobilizing to evacuate. In their words, faced with millions of zombies, no one could defeat them. If they didn’t leave soon, this area would be leveled, and no one would be spared.

Lu Yanjiong had long foreseen such a volatile situation, but he hadn’t expected the first challenge to come from these massive zombie hordes.

Lu Yanjiong had witnessed these zombie hordes before; their figures covered the entire plain. They were packed together densely, moving like an irresistible wave. Wherever they went, the wild grass on the plain was trampled flat. Even in the places they passed, not a blade of grass remained, everything was crushed into a muddy ocean.

Lu Yanjiong’s first reaction was to immediately reassure everyone under his governance, then report these changes to the Commercial Association headquarters.

The entire Tianzhou Plain was within the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s communication network, so Lu Yanjiong could directly communicate with the Commercial Association. Information transfer was no longer reliant on letters as before. Furthermore, since the implementation of the Tianzhou Plain colonization plan, Xu Yuhai’s Intelligence Department had already entered half a month in advance, deploying a significant number of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to monitor all movements 24 hours a day. Therefore, the Commercial Association received news as soon as the zombie hordes changed their route.

Now, upon receiving the news from Lu Yanjiong, Zhou Yuanqiang sat in the meeting room, letting out a cold laugh. He turned to Yang Shun, the deputy部長 of the Strategic Department, and said, “Just as we expected, they really used this move. Don’t they know that we’ve spent so much effort precisely for this move of theirs?”

Xu Yuhai also relaxed completely. During this time, he had invested too much effort into Tianzhou Plain. Now that it was entering the net-closing stage, the Intelligence Department’s role would recede to the second line, handing the frontline over to the Military Department. He smiled faintly and said, “We practically eavesdropped on their entire meeting. They certainly wouldn’t have guessed that their meeting room was bugged by us.”

The Intelligence Department, established over half a year ago, was already quite mature. Its intelligence agents and operatives were everywhere. Even your wife, with whom you shared a bed, could potentially be an operative of the Intelligence Department. Frankly, from the Intelligence Department’s perspective, Tianzhou Plain was like a net full of holes, easy to manipulate and control.

“Chairman, I think after we deal with these zombie hordes, our Intelligence Department can give Li Jifeng a big gift he’ll never expect…”

If Li Jifeng were to see Xu Yuhai’s triumphant expression, he would surely be infuriated to the point of spitting blood. Not for any other reason, but because beneath Xu Yuhai’s triumphant expression was more cold malice. For a head of intelligence, a little scheming was commonplace. This time, Li Jifeng was just unlucky enough to catch Xu Yuhai’s attention.

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head with a wry smile. How did this grown child become so wicked? But then again… he liked it. He said, “Alright. Since this east wind has started blowing, then Brother Qiu, these zombie hordes are now in the hands of your Military Department.”

Qiu Guorui’s face was expressionless. Hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, he immediately stood up and said, “Boss, we have been preparing for this for a long time. The war eagles are ready for deployment at any time.”

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded and said, “Send out our strongest forces. Let the people of Tianzhou Plain see that the seven-colored umbrella has the ability to shelter its residents. At the same time, deploy the Hercules transport airships to deploy ground troops, preventing any potential armed forces from the enemy, and also to better train the combat effectiveness of our ground forces.”

The Hercules transport airship was undoubtedly the first giant of human history, with a length of 508 meters, blotting out the sky and moon. Zhou Yuanqiang would never forget the shock he felt when he first saw it, as if it shouldn’t have been something humans could create.

Yet, this fearsome Hercules-class transport airship came from his own Commercial Association Airship Factory.

To build this behemoth, the Second Airship Factory specially constructed a massive assembly plant spanning 600 meters. In terms of value, the entire plant itself cost tens of billions of dollars. And one Hercules transport airship, converted to modern helium prices, reached an astonishing 250 million dollars. Adding its engines and other components, the total cost reached 350 million dollars.

If helium wasn’t refined by the Commercial Association itself from natural gas, Zhou Yuanqiang would surely be spitting blood.

Its powerful 1200-ton carrying capacity was the greatest value of the Hercules. Its huge 200-meter-long, triple-decked cargo bay could transport 1000 soldiers, including their equipment, water, grain, and daily necessities, to any place in the world in one go. The Hercules transport airship’s capability allowed it to hover in the sky for over a month…

Yes, the reason Zhou Yuanqiang activated the Hercules transport airship was to give Tianzhou Plain an unforgettable shock, to make their thoughts of resistance and xenophobia disappear completely under the Hercules transport airship. Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to use force; he only wanted to achieve the goal of subduing the enemy without fighting by displaying his strength.

The plan for the entire Tianzhou Plain could be said to be the Commercial Association’s current top priority. Zhou Yuanqiang also coincidentally received a mission. This time, the mission given by the ring did not disappoint Zhou Yuanqiang; its content was to stop millions of zombies and bring the entire Tianzhou Plain under his rule.

Seeing the content of this mission, Zhou Yuanqiang finally breathed a sigh of relief. What he feared most was the ring suddenly giving him a completely irrelevant mission that would make him want to cry. How could such an exciting colonial plan be without him? Would it not be a great pity to miss out?

Now Zhou Yuanqiang also understood the categories of missions the ring would issue. The first mission represented an exploration and discovery mission, the second mission represented a rescue mission, and the current third mission represented a strategic mission.

If exploration and discovery missions were already generously rewarded, then rescue missions could definitely be called a big harvest. But compared to strategic missions, both fell far short.

Look at the rewards for strategic missions: mission complete, ring level +1. This was a full level, absolutely immensely powerful. This meant that as long as Zhou Yuanqiang completed the annexation of Tianzhou Plain, the ring’s level could become 14, and its storage space could accommodate fighter jets within 21 meters, allowing for a series of arms trafficking activities. Of course, to put it more wickedly… the poor fighter jets of certain countries better be careful, because Zhou Yuanqiang, this vicious wolf, finally had all his teeth and was ready to “eat people.”

Just thinking about it, this temptation was truly enormous. It was absolutely worth Zhou Yuanqiang using all his power to take down Tianzhou Plain and raise his ring to level fourteen.

“Damn it, for their more advanced fighter jet technology, I’ll have to play the role of this heaven-defying thief.” Zhou Yuanqiang had already begun planning: who should he pay a visit to? American technology was top-notch, and British and French technology seemed pretty good too.

Zhou Yuanqiang stroked his chin, waved his hand, letting Qiu Guorui and everyone else go about their business, while he grinned foolishly. “Let me think, I need missile technology, especially intercontinental missile technology. I must get my hands on it. Then, if I see any apocalyptic country I don’t like, I’ll send them a few to try. Oh, right, cruise missile technology is a top priority. What else can I steal? Gold? That seems pretty good… Tsk tsk, I wonder what expressions they’d have if I emptied their gold reserves?”

Just thinking about the thousands of tons of gold held by some countries, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but feel “excited.”

But then again… stealing a fighter jet could be worth tens of millions of dollars. Take the Apache armed helicopter, fully armed, it’s worth over 20 million dollars. Damn, no money? I’ll steal a few. It doesn’t matter if I can’t sell them; I’ll take them to the apocalypse and trade them with the Commercial Association, then sell the Commercial Association’s fighter jets. That would definitely be a rolling fortune… Tsk tsk!

These thoughts were absolutely wicked. The poor presidents and prime ministers of the several countries targeted by Zhou Yuanqiang started sneezing inexplicably.

Just as Zhou Yuanqiang was drooling and indulging in wicked thoughts, the entire external system of the Commercial Association began to operate.

In fact, the Commercial Association had been preparing for all this for a long time, but they were only just beginning to implement it today. So, upon receiving the orders from the Military Department, the entire Commercial Association entered a state of serving the war. All factories began to prioritize military departments. Some private factories unconditionally prioritized manufacturing parts orders diverted from the munitions factory. Everything began to serve the war.

More than 400 hy-2 fighter jets, whose numbers had already exceeded this, were now being fitted with air-to-ground missiles by thousands of ground crew members.

After the munitions factory finally solved the technical difficulties of missiles, the combat power of these war eagles increased geometrically. Although the hy-1 fighter jets had only been in service for half a year, they were relegated to supporting roles in the face of the even more outstanding hy-2s. The current mission of the 100 hy-1 fighter jets was to protect the airspace of Greenmount City, while external combat operations would be entirely handled by the more than 400 hy-2 fighter jets.

In addition to fighter jets, the aircraft factory began mass production of Blue Eagle bombers. Although currently there were only eleven, including experimental aircraft, they would also participate in this military operation to collect more bombing data. This was a rare real combat experiment opportunity for the aircraft research institute.

However, the fierce war eagles were destined not to be the main characters in this battle against millions of zombies, because the true protagonists were the behemoth airships. They could carry dozens or even hundreds of tons of cargo, capabilities that fighter jets and bombers simply couldn’t match. Especially in this era where zombies had no air superiority, airships would be extremely safe, without any rivals.

The reason why Hercules-class transport airships were built was precisely because there was currently no one who could threaten their existence. They could be used very safely, applied to transportation missions in safe areas.

The development of airships was very rapid, as could be seen from the third airship factory currently under construction. With the rapid development of the Commercial Association and the establishment of sales networks in various settlements, airships became the most important means of transportation, and the demand for transport airships suddenly soared. In addition to transportation, there was also a great demand for exploration airships. Following the success of the first exploration plan, the Exploration Department placed an order for one hundred exploration airships with the Airship Factory.

Besides transport and exploration, there were military airships. Their development was equally fast. These military airships, specialized for bombing, had slightly less carrying capacity than transport airships. However, their specialized design allowed them to carry more bombs and unleash more powerful carpet bombing.

Compared to the massive ground crew for fighter jets, the number of personnel at the airship airport was much smaller. Most tasks were handled by machinery. In front of these giants, forklifts and trucks working below looked as tiny as ants. Ground crew continuously transported loads of bombs into the cargo bays of these behemoths. The ability to carry dozens or hundreds of tons kept people extremely busy.

The Commercial Association had long formulated a plan to deal with the zombie hordes on Tianzhou Plain. The Commercial Association could not allow them to wander across the entire plain, as they were like a ticking time bomb; no one knew when they would change. Since the entire Tianzhou Plain was to be established as a second direct branch location, bringing the entire Tianzhou Plain under control, the zombie hordes had to be cleared.

In the Commercial Association’s plan to annex Tianzhou Plain, besides the massive population, the geographical advantage of the plain was highly valued. It could become an even larger granary, capable of growing grain, as well as tobacco, flax… sugarcane, and so on, enriching the Commercial Association’s resources and becoming a large raw material production base, providing countless raw materials to meet the needs of daily factories.

Given such a win-win situation, and possessing the strength to achieve it, how could the Commercial Association let such a juicy opportunity slip away?

For the airships, replenishing ammunition took a long time. For a fighter jet, it only took about ten minutes to refuel and load ammunition. Thousands of ground crew served over 400 fighter jets. During wartime, the first batch of fighter jets could take off in just five minutes, and all fighter jets could be airborne within half an hour.

Although it was not an urgent wartime situation now, from the moment the order was issued until all fighter jets were loaded with ammunition, it took only about forty minutes.

As the overall commander of the air force, Dali could only sit steadily in the command center, looking through the massive glass window of the control tower as fighter jets entered the runway one by one. After receiving approval from the control tower, they sped up, and after accelerating for 500 meters, they pulled up their noses and soared into the blue sky… Then they completed their formation in the air and roared towards Tianzhou Plain.

According to the Military Department’s regulations, senior generals like Dali were not allowed to appear on the front lines, especially not to pilot fighter jets in combat.

This mechanism was what Dali hated the most. Although he knew it was for the protection of senior generals, he still felt uncomfortable no matter how he thought about it. Perhaps in the future, if he wanted to pilot a fighter jet, he would only be able to do so in the sky above the Commercial Association. Great battles that made one’s blood boil would probably be out of his reach.

Looking at the massive fighter jet formation in the sky that almost blotted out the scorching sun, Dali’s heart was filled with pride, because all of this… he had personally trained, watching them grow little by little. They were like his own children, soaked in his sweat.

“Native sons, beat them to death for me! Show the might of our Commercial Association’s air force, let the world see that we are the best…”

Chapter 254: The Crying Plain

“Don’t panic, everyone, don’t panic… listen to me… please calm down and listen to me…”

Lu Yanjiong held a large megaphone, standing on the flag platform in Tianzhou Town Square, shouting loudly through the megaphone at the surging crowd below. The current situation was utterly chaotic. Tianzhou Town, which had only recently been established, was on the verge of collapse. People, having learned that the zombie horde would arrive in half a day, couldn’t sit still any longer. If they didn’t run now, there would be no chance left.

In the midst of the chaos, especially in Tianzhou Town, which had a strong commercial atmosphere, some people with a hint of greed took the opportunity to seize whatever they could. They became pickpockets, and some even resorted to using firearms. Sporadic gunshots could be heard from time to time, indicating that either the robbers or the robbed were fighting back… In any case, one side was bound to fall.

Like a spreading contagion, people who had initially been calm and hesitant also grew uneasy at the sound of these gunshots. They began packing their belongings and evacuating. They didn’t want to be devoured by zombies, only to be killed by these desperadoes instead.

Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Lu Yanjiong was burning with anxiety. He commanded the Commercial Association’s soldiers, roaring, “Shoot to kill anyone found robbing! Arrest everyone who is caught stealing!” Lu Yanjiong, who had always been known as a good-natured man, was truly furious this time. The whole scene had become unmanageable, and it was these scoundrels who caused the mess. If they didn’t respect him, why should he care about their lives?

Teams of soldiers rushed into the crowd, but the obstruction of the people and the chaos made it extremely difficult to move. Catching these desperate robbers was proving to be very challenging.

“Everyone listen, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association Headquarters has already dispatched troops, and they’ll arrive here shortly. The zombie horde is no match for the Commercial Association! Everyone, please believe me…” Lu Yanjiong’s voice became hoarse from shouting, but the effect was not ideal. The fleeing people, dragging their luggage, were like headless flies, crashing into everything. How could they possibly listen to Lu Yanjiong’s shouts?

Tianzhou Town didn’t have a defensive wall, mainly because it was only about 300 kilometers from Greenmount City. It would only take 25 minutes for fighter jets to arrive after receiving orders.

But now, without a defensive wall, Lu Yanjiong’s desire to close the gates and intercept them could only go unfulfilled. He could only watch helplessly as the people who had been painstakingly gathered scattered like water gushing from a leaky barrel, riddled with holes.

Just as Lu Yanjiong was about to despair, a massive, faint “humming” sound, like music from heaven, reached his ears. In particular, the call from the aircraft group came through his communicator: “Whistling Tianzhou Branch, rescue forces have arrived… rescue forces have arrived…”

How loud could the sound of over 400 fighter jets and eleven bombers be? If they all flew over at an altitude of 100 meters, it wouldn’t be surprising if people standing below were deafened by the noise, because the engine sound’s decibel level would be too high. Now, the aircraft group was only flying at an altitude of 3,000 meters, but the sound was still thunderous on the ground.

Anyone with functioning ears could clearly hear this sound… Every person fleeing stopped in their tracks at the immense “humming,” looking up at the sky, searching for the source of the sound.

That feeling of loss and then recovery made Lu Yanjiong burst into laughter. He roared, “Our fighter jet group is here! They’ve arrived!”

In the sky, despite the 3,000-meter altitude, people below could still see a dark cloud drifting in the distance. The area covered by over 400 fighter jets was so vast that it completely obscured half the sky. As soon as one looked up, all that could be seen were fighter jets filling the sky.

“Wow… oh…” joyful shouts erupted from the fleeing people. The countless fighter jets soaring overhead were so spectacular, far exceeding the shock in people’s hearts.

Before the fighter jets had completely disappeared into the sky, an even louder “humming” sound came again. Hundreds of armed helicopters flew at an altitude of 2,500 meters. The seven-colored umbrellas under their fuselages were dazzling. The massive armed helicopter group, being slower than the fighter jets, caused the greatest shock… The missiles hanging from their weapon racks could be clearly seen from the ground.

Compared to the previous rumors that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association owned nearly a hundred fighter jets, people suddenly realized how insignificant those rumors were in the face of the current reality. Those who had been skeptical earlier were utterly stunned. Facing hundreds of fighter jets and hundreds of armed helicopters, they were speechless.

As if suddenly filled with immense confidence, everyone stopped their escape and stared blankly at the roaring helicopter group flying past.

If the previous sight was merely shocking, then what came next made people feel as if they were living in a dream, unable to believe… that everything they saw was real. It was too shocking, too unbelievable, no one dared to believe what they were seeing.

In the sky, a monumental shadow, completely enveloping Tianzhou Town, was cast down. It was as if the entire sky was collapsing. The originally sunny sky suddenly darkened, as if the entire firmament had been swallowed, plunged into the reign of darkness. People didn’t even know what was happening.

When they looked up, every single person who saw the incredibly massive 508-meter Hercules transport airship was frozen, as if their acupuncture points had been struck, unable to move.

The seven-colored umbrellas all indicated that this enormous and astonishing aerial monster belonged to the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Even Lu Yanjiong was completely stunned. He couldn’t imagine that such a crazy design, such insane manufacturing, could exist in this world, achieving such a product for this insane apocalypse era. Everyone said that the WWI and WWII periods were the craziest times for humanity, because all kinds of wild, even foresightful, ideas emerged, some of which still seem impossibly advanced even now. But now, in Lu Yanjiong’s view, the apocalypse was equally an era of madness, and this terrifying airship was just one example.

As soon as the Hercules-class transport airship appeared, dozens of military airships behind it looked minuscule in comparison, escorting the Hercules airship.

Do not underestimate military airships. With modern technology, various long, medium, and short-range missiles installed make their defensive and offensive capabilities extremely powerful. With their huge carrying capacity, the Airship Factory is already planning to install even larger missile systems onto airships, allowing them to launch ultra-long-range missiles.

This breathtaking Hercules transport airship flew over Tianzhou Town, and after finding an open space suitable for landing, began to slowly descend.

The military airships completed their escort mission, and as they detached from the Hercules airship, they flew into the distance. They would carry out carpet bombing of the zombie horde. For this massive zombie horde, their huge carrying capacity was destined to make them the protagonists of the day.

The descent of the Hercules-class transport airship was somewhat slow, as its sheer weight was astonishing, requiring extreme caution during landing.

Finally, when the landing was complete, the hatch of the cargo compartment opened. Teams of ready soldiers, fully armed, ran out in orderly fashion. After a brief formation, they advanced towards the battlefield under the commander’s orders. They would construct a defensive line at the front of the battlefield to prevent any stray zombies from appearing before Tianzhou Town.

With a 1,200-ton payload and special design, the Hercules could carry steel behemoths like tanks. Unfortunately… the Commercial Association had completed the design for tanks but had not approved their production. So, what the Hercules carried were military armored vehicles manufactured by the Armored Vehicle Factory. These 17-ton armored vehicles also had limited production and were mainly used for rapid assault forces. Only fifteen of them were deployed this time.

If it was astonishing from the sky, landing on the ground created an even greater sense of insignificance; it was truly a comparison of ants to elephants.

This incredibly powerful entrance, with waves of shocking displays, had a huge impact on the people below. They suddenly realized how wise their decision had been to join the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, and at the same time, they felt ashamed of their earlier thoughts of fleeing. This struggle between right and wrong choices bred in them an even stronger conviction.

To achieve this effect, the Commercial Association had to order the fighter jet and helicopter groups to wait for the airship forces, and by reducing speed, try to achieve simultaneous arrival. Now, it seemed, the effect had been achieved, and it was very ideal. Just looking at the people below, they had started to automatically return to Tianzhou Town, automatically apprehending criminals, and automatically helping maintain order—it was clear that the Commercial Association’s objective had been met.

From the perspective of the fighter jets, as soon as they flew over Tianzhou Town, they could see an endless expanse of black on the distant, boundless plain. Even from an altitude of 3,000 meters, they couldn’t see its end. One could only imagine how enormous this zombie horde was.

“All squadrons attention, target spotted… commence free attacks…”

Upon receiving the order from the command center, the entire fighter jet group, which had been in formation, immediately dispersed and dove down towards the boundless zombie horde below.

In a city, fighter jets could only unleash half of their offensive power, but on the plain… it was vast and endless, completely open, with nothing to obstruct the fighter jets. It was truly “the sky’s the limit for birds to fly.” Fighter jets had no fear of gross monsters or Volt-Zombies here, because their speed was unrestricted and could be pushed to the extreme.

At such speeds, how could the zombies’ slow firing rate possibly track the fighter jets?

The Commercial Association’s greatest advantage was the unrestricted nature of the plains, which allowed fighter jets to unleash their maximum offensive power and airships to conduct indiscriminate carpet bombing. There were no prohibitions here; one bomb dropped, given the density of the zombies, was enough to kill a large number of them.

The moment the fighter jet group appeared, the trailing teams below were already dumbfounded. They had never imagined such a massive fleet of aircraft. Especially when the fighter jets suddenly dispersed and began their roaring dives, launching missiles from under their wings, their expressions became even more complex… They understood better than anyone why the zombie horde had changed its route. Now that the counterattack had begun, how could they not be on tenterhooks?

The munitions factory’s missile research primarily focused on large-area killing of zombies, so missiles generally adopted a cluster bomb structure. A single missile could blanket several hundred meters within its attack range.

Missiles, trailing long tails, exploded 50 to 60 meters above the zombies, immediately splitting into a dozen warheads that radiated outwards, forming a circular attack radius. A dense series of booming sounds erupted, and within several hundred meters, a sea of flames surged, with smoke billowing amid the fire, enveloping the zombies within that range. In the fire, they were torn apart by shrapnel and thrown dozens of meters away by the shockwave… hundreds of zombies were obliterated by a single missile.

You could never imagine the sight of over four hundred fighter jets attacking simultaneously. Missiles, trailing their tails, descended like a meteor shower onto the plain below, then struck the calm lake surface like raindrops, radiating ripples. Zombies within these ripples were torn into countless fragments, scattered into the sky by the impact of the missile explosions.

In just a moment, the seemingly endless zombie horde was as if a bite had been taken out of it, leaving a massive vacuum zone.

The zombie baiters below were stunned, staring blankly at the spectacle of the war eagles in the sky. The zombie horde below was blasted into the air amidst continuous explosions. The entire plain trembled as if in an earthquake. Dirt, weeds, and accumulated water, stirred up by the missile explosions, made it seem as if the entire plain was about to collapse.

“W-what do we do?” Those who had regained their senses all looked at the leading zombie baiter, completely at a loss.

The leader of this zombie baiter team fiercely grabbed his hat, threw it onto the grass, twisted the motorcycle throttle, and roared, “What do we do? Damn it, the zombie horde will definitely lose control when attacked. What more can we do? If we don’t run now, won’t the crazed zombie horde tear us apart?”

One of them hesitantly asked, “But, but what about Chairman Li Jifeng’s orders?”

The leader grew even angrier, saying, “Damn it, if you want to die, go bait them. I’m done.” He looked at the fighter jets filling the sky and the massive helicopter group appearing in the distance, and sneered, “Don’t you have eyes? This Yuanqiang Commercial Association is not someone Li Jifeng can afford to provoke. If we keep following him, it’ll only lead to a dead end.”

Inspired by their leader, the zombie baiters immediately started their motorcycles and fled. An out-of-control zombie horde was not something their small group could attract. If they didn’t run, as the leader said, the zombies might not get them, but who knew if the missiles in the sky had eyes? One mistake, and everyone would be finished here.

Compared to the aesthetic beauty of fighter jets launching missiles in a roaring dive, bombers appeared flat and uninspired. They simply flew straight forward, opening their weapons bays to unleash a rain of bombs onto the densely packed zombie horde below, creating a long line of explosions that was even more spectacular than the fighter jets.

With the armed helicopters joining in, the entire bombing attack reached a crescendo. Hundreds, even thousands, of missiles detached from their weapon racks, advanced rapidly, and then plunged into the dense zombie horde, sending a large swath of zombies flying in explosions. In this open plain, with such dense zombie numbers, there was no need for precise targeting; any attack would deliver devastating blows to the zombies.

When the massive figures of the military airships cast their shadows upon the zombie horde below, the climax of the direct bombing finally arrived. You would never question the airships’ advantage in bombing.

Dozens of military airships formed a horizontal line, advancing at a consistent speed. Their weapons bays, located under the belly of their gondolas, opened one after another, and bomb dispensers extended, beginning to unleash a torrent of incendiary bombs onto the ground below. Yes, the primary bombing weapon of the airships was a massive quantity of incendiary bombs; they were the main weapon against the zombie horde.

Wherever the military airships passed, incendiary bombs fell, followed by explosions, spreading waves of fire that enveloped all nearby zombies, consuming them in the flames.

The simultaneous attack of dozens of military airships turned the area below into a sea of fire. Zombies struggled and fell in the fiery inferno. High temperatures damaged their nerves, cooking them, then charring them, emitting a strong smell of burnt flesh. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, as if an unprecedented conflagration was occurring.

The zombies, already scattered by the fighter jet missile attacks, were now almost entirely wiped out by the incendiary bombs, with virtually no escapees.

The areas where fighter jets, armed helicopters, and airships had passed were absolute zombie vacuum zones. Besides motionless zombie corpses, there were only craters and scorched ground surfaces exposed by the incendiary bombs. Tiny puddles of water were evaporated by the high temperatures, and the weeds growing there, even their roots buried deep in the soil, were cooked by the flames of the incendiary bombs, making the area utterly barren.

The entire plain was burning and trembling, every part riddled with holes. The once beautiful, green plain was no more.

If you listened carefully, you could even hear the sound of the entire Tianzhou Plain weeping… The immense destructive power, the giant craters, the scorched earth, all rendered the plain unrecognizable, like a beggar’s tattered clothes.

Chapter 255: A Grand Gift

Even though the zombie horde was mercilessly bombed by fierce fighter jets, their sheer numbers meant that it would still take some time to eradicate them. However, anyone who witnessed the brutal bombardment by the fighter jets and airships had every reason to believe that the elimination of the zombies was simply a matter of time. And this timeframe… while not short, would at least yield an answer within a day.

The movement of the zombie horde had become a major event across the entire Tianzhou Plain, but no one could do anything to alter its course.

It was remembered that in the past, in order to control the zombie horde, the entire Tianzhou Plain had exhausted all possible methods, deploying vast human and material resources. The casualties were heavy, and it took nearly half a year to gradually gather and control the zombies, and then guide them along a pre-determined route. The hardships endured during that time still evoked sighs of emotion from many.

Now, with the zombie horde suddenly out of control, re-establishing control and getting them back on track was impossible in the short term. Because of this, everyone could only watch helplessly as the entire zombie horde moved towards Tianzhou Town. Evacuating over 200,000 people in such a short time was truly too difficult.

However, strangely, despite clear warnings being issued, Tianzhou Town’s response was extremely calm. They didn’t even mobilize residents for evacuation; the entire town remained open for business, as if the news was a hoax. Or perhaps, were the people here not afraid of death?

It wasn’t until people saw the massive fleet of fighter jets that they understood: it wasn’t that the other side wasn’t afraid of death, but rather that they had been confident all along.

Zombies with no means of retaliation, in an open area, faced predictable consequences. The fighter jets continuously targeted dense zombie formations, each missile bringing a swath of death. With the zombie horde spread out like an ocean below, there was no need for precise targeting. The jets zoomed overhead, launching all their missiles within mere tens of minutes.

Vast ammunition reserves were the guarantee of the fighter jets’ high-intensity combat operations… Fighter jets that had expended their missiles didn’t need to stay in formation; they simply withdrew from the battlefield and returned to base to replenish their ammunition.

In just half an hour, over four hundred fighter jets came in a rush and left in a rush. Half an hour was enough time for them to leave an unforgettable impression on the world. Their ferocity, and the rain-like missile attacks, utterly devastated the zombie horde below, tearing apart millions of zombies silently under their assault.

As the fighter jets and armed helicopters returned, half of the entire zombie horde had been decimated. The rest was left for the airships’ bombing show.

Those who had been following the battle between the Yuanqiang Commercial Association and the zombie horde simply couldn’t believe that this horde, which had kept the entire Tianzhou Plain living in the shadows, had been decimated by half by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s fighter jets in just half an hour. It wasn’t hundreds of thousands of zombies; it was millions… Half an hour meant that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had sent at least one to two million zombies to hell. What kind of power was this?

Not only were the informed people astonished, but Li Jifeng was also dumbfounded. His originally calm face turned ashen. He roared, “Impossible, impossible, this is impossible…” In his frenzy, he smashed his beloved tea set to the ground, turning it into a pile of shattered fragments.

Li Jifeng only knew that the other side had a fighter jet fleet, but their exact numbers were unclear. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to know, but rather that all the people who had seen them at the time gave conflicting accounts. Some said a dozen, others dozens, and still others hundreds. These claims had no definite basis, so Li Jifeng had dismissed them as mere rumors spread by Xu Wenjia to save face.

“How many fighter jets do they have?” Li Jifeng practically roared. He now suddenly regretted not prioritizing intelligence work.

Several subordinates who came to report looked at each other. One of them, biting the bullet, replied, “Chairman, the entire sky is filled with their fighter jets, countless armed helicopters, and dozens of unimaginably massive airships. Their numbers likely approach a thousand.”

Li Jifeng bellowed, “What? What did you say? Numbers approaching a thousand… You idiot, do you know what you’re saying?”

“Ch-Chairman, it’s true. If you don’t believe it, you can send someone else to ask. Everyone saw them. I heard they even have a huge airship, five to six hundred meters long, carrying countless soldiers and many armored vehicles.” The subordinates answered, trembling. They had been stunned at the time and hadn’t had the chance to count exactly how many there were.

Li Jifeng still couldn’t believe it. How could any faction in the apocalypse possess nearly a thousand fighter jets? He suddenly thought of something, and he looked as if he had gone mad, muttering, “Nearly a thousand, nearly a thousand… then what use are a dozen or so anti-air missiles?”

In reality, Li Jifeng’s plan had been very shrewd. First, he intended to use the massive zombie horde to assault Tianzhou Town. Whether they retreated or not, the mysterious main association would surely send rescue personnel. With millions of zombies, Li Jifeng believed no one could stop their advance; they would tear apart anything in their path, be it people or buildings.

Just imagining the massive zombie horde sweeping across the newly built Tianzhou Town like autumn leaves, razing it to the ground, filled Li Jifeng with an indescribable excitement. He wanted to crush anyone who dared challenge his authority, letting them never rise again.

Once Tianzhou Town was destroyed, Li Jifeng would immediately activate the Arbitration Tribunal’s troop mobilization regulations. He would organize a force of over 100,000 troops, feigning a rescue effort, and appear as a savior to win the hearts of the entire Tianzhou Plain. Many of the settlement leaders were under his control, and with his own strength and the identity of a savior, establishing a unified political entity from the fragmented Tianzhou Plain would not be a difficult task.

However, man proposes, God disposes. The formidable capabilities demonstrated by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association shattered Li Jifeng’s dream.

The Yuanqiang Commercial Association not only stopped the zombie horde but also annihilated half of it in just half an hour. This news was truly shocking. Calculating based on the number and ability of the zombies, how immense must the opponent’s strength be? This question didn’t even need deep thought to yield a clear answer.

Li Jifeng suddenly realized that the reason the Yuanqiang Commercial Association hadn’t acted against the Tianzhou Plain was because there was no need. Their intention was to slowly expand, using trade and infiltration to annex the entire Tianzhou Plain, like boiling a frog in slow water, silently cooking the entire Tianzhou Plain until it changed hands.

But he had foolishly provoked their nerves, even forcing them to display their formidable military might, thereby accelerating the Tianzhou Plain’s path to annexation.

Li Jifeng was no fool; otherwise, he wouldn’t be the Chairman of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, wielding the greatest power. However, under the provocation of Tianzhou Town and the enticement of Tian Yun, he developed a sense of hatred towards the progressively advancing Yuanqiang Commercial Association. He didn’t want to lose the power in his hands, so he had to make a choice under the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s relentless pressure.

He chose to fight back, but the news he was now hearing made him feel as if cold water had been poured over him, chilling his entire body.

“No, I will not accept my power being stripped away like this.”

Li Jifeng paced back and forth in his study, gritting his teeth. He said, “The Yuanqiang Commercial Association clearly aims for the entire Tianzhou Plain, but they’ve only secured one-third of the population. If I demonstrate strong influence and then express a willingness to be ‘pacified,’ holding hundreds of thousands of people, I can’t say I’d gain power as great as Lu Yanjiong, but at least a Vice Chairman position. Hmph, hmph, hmph. Once I have significant power, I can fully utilize this Vice Chairman position to slowly gain control of the entire branch. Then, I’ll find a way to acquire greater military power, apply for them to establish the Tianzhou Aviation Department… I’ll see then, when both sides have comparable strength, how they’ll deal with me!”

Although this plan would take several years to execute, Li Jifeng was only in his early forties; he could afford to wait. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Without hesitation, he used the Arbitration Tribunal’s power to activate the troop mobilization regulations. If nothing unexpected happened, he would gather at least 250,000 armed forces, giving him sufficient bargaining chips.

The annihilation of the zombie horde seemed already set. When the fighter jets, having replenished their ammunition, appeared over the Tianzhou Plain for the second time, everyone knew that the zombie horde, which had existed for five long years on the Tianzhou Plain, was about to become history. This largest distinctive feature of the Tianzhou Plain would disappear with it.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t react much to the news that had largely been confirmed on the Tianzhou Plain. After all, the Commercial Association had put in so much effort and possessed a vast number of fighter jets; dealing with the zombies on the plain was, of course, no big deal. The only thing that pained Zhou Yuanqiang was that the hard-won accumulated fuel and ammunition had been mostly depleted again. The days ahead would revert to a state of barely getting by.

The Commercial Association’s manufacturing capability was strong, but the lack of raw materials was its biggest constraint. Obtaining raw materials in the apocalypse was too difficult. The military industry, for example, was a microcosm of an industrial system: from raw materials to processing, then manufacturing electronic components, and further combining these components with other products to create electronic devices… This cycle required various factories, raw materials, and so on, encompassing the entire industrial system.

The vast amount of supplies recovered from Greenmount City seemed substantial, but considering the current strength of the Commercial Association, wasn’t every bit of it piled up from various materials? Even the largest amount of supplies couldn’t withstand this rate of consumption. The only thing Zhou Yuanqiang was glad about was that the Commercial Association had embarked on a cyclical path; various supplies could be transported from settlements in all directions, allowing the Commercial Association to have an endless supply of materials in its cycle.

“Our strength is still insufficient. Almost every time we engage in a high-intensity battle, the Commercial Association’s reserves are depleted. This situation must change, otherwise, when we need to deal with two targets, the Commercial Association will have powerful fighter jets but no ammunition to use, which would be a monumental joke. One fighter jet after another would just be a pile of scrap metal.”

The current burden on the Commercial Association had reached its maximum, especially regarding fuel, which was at its limit. If not for replenishment from other places, like the rescue effort in Tianzhou Plain, it was uncertain whether there would be enough fuel for these gas guzzlers to squander.

When Xu Yuhai heard the news from the front, he became excited and said, “Perfect! The grand gift I just prepared can now be delivered to Li Jifeng. The timing is just right. Tomorrow… everyone on the Tianzhou Plain will know what kind of person Li Jifeng truly is. Hahahaha, vying for supremacy? He thinks he can scheme against our Commercial Association? What an idiot!”

By the time night fell, the immense zombie horde had ceased to exist, leaving only scattered remnants that posed no real threat whatsoever.

At this point, the crisis in Tianzhou Town was resolved. People who had been anxious all day, upon sighing in relief and relaxing their nervous tension, suddenly felt ravenously hungry. They had been so focused on the battlefront that they hadn’t eaten anything all day. It was normal to feel hungry after finally relaxing.

Li Jifeng’s mobilization order had been activated, but it would take at least three days for the assembly to be complete. After all, the settlements across the plain were too dispersed to gather all at once. Li Jifeng wasn’t afraid of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association taking advantage of the situation because, as of yet, he hadn’t announced the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal’s stance on Xu Wenjia. As long as he didn’t express his position, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association wouldn’t have a reason to provoke.

However, that very night, one of Li Jifeng’s subordinates delivered a portable cassette player to him. The batteries were intact, indicating it was functional.

Li Jifeng was puzzled and asked, “Who sent this?” His subordinate shook his head and said, “The sender didn’t say, only that it was to be given to you, calling it something very important. Then they left.” Li Jifeng nodded, indicating he understood, and waved the subordinate out. He muttered to himself, “Who sent me a portable cassette player?”

Then he saw a small note attached to the player with only three characters: “Please play!”

“Who is this? What’s the big deal?” Li Jifeng almost tossed it away as a prank, but considering the extraordinary circumstances, he ultimately pressed the play button.

“Hahahaha…” As soon as it played, a burst of arrogant, wild laughter erupted, startling Li Jifeng. He felt a sense of familiarity with the voice. “Our Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal will forever rule over the entire Tianzhou Plain! The people of Tianzhou Town? I don’t care if they live or die. My order is to have the corpse-guiding team change the zombies’ route and lead them to Tianzhou Town. I want them all to die by the hands of the zombies! This is the fate of anyone who opposes me, Li Jifeng… Hahahahaha!”

Following this segment, there were voices of opposition, but that wasn’t important. What was important was the subsequent segment: “Guards! Tie everyone up! In the Arbitration Tribunal, I am heaven! Any dissenting voice is an enemy of me, Li Jifeng. Hmph, you clueless fools. After I deal with the people of Tianzhou Town, I’ll execute all of you useless people, then seize your settlements and your women! Haha, by then, all the women on the entire Tianzhou Plain will line up for me to choose… Pretty women are only fit for me, Li Jifeng!”

With a “thud,” Li Jifeng felt his hands betray him, unable to hold the portable cassette player, letting it fall to the ground.

Even Li Jifeng, dull as he was, now recognized that the two spoken segments on the portable cassette player were his own voice. Both the tone and the arrogance were exactly like his usual manner. Li Jifeng even wondered if he had said such things at some point.

“When did I say that? When exactly did I say that…”

Li Jifeng felt his heart violently constrict, all strength draining from his body as if he had been hollowed out. He couldn’t understand how he could have said such things. “No… no… I didn’t say that, it wasn’t me, absolutely not me. Which bastard is trying to harm me?”

Just imagining this recording getting out, Li Jifeng would then have offended the entire Tianzhou Plain, standing against all settlements. Even more terrifying, his words about using the zombie horde to wipe out everyone in Tianzhou Town would undoubtedly be fatal, capable of destroying him instantly. Li Jifeng had no idea how this news could have leaked.

The thought of the news about the forced binding of other Arbitration Tribunal members getting out – wouldn’t the people of other settlements revolt against his own settlement? At that point, without the Yuanqiang Commercial Association even lifting a finger, he would have no choice but to commit suicide.

“What a vicious tactic, a truly decisive blow that leaves no room for recovery.”

At Li Jifeng’s level, it was impossible for him not to realize that by the time the portable cassette player reached him, this recording had probably already spread throughout the entire Tianzhou Plain. The voice in the recording was indeed his own; this alone was sufficient. People wouldn’t care what he said; as long as he admitted the voice was his, that was enough.

Li Jifeng slumped to the ground as if paralyzed. In truth, he understood that this recording was definitely synthesized, but the synthesis was so realistic, so convincing that even he couldn’t distinguish it. If he couldn’t distinguish it, how could anyone else? How could they possibly believe it was synthesized?

This was the grand gift Xu Yuhai had delivered: using intercepted voice recordings, and then having Chen Wenbo’s intelligence department employ advanced techniques to synthesize this recording.

This was a deeply realistic recording; simply listening with the ear made it impossible to distinguish. Only with very advanced instruments, by separating and processing the sound, might clues be found. But what Xu Yuhai wanted was for everyone to hear it. At this moment, who would be bored enough to try and discern its authenticity?

Regardless of the recording’s truth, the Commercial Association would treat it as real, directly finding a reason to open fire.

But thinking about the content of the recording, Xu Yuhai smiled. Perhaps the Commercial Association wouldn’t even need to intervene; naturally, many people would make trouble for Li Jifeng. And the Commercial Association? They would simply reap the benefits.

Just as Xu Yuhai had analyzed, after a night of dissemination, the entire Tianzhou Plain was in an uproar. Everyone cursed loudly, shouting slogans against the “executioner.” Men with wives, especially those with beautiful wives, flared up in anger. “All the women on the entire Tianzhou Plain available for you, Li Jifeng, to pick from? Who do you think you are?” Although it was said that brothers are like limbs and women are like clothes, whoever dared to touch his clothes would have his limbs chopped off… This saying was not just for show.

Compared to the loosely scattered settlements, those that had joined the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal were in utter turmoil.

The previous message they received was that their Old Brother had stayed at the Tribunal to discuss important matters and would be back in two or three days. But now that the news spread, they realized their leader had been tied up and put under house arrest by Li Jifeng.

Like a disturbed hornet’s nest, that very night, the armed forces from various settlements charged towards Li Jifeng’s settlement. A force of over 100,000 armed individuals completely surrounded Li Jifeng’s settlement, and shouts of “Release the people!” made Li Jifeng’s face turn ashen. Even if he tried to explain in a final struggle, who would believe him?

The leaders of the various settlements had indeed been tied up and placed under house arrest by him. Handing them over would only confirm everything said in the recording, wouldn’t it?

Seeing Li Jifeng refuse to hand over the people, the residents of the various settlements didn’t bother being polite and immediately took action. Thus, throughout the night, there was intense gunfire. Although Li Jifeng had tens of thousands of armed forces under his command, facing three to four times the number from the other settlements, they steadily retreated.

Li Jifeng’s resistance only solidified the content of the recording. Naturally, even his subordinates were greatly disappointed in him, and their resistance lessened. In just a few hours, the settlement was breached, and a search naturally found the tied-up leaders of the various settlements.

Despite knowing that the recording wasn’t truly Li Jifeng’s words, what could be done? These leaders were now furious, ready to tear Li Jifeng apart, so how could they possibly speak up for him?

Once this recording was revealed, the atmosphere across the entire Tianzhou Plain drastically shifted. The Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, which had previously enjoyed legitimate support, was immediately reviled. Li Jifeng himself was found dead in a corner of the settlement during the night’s chaos, killed by an unknown assailant. His disbelieving eyes suggested he had been severely agitated before his death.

With Li Jifeng’s death, the power of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal naturally fell to the two Vice Chairmen. Only in such extraordinary times, and with the handle of Li Jifeng’s plot to use the zombie horde to destroy Tianzhou Town in the hands of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, who would dare to take over the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal?

Within the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, the atmosphere was equally heavy. The sky outside had just brightened, but the slowly rising sun made those present realize that the higher the sun rose, the less time the Arbitration Tribunal had to make a decision. Not long after the chaos subsided, a summons from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was delivered to the Arbitration Tribunal. The summons was for the entire Arbitration Tribunal… because the order targeting the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had originated from here.

“I believe everyone here is already aware of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s capabilities, so I won’t say much more… The meaning of this summons is also clear to everyone: it’s their move, forcing us to make a choice. Do we fight, or do we surrender and be integrated into their rule? Everyone, make your decision!”

Fu Bingfeng spoke gravely. The summons on the conference table was glaringly conspicuous, like a summons from the grim reaper.

Everyone present remained silent. The Yuanqiang Commercial Association was indeed too powerful; even with the combined strength of the entire Tianzhou Plain, they couldn’t resist. Moreover, the association now held the moral high ground, with countless supporters outside, and calls for the dissolution of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal were echoing everywhere. In such circumstances, the two sides were simply not on the same level.

Tian Renqing sighed and said, “Circumstances are beyond our control, everyone. We no longer have a choice… I choose to dissolve the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal, and my own settlement will formally be incorporated under the rule of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Everyone, I cannot prevent your decisions, but I want to say one thing: it may seem like we’re losing power, but when we look back later, we will realize that what we lost was merely the power of a small patch of sky from the bottom of a well; what we gained is the power of the entire sky.”

Fu Bingfeng stood up and slowly said, “Brother Tian and I have always been very good brothers. Since Brother Tian has made such a decision, how can I not follow suit? I, Fu Bingfeng, also choose to dissolve the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal and be incorporated under the rule of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.”

With the two Vice Chairmen leading the way, and most of those below recognizing the reality of the situation, there wasn’t much more to say. They all unanimously made the decision to formally announce to the outside world the dissolution of the Tianzhou Plain Arbitration Tribunal. All original member settlements of the Tribunal would merge under the governance of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, accepting its leadership.

As soon as this news was announced, everyone on the entire Tianzhou Plain breathed a sigh of relief. They genuinely feared a real conflict between the two sides, uncertain how many lives would be lost. Just thinking about the power of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, it would undoubtedly be a case of eggs shattering against a rock. The ability to resolve the problem without military conflict was undoubtedly a great fortune for the entire Tianzhou Plain, and for every person on it.

“They are very smart. They gave up the power of their entire settlements, but what they will gain will be far more. Because the Yuanqiang Commercial Association is like a grand stage, and their scope will be much larger. According to the Commercial Association’s regulations, they will hold mid-level positions. Who knows if any of them will rise to ministerial positions in the future?”

Lu Yanjiong gazed at the sky above the Tianzhou Plain. It was cloudless for thousands of kilometers, and a massive airship glided lightly across, seemingly announcing that this sky had formally become part of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s airspace.

Chapter 256: Crystal Warriors

In the north, the defensive wall—known as the Lifeline—stood like a magnificent Great Wall, 15 meters high and 6 meters wide. Its massive body made it an unbreakable line of defense. It stretched 78 kilometers, from the Lion’s Ridge Mountains in the south to the Ming River in the north. It had taken several years to complete, with a massive deployment of manpower and resources, built while fighting off the enemy.

The existence of the Lifeline proved its worth, justifying its construction cost.

Before the Lifeline, zombies relentlessly poured into the northern interior from the coast. The huge coastal population ensured an endless supply of zombies. They seemed inexhaustible, charging into the interior every day, every minute. Life for the people gathered in the north was extremely difficult; every day, whenever an alert sounded, everyone would immediately relocate. People living here had two to three settlements and spent their days largely playing hide-and-seek with the zombies.

With General’s powerful rise, scattered settlements were consolidated, forming the largest settlement in the north.

The only downside was that General’s forces were too close to the coast. The immense settlement had to face massive zombie hordes every day, requiring significant manpower and resources to repel them. This constrained General’s development, forcing him to remain confined to one area, capable of self-preservation but unable to expand or annex other settlements.

With fierce battles occurring daily, the Lifeline project was proposed, and construction began with a huge investment of manpower and resources.

In the words of many, these were years of艰苦奋斗 (arduous struggle). Hundreds of thousands of people threw themselves into this endeavor, building the 15-meter-high, 6-meter-wide colossal wall brick by brick, like ants building a city. In front of the construction, over a hundred thousand soldiers were fighting the zombies, preventing them from hindering the wall’s progress.

The entire construction proceeded under these conditions, fighting and building simultaneously, taking three years to be intermittently completed.

Thanks to the Lifeline, the entire area under the settlement’s control was no longer plagued by coastal zombies. People lived in peace and contentment, various workshops and factories sprang up, and extensive farming allowed everyone to not only eat their fill but also have surplus grain, no longer worrying about struggling with hunger every day as they had in the first three or four years.

However, the zombie offensives remained extremely fierce. Every day, waves of zombies assaulted the defensive wall, and battles were constant, with intense gunfire echoing along the Lifeline day and night. Occasional lulls were for clearing the accumulated zombie corpses below and collecting the crystals.

At the same time, the daily consumption of ammunition severely constrained the settlement’s development. It was for this reason that General, as the ruler of the entire settlement, had constantly been seeking another solution. The energy application of crystals entered his vision, and after nearly three years of research, a breakthrough was finally achieved through countless difficulties.

Actually, “General” was merely a respectful title from his previous position, and over time, everyone became accustomed to calling him General, so it naturally stuck, especially since he rather liked the honorific.

At this moment, General was leading high-ranking officers from various settlements, big and small, onto the defensive wall. Below them was a surging, endless ocean of zombies. The entire 78-kilometer stretch was densely packed with millions of zombies, constantly assailing the wall, occasionally piling up in layers.

“General, the Trade Department has reported that there’s been a change in Tianzhou Plain; it has been taken over by a force called the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce, and they possess a large number of fighter jets, making them incredibly powerful.” As General’s secretary, most messages had to pass through his hands, indicating a position of considerable authority.

General frowned, unconsciously glancing west.

Since the mysteries of crystals began to unravel, massive manpower and resources had been invested. Sometimes, to acquire necessary instrument components, General even dispatched heavily armed troops to assault the city, seizing what was needed. It was well known that assaulting a city meant that less than a third of the deployed personnel would return each time.

Such heavy sacrifices were made to enable the early application of crystals.

General understood that crystals represented a completely new form of energy. Once their secrets became known to the world, everyone would go mad for them. It was this forward-looking vision that prompted General, despite the hardships, to grit his teeth and expend vast amounts of weapons and ammunition, dispatching numerous merchant teams. These teams ventured far and wide, exchanging weapons and ammunition for crystals.

This strategy was highly successful. Massive quantities of crystals accumulated, supplemented by those obtained from killing zombies, filling dozens of mountain warehouses.

Tianzhou Plain was somewhat distant from the north, but that didn’t prevent merchants from reaching it. With small passenger planes, merchants could be transported to various locations. Landing requirements were also very low; a wide, secondary road was sufficient for landing. It was these low requirements that allowed merchant teams to reach various surviving human activity zones and conduct trade.

Now, hearing that an important crystal acquisition point had been swallowed by an unknown force, and considering the hundreds of thousands of people on Tianzhou Plain, General felt a pang of heartache. If there had been no accidents, his plan was to incorporate Tianzhou Plain into his own colonial territory once the crystals were successfully applied. He hadn’t expected someone to move faster than him.

This news seemed to affect General’s mood, but not significantly. For him, what mattered was that crystals would be put into practical use today, ushering in a new era for them. In this context, the fall of Tianzhou Plain naturally had little impact on him.

From another perspective, Tianzhou Plain was currently out of reach; there were already several large settlements within the north itself. With immediate concerns still unattended, how could he possibly harbor ambitions for distant lands? For General, the application of crystals could increase his strength by dozens of times, enabling him to sweep across the entire north. At that point, acquiring the vast population of Tianzhou Plain would simply be a matter of taking it.

Thinking this, General became indifferent to the intelligence report. He turned to Dr. Bai beside him and said, “Dr. Bai, the success of your research now rests on your shoulders.”

Dr. Bai nodded excitedly, saying, “General, isn’t this what nearly four years of research was for? From understanding the application of crystals to the human body, to now, we’ve painstakingly researched for seven months to finally make the energy of crystals widely and stably usable. Yes, no one would have imagined the true purpose of crystals would be this! And we can confirm, from our findings, that we are far ahead of everyone else.” Yes, Dr. Bai had reason to be proud, as his research findings would absolutely transform the human situation in the face of zombies.

Humans were too fragile in the face of zombies; even a minor scratch could be fatal.

In open areas, it was better, but in narrow spaces like city alleys, humans were no match for zombies. Deadly zombies could lurk in unseen corners, their stealth capabilities making them undetectable.

Previously, some had suggested equipping soldiers with armor, like ancient warriors, to protect them entirely from zombie attacks.

However, the armor used by ancient soldiers couldn’t truly be called armor; it was often leather armor offering limited protection. Only the armor used by officers was true armor, but it was very heavy and only protected vital body parts, such as arms, neck, head, and legs. Other parts were left unprotected.

Perhaps in ancient warfare, if your limbs were wounded by weapons, you could recover and return to battle. But in the apocalypse, if you were injured by a zombie, even a celestial being descended from heaven couldn’t help you; it was a dead end. In such circumstances, the role of armor became very limited.

If one were to protect the entire body, such a steel armor would weigh over 25 to 30 kg. How could a soldier fight while wearing it? They would likely collapse from exhaustion quickly.

Ultimately, it was due to insufficient human strength that this steel armor, which zombies could not breach, could not be used. Strength thus became the most critical issue, and precisely, the mystery of crystals lay in their ability to boost various human indices, such as strength, neural response, and so on.

The various color grades of crystals indicated the amount of energy they could provide, and thus, the stimulation to humans.

A Level 3 crystal, when its energy is released and permeates the human body, will instantly cause a strong, reinforcing mutation in the human cells. This mutation will produce different results based on the individual’s inherent abilities. A Level 1 crystal can provide a three-fold increase in human ability; a Level 2 crystal, a six-fold increase. Following this progression, each level of crystal provides a three-fold increase.

According to this principle, a Level 9 crystal should instantaneously enhance a person’s strength by twenty-seven times. But was it really so?

Extensive experiments finally clarified to Dr. Bai that not everyone could use crystals. There was a critical point, and each person also had a tolerance limit. Your physique and genes might only be able to withstand the three-fold strength increase of a Level 1 crystal. If you forcefully used a Level 2 crystal, your body would fail to cope, experiencing tearing pain and other phenomena, even internal cellular bleeding. If you forcefully used the nine-fold strength of a Level 3 crystal, your outcome would certainly be tragic, as unbearable cells would rupture under this force, and your whole body would “boom,” exploding into nothingness.

Therefore, every soldier using crystals needed to be selected and tested with an analyzer developed by Dr. Bai to determine what level of crystal they could use, what their tolerance limit was, and what level of crystal they could forcefully use in a crisis without it being fatal.

At the same time, the energy level of the crystal also represented the duration for which its energy could be expended. It was not that once you activated the crystal energy, you could use it indefinitely. Energy had a time limit; it would be consumed, acting like a consumable item. Once the crystal’s energy was depleted, it would shatter into powder and could not be reused.

This characteristic of crystals was why General made every effort to store them—precisely because of their non-reusability.

Anyone who had witnessed the combat power of soldiers under crystal enhancement would go crazy for them. It was destined that humans would fight fiercely over crystals, and their true value would escalate infinitely. Currently, not many people knew the secrets of crystals. Early stockpiling of crystals became exceptionally important; whoever seized the initiative first would become proactive later, rather than passive.

This time, a thousand soldiers were put into live combat. They wore battle armor specifically crafted for them by the settlement, protecting their entire bodies in steel. Even their eyes were protected by bulletproof glass; not to mention attacks, even a Spitter’s corrosive liquid couldn’t penetrate. The steel armor’s design had long accounted for this.

A thousand soldiers, clad in battle armor, stood majestically on the defensive wall. The 30 kg battle armor did not seem heavy at first, but with prolonged wear, it would feel as heavy as 500 kg. Moreover, their weapons were not firearms, but a two-meter-long battle saber, weighing nearly 10 kg.

On the helmets of these thousand soldiers, at the back of their heads, was a prominent bulge containing a small activator, fixed to the helmet, with crystals flowing with energy visible inside. All thousand soldiers had the strongest physiques, capable of withstanding the enhancement of Level 2 crystals. Therefore, the activators for these thousand combat soldiers all contained Level 2 crystals.

The activator has several special transmission tubes connected to the soldier’s neck. After催化 (activation), the energy is transmitted from the tubes into the human body, absorbed by cells, thereby achieving the purpose of enhancement.

Crystals could enhance soldiers, but they also had a significant drawback: once the crystal’s energy was depleted, the enhancement effect would wear off. This sudden emptiness after the initial surge would leave the cells in a buffered state, a period of unresponsiveness. During this buffer period, the enhanced individual would become extremely weak and powerless, requiring at least half an hour to return to normal before they could use crystals again.

At this moment, the thousand soldiers, who had long been standing ready, all placed their hands behind their heads and gently pressed the activation button at Dr. Bai’s signal.

The activator’s working principle is to capture and record the sound of the activator. A small built-in speaker activates the sound, which is then accelerated through a sound amplification pipe, thereby activating the crystal inside and releasing its energy. Once the energy is released, it is injected into the soldiers’ bodies, strengthening them.

Dr. Bai only utilized this strengthening substance but couldn’t comprehend why this energy produced such an enhancing effect on the human body. His next research goal was to decipher these energy substances; if successful, humanity would gain an inexhaustible supply of strengthening energy, no longer having to rely entirely on the crystals.

When crystals are activated, a strong light always appears. The position where the activator secures the crystal is made of glass, allowing the intense light of the crystal to emanate transparently. Thus, when all thousand soldiers activated their crystals simultaneously, even in broad daylight, a spectacular blue glow was visible.

A blue crystal is a Level 2 crystal, capable of a six-fold enhancement to the human body, which is already a formidable ability. At this level, wielding a two-meter saber will pose no difficulty, and the 30 kg steel armor will feel as light as clothing.

The usage time for a Level 1 crystal is ten minutes, and for every level increase thereafter, an additional five minutes of usage time is gained. The blue Level 2 crystals would allow the soldiers fifteen minutes of usage time.

As the crystal energy was released, the soldiers visibly shuddered, then one by one, they leaped furiously from the 15-meter-high defensive wall, crashing directly into the dense zombie horde below. Their imposing six-fold enhanced abilities made them unstoppable. The moment they entered the zombie masses, their 2-meter battle sabers swung wildly, cleaving circles of zombies in half.

Protected by steel armor, the surging zombies managed to strike them, but inflicted no damage. The thousand soldiers, each like a meat grinder, swept through the zombies, leaving countless bodies cut in half wherever they went. Like Zhou Yuanqiang’s method, they wrought large-scale destruction.

Inside the dense zombie masses below the defensive wall, the sheer numbers were overwhelming. However, these six-times-enhanced soldiers, combined with the sharpness of their battle sabers, could often cleave a dozen zombies in half with a single sweeping whirlwind attack. Their terrifying destructive power far surpassed that of firearms. Under crystal enhancement, they had transformed into war machines, relentlessly advancing. In a matter of moments, a large section of the massive zombie horde was decimated by the thousand soldiers.

This result left the high-ranking officers dumbfounded. The first appearance of these soldiers, dubbed “Crystal Warriors,” brought an overwhelming shock.

Close-quarters soldiers were still butchering zombies. Meanwhile, the Crystal Warriors equipped with firearms, at Dr. Bai’s command, activated their crystals. The moment of activation, they raised their guns and fiercely opened fire on distant zombies, hitting them in the head from 300 to 400 meters away, each one falling.

Dr. Bai proudly declared, “Crystals not only enhance strength but also neural response and other capabilities. An ordinary soldier, without a scope, who can successfully hit a zombie’s head at 200 meters is already considered an ace marksman. But with crystal enhancement, they can hit a zombie’s head within 300 to 400 meters. Do not underestimate this 300-meter range. In a battle between two armies, you’ll understand the difference between a 300-400-meter attack and a 200-meter attack, because we can kill them, while their ability to harm us is limited.”

Hearing Dr. Bai’s explanation, everyone present was astonished. As generals leading troops into battle, they naturally understood the implications of having double the attack range compared to the enemy.

In ground-to-ground combat, excluding artillery, tanks, and armored vehicles, engagement between soldiers typically occurs within 200 meters, because human vision, without aiming aids, provides the best shooting accuracy within 200 meters. Beyond 200 meters, it is generally difficult to hit the target.

However, Crystal Warriors were different; they could hit targets 400 meters away. If they weren’t zombies, they could even hit enemy soldiers’ bodies 500 meters away. Think about it, in a battle between two armies, what would be the consequences? The enemy’s soldiers would suffer massive casualties, while your side, protected by steel armor, would have virtually zero casualties.

Perhaps some would ask, what if the enemy has tanks and armored vehicles?

In the apocalypse, with scarcity of resources and cities largely overrun by zombies, only military bases, places with abundant weaponry, guarded by military spirits, would possess heavy weapons. Look at the nearby settlements; they each command over a hundred thousand troops, yet armored vehicles are pathetically few, and not a single tank exists. In such a situation, what is there to worry about?

Furthermore, it’s entirely possible to seek out individuals with more superior genes who can withstand higher levels of crystal enhancement. At that point, these individuals, whose abilities are amplified nine, twelve times, could easily wield heavy machine guns, unleashing a terrifying metal storm, rather than heavy machine guns being confined to fixed positions as they are now.

As abilities increased, these Crystal Warriors, enhanced multiples of times, could cover distances of several hundred meters in a very short time. In close combat, they could slice through enemy soldiers like cutting vegetables, leaving bodies strewn everywhere. Protected by steel armor, they were immune to enemy bayonets and bullets, truly terrifying presences.

The forces possessing such Crystal Warrior units would undoubtedly win battles with overwhelming superiority.

Seeing the soldiers’ performance in actual combat, General finally burst into hearty laughter.

Yes, with the protection of steel armor, ordinary bullets cannot harm the soldiers, which implicitly makes these Crystal Warriors a formidable branch of military. Although their usage time is only fifteen minutes, many times, fifteen minutes is enough to change the entire tide of battle.

And with Crystal Warriors, the military bases in the north could be captured. This would reduce the power of the military spirits and significantly lower the cost. As long as military bases were occupied, the situation of having no heavy weapons, no fighter jets, and no tanks would completely change. At that point, aiming to rule the entire north, to rule the entire continent, would no longer be just a dream.

Cities, for example, could be assaulted with Crystal Warriors, bringing one city after another under their rule, acquiring immense resources.

Thinking this, General became ambitious. He gazed at the fierce and fearless soldiers below, his eyes alight with fervor, and said to Dr. Bai, “No matter how long it takes, no matter how difficult the activators are to manufacture, equip all soldiers with activators as soon as possible. I want to form a Crystal Warrior legion to reclaim everything we humans have lost from the hands of the zombies.”

“Anyone present who dares to leak even a tiny secret will be killed without mercy.”

Chapter 257: The Target

The world is always developing at an astonishing pace. In the apocalypse, where communication is lacking, the spread of news is incredibly slow. What happened in the north was already under wraps, coupled with the vast distance. Who could have foreseen what transpired? Just as the north couldn’t have anticipated the changes within the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Intelligence work is vital, but when one is still besieged by zombies, who has the mental energy to concern themselves with other matters?

After the Tianzhou Plain officially became an area under the control of the Commercial Association, there was a lot of work to be done. However, for Zhou Yuanqiang, who was accustomed to being a hands-off boss, there truly wasn’t much that required his personal approval. The Commercial Association’s centralized power at headquarters wouldn’t allow the Tianzhou Plain to have its own air force. Therefore, the only matter that genuinely needed Zhou Yuanqiang’s authorization for the entire Tianzhou Plain was the formation of the Tianzhou Plain army.

As for other civilian work, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t need to worry at all; competent individuals naturally managed everything properly.

With a population of 1.8 million, the Commercial Association was considered a major power in the apocalypse. The Lanxi Alliance had a population of nearly 3 million, but they operated as an alliance, composed of numerous settlements of varying sizes, and couldn’t truly be considered a single entity.

In fact, according to the Analysis Department’s assessment, out of over 20 million survivors, the known human population was only about six to seven million. This meant that two-thirds of the population still resided in unknown areas, requiring the constant efforts of the Exploration Department to discover more human habitable zones and seek greater development opportunities for the Commercial Association.

Currently, Zhou Yuanqiang’s life was quite comfortable. Everything in the Commercial Association was running smoothly, benefiting from the explorers’ contributions, which had allowed the association to enter a virtuous cycle. Apart from a small number of electronic components that needed to be purchased from the modern world, everything else could be obtained through trade and the Commercial Association itself. Zhou Yuanqiang no longer had to act as a laborer, tirelessly transporting goods day and night, as he did before.

The Commercial Association had now passed its initial investment phase and entered a period of rapid development. In other words, the Commercial Association was continuously generating vast wealth for Zhou Yuanqiang, and all he needed to consider was how to convert this wealth into usable currency in the modern world.

This problem was also Zhou Yuanqiang’s biggest headache at the moment. Aside from gold and diamonds, he couldn’t think of any other way to convert things into money. Taking supplies? The thought of carrying them, diligently running up and down to sell them, only to earn a few million Renminbi, truly didn’t pique Zhou Yuanqiang’s interest.

Moreover, the Commercial Association’s supplies were also tight; there wasn’t much he could take for himself.

In City S, it was almost December, yet the air was still somewhat muggy. An occasional rain shower would pass, but within half an hour, the skies would clear again. Tropical weather typically wouldn’t turn cold until January or February, then it would persist until May, followed by the scorching summer and autumn seasons.

Southern weather wasn’t divided by months; spring felt like winter, and winter felt more like autumn.

Bathed in sunlight, the trees along the street shed leaves in the occasional breeze. Golden-yellow leaves covered the ground. As some of the earliest greened streets in City S, the entire thoroughfare was almost enveloped by lush trees. Various plants and vines grew here. Whenever a car drove by, it would stir up a flurry of fallen leaves… On the sidewalks, people walked quietly, everything full of poetic charm.

“Do you know? Since I came to City S, my favorite place has been these streets. Whenever I’m happy or unhappy, or feel wronged, I choose to come here and walk quietly along the tree-lined streets. By the time I’ve walked all these streets, everything will have passed, and I’ll be a new me again.”

Zhou Yuanqiang, with his hands in his pockets, spoke to Yan Yuhe, who was quietly accompanying him. Their relationship couldn’t quite be called a romantic one, yet it had elements of it. In Yan Yuhe’s words, it was a “testing period,” a time when a woman is pursued by a man… well, a small opportunity.

Although Yan Yuhe had given Zhou Yuanqiang a chance, he hadn’t had much time to spare recently, busily deploying the strategy for the entire Tianzhou Plain.

Since the local establishment of the MC Design Company’s Design Department, Zhou Yuanqiang had truly become a consultant in name only, simply a placeholder. He rarely appeared at the company anymore. Fortunately, Yan Yuhe had also been busy recruiting designers during this period, so her time was equally limited. Otherwise, Zhou Yuanqiang would have a hard time explaining why he hadn’t asked her out for so long.

As he had just said, he genuinely loved these streets; they were very peaceful. He came out today to share his inner joy with Yan Yuhe.

Yan Yuhe was dressed very casually today, black stockings paired with a short dress, with a decorative belt at her waist accentuating her slender, graceful figure. She carried a small black handbag, walking to Zhou Yuanqiang’s right. As they walked, they occasionally brushed against each other, always making her heart quicken and bringing a wave of warmth. This feeling, somehow reminiscent of first love, always made her heart flutter.

Honestly, they hadn’t been together for long. To truly understand a person, such a short time was far from enough. But for some unknown reason, this feeling made Yan Yuhe selectively believe that Zhou Yuanqiang must be an excellent person, even his personality was outstanding. At least during their months of working together, Zhou Yuanqiang always faced each day with a smile.

Her background destined her not to have choices in love… Yan Yuhe didn’t know how to face this relationship. It was as if she knew it shouldn’t be, yet she couldn’t resist the feeling of being together. That feeling, unique to first love, made Yan Yuhe feel so lost and unable to extricate herself.

Yan Yuhe just smiled beside him when she heard Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, her heart feeling complicated as she looked at him. Her feelings for Zhou Yuanqiang had actually started that day when she asked him to be her shield. As he rode her through the streets on an old-fashioned bicycle, she could feel his strong masculine presence behind him. That sudden rush of emotion came so abruptly and intensely, it even made her feel a little overwhelmed.

“What are your plans now?”

From Zhou Yuanqiang’s own words, Yan Yuhe knew that he currently didn’t have a job and was in a drifting state. Their identities already differed greatly. If Zhou Yuanqiang was ambitious, there might still be a glimmer of hope, but how could she explain to her parents that the boyfriend she found was unemployed, without a career, and a country bumpkin?

Oh… this wasn’t a novel, but reality. There were no stories of princesses and poor boys, and it certainly couldn’t happen to her.

Speaking of plans, this was actually where Zhou Yuanqiang was conflicted. With his ring upgraded to level 14, and his storage space becoming a bit over 21 meters in height, width, and length, many of his plans could now be implemented. However, there were too many plans, leaving Zhou Yuanqiang unsure where to start. The Commercial Association was still too weak in military technology and needed various technological supplements… this was also something he needed to do in the modern world.

But was military technology really that easy to obtain?

The answer was no. Every nation regarded its advanced technologies as treasures, deeply hidden within military bases. Military bases were no ordinary places; they were heavily guarded with various defensive measures. Apart from a direct assault, there seemed to be no way to enter silently, at least Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t confident he could.

Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang’s target could only be on physical objects. As long as he got his hands on them, there would always be a day he could decipher them.

Take stealth bombers, for instance: aren’t they mysterious enough? Yet, why do the countries that possess them protect them so vigilantly? Isn’t it because they fear someone might steal the stealth coating on the aircraft body? With modern technology, many things, once obtained in physical form, are not difficult to reverse-engineer. Look at how many imitation weapons, like fighter jets, can be replicated… this is the power of reverse engineering.

Zhou Yuanqiang gave a wry smile, shaking his head to dismiss all thoughts of theft, and said to Yan Yuhe, “What? Are you worried I won’t have a job or food? Haha, as long as you’re willing to support me, I’m not afraid of others calling me a pretty boy or a gold digger.”

“I’m serious!” Yan Yuhe, seeing Zhou Yuanqiang laughing, grew angry and playfully hit Zhou Yuanqiang’s back with the handbag in her hand. She said, “Do you still remember Xiao Ziyi? My father already knows I’m in City S. If you want us to be together, you need to make a good impression on my father. He won’t allow his daughter to date an unemployed man.”

Seeing Yan Yuhe’s anxious expression, the smile on Zhou Yuanqiang’s face remained unchanged. He suddenly pulled Yan Yuhe into his arms, letting her struggle and playfully hit his chest, and said, “You want me to be serious? It’s very simple. As long as you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll seriously look for a job.”

“You’re impossible!” Yan Yuhe’s face was flushed, incredibly radiant, especially her luscious lips. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but kiss her.

“Mmm… mmm…” Yan Yuhe was kissed by Zhou Yuanqiang. After a moment of stunned surprise, she struggled frantically. After pushing Zhou Yuanqiang away, she glared at him fiercely and said, “I’m not your girlfriend yet, why are you kissing me? You’re infuriating me! Be careful, I might just cancel that little chance I gave you.”

Zhou Yuanqiang put his hands back in his pockets, his smile returning, his tone still light. “Just with that kiss, you’re destined to be my woman.”

Yan Yuhe was exasperated and simultaneously amused by Zhou Yuanqiang’s display. She said, “Just a kiss, and I’m yours? On what grounds? Do you understand my family background? Do you know what the consequences would be if I were with you? You don’t understand, you don’t understand anything.” She suddenly started crying, shaking her head frantically, saying, “To like someone doesn’t need a reason, but liking them doesn’t mean you can be together. Do you understand that?”

Zhou Yuanqiang froze. Yan Yuhe’s sudden loss of control caught him off guard. He silently held Yan Yuhe, and they stood quietly by the roadside, letting occasional falling leaves float past them and land on the ground.

Until Yan Yuhe gradually calmed down, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t let go. He just held her and said softly, “I love you, the person, not everything you represent. Our relationship is pure, unmixed with money or power. We are equals. It’s not that I don’t have these things; it’s just that… I only want to give you a beautiful love, one that isn’t influenced by anything external.”

Yan Yuhe listened quietly, murmuring, “A beautiful love? But will it truly exist?”

“It will truly exist…” Zhou Yuanqiang released her, took her hand, and said, “I know what you’re thinking. You’re simply worried that I, a country boy, can’t match your background. I understand all your concerns. You don’t want your love to face a tragic end just as it begins. Trust me, no one can take the woman I, Zhou Yuanqiang, loves from my hands, not even your father.”

In terms of wealth and power, Zhou Yuanqiang was indeed very weak in the modern world, without any established foundation. But with the apocalypse as his massive behind-the-scenes factory, what couldn’t he achieve in the modern world? Moreover, once his arms deal plan was implemented, the exalted status he would gain… would be absolutely incomparable to anyone else. By then, a mere stomp of his foot could stir up international events and create a storm.

Perhaps that was a bit distant. More immediately, with “Doomsday Storm 2” already handed over to Warner Bros, they estimated it would bring him at least 1.5 billion US dollars in revenue. And the gold and diamonds in his storage space were worth around 500 million US dollars.

2 billion US dollars, converted to Renminbi, would be approximately 15 billion.

By then, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t dare claim to be the number one person in mainland China, but at least cracking the top ten would certainly not be a problem. With such status, who wouldn’t he be a match for? Perhaps some might say that 15 billion Renminbi is nothing on a global scale. But don’t forget, Zhou Yuanqiang is still very young… who knows what other miracles he might create?

What Yan Yuhe worried about was merely the disparity between them. For Zhou Yuanqiang, his existence was unique in this world; in every aspect, no one could surpass him. He was merely hiding his brilliance now, wanting to live a low-key life and avoid scheming with the so-called upper class.

Perhaps she knew it was impossible, but Zhou Yuanqiang’s words still made Yan Yuhe’s heart feel sweet. The man she chose had strong self-confidence; wasn’t that a good start?

“Where are we going next? We can’t keep walking these same streets, right?” Yan Yuhe, having collected her thoughts, broke free from Zhou Yuanqiang’s embrace and reverted to her previous self, smiling brightly at Zhou Yuanqiang. She tapped the expensive women’s watch on her wrist and said, “It’s lunchtime now.”

They found a nice café, ordered some pastries to fill their stomachs, and enjoyed the rare tranquility.

“In a few days, I might go traveling for a while. If you’re not busy, you can come with me,” Zhou Yuanqiang said to Yan Yuhe, wiping pastry crumbs from the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “Just to clear our minds, and also to sort out my current situation and clarify future development plans.” Zhou Yuanqiang was actually just saying it, because he knew Yan Yuhe wouldn’t have time to go.

Yan Yuhe wasn’t too surprised. She shook her head and said, “I’m afraid I don’t have time. You know, the company just started to pick up, and to be worthy of this salary and the 5% share dividend, I have to make sure the company thrives.” Thinking about what Zhou Yuanqiang said, she was quite supportive: “It’s good to clear your mind; it helps you sort out a lot of things. Hmm, have you decided where to go? I’ve been to many places, I can recommend a few to you.”

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head and said, “I haven’t decided on a destination yet, but when I do, I’ll call you.”

Actually, it wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t decided, but rather that this destination couldn’t be revealed to Yan Yuhe. After all, his purpose this time wasn’t tourism; he was going with the mindset of “the wolf is coming.” For the Commercial Association to develop, technology was the prerequisite. Don’t assume that just because the Commercial Association had a vast fleet of fighter jets, there was nothing to worry about. But what if the opponent also had a massive fleet of fighter jets? Many technological immaturities could lead to the Commercial Association losing air superiority.

Therefore, the Commercial Association needed more advanced technology.

Originally, Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to get technology from the apocalypse, but its unknown nature made him hesitant to risk leaving known human areas. Even with Armor Art, what then? Who knew if mutated zombies would appear? If zombies that could harm him showed up, he’d be finished.

In contrast, getting it from the modern world would be much safer. Don’t assume military bases are always heavily guarded. Take air force bases, for instance: fighter jets, bombers, drones, and more are parked all over the runways, and their ground defenses aren’t particularly strong. After all, activating these fighter jets requires the command center to unlock the main system’s electronic lock. Even if someone wanted to drive one, and it was just sitting on the runway, you couldn’t possibly start it and drive it away, could you?

Since the planes couldn’t take off, did you plan to drive a truck over, brazenly tie up a fighter jet, and drag it away? That would be the act of a madman, and within moments, you’d be shot full of holes. For this very reason, ground defense troops at air force bases aren’t very stringent; various fighter jets are simply parked on the airfield or in hangars.

Perhaps others would have no way, but for Zhou Yuanqiang, open-air parking with insufficient defense was absolutely fatal… In this situation, if he didn’t “borrow” a few to study, how could he justify his level 14 storage space?

(Today’s 11,000-character update is complete. If you have Monthly Votes, please cast them. Rainwater is very grateful!)

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Chapter 258: Guam

In December, a chill autumn wind blew, bringing a touch of coolness. It was an ordinary month, an ordinary day. Often, extraordinary things happen under the guise of peace, but no one had yet noticed what unsettling events this tranquil period might lead to. It was in these circumstances that Zhou Yuanqiang emigrated… It was abrupt, yet no one around him knew. To the immigration bureau, which processed hundreds of people daily, it was utterly unremarkable.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang understood the changes his act of emigration would bring.

Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t told his parents about emigrating because he knew his father would never agree. But emigration was the first crucial step in his plan, a necessity. So, Zhou Yuanqiang decided not to tell them, as he didn’t want to cause any unpleasantness with his parents.

The large villa’s front and back yards were filled with numerous ornamental plants, making the entire estate look like a park.

However, next to these highly ornamental plants, plots of cultivated vegetable patches looked incredibly out of place. It was like weeds growing next to beautiful flowers, a striking contrast. One couldn’t help but imagine a villa worth tens of millions having vegetable patches filled with various green vegetables. Perhaps due to meticulous care, they grew exceptionally plump and healthy.

Without a doubt, this was the work of Su Lan and Zhou Anpu. For people accustomed to manual labor, it’s hard to suddenly be idle. If they don’t do something, they feel uncomfortable, as if there’s a worm crawling and itching inside them, making them restless.

It was precisely because Zhou Yuanqiang understood this that he allowed them to do whatever they wanted with the villa.

In fact, if you think about it, what is making money for, if not to make your own life and the lives of those around you better? Since his parents considered this their way of life, what reason did Zhou Yuanqiang have to refuse? For them, the city was unfamiliar, with no friends and no places to visit. Neighbors? Heh… In the city, you’d never find that neighborly feeling; even door-to-door, people might recognize each other but never become familiar.

Some people might think this kind of setup in a villa was embarrassing. Zhou Yuanqiang scoffed at this notion. This was just a facade put on by the so-called upper class. Life should be lived however one feels most comfortable. Isn’t it exhausting to be impeccably dressed and pretending all the time?

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know how many days he would be away, and since he usually didn’t have much time to spend with them, he naturally wanted to give them more attention before his departure.

In the morning, the autumn wind brought a noticeable chill. Chinese New Year was just over a month away. At that time, Zhou Yuanqiang would have to make time to take them back to their hometown. There wasn’t nothing in the countryside; at least there were relatives and some old friends he used to get along with. These were all people he needed to visit.

Zhou Yuanqiang sat on a swing under a large tree, swaying gently. He watched his parents and little sister meticulously planting vegetables in the distance, while several servants occasionally handed them tools. The whole scene resembled a delightful farm outing. This kind of life was very peaceful and enjoyable, complementing the perilous dangers of the apocalypse with the tranquility of the modern world.

After a busy morning, and after washing off the mud and dust, the whole family decided to eat out.

The people living in this area were all powerful figures in City S. It was no exaggeration to say that if you randomly threw a stone here, it might hit a billionaire. A villa costing tens of millions wasn’t something just anyone could afford.

Honestly, Zhou Yuanqiang somewhat regretted choosing this place. While it was close to the sea, where the water met the sky in a single expanse, the problem was that everyone here carried their noses in the air, acting incredibly arrogant, which annoyed Zhou Yuanqiang. Take the two neighbors next door, for example; from their vantage point, they could see into his villa’s yard a bit, so every time they passed his gate, they’d show a look of disdain, making Zhou Yuanqiang wish he could beat them up.

Fortunately, they didn’t stoop to making sarcastic remarks that would be beneath their status. However, it did solidify Zhou Yuanqiang’s image as a nouveau riche.

As long as they didn’t cause trouble, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t care. As long as his parents could live peacefully, nouveau riche was fine. It wouldn’t cost him a pound of flesh. Many times, if you take a step back, apply a bit of an ‘Ah Q’ spirit, you’ll find that many troubles can be avoided.

After dinner, he dropped his parents and little sister back home. Zhou Yuanqiang then met Li Yihan, handing him the procurement list, and then inspected the warehouse once more, finally feeling at ease.

After several days of consideration, Zhou Yuanqiang finally decided to target Guam. As a crucial forward military base for the U.S. military in the Western Pacific, it housed a large number of military forces. It was also an attack launching point aimed at Asia, with numerous U.S. military strikes almost entirely originating from Guam. The large number of reconnaissance aircraft deployed there also took off from Guam.

Especially in recent years, the U.S. military had increased its deployment on Guam, moving many strategic weapons there, with large expenditures continuously improving the construction of the military base.

A place like this, concentrated with a large number of advanced and complete weapons, was naturally one Zhou Yuanqiang liked. Of course, for the U.S. military, Guam was not the largest or best military base; there were many better ones. The reason Zhou Yuanqiang chose it was probably simply because it was a forward military base aimed at Asia.

Causing trouble for the Americans while delighting the countries of Asia—this outcome seemed quite good.

Guam was an unincorporated territory of the United States, so an American visa was required, but this was not difficult for Zhou Yuanqiang. Once the visa was in hand, Zhou Yuanqiang boarded the passenger plane to Guam under the pretense of tourism. He went alone, quietly, telling Yan Yuhe that he was going to the Maldives… a well-known place among Hongkongers.

In truth, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t very familiar with Guam. Before? Before, he was just a wage earner, and his biggest dream was simply to have a car and a house—that would be the greatest happiness. How could he have ever thought about traveling abroad? That was how rich people played; a wage earner couldn’t possibly spend a year’s salary just to play for a few days. Moreover, a visa itself was an issue.

City S didn’t have direct flights to Guam, so Zhou Yuanqiang first arrived in Beijing, then traveled from Beijing to Guam. The entire journey would take about five and a half hours.

The flight departed from Beijing at 6:40 AM. Normally, by December, tourist numbers would drop significantly, and there would be few people traveling to Guam. A flight with one-third capacity would be considered high occupancy. But this time, unexpectedly, the flight was almost full, surely delighting the airline.

He found his seat and sat down. This was Zhou Yuanqiang’s third time flying in modern times, and he still felt a touch of novelty.

