novel bin Chapter 108 Preparation
Chapter 108 Preparation
As he spoke, Wang Xiao's gaze slowly swept over everyone present.
This time, everyone was absolutely certain that their battle against the insects had begun.
The meeting proceeded unexpectedly smoothly.
Especially after Wang Xiao had Wei Yan demonstrate his abilities and informed the forces present that research on ability users had made progress, everyone's attitude changed from fear of loss to fervor.
In the apocalypse, how many of those who can sit in the leadership position are good people?
In their eyes, the lives of ordinary people are not as important as those of their trusted confidants.
No one understands better than the people with special abilities what kind of changes a powerful individual can bring to a faction.
What's more, some of these forces even have leaders who are not ability users.
So when Wang Xiao announced the results in the name of the Peace Hotel, no loss mattered to them!
Even if many ordinary people are sacrificed, it is not a problem for them.
They are willing to spend a lot of money to achieve their goals.
In the apocalypse, human life is as worthless as grass. Wang Xiao had long anticipated this cruelty, but it taught Wei Yan, who still held a sliver of naivety, a profound lesson.
Wang Xiao didn't say much about this, because Wei Yan needed to get used to it on his own.
Xue Wu's reaction was more normal.
The military is a place where strength matters. With the outbreak of the apocalypse and the disappearance of rules, he, as a former soldier, understands even more that the era of strength above all else has arrived.
Compared to Wei Yan's incredibly complex feelings at this moment, Xue Wu was even more determined to follow Wang Xiao.
In a world without rules, following the strong is the choice of most people.
Admiring the strong is a human instinct.
By observing the reactions of the other twelve forces, Xue Wu knew exactly what kind of changes Wang Xiao would cause in this area once he loosened the hotel's recruitment conditions.
The Qin Group, the Black Knife composed of all-powerful individuals, and other miscellaneous forces all pale in comparison to the Peace Hotel, which is expanding at all costs.
This made Xue Wu very glad that he had made the right choice that night.
Wan Menghuai, who attended the meeting, was secretly pleased to have gained the Peace Hotel's favor by fulfilling the hotel's request.
Becoming a power user clearly held no appeal for her anymore.
But the Swift Shadow combat suit, Night Abyss Dream, custom-made weapons, and other hotel services that Yue Man wore were extremely attractive to her...
Especially after discovering that there were even stronger monsters in the city, any way to improve her strength became her goal.
……
The meeting concluded with thirteen factions jointly sending a certain number of personnel to form an advance team of over 500 people, scheduled to depart the following morning.
The entire operation plan was mainly divided into two phases: luring and surprise attack.
The advance team's objective was simple: to attract the insects' attention from the front.
During the meeting, Wei Yan mentioned the news that insects can share information.
This means that if the insects are attacked, all the insects inhabiting Wansheng Shopping Mall will also take action.
Therefore, the initial idea arose that a vanguard team would feign an attack on the insects, while the main force would launch a surprise attack on Wansheng Shopping Mall while their attention was diverted.
In order to ensure that the advance team could successfully hold off the insects, all parties went to great lengths, equipping their respective personnel with a large number of projectiles and ranged weapons, and something even Wang Xiao found unexpected.
At night, the Peace Hotel was brightly lit.
As the chosen forces from all sides gradually assembled at the hotel, Wang Xiao noticed that Feng Ye's men were actually equipped with several long guns...
Although they were some outdated models and few in number, the appearance of this weapon, which could ensure that everyone would be treated equally before the apocalypse, still brought considerable shock to everyone.
For those with special abilities, these outdated firearms may not be as threatening as one might imagine, but for ordinary people, this is the truth.
It's no wonder that, according to the information Wei Yan received, the "Iron Wall" had an extremely strict class system and treated survivors very harshly, yet few people resisted.
Those who dare to resist have probably already eaten peanuts, a once-in-a-lifetime treat.
If one were to oppose "Iron Wall," the very existence of guns would undoubtedly inspire dread.
But if it's a collaboration, then it's a different story.
Nothing is more reassuring than the sound of bullets flying out.
Feng Ye handed Wang Xiao a cigar and said, "Boss Wang, I've really invested a lot in this operation, so don't forget to give me a share after your stuff is officially produced."
Wang Xiao took the cigar and chuckled, "Boss Feng should know what we do at the Peace Hotel."
Feng Ye nodded: "If you only talk about the Peace Hotel, I won't believe it, but I trust your work ethic, Boss Wang. I personally admire your ability to treat your subordinates like brothers."
As a member of the underworld, Feng Ye still had some of the江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit. After hearing that Wang Xiao was willing to risk his life for his subordinates, he couldn't help but admire his courage.
If it were him, even if he wanted to save them, he would have to think about whether it was worth it.
Wang Xiao did not answer. Although there was some systemic factor involved, he was never stingy with his own people.
As the two were discussing the operation, a convoy of vehicles approached the hotel.
