Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

The crowd realized that Zhang Su had conducted a comprehensive appointment for the new members of Celestial Horse Island, arranging roles for each faction, which surely had deep significance. The core management matters were not something everyone wanted to worry about; surviving better was the key!

After the applause ended, Zhang Su looked at those who had just been appointed with a smile and said, “As leaders, you will naturally enjoy different privileges. I will allocate five rooms from Celestial Horse Island for you to settle in, as resolving the accommodation issue is crucial for focusing on work, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes!”

“That’s right!”

Wang Longzhong and Pan Guoliang answered quickly, as if competing to see who was faster.

“Well said!”

“Um, okay…”

Ma Changshou and Lü Leiyang followed suit with their remarks. Ma Changshou was simply a bit slower in reacting, while Lü Leiyang, who originally lived on Celestial Horse Island, couldn’t understand why he was made deputy leader and was lost in thought.

Yang Liehuo glanced at the Kuanzhuang people, nodded with a complex expression, and said, “Obey the arrangements.”

The initially lively atmosphere became slightly silent after Zhang Su’s room policy, with the United Village people not caring, the five members of the Cyan Dragon Corps acting independently, and only the people of West Camp Village and Kuanzhuang feeling most uneasy.

The fact that these two villages survived the apocalypse meant each person was no fool, even the youngest, Xiaoya, noticed something unusual in Zhang Su’s arrangements.

Extracting Ma Changshou and Yang Liehuo from the villagers is akin to pulling out the backbone of both villages at once!

Most people could understand this as Zhang Su’s method and admonishment as the actual leader of Celestial Horse Island; from this moment on, everyone is a member of Celestial Horse Island, and it’s time to stop forming small cliques!

Though it wasn’t explicitly stated, the meaning was clear enough for everyone to astutely understand it as a bottom line. If anyone dared to touch this bottom line, they would meet with severe consequences!

Zhang Su’s gaze lightly swept over everyone’s faces, as if he couldn’t see their thoughts, concluding, “In the past few months, everyone has experienced a lot and understands the difficulty of surviving in the apocalypse. But as long as we strive tirelessly, I can’t guarantee luxury, but being fed and clothed is not a problem! I’ve finished speaking…”

Clap, clap, clap.

The core members took the lead in clapping, and soon after, the whole Celestial Horse Island echoed with enthusiastic applause.

Not long after, the banquet ended. As everyone was tidying up, Xie Yanshan and Fu Weijun approached Zhang Su.

“Mr. Zhang, I… um.”

Xie Yanshan laughed awkwardly, tugging at his pant leg with some difficulty in expressing himself.

Zhang Su glanced around and gestured, “Come over here.”

The three moved to a corner, while others avoided them, all knowing that knowing too many secrets was of no benefit.

“Mr. Zhang, did you previously find two vials of Zombie Transformation Liquid in the ruins of the laboratory?”

In a quiet area, Xie Yanshan asked softly and earnestly.

“Is that so?”

Fu Weijun, seated in a wheelchair, looked at Zhang Su with a face full of expectation, showing a completely different expression from Xie Yanshan.

Zhang Su’s lips twitched; he instinctively wanted to conceal it, but considering that keeping it was of no use, it would be better to take it out for research. If breakthroughs were made, it would be beneficial, so he nodded, “Yes, we found one vial. Do you need it?”

“Yes!” Fu Weijun answered enthusiastically, “I discussed this matter with Dr. Xie. We intend to apply to use the Transformation Liquid for research, please approve!”

“Dr. Xie? May I know in which field Mr. Xie is a doctor?”

Zhang Su hadn’t asked about Xie Yanshan’s situation before, planning to understand it slowly later, but it turned out Fu Weijun knew quite a bit.

After all, if Xie Yanshan didn’t have certain abilities and levels, the two probably wouldn’t be able to get along well.

“I am humble, but I have some research in microbiology, bacteriology, and infection biology.”

“Oh?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Su appeared slightly surprised on the surface, though he was shocked internally, realizing the other’s impressive background; not just a doctor, but even a graduate student in microbiology, bacteriology, and infection biology would be rare talent now!

“Dr. Xie has been conducting research in Japan for many years. He returned in July due to family matters and then encountered this disaster. He has participated in multiple projects with Honjo, who won the Nobel Prize in ’18. If we continue researching the Zombie Transformation Liquid, perhaps more discoveries can be made.”

Feeling Zhang Su might not be impressed by Xie Yanshan’s reputation, Fu Weijun eagerly added a couple of sentences. The main aim was still to acquire the Zombie Transformation Liquid.

“Continuing to research the Zombie Transformation Liquid is not a problem!”

Seeing the two looking at him expectantly, Zhang Su’s demeanor became stern, and he continued, “But there is one principle: I don’t want to see you using living people for experiments. None of our companions’ lives should be trampled upon, understand?”

“Sure, no problem!”

“Of course!”

The two agreed very readily, interpreting the idea as not letting it happen or that companions’ lives must be respected accordingly…

Sometimes you don’t actually need high emotional intelligence, just high IQ to spot the flaw in a sentence. But whether that flaw is intentional or unintentional is anyone’s guess!

“Let’s go, follow me to get it.”

Zhang Su waved his hand and walked towards his residence.

The night after the population surge was much more lively, not to mention, there were more night watchmen and people getting up at night.