Just as the plane was about to take off, someone finally rushed into the empty seat opposite Zhou Yuanqiang, plopping down with a loud gasp. Without any ladylike manners, she exclaimed, “I’m exhausted, absolutely exhausted! I almost didn’t make it. Damn taxi, I shouldn’t have paid him. He said ten minutes, but it took a full twenty minutes. It’s infuriating!”

As if noticing Zhou Yuanqiang staring at her from across the aisle, the woman tossed her head, her eyes wide, and said, “What? Never seen a beautiful woman before? Your eyeballs are practically falling out.”

“…” Zhou Yuanqiang opened his mouth, originally intending to stay silent, but eventually pointed to her chest and said, “Your… your button there is undone.”

The woman’s chest was already substantial, and she was wearing a white women’s autumn shirt. Her black lace bra was quite noticeable, and now with one button open, half of her bra was exposed. It was possible that she had been rushing to board the plane, and with the running around and not being properly buttoned, this scene occurred.

Honestly, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t mind taking a few more glances at the pure white chest, especially such a magnificent one, paired with a rather alluring lace bra. But thinking of her fierce personality, who knew if she was a shrew? If she disregarded her status and stood up shouting “pervert,” how would he be able to stay there for five and a half hours?

Hearing Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, the other party first froze, then slammed the tray table Zhou Yuanqiang had pulled out, saying, “I knew it, you’re a pervert! The moment you saw me, your eyes went straight to my chest. Is it very magnificent? In your mind just now, were you wishing you could grab it and rub it properly? Hmph, men are all no good.”

Zhou Yuanqiang was dumbfounded, watching her slowly button her shirt. He was completely speechless. She was truly too fierce. He knew he shouldn’t have said anything; he could have enjoyed the view longer. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t figure out why such a beautiful woman with an excellent figure could have such a fiery personality.

Raising his hand, Zhou Yuanqiang simply took out a weekly magazine and covered his face with it, adopting an attitude of “it’s none of my business.”

“Hey, kid, you look like you’re asking for a beating, you know that?”

It seemed, however, that the other party had no intention of letting Zhou Yuanqiang off the hook, which vexed him greatly—it was a case of “the tree wants to be still, but the wind keeps blowing.” He lowered the weekly magazine, looking defeated, and faced her, saying with a bitter expression, “Miss, how am I asking for a beating? And we don’t even know each other.”

She pouted her lips, sneering, “Am I not pretty? Do you need to cover your eyes with a book? Is my appearance so unbearable that you have to? What is that if not asking for a beating? Yes, we don’t know each other, and I don’t want to know you.”

Zhou Yuanqiang felt a bit like he was losing his mind. How did he run into such a neurotic person? Did he not check the almanac before leaving today?

Compared to Zhou Yuanqiang’s silence, the other party suddenly thought of something and said, “Wait, wait.” Zhou Yuanqiang asked, “What now? I told you, we don’t know each other.” The other party said, “What did you just call me?” Zhou Yuanqiang replied, surprised, “I called you Miss!”

“Precisely! You bastard, how dare you call me ‘Miss’! Do you know what a ‘Miss’ does?” The other party seemed ready to devour Zhou Yuanqiang, her anger flaring. She said, “Oh, so you really had ill intentions, taking me for a ‘Miss.’ Were you thinking of a call-girl tour when we get to Guam? Traveling while enjoying some female company?”

If Zhou Yuanqiang weren’t strapped in, he might have been struck down by lightning. She was too fierce, truly too fierce!

Fortunately, the plane was about to take off, and the flight attendant came over, asking everyone to buckle their seatbelts. Otherwise, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know how he would have faced this woman. The other party, seemingly having vented all her anger, quieted down. Once the plane was flying smoothly, she called the flight attendant, ordered a large amount of food, piled it onto the tray table, and began to eat ravenously, completely disregarding the person sitting opposite her.

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at the food piled up in front of him and could only bitterly smile, covering his face with the weekly magazine again and leaning back in the seat. Apparently, he had just been a punching bag; this crazy woman had taken out her unknown anger entirely on him. Really… really… what bad luck.

“Mmm, this is really delicious. No wonder everyone wants first-class. So many delicious things, all free. Why don’t some people know how to eat? Haha, I wonder if Philin will be furious to the point of spitting blood when she finds out I took her ticket. I told her off for prioritising her boyfriend over me; wanting to fly to Guam with him to spend the night together? No way… How could my best friend just be snatched away by a man?”

With Zhou Yuanqiang’s excellent hearing, he naturally heard everything clearly. He just smiled, but unexpectedly, the other party could tell Zhou Yuanqiang was smiling from the movement of the weekly magazine. She immediately said, “Hey, kid, what are you laughing at? Stop pretending to be a hypocrite. There’s a lot of food, you can eat some. It’s really delicious…”

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head and said, “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”

Unexpectedly, the other party didn’t care. She directly shoved a hamburger at him and said, “Eat. Don’t thank me, it’s not like I’m paying anyway.”

Zhou Yuanqiang held the hamburger, feeling incredibly awkward. He didn’t know whether to eat it or not, so he just held it foolishly. Finally, he changed the subject and said, “Are you traveling alone?” She nodded and said, “What? Do you really want to hit on me? I’m telling you, I’m not that easy to pick up. Hmph, with my looks, the line of men who want to chase me would scare you to death, so if you want to hit on me, first see if you’re qualified.”

“…”

Zhou Yuanqiang simply said nothing more. This was clearly an arrogant woman; he asked a simple question, and she could spin so many issues from it. Her appearance indeed would make men line up, but the problem was her personality… so boisterous, it left one speechless.

Quite unexpectedly, however, after she had eaten and drunk her fill, she quieted down, staring blankly out the window. The lingering glow of the sunset streamed through the window, illuminating the clouds dyed red by the evening light, making them look magnificent. In that moment, she became gentle and quiet, an incredibly attractive woman. The difference before and after was truly immense.

Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but say, “Now you look more fitting for your face and figure. You’re very beautiful…”

The other party just glared at Zhou Yuanqiang. She initially wanted to lash out, but for some reason, she calmed down again and said faintly, “Thank you!” Her voice was completely different from when she was boisterous; it was very pleasant to listen to.

Sighing, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t say anything more because he keenly noticed a tear silently slipping from the corner of her eye.

The rest of the journey was quiet. Zhou Yuanqiang silently closed his eyes to rest, while the woman opposite him stared blankly out at the clouds in the night sky, lost in thought. Even when the flight attendant came to remind her to fasten her seatbelt because the plane was about to land, she remained in a daze.

Upon arriving in Guam, it was already 2:30 AM. As soon as he stepped off the plane, he could feel a salty, fishy sea breeze. Because it was the middle of the night, apart from the brightly lit airport, many places were pitch black and unclear. The airport was only about four kilometers from Guam’s capital, Agana. Considering the time zone difference, taxis here were very active, taking tourists arriving in the middle of the night to their hotels.

Walking out of the airport, Zhou Yuanqiang felt light. With his storage space, there was no need to bring luggage.

Since he wasn’t familiar with Guam, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t act immediately upon arrival. Instead, he decided to do some actual sightseeing first. Renting a car in Guam costs about eighty dollars a day, but for Zhou Yuanqiang, it was insignificant pocket change. Guam isn’t large; military bases already occupy 20% of the land. Driving around the island would only take two or three hours.

In fact, Guam’s scenery isn’t particularly beautiful, not even as good as Hainan Island. However, its vista where the sky meets the sea gives one a feeling of being closer to nature, closer to the ocean, which Hainan Island cannot offer.

There’s another point: if a U.S. aircraft carrier happens to be docked in Guam, tourists can even go aboard to take photos as souvenirs. This is the most attractive part; many people come to Guam just to take pictures on an aircraft carrier. You can openly stand next to various carrier-based aircraft, even pose with U.S. soldiers, experiencing the navy’s most powerful weapons up close.

Upon thinking about this, Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled. The U.S. military was truly open-minded. In their eyes, opening the aircraft carrier deck to tourists was no big deal, as long as they ensured no tourists entered the interior. As for the fighter jets on the deck, there was even less to worry about; the inspections before boarding were not just for show, so there was no need to worry about anyone daring to eye those fighter jets.

But if they encountered a weirdo like him, would the things they believed they didn’t need to worry about turn into their worst nightmare?

In the newspaper on the plane, Zhou Yuanqiang had found news that an American carrier strike group was docked at Apra Naval Base. Perhaps so many tourists traveling to Guam also wanted to take photos on the aircraft carrier? The poor strike group… they might soon discover what a mistake it was to be docked in Guam.

(Monthly… Monthly… Monthly Votes…)

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Chapter 259: Going All Out

Guam, located in a tropical and warm region, is best visited between November and January. The weather at this time is perfect, and the ocean temperature is just right—not too hot, not too cold, a pleasant warmth that allows one to fully enjoy the sun, the beach… and the fiery hot women in bikinis, almost nude, displayed before your eyes. It’s truly a feast for the eyes, so “exciting” that you might have to find a few hot girls at night to help extinguish that flame.

On the morning of his second day in Guam, Zhou Yuanqiang was already dressed in swim trunks, having rented a chair, a sun umbrella, and a table. He set them up on the beach, enjoying a beach breakfast bathed in the morning light. There was the sea breeze, the sound of waves, and of course, women playing on the beach—absolute bliss.

Tropical weather, unlike subtropical, sees temperatures rise quickly. By ten o’clock local time, the sun was already scorching. This brought the entire beach to life, with people from different countries and of different skin tones all playing happily, occasionally jumping into the sea. Of course, the temperature here still couldn’t compare to the wilderness settlement. Zhou Yuanqiang, who had long adapted to the intense heat, actually found it a bit cool here.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s memories of swimming could only be traced back to junior high school; after that, he rarely had the chance.

The small creeks in his hometown held many memories, but unfortunately, as he grew older, it was no longer possible to swim in them without inhibition like he did as a child. Another point was the increasingly severe environmental pollution; the water in the creeks was vastly different from his memory. The crystal-clear water was gone, replaced by turbidity, and with the construction of household bathrooms, all wastewater was discharged into the creeks. Splashing in the creeks would forever remain only a memory.

After a few warm-up exercises, Zhou Yuanqiang plunged into the seawater, diving headfirst into the waves.

At noon, after a quick lunch of bread, Zhou Yuanqiang rented a car and began a self-drive tour around Guam. If you’re hoping for a grand seafood feast to satisfy your palate in Guam, forget about it. Aside from the local seafood, there isn’t much else to eat, and the local seafood is often quite salty and not very tasty. You’d be better off with snacks and bread.

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang was quite troubled right now; he simply didn’t know how to proceed.

The most ideal target would naturally be Anderson Air Force Base, where a large number of combat aircraft were deployed, especially strategic bombers, which were available in vast numbers. This was a strategic frontline for the entire Asia-Pacific region, and various combat exercises basically took off from here.

It would be great to get stealth strategic bombers, but the problem was that these stealth bombers rarely left the United States mainland under normal circumstances. They would only depart from the mainland for missions, briefly stopping at some military bases, and then return to the mainland once the mission was complete. This was the US military’s way of protecting its stealth strategic bombers, as they were their trump card.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t dare to hope for such large aircraft. It would be good enough if he could steal a few F-16s or similar. Of course, Zhou Yuanqiang’s interest in Anderson Air Force Base wasn’t just the planes, but also the AGM-86C air-launched cruise missiles deployed by the US military in Guam. These were what Zhou Yuanqiang truly needed.

The Commercial Association was committed to developing its air force, and air-launched cruise missiles had become one of the top priority weapons for the Commercial Association’s cruise missile development.

As for ship-to-shore cruise missiles, there was no need to consider them for now. The Commercial Association’s influence was confined to the interior, too far from the ocean. There was no hope of using them anytime soon. This was also why Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t go to Apra Naval Base, as there wasn’t much he could steal from a naval base.

Zhou Yuanqiang could consider land-based cruise missiles, which offered better practicality than air-launched ones. There were several exposed land-based cruise missile bases domestically, but Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t bring himself to steal from his own country. In other words, if he was going to steal, he’d steal from foreigners. What kind of person steals from their own home?

Sometimes Zhou Yuanqiang even wondered if he should visit Boeing. Its research and manufacturing capabilities in all aspects were too strong. Robbing any research institute there would undoubtedly yield the world’s most advanced technology. But was Boeing so easy to rob? Considering their security measures, even getting into the outer perimeter would be difficult, let alone the core internal areas. If he tried to sneak in, he wondered if his Armor Art could withstand attacks from various terrifying weapons.

After a full circle, it was already evening when he returned to the hotel. Zhou Yuanqiang was not in a hurry. He leisurely ate dinner, then chose to walk rather than drive, leaving the hotel and heading north, directly towards Anderson Air Force Base.

Given Zhou Yuanqiang’s speed and the sparse population of Guam, after nightfall, there were always many blind spots where streetlights couldn’t reach, allowing Zhou Yuanqiang to move quickly without fear of being discovered, as his running speed was simply too fast. In the darkness, you couldn’t even see his shadow.

Upon reaching the perimeter of Anderson Air Force Base, Zhou Yuanqiang found a high vantage point, took out his binoculars, and began carefully observing the entire air force base.

Anderson Air Force Base was very large, covering 84 square kilometers, plus its perimeter alert zone. On such open ground, it would be difficult to enter the air force base without being detected. According to the intelligence he had gathered, the defense force in the air force base was not very strong. With a little caution, it was entirely possible to approach the air force base.

However, the situation tonight was somewhat unexpected. The entire air force base was brightly lit.

“Damn it, didn’t they say this air force base wasn’t heavily defended? Didn’t they say that at night, not many lights were on? Why is what I’m seeing now the complete opposite?” Zhou Yuanqiang was so troubled. He had actually hesitated between the aircraft carrier and the air force base, finally choosing the air force base. But why had the defenses suddenly strengthened?

Did the enemy know his intentions? That seemed too far-fetched. He was absolutely like a ghost entering a village, sneaking in. No one could possibly know.

An act of stealing US military aircraft and cruise missiles would certainly be comparable to the 9/11 incident. If he attacked the air force base, the aircraft carrier would immediately leave port, giving him no chance to board it. It meant he could only choose one; acting on either would lead to the consequence of beating the grass to scare the snake.

The primary aircraft at Anderson Air Force Base were F-16 fighter jets and a large number of B-52 strategic bombers. Zhou Yuanqiang’s original plan was to get four or five F-16s and a few AGM-86C air-launched cruise missiles back for research. Even if the F-16s were sold, in the black market, these fighter jets, with an official price of 30 million US dollars, would be worth at least around 22 million, which is hundreds of millions of Renminbi. In Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, just leaving hundreds of millions of Renminbi lying on the runway like that, it would be foolish not to take it.

Through the binoculars, the situation at the airport quickly appeared before Zhou Yuanqiang.

“Hiss… This time, I’ve really hit the jackpot. ***, it’s a B-2 stealth bomber. His grandmother’s, one, two, three, four, four B-2 stealth bombers! How did these big guys end up here?” Everything at the air force base made Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart race; he almost roared with excitement.

Now he finally understood why the air force base was abnormal today. It turned out that the arrival of these big guys had put the entire airport on high alert.

Considering that an aircraft carrier fleet was also docked at Apra Naval Base, it wasn’t hard to imagine that this was a US military operation, or perhaps a military exercise. Luckily, Zhou Yuanqiang had stumbled upon such a good opportunity. The moment he saw the four stealth bombers on the airport, Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes turned green.

“His grandmother’s, seize the opportunity, for it will not come again…”

Tonight was originally for reconnaissance, but the appearance of these four big guys changed Zhou Yuanqiang’s plan. Who knew if they would only stay here for one day? If they flew away tomorrow, wouldn’t he be spitting blood? Just for these four guys, he had to take a risk.

He checked the time; it was already 8:30 PM. The four big planes had probably just arrived at the airport and hadn’t yet been moved into hangars.

Leaving them exposed on the runway was always much more convenient than putting them in hangars. After estimating the distance between his position and the airport, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly smiled. The Americans were too confident; they believed no one could bring weapons into Guam, and no one would dare cause trouble here.

With the special existence of his storage space, Zhou Yuanqiang had virtually brought a massive arsenal of weapons and ammunition into Guam.

One by one, the Commercial Association’s first successfully developed small missile launchers were brought out by Zhou Yuanqiang. He found some concealed spots and began to set up the attack data. The purpose of these short-range missiles was to supplement the shortcomings of artillery in bombardment. These small guided missiles could attack targets from 3 to 25 kilometers, capable of striking fixed and moving targets. They were also among the weapons the Commercial Association was preparing to equip its ground forces with.

“Now it’s good, they can have a taste…” Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t worry about the launchers being found afterward, because explosives had already been set on them. As soon as the launch was complete, they would detonate, pulverizing the entire launcher. And the missiles were independently developed by the Commercial Association, not existing in any country in this world, so the United States would have no way to trace them.

Having finished all this, he gazed at the dozens of small missile launchers lined up, each missile like a baring-fanged demon.

“Now, let’s begin the operation…” After initiating the launch countdown, Zhou Yuanqiang knew he only had five minutes. As soon as the time was up, dozens of missiles would descend upon the entire air force base, engulfing it in explosions.

Activating Armor Art, Zhou Yuanqiang’s intention was simple: to force his way in, relying on his speed.

Considering Zhou Yuanqiang had reached a 42x ability enhancement, his running speed was definitely under three seconds per 100 meters. With the cover of night, and the ability of spatial teleportation to return at any time, if he kept moving, only instruments would detect him. For human eyes to catch a glimpse of Zhou Yuanqiang, it would be quite difficult.

First, he quietly approached the barbed wire fence, then skillfully leaped over the six or seven-meter-high fence. After that, without further ado, he began sprinting towards the air force base runway. How fast Zhou Yuanqiang could run at full power, even he hadn’t tried. Under the Armor Art, which enveloped him, he didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing his true face. In his rapid movement, the armor still flashed with a silver glow, streaking across like a meteor…

“Oh, what was that?”

A US soldier noticed the rapidly flashing silver light, but Zhou Yuanqiang was too fast and was wearing armor, making it impossible to clearly see what it was. Another soldier was even more blunt, saying he hadn’t seen anything and somewhat dismissively responded, “Dude, were you indulging too much last night? Lucky you didn’t die in some chick’s bed.”

Humans might not be able to detect him, but Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t evade the numerous alert instruments. The moment he crossed the alert line, a piercing alarm suddenly blared, echoing through the sky.

As Zhou Yuanqiang ran, he could see that under the alarm, the patrolling soldiers immediately entered combat mode. Pilots, dishevelled, rushed out of their barracks, shouting as they raced towards the combat aircraft on the runway. Although the alarm indicated a ground threat, according to regulations, they all needed to get their aircraft airborne to avoid massive losses.

But when it came to speed, no one was faster than Zhou Yuanqiang. He practically stormed onto the runway like the wind. As he sprinted, his hand merely brushed past an F-16 fighter jet, and it was silently absorbed into his storage space. A fighter jet only 15 meters long was no problem for his storage space to hold.

“Haha, 30 million US dollars in hand…”

The combat aircraft parked on the runway were generally fully armed; they were alert aircraft. The thought of them laden with various missiles made Zhou Yuanqiang feel “excited.” They would undoubtedly play an inestimable role in the Commercial Association’s missile research and development.

In a few breaths, three F-16s had already vanished from the runway. The storage space could hold four to five such aircraft. However, Zhou Yuanqiang needed to save space because the reason for his gamble tonight was those four big guys.

Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, knew the data for the B-2 stealth bomber very well. Its length wasn’t a problem, but its wings were too long, far beyond what the storage space could accommodate. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang still needed to do one thing: break off both wings of the bomber until it could fit into the storage space.

However, this task was truly too difficult. The US military’s response would certainly allow them to scramble fighter jets within five minutes, which simply wasn’t enough time for Zhou Yuanqiang. Or rather, breaking off those two wings, how easy was that?

To buy himself time, Zhou Yuanqiang unceremoniously pulled out a Gatling heavy machine gun from his storage space and, while still sprinting, strafed rows of fighter jets on the runway. Orange flames flickered, leaving bullet marks on the aircraft. Given the precision of fighter jets, and these hits on the engines and nose, it was obvious that getting the aircraft to fly again would be quite difficult.

For the United States, with its powerful industrial system, manufacturing fighter jets was very simple. They could even produce hundreds a day.

However, training a pilot takes several years and costs certainly no less than the price of a fighter jet. Since trouble had already been stirred, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate. He turned his machine gun and furiously strafed the rushing pilots. Bullets rained down, hitting the running pilots one by one. The unlucky ones were torn in half, while others were left with fist-sized bloody holes in their bodies, and many more suffered severed limbs.

Screams suddenly erupted across the airport. Dozens of pilots were incapacitated in less than half a minute.

“Three minutes left…” Zhou Yuanqiang silently counted the time. No matter what, he had to finish within three minutes, otherwise, he would just leave. The power of dozens of missiles would be enough to destroy most of the base, and no matter how powerful Armor Art was, it couldn’t withstand a missile bombardment.

Zhou Yuanqiang moved entirely beneath the fighter jets. The air force base had reacted, and teams of soldiers were yelling frantically, but their naked eyes couldn’t see the moving Zhou Yuanqiang. So, they could only run around chaotically, causing greater confusion throughout the air force base. Some people didn’t even know what was happening or why there was machine gun fire.

The high-ranking generals, who had just enjoyed dinner, hadn’t even reacted when the alarm sounded. Their first instinct was, “Was it a false alarm?”

What kind of place was Guam? It was one of the four strategic bomber forward bases currently being deployed by the US military, whose strategic importance was beyond imagination. Under attack? In this world, only the US military went to provoke others; no one else dared to provoke them. The powerful military, possessing the world’s most advanced military technology, and an incredibly strong industry; this was America’s pride, a unique pride in the world.

Therefore, no one had ever imagined that a military base, a strategic stronghold, would suddenly come under attack. The generals’ reactions were normal because it was fundamentally impossible.

But then, the sound of heavy machine gun fire made everyone truly realize that the air force base was indeed under attack and that the attacker had already entered the base. The thought of the numerous fighter jets and bombers in the base… and even the recently arrived B-2 stealth bombers… made everyone’s scalp tingle. If even a tiny mistake occurred at the base, most of the people present would likely face court-martial.

Meanwhile, relying on various electronic capabilities, the reacting command center finally located Zhou Yuanqiang’s figure…

(For some reason today, I’m completely out of sorts. Writing is painful… I’m literally pushing through it with sheer willpower, word by word. So tired, so tired…)

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Chapter 260: Earth-Shattering Explosion

“God, how can it be a single-man mecha?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s movements were already fast enough. However, with electronic technology processing and slowing down the footage, his figure could still be revealed on the screen. Instantly, the mecha-like body made everyone react as if they had seen a ghost, filled with disbelief… The Armor Art, which closely resembled a single-man mecha, successfully deceived everyone.

“Single-man mecha…” A group of generals all shook their heads. One lieutenant general even stated, “Worldwide, only we and Japan have made progress in single-man mecha research. To actually deploy them, it would require at least another twenty to thirty years to solve some technical difficulties. It’s impossible for such a mature single-man mecha to appear within thirty years.”

However, the reality before their eyes clearly indicated that this was a mecha already in a very mature stage. Its fluid movements, lightning-fast explosive speed, and agile dodges clearly showed it was a crystallization of the world’s highest technology, a culmination of countless technological applications. Only then could it produce such an effect.

When it came to technology, no one could surpass the United States. With comprehensive technological development, it stood at the apex in almost all fields. One could say that if the United States wished, all its research could mobilize the entire nation’s scientific and technological strength. Yet, even under these circumstances, it couldn’t completely resolve the series of problems related to single-man mechas.

Besides the United States, only Japan’s robotics technology was the most advanced, perhaps even on par with the United States. But no one present believed this single-man mecha belonged to the Japanese. This was because American influence permeated every department in Japan, and any subtle movement would not escape the eyes of its master. It was impossible for the Japanese to secretly develop strategic research like single-man mechas without their master knowing.

But if it wasn’t their own country’s, nor their lackeys’, then which country did this single-man mecha belong to?

Now was not the time to consider that question. Undoubtedly, compared to the damaged fighter jet, the research value of this single-man mecha was countless times higher. The US military had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on single-man mechas and had only just begun. What was the value of a fighter jet here?

“Everyone, stop it! We must capture it!”

The command center, realizing its value, immediately stopped the heavy weapons that were about to launch an attack. In their view, no matter how powerful it was, it couldn’t withstand human sea tactics. As long as this single-man mecha could be captured intact, the entire attack, and the losses at the airport, would be non-issues. On the contrary, they might even receive commendations from the President.

It was this order that allowed Zhou Yuanqiang to escape a calamity. After all, this was a US military airbase, with a large deployment of advanced weapons. The defenses appeared lax, but the hidden dangers were always beyond what outsiders could predict. The Armor Art could defend against ordinary bullets, but some high-end weapons could penetrate the armor and harm Zhou Yuanqiang inside.

“Two minutes left…”

Zhou Yuanqiang, who had successfully appeared next to the stealth bomber, silently calculated the time again. At the same time, three minutes were enough for the entire airbase to make a full response. He watched as squads of soldiers surrounded his position. Perhaps out of concern for the stealth bomber, the enemy didn’t open fire but rushed him en masse.

How could Zhou Yuanqiang let such a rare opportunity slip by?

High-density alloy steel, the metal used to manufacture armor-piercing shells, was definitely super tough. Although Zhou Yuanqiang knew the giant sword made from it was extremely hard and sharp, he wasn’t sure if he could use it to destroy the massive bat-like wings of the B-2 stealth bomber.

How terrifying was 42 times the strength? This was a striking force of several thousand kilograms, and with the sharp giant sword, it was absolutely invincible.

With the wing height around 5 meters, Zhou Yuanqiang could leap onto the wing with a single standing jump.

The wings of the B-2 stealth bomber were constructed from graphite and carbon fiber composite materials, using a honeycomb structure. Knowing this, Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to try with the giant sword. If he could dismantle its wings with the giant sword, that would be for the best. If not… he wouldn’t mind using the aerial bombs in his storage space to blow them off. In any case, no matter what, he was absolutely determined to get it today.

Standing on the B-2 stealth bomber, Zhou Yuanqiang felt an indescribable excitement. Probably not many people in the world could stand in this position? Knowing time was short, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate. He raised the giant sword high and plunged it forcefully into the wing.

The giant sword’s sharp edge, also made of high-density alloy steel, combined with Zhou Yuanqiang’s several thousand kilograms of striking force, did not disappoint his expectations. It plunged directly through the wide wing. There was no hesitation. He pulled out the giant sword and plunged it into the wing like rain, as fast as a sewing machine needle, a speed that absolutely exceeded everyone’s imagination.

“God, what… what is it doing?”

The officers and generals in the command center were completely baffled by Zhou Yuanqiang’s actions. If it wanted to destroy the bomber, it could simply strafe it with machine guns. Given the stealth bomber’s prestige, a few bullet holes would be enough for a major overhaul. And who knew, a single overhaul cost hundreds of millions of dollars. If the engine was damaged, it would be even worse… practically scrap.

But the opponent was hacking at the wings. What did that mean?

Perhaps the appearance of the single-man mecha was too shocking. The generals only realized something when they thought about the bomber’s major overhaul, and they all frantically shouted, “No, God, damn it, it’s destroying the B-2 stealth bomber! Quick, quick, stop it! Damn it… How could this be?”

The panicked command center naturally impacted the soldiers running to surround him below. Several soldiers raised their submachine guns and began strafing Zhou Yuanqiang, who was standing on the wing. Instantly, under their lead, intense gunfire erupted, and bullets left streaks in the night sky.

“Damn it, don’t shoot, don’t shoot!”

The people in the command center were already heartbroken. These four bombers were parked close together. Who knew what kind of accident might occur due to the random gunfire? If another one was destroyed, the trouble would definitely be immense. Even if they captured this single-man mecha alive, at most, the merits and demerits would cancel each other out. Receiving commendations would be out of the question.

This wasn’t a movie where protagonists could never be hit by bullets, even if a dozen people strafed them with machine guns.

This was a living reality, and Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t avoid it. Despite any protagonist halo, he was hit by the incoming bullets. The “clanging” sounds on his armor indicated that it had successfully defended against the submachine gun bullets. Although unharmed, Zhou Yuanqiang still broke out in a cold sweat. His hands didn’t stop. After damaging the wing, he made a huge leap, soaring high, then plunging heavily onto the wing.

The area connected to the fuselage was pierced with a row of holes by the giant sword. This method, like a thousand-catty drop, directly broke the wing.

“Gosh, that wasn’t easy.” Thinking that the other side still needed to be broken, Zhou Yuanqiang leaped onto the top of the fuselage. In a few steps, he appeared under the other intact wing and repeated the series of actions from before. Like a sewing machine, he frantically plunged and pulled out… If someone didn’t know what he was doing, seeing this plunging and pulling out would surely make them think of scenes from certain island nation’s blockbuster films.

It seemed slow, but in reality, it was incredibly fast. In just half a minute, he had finished stabbing. Then, he leaped high again, crashed down heavily, and directly snapped the wing.

Having completed this series of actions, Zhou Yuanqiang no longer cared about causing a sensation. He slammed his hand onto the bare fuselage of the stealth bomber, which now had both wings “shaved off.” Under the gaze of countless eyes, the entire stealth bomber suddenly vanished into thin air. Even the two wings that had fallen to the ground subsequently disappeared.

At this moment, everyone was as if frozen in place, unable to believe what their eyes had just witnessed.

“47 seconds left!”

Zhou Yuanqiang gazed at the other three bombers with some regret. Time was running out; it was impossible to get his hands on another one. But… Zhou Yuanqiang was a wicked person. He didn’t know if the missiles would cover this area later, so he was quite impolitely, like Santa Claus, constantly taking out extra-large gifts.

It’s just that these gifts didn’t seem to be very well-liked, as they were all aerial bombs, rockets, and other uniform munitions.

Too mysterious, too mysterious… God, what on earth is going on?

No one could imagine how this single-man mecha managed it. “Does it have magic, making the bomber disappear? God, this isn’t real, it’s too terrifying.” The generals in the command center were already speaking incoherently, because what they had seen was too unbelievable, as if they were watching a Hollywood fantasy blockbuster.

After completing this series of actions, there were still 30 seconds left, but for Zhou Yuanqiang, that was enough. 30 seconds was enough for him to leave this airbase.

At this time, the surrounding soldiers had already surrounded him, but they were destined to be disappointed. The single-man mecha suddenly نیم-crouched, took on a sprinting start pose, and before they could even understand what was happening, its powerful explosive force made the mecha seem to disappear directly.

Several soldiers in the southern position were suddenly flung away, the sound of their bones shattering clearly audible.

Before these unfortunate soldiers even hit the ground, Zhou Yuanqiang’s figure was already far away. His terrifying speed, combined with the darkness of the night, and the silver glint of his armor under the lights, made Zhou Yuanqiang appear even more magical. Each flash of silver light meant dozens of meters covered. By the time the soldiers, flung nearly twenty meters away, landed, Zhou Yuanqiang had already broken through to the periphery of the airbase.

The terrifying speed and the sound of shattering bones made all the soldiers gasp. Everything seemed like something out of a movie, causing them to hesitate after they reacted. Faced with this impenetrable, incredibly fast single-man mecha, the soldiers had lost the courage to pursue, knowing they couldn’t keep up.

Compared to the soldiers’ passive approach, the generals in the command center would absolutely not allow their efforts to be in vain. They would never permit the culprit to destroy everything and then escape unscathed. The reputation of the US military could not be trampled under their feet; this would make them historical villains of the United States.

Five armed helicopters buzzed to life, flying in the direction Zhou Yuanqiang had fled.

What if this single-man mecha was fast? Would its speed be faster than a helicopter? Moreover, its power system wouldn’t allow it to be used for too long. The energy issue was the most critical technical problem for single-man mechas. Therefore, the generals in the command center were certain that there must be support personnel nearby.

What kind of place was Guam? To put it mildly, it was a tourist destination. To put it directly, the entire Guam was a US military base, the US military’s most important strategic forward base. It was impossible for any force to appear on Guam without the military’s notice.

The fact that the opponent could transport the mecha to the island was already a miracle. No one would believe that, with Guam already on high alert, the opponent could operate undetected. Given the single-man mecha’s weight, it would definitely require vehicle transport… Such a large target had no reason to escape. From the moment it was exposed, its fate was sealed – it had no way to flee.

As for the possibility of the opponent having air support for their escape, that was even more of a joke. Were Guam’s countless anti-air weapons just for show? Was Guam’s radar system just a toy?

To ensure the capture of this single-man mecha, the command center, to prevent any tricks, not only dispatched five armed helicopters but also, still not daring to be careless, called for the remaining pilots to immediately board and take off. On another front, they notified the Navy and Army to comprehensively intercept all targets at sea and on land, absolutely preventing the opponent from escaping.

Propelled by its furious speed, Zhou Yuanqiang’s every jump could cover dozens of meters. As soon as he cleared the airbase fence, and the countdown ended, Zhou Yuanqiang revealed a smile, because the missile launch time he set had officially activated.

The airbase’s anti-air capabilities were formidable, but these small missiles attacked at an altitude of less than ten meters above the ground. The radar wouldn’t even detect them, let alone intercept them. And at such a close distance, even if the enemy’s radar spotted them, it wouldn’t leave them any time to react.

As Zhou Yuanqiang crossed the barbed wire fence and landed, the missile barrage officially launched. Missiles fired from their launch racks, propelled by their engines, surged towards the airbase.

In just two or three seconds, the missile cluster successfully reached the airbase and then plunged down. The airbase, touted for its robust anti-air capabilities, had no reaction to these ultra-low altitude missiles. Missile after missile fell into the fighter jet squadrons on the runway. Violent explosions utterly destroyed these aircraft into fragments, and the fully armed fighter jets then had their onboard ammunition detonated. The effect was, as one can imagine, absolutely terrifying.

Yet, this alone was not enough to convey the destructive power of the missiles. The aerial bombs Zhou Yuanqiang had left inside the base were also detonated by the residual shockwaves. It was as if the entire base was flipped upside down, with aircraft after aircraft swept away by flames and shockwaves, turning into fragments.

The remaining three stealth bombers were even more pitiful… Three missiles successfully hit their targets, and in the violent explosions, the massive quantities of bombs inside the bombers were detonated.

These Block 30 models carried 80 Mk80 bombs, so three of them meant 240 bombs. Now, detonated, the mushroom cloud they formed enveloped the entire airbase. The terrifying shockwave swept through everything. Dozens of F-16s and B-52 strategic bombers in the airport were pulverized into fragments by the shockwave. The nearby base buildings were completely ripped apart.

Soldiers, ground crew, and pilots running within the airport were like toys, thrown dozens of meters high by the shockwave, dismembered one by one.

Even in the distant command center, the massive transparent glass was shattered by the sound of the explosion and the residual shockwave, scattering across the floor. The tremendous vibration caused people to lose their footing, stumbling and falling. The instantaneous failure of the power system plunged the entire command center into darkness.

What was truly terrifying was that the immense power directly detonated the supposedly absolutely secure fuel depot.

An air force fuel depot isn’t just tens or hundreds of tons; it often has millions of tons of storage. While the construction of a fuel depot might withstand even missiles, the power of hundreds of Mk80 bombs was comparable to half a small nuclear bomb. With a sweeping blow, it successfully detonated the impregnable fuel depot.

The explosion of millions of tons of fuel was even more terrifying than hundreds of Mk80 bombs. You simply cannot imagine what it was like at the moment it detonated.

Like a mighty tsunami, endless flames spread out, sweeping away everything. Anything on the ground, any object, even the five armed helicopters that had ascended hundreds of meters into the sky, were engulfed by the soaring flames, instantly incinerating the people inside.

The entire 84 square kilometer airbase was almost completely engulfed in fire, destroying everything.

The underground fuel depot simultaneously blew off the surrounding surface, even the airbase’s underground hangars and other structures were flung to the surface, exposed to the flames, and burned to ashes. At the same time, a dozen more ammunition depots scattered around were detonated, like fireworks under the flames, rumbling endlessly, tearing the airbase apart once again. Everything, absolutely nothing, remained.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s inadvertent actions, merely intended to sow chaos and allow him to escape successfully, brought him immense benefits. At the very least, all evidence of his theft of the fighter jet, including electronic recordings, eyewitness accounts, and everything else, was reduced to ashes in the earth-shattering explosion. No one would ever know anything about Zhou Yuanqiang.

Even the forces that arrived later to cordon off the area would only know that a single-man mecha had attacked the airbase, nothing more.

Based on that alone, what could they possibly deduce? Perhaps the mere words “single-man mecha” already left them completely without a clue. Want to find any traces? Just think of this terrifying explosion; with nothing left of the entire airbase, even immortals would probably be helpless.

Chapter 261: A Small Matter

When the missile was launched, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t stop, because he knew that if he teleported from there, in the future, when he wanted to return from the apocalypse to the modern world, he would be transported back to the exact spot he left. Given the magnitude of what had just happened, the global shock was unimaginable. That entire area would undoubtedly be declared a restricted zone, making it incredibly troublesome for him to return to the modern world.

Thus, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t relax in the slightest. As he sprinted away, he certainly couldn’t have imagined that the trouble he’d caused was far greater than destroying a dozen or so warplanes. By the time he had run several kilometers, the entirety of Guam seemed to experience an earthquake, and the ground trembled violently.

Turning back, Zhou Yuanqiang stood agape, watching the flames soar hundreds of meters high. The fierce explosions sounded like firecrackers. Rolling waves of fire spread out, sweeping in all directions. The instantaneously generated shockwave destroyed everything in its path. The coconut trees on Guam were torn from the ground by the shockwave, instantly turning into flaming trees under the intense heat, burning as they flew, only to be swallowed by the fire wave moments later.

“Oh my God…”

Zhou Yuanqiang watched the all-encompassing fire wave; its speed was astonishing, especially the shockwave, which reached him in mere moments. Without hesitation, Zhou Yuanqiang immediately activated his teleportation ability, disappearing into thin air. The sweeping shockwave cleared the spot where Zhou Yuanqiang had just been, and the ensuing inferno scorched even the ground.

The terrifying power, and the sheer area it engulfed, were beyond anything Zhou Yuanqiang had estimated. The entire northern part of Guam was almost completely enveloped in flames. Local residents living in the north and tourists who had settled there became victims of the explosion, consumed by the rolling tongues of fire.

Of course, none of this seemed to concern Zhou Yuanqiang. He appeared in the apocalypse, looked at the familiar surroundings, and became excited, laughing loudly: “Hahahaha! Stealth bombers! I’ve struck it rich, I’ve struck it rich! Hahahaha! I’ll have the Commercial Association replicate them. Once they succeed, I’ll put a different ‘skin’ on them and bring them back to the modern world. Selling one for a billion or eight hundred million US dollars—hahahaha!”

The more Zhou Yuanqiang thought about it, the more excited he became. He did several somersaults in the room, but still couldn’t calm his racing heart.

Yes, Zhou Yuanqiang had every reason to be excited. These weren’t ordinary bombers; they were the world’s most advanced and expensive stealth bombers, each costing over 2.2 billion US dollars. The crucial part wasn’t their expense, but the technological insights they offered, which could be absorbed by the Commercial Association. If successful, the Commercial Association’s future competitiveness would increase by several notches, ensuring it remained invincible.

In the apocalypse, anything was possible. Although powerful zombies like military spirits existed, restricting the proliferation of weapons, who could guarantee that no one could acquire large quantities of advanced weaponry? The Commercial Association might seem strong, but Zhou Yuanqiang deeply understood that there was always a stronger hand. Any complacency was dangerous. The Commercial Association could only strive to be stronger, even stronger, and the strongest.

When executing important missions, Zhou Yuanqiang typically wouldn’t choose his residence at the Commercial Association headquarters as his teleportation point, but rather the Main Warehouse.

The Main Warehouse was a special place that Zhou Yuanqiang had meticulously developed. Its defensive capabilities were self-evident. Without Zhou Yuanqiang’s personal appearance, even with a signed document, some areas were still off-limits. Zhou Yuanqiang chose to teleport here because it was extremely safe, and he didn’t have to worry about anyone discovering his secret.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t intend to stay long in the apocalypse. After just a few minutes, he activated his teleportation again, returning to the modern world.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to stay longer in the apocalypse. It was because such a huge incident had occurred; looking at the power, it surely annihilated the entire air force base, leaving not even a speck of dust. The US military would undoubtedly blockade the entire Guam base. His teleportation location was only a few kilometers from the air force base and within the explosion’s radius. If he appeared in the blocked zone, he would have no way to explain himself.

A few minutes were enough for the flames and shockwaves to pass. What met his eyes was a scorched landscape, with burning trees and houses everywhere. The terrifying fire seemed to have consumed the entire earth. Fortunately, walking on the highway meant he didn’t have to worry about leaving traces. So, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t bother to observe the surrounding destruction; he immediately ran frantically, quickly leaving the explosion’s range.

After deactivating his Armor Art, Zhou Yuanqiang melded into the crowd of onlookers, leisurely admiring the thick smoke billowing from the air force base.

Now, Zhou Yuanqiang finally relaxed. He had been worried about leaving any traces, fearing that the US’s high technology might expose his identity. But now, a colossal explosion had wiped out everything. No one would know what truly happened inside, and with the warplanes reduced to scraps, who would know how many were missing?

B-2 stealth bombers?

They were at the true epicenter of the blast. Do you think any fragments would remain? At the same time, no one would ever suspect that such an important strategic bomber had vanished.

Zhou Yuanqiang even felt a little regret. If those four bombers had carried nuclear warheads, he would have truly struck it rich. He believed at least half of Guam would have disappeared from the map, rather than just a mere air force base.

Thinking that he had left no trace whatsoever, Zhou Yuanqiang’s spirits couldn’t help but soar. In the crowd, he watched the commotion, occasionally chatting with strangers next to him. This feeling was incredibly exhilarating… extremely exhilarating. Just imagine, not only did he steal, but he also destroyed the entire base, and now he could watch the spectacle from the sidelines. How could he not feel great?

Those few minutes were enough for all of Guam to react. Aircraft from aircraft carriers appeared over the air force base, and armed helicopters buzzed as they flew low. Transport helicopters stirred up ashes as they landed, and soldiers jumped out, shouting as they advanced into the air force base.

Even at sea, rapid response fleets arrived, blockading the entire maritime area.

The rescue information they received was that the air force base had been attacked by unknown single-man mechas, and reinforcements were requested. But when they arrived, they witnessed a terrifying explosion from afar. From its sheer power, they had already mourned the entire air force base. With an explosion equivalent to half a small nuclear bomb, not even God could have survived.

“God, did the air force base suffer a nuclear attack?”

Some commanders even believed the massive explosion was a nuclear attack; otherwise, how could such a huge blast occur?

The entire incident, from the moment the explosion happened, stirred countless hearts. They realized that things were absolutely serious. Compared to the world-shaking 9/11 incident where the World Trade Center was hit, this was nothing. This time, the opponent destroyed an entire air force base, with thousands of people, a vast number of fighter jets and bombers, and even stealth bombers that had just arrived for a brief stopover.

This incident, targeting a military objective, didn’t just rattle America’s nerves; it aimed for its jugular.

At eight or nine in the evening in Guam, it was the dead of night on the US mainland. Millions of people were long asleep. The thunderous explosion in Guam didn’t affect them. Those deep in slumber probably never imagined that an event that would shake the entire United States, and the entire world, was unfolding. Even those reveling in nightlife were completely engrossed.

Even in the White House, the heart of the United States, besides a few individuals, people like the President were likely still dreaming sweetly.

The first to be woken up, naturally, was the Navy Commander-in-Chief, then the Secretary of Defense, and then the President… When each of them received the news, their first reaction was that it was April Fools’ Day. Their second reaction was that the other party was joking. Their third reaction was still that it was a prank played by their subordinates.

But the serious and earnest replies immediately turned their faces pale. As they came to believe it, they couldn’t help but wonder if World War III had arrived, and who had started it.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. All critical department heads and officials across the United States were frantically summoned. The lights in the White House were all on, and emergency personnel were busy confirming everything on Guam. Department bigwigs standing at the apex of the US government were all sitting stunned in the vast conference hall, awaiting the final report.

Even now, many people couldn’t believe it was real; it felt entirely like a dream.

The efficiency of the US military was remarkably swift. From the destruction of the entire air force base to the release of the report, only twenty minutes had passed. The report broadly outlined some situations, but specific details couldn’t possibly be organized in such a short time. For instance, the mainland’s most pressing questions about the attack and the identity of the perpetrator.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, holding the report, walked heavily to the podium in the conference hall and said with a pained voice: “Gentlemen and ladies, I regret to inform you that the news we just received has been confirmed as true… Our US air force base on Guam in the Pacific Ocean suffered an unknown attack. The entire air force base has been reduced to ashes. What can be confirmed is that the entire air force base is a pile of rubble; not a single person, not a single warplane escaped. All were destroyed in the explosion.”

As soon as the final news was announced, the entire conference hall erupted in gasps. Everyone was drawing in cold breaths.

There was nothing more to say after that. A series of orders were issued from the White House. There was already an aircraft carrier strike group at Guam, but the Department of Defense believed that if the adversary could destroy an entire air force base, one strike group alone would not be sufficient. Therefore, three aircraft carrier strike groups stationed on the mainland were urgently dispatched overnight, heading toward Guam.

At the same time, several other military bases near Guam received orders. Fighter jets were launched, entering aerial alert. Several nearby aircraft carriers also left their ports, heading for Guam. If all were accounted for, this would gather seven aircraft carrier strike groups, an absolute first in US history.

For a country like the United States, every move it makes affects the nerves of the entire globe. As soon as it moved, various accurate intelligence reports were already transmitted to other countries.

Almost immediately, the entire world was shaken. Although the US had not yet disclosed why such a massive number of aircraft carrier strike groups were deployed, nations with numerous military satellites could detect the anomaly on Guam. Such a large-yield explosion could not evade detection by orbiting satellites.

Coupled with the fact that all aircraft carrier strike groups were heading toward Guam, everyone knew something big had happened there.

Within just half an hour, all of Guam entered a full island curfew. All soldiers were deployed, blockading the perimeter of the entire air force base and dispersing all onlookers. Some experts, led by armed helicopters, landed and, disregarding the still-burning fires, immediately delved into the air force base to begin their investigation.

Fire trucks arrived with sirens blaring, rushing into the air force base. Firefighters leaped from their trucks, connected their hoses, and diligently worked to extinguish the raging flames.

The entire surface of the air force base had long vanished, revealing an enormous crater. Scattered through the overturned earth were mutilated fragments of warplanes, and occasionally, half-bodies of soldiers could be seen. They had been cooked by the high temperatures, emitting the smell of roasted meat. Some unfortunate ones were burned until only a skeletal outline remained.

Many soldiers had never experienced such a scene. The countless dismembered bodies were unbearable, causing them to vomit constantly.

From the current situation, it seems unlikely that the US will be able to establish another air force base here in the future. This colossal crater might be better repurposed as a lake within the island. From an economic perspective, it could even be preserved as is, treated as a tourist attraction, and charge an entrance fee to all visitors. Given the explosiveness of this incident, it’s safe to say that secret agents from various countries alone would make a fortune, not to mention ordinary tourists; it would definitely be a goldmine.

Zhou Yuanqiang, too, was dumbfounded by the consequences he had wrought. He hadn’t imagined that the explosion of the ammunition depot and fuel depot would have such terrifying power.

“If I were to blow up their second-largest aviation fuel storage, how much power would 216 million liters of fuel unleash?” Zhou Yuanqiang really wanted to find out, ideally by trying to see if he could sink half of Guam into the sea… but it seemed the opportunity was not great now.

Due to the island-wide curfew, Zhou Yuanqiang and the group of onlookers were all dispersed by US soldiers and ordered to stay in their hotels, not to roam the streets arbitrarily.

Tonight, everyone on Guam was destined to be sleepless. When Zhou Yuanqiang returned to his hotel, everyone, whether they understood or not, was discussing the incident. Such a huge explosion, not to mention the entire island, could probably be heard hundreds of kilometers away.

On the streets, armored vehicles appeared, and teams of soldiers patrolled. Having received their orders, they would pay attention to any suspicious targets.

All flights, ships, and other modes of transportation were ordered canceled, blockading any means of leaving the entire island of Guam. Along the coastline, numerous warships appeared, and in the sky, carrier-based aircraft whizzed by. The Department of Defense’s requirement was for Guam to be fully blockaded by land, sea, and air—even a single seagull was not allowed to escape.

Because in these thirty minutes, extensive analysis combined with radar information led them to believe that the unknown force that attacked the air force base must still be on Guam and hadn’t had time to leave. For the Department of Defense, this incident provided no clues, leaving them at a loss. The only piece of information was the four words: “single-man mecha.”

Inevitably, a certain island nation, with its unique position in single-man mecha and robotics technology, was immediately added to the US’s suspect list. The 25,000 US troops on Okinawa immediately entered a state of war, and a large number of armed helicopters took off… If it were ever confirmed to be the work of that island nation, these armed helicopters would undoubtedly be the vanguards of America’s wrath.

One could say that any object of US suspicion was immediately brought into the sights of strategic bombers.

While the outside world was in an uproar, Zhou Yuanqiang, the culprit, was cradling a glass of chilled red wine, lying comfortably on the large balcony of his hotel suite. He enjoyed the evening breeze, delicately savoring the wine, and watching the warplanes roaring through the sky. He felt an inexplicable sense of ease and relaxation.

Tonight’s gains were absolutely massive. If there was any regret, it was only not acquiring any air-launched cruise missiles.

Regarding what he had done, Zhou Yuanqiang felt no remorse or impulsiveness. The incident at the embassy back then, and the recent threat from the aircraft carrier strike group—the crimes of the Americans were endless. Of course, perhaps it was America’s strategic necessity, and one couldn’t say who was right or wrong… After all, there were always various conflicts between nations, and ultimately, only interests mattered.

Take his own country, for example. Aren’t all its strategic layouts also labeled as some kind of “threat theory” by other countries?

Between nations, it was always more about bickering. If bickering couldn’t solve it, then force would speak. There was no right or wrong in such matters. Selling large quantities of weapons to Taiwan, for the Americans, was also their strategic need. For the mainland, it was wrong and destructive to peace, but for the US, it was right, correct, and necessary.

Regardless of right or wrong, Zhou Yuanqiang’s identity dictated that he would certainly side with his own country, without needing a reason… just by being a descendant of Yan and Huang was enough.

Since he was siding with his own country, naturally, other countries became enemies. There was nothing more to say about enemies except to bring them down first. Therefore, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, destroying an enemy air force base was not about guilt or fear; it was more like a small matter.

.

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Chapter 262: Taking Responsibility for the Incident

Zhou Yuanqiang peacefully drifted into dreams. Pitifully, the soldiers outside were striving desperately under the death orders from their superiors.

After a night of tireless work, the soldiers were exhausted, and the officers were sleepy. But the matter was not over. A large number of military transport planes appeared in the airspace over Guam, using Guam International Airport to transport massive ground forces to the island. They would replace the original soldiers and continue to dig three feet deep across Guam to find the perpetrators.

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, teams of soldiers began to cordon off streets. They started gathering all residents and tourists for investigation.

Naturally, the entire island of Guam was thrown into chaos. After registration, everyone was required to remain in place until the U.S. verified their identity with their respective countries before they would be allowed to move around freely. It could be said that the entire island of Guam had come to a standstill, and everyone was in a state of alarm. Who knew what might happen if the other side became enraged? If they were branded as an attacker, death would be death, with no place to redress grievances.

This island-wide large-scale search did yield some results. Several murderers who had fled from various countries and more than ten thieves were apprehended. But damn it, this was not what the American military needed at all. These thieves, who had stumbled into the crosshairs, probably felt like they had won the lottery, unsure how long they would spend in jail.

Other than that, a thorough search of the entire island of Guam yielded absolutely nothing.

On the third day since the incident, countries with citizens on Guam successively dispatched personnel to the island to ensure their citizens would not be subjected to irregular treatment.

For the U.S. side, who still had found nothing on the third day, it was incredibly embarrassing, especially with so many aircraft carrier fleets assembled and nearly 50,000 ground troops deployed, yet no trace was found. It was as if the perpetrators had completely vanished from Guam. Under pressure, various experts arrived on Guam to meticulously investigate the explosion site, clearing all debris to identify any unusual fragments.

Fortunately, the missile launchers had self-destructed. The other party needed to find the fragments of the launchers, but these were products not entirely from the Doomsday Commercial Association. They racked their brains but couldn’t figure out which country had manufactured them.

Everyone was utterly frustrated by this sole piece of “evidence” that wasn’t evidence. Based on their inferences, this was definitely a long-planned attack. Otherwise, it couldn’t have been so meticulously arranged without revealing any flaws, deceiving Guam’s customs. Moreover, missiles were specifically designed for this attack, leaving no traces behind.

For these three days, the world revolved around Guam. A large number of journalists flocked to this small island, and the international situation was definitely volatile.

Entering the fourth day, the U.S. military finally lifted the curfew, allowing residents and tourists to move freely, but they were still not permitted to leave Guam, nor enter certain areas still under alert. This gave residents and tourists, who had been cooped up and bored crazy, a chance to breathe. The once deserted streets gradually saw people reappear, along with peddlers. Even the closed shops reopened. Everything seemed to be returning to normal.

However, everyone understood that having suffered such a significant loss, how could the U.S. military relax? Beneath the seeming calm, undercurrents were surging. It was merely a façade presented by the U.S. military to the world, to make the perpetrators think they had an opportunity and reveal their true selves.

Zhou Yuanqiang had been very well-behaved these four days. He even made an excuse to stay in the Main Warehouse during the doomsday period, but in reality, he remained on Guam. Zhou Yuanqiang understood the American tactics to some extent. He couldn’t show too many abnormalities. Who knew if they would suddenly enter his hotel room for investigation while he was teleported back to the doomsday world? If he wasn’t there, wouldn’t they suspect him?

Now that the curfew was lifted, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t afraid of anything. He went out for strolls on the streets as usual, buying things he found commemorative or eating exotic yet not-so-tasty snacks at local food stalls. His life was quite comfortable.

Although countries with citizens on Guam had protested to the United States, demanding permission for their citizens to return home, this had nothing to do with Zhou Yuanqiang. He had just renounced his大陆 nationality. Thinking of the country he had joined, and its weakness, he could only sigh deeply. They probably didn’t even know that there was someone on Guam who had just become a citizen of their country.

He walked out of a small restaurant feeling content. Surprisingly, it was run by a Sichuan couple from China. Business was usually quite good, but during this special period, there were only two or three people dining there. Their discussions were almost entirely about the incident… secretly, their sentiment was naturally one of immense satisfaction.

Unfortunately, internet access was prohibited here, and cell phone communications were also banned. Otherwise, Zhou Yuanqiang would have liked to log onto domestic websites to see how netizens were celebrating as if it were the New Year.

Just as Zhou Yuanqiang was about to leave, a somewhat familiar shadow rushed over, startling him.

“You… wait a minute…”

A somewhat weak voice made Zhou Yuanqiang confused. After a closer look, he suddenly understood, touching his nose and saying, “This world really is small. To run into you here, honestly, you’re a bit like a lingering spirit.”

Needless to say, the woman who rushed over was the formidable woman he had encountered when coming to Guam – a woman with an angelic face, a devilish figure, but a demon-like personality. Just thinking about her formidable nature made Zhou Yuanqiang’s head start to ache. How could he run into her again? What if she suddenly grabbed him and shouted “pervert”? With soldiers patrolling the streets, they would definitely drag him away for interrogation without even asking for an explanation.

According to the scenario in Zhou Yuanqiang’s mind, she would definitely glare at him fiercely, and then a barrage of harsh words would pour out…

However, the situation didn’t follow the script. She behaved completely differently, very demure, even looking at Zhou Yuanqiang with a pitiable gaze.

“Hey, what… what do you mean by looking at me like that?” The conflicting impressions made Zhou Yuanqiang’s scalp tingle again.

She still looked pitiable, her eyes fixed on Zhou Yuanqiang. She shyly played with the hem of her clothes and said, “Can you, can you buy me a meal? I… I haven’t eaten for two days.” At this point, she finally regained a bit of her true self, her voice rising slightly, “Even if you don’t consider me a beauty, please, consider us from the same country.”

Zhou Yuanqiang blinked, disbelievingly saying, “You mean you haven’t eaten for two days? Are you kidding me?”

“It’s true. I didn’t bring much money when I came out, and I planned to play for two days and then go back. I bought a round-trip ticket… But who knew something like this would happen here? So, being trapped, besides paying for the hotel, I don’t even have money for food. I thought about not staying in a hotel to save money for food for a few days, but these bastards don’t allow leaving the hotel… So, so…”

So, it seemed he was the one who caused her to fall to this state. This was truly sinful… Oh no, it was karma. Why had she been so aggressive towards him before?

Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled triumphantly, took out his passport, and waved it in front of her, gloating, “Look carefully, I’m not from the same country as you.”

“Ah… ah…” The woman instantly looked as if she had been struck by lightning, which made Zhou Yuanqiang unable to watch any longer. He added, “However, I am considered a descendant of Yan and Huang. When traveling abroad, helping others is helping oneself. Treating you to a meal is not a problem. But, asking me to treat a woman whose name I don’t even know seems a bit off, doesn’t it?”

The woman hesitated for a moment, then generously said, “Chen Yuxi, 26 years old, unmarried, no boyfriend. Are you satisfied now?”

Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled and said, “Do you think I’m conducting a household registration check? I just asked for your name, and you’ve told me everything. You need to remember that a woman’s age is absolutely confidential and generally shouldn’t be easily told to others, especially men.” He pointed to the small restaurant behind them and said, “This is run by a Sichuan couple, and the food isn’t bad. Let’s skip the high-class places. If you’re willing, let’s eat here!”

Chen Yuxi, who hadn’t eaten for two days, didn’t refuse. She followed Zhou Yuanqiang into the small restaurant, and after ordering rice and dishes, she began to stuff food into her mouth as if she were a starved ghost reincarnated.

“A lady, a lady…” Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head, which earned him a roll of Chen Yuxi’s eyes. She didn’t seem to care about Zhou Yuanqiang’s so-called lady image. Muffled sounds came from her as she said, “Eat however you’re comfortable. Being a lady only makes things harder for yourself.”

Zhou Yuanqiang said, “You certainly understand that.”

Chen Yuxi raised her head slightly and said, “Because I’ve been a lady for too long, I hate being a lady, I really hate it.”

“On the plane, you were crying. Did you break up with someone?” Zhou Yuanqiang,
having nothing else to do, started to gossip. “Could it be that you were too much of a lady, got dumped, and then didn’t dare to make a scene in front of family and friends, so you secretly ran away to travel… Then I was unlucky enough to walk right into your crosshairs and get sprayed with your spit?”

Chen Yuxi looked at Zhou Yuanqiang strangely, then nodded and buried her head back into her rice.

“No? Hey, that was just me gossiping and talking nonsense. Did I actually hit the mark?” Zhou Yuanqiang was troubled. He actually stumbled upon something like this? Wasn’t it… too dramatic? He shook his head and said, “Honestly, from the impression you’re currently giving me, you don’t exhibit any ladylike qualities at all. Look at how you’re eating, rice all over your mouth and face, gravy flying everywhere, your behavior is crude…”

Facing Zhou Yuanqiang’s incessant chatter, Chen Yuxi didn’t even react. She just kept eating, which completely made Zhou Yuanqiang lose interest. He simply folded his arms and pondered the day’s development strategy. As the Commercial Association grew stronger, it definitely wouldn’t be content with just Greenmount City. Hmm, Tianzhou City needed to be conquered. This was very important for ruling the Tianzhou Plain. Besides acquiring a large amount of materials, it would also gain the genuine support of the Tianzhou Plain.

Aside from that, there was the electricity problem in Greenmount City. Although the first solar power plant was already in operation and the second was under construction, and the wind power plant was also preparing to go online, this electricity still couldn’t meet the increasing industrial needs of Greenmount City.

For the Commercial Association to develop, it was essential to find a more stable power source. Undoubtedly, the Lijiang Hydropower Station, which used to supply power to Greenmount City, had caught the Commercial Association’s eye.

Besides electricity, there was the issue of fuel… This was definitely restricting the development of the Commercial Association’s military. The fighters alone consumed so much. What would happen after tanks went into production? The entire fuel supply system would collapse. Even if all civilian fuel was restricted, it couldn’t guarantee military needs. Without a doubt, the Commercial Association absolutely needed to find a more stable oil well to be able to afford the fuel consumption under its governance.

These interwoven problems were truly difficult to sort out all at once.

“I’m full…” Chen Yuxi’s satisfied voice brought Zhou Yuanqiang back from his thoughts. She looked at Zhou Yuanqiang strangely, then said seriously, “Thank you, I will repay you.” She tapped the table, making a rhythmic sound, then added, “When I return to the country, I’ll repay you a hundredfold for this meal.”

Zhou Yuanqiang stood up, paid the bill, and said with a smile, “No need to repay me. I just hope that next time you go out, you remember to bring more money, and ensure your cards have deposits. When traveling abroad, sometimes a penny can stump a hero… A reminder for you, sometimes be smarter. Didn’t the country send staff to Guam? You could have asked them for help. At least food, lodging, and return travel wouldn’t be a problem.”

Chen Yuxi was stunned, then patted her head and said, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Zhou Yuanqiang extended his hand and said, “Meeting once in a vast crowd is nothing, but meeting again is fate. Zhou Yuanqiang, it’s nice to meet you. I hope we have a chance to meet again… or perhaps never again. Goodbye…”

“Ah…” Chen Yuxi shook hands with Zhou Yuanqiang, feeling the strength of his palm. She looked strangely at Zhou Yuanqiang, who had slipped a few hundred dollars into her hand and already turned to leave. For some reason, Chen Yuxi felt that this man was very special. Perhaps, as he said, they would never meet again?

Their paths seemed to intersect with some randomness and some necessity. No one knew what the future held…

But Chen Yuxi always felt that she would meet this man again, and his mark would be on her life’s journey. It was a very strange feeling, one Chen Yuxi had never experienced before. Her female intuition told her that this man carried endless secrets… but would she ever have the chance to uncover them?

The Guam incident entered its sixth day. With the U.S. military still having found nothing, Al-Qaeda suddenly stepped forward, issuing a statement claiming responsibility for the incident.

As soon as this statement was broadcast, it shook the entire world again. The name Al-Qaeda was absolutely known to all… The perpetrators of the 9/11 incident, using planes to crash into the World Trade Center, was truly a genius idea that pushed terrorist attacks towards greater sophistication, making them diverse.

If this matter truly was the work of Al-Qaeda, people couldn’t help but look at Al-Qaeda’s strength with new respect, considering that an entire airbase had been destroyed this time.

The reaction of the U.S. military, upon receiving the news, was predictable. Raging fury was expected. The aircraft carrier fleets gathered on Guam, and bomber after bomber began to take off, flying towards Afghanistan. Without a doubt, the entire mountainous region of Afghanistan would bear the brunt of American anger.

If 9/11 made Americans angry, this time they were absolutely berserk. With serious intent, hundreds of bombers began to take off from military bases in all directions, heading for Afghanistan. They would carry out indiscriminate bombing missions, carpet-bombing every possible location identified by U.S. intelligence.

Zhou Yuanqiang, who also received the news, was dumbfounded.

“These reckless guys really dare to cause trouble. For such a major incident, they even dared to jump out and issue a statement claiming responsibility. Isn’t this clearly asking to walk into the Americans’ crosshairs? Did Al-Qaeda’s people all get their brains kicked by donkeys? Or have they had too little news coverage in recent years and need this news to boost their fame? But it seems their fame is already quite sufficient!”

But regardless, the Guam incident finally had a conclusion, where everyone seemed to get what they wanted.

Al-Qaeda became famous once again, the Americans found a scapegoat, and other suspected countries breathed a sigh of relief. People in the Asia-Pacific region were happy, and flights to Guam began to resume… All of this, it could be said, was brought about by this statement. It was practically a win-win situation.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t understand Al-Qaeda’s motive for taking such a big risk to admit responsibility. Wasn’t this just taking the blame for him?

Moreover, there were rumors that Al-Qaeda was actually controlled by the Americans, and that the so-called “Old Bin Laden is still alive” was all an American deception, merely to find further reasons not to withdraw troops, or to occupy more oil-rich areas in the Middle East. If that were true, would Al-Qaeda’s coming forward to admit responsibility be to provide the Americans with a way to save face, or was there some strategic deployment behind it?

These were things Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t figure out, so he didn’t spend much time thinking about them. The most crucial thing was that he could now freely leave Guam. That was what mattered most.

Chapter 263: Forceful Stance

If someone were to ask where Zhou Yuanqiang immigrated to, many might not consider it: it was one of the most chaotic countries in the world, Somalia, still fragmented by warlords. Located on the easternmost tip of the African continent, the Somali peninsula boasts Africa’s longest coastline.

Originally, Zhou Yuanqiang had considered another country for immigration: Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world.

However, after considering his plan, Zhou Yuanqiang ultimately discarded Mozambique. After all, it had a unified government, which could easily conflict with his plans. Somalia, on the other hand, was different; four major warlords divided the entire country, and within each warlord’s territory, tribal conflicts raged incessantly. The people there lived in utter misery, with chaos everywhere. It was absolutely one of the most chaotic countries in the world, perhaps even ranking first.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang understood why he chose a war-torn place, and for what purpose.

So, after leaving Guam, thanks to the mainland’s relaxed policies for overseas Chinese, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t have to worry about his passport. He naturally spent a little over half a week at his home in the city. After that, he transferred to Somalia, a foreign country he had little impression of and was unfamiliar with.

Upon arriving in Mogadishu, its capital was inferior to a second-tier city in China, barely reaching the level of a prefecture-level city, relative to the local standard of living. With a population of just under 800,000, the capital was not very large when one considered the vast fixed population and astonishing floating population of the city. This was almost the entire population of Somalia.

Mogadishu’s urban area was divided by warlord factions. The main combat zones were typically concentrated in the north of Mogadishu, while the south, where conflicts rarely occurred, was comparatively more prosperous and safe. Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, chose the south of Mogadishu, not the north.

The appearance of a person of East Asian descent was not surprising to Somalis. They were only a little curious as to why such a person would join the Somali nationality. Many people wanted to escape this hell but couldn’t, yet here was someone voluntarily jumping in.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s arrival was like that of a strange passerby; it wouldn’t attract anyone’s attention in the slightest.

Zhou Yuanqiang did not immediately act. He needed time to integrate into the local life, including religious beliefs, and to find a large tribe to shelter him, and so on. This was the most crucial part and the premise of all his plans. Zhou Yuanqiang believed that in this war-torn and impoverished place, with plenty of cash at his disposal, everything would naturally fall into place with American dollars paving the way.

He simply found a cheap house by the sea in southern Mogadishu and bought it, considering it his temporary home in Mogadishu.

No one paid him much attention, so Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t stay long in Mogadishu. After merely arranging the house a little, he returned to the apocalypse to begin dealing with the three old fighter jets and the stealth bomber with its broken wing, which were still in his storage space.

Wan Chongshan’s status, with the increasing strength of the air force, had gained him the title of “Father of the Air Force” and simultaneously “Creator of Aircraft.” Within the Chamber of Commerce, he held a pivotal position. As various fighter jets were designed and then moved from experimental production to mass production, Wan Chongshan’s importance to the Chamber of Commerce grew even more.

His workload was immense because, in response to various emerging situations, the Chamber of Commerce’s demand was to design fighter jets with even more outstanding performance to meet the future needs of the Chamber of Commerce. However, previously, all the fighter jet designs he made were based on aircraft he had already participated in, which could simply be replicated. But the current requirements were for entirely new models, detached from any existing references, and naturally, they couldn’t be designed overnight.

Thanks to the recapture of Tianzhou Plain, after a census, a new batch of excellent talents was added to various departments of the Chamber of Commerce. Several outstanding designers were also added to the aircraft design bureau, relieving considerable workload for Wan Chongshan. Even so, he was still swamped with work.

This was Wan Chongshan’s first time visiting the Main Warehouse in the south district of Greenmount City. This place had always been the most mysterious and heavily guarded area of the Chamber of Commerce, rarely accessible.

“Boss, you didn’t bring me here just to show me around the warehouse, did you?” Wan Chongshan looked a bit dejectedly at the young boss beside him. This young man, who was like a junior, had created miracles one after another. He was the god of the entire Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce, a hero in everyone’s hearts. Yet, to Wan Chongshan, he just seemed like a very ordinary young man.

Zhou Yuanqiang just smiled in response, driving an electric car and taking Wan Chongshan to a newly built warehouse.

Wan Chongshan’s discerning eye was indeed sharp. Upon seeing the warehouse, his eyes lit up. “Oh, why does this look a bit like a hangar?”

Zhou Yuanqiang walked over. After several verifications at the main door, it slowly opened, revealing the dark interior of the warehouse. Zhou Yuanqiang then activated the internal lighting system, and suddenly the entire warehouse lit up, brilliant white. Inside, three fully armed old fighter jets and the stealth bomber with its wings folded were parked silently.

“This… this…” Wan Chongshan became utterly excited, disbelievingly looking at everything before him. The old fighter jets were nothing new; Wan Chongshan had researched them and knew them well. But the dark, bat-winged bomber behind them deeply captivated his attention. Yes, as a fighter jet designer, it was impossible not to know about these most advanced aircraft models in the world.

Like a child, Wan Chongshan ran to the stealth bomber, gently stroking its fuselage. “Oh, my heavens, who did this? To actually break its wings, what a damn shame! How could it be done?” Finally, a somewhat sobered Wan Chongshan, upon seeing the wings lying on the ground, shouted in exasperation like a child whose beloved toy had been smashed. For them, a stealth bomber represented not only the pinnacle of advanced technology but also a work of art in the air force world.

Zhou Yuanqiang awkwardly rubbed his nose and cleared his throat. He said, “Old Wan, don’t get so agitated. Anyway, when you research it, won’t you have to dismantle it into pieces? We focus on its research value, not its other aspects. Do you understand what I mean?”

Wan Chongshan understood perfectly, and he sighed, saying, “Countless countries around the world wanted to get one but couldn’t. I never imagined one would appear alive before me now. Even if I die, I’ll have no regrets.” Only Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, “Old Wan, you’re still young, why talk about death? You should focus more on how to reverse-engineer it so that our Chamber of Commerce can also possess such a stealth strategic bomber. That would be the greatest honor.”

“Yes, yes, yes, with such a great research opportunity, of course, we must thoroughly understand this bomber,” Wan Chongshan patted his white-haired head, delight written all over his face. For him, having the chance to research this in his lifetime was indeed a lifelong dream fulfilled.

Handing this important task to Wan Chongshan finally relieved Zhou Yuanqiang. Although the old fighter jets had electronic locks, it wouldn’t be difficult for the information department to crack them given some time. While these three old fighter jets would ultimately be dismantled for research, by reverse-engineering them, completely new fighter jets similar to this model could be manufactured.

As a businessman, one must always maintain ambition, no matter what.

It’s not that businessmen lack ambition; rather, their ambition is expressed in a particular domain. Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, had ambition. In the apocalypse, he wanted to sell the goods manufactured by his Chamber of Commerce to every corner of the world, making his designed seven-colored umbrellas ubiquitous. In the modern era, Zhou Yuanqiang’s ambition was simply to sell the weapons manufactured in the apocalypse in the modern world, to become an arms dealer.

Whether in the apocalypse or modern times, successful businessmen always have complex networks of relationships, protective nets, and even strong backgrounds and power. In the modern world, it is equally brutal; businessmen without a background can only engage in minor ventures. Every businessman standing at the pinnacle is someone whose mere movement can shake an entire country, or even the international community.

Business equals power, and also politics. The relationship between the two has always been symbiotic: politics provides protection for businessmen, and businessmen provide money for politics.

It had been a month since the Chamber of Commerce officially brought Tianzhou Plain under its rule. With the second batch of exploration teams returning one after another, the Chamber of Commerce once again entered a period of harvest. A large number of unknown areas were presented before the Chamber of Commerce, and various settlements, large and small, appeared marked on the Chamber of Commerce’s strategic map. Each annotation was the result of the explorers’ efforts.

The newly added 2 million known people brought the total population under the Chamber of Commerce’s control to over 8 million, accounting for more than one-third of the surviving population.

This was a remarkable achievement. Compared to other settlements and human activity zones, their understanding of the situation was merely a small corner of the world. They had no idea what the world outside was like, or where other survivors were struggling to exist.

The emergence of new populations meant the appearance of new trade points, injecting more development momentum into the Chamber of Commerce.

In recognition of the explorers who made outstanding contributions, besides allocating profits, various medals also recorded their contributions to the Chamber of Commerce. Among the entire medal system, the easiest to obtain was probably the Exploration Medal, which was also one of the most frequently awarded medals currently.

Don’t assume that because it’s easy to obtain and awarded in large quantities, its honor value would diminish.

On the contrary, explorers who received the Exploration Medal were currently one of the most respected groups of people in the Chamber of Commerce. As long as they wore an Exploration Medal on their chest, they would always be the focus of attention on the street. Various welfare benefits from the Chamber of Commerce for medal recipients were not diluted in the slightest, allowing recipients to fully feel the Chamber of Commerce’s respect for them.

Zhou Yuanqiang even specifically published an article titled “Endless Glory—The Exploration Medal” in recognition of the explorers’ contributions. This further enhanced the explorers’ sense of honor and also represented the Chamber of Commerce’s respect and recognition for their achievements, thanking them for everything they brought to the Chamber of Commerce.

Greenmount City now resembled a massive trading metropolis, with airship airports established almost encircling it. Every day, countless airships could be seen taking off and landing. After half a year of development, hundreds of transport airships became an important symbol of the Chamber of Commerce. With Greenmount City as their hub, they spread in all directions, delivering innumerable goods manufactured in Greenmount City to various distant settlements, exchanging them for large quantities of crystals, gold, raw materials, and more.

Driven by a thirst for talent, the Chamber of Commerce naturally announced a new reward mechanism for everyone, renowned as the Talent Recruitment Plan.

According to the plan’s regulations, anyone who could find talent meeting the Chamber of Commerce’s requirements in any of the established trade point settlements, regardless of the method used, would receive different rewards, even medals, based on the talent brought back to Greenmount City, where the Chamber of Commerce was located. This “two birds with one stone” situation naturally made everyone enthusiastically dedicated to it. As a result, when transport airships returned to Greenmount City, they would inexplicably carry one, or even several, additional people, some voluntary, some involuntary.

Thanks to the Talent Recruitment Plan, the Chamber of Commerce’s personnel reserves saw a significant boost. The gathering of various talents greatly propelled the Chamber of Commerce. The launch and successful completion of numerous research projects attested to the critical importance of the Talent Recruitment Plan.

The influence of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce initially gave some settlements the impression that it was just an organization solely focused on business. However, as countless goods flowed into various settlements, they began to change people’s lives. An abundant material life transformed people’s perceptions of the apocalypse. Gradually, the seven-colored umbrellas began to permeate everyone’s hearts, like a brand, omnipresent. Whatever they used, whatever they did, they would always think of the seven-colored umbrella logo.

This intangible influence spread very quickly in the material-scarce apocalypse. Almost everyone knew where the things they used came from and who manufactured them.

The image of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce evolved from an initial state of vagueness to clarity, and then to a colossal entity, mysterious, enormous, and invincible. Everyone shared this feeling; in their view, a Chamber of Commerce capable of manufacturing so many goods and possessing such a vast fleet of airships surely meant that the people living under its purview enjoyed wealth and stability.

The more this was known, the greater the sense of oppression began to bear down like a colossal stone on the leaders of every settlement.

But they were helpless, for the importance of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce to these settlements was self-evident. If the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce were expelled and people accustomed to an abundant material life suddenly lost the goods it provided, it would certainly cause a sense of loss and great discomfort. Naturally, those who expelled the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce would have to bear the wrath of the people.

It was this gradually emerging strength that led to the increasing status of the various offices established by the Chamber of Commerce. They became frequent honored guests in settlements and were even sought out for help when settlements faced difficulties. Some particularly struggling settlements had already begun to offer certain privileges to gain the support of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce.

This shift, once reported back to the Chamber of Commerce, immediately made the sharp minds in the Strategic Department realize its potential value.

When the report was submitted to Zhou Yuanqiang, he was almost incredulous. The plan formulated by the Strategic Department actually proposed opening arms dealing to some settlements. However, the items for trade would no longer be crystals or other currencies, but rather certain privileges or interests within the settlements. This kind of interest had to be recognized by the entire populace of the settlement to ensure that the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce stood on the side of justice and morality.

The conclusion of the plan summarized that this method would strengthen the Chamber of Commerce’s influence over these settlements while also highlighting the immense power of the Zhou Yuanqiang Chamber of Commerce, creating a phenomenon that made them look up to it. The Strategic Department called this plan the “Subtle Transformation Plan,” meaning to change people’s thinking through intangible influence.

The power of assimilation is terrifying; it can achieve goals without firing a single shot or deploying a single soldier, which was the ultimate objective of the Strategic Department’s plan.

Although the impact of assimilation required considerable time, the Chamber of Commerce decided to proceed. Because the Chamber of Commerce’s current capabilities were too far-fetched for settlements six or seven hundred kilometers away, assimilation was merely one of the preliminary tasks. Even if these settlements could not ultimately be brought under their rule, at least assimilation could make them recognize the Chamber of Commerce and avoid creating unnecessary trouble.

To ensure that the Chamber of Commerce’s interests would not be harmed, the Chamber of Commerce officially formed an expeditionary army, recruiting 50,000 new soldiers. After three months of training, they would be dispatched to the offices in various settlements to ensure the safety of the offices and local trade.

The number of dispatched soldiers would be determined by the size and environment of the local settlement.

“Chairman, since the trade operations began in October, including losses from exploration teams, we have lost a total of 17 transport airships and 21 exploration airships. Personnel losses amount to 611 people. Seven of the exploration airships were lost due to human attacks, while all 17 transport airships were either forcibly seized by unlawful means or destroyed by local settlements.”

The report from the War Damage Department made Zhou Yuanqiang frown. He had not expected such significant losses in just two short months.

Seventeen transport airships, at modern valuations, each cost about tens of millions of pounds. Seventeen airships meant losses totaling as much as billions of pounds, converting to nearly 700 million Renminbi. Just thinking about it, Zhou Yuanqiang was furious. How much effort had he poured into manufacturing these, only for these scoundrels to rob or destroy them? How could he not be enraged?

“If we don’t teach these people a lesson, they’ll never know who they’re messing with.”

Zhou Yuanqiang stood with his hands behind his back by the office window, gazing at the agile airships gliding across the distant sky. The Chamber of Commerce’s strength, while often expressed through tolerance and the subtle influence of its goods, sometimes also needed to be asserted through force.

Chapter 264: Antug Tribe

A transport airship slowly glided across the scorching sun. Its enormous shadow cast down, eliciting cheers from the people working below.

This was an early model transport airship from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, but if you thought it still belonged to them, you’d be greatly mistaken. The massive airship’s balloon was heavily graffitied, the seven-colored umbrella logo barely discernible beneath the chaos. It no longer belonged to the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, but to a settlement below, a survival tribe of six tens of thousands of people.

The settlement, known as the Antug Tribe, was the most powerful in the region, its population of six tens of thousands enough to make it stand out among its peers… especially since this area consisted of疊 mountains, making it difficult for zombies to enter. The only real threat they faced were biochemical beasts.

Before the apocalypse, in a prosperous era of peace, wild animals in the mountains were almost extinct. On one hand, they were hunted by locals; on the other, by hunting enthusiasts. For example, a wild boar, once caught and sent to a big city hotel, would fetch at least two to three thousand, or even five to six thousand, a considerable sum for people living in the mountains.

There were tigers in the mountains, but they were so rare that any encountered were sent to zoos. Even black bears had long disappeared from these mountain ranges.

Winding goat paths, bottomless abysses, and sheer cliffs… these were the natural barriers of the mountains. Zombies, of course, knew there were many humans in the mountains, but their repeated attacks were naturally thwarted without human intervention.

The mountain ranges were true wilderness and treacherous forests. Zombies charging into the woods would get entangled in ubiquitous mountain vines and wild creepers, making movement impossible. And in the numerous abysses, zombies blindly jostling forward along narrow stone paths on cliff edges would often tumble down like dumplings into the depths below.

Don’t assume zombies only truly die when their brains are destroyed. Some of these abysses were hundreds of meters deep, filled with jagged rocks. Falling from such a height would definitely reduce them to a pile of scattered parts. If they were lucky, and the abyss bottom was just abundant weeds, even then, from such a height, their decaying flesh had no elasticity to protect their bones. Even falling into weeds would result in shattered bones.

Even if some zombies managed to breach the numerous obstacles and enter the inner reaches of the mountains, the barren and treacherous terrain meant many places were geographically defensible and virtually impregnable.

On some goat paths and in narrow passages, just a few people could defend, using long wooden poles from the mountains to push any approaching zombie into an abyss. Moreover, who among the mountain dwellers didn’t know one or two trapping techniques? Setting traps everywhere ensured the zombies couldn’t get through.

Most importantly, this mountainous area was sparsely populated, making it difficult for large zombie hordes to form. This allowed the settlement, the Antug Tribe, to live peacefully in the mountains. They reclaimed barren hills and wilds, planting large amounts of corn and other crops, and also cultivated numerous fruit trees, leading to a very prosperous life.

If they lacked anything, it was certainly material goods.

This was deep in the mountains, with almost no industry, only a few small workshops in the tribe that made small iron tools and repaired others. In the mountains, salt, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, clothing, and daily necessities were the most scarce items. This forced the tribe to periodically dispatch large numbers of people, risking their lives, to snatch these necessities from zombies in villages, markets, and small towns.

The entire tribe was structured with separate villages built across six or seven continuous mountain ranges.

