Chapter 476: Chapter 425: The Predictable Mutiny
"Alright, if you insist on going, then go. Since you’re personally taking action, you will surely eliminate Liao Youzhi smoothly. You’re more formidable than that woman!"
Zheng Xinyu clenched her fists, revealing her small tiger teeth. A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. She really hated this person she had never met and whose name she had barely heard twice. Why on earth would someone meddle with the northern side when they could just prosper in the city?
Upon hearing Zheng Xinyu’s words, Zhang Su felt very pleased. As Xin Yunxing had said, everything was sure to go smoothly!
He rubbed Zheng Xinyu’s head, opened the car door, and walked towards the back.
Less than five minutes after ending the call with Liao Youzhi, a line of vehicles emerged from behind distant buildings, totalling more than thirty of various models and sizes. When the cars came to a stop on the south side of the rugged road, they stretched out for over a hundred meters.
More than thirty vehicles, varying in size, all simultaneously puffed out white gases, creating an impressive scene.
Even before the catastrophe, Beidong Town was only this lively during market days...
"The little fellow is quite cunning!"
When Liao Youzhi saw the line of vehicles parked over two hundred meters away, his expression grew slightly grim.
He thought he was fast enough. When he ended the call, he was only a few kilometers from Beidong Town, yet hadn’t anticipated the other side would be even faster. Logically, departing from the camp requires some preparations and would take at least ten minutes. Thus, there was only one possibility!
The other side had set off right at the fifteen-minute mark given by him and had been ready to move all along; otherwise, achieving this pace would be impossible.
He thought he had overestimated Celestial Horse Island’s action capacity but had underestimated Zhang Su’s vigilance. Liao Youzhi never imagined he was already standing at Ghost Gate’s threshold, and the protective talisman keeping him safe was none other than Li Zongkai, seated behind.
The scene quieted down. The rugged section spanned approximately two hundred meters, with the two sides separated by over two hundred meters, staring at each other across the distance as cold wind swept down the street, full of a killing aura.
"Let’s go, let’s get off the car and meet this guy named Zhang Su. Let’s see what he really is!"
After speaking, Liao Youzhi pulled up his mask and donned a hat before stepping out of the car.
"Chairman Li, please step down!"
The Guard Team members were relatively courteous to Li Zongkai, having previously received some benefits from him. Despite now being in opposing factions, they tried not to make things too difficult. Even if his life was ultimately forfeit, they would at least afford him a final dignity.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, as soon as Liao Youzhi stepped onto the road, everyone hurriedly followed, including those from Civilization Guardian who were tied up; they all lined up.
On the way here, they had roughly grasped a bit of the situation, with many feeling baffled: how did they end up on Celestial Horse Island’s side, incomprehensible to them, demanding to confront Li Zongkai face-to-face.
But there were also those who were resolutely loyal to Li Zongkai and firmly trusted him, maintaining silence throughout.
"I’ll have to see what kind of idiot Zhang Su is. Damn, daring to kill my men!"
Liu Yao cursed as he stepped out of the vehicle, the only person to be brandishing a gun among everyone, appearing quite out of place.
Liao Youzhi climbed onto the cargo bed of a pickup truck, equipped with a loudspeaker system usually used for attracting zombies, now conveniently used for negotiations. Yet before he could even open his mouth to speak, chaos erupted behind!
"We want to speak to Chairman Li!"
"Yes, Chairman Li, how did we become allies with Celestial Horse Island?"
"Since when did this happen, Chairman Li? You must explain clearly!"
Seven or eight members of Civilization Guardian expressed their agitation, shouting towards Li Zongkai.
Li Zongkai had already stood beside Liao Youzhi on the truck bed; upon hearing his subordinates, he turned and looked at them, sighing somewhat helplessly.
"Chairman Li, seems like your people aren’t united!"
Liao Youzhi smirked at the rowdy bunch, continuing to address Li Zongkai: "Should I handle them, or will you settle this yourself?"
"Let me say a few words to them first, alright?"
Li Zongkai inquired.
"Be my guest!"
Liao Youzhi casually gestured, then picked up binoculars to look ahead. Armed men and women appeared by the vehicles, their stances less uniform than their own, yet he wouldn’t dismiss their combat capabilities over such details; underestimating them would be a grave error!
Most conspicuous were the ten hostages standing in burlap sacks at the rear of the convoy, with their hands bound. He was familiar with the figures from the Guard Team among them.
While he scrutinized the other side, Li Zongkai began speaking behind him.
"Brothers, Civilization Guardian always values integrity. Celestial Horse Island’s leader Zhang Su is my dear friend. If I had known earlier that Celestial Horse Island belonged to Zhang Su, I would never have joined the northern expansion plan!"
"This matter is partly due to my personal reasons, and I don’t expect all brothers to understand. If anyone doesn’t want to stay in Civilization Guardian any longer, they can choose to leave and join other factions. I’m sure Leader Liao, Director Liu, and Director Yang will welcome your inclusion; there’s no betrayal involved, each person just has different choices!"
Liao Youzhi’s group didn’t refute Li Zongkai’s words. The combat trained members of Civilization Guardian were invaluable acquisitions, and as for betrayal, in today’s world, which faction dares say all its members are totally loyal? They’re merely communities bound by common interests, and each faction has its own defensive mechanisms anyway.
"I!" A young man raised his hand first: "I don’t want to stay in Civilization Guardian any longer; I hope to join the Survivor Alliance."
"Me too, the changes happened too suddenly, I can’t accept it."
"I want to join Apocalypse Corps..."
"Count me in as well..."
One after another, the eight who had been causing a commotion expressed their stance.
Events on Liao Youzhi’s side unfolded openly, with everyone on Celestial Horse Island able to clearly see. Everyone curiously wondered what they were up to.
Zhang Su hid behind a van, peering forward through its glass. His wrists were tied, and inside his jacket pocket was a burlap bag similar to those on the hostages’ heads.
Beside him stood a row of neatly-lined hostages. His decision not to disguise himself as a hostage right away was considered carefully.
He could distinctly make out the situation on Li Zongkai’s side; the departure from Civilization Guardian wasn’t what he had expected, but thinking about it, it made perfect sense. If given a chance, anyone would want to strive for a better path for themselves.
Wu Daqiang, Xiaotiao, and the others naturally observed the upheaval with their brothers on the other side, feeling a tumult of emotions, but at this moment their top priority was to rescue Li Zongkai!
Handling the Civilization Guardian matters took around five minutes. No paperwork or signatures were needed, keeping things simple. The eight who chose to leave weren’t untied but merely temporarily confined to the vehicles in the back.
Liao Youzhi glanced at the remaining twelve people, clicking his tongue: "Damn, my bargaining chips decreased a fair bit. Will that guy named Zhang go back on his word?"
"He has ten hostages on his side, we have thirteen here, with so many eyes watching. If he dares to act up, we’ll wipe out Celestial Horse Island!"
Liu Yao, with cold eyes, watched the opposite side.
Liao Youzhi waved his hand, retorting: "Where are thirteen hostages, Chairman Li doesn’t count!"
From start to finish, he had never considered letting Li Zongkai go. He fully understood a leader’s significance. Unless he could negotiate greater benefits, Li Zongkai would either remain imprisoned or be eliminated—quietly.
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