Qin Huai'an's Qin Group has arrived...
Like Feng Ye, the Qin Group members were also equipped with firearms for this operation. These firearms were newer and more advanced than those in Feng Ye's possession, and there were also more of them than in 'Iron Wall's' possession. They were clearly standard police firearms that were in use at a glance.
Seeing this, Feng Ye said, "Tsk tsk, this equipment... the Qin Group must have made a big deal recently."
Seeing the Qin Group's personnel getting out of the car, whose equipment was clearly not on the same level as those of other forces, Wang Xiao understood why Qin Huai'an had recently shown an intention to annex them.
With these firearms, no matter how fiercely ordinary people resist, they will ultimately be no match for those dark gun barrels.
Seeing Qin Huai'an walking towards him, Wang Xiao said, "President Qin, the speed of your Qin Group's expansion recently is truly astonishing."
Qin Huai'an laughed and said, "Compared to your Peace Hotel, Boss Wang, we are still a bit lacking. Besides, this collaboration was initiated by you, Boss Wang. As a partner of the Peace Hotel, how could the Qin Group not go all out to help?"
Wang Xiao nodded and replied, "Then we'll look forward to seeing what the brothers from the Qin Group can do."
Qin Huai'an said confidently, "I believe in them, and they will definitely not let President Wang down."
Since some forces had not yet arrived, and it was getting late, the forces that had arrived found places to rest nearby.
In order to communicate with the Peace Hotel in a timely manner, the leaders of various forces chose to stay at the Peace Hotel.
The hotel had to consult with several guests before they were able to free up a room.
As midnight approaches.
The system sent a notification for the daily settlement on time.
Based on your performance that day and the hotel's overall situation, you are awarded +242 hotel support points, +215 experience points, and +1 agility point.
Wang Xiao was quite satisfied with the small amount of ability points he received as a random reward.
After all, the daily settlement usually only gives points and experience points, and whether you can get other rewards depends on luck.
At six o'clock in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
In the square in front of the Peace Hotel, the advance team composed of thirteen forces has completed its assembly.
Wang Xiao dispatched a search team led by Xiong Sanzhuang, along with some ability users and ordinary people who had accepted the hotel's commission, totaling 54 people.
It's already a considerable force.
More than 500 people lined up neatly according to their respective faction's organization. Although their equipment varied, their overall morale was acceptable.
After all, this was the largest joint operation by various forces in Chenghua District since the outbreak of the apocalypse.
Wang Xiao stood on the steps at the hotel entrance, with Wei Yan and Xue Wu standing beside him.
After a night of adaptation, Wei Yan had basically mastered the use of his abilities. Although he was not yet proficient, it was enough to attract the attention of all parties and get them to invest heavily.
Looking at the list in his hand, Wei Yan said, "Boss, the advance teams from all sides have arrived. The follow-up raiders are still arriving one after another. The supply convoy has already set off ahead, and there is an escort team to protect it."
Wang Xiao nodded, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
The Qin Group's team was the most conspicuous, consisting of seventy people, about twenty of whom were armed with various firearms and wearing homemade and police-issue protective gear, clearly indicating that they had spared no expense.
Although Feng Ye's "Iron Wall" only had a few spears and a small number of men, the men who came were all fierce and brave, and they seemed to be Feng Ye's trusted confidants.
The teams sent by other factions were noticeably weaker compared to these two.
However, the fact that so many people could be gathered under post-apocalyptic conditions is enough to demonstrate the importance that all parties attach to this operation.
The advance team's route had already been finalized in last night's meeting.
The advance team departed from the Peace Hotel, advanced along the main road towards the Chenghua District Power Maintenance Center, and then turned towards the area where Wansheng Shopping Mall was located. The main purpose was to make a commotion and attract the insects' attention.
The main force took the opportunity to detour, and after the advance team launched a feint attack to attract the insects' attention, they launched a surprise attack on Wansheng Shopping Mall.
There are three scenarios throughout the process.
The first scenario is that the insects are lured out of their nests as envisioned at the meeting, which would significantly reduce the pressure on the main force.
The second scenario is that the insects choose to retreat to Wansheng Shopping Mall. In that case, the operation will turn into a head-on battle, and the casualties will be even more severe than in the first scenario.
The third scenario, which is also the one Wang Xiao least wants to see, is that other third-party forces may intervene, such as mutated zombies. If the situation evolves into the third scenario, it will completely degenerate into a multi-party melee.
This is a situation that Wang Xiao does not want to see.
Soon, it was seven o'clock in the morning.
The people in charge of the entire operation of the advance force were Feng Ye, Qin Huai'an's secretary Huang, and Xiong Sanzhuang, the representative of the Peace Hotel.
As the leader of "Iron Wall", Feng Ye naturally has the highest on-site command authority, while Secretary Huang and Xiong Sanzhuang mainly play an auxiliary and supervisory role.
Just in case, some necessary measures will eventually have to be taken.