Of course, when the exploration team discovered this settlement, the terrain was too complex. After merely recording approximate data, they left without delay. This laid a hidden danger for the transport airship that arrived later. Without precise information, a transport airship carrying a large quantity of daily necessities, clothing, and salt and oil, chosen to suit the local terrain, departed from Greenmount City towards the Antug Tribe.

Facing this massive object, half of the people here didn’t know what it was, and only a very small number were aware of airships.

What was unexpected was that after the transport airship landed and explained it was there to sell goods, the hundreds of onlookers, upon learning there were vast quantities of various supplies, rushed forward without discipline, ransacking everything on the airship. Even the dozen crew members and several sales staff couldn’t stop them and were all beaten to the ground.

Afterward, led by the airship captain, the entire crew tried to reason with the tribe’s leaders, but they were told the tribe’s higher-ups had already seized the airship, and they were quite blunt about it. They simply tied up all the crew members and stole the airship itself. Although the tribe had a management structure somewhat like a council, seeing that the looting had already occurred, they could only tacitly accept the fact.

Then they forced the crew members to teach them how to operate the airship. The opening scene described was the first takeoff by the tribal pilots they had chosen.

A large part of the Antug settlement consisted of local residents who were not highly educated. The other part were people who had fled there from other places. Compared to the cheering mountain people, knowledgeable individuals couldn’t bring themselves to cheer. They thought further and deeper…

Everyone had a profound understanding of what the post-apocalyptic world was like. Just by looking at the current living conditions in the settlement, it was clear how hard life was everywhere. In any family established in the settlement, one couldn’t find a single decent item: beds made of planks, a few bowls, some containers for water, and barely any clothes.

Thinking from a different perspective, the power symbolized by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s logo could construct such enormous transport airships. The crew’s uniform attire and the large quantity of daily necessities brought by the airship were sufficient proof of the immense power behind the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. How could the Antug settlement possibly compare?

Now, Wang Guangsheng, the deputy leader, had impulsively robbed their goods and حتی impounded the airship. What was more frightening was that the entire settlement’s management didn’t realize the consequences of such actions and even condoned Wang Guangsheng’s behavior. This was absolutely a major management error.

“Brother Lu, look, with an airship, we won’t have to go through so much trouble entering and exiting these mountains anymore, and we can even go to much more distant places.”

A young man excitedly spoke to Brother Lu, his gaze fixed on the slowly disappearing airship. Seeing him rub his hands together, he had probably longed for an airship for a long time. His eyes held an unspoken envy: “Damn it, why wasn’t I chosen? Flying such a massive airship, that feeling must be absolutely incredible!”

The “Brother Lu” he spoke of was Zheng Lu. He was a refined man who wore glasses and used to be a middle school teacher. He had survived the apocalypse and had lived in these mountains for several years, a competent air about him now showing through his refined demeanor. He stared blankly at the sky where the airship had vanished, his face filled with sorrow. He often sighed, then bent his head again to clear weeds under the fruit trees with his hoe.

“Zhao Lishu, do you really think we’ll be better off with an airship?”

Zheng Lu and Zhao Lishu’s relationship was more like friends than teacher-student. Zhao Lishu was a child of the mountains, very smart and eager to learn. Unfortunately, his circumstances forced him to leave school after only fifth grade to help his parents and lighten their family’s burden. It wasn’t until the apocalypse and Zheng Lu’s arrival that he began to study again, though Zhao Lishu was already nineteen years old.

Hearing Zheng Lu’s words, Zhao Lishu was puzzled and said, “Why wouldn’t we be better off with an airship? Look at us before. It took almost a whole day to get out of the mountains, and factoring in the return trip, that’s nearly two days. It’s so much trouble. With an airship, we can be out of the mountains in an instant and reach more distant places, and we’ll definitely grab more things from the zombies.”

Zheng Lu shook his head. Most people in the settlement only saw the convenience of the airship, but hadn’t they considered what the airship represented behind it?

“Let me ask you, how did this airship come to be?”

Zhao Lishu’s character, shaped by growing up in the mountains, made him say somewhat dismissively, “Of course it was taken from others, but what of it?”

Yes, Zhao Lishu’s education, knowledge, and experience were all severely lacking. How could he comprehend the complex relationships involved? This touched upon many fields of knowledge. Wang Guangsheng dared to directly seize it, which was more a tragedy of the era. Illiterate as he was, how could he understand the stakes? Being a deputy leader was due to his brute strength and his identity as a local mountain dweller.

Zheng Lu put down his hoe and patiently began to explain the development of society, what industries were needed, and how much technology was integrated to build such an aerial behemoth. In the end, he asked, “Can our strength compare to the power capable of building such a behemoth? Perhaps even for a single component, gathering all the strength of our entire settlement wouldn’t be enough to manufacture it?”

At this point, Zhao Lishu began to understand. He cautiously said, “Brother Lu, you mean that by taking their airship, we will invite great disaster?”

Zheng Lu nodded, then picked up his hoe again, saying nothing more. It was almost certain that an airship wasn’t just a simple item; after a long period without returning, the other party would surely know something had gone wrong. They would definitely send troops to investigate, and then…

Couldn’t the people up there have interrogated the crew to get some information?

Meanwhile, aboard transport airship #077, it was almost crammed with people. Dozens of selected individuals were excitedly pointing and observing the behemoth in the cargo hold. Its 178-meter length and 25-ton carrying capacity undoubtedly exceeded their imagination.

As Li Tianyang, the airship captain of transport airship #077, he stood stoically in the cockpit. Behind him were several men holding homemade shotguns, ready to fire without hesitation if he made any unusual move. Li Tianyang was currently instructing the trainee how to operate this massive machine… Looking at the familiar sky, Li Tianyang felt an uncontrollable urge to weep. He never imagined such an incident would happen on his maiden voyage.

“They will pay the price. They can never understand what the seven-colored umbrella represents.”

Li Tianyang subtly clenched his fists. He remembered what the Chairman had said when personally awarding graduation certificates to all pilots upon their graduation: “The seven-colored umbrella symbolizes stability and protection. No matter where you are, the seven-colored umbrella will never abandon any resident under the Commercial Association’s governance… Even if they are trapped among a million zombies, we will rescue them. Even if they turn into zombies, we will eliminate them and bring their remains back to be buried in the martyrs’ cemetery.”

These words seemed inauspicious, but Li Tianyang and the others were moved to tears. This commitment of never abandoning anyone, in the indifferent post-apocalyptic world, was so heartwarming. At that time, Li Tianyang wished he could contribute his all to the Commercial Association.

Wang Guangsheng, standing next to Li Tianyang, watched Li Tianyang’s clenched fists and scoffed.

As the strongest person in the entire Antug Tribe, his physical strength was unmatched. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he could tear apart tigers and leopards with his bare hands, for his strength indeed reached that level. He could effortlessly lift objects weighing a hundred kilograms without even breaking a sweat. His position as the second-in-command was also earned through battle, knife and gun. Several times when zombies attacked, he was always there to turn the tide.

Now, seeing Li Tianyang still seemed unwilling, Wang Guangsheng spoke in Mandarin tinged with a thick mountain dialect: “Teach them well. You are now like a caged bird, unable to fly out. It’s better to spend more effort teaching the trainees, and perhaps then you’ll get your freedom.”

Li Tianyang unclenched his fists slightly. To be an airship captain, one had to be among the elite of the elite. The first principle was not to act impulsively when encountering trouble. When the other party came to seize the airship, the entire crew even cooperated by standing outside, allowing them to smoothly take control of the airship.

According to the first article of the Commercial Association’s pilot regulations, it was clearly stipulated that people were more important than airships. In times of danger, personnel safety should be the top priority.

In the instructor’s words: “Airships can be rebuilt, and we will even build more. But losing people is a loss to the Commercial Association that can never be recovered. The Commercial Association does not want you to be impulsive; everything should be based on your safety. So you should remember, as long as you are safe, that is the greatest comfort to the Commercial Association.”

Thanks to such regulations, out of self-preservation and protection for the airship, no crew members resisted.

Benefiting from these regulations, not only were there no casualties, but the airship itself was fully intact, apart from the defaced seven-colored umbrella logo.

Now Li Tianyang understood why the Commercial Association placed this regulation first, because this single rule saved both lives and the airship. If not for it, and he had led the crew to resist, in a mutually destructive outcome, his entire crew and the airship might have been destroyed, leaving no chance for the Commercial Association to rescue them.

Facing Wang Guangsheng’s rudeness, Li Tianyang merely smiled faintly and said, “I wonder if you’ve considered, with the whole world full of zombies, shouldn’t humans coexist peacefully and build a future together? I’ll give you a saying: ‘He who does many wrongs will perish by them.’ For the sake of being descendants of Yan and Huang, fellow countrymen, fellow humans, I warn you again: it’s not too late to turn back now.”

Wang Guangsheng was furious. He said, “Nonsense! I don’t understand your grand theories. All I know is that with this airship, we can freely enter and exit these mountains, and go to even more distant places. You will never understand our hardships, neither before nor now… Should we continue to live in hardship while you feast on ‘big fish and big meat’?”

Li Tianyang calmly replied, “This is the most basic structure of society; there will always be rich and poor. I understand your intentions are good, but you should think further. As trade routes open up, your lives will get better and better, instead of adopting this method of killing the chicken to get the eggs.”

Wang Guangsheng didn’t understand these grand theories, nor did he need to. He flexed his fist and said, “All I know is that in this world, whoever has the harder fist has the right to speak. That’s how we mountain people reason. If you’re not convinced, call your people, and I want to see whose fists are harder, mine or yours.”

Li Tianyang smiled bitterly. What good was reasoning with a wild man who had never been to school? It was like playing the lute to a cow.

Living deep in the mountains, their knowledge was limited, and they hadn’t received any education. They toiled from dawn to dusk their entire lives, rarely leaving the mountains from birth to death. In their eyes, there was nothing but mountains. Some had never even seen television, and some places didn’t even have electricity. How could they possibly understand the outside world?

Sometimes, sitting quietly and thinking, Li Tianyang wasn’t sure whether to blame them or not. Their limitations were the very factor that led to this situation.

“Call my people?”

Thinking of this, Li Tianyang suddenly chuckled, because he noticed a small green dot rapidly moving towards the airship on the small radar screen in the cockpit. Having studied various radar displays, how could Li Tianyang not know this was an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft from the Commercial Association?

Since the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft had appeared, how far behind could the troops coming to rescue them be?

(Resuming updates, thank you all for your understanding. And… I’m asking for Monthly Votes. If you have any, please cast them for Rainwater; I will continue to work hard!)

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Chapter 265: The Great Ore Vein

Li Feiyang’s thoughts were spot on. In the distant sky, a second-generation carrier-reconnaissance airship was slowly moving, heading towards the previously recorded settlement coordinates.

The second-generation carrier-reconnaissance airship had already surpassed the capabilities of a typical reconnaissance airship. Its design philosophy bore some resemblance to an aircraft carrier, but it was even more fittingly named than an aircraft carrier. With a massive body of 266 meters, it was far superior to the first-generation reconnaissance airship and boasted a size comparable to a military airship.

Its airbag shape also deviated from the usual elongated cigar shape of airships, adopting a flattened form. From a distance, it looked like an elongated flying saucer.

The Airship Factory hadn’t deliberately designed it for novelty; rather, the shape was determined by its functional requirements. The saucer-like form allowed for a larger construction area for the gondola, making it flatter and more spacious. This was because it was a reconnaissance airship designed to carry three unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and its entire gondola had been modified into a small runway from which the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft could take off and land.

This allowed the reconnaissance airship to serve as a temporary information processing center, significantly expanding its reconnaissance range. It was essentially a mobile reconnaissance platform capable of collecting more and more distant intelligence, improving efficiency by several fold.

Many might not have guessed that the designer of the carrier-reconnaissance airship was Tu Long from the Airship Department.

In truth, this design was merely a spontaneous idea by Tu Long, a small offshoot from his almost-completed strategic-class airship. Its purpose was to give the Commercial Association a heads-up. As long as his carrier-reconnaissance airship design was approved and manufactured, then… Tu Long already had an evil grin on his face. With this preparation, wouldn’t the Commercial Association be more lenient in approving his strategic-class airship?

Of course, the people at the Airship Factory wouldn’t have guessed Tu Long’s hidden intentions. Xu Yuhai, in particular, after learning about this carrier-reconnaissance airship, badgered Zhou Yuanqiang into approving its construction.

Indeed, the performance of this carrier-reconnaissance airship was excellent. It utilized various reconnaissance technologies and also came equipped with a relay communication function. Combining these, by simply deploying the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft from its gondola, reconnaissance speed could be multiplied, and the reconnaissance range would expand by more than ten times, effectively making it a mobile reconnaissance platform.

Only a small number of carrier-reconnaissance airships had been built so far, just four, deployed in the four cardinal directions: south, east, north, and west.

The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that appeared at this time was the Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, specifically designed for the carrier-reconnaissance airship. It was half the size of an ordinary unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and the Engine Factory had also specifically designed a new engine for this Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, giving it stronger thrust and faster speed.

If there was a drawback to the Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, it would likely be its very short range, with a maximum range of only 300 kilometers. A specially designed external auxiliary fuel tank could provide an emergency increase of 50 km in range. Currently, they were only deployed on carrier-reconnaissance airships, with only seventeen units in existence.

The Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was incredibly fast. Coupled with its small size and the virtually silent engine sound-proofing technology, it glided effortlessly across the sky, completely unnoticed by those below. Its manual control feature, in particular, allowed it to appear at any time in mountain forests and valleys for low-altitude reconnaissance.

The reconnaissance aircraft that discovered transport airship 077 quickly relayed the message back to its mother airship, which then forwarded it to the Commercial Association. This entire process took only a few seconds.

The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft did not linger but flew directly past the transport airship. Due to its high speed, the people on the airship only heard a faint ripping sound in the air before the reconnaissance aircraft was already far away, reduced to a tiny dot. After reaching its coordinates, the reconnaissance aircraft shut down its engine and glided using the momentum it had built up.

As it switched to manual control, the Hummingbird-class reconnaissance aircraft plunged downwards, sweeping low over the mountain forest below. The powerful airflow even swayed the branches. This agility and ability to fly at low altitudes at will were unmatched by other unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. Other unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, for instance, would only fly along their cruise routes, capturing some blurry images to be analyzed by experts. The Hummingbird-class reconnaissance aircraft, however, did not require such a complicated process.

With manual control and human reaction times, the speed would naturally not be excessively high.

However, for this vast mountain range, the Hummingbird-class reconnaissance aircraft was somewhat reckless. Even though it had confirmed that there was a settlement below, it did not avoid it. Instead, it swept low over patches of cultivated land, over the heads of dumbfounded people, and appeared above the roofs of the settlement’s houses, faithfully recording everything.

Zhao Lishu pointed at the Hummingbird-class reconnaissance aircraft, which was flying away like an elf, chasing it with astonishment. Novel events always piqued his curiosity.

Only Zheng Lu shook his head frantically. Although the small unmanned reconnaissance aircraft quickly flew away, he would not forget the seven-colored umbrella symbol on its belly that appeared as it glided overhead. “This must be a reconnaissance aircraft from the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Since the reconnaissance aircraft has arrived, how much longer will it be until they come?”

Not many people truly grasped the significance of this. Most were simply curious about this small device. Such an exquisite small aircraft—who wouldn’t like it?

Meanwhile, the data acquired by the Hummingbird-class reconnaissance aircraft was continuously transmitted back to the carrier-reconnaissance airship, then forwarded to the Commercial Association and handed over to the Intelligence Department for analysis and processing. The results would then be sent to the Military Department, which would then formulate and deploy a plan based on the intelligence.

This seemed very complex, yet there was a complete workflow, and the efficiency was extremely high. The Military Department received the results in no more than five minutes.

A settlement in the mountains was indeed a first for the Commercial Association, and their inexperience was inevitable, posing a challenge for the Military Department. In mountainous terrain, armed helicopters might be a good choice, but this settlement, 700 kilometers away, would definitely make armed helicopters despair. If fighter jets or bombers were used, it wasn’t about destroying the enemy, so their utility seemed limited.

The only option left might be military airships.

However, the crew capacity of military airships was far from ideal. Would they just use military airships purely to threaten the other party?

The Commercial Association’s shortcomings in long-range operations were fully exposed in this situation. The lack of transport capacity was a fatal flaw. At the same time, the Military Department realized that it was time to build forward military bases; otherwise, the Commercial Association’s strategy would be too passive.

“This region is one of our largest mineral-producing areas. From the data, the mountain range where this settlement is located contains vast quantities of various minerals, many covered only by a thin layer of soil. From the photographs taken by the reconnaissance aircraft, our Intelligence Department has analyzed and confirmed its value. Additionally, not far from this settlement, there is an already identified open-pit mine that is very easy to exploit, and it used to be one of our country’s strategic mineral reserves.”

Looking at the report, especially the conclusion which stated that the mineral deposits in this single region alone were sufficient for the Commercial Association at its current scale for a hundred years, was what truly captivated Zhou Yuanqiang.

The Commercial Association’s demand for steel had reached an astonishing level. Why is the strength of a nation often measured by its steel output? Because in the modern era, the importance of steel has permeated every detail of society. The greater a country’s steel output, the higher and faster its development, and the greater its potential.

In the past six months, the Commercial Association’s demand for steel had been increasing daily. The amount of steel obtained through trade was very small, as other settlements simply didn’t have the capacity to produce steel.

So, where would the steel come from?

The Commercial Association had a plan for this: to dispatch a large number of troops to capture Panzhihua, establish a hyper-long range settlement, and acquire Panzhihua’s massive steel enterprises. These enterprises could then be activated to supply large quantities of steel to the Commercial Association. With the existence of airships—transport airships with long range and high cargo capacity—transporting steel would not be an issue.

But ultimately, this plan was put on hold.

“An open-pit mine, how could we miss it…”

Zhou Yuanqiang had actually considered establishing his own Steel Department long ago to ensure a stable supply chain for the Commercial Association. However, detecting mineral veins in the wasteland was indeed difficult. Now, with a huge open-pit mine right in front of them, the previous steel plan could finally be launched.

However, while the steel plan was to be launched, the settlement’s act of seizing the airship also had to be punished.

Thinking about the estimated 60,000 people in this settlement, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly smiled. He had been worried about how to extract a large number of personnel from those already assigned to various departments and industries to form the Steel Department. Now, these 60,000 people right before his eyes were arguably the best human resource available, and since they made the mistake first, he was absolutely justified.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Zhou Yuanqiang picked up the operation plan submitted by the Military Department, signed his name, officially approving the Military Department’s plan.

Mountains are places with complex terrain. In the seventies, the United States was powerful enough, wasn’t it? Yet, in the Vietnam War, it was dragged into a quagmire by Vietnam and eventually had to withdraw. How did Vietnam defeat the U.S. military? Didn’t they rely on their complex terrain to firmly bog down the U.S. troops?

In the dense forests, like the mountains of a primeval forest, Vietnamese soldiers would ambush. As soon as U.S. forces appeared, one or two rockets would suddenly explode, destroying one or two armored vehicles or cars, and they would immediately retreat, disappearing into the complex mountain forests, truly coming and going without a trace.

The Military Department would naturally consider this, but the question was, did this settlement possess the weapons that various countries supplied to Vietnam back then?

Fully armed soldiers, with full body armor, could not be harmed by improvised firearms. Powerful military airships were enough to provide them with endless pressure. Two thousand elite soldiers would be enough to conquer this settlement.

The Military Department, having considered all details, would naturally also take into account the issue of traps in the mountain forests. However, this operation would use an air-dropping method, directly air-dropping troops onto the mountains where they lived. The Military Department did not believe that they would also set traps in these places; would they not deploy themselves?

Out of concern for protecting human resources in the apocalypse and to create absolute pressure, the Military Department dispatched half of its military airships, thirty-seven in total, and even sent out its only Hercules transport airship. By sacrificing its cargo hold, it would carry 1,600 soldiers to be deployed over the enemy settlement.

Coupled with the personnel carried by the thirty-seven military airships, this would form a ground force operation of 2,000 soldiers.

Two thousand soldiers facing a settlement of 60,000 people might seem few, but the disparity between the two sides was truly too great. With military airships monitoring from high altitude, ready to provide fire support at any time, it was like modern mechanics fighting a cavalry troop armed with cold weapons—there was simply no comparison. The distance between the two sides represented two different civilizations.

700 kilometers would take military airships six hours to reach. The entire formation took off in the early morning. Thirty-seven military airships, along with the Hercules transport airship, truly covered the sky and obscured the moon, almost blocking out the entire moon.

An airship equipped with two engines for propulsion has its fuel tanks located beneath the gondola. Sufficient fuel is what guarantees its ability to travel ultra-long distances. Moreover, the new military airships use a hybrid three-power system: engine propulsion, silent motor propulsion, and natural airflow propulsion, which is enough to ensure that even without fuel, it can still travel at 30 kilometers per hour.

Such long-distance operations, if the Tianzhou Plain counted, would only be the second time. The Commercial Association also intended to use this as a training exercise for its troops.

In the apocalypse, where almost no one had air superiority, airships were absolutely safe. The Commercial Association built such a large number of military airships with the primary goal of bombing zombies. As the number of military airships reached sixty, their construction gradually slowed down, and the focus shifted to fighter jets.

The future sky would definitely belong to these eagles—this was an unavoidable issue. Airships would continue to primarily serve as transport, not combat, vehicles. The Commercial Association was very clear on this point and was not so fanatical as to believe that these large vehicles alone could dominate the entire sky.

“Coordinates confirmed. 50 kilometers to destination…”

Following the report, the entire military airship formation began to change its flight pattern, dispersing into a loose formation that made the entire array incredibly vast, almost filling the entire sky. Meanwhile, the behemoth that had been flying behind the military airships began to take the lead, turning the thirty-seven military airships into escorts.

The saucer-shaped reconnaissance airship also appeared in the sky. Upon receiving its orders, it had been hovering for a day and slowly opened its massive gondola doors. Two Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft then shot out from the short runway, heading towards the settlement ahead, conducting final reconnaissance work to ensure everything at the target was normal.

It was morning at this time, and through the reconnaissance aircraft’s lens, the entire Antuge settlement appeared to be just waking up. People were emerging from their houses, preparing for a new day of labor.

Upon seeing the small aircraft that had appeared yesterday, many people jumped and shouted, and the children were even more excited, chasing after the reconnaissance aircraft. Some people casually pulled out improvised firearms from their houses and fired at the reconnaissance aircraft as it flashed past like lightning. But how could they hit the Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft with its speed? In the blink of an eye, it was already far away, leaving the people below cursing angrily.

However, yesterday’s reconnaissance aircraft had only done a rough reconnaissance before returning. Today’s two reconnaissance aircraft, however, seemed to have been attracted by something. They were not in a hurry to leave, acting entirely like diligent hummingbirds continuously collecting nectar from blossoms. The difference was that these two reconnaissance aircraft’s targets were potentially threatening locations, simply conducting reconnaissance.

After about ten minutes, once the entire Antuge settlement was completely transparent, the two reconnaissance aircraft finally left, satisfied.

Regarding these two inexplicable small aircraft, many people continued to be busy with their own affairs. Only the decision-makers of the entire settlement finally realized that there was a problem. If yesterday’s appearance was an accident, then the second appearance of the small aircraft today, specifically circling the settlement, certainly couldn’t be unintentional.

Recalling the seven-colored umbrella symbol on the transport airship, which was almost unrecognizable due to graffiti, the small aircraft that had appeared these past two days seemed… seemed to also have similar smaller seven-colored umbrellas.

“Whose prank were those two small aircraft just now? The craftsmanship is really beautiful,” said a young man with a gun slung over his shoulder, gazing somewhat idly in the direction where the Hummingbird-class unmanned reconnaissance aircraft had disappeared. He casually pulled out a cigarette rolled from crisp, tender leaves from his pocket, carefully lit it, and took a deep, satisfied puff.

His companion beside him greedily inhaled the secondhand smoke wafting in the air, shaking his head and saying, “Who knows? Damn it, the higher-ups are really something. They got several boxes of good cigarettes, and not a single one for us. We were part of grabbing that airship, weren’t we? We should get a share of the spoils.”

The young man who spoke first spat forcefully and said, “Forget about such good stuff. We’re only suitable for smoking this wild tobacco.”

“You can’t say that either. No cigarettes, but I heard we’ll each get one of those thousands of pieces of clothing. Tsk, tsk, new clothes! Haven’t worn any in years. I wonder what it feels like.” The other person smiled contentedly, but then he suddenly felt the entire sky darken and grumbled, “Damn it, this cursed weather. It was clear just now, how did it suddenly get dark? Looks like it’s going to rain heavily again.”

But the precious wild tobacco in the hand of the first young man had already fallen to the ground in astonishment. He stared open-mouthed, foolishly gazing at the dark sky above his head.

Chapter 266: What is Divine Power?

“What’s so good about the sky? Are we going to see the Thunder God and Lightning Mother now that it’s about to rain?”

Seeing his companion’s foolish look, the man, who had been talking non-stop, started to joke. But when he inadvertently looked up himself, his reaction was even worse than his companion’s; he instantly slumped to the ground, almost dropping the improvised firearm in his hand.

More and more people reacted the same way as these two tribal warriors. Everyone who was up early was frozen in place, as if by a picture. On the terraced fields carved out of the mountainsides, in every fruit orchard, no one wasn’t staring fixedly at the sky, their expressions indescribably dazed, then quickly turning to terror.

Once terror formed in their hearts, the rest was simple. Everyone dropped what they were holding and scattered like startled rabbits.

“Mommy…”

After a loud cry, the two young tribal warriors abandoned everything and sprinted towards the meeting place of the elders. They screamed hysterically, “They’ve come! They’ve come!” Yes, the airship crew members had been saying someone would come to rescue them, and everyone had scoffed at the time. But now they believed, though it was already a little late; the enemy had already reached their literal doorstep.

In Antuge’s simple council hall, where decision-makers appointed according to tribal positions were discussing the day’s work arrangements and the sense of crisis brought by the appearance of the small aircraft, they were oblivious to the situation outside. In short, the small aircraft that had appeared over the past two days gave them a very bad feeling.

Just as the meeting reached its climax, shouts of chaos and people running around came from outside. Then, two tribal warriors burst in, panting as if they had run all the way.

“What is the meaning of this? This is the most sacred council hall of the tribe. Those who enter without permission shall be put to death!”

As the chief of the entire tribe, Wang Zhiqing, nearly sixty years old, was highly respected in this mountainous region. The fact that an elder could serve as the leader of this settlement was enough to show the trust his subordinates placed in him. An elder’s wisdom shone like a treasure, accumulated over years of experience, allowing Antuge to live peacefully in these vast mountains.

However, his limited knowledge overshadowed his astuteness, leading him to default on Wang Guangsheng’s actions after he heard about him robbing an airship, all to secure this capable subordinate.

The name Antuge was a tribute to an ancient tribe that had long vanished from the river of history. It was the only tribe Wang Zhiqing knew, as it had lived in this mountainous area a long, long time ago. He chose this name hoping to gain their protection and thrive in this terrifying world.

In the tribe, the concept of hierarchy was paramount. Now, seeing someone burst directly into the tribal council hall, how could Wang Zhiqing not be furious?

“Elder Wang, something terrible has happened! Please, hurry out and see! We’re in trouble, we’re in big trouble!”

The weeping voice startled everyone present. Wang Guangsheng stood up, rushed to the warrior, and with one hand, lifted him, shouting, “What are you panicking for? Even if more zombies come, with a dozen natural defensive barriers, they can’t enter these mountains unless they grow wings!” He tossed the man aside and angrily declared, “I’ll go out and see who started this panic!”

Wang Guangsheng lifted his foot and walked out, followed by everyone else from the council hall.

What was originally a bright and sunny morning was now shrouded in an enormous shadow, as if something had covered the sky. The distant peaks were bathed in sunlight, clear skies stretching for thousands of kilometers. Many people’s first reaction was, Is this a sun shower? Sun and rain at the same time?

But when they followed the direction of the panicked people’s gaze and looked up, they too were stunned, immediately becoming at a loss.

In the sky, the Hercules transport airship, so vast it defied anyone’s imagination, spanned the entire Antuge settlement. Its enormous air sac blocked out the entire sky, not letting a single ray of sunlight through. Beside it, like stars orbiting a planet, were military airships supporting the Hercules transport airship, blotting out the sun.

The overwhelming pressure made some people’s legs buckle, sending them sprawling onto the ground.

When the first generation of transport airships appeared over the settlement, people were already terrified, finding the 178-meter behemoth incredible, believing it was absolutely the largest airship in the world. But now, even the military airships alone, with their 278-meter bodies, were nearly twice the size of the transport airship, like comparing a child to an adult. And compared to the 508-meter Hercules transport airship, the 178-meter one seemed insignificant.

Only now did people realize what that sense of crisis was that had arisen after robbing that transport airship. Now, this immensely large airship fleet, its size immeasurable, made them understand that this was the root cause of the crisis they had felt then.

Originally, this kind of military operation should have nothing to do with Zhou Yuanqiang, being entirely handled by the Military Department, only requiring a capable commander to resolve. However, Zhou Yuanqiang, having some free time, casually accepted a Ring Task and then headed to the Antug Tribe to secure their allegiance.

This allegiance made Zhou Yuanqiang a little curious. What exactly did “allegiance” mean? Was it conquest?

It was because of this task that Zhou Yuanqiang had no choice but to set off with the team. At this moment, he stood in the Hercules’ cockpit, gazing out through the glass window at the sky. Below was an endless expanse of mountains. Occasionally, roads could be seen traversing the mountains, disappearing into them again. The gaps between the mountains were where the villages in this region survived. Abandoned fields were clearly visible.

Looking at the bustling Antuge below, Zhou Yuanqiang revealed a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Even with his unprofessional eye, he could see that not far from the settlement, within a large mountainous area, some ores sporadically protruded from the exposed soil. Sparse trees and weeds grew on top, further confirming that once this thin layer of soil was removed, what would be revealed would absolutely be a huge open-pit mine.

“Such a large open-pit mine is very easy to exploit. It would require very little machinery. At that time, a mining site could be established here, using the hundred-plus ton carrying capacity of the second-generation transport airships to transport the ore back to Greenmount City for smelting. This might be quite costly, or perhaps a steel mill could be built here, but then how would the electricity be solved?”

Zhou Yuanqiang roughly considered the problem but couldn’t come up with a solution. Such issues were better left to professionals.

The strategy for this operation was a single word: awe!

Dealing with other settlements that had some industrial capacity, it might purely be an airship operation that the Commercial Association would not approve, as losing even one would have an impact on the Commercial Association. But facing the Antuge settlement, which lived a very primitive life with no industry to speak of, their blacksmiths would at most bring back some exposed ore, smelt it into iron, and forge some farm tools; this could not be called industry.

Looking at the chaotic settlement below, the sight of people running from their homes to hide in the mountains proved the power of this word “awe.”

However, Zhou Yuanqiang felt that such a display of awe would take too long, so he directed two military airships to detach from the fleet and fly towards a small mountain not far away.

Since it was about awe and coercion, it naturally couldn’t just be a large fleet of airships hovering in the sky. That would only cause panic, but certainly not dread. When a lion doesn’t show its teeth, it looks like a cute puppy, merely deterring people from approaching. But once it bares its teeth, it becomes a true lion, and “fear” alone can no longer describe it.

Therefore, the massive airships also needed to show their sharp teeth, to make them tremble, to make them incapable of any resistance.

Military airships were like mobile arsenals. Their enormous carrying capacity made them the absolute main force against zombies, even replacing the roles of fighter jets and bombers. Now, for their demonstration, a series of bomb bays opened, dropping aerial bombs onto the mountain.

“Boom, boom…” echoed throughout the entire mountain. The trees and wild grass on the small mountain were instantly obliterated, burning.

Bombs rained down like a terrifying peeling knife, blasting layer after layer off the surface of the small mountain. Gradually, tons of bombs, visibly flattening the small mountain, continued for half an hour. The mountain not far from the settlement became history, wiped from the range.

“Too terrifying, too terrifying…”

The half-hour continuous bombing left the people in the settlement below feeling as if they were being roasted over a fire. The flattened mountain left everyone dumbfounded. They were already wondering what it would be like if these bombs fell on the mountain where their stronghold was located. A tremor, an involuntary sound, had already stripped everyone of the courage to ponder further, leaving them slumped on the ground like piles of mud.

Only Wang Zhiqing maintained a shred of clarity. Witnessing the powerful military might of the airships, he didn’t hesitate. He shouted loudly, “Men, men! Quick, go, quickly release Li Feiyang and the others! You must treat them with respect, without the slightest disrespect, hurry!”

Now he understood why Li Feiyang had been so calm back then, and kept saying, “You’re in trouble, you’re in trouble.” What did he mean? He was referring to the powerful military force behind him. Looking at the identical seven-colored umbrella airships, Wang Zhiqing knew that if the other party wanted to kill everyone in the settlement, they could do it in just half an hour.

At this moment, Wang Zhiqing regained his shrewdness. From the flattened mountain, he understood that the other party was pressuring his side.

With Li Feiyang’s arrival, the matter was settled. Whether you liked it or not, you had to admit that resistance was futile against such formidable enemies. The astute Wang Zhiqing understood this very well; he had simply misjudged the significance of the airships at first.

However, Wang Zhiqing still thought the matter too simple. In his mind, his settlement was utterly poor, everyone was barely clothed and barely fed, and there were no crystals, as they had said. He had only just understood what crystals were himself. Yet, the other party clearly came from a place of great wealth. Surrendering simply meant returning their people and airships.

The Hercules transport airship slowly descended. Its massive body appeared even larger up close. People standing below seemed like ants.

At eighty meters above the ground, it was already the lowest the Hercules transport airship could descend here. Once it hovered, the giant cargo bay doors opened, and ropes were lowered. Fully armed soldiers slid down these ropes, quickly getting into combat positions and beginning to control the entire scene.

The warriors of the Antug Tribe gulped, staring at the uniformly dressed, fully armed, imposing soldiers. The envy in their eyes was obvious for all to see. When compared to the opposing force, countless tribal warriors secretly tucked their usually proud improvised firearms behind their backs, hiding them… to avoid embarrassment.

Twelve hundred soldiers were enough to control the entire decision-making body of Antuge.

As Zhou Yuanqiang slid down from the Hercules transport airship, the Hercules transport airship retracted its ropes and slowly ascended. Zhou Yuanqiang greatly treasured this “treasure” of the settlement, and it was best to be as cautious as possible. Raising it into the air was undoubtedly the best protective measure.

Actually, if he wanted to show off, taking such a Hercules transport airship to the modern world would definitely be an incredibly cool thing to do.

But Zhou Yuanqiang calculated the storage space needed to carry the Hercules transport airship: its 508-meter length meant the space also needed to be 508 meters high and 508 meters wide. Calculating this, his storage space would need to reach approximately 131 million cubic meters. How many levels would that require? Zhou Yuanqiang felt his scalp tingle.

This method was far less efficient than simply spending a billion dollars or so to have Modern Company build one for him. When would his ring upgrade to that level? It would be a long time coming.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s aura, in this apocalypse, needed no concealment. The prestige of a superior, for someone as astute as Wang Zhiqing, could not be unknown. So, under the muzzles of a dozen guns, he forced a smile and approached with a group of influential people from the settlement, humbling himself as he said, “This old man is Wang Zhiqing, the one in charge here. May I ask what this young brother’s name is?”

“The one in charge? Does that mean you can make decisions on all matters, big and small, here?” Zhou Yuanqiang was somewhat surprised that an old man held such power over an entire settlement of 60,000 people.

Wang Zhiqing cleared his throat and said, “You could say that.”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s personality would not allow him to say a lot of useless words. His dominant position didn’t require such formalities. He bluntly stated, “I’m sure you know why we’re here. We don’t need to teach you how to proceed, do we?”

Wang Zhiqing feigned panic and said, “No need to teach, no need to teach.” He turned his head and said, “Please invite our distinguished guest up, carefully… don’t let our distinguished guest stumble.” He then mumbled, “There are many rocks in the mountains.” This feigned subtle concern was fully apparent, but unfortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang was not moved. Being ruthless was often more effective.

Once Li Feiyang and his companions were invited up, upon seeing Zhou Yuanqiang, they suddenly became emotional. They solemnly saluted Zhou Yuanqiang, trembling as they said, “Chairman, we have failed your trust! Please punish us!”

After returning the salute, Zhou Yuanqiang said, “This kind of thing was unexpected by anyone. The fault is not yours. Remember the first rule of an airship pilot: your actions made me proud, because you preserved your useful bodies and can continue to pilot Commercial Association airships, sailing in the blue sky.”

After Li Feiyang and his companions were escorted onto a military airship, Zhou Yuanqiang said blandly, “Now you have only two choices: either accept the wrath of our Commercial Association, like that mountain, or accept the terms of our Commercial Association and become one of our subordinate settlements. You choose. My patience will only last for ten minutes.”

Wang Guangsheng, already seething with anger, roared, “I refuse! We mountain folk value brawn, not these big machines. If you have the guts, let’s fight with our fists! I’ll make you kneel and beg for mercy!”

“Oh?” Zhou Yuanqiang became interested. When it came to fists… he smiled wickedly and said, “Alright, your status must be quite high. If my fist is harder than yours, what then?”

Wang Guangsheng said, “I’m a crude man, but I know a promise is a promise. If I lose, I’ll let you do what you want with me, and anyone in the settlement who disobeys you, I’ll beat them for you. But what if you lose?” Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, “If I lose, I’ll leave immediately. Hehe, don’t you people like airships? I can even leave this biggest one behind and give it to you.”

“Good!” Wang Guangsheng, fearing Zhou Yuanqiang would back out, rushed several steps to stand before Zhou Yuanqiang and said, “You’re our guest, and if I truly hurt you, I’m afraid your soldiers might revolt. So, let’s just compare who’s stronger.” He walked to a nearby boulder, took a deep breath, and suddenly embraced the stone. With a loud roar, he actually lifted the more than 300-kilogram boulder and walked a few steps before setting it down.

Panting, Wang Guangsheng walked over to Zhou Yuanqiang and said, “If you can lift this boulder and walk a few steps like I did, then I lose.” He eyed Zhou Yuanqiang’s slender physique and grinned, wondering how this frame could lift and walk a few steps with a boulder it couldn’t even budge a millimeter.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t say much. With a calm and composed demeanor, he walked to the boulder. Under the gaze of countless eyes, he effortlessly lifted the boulder with both hands. Then, he ran over a dozen steps, and with a loud shout, he forcefully sent the more than 300-kilogram boulder flying a dozen meters away. With a thud, a small portion of the boulder embedded itself in the soil, causing the surrounding ground to crack.

At this sight, not only everyone else but even Wang Guangsheng, who considered himself the “King of Strength,” felt his eyeballs almost pop out onto the ground.

Chapter 267: Pursuit

When the seven-colored umbrella appeared on Antuge’s banner, everything was set in stone. The entire Antuge region was destined to become the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s most vital source of ore.

The exposed ore veins were incredibly simple to mine. What Antuge and his people needed to do was blast the enormous chunks of ore into碎 (shattered pieces), then gather them and hand them over to transport airships to be shipped back to Greenmount City, 700 kilometers away. These ores would be refined into the steel and rare metals the Commercial Association required.

To stabilize the Antug Tribe, the Commercial Association deployed 2,000 stationed soldiers there. While using force as deterrence, they also adopted a conciliatory policy. They would exchange the mined ore for various daily necessities and other materials from the Commercial Association, essentially acting as an outsourced raw material supplier for the Commercial Association.

For people who had endured hardship for several years, and for most of them being mountain dwellers, this management style was naturally very satisfactory. There were no disturbances; everyone joyfully excavated the exposed ore.

Wang Guangsheng, though a rough and savage man, was a man of his word. After submitting to Zhou Yuanqiang, he indeed did as he said: he beat anyone who disobeyed him. Facing Wang Guangsheng, who was once the Strongman of the mountains, who would seek trouble? Naturally, no one dared to stand against the rule of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

This part of the mountains was indeed a bit remote. To reduce difficulty, the ore had to be transported out of the mountains and smelted in Greenmount City; no steel factory was built in the mountains. Fortunately, the nearly free transport airships could solve the transportation problem. If cars were used, just building an access road into the mountains would take a maddeningly long time.

The inclusion of the Antuge settlement was reported by the Commercial Association’s newspaper in a small, “tofu-sized” section. It wasn’t considered a major event and didn’t attract much attention.

Compared to the calm and stability of Greenmount City, the headquarters of the Commercial Association, Tianzhou Town on the Tianzhou Plain was bustling with activity. After various unreasonable settlements were merged into Tianzhou Town, it became a massive town with over 350,000 residents. With a large influx of people, the ongoing construction of buildings made Tianzhou Town look exactly like a huge construction site.

The changes over nearly half a year were enormous. No one had expected that this once desolate land would now become the new center of the entire Tianzhou Plain.

Bar, for the fertile Tianzhou Plain that produced abundant grain, was not scarce. People always found ways to make rice wine purer, and so bar began to flourish in the apocalypse. In the past, every settlement had its own bar workshop; if one wanted a drink, they could exchange crystal grain for it.

With the emergence of the Wasteland settlement and the establishment of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s Tianzhou Branch, the methods of making bar spread into the Tianzhou Plain.

The first bar was opened by a private Boss under the Commercial Association’s jurisdiction. Business wasn’t very good at first, with only a few people coming to consume. However, as the population increased, this bar, established under the Tianzhou Branch, suddenly saw its business boom. Many people started conducting their business discussions here.

Consequently, bars of varying sizes began appearing in all settlements, becoming popular places for people to relax after meals, brag, and chat.

After the Yuanqiang Commercial Association officially took control of the Tianzhou Plain, the trend of bars became even more prevalent. With the zombie hordes eliminated, stable jobs, and fixed incomes, people began flocking to bars in large numbers. They’d order a cup of rice wine or beer, or if they were wealthy, even precious wine, and then they’d brag, make new friends, and chat about their concerns regarding the apocalypse.

Initially, bar business only picked up at night. However, with the emergence of a new political center and a massive population, bars now had many customers even during the day. Inevitably, bars also began serving food, making pastries and other filling dishes. Surprisingly, this even attracted some regulars who would directly dine at the bar.

Nowadays, Tianzhou Town is filled with various bars, each with its own unique flavor.

However, when it comes to the best bar, one must mention the Blue Sky Bar, located right in the center next to Tianzhou Town Square. Not for any particular reason, but for its mysterious background, its vast area, and its countless varieties of fine wines. In the apocalypse, it seemed difficult to obtain Moutai or wine, but in this Blue Sky Bar, there were all sorts of famous and excellent wines… naturally, at exorbitant prices.

In the Blue Sky Bar, there was no distinction between noble and humble. Whether you drank the most expensive Moutai or just the ordinary rice wine brewed on the Tianzhou Plain, everyone sat together in the main hall of the bar, as there were no private rooms here. Of course, if you ordered a fine wine, you would definitely be the center of attention here. Perhaps a beautiful woman lingering nearby would throw herself into your arms and ask you for a drink.

This place was very special; at least, no one dared to cause trouble here. Because no matter how important your status was in Tianzhou Town, if you caused trouble, it wouldn’t be a patrol officer or a street guard who appeared, but the cold and ruthless military police. As long as they were dispatched, even if Branch Chairman Lu Yanjiong, the highest administrative officer, arrived, no favoritism would be shown.

The repeated incidents of military police enforcement here finally made everyone realize that this Blue Sky Bar was not simple.

December was drawing to a close, and the weather on the Tianzhou Plain was beginning to turn chilly. Gusts of wind blew, causing an involuntary shiver. People on the streets were occasionally seen wearing thicker clothes, and their rubbing hands seemed to indicate that the cold season was quietly approaching.

The sky was overcast and drizzling. Pedestrians on the streets of Tianzhou Town hurried along, completely lacking the usual liveliness.

Among the hurrying crowd, a tall, burly man, wrapped in a thin blue robe, moved very slowly. He carried a narrow, nearly two-meter-long cloth bundle on his back, a stark contrast to the rushing people. However, with the incessant drizzle and the accompanying chill, no one was interested in guessing why he was strolling so leisurely on such a rainy day.

If one observed closely, they would notice the burly man’s constantly furrowed brow as he moved, and his feet occasionally trembled, indicating some difficulty in his movement.

The drizzle began to intensify, and the burly man’s blue robe became somewhat damp, which made his brow furrow even tighter. He murmured, “Getting wet in the rain doesn’t seem like a good thing. If I get tetanus, and I’m unfamiliar with this place, I don’t know if there are any medicines.” He looked up into the distance, and the four large blue characters of Blue Sky Bar seemed to make him smile: “It really is a prosperous place.”

After trying to quicken his pace, the burly man finally entered the Blue Sky Bar’s doorway as the rain grew heavier.

Compared to the cold outside, the bar inside was warm. The burly man glanced around and saw several burning braziers on both sides of the hall, expelling the chill and creating a very warm feeling. Especially the rich aroma of alcohol inside made people feel flushed and hot all over, as the chill in their bodies had completely disappeared.

Even at this hour, about 30% of the seats were occupied by twos and threes, enough to show the Blue Sky Bar’s extraordinary appeal.

The burly man walked up to the counter, gazing at the array of famous and fine wines displayed in the wine cabinet, and his throat moved. He said, “I didn’t expect such a wonderful place to exist in this apocalypse.”

Those who heard him didn’t find it strange, as people like this burly man, who expressed admiration, could be heard every day. For the people of Tianzhou Town, this seemed to be a point of pride, because even the Commercial Association’s headquarters didn’t have a bar of this scale; the Blue Sky Bar was truly one of a kind.

“How much for that bottle of Moutai?”

The burly man’s words instantly drew envious glances from those around him. This seemingly ordinary man was actually a wealthy patron. Normally, being able to buy a single glass was already impressive, but he directly asked for a bottle, which was quite unexpected. Several women who frequented the bar had already locked their gaze on the burly man, calculating how they should act next.

The waitress’s voice was neither warm nor cold as she said, “5 third-grade crystals a bottle.”

The burly man fumbled in his bag for a moment, eventually pulling out six bitter-looking white first-grade crystals, and said, “Just give me whatever this can buy.”

The waitress still replied indifferently, “Please wait!” But the women who had been ready to approach sat down again, rolling their eyes. Some who had just been envious burst into laughter: “Damn, I thought this guy was rich, but he’s even poorer than me. I even wanted to get to know him and get a drink!”

Six white first-grade crystals could, of course, only buy a small cup of ordinary rice wine.

The burly man, clutching the small cup of rice wine, ignored the boisterous laughter. He found a seat near the street-side, gently placed the wine on the table, but did not drink. In the apocalypse, an era of scarce resources, this Blue Sky Bar managed to acquire such large pieces of glass, constructing the street-facing side into a glass wall, allowing for a clear view of every movement outside on the street.

The overcast, rainy weather seemed to make the burly man himself somber. His hand unconsciously reached into his pocket, caressing something inside, as he stared blankly at the people occasionally running by on the street. “I should be safe here, right? I just don’t want to be a tool; is that wrong?”

As if touching an open wound, the burly man grunted, looking hesitantly at the small cup of wine on the table. He was debating whether to drink it, as it wouldn’t be good for his wound. But if he didn’t drink, the craving for alcohol in his heart was unbearable, a habit developed over many years that hadn’t disappeared even after years in the apocalypse.

“I heard there’s a faction here that openly advocates freedom. I wonder if it’s true.”

The burly man recalled everything he had seen since entering the Tianzhou Plain. There were no zombies to be found here; it was like a paradise. The previously deserted farmlands had been planted with vast amounts of rice. Looking at the golden, ripe rice ears ready for harvest, they shimmered brightly under the sun.

The joyful laughter of the people was undeniably heartfelt, and their smiles were so genuine. This place was like a large construction site; everyone had their own post. Street guards, whom the burly man regarded as excellent soldiers, stood like benchmarks on the streets, defending the order of the entire street. Patrol officers who occasionally passed by were entirely like enthusiastic volunteers, helping everyone who needed assistance.

Upon entering Tianzhou Town, a strong scent of commerce immediately enveloped him. The shops lining the streets and the hawkers moving through alleys and lanes constituted the prosperity of this place.

Huge airships periodically appeared above Tianzhou Town, then gradually vanished into the distance. Occasionally, armed helicopters appeared, seemingly patrolling the entire Tianzhou Town. When you heard a whistling, sharp sound, several fighter jets would often appear, but quickly disappear. They were just trainer planes, yet they still left people feeling awestruck.

Everything here indicated that this was a wealthy and powerful faction, where people lived in peace and contentment.

The burly man forced a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, “In the apocalypse, how could there possibly be true peace and contentment? Even if there is, it’s only temporary. Too many ambitious individuals will often destroy everything. To them, power is the most important thing; sincere cooperation—they’ve long forgotten that phrase.”

Perhaps due to excessive melancholy, the burly man finally picked up the small wine cup and lightly took a sip. The unique fragrance of rice wine made him sigh, saying, “This is pure rice wine. I wonder why old man Xie and the others can’t purify it no matter how hard they try?” The small cup of wine was empty after only a few sips from the burly man.

His injured body, stimulated by the alcohol, grew warm. It was comfortable for a short while, but afterward, the wound would tear open and hurt—that was when the real pain would begin.

Gently setting down the cup, the burly man, as if sensing something, suddenly shivered all over and looked up at the street outside. Through the misty rain, five familiar figures appeared. They seemed to have spotted the burly man in the bar and walked over coldly. After entering the bar, they headed towards him.

“Truly relentless.”

The burly man sighed, stood up, tightened the long, narrow cloth bundle on his back, and unconsciously reached into his pocket. He wasn’t worried that the five guys opposite him would have guns, because when entering Tianzhou Town, everyone underwent inspections. Knives were fine, but all firearms were confiscated. And here, apart from police officers and soldiers, ordinary people were simply not seen carrying guns openly.

The five cold-faced individuals surrounded him. From their demeanor, it was clear they meant trouble.

To the burly man’s surprise, the people calmly drinking nearby seemed to find it interesting. One by one, they stood up, grinning, and gathered around, occasionally chuckling and saying, “It’s been a long time since anyone fought here. Everyone, guess if these guys can actually start a fight?”

The gloating people completely ignored the murderous glares of the cold-faced guys. After several years in the apocalypse, who hadn’t been through hell and back? Killing intent… who among them didn’t carry some?

“Those who don’t want to die, get out of the way,” the leading man said, scanning the crowd. “Be careful not to provoke us, or you’ll die a very, very miserable death.” However, his words had no effect, only making the surrounding people laugh even harder. The women, in particular, laughed so much they almost twisted their waists.

A man as thin as a monkey made a tsk-tsk sound and said, “Brother, we appreciate your kindness. But we also have to warn you: it’s best not to cause trouble here, otherwise, you’ll also die a very, very miserable death. Hehe… Do you know where this place is? It’s obvious you’re outsiders. What are your intentions coming to our Tianzhou Town? Could it be that you have ulterior motives?”

The beginning of his words was fine, but when the thin monkey-like man mentioned “ulterior motives,” the leading man’s expression changed. He suddenly roared at his subordinate next to him, “Finish him quickly! Luo Zheng is already seriously injured. Get rid of him, and we’ll get out of here.” He shook the cloth roll in his hand, and a nearly two-meter long war blade appeared. His other hand reached behind him, touching the wrapped back of his head.

Almost simultaneously, the other four also reached for the back of their heads. With five bursts of powerful light, the killing intent that had just been faintly emitted now became substantial, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

The activation of fourth-grade crystals, bringing 12 times the power, clearly showed the strength of these five individuals; they were definitely top-tier Crystal Warriors.

The burly man, known as Luo Zheng, was equally fast. He knew that in front of Crystal Warriors who had already activated their activators, no matter how strong he was, he would appear so weak. He also needed to rely on the power of crystals to have any chance of escaping their combined pursuit. They originally had ten people; his serious injuries were from having fought off five of them.

Regarding whether he could escape from these five men, if he hadn’t been injured, Luo Zheng would have had an 80% chance. But now, with serious injuries, he had less than a 30% chance.

The thin monkey-like man didn’t seem to notice the change in the five men. The substantial killing intent made him very uncomfortable, but his pride made him force a laugh. Pointing at the two-meter-long war blade, he said, “What era is this? Still using cold weapons? Are you aliens from Mars? Haha… That’s hilarious.”

The leading man swiftly swung the war blade in his hand. The thin monkey-like man’s eyes only registered a flash of lightning, then he felt his soul detach from his body. Without even feeling pain, he lost all consciousness. With 12 times the power, the sharp war blade sliced him in half from head to leg.

Splattered blood and the suddenly split body falling in two revealed colorful internal organs.

Chapter 268: Decryption

Perhaps some might wonder, doesn’t the emergence of Crystal Warriors signify a shift towards martial arts development?

In reality, Crystal Warrior is merely a term for soldiers who use crystals to enhance their physique. The strength of a Crystal Warrior depends primarily on the quality of their physique. For ordinary soldiers, they can only withstand the enhancement of Level 1 crystals, which only boosts their abilities threefold. This improvement is limited, allowing them to wear light steel armor that can defend against ordinary zombies’ claws, but perhaps not against high-level zombies or Special Infected’s claws, much less bullet attacks.

Only more exceptional soldiers, after becoming Crystal Warriors, can use higher-level crystals and receive greater boosts. When the multiplier is high enough for soldiers to use heavy steel armor, that’s when they are most formidable. They can rampage through hordes of zombies, and even ordinary bullets struggle to penetrate their thick heavy steel armor.

It’s not to say that once enhanced, they become superheroes, capable of wall-walking like martial arts masters. They only gain increased strength and slightly faster speed. Their combat style is simply a refined version of bayonet combat taught in the army, made more potent by the enhancement.

For individuals like Luo Zheng, despite their enhancements, without the protection of steel armor, an ordinary bullet could still kill them. Chasing deep into Tianzhou Plain carried extreme danger for them; one slip-up could cost them their lives. Furthermore, the weakness that follows crystal enhancement is fatal, leaving them completely at the mercy of others.

Precisely because of this, a Level 4 crystal enhancement provides 20 minutes of boosted time. If successful, Luo Zheng could be killed, and they could escape Tianzhou Town, hiding in the nearby Great Mountain Range to await the onset of his weakened state. Once the weakness passed, they could return from another direction to report back. The secrets of the crystals must never be leaked.

Luo Zheng, who also activated crystals, used a Level 5 crystal, providing a 15-fold boost. This was why he could survive the pursuit of ten opponents. When an ability reaches a certain level, each single increase in power represents a qualitative leap.

The skirmish between the two sides was almost identical to a bayonet fight. Despite the enhancements, a single hit would be fatal. Because of this, everyone was extremely cautious, their drawn combat knives held back, hesitant to strike. Luo Zheng could afford to waste time, but the five pursuers could not.

The leader seemed impatient. With a wave of his hand, he and four others attacked simultaneously. Five combat knives flashed with cold light, forcing Luo Zheng to retreat. If he hadn’t been injured, he could have used guerilla tactics to stall for time, but a deep cut in his leg significantly reduced his mobility.

For the Commercial Association, efficiency was paramount. Any procrastination was seen as irresponsible behavior, and in the event of an incident, such actions would be held accountable.

Therefore, the military police appeared with unbelievable speed. From the activation of the activators, barely a minute passed before a dozen fully armed military police officers rushed in from the doorway, aiming their dark muzzles at the six individuals locked in combat. The military police officer leading them stepped forward and roared, “Drop your weapons, or you will be killed!”

Don’t assume the military police didn’t have this authority. The Commercial Association’s military police were different from military police in the traditional sense. In this extraordinary period of the apocalypse, military police had the right to summarily execute anyone who resisted.

This authority was somewhat excessive, but in chaotic times, harsh measures were necessary. The Commercial Association could only be extremely strict in selecting military police, setting up multiple assessments. Those who became military police were all one-in-ten-thousand soldiers, and they were also the most loyal. In terms of deployment, they would only obey the orders of the Commercial Association Chairman. No one else had the authority to directly command the military police.

The scene froze instantly. The five men, who had their combat knives raised, ready to deliver a fatal blow, all stared blankly at the dozen fully armed military police.

Crystal enhancement also had another consequence: it could make people somewhat disoriented. A tenfold or more enhancement could cause the brain to feel a sense of maladaptation, leading to a blurred, almost deranged sensation. In their disoriented state, many things were beyond their control. Coupled with the heavy secret they carried, the five pursuers were unable to remain calm.

Almost simultaneously, the five men recklessly lunged at Luo Zheng. Five combat knives attacked Luo Zheng from five directions, stabbing, chopping, or sweeping.

The neurological 麻痹 caused Luo Zheng to let out a fierce roar. With a sudden swipe of his combat knife in front of him, he deflected two incoming knives and took a step back. But the lightning-fast blade sliced through the air. As it came down, the tip of the combat knife grazed Luo Zheng’s chest muscle.

The intense pain felt as if his brain had been struck, but his powerful willpower made him collapse to the ground.

“Fire!” the military police officer shouted. Accompanied by the dense strafing of submachine guns, the five pursuers were instantly hit by bullets. In this situation, according to everyone’s logic, these five men, each having taken six or seven bullets, should have immediately fallen dead on the spot.

However, the five men who were hit merely swayed. Instead of falling, they spun around and charged towards the military police squad.

The military police officer’s expression remained unchanged. As the most excellent elite soldier, and an elite among elites, his perseverance and composure were absolutely beyond what ordinary soldiers could compare to. This bizarre scene only elicited two words from him: “Headshots!”

What defines an elite? It’s a soldier who is superior to ordinary soldiers in every aspect. For example, their marksmanship is absolutely god-tier. Upon receiving the order for headshots, the submachine gun fire instantly turned the heads of the five charging men into something like rotten watermelons. As they shattered, their activators detached, falling to the ground and smashing the glass tubes within them.

The incident seemed to have passed as if nothing happened. The corpses were removed, the injured were taken away, the bloodstains on the floor were cleaned, and anything damaged by bullets was replaced. The entire Blue Sky Bar returned to its usual appearance, with the only addition being a new topic for patrons to chat about.

Luo Zheng’s injuries were severe. The wound on his chest was deep enough to expose bone, a knife mark slightly longer than a finger, shockingly visible.

The entire incident was shrouded in mystery. As the head of the Military Police Department branch, Xu Congliang couldn’t possibly be unaware of its importance. The branch’s medical standards weren’t very high. For an injury like Luo Zheng’s, only the recovered People’s Hospital in Greenmount City had the capability to save him.

If it were an ordinary person, Xu Congliang might not even bother. If he could be saved, great; if not, it was his fate. But the secret he carried, the small, intricate device installed at the back of his head, made Xu Congliang realize that this person had to be saved to uncover his secrets.

For this reason, a small passenger plane took off from the branch’s newly completed but not yet operational military airport, carrying the unconscious Luo Zheng towards Greenmount City.

Transportation between Greenmount City and Tianzhou Plain generally relies on air travel. To allow for faster deployment of branch personnel, and considering the number of personnel, the Aircraft Design Bureau had to design this small passenger plane, named “Bluebird,” for use by administrative staff traveling between the two locations.

The Intelligence Department, which had already received notification, was naturally very concerned about this information. They first ordered the People’s Hospital to prepare and then had a Sand-1 light helicopter waiting at the airport, striving to get the injured person into the hospital’s emergency room in the shortest possible time.

Previously, in the wilderness settlement, the Crystal Research Institute and the hospital were located in the same place. With the recovery of Greenmount City, the two began to separate, becoming two different types of institutions. Having acquired a large amount of research equipment from Greenmount City, the Crystal Research Institute naturally saw a massive increase in its capabilities. Coupled with staffing additions, it had become the largest scientific research institution.

The importance of crystals was evident to everyone, and Zhou Yuanqiang had always prioritized investment in the Crystal Research Institute.

When the injured person arrived along with the intact and shattered activators, the injured person was sent to the hospital. As for the activators, under the research and analysis of the Intelligence Department, due to the presence of crystals within them and the description of the scene at the time, the Intelligence Department had no choice but to send these damaged activators, along with the single intact one, to the Crystal Research Institute.

Huang Changnian, as the director of the Crystal Research Institute, already enjoyed minister-level treatment and headed the most crucial department. His position within the Commercial Association, though not overtly prominent, actually held a very high status.

Half a year had passed since Greenmount City’s recovery. With a large amount of research equipment and talent added, its strength had greatly increased, and research naturally progressed by leaps and bounds. The Crystal Research Institute’s entire research focus was on how to extract and release crystal energy. The appearance of Volt-Zombies undoubtedly opened a new door. Through research, many critical problems that were previously unsolvable had finally been overcome.

Upon receiving the activators from the Intelligence Department, Huang Changnian understood their function after only half an hour of research.

“The person who developed this activator is absolutely a top-tier scientific researcher, and their thinking completely deviates from that of normal people,” Huang Changnian felt a sense of adoration for the activator, praising it as a divine invention because it had opened an even broader door to research for him.

The Crystal Research Institute’s long-standing research direction was the utilization of crystals in machinery, but it had never occurred to them that its use in the human body had already surpassed its mechanical applications.

The hospital’s rescue efforts were very successful. After all, the injury didn’t affect any internal organs; while it looked horrifying, it wasn’t as terrifying as imagined.

Luo Zheng’s powerful physique allowed him to regain consciousness shortly after the anesthetic wore off. The tearing pain in his chest, foot, and waist made him groan. Looking at the strong smell of medicine, the white ceiling, and the spacious room, he felt a momentary illusion of being back in the hospital from his memory.

But in this post-apocalyptic world, could there truly be a hospital as complete as the one in his memories?

Seeing Luo Zheng open his eyes, Huang Changnian, who had been waiting impatiently, excitedly grabbed Luo Zheng’s hand, shaking the activator in his own hand, and asked, “Where did you get this thing? Does it stimulate and enhance the human body? Who invented it, and when did it come into practical use…?”

The series of questions made Luo Zheng feel dizzy. He moved his cracked lips and asked, “C-c-could I have some water?”

“Ah…” Feeling that he had lost his composure, Huang Changnian immediately stood up awkwardly, personally poured a glass of water, and after giving him some water through a patient drinking tube, he apologized, “I’m sorry, I was too eager. How are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Do I need to call the doctor?”

Luo Zheng shook his head slightly and said, “No, I’m fine, I just don’t know where this is.”

“People’s Hospital!” With a hint of pride, Huang Changnian said, “The People’s Hospital in Greenmount City.”

“People’s Hospital?” Luo Zheng repeated, his face showing curiosity. “Are we… are we in the city now? Didn’t… didn’t the zombies overrun it?”

Huang Changnian, with a proud expression, said, “We recovered Greenmount City half a year ago, but this news is rarely known to the outside world due to the isolation of transportation and communication. Where are you from? Actually, I am a crystal researcher and haven’t made much progress in crystal research, so upon seeing this small device, I was overly excited, which led to my earlier lapse in composure.”

Luo Zheng smiled. He dared not move his body, but merely said indifferently, “What you’re holding, its name is an activator. It can activate crystal energy and inject it into the human body, enhancing cell genes and thereby boosting human capabilities. Yes, it truly is a remarkable invention.”

In fact, when Luo Zheng escaped to Tianzhou Plain, he had already resigned himself to having no secrets to keep.

Even if he didn’t speak, with the activator falling into the opponent’s hands, even a damaged one, given enough time, they would still be able to understand its operating principles. This showed that there was only a thin sheet of paper between crystals and humans. If one couldn’t find the direction, it would be a vast expanse of nothingness. But if one found the right direction, a gentle push would break the paper, and there would be no secrets left.

Rather than being interrogated, or even tortured, it was better to be honest… In the apocalypse, there was no such thing as leniency for confession or spending life in prison.

Upon hearing Luo Zheng’s answer, Huang Changnian immediately fell into deep thought. Having researched crystals for nearly six years, he was incredibly familiar with them. Just this simple explanation was enough for him to understand almost everything about the activator. Of course, many subtle details still required thorough research to reach a conclusion, but a general direction had already been laid out before Huang Changnian.

The door to the room gently pushed open, and Xu Yuhai walked in with a few subordinates. Seeing Huang Changnian deep in thought, he didn’t disturb him, but quietly sat down nearby.

It wasn’t until Huang Changnian let out a sigh that Xu Yuhai stood up, smiling, and asked, “Old Huang, how is it? Any leads?” Huang Changnian, seeing it was the head of Intelligence, involuntarily recalled a circulating saying within the Commercial Association and blurted out, “What color underwear am I wearing today?”

Xu Yuhai was dumbfounded but honestly replied, “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

Upon hearing that, Huang Changnian immediately surrendered, rolling his eyes and saying, “My questions are done. When I need him, I’ll come back.” With that, he shook his head and left the room, still pondering Xu Yuhai’s words, wondering, “Does he know, or doesn’t he?”

As soon as Huang Changnian left, Xu Yuhai put away his smile. He pulled a chair and sat down in front of Luo Zheng, saying indifferently, “I’ll ask you a few things, please cooperate. I don’t think you want any unpleasantness between us, right?”

Luo Zheng’s intuition, upon seeing this young man who couldn’t be older than 20, made his heart pound. This feeling… it was like meeting the General’s Intelligence Secretary. He stared blankly at Xu Yuhai and said, “Just ask whatever you want to know. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Xu Yuhai smiled and said, “Very good, then, name…”

“Luo Zheng.”

“Age.”

“31, Han ethnicity, Northerner, currently unmarried, no children, no elderly dependents, single. Formerly a retired soldier, recently a professional soldier, now unemployed.”

Xu Yuhai smacked his lips, a bit speechless, and said, “You’re honest enough. Actually, I just wanted to ask you, what’s your gender?”

Luo Zheng was almost choked with anger. He looked at Xu Yuhai, struggling, and said, “Are you kidding me? You need to ask my gender?”

Xu Yuhai’s face suddenly turned stern. He said, “Alright, the mood setting is over. Let’s get to the point. I only have one question: clearly explain everything about yourself. Yes, just this one question. Once you answer, I’ll attend to my business, and you recover from your illness. Happy cooperation.”

Luo Zheng nodded, his eyes somewhat blank, looking at the high sun outside the window, where the flowers and plants were so vibrant.

“Have you heard of Crystal Warriors? Clearly, you haven’t, and I am a newly promoted Crystal Warrior. A Crystal Warrior, to put it nicely, is the most elite soldier, an incredibly sharp sword. To put it rudely, they are merely tools without much thought. Crystal enhancement is like a drug; it makes you addicted, dependent. When a person gains immense power beyond imagination, they can no longer escape that power.”

Luo Zheng said calmly, “And the price of gaining that power, perhaps once or twice, is no problem, but as the number of uses increases, it causes destructive damage to the nerves. Gradually, during use, it will make people lose their minds, becoming completely like a combat machine that knows only slaughter until the crystal energy is exhausted, only then will they stop.”

“I don’t want to be a tool, so I escaped, evading the pursuit that came because I leaked secrets all the way…”

Chapter 269: Operation Codename 1428

Xu Yuhai listened silently. His subordinate had already started the voice recorder, documenting everything Luo Zheng said.

Luo Zheng seemed lost in thought, gazing at the white ceiling as he spoke, “After Dr. Bai’s invention succeeded, the settlement began mass-producing these armors for Crystal Warriors. Based on their physique, and after a selection process, it would determine if you were a Light Armor Crystal Warrior or a Heavy Armor Crystal Warrior!”

Lost in his memories, Luo Zheng recounted the story detail by detail…

In the north, heavy snow was falling, covering everything in a blanket of white. The thick snow hindered the zombies’ advance, and along the Lifeline, once teeming with surging zombies, hardly a single one could be seen. Only very occasionally would the crisp sound of gunshots ring out, followed by silence.

The scarcity of resources made winter the most difficult time for northern survivors each year. Their thin clothes offered little warmth in the bitter cold. People rarely ventured outside, instead huddling inside their homes. Fortunately, the snow greatly slowed the zombies’ movement, so large-scale zombie attacks were rare. The cold profoundly affected them; exposed zombies could even freeze solid and become immobilized.

In previous years, humans could rest well, and zombies would cease their attacks, as if a year of activity was followed by several months of quiet.

However, the utilization of crystals seemed to have changed that. For the General, the zombies’ sluggish movement was the perfect opportunity to strike. So, he vigorously promoted a testing initiative for everyone in the settlement under 45. After manufacturing a large number of activators, he meticulously began selecting candidates for Crystal Warriors.

Given the unique circumstances of the apocalypse, efficiency was naturally very high. Soon, after selection, ten thousand of the most优秀 people from the entire settlement were gathered in military camps for unified training.

At the same time, the entire settlement almost emptied its resources, even destroying and melting down some weapons to forge heavy steel armor. However, activators weren’t something that could be produced on demand. Due to a lack of components, only three thousand soldiers could be chosen from the ten thousand to be ultimately equipped with activators.

A month of training left these people, some former soldiers, some not, complaining bitterly. The intensity of the training even surpassed that of previous special forces.

Luo Zheng’s robust physique ranked second among the three thousand finally selected soldiers. He could withstand reinforcement from a maximum of 6-level crystals, whereas the average was 5-level crystals. He was, to date, the person detected with the highest resistance. A fifteenfold common amplification made him one of the top performers and a favorite in the General’s eyes.

The heavy steel armor, crafted with all their might, weighed 60 kilograms. Without crystal reinforcement, even the three thousand selected soldiers would find it difficult to move while wearing it.

When the heavy steel armor and activators arrived and were connected to the back of their heads, the pain was absolutely beyond everyone’s imagination. After enduring a week, under orders, the three thousand men embarked on the journey to reclaim the first county seat.

The chosen soldiers set out, all with a desire to repay the General for years of protecting everyone and providing a peaceful life.

Beyond the Lifeline, their destination was Linyang County, a large county seat with over 300,000 residents, and also the frontline post for zombie attacks on the Lifeline. The heavy steel armor was transported entirely on sleds, saving a lot of effort.

In winter, zombies were almost completely inactive. Along the way, only scattered zombies struggled in the snow, aimlessly wandering. Occasionally, they’d encounter a certain number of zombie hordes, but their movement speed was hardly impressive. Watching them charge, the knee-deep snow essentially made them stumble every few steps. By the time they drew close, the troops had already moved far away.

The General used the same military ranks as before. Luo Zheng, as the second most physically capable, was appointed as a deputy regimental commander, a meteoric rise.

Upon arriving at the county seat, no one had absolute faith in challenging Linyang County, with its over 300,000 zombies, with only three thousand men, even with the heavy steel armor. Their confidence remained low.

Because of prior targeted training, the three thousand Crystal Warriors, after a brief rest and selecting a temporary camp, immediately began constructing defensive positions in the snow. This took two full days for the three thousand Crystal Warriors to complete. During these two days, even with ample clothing, the cold was unbearable.

As soon as the positions were built, the three thousand Crystal Warriors, donning their heavy steel armor, activated their activators. Like tigers released from cages, they surged onto the main road leading into the county seat.

These warriors, at minimum using 4-level crystals, had a strength amplification of over twelve times. The 60-kilogram heavy steel armor was no longer a burden. The three thousand unleashed Crystal Warriors, their combat knives gleaming in the heavy snow, sliced through zombies along the way as if cutting watermelons. The sharp blades, combined with immense strength, produced truly astonishing effects.

The intense neural stimulation left many with somewhat affected mental clarity, but the impact was not yet significant.

Luo Zheng used 5-level crystals; the additional threefold strength made him even more ferocious. A soldier before the apocalypse, his combat skills were unmatched. Even high-level zombies couldn’t evade his attacks. His series of thrusts, parries, sweeps, slashes, and chops flowed like water.

With only 20 minutes of crystal reinforcement, the warriors had to charge inward at maximum speed.

Initially, resistance wasn’t significant, but as they entered the county area, the number of zombies suddenly increased. Even if their movement was cumbersome, they still blocked off street after street. No matter how strong you were, you still had to cut them down one by one. The combat knives themselves weighed 20 kilograms, and after swinging them multiple times, even with reinforced physiques, one’s arms would ache.

The first charge lasted only ten minutes before the entire Crystal Warrior force had to retreat.

Crystal reinforcement lasted 20 minutes, but generally, one needed to return to the defensive positions before the reinforcement wore off. Otherwise, the subsequent weakness and the weight of the heavy steel armor would be unbearable in a weakened state. If crushed, it would take at least half an hour to recover. But what would be the consequence of lying in the snow in steel armor in such icy weather?

When attacking in winter, zombies were indeed slow and stiff, but Crystal Warriors also shared those weaknesses.

Don’t underestimate those ten minutes. The three thousand Crystal Warriors split into several routes, and the number of zombies they killed along the way was absolutely astonishing. The immense strength caused these zombies to be practically cut in half or fragmented. In just ten minutes, three thousand men chopped down nearly fifty thousand zombies, truly earning them the title of zombie meat grinders.

At this point, Luo Zheng drank another glass of water. So much talking had made him somewhat tired. Xu Yuhai asked, “Did you suffer any losses in your first charge?”

Luo Zheng smiled and said, “Of course there were losses. Hundreds of people were trapped in the zombie hordes. No matter how strong you are, facing a sea of zombies, how many can you kill? Even with reinforcement, people need stamina. Kill too many, and your hands will go numb, movement will become difficult, and the heavy steel armor becomes fatal. So, if you were surrounded by zombies and couldn’t break out before the reinforcement wore off, there was only one path: death.”

Xu Yuhai was somewhat amazed by the abilities of these Crystal Warriors, daring to assault a county of 300,000 with only three thousand men. He asked, “Did you later reclaim Linyang County?”

Luo Zheng nodded and said, “Of course. We used continuous charges, activating crystal reinforcement again and again. Each time, we didn’t try to kill too many; after killing a dozen or twenty, we would retreat. With thousands of people, and each killing a dozen or twenty, no matter how many zombies there were, they would eventually be wiped out. However, we weren’t invincible. Volt-Zombies, which could discharge electricity, were our nightmare. Under electrical conduction, we would die terribly.”

“And the gross monsters also harmed us. The steel armor wasn’t completely airtight; sometimes, their liquids would seep inside. This corrosive characteristic, along with its infected, led to serious consequences: warriors turning into zombies. With their thick, heavy steel armor, even our combat knives found it hard to cut through. As you know, zombies can be three times stronger than us humans; heavy steel armor is still movable for them!”

After dozens of such successive battles, over two days, and with the loss of approximately one thousand Crystal Warriors, Linyang County was finally reclaimed.

At this moment, Luo Zheng and his comrades were utterly exhausted, unwilling to even move an inch. The constant alternation between reinforcement and weakness, in such a short period, placed an unimaginable burden on their bodies. Their muscles were on the verge of collapsing. The soreness throughout their bodies was unbearable, as if they had just recovered from a severe illness.

Gaining Linyang County, despite the loss of a thousand excellent Crystal Warriors, was considered worthwhile in the General’s eyes.

Upon taking over Linyang County, various supplies that had been stored for years finally found their owners. The entire settlement celebrated like New Year’s, everyone beaming with joy. For them, reclaiming a small town was no big deal, but reclaiming a county seat was absolutely the most exciting news in years.

Thus, many settlement leaders became fanatical about the strength that allowed them to reclaim a county with just three thousand Crystal Warriors. A faint desire emerged, pointing towards an even bigger goal: Huidong City, forty kilometers from Linyang County. In their view, with nearly a million people, a mere ten thousand Crystal Warriors would be enough to take it.

With the vast resources from the county, various components gathered, a large number of activators manufactured, and heavy steel armors forged one by one, over ten thousand Crystal Warriors were equipped and began advancing towards Huidong City. The zealous people were already celebrating victory prematurely.

For reinforced Crystal Warriors, killing a hundred or so zombies per person wasn’t much; perhaps four or five uses of reinforcement would achieve the goal.

However, during this attack, the heroes who had reclaimed Linyang County began to display some unconsciousness when using crystals. Excessive reinforcement caused problems with their muscles and nerves. Like beastmen going berserk in fantasy novels, once berserk, they recognized no one. The Crystal Warriors at this time were somewhat similar; as reinforcement activated, disoriented, they began attacking everyone and every zombie around them.

Luo Zheng’s powerful physique, during the assault on Huidong City, became disoriented after activating his crystals for the third time.

Undoubtedly, Luo Zheng was lucky because, after losing his senses, he managed to rush out of the city without being trapped by zombie hordes or killed for slaughtering his comrades. But others were not so fortunate. The frenzy of nearly two thousand people had terrifying consequences. With their formidable abilities, Crystal Warriors tore at each other, one by one falling in the snow.

In just the third charge, over four thousand of the ten thousand Crystal Warriors never left the city.

Facing nearly a million zombies still in the city, the Special Infected, along with various high-level zombies, had begun to react. They used the city’s tall buildings to strike humans even harder. Especially with the appearance of Giant Zombies, their even more terrifying strength often allowed them to blast a Crystal Warrior, who seemed like a small person, flying with a single punch in close combat.

Crystal Warriors were still human. Blasted away while wearing steel armor, they would fall and never be able to stand up again.

Despite the tremendous losses, the Crystal Warriors, under their officers’ command, initiated a fourth charge. Over five thousand Crystal Warriors, like a flowing tide, fearlessly surged into the zombie hordes. Their 2-meter combat knives, like the blades of a meat grinder, swept across, breaking zombies in half at the waist. Agile high-level zombies were powerless against such an assault, forced to meet their bitter end under the combat knives.

However, the rampaging Volt-Zombies, with their horrifying electricity and wide attack range, turned the charging Crystal Warriors into charred corpses.

The fourth charge taught people that in a city, the densest areas of zombies would always be human no-go zones. Even mighty Crystal Warriors, in a straightforward battle, would still suffer a crushing defeat. The terrifying numbers, even if only by attrition, would wear humans down to death. Reinforced bodies would also tire, and heavy steel armor would merely become the Crystal Warriors’ iron coffins.

In the tumultuous battle to reclaim the city, of the ten thousand Crystal Warriors, fewer than two thousand ultimately returned. The casualties of nearly eight thousand people had only eliminated half of the city’s zombies.

The General, receiving the news, naturally flew into a rage. The problems and side effects exposed by the Crystal Warriors’ excessive use of crystals were also unforeseen by Dr. Bai. He couldn’t fathom why such side effects would emerge.

“After that, was that why you chose to flee?”

Xu Yuhai, of course, wouldn’t miss such an opportunity to learn about the northern settlement. He said, “Actually, I think your General did nothing wrong. Who wouldn’t want to reclaim cities? Since they had the trump card of Crystal Warriors, it was natural to utilize them effectively.”

Luo Zheng said, “After discovering I had sequelae, it seemed that each time I used crystals, I became increasingly disoriented. Sometimes, I had no idea what I was doing. In such a state, I naturally couldn’t remain a Crystal Warrior. But facing this failure, the General, of course, wouldn’t give up, so he organized a second battle to reclaim the city, again with ten thousand Crystal Warriors.”

Xu Yuhai asked, “So you didn’t want to become a Crystal Warrior whose sole purpose was fighting, and thus chose to escape?”

“No, I didn’t escape. I was chosen as a Crystal Warrior again, but this time I wasn’t a deputy regimental commander, but a common Crystal Soldier.” Luo Zheng shook his head and said, “Everyone wants to live well. To die making a contribution to humanity, I am willing. But this time, I was chosen to go into battle knowing I could no longer use crystals. There was only one reason: they wanted people like me to die.”

Luo Zheng sneered faintly: “The secret of the crystals, only a Crystal Warrior would know. So, for a basically废掉 person like me, to keep the secret, they could only send me to hell (the grave). They didn’t kill us, but simply ended our lives in another way. I found out this news by chance… So, not wanting to die, I could only flee! Then they sent people to hunt me down.”

“Very good, we have a preliminary understanding of everything. You can now rest and recover in peace.”

Xu Yuhai stood up, had his subordinate stop the recording, and then walked out of the hospital room. In fact, from the very beginning, Xu Yuhai knew the whole story. His interrogation of Luo Zheng was merely to confirm whether the intelligence in his possession was accurate.

There was no need to doubt; in this world, there was no such thing as luck, nor any free lunches.

The occurrence of the entire event was already predestined when the Tianzhou Plain was merged. This was because Tian Yun’s team contained three special agents planted by Xu Yuhai. How could such an important figure as Tian Yun not attract Xu Yuhai’s attention? For him, anything unknown was a disgrace to the Intelligence Department, and he had to fully grasp everything about the north.

The secret of the Crystal Warriors was obtained very accidentally. So, Xu Yuhai began instructing this agent to carry out deeper infiltration. When stealing was not an option, they had to start planning a larger operation. And Luo Zheng was the center of this entire operation.

Evidently, Xu Yuhai’s efforts paid off. The entire operation was highly successful. The activator, listed as the most top-secret item in the north, was also acquired by the Commercial Association without the use of force. For the Intelligence Department, this was definitely a textbook case of espionage.

“Transmit my order: The operation file codenamed 1428 is to be archived as SSS-level sealed.”

Thus, a classic espionage case was quietly sealed. Without an accident, Luo Zheng would probably never know, in his entire life, that he had once been a pawn of the Intelligence Department. As outsiders rumored, if you want to know someone’s underwear color and size, ask the head of Intelligence; in five minutes, he can give you the answer… including the Chairman’s wife’s underwear color, if you dare to ask!

Chapter 270: Crystal Weapons

In reality, crystal enhancement had no so-called side effects. The disorientation experienced by Luo Zheng and others was merely a temporary neural disorder caused by the nerves’ inability to withstand such high-intensity, frequent use.

When Dr. Bai conducted experiments, he always prepared for a considerable amount of time before proceeding, with intervals of one or two days. By then, the nerves would have recovered, making it naturally impossible to discover neurological issues. One must consider that Luo Zheng and his team, when conquering the county seat, practically underwent enhancement, rested for a weak half-hour, and then immediately enhanced again. Such intensity, both for nerves and muscles, could not be sustained, and problems were bound to occur.

