Chapter 343: (EDT) Second Part - Negotiation (1)
"Boss… We're ready. Just give us the order, and we'll charge inside to take them down." said one of the soldiers whos hiding near the shelter's entrance.
"Sniper ready. We had all of them in our trigger." another soldier reported outside. Beside him was a few other soldiers with the Raven Sniper Rifle on their hand.
"Boss… Boss…" the soldiers in all positions collectively reported that they were ready to strike.
"All of you, stay right where you are until I give you further instructions. Nobody takes action except I allowed it, alright?" Zhang Qin Feng shook his head while replying to his men. And deep inside his mind, he was slightly happy that they were all prepared to go all out for his safety.
But for now, he had no intention to turn this situation into an all-out battle between two sides. This shows how vital the shelter is for his future plan.
Furthermore, if this turns into a fight, it will be a battle between twenty-four people against thirty shelter residents. Zhang Qin Feng's side might have plenty of experience in a gunfight. Still, the problem here is their opponent has an advantage in terrain and technology.
If there are a few hidden mechanisms hidden behind the walls, that would be enough to destroy Zhang Qin Feng and his men in less than a minute.
"We're here with negotiation in mind. I come forward or retreat based on your response, alright?" said Zhang Qin Feng as he removed the rifle and pistol from him. Leaving both firearms on the ground, Zhang Qin Feng stepped forward.
Zhang Qin Feng even raised his hands up with the inner palms facing them to show his sincerity.
Truth be told, there's a reason behind Zhang Qin Feng's action. Although his action would turn him into a shooting target, it was the best way to obtain their trust unconditionally.
And in a negotiation like this, only two kinds of people would show such a vulnerability to their opponent.
Either they're too desperate, or they're too confident.
In Zhang Qin Feng's case, there's no doubt that he looks more confident than desperate.
As he was unarmed, the shelter residents had no qualm about allowing Zhang Qin Feng to come further. But as he stepped across the shelter's entrance, a pair of male and female representatives came out to stop Zhang Qin Feng from moving further.
"We'll have to conduct a quick body search on you, do you mind?" the female representative said.
"Of course, feel free to go ahead." Zhang Qin Feng replied with a smile on his face. His overly relaxed and calm demeanor puzzled them as the male and female feel he was too trusting.
The two nodded at the one that spoke first.
After making sure Zhang Qin Feng was clean, they politely invited Zhang Qin Feng into the discussion room just beside them. As for the soldiers following Zhang Qin Feng, some were allowed to come inside, but most of them, including the Builder's Frames team, had to wait outside.
The male resident who spoke with Zhang Qin Feng firsthand introduced himself as Hoya. As for the number "2231" printed on the jumpsuit beside his name remains a mystery. Through a quick glance over the residents, each of them had their name and number printed on their left chest.
"Zhang Qin Feng, leader of Wind Base Group. Since you already knew about our arrival, I'm sure you realized our colossal vessel anchored nearby, am I correct?" Zhang Qin Feng extends his hand out to offer Hoya a handshake.
"Of course. May I express our gratitude for being willing to speak with us instead of shooting the moment we met?" Hoya-2231 said with a smile on his face. It seems Zhang Qin Feng's choice was a correct one.
"If in that case, I'm sure Mr. Hoya won't mind removing that bracelet that could take my life right away. Can I ask you to do that as a gesture and goodwill?" Zhang Qin Feng said.
"Of course! It seems that Mr. Zhang is pretty informed of our means of self-protection. If taking this out would give you peace of mind, I'll gladly comply with this request." Hoya-2231 said. It seems he's also a pretty formidable character, based on his speech.
But no matter how formidable he was, Hoya-2231 would definitely lose to Zhang Qin Feng.
Hoya-2231 unhooked the bracelet on his wrist following their first exchange of words before handing it to another resident. Pointing his hand on the seats provided in the room, both of them seated down as they prepared to have a peaceful talk.
"As the guest and also the one who initiates this talk, I'll be frank and direct in my words. My base was taken, and we're now stranded in this sea. I'll need a place, time, and resources to build up my force again before returning to the mainland."
"And to make this happen, I'll need this facility." Zhang Qin Feng's words were like a bomb to them as his word was heard by the thirty shelter residents. Some of them even tightened their fist in case a fight was going to start.
But then, the tense atmosphere inside out of this discussion was relieved by Zhang Qin Feng's following sentence.
"Of course, I'd like to propose a fair exchange with the residents here to see if we can agree on a mutual agreement. Occupying this place might be a strong word to use, but it was to show how determined I am."
"If there's something both sides can agree upon, I don't see the reason for us to exchange through hostility. After all, we're all survivors in this world, am I right?" Zhang Qin Feng's unique approach made them somewhat speechless.
And this roller coaster of emotions allowed Zhang Qin Feng to study their expression clearly before proceeding to another step.
"Hmm… You have my attention, but what can you give us?" Hoya-2231 asked. It seems that Zhang Qin Feng's words successfully get this representative hooked, but he's still trying to see if he can get more from their conversation.
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