Chapter 342: Wits and Electric Batons

Rainwater began to fall again in the sky, and there were bursts of thunder in the distance.

Under the erosion of the chill and dampness, the crowd gathered in the mud became increasingly manic. The people at the very front were struggling to shake the barbed wire, their dirt-covered faces twisted in agitation, no longer recognizable.

"Big brother, have mercy, make an exception!"

"I was just here yesterday."

"We are visiting relatives, really, if you don't believe me, I can call him out..."

"What are you doing? I'm here to place an order!"

Shouts, roars, and even low sobs and calls gathered together, turning into a wave of sound that made people irritable. At the gap in the roadblock and barbed wire, the management team members were being pushed and pulled, scolding angrily, pushing away the hands reaching out time and again, almost unable to hold them back.

At this moment, seeing Old Gou finally appear, they seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Right in front of the roadblock, Old Gou directed a few people to stack up some boxes, barely turning them into a small platform, and stood on it, but didn't speak.

He just weighed the megaphone in his hand, waiting quietly until pair after pair of eyes finally fell on him, and the boiling human voices finally lowered a little, before he turned on the microphone, put on a simple and honest smile, and shouted: "Fellow villagers, friends... we are the Xinquan City Appearance Management Team..."

"Move aside. Clear the road!!!"

Before he could finish, an angry voice rose from the crowd, shouting, and the human tide surged again, clamoring: "Give us a way to live!"

"Old Gou, it's me, Old Gou, we are old acquaintances..."

"What do you dogs want to do!"

"Doctor, I want to see a doctor!!"

"You can't just ignore whether we live or die..."

*Buzz—!!!! *

A piercing shriek erupted suddenly. Gou Er suddenly turned the volume of the megaphone to the maximum, and the sharp buzzing pierced who knew how many eardrums, causing the voices to pause briefly.

"Please cooperate with our work and maintain order."

Gou Er still wore a simple and honest smile, pacifying the crowd: "Don't be anxious, everyone, the rainy season has come early, we are just conducting drill work to prevent chaos, the blockade is only temporary, in the afternoon, it will be opened in the afternoon! Sorry to trouble everyone to wait a bit."

"Friends holding passes, please go to the right. If you are employees here to participate in recruitment, please wait on the left side, Xinquan will definitely..."

"Liars! Liars!!"

Several high-pitched voices suddenly rose from the crowd, inciting the crowd, but they couldn't be found: "Don't believe him, they at Coast want to catch us and make us slaves, don't believe them!"

For a time, angry voices and shouts reached a new climax again.

There were even more people who were instantly incited, clamoring and shouting. Taking advantage of the large numbers, some people threw stones here, and mud hit Gou Er's face, instantly covering him in dirt.

"You dogs, don't you da—"

Gou Er was furious, roaring, but instantly, his expression changed drastically, subconsciously holding his ear, listening to the order from the other end, his expression gradually twitching.

In front of everyone, he gradually hunched over, nodding and bowing obsequiously.

His voice came through the megaphone that hadn't been turned off.

"Okay, okay, okay, right away."

After the brief communication ended, his expression twitched, he glared at the crowd, and his instructions to the people beside him came faintly through the megaphone.

"Move the fence, let them in."

For a moment, the people at the front couldn't help but be overjoyed, cheering and dancing.

But among them, a few people froze, as if they hadn't expected such a situation, subconsciously, instinctively turning their heads to look behind them...

In the crowd, one face also stiffened.

Immediately, his expression changed drastically.

Because he saw the gaze Gou Er cast from the high platform.

The hunched man was no longer smiling.

On his face, covered in wrinkles and mud, there was no expression, and a certain ferocity emerged in his pitch-black pupils.

"A-Nao, that one wearing the gray hat!"

Gou Er roared suddenly: "That's him!"

Where the hell was there any headset? Earwax was more like it!

If he had gone to contact and disturb the boss because of this kind of trivial matter, what the hell would he be doing... Besides, the two people he was talking to were from the security department, not the management team at all, how could they listen to his orders?!

Instantly, in this sudden change, he had already found the commander hiding in the crowd, and beside him, A-Nao pulled the gun from his pocket without hesitation, aiming at that face that hadn't had time to be terrified.

His finger curled, about to pull the trigger...

Then, no gunshot rang out.