During the incident at the bar, why did Luo Zheng maintain a shred of sobriety when using enhancement? It was because his nerves were already showing signs of recuperation. To recover from this type of crystal-induced neural disorder, one only needed to rest for ten days to half a month.

Resolving this “non-side effect” side effect was very simple: maintain an interval when using crystal enhancement. For example, using it only two or three times a day would prevent the problems Luo Zheng and his team encountered. However, at this moment, even with his exceptional talent, Dr. Bai couldn’t immediately figure out this problem. For enthusiastic researchers, every step of an issue required meticulous refinement and verification through repeated experiments, making it impossible to quickly pinpoint the problem.

Thanks to the advanced medical equipment at People’s Hospital and a large number of experienced doctors, the issues Luo Zheng faced were not difficult for them. They quickly identified the problem and submitted one report to Xu Yuhai and another to Huang Changnian.

Xu Yuhai had initially worried that if there truly were adverse effects, this hard-won activator might not be accepted by the Commercial Association. Now, seeing the report, he felt completely relieved. Undeniably, his successful action this time would surely earn Boss’s praise and add a few medals to the previously silent Intelligence Department.

This report was not very important to Huang Changnian, as the activator was merely an impressive discovery in the application of crystals. However, it was by no means the complete picture.

The Crystal Research Institute, under the Commercial Association, could be said to be a gathering of elites, with nearly six years of research history. Especially after retaking Greenmount City, with abundant research equipment and a stable, superior research environment, progress in crystal research had been rapid. The latest developed crystal energy extractor and crystal energy storage device were the Crystal Research Institute’s greatest contributions.

The crystal energy extractor, due to its need for the fastest extraction speed, inevitably became very large. Its footprint was the size of a basketball court.

One shouldn’t think that because it was so large, it couldn’t be too advanced. On the contrary, it appeared massive precisely because it was too advanced. Its extraction speed was such that a Level 1 white crystal could be fully extracted in just 20 seconds. Moreover, its extraction method was like an assembly line, continuously feeding crystals via a conveyor belt to constantly extract their energy.

Compared to the basketball court-sized crystal energy extractor, the crystal energy storage device was somewhat different. Its size determined how much energy it could store. The energy from a Level 1 white crystal, for example, could be stored in a device the size of a mobile phone SIM card. In terms of unit conversion, even the highest-grade Level 9 crystal’s storage device would only be the size of a phone, making it extremely convenient to carry.

The quality of extracted energy was related to its purity; the higher the purity, the stronger the energy.

With previous crude extraction methods, the utilization rate was less than one percent. Yet, even this one percent, using a Level 1 white crystal as an example, could power a 100-watt light bulb for 24 hours or more. If the extraction purity exceeded 90%, then a 100-watt lamp could be used for two to three thousand hours—how terrifying was that?

The Crystal Research Institute’s focus was on applying this energy to machinery, and the appearance of the activator did not alter this research direction.

Entering January, the heat in the wasteland finally began to subside. The daytime temperatures brought a hint of coolness to those accustomed to the wasteland’s scorching weather. Perhaps it was an illusion; the temperature had only dropped by five or six degrees Celsius. The wasteland sky remained very hot, and here, besides night, one couldn’t feel any trace of winter.

In what was once the Wasteland settlement, now renamed Wasteland Military Base, about ten kilometers west, in the small oasis where Zhou Yuanqiang first started, all defensive measures had been perfected after more than half a year of construction. After transitioning the cigarette factory and other small factories to Greenmount City, only the empty shell of buildings remained, apart from the early plantation.

The measures implemented here were so thorough that it couldn’t be abandoned, so it became a military experimental base, specifically for weapon testing.

With this decision, the small oasis was once again expanded, with the construction of a small airfield, helicopter landing pads, and an airship assembly workshop. Large numbers of researchers were stationed here, conducting experimental tests ranging from handguns to airships. The Wasteland Military Base also incorporated this area as a garrison point, deploying many soldiers here.

Under the morning sun, the night’s mist dispersed.

Over a dozen armed helicopters flew rapidly over the wasteland, soon appearing above the small oasis. Guided, they quickly landed on the helicopter landing pads.

A dozen guards jumped down from the armed helicopters, followed by Zhou Yuanqiang, who disembarked from one of them. Waiting cars quickly transported Zhou Yuanqiang to an experimental ground on the outskirts of the small oasis.

Calling it an experimental ground was merely a polite term for the boundless wasteland outside.

This place was desolate and uninhabited. On the vast wasteland, let alone people, even zombies were rarely seen. The military base was set up here, with its massive fleet of aircraft, airships, armed helicopters, and so on. Simply during patrols and training, if any zombies were spotted, it would be an exciting prospect for the trainee pilots, who would have already served them with bullets. How could any zombies still be around?

Seeing Zhou Yuanqiang step out of the car, Huang Changnian looked somewhat excited. He had been exhilarated last night, hardly sleeping, yet still vibrant and showing no sign of fatigue.

“Old Huang, I rushed over as soon as I got your call. You guys always like to give me a surprise… Tell me, what are we testing today?” Zhou Yuanqiang had to take this seriously, as it was the Crystal Research Institute’s first experiment, and he didn’t know what they were testing.

And Chen Xunan, standing next to Huang Changnian, made Zhou Yuanqiang even more curious. What did this crystal experiment have to do with him, the Boss of the munitions factory?

Huang Changnian rubbed his hands, looking a little nervous, and said, “Chairman, the Crystal Research Institute has not disappointed you. With a series of successes, our application of crystals has become more and more proficient. As early as a month and a half ago, we partnered with the munitions factory to explore the military application of crystals. What we’re experimenting with today is the new type of weapon jointly developed by us and the munitions factory.”

“Crystals for military application?” Zhou Yuanqiang was a bit confused. Weren’t crystals a source of energy? How could they be used militarily? If it was about energy application, that would be understandable, but Huang Changnian mentioned new weapons… This stumped Zhou Yuanqiang.

Chen Xunan, on the other hand, was very calm. Seeing Zhou Yuanqiang’s astonished look, he chuckled proudly, “Boss, this is definitely a groundbreaking invention, and the development of new weapons is just the tip of the iceberg. Because we discovered during our research that the application of crystal energy is truly vast, exceeding our imagination.”

The more they spoke, the more impatient Zhou Yuanqiang became. He said, “What are we waiting for? Hurry up and start the experiment; let me see what kind of weapon you’re so highly recommending.”

But to Zhou Yuanqiang’s dismay, there was nothing there besides some researchers and a dozen cars. Could the weapon be invisible? He looked around, only to be met with bursts of laughter from Chen Xunan and the others.

“Calling experimental team, experiment may begin, experiment may begin…”

As Huang Changnian gave the order via the communicator, on the small oasis’s runway, an HY-2 fighter jet started up. With its thrusters, it rapidly taxied and took off. Not only that, but two armed helicopters also lifted off from the helipad, buzzing as they flew towards Zhou Yuanqiang’s location.

Soon, the fighter jet circled at cruising speed in the sky, while the armed helicopters flew directly over Zhou Yuanqiang’s head and continued forward.

The location was well-chosen, allowing them to see very far with binoculars from this angle. After the helicopters passed overhead, everyone raised their binoculars, tracking their movements. Perhaps to make it clearer for everyone, the armed helicopters didn’t fly too far before hovering.

“Boss, our Commercial Association is currently vigorously developing its air force, so when we conceived these, we prioritized air force applications. This missile, which we named ‘Thor,’ has completely moved beyond the traditional definition of a missile. Its warhead contains compressed crystal energy. Once the fuse is activated, it will release a million-volt electrical net spanning hundreds of meters through a special release device.”

As Chen Xunan explained, the two hovering armed helicopters released their attached missiles. Within 0.1 seconds, the thrusters activated, and the missiles plunged towards the experimental targets nearby.

The experimental targets were just a few standing trees. As the missiles arrived, their warheads suddenly split open, and an enormous arc of electricity appeared, forming a giant net that enveloped the trees. The crackling sounds could be clearly heard from a great distance, indicating the powerful intensity of the electric arc.

The enveloped trees were shredded as if by a grinder. Under the furious electric arc, they were continuously torn apart, and the powerful electricity evaporated the water from their trunks, directly igniting the debris. All of this unfolded in merely one second, yet the shock it delivered in that single second was absolute.

Huang Changnian said, “The concept for this Thor missile actually came from the Volt-Zombies. Through our research, we’ve mastered the technology to electrify and release crystal energy. Applying it to missiles resulted in astonishing power. The size of the electricity net’s coverage can actually be adjusted based on the amount of compressed crystal energy; the greater the amount, the larger the electric net released, theoretically capable of covering several hundred cubic meters.”

“The Thor missile has an advantage: besides large-area damage, it can also strike targets inside buildings. Except for damaging electronics, it can mostly keep buildings from suffering any harm. The effect seen on the trees earlier was due to their water content, which caused the electric arc to produce an explosive effect. Against zombies, the electric net’s power is even greater; the super strong electricity can instantly evaporate all the water from a zombie’s body, turning it into a charred corpse.”

As the armed helicopters’ demonstration concluded, the cruising fighter jet, having received its orders, made a dive. A huge aerial bomb detached from its belly and plummeted towards the ground. However, while still hundreds of meters in the air, it suddenly exploded, scattering dozens of small spheres in all directions to the ground.

But this time, nothing happened; no terrifying electric arcs were seen.

Chen Xunan explained again, “These spheres are actually the continuous-release electric balls we developed. They don’t have the million-volt electricity of the missile, but they can continuously release 500 volts of electricity for up to ten minutes. This means that for those ten minutes, the entire area covered by these dozens of spheres will undoubtedly become a no-go zone for humans or zombies. Their purpose is to stop charges or to block enemies.”

“At the same time, their large-area destructive power is even greater than the Thor missile’s, making them the best weapon against infantry and ordinary zombies.”

At this point, Chen Xunan expressed some regret, “While we’ve made breakthroughs in large-scale weapons, their application in firearms isn’t ideal. We haven’t been able to solve many critical problems. However, I believe that given enough time, this compressed crystal energy will absolutely revolutionize firearms. For example, by converting bullets into energy projectiles, like a laser gun, or by making the energy explode when fired from a gun, achieving the power of a rocket launcher from a submachine gun…”

Huang Changnian said, “This is only the application in weapons. Crystal energy can also replace electricity and produce other effects, such as its use in mechanical power. Our deductions suggest this isn’t just fantasy; we’ve only just dissected the secret of crystal energy. Entering other fields of application still requires a very long journey. But undeniably, the emergence of crystals has changed our understanding of energy and also altered the direction of new technological development.”

“Damn, that’s amazing!”

Of course, the above sentence was merely what Zhou Yuanqiang thought in his heart, but it showed that he was already “excited.” He knew the importance of crystals before, but he hadn’t expected them to be this crucial.

Thinking about the crystals he had absorbed when upgrading his ring in the past, he instantly felt a pang of heartache, almost having the urge to pull his hair out and shout, “If I had this quest system from the beginning, how much could I have done and how many weapons and ammunition could I have manufactured with the saved crystals!”

However, recalling the busy airship port and the massive trade volume from the past few months, which brought in a huge quantity of crystals, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but smile again. It could be said that almost all the crystals in the entire Tianzhou Plain and the entire Lanxi Alliance had been harvested. Now, the Tianzhou Plain was under his control. With a large number of zombies eliminated, only those holed up in the cities provided a limited source of crystals.

Currently, the entire Lanxi Alliance seemed to be working for him, desperately fighting zombies, acquiring large amounts of crystals, and obtaining various goods from the Commercial Association. At the same time, the Lanxi Alliance was now the Commercial Association’s most important source of crystals. Combined with other large and small scattered settlements, the daily amount of crystals obtained was very impressive.

But no matter how many crystals there were, with the application of crystal energy spreading across various industries, consumption would be terrifying. One must remember that crystals were formed by zombies under the influence of the virus; there would always come a day when they ran out. What would happen then, when humanity had grown accustomed to the convenience brought by crystal energy and suddenly lost this energy source?

Zhou Yuanqiang raised his concerns. Huang Changnian replied, “Chairman, this is also a concern of mine. Therefore, our Crystal Research Institute has also been dedicated to researching the material composition of crystals. Currently, progress isn’t significant, but I believe that this unique formation of crystals must have a certain composition method; it’s just very difficult to master.”

“You mean that crystals, in the future, might open up a new path for sustainable energy for us?”

Facing the Chairman’s question, Huang Changnian nodded and said, “Yes, you could say that. But nobody knows how long it will take to succeed on this path. Perhaps a flash of insight could unlock the mystery of crystal composition, or perhaps… it will require a very long period of research. But I believe that with enough effort, we will definitely succeed.”

Regardless of whether the crystal composition could be researched, at least for now, this experiment had satisfied Zhou Yuanqiang… Furthermore, the application of crystals in human enhancement made Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart stir. With the Commercial Association’s powerful industrial strength, creating an army of Crystal Warriors seemed to pose no difficulty.

And the use of Crystal Warriors in combating zombies was what Zhou Yuanqiang valued most… they were practically meat grinders.

Chapter 271: Delivering a Peak Flattery

The moment the purpose of the crystals was deciphered, their strategic position was elevated to an absolute height.

Controlling crystals meant controlling the trend of the next two decades. This was by no means an exaggeration; energy crises exist in every era. Mastering new energy sources is equivalent to mastering the future. Why does the United States today try every possible means, using various pretexts, to control oil? Their global strategic deployment revolves entirely around oil because everyone understands oil’s impact on the future.

The Commercial Association absolutely needed to control the crystals. This strategy had already been proposed, and through experiments, the crystals’ potential and prospects further solidified the Commercial Association’s strategic thinking.

But how to control the crystals? In the apocalypse, they served as currency. Almost everyone in the apocalypse used them as money, able to purchase everything they needed. The Commercial Association’s massive trade volume brought in enormous crystal revenue, filling warehouse after warehouse. However, for future development, these crystals were far from enough; they were merely a drop in the bucket.

Since the successful development of the Thor missiles and the Electric Discharge aerial bombs, Zhou Yuanqiang began issuing orders to reduce the amount of crystals used for salary payments within the Commercial Association.

However, relying solely on salary reductions had minimal effect on controlling crystals. The Commercial Association needed to devise a method. But what method could achieve control over crystals? After all, people had grown accustomed to using crystals for shopping, valuing them as highly as gold.

The Commercial Association’s previous department for managing crystals was the Ministry of Finance, but it only handled salary distribution for internal employees and couldn’t control the crystals held by ordinary external residents.

To strengthen crystal management, just one week after the successful experiment, the Yuanqiang Central Bank was formally approved by Zhou Yuanqiang. An former agricultural bank branch manager was appointed as the Yuanqiang Central Bank Governor. On the third day of his new appointment, Zhou Kunwei submitted a report on the Commercial Association’s financial rectification. After approval, and under Zhou Yuanqiang’s directive, he began research into the feasibility of the Commercial Association issuing a new currency.

For a faction to issue currency, merely for its own internal circulation is insufficient. It must gain recognition from other factions. Only then will the currency circulate and be accepted by others, allowing it to be used within their territories. Otherwise, a currency that only circulates internally is distorted and unhealthy, potentially impacting the currency itself and even leading to many negative side effects.

The reason Zhou Yuanqiang dared to authorize the push for issuing a new currency was not a momentary impulse. The entire plan had actually been quietly underway for a long time, with every step and every detail thoroughly scrutinized and gradually refined.

The Commercial Association’s influence on the surrounding areas was absolutely immense. Its powerful industrial system, countless goods, were transported from Greenmount City and the Tianzhou Plain to the surrounding regions. The Seven-Colored Umbrella had become the sole brand in the apocalypse. Its influence had expanded into all fields. From a single screw to large machinery, from daily necessities to other industries, everything under the Commercial Association’s jurisdiction was involved.

Under the Commercial Association’s development, Greenmount City had become a massive factory. New industrial zones were being developed, and factories were being built one after another. The entire city and the Commercial Association were developing at an unprecedented speed. As vast quantities of goods were transported to various settlements, their influence grew ever stronger.

It was this powerful influence that gave Zhou Yuanqiang the confidence to issue currency to fully achieve the goal of controlling crystals.

However, issuing currency isn’t as simple as just wishing for it; it involves a great deal of work. For example, there’s the currency technology, and the machinery for printing money. These are hardware aspects. Then there are the softer aspects: how to influence other settlements and get them to acknowledge and accept the currency?

The impact of the apocalypse was very complex; paper money had become a pile of worthless scrap. People’s mindset was that only gold, diamonds, and similar items were truly trustworthy. This is the reason behind the saying, “Gold in times of chaos, antiques in times of prosperity.” Multiple dynastic changes have also proven this point well; with almost every dynastic shift, the currency of the previous dynasty would be slowly devalued until it was replaced by a new one.

Under the zombie offensive, early settlements were all swept away by zombies, making them extremely unstable. A seemingly strong settlement could be overrun by zombies in a blink of an eye. In such circumstances, people would naturally only trust currencies with eternal value like gold.

But now, things were different. The strength and power of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association were the best guarantee, a safeguard that could stabilize people’s morale.

All the above conditions determined the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s advantage in issuing currency. Zhou Kunwei also spent two weeks delving into every settlement, understanding everything from military matters to people’s livelihoods, before finally completing the currency issuance feasibility report in a very short time.

Zhou Kunwei’s report clearly indicated that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had met the conditions for issuing currency. Even if the surrounding areas initially refused to accept it, this wouldn’t matter. The currency could first be implemented in areas ruled by the Commercial Association. Afterwards, using the powerful penetration of its goods, the heavily impacted settlements could be forcibly compelled to accept the Commercial Association’s currency.

To make it more convincing, the report also cited strategies and methods used for currency issuance throughout history; some even succeeded under conditions less favorable than the Commercial Association’s current situation. At the same time, currency issuance was also a way to increase the Commercial Association’s influence. By controlling currency printing, they could control the lifeline of these settlements.

In summary, issuing currency at this time was entirely beneficial for the Commercial Association, with no drawbacks.

Upon receiving the report, Zhou Yuanqiang officially signed the order, agreeing for the Commercial Association’s Central Bank to begin the preliminary design of the currency.

A city like Greenmount City had no currency printing companies or mints. But the importance of printing currency isn’t simply a matter of designing a printing press and printing it like book pages. The technology involved is beyond imagination. Why is it that in modern times, no matter how many counterfeit bills exist, they can never compare to real ones? Why can discerning people spot fakes at a glance? This is due to anti-counterfeiting technology that cannot be replicated or cracked.

If the Commercial Association wanted to issue currency, the first thing to solve was the currency’s anti-counterfeiting technology, followed by printing technology, and then printing press technology. Even with these, it wouldn’t be enough, because the material for banknotes isn’t ordinary paper; it’s very specific, and this is the biggest difference between real and counterfeit money. The confidential material is simply unknown to outsiders.

The Commercial Association didn’t possess any of this series of technologies, let alone all of them. Furthermore, the number of people specialized in this field was extremely small to begin with. In the apocalypse, finding such individuals would undoubtedly be incredibly difficult.

This issue alone plunged the currency’s issuance into a predicament. And this problem also gave Zhou Yuanqiang a headache, because the printing technology and equipment simply couldn’t be obtained in modern times. Even if counterfeiters had such equipment, they wouldn’t sell it to you, would they? People wouldn’t expose themselves.

And the counterfeiting technology would definitely not be up to par. Perhaps paper money could be printed, but Zhou Yuanqiang would not dare to print such technologically unsophisticated paper money to serve as the Commercial Association’s currency. Because it would be too easy to counterfeit, and if it were exploited by others, it could very likely drag down the entire Commercial Association. Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t dare, nor did he want to, undertake such a risky endeavor.

“Am I going to have to be a master thief again?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was conflicted. This wasn’t what he wanted, because he had never heard of anyone daring to target a printing company in all his life. Although he might not be discovered, the problem was that he could take their printing machinery in a short time, but how would he get the technology? It wasn’t simply laid out on a table for him to take.

So with the modern path cut off, Zhou Yuanqiang’s only option was to think about the apocalypse.

But in the apocalypse, it was a world dominated by zombies, especially coastal areas, which were definitely vast seas of zombies. And all the mints and currency printing companies were concentrated in large cities. They were surrounded by thousands of zombies, making it incredibly difficult to get his hands on these things.

After pondering for several days, Zhou Yuanqiang finally found a map. From some information about the apocalypse, he located Chengdu City, which was the closest to Greenmount City, though still 1,300 kilometers away.

As the provincial capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City was an important central city in the central and western regions. It was the scientific and technological center, commercial and trade center, financial center, and communication hub of the southwest region. With a population of 13 million, it was absolutely a terrifying existence in the apocalypse. Just thinking about how much effort the Commercial Association spent on Greenmount City, a city of ten million people was simply beyond what the Commercial Association could reclaim at present.

However, once the preparations for currency issuance began, Zhou Yuanqiang had no choice but to start preparing to seize the opportunity, to raid the currency printing company in Chengdu City and completely empty it.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to expend massive human and material resources to move things; rather, he simply didn’t know where the technology would be stored. Without paper money technology, his currency promotion might fail prematurely. The saying, “Better to kill a hundred innocents than let one guilty person go,” essentially applied here. A foolish person can only use foolish methods.

Once he made this decision, Zhou Yuanqiang pondered whether to go alone or take a large number of soldiers.

With the airship, traveling 1,300 kilometers wasn’t difficult. But the question was, how many soldiers would be appropriate? The more people who went, the larger the target, and the greater the attraction for zombies. Considering it was a city of ten million, who knew what kind of mutated zombies might have evolved there?

Another point was that if he led soldiers, the looting of the printing company would have to rely on them, and the relocation of equipment would also have to be done with the airship. This would not only be slow but also create a huge target, attracting layers of zombies. If anything went wrong, the casualties would be disastrous.

Who doesn’t want to be a hero? But heroes also need capital; it’s not something you can just decide to be. It would be tragic to become a martyr before even becoming a hero.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to be a hero, but sometimes circumstances create heroes. Of course, heroes also create circumstances. The greatest heroes are those who can create circumstances, but unfortunately, such heroes are essentially naked ambitious individuals. Zhou Yuanqiang was a hero created by circumstances, only appearing when he was most needed.

The heroic image instilled in the minds of the residents under the Commercial Association’s rule was merely to ensure his own dominance wouldn’t be threatened.

Since becoming a hero to countless people, Zhou Yuanqiang had rarely performed heroic acts. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, but that he didn’t want to. Especially with the emergence of Armor Art, being a hero was the most difficult thing for Zhou Yuanqiang. But Zhou Yuanqiang just didn’t want to… yet sometimes, things are out of your control.

Like this time in Chengdu City, if it were left to the soldiers, the losses would be severe, and success wouldn’t even be guaranteed.

But if he went alone, he would be very inconspicuous in the entire city, like a grain of sand in a desert. Such a small target would cause limited disturbance to the zombies. This meant that if Zhou Yuanqiang went to Chengdu City alone, with his storage space, 42-fold strength amplification, and the protection of Armor Art, the success rate would be very high.

Since he had the ability, why should he send soldiers to their deaths?

The entire Commercial Association was his wealth, including these soldiers built at great cost. Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t let them go to their deaths. So this was the situation, and this time, he wouldn’t be a dazzling hero, but a silent secret agent. Perhaps when people used the currency, they wouldn’t know that their Chairman had risked his life to reclaim it.

“The apocalypse is like a naked beauty laid out before you; all you need to do is pluck her.”

This was a profound truth Zhou Yuanqiang had discovered. It was very explicit, but very apt. Cities, for example, had become ownerless places, quietly holding the wealth created by previous generations. As long as you had the ability, you could openly snatch it from the zombies and claim it as your own; no one would accuse you of robbery.

The country across the Pacific was so wealthy, and its various technologies so advanced.

In the past, things like embargoed lathes and weapons embodying countless high technologies were absolute secrets. Now, they were like naked women, completely defenseless. As long as you wanted it, as long as you had the strength, you could go to the United States in the apocalypse and loot them. You could even capture the surviving humans in the Americas and make them a group of slaves working desperately for you.

This explicit idea might be a bit far-fetched, but at least Zhou Yuanqiang planned it this way: once the situation on the mainland stabilized, with his massive airship fleet, crossing the Pacific and appearing in the country across the ocean wasn’t as difficult as imagined.

The importance of the crystals, and the impact of currency issuance, brought far too many benefits to the Commercial Association. More importantly, there was its future prospect…

Having decided to be this silent, unnoticed hero, Zhou Yuanqiang certainly couldn’t just leave. He needed to prepare more things to ensure his safety. His Level 14 storage space, thousands of cubic meters, nearly 22 meters long, high, and wide, could carry a tremendous amount. It could accommodate fighter jets, helicopters… of course, airships were out of the question; that would probably never happen in his lifetime.

In fact, the currency design itself wasn’t complicated, so even before Zhou Yuanqiang set off, Zhou Kunwei had already submitted several preliminary design proposals.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s greatest dream was actually to have no dreams… because then life would be very happy, without too many worries. But a dream is still a dream, and a dream without a dream, of course, wouldn’t come true. So Zhou Yuanqiang could only settle for second best, dreaming of earning money he could never spend in a lifetime. It seemed… this dream had also come true.

But he had never imagined that one day, his own portrait would be printed on banknotes.

Upon seeing these design proposals, Zhou Yuanqiang was absolutely dumbfounded. For a moment, he completely lost himself. Imagine, his own portrait on currency—how exhilarating! It inherently represented someone standing at the absolute pinnacle of power.

“Old… Old… Old Zhou, wouldn’t this be inappropriate?”

It took Zhou Yuanqiang a long time to utter that sentence, feeling his heart pounding faster than ever before.

Zhou Kunwei, however, showed no emotion. He said, “Chairman, are you referring to the portrait issue? Actually, you don’t need to worry about whether it’s appropriate. As the supreme ruler of the entire Commercial Association, you have brought about a miracle like a founding leader, and you also possess the highest prestige throughout your domain. From any perspective, this design would not be excessive… because it is the exclusive right of the supreme ruler. Looking at historical banknotes, this measure is already international practice.”

“But, but…” Zhou Yuanqiang was at a loss for words for a moment, his heart swaying back and forth: approve, oppose, approve, oppose…

Zhou Kunwei naturally understood the shock this caused the Chairman. He pushed the proposals forward, smiled faintly, and said, “Chairman, these designs are all excellent. Please choose one set for issuance so we can proceed with our preparations!”

All these proposals featured Zhou Yuanqiang’s portrait. In fact, no matter what Zhou Yuanqiang chose, he was destined to appear on the banknotes because, when designing them, Zhou Kunwei had never considered excluding the Chairman’s portrait. As the first Governor, he was determined to deliver this most significant flattery within the current Commercial Association.

Everyone knows how to flatter, but to do it skillfully, one must leave no trace… making your superior comfortable requires a bit of technique.

Chapter 272: The Mint

(Thank you everyone, thank you!)

No need to say more. To have his face on banknotes, Zhou Yuanqiang had to put his life on the line, didn’t he?

“Hehe, this is a matter of lasting fame. Even if we don’t think about the future, at least for now, it’s definitely a wonderful thing.” Whenever he thought of this, Zhou Yuanqiang would immediately turn foolish. It was truly an unbelievable matter. He wondered if, in modern times, when he told his friends that his face was printed on money, they would think he was crazy.

Aside from personal honor, the impact and increase in one’s prestige were absolutely unimaginable.

To make an analogy with game data, if Zhou Yuanqiang’s current influence was 1,000, once his face appeared on currency, his influence would absolutely increase ten-fold, even a hundred-fold, reaching 10,000 or even 100,000. It would probably even sway the Commercial Association for a long time after his death.

“Wouldn’t I become a great figure of my generation?”

Zhou Yuanqiang drooled. If he wasn’t currently piloting an armed helicopter, he would have wiped away the saliva.

Learning to fly an armed helicopter wasn’t actually that difficult; it was quite easy to learn, at least Zhou Yuanqiang thought so. Why were modern pilots required to be so strict, trained for so long, yet found it difficult to graduate successfully? It was simply due to the word “practice”… Just think, indoctrination classes alone took up half the time, and theoretical classes took up the remaining half. Adding everything up, the number of times they actually touched a plane over several years was probably countless.

The training in the Commercial Association was different. A large number of trainer planes allowed students to begin constant hands-on practice after learning simple theories. Once they could skillfully pilot a fighter jet, they would immediately move on to training with real fighter jets. If you were willing, you could fly several times a day.

This kind of real-world training method made incredibly rapid progress. Generally, within three months, pilots could execute simple missions with fighter jets and would frequently perform patrol duties. This method quickly enhanced the pilots’ abilities.

Such initiatives by the Commercial Association weren’t even matched by countries like the United States, let alone the mainland.

During the liberation period in the mainland, why were soldiers so tough to fight? They could take up arms and fight as soon as they became soldiers? The KMT still trained them for three months before deploying them. But it was this method of training soldiers in actual combat that produced the world-renowned People’s Liberation Army, an iron army known as the “king of land.”

For others, traveling to Chengdu City could only be done by airship, as only airships had such a range. Fighter jets could also reach that range, but you wouldn’t want to parachute into the city, would you? If you really had such an idea… as long as the zombies below were merely decorations, you would succeed. But the question was, were the zombies below decorations?

However, for Zhou Yuanqiang, airships seemed to have problems like slow speed, large target size, and difficulty for one person to control, which didn’t quite suit a lone wolf’s combat objectives.

The fuel consumption of armed helicopters was higher than that of ordinary transport helicopters. Perhaps only a gross monster like Zhou Yuanqiang, with his storage space, could carry a large amount of fuel and dare to pilot an armed helicopter towards Chengdu City, over 1,300 kilometers away. Given the armed helicopter’s range, it would need to refuel at least three times to arrive… This was something ordinary people couldn’t do. In the apocalypse, there were no supply points.

Zhou Yuanqiang had piloted flying machines like fighter jets, helicopters, and airships countless times. Everyone had a dream of flying, and since he had the opportunity to pilot them, he naturally wouldn’t let it go. With Zhou Yuanqiang’s abilities, learning these things was naturally fast, and even during training, Xu Dali, the air force commander known as an ace, was beaten by Zhou Yuanqiang until he ran away with his head in his hands.

“I’ll get one to modern times someday. Driving a BMW is nothing; I’ll be driving a helicopter, an armed helicopter at that, fully armed. Anyone who doesn’t submit will get a missile. They’ll submit even if they don’t want to.” This kind of daydreaming was fine to entertain when bored, still maintaining a normal person’s mindset, after all, who didn’t sometimes let their mind wander?

The massive fuel consumption meant that the armed helicopter, without even considering the return journey, had to land midway to refuel.

This area had already entered S Province, where Chengdu City was located. S Province was a mountainous region. Some places could be described as desolate and harsh. Every large country, with its vast area, naturally had all kinds of terrains, and the gap between rich and poor would also be greater. It might seem that the country had developed rapidly, but many places were still just barely managing to meet their basic needs.

The place Zhou Yuanqiang chose to land was a small flat area on a cliff, just enough for the armed helicopter to land.

The scenery here was incredibly beautiful, with strange peaks rising everywhere, and waterfalls occasionally seen cascading down the mountains. After six years without human destruction, this place had long become like a primeval forest, full of wild, tangled growth. Countless vines seemed to have the freedom to grow, forming giant webs, making it seem impossible to pass through the woods.

In mountainous areas, as long as people hid in the forests, zombies would find it very difficult to dig them out.

Reaching here meant truly entering the zombie’s sphere of influence. In flat areas and cities, there were zombies everywhere. Sometimes Zhou Yuanqiang wondered why the number of zombies hadn’t decreased but instead increased. Could it be that super zombies like the Corpse Queen were very numerous? But from the evolution rate, the chance of evolution was extremely small!

“Could they be surging from the coast towards the interior?”

Zhou Yuanqiang had pondered this conjecture countless times. If it were true, then the most developed coastal areas should have very few zombies. “If I use airships to go to these places, would I be able to succeed if they are internally empty?” The range of the carrier-reconnaissance airship was enough to reach these coastal areas. “I’ll have Xu Yuhai send people to check later. If it’s really empty, it’ll be a bargain for me.”

By the second refueling, he finally entered the vicinity of Chengdu City. From high in the sky, he surveyed this metropolis spanning thousands of square kilometers. The tall buildings were absolutely incomparable to Greenmount City. But similarly, the streets below were teeming with a horrifying number of zombies, making this city a forbidden zone for humans.

“No. 6 Chengdu Road, this is where the mint is located.”

Using the electronic map created by Chen Wenbo, finding No. 6 Chengdu Road was not difficult. Looking down from 3,000 meters in the sky, the Chengdu Mint did not have tall buildings, but rather a large factory complex ten meters high. The defense of such a mint was not as strong as one might imagine, because if even the country’s most important places were robbed, that would be taking the world’s joke too far.

The mint’s grounds were very large, mostly covered with trees and an artificial lake. Several residential buildings reminiscent of ancient palaces made Zhou Yuanqiang exclaim in admiration. As expected of a place that printed money, it was truly rich and extravagant. Living and working in such a beautiful environment would probably add several years to one’s life, wouldn’t it?

He hovered high in the sky for a moment. It was already afternoon, and the weather in Chengdu City was a bit chilly. As winter approached, bitter cold winds would blow. Although Chengdu City wouldn’t get snow, the weather was still uncomfortably cold.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s powerful physique ensured that he would not be affected by the cold. After confirming the address and pinpointing the landing spot, the armed helicopter began its descent.

The tremendous “humming” sound seemed to shatter the tranquility of the area. Wandering zombies in the cold wind looked up at the armed helicopter in the sky and, with a chorus of “ooh-ooh” sounds, began to surge towards the mint. The entire area wasn’t vast, but including the zombies within the mint, there were tens of thousands of them.

The armed helicopter landed on three basketball courts next to the artificial lake.

It stabilized, the engine was shut off, and Zhou Yuanqiang jumped down. With a casual wave, the armed helicopter vanished into thin air, put into his storage space. The entire action was completed in an instant, and by then, the surrounding zombies had only just begun to form a encirclement.

For the sake of his own life, there was no room for hesitation. He activated Armor Art, enveloping himself in armor, like a mech warrior.

Originally, facing zombies by brandishing a heavy machine gun and strafing was absolutely the coolest thing. However, heavy machine guns made a tremendous noise, which could easily attract more zombies. Don’t forget, this city had thirteen million zombies. Who knew if one action would trigger a chain reaction, ending up with him facing tens of millions of zombies alone, to the point of exhaustion and death.

There was nothing else to say. He pulled out the alloy giant sword and started chopping.

Since acquiring Armor Art, Zhou Yuanqiang actually really enjoyed this safe method of killing. A three-meter long giant sword, wielded in a large Cyclone, was absolutely terrifying. Within a three-meter radius centered on him, it was a vacuum zone. No zombie could withstand the sharpness of the giant sword under absolute power.

The first zombies to approach were former employees of the mint. After six years of decay, their clothes had long rotted away, and most were naked, revealing severely decomposed muscles. Only a sporadic few still had some clothing hanging on them. Their hair, in particular, had almost all fallen out, making them look like a group of monks and nuns charging towards him.

Zhou Yuanqiang raised the alloy giant sword and mercilessly plunged it into the charging horde of zombies. The sharp giant sword pierced through three zombies, impaling them on the blade. Instead of withdrawing the sword, he executed a powerful Cyclone, like a meat grinder, sweeping a circle of zombies in two. In less than a minute, this first batch of hundreds of attacking zombies was sliced in half by Zhou Yuanqiang, falling to the ground, still struggling to crawl with their hands.

The entire mint had three coining workshops. Zhou Yuanqiang identified the largest one and sprinted towards it.

Glowing with silver light, Zhou Yuanqiang traversed a patch of forest in the blink of an eye, quickly appearing before the largest coining workshop.

There weren’t many zombies here, only a sporadic few. Zhou Yuanqiang’s sudden appearance left them no time to react as the giant sword sliced them in half, sending them falling to the ground. Glancing at one zombie crawling towards him, Zhou Yuanqiang lifted his foot and stomped on its head. The immense force crushed its entire head, splashing everywhere like a watermelon.

The largest coining workshop had a big “01” on its wall, it should be Workshop No. 1.

The gate of Coining Workshop No. 1 was closed. It wasn’t that printing money was required every moment. Generally, mints would only print money according to the quantities specified by orders from the central bank. Most of the time, they were closed. Of course, mints weren’t solely for producing national currency; they also took on other businesses like gold and silver casting, processing, artworks, and collections.

Facing the tightly shut gate of the coining workshop, there was nothing to say. The hardness of the giant sword was enough for Zhou Yuanqiang to carve a large hole in the wall next to it, making it accessible to him.

This seemingly ordinary, but actually wire-reinforced wall, would have been troublesome without a sharp giant sword. After digging out a large hole, the light inside wasn’t very good, but it didn’t affect Zhou Yuanqiang. As he walked inside, the air wasn’t murky, and the excellent ventilation system ensured the air dryness.

“Tsk tsk, if this money could be spent, I’d be rich…”

He had drooled before when he saw the bank vaults. But entering here, seeing stacks of packaged banknote boxes that could only be described as mountains, with almost nothing but fiery red banknotes in sight, easily amounting to billions. Just thinking about it made Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart ache. The golden flower on those numbers gave him an impulse to go crazy.

“I wonder if the Americans’ currency has changed. If it hasn’t…” Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t dare to think any further. Gaining the wealth of an entire country, and the strongest country at that, how astonishing would that be? “Hmph, even if it’s different, with the printing materials for US dollars, and genuine US dollar printing presses, I’ll print modern US dollars even if I have to.”

Passing these mountains of discarded banknotes, and walking further in, were various equally sealed banknote materials.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s objective was these materials. There was nothing else to say; he immediately got to work, continuously loading these materials into his storage space. However, the armed helicopter already occupied a large amount of space, and with the massive amount of fuel, weapons, and ammunition, half of the tens of thousands of cubic meters of space had already been used up.

But it didn’t matter. If he couldn’t move it all at once, he could do it in several trips.

When the storage space was full, Zhou Yuanqiang directly teleported to modern times, unloading these raw materials into a warehouse. Then he teleported back to the apocalypse and continued moving them. The advantage of being able to teleport away from any location and return to that exact same spot was fully realized here. Even moving an entire mountain wouldn’t be a problem given enough time.

Although there were many raw materials, they would eventually be moved. Zhou Yuanqiang only spent half an hour moving all the mountains of raw materials.

The raw materials were already well-organized and labeled with their names, so there was no fear of confusion. However, while the raw materials were easy to move, Zhou Yuanqiang was immediately dumbfounded when he reached the actual currency printing assembly lines. These machines were all fixed to the ground and interconnected, making their relocation quite troublesome.

The definition of storage space for storing actually refers to looking at an entire object. If any part of your entire object exceeds the length, height, or width of the storage space, it cannot be put into the storage space.

These production lines were all interconnected and fixed in the concrete floor. To move them, they first had to be disassembled into pieces that fit within the storage space’s length, height, and width. After achieving this, they would also need to be dug out of the concrete, which would be extremely tedious and laborious.

“Grandma’s, it seems things aren’t going smoothly after all. What were these guys doing burying the production lines in concrete? Couldn’t they just use a few screws?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was filled with resentment. It looked like finishing this place would take at least half a day. Pillaging three workshops completely would take two or three days, there was no hope of doing it faster. Fortunately, he hadn’t made any noise, and the zombies had temporarily lost track of him, so there wouldn’t be a phenomenon of zombies swarming from all over the mountain to围堵 (to surround and block off) him.

After a moment of internal struggle, Zhou Yuanqiang could only helplessly return to modern times.

His residence in Mogadishu was fortunately located by the sea and had ample space. But now it was already piled high with raw materials, making it very difficult to even move around. After more than a month of living there, Zhou Yuanqiang had become familiar with the place. So, after leaving his home and driving into the city of Mogadishu, he familiarized himself with finding a small workshop.

He took out a large block of high-density alloy steel from his storage space. After paying enough money, a sturdy man began to busy himself according to Zhou Yuanqiang’s instructions.

Actually, breaking concrete was easy with Zhou Yuanqiang’s strength and the sharpness of the giant sword. But while the giant sword was convenient for fighting, it wasn’t handy for digging. That’s why Zhou Yuanqiang looked for someone to make him some practical tools. There was more than one coining workshop, so to speed things up, essential tools were necessary.

Creating the tools he needed wasn’t something that could be done in a short time, no matter how much money Zhou Yuanqiang paid. High-density alloy steel was already troublesome to process, and shaping it into various forms was no simple task.

Taking advantage of this window of time, Zhou Yuanqiang drove away again. He needed to take care of his stomach; he had to at least fill it, because what he was about to do next was physical labor.

.

.

Chapter 273: Starting Work… Moving!

By the time Zhou Yuanqiang had bought all the tools he needed, it was already nearing evening.

There was nothing else to say; he continued working. Zhou Yuanqiang was determined to move these production lines. The strength of the high-density alloy steel indeed satisfied Zhou Yuanqiang; even hard concrete couldn’t stand against tools made of alloy steel. The ultra-high-strength tools, combined with Zhou Yuanqiang’s 42 times normal strength, had a terrifying effect. With one swing of the hoe, the concrete floor instantly became like soft soil, easily turned over by Zhou Yuanqiang.

“Damn, even if I can’t survive in the apocalypse later, with my current skills, going back home to be a farmer would be very promising.”

This work seemed a bit boring, but it made Zhou Yuanqiang reminisce about his junior high school life. Every day after school, he had to help his parents with farm work. He had done plenty of things like turning over dry land with a hoe. “Some boastful people claim to be agricultural experts. If they saw me tilling the land like this, I doubt they’d dare call themselves ‘experts’ anymore.”

Infused with strength, the hoe made from high-density alloy steel was like a divine artifact, treating the concrete floor as if it were nothing. In moments, Zhou Yuanqiang had turned it all over.

It seemed like hoeing tofu, but it still required immense strength. Even with Zhou Yuanqiang’s abnormal physique, by the time he had dug around all three production lines, his hands were numb and sore, almost unable to lift. He simply collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. “Being a god-tier farmer isn’t easy either. In a way, hoeing concrete is the same principle as a normal person hoeing dry, hard ground!”

Rubbing his sore arms, he looked out through the vent. The sky outside had already darkened. If not for his excellent eyesight, he probably wouldn’t be able to see clearly inside the workshop. Thinking about the person who had caused him to be in this state, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but curse, “What in hell was the point of embedding these machines in concrete? Even if they were just bolted down, no one would dare dismantle these production lines, would they? Not a few words.”

Turning over the concrete wasn’t the end of it. There were still many bolts holding things in place that needed to be removed one by one.

This kind of work, no matter how skilled you were, had to be done bolt by bolt. So, a dumbfounded Zhou Yuanqiang could only remove the bolts from these machines one by one, starting to disassemble the connected machinery. These minting machines weren’t extremely precise, but Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t just casually take them apart. He could only disassemble parts that weren’t easily damaged and then put the dismantled machinery into his storage space.

He worked for a long time, even using a flashlight, until eleven at night, to clear out the three production lines from here.

However, another problem arose. This was Mogadishu, and the residence Zhou Yuanqiang had bought wasn’t very large; it was just a temporary dwelling. Storing the raw materials alone had barely fit, which forced Zhou Yuanqiang to stack the machinery in the yard when moving it.

Fortunately, most people might never have seen these machines in their lifetime, so there was no need to worry about them causing any trouble.

But these issues needed to be resolved. He couldn’t just leave them in the yard. He intended to clear out the entire mint, which would take at least three days. Then he would need to get the currency printing technology from the banknote printing company, which would take at least five days before he would set off to return to Greenmount City. And during these five days, it was impossible to leave these machines just sitting there. The public security in Mogadishu—oh no, or rather, in Mogadishu, you needn’t even talk about public security, because it’s practically non-existent.

What was the most common news in Mogadishu? Public security incidents. Almost every day, a dozen or so shooting cases would occur. Sometimes, even the police station was too lazy to deal with them, at most collecting bodies and sending the injured to the hospital. They wouldn’t bother investigating chief suspects or murderers, as annoying them could cost them their own lives.

To avoid affecting his plans for tomorrow, Zhou Yuanqiang also occupied several adjacent vacant houses.

Since the houses were connected, Zhou Yuanqiang used his alloy giant sword to cut through the walls like slicing tofu. Taking advantage of the fact that it was already two in the morning and no one would notice his actions, he moved the machinery stacked in the yard into these empty rooms one by one.

Who would jump out and gossip in the dead of night about Zhou Yuanqiang’s thieving behavior, occupying someone else’s houses before even buying them? In Mogadishu, a place of poverty and backwardness, all he needed to do was contact the real estate agent (he wasn’t sure if that’s what they were called abroad) before dawn the next day and buy these connected houses, and everything would be resolved.

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang did just that. Early the next morning, having just received Zhou Yuanqiang’s call, the real estate agent, ecstatic with surprise, didn’t even bother putting on makeup. She just hailed a taxi and rushed over. She knew that closing a deal here was already difficult, and now a client was buying five or six houses at once. The commission alone would be enough for her annual salary.

During the transaction, despite the real estate agent’s suggestive demeanor, Zhou Yuanqiang genuinely couldn’t muster any interest in a dark-skinned woman.

Having a place to store things wasn’t enough. After all, the public security here made Zhou Yuanqiang wonder if, while he was stealing things in the apocalypse, he would be stolen from in Mogadishu. That would be a huge joke: he would be moving things into modern times, while thieves would be moving things out of his residence. Zhou Yuanqiang certainly didn’t want that to happen to him.

Mogadishu’s chaos, with the entire country split into four parts, and each part plagued by constant tribal conflicts, created a harsh environment that provided ample breeding ground for Mercenary Forces. In Africa, many countries rely on Mercenary Forces. As long as you can pay, they will serve you, acting as bodyguards, which is their most basic service. What they excel at most is being employed in a military capacity.

Zhou Yuanqiang understood the strength of Mercenary Forces. Most of them were composed of retired soldiers and special forces, making them extremely powerful in combat. Hiring them to temporarily guard these seven houses for him was like using a butcher’s cleaver to kill a chicken. However, it didn’t matter; Zhou Yuanqiang’s plan for Mogadishu already included Mercenary Forces.

The most famous Mercenary Force in Mogadishu was probably the Night Fire Mercenary Force.

Just hearing the name, you might not feel anything special, no killing intent. It’s far less imposing than names like Blood Wolf or Tiger Leopard. But in the Mercenary Force world, a good name doesn’t necessarily mean strong capabilities. The name Night Fire came about because they were a group of soldiers skilled in jungle and night operations, a name given to them by outsiders.

Since it was a haven for Mercenary Forces, Mogadishu didn’t seem to regulate them much, so Mercenary Force agencies almost operated semi-publicly.

Zhou Yuanqiang only gradually learned some fragmented information about this Night Fire Mercenary Force after living there for a month. He then understood their excellence and also listed them among his targets. Now that he needed to hire some people, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally used this opportunity to make initial contact with them.

Night Fire’s headquarters in Mogadishu was in a small villa. Compared to the dilapidated houses surrounding it, this villa stood out.

Everything seemed procedural. Zhou Yuanqiang entered the small villa, where he was greeted by someone who asked him about his situation. Then, based on his information, they began to recommend the most suitable type of mercenary service, including the price for each option. Honestly, after reading so many novels, Zhou Yuanqiang was somewhat incredulous. It seemed that even mercenary forces had reformed in this economic era. The reception attitude and the various plans were exactly like a corporate business operation.

“Hello, I think for just guarding a courtyard, you don’t need to hire the most elite personnel, and the number certainly doesn’t need to be fifty.”

The receptionist seemed astonished by Zhou Yuanqiang’s request. In all her time dealing with customers, she had encountered all sorts of strange demands, but never one where someone wanted the most elite soldiers, fifty of them, just to guard his courtyard. She confirmed again, saying, “If you choose this option, you will need to pay 500,000 US dollars per month in mercenary fees. Are you sure?”

Zhou Yuanqiang murmured to himself, “Does Night Fire even consider the client’s best interest when doing business? The dumber my plan, the easier it is for them to earn money, no?”

Actually, Zhou Yuanqiang completely misunderstood. Night Fire wasn’t unwilling to make money, but Zhou Yuanqiang’s immediate demand for 50 of their most elite Mercenaries would indeed put a certain strain on Night Fire’s personnel resources. Furthermore, they were astonished that he would spend 500,000 US dollars just to protect a few houses from intruders. Such a task seemed far too easy… Somalia was a poor country, and even the wealthiest people wouldn’t spend money like this.

“Of course I’m sure. I hope they start work by noon.”

Zhou Yuanqiang stuck to his plan, adding, “I’ve already specified here: all they need to do is keep watch on the perimeter of my residence. They don’t need to enter my living quarters. The cost of their rented housing outside will be on me. If you believe Night Fire can do this, then I will pay 50% of the fee now.”

The receptionist first called to confirm the number of currently available personnel, then handed a printed employment agreement to Zhou Yuanqiang for his signature.

At present, Somalia was in a temporary ceasefire period, mediated by the United Nations, between its four major factions. Aside from some scattered, uncontrollable skirmishes, there were no large-scale conflicts. For Night Fire, which relied on wartime engagements, life wasn’t easy. This was precisely why the elite Mercenaries agreed to undertake this task, which presented no challenge to them.

After settling these matters, Zhou Yuanqiang hurriedly returned to his residence, directly teleporting to the apocalypse. He trusted that the Mercenaries he hired would handle everything properly, preventing any harassment from outsiders. Given Night Fire’s reputation, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that without his permission, the Mercenaries, except for special unit members, would not step into his living area, because they were the most elite soldiers.

Back at the mint, Mint Workshop 1 had already been cleared out, so Zhou Yuanqiang, while still having time, made his way towards Mint Workshop 2.

The previous tens of thousands of zombies had flooded into the mint. Losing their target, they roamed everywhere. As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang appeared, a dozen or so zombies immediately spotted him, snarling and clawing as they surrounded him. Tens of thousands of zombies hadn’t instilled fear in Zhou Yuanqiang, let alone a mere dozen? So, he drew his giant sword, charged forward, and with a horizontal swing, the blade sliced the dozen zombies in half.

The lightning-fast movement and killing didn’t give the surrounding zombies time to react. Zhou Yuanqiang was already running rapidly, leaving the reacting zombies behind. He first made a few turns in Mint Workshop 2 to shake off the zombies, then used his giant sword to dig a hole and burrowed in.

The structure of the mint workshops was almost identical, so Zhou Yuanqiang proceeded as he had with Mint Workshop 1. First, he moved out all the raw materials, and then he began to frantically dig with the hoe made of high-density alloy steel. This strenuous labor, even though Zhou Yuanqiang was already adept at it, still took half a day before he finally cleared out the second mint workshop.

“Damn, this is exhausting!”

Zhou Yuanqiang, aching all over, felt the same exhaustion he used to during summer farm seasons. Now, soaking quietly in hot water, he realized that moving each mint workshop took almost an entire day, meaning he’d have to continue tomorrow. Just thinking about it was maddening; by the time he was done, he’d probably be completely worn out.

“For my face to appear on the Commercial Association’s currency, what is a little exhaustion compared to that?”

Relying on his perception, Zhou Yuanqiang clearly felt that the Mercenaries had already entered their work posts. They were divided into three groups, each responsible for eight hours, rotating shifts. As per Zhou Yuanqiang’s request, they were stationed on the perimeter and had not stepped inside. The only thing Zhou Yuanqiang needed to worry about was finding a more secluded spot when he teleported.

There was a time difference between Africa and the mainland. Their afternoon… half of it, was our 8:30 PM. So, Zhou Yuanqiang only rested for the first half of the night, then had to get up in the second half to teleport to the mint in the apocalypse again.

At this time in the apocalypse, it was just dawn, the air was very cold, and a fine drizzle was falling.

Fortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t working outdoors, and nothing unexpected occurred. He continued the same procedure as with the previous two mint workshops: first moving raw materials, then digging up concrete, and finally dismantling and moving machinery. Perhaps having gone through it twice, he had gained some experience in dismantling, and this time it only took ten hours to clear out the two production lines of Mint Workshop No. 3.

But the work wasn’t finished there, because Zhou Yuanqiang also needed to visit the raw material warehouse at the mint.

The raw materials obtained from the workshops might only be enough to print two to three billion, far from meeting the Commercial Association’s initial发行量 (initial circulation/issue) of five billion. Considering the emergence of a new order and the extremely poor economic foundation of the apocalypse, the denominations of the currency issued would be very small, issued in the style of the fourth series of Renminbi, and incorporating the fen and jiao from the second series of Renminbi.

When denominated down to the fen, and considering the Commercial Association’s population was less than two million, an initial发行量 (initial circulation/issue) of five billion was actually quite massive, enough for the Commercial Association’s needs for five years.

Relying solely on this method of looting certainly couldn’t meet the future needs of the Commercial Association. Therefore, currency research work must now enter the deployment phase, ensuring that for the second currency issuance, their own minting technology can be used. This would effectively solve the raw material problem.

If he had to solve the raw material problem entirely by himself, he might only be able to raid all the cities in the apocalypse, plundering every mint and banknote printing company to support the Commercial Association’s currency printing requirements. If that were the case, would his life just be that of a laborer?

This situation was not what Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to see. Only when the Commercial Association developed its own solutions for everything would he be truly free.

The raw material warehouse was exactly as he’d guessed: stacked with a large amount of materials. What frustrated Zhou Yuanqiang was that the seven houses he had bought seemed to be already full of machines and raw materials, and there was no place left to store the raw materials from this warehouse. With no other option, he had to place these packaged raw materials, bag by bag, in the courtyard.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s actions led to the understandably gloomy mood of the surrounding Mercenaries protecting him.

Hiring fifty of the most elite soldiers, yet personally moving these mountain-like packages—this employer was definitely a weirdo. However, the Mercenary Force’s regulations meant they could only grumble amongst themselves in their minds and couldn’t actually question Zhou Yuanqiang.

With the mint dealt with, the next step was to head to the banknote printing company, which was only two streets away.

While printing production lines were acquired, the currency printed by these lines featured the golden flower design of Renminbi. Therefore, it was necessary to find the corresponding technology, then make a breakthrough in that technology, input a new printing scheme, and only then would the currency needed by the Commercial Association finally be printed.

With a thought, he retrieved the armed helicopter from his storage space. Upon starting, it let out a booming “buzz,” finally attracting the tens of thousands of zombies around. But before they could surround him, the armed helicopter had already ascended, flying towards the tall building where the banknote printing company was located.

The banknote printing company didn’t even require a map; its large “Banknote Printing Co., Ltd.” sign was visible from the air.

Parking the armed helicopter on the roof of the Banknote Printing Co., Ltd. building, Zhou Yuanqiang initially considered leaving it there, but then remembered he would rely on it to escape the city, so there could be no mishaps. Thus, he still returned the armed helicopter to his storage space, opened the large iron door on the roof, and headed downstairs.

However, as Zhou Yuanqiang descended into the building and opened the door to one of the office areas, he was instantly dumbfounded.

(Everything about the mint and banknote printing company is purely fictional. Please do not scrutinize factual accuracy! PS: Thank you everyone for your Monthly Votes, I’m very grateful!)

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Chapter 274: Someone Actually Survived

“What the…”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s mood instantly became incredibly conflicted. He gazed at the hundreds of partitioned workstations, each with a computer, spread across the entire office area. You might wonder what was bothering Zhou Yuanqiang… He was here to find currency minting technology, and with so many computers, how was he supposed to find it?

Considering this entire building had dozens of floors, with countless work areas, who knew where this technology might be stored?

If he had to search the entire building, it would take forever. “Damn it, isn’t this just a currency printing company? Does it need such a complex work environment? Would it kill them to set up just a few computers to work on!” A frustrated Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but curse loudly.

The entire work area was in disarray, showing that people must have been working here when the virus struck. After turning into zombies, they would inevitably rampage through the place.

However, after thinking about it, minting technology couldn’t possibly be stored in such a simple place, could it? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be easily stolen? The thought of currency printing technology leaking out was terrifying. If people could print money freely all over the world, it would be a disaster for any nation. Such technology might not be classified as top-secret, but it would definitely be a major classified secret.

Once he understood this, Zhou Yuanqiang’s gloomy and conflicted mood finally relaxed.

Since it was a secret, the storage location would undoubtedly be very covert and heavily guarded. In the apocalypse, “heavily guarded” seemed meaningless. Any defense, once unmanned, could be destroyed by anyone given enough time. There was no absolute safety in this world. Even a door weighing tens of tons could be broken open if given enough time.

The key now was to locate where this technology was stored.

“There are dozens of floors here, where could it possibly be hidden?” Zhou Yuanqiang scratched his head. Without a plan, he had to resort to the most basic method. “I’ll go through every important area in the entire building. Anything that seems even remotely possible, I’ll move, move, move. I refuse to believe they left no trace behind.”

The structure of a currency printing company’s building was actually very simple. These dozens of floors were mostly for show, with many levels being completely empty.

“No wonder housing is so tight; look at how much space these so-called units waste!” He thought of banks in various cities, almost all of which had their own buildings. Zhou Yuanqiang had been inside them before; aside from a few floors used for employee housing, most were empty. Take the Commercial Bank Building in Chengdu City, for example, which had sixty-six floors, but only ten were in use; the rest were empty.

But there was no alternative; in China, it was all about projecting an image of grandeur. If you wanted to develop, you had to maintain a polished exterior to make people feel that your company, enterprise, or local government had ambition and strength, only then would they cooperate and trust you. Otherwise, if your city hall was smaller than a rural township office in the United States, would anyone pay attention to you?

Zhou Yuanqiang started searching from the top floor downwards. However, the very top floors consisted only of conference rooms and the offices of executives.

Since he was here, Zhou Yuanqiang certainly wouldn’t leave empty-handed. Not yet fully transitioning into a big shot, he directly swept up some exquisite office trinkets from these executive offices and stored them in his storage space. “Hehe, bringing these back to decorate my own office seems like a good idea.”

If others knew, their jaws would surely drop. How could someone who commanded the lives of nearly two million people be so petty?

But then again, “Only a fool or an abnormal person wouldn’t take advantage of a good deal.”

Perseverance paid off. As he descended to the seventeenth floor, Zhou Yuanqiang finally made a discovery. Don’t misunderstand; his discovery was merely a dozen wandering zombies. He had been wondering earlier, couldn’t all the hundreds of staff here have rushed into the streets? Surely some would have remained in the building? Now, finding these ten zombies felt normal.

Without any fuss, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t even take out his giant sword. Instead, he casually grabbed a wooden chair from a nearby workstation and burst forward, unleashing a “crashing and banging” assault on the dozen zombies. It was a move akin to a street thug, but against zombies that couldn’t dodge, it was extremely effective.

With the very first strike, the wooden chair shattered the skull of the first zombie, creating a gruesome “flower.” Its head was smashed, but the chair also broke from the force.

For the remaining zombies, the two chair legs were deadly weapons in Zhou Yuanqiang’s hands. For ordinary zombies, two chair legs were more than enough. He swung at the head of a zombie, hitting it hard on the temples. The immense power shattered the bones on both sides of its skull, damaging its brain. There was nothing more to say; it collapsed instantly.

In little over two minutes, all dozen zombies were lying on the corridor of the office area.

Throwing away the two nearly shattered chair legs, Zhou Yuanqiang glanced around. There was unlikely to be anything he needed here, so he continued down to the next floor. The further down he went, the more various work offices there were. The currency printing company had many operations, like various casting processes, each handled by specialized departments.

To Zhou Yuanqiang’s disappointment, from the top floor down to the first, aside from collecting some gold, silver, and gold and silver art pieces, he found nothing else.

The technology he needed was nowhere to be found, not even a trace. The entire building seemed ordinary, with nothing unusual. He didn’t even find a vault. This seemed to suggest that the technology he was looking for simply wasn’t here.

Either way, this was terrible news for Zhou Yuanqiang.

Standing in the lounge on the first floor, he watched the zombies moving on the street outside. Occasionally, a few would wander to the glass main entrance of the building. But Zhou Yuanqiang made no sound, and the glass prevented them from seeing inside, so they naturally didn’t notice him and stumbled away.

Zhou Yuanqiang found it a bit strange. Why did these zombies like to wander in the streets so much? Was there some special reason for this?

“This issue is worth looking into. I’ll have the Research Department study it thoroughly later; maybe they’ll make a new discovery.” Amidst his disappointment, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but let his mind wander. Perhaps it was some instinct driven by something…

Just as Zhou Yuanqiang was extremely disappointed and about to explore one more time before leaving if he found nothing, his sharp ears caught an unusual sound.

The sound was similar to a manhole cover being moved, then a female voice came out: “Li Xiaomo, if you dare to lie to me, I’m telling you, you’re dead.” A sound of someone crawling out, then a man’s voice rang out: “Lihuo, even if I ate a leopard’s gall, I wouldn’t dare to deceive you, would I? I really saw it.”

The woman called Lihuo “hmph”-ed coldly and said, “Who knows what you’re up to? You wouldn’t be tricking me here to plot something, would you? Everyone here knows you, Li Xiaomo, you stare at me, Dai Lili, all day long. Isn’t it because you want to have me? Hmph, I’ve seen too many stinky men like you, all sweet-talking. Once they get their way, they treat you like a broken sock, ready to throw away.”

Li Xiaomo’s voice came, with a hint of a whimper: “Lili, I’m truly serious about you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bring you here under these circumstances, would I?”

Dai Lili chuckled and said, “Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly. I’ll only believe you’re sincere when I see the helicopter you mentioned. But Li Xiaomo, could you have misremembered the route? Are you sure it’s here? Hey, can’t you move faster? You weak man, who knows how long this helicopter will stay?”

Hearing this conversation, Zhou Yuanqiang was utterly stunned; it was beyond words.

“In these six years, in this city with tens of millions of zombies, someone, someone is actually alive!” And judging by their conversation, it seemed there were others as well. “This, this… This is too far-fetched? How did they escape the zombies’ pursuit? With the zombies’ hearing, how could humans move around and avoid them?”

The situation was so bizarre that in a city where everyone thought no survivors were possible, there was actual human activity. This was as shocking as discovering a new continent.

Moreover, listening to their conversation, it seemed someone had seen his helicopter land? What followed was a love confession-themed great escape. Their goal was to find the helicopter and then beg him to take them away? This would successfully lead to a “happily ever after” ending?

“Good idea… creative in this apocalyptic world.”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed, but the question was, why should he bother with them?

However, Li Xiaomo’s next words made Zhou Yuanqiang’s departing footsteps halt abruptly.

“Misremembered the route? Lili, that’s impossible. You know, I used to work for this currency printing company. I know this place like the back of my hand. To exaggerate a bit, I wouldn’t get lost even with my eyes closed.” Dai Lili’s doubting words seemed to sting Li Xiaomo, and a man’s pride, once provoked, naturally needed to be defended.

The two cautiously emerged from the room where the manhole cover was, then poked their heads out to look around.

Dai Lili’s voice came: “Xiaomo, do you think there will be zombies here?”

When a woman is scared, that’s when a man steps up. Li Xiaomo softly said, “Don’t worry, I came prepared. Look, this is Old Man Zhao’s pistol. Plus, with my familiarity with this place, it’s very easy to avoid the zombies. It’s a shame the elevator doesn’t work, otherwise, we could reach the rooftop in just a minute.”

As their footsteps moved toward the stairs, Zhou Yuanqiang, hearing their conversation, became very excited.

“I was just lost, not knowing where to start here, and now someone brought him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy. Everything came without effort!”

There was nothing more to say. Zhou Yuanqiang rushed forward with terrifying speed, instantly appearing before the two.

Before the two could even react, the sudden appearance of Zhou Yuanqiang made them almost lose their souls, causing them to emit high-pitched male and female screams that echoed throughout the entire building.

Hearing the screams, the zombies outside became agitated. At their fastest speed, they broke through the glass main entrance, shattered the glass walls, fully displaying their flood-like momentum as they filled the entire spacious reception hall in moments, rushing toward the corridors, passages, and rooms.

This sudden turn of events instantly made Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili feel like they were on a rollercoaster. Zhou Yuanqiang’s earlier shock-induced screams hadn’t even subsided when another climax arrived.

Zhou Yuanqiang was also dumbfounded, cursing: “Damn it, you two idiots, why are you screaming for nothing?!”

Evidently, he had completely forgotten that it was his unscrupulous use of blinding speed to appear before them that caused this tragedy. The surging zombies also drove Zhou Yuanqiang frantic. The movement of these zombies would surely attract other zombies, and soon the entire building would be swarming with them.

His plan would, because of this, have to be scrapped prematurely.

Reacting quickly, Li Xiaomo moved swiftly, raising his gun and pointing it directly at Zhou Yuanqiang.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang immediately grabbed his wrist and cursed, “You idiot, where are you pointing?!” Li Xiaomo was still stunned, unable to speak. Only Dai Lili, wide-eyed, asked, “Are you… are you a human or a zombie?”

“Have you ever seen a zombie talk like a human?” Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, then released Li Xiaomo’s hand and said, “If you don’t want to die, run!”

In this critical moment of life and death, Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili no longer cared about checking for the helicopter on the rooftop. They simply grabbed Zhou Yuanqiang and ran towards the room they had just emerged from. They closed the door, let Dai Lili go down first, then pushed Zhou Yuanqiang down as well. Only after covering their retreat did Li Xiaomo put the iron lid back on.

Below this iron lid was actually the basement of the currency printing company. This passage was an early repair access point.

The three descended to the basement, still hearing “bang-bang” impacts from above, followed by the sound of a wooden door shattering. It must have been the zombies breaking in. The sheer danger of the situation had Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili constantly clutching their chests, gasping for breath.

Li Xiaomo’s face was pale as he said, “We should leave quickly. Who knows if they’ll open the iron lid?”

The basement was a bit dark, but it didn’t significantly affect Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili. They groped their way in one direction within the basement, and Li Xiaomo even turned back, curiously looking at Zhou Yuanqiang, asking, “Hey, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. How did you come up to the surface with me?”

Zhou Yuanqiang countered, “Do you know everyone here?”

Li Xiaomo wanted to ask more questions, but the sound of zombies’ claws scratching the iron lid above diverted his attention. He said, “What a shame, such a good opportunity, just like that, it’s ruined. With these zombies around, this passage is useless now.”

After walking through the basement for a while, they soon descended another staircase, indicating that the basement was not just a single level.

Zhou Yuanqiang patted his head, thinking glumly, “Why didn’t I consider the basement issue? Maybe the technology or something is stored in the basement.” Thinking that Li Xiaomo used to work here, Zhou Yuanqiang brightened and asked in a low voice, “Xiaomo, you used to be an employee here?”

Li Xiaomo didn’t seem suspicious and said, “Why do you ask?” Before Zhou Yuanqiang could reply, he continued, “Yes, I worked here for a while. I was transferred from the Central Bank in the capital to help them research a technology. Hehe, in this world, old secrets aren’t really secrets anymore. It was about some key technologies for researching the sixth series of currency.”

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at Li Xiaomo with some surprise. The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Subtracting the six years of the apocalypse, he would have been twenty-two or twenty-three at most back then, just fresh out of university. But to be so amazing, entering the Central Bank in the capital right after graduation?

Perhaps sensing Zhou Yuanqiang’s doubt, Li Xiaomo said proudly, “Don’t you know there’s such a thing as a genius? Actually, I graduated from university at sixteen and was hired by the Central Bank. By the time I was transferred here, I had already worked at the Central Bank for five years.”

“That’s, that’s incredible!”

Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t realized that this seemingly meek Li Xiaomo was actually a genius.

Li Xiaomo chuckled, “Being awesome isn’t popular anymore; being ‘bull’ is.”

Only Dai Lili beside him scoffed, “What ‘bull’ and ‘awesome’? If it weren’t for me, you would have starved to death countless times by now. Genius, my foot. If you’re such a genius, why can’t you find a way to escape? I’m sick of staying in this sewer.”

Li Xiaomo smiled awkwardly and said, “Lili, just give me a little more time. Once I find the city’s sewer construction map, I can take you out. You know, with the massive scale of Chengdu City, we can’t get out without a blueprint. Besides, there are still zombies in some places.”

Zhou Yuanqiang had been at a loss until now. This sudden appearance of a genius, wasn’t it Heaven helping him?

In his excitement, he said, “Uh, Xiaomo, let me ask you something. Anyway, it’s the apocalypse, so it shouldn’t count as leaking secrets. Where exactly are the key counterfeit prevention technologies for currency minting hidden in this company? You worked here for several years, you should know something, right?”

To his surprise, Li Xiaomo stared blankly at Zhou Yuanqiang and asked curiously, “Who said there are such technologies here?”

The implication was that such technology wasn’t here, which instantly gave Zhou Yuanqiang the illusion of being struck by lightning, almost feeling as if he’d been knocked to the ground.

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Chapter 275: Life Underground

“You mean, there are no currency printing technologies here?”

This question was a huge blow. It was like knowing this was an ancient imperial tomb, and excitedly digging, turning almost the entire mountain upside down and entering the tomb’s interior, only for someone to suddenly jump out and tell you that this imperial tomb actually only held a destitute, impoverished, distant branch of the imperial family.

And so, you clearly understood that your dream of gold and antique treasures had gone up in smoke.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s current situation was exactly like this. After expending so much effort and facing great danger, he finally arrived here, only to be told that the things he thought were within easy reach were not here. This sudden blow was like a bolt of lightning striking him, enough to make him ecstatic to the point of death.

Facing the pale, ahem, rather, the grim-faced Zhou Yuanqiang, it was fortunate that the light in the underground level was dim; otherwise, both of them would probably have been depressed.

Li Xiaomo didn’t notice anything amiss and said earnestly, “Of course not. Think about it, almost every major city across the country has a mint and a currency printing company. If they all mastered currency printing technology, do you think the secret of currency could still be kept? The world is crazy; as long as there’s a profit of over 300%, countless people will rush in, even if they know it means death.”

As soon as he started talking about this, it was as if he had found someone to confide in, and Li Xiaomo rattled on, “Generally speaking, mints and currency printing companies only start printing after receiving authorization. As for the technology, it’s usually not handed over directly but passed on through a special channel…”

“Stop…”

Zhou Yuanqiang, facing the chattering Li Xiaomo, shouted.

Immediately, the word “stop” echoed back and forth repeatedly in this second underground level. The reverberation made Zhou Yuanqiang’s “stop” sound like a Lion’s Roar technique, deafening them and almost making them collapse to the ground. In fact, Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili, caught off guard, were not far from collapsing.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t feel guilty. Instead, he affectionately patted Li Xiaomo’s shoulder and, with the voice of a big bad wolf tempting Little Red Riding Hood, said, “I heard you came from the Central Bank to guide technical research here? That means you know this currency printing technology, right?”

Li Xiaomo was startled by the sudden intimacy and said, “I’m telling you, I have someone I like, that’s Lili next to me. Don’t try to play comrades with me; I don’t like that sort of thing.” As he spoke, he even pledged his loyalty to Dai Lili, saying, “Lili, my loyalty to you is absolutely witnessed by the sun and moon.”

“What the f*ck!”

After being speechless, Zhou Yuanqiang could only utter this classic expletive. His sharp eyes could still see Li Xiaomo’s fawning expression. “This kid was a genius from a young age. Logically speaking, in terms of emotional intelligence, he should be an idiot. How did he become so good at picking up girls… This genius’s定律 doesn’t really work that way.”

Unable to do anything, the conflicted Zhou Yuanqiang had no choice but to bring out his trump card. He let out a cold laugh and said, “Xiaomo, and Lili, let’s discuss something.”

Li Xiaomo seemed somewhat indifferent and said, “Cut it out, Lili, let’s hurry back. This terrible weather keeps raining, and the roads are getting harder to travel. If there’s heavy rain, the sewers won’t be usable.”

After a few minutes of walking, they finally twisted and turned to an inconspicuous corner of a second-basement underground room.

Li Xiaomo, familiar with the route, pushed aside a small counter and opened a small iron door inside. Instantly, the sound of flowing and dripping water came, and a strange smell with a strong dampness rushed out. However, this smell, which made Zhou Yuanqiang frown, had no effect on Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili, who immediately squeezed through the small iron door.

“You damned Xiaomo, you must be lying to me! What helicopter? I think you want to trick me here to help you get laid? You bastard…”

The fierce cursing made Li Xiaomo embarrassed. As he stepped onto the edge of the sewer, he said, “I really did see it. If I truly wanted to trick you, I wouldn’t trick you into such a dangerous place, would I? I still want to live a few more years.”

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and decided to follow them into the sewer. Immediately, the smell became even stronger, and his feet were completely in water. As soon as he entered the sewer, water began to drip from above, one drop at a time, hitting his hair and clothes, making Zhou Yuanqiang very uncomfortable.

Li Xiaomo saw Zhou Yuanqiang come down and casually closed the small iron door. He said, “It’s very dark here, and the humidity is high. Torches can’t be used, so stick close to me. Be careful not to get lost, or you’ll starve to death here.” As he spoke, he directly took Dai Lili’s hand and moved forward. Dai Lili seemed not to object this time, as she was unfamiliar with the place.

Zhou Yuanqiang finally learned a trick from Li Xiaomo: at least in desperate situations, one could openly take advantage.

However… Zhou Yuanqiang smiled wickedly and took out his flashlight from his storage space. Undoubtedly, a beam of bright white light appeared. It suddenly stopped in this sewer where one could barely see their hand in front of their face. Poor Li Xiaomo and Dai Lili were once again magnificently startled, directly falling into the sewer canal and becoming true drowned rats.

But when Li Xiaomo, who had fallen into the water, struggled to climb back onto the sewer’s edge path, he didn’t blame Zhou Yuanqiang. Instead, he widened his eyes and said, “You… where did you get this flashlight? Damn it, you had this thing, why didn’t you take it out earlier? I was even worried we might take a wrong turn later.”

Seeing Li Xiaomo say this, Zhou Yuanqiang had to bring up the old matter again. He said, “Didn’t you two want to find a helicopter before?”

Li Xiaomo said, “So what?”

Zhou Yuanqiang gestured and said, “Didn’t you notice anything different about me compared to you? Think back to our previous encounter; with your intelligence, it shouldn’t be difficult to connect the dots.”

Reminded by Zhou Yuanqiang, Li Xiaomo finally took this question seriously. He carefully recalled, then suddenly slapped his head and pointed at Zhou Yuanqiang, saying, “I was just saying that only I knew this specific passage, and it was pitch dark. How could you possibly appear with us?” He immediately became excited, saying, “I really wasn’t mistaken, you… you’re the one who flew the helicopter? Is that right, is that right?”

Even Dai Lili next to him widened her eyes and lightly covered her mouth.

Zhou Yuanqiang admitted openly, “That’s right, the helicopter you saw before was indeed mine. The matter I wanted to discuss with you just now is this. Here’s the deal, I’ll be direct: the reason I’m here is for the currency printing technology, and you, Li Xiaomo, possess this technology. Since we both need something from each other, how about we make an exchange? I can take both of you out of Chengdu City, and in return, you will work for me, providing all the technology involved in currency printing.”

At this moment, Li Xiaomo, who had just been flirting like a hooligan, narrowed his eyes, revealing the gaze of a genius. He said, “I’m very curious; why do you need this currency printing technology in this apocalypse? If it were before, just for those words, you’d be eating jail food for a lifetime.”

“Heh heh…”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed. In terms of shrewdness, perhaps he was far from Li Xiaomo’s match, but now, being in a position of power, what hadn’t he seen? As the saying goes, ask for the sky, settle for the ground. It seemed Li Xiaomo wouldn’t be satisfied with just him taking the two of them. “A helicopter can carry a maximum of ten people. That’s all I can guarantee.”

Who knew Li Xiaomo would shake his head and say, “No, you underestimate my intelligence too much. Since you have the ability to come here, you must also have the ability to take more people away. The key is whether you’re willing to help with this. He also understood how many gross monsters were in the city. He said,”We don’t have many people, only over eight hundred. As long as you can take all of them to your location, my hundred kilograms of flesh, Li Xiaomo, is yours.”

Actually, this condition wasn’t harsh. Over eight hundred people was nothing to Zhou Yuanqiang. As long as he brought the Hercules transport airship, he could take them all in one go.

Of course, the Hercules’ target was too large, which would likely alarm all the gross monsters in the city.

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment and said, “That shouldn’t be a huge problem, but I want to see where you live first. Otherwise, I can’t make a decision. As you know, Chengdu City has a population of 13 million. With so many gross monsters, we can’t predict what kind of terrifying mutated gross monsters might appear. I don’t want my people to take unnecessary risks, do you understand?”

With Zhou Yuanqiang’s abilities, he didn’t need to negotiate terms with Li Xiaomo at all. A single trained killer could deal with them and then bring them back to the Commercial Association. With Xu Yuhai, the intelligence chief, his methods were definitely seventy-two transformations, guaranteeing to make them ecstatic to the point of death and spill all their secrets obediently.

The reason he agreed to this somewhat ridiculous condition was purely out of curiosity: how did these three hundred people survive in this city?

With a consensus, Li Xiaomo took Zhou Yuanqiang’s flashlight and led the way. With light, they indeed moved very quickly. Li Xiaomo explained, “In the past six years, the sewers no longer had human domestic wastewater. After several years of rainwater flushing, the smell was long gone, and the sludge was cleaned away. Now it’s the winter rainy season, so there’s more water in the sewers. If it were summer or autumn, the sewers would be very dry. We live here, mainly active in summer and autumn, trying to find food, and staying in our shelter during winter and spring.”

Zhou Yuanqiang asked, “Food must have been severely damaged these past few years. What do you eat?”

Li Xiaomo explained, “Our shelter has enough food and water for ten thousand people for a year and a half. Now that there are eight hundred of us, plus what we usually gather from outside, it’s enough for us to live comfortably until now. But what you said is not wrong; there are fewer and fewer places to find food outside now, and many foods have spoiled, no matter how well packaged.”

The sewers were very complex, sometimes with several intersections, but Li Xiaomo had made marks, so there was no need to worry about getting lost.

“For these past six years, the only place we could move around was the sewers. But we didn’t have blueprints, so we could only rely on making marks and slowly exploring to expand our area of activity. Through the sewers, we can actually reach many places. However, the sewers are generally under the streets, and with numerous gross monsters above, we can’t go up. Only in a very few places do they appear near tall buildings or underground basements.”

The shelter was quite far from here; otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken so long to arrive after spotting a helicopter.

After many turns, finally, after Li Xiaomo announced they had arrived, they entered a large pipe in the sewer. Li Xiaomo led the way in. After crawling through this pipe, they emerged into a dry underground pool.

“Who’s there?”

A loud shout quickly brought several people surrounding them, guns pointed at the bottom of the pool. But upon seeing that it wasn’t a gross monster emerging, but Li Xiaomo, those few people breathed a sigh of relief. One of them cursed, “Li Xiaomo, you’ve got guts! How dare you steal my gun?” This person must have been the Old Man Zhao Li Xiaomo mentioned.

“Ah, Old Man Zhao!” Li Xiaomo, who had just emerged, shook his dripping wet clothes, waved the flashlight in his hand, and said smugly, “Hold your fire for now, I have great news to tell everyone.”

Who knew the people nearby would burst into laughter, “Xiaomo, what good news could you possibly have? Don’t tell us you successfully won Lili over?” There were many similar remarks, which showed that Li Xiaomo’s status here was probably like a mood-lifter; otherwise, so many people wouldn’t have been so friendly in their laughter.

Li Xiaomo gave a helpless smile and said, “I wish it were that news, but the problem is Lili hasn’t agreed to my pursuit yet.”

As Zhou Yuanqiang, a complete stranger, appeared, everyone began to realize that Li Xiaomo wasn’t joking earlier. But what was the good news he spoke of? Could it be that someone had come to rescue them from this cage? Living here for six years was essentially the same as being imprisoned for six years, even more painful than being in jail.

The person Li Xiaomo called Old Man Zhao grabbed Li Xiaomo’s collar excitedly and said, “What is this good news you’re talking about? Tell us quickly!”

The people here had long given up hope on the outside world. From the first year of anticipation, hoping that survivors would remember them and rescue them. But they waited bitterly for a year, their anticipation turning into disappointment. And after the second year passed, their disappointment turned into despair… By the fourth year, they had completely lost hope, and no one brought up the topic of leaving here anymore, because it was taboo.

But despite being in despair, in this shelter that felt like a cage, where they could do nothing but eat, drink, relieve themselves, and sleep, it was inevitable that everyone fantasized about leaving, even though no one spoke of this thought aloud. Yet everyone understood what the others were thinking.

Now it was the sixth year of the apocalypse, and they had no idea what the outside world was like. They were like birds trapped here, knowing nothing.

Especially as food was about to run out, terror began to spread here. No one knew what would happen once the food was gone. Perhaps they would all starve to death here, or perhaps everyone would summon their courage, risk their lives, and find a way to break out? But with what could they break out? This was a densely populated area of Chengdu City, and the streets were completely covered with gross monsters.

In the early days, they had organized people to try to clear the sewers to escape, but the sewers also had gross monsters. Several attempts resulted in casualties, which diminished their will to continue trying. No one wanted to go and die anymore.

Now, this desperate heart, suddenly seeing an outsider enter, what did that represent? It represented that they had a chance to leave here. Faced with news they had waited six years for, who wouldn’t be uncontrollably excited? The hope that sprang forth in that instant made everyone incoherent with joy. Zhou Yuanqiang even maliciously thought, if he told them he was also trapped here, would they collectively faint and go into shock from the emotional roller coaster?

Honestly, no matter how good the shelter’s ventilation system was, the smell accumulated over six years was so peculiar it made one feel like vomiting.

