T/N: Thank you BABS, Somebody, and Jessie for your support! This’ll be the last full week of He Zizhong, Fang Hao, and Tuanzi. 10 more releases to go before their journey ends, which evokes bittersweet feelings of finishing a full project, and sadness to see it end.
In the meantime, I started another project here, AMWDT, which should make up for the light-hearted fluff and cooking lacking from RLDRFH in the past few weeks. Enjoy!
-komorebi
The last group hurriedly arrived and saw Yan Xin and his group sitting in the conference room. Everyone was staring at them terrified and greedy for the fat sheep, when someone suddenly cried out in surprise. “Xiao Yan?!!”
Yan Xin raised his brows and looked at the man. When he saw the person, he stood up and gave a standard military salute: “Colonel Song.” Immediately, his eyes swept passed the man with a stunned expression. His gaze slid passed his daughter, Song Qiaoqiao, who was 5 points similar to her father, before he asked without changing his expression. “Where is General Song?”
The person who came was Song Xianghong. Song Xianghong was relieved seeing Yan Xin, and said sadly: “Father… passed away.” This person’s ability is very good, and now that he is back, maybe he can assist the Song Family to seize power.
Died?
Yan Xin’s expression did not change as he nodded slightly. “I’ll go visit General Song in a bit.”
Someone suddenly coughed: “Is this almost everyone? Everyone sit, sit.”
The room is not small, but there was group of people chaotically sitting around the huge round table, crowding the room. Each group could only have 2 to 3 members at the round table.
Yan Xin was accompanied by Yin Dong and his adjutant, and the three of them sat at the front. He Zizhong and the others pretended to be bodyguards, sitting on the small stools behind them, as they listened and watched the other parties.
“Major… Yan? If I remember correctly, you left the base on a mission to support SH city base, right?” Although some newly emerged forces do not know the details and situation, several military forces, such as Song Xianghong, remained and did not leave during the previous siege. There were also ability teams who cooperated with the military present, and they naturally knew some secrets. In addition, the team that Yan Xin led at the beginning was simply a large trash can that had many people stuffed inside in order to eliminate dissidents and frame opponents.
Unexpectedly, this trash can came back. But no one cared whether the task was completed or not. Just looking at their eyes, one can see their current strength. Who dares continue treating them as trash?
Many people knew about Yan Xin’s mission at the beginning. Although most didn’t know what the trip to SH city was for, they still had time to make some inquiries before the meeting, and could figure it out.
There is no point in covering up their purpose of going to support and rescue SH city base. It’s clear that the power dynamic in A city base has changed completely, with many leaders having abandoned the base and others, like Lao Song, dying in the last zombie siege.
Making some calculations in his heart, Yan Xin took the lead in explaining the mission situation. “When we arrived, SH city base was already breached. The entire base is now completely occupied by zombies.” He looked around at the various faces at the table. “We found Lieutenant Zheng’s relatives in a small prison base some distance from the original base, but we did not find the other leaders of the base.”
His words were relatively obscure, not revealing the person who was found is Lieutenant Zheng’s uncle who was one of the previous military leaders of SH city base. The only people who understood his words were those military forces who were left behind. The newly emerged powers did not understand, or could not think about it. The old, the weak, the sick, the wives, and the children were not worthy of their attention.
After thinking for a while, Song Xianghong knew that it was not suitable to ask questions about those instruments. If he raised it in public, who knew whose hands those devices would fall into? He planned to find Yan Xin to talk about things privately after the meeting. Once an agreement is reached, even if the Song family cannot become the biggest force, they will definitely be able to speak in the future! How can it compare to now? Now they’re one of the small, embarrassing forces with no power. They were one of the last people to find out the news!
Several other military forces shared the same thoughts as him. They secretly exchanged glances and made up their minds – even if these former military forces united to jointly control those devices, they will get more benefits than sharing equally with everyone present.
Someone suddenly asked: “I noticed that nearly all members of your team are now third-level ability users?”
The person who asked the question was someone from an ability team. Everyone has already seen light streamers in nearly everyone’s eyes. It’s almost blinding!
Hearing someone finally raise this question, everyone stared at Yan Xin with burning eyes.
Yan Xin nodded slightly. “Most do.”
