"This request of yours, miss... it's a bit unreasonable."
Xiao Liu's expression was awkward as he lowered his voice. "You should know the state of things now. Many of us can barely get enough to eat, and yet you want us to supply so much food all at once?"
"Oh? So you're quite familiar with the resource situation at the Little White Bear Shelter?"
Jiang Xiaoci raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. Xiao Liu was taken aback, shaking his head. "I'm just a lackey, I don't have access to any insider information."
"Mm. Then I have nothing more to say to you."
Jiang Xiaoci nodded faintly, her expression indifferent. "I'll discuss this directly with your boss."
Xiao Liu's heart skipped a beat. She's willing to meet with my boss?
A surge of hope rose within him. Despite her demanding request, at least she seemed open to negotiation. And no matter what happened, the real objective here was to get a meeting with the higher-ups from both sides. If this woman was interested in speaking with the Little White Bear, then his task would be complete, and the reward his boss promised would soon follow.
With this thought, Xiao Liu felt a flicker of excitement. He never imagined things would go so smoothly. It seemed the other side had their own hidden troubles and needed external support.
"So... when will you send someone to our shelter?"
Xiao Liu hesitated before asking. Realizing the possible misstep, he quickly added, "I know this isn't ideal, but if you send someone, it might show my boss your sincerity, and perhaps he'll offer more help."
Inviting them to his own shelter—this was an obvious gesture of weakness, a sign of desperation. It seemed almost like begging.
"The sooner, the better… How about tonight?"
Jiang Xiaoci glanced at her watch, a sleek women's mechanical model, which had been sourced by Lin Yue from outside.
"Tonight?!"
Xiao Liu was both shocked and pleased. He was happy at the thought of potentially returning to the shelter sooner, but he was equally startled by how urgent Jiang Xiaoci was. The more desperate she seemed, the more favorable it was for Little White Bear's shelter—perhaps his boss could use this to gain leverage.
If this went smoothly, who knew what rewards his boss might toss his way.
"Mm, I'll personally visit the Little White Bear."
Jiang Xiaoci nodded casually, but Xiao Liu was even more stunned. "Wait... you're going personally? Why?"
He froze, confused. He didn't think this woman was stupid, but didn't she realize how dangerous it was for the leader of a shelter to visit someone else's domain? Little White Bear had destroyed multiple shelters and was one of the strongest survivors in the city. Wasn't she afraid of being trapped?
"Surprised?"
Jiang Xiaoci smiled faintly as she looked at him. Her beauty made the male captives nearby momentarily forget their situation. Her voice was calm as she continued, "I told you, you're important."
"Without you, how could I find Little White Bear's true hiding place?"
"Wh... what do you mean?"
Xiao Liu's face drained of color as an ominous premonition rose in his heart.
Half an hour later.
Xiao Liu was being escorted down the street, watching as fully armed soldiers filed out of the complex. They moved in dense ranks, every soldier armored to the teeth. The sky above was pitch dark, punctuated only by the glaring searchlights sweeping over the street, their mechanical hums cutting through the air.
Xiao Liu squinted against the wind, straining his eyes.
He saw them.
Three armed helicopters hovered overhead.
Boom!
Suddenly, a deep rumbling noise came from a nearby street. Three dark green tanks, their surfaces painted in camouflage, slowly rumbled forward. Following them were at least ten self-propelled artillery vehicles, their massive cannons gleaming ominously in the light.
"This... this..."
Xiao Liu muttered in disbelief, his body frozen like a statue, his gaze locked on the advancing war machines.
His eyes widened in shock. The military might before him was far beyond what the rumors had described—this wasn't a few hundred soldiers, but a true modern army, equipped with tanks, helicopters, and full-scale firepower!
For a moment, Xiao Liu realized just how foolish he had been.
He had actually thought the woman was negotiating with Little White Bear's shelter?
With this kind of military force at her disposal, what need did she have for negotiations?
She wasn't here to make deals. She was here to claim what she wanted, and she didn't care what anyone thought. She'd take it by force.
The only role Xiao Liu and his fellow captives played was to guide her there.
"Surprised?"
Jiang Xiaoci's voice drifted from behind. Xiao Liu turned, still dazed, to see her walking toward him, surrounded by her soldiers. Her cold, calculating eyes met his as she asked, "What do you think? How does my army compare to Little White Bear's?"
Xiao Liu remained silent, unsure how to respond. Should he admit the obvious superiority of her force, or boast about Little White Bear's strength?
But deep down, he knew nothing he said would change Jiang Xiaoci's plans.
She was going to attack Little White Bear's shelter tonight.
Jiang Xiaoci didn't care about Xiao Liu's reaction. His silence spoke louder than words.
"In my experience," she said softly, "anyone who stands before me has already signed their death sentence." She studied him coldly. "I don't like leaving loose ends, but tonight I'll make an exception."
"As long as you cooperate and lead me to where I need to go, I can assure you this won't end badly for your group."
In a nearby apartment, Yi Bai stood at the window, watching the military convoy as it departed. He saw Jiang Xiaoci personally climb into a military vehicle, flanked by Lin Yue and a team of highly skilled fighters. Over ten thousand soldiers, all heavily armed, formed the backbone of her campaign. The shelter was left with only a 2,500-strong elite task force.
Yi Bai spoke without turning, his voice calm. "Wang Shi, do you think there are any survivors in this city who can match me, or possess even greater abilities?"
Wang Shi's eyes flashed blue as he processed the data in the combat AI system.
"Based on the current intel, the probability is just 0.2%. It's almost nonexistent."
Wang Shi's analysis confirmed what Yi Bai had suspected: "The Little White Bear... do you think his abilities are difficult to deal with?"
"Hard to say." Yi Bai shook his head. "He certainly made a name for himself during the first apocalypse, so he can't be weak."
"But he doesn't have the strength to stand against an army of ten thousand modern soldiers."
Wang Shi agreed. Both he and Jiang Xiaoci believed Yi Bai was currently at the pinnacle of his strength. With an army of over twelve thousand at his command, and another ten thousand available in reserve, no one in the city seemed capable of challenging him.
But Yi Bai remained cautious. The more powerful he felt, the more he worried about unseen threats.
"You should go as well," Yi Bai added, his tone steady. "As long as I stay in this room, my safety is nearly guaranteed. Stay close to Xiaoci, and monitor for any potential threats."
"If anyone threatens her or the army, take them out immediately. If you can't, inform me right away."
Yi Bai had a few more cards up his sleeve—his vast points reserves and the backup army. He was saving them for tonight's developments.
"Tonight we test our blades. Let's see who is sharper."