Perhaps the people living here had grown accustomed to this smell, but for Zhou Yuanqiang, it was like being hit by a stink bomb.

This pool was inside the shelter, originally designed as a purification pool. Unexpectedly, it became a passage for these people to the outside world. The main door of the shelter had remained closed for six years, never opened. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but that they didn’t dare; there were countless gross monsters outside.

To survive, the people in the shelter lived very cautiously, striving not to let the gross monsters outside know that people were living here. Don’t forget, the existence of Giant Zombies meant the shelter’s main door couldn’t stop them. This kind of precarious living made people very tired. Living inside, they were afraid of making a sound loud enough to attract disaster.

The entire shelter’s main hall was chaotic, followed by densely packed small rooms, which were presumably their living quarters.

The existence of this sewer entrance meant they had slightly more abundant supplies, at least in terms of clothing and necessities, which they could obtain from some external residences. They didn’t exhibit the ragged clothing seen in other settlements in the apocalypse.

Facing Old Man Zhao’s interrogation, and the countless burning gazes of those who had gathered upon hearing the news, Li Xiaomo knew that if he couldn’t offer a satisfactory explanation, they would tear him apart. But it didn’t matter; Li Xiaomo believed that when they heard the news, they would go crazy with joy, because it was indeed a monumental piece of good news.

Chapter 276: Plan and Opportunity

Who was Li Xiaomo? One look and you’d know he was a silently arrogant show-off. Of course, he wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity.

First, with a light cough, he quieted everyone in the shelter. Then, in a dignified manner, he announced, “What I want to tell everyone is that we are saved; we can finally leave this godforsaken place.” Seeing that everyone was about to cheer unrestrainedly, he suddenly shushed them, saying, “Shh, everyone, do you want to alert the zombies outside?”

Many people who had already raised their hands and opened their mouths to make noise abruptly stopped the tsunami-like roar that was about to burst forth.

Taking this opportunity, Li Xiaomo leaned closer to Zhou Yuanqiang and whispered, “Actually, I’m a very rigorous person. As you know, even a genius needs to put in effort to succeed. Constantly fooling around, it’s impossible to graduate at sixteen. People used to call me a bookworm. But in this apocalypse, trapped here, if you don’t learn to face life optimistically and often learn to lighten the mood, the mere dullness here is enough to drive anyone mad.”

It was like locking someone in a silent place. Maybe you could endure it for a few days, but what about ten days or half a month? You would definitely feel like going crazy. Perhaps you could vent this suppression by shouting and screaming. But in the shelter, even speaking loudly wasn’t allowed; wasn’t that even more terrifying?

The willpower that the people living here had developed over several years was definitely beyond imagination, incredibly strong.

Li Xiaomo’s consideration was correct. If they were to alert the zombies with their cheers now and attract zombie attacks, everyone would likely face certain death. As expected of a genius, he quickly understood that he couldn’t take everyone away in a short time. At least this quick thinking earned Zhou Yuanqiang’s admiration.

As if to confirm Li Xiaomo’s words, Zhou Yuanqiang said, “Xiaomo is right. I indeed have the ability to take you out of this city.”

Old Man Zhao trembled with excitement. He was only about fifty years old, but his hair was completely white. From living in such a suppressed environment for so long, his entire face was covered in wrinkles. Now, upon hearing this good news, a genuine smile finally appeared on his face. His wrinkles smoothed out, and he grinned, saying, “Are you sure you’re not joking with us?”

Zhou Yuanqiang laughed and said, “My presence here is the strongest proof in itself.”

“Good, good, good…” A string of “good”s came from Old Man Zhao’s mouth, enough to make anyone understand his mood at this moment. “We’ll pack our things now, the sooner the better. We really don’t want to stay here another day.”

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head and said, “Not yet. Including my return to arrange people to come, and the long journey, it will take at least three days before I can take you away.”

The originally happy people all became dejected. Li Xiaomo then spoke loudly again, “Everyone, we’ve lived here for six years, why can’t we stay for three more days? I understand your eagerness to leave, but impatience spoils the plan… I hope that during these three days, no one will step outside or speak loudly.”

After everyone had calmed down, Li Xiaomo asked the most pressing question: “What is the outside world like?”

Zhou Yuanqiang had nothing to hide and explained the difficult predicament of humanity, saying, “Currently, humanity’s living space is constantly being compressed, driven by zombies into the wilderness, where life is very hard.” This was the current situation, but Zhou Yuanqiang also understood that after humanity had experienced a few years and figured out the patterns of the zombies, once they recovered, humanity would definitely break through the difficulties and begin to “clean out” the zombies.

Just thinking about how every settlement was developing, like the appearance of exciters, used properly, they would definitely be the most powerful weapons against zombies.

And this was just the beginning. The Commercial Association was currently amassing strength. With the development of crystal energy, increasingly advanced weapons were beginning to appear, simultaneously solving the dilemma of gunpowder raw material shortages. Thinking of the power of crystal energy aerial bombs, a current zone hundreds of meters wide would be a nightmare for anyone and any zombie.

In the future, even if pulse cannons and particle cannons like those in sci-fi movies were developed, it would not be surprising… With the support of crystal energy, anything was possible.

Rescuing these people was not a simple matter, apart from the Hercules transport airship, no other aircraft could handle this important task. But how could they succeed in the rescue and evacuate quickly before the zombies reacted? This question needed to be carefully considered.

After thoroughly understanding the situation of the entire shelter, Zhou Yuanqiang gathered the influential people in the shelter and began to discuss the problems they would encounter during the rescue.

“Can your sewers lead to higher floors? Floors even higher than the banknote printing building?”

This question was very important because the higher the terrain, the more the airship could evade the attacks of long-range zombies, like gross monsters and Volt-Zombies. Their destructive power was too strong; a slight oversight could very likely lead to the failure of the entire plan. High terrain would reduce their threat.

Old Man Zhao shook his head and said, “I’m afraid there’s no other place higher than the banknote printing building. The zombies have also infiltrated the sewers, so we don’t dare to wander around freely to avoid attracting them.”

Li Xiaomo said somewhat dejectedly, “When we came, we seemed to have alerted the zombies. I’m afraid the banknote printing building is full of zombies.”

They had no path to other buildings, which meant that the rescue had to be centered around the banknote printing building. Honestly, these zombies were not a concern for Zhou Yuanqiang, but the evacuation of over eight hundred people required at least half an hour to hold off the zombies. Don’t forget, the exit could only accommodate one person at a time, which would waste a lot of time.

Since there was no other way, they would have to force their way through.

Zhou Yuanqiang pondered for a moment, sorted out his plan, and then said, “My plan is this: in three days, your main task is to send people to familiarize themselves with the sewer route leading to the banknote printing building. After three days, the observation points that Xiaomo knows about must be continuously monitored. Once an airship appears in the sky—it will have a colorful umbrella printed on it—immediately lead everyone into the sewers and move towards the banknote printing building.”

At this point, Zhou Yuanqiang paused, then continued, “But the banknote printing building is guarded by zombies. When you reach the basement of the banknote printing building, do not come out yet. Wait until my people hold off the zombies, and then you will be notified to come up. Remember, once you come up, rush towards the stairs, because we don’t have much time. As soon as there’s any movement, the zombies on the streets outside will surge towards this place.”

Zhou Yuanqiang looked at the people listening intently around him and said, “Has everyone understood? Remember, we only have one chance. If we fail…”

Li Xiaomo and the others, of course, understood the consequences of failure. Zombies surging in like a tide would definitely tear them all to shreds. It was either success or death with honor.

“Since everyone understands, I’ll leave now to make arrangements. You all should discuss it thoroughly among yourselves.” To avoid any complications from a prolonged delay, Zhou Yuanqiang had to quickly return to Greenmount City to arrange the rescue of these eight hundred people… In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang’s intention was for a long-distance attack, entering combat early to accumulate experience.

From another perspective, the newly established Crystal Warrior special forces also needed to verify their power.

The Commercial Association had no reason to let go of such a good thing as the exciter. With its powerful hospital system and research institutions, the Commercial Association was fully capable of proving that the exciter had no side effects on humans. The key was appropriate use. A Crystal Warrior’s daily usage should not exceed three times. In special circumstances, they could exceed this limit… but then they must rest for a period until their body functions fully recovered to optimal condition.

Li Xiaomo and the others were naturally worried that Zhou Yuanqiang might leave and never return, and that he might be surrounded by zombies when passing through the banknote printing building.

But there was nothing they could do. Zhou Yuanqiang was their only hope, so they had to choose to trust him. If he truly never returned, they would just consider it all a vivid dream, it was that simple.

Indeed, for Zhou Yuanqiang, as soon as he moved the iron cover, he was attacked by zombies from above. But with Armor Art, the claws reaching out were completely futile. With one big whirlwind, the small room became quiet. After restoring the iron cover, he charged straight through, scattering the zombies in the hall, then sprinted up the stairs, shaking off the zombies directly.

He reached the rooftop, took out an armed helicopter from his storage space, and flew back in the direction of Greenmount City.

The armed helicopter’s speed was not very fast. Zhou Yuanqiang kept it at a steady 250 kilometers per hour. The journey of over 1,300 kilometers, plus refueling time, took a full six hours before he finally returned to Greenmount City.

By this time, it was already evening in the wilderness.

Zhou Yuanqiang often disappeared, and everyone in the upper echelons knew this, so they weren’t surprised by his sudden disappearance for several days. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang’s return did not attract anyone’s attention. No one even asked him where he had been for the past few days.

First, he and Ren Xinyun and Jiao’er took a three-person bath, casually satisfying the desires that had built up over several days. Only then did Zhou Yuanqiang find Mu Gushan, who was in charge of the special forces. Similarly, this new branch of troops, the Crystal Warriors, was also directly led by Mu Gushan, reporting to Zhou Yuanqiang. In essence, it had separated from the leadership of the Military Department, resembling Zhou Yuanqiang’s secret army.

In the cruel world of the apocalypse, you always had to have a backup plan, no matter how great your prestige.

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t worried that anyone would have ambitions for his position, but a man without direct control over power would definitely be making a beginner’s mistake. That’s why Zhou Yuanqiang began to form his own armed forces, selecting the elite of the elite from the already 150,000 strong and growing number of soldiers to form his special forces.

Walking into Zhou Yuanqiang’s 800-square-meter home, which consisted of several connected apartments, Mu Gushan didn’t feel nervous because, in his eyes, Zhou Yuanqiang was like his own younger brother. Moreover, Zhou Yuanqiang’s usual personality in the Commercial Association was very easygoing, without any airs, giving people a sense of closeness.

Of course, uninformed people might have thought he was a weak Chairman, merely a puppet under some important official.

Anyone with such a thought might find themselves in hell (the grave) after their ambition blossomed. Because every elder resident and elder Commercial Association employee knew how terrifying this seemingly gentle and unpretentious Chairman truly was. If you had watched his “movie,” you would understand… a hero wasn’t just about wisdom; it required the ability to save a desperate situation.

A Chairman who was capable but not arrogant, not condescending, and very approachable was absolutely what every Commercial Association employee and resident under his rule wanted to see. This was why Zhou Yuanqiang held such a transcendent status, yet everyone considered it only natural.

“Boss, you’re looking for me?”

Mu Gushan didn’t use the honorific “you” (您), because he believed that the word “you” (你) brought them closer. And Zhou Yuanqiang had repeatedly instructed that among themselves, there was no need for “you” (您). Respect was felt in the heart, not shown on the surface.

Zhou Yuanqiang nodded. He had just brought Ren Xinyun and Jiao’er to multiple climaxes, which had no effect on his physique.

“Brother Mu, sit down. Jiao’er, get Brother Mu a cup of black tea.”

Being transferred from the Marketing Department to the special forces was actually a relief for Mu Gushan. For a soldier, only in the military was he more suited and would feel more fulfilled. Although he could learn more in the Marketing Department, Mu Gushan always considered himself a pure soldier, so when he received Zhou Yuanqiang’s transfer order, his excitement was absolutely heartfelt.

Zhou Yuanqiang said, “It’s like this, I called you over tonight mainly for this…” Zhou Yuanqiang explained the situation in Chengdu City. “You know my personality, I’m not someone who would stand by and watch people die. Honestly, to get this technology, I have the ability to bring them back. But looking at it from another angle, although eight hundred people are few, they are still people. When we have the ability to rescue them, there’s no reason not to. What’s more, this is an opportunity to train.”

The entire Commercial Association had not seen any combat for three months. In Mu Gushan’s words, “It’s been dull as hell.”

Now, hearing the task Zhou Yuanqiang was about to assign him, Mu Gushan was already excited, saying, “Boss, you can rest assured, the Crystal Warriors will have no problem.”

The Commercial Association’s powerful industrial strength and vast resources acquired through continuous trade were far beyond what General Huang Changnian in the north could compare to. If Zhou Yuanqiang wished, in a week’s time, he could produce enough steel armor to equip tens of thousands of Crystal Warriors, and enough exciters for tens of thousands of Crystal Warriors.

With the completion of various factories, electronic components for exciters could be manufactured directly, instead of having to be seized from cities like in the north.

But Zhou Yuanqiang was not a fanatical person, because Huang Changnian had clearly told him that the exciter still had room for improvement and would allow Crystal Warriors to exert stronger combat power. There was no need for mass production now, to avoid waste. Following Huang Changnian’s advice, Zhou Yuanqiang had only experimentally formed a thousand-strong Crystal Warrior unit.

The Crystal Warriors’ abilities lay in their close-quarters combat, which would maximize their power.

The Commercial Association’s training for soldiers primarily focused on shooting, formation, and combat coordinated with air force armored vehicles. But the concept of Crystal Warriors was similar to ancient soldiers, which required new close-quarters combat training to familiarize them with the essence of melee combat, making it easier to leverage the Crystal Warriors’ advantages.

Mu Gushan’s armaments were not just for close combat; since enhancement also improved neural reaction capabilities, specialized branches like Crystal snipers naturally emerged, deployed within the entire Crystal Warrior force at a 2:8 ratio.

Zhou Yuanqiang had always trusted Mu Gushan implicitly; he knew his efficiency.

Considering that the Hercules transport airship’s regular capacity was 1,000 people and its maximum capacity was 1,200 people, and there were over 800 people in Chengdu City, only about 200 Crystal Warriors could go this time. Of course, if the Hercules transport airship truly wanted to carry more people, it wasn’t impossible; the cargo hold could transport another 500 people or so if necessary.

Its tremendous carrying capacity was the origin of the Hercules’s name; a payload of 1,200 tonnes was something only a true super behemoth would possess.

Upon receiving Zhou Yuanqiang’s order, Mu Gushan naturally began to mobilize the Crystal Warriors and simultaneously notified the Hercules transport airship, which was rarely deployed, to prepare.

Actually, Zhou Yuanqiang still had a headache when it came to deploying the Hercules transport airship, primarily because of its escort. It seemed that the entire Commercial Association was still helpless regarding long-range navigation. The armed helicopter’s short range could not provide escort beyond 500 kilometers. As for fighter jets, their speed was indeed unsuitable for escorting an airship; after all, it couldn’t fly at a speed of over 100 kilometers per hour, could it? The fuel of many fighter jets was only enough for less than three hours of use.

If the distance was not over 500 kilometers, armed helicopters could provide escort, but for a distance like this 1,300 kilometers, the airship seemed to be forced to proceed “naked.”

There was no problem now, but what if wars between humans came in the future? Wouldn’t airships become live targets?

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuanqiang seemed to remember something and said to Ren Xinyun, “Xinyun, go to my study and bring me Tu Long’s submitted design drawings and application documents. It’s time to give him a chance to shine. After all, the current predicament of airships truly needs to be solved.”

(Ahhh… Monthly Votes!)

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Chapter 277: Rescue

At dawn the next morning, as most people were still asleep, the massive Hercules airship slowly ascended, departing from its dedicated airfield. Half an hour later, it vanished completely from sight of Greenmount City.

The Hercules transport airship usually did not operate, and for good reason—just look at its twelve engines, and you’ll understand how much fuel it consumes each time it starts. In fact, the Hercules transport airship was designed so that, under normal circumstances, not all twelve of its engines would be activated. For a cruising speed of 60 kilometers per hour, it would only activate four of them, just enough to keep its colossal body airborne. Although slow, this saved a significant amount of fuel.

If all twelve engines were started, despite its immense size causing considerable air resistance, its powerful propulsion could counteract that resistance, allowing it to advance at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour. Just imagine such a massive behemoth moving at such a rapid pace—it was truly awe-inspiring.

But beneath its glorious exterior lay a belly full of bitterness.

Every time the Hercules transport airship was deployed, Zhou Yuanqiang felt a wrenching sensation in his heart. The reason was simple: the engines used by the Hercules transport airship were even more fuel-intensive than those of a fighter jet. If all twelve engines worked simultaneously to propel it… covering the 1300 kilometers would likely require 100 to 200 tons of fuel; otherwise, don’t even think about it.

Considering a round trip would require at least 300 tons of fuel, how much money did that equate to? Who wouldn’t feel the sting in their heart?

Every time he stood in the passenger cabin of the Hercules, Zhou Yuanqiang would be filled with endless emotion. One was for humanity’s ability to construct such a colossal airship; the other was the issue of fuel. Of course, more often, it was a sense of pride, because this Hercules-class airship was unique in the entire world, both in the apocalypse and in modern times, and it belonged to him.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s estimated travel time was 3 days, starting from his departure. It was now the second day. This was primarily to allow the Hercules transport airship enough time to progress at its cruising speed, thereby reducing fuel consumption. The propulsion from four engines, if used on a bomber, would certainly enable the bomber to reach speeds of over 1100 kilometers per hour. But on this massive airship, it only achieved a mere 60 kilometers per hour—the difference was truly immense.

1300 kilometers. This meant that at a cruising speed of 60 kilometers per hour, it would take a full day to reach Chengdu City. Calculating by the current time, they would arrive on the morning of the third day.

The sky in the apocalypse was absolutely clear. After most of humanity turned into zombies, human aircraft were rarely seen in the sky. It was precisely because of this that airships found their purpose, able to navigate the skies unimpeded, becoming the most important mode of transportation for the Commercial Association.

The force deployed for this mission consisted of 300 Crystal Warriors and 100 special forces soldiers, together forming this rescue contingent.

“Boss, isn’t it exhilarating to look down at the world from this perspective?” Mu Gushan walked up to Zhou Yuanqiang, gazing at the rising sun on the horizon, a boundless feeling of awe in his voice. “A year ago, we were struggling just to fill our stomachs, exposed to wind, rain, and sun, fighting zombies again and again. Who would have thought that a year later, we would possess all of this? It feels like a dream, so unreal.”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled. In the modern world, the phrase “Shenzhen speed” was popular, but now it seemed the Commercial Association’s development was even faster than Shenzhen’s speed.

Look now, not only were basic needs met, but there was also this miraculous development. If there were no zombies, no one would believe that the scene in Greenmount City was happening in the apocalypse, because its condition was no different from peacetime. People lived and worked in peace, with hopes and expectations. Aside from the lack of big fish and big meat, everything else was the same as before.

“Brother Mu, the New Year is approaching.”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s words immediately triggered Mu Gushan’s endless longing. Unknowingly, his eyes became moist. He said, “I remember when I was in the military, I didn’t see my parents once in three years, but I never felt lonely because I knew they were living well. But then the apocalypse happened, and everything changed. I lost everything, including my lover, my parents, my little sister, all my relatives, and my home.”

At this point, he seemed very mournful. “The New Year in the apocalypse holds no meaning for us. We’re still struggling on the Lifeline…”

“Perhaps this year will be different?” Zhou Yuanqiang chuckled, patting Mu Gushan’s shoulder. “No need to be so sentimental. You’re already in your early thirties, aren’t you? If you get a chance, find a wife and settle down. With your current reputation and status, I don’t think that should be difficult, right?”

Mu Gushan gave a silly smile, a captivating image seeming to flash through his mind. He mumbled, “Settling down, huh?”

Upon leaving the barren lands and entering the vast mountain range, the weather suddenly turned cold. The sky became heavily overcast, and fine rain began to fall, pattering against the colossal Hercules transport airship. As they delved deeper, the rain intensified, forcing the Hercules transport airship to activate two more engines to ensure it wouldn’t be blown off course by air currents and strong winds.

From day to night, the areas they passed through included clear skies, overcast ones, and places with ceaseless drizzle. Once night fully set in, the wind abruptly strengthened. Upon entering S-province, they encountered a torrential downpour, the sky filled with raindrops as thick as a little finger. Bolts of lightning streaking through the clouds were truly startling.

The Hercules transport airship, immense in human eyes, appeared so tiny in the face of nature. The entire airship spent the latter half of the night battling the storm.

The soldiers on the airship, including Zhou Yuanqiang, couldn’t get any proper sleep. They swayed up and down as if on a boat. This severely affected the airship’s speed; under such heavy rain, all twelve engines were at full power just to barely maintain the flight path against the torrential downpour.

It wasn’t until the morning light appeared and the storm subsided that the soldiers, exhausted from a night of fighting the elements, could finally fall into a deep sleep.

Due to the torrential downpour last night, they were originally supposed to arrive in Chengdu City at 7 AM, but they didn’t reach it until 9 AM. Perhaps it was because of the heavy rain during the night, but the sky was surprisingly sunny, which was uncommon in winter, especially in S-province, where winter almost always brought three months of overcast skies, making sunlight a rare sight.

The Hercules transport airship, like a giant bird, slowly appeared from the horizon.

Those affected by the torrential downpour also included Li Xiaomo and his group. The city’s sewers were practically roaring like flash floods. Under such heavy rain, they had all begun to worry about whether Zhou Yuanqiang and his team would be affected. Fortunately, the rain stopped at 5 AM. Everyone grew tense, their eyes constantly fixed on a specific spot in the sky.

“Oh, what… what is that?”

The observer, whose eyes were getting numb from staring, finally saw the Hercules transport airship appearing on the horizon. The enormous airbag filled him with awe, leaving him dumbfounded. When had he ever seen an airship? And such a colossal one at that?

The already tense shelter suddenly erupted as everyone, startled by the dumbfounded shout, jumped to their feet.

Li Xiaomo took the lead, and when he clearly saw the massive airship in the sky, he too let out a cry of surprise. And every person who saw it afterward reacted as if aliens had appeared on Earth, leaving them feeling completely bewildered.

This shock did not fade with time, because the closer the massive airship approached, the more its immense pressure was felt.

After a long moment, Li Xiaomo suddenly reacted. The seven-colored umbrella painted on the enormous Hercules transport airship was so dazzling. “The seven-colored umbrella, yes, it’s the seven-colored umbrella. The seven-colored umbrella is printed on it. We’re saved…” Li Xiaomo shouted excitedly, his voice echoing through the shelter. “Everyone, it’s the seven-colored umbrella Zhou Yuanqiang spoke of. He’s back!”

At this moment, people no longer cared about making noise that might attract zombies. They cheered with abandon, and soon, under Old Man Zhao’s organization, they filed out of the pool pipes.

With a good drainage system and several years of flushing, Chengdu City’s drainage was very rapid. In just a few hours, the sewers had almost completely emptied the city’s accumulated water. So it did not affect Li Xiaomo and his group’s departure.

Many people, upon climbing out of the pool pipes, turned back to glance at the place where they had lived for six years. It wasn’t reluctance; rather, it was a reflection on everything that had happened during those six years. The people in the shelter had nothing much to take, carrying only some food as they hurried away through the sewers.

“Everyone, stick close, hold onto each other, don’t get lost.”

Dai Lili was leading the way. She had been there two days prior, and Li Xiaomo had left markings, which she could easily see with her flashlight. Li Xiaomo was in the middle, guiding everyone through the sewers, holding onto each other. Due to the high water levels during the night, the sewer’s side paths were wet and slippery. Li Xiaomo simply directed everyone to walk directly in the sewer, as the water only reached their ankles and it wasn’t smelly, just very clean rainwater.

This section of the sewer was still quite long. Previously, it took the three of them half an hour. Now, with over eight hundred people, it took even longer, nearly forty minutes, before everyone finally entered the underground second floor of the currency printing company.

Old Man Zhao, who was in charge, counted the numbers. Fortunately, nothing went wrong, and everyone was present.

“Xiaomo, do you think they’ve arrived?”

After only a few minutes, Dai Lili couldn’t help but ask Li Xiaomo.

Li Xiaomo thought for a moment and said, “We can’t calculate their speed, but it took us over half an hour to get here, so they should probably have already arrived above ground. Lili, don’t worry, we just need to wait for the signal.”

Here, they were too close to the zombies, and being in an open underground area with a passage, even a small sound would become amplified by the echo. So no one dared to move haphazardly. Only Li Xiaomo individually told them that once the signal was received, they must act quickly.

Li Xiaomo’s thoughts were correct. Almost as soon as they reached the second basement level of the currency printing building, the colossal Hercules airship slowly hovered above the building. With its hatch open, ropes were lowered, and the special forces soldiers descended first, sliding down the ropes one by one. After landing on the rooftop, while some stood guard, the others began guiding the airship closer to the rooftop, aligning the gondola parallel with the building’s top.

The Hercules transport airship’s bulky body couldn’t solve this problem in an instant. It took a full sixteen minutes before it successfully docked. Crystal Warriors, clad in light steel armor, poured out of the gondola one by one. Under Mu Gushan’s command, they began rushing toward the stairs.

The 300 Crystal Warriors were all carefully selected from tens of thousands of elite soldiers. Each possessed outstanding physique and immense strength. The battle armor crafted with the Commercial Association’s technology covered the entire body and was made from composite materials, making it incredibly lightweight yet offering astonishing defense. The armor, weighing only 15 kilograms, allowed the Crystal Warriors to run unburdened.

As soon as the Hercules transport airship appeared, the zombies below had already begun to stir, surging towards the currency printing building. The zombies on the streets surrounding the currency printing building unceremoniously poured in. The Crystal Warriors had only descended halfway down the building when they encountered the first wave of zombies.

There was nothing to say. In such a confined space, an excessive number of reinforced Crystal Warriors wasn’t necessary. So, only the fifteen Crystal Warriors at the very front activated their crystals and entered a reinforced state. With Level 4 crystals providing a 12-fold increase in strength, coupled with 1.5-meter battle blades made of high-density alloy steel that could shatter anything, these fifteen Crystal Warriors entered an invincible berserk state.

They had undergone rigorous training and had long mastered the use of this power. With a loud roar, they charged into the staircase, their battle blades swinging, cleaving off the heads of zombies one by one. The terrifying impact force, combined with the effortless hacking and slashing, allowed the fifteen Crystal Warriors to act like a drill, pulverizing all obstructing zombies.

Zhou Yuanqiang, while they were landing, had already found a room and, in private, activated his Armor Art, because he understood that there were too many zombies below. Relying solely on these 300 Crystal Warriors might not be enough to hold out for 20 minutes, so he also needed to contribute his strength.

Driving the zombies down the stairs was not difficult. The fifteen Crystal Warriors, in less than ten minutes, had already led the rest of the group down to the first floor.

The fifteen Crystal Warriors, with only twenty minutes of reinforced time, had completed their mission by this point. Using the remaining ten minutes, they would return to the airship to weather the subsequent period of weakness. The nearly 300 Crystal Warriors who had arrived here, of course, couldn’t all be reinforced. One hundred of them were reinforced, taking the lead, and began driving the zombies out of the hall.

From the very beginning, the battle intensified. Thousands of zombies swarmed the entire floor, densely packed and pushing forward, pressing on. Among them, high-level zombies would often suddenly leap up, pouncing directly at the fighting Crystal Warriors.

The abilities of high-level zombies were actually also calculated by crystals; Level 4 zombies possessed strength equal to Crystal Warriors reinforced by 12 times.

They were originally very fierce, but their claws couldn’t penetrate the battle armor of the Crystal Warriors. Instead, they would be cleaved in half by the Crystal Warriors’ attacks.

Trying to stop the tide of surging zombies wasn’t just about slashing; sometimes, they had to use their shoulders to withstand the charge. The hundred Crystal Warriors thrown into the fray began to show signs of being overwhelmed by the zombies’ pressure after only a short while.

Mu Gushan, watching from the side, frowned at the mountains of corpses already piling up in the hall. With another wave of his hand, he said, “Second team, go! You must hold them back and tear open a path to the small room.”

The hundred Crystal Warriors, upon receiving the order, activated their reinforcement and fiercely lunged forward. With each swing of their battle blades, a head would fly into the sky, or a body would be cut in half at the waist, or split into two. However, even the fierce Crystal Warriors struggled immensely against the endless stream of zombies. Often, no sooner had one zombie been cut down than another immediately filled its place. It was difficult even to advance a single step, let alone clear a path.

Faced with this sticky situation, the descending Zhou Yuanqiang had no choice but to use his strength. Leaping into the zombie crowd, his immense power allowed his giant sword to sweep horizontally, creating a small opening. Then, with a rapid grand whirlwind, he sliced a whole group of zombies into two.

Like a god of war, these zombies simply could not stop Zhou Yuanqiang. Under his charge, which swept through thousands of enemies, combined with the Crystal Warriors filling the gaps he created, a path to the small room was finally cleared.

He violently smashed the door with a single sword stroke, then kicked the broken door aside. After entering the iron cover, Zhou Yuanqiang lifted the iron cover with one hand and roared down, “Li Xiaomo, bring your people out, hurry up.” The empty first basement floor was almost entirely filled with Zhou Yuanqiang’s shouts, loud enough for those below to hear clearly.

“Bang…”

But what answered Zhou Yuanqiang was a loud bang from the hall. The shattering glass was so piercing. A colossal figure surged in, ramming into and sending flying both the zombies and Crystal Warriors in its path. With a roar, it swatted a powerful Crystal Warrior aside with its enormous hand…

(Small announcement: The internet company will be upgrading equipment tomorrow morning. I don’t know if it will affect internet usage. If the update is late tomorrow, please bear with me. The number of updates will remain the same. Thank you!)

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Chapter 278: A Pile of Bombs for You

Crystal Warriors were also human, possessing flesh and blood bodies.

Though their abilities had increased and their physical resistance surpassed ordinary people, being easily slammed against a wall with immense force sent several Crystal Warriors sliding down, only able to grunt. They wouldn’t be able to get up anytime soon.

Battling ordinary zombies and the occasional high-level zombie was already arduous. Now, with the big monster’s charge, their entire formation was shattered. Like a broken dam, the zombies swarmed in, filling the gap they had just created.

Zhou Yuanqiang was furious. He grabbed an iron cover and flung it with all his might into the corridor.

Under his immense strength, the heavy iron cover, weighing tens of kilograms, shot like a cannonball. The zombies blocking the way were smashed to pieces. A single iron cover wiped out over a dozen zombies. Seeing Li Xiaomo and his group below, Zhou Yuanqiang no longer hesitated. He hoisted his alloy steel giant sword and fiercely charged forward again.

The Crystal Warriors’ reinforced state wouldn’t last long, so at this moment, he had to turn the tide.

Zhou Yuanqiang was indeed fierce. Wherever he went, no zombie could stop him for a moment. The zombies that had filled the hall were quickly cut down by him. With the help of the other Crystal Warriors, he pushed the zombies back, fiercely suppressing the surging zombie horde.

Li Xiaomo and his group, who had just climbed up, were dumbfounded. A group of people wearing steel armor looked peculiar, yet they appeared incredibly fierce and powerful no matter how they were viewed.

“Li Xiaomo, what the hell are you waiting for? Get moving! Do you want me to carry you?”

Seeing Li Xiaomo and his group in a daze, Zhou Yuanqiang was enraged. He was fighting tooth and nail here, holding back the zombies to buy them time, but they were just watching? Though Crystal Warriors were strong, their reinforced state only lasted ten minutes. They still needed the remaining ten minutes to rush to the rooftop.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s roar made Li Xiaomo and his team shiver. Although they were astonished that this incredibly powerful person was Zhou Yuanqiang, it made them realize that time was now life. Looking at the tidal wave of zombies outside and the shattered glass windows, they didn’t hesitate. They led their people and rushed towards the stairs.

The enormous monster, which had rampaged through the hall earlier, began roaring in the street again after retreating. With a burst of speed, it charged back into the hall, crashing against it.

Zhou Yuanqiang saw it and cursed loudly, “Damn it, again?”

When this Giant Zombie charged, it was absolutely unstoppable, even with his 42 times strength amplification.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s memory of Giant Zombies was from the wilderness settlement, where they charged like tanks. But at that time, he was far away and hadn’t directly experienced the visual shock of these Giant Zombies. During the assault on Greenmount City, Giant Zombies didn’t even have a chance to charge, being torn to shreds by aerial bombs. But now, a Giant Zombie’s charge was right before his eyes, definitely making one feel the oppression of death.

“Thump… thump… thump…”

As the Giant Zombie sprinted, the entire street seemed to tremble. Any zombie it stepped on was instantly crushed, turning into a puddle of mud. Its immense size truly resembled a giant tank. Standing six or seven meters tall, it wasn’t just for show; its abnormal strength was its defining characteristic. Once it started charging, there was no stopping it until death.

The poor glass opening, just shattered by the Giant Zombie, was hit again from the side.

As the sound of shattering glass echoed, the white glass shards flying out like a wave were absolutely astonishing.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

Zhou Yuanqiang roared. The Crystal Warriors, already terrified, how dared they face the charge of this Giant Zombie? Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s shouts, they all quickly moved aside. However, the ordinary zombies, who had just been fighting the Crystal Warriors to the death, were not so lucky. They were directly struck by the Giant Zombie, slammed hard against the wall, and by the time they fell, their bones were shattered, collapsing onto the ground like a pile of烂泥.

Six or seven meters tall with a massive body, it was an absolute behemoth in this hall. Even with the hall’s height, it still scraped the ceiling.

This time, the Giant Zombie didn’t retreat after one strike. Instead, it swung its huge fist, smashing it out ferociously. Fighting like a gorilla, a dozen Crystal Warriors were instantly swept by the fist, crying out as they were sent flying. Along with them, some zombies were also thrown. Fortunately, their reinforced bodies were much tougher than ordinary people’s. Although sent flying, they were only injured and didn’t suffer broken bones or death.

If this Giant Zombie wasn’t dealt with, no one would be leaving.

There was nothing else to say; Zhou Yuanqiang had to handle this himself. He dashed out in a few swift moves. To deal with this thick-skinned, tough-bodied behemoth, its head was the only place that could instantly kill it. So, after dashing out, as its ponderous body was just beginning to spot Zhou Yuanqiang, his giant sword was already plunged into its chest.

For a human, this sword strike would be fatal, but for the Giant Zombie, it barely counted as an injury.

Perhaps instinctively, after being attacked, it began swinging its fist, intending to teach the intruder a lesson. But it clearly forgot that the hall was narrow, and with its massive body, freely maneuvering seemed impossible. So, its series of movements were very clumsy, making it impossible to hit Zhou Yuanqiang, who moved like lightning.

Using the moment the giant sword was stuck in the Giant Zombie’s chest, Zhou Yuanqiang leaped. He was already on the Giant Zombie’s shoulder, then smashed a heavy punch into its mouth. After that, Zhou Yuanqiang, as if his backside was on fire, quickly dropped from the shoulder and sprinted a few steps away from the Giant Zombie’s range.

No one knew what was going on with Zhou Yuanqiang; he just punched once and ran.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang himself knew that his punch had just delivered a Crystal bomb, manufactured by a munitions factory, directly into its mouth.

Next, there was nothing to say. The exploding Crystal bomb instantly released high-pressure electricity, causing the Giant Zombie’s massive body to flicker with electric arcs, then jump around like a clown. A few seconds later, a strong smell of charring came from its huge body, and with a crash, it fell. Its wide-open mouth continuously spewed out green smoke.

“No matter how powerful you are, you can’t withstand millions of volts of electricity!”

Watching the Giant Zombie collapse like a mountain, the situation finally returned to human hands. The people of Chengdu City all scrambled towards the staircase, though the zombie corpses piled up in the stairwell caused a slight obstruction.

More than eight hundred people wanted to pass through, and the iron cover opening was small, making Zhou Yuanqiang utterly furious. However, there was nothing he could do in this spot except to exert himself, blocking the zombies while urging them to speed up. But the zombies outside had long since become aware of the commotion here, swarming in endlessly, a truly terrifying sight.

Mu Gushan wasn’t idle either. After contacting the hundred special forces stationed upstairs, he directed them to drop bombs from dozens of floors above. After all, the Hercules transport airship had plenty of ammunition, enough for them to squander.

Booming explosions echoed consecutively, spelling disaster for the zombies on the street outside. With hundreds of people dropping bombs downwards, never mind bombs, even simple rocks would have been enough to cause them significant distress. The firecracker-like explosions ripped and shredded one zombie after another on the street, and even the concrete road surface was blasted into craters.

The tide-like assault was instantly halted with the help of the bombs, abruptly reducing the pressure on the people below.

Zhou Yuanqiang regretted it so much, “If I had known there was such a method, why would I have gone through all that trouble? If people just dropped bombs from above, we could easily rescue people below, and the problem would be solved quickly.” Now, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t afraid of attracting more zombies. Because as long as he guarded this entrance, with the bomb support from above, he wasn’t afraid of the massive number of zombies.

After ten minutes of hurried work, everyone had finally passed through the iron well opening. At this point, it could be considered mostly successful.

Dozens of floors of stairs were not easy to climb. So, they still needed to continue blocking the zombies for a few more minutes. At this time, the last hundred Crystal Warriors, replacing those who had been fighting earlier, blocked the stairwell after being reinforced, stopping the zombies that had leaked in from the explosions.

By this point, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t in a hurry anymore. He sat on the stairs, chuckling, watching the Crystal Warriors cutting down zombies below. The hall was already piled several layers deep with zombie corpses, almost all of them cut in half. Some zombies with their upper bodies still intact were crawling around, making the scene quite horrific and sickening.

Honestly, the emergence of Crystal Warriors had, in a sense, reversed humanity’s disadvantage against zombies.

Look now, a hundred Crystal Warriors could hold back the zombie advance. In the fierce battle, the zombies’ claws and teeth became useless. Even if they attacked the Crystal Warriors, they were protected by their armor, so there was no need to worry about safety. And the Crystal Warriors’ counterattacks were absolutely lethal, chopping off their heads.

In the past, a hundred soldiers, even with guns and ammunition, could not have stopped the zombie tide, because no matter how many bullets you had, you didn’t have as many as the zombies.

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s understanding, even without his appearance, humanity in the apocalypse would still slowly carve out a bloody path from their disadvantage. However, this process would be very long, with a long road still ahead. But the powerful rise of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was undoubtedly a huge variable in this apocalypse. The power of high technology was something zombies could not resist.

A few minutes later, Zhou Yuanqiang waved his hand, and these hundred Crystal Warriors blocking the zombies began to retreat.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he brandished his giant sword and stood at the stairwell entrance. The zombies below surged forward, packed densely, but in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, they were just a school of fish, and he was a sturdy net. No matter how many fish there were, they couldn’t break through the stairs he guarded.

Perhaps due to the inundation by Rainwater last night, the surging zombies all had hideous faces. On their decaying flesh, much of the previously dry, rotten meat had turned pale and soft from being soaked in water. As the zombies frantically squeezed together, these softened, pale bits of decaying flesh fell off in chunks.

Zhou Yuanqiang wondered, after several years, their flesh had already decomposed beyond recognition, some even sun-dried into black husks under the scorching sun. How could they still survive? Could it be that the reason zombies could move and survive lay in the crystals in their brains, which provided them with a hard-to-explain energy?

Probably, aside from this, Zhou Yuanqiang really couldn’t understand the underlying principle.

After casually dealing with a few zombies that rushed forward, Zhou Yuanqiang estimated the time. Li Xiaomo and his group should have reached the rooftop and started boarding the airship. He could fight and retreat, anyway, the zombies’ movement speed wouldn’t be very fast, and on the stairs, it would be even slower, no longer affecting the overall success of the rescue.

Moreover, stopping the zombies was still very simple.

Anyway, everything here was ownerless. Destroying a few things wouldn’t get him into any trouble. So Zhou Yuanqiang shamelessly pulled out a large pile of bombs and threw them on the stairs, then grinned menacingly, taking out another grenade.

What would happen if he pulled the pin on the grenade and threw it onto this pile of bombs?

On the zombie-swarming street, a colossal Octopus-Zombie moved. Its body was even taller than a Giant Zombie, and its tentacles, nearly twenty of them, lashed out with each movement, splashing transparent fluid. Its movements seemed calm and slow, but in reality, each step, though appearing sluggish, was incredibly fast. In just moments, it had covered a significant distance.

When Zhou Yuanqiang caught sight of the approaching giant Octopus-Zombie out of the corner of his eye, he was greatly shocked. In the settlement, no one had truly witnessed its abilities, but its enormous size, agile movements, and nearly twenty tentacles all indicated that its terror certainly surpassed that of a Giant Zombie.

Greenmount City also used to have one of these giant Octopus-Zombies before, but it hadn’t even performed before its debut abruptly ended, turning to ash in a massive fire.

Facing the bombs still falling from above, this giant Octopus-Zombie showed no fear… or rather, it had no idea what fear was. It charged forward fiercely. At high speed, its tentacles moved, crushing the zombies in its path. By the time it passed, the zombies on the ground were coated in the transparent liquid it secreted, stuck to the ground and unable to move.

As it approached the banknote printing building, the Octopus-Zombie actually stopped. Its tentacles tensed up like taut ropes, and its deeply hidden mouth, once exposed, suddenly spewed a dense black mist. In moments, an entire street was enveloped, hundreds of meters shrouded in a dark, opaque cloud; nothing could be seen clearly.

“Retreat!”

Faced with something unfamiliar and a strong sense of danger, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t hesitate. He pulled the pin on the grenade, threw it into the pile of bombs, turned, and sprinted for his life up the stairs.

The grenade detonated amidst the bomb pile, unleashing terrifying power that practically swept through the entire first floor of the building. Like a furnace, it was filled with orange and red flames from the explosion. The section of stairs, naturally, was obliterated in the blast, sending the zombies within along with it to hell (the grave).

These standardized bombs were not ordinary explosives people played with. The explosion shook the entire dozens-story building, its power absolutely terrifying.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s speed, running up the stairs, was effortless. He quickly caught up with the last group of Crystal Warriors.

The black mist spewed by the Octopus-Zombie made it impossible to see anything. What was particularly striking was that, like a tangible substance, the black mist wasn’t dispersed by the wind but rolled, enveloping everything within. The bulky Octopus-Zombie, like a fish in water within the black mist, suddenly propelled itself with its tentacles, dashing like an arrow towards the fifteenth-floor window of the banknote printing building.

Its super high jumping ability and the suckers on its tentacles allowed it to firmly attach to the glass window.

However, no one could see any of this, because the black mist enveloped everything, hiding the Octopus-Zombie’s movements. Its massive body, after shattering the glass window, softened and slid into the fifteenth floor. Only a pile of transparent liquid remained on the shattered windowpane.

The agile Zhou Yuanqiang naturally noticed the commotion below. While urging the soldiers to speed up, he cursed, “It really is a persistent ghost!”

Now he couldn’t afford to worry about such trivialities. He pulled out bombs from his storage space one after another, as if they were free. For every floor he left, he threw a few down, destroying the stairs with booming explosions.

However, this method didn’t seem to be very effective. With the Octopus-Zombie’s ability, it could extend a tentacle, pull its entire body, and already be on the next floor. Moreover, the booming explosions seemed to guide its direction, making the Octopus-Zombie advance even faster.

The Octopus-Zombie’s movements reminded Zhou Yuanqiang of the robots in The Matrix, which also had an octopus design, able to float fluidly as if in water. The only difference with the Octopus-Zombie was probably its need to use its tentacles for propulsion.

However, the Crystal Warriors were currently in a reinforced state, able to ascend one floor in two seconds. When they appeared on the rooftop, the Hercules airship’s mooring ropes had already been untied, waiting specifically for Zhou Yuanqiang and his team. With pursuers behind them, there was no time for hesitation; they all rushed into the gondola.

Zhou Yuanqiang knew the Hercules airship was slow to start. If the Octopus-Zombie caught up, who knew what abilities it possessed?

So, he threw another pile of bombs from his storage space. After jumping onto the airship, he took a rocket launcher from a special forces soldier, shouldered it, and slowly ascended as the Hercules transport airship rose into the sky.

A sharp shriek. Just as the Octopus-Zombie’s ghostly tentacles stretched out from the rooftop’s iron gate, Zhou Yuanqiang had already pressed the trigger, sending a rocket into the pile of bombs inside the iron gate. Amidst a series of explosions, the stairwell at the iron gate was engulfed in fire… and vaguely, fragmented, writhing tentacles could still be seen.

Chapter 279: Currency Issuance

The Lanxi Plateau is enormous. Before the apocalypse, it was essentially a sparsely populated, barren land. A winding river snaked through the entire plateau, joined by dozens of smaller streams branching off, all under an almost perpetually cloudless blue sky. This geographic feature was the origin of the Lanxi Plateau’s name, a name very fitting for the area.

Across the entire Lanxi Plateau, there was only one solitary road traversing it.

After the apocalypse, the unique geographical location of the Lanxi Plateau immediately became a paradise for desperate people. More and more survivors fled here, gathering to live and forming settlements. This barren land, in just a few years, attracted nearly three million survivors who clustered across this vast plateau. Settlements dotted the landscape of what was once a desolate wasteland.

The emergence of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was like cold water poured into a boiling pot, causing the entire Lanxi Plateau to erupt.

In just three months, the influence of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had reached every settlement and every person living there. This was because everything they wore or used bore the imprint of an exquisite seven-colored umbrella. You might not know who formed the Lanxi Alliance, but you would certainly know the Yuanqiang Commercial Association.

Its powerful influence had completely integrated the Yuanqiang Commercial Association with the people here.

Every person in the settlements on the Lanxi Plateau had endured hardships, escaping from zombies to reach this place. Their experiences taught them that only by uniting all possible forces could they survive in this apocalypse, and only through collective strength could they resist the pursuit of the zombies.

It was this ideology that led to a powerful Alliance, witnessing and participating in the creation of dozens of settlements, formally becoming the highest military authority across the Lanxi Plateau. It was responsible for all military operations on the Lanxi Plateau, collectively defending against repeated zombie attacks. This indirectly proved that the Alliance’s existence was indeed a correct choice; it repelled over a dozen zombie attacks, allowing people to live here in peace and prosperity.

As the Alliance’s headquarters, the Akih Lake Settlement undoubtedly became the central hub of the Lanxi Plateau, featuring an Alliance center that combined administrative and military functions.

Akih Lake is also the largest lake on the Lanxi Plateau, and the settlement was built along its shores. With over 200,000 people, it was like a city, with countless rows of residential buildings stretching as far as the eye could see, winding streets, emerging markets, shops open for business, and a torrent of people in the streets. All this attested to its prosperity.

Airships emblazoned with the seven-colored umbrella periodically appeared in the sky. After three months, people were no longer surprised; they just carried on with their lives.

On the countless bustling streets, a burly man walked through the crowd with a small woman, holding a small bag. From its shape, it was clear it contained a bag of crystals. It seemed the big man was taking his woman shopping. In the apocalypse, where everything was scarce, the word “shopping” stirred far more excitement than it ever did before.

On the Lanxi Plateau, if you brought out the trump card of shopping, even a woman who seemed indifferent to you would instantly become interested.

The existence of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association meant the streets here were filled with a dazzling array of goods. For any woman who had endured years of hardship, the appeal was immense. The status of women was now improving, unlike at the beginning of the apocalypse. Then, they were at the lowest rung, subject to abuse by men, merely tools for men’s release.

“Xiao Yan, don’t worry, no matter what, I’ll buy everything you like today.”

The burly man, holding a large quantity of crystals, was naturally full of bravado. The young woman, named Xiao Yan, had little red hearts sparkling in her eyes, giving the burly man immense satisfaction both in terms of pride and emotionally. Hadn’t he risked his life for a month on the edge of the plateau, all for the sake of making Xiao Yan his wife?

They entered a fashion store with the seven-colored umbrella logo and were immediately captivated by the noble, beautiful, and elegant clothes inside. After years of losing their sense of aesthetic, seeing these beautiful clothes again undoubtedly created an urge to own them.

As a woman, Xiao Yan, of course, knew that this was a genuine clothing brand under the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, specifically for the wealthy upper class, with ridiculously high prices.

“Brother Hu, let’s try another store. This place… it’s too expensive!”

Xiao Yan’s words only strengthened Brother Hu’s already wavering resolve. He put on a generous facade and said, “No, I feel only the clothes here are worthy of you. How about this set? With your figure, it would definitely suit you. Wh…what? Damn it, this outfit costs 1 Level 4 crystal. My goodness, isn’t this robbery?”

The sales assistant, of course, just smiled apologetically. How could she dare tell the burly man, “The goods here are meant to rip people off; if you don’t have money, get out”? If she dared to say that, her coveted job would be gone. The regulations set by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s commercial department strictly prohibited such situations.

Perhaps because Xiao Yan also liked it, the burly man endured the heartache and pulled 10 Level 3 crystals from his pocket, grumbling, “Wrap up the clothes, we’ll take them.”

Facing the happy couple, the sales assistant held back again and again, but finally couldn’t help but honestly say, “I’m sorry, sir, we no longer accept crystals here.”

“What?”

The enormous roar nearly tore the entire store apart. The burly man felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. He angrily shouted, “What did you just say? You don’t accept crystals? Then what do you accept? This is outrageous! Are you looking down on people? I always heard how good your Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s service was, how enthusiastic you were, but it turns out to be all lies. Where’s your manager? Tell him to get out!”

The sales assistant was startled by the burly man’s shout and was a little flustered. She wanted to explain, but she couldn’t get a word in.

Perhaps hearing the commotion, Sun Manyuan, the manager of the clothing store, walked out of his office. Just hearing the beginning, he knew exactly what was going on, as this was already the third time it had happened today. He said with a chuckle, “Brother Tian, I am the manager here…”

Having dealt with it twice before, Sun Manyuan was already experienced. Without waiting for the burly man to speak, he picked up a beautifully printed, laminated paper from behind him and said, “Please take a look at this first. If you have any questions, I can explain in detail.” With a glance, the sales assistant immediately poured two cups of water for them from the water cooler.

At the store entrance, the desire to watch a spectacle, even in the apocalypse, had not faded. In a moment, a crowd of onlookers gathered.

The burly man snorted several times and said, “I’ve fought tooth and nail against zombies on the frontier, through wind and rain. What haven’t I seen? If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will tear down this store. Others might be afraid of your Commercial Association, but I’m not.” He sat down boldly, unceremoniously, and drained the water in his cup before slowly picking up the exquisite laminated paper and reading it.

He saw that the beginning featured thirteen images that looked unmistakably like currency, marked with denominations of 1 fen, 2 fen, 5 fen, 1 jiao, 2 jiao, 5 jiao, 1 yuan, 2 yuan, 5 yuan, 10 yuan, 20 yuan, 50 yuan, and 100 yuan. Unlike the fifth series of Renminbi, this currency was called the “Seven-Colored Currency,” and Zhou Yuanqiang’s portrait was on the left side of the currency, looking very young and spirited.

The entire currency technology was derived from the Renminbi before the apocalypse, so the texture processing showed a strong influence.

Upon seeing this, the burly man’s eyes widened dramatically. He stared at the words “Yuanqiang Central Bank” on the currency, his mouth agape, unable to close it.

Below the announcement, it was formally declared to all settlements with trade ties to the Yuanqiang Commercial Association that the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had issued a new currency. Henceforth, for all trade related to the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, including store operations and transactions between public and private enterprises, the officially designated Seven-Colored Currency of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association must be used as the circulating currency. Gold and crystals would no longer serve as circulating currency for Commercial Association transactions.

The meaning of this announcement was very clear: all transactions with the Commercial Association had to be completed using this Seven-Colored Currency, refusing to accept gold and crystals. However, transactions outside the Commercial Association were not within the purview of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association; people could trade as they wished.

It seemed like non-interference, but the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was the economic center, the hegemon of the Lanxi Plateau. If it only accepted the Seven-Colored Currency for transactions, would anyone else dare use crystals for their trades? This was fundamentally using powerful trade and goods to sway everyone’s hearts. The underlying message was: if you don’t use the Seven-Colored Currency as circulating currency, don’t expect to get a single item from the Commercial Association.

The burly man saw his hard-earned crystals, accumulated over a month, instantly turn into a pile of shiny junk. That feeling of loss, even with his strong will, made him feel like he was about to faint. His earlier smug expression was now replaced by despair.

“Cr-Cr-Crystals are just useless now?”

To this day, the burly man couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was truly terrifying news, too terrifying.

Sun Manyuan smiled and said, “No, crystals are still useful, of course. They will be listed as a raw material that our Commercial Association acquires. Considering the impact on the entire Lanxi Alliance, the Commercial Association offers a very high acquisition price for crystals. For example, the outfit you just held, its previous price was 1 Level 4 crystal. But 4 Level crystals in our currency acquisition are worth 20 Seven-Colored Yuan. Converted back, the price of this outfit in Seven-Colored Yuan is also 20 yuan.”

This explanation instantly relieved the surrounding onlookers. They all unconsciously clutched their pockets, having worried that crystals had just become garbage.

The burly man finally understood and said, “So, you mean crystals still have value, they just won’t be circulating currency, but their value is actually tied to the Seven-Colored Currency?” Sun Manyuan hadn’t expected such a burly man to have such good comprehension. He nodded and said, “That’s right, your understanding is correct.”

The burly man grinned, tightened his grip on his small cloth bag, and said, “So, where do you acquire crystals?”

Sun Manyuan pointed to a newly built building not far away and said, “That’s our Commercial Association’s Yuanqiang Central Bank, Lanxi Plateau Branch. It’s currently handling the exchange of crystals for Seven-Colored Currency. From now on, your crystals can be recycled through it, exchanged for an equivalent value in Seven-Colored Currency.”

By the time the burly man and the crowd of onlookers arrived at the Yuanqiang Central Bank, Lanxi Plateau Branch, it was already packed with people. Everyone held a small cloth bag of crystals, exchanging them for Seven-Colored Currency at the various windows. Regarding this currency issued by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, everyone was cautious, only exchanging a small portion of their crystals, because no one knew if these banknotes would suddenly become廢紙.

In fact, they had no choice, because the Yuanqiang Commercial Association had locked down all sources of supplies. All authorized wholesalers and distributors had no option but to comply with the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s directive: all stores only accept Seven-Colored Currency and only recognize it as the sole circulating currency. Even gold was useless; without Seven-Colored Currency, you couldn’t buy anything.

Facing this outcome, if you wanted to buy something, you had to exchange for Seven-Colored Currency. Then, you could buy whatever you wanted. No Seven-Colored Currency? Browsing was still allowed.

At first, the people on the Lanxi Plateau didn’t understand the situation, so they naturally ignored stores that refused to accept crystals. As they said, “If this place doesn’t welcome me, another place will.” You won’t sell? We’ll buy from another store; wouldn’t we still get what we want?

But after they browsed every store they could, they were dumbfounded, because they discovered that without Seven-Colored Currency, there was no way to buy anything.

The trade power of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was fully unleashed at this moment. The Commercial Association, which almost controlled the entire economic lifeline of the Lanxi Plateau, wasn’t afraid of them not compromising. Moreover, all sources of supplies were in the hands of the Commercial Association. By applying some pressure to agents and wholesalers, they would naturally comply with the Commercial Association’s wishes.

The Lanxi Alliance was not lacking in economic talent, but in the face of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s sudden currency offensive, they couldn’t come up with any solutions.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but they couldn’t stop anything the Yuanqiang Commercial Association did. Because the Yuanqiang Commercial Association already controlled the entire plateau’s economy, as long as the plateau wanted to function, it couldn’t operate without the Yuanqiang Commercial Association. Even using the Alliance’s authority to make residents reject the Seven-Colored Currency was useless, because while they might comply and not visit stores for a few days, over time, people accustomed to an abundant material life could not possibly resist the temptation.

Use force to expel the Yuanqiang Commercial Association?

No one was so idiotic as to propose such a plan. Whoever proposed it would face the wrath of nearly three million people. Wouldn’t that force them back to their former primitive society? After finally enjoying a somewhat happy and beautiful life, allowing them to reminisce about the old days, whoever disrupted this would absolutely come to a bad end. The apocalypse was a world of fierce folk customs; someone might suddenly kill you. This risk was indeed one no one dared to take.

Dealing with the Yuanqiang Commercial Association… don’t be ridiculous, that joke isn’t funny at all.

Look at the vast transport airships filling the sky; this strength alone was something the Lanxi Alliance couldn’t contend with. The news spread by those who had been to Greenmount City was absolutely not fear-mongering. Every settlement in the Lanxi Alliance with any say had sent people, and everyone was fully aware of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s strength.

Even if they truly chose to resist, it would be futile. The seemingly monolithic Alliance, facing such a powerful enemy without any benefit, many would undoubtedly choose to withdraw and not get involved in this muddy water.

Thus, under various special circumstances, the entire Alliance tacitly approved the circulation of the Seven-Colored Currency, officially replacing crystals in the Alliance’s monetary structure.

The Seven-Colored Currency’s impact wasn’t limited to the Lanxi Alliance; individual settlements were similarly affected. Under the strong hand of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, they ultimately had no choice but to exchange crystals for Seven-Colored Currency. For scattered settlements, what currency they used ultimately didn’t matter, as they hadn’t even considered crystals as currency before.

So, after the Lanxi Alliance tacitly approved the legality of the Seven-Colored Currency, the entire currency issuance operation could essentially be declared a success.

This success was inevitable, because the Commercial Association’s efforts to ensure the currency’s successful issuance were beyond imagination. Just to gain the tacit approval of the Lanxi Alliance, the Public Relations Department expended great effort, conducting secret meetings with powerful representatives and offering many benefits.

It seemed like a major financial outlay for the Commercial Association now, but Zhou Yuanqiang believed that what he gave up today would be returned to him a hundred or a thousandfold in the future.

And with the successful issuance of the currency, the influence and control of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association officially reached a peak. Zhou Yuanqiang, as the unique Chairman of the Yuanqiang Commercial Association, instantly became known to everyone. As long as you held Seven-Colored Currency, you couldn’t help but know what Zhou Yuanqiang looked like.

His youthfulness certainly exceeded everyone’s expectations; at the age of twenty-five, commanding the super-juggernaut that was the Yuanqiang Commercial Association was enough to make him a legend in the apocalypse. And this currency issuance before the Spring Festival pushed him to the pinnacle, providing countless people with more to talk about.

Amidst all the commotion, things settled down, and the Spring Festival quietly approached…

Chapter 280: Spring Festival

Before the Spring Festival arrived, Greenmount City finally opened up the east district, connecting the entire city into one contiguous area where people could freely traverse every street.

To reward the most outstanding individuals in the Tianzhou Plain, as well as those who had contributed to the Commercial Association, over ten thousand people were granted permission to reside in the east district of Greenmount City. They would become residents under the direct governance of the Commercial Association’s headquarters. For these ten thousand-plus people, this news was undoubtedly a cause for joy.

While the construction of Tianzhou Town was impressive, how could it compare to the city? Moreover, being able to live in the headquarters was absolutely a symbol of status. Besides, the military strength possessed by the headquarters was incomparable to Tianzhou Town; almost all of the Commercial Association’s military power was concentrated in the Wasteland Military Base.

The Yuanqiang Commercial Association could now definitely be described as having strong soldiers and sturdy horses. With the addition of crystal energy, at least the ammunition supply was resolved. It was no longer like before, where insufficient reserves meant a period of recuperation was needed after each battle to replenish stock. The expansion of the munitions factory seemed to signal to the world a large-scale strengthening of military power.

When they were in the wilderness settlement, people always yearned to return to Greenmount City.

And the people of Tianzhou Town constantly looked forward to the recapture of Tianzhou City. With the unification of the entire Tianzhou Plain, this longing grew even stronger, and reports were continually submitted to the branch. Lu Yanjiong initially held back, but as the time grew ripe, he finally submitted a report to the General Assembly regarding the recapture of Tianzhou City just before the New Year. Lu Yanjiong believed that with the current capabilities of the Commercial Association, as long as the application was approved, returning to Tianzhou City would no longer be just a yearning.

The Commercial Association, having received the application report, naturally did not approve it immediately. This was because the first Spring Festival held immense significance for the Commercial Association. Therefore, preparations began well in advance, and apart from personnel on duty, everyone was given a week-long holiday ahead of time, receiving red envelopes and various benefits.

The six years of the apocalypse had been six years of suffering for countless people. All traditional festivals had been completely blank, with no memories whatsoever.

Now, with the development of the Commercial Association and the rapid improvement of people’s living standards, perhaps with the exception of meat scarcity, everything else, like candy, was no different from before. Walking through the city, what you saw would make you wonder if you were living in a time of peace.

The issuance of the Seven-Colored Currency posed no problems under the Commercial Association’s rule; on the contrary, it made things much more convenient for many people.

After all, crystals had weight. While first-grade crystals were easy to obtain, as the lowest-등급 crystals, carrying a large bag of them to buy things meant very limited purchases. But now, with the issuance of currency, a single large-denomination banknote could solve all problems.

Regarding salary payments to Commercial Association employees, the practice of using grain, gold, and crystals was abolished, with all payments now standardized to currency.

Fifty billion Seven-Colored Currency was issued, and within just half a month, more than twenty billion had been exchanged. Just thinking about it was astounding. One had to know that the purchasing power of the Seven-Colored Currency, calculated using modern methods, was equivalent to the currency value of the 1950s and 60s in liberated China, where a few yuan was no longer a small sum.

This exchange of over twenty billion—one could imagine how many crystals it would bring to the Commercial Association?

At least Zhou Yuanqiang understood this best: half of Greenmount City’s south district had been designated as a warehouse, filled with countless crystals. To prevent any accidents with the crystals, a new reserve base was under construction, with the majority of its structure buried deep underground. It would also become the Commercial Association’s overall crystal reserve center, used to store an immense number of crystals of all grades.

In the days leading up to the New Year, Greenmount City became bustling. Streets were packed with people, and shops were crowded with surging masses, waving banknotes to purchase the items they needed. People had bid farewell to this situation for six full years, and they cherished this hard-won stability immensely.

If people had previously been absolutely supportive of the Commercial Association, now they were devoted heart and soul.

Every person harbored heartfelt respect for Zhou Yuanqiang, who had brought them all of this. Thinking about it, it was like an endless legend, from Zhou Yuanqiang’s appearance to the changes he brought, everything he did, until he approached the settlement’s rule. Then came the transformation of the entire settlement, facing zombies, and recapturing Greenmount City.

These were all things people talked about with great relish. Every resident who was an elder could always tell these stories vividly, elevating Zhou Yuanqiang to the pinnacle of mythology.

However, as the protagonist of this myth, Zhou Yuanqiang was currently acting exactly like an ordinary person. Time ran parallel: not only had the apocalypse New Year arrived, but the New Year had also arrived in modern times. So, when he returned home to City S from Somalia, he inevitably had to accompany his family on a grand shopping trip and explain his whereabouts to Yan Yuhe.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s excuse was simple: he was engaged in overseas investment, with Somalia as the target.

Yan Yuhe couldn’t understand why Zhou Yuanqiang would choose Africa, such a poor, backward, and war-torn country. In her eyes, with the economic recovery of the past few years and the renewed trade activity among several neighboring countries, making money wasn’t very difficult as long as one had capital and ability. Why take such a risk?

“The poorer and more backward a place is, the richer its resources will be. Their chaos only affects their own country, but it doesn’t affect us merchants who go there to invest. They even hope we invest more, treating us like gods, so how could there be danger? Moreover, Somalia is rich in mineral resources, and the prices are very low. To quickly earn enough wealth to be worthy of you, how can I accumulate enough wealth in a short time without taking some risks?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s words left Yan Yuhe at a loss for how to retort. She merely scoffed, “You’re not even my boyfriend yet, who would marry you?” then hurried back to Shanghai.

As soon as Yan Yuhe left, Zhou Yuanqiang first accompanied his family to finish shopping. He prepared a big gift for every relative. Furthermore, the family’s building had been completed and renovated, and they needed to move in during the New Year and invite all their relatives for a huge reunion and housewarming…

The problem arose just like that, leaving Zhou Yuanqiang in a dilemma. “It’s all my fault for being so busy that I forgot about this.”

So, on New Year’s Eve, firecrackers boomed throughout Greenmount City, and fireworks soared into the sky everywhere. In Zhou Yuanqiang’s 800-square-meter mansion in the apocalypse, all the most powerful people of the Commercial Association gathered for a joyful reunion. Since some of them were already married, the number of guests was considerable, crowding over a hundred people into the space, with more than a dozen tables of food laid out.

Meanwhile, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s modern-day rural hometown, besides the 300-square-meter villa, an additional 1200 square meters were used for gardens. Dozens of tables for the housewarming banquet were placed in these gardens, creating a pleasant environment. The guests also included people from the village, except for the family next door, who didn’t dare show their faces, which Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t mind.

Thinking about a garden villa built on the 48th floor, for country folk, it was truly exciting. They gazed at the luxuriously decorated villa, not knowing where to put their feet. Especially the gleaming floor, and since most country folk had to work in the fields, their dirty feet had nowhere to go.

Fortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang’s parents didn’t care about such things and showed no disdain, which made the arriving guests more at ease.

As a prominent figure in the entire county, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally couldn’t avoid it. He had to come out and greet each elder. For a housewarming, guests usually brought red envelopes. Although Zhou Yuanqiang was wealthy, etiquette couldn’t be ignored, so he graciously accepted them. He didn’t lack the money, but he also had to consider the feelings of others, didn’t he? And as a return gift, the red envelopes Zhou Yuanqiang gave out made these people’s hands tremble.

To think, they came to drink the housewarming wine, giving only one or two hundred, or at most five hundred yuan. But the return gift red envelopes were at least ten thousand yuan. How could these people not be immensely excited? They all sighed in their hearts, “The Zhou family has truly prospered, and they haven’t forgotten us old relatives.”

Zhou Yuanqiang truly saw his good deeds through to the end. Every slightly closer relative would receive a substantial sum of money afterward, enough for them to build their houses and live a very good life. After all, the Zhou family didn’t have many truly close relatives, so it only cost a few million yuan, which was truly a drop in the bucket for Zhou Yuanqiang now.

All in all, on New Year’s Eve, Zhou Yuanqiang was like a wealth-scattering boy, spending ten million yuan just like that.

The spending wasn’t the main issue; the key was that Zhou Yuanqiang had to endure the hardship himself. After toasting the elders in modern times, he didn’t stop. He ran to the bathroom, closed the door, returned to the apocalypse, then emerged from the bathroom to toast his subordinates and offer blessings. Afterward, he had to find another excuse to run to the bathroom, close the door, and rush back to his modern home.

During this time, Zhou Yuanqiang was like a spinning top. Even with his superhuman physique, he was exhausted to the point of almost cramping.

Fortunately, after the New Year’s Eve dinner, Zhou Yuanqiang had an excuse to disappear. Others also had to go home, each having their own family reunions to attend. There was no need to worry about anyone suspecting him of having an issue by running to the bathroom every few minutes.

Throughout the entire New Year, except for New Year’s Eve which left Zhou Yuanqiang flustered, everything else was quite uneventful.

Visiting subordinates in the apocalypse, visiting relatives in modern times—the entire New Year seemed to pass uneventfully.

Compared to Zhou Yuanqiang’s ordinary holiday, in Greenmount City, the fireworks practically never stopped from New Year’s Eve until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and everyone wore happy smiles. For their first New Year in the apocalypse, they understood how truly hard-won it was.

The Commercial Association’s holidays, apart from a few traditional festivals, did not include minor holidays. This was because the entire Commercial Association functioned like a machine; any pause would be like a jam. It was precisely for this reason that some important functional departments resumed work starting on the fourth day of the New Year. Only less important departments would start work on the eighth day.

Due to the apocalypse, a fifteen-day New Year was impossible. In fact, by the eighth day, when the entire Commercial Association was operating normally, the entire New Year had already ended.

With work resumed in Greenmount City, major operations kicked off again. The rumbling sounds once more brought Greenmount City into a tense atmosphere. Airships slowly ascended, carrying large quantities of goods and commodities, departing in all directions. After the frantic shopping spree of the New Year, shortages had appeared everywhere, presenting another excellent opportunity for trade.

From the moment the New Year passed, the atmosphere in the entire Wasteland Military Base suddenly became tense. Ground crew constantly inspected aircraft, and large quantities of military supplies were transported from Greenmount City to the military base. Waves of ground troops began to assemble, awaiting massive airships to transport them to Tianzhou Town.

Inside the colossal military airships, trucks delivered weapons to their weapon bays for loading.

Soon after the New Year, Zhou Yuanqiang officially approved Lu Yanjiong’s application report, agreeing to the plan to recapture Tianzhou City. He then transferred the document to the Military Department to initiate the combat plan. The entire military system entered a state of war, formally launching the military operation to recapture Tianzhou City.

Chapter 281: The Bombing Victory Theory

The Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s strength has always grown rapidly. Two aircraft factories can produce three fighter jets a day, bringing the total number of fighter jets close to one thousand. In particular, the number of bombers, which was originally eleven, increased to thirty in just three months, forming a powerful and deterrent bomber fleet.

However, these bombers, which were not very functional, only produced thirty units before production was halted.

Sharing the same fate as these bombers were, of course, military airships. The number of military airships was maintained at only 62 before production ceased. Now, the two airship factories have shifted their focus to transport airships. To adapt to various environmental needs and the transport costs of settlements of different sizes, the size of transport airships has also begun to vary, becoming diverse.

The halt in military airship production also signaled the Commercial Association’s shift in focus to aircraft.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the New Year truly faded away. After a week of preparation, on the morning of that day, a massive fighter jet fleet began to taxi and take off one by one from the airfield at the Wasteland Military Base. Military airships, already loaded with ammunition, also released their mooring ropes and slowly ascended with the lift of their enormous airbags, forming an endless aerial airship fleet.

This was already the second time the Commercial Association was recovering a city. Compared to the first time, when there were only a hundred fighter jets, this time, over seven hundred aircraft from the entire air force were deployed in this recovery war, along with 50 military airships. The equally large number of armed helicopters, however, saw fewer deployments this time, with only a mere hundred units, whose role was to target any zombies that rushed out.

The assembled ground forces, aided by troop carriers and airships, advanced by road and were deployed from the sky, respectively.

Tianzhou Town was originally garrisoned with 50,000 troops. Now, the Commercial Association has reinforced it with another 50,000, forming a force of 100,000. Their mission is to occupy the entire city from the ground after being bombed by fighter jets and military airships. One thousand Crystal Warriors will act as the ground forces’ rapid response team, appearing wherever the zombie counterattacks are most severe.

Since the main association formally approved the branch’s application, the entire Tianzhou Plain has been submerged in a sea of joy, with everyone eagerly anticipating this day.

When the massive fighter jets appeared, people in Tianzhou Town all looked at the endless fighters soaring towards Tianzhou City. They would serve as the vanguard, launching the first round of attacks on Tianzhou City. They did not stop at the military airfield in Tianzhou Town, as the two locations were only about 300 kilometers apart, a mere fifteen-minute journey for fighter jets.

Zhou Yuanqiang did not have a dedicated plane. Thinking about it, he only governed two places, barely 300 kilometers apart. Was a dedicated plane really necessary for such a short distance?

He arrived with the Hercules transport airship. This time, the Hercules transport airship only carried 1,000 Crystal Warriors, a dozen light tanks for the ground forces, a few armored vehicles, and a pile of military supplies. It was definitely a heavy load, so all twelve engines worked simultaneously, emitting a thunderous roar as they flew towards the Tianzhou Plain.

In terms of speed, airships could not compare to fighter jets. Both took off at the same time, but fighter jets could arrive in fifteen minutes, while airships would take at least two to two and a half hours. Don’t underestimate this time difference; it’s very significant, enough for fighter jets to conduct two attacks.

In fact, this was precisely the case. While the airship fleet, composed of massive military and transport airships, had only been flying for forty minutes, the first wave of attacking fighter jets had already expended their ammunition and returned to base to rearm. With the help of numerous qualified logistics personnel, just over ten minutes later, the fighter jets were soaring over the immense airship fleet again, rushing towards the Tianzhou Plain.

At times like these, Tu Long, as the fleet commander of the airship fleet, was undoubtedly the most frustrated. Apart from their strengths in bombing, military airships were nothing compared to fighter jets in other aspects. The militarized use of airships could only play an auxiliary role and could never dictate the outcome of a war.

However, then he thought, aren’t aircraft carriers also auxiliary? Yet, those proud fighter jets still had to obey aircraft carriers. People would always mention aircraft carriers but never what was actually on them, because those things simply didn’t interest people. In people’s eyes, an aircraft carrier and the planes on it were a single entity.

“Chairman, thank you very much.”

Tu Long stood beside Zhou Yuanqiang at this moment, with only a few guards behind him. High-ranking generals had already departed days earlier, establishing a temporary command center in Tianzhou Town. Only slower-moving units like Tu Long’s force were still leisurely flying towards the Tianzhou Plain.

Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, knew what Tu Long was thanking him for. He merely smiled and said, “There’s nothing to thank me for. On the contrary, I should thank you for designing such an incredible airship. But it’s good, at least in terms of practicality, it has solved the problem of our Commercial Association being unable to conduct large-scale, ultra-long-range attacks, and it has also doubled the effectiveness of armed helicopters.”

Yes, Tu Long’s design proposal finally received Zhou Yuanqiang’s approval before the Spring Festival, authorizing the construction of this astonishing behemoth.

Tu Long chuckled shyly and said, “Actually, this design draws some inspiration from aircraft carriers. Don’t laugh, but initially, I just couldn’t stand Dali’s smug look, and that’s how this design came about today. I also wanted the airship fleet to hold its head high and show Dali that we’re not to be trifled with.”

“Hahahahaha…”

Zhou Yuanqiang burst out laughing. Perhaps no one would have imagined the origin of this design! He said, “I believe Dali’s expression will be very interesting then. He’s always focused on training troops, how would he know about this? But if you want to see his expression, it will take at least seven months. That’s already the fastest construction cycle.”

Thinking only of his design, Tu Long couldn’t help but get excited again, saying, “Seven months is a bit long, but it’s worth the wait. I’m also looking forward to Dali’s expression then. I must take a picture to commemorate it.”

Amidst their laughter, the enormous airship fleet slowly pressed forward in the air, once again welcoming the fighter jets’ second return flight.

In fact, for attacking cities, tanks definitely play the biggest role. However, the early development of the Commercial Association did not account for this steel beast. With a large amount of ore transported from Angatu Settlement to Greenmount City, the steel mills, operating continuously, produced countless tons of steel.

Once the metal problem was solved, tanks, these land overlords, naturally entered the Commercial Association’s sights. The early designed and tested models were immediately approved for mass production.

However, the second steel mill was still under construction, and the refined steel was limited. Therefore, the first batch to emerge from the Armored Vehicle Factory consisted of thirty light tanks. Their astonishingly fast assault capability earned them the name ‘Sand Viper’ tank, or ‘Viper’ for short. They would be deployed in the attack on Tianzhou City to validate their performance data.

Heavy tanks are estimated to take another six months to go into production, mainly due to the impact of certain parts, steel, and fuel.

The current Commercial Association can no longer provide additional fuel. For tanks, these gas-guzzlers, this will put immense pressure on the Commercial Association’s Logistics Department. If their logistics cannot be resolved, even if they are put into production, the numbers will not be too high.

Considering the high consumption of parts by tanks, the maintenance of parts alone is enough to cause headaches for the Logistics Department.

When the massive airship fleet reached Tianzhou Town, fighter jets were launching their third attack on Tianzhou City. The faint sounds of explosions merged into a continuous roar, clearly indicating the intensity of the battle. However, Zhou Yuanqiang was not worried about the fighter jets; with the advent of guided missiles, they no longer needed to engage in aerial combat and did not have to worry about attacks from flying zombies.

The enormous Hercules transport airship slowly descended, departing from the massive military airship fleet, and landed on the huge airfield below Tianzhou Town.

Qiu Guorui and the others, who had received the news long ago, naturally came out to greet him. Including Lu Yanjiong, hundreds of generals of various ranks stood on the square, their stars shining brightly. For the war that had already begun against Tianzhou City, the command center’s affairs were almost like idle chatter, because the command center’s policy was to attack, and attack again.

Zombies are an unconscious opponent; they won’t pull any tricks and will only struggle to be torn apart in front of fighter jets.

Such an opponent, for intelligent and powerful humans, truly presents no challenge. To borrow from the Strategic Department, as long as there is enough ammunition, even with the current air force, the zombies in every city could be torn apart, recovering the entire continent.

However, the entire continent, the entire world is vast, and though the Yuanqiang Commercial Association is powerful, completely clearing out the zombies is not something that can be achieved in a short time.

The scarcity of humans in the apocalypse inherently restricted human development. Without enough personnel, production couldn’t keep up. No matter what, it was always a matter of accumulation, accumulation, and more accumulation. This method almost guaranteed that after every high-intensity battle, the entire Commercial Association would have to rest for a while to recover before launching the next offensive after all depleted ammunition was replenished.

Despite knowing that zombies had no air superiority, it wasn’t something that could be toyed with at will.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s arrival was more about observing the recovery process. Seeing such a large formation to greet him, he felt a little awkward. After shaking hands with Qiu Guorui and the others, the group then followed Lu Yanjiong towards the temporary command center.

The people of Tianzhou Town, upon learning of Zhou Yuanqiang’s arrival, naturally erupted in excitement. While many had seen pictures of this young legendary figure and his portrait on currency, this was their first time seeing him closely in person. Naturally, people didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so streets and houses were filled with onlookers.

This was Zhou Yuanqiang’s second visit to the Tianzhou Plain. Compared to his hurried first visit, this second time he came as a ruler, and the difference was truly profound. Who could have imagined that the enormous Tianzhou Plain would eventually be annexed by the Yuanqiang Commercial Association?

Those who wanted to see Zhou Yuanqiang in person were destined to be somewhat disappointed. Zhou Yuanqiang’s status dictated that he could not casually appear in public.

Upon arriving at the command center, junior officers were busy. The air force and airship fleet didn’t need their worry, but ground forces required them to arrange everything. The thirty light Sand Viper tanks were a drop in the bucket for Tianzhou City, useful for only two or three streets.

The Crystal Warriors who disembarked from the Hercules transport airship were also transported to Tianzhou City by troop carriers. They would appear in the most dangerous places after the bombing ended.

Dali, as the commander-in-chief of the air force, was probably the busiest person in the entire command center. Every squadron required him to personally issue a series of orders. The massive fleet of aircraft was indeed very taxing, and even with the help of other generals, Dali was still overwhelmed.

At such a young age, to already be the commander-in-chief of the Commercial Association’s strongest forces was definitely a test for Dali. He probably never imagined, back when he and his brother were hunting zombies with small knives and wooden spears, that he would achieve such glory today. All of this felt like a dream, making him pinch himself daily to see if it was real.

“Boss, everything is under our control now.”

Dali was full of confidence. He pointed to the images transmitted back by the reconnaissance airship and said, “After three attacks by the fighter jets, half of Tianzhou City has been attacked.”

On the screen, streets looked as if they had been plowed. Countless zombies were torn to shreds, their bodies scattered everywhere. Some tall buildings collapsed in the explosions, crashing heavily onto the streets, blocking them completely. Through the images, fighter jets could be seen launching missiles from under their wings amidst the sharp roar of their engines, plunging fiercely into zombie hordes on the streets, sending large numbers of zombies flying.

There were also fighter jets equipped with Thor missiles, acting like silent ghosts, releasing an explosion upon approach, like the unseen hand of death. Zombies enveloped and touched by it were instantly electrocuted, their bodies charred by sudden arcs of electricity, falling over. The attack range of a Thor missile meant one could take down dozens, even hundreds, of zombies in a single strike.

Like bees, the fighter jets always launched missiles during a dive, then rapidly pulled up.

All of this left Zhou Yuanqiang wide-eyed and dumbfounded. He muttered, “A bunch of prodigal sons, truly too extravagant!” He knew that Thor missiles were meant for powerful targets, but now Dali was using them against ordinary zombies. What was this if not using a cannon to kill a mosquito? Moreover, their focus on everything in the city seemed to be primarily on killing zombies, with little regard for urban destruction.

Qiu Guorui explained beside him, “Boss, it’s like this: the plan our command center formulated is not to let the city’s terrain restrict us. The advantage of fighter jets lies in their speed, but to have speed, some accuracy must be sacrificed. If the city is destroyed, we can slowly rebuild it, but human casualties…”

Zhou Yuanqiang just sighed. He waved his hand and said, “Your plan is not wrong. The dead cannot be brought back to life, but damaged buildings, we can repair, or even tear down and rebuild even taller ones.” He asked, “How long will the bombing last before ground forces are deployed?”

“To ensure the ground forces do not meet too much resistance, the bombing will continue for one day, but the main bombing will be handed over to the military airship fleet. Fighter jets will only participate in five attacks before withdrawing from today’s battle. We expect ground forces to launch an offensive on Tianzhou City tomorrow morning, and if all goes well, the entire Tianzhou City can be recovered by tomorrow afternoon.”

Qiu Guorui was confident, because he had the capital to be confident.

Compared to the attack on Greenmount City, this offensive was a world apart. The massive fighter jet fleet and 50 military airships had elevated their strength by many levels. Just thinking back to the attack on Greenmount City, when there were only a mere six airships, and those were transport airships pressed into service as bombers, the difference was truly vast.

In just twenty minutes, the massive military airships finally appeared on the screen. As soon as they reached the airspace above Tianzhou City, they dispersed according to the pre-assigned plan, flying towards various streets. The 50 military airships covered nearly half of the city.

