Apocalypse: the Most Ruthless Person

Everyone at the Little Lucky Inn maintained a forty-five degree angle of their heads, looking up at the person speaking on the second floor, listening very intently.

It wasn’t that kind of blood-boiling state, because the future Zhang Su described wasn’t pie in the sky, it was a tangible reality that could be reached if everyone just put in a little effort.

Li Zongkai, Liu Yao, and Yang Xinqi exchanged glances through the crowd, each feeling something different, but sharing a common thought: their vision wasn’t as grand as Zhang Su’s.

The three only wanted to guard their own territory, never considering further expansion; their future planning was a complete mess, at most, Li Zongkai had some ideas, but nothing structured.

To put it bluntly, it’s ultimately due to lack of capability; setting aside their subordinates, as the saying goes, a bear of a leader leads to a nest of bears, the leader’s vision determines the upper limit of the power, the members’ capabilities supporting the lower limit.

It’s only when one settles in one corner, ultimately to be swallowed by others.

To be peacefully integrated into a stronger force is already a very good ending.

”Then, do we... still need to bring people over?”

Yang Xinqi raised the crucial question.

Zhang Su took a deep breath and said earnestly: ”Considering the current situation, this matter needs careful thought; everyone stay overnight, discuss the details of future planning, as for accommodation for these many brothers, I’ll arrange that!

For the remaining time, everyone can move freely, just don’t go to Cui Leng Pavilion and inside the scenic area, roam elsewhere, treat it as a vacation at Celestial Horse Island.”

Accommodating over two hundred people, Celestial Horse Island seemed especially lively, silhouettes moved among the buildings, many people gathered around tanks, helping clean the muck from the tracks.

Some were cozying up to the people from the Yama Corps, creating a thick atmosphere of interpersonal relationships typical of the city; members of various factions had a knack for flattering, always making the atmosphere lively.

There were also some more industrious ones, driving to the foot of the mountain to haul zombie bodies, they didn’t idle at all, performing well, striving to familiarize themselves before formally joining Celestial Horse Island, a good position would be easier to secure later.

The four-member thief group played themselves to death, after which everyone behaved very honestly, all following rules, even those wanting to cozy up with young women at Celestial Horse Island calmed down, as women are available everywhere, there’s really no need to particularly seek them at Yama Hall.

Lunchtime was quite late, ending nearly at three; dinner arrangements were very simple, featuring northern specialties like thick porridge, several large barrels steaming hot, paired with various pickles, ensuring everyone was more than full.

As night fell, the zombie-powered generator delivered electricity, lighting up Celestial Horse Island everywhere; the joy in everyone’s hearts was hard to conceal, this could be considered the most peaceful night since the apocalypse, walking around the camp, the sense of security allowed for inner tranquility, even sitting under the moonlight having a smoke, spacing out, was a form of enjoyment.

Liao Youzhi’s inheritance, the mighty Cadillac, all seven seats occupied.

With the camp being too lively everywhere, Zhang Su conveniently called people into the car for a meeting, also bringing Yuwen and Ju Mumio; Teacher Yu had deeper insights in some areas, while Ju Mumio’s role was very straightforward, monitoring others’ emotions.

Save for Yuwen, others did not understand why that fierce-looking woman joined the meeting in the car, Zhang Su didn’t specifically introduce her either, yet she quietly sat in the back corner without being a bother...

”King Yama, I’m a rough man, but I can tell, you don’t seem to want all of us to move to Celestial Horse Island?”

Liu Yao, sitting in the co-driver seat, turned to look at the back.

Zhang Su half-lay on the second-row seat, slightly nodded and said: ”Correct, this consideration is mainly due to three aspects; first is the simplest issue of attracting zombies, it’s not that we can’t withstand the hordes, but as of now, consolidating in one spot has more disadvantages than advantages.

Secondly, it’s the resource issue, you’ve been running in the city for a while, but I believe the surrounding communities haven’t been fully searched, coming together, food in the short term is not a pressure, but other supplies aren’t enough, like the industrial products like toilet paper you mentioned before!

The third, which is the issue we most need to guard against, is other area survivors, keeping you here today is to thoroughly understand the situation in Qin City and its surrounding areas, if they are friends, then we maintain relations, if they are foes... we need to be cautious!”

In the current environment, every small camp resembles nations scattered across the land, mutually agreed upon or established agreements, demarcating each’s territory, yet conflict with neighboring forces is inevitable.