Before that, he was kicked aside by someone who had been waiting for who knew how long.

"Don't get in the way—"

Amidst the sound of steel rubbing, a giant suddenly rushed out, smashed through the barbed wire, raised his hand, and swung a stick-like object, smashing it down head-on—right in mid-air, the tip of that stick-like object suddenly expanded, and dazzling, blinding electric sparks erupted.

Electric baton!

It was mercilessly jammed into the face of one of the agitators, the terrifying power and scorching electric light poured out violently, and in an instant, a wisp of blue smoke rose along with violent convulsions.

The agitator fell to the ground, life or death unknown.

And the 'giant' had already stepped forward, crashing through the human tide, charging toward the commander step by step!

That was... that was...

—The Security Department's specially equipped exoskeleton system!

Over six hundred pounds of terrifying weight, bulletproof armor stacked layer by layer like scales protecting vital points, even the face was wrapped inside, a force-feedback operating system and electromagnetic transmission spine, battery pack function, driven by sixteen motors all over the body... it was enough to turn any weakling without the strength to truss a chicken into an indestructible steel giant.

At this moment, were there only one heavy exoskeleton charging through?

Sixteen security guards equipped with exoskeletons suddenly jumped out from the truck beds on both sides, who knew how long they had been waiting, like tigers entering a flock of sheep, wantonly charging into the human tide.

One hand pushing a riot shield like an iron wall, the electric baton in the other hand almost swinging out afterimages, pushing forward with irresistible force, instantly breaking through the human tide.

Amidst the piercing alarm, high-pressure water cannons were also raised with the cooperation of the black-skinned tough guys, releasing a flood, washing away the chaotic human tide.

"They're killing people! They're killing people!"

"Coast is killing people!"

"Everyone run..."

The crying and screaming hadn't even had time to spread before they were drowned out by the high-pressure water cannons, and among the security guards wearing exoskeletons, the leader had already penetrated deep into the crowd alone.

Without warning, he raised his riot shield, blocking a sniper bullet from who knew where.

Immediately after, the mechanism of the electric baton in his hand twisted on its own, dazzling electric light sprayed out, dissociating the rainwater, blue light running, and just like that, he raised it, swung it around, and threw it toward the truck piled with many goods outside the crowd.

The gunman still holding a gun under the camouflage cloth of the truck didn't even have time to react.

He only saw a ferocious, expanding blue light like a cannonball coming straight at him. Long before being electrocuted to death, he was pierced through the eye socket by the solid metal electric baton, dead as dead could be!

And the commander whose expression had changed subconsciously turned to run, but unfortunately, it was too late.

He had already been grabbed by the back of the collar by the exoskeleton operator, swung up, and mercilessly rammed into the mud, instantly vomiting blood and convulsing, but the ruthless iron hand dragged his leg again, pulled him up, swung him around, and aimed him at a stone protruding from the ground.

*Bang! *

Blood gushed out.

Then, trampling.

Completely dead.

A set of smooth, flowing surprise attacks, not even ten seconds.

Not even counting as a warm-up.

At this moment, in the crowd fleeing in all directions, the operator looked around, only seeing a group of fleeing scavengers, couldn't help but feel regret, and walked back sullenly.

Until now, Gou Er was still stunned on the spot.

Dazed.

Hadn't reacted yet.

When passing by him, the operator took off his helmet, revealing Lu Feng's face.

He glanced at him.

And looked at A-Nao, who was still fallen in the mud, and the gun in his hand.

Instantly understood something.

"Don't spend all day doing those useless things." Lu Feng said: "Follow the rules and do your work, your boss never treats his own people poorly."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Gou Er finally reacted, nodding like a chicken pecking at rice, his hanging fingers twitching, restraining his trembling.

Then, Lu Feng's gaze fell on A-Nao on the ground.

"Kid, what's your name?"

"Re-report!"

A-Nao instinctively braced his body, stood at attention, and shouted in response: "My name is Li Nao!"

Instantly, laughter erupted from all around.

It was all those security guards holding high-pressure water cannons, grinning, not knowing what they were laughing at, whether it was his name or that ridiculous, awkward standing posture.

"Hey, your voice is quite loud."

Lu Feng's mouth curled slightly, glancing at Old Gou: "Quite a good kid, it's a pity he's following you, send him to the security department later, how about it?"