The deployment of a large number of military airships meant that fighter jets would temporarily withdraw from the battlefield. The airspace above Tianzhou City could not accommodate so many fighter jets and airships crowded together. Being too dense, with the high speed of fighter jets, mid-air collisions could easily occur.

The maximum payload of military airships meant they were like moving armories. As soon as they identified their targets, bombs rained down like they were free, falling onto the streets below. The streets, already heavily damaged and with heavy zombie casualties from fighter jet missile attacks, were now being cleansed by a torrent of bombs. After the bombing, hardly any standing zombies could be seen.

In Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, this was naked slaughter. The zombies in the city had no ability to fight back, not even a tiny bit. Even in buildings, clumps of liquid soared into the air, and individual flesh balls released countless arcs of electricity, yet they still could not stop the military airships that were beyond their range.

The bombing continued until there were no targets left.

Chapter 282: The Second City

“Keep up the pace!”

The captains’ shouts pierced the air. Soldiers clutched their automatic rifles, following the two Sand Viper tanks at the front as they pushed into the street.

This was a suburban street, scarred and pitted by the bombing raids of fighter jets and military airships. Cement debris and overturned earth were everywhere. The gruesome, incomplete limbs of zombies lay scattered in bizarre postures, a stark reminder that war, whether for humans or zombies, dealt a brutal hand of death.

Rotting limbs, blown off and caught in the branches, occasionally hung from the street’s trees. In shops and on building ledges, glass shattered by explosions mingled with splashing cement fragments, leaving white marks on the aged walls. Most of the trees on the street were blasted bare, some still burning under the intense heat.

Fading embers on the tree trunks released wisps of smoke, imbuing the entire city with a thick scent of war.

It was rare to see active zombies on the street. Mindless, they were like living targets, unable to dodge the bombardment, allowing themselves to be sent to their hell. Even zombies within buildings, roused by the sound of explosions, surged out, clamoring into the streets and rushing towards the source of the noise.

The Sand Viper tanks, traversing the cratered streets, constantly lurched and swayed. Their two mounted machine guns periodically strafed, shredding any surviving zombies. Occasionally, a turret would swivel, unleashing a burst of flame that sent zombies hiding behind obstacles, along with the obstacles themselves, flying into the sky.

Cars previously abandoned on the streets had grown rusty over the years. Now, under the bombardment, they were twisted into mangled wrecks, their burning, dismantled frames scattered everywhere.

“Listen up, don’t let a single moving zombie escape, and don’t miss any potential hiding places for zombies. Team one, you’re responsible for this building. Team two, that area. Team three, clear this residential complex. Team four, follow me.”

The captain’s shouts prompted the squad of soldiers to quickly split up, advancing towards their designated areas.

This was a war without suspense. Under the bombardment, the entire city trembled. Zombies gathered on the streets became easy targets, wiped out in the explosions. After a day and a night of constant shelling, when ground forces were deployed in the morning, there were barely any zombies left for them to practice on.

In this high-intensity bombardment, the only places zombies could find refuge were vital facilities and certain residential areas.

The first objective of attacking the city was to acquire vast resources. The second was to provide residents with a better living environment. Each bombing target was meticulously chosen after careful consideration. For clearing zombies from within buildings, fighter jets and airships were ineffective; that task had to be handed over to ground forces.

Sporadic gunshots echoed, interspersed with the occasional roar of a rocket. The sharp firing sound of recoilless cannons and the shouts of soldiers formed the city’s loudest morning symphony. One hundred thousand ground troops, divided into countless squads, advanced through the city like black ant colonies, following their street assignments.

Any soldier who had participated in the Greenmount City campaign couldn’t help but sigh when they once again set foot in Tianzhou City.

In comparison, the battle for Greenmount City was fraught with difficulties. Due to insufficient bomb reserves, the bombardment was rudimentary, leaving a large number of zombies alive, which in turn resulted in many casualties among the ordinary zombies. This time, however, it was different. With bombs paving the way, at least 80% of the city’s zombies were killed by the bombardment.

One hundred thousand troops facing 20% of the zombies, a mere few hundred thousand, no longer presented a challenge.

Mu Gushan led a squad of a hundred Crystal Warriors, uniformly clad in composite battle armor, sitting idly in a troop carrier. This train-car-like troop carrier had drawbacks: it was underpowered, somewhat cumbersome, and relatively slow. However, its advantage lay in its massive carrying capacity. Its double-deck design allowed it to deploy one hundred soldiers to the battlefield at once.

The Commercial Association’s research capabilities ensured the Crystal Warriors’ battle armor was of high quality, with light yet extremely tough materials. Wearing the complete battle armor felt like adding only the weight of a tactical backpack.

The benefits of such technology were undoubtedly far superior to the steel armor crafted by the northerners. At the very least, soldiers could move freely in their battle armor without feeling fatigued, even without entering a reinforced state. This eliminated many unnecessary complications.

Since the ground forces launched their offensive, everything had proceeded smoothly. With powerful ground forces, armored vehicles, and light tanks, it seemed unlikely that Crystal Warriors would need to be deployed. Indeed, the ground forces had already pushed halfway across the city, and there had been no calls for Crystal Warrior assistance.

Mu Gushan’s own physical prowess, tested rigorously, was exceptionally formidable. Capable of utilizing Level 6 crystals, he had instantly become one of the strongest individuals in the entire settlement.

It was precisely for this reason that Mu Gushan personally led the Crystal Warriors, venturing to the front lines himself. He was likely the highest-ranking general in the entire Commercial Association to charge so far ahead.

As the troops advanced, the first true obstacle finally appeared.

In the electronics market near the city center, a large number of zombies had escaped the bombing range, thus avoiding being wiped out. The massive electronics market housed tens of thousands of zombies. Moreover, orders had been issued from above to protect some high-end electronic components, ICs, and other items within the market.

Without the use of powerful firepower, dealing with these zombies proved to be quite troublesome.

Mu Gushan, who had been patiently waiting, naturally felt a surge of excitement upon receiving the call. With a wave of his hand, he declared, “Brothers, we have work to do.”

For powerful Crystal Warriors, such waiting was almost enough to drive them mad. Now, hearing there was work, they all became active. For warriors who specialized in close-quarters combat, a warlike gene was hidden in their blood. They preferred to fight on the battlefield rather than sit idly in a troop carrier, observing the battle from a distance.

The troop carrier swiftly started, navigating the pockmarked streets at speed. After more than ten minutes, it finally arrived in front of the Tianzhou City electronics market.

Several squads of soldiers had already cordoned off the area, sealing every intersection. They did not enter rashly; they only opened fire if zombies charged out. Strangely, the zombies here seemed unaffected by the noise, hunkering down stubbornly inside.

Logically, according to reconnaissance data, there were no commander-level zombies in Tianzhou City.

As Mu Gushan and his troop carrier arrived, Crystal Warriors, their battle armor gleaming with cold light, leaped out of the compartments. Their narrow battle blades flashed in the morning sun.

For the citizens of Greenmount City, Crystal Warriors were not a particularly mysterious military branch; many only vaguely knew of their existence but had never seen them. Now, seeing the Crystal Warriors disembark from the troop carrier, everyone stared at these armored warriors with curious eyes, naturally wondering if they were merely wearing armor to be immune to zombie attacks? What special abilities did they possess?

The temporary military commander here, upon seeing the Crystal Warriors arrive, ran over and saluted, saying, “Team Captain Xie Zhiqiang, 109th Platoon.”

On the front of Mu Gushan’s battle armor was a small six-colored umbrella insignia, signifying that his rank was at least that of a deputy部长. The seven-colored umbrella insignia denoted a部长, like Qiu Guorui and others. This was a method of identifying officers within the Commercial Association. By simply observing the number of colors on their insignia, one could ascertain their rank.

Regarding the Commercial Association’s somewhat disorganized military structure and rank system, the Military Department was already undergoing reforms, but it would be some time until they were implemented. At that time, military ranks would be established based on the previous domestic military ranks, as that system had been long-tested and was universally recognized.

Mu Gushan returned the salute. With a wave of his hand, the hundred Crystal Warriors split into five small teams. Raising their battle blades, they began to advance into the electronics market.

Perhaps due to winter dampness, the air inside was somewhat humid, which might affect electronic products, though not significantly. Tens of thousands of zombies were indeed a large number for an electronics market; they jostled and pushed, everywhere. Counters were overturned, and electronic components were scattered across the floor.

“Reinforce…”

As Mu Gushan’s command was issued, the Crystal Warriors, in their reinforced state, charged forward fiercely. Wherever their battle blades struck, disgusting zombies were cleaved and fell to the ground. The battle, from its very beginning, was destined to be a massacre. The zombies here were utterly incapable of stopping the Crystal Warriors’ assault.

The soldiers watching outside were initially unimpressed, thinking that anyone in such armor with a blade could achieve the same.

But as they continued to watch, they grew increasingly alarmed. These Crystal Warriors were like tireless killing machines. Every strike was incredibly powerful, always ending in a zombie being chopped in two or split in half. They completely disregarded the zombies’ attacks, their eyes fixed only on killing, killing, killing… wherever they went, zombies were reduced to mangled corpses.

Perhaps ordinary soldiers could achieve the same in a few minutes, but certainly not with such ferocity and ease. The zombies couldn’t even halt their advance for a single step.

After more than ten minutes, the hundred Crystal Warriors, covered in rotting flesh and gore, exited the electronics market. They boarded their troop carrier and drove away, leaving behind an electronics market where not a single zombie could stand. The interior was filled with mangled remains, and occasionally, an upper limb of a zombie could still be seen crawling.

“Hiss…”

Seeing this scene, everyone present gasped. In just over ten minutes, a hundred Crystal Warriors had slaughtered tens of thousands of zombies, and not a single one was injured. Looking at the limbs scattered on the ground, one could imagine the ferocity of these Crystal Warriors; they were truly gods of slaughter incarnate.

The thought that their battle armor could block ordinary rifle bullets caused many to tremble with fear.

What would be the outcome if a squad of ordinary soldiers engaged them in close combat? Just looking at the scene inside the electronics market made the answer clear. Such a military branch, possessing formidable defensive capabilities and terrifying offensive power, was surely destined to be the most important combat force of the future. Perhaps, with the development of battle armor, they might even replace other ground forces.

The Crystal Warriors’ first public display immediately cemented their fearsome reputation, shaking the entire Commercial Association.

Such minor obstacles posed no challenge to the Crystal Warriors. With the problem at the electronics market resolved, the ground forces had already brought most of Tianzhou City under control. From the launch of the ground offensive in the early morning to the complete control of the city, only four hours had passed.

One hundred thousand soldiers meticulously searched every corner; zombies were eliminated one by one. Even the underground sewers were searched by soldiers.

Under these circumstances, the zombies had nowhere to hide.

In the command center behind the lines, there was an atmosphere of ease. Everyone knew this was a battle where no surprises were possible. From the decision to capture the city, the Intelligence Department had meticulously scouted and observed every street and every building. Over a dozen unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and five reconnaissance airships had been circling over Tianzhou City since before the new year, conducting reconnaissance for a full half month.

Even the detailed movements of the zombies were carefully recorded.

Information on Special Infected – which streets they were on, their precise locations, and which buildings might contain large numbers of zombies, etc. – was all transmitted to the combat units. From the outset, fighter jets prioritized these targets. The guided missiles’ capabilities were sufficient to accurately locate their positions upon arrival and deliver destruction.

For the generals in the command center, this kind of war had lost its challenge from the very beginning. With the help of high technology, zombies no longer possessed the ability to counterattack.

By 2 PM that afternoon, Tianzhou City was officially declared to be under the control of the Commercial Association, with millions of zombies eliminated.

News of the victory, though anticipated, was met with joyous cheers from everyone in the command center. Regardless, it was a triumph, achieved with virtually no casualties. The cost was merely a few hundred metric tons of bombs and tens of thousands of missiles.

Tianzhou City was the largest city in the entire Tianzhou Plain, with a population of over 6 million, ranking it as a major first-tier city. Located in the Tianzhou Plain, it was also the province’s largest agricultural and sideline product base, supplying vast quantities of agricultural products to the entire country each year. In the nation’s urban hierarchy, it held a very important position, known as the “small granary of the backbone.”

The nation had its origins in agriculture, and support for it had never ceased.

Benefiting from this, Tianzhou City’s development accelerated daily. As a rapidly developing city, its material reserves were even stronger than Greenmount City’s. The Commercial Association had not attacked it earlier, firstly because the Tianzhou Plain was not yet under the Commercial Association’s control, and secondly, due to severe ammunition shortages.

While the Tianzhou Plain was brought under Commercial Association rule, the task of clearing moving zombie hordes again strained the Association’s ammunition reserves.

All of these factors had continuously delayed the Commercial Association’s efforts to retake Tianzhou City. After three months of stockpiling, the Commercial Association’s ammunition supply issues had long been resolved, making a high-intensity battle no longer a burden. In particular, the utilization of crystal energy transformed it into a high-performance, large-scale destructive weapon, easing the Commercial Association’s bomb-related concerns.

As soon as the news of Tianzhou City’s recapture was announced, the entire Tianzhou Plain erupted in excitement. Everyone rushed to spread the news, and their previously tense emotions, suddenly relaxed, burst into tears of joy.

No one was without affection for their homeland, which was why they had repeatedly appealed to the Commercial Association—because they too wished to return to their former homes.

More people were astonished by the speed. Five to six million zombies, which seemed an immense number to them—a million-strong zombie horde years ago had nearly made it impossible for them to survive on this plain. But who could have imagined that five to six million zombies would be defeated in just two days—no, in fact, the first day of bombing had already sealed their fate, sending 80% of them to hell.

As the Commercial Association’s Strategic Department had anticipated, the recapture of Tianzhou City would not only secure massive resources for the Commercial Association but also further consolidate the loyalty of the people across the entire Tianzhou Plain under the Commercial Association’s rule. This is because the Chinese people’s longing for home is arguably the strongest in the world; the concept of “home” holds immense weight. One only needs to look at the annual wave of people returning home for Lunar New Year, despite any difficulties, to reunite with their families. This demonstrates the profound significance “home” occupies in people’s hearts.

For experienced organizations like the Commercial Association, conquering cities was a routine task. They diligently cleared away the mangled zombie corpses from the city. After extracting the crystals, the bodies were collectively cremated, and the ashes were also gathered and buried, allowing them to rest in peace.

Important facilities and various critical raw materials were immediately placed under military protection. No one was allowed to enter these vital institutions without direct orders.

The destroyed streets and buildings, of course, became the responsibility of the Engineering Department.

The extent of the damage in Tianzhou City was quite severe compared to Greenmount City back then. Almost every street was damaged, and every building suffered some degree of destruction. Fires ignited by the bombing continued to burn. With the water supply system still unrepaired, the ground forces were helpless, forced to let them burn until they extinguished themselves.

The damaged streets and burning buildings seemed to add a touch of wartime flavor to the entire city.

Squads of soldiers patrolled the streets. Cars, loaded with mutilated corpses, drove away. Engineering teams began repairing and clearing the countless potholes on the streets. Demolition experts were blowing up and clearing some collapsed buildings.

Tianzhou City, resembling a ruin, would need at least another month before residents from Tianzhou Town would be allowed to move in.

The recapture of Tianzhou City undoubtedly held significant meaning for the Commercial Association. For settlements still struggling in hardship, the Yuanqiang Commercial Association’s development had far outpaced them. The Yuanqiang Commercial Association, now possessing two cities, would once again enter a rapid growth phase after acquiring vast resources.

Chapter 283: The First Step

After recapturing Tianzhou City, Zhou Yuanqiang made a discovery: it seemed his role as Chairman had become a mere decoration.

The reason was simple: with a complete set of departments, they could operate independently. Under proper coordination, every task was executed remarkably well. Each department effectively fulfilled its duties, managing the entire Commercial Association in a well-organized, flowing manner. In such a situation, Zhou Yuanqiang truly became an idler. His days primarily revolved around indulging in “human drama,” or simply wandering around, showing his face in various departments, and spouting threats about salary deductions…

In short, life was utterly comfortable.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang found this kind of life somewhat unaccustomed because he realized Doomsday Storm 2 still needed some time before its release. This was Warner Bros.’s decision; after all, releasing two such films within half a year would cause visual fatigue for audiences, and they needed a buffer period.

And so, our Student Zhou, it seemed, began to magnificently run out of money… He even regretted not targeting the United States’ gold reserves back then.

After the New Year, Zhou Yuanqiang once again left his family and appeared in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

Since he was short on money, he naturally had to implement his plan. Relying solely on movies was a rootless way of making money. Anyone involved in finance knows that while you might seem to dominate the financial markets, a single huge wave can instantly bring you crashing back to square one, leaving you no other option but to jump from a building.

Industry, however, was different; it could continuously supply him with funds, like an ATM.

In the apocalypse, Zhou Yuanqiang had the massive machine of the Commercial Association. He had already issued currency in a monopoly model. Money in the apocalypse had lost its meaning to Zhou Yuanqiang; if he wished, he could mobilize the entire Commercial Association’s power, even squandering all the currency in the central bank. His position determined that no one could stop him, even if he did.

The apocalypse offered boundless glory, even placing him at the pinnacle. But what about modern times? Zhou Yuanqiang, a big shot in the apocalypse, was actually nothing special in the present.

If one had to say what Zhou Yuanqiang was, perhaps the behind-the-scenes boss of MC Design Company? With assets of just over 100 million yuan, he was merely a small fry. The owner of a trading company? As the Commercial Association in the apocalypse became less dependent on modern times, the entire trading company’s performance was now barely enough to pay employee salaries. Perhaps the most presentable thing was his investment in Warner Bros.’s two films, but Zhou Yuanqiang’s identity was merely that of a film investor, and there are far too many such people in the entertainment industry.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s identity was quite ordinary, but the principle of preparing for a rainy day was something he himself advocated.

Imagine, in this world, there is no impenetrable wall. No matter how secretive he was, who could guarantee that his secret wouldn’t be discovered? He could hide in the apocalypse and never return to modern times for the rest of his life. But could his family do the same?

Although this secret was currently known only to himself, Zhou Yuanqiang had to take precautions.

Rather than saying Zhou Yuanqiang wanted to make money, it was more accurate to say he wanted to find a path that could protect himself well. With the apocalypse serving as a gigantic behind-the-scenes factory, Zhou Yuanqiang’s advantage was established from the very beginning, giving him a unique position and ample room for development in modern times. This provided him with a very high starting point.

There were many reasons for choosing Somalia; the saying “fishing in troubled waters” captured the essence of it.

A few hours’ time difference didn’t bother Zhou Yuanqiang. Upon arriving in Mogadishu, he returned to his residence. Clearly, after the mercenaries left, and with a month having passed since a foreign immigrant bought seven houses at once, the locals naturally came to “welcome” him. And, while they were at it, they conveniently “absconded” with everything they fancied inside.

Staring at the almost unrecognizable residence, even the few clothes hanging in his wardrobe hadn’t been spared, becoming spoils of war for the thieves.

“Son of a gun, this is utterly preposterous…”

Finally, finding everything in the bathroom looted, Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t help but curse, though he soon smiled bitterly. This wretched place! The people here really had creativity; they even managed to steal his used towels, shampoo, and so on. This level of stealing everything in sight made Zhou Yuanqiang, a master thief himself, break out in a cold sweat.

He still needed to be selective, picky even, before finally deciding what to steal. But these scoundrels were so desperate they didn’t even spare the bathroom. Impressive.

Zhou Yuanqiang knew this was primarily determined by Somalia’s environment. The disparity between rich and poor here was enormous. Some families might have an annual income of only a few hundred thousand Somali shillings, while others, belonging to the wealthy class, possessed vast fortunes and wielded significant influence over Somalia’s domestic economy.

Here, bringing a few thousand US dollars would already place you among the rich.

In cases like this, local police generally wouldn’t accept reports. Zhou Yuanqiang hadn’t even thought of calling the police, as, from the locals’ perspective, reporting a crime was laughable. Local police rarely caused trouble. The country’s political situation had made this a war-torn land. While not as many people owned guns as in Yemen, two or three people out of every group would possess one. With such widespread gun ownership, public security was the most vexing issue, and it was also why no private investors were willing to come here.

For Zhou Yuanqiang, this place was merely temporary. Since he had emptied the mint, it had lost its significance.

So, when Zhou Yuanqiang discovered the robbery, he merely smiled bitterly, far from flying into a rage. After finding a decent local hotel to stay in, Zhou Yuanqiang decided to resolve the Somalia situation while the Commercial Association didn’t require his immediate attention.

Somalia’s political situation was mainly triggered by tribal and religious issues. As a foreign immigrant, Zhou Yuanqiang did not fall within the scope of their tribes. This undoubtedly created many problems; without a local tribal identity, no one would believe you in many matters.

But when it came to choosing a tribe, Zhou Yuanqiang was stumped. He really didn’t know how to make such a choice in a Somalia teeming with tribes.

But it didn’t matter. For Zhou Yuanqiang, this choice wasn’t very difficult, perhaps not even necessary. Even if he immigrated here, he wouldn’t be recognized by the locals and would still be called a foreigner. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang had to find a very suitable agent and work from behind the scenes. This was currently his most urgent task.

The situation in Mogadishu was extremely complex, with numerous gangs vying for power, and daily gunfights erupting.

Some of these gangs were loosely organized individuals, some were tribal organizations, others had backing from various splinter factions within Somalia, and there were even shadows of warlords. It could be said that relationships here were intricate and tangled; even a local, let alone an outsider, sometimes couldn’t fully explain or understand these connections.

Zhou Yuanqiang had been here for almost two months by his count. Under the assault of large sums of money, American dollars no less, no one could resist such temptation. Forget information about some gangs; even asking them to commit murder and arson, as long as the money was right, there would be queues of people willing to do it.

In this situation, Zhou Yuanqiang had a thorough understanding of the entire Mogadishu.

“Shehad, take this, it’s your reward…”

As Zhou Yuanqiang’s first loyal subordinate in Mogadishu, Shehad was fortunate. At nearly fifty-five years old, he still had such an opportunity. Don’t underestimate his age; his shrewdness and seasoned way of handling things would absolutely exceed your expectations. In Mogadishu, he was known for being exceptionally well-informed, having been involved in the city since he was thirteen and knowing people throughout Mogadishu.

Ten thousand US dollars was an incredibly tempting fortune for Somalia.

For Shehad, the most money he had ever touched in his life was one hundred and seventy US dollars acquired from robbing a foreign journalist. This ten thousand US dollars, even if he worked hard for several more years, he might not be able to earn. But after following this generous Boss, in just one month, this huge sum of wealth landed in his pocket.

“Thank you, Boss!”

Years of hustling meant Shehad spoke English fluently. Somali and English were the common languages here, and many also spoke Arabic.

For Zhou Yuanqiang, in this impoverished place, having money meant having everything. This principle could be applied worldwide. With just a few tens of thousands of US dollars, he, an outsider, had gathered over a hundred capable locals. Of course, Shehad handled everything and became the leader of this group, quickly rising to become one of the main factions within just two months.

Why choose an older man like Shehad? For Zhou Yuanqiang, the older, the better; ambition would be less, and so would the troubles he caused him.

Mogadishu in March, being by the sea, naturally had a cool breeze. As a foreign immigrant, and a wealthy one at that, he would naturally be welcomed by the authorities. Although Mogadishu was called the capital, it didn’t function as one, with even the president working remotely from a neighboring country. How much could you expect from such a place?

A wealthy individual willing to invest was definitely an unexpected boon for the Mogadishu government. Since the civil unrest in 1991, the entire country’s industry had almost ground to a halt. Even the livestock industry, once a pillar, had been severely impacted, pushing the entire national economy towards utter collapse under civil war.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s investment was actually in mining. The vast mineral resources of Somalia were exactly what Zhou Yuanqiang needed.

Here, investment didn’t require too much capital. Merely expressing his decision to establish a steel plant outside the suburbs of Mogadishu immediately garnered full support from the authorities. A hundred thousand mu (approximately 67 square kilometers) of coastal wasteland was allocated to Zhou Yuanqiang free of charge for the construction of the steel plant.

This result left Zhou Yuanqiang stunned. He was only investing in a small steel plant, yet he got 100,000 mu of land so easily. But then again, there was simply too much wasteland here. Years of warfare, inter-tribal conflicts, and economic shocks left Somalia in a state of zero tax revenue. Even Somaliland, whose economy was relatively stable, only had an annual gross experience value of about 72 billion Somaliland shillings, or approximately 28 million US dollars.

In fact, Zhou Yuanqiang’s actions were akin to sending charcoal in winter, providing a publicity example for the authorities trying to restore the economy.

Soon, everyone in Mogadishu knew that a Chinese immigrant was going to build a steel plant north of Mogadishu.

This news absolutely stirred countless people. First, tribes with mines immediately sent people to discuss iron ore. For them, mines were their biggest economic source, but with Somalia’s current economic collapse and industrial stagnation, mines were shutting down one by one, and their income was suddenly slashed by more than half.

Inter-tribal wars always had costs, and ammunition needed to be bought from arms dealers. Without money, what was the point of fighting?

In Somalia, using economic means, without conflicting interests with the other party, was definitely the most effective method, and everyone was willing to cooperate with you. For Somalia, rich in mineral reserves, simply posting a recruitment notice would attract countless people willing to work in the mines.

Zhou Yuanqiang truly intended to build the steel plant. So, after completing all the necessary procedures, he directly recruited one thousand people locally to jointly construct a defensive wall around the 100,000 mu (67 square kilometers) of wasteland. Additionally, through his domestic trading company, he successfully purchased a small steel plant and had the entire plant dismantled and relocated to Somalia.

Many admired this brave Chinese immigrant. Although some people had ill intentions, Shehad’s group, armed with the standard weapons Zhou Yuanqiang brought, were not to be trifled with. More importantly, Zhou Yuanqiang’s armed force was legal. Coupled with the fact that numerous tribes, after signing contracts, also sent people to protect him, it seemed that anyone who dared to incur widespread anger had not yet been born.

The construction of the steel plant would not be completed overnight.

Mogadishu has been quite lively lately. Although the wages Zhou Yuanqiang offered were miserably low compared to his home country, they were very high in this region. Everyone fought tooth and nail just to get a job there. The construction of the steel plant was like pouring water into a hot oil pan, drawing all of Mogadishu into its eddy.

Mogadishu, ruled by warlords, seemed to have tacitly approved of this matter.

However, secretly, each warlord sent their trusted aides to visit Zhou Yuanqiang. Their perspective on the matter was much higher, as they couldn’t believe that a Chinese person, who could live comfortably, would choose to come to this war-torn place. Most importantly, this immigrant was also very rich. Did this signify some action by the Chinese government?

Issues at the political level were the most sensitive, and they had to be extremely cautious.

Even at his poorest, Zhou Yuanqiang still had nearly 200 million US dollars in hand, plus gold and other assets, which was undoubtedly an enormous fortune in Somalia. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang’s attitude towards the aides of these visiting warlords was very friendly. As for the warlords already on his list, Zhou Yuanqiang was direct: he could provide financial sponsorship, but they had to exchange it for regional interests under their rule.

Mogadishu was a place ruled by warlords, but poverty meant these warlords only needed a few million US dollars to give Zhou Yuanqiang what he wanted.

These things included mining rights, port usage rights, and customs privileges, among others. To achieve his goals, Zhou Yuanqiang openly negotiated regional railway construction and operating rights with the local government, while secretly reaching agreements with the warlords. With huge sums of US dollars thrown around, Zhou Yuanqiang had at least become a friend of these warlords through shared interests.

No one could decipher what this strange businessman, Zhou Yuanqiang, truly intended because he seemed to want everything; anything related to economic industry, he would sign a contract with you without hesitation. In a short time, at least over 20% of the mineral veins in the central region of Somalia were under Zhou Yuanqiang’s control.

Becoming Somalia’s top mining businessman by throwing money around also cost Zhou Yuanqiang nearly 200 million US dollars, most of which flowed into local tribes and warlords.

Such large-scale mineral acquisitions are extremely rare internationally, and the prices were outrageously cheap. Zhou Yuanqiang accomplished all of this with just 200 million US dollars, using cunning, both overt and covert, to achieve his goals. If anyone investigated deeply, they would surely uncover countless illicit dealings; the 200 million US dollars was just a smokescreen.

“Shehad, call General Kosov and tell him I’ll visit him tonight.”

Having spent 200 million US dollars, Zhou Yuanqiang’s available cash was now less than 10 million, leaving him extremely short on money. Thus, the money Zhou Yuanqiang had previously spent on warlords and tribes now became the target he needed to earn back. For warlords, they didn’t just love money; what they loved even more… were various types of weapons.

Thinking of firearms, Zhou Yuanqiang would smile. Wasn’t this precisely the main reason he came to Somalia?

“Since I’m a businessman, what can’t be done? As long as there’s money to be made, anything can be done, including arms dealing.”

Having the apocalypse as a super secret arms factory, not utilizing it would absolutely be a colossal waste.

Chapter 284: Underhanded Tactics

Kosov was a rugged middle-aged man, a warlord of considerable strength.

Of course, this so-called considerable strength, in the context of central Somalia, was, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, an absolute joke. If placed anywhere else in the world, a single platoon from some countries could probably scatter them. However, Somalia’s national situation dictated that even those wielding improvised firearms could become overlords.

Upon receiving the news that Zhou Yuanqiang wished to visit, Kosov’s first thought was that this great benefactor was coming to deliver money again.

Yet, Kosov’s crude mind genuinely couldn’t fathom what he possessed that would warrant a visit from this great benefactor. After all, in just one short month, he had already, through various means, obtained legal government decrees in Somalia from the international community, selling off all the interests in his garrison area – including mining, animal husbandry, road management, and railway construction rights.

Kosov felt no pain doing this. To him, more than 10 million US dollars was enough to expand his strength tenfold. Perhaps… if he was lucky, he would even become the president of Somalia’s fourth breakaway autonomous state.

Moreover, all these interests were within his own garrison and signed over to him; wasn’t he the one benefiting? Kosov never considered himself a benevolent man. When necessary, he could even renege on a contract. After all, Somalia was a land of “broken pot, broken throw,” so who would stand up and meddle?

Those so-called peacekeeping forces sent by various countries, those declarations from various nations, all amounted to idle chatter. This approach simply didn’t work in Somalia; otherwise, internal strife wouldn’t have plagued Masoli for so long, and UN mediation wouldn’t have had any effect. Those who were meant to fight still fought, and even those who weren’t, ended up fighting.

Thinking of this great benefactor, Kosov knew that he had poured large sums of US dollars into Somalia in just two months. Naturally, Kosov dared not neglect such a generous patron. Upon receiving the message, he immediately had people in the town controlled by his camp meticulously prepare some food, along with a few bottles of imported red wine that even Kosov rarely indulged in.

Zhou Yuanqiang arrived in the evening, driving a military Humvee purchased from underground arms dealers. Two of Zhou Yuanqiang’s subordinates were operating the vehicle-mounted machine guns, their brassy bullet belts glinting golden in the setting sun.

To be honest, the town where Kosov was located had a population of around 5,000, which was considered a large town.

However, everything in this town always made Zhou Yuanqiang shake his head whenever he saw it. The entire town consisted almost entirely of mud houses, mostly single-story, with very few two-story buildings visible. The terrain resembled a wasteland but with more vegetation. Along the sides of dirt-road-like streets, there were scattered trees. Here, traces of cars were almost nonexistent; most people used horse-drawn or ox-drawn carts.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s military Humvee appeared, speeding through the streets, raising a huge cloud of dust that caused the few pedestrians on the street to cover their faces with their clothes.

“My sincerest apologies…” Zhou Yuanqiang sat in the passenger seat, watching the rolling dust cloud like a mud dragon. He truly didn’t want it to be this way, but the dirt road was thick with dust. Even if the Humvee drove slowly, its wheels would still kick up dust.

Kosov’s military camp was two kilometers north of the town, also built from earthen and wooden houses, with very few tents. Surrounding the entire camp was a spectacular wooden fence.

The entire camp, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s opinion, was slightly better than a refugee camp. Perhaps the only thing that satisfied Zhou Yuanqiang was that the camp was built on the edge of a small forest, so they didn’t have to worry about finding cool places under the scorching sun. Just thinking about those low mud houses, the sun would make them absolutely stuffy, soaking clothes with sweat in moments.

At the camp entrance, Kosov, always personally welcomed Zhou Yuanqiang, his great benefactor.

“My friend, I am delighted you could come!”

Kosov gave Zhou Yuanqiang, who had just jumped out of the car, a hug, a smile creasing his dark face. His accompanying officers all saluted Zhou Yuanqiang.

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and said, “General Kosov, you are too kind.”

At the camp entrance, only four soldiers were on duty. On either side stood a tall wooden tower, each with a light machine gun mounted on it. Most of the soldiers here were armed with AK-47s; very few still used semi-automatic rifles from other countries from the 1940s and 50s. Seeing the Mosin-Nagant rifles carried by some patrolling soldiers, their paint almost entirely gone, polished shiny from wear, Zhou Yuanqiang was dumbfounded. It was truly astonishing that these Mosin-Nagant rifles, retired from the Soviet army in 1955, were still seeing action here. Indeed, Somalia’s army was excellent, very powerful – so powerful they were all using antique guns.

Somalia’s army was highly abnormal.

First, their weapons were incredibly varied. Lacking weapons, they would equip anything they could get their hands on, never considering logistics. Some units even trained with wooden sticks due to a lack of actual weapons, which in the 21st century was an absolute farce. Yet, the Somali government forces were precisely such a farce.

Second, while lacking even basic light weapons, they paradoxically also possessed advanced Soviet-era weaponry. For instance, rocket launchers, even Kosov had two. There were also several cannons that had leaked from the former Soviet Union into the black market and were then purchased by them.

In Kosov’s camp, hundreds of soldiers had finished their day’s training by evening and were now eating.

Entering Kosov’s residence, a small courtyard built into the woods, a few appliances gave it a touch of modernity.

Zhou Yuanqiang felt neutral about Somali food; it had very a plain taste. However, the eating etiquette here made Zhou Yuanqiang a little unaccustomed: you needed to leave a little food at the end of your meal to show that you were full. If you ate everything, it meant you were still hungry, which was considered very impolite.

Clearly, Kosov had prepared for this, having a small stove on which several exquisite Chinese dishes were placed.

After they sat down, Kosov introduced, “These are dishes I specially prepared for you, Zhou. Although you are now a citizen of Somalia, your Chinese heritage will not change. In a foreign land, I hope these few Chinese dishes can alleviate some of your homesickness. Please forgive me if they are not well-made.”

Zhou Yuanqiang tasted a few bites and, of course, praised them heartily. They couldn’t compare to the standard back home, but overseas, they were quite good.

After a little wine, Kosov waved his orderly away and said directly, “Zhou, what have you set your sights on this time? I know you’re a busy man, and you wouldn’t visit without a reason. Please speak frankly…”

“General Kosov, I’ve come this time mainly because I heard you have a weapons shortage, and I happen to have a batch of weapons that I think you’ll definitely be interested in.”

Kosov was actually a blunt man, so his politeness was rare and commendable. Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t beat around the bush and stated directly, “General, you should know that survival here is a big fish eats small fish game. I believe you are an ambitious man, so I think strengthening your power is the most correct choice. You must understand, I am a businessman, and a good number of people have received large sums of US dollars from my hands…”

The underlying meaning was clear: sailing against the current, retreat if you don’t advance. If you want to continue being a warlord, you must strengthen your armed forces.

Kosov was momentarily stunned by Zhou Yuanqiang’s words, eyes wide. He said, “Zhou, you’re not joking, are you? When did you switch careers to become an arms dealer?” But he quickly shook his head, saying, “No, no, no, I don’t lack weapons. Look at our young men outside; they are strong and well-equipped. I don’t see a need for procurement.”

With just these AK-47s and ancient, old-fashioned rifles, how could he dare to claim they were well-equipped?

Zhou Yuanqiang was utterly speechless. It seemed Kosov had gotten his hands on tens of millions of US dollars but refused to part with any of it. Was his fallback plan to flee abroad and live out his remaining years as a rich man if he lost power? This certainly didn’t align with Zhou Yuanqiang’s interests.

So, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally expressed doubt about Kosov’s words, not believing he had sufficient weapons.

Kosov, however, was frank. “It seems, Zhou, you need to get a good look at my men.” He waved to his adjutant beside him. The adjutant understood, walked out, and blew the assembly horn. Instantly, soldiers streamed out from all over the camp. However, their assembly only made Zhou Yuanqiang shake his head repeatedly. After so much training, a simple assembly for hundreds of people took nearly ten minutes to form a line.

“Zhou, look at our lads; they are the best.”

Kosov walked with Zhou Yuanqiang in front of a dozen rows of troops, patting one sturdy soldier and saying this. He also picked up a brand-new Type 81 rifle from the soldier’s hand, handed it to Zhou Yuanqiang, and said, “These are weapons that just arrived from Yemen. Their goods are indeed very cheap, and the quality is very reassuring.”

Zhou Yuanqiang merely smiled and said, “General Kosov, perhaps you should look at the goods I brought—Chinese standard weapons.”

At Zhou Yuanqiang’s signal, his subordinates, who had been waiting, moved several crates from the military Humvee. The first gun was, of course, the Type 81 automatic rifle, phased out by the Commercial Association. Over 60,000 of these rifles were stored in the Commercial Association’s warehouse. The second weapon was a recoilless cannon manufactured by the Commercial Association, and the third was an anti-armor rocket launcher…

These weapons, in the eyes of developed countries, were no different from junk, but in Somalia, they were already very advanced.

Kosov was, of course, discerning, but despite swallowing hard, he still shook his head and said, “Zhou, my current weapons are plentiful. I don’t need to expand the army. You know the superiors have already limited our number of soldiers, so…” He shrugged, still unwilling to open his coffers.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t force the issue because he suddenly understood something. Looking at the entire internal chaos in Somalia, it seemed warlords were constantly engaging in conflicts, and warlords were constantly being replaced. This meant that in many of these armed conflicts, weaker individuals would be swallowed up. And new people would emerge, raising an army that could contend with the government forces.

Kosov was still part of the government forces, but he generally listened to declarations, not directives. His conflicts with anti-government armed groups were mostly for his own benefit.

There was also an interesting phenomenon: perhaps weapons were too important to the Somali government forces, as they were uniformly collected and managed at night. Only soldiers on guard duty or patrol were issued weapons. Machine guns, for example, were treated like treasures, let alone powerful weapons like rocket launchers.

When leaving Kosov’s camp, Zhou Yuanqiang was not disheartened. The reason was simple: he hadn’t set out with the hope of success but rather with the goal of gathering information.

Just conducting the arms business here in this identity was very dangerous, and it wasn’t his fallback plan either. It seemed he had so many interests in hand purely as an excuse and a foreshadowing for his future actions. Zhou Yuanqiang also believed that they weren’t truly handing these interests over to him; they were purely eyeing the money in his hands.

By the time he returned to his 6.67 million square meter Steel Department north of Mogadishu, it was completely dark.

Here, he had a complete armed force, all hand-picked by Shehad. Their backgrounds and characters were excellent. In this impoverished and backward place, Zhou Yuanqiang found it very simple to make them willing to die for him: US dollars, stacks of them. At least, those who worked for him immediately received a resettlement allowance of 1,000 US dollars.

One thousand US dollars was considered a huge sum in Somalia, where the average annual GDP per person was only a few tens of US dollars, enough to provide a family with a very decent life for a period. Therefore, these hundreds of strong, young men naturally devoted themselves wholeheartedly to Zhou Yuanqiang, with tribal affiliations long forgotten.

To train these hundred young men, Zhou Yuanqiang also invested heavily. They were well-fed and well-clothed, and their weapons were uniformly Type 81 rifles, ensuring powerful firepower.

If he were a foreigner, no matter how rich, possessing such an armed force would not be tolerated by Somalis. But Zhou Yuanqiang had immigrated, making him a part of the Somali people. It was this seemingly unnecessary status that allowed Zhou Yuanqiang to possess armed forces, coupled with his identity as a businessman. The local government didn’t even care, turning a blind eye.

Of course, the US dollars Zhou Yuanqiang secretly spent on some officials also played a key role.

After parking the military Humvee, Zhou Yuanqiang gave instructions not to disturb him. A cold smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he quietly left the Steel Department, disappearing into the vast night. The outskirts of Mogadishu were very flat, allowing Zhou Yuanqiang to run freely. The sparse population, combined with the darkness of night, meant he didn’t have to worry about anyone discovering him.

In just over twenty minutes, Zhou Yuanqiang reappeared at the perimeter of Kosov’s military camp.

The wooden fence was a joke to Zhou Yuanqiang. Since he could freely enter and exit even US military bases, why would he worry about a small, dilapidated military camp? With a two-meter-high wooden fence, Zhou Yuanqiang executed a swift leap and jumped right over. Based on what he had observed during the day, the patrolling soldiers naturally wouldn’t discover Zhou Yuanqiang’s presence.

It was only nine o’clock, and lights were on throughout the camp. Laughter of soldiers occasionally drifted through, and every now and then, some soldiers would enter or exit the camp, seemingly heading to town for entertainment.

Zhou Yuanqiang felt a little disdain for Kosov. A perfectly good military camp, in his hands, was like a place full of holes. The soldiers were poorly trained, the system was unsound, discipline was terrible, and security was lax. In Zhou Yuanqiang’s opinion, a single squad of the People’s Liberation Army could probably scatter this undisciplined mob.

He found the armory where guns were centrally managed in the camp. Only two soldiers stood at the entrance, moving casually, their vigilance very lax.

Utilizing his speed and the darkness, Zhou Yuanqiang easily reached a window of the armory. This wooden armory truly made Zhou Yuanqiang laugh and cry. Were they overly confident that warlords wouldn’t double-cross each other? Kosov deserved his bad luck for being targeted by Zhou Yuanqiang.

Without further ado, he gently slid open the window. Without making a sound, he nimbly entered the armory, collecting rows upon rows of various weapons into his storage space. To Zhou Yuanqiang’s surprise, in a camp claiming six hundred men, there were only just over three hundred assorted firearms. Grenades and shells were even scarcer, as if he were a beggar.

Thinking that the anti-government armed forces were even worse than the government army, Zhou Yuanqiang began to shake his head. If there were a world war, a place like Somalia, he estimated, would have no room for resistance other than immediate surrender.

After emptying the entire armory, leaving not even a pistol or a single bullet, Zhou Yuanqiang quietly slipped out of the armory. However, as he left, he placed a small gift: a timed bomb, modified at Zhou Yuanqiang’s request, with enough power to reduce a large area where the armory stood to ashes, leaving no trace.

By then, he believed Kosov, upon receiving this gift, would surely be driven to despair.

But before Kosov could be driven to despair, Zhou Yuanqiang still needed to retrieve the US dollars he had given him. He didn’t want Kosov, with all those US dollars, to make a comeback, wasting all his efforts. Of course, sometimes Zhou Yuanqiang also thought that simply sending him a bullet would solve the problem more effectively, but what he needed was a justifiable opportunity.

Chapter 285: The Major

In a place like Somalia, it seemed that having money was a painful experience for warlords.

Think about it, in some remote wilderness areas, where would banks even be found? Even the capital city had only a few bank branches. So, most of their money was kept in cash, hidden in their strongholds. Yet, they still had to guard against their own subordinates betraying them, murdering them, and stealing their money.

Kosov was no different. He kept a large amount of cash hidden in his military camp, and another sum deposited in a bank. However, the money in the bank wasn’t under his name; he had someone else open an account for him. There was no other way. In this wretched place, if a mere major suddenly came into such a large sum of money, even if you were a warlord, it would be difficult to explain.

Life in the entire military camp continued as usual. No one knew that the armory had been secretly emptied. It remained bustling until ten o’clock, then gradually quieted down as the lights were extinguished.

Kosov was no exception. Although he was a warlord, he was still a soldier. His routine adhered to military regulations. So, at half past ten, he sent away the two heavily made-up prostitutes he had hired. After drinking a little wine, he turned off the lights and went to sleep.

When Zhou Yuanqiang appeared in his room, Kosov was already letting out a soft snore.

Perhaps it was overconfidence, but Kosov’s money was stored in a massive safe, weighing at least three tonnes. Trying to steal it seemed impossible. If one tried to seize it by force, with six hundred soldiers living in the camp, who would dare to launch an open assault? So, Kosov believed it was extremely safe.

However, he would never have imagined that there was a freak like Zhou Yuanqiang in this world. As he slept, with a mere wave of a hand, the three-tonne safe vanished from the large room.

When Zhou Yuanqiang left, it was equally quiet. The entire military camp was silent. Occasionally, a laser beam swept by, and soldiers walked under faint lights, but their abilities were not enough to detect Zhou Yuanqiang’s ghost-like speed.

Leaving the military camp, he detoured to a small hill, sat down, and took out some pastries and wine from his storage space. He enjoyed his meal heartily.

After filling his stomach, Zhou Yuanqiang checked the watch on his wrist. The timing seemed just right.

He looked up at the military camp, where lights flashed intermittently. With a thunderous “boom,” the entire ground seemed to shake. A mushroom cloud of fire rose into the sky, incredibly dazzling in the dark night. Even from such a distant place, one could still see houses being torn apart and fragmented by the explosive sweep of the blast.

“Chen Xunan’s technology is getting more and more impressive. Who would have thought such a powerful explosion could be generated by a single timed bomb?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was also astounded by the explosion’s destructiveness. Faint shouts reached his ears. In front of the burning houses, countless soldiers ran around, desperately trying to find water to put out the fires. Other soldiers, urged on by their officers, charged out of the camp, seemingly to check if it was an enemy attack.

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and turned to leave. For him, his objective had been achieved. Kosov had received his first gift, and there was no need to stay.

When he returned to the Steel Department, looking at the blast furnaces just beginning to be set up in the dark night, and the rows of factory buildings with only their foundations laid, Zhou Yuanqiang felt an indescribable emotion. Was this how he had started, little by little, when he first arrived in the apocalypse? In Somalia, could he also become a legend?

The next day, without a doubt, the incident at Kosov’s military camp was known throughout Mogadishu, and quickly spread to various warlord organizations.

In truth, no one knew the specifics of what had happened, but it was at least certain that Kosov’s weapons had been almost entirely incinerated. Rumor had it that the armory had exploded due to carelessness in weapon storage.

Only Kosov himself knew: could such a small amount of ammunition in the armory really produce such a massive explosion, sweeping away almost a third of the military camp?

A warlord, stripped of his weapons, even if he still had six hundred men, what good were they? What shocked Kosov even more was that his safe had vanished without a trace, so mysteriously that he suspected the entire incident was a premeditated plot by an enemy, carried out so silently that he couldn’t detect it at all.

Originally, this incident would have just been an accident. At worst, Kosov would feel a pang of regret, buy some more arms, and the matter would be resolved.

But this time, it seemed different…

Shehad, of course, knew everyone in Mogadishu like the back of his hand. He appeared mysteriously at Hepburner’s residence, carrying a black briefcase.

As Somalia’s legitimate government under the UN, though it ruled a very small area of Somalia and even the President operated from a neighboring country, it possessed the name of legitimacy, and that was enough. At least the thousands of peacekeeping troops in Mogadishu sided with the Somali government, ensuring the normal operation of the local government in Mogadishu.

As the nominal highest commander in Mogadishu, Hepburner actually held very little power. The government troops under his command amounted to a mere company. While he was nominally the supreme commander of other forces, no one would obey his orders. Since taking office, facing a complex and intricate situation, he wisely chose to do nothing, fearing that a single misstep would get him assassinated by these warlords, who were capable of anything.

Shehad, a minor figure, would not normally have been known to him. However, as Boss Zhou’s top subordinate, Hepburner naturally recognized him.

“What can I do for you?”

Sitting on a comfortable sofa, Hepburner dismissed his servants. After inviting Shehad to sit, he stared at the briefcase in Shehad’s hand, practically drooling. The last time Boss Zhou came to deliver money, he also used this type of briefcase. For that, Hepburner’s price was to support the successful signing of a series of agreements.

Shehad gently placed the briefcase on the coffee table and opened it, revealing a full case of US dollars. “Here is one million US dollars.”

Hepburner’s eyebrow twitched. Compared to the meager five hundred thousand US dollars last time, this was a full fifty percent more. Even with Hepburner’s rank as a lieutenant general, all the bribes he had accumulated previously did not add up to fifty thousand US dollars. But since meeting Zhou Yuanqiang, a small favor had brought him fifty thousand US dollars – money he had acquired over half his lifetime.

Now, facing one million US dollars, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted. At least Hepburner felt his heartbeat accelerating.

“Has my dear Zhou run into some trouble again?”

Hepburner composed himself and said, “As his friend, you know I am very willing to help him solve any problems.”

Shehad was an astute and experienced man. Naturally, he wouldn’t show his disdain on his face. Instead, he first offered a respectful greeting before getting straight to the point. “General, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there was a major explosion at Kosov’s military camp last night.”

Hepburner naturally knew this news. When he heard it, he even gloated a bit because he and Kosov had never seen eye to eye. However, he simply couldn’t understand what Kosov’s camp explosion had to do with Boss Zhou.

Seeing Hepburner’s bewildered expression, Shehad explained, “In this major explosion, almost all of Kosov’s weapons and ammunition reserves were destroyed. I believe, according to our country’s military regulations, Kosov should be held responsible and face trial by military court. You must understand, our government spends almost every fen on purchasing weapons. This is the hard-earned money of the Somali people, yet due to Kosov’s dereliction of duty, a large amount of the people’s hard-earned money was simply destroyed. This matter is very difficult to explain to the citizens.”

Hepburner’s eyes gleamed, and he sat up straight. “Is this Zhou’s intention?”

Shehad smiled. “No, this is the intention of a Somali citizen. Because we believe Kosov is incompetent, and he should be dismissed and subjected to military sanctions. General, I think this matter is very simple. As the highest commander in central Somalia, you are fully capable of handling this.”

“But you must understand, Kosov won’t listen to me.”

Looking at the case of money in the briefcase, Hepburner no longer cared if his timidity would elicit disdain from the other party. After all, the warlords here were very powerful, essentially private armies operating under the government’s name. “Kosov has two companies, six hundred men. This won’t be easy.”

Shehad sneered, “Is a tiger without teeth still a tiger? Don’t forget, Kosov is a tiger whose teeth have been pulled out. Without weapons, could his two companies even defeat one of the General’s companies? Therefore, this matter only requires the General’s nod of approval, and you can send people to apprehend Kosov.”

Hepburner seemed genuinely moved. A tiger without teeth would just be a cat. Moreover, truth was on his side, and he was nominally Kosov’s superior, so outsiders wouldn’t have much to say. He gently closed the briefcase on the coffee table and said, “Go back and tell dear Zhou that I will absolutely handle this matter properly. I will never allow the people’s hard-earned money to be squandered by incompetent individuals.”

But Shehad did not stand up. Instead, he took a check from his pocket and gently pushed it across the table to Hepburner, saying, “Our Boss’s intention is also to acquire Kosov’s position. As long as the General agrees, once our Boss takes office, the check can be cashed immediately.”

Hepburner’s eyes flickered. He first glanced at the numbers on the check, and instantly his entire body trembled. The check was for five million US dollars.

Heavy breathing made Hepburner unable to calm down.

Consider, how much was Somalia’s annual fiscal revenue? The check before him was already a year’s worth of taxes for central Somalia. Such an enormous fortune was laid out before him. All he needed to do was use his position to turn someone into a major. This might seem difficult, but it was certainly not impossible. With Somalia’s military and political chaos, adding another major, as long as he pulled a few strings, everything would be legal.

Yes, Hepburner had no reason to refuse this matter. But he couldn’t understand why this Boss Zhou would spend such a huge sum of money just to become a major? Perhaps if he went to Somaliland, five million would be enough to buy a general’s position.

“But you must know, Zhou is a Chinese national, and our country is one with very strong ethnic sentiments.”

Hepburner tried hard to resist the temptation of the check, but Shehad knew he had already agreed internally. Regarding Hepburner’s so-called reason, Shehad merely smiled and said, “General, don’t forget, my Boss is a Somali citizen. He has the right to vote and enjoys all the rights a Somali citizen should have.”

“But in the parliament…”

Shehad interrupted him, saying, “General can rest assured, our Boss has already communicated with the other council members, and this is not a problem. As long as you, General, give your nod, the check can be cashed, and no one will know anything. You must remember, our Boss has contributed to the whole of Somalia. His steel factory will provide over a thousand jobs for Somalia and will form an industrial chain.”

“Our Boss’s intention is simply to have an identity to protect his property. I believe you, General, should understand.”

Once Hepburner accepted the check, Shehad withdrew, his mission accomplished. He wasn’t worried that Hepburner wouldn’t comply. The check was genuine, but the corresponding account had not a single fen in it. All of this depended on the Boss taking Kosov’s position, only then would the money be transferred to the check’s account, and Hepburner would receive his payment.

Shehad didn’t know why Boss would spend a huge sum to buy a major’s military rank, but he believed there must be a deeper meaning behind it for Boss.

Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s silver bullet offensive, the impoverished Mogadishu authorities in Somalia fell. After all, taking down a toothless Kosov didn’t seem like a difficult task. And for appointing a naturalized Chinese citizen as a high-ranking military officer, while there was no precedent, the constitution didn’t forbid it either, and it wasn’t a major issue.

The poorer a place, the more corrupt it is—this saying was vividly demonstrated in Somalia.

The unfortunate Kosov hadn’t even had time to replenish his weapons. At the time, he never imagined that someone would take action then. When Hepburner’s troops appeared at the military camp, Kosov finally understood that the massive explosion in the armory, from beginning to end, was a grand conspiracy, and he was merely a sacrifice in this plot.

Facing fully armed soldiers, the six hundred unarmed men could only be rounded up, heads in hands, squatting in the training ground. Kosov, meanwhile, was taken away by the military police.

Kosov was indeed a sacrifice. He wasn’t even taken back to Mogadishu, but was shot and killed en route. The official statement was that Kosov attempted to escape and was shot dead by the military police. With no evidence and no one coming forward, the matter seemed to have been buried.

To get the money as quickly as possible, Hepburner naturally processed a series of procedures for Zhou Yuanqiang, including enlistment and so on. Citing his outstanding contributions to the local economy, Zhou Yuanqiang was directly promoted to major, tasked with the defense of Mogadishu’s northeast sides, and appointed commander of the Self-Governing Regiment. With this information circulated, no one jumped out to criticize or point fingers, and thus, Zhou Yuanqiang mysteriously became a high-ranking officer in the Somali government.

In fact, Hepburner was so generous in approving Zhou Yuanqiang for the defense of Mogadishu’s northeast because, for Mogadishu, there was no such thing as defense—it was more about scaring people. Anyway, Boss Zhou’s factory, the Commercial Association, was in the north, and the east… a joke! The east was the Indian Ocean, defend what?

This entire series of events had no impact on Somalia whatsoever. Amidst the chaos of warlords, people had long grown desensitized to such matters.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang himself knew that taking this step, if he were a local, let alone spending so much, one million US dollars would have been enough to secure the rank of major. But as a newly immigrated Chinese national, in a Somalia with severe racial sentiments, he had to pay a much higher price.

A few million US dollars were nothing in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, but this identity as a high-ranking government official was what was most needed, as it concerned a series of his plans. From another perspective, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t care about the mere rank of major, but rather a higher and more distant goal: to no longer be threatened or obstructed by anyone in Somalia, and to seize control of his own destiny.

This major’s identity was, at most, a stepping stone.

With this identity, many things would naturally become legitimate, such as possessing his own legal armed forces.

But having armed forces was not Zhou Yuanqiang’s sole objective. His goal was to sell his arms to every corner of the world. However, Somalia’s industrial system making heavy weapons seemed like a joke. Fighter jets and other items produced by the Commercial Association could not possibly be sold using Somalia as a springboard.

So, to achieve his goals, a promotion in status was one thing, controlling his territory was another, and he also needed to develop a credible industrial system. Therefore, Zhou Yuanqiang still had a journey ahead. However, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that with the support of the Commercial Association from the apocalypse, completing this series of constructions would not be a problem; all he needed was time.

What is the best way to be a great merchant, especially an arms dealer? It is to do business under your own control, in the name of a country. This way, you have a grand banner that you can wield however you please, guaranteeing enormous profits.

Chapter 286: Calling for Business at a Loss

The small ripple created by Zhou Yuanqiang in central Somalia hardly caused any waves; his appointment was quickly downplayed.

The people living in central Somalia were not affected by a minor appointment. They continued to struggle in dire hardship, toiling daily for survival and worrying about their safety. Meanwhile, other warlords still vied for power and territory, tribes fought under the banner of justice for a lost sheep, anti-government forces continued to clamor for the president’s resignation, and religious groups waged one holy war after another…

But no one knew that the impact of Zhou Yuanqiang’s appearance had only just begun.

In fact, appointments by the Somali government were chaotic and ineffective. If you wanted soldiers, it was easy; plenty of people were available. But if you wanted weapons, supplies, and so on, sorry, the government was so poor it only had a pair of underpants left – in short, it had no money.

A regiment’s full complement usually consisted of around 3,500 people, which meant Zhou Yuanqiang could raise a force of 3,500 troops.

That Kosov’s meager force of over 600 men could be called a warlord’s army showed just how weak the warlords in Somalia were. According to Zhou Yuanqiang’s understanding, the strongest armed faction only had 5,000 soldiers and another two to three thousand in logistics. Yet, these few thousand troops could control a vast amount of land and millions of people.

Although it was stated as a 3,500-person complement, if you had the capability, you could arm 30,000 people, as military administration hardly bothered with such details.

Somalia was an extremely impoverished country. Perhaps you couldn’t imagine that their poorest families didn’t even own a single electrical appliance, still used bonfires for light at night, and could only eat one meal a day. Constant internal strife breaking out nearby devastated animal husbandry. The cattle and sheep painstakingly raised became casualties of war.

As a pastoral country, the destruction of animal husbandry directly led to a complete economic collapse and hyperinflation. People lived in dire hardship.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s first order of business upon taking office was, of course, to recruit soldiers. The excellent benefits he offered caused countless people to cheer. In Somalia, soldiers received no salary; they only served to get enough to eat. Moreover, with ongoing internal conflict and life being as cheap as grass for civilians, joining the army was seen as finding a secure livelihood, so naturally, many people enlisted.

Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s terms, any healthy man between 18 and 28 years old could sign up and receive a monthly subsidy of 50 US dollars, equivalent to 1.25 million Somali shillings.

Consider that in the most economically developed Somaliland region, the average per capita GDP was only 150 US dollars a year, while here, one could receive a 50 US dollar subsidy in a single month. For poor and backward people, what a fatal temptation this was! 50 US dollars was enough to eat well, dress well, and live comfortably for a month here.

So, one by one, those who heard the news immediately headed towards the Steel Department where Zhou Yuanqiang was located.

Actually, here, it was very simple to gather a group of people, as long as you had money and were willing to spend it. Of course, in others’ eyes, only a big spender like Zhou Yuanqiang would do this. Raising so many people, with their food, drink, and salaries, would cost over a hundred thousand US dollars. With that money, to still risk getting involved in the constantly warring Somalia — wasn’t that just asking for trouble?

Many warlords watched Zhou Yuanqiang’s extensive recruitment with cold eyes, each waiting to see him become a laughingstock.

A Chinese man, wanting to establish a foothold in Somalia? He seemed to think it was too easy, too simple here. Why was there constant internal conflict? Why did multiple mediations yield no results? It was because the waters here were too deep, the relationships too complex. It wasn’t just about wanting to; many factors made this an intractable historical problem.

Within just one week, Zhou Yuanqiang’s force recruited 5,000 strong and healthy new recruits. To appease them, Zhou Yuanqiang generously paid an advance of 20 US dollars per person. This gesture naturally gave the recruits an immense goodwill towards this merchant Zhou.

In the post-apocalyptic world, the power Zhou Yuanqiang wielded was many times greater than here, so he showed no particular excitement for 5,000 people.

As these 5,000 assembled, Zhou Yuanqiang stood on a plot of land next to the Steel Department designated as a training ground, looking at these 5,000 dark-skinned, sturdy young men. He appeared very calm. Dressed in a Somali major’s uniform, while it lacked the prestige of the People’s Liberation Army, it at least made him look sharp and capable.

“I know you all came hoping for good food, good clothes, and the 50 US dollar subsidy. I don’t blame any of you for that, because I know the conditions you live under. But what I want to tell you is, since you’ve come, you must obey military regulations and treat this place as your workplace. You must protect my position, because everything you eat, wear, and receive is given by me. Without me, everything you hope to gain will be like foam, dissolving into nothing.”

Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t that miraculous; he hadn’t learned Somali in just a few months. He could barely understand it, and his speaking wasn’t smooth. So he spoke in English, with Shehad acting as translator, repeating Zhou Yuanqiang’s words.

Facing such direct, personal address, everyone below understood. No one raised patriotic objections, because they knew whose money they were taking, and for whom they should risk their lives. Moreover, this was standard practice: whoever you served, you obeyed their orders.

The training of new recruits was naturally handled by the more than a hundred men previously led by Shehad. They formed the backbone of the entire army and possessed rich combat experience.

Among the new recruits, many had actually escaped from other warlords. Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t seem to mind, accepting anyone with the necessary physical qualities directly into the force. Experienced soldiers were crucial; they could rapidly boost the force’s combat effectiveness.

While Zhou Yuanqiang’s display was noticeable, he knew his limits. During training, the soldiers wore their own clothes instead of unified uniforms, looking exactly like a group of farmers lining up to run. Moreover, for training, each soldier used wooden sticks as substitutes for weapons. Not only that, he required soldiers to train only in the mornings, spending afternoons helping with the construction of the Steel Department, treating them completely like workers.

“A tall tree catches the wind,” Zhou Yuanqiang understood this principle. So he could only appear no different from others, even more like a merchant, ruthlessly exploiting their every value, sending a signal to outsiders: “I recruited so many people merely to protect myself and treat them as employees.”

Before these soldiers were formed into an actual army, Zhou Yuanqiang needed to keep a low profile, lest someone foolishly come to “practice” on him. If he won, who knows how many of these new recruits might die.

This was the outward appearance. In reality, Zhou Yuanqiang wasn’t just doing that. He secretly dispatched Shehad again, to an area more than 200 kilometers from the capital, to privately raise a force of 1,500 men, hiding them deep in the mountains for the most rigorous training. With his current identity, even if someone discovered this force, it wouldn’t be a major issue. He could simply claim it was his troops conducting mountain training, which would be a perfect excuse.

This force would be trained to special forces standards, becoming Zhou Yuanqiang’s sharp arrow.

Somalis had lived through years of warfare, so everyone was familiar with using firearms. Therefore, new recruit training progressed very quickly.

After more than a month, various factions who had dispatched observers withdrew their intelligence personnel, concluding that Zhou Yuanqiang was merely acting on a merchant’s timid nature, buying an identity to protect himself, with no real ambition.

After confirming there were no spies, Zhou Yuanqiang completely sealed off a ten-kilometer radius around the training ground. He dispatched numerous patrol teams, equipped with motorcycles, and modified pickup trucks fitted with machine guns, to patrol this restricted zone.

Not only that, Zhou Yuanqiang also brought signal jammers from the post-apocalyptic world, blocking all signals from the entire training area, ensuring no signal could be transmitted out. He also spent heavily to install hidden surveillance cameras within a ten-kilometer radius of the training ground, ensuring no one could sneak in or out undetected.

Once these measures were completed, Zhou Yuanqiang first issued 10,000 sets of uniform military fatigues produced by the Commercial Association’s clothing factory from the post-apocalyptic world, giving two sets to each soldier. Dressed uniformly, the soldiers, who previously looked like bandits, immediately became imposing, and their formations finally resembled a proper army.

The second step was to issue a Type M16A4 rifle, a replica manufactured by the post-apocalyptic munitions factory.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to use the large stockpiles of Type 81 rifles, but due to his identity and the potential repercussions from “home,” he could only have the munitions factory replicate this main American light weapon, widely used by over a dozen NATO countries. Anyway, such weapons were abundant in the underground arms black market, so there wouldn’t be any trouble.

The third step was to begin mechanization. For Somalia, they had almost no mechanized troops, and their armored strength was pitifully small.

Zhou Yuanqiang, of course, wouldn’t miss out on mechanized forces. Although the situation in the post-apocalyptic world was also tense, the use of armored forces was not currently very significant; the powerful air force was sufficient for dealing with zombies. So, for his safety in modern times, Zhou Yuanqiang transferred thirty armored vehicles and ten Sand Viper tanks.

While infantry training might yield acceptable results in two or three months, tank operators couldn’t be trained so quickly.

Zhou Yuanqiang certainly had no reason to ignore the large number of armed helicopters from the Commercial Association in the post-apocalyptic world, but it wasn’t yet time for them to appear. Their presence would be too astonishing for Somalia; even the appearance of Sand Viper tanks had already left many utterly shocked.

Indeed, the Somali Transitional Government was quite unlucky. The area they controlled was limited to less than ten kilometers around the capital, Mogadishu, with anti-government forces steadily encroaching. What was even more unfortunate was the rampant and insurmountable problems within the Somali Security Forces, with a desertion rate as high as 80%. Most recruited soldiers would flee after a few days.

Soldiers under warlords were all loyal to their warlords, not to the local government. Often, the government had to offer incentives to get these warlords to act.

Under these circumstances, al-Shabaab naturally advanced step by step, with the potential to annex Mogadishu at any time. The Western-backed Transitional Government was definitely on shaky ground, at risk of becoming a laughingstock at any moment. Fortunately, Mogadishu had 1,500 peacekeeping troops and numerous countries supporting the Transitional Government, which made al-Shabaab somewhat wary and prevented them from decisively taking the capital.

Strictly speaking, the training ground occupied by Zhou Yuanqiang was half within the territory of the Transitional Government and half within the encroaching territory of al-Shabaab.

The reason no one interfered was primarily Zhou Yuanqiang’s extremely powerful “silver bullet” offensive. Both the corrupt politicians of the Transitional Government, ready to flee at a moment’s notice, and the terrorist leaders within al-Shabaab mercilessly succumbed to this offensive. After all, no one turns down money.

Unlike the Transitional Government, which simply wanted to make a quick buck, al-Shabaab considered things more deeply. In their view, Zhou Yuanqiang was just a small fish for now; they would let him grow fat, then butcher him when the time was ripe. Moreover, the power of the tribes was very strong in the areas they controlled. Given Zhou Yuanqiang’s good cooperative relationship with the tribes, it was better not to disturb him for now; provoking a tribal backlash would make things rather complicated.

It was this stability that gave Zhou Yuanqiang the opportunity to develop in peace, with no one jumping out to criticize him.

But how could Zhou Yuanqiang not understand? His foundation was too weak. If the new recruits weren’t well-fed, well-clothed, and receiving subsidies, they would have long since dispersed. So what he was doing now was essentially brainwashing these soldiers and intensifying their training to form a fighting force as quickly as possible.

To train pilots for armed helicopters, Zhou Yuanqiang once again spent a large sum of money to purchase several flight training systems in the black market. He selected a group of the most loyal soldiers to begin training. When necessary, the armed helicopters would still rely on them to fly and operate in combat.

Not only military training, but Zhou Yuanqiang also utilized his 100,000 mu of Steel Department land to extensively recruit local employees, setting up numerous workshop-style small factories to try and produce some parts. This behavior was completely for show, operating at a loss, as these factories would almost certainly not receive orders in Somalia.

But there was no other way. Zhou Yuanqiang had to put on a facade, an image of a harmless merchant, to deceive others and buy himself more time.

In one month, including the army and the Steel Department, the number of employees had reached three thousand. He needed to pay over 300,000 US dollars in salaries each month. Now Zhou Yuanqiang realized that maintaining a modern army was completely different from the post-apocalyptic world. In the post-apocalyptic world, in the beginning, all it took was a meal, and plenty of people would eagerly rush to join. Although a subsidy system was implemented later, the Commercial Association’s dominant position didn’t make it too difficult.

Without the support of the Commercial Association in the post-apocalyptic world, just equipping 5,000 people with rifles alone would cost tens of millions, calculating on top of that bullets, uniforms, and the steel helmets soon to be issued, as well as armored vehicles, tanks, and so on. In the end, it would cost around 300 million US dollars.

Fortunately, all of this could be provided for free by the Commercial Association, the massive factory behind the scenes in the post-apocalyptic world.

Now Zhou Yuanqiang finally understood why the arms business was what nations engaged in—because it was truly so lucrative. Just think, a 5,000-man army, with simple equipment, already cost three or four hundred million US dollars. If equipped with artillery, missiles, armed helicopters, fighter jets… a large number of armored vehicles, tanks, and a whole logistics chain…

Zhou Yuanqiang dared not imagine. Without two or three billion US dollars, one shouldn’t even think about building a mechanized force.

During this period, Zhou Yuanqiang had returned to China several times to visit his family and spend time with Yan Yuhe. He hadn’t concealed the fact that he had opened a small Steel Department in Somalia, truthfully recounting everything except his major’s rank.

He had originally expected Yan Yuhe to scold him for a while, but to his surprise, she only smiled and said nothing. After all, this man was someone who dared to love and dared to fight. Wealth is found in danger. Which man fighting in the business world didn’t seek wealth through successive risks?

As for Somalia, Yan Yuhe had no idea such a country existed before. But since Zhou Yuanqiang was there, she felt she should pay some attention. What she found shocked her: war and poverty were almost synonymous with Somalia. The entire country never had a peaceful day, with armed conflicts constantly occurring.

Sometimes Yan Yuhe wondered if Zhou Yuanqiang opening a Steel Department there was a good or bad thing. Given Somalia’s economic situation, could it even be profitable?

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know how to answer this question. He couldn’t exactly say he was operating at a loss just to make a grand show. After some hesitant mumbling, he finally found an excuse: “Somalia’s mineral exports have always held an important economic position. The raw ore is very cheap, and the steel I refine uses equipment from China. The steel standards are also different from back home. With very low labor and raw material costs, and exemption from export taxes, the price is far lower than in China.”

“But how will you solve the transportation problem? East Africa isn’t close to here. That will increase costs and eliminate any competitiveness,” Yan Yuhe countered.

Yan Yuhe’s question indeed highlighted the very issue that restricted the development of local steel enterprises in Somalia. Neighboring countries were all dirt poor, relying on raw material exports to maintain their fiscal spending. They wouldn’t even know who to sell their steel to, so there was no hope for consumption from nearby nations.

But for more distant countries, the increased transportation costs truly destroyed competitiveness. This problem genuinely left Zhou Yuanqiang at a loss for how to answer.

(Last day today, then this month is over. If you have Monthly Votes, please cast them for me. My ranking is dropping severely… it’s really bad!)

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Chapter 287: It Requires Time

“Damn it, do I really need to buy a 10,000-ton freighter to reduce the burden of transportation?”

Zhou Yuanqiang mulled over this idea, and it seemed plausible. Currently, a 44,000-ton bulk freighter in China costs about 270 million Renminbi, which translates to roughly 40 million US dollars. Just thinking about 40 million US dollars made Zhou Yuanqiang’s head ache; it was a substantial sum.

At present, Zhou Yuanqiang genuinely couldn’t afford that much money. But no matter how he calculated it, a 10,000-ton freighter would still cost upwards of 10 million US dollars.

Zhou Yuanqiang calculated his current assets. The gold in his storage space was worth around 500 million Renminbi. Even with diamonds, silver, and other items, it wouldn’t exceed 700 million Renminbi. The crucial point was that these items were difficult to sell. Selling one or two million would be no problem, but if he were to dump hundreds of millions in gold, it would become a massive issue, and he would definitely be invited to have tea with ancestors.

Money was needed everywhere now. While Zhou Yuanqiang could come up with 10 million US dollars, what about other expenses? Without money to sustain operations, his hard-won team would likely fall apart in a few days. It seemed there was no good solution for money other than getting an advance from Warner Bros.

Of course, Zhou Yuanqiang needed a ship, but what he needed even more was a shipyard.

This wasn’t just for himself in modern times, but also to provide the Commercial Association in the apocalypse with an opportunity to design and research ships. But he couldn’t even solve the problem of getting a ship, let alone thinking about building a shipyard? This seemed to be making the problem bigger and more complex, almost overwhelming him.

“I should first set up some machinery factories to prepare for selling weapons. It’s impossible for the Commercial Association to research a navy for now. I’ll consider that problem after recovering the coastal areas later.” Having decided on the priorities, Zhou Yuanqiang stopped worrying about business matters.

Seeing Zhou Yuanqiang speechless, Yan Yuhe didn’t say much but instead smiled mysteriously.

After returning to Mogadishu, and following nearly two months of training, the new recruits were proficient in using firearms. At least in Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes, they were no different from government troops who had trained for a year. Compared to the bandit-like rebel forces, their only deficiency might be experience.

There was nothing to be done; experience wasn’t something that could be gained through training alone. It required a process of accumulation in real combat.

Zhou Yuanqiang was now busy in both the apocalypse and modern times. The apocalypse was better; everything operated in an orderly fashion. Well-established departments could handle all daily affairs. The zombies seemed to be the same as before, posing no threat to the Commercial Association under the surveillance of the Intelligence Department. So, in the apocalypse, Zhou Yuanqiang felt very relaxed, with not many matters requiring his attention.

Only modern Mogadishu gave Zhou Yuanqiang a headache, as there were simply too many things to deal with.

It was another morning when Shehad, an experienced local and Zhou Yuanqiang’s top subordinate, burst excitedly into Zhou Yuanqiang’s office at the training base, saying, “Boss, we just received an inspection document from China. It seems some company wants to inspect our steel factory.”

The steel factory had only just been assembled. Although it was already undergoing testing, it would take at least half a month before steel could be produced.

What astonished Zhou Yuanqiang was, when did a company decide to inspect his dilapidated steel factory? Something was fishy. It seemed that the number of people in China who knew he had such a steel factory could be counted on one hand. However, if they were coming to inspect, it meant they were interested in purchasing steel from him, which was, of course, a good thing.

Taking the fax Shehad handed him, it was a document in both Chinese and English. The gist was that Shanghai Zhengjiyuan Group would send a deputy manager to lead an inspection team to examine ores and steel in Somalia. If the inspection was satisfactory, both parties might cooperate in the steel sector…

Zhou Yuanqiang was a bit bewildered. He had never been to Shanghai himself, and he didn’t know what kind of company this Zhengjiyuan Group was.

For ordinary people in Somalia, getting online was harder than ascending to heaven. In a country of nearly 20 million people, only just over a thousand were registered internet users. Thinking about it was quite terrifying. But it didn’t matter; a quick phone call to Li Yihan, and within half an hour, the information was sent to his fax machine.

Zhengjiyuan Group was a famous real estate company in Shanghai, ranking fifth. Its parent company was the Yan Corporation…

Upon seeing this, just the four characters “Yan Corporation” were enough for Zhou Yuanqiang to understand what was going on. He could only force a bitter smile. He didn’t know what else to say. He called Yan Yuhe, who merely laughed and said, “Anyway, they need a lot of steel. I estimated your price, and factoring in shipping and customs duties, it’s actually not much different from domestic prices. Since the price is the same, they don’t care whose steel they buy.”

Zhou Yuanqiang shook his head and said, “But ultimately, it would be quite a hassle for us to send it over. Isn’t that too much trouble?”

Yan Yuhe was indifferent, saying, “Actually, how much can your small steel factory supply? They’ll definitely need to procure some domestically as well. Originally, I wanted to persuade a shipyard, but your steel doesn’t meet the standards for shipbuilding steel. So, it would be pointless for me to try. Anyway, I can’t help you secure that largest steel customer.”

“Thank you…” Zhou Yuanqiang said politely. Yan Yuhe just laughed, then seriously added, “Yuanqiang, you should understand that ordinary steel has no competitiveness here. To develop, you need special steels, such as those related to shipbuilding, and metals for other lathes. These are the only ways forward, otherwise, you’re useless except for selling ore.”

Zhou Yuanqiang understood this perfectly, but he was just starting. Producing special steels wasn’t easy.

Prompted by Yan Yuhe, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly wanted to slap himself.

The reason was simple: the apocalypse had a large number of talented individuals and an already developed industrial system that could manufacture any machinery. For instance, the Commercial Association already owned three steel factories, which supplied all kinds of metallic steel. These factories could even produce key metals for manufacturing spaceships and fighter jets. Why couldn’t he simply transfer these technologies directly? It would even save research time.

Moreover, any missing machinery could be manufactured with the help of the Commercial Association. It was that simple. With the Commercial Association in the apocalypse as his backing, what couldn’t he accomplish?

Realizing this, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally became excited. The steel factory would definitely be his, and development would revolve around it. With the Commercial Association in the apocalypse as a strong rear, he could establish some basic industrial facilities. Then, by putting up a facade, he could openly “sell dog meat.”

Of course, when selling dog meat, he absolutely had to sharpen his knife; otherwise, in Somalia, it would be easy for someone to find an excuse to annex him. Moreover, before opening for business, he must control the entire country of Somalia and operate in its name.

Currently, he wasn’t strong enough. All he needed to do was remain low-key, even lower-key.

To paraphrase King Zhuang of Chu: “Three years without flying, and when it flies, it will soar to the heavens; three years without singing, and when it sings, it will astonish!”

This is what Zhou Yuanqiang needed. In his view, the situation in Somalia required tackling from multiple angles simultaneously. He needed to use strong and fierce armed forces to destroy other factions, revive Somalia’s economy, and mediate issues between various tribes and religions. If these three approaches were pursued simultaneously, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that ending the war in Somalia was not impossible, as no one truly wanted to live in such a constantly warring environment.

Many people could think of these methods, but enacting them required a strong leader and powerful armed forces; otherwise, they simply wouldn’t work. The Transitional Government recognized by Western countries was indeed somewhat incompetent. With limited support from Western nations, they would only hide their heads like turtles. Even a large group of high-ranking officials had fled abroad. What development or recovery of other regions could such a government even discuss?

“I still need to endure for at least another year.”

Faced with various problems, Zhou Yuanqiang could only compromise. Although tanks, armed helicopters, fighter jets, and vast quantities of supplies and ammunition could be brought over, the problem was that people couldn’t be brought over. He could only train soldiers in modern times who could operate these high-tech weapons, which would require a considerable amount of time.

When a Chinese company came to inspect, considering the conflict in Somalia, the request was naturally submitted to the Transitional Government so they could ensure the safety of the inspection team.

Within a 10-kilometer radius of Mogadishu, the Transitional Government could indeed guarantee the safety of the inspection team. For the collapsed local economy, having people from other countries come to inspect was absolutely an exciting event. Even the President of the Transitional Government was alerted, issuing instructions to ensure the safety of these inspection teams was not affected.

The team leader was Fan Chendong, the deputy general manager of Zhengjiyuan Group, a very refined middle-aged man. He himself was quite puzzled by this seemingly inexplicable inspection. However, since the general manager had spoken, and there were also instructions from the president of the parent company, what more was there to say? Even if he didn’t understand, he had to go through the motions and then act according to the instructions.

Fan Chendong had heard of Somalia; it was synonymous with war and poverty.

As soon as he stepped off the plane at Mogadishu airport, he could immediately feel the atmosphere of war. To ensure the safety of Mogadishu airport, peacekeeping forces had stationed heavy troops there. Armed helicopters hovered above the airport, and outside its perimeter were several heavy tanks, some armored vehicles, and jeeps fitted with small cannons on their roofs.

The buildings on the surrounding hillsides were reduced to mere ruins, all bearing the marks of gunfire, riddled with holes. United Nations flags fluttered over some of the dilapidated houses. The waiting room was the only decent building there, a simple one-story structure made of reinforced concrete with an asbestos tile roof.

Greeting Fan Chendong and his entourage was the nominal deputy minister of the Transitional Government’s Commercial Department.

Honestly, in this environment, Fan Chendong almost had an impulse to turn around and leave. But then he remembered that flights here only took off once a week… to leave, he would have to wait an entire week. This made Fan Chendong almost want to cry; how could he be so unlucky?

Not daring to linger, they quickly arrived at the location designated by the parent company under the protection of an escort convoy: a massive steel factory enclosed by a defensive wall.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s steel factory was absolutely fully armed. On the defensive wall, there was a watchtower every 50 meters, manned by soldiers. Near the main gate, several machine guns were set up, giving off a chilling aura. Further inside, several towering blast furnaces could be seen from afar, along with vast expanses of factory buildings constructed from steel and topped with asbestos tiles.

Among the people greeting them at the steel factory, Zhou Yuanqiang, a yellow-skinned Chinese man, was strikingly conspicuous amidst the black population. Fan Chendong naturally recognized him at a glance.

“Welcome, Manager Fan.”

Zhou Yuanqiang graciously extended his hand and said, “I am the Boss of this steel factory. Everything here belongs to me.”

Fan Chendong was filled with surprise. He hadn’t understood before, but now seeing someone speak Chinese to him, and that person being Chinese, made him even stranger. As he reached out his hand, his first thought was, “Could this person have some connection to the parent company’s senior management?”

After the polite exchanges, Fan Chendong didn’t want to stay long. He brought his team to casually look around, then directly pulled out a prepared document and said, “Mr. Zhou, this is our company’s contract. We agree to purchase at least 5,000 tons of ordinary steel monthly. If you have no problems, please sign here.”

Zhou Yuanqiang gave Fan Chendong a strange look but said nothing, knowing that he was just going through the motions. After signing cheerfully, the contract became effective.

However, Zhou Yuanqiang was still a bit puzzled. If it was just about this contract, it could have been done by fax or by him making a trip back to China to sign. Why send a deputy manager all the way here? Somalia wasn’t a good place; perhaps this deputy manager was eager to leave, thinking that the city or airport would be safer?

After some thought, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly laughed. He seemed to understand why someone was sent. It turns out they wanted to see him in person.

