RIACMET chapter 205

 

Thunder and fire swept through with the help of the wind of purification. The dry weather made ranged powers especially effective. The rest only needed to clean up a few “slippery fish.”

However, Jiang Nian and Chu Yi had both noticed a change in Cheng Jing’s superpower.

Considering all possibilities, Chu Yi arranged for several legion personnel to guard the gate in case Cheng Jing lost control. This would allow them to evacuate the remaining people into the safe space. It was the safest plan.

Once most of the zombies were wiped out, Chu Yi began gathering ammunition and equipment.

Whenever Minister Wang showed up, he always gave special instructions. Military supplies were scarce, so they had to conserve as much as possible and avoid unnecessary waste. This time, they had lost a drone and would need to write a report upon their return.

The last of the zombies vanished amid thunder and blazing flames. Not far away, a group of armed men with pistols came into view.

They wore camouflage uniforms and masks and carried guns, just like the two people who had waved at them earlier at the gate. There were about a hundred of them, standing in formation like a human wall.

Just as the group approached cautiously, the men suddenly dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender.

No one had any idea what was going on. Then, the formation split down the middle, revealing three people who also raised their hands in surrender behind them:

A burly man in his early fifties with large ears and a potbelly.

Beside him stood a man and a woman with plain features and indifferent expressions. They looked to be around forty years old. They had two iron chains on their feet that had been torn apart by brute strength, and there were traces of rope marks on their forearms.

Jiang Nian figured that these two had likely made the meat hooks and cleavers earlier.

Without waiting for anyone to ask, the fat man with big ears spoke up.

“We’re survivors. I sent the distress signal. That illusion user was terrifying. We had no choice but to fight back. We’re willing to accept punishment. There are other survivors trapped in an illusion in the basement. Please go save them.”

“Qi Lao Er! Do you expect us to believe that nonsense?”

Yang Kai immediately recognized the fat, big-eared man. His face was full of flesh. He was the enemy that Yang Kai had dreamed of chopping into pieces many times.

According to the criminal records, Qi Lao Er was now 52 years old.

The man and woman beside him were lovers. The man was named Liu Shu and was 45 years old. The woman was Sun Liuqin, 42.

They weren’t Qi Lao Er’s underlings but rather a notorious couple of cannibalistic criminals from Guanshan Prison.

Qi Lao Er had committed numerous severe offenses listed in the criminal code.

According to the case files, the cannibalistic pair had killed and eaten nine people, but detailed leads suggested the number was higher. The investigation was still ongoing.

Once Yang Kai said Qi Lao Er’s name, his teammates recognized the couple beside him, too. They were monsters who deserved to be hacked to pieces.

These people were in good condition, both mentally and in terms of equipment. They didn’t look like desperate survivors at all.

Given their brutal criminal history, it was baffling why they’d chosen to surrender instead of fighting to the death.

Not to mention, Qi Lao Er had kindly reminded them that there were survivors in the basement. That alone was enough to give anyone chills.

It had to be another twisted trap.

“This voice…”

Qi Lao Er was stunned for a moment before reacting.

“So it’s Officer Yang Kai. You’re going by that name now? How have you been?”

He raised his hand and gave a casual wave, slowly lowering it again as he continued.

“The Nancheng Base is truly the strongest human refuge. Ever since the apocalypse started, no one has been able to escape Guanshan Prison, and no one knows what it’s truly like inside.”

Looking at the gear and personnel, it was clear that this was a military operation. As long as they maintained a positive attitude, they had a chance of survival. As long as you’re alive, there’s still hope.

Yang Kai snorted coldly, then turned to Jiang Nian and asked,

“Are they still human?”

Jiang Nian used his superpower to check and nodded.

“They’re not infected. Qi Lao Er’s power is a white mist, and the couple only has physical enhancement abilities. The rest don’t have superpowers, and the illusion user isn’t here.”

Hearing this, Chu Yi raised his hand and waved, instructing the legion to restrain the surrendered non-powered individuals quickly and decisively.

They pulled off the prisoners’ masks and discovered that they were all criminals from Guanshan Prison before the apocalypse. Chu Yi then gave the order:

“Drag them to the trucks. If they survive, they survive. If not, leave them.”

Meanwhile, Tang Ji used his special ability to restrain Qi Lao Er and the other three. Zhao Lei bound them with chains, and Yang Kai put collars and cuffs on them personally.

The cannibal couple was dragged away, leaving only Qi Lao Er behind.

Yang Kai walked up with a cold expression and patted Cheng Jing on the shoulder.

“Brother Cheng, please get the specific information from him. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from killing him right away.”

With that, he pulled out a cigarette and stepped off to the side.

Qi Lao Er was a veteran who’d been in this business for years. Seeing the situation, he knew his fate wouldn’t be good. However, he was confident that, as long as he had the right bargaining chips, anything could be negotiated.

Before surrendering, he had planned how to negotiate with the “official rescue team.” He hadn’t expected Yang Kai to show up. After thinking it over, he took the initiative to speak.

“Officer Yang, I’ll trade a secret you’re interested in for a chance to live. Do you agree?”

He was sure that very few people knew the secret and that only he knew all the details. After all, the apocalypse broke out shortly after the incident.

Once chaos began, more people died than survived. All of the official personnel at Guanshan Prison were wiped out. If his main contact outside also disappeared, the secret would stay buried unless he spoke up.

“You think you’re someone important?”

Yang Kai lit his cigarette and took a drag. His eyes were filled with vicious hostility.

“It’s the end of the world. What secret could matter more than my desire to kill you? Everything you do from here on out just determines how much I want to torture you. Qi Lao Er, I came here for you!”

The others could be dragged back for forced labor, but Qi Lao Er didn’t need to be. Even before the apocalypse, his crimes would have earned him the death penalty, but now he will die an even more miserable death.

Yang Kai had worked undercover and witnessed the brutal methods crime syndicates used to torture people. Even if he wasn’t an expert, he could easily imitate their techniques.

Qi Lao Er’s face changed. He clenched his teeth and spat out a name:

“Gao Xuyang.”