"This is his good fortune!"

When he asked his name, Gou Er had been stunned for a moment, and now that he reacted, he was overjoyed, jumped off the box, and kicked the fool hard:

"What are you still standing there for? Call him!"

Li Nao opened his mouth instantly, but hesitated, not knowing what to call him, and could only learn from his Second Uncle: "Hello, Master Lu!"

Lu Feng nodded and walked back. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned his head and saw Gou Er's fawning smile, couldn't help but shake his head: "Too many damn wits."

"You are right to teach me."

Gou Er rubbed his hands, nodding and bowing: "I will definitely change, I will definitely change!"

"It's a good thing to think more, just don't use it indiscriminately."

Lu Feng withdrew his gaze coldly and suddenly asked: "Is your surname really Gou?"

"Really!"

Gou Er nodded vigorously.

Whether it was his surname or not, from now on, it would be Gou.

Lu Feng didn't look back at him again, just waved his hand indifferently, took off his exoskeleton, and went back to the breakroom to continue picking his feet and scrolling through short videos.

The chaos at the scene was naturally handled by Gou Er, who was eager to earn credit.

Without anyone inciting and causing trouble, everything was naturally orderly. Whether it was the crowd that had just scattered or those who arrived later along the road, they were all blocked outside Xinquan, settled on the spot, and waited for news.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Ji Jue finally appeared.

As if he hadn't rested for a long time, his eye sockets were pitch black, and he was yawning.

"Sorry for being late, thank you all for your hard work."

He sat in the conference room, flipped through the report in front of him: "I roughly understand the situation, is there anything important?"

Lu Feng shook his head indifferently: "A bunch of losers, no difficulty at all, couldn't even swing an electric baton with any strength."

"The situation this morning was wrong, someone must have been inciting it from behind." Gou Er, who had secured the qualification to attend, reported cautiously after looking at Yan Jian's expression: "There might be more trouble later."

"I know."

Ji Jue nodded calmly.

After all, when a person is popular, there is trouble. Money in the world is limited; if you earn one more, others will definitely earn one less. There were countless people whose financial path had been blocked by Coast, not to mention a large number of settlements that were jealous of Xinquan.

Occupying the ruins and relics of Quancheng, such a huge waste disposal business, just thinking about it, who knew how much money there was, but they only cooperated with the Yulou trade of Yacheng and the Tianchi construction of Chaocheng. If others wanted to make money, they could only wait for Chen Yubo and the Lou family of Chaocheng to be full and pick up the leftovers.

Not to mention the insane output of Coast Industry in the past few months, earning money from everything, selling everything, many settlements were squeezed by Ji Jue to the point of bankruptcy.

The paths that originally allowed them to make money while lying down were all blocked by Ji Jue. It would be strange if they didn't hate him to the bone.

The Coast Industry, which was currently like cooking oil on a hot fire, had long been the target of public criticism.

The reason they had been restrained before was that they were scared by the massacre Ji Jue carried out when clearing Diaomao Town, and could only hide their claws and teeth, waiting for an opportunity to dye the Quancheng river mouth with blood...

Ji Jue was also waiting.

He really wanted to know, when the time came to dye the Quancheng river mouth red, whose blood it would be.

At this moment, after briefly flipping through the report on the table, his gaze fell to the bottom.

The proposal Gou Er had submitted.

Still full of typos, the order was reversed, but subtly, it didn't affect reading, and the language was straightforward.

How to put it, it's not easy to write a good report, but it's very simple to write a rough one, the trouble is... being able to write such a report that is both rough and understandable, without affecting comprehension.

A bit of beauty in having wits with nowhere to use them.

Still idle...

Workload not saturated, right?

Ji Jue glanced at him, and Gou Er instantly straightened his body, waiting solemnly.

However, Ji Jue didn't make any instructions, just told him: "The measures and resettlement plan you proposed are very good, let's do it that way."

The plan Gou Er proposed was very simple.

Taking advantage of the early rainy season, seize the opportunity to "kick them while they're down," filter out a batch of young and strong labor from these scavengers, suppress the price, and take the opportunity to sign them up to work like beasts of burden.

It was indeed heartless, but, paradoxically, such things had almost become a certain standard and rule in the wilderness.

Moreover, the treatment here at Ji Jue's was already more generous than anywhere else, almost equivalent to charity.

