The survivors toiled outside the Donghua Restaurant, reinforcing the fence and expanding the yard.
In front of numerous onlookers, constructing a Red Alert wall proved challenging for Ye Fan. Nevertheless, the base's rudimentary defenses wouldn't withstand a zombie onslaught, forcing him to rely on the survivors for the construction work.
He informed them about a nearby base under construction, promising to take them there upon completion. This revelation spurred the survivors, injecting enthusiasm into their labor.
Ye Jianguo joined the effort, despite Ye Fan's initial refusal. However, the survivors cautiously assigned him less strenuous tasks, mindful of his elevated status as the leader's father.
As construction hummed outside, a colossal military vehicle arrived at the doorstep.
The survivors paused, glancing outside to witness the spectacle. It was their first encounter with such a massive jeep, its green hue and mounted machine gun hinting at its military origin.
Ye Jianguo approached the door, eager to identify the newcomers.
As the car door swung open, soldiers emerged one by one. Six army soldiers wielded the Bayi Ban, while three mobilization soldiers brandished the 56-gun.
Upon spotting them, cheers erupted from the survivors.
"I don't know what Chief Ye's men are doing. Now that there are fewer soldiers in the restaurant, they are a little uneasy. In this world without soldiers around, it is always not so reassuring," murmured a survivor.
Unexpectedly, five left, and a dozen arrived shortly afterward.
No, not nine; it was twelve.
Two cooking squad soldiers with guns and a flamethrower soldier descended, elevating the excitement among the survivors.
And a massive military dog joined the entourage, its ferocity intimidating.
Ye Jianguo eyed the cooking squad soldiers, assuming they might be officers.
"Comrade, are you...?" he inquired nervously.
The cooking squad soldiers saluted him. "We are here to report to Commander Ye Fan!"
Stunned, Ye Jianguo stammered, "Are you also under my son's charge?"
"Yes!"
"Then...how big an official is my son?"
Some soldiers hesitated, restricted by the system's permissions. One finally spoke up, "Sir Ye Fan... is very big."
Satisfied with the new additions, Ye Fan inspected the twelve warriors and a dog.
"Red police soldiers are always full of energy and high in fighting spirit. When these soldiers are put into the real army, they are also elite. Of course, you still need to upgrade the star. Without the star upgrade, the combat effectiveness will still be slightly lower."
Knowledgeable about the army soldiers and conscripts, Ye Fan focused on the cooking squad warriors and the flamethrower warriors.
The chief cook Huang Jian and cook Zhang Chengming presented themselves. Ye Fan was surprised that Huang Jian was the default chief cook due to being the firstborn. Huang Jian showcased expertise in three of the eight major cuisines and dabbled in two, even able to prepare simple Western dishes.
Ye Fan tasked them with overseeing the company's meals, tailored to the red police soldiers' physical fitness and exercise levels.
The flamethrower warrior, Wang Aiyu, reported his equipment and capabilities, detailing the Type 74 flamethrower's specifications.
Ye Fan admired the destructive potential of the flamethrower warrior, aware that it would be a formidable force on the battlefield.
"Can you all rise to the stars?" Ye Fan inquired.
"If you can, both the cooking squad members and the flamethrower warriors can be upgraded to stars. The cost will be increased three times according to their cost. After being upgraded, their abilities will be improved," a soldier from the cooking squad explained.
"Very good, everyone is on your way now. I'll go take a look at my car first."
Ye Fan led the soldiers downstairs, heading to the Xiaolong Car outside the door. Comparing it to the Warrior, the Xiaolong appeared larger, especially in length.
The Warriors had eleven members, while the Xiaolong accommodated fifteen. The machine gun mounted on the car heightened Ye Fan's excitement.
"Wang Hu, Li Biao, you two come here and serve as the driver and machine gunner."
Wang Hu and Li Biao eagerly assumed their positions as Ye Fan explored the Xiaolong's features. While the car's spacious interior and comfortable seats pleased him, he refrained from immediate zombie-hunting or sister-rescuing plans, opting to wait until daylight.
Back on the second floor, the soldiers' meals were separated from the survivors for the night. Despite the segregation, the survivors dined better than before, expressing no complaints.
Ye Fan lay there, counting the moments until Xu Haoran and the others would return.
"If there are no accidents, they should return here before ten o'clock in the evening."
Unbeknownst to Ye Fan, Xu Haoran and the others were entrenched in a fierce battle.
In the Shengshi Jiangshan villa area, Xu Haoran and the mobilization soldiers protected the Su sisters and Gao Dongliang as they retreated from over thirty pursuers.
Gunfire echoed, bullets whizzing in a heated confrontation. Two conscripts shielded the Su sisters, finding refuge in a villa corner.
Xu Haoran unleashed a burst of gunfire, eliminating four pursuers instantly. As the engagement intensified, they continued their retreat, thwarting pursuers with relentless gunfire.
The intensity of the battle prompted Xu Haoran to order a swift evacuation to ensure the safety of the commander-in-chief's designated individuals.
The retreating soldiers, comprising four three-star soldiers and two one-star soldiers protecting the Su sisters, moved quickly. Xu Haoran deployed a grenade, dissuading further pursuit.
As they left the villa area and navigated the park towards the amusement park, the Su sisters expressed guilt over the lost vehicles and supplies. Gao Dongliang, witnessing the soldiers' combat prowess, questioned the inverse relationship between combat effectiveness and IQ.
In the eyes of the Red Alert soldiers, Gao Dongliang's expression garnered disdain.
For them, Gao Dongliang's combat effectiveness and IQ didn't even measure up to a fraction of the commander-in-chief's.