Chapter 181: Precise Map

Lin Chen had just finished confirming the survivor transfer plan with Li Wei when the communicator received an urgent message—the Starfire Mercenary Group's supply point in Chengdong had been attacked by an unknown force,

losing one-third of their food and medicine. "It must be the remnants of the Iron Hand Group!

" Li Wei slapped the table in anger, "They are unwilling to give up and want to fight us to the end!"

Lin Chen frowned and pulled up the surveillance of the Chengdong supply point—in the footage, one could see more than a dozen people wearing black clothes,

moving quickly, wearing masks, and retreating quickly after succeeding, making it impossible to identify their specific identities.

"It's not necessarily the Iron Hand Group; it could be other forces wanting to take advantage of the chaos.

" Lin Chen analyzed, "Recently, the two major forces have been in frequent conflict, and many small forces are watching from the sidelines, perhaps wanting to reap the benefits."

The two immediately went to the Chengdong supply point to check the situation. The scene was a mess,

several grain warehouses had been pried open, medicine was scattered all over the ground, and guards were lying on the ground injured.

"They came around three o'clock in the morning, with many people and many guns, and we couldn't stop them at all,"

one injured guard said weakly. Lin Chen squatted down to check the shell casings on the ground—they were common models on the black market, used by many forces, making it impossible to lock onto a specific target.

On the way back to headquarters, Li Wei received news: the Iron Hand Group's temporary stronghold in Chengxi had also been attacked,

losing quite a few weapons. "It seems someone is deliberately provoking,

wanting us and the Iron Hand Group to have a complete falling out," Li Wei's face was solemn, "If the two major forces really go to war, it will be the ordinary survivors who suffer."

Lin Chen nodded: "We must find the person provoking, otherwise there will only be more and more conflicts.

By the way, among the survivors transferred earlier, there are several teachers from Jiangnan University.

They said there are many materials from before the apocalypse in the library of Jiangnan University,

and we might be able to find information about these small forces." Li Wei's eyes lit up: "Then let's go to Jiangnan University tomorrow to see if we can find clues. The survivor transfer mission will be postponed for one day."

Early the next morning,

Lin Chen and Li Wei took five squad members and drove the off-road vehicle to Jiangnan University.

The school gate had already collapsed, the windows of the teaching building were broken,

and zombie corpses were scattered on the playground, clearly having been cleaned up by someone before.

"Everyone be careful, there might still be residual mutant creatures inside." Lin Chen drew his ice blade and walked into the campus first.

The library was in the center of the school, its exterior intact, with several fresh bullet marks at the entrance.

"It seems someone has been here recently." Li Wei raised his machine gun and observed the surroundings vigilantly.

Lin Chen pushed open the door, and the inside was full of dust, bookshelves had collapsed, books were scattered all over the floor,

and a few ordinary zombies were hissing at the air. The squad members immediately took action and quickly cleared the zombies.

"Split up to find information, focusing on records about the distribution of small forces after the apocalypse."

Lin Chen said. Everyone scattered and searched among the bookshelves. Lin Chen came to the archives room on the third floor

and found a cabinet labeled "City Force Archives," inside which were several thick notebooks recording the names, locations, and member counts of various small forces in the early apocalypse.

"Found it!

" Lin Chen shouted, "This records a force called the 'Shadow Group,'

which specializes in profiting by provoking conflicts between other forces. There were traces of activity in North City and West City before,

and the weapons used are consistent with the shell casing models from our supply point attack!" Li Wei leaned over and looked at the records in the notebook: "It's them! We must find their stronghold as soon as possible, otherwise they will continue to cause trouble."

Just then, gunshots suddenly came from outside the library.

"Not good,

there are enemies!"

The squad members immediately rushed out of the library and saw more than a dozen people wearing black clothes

and masks shooting at them. It was indeed the "Shadow Group."

"Fight them to the death!" Li Wei shouted, raising his machine gun and strafing. Lin Chen mobilized Absolute Zero, condensing an ice shield to block the bullets, while wielding his blade and rushing toward the enemy.

The two sides fought fiercely for half an hour, and the "Shadow Group" people gradually lost and began to retreat.

Lin Chen did not chase them, but checked the battlefield—several maps were left on the ground,

marking several temporary strongholds of the "Shadow Group," as well as a route map marked with

"Starfire Mercenary Group Headquarters" and "Iron Hand Group Stronghold," clearly indicating their next step was to attack headquarters.

"We must go back immediately and notify headquarters to strengthen defenses!" Lin Chen said.

Everyone quickly packed up the materials and maps and drove the off-road vehicle back to headquarters.

On the way, Li Wei said into the communicator: "Commander Zhang, we found the 'Shadow Group' provoking the conflict between the two major forces. They might attack headquarters next. Requesting strengthened defenses!"

Returning to headquarters, Commander Zhang had already arranged the defenses—increasing the number of guards,

setting up landmines and surveillance around headquarters, and mounting machine guns on the roof.

The atmosphere in the safe zone was becoming increasingly tense, and many survivors were worried about a war breaking out.

Commander Zhang said, "We must eliminate the 'Shadow Group' as soon as possible to quell the conflict, otherwise the safe zone will be in danger."

Lin Chen nodded: "We have their stronghold map, we can send troops tomorrow

to eliminate them in one fell swoop." Li Wei added: "I have already contacted the leader of the Iron Hand Group

and explained the situation to him. He agreed to a temporary truce and to deal with the 'Shadow Group' together." Commander Zhang nodded with satisfaction: "Good, let's do that. Tomorrow, split into three routes to attack the three strongholds of the 'Shadow Group' and be sure to annihilate them in one go!" ===== CHAPTER 182 =====