You have to know that in those large settlements, if you want to offer yourself up at this time, it's not something that can be finished by just bleeding a little.

The better ones pick people who can do hard labor and be useful to work like beasts of burden, the worse ones treat them directly as slaves, and there are even many settlements that have a side business of human trafficking, both living and dead. After entering, they are not much better than livestock waiting to be slaughtered in a pen.

Ji Jue even guarantees your personal safety, allows you to bring two people into Xinquan, and even provides food and housing... just asking you to trade hard labor, and even teaching you how to repair TVs and refrigerators...

Simply a saint.

Logically speaking, scavengers entering the door without kowtowing twice would be doing a disservice to their own conscience.

Regrettably, "people are bullied because they are kind" is a universal law of the wilderness, just like how there are no corpses left after repairing bridges and roads.

You are already so kind, why can't you come and help me for free? You are so rich, with a big family and a big business, such a big Coast, you don't lack the resources to raise a waste like me, right?

Among the crowds who wanted to rush the checkpoint and force their way in this morning, who knew how many people had such ideas, just like the group of wastes Gou Er led out of the shanty area before.

Otherwise, even with the incitement of a few people and the backing, how much use could it have?

Besides taking the opportunity to recruit manpower, Gou Er also suggested selecting "good citizens" who were relatively clean and honest for resettlement, and providing a loan to allow them to rent in Xinquan and settle down temporarily.

For those who have no skills but are willing to work, Coast also has a loan training plan, commonly known as paying to work, Coast trains for half a year, then ten years as a beast of burden, not a single day less.

As for those who really have no money, no ability, and don't want to provide labor...

Then why don't you go and die?

Such people, to put it bluntly, even if they died at the door of the Chongguang Church, the church wouldn't care.

And at the end of the proposal, there was one more item.

Those children who have no father or mother, no relatives, and cannot work for the time being, if Ji Jue really wants to manage them, it's fine—didn't the market just expand?

There are sheds to shelter from the wind and rain, right? Spreading a mattress on a wooden board is enough for people to sleep. Anyway, one mouth won't eat much food, expired compressed biscuits soaked into a paste to cook porridge and giving you two pickles, you definitely won't starve to death. If you can't do heavy work, go clean the sewers, sweep the streets, and clear the mud.

There is no labor law in the wilderness, and minors are not protected. Although Coast is a bit harsh and cold, at least it gives a way to live, without them having to sell their bodies or become consumables...

"The method you mentioned is very good, let's do it according to yours."

Ji Jue nodded: "Go back and get a charter, report it to Yan Gong, and see what needs to be coordinated. If there isn't enough space to live, find a few Chosen Ones from the ruins to come over and expand a wave."

It is foreseeable that after this wave, Coast Industry will probably be able to develop and grow further, productivity UP! UP! UP!

But the problem is... productivity is already surplus!

After all, the current market is only the wilderness, and the settlements are basically poor brothers, who can't squeeze out much money at all, and can't make Factory Manager Ji satisfied, only sorry.

Need to open up sales channels as soon as possible.

Should I put some effort into Longyuan or the Shanzhou next door.

Ji Jue pondered, thinking.

Heard Isis's voice.

"Data summary calculation complete, confirmed high-threat target location—"

The screen started suddenly, images from the surveillance appeared, and on the Xinquan map overlooked by the drone, a red dot appeared.

The near riot of the crowd during the day had already activated Isis's early warning. In such a strange situation, there must be some Heart Axis causing trouble behind it.

After several hours of analysis, retrieval, and continuous tracking, the target's possible hiding location had been found.

Ji Jue took a look and laughed out loud.

Out of anger.

After causing trouble, they didn't run away immediately, but hid on the spot...

And right inside Xinquan!?

Very interesting.

"It's dark."

Ji Jue turned his head, looked at the night gradually emerging outside the window, then looked at Lu Feng, meaningfully: "Feng Ge, interested in warming up?"

"You want me for these small fries?"

Lu Feng shook his head instinctively, but suddenly understood Ji Jue's meaning.

The two looked at each other, grinning silently.

During the day, there were too many eyes and ears, so some things were naturally not easy to take out, but after the lights were off, who could tell the difference between power armor and an exoskeleton?

The new gear had been in hand for so long, it was time to open for business! ===== CHAPTER 343 =====