The lights can’t be concealed, nor is there a reason to conceal them. The reason why He Zizhong and his wife used color contact lenses at the start was because they were worried that it would be unfavorable if they were noticed by those parties, and secretly calculated. But now that nearly everyone in the convoy is level 3, with their overall strength, there is no need to be so careful. They just need to be careful so those people below1e.g., soldiers or team members taking orders won’t be bribed.
Although Yan Xin used the word “most”, in fact, all the original members apart from Lieutenant Zheng, his uncle, and those 3 soldiers under his uncle, had level 3 abilities. Including all members from the logistics team.
Lieutenant Zheng’s uncle, and those three soldiers, who didn’t have abilities originally, acquired powers with the assistance of healers after they joined the convoy. The fastest soldier has already reached level 2. Commander Zheng is older, and is not as fierce as those young people, but based on his crystal nuclei consumption, it won’t be soon until he reaches level 2 as well.
Third-level abilities can be seen with naked eyes, and Yan Xin doesn’t need to hide anything.
There was a commotion around the room, and someone asked loudly: “How did you level up? How can it be so fast?”
Yan Xin glanced at the man, still expressionless, but his words carried a sharp edge this time: “We hardly rested a day outside in order to complete the task. We were surrounded by zombies, chased, and fought every day. After continuous battles, everyone’s abilities rose without us knowing.”
Suddenly, Yin Dong, who had been sitting silently beside him, also added: “We also did not expect there is only one level 3 ability in the base.”After speaking, he raised his hand and pushed his glasses.
Fang Hao held back a smirk, leaning beside He Zizhong and murmured some words. The corners of He Zizhong’s mouth also raised a fraction. How come this guy becomes more vicious, the more his brain evolves? Isn’t he simply stabbing people in the heart with a knife?
The faces of many listeners flushed at his words.
Yan Xin spoke again before everyone completely erupted, and caused trouble. “Actually, upgrading is very easy.” His voice successfully suppressed those who were about to explode, making everyone’s eyes turn to him again. “Based on our experiences this trip, as long as we keep consuming our own abilities, we can quickly rise to the third and fourth levels. After all, the weapons on the car were completely destroyed halfway through reaching SH city, and those with weaker abilities all dead.”
He was right. The faster abilities are consumed, the more crystal nuclei can be absorbed. Why wouldn’t they upgrade faster?
What he said was right, but it is useless. With the base as a safety net, would wants to go outside and put themselves in danger? When one’s abilities are completely consumed… what happens if they are backstabbed by someone else?
Different situations, different actions. Even Yan Xin and them did not dare to completely consume their weapons and abilities when they were outside until they had completely left the base and had no base to rely on, unless they were surrounded by absolutely trustworthy people whose lives intersected.
Therefore, after they returned, their speed of upgrading will also likely slow down. But the previous gap is already wide, and it will be difficult to anyone to catch up. If not He Zizhong or Fang Hao, the next level 4 ability will definitely be someone else from the mission task force.
Everyone was attracted by the topic of “quickly reaching level 3”, and Song Xianghong and other insiders were secretly relieved. It didn’t matter whether they had abilities or upgrades – they did not rely on these things from the start. As long as these people can stop asking about Yan Xin’s mission to go south, they will contact him individually after the meeting is over.
But just when Song Xianghong and others just put this matter down in their hearts, a voice suddenly shocked everyone present: “Did you go to SH city to get that set of food production equipment?”
Who is this??! Who brought this person who’s brain wasn’t fully grown?!!
Everyone’s eyes turned towards the speaker, and Song Xianghong was even more desperate and stunned. He was very familiar with this voice, and could recognize it with his eyes closed. It was a sound he heard every day! This person was someone he saw every day for more than 20 years…
Song Xianghong turned to his side with a stiff neck, and saw Song Qiaoqiao frowning and staring at Yan Xin with an unhappy face.
Yan Xin remained motionless, but tilted his head to look at her, as if he was looking at some rare creature.
Someone from an ability team suddenly broke the silence. “Miss Song is talking about — what equipment?”
Song Qiaoqiao raised her head and snorted coldly with a look of contempt. “This is a military secret, you can’t ask.”
“Pfft…” The adjutant sitting behind Yin Dong lowered his head and covered his mouth tightly, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
Wow… That SQQ. I’m speechless at how someone could be so stupid…
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