An indirect blind date?

Even Zhou Yuanqiang was amused by the term. It seemed Yan Yuhe was right; so-called high society was indeed serious about these things. If not for Yan Yuhe, how could this contract have fallen into his hands? They simply had no interest in Somalia.

But their visit was good; at least it made the Transitional Government and other factions believe even more that he was just an honest businessman, only interested in doing business.

The plan for Somalia couldn’t be fully accomplished in a short time. So, after laying out all these arrangements, Zhou Yuanqiang’s focus seemed to shift back to the apocalypse. For more than three months since the New Year, everything with the zombies had been very calm, with no unusual movements.

However, possessing the even larger array of resources from Tianzhou City, the Commercial Association’s strength was rapidly expanding. The munitions factory, with its immense production capacity, had already completed the Commercial Association’s ammunition reserve mission more than a month ago, almost completing it beyond target. These reserved munitions were enough for the Commercial Association to expand its occupied territory several times over and conduct three city recovery battles.

However, the Commercial Association was currently hesitating whether there was a necessity to launch a city recovery battle.

The entire Commercial Association, including the Tianzhou Plain, had a population of only about 1.7 million people. Greenmount City already accommodated about 1.1 million, with the rest having moved into Tianzhou City. Tianzhou City, in particular, which was larger than Greenmount City, had less than 600,000 residents, making it seem empty and many streets deserted.

This situation meant that the two cities were already sufficient for the Commercial Association’s residential needs.

Regarding resources, the Commercial Association, with its enormous trade capabilities, didn’t necessarily have to acquire them directly from cities anymore. They could be obtained through other settlements, who would collect them from cities, towns, and villages, and then resell them to the Commercial Association’s acquisition stations in exchange for Seven-Colored Currency. These acquired trade goods were already sufficient for the Commercial Association to form a virtuous cycle, without worrying about resources.

So, was it necessary to expend vast war potential to reclaim these cities, which were of little use to the Commercial Association?

Such a question, without a doubt, could only be left to Zhou Yuanqiang to decide the Commercial Association’s future course. Should it expand its territory, or retract its front lines, increase its reserve capacity, and preserve more war potential? Or should it expend massive resources to reclaim human-occupied cities from the zombies?

Receiving this question that his subordinates couldn’t decide, Zhou Yuanqiang was somewhat astonished, because in his opinion, such a question shouldn’t even be called a question.

Between humans and zombies, only one side had the right to survive on this Earth. This wasn’t about wasting resources, but a matter of humanity’s stance. As long as the zombies weren’t eliminated, humanity would remain threatened. Who knew what the massive zombie horde would be like in the years to come? Perhaps they would weaken and die, or perhaps stronger variants would emerge…

Moreover, one of Zhou Yuanqiang’s plans in Somalia required a large amount of machinery and other items. Recovering cities meant everything within them could be utilized by him, allowing him to gradually develop and perfect his territory, forming his foundation in modern times.

Perhaps some might say, no matter how well developed Somalia becomes, isn’t it still benefiting others? Actually, no. What is the definition of a warlord? Why are there so many large and small powers in Somalia, and why is there constant civil strife? This is because everyone clings to power, and the weak government is incapable of punishing them.

In such a situation, what did Zhou Yuanqiang have to fear? It was estimated that by then, the powerful Zhou Yuanqiang would be an object of flattery for all sides.

(The Somalia plot comes to a temporary close, returning to the apocalypse… If you have Monthly Votes, cast them, don’t let them go to waste!)

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Chapter 288: The Formation of the Human-Zombie Frontline

In May, the entire wasteland finally reverted to an unbearable temperature of over 45 degrees Celsius. The scorching sun, unobstructed by clouds, grew more intense and merciless.

As an improved version of the carrier-reconnaissance airship, the reconnaissance airship codenamed X-2, thanks to mature and advanced airship technology, became smaller and better suited for reconnaissance needs. In particular, the aerospace engine department’s strength was growing, accumulating experience. The latest airship engines were designed to increase power, reduce noise, and lower consumption. The X-2 reconnaissance airship adopted an engine specifically developed for reconnaissance airships.

With its reduced size and improved aerodynamics, the X-2 reconnaissance airship, propelled by four engines, achieved an astonishing speed of 210 kilometers per hour, breaking the record for the fastest airship in human history.

The X-2 reconnaissance airship still employed a carrier-based design, its volume only one-third of the original carrier-reconnaissance airship, yet it carried six unmanned reconnaissance aircraft—twice as many as the older model. The X-2 reconnaissance airship used a catapult launch method, eliminating the need for a runway. For recovery, it would use a suction cup mode to attach the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to the suction cups before retracting them into the cabin. Through mechanical transmission, they would then be re-mounted onto the catapult launcher.

The development of the Commercial Association could truly be described as rapid. From the Spring Festival until now, the comprehensive utilization of various talents and the increasingly mature research and development of technology had progressed at an incredible pace.

The Commercial Association heavily relied on airships, with airships essentially supporting its entire operation. Therefore, the application and research of technology, the development of airship manufacturing technology, and the research and development of air force fighters were consistent, both being the two most crucial technological research and manufacturing priorities for the Commercial Association.

The combination of a large number of reconnaissance airships, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, aerial fighter patrol teams, and ground patrol units provided sufficient security for the Commercial Association.

At this moment, the X-2 reconnaissance airship, numbered 003, which had only been in service for less than a week, was gracefully traversing the skies of the wasteland. At a cruising altitude of 3000 meters, every component of it could be clearly seen from the ground. With only one engine operating, it produced almost no noise. Its cruising speed of 60 kilometers per hour made it appear incredibly leisurely.

The Information Department’s achievements in intelligent systems meant that the Commercial Association’s behemoth airships required fewer and fewer airship crew members. The X-2 reconnaissance airship was almost fully automated, needing only two crew members. The intelligent system, which Zhou Yuanqiang had been waiting for over a year, was already undergoing testing. If all went well, it would complete all tests in about six months and become the intelligent core of the Commercial Association, replacing more employees and freeing up more labor.

There were too few people in the apocalypse, and many factories and units urgently needed labor. Solving this problem wasn’t a matter of money alone.

Naturally, the intelligent program system that Chen Wenbo had been researching and developing was the Commercial Association’s top priority. It was believed that in the near future, the entire Commercial Association’s operations would enter into an intelligent era, with smart programs controlling machines in factories and more intelligent applications. This would bring significant changes to people’s work, travel, homes, and more.

The intelligent program system and crystal energy all demonstrated that in the near future, humanity would enter an intelligent era and a new energy era. Just like in science fiction movies, various high technologies would emerge, bringing more changes to humanity. Would space exploration also become a reality?

Of course, the above was getting ahead of itself; achieving these goals might be too distant.

“X-2 reconnaissance airship number 003 arriving at position. Requesting release of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft numbers 76 and 77 for reconnaissance mission. Over!”…

“Intelligence Team 5 received. Permission granted for deployment of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft numbers 76 and 77. Permission granted for deployment of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft numbers 76 and 77.”

“X-2 reconnaissance airship number 003 received!”

As a set of dialogues concluded, the two alloy panels on the left side of the X-2 reconnaissance airship’s gondola slowly lowered. Two unmanned reconnaissance aircraft were pushed out, and with a strong ejection, they detached from the mother airship. Within 0.1 seconds of launch, their engines ignited, and propelled by their thrusters, they quickly stabilized their flight. Operating under intelligent programs, they followed the reconnaissance route set by the reconnaissance airship, diving towards the dark line appearing on the horizon below.

With the launch completed, the X-2 reconnaissance airship slowly ascended again, controlling its hovering altitude at 6000 meters. It began receiving real-time reconnaissance information from unmanned reconnaissance aircraft numbers 76 and 77. Like a relay station, it transmitted this information back to Intelligence Team 5, which was responsible for this reconnaissance airship.

An old-model reconnaissance airship, previously deployed in this area, received orders to return as the X-2 reconnaissance airship began its work. Having completed a week-long reconnaissance mission, it had reached its maximum hovering time and needed to return to the Commercial Association’s Airship Factory for inspection and to replenish lost helium.

Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft number 77 could reach a speed of 630 kilometers per hour, but its small size severely limited its endurance and operational time. It was only suitable for missions carried out from a carrier-reconnaissance airship, using the airship’s extended endurance to compensate for its shortcomings.

The Aircraft Research and Design Department was already developing new unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, considering the use of the Information Department’s intelligent program system. The design goal for the farthest range would be 15,000 kilometers. This was a significant challenge for the Aircraft Research and Design Department. Moreover, new conceptual reconnaissance technologies in the design phase also needed to be tackled; in short, difficulties abounded.

This location was approximately 400 kilometers east of Greenmount City, at the boundary between the wasteland and the mountains. Strictly speaking, this part of the wasteland could not be considered barren; calling it grasslands would be more fitting. With the arrival of spring, the green grass here was lush, like a prairie. Further into the distance, the mountains, with their verdant trees and endless layers of peaks, formed a massive mountain range.

This mountain range was somewhat similar to the Great Mountain Range leading to Tianzhou City, but it was much wider here, spanning nearly 200 kilometers. This was also the route to Maple Leaf Town. A railway and several highways cut through the entire Great Mountain Range. High-voltage power lines, like iron towers, periodically appeared on the mountain peaks. From time to time, ruined villages could be seen nestled within the mountains.

Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft number 77, facing no immediate threat, advanced at its cruising speed. It flew over the grassland-like green plains, where a sea of zombies drifted below. A highway in this area acted like an artery, with countless zombies moving along it, surging towards the wasteland. Roads and forests were teeming with their ubiquitous figures.

The reconnaissance aircraft’s cameras were recording everything below, transmitting these images using the communication system carried by the reconnaissance airship itself.

An unmanned reconnaissance aircraft flying at an altitude of only 600 meters above this highway was, of course, noticed by the zombies below. Some crawling gross monsters and Volt-Zombies initiated attacks. More surprisingly, a new type of long-range zombie appeared on the highway. Its size was comparable to a Volt-Zombie, and it had a row of bone spines on its back. Facing the passing unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, one of these bone spines shot skyward like an arrow.

Its astonishing speed was many times faster than liquid blobs and discharge balls, and its range was incredibly far. It narrowly missed the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft from behind, soaring up to nearly 1500 meters before losing its upward momentum. Subsequently, this peculiar bone arrow exploded like an anti-aircraft projectile, its bone fragments scattering like shrapnel.

As the reconnaissance aircraft continued its survey, it caused endless commotion along the entire highway. In this endless mountain range, the zombies on the highway were also endless. No one knew how many zombies there were or how long they stretched along the road.

Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft number 77 lost contact 270 kilometers away from the reconnaissance airship. From the last transmitted image, it appeared that something had flown over it, and after a collision, it plunged to the ground and was destroyed.

This intelligence, of course, immediately drew great attention from the Intelligence Department because the crash of this unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was not due to ground causes, but aerial. Could it be that zombies were beginning to gain control of the air? This development was quite serious, representing an absolute new challenge and crisis for humanity.

The Intelligence Department had been noticing the unusual activity at the boundary between the wasteland and the mountains for half a month.

Over the past half-month, zombies had been continuously transported from the rear towards the wasteland border. A large area of the wasteland near the boundary was occupied by zombies, and their numbers were constantly increasing, from the previously gathered nearly ten million zombies to almost thirty million now. And it wasn’t just that; an endless stream of zombies from the rear was still converging, turning this place into a true ocean of zombies.

Thanks to the reconnaissance airships, the entire mountain range could be brought under reconnaissance, and even the 300-kilometer distance beyond the 200-kilometer deep mountains was within the reconnaissance airships’ surveillance range. If you were with the Intelligence Department, you would understand how astonishing the intelligence gathered was.

Over 100 million zombies were swarming towards the wasteland. They departed from various cities and towns, continuously merging into streams, pouring into this area through barren lands, railway lines, highways, and mountains. Everywhere the reconnaissance airships went, there were moving hordes of zombies, endless and truly forming the most terrifying zombie offensive in history.

All sorts of zombies began to appear on the stage, displaying themselves before the Intelligence Department. Some of these zombies, their abilities were utterly unknown to the department.

Just as a tree desires calm but the wind does not cease, the Commercial Association hesitated whether to attack the zombies. Now, there was no need to make a choice, because the Commercial Association had no choice. Facing the converging zombies, it was obvious that this forming zombie tide would sweep across the entire wasteland, pushing westward. It was highly likely that after sweeping everything away, they would appear before the Lanxi Plateau Alliance.

One hundred million zombies—what kind of concept was that? No one had ever seen so many people together, but today, people would have the privilege of seeing what a gathering of 100 million zombies looked like.

After more than a dozen reconnaissance airships successively arrived at this location, finally, the largest tapestry of the apocalypse slowly unfolded before people’s eyes.

The entire boundary was teeming with zombies. They occupied a front line hundreds of kilometers wide and several hundreds of kilometers long, leaning against the edge of the Great Mountain Range. As the number of zombies continuously increased, they began to move little by little towards the wasteland, devouring everything by several kilometers each day. In the Great Mountain Range and among the forests, there were traces of zombies everywhere. The highways were jammed with moving zombies, and even along the long railway lines, countless zombies were moving.

For hundreds of kilometers continuously, there were swathes and hordes of zombies. Their only goal was to constantly pour into the wasteland, devouring it little by little.

Undoubtedly, this largest-ever historical gathering of zombies was not necessarily targeting Greenmount City and the Tianzhou Plain, but it could be affirmed that, based on their direction, Greenmount City would definitely be the first to bear the brunt, becoming the first casualty of hundreds of millions of zombies.

The only fortunate thing was that the Intelligence Department’s efforts had started half a month ago, noticing the increasing number of zombies and determining their gathering. The only mistake might have been a significant discrepancy in the estimation of their gathered numbers.

The analysis results from the Intelligence Department and Analysis Department estimated that the gathered zombies would be less than 15 million.

Lack of experience and no records to draw upon caused both departments to make simultaneous misjudgments. The number of zombies had surged since half a month ago, with millions appearing daily on the edge of the great wasteland. In just half a month, over 30 million zombies had gathered here. But it didn’t stop there; endless zombies from the rear were still moving. Preliminary estimates from reconnaissance suggested the number could exceed 100 million.

This conclusion, once released, caused unimaginable shock among the Commercial Association’s upper echelons. Everyone instantly lost their smiles.

Such astounding news, of course, could not be revealed to ordinary citizens. The only people who knew this news were the limited dozen or so members of the Commercial Association’s upper echelon and some personnel from the Intelligence and Analysis Departments. This was because the Commercial Association feared that panic-stricken citizens, faced with such a massive number of zombies, would flee in desperation upon hearing the news.

No one would believe that the Commercial Association could stop such a massive zombie horde.

With the numbers confirmed, the Commercial Association’s war machine had no choice but to go into full operation. A large number of orders suddenly flooded various private enterprises. Under the command personally signed by Zhou Yuanqiang, the military priority regulation was enacted, formally declaring the Commercial Association in a quasi-war state, reducing trade exports to other settlements, increasing the intensity of procurement, and requiring all companies and individuals to serve the military.

The Commercial Association had activated a state of war several times before, so it did not cause much panic. The Commercial Association’s Spokesperson Department explained to the public that the state of war was activated to retake Jianning City, located 400 kilometers east of Greenmount City, and urged all citizens not to be overly alarmed, as the Commercial Association had the ability to protect all citizens under its jurisdiction.

In mid-May, the first batch of ground troops began to depart. They would construct a frontline 300 kilometers away from Greenmount City to prevent the advance of the zombies.

The Military Department’s defensive strategic plan was based on the Commercial Association’s current strength, because even if all ammunition reserves were expended, all fighter jets deployed, and airships loaded with bombs, at most, 50 to 60 million zombies could be sent into hell (the grave). The remaining zombies would have to be dealt with by the ground forces.

However, ground forces were at a significant disadvantage in direct combat with zombies, so it was essential to construct a frontline to impede the zombies and form a defensive counterattack.

The Commercial Association’s powerful industrial system came into play at this moment. A large number of transport airships began to continuously transport materials like cement and steel to the front lines. A large amount of machinery also arrived and began to excavate trenches and construct various defensive works. A 3-meter-high wall appeared on the wasteland, which would be the greatest obstacle to the zombies’ advance.

To defend against the zombies, this wall was destined to stretch for hundreds of kilometers, fundamentally no different from constructing a road.

The only difference was that due to the tense situation, nearly 200,000 people and a large number of machines were involved in constructing this wall. With the mixed pouring of cement and sand, several kilometers could be poured in just moments. This method of construction, which did not require strict quality control, allowed this hundreds-of-kilometers-long wall to be almost completed in just a week and a half.

The steel mills were operating, countless barbed wire fences were manufactured and laid out in multiple layers in front of the wall. Trenches dug in front of the wall would slow down the movement of the zombies.

Various types of artillery manufactured by the munitions factories were formally deployed behind the front line, forming a massive artillery group. This artillery group was also deployed along the wall, capable of delivering covering bombardments on targets 20 kilometers away, unleashing the wrath of the king of war.

A large number of armored vehicles were deployed to the front lines. They, along with the fifty Sand Viper tanks that had been added, would form a mobile armored force for migration tactics to snipe at the zombies.

Given the flat terrain of the wasteland, a simple construction quickly completed a massive armed helicopter airfield. Hundreds of armed helicopters arrived at the front lines, and this location would also serve as a forward military supply transit station, shortening the resupply distance.

Numerous vehicles shuttled along the highways between the front line and Greenmount City, while nearly a hundred transport airships bustled in the sky.

With the arrival of the second, third, and fourth batches of soldiers, the entire frontline gathered 150,000 troops from the Commercial Association. They would defend in segmented sections along the front line, constructing more defensive works, deploying more landmines, erecting more barbed wire fences, and further perfecting this frontline between humans and corpses.

The depleted ground forces still impacted the Commercial Association. To overcome this severest crisis in the history of the apocalypse, the Commercial Association had to once again expand its ground forces, reactivating the emergency recruitment method from its already unoccupied workforce, adding 50,000 new recruits.

Their combat capability might not be as good as soldiers trained for over a year, but were not all native sons of the apocalypse excellent zombie killers? So, when they became soldiers, marksmanship was not an issue; what they lacked was the ability to execute certain commands and formations.

In June, the human-zombie confrontation frontline was officially formed, and the zombies’ advance also seemed to have moved to within a hundred kilometers of the frontline.

Chapter 289: The Curtain Rises

On what was known as the Great Wasteland Front Line, night shrouded the entire land, though its effects were somewhat diminished in the wasteland itself. By moonlight, one could see a boundless wall, stretching like a massive serpent across the wasteland. The surrounding trenches, barbed wire, and obstacles resembled the messy tracks left by a colossal snake.

The wasteland nights were somewhat terrifying, with temperatures around four or five degrees Celsius. Every breath exhaled a thick plume of white vapor.

The concrete structures built atop the wall, under the unique chill of the wasteland night, felt like blocks of ice. Three soldiers, huddled on the wall, could only frantically rub their hands to warm their numb fingers. In front of them, a coal stove with a glowing red briquette offered a small measure of warmth.

They had been stationed here for a week. The rotating shifts had taught them how to stay warm on these cold nights.

The wasteland night still had wind, which felt like someone scraping a knife across your face. So, they propped up a large tarpaulin on the wall, offering some shelter from the biting winds. Here, there was no need to fear exposing their position; did they really expect zombies to consciously know there were people under the tarpaulin?

After the New Year, the Commercial Association had implemented its long-planned military structure, adopting a rank system with 7 ranks and 19 grades: General, Lieutenant General, Major General; Brigadier General; Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major; Captain, First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant; Warrant Officer; Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant; Corporal, Private First Class, Private Second Class, Private Third Class.

At the same time, the military underwent structural adjustments, forming four army groups. Greenmount City housed the First, Second, and Third Army Groups, while the Fourth Army Group was stationed in Tianzhou Plain.

The previous Commercial Association’s formation system was abolished, bringing the entire Commercial Association’s military development to full maturity.

As a squad leader, Ma Zhonglin commanded only two soldiers—the two guys leaning next to him. The cold weather, even with greatcoats on, would numb a person if they stayed still. Taking out a bottle of anti-cold liquor issued by the army from his pocket, he twisted open the cap, sniffed it first, then cautiously brought it to his lips and took a small sip.

The cool sensation stimulated his mouth and throat, making him shiver.

What followed was a fiery burn, rolling down his throat, instantly setting his entire body ablaze.

This was the anti-cold liquor specially brewed by the Commercial Association to help soldiers adapt to the cold wasteland nights, and soldiers called it “Ice and Fire Double Heaven.” Every soldier received it. This 25g bottle of anti-cold liquor would only allow soldiers two or three sips at most before it was gone, mainly to prevent anyone from getting drunk. Every morning, empty bottles were returned, and freshly refilled anti-cold liquor was collected in the evening.

“Hey, leader, you’re still cherishing it so much? Look at the sky, it’s almost dawn. If you don’t drink it, those stingy quartermasters will take it back.”

Yan Jinghua, one of Ma Zhonglin’s soldiers, chuckled. For some reason, every time he saw his leader like this, he couldn’t help but nag a few words. Honestly, the current atmosphere was a bit oppressive. Every soldier who arrived here understood what they were about to face, and it would be a lie to say they weren’t nervous. To think, hundreds of millions of zombies… what an astonishing number.

Gao Xia, next to him, patted his already empty liquor bottle and said, “Leader, do you think what they said above is true? My heavens. Hundreds of millions of zombies, that’s just too terrifying, isn’t it?” When he first heard that number, Gao Xia felt ice cold all over.

Ma Zhonglin was an old soldier. His rank as a sergeant made him a squad leader, a not-too-small position. After carefully screwing the bottle cap back on, he smiled faintly and said, “Think about it, do you know how long the wall under our butts is? It’s hundreds of kilometers long. If there weren’t so many zombies, would they bother spending so much effort building this wall?”

He pointed a hand towards the direction of the Great Mountain Range beyond the wall and said, “Do you know how many landmines are out there?” Then, pointing behind them, “Do you know how many artillery groups are back there? Do you think the Commercial Association would launch such a comprehensive war deployment without a powerful threat?”

Gao Xia still shook his head, saying, “But leader, where did so many zombies come from? Hundreds of millions, not a few million. I just can’t wrap my head around it.”

Ma Zhonglin scoffed with a laugh, “If you could wrap your head around it, you wouldn’t be a private third class, at least a second lieutenant. Think about it, our neighboring province has over a hundred million people. In recent years, the zombie focus has shifted from the coast inland. After a few years, the zombies have coalesced into huge groups; they’re everywhere. It’s not impossible for a population of hundreds of millions to form such a group. We in the wasteland are just unlucky enough to run into this massive zombie horde.”

“Leader, do you think we can handle them? There are just too many of them…”

Yan Jinghua’s words were a piercing insight, asking the question many wanted answered. Think of that number, hundreds of millions. Even if you threw so much money at it, you could at least kill a group of people, right? Not to mention these were zombies; no one in the apocalypse was unaware of their abilities. It was precisely their understanding that filled them with dread.

Ma Zhonglin hesitated for a moment before saying, “It should be possible. Think about our Commercial Association’s fighter jet fleet, military airships, artillery groups, the rocket launchers in use, a large number of missiles, and our three army groups with 150,000 soldiers. With this wall and countless exposed landmines ahead, how could they possibly break through?”

For some reason, Ma Zhonglin himself had lost confidence, but military orders were absolute. They had to hold their ground here, no matter what, even if it meant dying on this defensive line.

The three members of the squad also seemed disinclined to delve deeper into this issue, because they were soldiers, not officers, not bigwigs in the command center, and certainly couldn’t dictate anything. At best, they could only discuss it among themselves.

As for deserting, no one would do such a thing.

The Commercial Association’s development over the past year was evident to everyone. Its rapid growth had firmly established it as a savior. People couldn’t imagine any power stronger than the Commercial Association in the apocalypse, or any place safer. Thinking of this flourishing scene, soldiers would only fight desperately to protect the safety of the Commercial Association, not consider becoming deserters.

Who didn’t want to live? But only by daring to fight would there be a chance to survive!

Day gradually broke. The squad on overnight duty had one more hour before being relieved, after which they would return to the barracks for a good sleep. The only uncomfortable thing was that after the sun rose shortly, the barracks would be too hot, making sleeping an unpleasant experience, always waking up covered in a layer of grease.

Since the front line formed, the zombies had been getting closer and closer. Reconnaissance airships constantly appeared in the sky, and from time to time, squadrons of fighter jets could also be seen.

Rubbing his slightly sore back, the morning wasn’t very cold anymore. Taking off his winter coat, Ma Zhonglin reluctantly swallowed the anti-cold liquor in one gulp, picked up the submachine gun leaning against the wall, slung it over his back, and gazed at the calm wasteland. After spitting, he said, “Today is another dull day. Are we really going to wait until the zombies appear in front of the line before we launch an attack?”

Gao Xia clapped the dust off his butt and laughed heartily, “Leader, if you could decide that, you wouldn’t be a mere sergeant, but at least a General. Though it seems our Commercial Association doesn’t have many Generals.”

Ma Zhonglin rolled his eyes and said, “What do you know? Do you think being a General is easy? If you appoint a bunch of Generals, what about future battles? What if someone performs meritorious service? This is called having a plan B. If you want to be a General, you have to try your best and fight hard. Opportunities exist, it just depends on whether you have the ability.”

Yan Jinghua merely squinted his eyes, not participating in their conversation. Instead, he pointed to the horizon and said with some excitement, “Look, something’s happening…”

A heavy roar, faintly transmitted from the horizon, was inaudible unless one listened carefully. If you were an old soldier, just hearing this heavy roar would tell you what it meant. For them, having experienced these things, they understood what lay behind the roar.

Ma Zhonglin and Gao Xia also looked up. On the horizon… like a black cloud, the massive roar grew louder and louder, and the entire ground gradually began to tremble.

“Damn it…!”

Ma Zhonglin cursed vehemently, unbuttoning his collar. He grumbled, “These big shots in the air force are finally willing to act! I thought today they’d just send out a few patrol squads, fly a few circles, and call it a day. Good, good… finally, we don’t have to endure maddening quietness every day. At least now we have a symphony of war to accompany us.”

Gao Xia, next to him, retorted, “Leader, why are you so happy? Eating meat will never be our turn. We probably won’t even get a few sips of soup for us ground troops. Damn it, I wish I’d signed up to be a pilot back then. How easy it was! Just sign up, a simple test, and you could touch a plane. Now it’s a mess, is being a pilot really that hard?”

“You wouldn’t know. This is called cultivating highly qualified personnel. Back then, it was a special situation that called for special treatment. With your junior high education…”

The wild roar drowned out Yan Jinghua’s voice as massive fighter jets swept over the wall. Hundreds of fighter jets, what a spectacular sight, almost filling the entire sky, arrayed in echelons, like hungry eagles locking onto their prey, swooping down on the enemy, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

The powerful air force had always been the pride of the Commercial Association. Whenever the air force was dispatched, the colossal fighter jet fleet would always attract countless onlookers because it was truly too magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Before the air force was deployed, those below naturally didn’t understand the command center’s thinking. One might ask, with the zombies gathered, why didn’t the air force attack before they got close? Were they waiting for the zombies to reach the city walls? By then, with the zombies’冲击力 (impact force), the air force’s deployment would be useless, like cold day lilies.

In fact, the command center wasn’t unwilling to attack before the zombies got close. For the command center, the farther away the zombies were, and the earlier the offensive was launched, the more time the Commercial Association would have. Each additional day allowed the Commercial Association, this war machine, to produce more ammunition and more weapons to deploy to the front line.

However, when the zombies first gathered, before their numbers fully formed, they weren’t very dense, and an attack would be significantly less effective.

Realistically, if the Commercial Association had ample ammunition, they could use the air force to slowly chip away at these hundreds of millions of zombies. But the problem was precisely the Commercial Association’s lack of ammunition, forcing them to build defensive works and deploy rarely used ground troops to the front line.

To reduce the air force’s ammunition consumption and increase its attack power, the command center could only wait…

Yes, wait. Wait until the first wave of zombie hordes formed. Based on human understanding of zombies, they would form a dense, surging tide, rushing towards the wasteland. By then, zombies would be practically squeezed together, heads surging, advancing in waves with almost no gaps.

At that point, it would be time to attack. A dense zombie horde would maximize the air force’s power, killing more zombies.

After a week of waiting, and the zombies advancing another 50 km, their first wave, stretching for dozens of kilometers, finally formed and surged towards the wasteland.

Their every move was under the surveillance of reconnaissance airships. So, as soon as their gathering density met the command center’s requirements, the intelligence was immediately transmitted. At the same time, the waiting air force, commanded for a long time, began to stir under the sharp alarm. Pilots rushed out of their barracks, and after a simple warm-up, dashed into the cockpits of their assigned fighter jets.

The prepared fighter jets, fully armed, were ready for immediate deployment.

As fighter jets took off from the Wasteland Military Base runway, the sky was just barely beginning to lighten. Most people in Greenmount City were still in their dreams. But the emptying airfield was not idle; logistics personnel pushed out missiles, aerial bombs, and other munitions, knowing that these fighter jets would return to resupply ammunition an hour later.

With such a large fleet dispatched, the people of Greenmount City couldn’t possibly be unaware, even if they were sleeping, such a massive roar would wake them.

However, people didn’t seem to be alarmed, because they had seen situations like this many times. To them, it had no impact on their daily lives. They firmly believed that the Commercial Association could solve anything, no matter what difficulties they faced. All they needed to do was wake up, eat breakfast as usual, and happily go to work…

The first wave of zombies was estimated to be around 20 million. They were only about 50 km from the front line, and at their speed, they could appear before the line by early the next day.

Peng Feiran was now a Major, serving as the leader of the 11th Air Group. Peng Feiran actually knew that his past medal had given him an advantage, leading to his promotion to Major. Otherwise, becoming a First Lieutenant would have been lucky. Don’t think the rank of Major seems low; remember that Air Force Commander Xu was only a Brigadier General, making Major a very high rank.

“Hiss… This is truly f***ing magnificent!”

He had heard people say how magnificent zombie hordes were, but at the time, he hadn’t quite believed it. He had seen millions of zombies; what spectacular scene hadn’t he witnessed? But the sight before him now completely subverted people’s understanding of zombie hordes. You would never grasp Peng Feiran’s current feelings.

Beyond the awe, there was more fear.

There were truly too many zombies. From high altitude, they stretched as far as the eye could see, especially in the flat wasteland, as if an entire area had been covered with a layer of blackness. The massive zombie tide moved like waves of the ocean, one after another.

From time to time, their collective “wuwu” guttural resonance echoed into the nine heavens, sending chills down one’s spine.

Now Peng Feiran finally understood why the faces of the patrolling pilots were always so pale and terrible when they returned to base. And when asked, they would always shake their heads with bitter smiles. But at the time, Peng Feiran could clearly see the deep-seated terror in their eyes, a fear of something profound.

“Facing this level of zombie horde, even a person with the strongest will would feel afraid, wouldn’t they?”

When hundreds of fighter jets appeared above, the immense roar also alerted the zombies below. They immediately became agitated and restless, like stimulated beasts, baring their fangs and claws, seemingly wanting to tear down the objects in the sky and gnaw them to dust with their teeth.

But this was impossible. The fighter jets’ current altitude was within the Commercial Association’s known absolute safe altitude against zombie attacks. Even the Volt-Zombies, with the longest known range, couldn’t attack fighter jets at 3,000 meters altitude. Moreover, the fighter jets were still on the horizon, more than ten kilometers away from them.

Ten kilometers was negligible for fighter jets; in the blink of an eye, they were already above the zombie horde, which resembled an ocean.

“All units pay attention, expand formation, and set your respective attack areas.”

Peng Feiran suppressed the fear that had just risen within him, trying to keep his voice steady without a trace of fluctuation. He couldn’t affect the members of his group. According to the plan rehearsed several times before, facing these zombies required no tactics. All the pilots needed to do was unleash all their missiles and aerial bombs from their fighter jets, return to resupply ammunition, take off, and return to the battlefield.

Yes, it was very simple, not even requiring any advanced flight attack techniques.

Upon receiving Peng Feiran’s command, the original V-shaped formation suddenly scattered rapidly in the air. Then, like swooping swallows, they sharply lowered their noses and dove down. The suspended missiles, propelled by their active engines, detached from the wings one by one and plunged into the ocean-like zombie horde below.

This grand battle between humans and zombies had officially begun…

Chapter 290: Having to Do Something

After establishing air superiority, air force combat seemed somewhat monotonous. They merely repeated a few actions, dumping every missile and bomb they could fire or drop. This was the air force’s war; there was no dogfighting or pursuit.

The military airships almost swarmed out of their nests. These most fearsome bombing machines, once they arrived, were like plows across a field. No zombie was left intact in their wake. They were like giant trawling nets, ceaselessly devouring the zombies below them. A sea of zombies, vast as an ocean, was gnawed away over a single day.

Like a crescent moon, the massive zombie horde, under the might of human technology, became a sacrifice to the slaughter.

After a day of tumultuous aerial bombardment, the pilots and logistics personnel were all exhausted. As dusk gradually fell, the entire wasteland became quiet once more, leaving behind huge craters and mutilated zombies within and along their edges.

When the cold wind blew, carrying a “whooshing” roar, everything seemed to return to its usual routine.

Inside the walls, soldiers were still on watch. Behind them, the artillery groups were ready to receive orders at any moment. Rocket launchers were lined up, covered with canvas to protect against the cold. The armored vehicle convoy and Sand Serpent light tanks were concentrated together, forming a self-contained battalion. They would form an armored regiment, to penetrate the heart of the zombie horde like a sharp knife…

Everything was as usual, and people no longer had to worry about zombies suddenly appearing like lightning!

The reconnaissance airships silently glided through the sky. The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft they deployed darted across the night sky like streaks of lightning, disappearing in moments. Equipped with cameras, they watched the endless land below like the eyes of an eagle. Able to distinguish and scout 1200 targets simultaneously, they could lock onto any zombie at low altitude, photograph it, and send the data back to the Intelligence Department for analysis.

After a day of bombing, the entire zombie horde that had formed was long since fragmented, with only scattered zombies wandering in many places.

However, further away, the Great Mountain Range churned out zombies day and night. They didn’t distinguish between day and night. On the contrary, they were more active and moved faster in the dark. Especially along the highways, the great rivers of zombies formed, treating the wasteland as a lake, determined to fill the entire wasteland with their numbers.

Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft continued to operate normally in the dark, monitoring any suspicious zombie targets below.

Meanwhile, in Greenmount City’s Commercial Association headquarters, the lights in many departments were still on. The daytime bombing necessitated a summary of strategic issues regarding the bombardment. Though the munitions factory was operating 24 hours a day, the Commercial Association’s ammunition reserves could not provide such a massive amount of ordnance.

In just one day, the ammunition consumed by fighter jets and military airships amounted to half of their total stock.

Even though two hundred million zombies were crushed, one must not forget that this was less than a fifth of the total zombie population. This meant that the ammunition shortage problem became the most frustrating issue for the Commercial Association, vexing everyone. Chen Xunan practically lived in the munitions factory 24 hours a day, ensuring that not the slightest problem occurred, as the factory’s normal operation was too crucial for the upcoming situation.

In the Intelligence Department’s meeting at the Commercial Association headquarters, soldiers stood guard outside. When Zhou Yuanqiang entered with Ren Xinyun, Xu Yuhai and his subordinates were already waiting. Qiu Guorui from the Military Department, and Zhang Yixuan, were also present.

After Zhou Yuanqiang sat down, he said gravely, “I want to know how many more zombies will gather and assemble before the wasteland front line?”

Xu Yuhai had been the busiest person for the past month. His prolonged lack of rest had made him much thinner, and his eyes were slightly sunken, giving him an even colder appearance. His beard, unshaven for several days, showed a hint of black. However, this made Xu Yuhai appear more mature and gave him a more steady demeanor.

He stood up, nodded slightly to a subordinate, and after opening the projector, said, “These are the pictures taken today.”

On the huge rear-projection screen was a still image taken from high altitude. It showed mountains and rivers, with ridges crisscrossing. Between these ridges were roads, towns, villages, abandoned farmland, and terraced fields in the mountains. The green forests in the mountains and the wild grass in the fields grew exuberantly in spring, showcasing their most beautiful side to summer…

If it were before, this would have been a breathtaking painting, but some additional elements in the picture utterly destroyed this perfect scene!

In the image, zombies, everywhere like tiny black sesame seeds, were ubiquitous: on ridges, roads, paths, valleys, and abandoned farmlands. Their repulsive figures were everywhere. They seemed to share a common direction, moving towards the wasteland. No one knew their exact numbers, but they were certainly not few.

After Xu Yuhai waited for everyone to clearly see the picture, he said, “This picture was taken in a place more than one hundred kilometers east of the Great Mountain Range, which itself spans two hundred kilometers east of the wasteland front line. The zombies there are still overwhelming, their numbers immeasurable. According to our statistics and those from the Analysis Department, the number of zombies continues to increase.”

As he spoke, he flipped to the next image on the rear-projection screen.

“The excellence of the X-2 reconnaissance airship allows us to have a complete grasp of an area over eight hundred kilometers around. Everyone, look at this picture. The zombies here have lost much of their momentum. Look at the cities, and the villages and towns in the picture; they are completely empty, not a single zombie.”

Xu Yuhai gently tapped the table and said, “After our reconnaissance and analysis, we have finally determined that all the zombies in the entire province have swarmed out, and a portion has surged in from other places. They have left the cities and villages. We believe this is an instinctive gathering of zombies; perhaps it occurs a few times a year, or maybe only once every few years.”

“I invited everyone here today simply to explain the origin of the zombies. In fact, what seems to be a disaster, I want to say, is also an opportunity for us.” Xu Yuhai swept his gaze across everyone. “In cities, zombies have the protection of tall buildings, which can cause us trouble. But now they have taken the initiative to attack, leaving their natural protective cities. As long as we eliminate them, you can imagine, there will be a zombie-free province, with five or six large cities and over a dozen prefecture-level cities that we can effortlessly take into our hands…”

Everyone’s eyes became fervent.

Yes, this was a disaster, but how could it not also be an opportunity? Imagine being able to reclaim an entire province… a truly complete industrial system, possessing endless resources, and so many things that could be utilized. The impact on the Commercial Association would be truly immense. Without a doubt, once the Commercial Association acquired everything in an entire province, its dominant position in the apocalypse would be truly established.

Of course, everything sounded wonderful, but the Commercial Association absolutely had to survive this crisis, otherwise, it would all be hot air.

Qiu Guorui’s brow had been tightly furrowed. As the head of the Commercial Association’s Military Department, although he only held the rank of Lieutenant General, he was rightfully the Commercial Association’s second-in-command after the Boss. He temporarily commanded the Second Army Group. The First Army Group was the most elite force of the entire Commercial Association, directly under the Boss’s command. Qiu Guorui had no objection to this. People cannot be without power, especially military power.

The Boss having the strongest military authority was something the entire Commercial Association hoped for, as it could prevent anything untoward from happening.

Qiu Guorui had ambition, but it was no longer about replacing Zhou Yuanqiang. Instead, it was about achieving the marshal’s rank, which was not among the 7 grades and 19 levels of military ranks yet. A soldier who doesn’t want to be a general is not a good soldier, but what about after becoming a general? Marshal is the ultimate goal… Qiu Guorui understood that the Commercial Association’s potential absolutely held the possibility of becoming a national power in this world.

Founding meritorious official, founding marshal.

How captivating was that? Of course, Qiu Guorui was no exception; he certainly wanted to be a marshal, standing at the pinnacle of all military power, becoming a legend passed down through millennia. Therefore, the fate of the Commercial Association, good or bad, was inextricably linked to him. The question he was currently considering was how to resolve this zombie crisis!

“This will be a difficult and prolonged battle.”

Qiu Guorui slowly said, “The lack of ammunition is our fatal weakness, so the soldiers will directly face the zombie horde. When the fighter jets run out of ammunition, they will be useless. We can only rely on ground troops. But ground troops, facing such a massive zombie horde, cannot hold out without heavy firepower suppression.”

Zhang Yixuan glanced at Zhou Yuanqiang and said, “Boss, the current walls cannot withstand the zombie horde, so we must once again build an even taller wall to serve as a second line of defense. With insufficient ammunition, we can only use such tall walls to block them like a flood. As long as we are given time, and the munitions factory recovers, we can manufacture and use ammunition bit by bit, slowly grinding them down.”

“You mean, the prerequisite is a strong wall front line that can withstand the zombies and buy us time?”

Zhou Yuanqiang also frowned. The previous simple walls had already consumed all the cement the Commercial Association could use. How could they build an even stronger wall front line? One must remember this wasn’t a few kilometers or a dozen kilometers, but a wall front line hundreds of kilometers long.

Simple walls could be built by pouring concrete, but to increase their height and thickness, even with two hundred thousand people mobilized, it would be impossible to complete within half a month.

Would the zombies give them a month? Although some of the zombies in this horde were still four or five hundred kilometers away, they would also need a month to possibly reach here. But the problem was, how would the front walls hold out for a month?

This was truly the Commercial Association’s crisis. Once the wasteland front line fell, the zombies could sweep through with an unstoppable momentum, submerging all of Greenmount City. Then it would be the Tianzhou Plain, and then the Lanxi Plateau. Wherever their spearhead pointed, everything living, except for plants, would be mercilessly torn apart and all traces of civilization destroyed.

Perhaps Greenmount City could be evacuated, but to where?

The entire industrial system could not be relocated. Once evacuated, the Commercial Association would be back to square one, and everything would have to start over. Therefore, no matter what, they had to fight with all their might. Only when they truly couldn’t fight anymore would it be an option to evacuate. It wasn’t that there was no chance now, it was simply an issue of ammunition.

“Damn it! At worst, I’ll just buy firearms from modern times, won’t I? Giving the apocalyptic Commercial Association a space to survive with modern power.”

After leaving the Intelligence Department, Zhou Yuanqiang returned home and lay in a chair in his study, eyes closed. Neither cement nor ammunition were things the Commercial Association could just conjure; they needed time for manufacturing and production.

“The Commercial Association has been established for too short a time, and its foundation is still too weak. Many reserves are severely insufficient, and at critical moments, things always go wrong. Why do these zombies have to come now, of all times? It’s really damn spooky.” Zhou Yuanqiang was helpless. If the Commercial Association had been given more time, another year or two to develop peacefully, they wouldn’t be in such a frantic state.

There were about six billion zombies globally, and now only a little over one hundred million made the Commercial Association like a small boat in a tsunami. How would they face the more than a billion zombies on the mainland alone in the future?

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a long time, desperately rubbing his temples, somewhat conflicted. “Buying military supplies from modern times costs money, buying cement costs money. This isn’t a small sum. Without two or three billion, the Commercial Association’s current predicament can’t be resolved. But where the hell do I get two or three billion? How come the protagonists in novels, after being reborn, are worth hundreds of billions of US dollars, while I have to agonize over two or three billion for half a day?”

If the Commercial Association could also be valued in money…

Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly chuckled. What’s a few hundred billion US dollars? Look at his nearly a thousand fighter jets, hundreds of armed helicopters, massive transport airships, and a huge number of military airships. Just these, converted back, would be more than a trillion US dollars. Plus, these vast territories under his rule, nearly two million employees, and two cities—how much money would that convert to?

Heh, it was simply incalculable; there was indeed a sense of accomplishment.

But this sense of accomplishment, damn it, couldn’t be converted into money. He still had to agonizing over two or three billion.

“Should I go steal cement and firearms?” Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes glinted. With no money now, this was the only path left. What did it matter if he sacrificed a little for the Commercial Association? At worst, he’d be a laborer, moving things again. But then another problem arose. If numerous cement factories suddenly found their cement vanishing into thin air, such a bizarre event would definitely cause an uproar. Given the US’s intelligence capabilities, they would certainly link all this to the destruction of their Guam military base, wouldn’t they?

Zhou Yuanqiang clapped his head. “This can’t be done like that. Creating too many supernatural events will surely lead to exposure someday. If I don’t want to be sliced up, I need to think of something else.”

But what method could get him a large sum of money quickly without arousing suspicion?

Should he rob Fort Knox, the US Treasury’s gold depository? Nearly five thousand tonnes of gold were indeed tempting. But the problem was, how long would it take to convert this gold back into US dollars? If he didn’t want to be suspected by the US, he would have to sell it little by little… By the time he finished selling the gold, the “golden lilies” (an idiom for an opportune moment) in the apocalypse would have long since gone cold.

Undoubtedly, this idea wouldn’t work.

“Should I rob a bank?”

As he blurted out this thought, Zhou Yuanqiang suddenly froze. This subconscious remark made his heart stir.

Financial institutions like banks have always been primary targets for legal protection. Anyone who tries to scheme against them usually meets a dead end, soon to be apprehended by the state apparatus and sent to hell at public expense. Banks are generally located in urban areas, under numerous cameras, with many cars and people, so only a fool would rob one, because even if you did, you couldn’t escape.

With the improvement of urban surveillance and the increase in cars, along with congested streets, it had become rare to hear news of bank or armored car robberies.

But did any of this pose a problem for Zhou Yuanqiang? As for the law, it was entirely laughable. He even dared to mess with a US military base; what was robbing a bank? The difficulties mentioned above were no problem for Zhou Yuanqiang at all. He could simply sweep the bank’s vault into his storage space, rush out, find a random corner, and teleport to the apocalypse. No matter how many people they sent to encircle him, they wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Most importantly, people would only consider such a robbery as a robbery and wouldn’t wonder how the robber escaped or question the money in the vault.

Actually, this was nonsense. The money in the vault was, of course, stolen by the robber; how could it still be in the vault? Thus… under these circumstances, the chance of attracting attention to anything mysterious would decrease, and the possibility of him being exposed would be small. With the vaults of a few large banks, one or two hundred million US dollars would be no problem. Rob a few more, and he’d have enough money, wouldn’t he?

But who would be the target? Domestically, Zhou Yuanqiang certainly wouldn’t consider it. He couldn’t rob his own country, could he? It would be better to rob some annoying countries and give them a headache, making them busy and frantic with no results. At least psychologically, seeing foreigners suffer was indeed a happy thing.

“Damn it! I don’t want to be a robber, and I don’t want to take risks, but the situation of the apocalyptic Commercial Association forces me to do this… Yes, I must do something for the Commercial Association.”

Perhaps this approach was somewhat unadvisable, but Zhou Yuanqiang could only do this. Otherwise, he would have to watch the Commercial Association struggle in the sea of zombies, with the possibility of annihilation at any time. He had the ability to save it, so why not try? After all, the Commercial Association was his hard work, his property…

Chapter 291: The Great Heist

United States, Los Angeles…

The morning sun was very bright, and the weather was mild and pleasant. In the early morning, people bustling with their morning runs could be seen everywhere—in parks, on streets, in their own yards, and even heading to sports venues. For most, it was a morning like any other.

Antonio certainly hoped today would be another morning like any other, free of troublemakers, thieves, or quarreling neighbors. In short, he wished for nothing to happen, allowing him a bit more peace to enjoy his breakfast.

Heaven knew, he hadn’t had a peaceful breakfast for five mornings straight. Each time, it was some trivial matter, even a lost dog would prompt someone to call the police station for help, hoping for the esteemed police officers’ assistance… Well, Antonio himself had absolutely had enough.

Damn being a police officer. If he could find a better job, who would do this?

Yes, his name was the same as the mayor’s, but the mayor was the mayor, and he was just an ordinary police officer. Every day, he’d drive a patrol car, stopping it on the street or by a residential area, then sit inside, waiting for some lively young people to appear. They always liked to find things to do, but as soon as he brought them to the station, they’d be leaving before he even did.

A hot coffee and two hamburgers — that was Antonio’s breakfast today…

After parking the patrol car on the street, he was in the city center. Busy people hurried along the streets, and cars moved like a tide, horns blaring occasionally, adding to the bustling and noisy atmosphere. As soon as the patrol car stopped, Antonio took out his coffee. After opening the lid, he took a deep whiff, then a small, gentle sip.

Not far across the street was Bank of America’s largest branch in Los Angeles, situated in the bustling heart of Los Angeles, a clear mark of the nation’s largest bank’s strength.

“Hey, you damn scoundrels, move along. Don’t cause trouble for me.”

With a mouthful of hamburger, Antonio saw a few “old friends” walk past his patrol car. He had to remind these young lads of his presence. He didn’t want his breakfast ruined by a few rascals. Of course, Antonio’s yell was met with a chorus of grimaces from the youngsters, who then scampered away.

“Good that you know your place!”

Antonio yelled again. Everything was as usual; yes, daily life went on like this. It was a very ordinary morning, and Antonio thought so himself. He’d spend the day in his patrol car, then go home after work to enjoy his wife’s dinner and the affectionate hugs of his three-year-old daughter.

After finishing one hamburger, a loud roar of an engine sounded, and a massive shadow fell over the patrol car, completely blocking the morning sun.

It was a huge vehicle, enormous, a giant transport truck used on construction sites. The entire patrol car wasn’t even as tall as its wheels.

This usually wouldn’t be an issue, but the problem was, it was the city center of Los Angeles. Did the person driving this behemoth not know that such vehicles weren’t allowed into the city during the day? Antonio admitted there was a construction project nearby that used such large transport trucks. But the government explicitly ordered them to only work at night, and it was currently morning.

Antonio reluctantly put down his hamburger and opened the car door. He needed to properly remind this fellow to immediately get back to the construction site.

But just as he stepped out of the car, this giant, which had only paused briefly, suddenly erupted with a deafening roar. The entire massive engine howled madly at full throttle, instantly causing Antonio nearby to lose all hearing amidst the immense noise… His eardrums ached from the concussion.

“Damn scoundrel, this is a blatant provocation.”

Regardless, Antonio was truly angry. He needed to let the driver of this behemoth know that this area was his responsibility. At the very least, he’d make sure this guy spent a few months in jail to teach him a lesson—America was a society governed by law.

But before Antonio could act, the roaring giant transport truck, like an untethered wild horse, charged out with maximum force. All that was left for him was a plume of thick black diesel smoke. His originally fair face, sprayed by the浓烟, darkened, nearly making people choke.

“F***…” Antonio was furious, but he was startled to realize that the giant transport truck wasn’t fleeing; instead, it was charging with an all-sweeping momentum towards… towards the Bank of America across the street. “Hey, stop! C** you stop!” A terrified Antonio hadn’t yet realized what was happening; he still thought the car had simply lost control.

The giant transport truck was only slightly smaller than a mining truck. Its wheels were human height, and its powerful engine gave it immense thrust.

One could imagine what would happen if this giant charged. Antonio had never considered this question before, only having seen it in movies. Now, he was very lucky because he witnessed it firsthand: the giant transport truck, with a gust of wind, climbed a dozen steps and slammed violently into the Bank of America’s massive glass wall.

The immense sound of shattering glass, like a waterfall of shards, exploded outwards. The entire giant transport truck crashed into the massive banking hall.

Fortunately, it was still morning, and Bank of America’s Los Angeles main branch had not yet opened for business. There were only a few security personnel. Of course, there weren’t many—just four on duty. Who would believe that someone would dare to attack Bank of America in the city center? It was simply impossible, unless they were looking for death.

Furthermore, Antonio, who had never experienced such a thing, had not yet realized this was a shocking robbery case that would stun the United States. He still believed it was just the driver losing control.

The one orchestrating all of this was, of course, Zhou Yuanqiang. He had taken several flights from Somalia before finally arriving here. Logically, a deed like this should best be done in the dead of night, but Zhou Yuanqiang had no time to wait. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, he found his target. Conveniently, there was a construction project nearby with giant transport trucks, which Zhou Yuanqiang naturally borrowed.

Why Los Angeles again?

Zhou Yuanqiang was a bit helpless about this. Who was he to blame when this was the only American city he had been to before? Having some familiarity with the place, Zhou Yuanqiang naturally chose a familiar target. Thus, Los Angeles once again became the unluckiest city under Zhou Yuanqiang’s hands.

Carefully made-up, Zhou Yuanqiang had disposed of everything related to himself. No matter what technology was used, it would be impossible to find him. He believed in his disguise skills and also in his escape skills; even in broad daylight, he could escape as if it were night.

When the giant transport truck crashed into the bank, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t slow it down. Instead, he fiercely slammed it into the counter in front of the banking hall again.

Even the bulletproof glass couldn’t withstand such an intense impact. It shattered, and the truck’s front, along with the counter, was pushed down, roaring into the back office area.

Piercing alarms blared madly. The bank was like a young girl being violated, struggling. And Zhou Yuanqiang had transformed into a grim-faced brute, tearing off the girl’s clothes layer by layer amidst a sinister chuckle, leaving her exposed. Struggling would only excite Zhou Yuanqiang more.

Indeed, a year and a half ago, Zhou Yuanqiang would never have imagined he would have this day, robbing a bank, and of all places, the largest bank in Los Angeles, the self-proclaimed world police…

Given typical police response times, from receiving the alarm to arriving on scene, it would only take five minutes. Zhou Yuanqiang had driven with a signal jammer active, which would affect surveillance cameras along the way, minimizing his exposure. Inevitably, the internal bank surveillance cameras were now a tangled mess due to Zhou Yuanqiang’s jammer.

He pulled out the smoke grenades he’d asked Chen Xunan to make from his storage space, and frantically threw them everywhere. In the blink of an eye, the entire hall was engulfed in layers of smoke, making it impossible to see anything.

Poor Antonio! It wasn’t until thick smoke filled the banking hall that he snapped out of it, grabbed his radio, and shouted. But let’s hear what he said: “Calling headquarters, this is 0271. Bank of America has been hit by an out-of-control transport truck and there’s a fire. Please send the fire department, and ideally an ambulance. I’m sure someone is hurt.”

If Zhou Yuanqiang heard Antonio’s words, he would surely spit out his food. Did he not realize this was a robbery?

The smoke-filled hall caused the security personnel responsible for the area to rush in recklessly. But the acrid smoke made them cough repeatedly. Before they could even get their bearings, Zhou Yuanqiang had delivered several swift hand chops, and the four of them, without even seeing a shadow, collectively collapsed in the hall, continuing to “enjoy” the tear-inducing smoke grenades.

Bank vaults are usually located behind the work area, with some in the bank’s basement.

Apparently, the vault for this largest Bank of America branch in Los Angeles couldn’t be in the basement, as the two underground floors of this building were entirely parking spaces. No doubt, the vault was set up behind the work area, separated only by a reinforced concrete wall.

This was the city center; no one would be crazy enough to try and rob this place. So the vault might not have met all regulations, but no one believed anyone would ever target it.

An impossible feat, until it encountered Zhou Yuanqiang, this gross monster. Of course, things wouldn’t go by common sense.

Zhou Yuanqiang had no time to figure out how to open the vault door. He simply pulled a rocket launcher from his storage space, aimed it at the reinforced concrete wall, and fired a rocket. In the violent explosion, a large hole appeared, and concrete debris splattered everywhere.

The massive vault was laid bare before Zhou Yuanqiang.

Putting away the rocket launcher, Zhou Yuanqiang squeezed through the large hole, completely ignoring the shrill alarms. He gazed at the rows of shelves inside, stacked with bundles of US dollars. Such a vast amount, at least 500 to 600 million US dollars or more. It truly was the largest Bank of America branch in Los Angeles, just the stored cash was this immense.

Without hesitation, he waved his large hand, and bundles of US dollars from the shelves vanished one by one, entering Zhou Yuanqiang’s storage space.

This act of robbing a bank severely stimulated Zhou Yuanqiang’s nerves. His hands, as he waved them, even trembled slightly. The boiling blood simply couldn’t calm down.

“His grandmother’s, what’s badass? This is badass! From now on, if any hammer dares to act arrogant in front of me, I’ll kick his bird eggs off without a second thought.” Zhou Yuanqiang was ecstatic, almost bursting into song. Just think, one single heist earned him 500 to 600 million US dollars. His grandmother’s, no wonder when people talk about making money fast, they always say: “Why don’t you just go rob a bank?”

Slamming into the banking hall initially might still be considered a car losing control, because robbing a bank in the city center, and in broad daylight, was indeed something no one believed.

But as the special vault alarm blared, all the initially relaxed police officers suddenly stiffened, their faces turning grim. Amidst shouts, they all quickly rushed out of the police station, patrol cars speeding madly through the streets with sirens wailing. They had confirmed it was a malicious, premeditated robbery.

Oh, God…

Just thinking about a robbery always made everyone exclaim in disbelief. Except for a madman, no one in this world would dare to provoke so brazenly, openly slapping the Los Angeles police in the face. Now, these officers just wanted to catch this madman. While earning credit and promotions, they also wanted to see what kind of person would commit such a crazy act.

Zhou Yuanqiang moved very quickly. The vast vault was emptied in moments. For his storage space, five or six hundred million US dollars occupied merely a corner.

To cover up the fact that he had emptied all the US dollars, Zhou Yuanqiang reluctantly left ten million dollars, then took out a large number of bombs from his storage space and stacked them in the vault. These bombs would destroy everything here, and the ten million left behind would turn into burning ashes, serving as proof that the money had been destroyed and burned away by the explosion.

By then, no matter what methods were used, no one would guess how much money the robber had taken or how much had been destroyed by the explosion.

Rushing back to the transport truck, which was still running, Zhou Yuanqiang backed it up. It reversed out of the thick smoke, shattering the glass wall once more, then backed down the dozen or so steps and crashed onto the street.

Screams erupted as onlookers scattered and ran when the giant transport truck reversed out, fearing that its wheels, taller than themselves, would turn them into meat patties. Cars that had stopped on the street to watch the spectacle weren’t so lucky; they were directly run over by the giant wheels, flattened into car pancakes.

After turning around, Zhou Yuanqiang shifted gears, and the transport truck roared, charging towards the other end of the street.

“You scoundrel, my car, my car…”

Unlucky people watched their flattened cars, jumping and yelling curses, but the transport truck was already far away, and they couldn’t even see a shadow of the person driving it.

Answering them was a huge booming explosion, as crimson flames spewed out of the bank, sweeping through the entire ground floor of the building. The bombs Zhou Yuanqiang left activated, directly destroying the vault, and the entire work area was shattered to pieces. The shockwave from the explosion rushed outside, carrying with it glass shards, sending the previously cheering onlookers scrambling with screams of misery.

The distant wail of sirens was finally heard only after the transport truck had fled. Poor Antonio was utterly stunned, still not having reacted.

It must be said that after 9/11, the Americans’ response capabilities in this regard became excellent. From the moment the bank robbery was confirmed, the police deployment, and satellite tracking, they quickly pinpointed the giant transport truck Zhou Yuanqiang was driving. Swarms of police cars surrounded it, and several helicopters took to the sky, swooping towards the giant transport truck.

It was as if straight out of an American blockbuster. Los Angeles hadn’t seen such a scene in years. Excited citizens even cheered on the sidelines, leaving Zhou Yuanqiang unsure whether to laugh or cry. No wonder people often said that Americans were truly odd in how they reacted to certain things.

The giant transport truck’s speed was very fast, even though it was the city center with many cars on the street during rush hour.

The chaos caused by confronting this behemoth of a transport truck was imaginable. Seeing the giant transport truck not slow down, terrified people frantically spun their steering wheels, crashing into adjacent vehicles. Some even drove onto sidewalks, into parks, or slammed into nearby shops. In short, the entire street descended into utter chaos, filled with people’s screams.

“Haha, if this scene were filmed as a movie, it would at least win a little Oscar, no problem.”

The roaring behemoth crushed cars blocking its way on the street, leaving behind a trail of flattened vehicles and dumbfounded, bewildered people.

The first police car finally arrived. It appeared in front of the behemoth of a transport truck. After stopping, two police officers drew their service revolvers, pointed them at the behemoth, and shouted, “Police! Stop immediately, or we will open fire!” Never having encountered such a thing, they were already trembling slightly, their shouts laced with terror.

But their yells had no effect whatsoever; the immense roaring sound of the engine drowned out everything.

The charging behemoth transport truck didn’t even pause; it directly crashed into the horizontally parked patrol car.

The unfortunate two police officers, dumbfounded, ungracefully cursed “F***,” frantically scurried away, falling to the side of the street, watching helplessly as the transport truck rolled over their patrol car.

Chapter 292: Chain Reaction

“Hey, honey, do you think they’re filming a movie?”

A young couple, their hormones overflowing in the morning, were passionately kissing on a street bench meant for resting. The roar of a transport truck only caused the woman to open her closed eyes slightly and ask this question.

The young man, his back to the transport truck, was already consumed by passion and paid no attention to external matters. Pulling his girlfriend closer, he simply hugged her and said, “Darling, don’t worry about whether they’re filming or not. In Los Angeles, there are always a bunch of bored film companies shooting movies every day. What’s so strange about it?”

The woman struggled and exclaimed loudly, “But this filming, it’s too realistic! Look… isn’t that Uncle Jim’s car? God, the truck ran over it. Did Uncle Jim agree to them really crushing his car? That’s his private collection! I heard it’s a 45-year-old antique car!”

Facing his girlfriend’s chatter, the boyfriend couldn’t help but turn his head. He saw the transport truck on the street, like a roaring beast, showing no signs of slowing down. Cars were crushed one after another under its giant wheels, and the entire street echoed with screams.

Sharp police sirens followed closely behind the massive transport truck, while police cars blocking the front found their small pistols utterly useless against this behemoth. They were often directly struck and run over. In their eyes, this culprit was a completely deranged terrorist, fighting with a suicidal conviction.

Several police helicopters proved largely ineffective. Armed only with pistols, they fired wildly. Bullets continuously struck the truck’s roof, but unfortunately, these ordinary police pistols couldn’t penetrate the thick steel plates on the roof. Helpless, they could only call for special operations police to assist.

The commotion Zhou Yuanqiang created was absolutely immense. News agencies receiving calls were already brimming with excitement.

Their editors roared, “Everyone mobilize! Send out helicopters, news vans! I don’t care what methods you use, all I want is first-hand information. Aha, finally, a big story we can sensationalize! I hate those damn small news stories, all just trivial matters. Gentlemen, cheer up, this is definitely a world-shockshing robbery case!”

Facing the roaring editors and Boss managers, all available reporters, both male and female, sprang into action.

Large news agencies usually had helicopters, allowing them to get first-hand information and livestream from the front lines. Smaller news agencies didn’t have this luxury, but their reporters were even more ruthless. Faced with a story that would definitely shock the entire United States, their driving speed through the city streets was not much slower than Zhou Yuanqiang’s.

“A bunch of flies…”

Zhou Yuanqiang sneered, pressing the accelerator. He lowered his head to avoid being seen, then directly pulled a rocket launcher from his storage space, loaded a rocket, and fired it at a helicopter hovering nearby.

The three unfortunate police officers on the helicopter only had time to scream when they saw the inbound rocket. Upon impact, the rocket caused a violent explosion, turning the helicopter into a ball of burning flames in the sky.

“F*ck, the suspect has heavy weapons! Get away, everyone, get away…”

Shouts resonated through the police communication channel, making it impossible to hear anything clearly. Like startled rabbits, the other helicopters, witnessing their comrade’s tragic end, unhesitatingly pulled away from the lunatic-like transport truck. They didn’t want to end up like those three unlucky guys, where not even scraps remained.

The news reporters were thrilled beyond measure. For them, it didn’t matter how many police officers died; the more explosive the content, the more it suited their tastes. They wished this fierce madman would go on a killing spree, turning the entire street into a river of blood. Only then could they uncover more stories, even accept money from other politicians to attack certain council members—it was absolutely fanning the flames.

It was likely the police viewed this operation as a sure thing, certain to eventually capture or kill this unknown madman. To further highlight their achievements, they didn’t block the reporters but allowed them to follow the police cars, also permitting news agency helicopters to film the transport truck from an open view.

For them, if the culprit managed to escape after robbing in the city center, the entire Los Angeles Police Department might as well commit mass suicide to stop wasting taxpayers’ money.

Los Angeles was, after all, an international metropolis with ample police force. Within just a few minutes, the alerted police department dispatched a large number of officers. Based on their analysis, the culprit, driving such a large transport truck, must intend to escape Los Angeles by force after the robbery, using the truck’s冲撞力.

However, what puzzled them was that there were bank branches in the Los Angeles suburbs as well. Why didn’t the culprit choose these easier targets or rob under the cover of night? Could this madman truly be mentally unstable?

But soon, the four words most commonly used by Americans flashed through the police officers’ minds: terrorist.

Yes, only a terrorist could explain the culprit’s motive and logically account for everything that had occurred.

The police deployment had no effect on Zhou Yuanqiang. He drove the giant transport truck recklessly through the streets, quickly entering the commercial district. The roaring beast of a truck plunged directly into a bustling commercial street. Amid countless screams, the transport truck again careened into a large shopping mall on the commercial street.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s move was not an escape; it was completely unexpected. The dozen or so police cars set up to intercept the transport truck and the deployed police force all became meaningless.

Thinking of the crowds in the commercial district, cold sweat dripped from all the police officers. If the culprit had bombs and detonated them in a densely populated area, it would undoubtedly be a disaster. The public’s outcry would be enough to trigger a complete purge of the entire Los Angeles Police Department.

“Viewers, as you can see from the footage, we’ve witnessed this terrorist driving a giant transport truck smash into a large shopping mall. There are many people here. May God bless that they don’t commit any catastrophic acts. Based on our experience, this terrorist is definitely trying to take a large number of hostages for negotiation.”

The excited voice of the on-site reporter showed no sincerity in his blessing. That gloating expression made one want to swallow him whole.

This impromptu news broadcast naturally attracted countless viewers. The rapid increase in viewership prompted the TV station’s Boss to issue a command for heavy rewards, hoping reporters could rush into the mall and interview the terrorist, even if it was just a single sentence.

With heavy rewards, brave individuals naturally emerged. Reporters fearlessly rushed towards the mall, looking more like police than some of the hesitant officers.

As soon as Zhou Yuanqiang charged into the mall, countless screams excited him. He jumped out of the driver’s cab and frantically threw smoke grenades. In a moment, the entire mall was filled with smoke. The screams from within the mall, the people running chaotically, and the violent coughing sounds caused by the smoke mixed together, throwing the mall into utter disarray.

“Damn it, who told you people to be so idle, you’re out shopping so early in the morning? You deserve this bad luck.”

His internal curses made Zhou Yuanqiang incredibly excited from the stimulation. At least now he had demonstrated national prestige, having brought the fight to American soil. He just wondered which organization would jump out to take the blame for him. After all, from any perspective, he looked like a terrorist conducting a terrorist attack in the United States.

Using the chaos and thick smoke, Zhou Yuanqiang quickly changed his appearance, donning a different set of clothes and a hood, and altering his facial makeup.

This action was incredibly fast, and no one noticed the transformed Zhou Yuanqiang. But this wasn’t enough; he needed to continue attracting the police’s attention. So, he casually grabbed a middle-aged man, knocked him unconscious, put his recently discarded disguise on him, and dragged him towards the mall’s office. Amidst the chaos, he threw him into a room, placing a pre-recorded player inside.

Having finished all this, only two or three minutes had passed. The chaos caused by the smoke grenades in the mall was still ongoing. People, disoriented by the irritating smoke, couldn’t find their way. After discreetly cleaning himself up amidst the confusion, ensuring there were no flaws, he then followed the crowd surging outwards.

It wasn’t that Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t want to teleport to the apocalypse, but if he teleported from here, he would return to the mall. Who knew when these police would leave? If they guarded the place for days, it would severely impact his plans.

Two or three minutes was enough time for the police outside to form a cordon.

Three or four police cars were parked outside the mall. With only eight or nine police officers facing the sudden surge of people, they simply couldn’t stop the frightened crowd from rushing out. Although more police cars were constantly arriving, it wasn’t enough. The endless stream of people rushing out didn’t care if you were police or not; they just charged out.

Zhou Yuanqiang left through the back door. The police’s reaction hadn’t yet sealed off this area. By the time Zhou Yuanqiang reached the street and disappeared around the corner, only a few police officers rushed to the back door, blocking it and forcing the people trying to leave to stop.

“A bunch of fools…”

As Zhou Yuanqiang sneered, several helicopters overhead surrounded the entire mall. Cars full of special operations teams rushed in, completely encircling the mall and deploying heavy forces. They believed this terrorist wouldn’t simply leave; he would surely instigate an even more shocking incident.

Zhou Yuanqiang indeed didn’t have time for their madness. He hailed a taxi and, following the map, headed to a large bank branch marked on it.

It was better for the police to concentrate here; it would give him more time to rob the largest bank branches in Los Angeles. Even if it wasn’t enough for his needs, collecting a billion US dollars or more in Los Angeles was no problem. Americans favored card payments, so the bank vaults had plenty of cash, and Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t worry about failure.

The poor police officers surrounding the mall didn’t dare to rush into the smoke-filled, chaotic building.

The player Zhou Yuanqiang left behind started playing shortly after he left, constantly emitting frantic roars, claiming to hold over thirty hostages. Along with these crazed shouts, male and female screams also emerged. The voices inside also threatened that if any police officer took even one step inside, they would start killing until the police retreated.

A seemingly simple trick of “slipping away like a cicada shedding its skin” had fooled hundreds of police officers.

The smoke grenades rendered the entire mall unclear and indistinct, and the chaotic crowds rushing out also needed to be controlled by the police—who knew if there were accomplices among them? A simple act of “fishing in troubled waters,” a pre-recorded player, prevented the police from acting and left them only to frantically demand the hostage-taker to calm down.

TV stations zealously broadcast everything live. The faint roars of the “robbers” drew more viewers to their televisions.

Reporters from other countries, of course, also followed with their cameras and microphones, interviewing and documenting everything, sending it back to their home countries. Since the incident occurred in the United States, such news would certainly not be censored by the state; it would definitely be broadcast. Such big news represented a substantial fund.

But before the situation here was resolved, news immediately arrived that another large bank branch, several districts away, had again suffered a similar terrorist attack. The entire bank branch was destroyed, and even the sturdy vault was reduced to a heap of debris. Fragments of banknotes were scattered everywhere, with more reduced to ash.

Upon hearing this news, everyone at the police department froze in shock, and the police chief slammed his desk, roaring, “This is definitely a precisely planned terrorist attack!”

The Guam incident a few months prior was a blatant provocation by terrorists against the United States. Although over the past few months, bombers, fighter jets, and ground troops had been dispatched to besiege and bomb the Afghanistan mountains, and cruise missiles had been used for targeted attacks, the results were minimal. Many so-called terrorists were killed, but Al-Qaeda was still threatening retaliation against the United States…

Could this be Al-Qaeda’s retaliation?

Less than half an hour after the second bank robbery attack, news of Los Angeles’s third bank robbery reached the police department.

Facing three consecutive robberies, the police chief could already predict that the darkest day of his life had arrived. These three bank branches were all the largest in Los Angeles, storing an estimated 2 billion yuan in cash collectively. What was even more maddening was that these terrorists didn’t want money; they wanted destruction. According to on-site reports, the entire vault had been destroyed, with no banknotes intact—all were shredded in the explosion, and more had turned to ash, leaving no trace.

“Everyone, mobilize! We absolutely cannot let them escape, or all of us will have to resign!”

Amidst the police chief’s roar, over a thousand Los Angeles police officers were deployed, completely barricading the streets and alleys and blocking all entry and exit points of Los Angeles. A dozen helicopters scouted from the air, keeping an eye on all suspicious targets.

Meanwhile, the police surrounding the mall, having been in a standoff for nearly an hour and hearing occasional screams and frantic roars, dared not advance. Finally, a negotiation expert arrived, but the order from above had already been issued: forcefully kill the terrorist. Any accidental civilian casualties would be considered a contribution to the United States and would earn them the title of “Good Citizen of Los Angeles.”

Donning thick bulletproof vests and steel helmets, the police swarmed into the mall. As the smoke dissipated, they quickly found the roaring room.

Kicking open the door with a heavy foot, everything inside made the police almost want to bash their heads in from shame. An unconscious person of unknown identity and a player—that was all that had held them up for nearly an hour. They had been played for fools, made to look like clowns on television.

“Viewers, just a moment ago, our police officers were confidently assuring us that everything was under control. But as we can see, the terrorist left right from the beginning, while our idiotic police officers stood guard outside like gentlemen, watching a player… My God, these are the police we claim have various powers and can protect our people so well. Have the funds for their so-called high-tech equipment already been spent on women?”

In the United States, small TV stations never feared such things. For them, satire and sarcasm were part of their content, not to mention… the public needed such commentary.

But the police officers nearby, their faces green, wished they could sew up the mouths of these reporters. They’d bet these scoundrels’ future sons would definitely be impotent. Of course, the immediate task was to explain to the public, the police department, and Congress how the terrorist escaped, rather than dealing with these damned, sarcastic reporters.

Meanwhile, newspaper reporters were already brainstorming their articles for tomorrow, having even decided on titles: “The Most Successful Terrorist Attack,” “Genius Terrorists, Incompetent Police,” “Terror Attack Descends Upon the United States”…

Yes, they believed that the three consecutive bank terrorist attacks were definitely a precisely planned conspiracy. They didn’t aim for money but merely wanted to destroy the vaults. Although their motives or ultimate goals were unknown, one thing had to be admitted: they succeeded.

The United States, known as the leading anti-terrorism nation, this time couldn’t even touch a single hair of the perpetrators.

The mastermind behind all this, Zhou Yuanqiang, was leisurely eating steak at a French restaurant and making an overseas call: “Hello, Yihan? According to the shopping list I sent you, buy a large quantity of cement, the faster the better…”

(The baby fell asleep, so I just finished writing this. I apologize for the lateness. Monthly Votes are really suffering today. Can everyone please lend some support?)

Chapter 293: All the Trouble Caused by Cement

In June, the heavens seemed to play a trick on the people of Los Angeles. Three terrorist attacks, which they perceived as malicious, yielded nothing despite their belief that success was guaranteed. Reporters, who had been full of swagger during interviews, now hung their heads, hiding in the police station and daring not to show their faces, as if afraid of being recognized.

This shocking bank terrorist attack, which garnered nationwide attention in the United States, brought a hint of turmoil to the American financial market. Although the three attacked banks did not suffer significant physical losses, their market value evaporated by tens of billions of dollars in just one day – an irreparable sum. Indirectly, the plummeting bank stocks also affected the US stock market, triggering a new round of decline.

The number of countries affected by the US stock market, which serves as a crucial indicator in the global financial market, and the severity of the losses, were calculated on just the first day. The global impact was estimated to be at least hundreds of billions of dollars. And this was only the first day. No one could predict what the second or third day would bring. Perhaps the only way to restore market confidence was to capture the culprits responsible for all this.

However, this terrorist attack was hailed as one of the most successful in this century, characterized by swift execution, precise calculations, and pinpoint accuracy. All these factors indicated that apprehending the terrorists would be an immensely challenging task.

To make matters worse, due to the jammers, monitors within a hundred meters were completely useless; not even a shadow of the terrorists could be seen. Only a few monitors located beyond a hundred meters captured a small, unidentifiable black dot, which was completely useless. Witnesses on the streets, in their panic, gave various descriptions of the terrorist, making it impossible to determine who was telling the truth.

The Los Angeles Police Department, with its thousands of officers, demonstrated complete incompetence in the face of the attack.

Affected by this, the CIA and FBI, the two largest intelligence agencies in the United States, were forced to join the investigation. Numerous experts appeared at the scene of the attack, hoping to find clues. In their view, no case in this world was unsolvable; it was merely a matter of time.

Indeed, as they said, Zhou Yuanqiang had left many clues, such as smoke grenades, fragments of the bombs used, and some traces on the transport vehicles left at the scene.

However, the conclusion reached by weapons experts was that these smoke grenades were surprisingly manufactured by a US military factory. And from the bomb fragments, they were generic bombs, using the same materials in most countries worldwide, rendering these fragments completely unhelpful. What they considered breakthrough traces were even more worthless, offering no clues to locate the terrorists.

Even after investigating all call records from the day of the attack, no anomalies were found.

On the third day of the attack, the police chief announced his resignation. Simultaneously, the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution to reorganize the Los Angeles Police Department. According to the resolution, at least two-thirds of the entire police force would be dismissed. The performance of the police in this attack had completely disgraced Los Angeles in the eyes of the public.

This attack was very similar to the mysterious relocation case almost a year ago — completely unsolvable. It became the third incident in two years to cause the Americans to lose face and heart.

The outside world was rather gloating about this outcome, with many finding opportunities to satirize the American police, criticizing their slow actions and lack of seriousness seen in television footage. Especially poor Antonio; his earlier call was dubbed the stupidest and least vigilant police action in American history.

Zhou Yuanqiang’s previous relocation case, due to it occurring at night and the police department’s blockade, did not cause much sensation.

What happened on Guam, however, was absolutely the most explosive event of the 21st century, even comparable to the Iraq War. If Al-Qaeda hadn’t bravely stepped forward, the Americans’ mistake might have been laughed at indefinitely. It was this incident that, in anger, prompted the Americans to launch thousands of airstrikes on the Afghanistan mountains, attacks which continue intermittently to this day.

Guam’s wounds had not yet healed, and now Los Angeles itself had been severely stabbed, which was absolutely driving the Americans mad.

For Al-Qaeda, as the saying goes, “many debts don’t burden one,” they once again stepped forward to claim responsibility for the incident. They also issued a declaration of holy war, calling on all individuals, organizations, and teams who follow Al-Qaeda’s will to bravely stand up and carry out even more frenzied attacks, to make all enemies tremble under their assault.

Accompanying the declaration was a video showing US forces bombing the Afghanistan mountains, with entire villages destroyed in the onslaught. No one managed to escape; all perished in the bombings. The second half of the video depicted US ground troops massacring innocent Afghan people.

At the end of the video, a spokesperson for Al-Qaeda declared that they did not know who the terrorists truly were, but they would continue to fight for their will.

Honestly, Zhou Yuanqiang had nothing to say about Al-Qaeda once again stepping up to clean up his mess. At least it could divert the attention of the US Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation away from Los Angeles and towards Afghanistan. Though he claimed to have left no clues, what if he had? Zhou Yuanqiang couldn’t guarantee that he had been completely foolproof.

Now, with someone willing to take the blame, at least he was currently safe.

“Speaking of which, I’ve accepted their favor twice now; I’m starting to feel a bit embarrassed!”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s shameless expression could incite a thousand people to find a thousand reasons to beat him up; he was definitely the type to gain an advantage and then act innocent. One wonders if Al-Qaeda members, upon seeing Zhou Yuanqiang’s expression, would feel an urge to vomit blood?

This statement was undoubtedly another harsh slap to the Americans. It was foreseeable that the Americans, having lost immense face globally, would once again be planning a new round of military action.

International disputes didn’t seem to affect the mainland; netizens simply applauded before returning to their daily lives. Cities like Los Angeles couldn’t be locked down for too long, so Zhou Yuanqiang’s departure met no resistance.

The mainland’s policy was quite peculiar: foreign passport holders could generally come and go as they pleased. However, it was much harder for domestic citizens to go abroad; just waiting for a visa could drive one crazy. Not only that, but various proofs of residence and employment were also required.

Frankly, not many people knew about Somalia internationally. If its conflicts didn’t occasionally make international news, its status would probably be like Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Namibia – how many people would even know these countries existed?

But no matter how war-torn or impoverished, it was still a country, wasn’t it? For the mainland, it was considered abroad.

Especially for overseas Chinese immigrants like Zhou Yuanqiang, there were even fewer restrictions on the mainland. So, Zhou Yuanqiang’s return to the mainland was very simple; he even boarded a flight directly from Los Angeles to City S. The Los Angeles airport was still on high alert for several days, with police everywhere, but it had very limited impact on Zhou Yuanqiang.

Li Yihan was at City S airport to meet him. Zhou Yuanqiang had not informed his family or Yan Yuhe about his return to the country.

Since November last year, with the Post-Apocalyptic Business Association becoming self-sufficient, the trading company seemed to have lost its purpose. Compared to its peak monthly trade volume of over 30 million dollars, it now only survived on orders for electronic parts. These electronic parts were also purchased by Zhou Yuanqiang for the Business Association, but the quantities had become very small.

When Li Yihan received Zhou Yuanqiang’s faxed cement清单 (qingdan - list/manifest), he was initially shocked because the sheer volume of the order was astonishing.

The company, idle for a long time, was re-energized. Hundreds of purchasing agents began working tirelessly again. Zhou Yuanqiang’s directive was clear: good or bad, as long as it was cement and the price wasn’t too high, buy it all. At the same time, no distinction was made between large and small factories; only cement was needed.

Under this unrestricted condition, the purchasing agents, like a swarm of locusts, swept across City S and its surroundings, once again igniting the province’s cement market.

Yuanqiang Trading Company was dazzling to many because of its enormous and diversified trade. You never knew which industry it would target next. Industries like steel and electronics had already felt its impact. Now, under its massive buying spree, cement prices were soaring, and the huge influx of orders left City S and its surrounding cities with goods but no sellers.

Those who had suffered from its impact called it “Locust Trading Company” because its impact on industries was indeed too great.

In just one year, the trading company’s profits were eye-catching. However, for Zhou Yuanqiang, it was merely moving money from one hand to the other; there was no profit to speak of. These hundreds of purchasing agents and the entire company were sustained by him, exclusively serving the Post-Apocalyptic Business Association.

However, in Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, this relationship would soon change. As the Business Association became more perfect and overproduction became widespread, naturally, goods would be sold to the modern world. At this point, the trading company would, of course, act as an intermediary. The orders they secured would be passed on to the Post-Apocalyptic Business Association for bidding among companies under its governance. After production, the goods would be exported to the modern world, branded with the trading company’s logo, thus completing the order.

It was a very simple, mutually beneficial relationship, with the post-apocalyptic and modern worlds complementing each other.

