Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

”Pfft...”

Yang Xinqi couldn’t help but let out a stifled laugh, realizing the inappropriateness of the situation, he quickly coughed seriously and said, ”Sorry.”

Liu Yao was better at stifling laughter than Yang Xinqi, his twisted expression fading in the darkness. Several others were in the same situation, including Gong Chengming, whose lips turned inward, biting down hard.

Li Zongkai’s face twitched, his abdomen hurt burning from suppressing laughter.

Liao Youzhi was dumbfounded, hearing Zhang Su’s words, he was momentarily at a loss for words, thinking: He’s insulting me, how can this guy insult people...

”Hehe...”

In an instant, Liao Youzhi pressed the call button and chuckled, then continued, ”Zhang Su, you’re trying to provoke me, let me tell you, it’s not that easy. The situation is right in front of us. Why don’t we talk about how to solve it seriously? I advise you not to play tricks. It won’t benefit you or Civilization Guardian!”

The intention was clear, but would he be so easily set up?

Absolutely laughable!

Zhang Su rolled his eyes, made a silence gesture to everyone around him, then said to Liao Youzhi, ”I worked with Li Zongkai once more than two months ago, spending less than half a day together. Do you think there’s deep friendship between us? Maybe you should switch perspectives and think about what you would do?”

Liao Youzhi frowned, coldly glancing at the silent Li Zongkai in front of him, ”Chairman Li, it seems he doesn’t think much of you. What do you say to that?”

He didn’t really believe in the bond between Li Zongkai and Zhang Su. Even before the outbreak, few people would be willing to risk their lives for friends, and especially in the precarious environment now, such a bond is hard to imagine.

”Well, perhaps I’m just being sentimental!”

Li Zongkai said in a low voice, head down, following Liao’s words, with the primary goal being survival.

”Haha, you shouldn’t rush to cooperate. Although Zhang Su seems to disregard you, I think the possibility of you two joining forces to play me isn’t impossible!”

Then, Liao Youzhi said to Zhang Su, ”I know all about what’s between you and Li Zongkai, so don’t play tricks on me. I don’t want things to escalate either. With few humans left, we shouldn’t be fighting each other, right? I think peaceful coexistence is the best way forward.”

The aggressive approach wasn’t working, time for a different tactic.

”Things were peaceful initially; you’re the one who stirred it up, isn’t that right?” Zhang Su didn’t play along with Li Zongkai like Liao Youzhi, he didn’t forget the root of the matter.

”No, originally it was peaceful, but you kept leading zombies towards Qin City for the sake of peace on your territory. Our side is small, and a horde of zombies disrupts peace, isn’t that right, Zhang Su?”

Liao Youzhi found his negotiating rhythm again, starting to organize his thoughts.

”Repeatedly...”

Zhang Su mumbled disdainfully. If he hadn’t talked to Li Zongkai, he’d still be in the dark.

However, Celestial Horse Island members, seeing Zhang Su’s expression, thought he was displeased. Lu Yubo quickly explained, ”Brother Su, we usually focus on exterminating them, never leading zombies south!”

Zhang Su hadn’t been going out to handle and lead zombies recently, mostly Lu Yubo led the teams.

”Xiaolu is right, when we do lead zombies, we direct them west, Northwest, and due north. We’ve never been to Beidong Town, and certainly haven’t gone to Qin City.”

”Brothers, Liao Youzhi is falsely accusing us!”

Zhang Su saw the anger in his men, gesturing repeatedly to calm them, ”I know it’s all Liao Youzhi’s tricks.”

Inwardly, he thought, even if he did indeed lead them, what’s the big deal? Let others take the blame for being the villain, how can it not be his turn?

”Liao Youzhi, don’t show off your self-directed plays, say something useful!”

Over at Lego Mall, most people didn’t react to Zhang Su’s comments – counter-accusations are a common tactic. But Liao Youzhi felt shaken, realizing he had been called out!

Got called out, so what? It was pointless!

”Self-directed play? You’re just spouting nonsense. There are only four survivor settlements north of Qin City, and now all four leaders are here together. Who would mess up their own place? Chairman Li, Director Liu, Director Yang, come, say something.”

”I’m Liu Yao from Little Eagle Association; we’re too busy clearing zombies to lead them back.”

”Zhang Su, I’m Yang Xinqi from Apocalypse Corps; I hope you don’t trouble my brothers. We’re focused on our turf, but sudden zombie hordes have been troubling us greatly!”

”Indeed, there have been a few zombie occurrences...”

Li Zongkai’s words were very brief, looking sadly at Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi, those two truly knew nothing.

”You’ve heard it, Zhang Su. It certainly wasn’t us. The bridge on Provincial Route 51 was blown up, only Route 52 is accessible from the north. Who else but you?”

Liao Youzhi said solemnly, in a tone suggesting Zhang Su needed to provide an explanation.

Zhang Su listened intently to Liao Youzhi’s speech, his eyelids slightly drooping.

”Brother Su, this guy is really accusing us falsely. We never trash Qin City!”

Chen Hanzhou anxiously explained.

Zhang Su raised his hand and sneered, ”With accusations, who needs reasoning.”

”Ah? Brothers, it’s really a false accusation, damn it, we must kill that bastard!”

Zhao Dezhu was furious, the fire in his heart blazing, wanting to take down Liao Youzhi immediately.

Zhang Su shook his head, signaling Zhao Dezhu to calm down. Then he said to Liao Youzhi, ”You’re free to act your self-directed play out alone; I won’t waste time with you. But sending people secretly to my territory to stir trouble? That’s unacceptable, reimburse me for my losses!”

??

Everyone froze, realizing the earlier counterattack was nothing compared to this real one...

”Zhang Su, don’t misconstrue the cause of events. It’s because you led zombies to Qin City that we had to send people to investigate your side. How do you still have the reason? Since we’re discussing, I think we should talk about releasing people!”

”Release? You’re dreaming... bullies expect kind hospitality from me? More likely, you’ll be reclaiming corpses!”

Zhang Su lightly spoke falsehoods.

Upon hearing this, the opposing side was stunned.

What? Were they all killed?

”Shit, he, he, that bastard actually killed all my brothers?”

”Damned Liao, you led our brothers to investigate Celestial Horse Island; it’s a mess now, vengeance is a must!”

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi were furious; whether three or five people went, their forces couldn’t afford such loss.

”Stop arguing, I also sent five brothers over, and even my personal guard!”

Liao Youzhi was taken aback by Zhang Su’s audacity, grabbing Li Zongkai’s collar furiously, ”Didn’t you say he’s slick? Killing people is slick? Slick your damn neighbor!”

”That’s Zhang Su from more than two months ago. How would I know what he’s become now in the apocalypse, where one trivial event can change a person fundamentally!”

Li Zongkai defended.

”Haha, are you scared?”

Just as tension hit a peak, Zhang Su’s voice rang from the mall: ”Just kidding, I’m not a killer. The people you sent are tied up just fine. So, what will you offer in exchange?”

Negotiation is nothing but a psychological duel, Zhang Su’s feigned strike threw his opponents off balance.