Once other forces are drawn into Celestial Horse Island, Celestial Horse Island naturally has the obligation to protect its safety, who would want to follow a soft big shot?

”Let me talk about the situation around the military camp first.”

Li Zongkai knocked on the steering wheel, continued: ”Following Wenhua Road eastwards, between Qin City and Mountain and Sea District, there exists only a small force, seemingly a village amalgamation of forty to fifty people, hardly interacting with us, they prefer liaising with Mountain and Sea District, as far as I know, many survivors have also gathered in Mountain and Sea District.”

To the south, the city within is largely abandoned territory, a secure camp only exists near Dao Nan, called ’Last Line of Defense’; two months ago, we faced them at the former fruit wholesale market, agreed upon using Qin City Street as a boundary, not infringing upon each other, they prefer engaging with the forces near the coast.

The northern bridge is broken, but there’s a group guarding a village north of the broken bridge who didn’t leave; I’ve previously exchanged farm produce with them, but they tend to take advantage, and trading is too inconvenient, so we stopped dealing with them.”

Li Zongkai’s grasp of information was extensive, speaking clearly; after he finished, others didn’t rush to speak, seemingly digesting the content.

”Qin City is livelier than I imagined, see our side, after months of slow contraction, it’s just Celestial Horse Island left, beyond the mountain there’s another force, going north towards Qing County is a long detour, or traversing across mountains to reach...”

Zhang Su casually spoke about his side’s situation.

”The urban area is actually similar; in the last two or three months, the population has decreased by about thirty percent, all sorts of forces gradually merging, since I joined the Survivor Alliance, we’ve absorbed more than seven or eight survivor teams of varying sizes, the smallest only having three people, it’s truly pitiful.”

In the last row, Zhang Xin spoke somewhat gloomily; having been a small fruit business owner for over a decade, he was quite sensitive to population density, whenever the population decreased, business wouldn’t thrive.

Zhang Su nodded, then asked: ”What about you all, how’s the situation around you, mention those with good relations, and specify those with bad relations clearly.”

”My area is simple; squeezed between Survivor Alliance and Apocalypse Corps, no one to the north, south is also dominated by Survivor Alliance, so I just lead my brothers through a dozen or so small communities, enough food and drink though!”

Liu Yao was pleased with the current state, a small region with few people, camp-stored supplies were relatively abundant.

His vision was shortsighted; looking a bit further, it wasn’t difficult to foresee that Little Eagle Association’s fate would definitely be being consumed by Survivor Alliance!

”Little Eagle Association searches the area where we used to live...”

Added Zhang Xin.

”Oh?”

Zhang Su was somewhat surprised.

Liu Yao’s face stiffened, forced a smile and said: ”Don’t know which community King Yama previously lived in... was it Phoenix International? Urban Home? Or Shengtai New Garden...”

”Phoenix International...” Hearing the familiar name, Zhang Su’s mind swirled with a series of images, he laughed: ”Captain Zhang used to live in Phoenix International, I lived in Sheng Qin Home.”

”Ah, I know about Sheng Qin Home, that community... tsk tsk.” Liu Yao clicked his tongue, with a peculiar expression, said: ”That community was quite tragic, a large section of the wall collapsed, whole buildings burnt down, quite a few places caught fire, clearing that community really took great effort, even now, two buildings remain undealt with.”

”Haha, the one burnt down was the building I lived in, if not for that big fire, I might have delayed leaving the community for a few more days, all the subsequent things would have been different...”

Zhang Su sighed softly.

”My home is in Phoenix Mansion, don’t know if Mr. Liu has been there, how’s it now?”

Yuwen seldom spoke, asked about his own home’s situation.

”Phoenix Mansion huh...”

Liu Yao rolled his eyes thinking for a bit, said: ”You need to ask Captain Zhang for that neighbourhood, it belongs to the area swept by Survivor Alliance.”

Within the urban area, the territory division was quite strict; Phoenix International and Phoenix Mansion belonged to the same developer, separated just by a street, yet the resources of each community were extremely substantial, they fought hard to secure them, not likely relinquishing them easily.

Zhang Xin shrugged: ”I live in Phoenix International, know Phoenix Mansion, used to do business there often, but I’m with Vanguard Corps, not responsible for search tasks, haven’t been there since the outbreak, Teacher Yu, if you want to understand the situation, you can ask Zhou Le, he’s with Search Team, surely been there.”

Yuwen smiled and nodded indicating it was just a casual inquiry; his thoughts had already drifted to Phoenix Mansion, where his wife died, spending the past decade there, leaving many memories.