Only during peak tourist seasons did Celestial Horse Island welcome so many visitors, and that included the staff…

“Unconsciously, there are almost a hundred people in the camp now, it’s really crowded.”

After finishing his pre-sleep exercise on the bed, a session of desk-mate friendship actually consumed less than ten percent of his energy, making Zhang Su quite proud. Although he could still fight in three rounds, he couldn’t indulge in it.

Afterwards, lying on the bed, quietly staring at the ceiling, he couldn’t help but think about the camp’s affairs.

Discussing serious matters during the sage mode felt odd, but Zhong Xiaoshan was very cooperative, saying: “Tomorrow United Village and West Camp Village are moving. By the way, have you arranged who will lead Kuanzhuang to clean the village tomorrow?”

The place for settling the Kuanzhuang people is on the south side of Celestial Horse Island, almost adjacent to Madian Village, in a small village called Yangtai Village.

After investigation, the village has no more than three hundred households in total. In this area, it’s quite small, with a previously permanent population of less than eight hundred. The zombies wandering around are even scarcer.

“Xin Qi, the three of them, plus Pan Guoliang and Yang Liehuo, their combat power definitely isn’t weak. Mainly just send someone to keep an eye on them. I sent Qi Xiaoshuai. He got thrashed today, so let him rest tomorrow.”

“Ah? What happened? I hadn’t heard you guys mention anything when you got back…”

Zhong Xiaoshan turned over and looked at Zhang Su, curiously asking.

“So many outsiders came, didn’t want to talk about it. Xinyu, you tell Xiaoshan.”

“Oh, okay… This morning, after we reached Cyan Dragon Corps, Brother Su had Bozai, Sister Tan, and Xiaoshuai… Later when Bozai dragged him back, Brother Su had Su Xiaoya finish him off. Su Xiaoya couldn’t use a gun, Brother Su was exceptionally attentive, gently hand-holding her to teach, so tender, so meticulous. I’ve never seen him so gentle with anyone else.”

Zheng Xinyu recounted the events of the morning, focusing on Zhang Su’s attentive teaching of Su Xiaoya, painting a very ambiguous picture.

“Bullshit! I didn’t even touch her!”

Zhang Su sat smoking beside, unable to listen any longer.

Zhong Xiaoshan chuckled, shook her head, half-propped herself up, and said: “There are all sorts of people outside now. Seeing lone survivors, they either rob or kill them…”

Having been responsible for logistics in the camp recently, she hadn’t gone outside to experience the world’s dangers for some time. This incident served as a wake-up call.

“I’m not surprised by their behavior, but somewhat amazed by Cyan Dragon Corps’ range of influence, even the Mountain and Sea District came over to trade. Shouldn’t we also emulate them and the Survivor Alliance, and create a trading place?”

Zhang Su pondered aloud.

Just relying on Celestial Horse Island, there’s no pressure to maintain a livelihood. If Satellite Village’s method of attracting zombies doesn’t have problems, then there’s a certain level of security, with the main threat being harassment from other forces. Slowly, development in the future is inevitable.

Not wishing to return to the past industrial level, but if further development is desired, interaction with other forces is necessary. Not to mention others, but just Fu Weijun’s often mentioned experimental equipment, if we manage to get a few, the research progress should be significantly enhanced!

Currently, based on the degree of zombie development, there ought to be more uses, just limited by conditions preventing breakthroughs.

“Humans, as social creatures, have had trade exchange since ancient times. If you feel the time is right, you can begin arranging it, though I’d suggest placing the trading location a bit further from the camp, it might be slightly safer.”

Zhong Xiaoshan offered some of her own suggestions.

“Just an idea for now, planning can be slow. Anyway, wait until it’s warmer to talk about it. When it’s freezing, unless there’s something very important, no one wants to go outside. Those from Mountain and Sea District came to find some important medicine and weapons.”

Zhang Su doesn’t intend to arrange a trading post soon.

Zhong Xiaoshan nodded, rubbed her somewhat tired shoulders, and said: “Xiaoqi is really unfortunate, got beaten up for no good reason, hasn’t even found the Venom Zombie yet…”

“Yeah, I’m starting to doubt if there’s even a second Venom Zombie…”

Talking about the Venom Zombie, Zhang Su unconsciously glanced at the Venom Liquid pressed under his pillow. He basically carried it with him. Even if not on his person, it was within reach, not daring to leave it unattended. If it explodes, the whole Celestial Horse Island would be rocketed off. Carrying it or keeping it in the room doesn’t make a big difference, as long as it’s not stolen!

“Are we still searching for it tomorrow? Just in case there is one…”

Zheng Xinyu enthusiastically suggested.

“It’s freezing cold, you don’t need to go on this task tomorrow. Take Su Xiaoya to Kuanzhuang instead, and pull some of the resources back from there.”

Zhang Su didn’t forget his promise to Su Xiaoya.

“I don’t want to go, she’s your sister-in-law, you handle it yourself!”

Zheng Xinyu pulled the quilt over her head in protest.

“Damn, what a mess of relations, offering you a chance to enrich your piggy bank, and you don’t want it, fine then…”

Zhang Su was speechless, thinking it was not good to entrust this to someone else, so he stopped mentioning it, but couldn’t easily forgive the refusal. He turned over on the bed, joined Zhong Xiaoshan to punish Zheng Xinyu!