Li Yihan was no longer the small manager he once was; he was now considered a successful professional. His monthly salary had reached 40,000 yuan, and Zhou Yuanqiang had even provided him with a Mercedes-Benz car, helping him become an outstanding professional manager. Of course, he drove his beloved car to pick up Zhou Yuanqiang.

After exiting City S International Airport, he saw Li Yihan waiting in a well-fitted suit from a distance. Li Yihan had also adjusted their relationship; unlike before, he was no longer reserved. He said, “Boss, welcome back. I wonder what big order you’ve secured this time?”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled wryly, shaking his head. “Aren’t the cement orders enough to keep you busy? If you’re really free, I do have another order.”

Li Yihan, who had been joking, immediately turned green when he heard there really was an order. He said, “No, don’t joke, boss. We’ve been working overtime these past few days. Another order and we’ll collapse. But my guys are full of energy; they’re still hoping to complete orders and get red envelopes from you, boss.”

The benefits at Yuanqiang Trading Company were indeed excellent; salaries were among the highest in City S. Almost every time a large order was completed, Zhou Yuanqiang would distribute red envelopes, which had become a common practice.

Sitting in Li Yihan’s car, Zhou Yuanqiang sighed with emotion, “My employee drives a Mercedes, but the boss doesn’t even have a ride.” Li Yihan understood Zhou Yuanqiang’s personality and said, “Boss, stop trying to bring me down here. But seriously, you should get a car. What happened to your Tiguan last time?”

It was better not to mention the Tiguan; Zhou Yuanqiang became conflicted, thinking of those grandsons in the traffic police.

“How’s the cement order progressing?”

Zhou Yuanqiang was most concerned about this issue. The Business Association’s cement was almost entirely diverted to the front lines, and all other construction projects had stopped. After halting production at some civilian factories, a large number of workers were sent to the front lines to build the second defense line. According to requirements, it needed to be five meters high and three meters thick. Calculating with 300,000 people and a lot of machinery, it would take at least a month to complete the wall’s construction.

Fortunately, in the wilderness, materials could be sourced locally; sand and gravel were not in short supply. The only thing missing was cement.

Building the wall was just the first step. The second step required strengthening the Armored Vehicle Factory’s manufacturing capability to produce more ammunition to meet the intensity of zombie attacks. The Strategic Weapons Research Department was urgently established under these circumstances, and the Business Association would officially enter into strategic weapons research and manufacturing.

Looking back over the past year, the Business Association had been almost entirely plagued by ammunition issues.

Nuclear warheads were out of the question; there weren’t enough materials, nor sufficient research and manufacturing equipment, nor the talent. Even if they forcefully occupied military bases, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t use nuclear warheads against zombies, even if he managed to acquire them. This time, the zombie offensive was too close to Qingyuan City, which would severely impact the Business Association, something Zhou Yuanqiang did not want to see.

Moreover, he didn’t even have such a thing in his possession.

The ammunition issue was the most pressing problem the Business Association needed to solve. Therefore, developing strategic-grade weapons became extremely important. If the Business Association now possessed strategic-grade weapons, there would be no need to fear a zombie tide of hundreds of millions like this one; it could be easily resolved. Why would he and the Business Association be in such a sorry state?

However, developing strategic weapons was by no means easy. Without a long period of research, it was simply impossible. Overall, it was not too late for the Business Association to start strategic weapons research now.

Lost in thought, Li Yihan drove and said, “Boss, don’t worry. Cement is very abundant in City S and several surrounding cities. Completing the cement order on time should not be a problem. I’m just a bit curious what kind of enterprise or country would need so much cement!”

Of course, Zhou Yuanqiang wouldn’t say. He just smiled and said, “We’re a trading company. Why do we care why they need so much cement? As long as we make money, it’s not a big deal, so why bother investigating their purpose?”

Li Yihan thought he had a point and didn’t press further.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t go home, nor did he look for Yan Yuhe. Instead, he had Li Yihan drop him off at the warehouse; it was time to be a laborer again.

“The Business Association’s emergency response measures are still not完善 (wanshan - perfect/complete). Originally, with Qingyuan City, people’s housing problems shouldn’t have been a concern for a cement factory; various old factories could ensure that factories didn’t have to worry about not having three rooms. It was precisely because of this that the cement factory had never been given much importance, which led to all this.”

Looking at the mountain of cement, Zhou Yuanqiang smiled wryly, then began to reflect on himself and the entire Business Association.

This crisis exposed many issues within the Business Association. Things usually overlooked were now becoming fatal flaws. The frenzied expansion of the air force, with most of its manpower and resources allocated to fighter jet manufacturing, severely dragged down other industries within the Business Association.

It was quite insane to think about: in just one year, they possessed 1,200 fighter jets and sixty military airships, making their air force power stronger than most countries on Earth. What kind of expansion rate was that? The Business Association focused too much on aircraft manufacturing but neglected the Armored Vehicle Factory’s output capacity.

“Perhaps fighter jet manufacturing needs to be temporarily suspended. Not only can ammunition consumption not keep up, but fuel and logistics will also face major problems. The heavy tanks, which the Armored Vehicle Factory is about to put into production, will pose an enormous challenge to the Business Association’s entire logistics. The research and replication of stealth bombers, ultra-long-range artillery, land-based missiles, and so on…”

Zhou Yuanqiang began to be troubled. Things seemed to become more complicated the more he thought about them. The seemingly perfect Business Association actually had many unresolved issues.

“Damn it, don’t think about anything else for now. The most important thing is to get these cement bags to the post-apocalyptic world.” Thinking about the massive amount of cement that would arrive in the next few days, Zhou Yuanqiang’s head started to ache. “Perhaps it’s time to expand the cement factory. Otherwise, if this happens again, I might as well smash my head against a wall and die.”

Thinking of his status, at least in the trillions of dollars, yet he was still moving cement bags like a laborer, it was quite embarrassing even for Zhou Yuanqiang himself.

It was truly too…

Chapter 294: The Arms Dealer

Sufficient cement ensured the smooth construction of the second defensive line.

With the entire Commercial Association mobilizing all large construction machinery and nearly 300,000 workers starting simultaneously, and considering that the quality didn’t need to be exceptionally high – just enough to prevent zombies from breaking through – progress was incredibly fast.

After several days, the zombie horde once again reached an astonishing 30 million, an even greater force than the first wave.

The Commercial Association wasn’t nervous. Their ammunition reserves were sufficient to counter this offensive. On the vast, open plains, the zombies had nowhere to hide and were actively attacking, making them like living targets for the Commercial Association. Their only potential contribution was to deplete the Commercial Association’s ammunition; they posed no real threat and wouldn’t even breach the first defensive line.

After several days of painstaking labor as a porter, Zhou Yuanqiang finally dealt with the countless bags of cement. But that wasn’t the end; he still needed to address the ammunition situation.

Affected by this massive purchasing spree, cement prices in City S and its surrounding areas began to rise. This ripple effect even caused the entire cement sector in the stock market to surge dramatically. Zhou Yuanqiang felt a pang of regret over this indirect consequence. If only he had known a bit about the stock market or speculative trading, he could have seized this opportunity to make a fortune, at least recouping half the cost of the cement he purchased.

As soon as the domestic cement issue was settled, Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t even have time to say goodbye to his family before rushing abroad again, his destination being Yemen.

As one of the most active countries for arms trading in the Middle East, Yemen’s issues were equally complex. Its gun ownership rate was reputedly the highest in the world. Here, people carrying firearms on the streets were a common sight. Although the state explicitly prohibited carrying guns in public, police generally ignored this rule. In authorized weapon stores, you could easily buy the firearm of your choice.

Religious, tribal, and ethnic issues plagued not only other African countries but also Yemen, which was trapped in all three.

Fortunately, Yemen’s national government was unified. Although society was turbulent, it wasn’t like Somalia, where regional skirmishes occurred almost daily. Yemen’s geographical location also positioned it as a gateway to the Middle East, leading to highly active arms trading and a large concentration of arms dealers.

Many illegal organizations, armed forces, and impoverished nations sourced their weapons in Yemen. The entire country was virtually synonymous with an armory.

Zhou Yuanqiang was indeed a little surprised upon arriving in Yemen. Compared to his home country, where gun possession meant at least several years in prison, this was a free country for firearms. You could even see people carrying AK-47s chatting with local police and stationed troops. On the streets, people with golden bullet belts around their waists were everywhere; it seemed that guns and bullets had become a form of ornamentation here.

Yemen also had its unspoken rules. It was rare for people to shoot and kill or engage in street battles. Personal feuds were generally mediated by tribes. These seemingly primitive unspoken rules were one of the factors ensuring Yemen’s stability, which led to the prominent status of tribes in Yemen. Some local governments even had to respect tribal opinions.

After applying some simple makeup to ensure he wouldn’t be recognized, Zhou Yuanqiang wandered the streets and soon arrived in front of a lavishly decorated weapons store.

Arms trading here had reached a level of overtness. However, typically, only light weapons were openly traded. Heavy weapons were strictly prohibited by Yemen, so these were exchanged clandestinely. Each weapons store acted like a contact point.

Zhou Yuanqiang walked inside. The marble floor was so polished it reflected like a mirror, and several crystal chandeliers adorned the lobby, making it feel more like a hotel than a weapons store.

Inside, there were several rows of counters displaying a wide variety of light weapons such as pistols and rifles. Bullets of different calibers were all neatly arranged. Antique, cutting-edge, and rare firearms could all be found here. It truly deserved to be called an encyclopedia-like weapons store.

What drew the most attention were the walls around the lobby, covered with AK-47s featuring fiery red wooden stocks—at least a hundred of them.

A young Yemeni salesman, seeing a customer enter, immediately approached him with enthusiasm. In recent years, he had served countless foreign tourists, as well as private individuals and small teams, selling them various exquisite weapons from the store.

“Hello, how may I help you?”

He spoke English with a local accent that wasn’t unpleasant and was perfectly understandable. With professional dedication, the young man didn’t wait for Zhou Yuanqiang to speak and immediately began introducing the miniature pistols on the counter. “These pistols are exquisitely crafted. They are true works of art. More importantly, with this pistol, you don’t have to worry about customs issues. Here, you are allowed to take the gun out of the country.”

If it were any other tourist, hearing that such a pistol could pass through customs would have been tempting. Unfortunately, Zhou Yuanqiang had no interest in these. He said, “Is your Mr. Balad in? I need to speak with him about something.”

The young salesman paused, scrutinized Zhou Yuanqiang, and finally asked, “Do you have an appointment?”

Zhou Yuanqiang smiled and said, “You can tell him that Reis from Los Angeles introduced me. I believe Reis must have mentioned me.”

“Please wait a moment, I’ll go consult with the Boss.”

Before long, a hearty laugh echoed from the second floor. A brown-haired man named Balad descended the stairs. He briefly sized up Zhou Yuanqiang, then enthusiastically said, “Are you Zhou? Reis has been a long-time partner of mine, and I’ve heard him mention you many times. I just finished a call with him. It’s truly an honor to meet you!”

Zhou Yuanqiang embraced the other man and said, “I’m very pleased to meet you too, Mr. Balad.”

After exchanging pleasantries, the two went up to the second floor and sat down in Balad’s office.

“Red wine or tea?” Balad picked up a bottle of wine and some tea leaves from beside the bookshelf, shaking them as he spoke to Zhou Yuanqiang. “You know the situation in Yemen is quite bad. We don’t easily show our faces. Competition from peers is fierce, and sometimes there are even conflicts.”

Zhou Yuanqiang understood this completely. He said, “Mr. Balad, I understand perfectly. And red wine would be fine.”

After pouring Zhou Yuanqiang a glass of red wine, Balad sat back in his office chair. “Reis tells me you need my help? You know, I’m only familiar with the arms business; I can’t do anything else.” Zhou Yuanqiang was a bit thirsty. After taking a few sips of red wine, he said, “I’ve come to you precisely for an arms matter.”

Balad’s interest was piqued. “Oh? If it’s about arms, I think you’ve come to the right person. Reis has been a long-time partner of mine; he knows me best.”

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t stand on ceremony. He took out the list of items he needed from his pocket and handed it to Balad. “Please take a look first. If there are no issues, we can continue our discussion.”

The list primarily included artillery shells, landmines, rockets, and aerial bombs. Zhou Yuanqiang had hoped for missiles, but that seemed too difficult, so he ultimately didn’t include them on the list. In Zhou Yuanqiang’s view, with enough artillery shells, even without an air force, the zombies could still be torn apart by carpet bombing.

The artillery units had only recently formed, and their ammunition reserves were severely insufficient. His current task was to procure enough shells for suppressive fire.

Artillery shells worldwide, according to different calibers, are generally universal. When the Commercial Association’s arsenal designed its artillery, it followed the dimensions of old artillery models, allowing them to fire various generic shells. While reducing logistical pressure, this also now provided convenience for Zhou Yuanqiang.

The arsenal would soon be unable to quickly manufacture shells. Therefore, he would procure a batch from the modern world; since they were universal, they could be used.

Initially, Balad didn’t pay much attention to the list in his hand, but after a few glances, he was utterly astonished. He looked at Zhou Yuanqiang and asked, “Are you… are you serious?”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s order included 3 million artillery shells of various calibers, 1.5 million landmines, 500,000 rockets, and 3 million aerial bombs. This was an incredibly massive ammunition order. From Balad’s perspective, such an enormous quantity of ammunition was absolutely the largest such order since World War II—yes, absolutely the largest, without exception.

“Of course. Do you think I’ve traveled thousands of kilometers to find you just to play a joke?”

Zhou Yuanqiang understood that this was indeed a bit too shocking, but he had no choice. Only such a vast quantity of ammunition could help the Commercial Association safely weather this crisis. Although the two defensive walls could block the zombie tide and buy the Commercial Association time, Zhou Yuanqiang believed that a massive ammunition base would not only secure the present but also the future.

This was an order exceeding 1.5 billion dollars, comparable to a national order.

Balad looked at the young man before him with a somewhat serious expression. He looked like a mixed-race individual, likely possessing both Eastern and Western characteristics. The question was, an arms deal of this magnitude could absolutely not be for an individual or organization. The only explanation was a country. But what country would need such an enormous quantity of shells?

Honestly, ever since he entered the arms business, despite the frequent conflicts in the Middle East, encountering such a massive quantity of ammunition still left Balad incredulous.

“I can’t deliver that much ammunition.”

He had originally intended to boast about his strength and ranking among arms dealers, but facing this list, Balad felt powerless. A portion of his previous business came from his own manufacturing plant, while another portion was outsourced to other arsenals.

Moreover, such a huge quantity of ammunition would certainly attract the attention of various national intelligence centers, leading to endless trouble during the transaction.

Zhou Yuanqiang had already anticipated that Balad couldn’t handle such a large order alone. He said, “I need these goods delivered within half a month. I don’t care who manufactures them; I just need the goods. Mr. Balad, you should understand what I mean. You can act as my agent for this business, and I will give you half a percentage of the payment as commission.”

For a procurement of 1.5 billion dollars, half a percentage was 7.5 million dollars—an amount that Balad couldn’t refuse.

Balad was naturally tempted. He quietly sat back in his chair, thinking carefully. He needed to figure out his contacts and how to arrange this order to ensure delivery within half a month. Although underground arms dealers had no legal protection, they still had their rules that anyone in the business had to follow. Otherwise, with a ruined reputation, there would be no way to continue.

Furthermore, in this peaceful world, any organization or team capable of procuring arms were desperate individuals, weren’t they? No matter how powerful an arms dealer was, they were mostly intermediaries. If conflicts arose with those desperate clients, the arms dealer would surely be at a disadvantage.

“Half a month, isn’t that a bit too short?”

Balad gently tapped on the table. If the timeframe was one month, there would be no problem at all. But half a month, after deducting time for communication, negotiation, and transportation, would leave only about ten days for actual manufacturing and production. This meant that to deliver on schedule, he would have to cooperate with even more arms dealers.

Zhou Yuanqiang also didn’t want such a tight schedule, but the problem was, would the zombies give him more time?

Just thinking about the reconnaissance photos from the intelligence department, showing countless zombies already gathered, gave Zhou Yuanqiang a headache. The second offensive, with over 30 million zombies, made one understand what a human wave and a mass charge truly meant. Although the air force had been fully deployed to break up the second wave, their ammunition was essentially depleted.

As soon as the third wave of attacks formed, they could directly face the first defensive line in the wasteland. The fourth wave could destroy the entire line and surge towards the yet-to-be-completed second defensive line.

Given this timing, half a month wasn’t a very long period; it was enough for the zombies to form a third wave of attacks.

“Mr. Balad, there’s no flexibility on the time.” Zhou Yuanqiang downed his red wine in one gulp and said, “If this cooperation goes smoothly, I believe it’s just the beginning of our partnership, and there will be many more opportunities for collaboration in the future. Surely, this order, which isn’t particularly difficult, should be manageable?”

Balad nodded. Compared to artillery shells, which didn’t require much technical expertise, asking him to get an F-22 fighter jet would, of course, be impossible. Even the Americans barely had any; how could they appear on the black market? Weapons like Apache attack helicopters and other such high-profile items were almost impossible to obtain through the black market.

Within a country’s management system, large weapons like these have a specific tracking system. The sudden disappearance of one unit is something that practically never happens in reality.

Moreover, such advanced combat aircraft weaponry is extremely expensive. Don’t be fooled by the price of a fully armed Apache at just 35 million dollars. That’s for transactions between nations. On the black market, its price is far from cheap; it’s much more expensive. Without 50 million dollars, you can’t even dream of buying one.

But someone with 50 million dollars would never spend that money on an Apache attack helicopter. It would be far more cost-effective to equip several rocket launchers, each costing only a few thousand dollars.

In reality, though these items seem to cost tens of millions of dollars, their profits, after several hand-offs, mean that intermediaries don’t earn much. While the profit margin on ammunition is low, the sheer quantity makes up for it. Just looking at Zhou Yuanqiang’s order—nearly ten million various shells—the profit is astonishing.

“I can take this order, but regarding transportation, I can only guarantee it will be fine within Yemen. Once it leaves Yemen, we won’t have the capability to manage it, as we are just a group of intermediary arms dealers.” The quantity was still too large, and Balad couldn’t guarantee it. Since the other party had the immense capability to place such a massive order, they should have their own methods to resolve transportation issues.

Zhou Yuanqiang was indifferent, saying, “I’ll handle the transportation issues. You just need to load the goods onto the ship at the location I specify when the time comes.”

“One more thing: we only accept cash payments. You know, in our line of work, bank accounts aren’t secure; they can easily be frozen.”

In Balad’s view, this condition was difficult to meet. Fifteen billion dollars in cash—just the thought of it was enough to make one’s scalp tingle. If word got out that someone was transporting 1.5 billion dollars in cash, wouldn’t all of Yemen be thrown into chaos? This condition truly was asking for the impossible.

Who knew Zhou Yuanqiang just blinked and said, “No problem. We’ll exchange goods and cash simultaneously. To put your mind at ease, I can pay 50 million dollars in advance. I believe Mr. Balad, as Reis’s friend, certainly has that much credibility.”

Balad hadn’t expected the other party to agree so readily. He paused, then mechanically nodded and said, “Alright, thank you for your trust. I believe our cooperation will definitely be long-term.”

After discussing a series of transaction issues, Zhou Yuanqiang left Balad’s weapons store.

Zhou Yuanqiang didn’t know much about Balad. Last time in Los Angeles, Zhou Yuanqiang had asked Reis to introduce him to an arms dealer in the Middle East, and Reis had recommended Balad. Afterwards, Zhou Yuanqiang also inquired with DuPont, and the information he gathered from them confirmed that Balad was indeed trustworthy, ranking as the sixth-largest arms dealer in Yemen.

Zhou Yuanqiang naturally trusted DuPont’s information. After all, DuPont was a giant in the arms industry, and their information was certainly reliable given their strength.

Chapter 295: The Impact of the Tide

The countless repeated sunrises could no longer evoke the magnificent beauty of the dawn’s brilliant rays in the soldiers guarding the first line of defense in the wilderness. Instead, it brought more curses for the sun, because its rise meant the scorching heat of the blazing sun would follow, making it almost unbearable.

The second zombie horde was massive, but it ended too quickly. Under the attack of thousands of air force jets and the horrifying carpet bombing of military airships, the dense masses of zombies were scattered in just two days. With both waves combined, over fifty million zombies were reduced to mere scraps. But so what? The zombies continued to surge towards the wilderness, unceasingly, through the crisscrossing mountains.

The embarrassing situation for the Air Force finally arose after the second zombie horde was destroyed.

Almost completely depleted ammunition rendered most of the fighter jets useless. The few remaining missiles were what the Commercial Association had saved for emergencies, but their quantity was not large either, only enough to equip fifty fighter jets. These fifty jets would be the Commercial Association’s only air power, responsible for patrolling its entire airspace.

The armory was already working overtime, but production capacity was limited after all. The Air Force had to face the awkward reality of having no ammunition available.

For this reason, Dali, as the Air Force Commander, drove directly to the armory and furiously confronted Chen Xunan, who was overwhelmed with work. He yelled without bothering to understand the situation. To him, he didn’t care about the difficulties; he only knew that his jets were now no different from toys, with thousands of them cooped up in hangars.

Dali, of course, knew the number of zombies, and this was why he was anxious. Without air force suppression, with their terrifying numbers, ground troops simply didn’t have such powerful firepower to suppress them. They would certainly assault the wilderness front line directly. How could those rudimentary walls possibly withstand a zombie offensive like a surging tide?

Looking at the shouting Dali, Chen Xunan could only force a bitter smile. He said nothing but led Dali to the missile factory within the armory, pointing at the workers who had dark circles under their eyes from exhaustion. “Look, we’re already operating at full capacity. Look at these machines, they haven’t rested for three whole months. The high temperatures have made them glowing red. Look at the workers; they haven’t rested a single day for months, pouring all their effort into this.”

“It’s not that we don’t want to provide you with ammunition, but our manufacturing capabilities restrict the production speed.”

Dali had never understood such matters. To him, getting ammunition only required applying through the Logistics Department, and it would be delivered quickly. Now, with ammunition shortages, replenishment was delayed. Although the second tide had been repelled, a third wave would form in just a few days. How could he not be anxious?

But now, seeing the faintly red machines in the armory, he immediately understood the difficulties the armory faced.

Chen Xunan sighed and said, “Traditional missiles have now ceased production; we are fully focused on manufacturing crystal energy weapons. Daily output will increase, and their destructive range will be higher. Other branches, like artillery shell production, have all stopped. We are doing everything we can to improve the armory’s capacity, but it cannot be replenished in a short time.”

“I was wrong to blame you!”

Dali solemnly apologized to Chen Xunan. He said, “But the front line is truly tight. I hope you send every single piece of ammunition you produce. No one knows when the front line might change. The Air Force is the Commercial Association’s greatest strength; without the Air Force, the pressure on our brothers in the Army would be too great.”

Chen Xunan understood perfectly. “We will do our best. We hope the zombie gathering will take a little longer. Every extra day means one more day of ample ammunition we can provide to the Air Force.”…

The two of them were just a minor interlude within the Commercial Association. After the second zombie horde was destroyed, ground troops received orders from the military headquarters to enter a state of first-level alert. At the same time, officers at all levels responsible for ground troops received a clear reply from the military headquarters: the third zombie horde would be primarily fought by the ground forces; it was time to test the ground troops.

As soon as the order was given, the entire ground force naturally became tense.

The third wave of zombies gathered faster than anyone expected. Intelligence showed that the biggest factor was the peak zombie clusters pouring out into the wilderness, accelerating the gathering speed. Furthermore, intelligence returned by reconnaissance airships indicated that the zombies might only be able to gather a fourth wave before running out of steam.

Zhou Yuanqiang had dealt with the ammunition situation and was now sitting in Xu Yuhai’s office, looking at various reconnaissance images, his brow furrowed.

Munitions from modern Yemen would not be delivered for at least another week. The zombie gathering was complete; if predictions were correct, they were already advancing towards the wilderness, and by tomorrow morning, they would appear within the range of the front-line artillery. The time had come for the entire ground force to undergo its test.

“Is it possible that this large-scale zombie gathering has a leader-level zombie behind it?”

Based on previous experience, Zhou Yuanqiang could only hope for this. If so, perhaps he could personally step forward to turn the tide and resolve this massive zombie wave.

Xu Yuhai shook his head and said, “Boss, we considered that possibility initially and dispatched all our reconnaissance forces, but found no trace. There were no signs of leader-level zombies at all. Especially with the existence of this large mountain range, even if there was a possibility, we wouldn’t be able to find it.”

After some thought, Xu Yuhai continued, “The analysis department believes that a zombie gathering of this scale is not the work of leader-level zombies; they don’t possess such immense capability. Looking back at the development of zombies over six years, we consistently believe this is an instinct of the zombies.”

The dashed hope left Zhou Yuanqiang somewhat troubled. It seemed he could only place his hopes on the ground troops.

With 24-hour reconnaissance and surveillance from the intelligence department, not a single move of the zombies escaped the “eyes” of the reconnaissance aircraft. A vast amount of information was relayed, and phone calls were made to the ground force’s forward command center: “37 kilometers away,” “30 kilometers away,” “25 kilometers away”…

After a night of movement, accompanied by the piercing alarms of the ground forces in the early morning, the zombie horde finally entered a 15-kilometer range of the front line.

The Commercial Association had not focused much on artillery development, consistently prioritizing the Air Force. It was only after the sixth New Year in the apocalypse that they began to pay attention to developing artillery. Thanks to the advantages of the Angtu Open-Pit mines, the steel plant could provide more high-quality steel for manufacturing artillery.

Considering that the target of the artillery was zombies, the smallest caliber was not within the armory’s consideration.

Currently, the artillery manufactured by the armory is divided into three types: imitation Type 66 152mm howitzer, imitation W88 155mm howitzer, and 203mm howitzer.

These three calibers of artillery were absolutely terrifying. Their explosion shockwaves and shrapnel were enough to cause devastating damage to zombies under instantaneous overpressure. Although there weren’t many of these caliber cannons, their rate of fire and the slow movement of the zombies were enough to counter the zombie offensive.

The so-called scene of “ten thousand cannons firing simultaneously” was merely an exaggerated description. If thousands of cannons fired at the same time, the spectacle would be truly magnificent. Throughout human history, there haven’t been many instances of such a grand artillery barrage…

The three types of artillery all had very long ranges. The reason they were allowed to enter the 25-kilometer range before bombing began was simply to make them more densely packed and crowded during their movement, thus better unleashing the artillery’s power.

In the early morning, dozens of artillery batteries positioned behind the walls, upon receiving distance reports from the intelligence department and orders from the military headquarters, began to remove the tarpaulins covering them, revealing their long barrels. The artillery pieces, whose firing positions had been tested long ago, did not require further adjustment of their attack elements.

Rows and columns of artillery appeared under the sunlight, looking mighty and imposing, their long barrels filled with a murderous aura.

As the command was given, dozens of artillery pieces in each row roared simultaneously, launching shells from their barrels. They crashed violently into the ocean-like zombie hordes 25 kilometers away. Perhaps not many people knew the power of 203mm artillery, but to give an example, even a heavy tank would be flipped over by the shockwave if the impact point was within five meters of it. Hearing this, everyone could imagine just how powerful it was.

The dense swarm of zombies was like a calm lake, and the launched shells were like heavy rain, furiously pounding the lake surface, splashing ripples.

There were only about 200 cannons in total, facing a tide of at least 30 million zombies. No matter how large or fierce the caliber of the artillery, it was impossible to stop the advance of the zombie horde. Moreover, the area covered by the artillery was insignificant compared to the zombie line, which stretched for hundreds of kilometers.

The rumbling explosions and the powerful shockwaves swept away everything within their range, accompanied by countless zombie remnants in a flurry of sand and stones.

Each explosion point created a vacuum, and the zombies were helpless against these long-range artillery pieces, just as they were against the Air Force. They were merely a group of zombies coming to their deaths, but being unconscious, they clearly wouldn’t think this way. Instinct was their constant driving force.

High-intensity shelling, a carpet-like advance, like a plow tilling a field, overturning the soil as it moved forward.

As the artillery batteries unleashed their power, 150,000 ground troops, amidst the roar of cannons, began to ascend the walls. The distance of 20 to 30 kilometers meant the zombies would arrive by afternoon. This would be an extremely difficult battle, as it would extend into the night, which was disadvantageous for humans and advantageous for zombies.

In reality, at such a great distance, the soldiers mostly heard the sound of shells being fired, while the explosion sounds were too far away to be heard clearly.

Facing the vast, calm wilderness, landmines were still openly laid on the sandy ground, crisscrossing trenches, and lines of barbed wire. Ma Zhonglin felt a strange mix of profound calmness and intense tension. The artillery’s display of power already indicated that the zombie horde would soon arrive, and the most nerve-wracking close-quarters combat was about to begin.

Tens of millions of zombies had been eliminated, and what humanity paid was just some artillery shells, with no casualties.

But now, close-quarters combat was imminent, and who could guarantee no casualties? These low walls simply couldn’t withstand the zombies. The landmines ahead would cause limited damage to the zombies, and the crisscrossing trenches wouldn’t hold them for long, meaning limited firing time for the soldiers.

Estimating the distance from breaking past the landmines to reaching the trenches, and then the distance from the trenches to the wall, the total distance was only 500 meters.

Thankfully, the submachine guns they carried could not only strafe but also had excellent precision firing capabilities. With scopes attached, the firing range could be extended to about 600 meters. Once the zombies broke through the minefield, they could immediately use the scopes to precisely eliminate them…

“Five hundred meters, plus a bunch of obstacles to slow the zombies down. Killing twenty to thirty shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Ma Zhonglin thought silently, leaning over the top of the wall, carefully wiping his gun. Every veteran understood that on the battlefield, the only thing you could rely on was your weapon. Not for merit, not for medals, but purely for your own life.

Gao Xia and his companion were already nervously peering outwards, and many others were doing the same. It was not a time for shifts, but for war, so everyone who could participate had ascended the wall, filling this Great Wall-like structure with people, a soldier every two or three meters.

The scorching sun beat down, making even the soldiers accustomed to life in the wilderness feel uncomfortably hot, their clothes soaked with sweat.

The roar of engines signaled the arrival of several water trucks behind the wall. Logistics personnel began carrying water and, after climbing onto the wall, refilled every soldier’s canteen. At the same time, they handed out fragrant glutinous rice balls, which would be the soldiers’ lunch.

Dinner was expected to be eaten during the battle, and they would also receive a portion of anti-cold liquor, with the soldiers’ greatcoats delivered to the wall.

After refilling his canteen, Ma Zhonglin didn’t rush to drink. Years of experience told him that the sweat he was currently shedding was nothing. Once the battle started, a person’s willpower and stamina would deplete very quickly, and that would be the time for copious rehydration.

The artillery barrage was intermittent.

Ma Zhonglin knew this was mainly because the artillery barrels, from overuse, would reach critical high temperatures and required cooling. Moreover, the lifespan of barrels produced by the steel plant was not as long as imagined; some needed to be replaced after firing just dozens of shells. This naturally led to the intermittent firing.

Calculating the time, this intermittent shelling had lasted for three hours, and its lethality to the zombies was devastating.

“It should be another five or six hours before the zombies that have avoided the artillery fire appear.”

Ma Zhonglin didn’t know why the military headquarters had all the soldiers enter the wall so early. Didn’t they know that it would still be a long time before the zombies reached the front line? Enduring seven or eight boring hours in this scorching sun, if they weren’t adapted to the environment, a collapse could occur from heatstroke alone, even without zombie attacks.

But he soon found out. The shouts of officers at all levels rang out, and the reconnaissance airships hovering in the sky relayed the situation below to the ground forces.

Scattered zombie dots began appearing in the soldiers’ eyes. At first, it was just a few, but then more and more appeared, sparsely rushing towards the wall.

“All soldiers prepare to enter combat! These are the advanced zombies leading the charge. Their movement speed is very fast, and they have separated from the main zombie force. Once the battle begins, it will enter its most brutal phase, because you will be facing only advanced zombies. Any hesitation will be fatal.”

The shouts of the officers, including even platoon and company commanders, were all geared into combat mode. Carrying their rifles, they began aiming at the advanced zombies appearing in the far distance.

The mortars and recoilless cannons on the wall did not fire, because the advanced zombies moved too quickly and were very dispersed, which would waste a lot of shells with very limited casualties. So the first to unleash their power were, of course, the elite snipers. The two thousand snipers trained by Zhao Hongyuan were definitely the main force against zombies, dispersed along this hundreds of kilometers long wall.

With a loud “boom,” the 12.7mm heavy sniper rifle let out a muffled sound. An advanced zombie 1200 meters away, in mid-run, instantly disintegrated into a shower of debris, scattering everywhere, giving the illusion of using a cannon to kill a mosquito…

But you had to admit, such large-caliber heavy sniper rifles had a very good effect on boosting morale. Their fierce attack often made people’s blood boil,
igniting the soldiers’ wild and ferocious side. That destructive momentum was the value of the heavy sniper rifle.

There were only a few snipers deployed in this section of the wall, but facing zombies that were almost running in a straight line, these well-trained snipers displayed immense combat capabilities. After each shot, an advanced zombie’s head would be blown off, tumbling and falling headfirst into the sand.

The scattered advanced zombies, as if being called out one by one, continuously had their heads blown off and fell along their path.

However, with only a few snipers facing an increasing number of advanced zombies, some were bound to slip through. When a level-six zombie evaded the snipers and appeared in the minefield laid on the sand, it didn’t hesitate for a moment and charged into the minefield.

The irregularly placed landmines were something zombies couldn’t identify, even advanced ones.

With a loud “boom,” this zombie, which triggered a landmine, had its entire lower body blown to smithereens in the explosion. Its upper body was hurled high into the air, and before the smoke from the landmine had fully risen, it plunged headfirst into the sandy soil from above.

Chapter 296: Aerial Crisis

Explosions rumbled intermittently, blasting the lower bodies off zombies that stepped into the landmine field. The upper halves, hurled skyward, often triggered more landmines below, leaving not even a speck of them behind.

The soldiers witnessing this swallowed hard, their hands and feet turning cold.

The zombies couldn’t scream, making the entire scene like a grotesque movie. Apart from the booming of landmines and the occasional heavy roar of sniper rifles, there were only zombies being torn apart and flung into the air. They silently surged into the minefield, torn to shreds in the rumbling explosions, transforming into a rain of decaying flesh.

As time passed, three- and four-level zombies began to appear in large numbers, their count rapidly increasing. A few snipers alone couldn’t possibly stop so many zombies. Thus, the entire landmine field erupted with joyful noise, continuous booming echoing everywhere and smoke rising into the sky.

The scattered landmine array in front of the trenches wasn’t very large, stretching only for hundreds of kilometers, and the Commercial Association couldn’t possibly have too many landmines.

Soon, when the first five-level zombie charged past the sparsely laid minefield, it appeared before the trench. Without hesitation, it moved towards the wall. Pitifully, its abilities were outstanding, but its lack of consciousness meant it couldn’t properly utilize them. It walked straight into a trench, then tumbled in, struggling for a while before climbing back out. It crossed this trench, only to fall into the second one immediately after.

Its actions were completely clown-like.

Yet, the soldiers on the wall didn’t dare to laugh. It might seem clumsy now, but soldiers who had witnessed its power knew its ferocity when nearing humans, and its agile, unnatural movements that weren’t typical of zombies. Once it got close, it would unleash a whirlwind of death; any soldier it touched would surely die.

“Ready…”

The shouts from behind, from regiment commanders to company commanders, then platoon commanders, and squad leaders, became the only sound on the wall.

Soldiers had long since adopted their firing positions. Again, they checked their stance amidst the shouts, gripping their rifles and resting them on the edge of the wall. They squinted, peering through their scopes, staring at the increasing number of zombies in the trenches. The zombies moved, jumped, flipped over trench after trench, tore through barbed wire, and began to enter the firing range of the soldiers’ scoped rifles.

“Free fire! Open fire!!!”

As the sectional commanders roared, the veterans who had already aimed and locked on, and the new recruits gripping their rifles tightly due to nervousness, all pulled their triggers.

“Bang bang bang… bang bang…”

Intense gunshots rang out. Fire spat from muzzle flashes along the wall’s embrasures. In a fraction of a second, bullets left the barrels, and after a brief flight, plunged straight into the zombies’ heads. The enormous power abruptly ripped half their heads off, splashing ink-like brain matter everywhere. Sinister red nerves pulsed and then fell silent. The zombies then fell backward, rolling directly into the trenches.

High-level zombies, which could reach the wall in just one minute, were hindered by the trenches and barbed wire, crawling forward like snails. This gave the soldiers on the wall more time to shoot calmly. Even some new recruits, who had been training for less than three months, gradually settled down after a few shots.

The artillery barrage, which had paused for about ten minutes, roared once more. From the wall, one could still see shells trailing fire as they were launched.

With tens of millions of zombies charging, the artillery left nothing in reserve. As soon as the cannons cooled to the standard level, they recommenced shelling. After somewhat suppressing the zombie rampages, another function of the reconnaissance airship came into play: it acted as an indicator for the artillery, locating long-range zombies within the horde and calling in Fatal Blows from the artillery.

For ground forces, the most dangerous threats were the long-range attacking zombies.

Artillery was indeed fearsome. Its title as “King of War” ensured its irreplaceable position even today, with fast-developing missiles. Various high-tech advancements had given it greater range, higher accuracy, faster firing rates, and more mobility.

The third wave of the zombie rampage entered a white-hot phase from the very beginning, pushing forward like an overwhelming tide. The ferocious artillery began to lose its suppressive power.

The armory, working overtime, finally churned out a batch of air force ammunition. Before the residual heat of the ammunition had faded, Chen Xunan dispatched a transport team to deliver it to the Wasteland Military Base, handing it over to Dali. Chen Xunan naturally understood the situation on the front lines; the wall would struggle to withstand the impact of this zombie tide.

Dali, upon receiving the ammunition, was so overjoyed he nearly jumped. He immediately arranged for logistical personnel to begin loading the best group of pilots’ fighters.

However, something about this batch of aerial bombs struck Dali as odd—they seemed different from previous ones. He found the instruction manual, and after a careful read, his eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, laughing. If these crystal cluster bombs truly performed as described in the manual, their lethality against zombies would be immense.

One by one, the latest crystal cluster bombs were loaded onto the fighters. The hundred or so selected pilots were already prepared.

Considering the unique nature of these aerial bombs, Dali feared his soldiers might waste them. He naturally gathered them to explain the special properties of this batch of aerial bombs. He also instructed that when bombing, the aircraft formation needed to spread out more, ensuring that no one’s attack zone would overlap.

“Gentlemen, this is the most awkward time for our air force. Many people ask me, ‘How did the proud eagles lose their wings?’ Yes, it’s the ammunition problem that has made our fighters just planes that can fly, nothing more. Now, we’ve unexpectedly received a batch of special aerial bombs. Shouldn’t everyone perform well?”

Dali clapped his hands and said, “Now, go into the sky and tell the world that the air force will always be the strongest branch of service.”

The pilots scattered with a roar, quickly climbing into their assigned fighters. With permission from the control tower, one by one, the aircraft began to taxi down the runway, then swiftly soared into the sky with a whistle. After a brief aerial circling, they waited for the other fighters to ascend and form up before flying eastward.

“In this white-hot situation, how could our air force be absent?”

Dali knew that the appearance of the air force, regardless of whether its attack power was sufficient, would undoubtedly bring immense confidence to the ground forces. In the Commercial Association, the air force’s prowess was the very pillar of the Commercial Association’s confidence. In such a critical moment, how could the air force not be present?

Just as Dali thought, when the roaring sound of the air force arrived, the people building the second defensive line and the soldiers fighting zombies on the first line all let out shouts. The appearance of the air force changed the previously heavy atmosphere, making it lively.

Ma Zhonglin spat fiercely. As a veteran, he certainly had cause for pride; he had fired seven times, killing five high-level zombies—an incredibly terrifying number.

Perhaps someone could shoot seven times and kill seven zombies, but absolutely not high-level zombies. High-level zombies are agile and fast. To catch their fleeting, almost imperceptible moments of pause, one needs exceptional skill; otherwise, it’s impossible. And don’t forget, zombies can only be dealt a Fatal Blow by striking their head.

The roar from the sky and the appearance of a hundred-plane formation made him pause, then shake his head. He muttered to himself, “What can these few fighters do? It seems there’s still a tough battle ahead. But after this wave of high-level zombies, maybe the ordinary zombies will be easier to deal with?”

But having experienced several zombie assaults, he knew these were just words of self-comfort. When the ordinary zombie horde arrived, their numbers would be even more deadly than the high-level zombies, and the long-range zombies hidden within the horde would be a nightmare for all ground forces.

The fighter squadron vanished into the sky in the blink of an eye. From above, the wall looked like a dam, and less than ten kilometers from the dam, the zombie horde surged like a raging flood. Having been subjected to early artillery bombardment, the front-line zombies were much sparser, but further back, their numbers grew denser.

“Formation disperse, set attack range…”

Explosion shockwaves, like raindrops hitting a lake and rippling outwards, would utterly destroy zombies within a giant circle before a mushroom cloud soared into the sky. From an aerial perspective, the artillery’s bombardment looked even more beautiful than aerial bombing. The rippling shockwave resembled the scythe of death, harvesting zombies within its range and sending them to hell.

The hundred-strong fighter squadron fanned out dramatically, still filling a portion of the sky. As they entered attack range, the crystal aerial bombs beneath their bellies began to detach, plummeting towards the ground.

Equipped with smart chips, the crystal aerial bombs could determine their distance from the ground and react quickly. When 100 meters from the ground, the warhead fuse would activate. During the explosion, dozens of crystal release spheres would be ejected outwards, forming an electrical field several hundred meters in radius. Upon landing, these dozens of crystals would begin to release the processed crystal energy within their spherical bodies, emitting 500 volts of electricity.

A single crystal aerial bomb created an almost vacuum-like zone within its hundreds-of-meters radius.

Zombies’ bodies weren’t afraid of attacks, but this type of current was different. It could instantly conduct throughout the body, dehydrating it. The zombies’ heads were their best-preserved and most vulnerable areas. The current wouldn’t spare this spot either, destroying their brain tissue in moments and sending the zombies directly to hell.

Within half a minute, zombies within the hundreds-of-meters radius covered by just one crystal aerial bomb uniformly collapsed, unable to rise again.

There were no magnificent explosions, nor astonishing mushroom clouds. There was only a quietness. In this silence, the zombies quietly fell, ending their painful and wicked lives. If a cycle of reincarnation and the underworld existed, they would truly be liberated, reborn as humans.

The crystal aerial bomb’s demonstration was just beginning. Its sustained ten-minute electrical discharge turned it into a death zone for zombies. One by one, zombies that stepped into this electric discharge zone also fell silently. Like an intangible wall, the zombies were silently stopped.

This was the first time the crystal aerial bomb was used in actual combat. Forced into a desperate situation, the armory could only hastily push this still-experimental crystal aerial bomb into the war. It was also one of the Commercial Association’s most powerful weapons at the moment. Its coverage area and continuous effect made it the Commercial Association’s number one secret weapon.

The pilots witnessing this were all dumbfounded. They couldn’t have imagined that this small, new type of aerial bomb could be so powerful.

Not just the pilots, even in the command center, the footage relayed from the reconnaissance airship made everyone gasp. Few among them knew about this new weapon, only Qiu Guorui and a few others at the highest level. Others were seeing this new weapon for the first time, and it struck them as incredibly outlandish.

Subsequently, the generals in the command center cheered. In such a tense atmosphere, this was undoubtedly news that filled them with confidence.

Even more overjoyed, the dumbfounded pilots flew their fighters towards the densest parts of the zombie hordes, dropping the new weapons. Soon, another large swarm of zombies became unfortunate victims of this new weapon under the electrical discharge.

However, as a new weapon that hadn’t been fully perfected and was hastily manufactured, some unstable products were inevitable. On average, each fighter carried four of these crystal aerial bombs. Out of over four hundred bombs, more than thirty had no effect—duds accounted for nearly one-tenth, an unacceptably high proportion.

But at this moment, no one paid attention to this. After all, 370 effective bombs inflicted immense damage on the zombies. Their massive lethality showcased the future potential of this weapon.

As Huang Changnian had introduced, this weapon could eliminate zombies or enemies without destroying buildings. Its drawback, perhaps, was its deadly aggressiveness towards electronic products. A 500-volt current was sufficient to burn out most home appliances.

The situation seemed excellent. The crystal aerial bombs’ lethality largely decimated advancing zombies, creating numerous vacuum zones.

The fighters continued to roar. At this moment, they once again became the masters of the sky and the ground. Their terrifying coverage swiftly diminished the perceived effectiveness of the artillery barrage in people’s minds.

However, the jubilant fighters seemed unaware that danger was quietly approaching.

Since the Commercial Association’s first aircraft took to the sky, it had developed from nothing into a massive air force in just a year and a half. The Commercial Association’s emphasis on air force development was primarily determined by the situation in the apocalypse. In the apocalypse, there were almost no airborne zombie types; apart from a few gliding zombies, all were ground-based, posing no threat to the air force.

Many people wondered, do zombies truly lack aerial capabilities?

Throughout the entire zombie mutation, various inconceivable zombie types have appeared before human eyes, many of which humans could never have imagined. The peculiar nature of this extraterrestrial disease caused individuals to mutate. For example, Giant Zombies—if one hadn’t truly appeared before you, would you have thought it possible for a human to grow so enormous? Or for gross monsters—would you believe they mutated from humans?

Whether you believe it or not, all the mutations and Special Infected you have seen originated from humans.

But why, with such a rich diversity of ground-based zombie mutations, were there no aerial mutations? Countless people had no answer to this question, as no matter how much zombie information was collected, no airborne zombies were ever discovered. Perhaps, humans simply couldn’t mutate into such zombies.

This notion gave humanity absolute air superiority, allowing them to freely slaughter ground-based zombies.

However, just as the pilots paid no attention, in the distant zombie tide below, several zombies with mutated hands, somewhat resembling dragon wings, suddenly soared into the sky like demons from hell. Their mutated hands flapped fiercely, rapidly gaining altitude, quickly separating from the zombie horde below.

The loyal reconnaissance airship had been closely monitoring every movement on the battlefield. The moment these strange zombies emerged from the ocean-like zombie swarm, they were swiftly detected by the airship, which immediately transmitted the images back to the intelligence department.

Gazing at these soaring zombies, their grotesque faces, their wing-like mutated hands akin to hellish demons, still had only five fingers, with long, gleaming claws visible in the image. Their sharpened heads and slightly webbed feet allowed them to maintain speed and balance while flapping their wings in the air.

“What… what is this thing?”

The intelligence department, receiving the images, erupted in exclamations. This was an entirely new type of zombie, and more importantly, they could fly rapidly through the air.

The intelligence department hadn’t even had time to analyze their characteristics, let alone warn the pilots in the fighters. These special, airborne zombies were already swiftly flying towards the high-altitude fighters. No one could understand what kind of attack they would unleash.

Crisis quietly loomed…

Chapter 297: Bird Zombies

“Target approaching, target approaching…”

The fighter squadron consisted entirely of hy-2 fighter jets. Their radar systems were not very advanced, which meant that flying zombies like these were only detected on radar when they were already close. The only saving grace was their small numbers, with only a few swooping in.

Their mutated wing-like hands flapped wildly in the air, suddenly accelerating them towards the fighter jets.

“No, no…”

A pilot in hy-2 fighter jet 0197 screamed. His fighter jet was one of the targets for these flying zombies. The rapidly approaching zombies, with their sudden acceleration, caught everyone off guard. Never having received air combat training, the pilot lacked experience and panicked for a moment as the crisis loomed, leading to tragedy.

Had he remained calm and ascended or rolled horizontally to evade, the Commercial Association’s first fighter jet might not have been shot down…

But there were no “ifs.” The flying zombie’s explosive acceleration was too fast. As it approached, an electric arc suddenly appeared from a protuberance on its back, then, without warning, appeared on the fighter jet’s fuselage. The discharge, no weaker than a Volt-Zombie’s, generating millions of volts, electrocuted the pilot in less than a second. The electronic components in the fighter jet were immediately destroyed.

Thick smoke billowed from the fighter jet, and the electric arcs still flickering on its surface hadn’t even dissipated.

Losing control, the fighter jet tumbled through the air, plummeting towards the dense zombie horde below. Trailing a long plume of thick smoke, it exploded two hundred meters above the ground, before even hitting it. Its fuel tank ignited in a violent blast, transforming the jet into a fiery ball scattering flames and debris.

The 연속적인 explosions, especially the engine explosion that accounted for half of the fighter jet, caused the entire fireball to shatter, viciously crashing into the zombie horde on the ground.

Shards of metal became deadly weapons, their immense attack power amplified by the violent explosion. Zombies struck by these metal pieces were twisted and torn apart. Some main skeletons tumbled through the air, knocking aside and tearing apart zombies in their path, leaving a vacuum-like trail.

The poor pilot’s scorched corpse was utterly obliterated in the successive explosions, leaving not even a trace. His death was absolutely horrific.

Yet, no one paid attention to his fate, because of the few attacking flying zombies. Of their chosen targets, only one squadron leader managed to avoid the fatal attack with his exceptional reflexes. The other fighter jets, engulfed in millions of volts of electric arcs, exploded mid-air, turning into fireballs that shattered and fell onto the desolate plains.

This sudden turn of events, occurring within one or two minutes, severely tested everyone’s nerves.

Like startled rabbits, the previously arrogant squadron abruptly scattered, using the fighter jets’ speed to escape the attack range of the flying zombies.

The flying zombies, unwilling to let the fighter jets escape, flapped their wings. Like dragons from a movie, they menacingly pursued the startled fighter jets ahead. However, their speed was slightly slower than the fighter jets, so they could only chase from a distance.

Many soldiers on the walls below gaped in disbelief at the incredible scene, feeling as if they were dreaming. Fighter jets were being chased by flying zombies that were twice their size. Even more ridiculously, just a few flying zombies had sent nearly a hundred fighter jets fleeing for their lives.

“What a disgrace, what a disgrace…”

Soldiers in the ground forces, of course, couldn’t feel the fear brought by the flying zombies. But the old-timers among them still sighed, some even laughing and shouting, “Let your air force keep its nose in the sky, looking down on us ground troops! In a crisis, you lot are still acting like rookies, aren’t you?”

The reconnaissance blimp, faithfully recording everything, transmitted the footage back to the intelligence department and command center, leaving a large group of people dumbfounded.

On one hand, they were shocked that there were now flying zombie variants. On the other, they were amazed that several fighter jets were destroyed by zombies upon initial contact. From the footage, it was difficult to discern the flickering electric arcs. The generals only saw the zombies approach, and then the perfectly fine fighter jets started smoking, exploding mid-air, and plummeting.

“These bastards! They’re going to infuriate me to death!”

Dali’s roar, transmitted through the command tower’s system, vibrated through all fighter squadrons. “A mere few zombies have scattered nearly a hundred of your fighter jets like this! What are you good for? Even if you have to ram them, you damn well better knock them out of the sky for me!”

Only the pilots in their fighter jets, like mute men, had unspoken grievances.

The air force had always held空中 dominance. There were no prior records of flying zombies, and these hundred fighter jets were only on a ground attack mission. Most people believed there would be no danger in the air, so not to mention missiles, there wasn’t even a single bullet in their autocannons.

This unwritten rule proved deadly with the appearance of flying zombies. Nearly a hundred fighter jets, like a flock of lambs, had no power to fight back against a few flying zombies, only to flee. Of course, if they actually rammed them as Dali suggested, they would have some means of retaliation.

But the problem was, would these zombies give them a chance to ram? Agile as they were, they were even more nimble in the air than the fighter jets.

Dali apparently remembered this oversight, which he hadn’t even considered important, and his face turned ashen. He truly wanted to slap himself a few times. But now was not the time for self-reproach. He pulled the air raid alarm. In the entire air force base, the previously relaxed logistics and flight personnel, after a moment of stunned silence, immediately took their posts according to wartime regulations.

The air force had only fifty reserve fighter jets, all fully armed for emergency situations.

These now served as the air force’s lifeline, as the Commercial Association entirely lacked anti-air capabilities, with virtually zero aerial defense. So, Dali, without hesitation, issued the order. These fifty fighter jets quickly entered the runway, and with the roar of their massive engines, soared into the sky, heading east.

These fifty fighter jets were equipped with air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, and their autocannons were fully loaded with 2500 rounds of ammunition, enough for a period of air combat.

No one among the fifty ascending fighter pilots had prior air combat experience, so everyone was exceptionally nervous, their palms sweating. The honor of the air force rested in their hands. If even fifty fighter jets were utterly defeated by just a few zombies, they would have no way to wash away the air force’s shame, even by taking their own lives.

“I don’t care what methods you use, you bastards! If you don’t shoot these damn zombies down for me, don’t even think about coming back!”

Dali was practically beside himself with rage. He could almost feel everyone’s strange gazes. As the Chairman’s top enforcer, everything in the entire Commercial Association had been slanted towards the air force – personnel were provided, resources were supplied, all the best for the air force. For such a ridiculous thing to happen under these circumstances was an absolute disgrace.

A hundred fighter jets, and they didn’t even have autocannon rounds loaded! Did they really think the entire sky was safe?

The loss of a few fighter jets seemed insignificant compared to the twelve hundred fighter jets available, but Dali knew that this blow was immense. If a few fighter jets were shot down in peacetime, the entire nation would be shaken, impacting the global situation. In terms of value, a few fighter jets, at an individual price of around 45 million USD each, represented a direct loss of about 200 million USD.

No matter what, this mistake had to be rectified.

Dali’s roar put even greater pressure on the pilots. But with pressure comes motivation. If even fifty fighter jets couldn’t handle a few flying zombies, then, as the commander said, they should just crash into a wall and die.

The hy-2 fighter jet’s maximum speed reached Mach 1.5. Under the anxious piloting of the fighter pilots, the distance to the desolate plains front was covered in mere moments.

Through communicator contact, the fifty fighter jets accurately located the flying zombies still pursuing other fighter jets. Although their radar wasn’t outstanding, it successfully detected the airborne zombie targets. Once the radar locked on, the air-to-air missiles under the wings were launched. In 0.1 seconds, their boosters ignited, and with an instantaneous acceleration, the missiles fiercely hurtled towards the zombie targets still ten kilometers away.

In truth, the flying zombies’ speed wasn’t as fast as Mach 1, but their agility was terrifying, like fish in water.

As the missiles approached, they merely rolled over and dodged them. Their unconscious yet highly reactive brains gave them even greater combat power. However, their numbers were too few. They might dodge one missile, but they couldn’t continuously dodge several.

The power of the air-to-air missile instantly pulverized the zombie it hit, and in the explosion, even its shattered remains were incinerated.

“Yes!!”

Successfully eliminating a flying zombie was undoubtedly a huge morale boost. The fifty fighter jets, arrayed in formation, opened fire with full force. Missiles under their wings detached like they were free, swooping towards the zombies. A collective lock-on attack by nearly a hundred missiles would be impossible to resist, even for an immortal.

The remaining flying zombies, no matter how powerful or agile, exploded into balls of flame in the dense missile barrage.

When only the whistling of fighter jets remained in the sky, all the flight personnel cheered. These terrifying flying zombies were not as difficult to deal with as they had imagined. Look, just two rounds of attacks, and they had been shot down.

Only Dali’s eyes were practically spitting fire. Fifty fighter jets, a hundred missiles—such a waste to annihilate them! They were completely a bunch of prodigals. Didn’t they know that the air force didn’t have many missiles left? If another wave of flying zombies appeared, what would they do? Turn tail and run like before?

The aerial battle did not affect the ground troops’ continuous shelling, with shells still raining down on the zombie horde.

Meanwhile, at the Commercial Association headquarters, the atmosphere grew heavy. The emergence of these flying zombies added insult to injury for an already overburdened front line, and also made the trajectory of the war increasingly unpredictable. As the top echelon of the entire Commercial Association, their perspective on problems was always holistic.

In the Chairman’s office, Xu Yuhai stood with an ashen face, saying, “Boss, it was our intelligence department’s dereliction of duty. I am willing to bear all responsibility.”

Zhou Yuanqiang sat in his chair, a reconnaissance blimp’s video playing on the laptop on his desk. It showed the moment the flying zombies appeared. The destruction of several fighter jets made his heart twitch slightly. He wasn’t a petty man, but several excellent pilots and several fighter jets were gone just like that. This was the Commercial Association’s heaviest loss since its establishment, and the air force’s first casualties.

Looking at Xu Yuhai, who stood before him solemnly, Zhou Yuanqiang said nothing, merely tapping his desk lightly.

As the ruler of the Commercial Association, the issues he considered were far more complex than just a few air force fighter jets.

Data on the flying zombies was also recorded on the laptop, along with the fastest intelligence analysis from the analysis department. The data sent shivers down Zhou Yuanqiang’s spine, as these flying zombies were too powerful.

Looking at their data, the analysis department concluded that they, like ordinary zombies, possessed crystals, and were even suspected of having twin crystals. One was used to provide instant acceleration, and the other for releasing hundreds of volts of electricity. Their maximum level flight speed, without initiating their burst, could reach about 350 kilometers per hour. If they burst, their speed would reach a terrifying Mach 1, an increase of approximately three times.

From historical records, there was no mention of them whatsoever. Even the North, plagued by zombies for several years, had never encountered such zombies.

The structure of the flying zombies, in their mutated form, closely resembled demons from comic books. The difference was that their hands had directly mutated into wings, rather than growing on their backs. Their wings were very similar to those of dragons in fantasy movies. Their sharp heads would reduce air resistance during flight, and their webbed feet served to control direction and balance.

Their appearance was exactly like bird-men, so the analysis department named them “Bird Zombies,” meaning zombies that could fly in the sky like birds.

The appearance of Bird Zombies changed too many things. First, the Commercial Association’s fighter jets could no longer fly wantonly in the sky as before. And military blimps, a slow-moving airborne military branch, faced unprecedented challenges. The entire Commercial Association’s transportation lines, which relied on transport blimps, would also be threatened by Bird Zombies.

“No one could have predicted the changes in the zombies. You have all done your best, so what fault is there?”

Zhou Yuanqiang sighed softly. It seemed the apocalypse wasn’t easy to navigate; the threat of zombies still existed. He had previously been somewhat complacent, believing that with the Commercial Association’s vast air force, he could sweep across the entire apocalypse and reclaim the entire continent. But now it seemed he had thought too simply.

Everything in the apocalypse was like an unknown fog. No one knew what would emerge next.

Xu Yuhai’s expression relaxed. He said, “Thank you, Boss. Currently, all reconnaissance blimps have been dispatched to scout the entire front line, the zombie horde, and the mountain range, to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. But Boss, I think the effectiveness of reconnaissance blimps and reconnaissance planes will be greatly reduced with the appearance of Bird Zombies. We absolutely must develop unmanned reconnaissance drones that can exceed Mach 1.5 to escape the threat of the Bird Zombies.”

Zhou Yuanqiang felt a headache coming on. These Bird Zombies had truly appeared at the worst possible time, completely putting the Commercial Association in a passive position on many matters.

“You should discuss this with Minister Wan,” Zhou Yuanqiang said, rubbing his temples. “Actually, there’s no need for everyone to be so nervous. From the images, their numbers shouldn’t be very high. In a zombie horde of this scale, only a few of these Bird Zombies appeared, so their threat to us is still very limited. The key now is for us to get more detailed intelligence on them.”

Xu Yuhai nodded and said, “I’ve considered that issue too. Combining all the intelligence we have, I believe these zombies might have only recently mutated.”

Zhou Yuanqiang’s eyes narrowed, then he suddenly paused, saying, “Continue.”

“Boss, I don’t know if you noticed, but when we reclaimed Qingyuan City, the Corpse Queen bred a large number of zombies.” Xu Yuhai seemed to have come prepared. He inserted a USB drive into Zhou Yuanqiang’s laptop, pulled out old pictures, and explained, “Boss, please look. The facial features of these zombies are dislocated, and their skin is clean and white, exactly like a baby’s, but extremely pale, without a trace of blood.”

After flipping through a few pictures, Xu Yuhai continued, “Boss, now look at these. Over a few days, the skin of these zombies began to rot, but their claws and teeth changed, making them more suitable for movement in the streets and more effective in attack. And look here, this is how they fight. Compared to ordinary primitive zombies, they are more aggressive and agile.”

Xu Yuhai paused, waiting for Zhou Yuanqiang to clearly see the pictures, then opened another set.

“Through our research, combined with the bodies bred by the Corpse Queen several times, they have all, without exception, changed according to certain environmental influences. During our previous siege, zombies on the streets posed little threat. But the second time we recaptured the original Qingyuan City, the zombies bred by the Corpse Queen were clearly more suited for street combat.”

After taking a deep breath, Xu Yuhai emphatically stated, “Therefore, we can completely confirm that zombies will breed specialized mutated zombies based on influences. And these Bird Zombies are the air force that the zombies specifically mutated under the influence of our fighter jets!”

Chapter 298: A Moment’s Rest

If zombies could mutate into various types that counter specific threats, what would that look like? It would be a situation where they grow stronger against strength and weaker against weakness… like an unkillable cockroach.

Hearing Xu Yuhai’s words, Zhou Yuanqiang’s heart still raced, as this news was indeed bad for humanity. Its impact on the Commercial Association was immense. With such fast Bird Zombies, slow transport airships could no longer fly freely in the sky; fighter jets would be needed to escort their supply lines.

Zhou Yuanqiang gently tapped the table. He found that the worse the news, the more he liked to think in this manner.

“Boss, just as you said, we believe the number of these Bird Zombies must not be much. Looking at the entire zombie horde, there were only a few of them. Based on this intelligence, our analysis suggests two possibilities: first, the number of Bird Zombies is indeed small, and it’s not easy to evolve into such a Bird Zombie. Second, the Bird Zombies’ focus wasn’t on this area. However, we lean more towards the first reason.”

It was truly impressive that Xu Yuhai’s intelligence department could analyze this much in such a short time. He continued, “It will take at least two days to confirm this. The intelligence department is doing its utmost. Reconnaissance airships are expected to scout three surrounding provinces within two days. If there are many Bird Zombies, they will definitely attack the reconnaissance airships, and then we will know their situation.”

Zhou Yuanqiang thought for a moment, then waved his hand, allowing Xu Yuhai to return to work. Although the appearance of the Bird Zombies disrupted some plans, it didn’t affect the overall picture.

The appearance of a few Bird Zombies indeed had no impact on the soldiers on the Wilderness Front. Many of them didn’t even know that Bird Zombies existed. The few who did know, having been far away during the chase, naturally couldn’t know that the Bird Zombies had been killed. Their current concern was the upcoming battle.

The artillery bombardment continued, their targets unchanged: clearing the long-range zombies that entered the attack range, because their influence on the front line was truly too strong.

When high-level zombies gradually became scarce, and eventually not a single zombie could be seen in front of the entire wall, all the soldiers secretly sighed in relief. Fighting for an hour was tiring. Especially against high-level zombies, their agility required more effort.

In the trenches, in front of the barbed wire, zombies with blasted heads lay everywhere, like sun-drying radishes, a scene of headless corpses. The first few rows of trenches were already filled with zombie bodies, and the barbed wire had been breached, bending crookedly into the muddy ground below. Here and there, zombie bodies were hung on some wooden stakes.

As soon as the gunfire on the wall stopped, Ma Zhonglin plopped down on the concrete ground. He panted heavily, grabbed the kettle from his waist, and took several big gulps of water, hydrating himself. He had no idea how many zombies he had killed; with two empty magazines, it had to be at least twenty or thirty.

The scorching sun, which he hadn’t felt during the battle, suddenly made his back feel hot and stinging now that he was relaxed. It was probably sunburnt.

“This is just the beginning!”

Ma Zhonglin had long grasped the pattern of the zombies. With the high-level zombies eliminated, the next phase would be massive zombie waves, which would soon appear in front of the wall. High-level zombies might seem terrifying, but Ma Zhonglin preferred to face high-level zombies because their numbers were small, allowing him to calmly pick them off one by one. Ordinary zombies, however, with their hair-raising numbers, were their greatest weapon. You simply couldn’t keep up; kill one, and another would immediately take its place, continuing to surge forward.

There wasn’t much water left in his kettle. Ma Zhonglin looked at the sun overhead and simply drank it all. It seemed that during this brief pause, the logistics guys would deliver enough drinking water, as well as dinner, anti-cold liquor, and coats.

Ma Zhonglin’s guess was correct. After the gunfire on the wall ceased, several transport airships slowly flew over, landing behind the wall. Logistics Department personnel drove cars, transporting the food and water brought by the transport airships to the edge of the wall, and then logistics soldiers delivered individualized portions of food and water to the soldiers.

Today’s battle was destined to continue into the night.

The nights in the wasteland were very cold, so the army’s coats and ample portions of anti-cold liquor were brought by people according to their numbers and delivered to each soldier’s hands after they had eaten their rice balls mixed with rice and green vegetables. The light at night in the wasteland was good, but a large number of flares were still sent to the wall by the Logistics Department.

After eating their rice balls, the soldiers leaned against the wall to rest, needing to seize every moment of free time.

When the sun had completely set below the wasteland horizon, commanders responsible for various sections of the wall, using binoculars, could see a vast, dark mass of shadows five or six kilometers away, illuminated by the last rays of twilight. Above these dark masses, swirls of smoke were kicked up by their movement, glimmering like scattered light in the lingering sunlight.

At a distance of five or six kilometers, the front-line commanders didn’t seem nervous. Instead, they continuously raised their binoculars to observe the approaching zombie horde.

As for the soldiers below, after more than an hour of fighting, the veterans were as composed as ever. The new recruits were no longer as nervous as before; they also knew that given the zombies’ movement speed, it would take at least another hour for them to appear in front of the wall from five or six kilometers away.

Besides, they weren’t the ones launching the first wave of attacks on the zombie horde, so there was no need to worry.

The recoilless cannons mounted on the wall began to play their part when the zombies approached within five kilometers. This type of weapon, which saw its status and role gradually decline in the 1970s with the development of armor technology and the perfection of anti-tank missiles, had been completely retired by developed countries, with only a few third-world nations still extensively equipping them.

As a cheap weapon with a simple structure and ease of manufacture, it was naturally the Commercial Association’s first choice. When equipped with high-explosive shells, its attack range could reach seven kilometers.

The Commercial Association had several models of recoilless cannons, and they were numerous, making them one of the ground forces’ most important close-range suppressive fire weapons.

As soon as the zombies entered their attack range, facing the dense hordes, there was no need to aim. Recoilless cannon after recoilless cannon began firing. Their massive numbers inflicted equally massive casualties on the zombies. Swathes of zombies fell in chunks as shells exploded. Their killing range wasn’t as large as heavy artillery, but their sheer numbers meant they caused far more casualties than heavy artillery.

In Ma Zhonglin’s opinion, fighting zombies was incredibly boring and monotonous, almost entirely repetitive actions.

And the zombies never changed, whether it was their charge or the vanguard actions of high-level zombies. For years, nothing had changed, except perhaps their scale, which was growing ever larger. Like this time, the gathering of hundreds of millions of zombies was truly hard to accept.

Ma Zhonglin wondered what else the zombies would come up with in the future, gathering billions of zombies?

That seemed possible and impossible. Perhaps it would take a very, very long time for them to gather little by little to form so many zombies? It seems this has nothing to do with him; he’s just a team leader, not even the smallest squad leader.

“After this, the military merits I’ve accumulated should be enough to earn me a medal?”

Ma Zhonglin thought silently. Those who received medals were quickly promoted in the future. He was a team leader now; perhaps once this war was over, he could serve as a deputy platoon commander. If he was lucky, he might even be a company commander in a year or two.

By now, the night had grown dim. Closer objects were still visible, but further away, it was just a vast expanse of darkness.

“All personnel, enter combat readiness…”

Orderlies ran along the wall, relaying the commands from the section commanders.

The Commercial Association was not yet luxurious enough to equip even ordinary soldiers with communicators, but according to the military headquarters’ vision, future soldiers would be fully digitized, with communicators being just one of the most basic pieces of equipment. They would eventually be equipped with more advanced gear, armed to the teeth, so to speak.

Shaking off these muddled thoughts, Ma Zhonglin took a deep breath, stood up, and once again checked the gun in his hand.

The zombies were now very close. Their massive numbers made the entire wasteland seem to tremble as they moved. Experienced individuals could judge the zombies’ distance purely by the tremors. More experienced ones could even accurately determine the zombies’ speed in the darkness.

Ma Zhonglin naturally didn’t have such an ability. He spoke to Gao Xia and Yan Jinghua, “Be sharp later. Our shooting accuracy will decrease at night, and zombies can easily get close to us. Who knows if there are any high-level zombies left? This wall is too short; for high-level zombies, jumping up isn’t difficult.”

Gao Xia and Yan Jinghua were new recruits, soldiers recruited from Zombie Hunters. Against a small number of zombies, they were experts, but against such a large-scale zombie horde, they truly lacked experience. Their previous engagement against high-level zombies had made them more composed.

Hearing Ma Zhonglin, both of them naturally nodded, as Ma Zhonglin’s combat experience was far beyond theirs.

Several flares suddenly shot into the sky, illuminating the entire area in front of the wall in stark white. Individual zombies could be seen already reaching the trenches. Without the slightest pause, they surged forward like a rolling tide, crossing the trenches filled with bodies, and crashing against the wall.

Behind them was an endless, dark surge of zombie heads, an unknown countless number…

“Prepare, free fire… Fire…”

At the command, dense gunfire erupted, and countless streams of fire appeared. Zombies in the first row were constantly hit in the head and fell, only to be trampled by the zombie horde behind them.

(I’m not in a great state today. This chapter is 3k. Please forgive me!)

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Chapter 299: Aircraft Carrier

Night operations were truly not something humans preferred.

Zombies only fell when hit in the head. In the darkness, only their blurry silhouettes could be seen. Hitting them was easy, but blowing their heads off was much harder. Though plenty of searchlights were prepared, they didn’t offer much help for the battle along the entire front line. Zombies still had to be allowed within about 50 meters before soldiers could open fire.

The numerous grenades became one of the most lethal weapons on the front line. Throwing one into the pitch-black mass of zombies below would disable several of them. The dense gunfire never ceased. The heavy machine guns’ suppressive fire shredded the charging zombies. For a heavy machine gun, it no longer needed to hit the head; even a body shot would incapacitate them, turning them into stumbling blocks for other zombies.

The battle instantly escalated to its most intense. The zombies, like an unstoppable torrent, slammed against the low walls.

Throughout the night, everyone in the Commercial Association’s command center sat anxiously, constantly monitoring every move on the front line. By morning, a collective sigh of relief was heard: at least the zombies had not yet breached the walls. After a night of massive casualties, this third wave of zombies no longer threatened the safety of the first defensive line.

However, the soldiers who had fought all night were exhausted and freezing. The moment the zombie threat receded, they all slumped against the walls, utterly spent.

The artillery had long since ceased fire. Due to heavy losses, there were no more gun barrels left to replace. Only some recoilless cannons continued to groan on the battlefield. With the zombies halted and their momentum gone, they were trapped before the walls like penned livestock, staring eagerly at the humans on the walls, their only actions being to bare their teeth and claws.

The temporary quiet on the front line gave the Commercial Association more time, but there were too many problems to solve.

Under Zhou Yuanqiang’s unusual orders, the armory stopped manufacturing artillery shells and aerial bombs, switching instead to producing large quantities of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.

This order was perplexing. Tens of millions of zombies were still gathering on the front line. They might regroup and launch a fourth offensive in just a week. Without the suppression from fighter jets and the precise clearing of powerful zombies by artillery, the first defensive line would be utterly incapable of holding. The second defensive line was still being urgently constructed, with some sections not yet completed.

Only Zhou Yuanqiang knew that the modern weaponry he had ordered was about to be delivered.

It felt somewhat strange. In his vision, the apocalypse was like a hidden factory, not only providing him with skilled personnel but also supplies. The initial investment was over, and the well-established Commercial Association had indeed provided him with abundant manpower and resources. However, population limitations and the slow expansion of the armory still required support from the modern world.

Therefore, they were entirely complementary. What mattered was what each side truly needed.

The arms delivery, unlike in movies, wasn’t filled with suspense. Yemen’s international standing and the transparency of arms transactions meant both sides exchanged goods for money. However, the sheer volume of ammunition Zhou Yuanqiang ordered did cause a stir in Yemen’s arms industry.

Such a massive amount of ammunition was enough to overthrow the government of a medium-sized country. As long as there was war, it was springtime for arms dealers, with piles of money waiting to be earned. As for which countries were fighting or how many people died, it had nothing to do with them.

Balad indeed had exceptional connections. The enormous order allowed him to gather many arms dealers onto this ammunition ship. It was under this extensive alliance that Zhou Yuanqiang’s order did not genuinely attract the scrutiny of others. Although it caused a commotion, it wasn’t worth violating industry rules or making enemies with so many arms dealers just to find out who bought the ammunition.

A colossal amount of ammunition was transported from the Main Warehouse in Qingyuan City’s south district to replenish ground forces and the air force.

The ground forces’ artillery units were essentially useless. Without replacement gun barrels, they could only stare helplessly at the vast quantities of shells. Only grenades and landmines were useful for the heavily depleted ground forces. Landmines were laid in front of the second defensive line, while grenades were distributed to every soldier.

Aerial bombs once again re-energized the air force. The massive fleet of aircraft reappeared in the sky, delivering devastating blows to the zombies on the ground.

The appearance of Bird Zombies, though disrupting some of the air force’s deployments, did not affect the overall situation. Their scarcity meant that fighter jets didn’t even need to be equipped with missiles. Simply reloading their autocannon ammunition was enough for the air force to fly freely and bomb targets from above.

As July approached, the two major Airship Factories, which primarily built transport airships, officially announced that the first true aircraft carrier had been completed after nearly seven months of manufacturing, a month ahead of schedule.

When thinking of an aircraft carrier, everyone imagines one sailing on the high seas, carrying dozens or hundreds of fighter jets, capable of conducting ultra-long-range air operations. Its main purpose is to bomb targets and deter nations showing unrest.

The United States’ dozen-plus aircraft carrier battle groups are a key reason it’s called the “world police.” Almost every time an aircraft carrier group deploys, it sparks endless speculation from the outside world. In fact, under their deterrence, some small nations immediately offer their most sincere repentance to gain America’s forgiveness.

A country without an aircraft carrier has a very low index of influence over maritime power.

However, an aircraft carrier battle group is not easy to maintain. It requires substantial economic power and strong technical capabilities. The United States upgrades its aircraft carriers every five to ten years, costing tens to hundreds of billions of yuan, not to mention its routine supplies, maintenance, and the other naval warships it deploys. Such expenses would be enough to bankrupt a small country.

The Commercial Association was inland; how could it possibly possess an aircraft carrier?

This brings us to the design submitted by Tu Long previously: an airship-style aircraft carrier. Its structure was similar to a mother-ship reconnaissance aircraft but infinitely more massive.

The Hercules transport airship, at 508 meters long, was already dubbed the largest behemoth in airship history. Yet, in front of the airship-style aircraft carrier, the Hercules transport airship was like a child, resembling a destroyer within an aircraft carrier battle group—utterly unremarkable.

Based on its initial design purpose, the airship-style aircraft carrier served the same function as its naval counterpart: carrying fighter jets for free, ultra-long-range air raids. Compared to sea-based aircraft carriers, which are confined to the ocean, the airship-style aircraft carrier is different; it can reach any place in the world, whether ocean or land.

From this perspective, the airship-style aircraft carrier is even more powerful than sea-based aircraft carriers.

The airship-style aircraft carrier is narrow and elongated, reaching a length of 960 meters, almost double that of the Hercules transport airship. Its flight deck is built on the airship’s back, featuring a 520-meter runway capable of launching and landing any aerial fighter jet. Initially, it is designed to carry 110 hy-2 fighter jets, 36 experimental carrier-borne aircraft, 10 bombers, and 50 armed helicopters.

As a new type of aircraft carrier, the Commercial Association also prioritized its anti-air and ground defense capabilities.

The terrifying carrying capacity of airships was retained in the airship aircraft carrier. This immense load capacity allowed it to be armed like a hedgehog. It featured numerous anti-aircraft guns, anti-aircraft missiles, and missile systems with both ground defense and ground attack capabilities. Its massive size was a critical drawback, but this was somewhat mitigated by the inclusion of advanced radar technology.

The large number of carrier-borne aircraft further enhanced its defensive capabilities, making it a true mobile aerial fortress.

It’s hard to imagine the influence an airship-style aircraft carrier would have on the Commercial Association. Possessing such an aircraft carrier, capable of reaching any region on Earth, would enable the Commercial Association to conduct long-range operations. The large number of armed helicopters it carries would maximize their role as armor-killer.

Its colossal size, with tens of thousands of airbags, meant that even a missile attack would not significantly affect the airship aircraft carrier.

Regardless of the country, an aircraft carrier battle group represents the pinnacle of high-tech integration. Each piece of military technology enhances their survival and attack capabilities.

The ‘Bird’s Nest’ airship aircraft carrier was no exception. All available technology within the Commercial Association was concentrated in its design. From missile technology to airship technology, carrier-borne aircraft technology, and air defense technology, all represented the most advanced capabilities of the Commercial Association.

The appearance of the airship-style aircraft carrier truly delighted Tu Long himself, because the airship aircraft carrier fell within the domain of airships and would become a member under his leadership. With a hundred-plus aircraft carrying capacity, the air force would exist independently, affixed to the airship.

Dali, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. It could now be said that the Airship Department could finally hold its head high.

However, while construction was complete, it would take at least another six months before it could be put into service. This period would involve equipping it with weapons and testing various aircraft on its platform. They also needed to develop suitable carrier-borne aircraft for the airship aircraft carrier and research more advanced defensive missiles. The appearance of Bird Zombies added a touch of pressure to this behemoth. If an aircraft carrier, with an eight-month manufacturing cycle, were to be shot down in moments, it would be an absolute joke.

Therefore, this entire process meant that six months was already a very optimistic estimate.

UNTITLED

Chapter 201: Global Premiere

Chapter 202: Massive Profits from a Few Pieces of Fabric

Chapter 203: Malice
Chapter 204: Farce
Chapter 205: Planting an Excuse
Chapter 206: Inspiration
Chapter 207: Deterrence
Chapter: The Final Burning Battle!
Chapter 208: Communication and Reform
Chapter 209: Gold Everywhere
Chapter 210: The Mysterious Zombies
Chapter 211: Preparing for the Worst
Chapter 212: Fire Bats
Chapter 213: Discussion
Chapter 214: General Mobilization
Chapter 508: Landing
Chapter 216: Bombing
Chapter 217: Airship Carpet Bombing
Chapter 218: Trenches
Chapter 219: Counterattack
Chapter 220: Early Assault
Chapter 221: West District
Chapter 222: Killing Intent in the Dark Night
Chapter 223: Level 8 Zombie
Chapter 224: Burning Mountain of Corpses
Chapter 225: Appearing
Chapter 226: Underground Sewers
Chapter 227: The Mystery of Beauty
Chapter 228: The Corpse Queen

Chapter 229: The Golden Flower on the Banknote

Chapter 230: Integration
Chapter 231: A New Mode After Level 12
Chapter 232: Promotional Poster
Chapter 233: The Mission
Chapter 234: Number 5000
Chapter 235: Exploration Airship No. 5
Chapter 236: Azure Wolf
Chapter 237: River Dwelling
Chapter 238: The Psoriasis
Chapter 239: Undercurrents
Chapter 240: The Shock of Film and Reality
Chapter 241: Short on Money Again
Chapter 242: A Small Chance
Chapter 243: A Million People
Chapter 244: Blooming Everywhere
Chapter 245: Maple Leaf Town
Chapter 246: The Art of Interception
Chapter 247: Level 12 Skill
Chapter 248: Sweeping Through
Chapter 249: Mission Accomplished
Chapter 250: Judgement…
Chapter 251: Subpoena
Chapter 252: Collusion
Chapter 253: The Opened Floodgates
Chapter 254: The Crying Plain
Chapter 255: A Grand Gift
Chapter 256: Crystal Warriors
Chapter 257: The Target
Chapter 258: Guam
Chapter 259: Going All Out
Chapter 260: Earth-Shattering Explosion
Chapter 261: A Small Matter

Chapter 262: Taking Responsibility for the Incident

Chapter 263: Forceful Stance
Chapter 264: Antug Tribe
Chapter 265: The Great Ore Vein
Chapter 266: What is Divine Power?
Chapter 267: Pursuit
Chapter 268: Decryption
Chapter 269: Operation Codename 1428
Chapter 270: Crystal Weapons
Chapter 271: Delivering a Peak Flattery
Chapter 272: The Mint
Chapter 273: Starting Work… Moving!
Chapter 274: Someone Actually Survived
Chapter 275: Life Underground
Chapter 276: Plan and Opportunity
Chapter 277: Rescue
Chapter 278: A Pile of Bombs for You
Chapter 279: Currency Issuance
Chapter 280: Spring Festival
Chapter 281: The Bombing Victory Theory
Chapter 282: The Second City
Chapter 283: The First Step
Chapter 284: Underhanded Tactics
Chapter 285: The Major
Chapter 286: Calling for Business at a Loss
Chapter 287: It Requires Time

Chapter 288: The Formation of the Human-Zombie Frontline

Chapter 289: The Curtain Rises
Chapter 290: Having to Do Something
Chapter 291: The Great Heist
Chapter 292: Chain Reaction
Chapter 293: All the Trouble Caused by Cement
Chapter 294: The Arms Dealer
Chapter 295: The Impact of the Tide
Chapter 296: Aerial Crisis
Chapter 297: Bird Zombies
Chapter 298: A Moment’s Rest
Chapter 299: Aircraft Carrier