Chapter 474: Chapter 423: Ambition and Conspiracy
"Zhang Su, I’m not easily frightened. Stop shouting and yelling; we’re discussing the meeting place and will give you a reply in fifteen minutes."
Liao Youzhi held the communicator, a cunning gleam in his eyes.
"Fifteen minutes? Damn it, what are you guys? An important action and there’s not even someone to make decisions? A bunch of good-for-nothing people! Even the United Nations isn’t as slow as you guys. Hurry up! I can’t guarantee I’ll patiently wait for fifteen minutes!"
Ending the call, Liao Youzhi wished he could smash the communicator in his hand.
"Everyone listen up; immediately control all the Civilization Guardian people, and set off north in three minutes!"
With this command, it was clear Liao Youzhi had decided to meet Zhang Su in Beidong Town. However, he couldn’t inform the other party in advance, as Beidong Town was thirty kilometers away from him, but only about seven or eight kilometers from Zhang Su!
Upon hearing this news, Li Zongkai felt a rush of excitement, and the recently calmed organs ached again. To buy time, he pretended to clutch his stomach and collapsed to the ground. Liao Youzhi’s Guard Team members dragged him outside, and he exerted no effort at all.
No surprises, the Civilization Guardian people were caught off guard and disarmed during the surprise attack by three houses, each one tied up and stuffed into a car.
Li Zongkai’s delay plan not only failed but also had an adverse effect. When the Civilization Guardian brothers saw their leader being held hostage, they didn’t resist and complied with the arrangements.
Liao Youzhi ordered for three minutes, but the task was completed in under two and a half minutes, showing remarkable swiftness!
The Civilization Guardian people were confused, but unfortunately, their leader said nothing. Moreover, the people controlling them were relatively polite, which made them wonder if it was part of some special plan.
Thirty-plus vehicles sped northward with thunderous roars, echoing throughout half of Qin City—an awe-inspiring sight.
Among these vehicles, the most striking was a modified box truck, with the metal cargo box emitting a slight distortion to the air, indicating its scorching temperature.
With Liao Youzhi gone, the temperature inside Lego Mall began to drop gradually. The people remaining inside felt increasingly cold, but had no idea why.
Among the convoy, a very impressive full-size SUV Cadillac drew attention. Its modified front and rear beams were extremely aggressive, with an icebreaker-like front cone capable of flipping a small car sideways, let alone zombies.
This was Liao Youzhi’s vehicle. At the moment, he was lying flat in the second row. The driver was naturally his confidant, the passenger seat was vacant, while a member of the Guard Team accompanied him. Li Zongkai sat in the last row, with only four people in a seven-seater vehicle, ensuring maximum comfort.
"Old Li, we’ve known each other for a while, and I’ve genuinely felt that you’re a good person, dependable and steady. The Little Eagle Association and Apocalypse Corps can’t compare with your Civilization Guardian. Tell me, how did you get confused this time?"
Liao Youzhi glanced at the time; there were eleven minutes left in the fifteen-minute window. He removed his mask, lit a cigarette, and addressed Li Zongkai in the back seat with a tilted head.
"I’m just following my inner thoughts, and like I said before, had I known from the start that Celestial Horse Island was Zhang Su’s territory, I definitely wouldn’t have agreed to your northern expansion plan and would have strongly advised against it."
"You should know that a place is not better just because it’s larger. To hold vast territories, one needs corresponding strength. Mindless expansion leads to unpredictable loss of control, so why not stop while you can..."
Li Zongkai spoke slowly with his eyes closed, appearing to rest, but he was anxious inside. To prevent his eyes from betraying his true feelings, he kept them shut all the while, assuming a resigned posture.
"Heh..." Liao Youzhi chuckled, "If you had advised me at the start, I might have given you some face, but unfortunately, it’s too late now. Once the bow is drawn, it doesn’t return!"
Li Zongkai took a deep breath and said, "Life is fragile in the apocalypse, so it’s also precious. If you truly have a heart for reconciliation, I’m willing to mediate so everything can be discussed calmly!"
Liao Youzhi took a forceful drag from his cigarette and exhaled towards the back seat, speaking firmly, "Qin City is in disarray; someone must unite all forces. Unifying the northern part of Qin City is just the first step. Next is the entire Qin City; none of the people from South City and the Development Zone will escape!"
"As long as the zombies don’t continue to grow stronger and Mutated Zombies don’t appear in piles, within a year, I’ll cleanse all of Qin City, pulling the people from the three districts and four counties together to build a fortress!"
"I advise you and your old friend from Celestial Horse Island to know what’s good for you and willingly merge with the Survivor Alliance; otherwise, there’s nothing more to discuss!"
Li Zongkai hadn’t anticipated that Liao Youzhi’s ambition would be so grand. After listening, he fell silent, realizing he might not be able to persuade this crazed guy, so he focused instead on figuring out how to stay alive.
The conversation on the Cadillac highlighted ambition, while another car was rife with scheming.
"Liao Youzhi certainly won’t hand over people honestly; there will be a fight between both sides today. How we fight doesn’t matter; our priority is to seize control of the Fire-breathing Zombie. Who’s confident about this task?"
As the car sped, Gong Chengming asked, even accelerating the pace of the conversation unconsciously.
The other four looked at each other, and a man appearing to be in his thirties spoke up, "I’ll do it!"
Gong Chengming glanced at the man who spoke and nodded, "Alright, Sanhe, you’re on!"
"Director, why don’t we notify Zhang Su in advance? With internal and external coordination, dealing with Liao Youzhi would be much easier."
Xiao Xuejian asked with a hint of perplexity.
Gong Chengming smiled in a way that’s hard to describe, saying, "Liao Youzhi dismantling the Civilization Guardian is a gift to me. Since there’s a chance to negotiate with Celestial Horse Island, why give up benefits to cooperate?"
"You’re planning... I see, not only can this opportunity be used to eliminate Liao Youzhi, but it can also be conveniently followed up on his plan, directly unifying Qin City’s north?"
"My goodness, is it really so exaggerated? Then... Congratulations in advance to Director Gong, soon to be Leader Gong."
Zhang Su naturally couldn’t hear the conversation in the speeding convoy. However, when he learned that the other party would deliberate for fifteen minutes, he became cautious. As he set down the communicator, he gestured to Qi Xiaoshuai.
"Xiaoshuai, head immediately to West Camp Village and keep an eye on Chuhai River Bridge. I suspect they might be up to something!"
Qi Xiaoshuai’s eyes sharpened, and without a word, he jumped into the car and hit the gas, rushing onto the road with dust and grass flying as the tires rolled, leaving behind two tire marks.
"Brother, do you think Liao Youzhi’s people might take advantage of this time to come our way and catch us off guard?"
Zhao Dezhu asked with a serious expression.
On hearing this, those around him also became solemn, straightening their bodies and tightening their gun straps, feeling their magazines.
Zhang Su stood up, looking south, frowning, "It might be that I’m overthinking it, but it’s never wrong to be prepared. Come, let me explain to you how the hostage exchange will proceed. First, I need someone to replace me in negotiating with Liao Youzhi—there might be danger involved, who’s up for it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Brother Su, are you planning... Wow, the danger lies with you, right?"
Chen Hanzhou glanced at Zhang Su and then at the outfit resembling the Knight of Light’s Fan Dahai. He instantly figured out many things, his expression vivid.
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