Chapter 240

River-View Suburb, Ring City Expressway.

The engine sound was deep and muffled.

At the head of the convoy, three light armored vehicles moved forward slowly in a triangular formation, while four green-canopy transport trucks followed closely behind.

On the lead vehicle hung the white flag of the River-View First Military Region Search and Rescue Team; the machine gunner tasked with keeping watch had a wooden expression, somewhat fatigued.

At the rear of the convoy, hundreds of survivors with grimy faces and disheveled heads trudged behind the military vehicles, their steps labored.

The column's progress was unusually slow, and the survivors trailing behind stretched out into a thin black line.

From above, it looked like ants moving house in the rain.

The green-canopy trucks were packed with women and elderly, even children piled onto the roofs, and the wheels sagged under the weight.

Inside the vehicles, a thick stench of filth assailed the nostrils, yet no one showed a look of disgust.

Because that odor came from every person.

More than a dozen soldiers in green uniforms stood guard with guns on either side of the crowd, their steps heavy.

Tang Long sat sideways in the lead armored vehicle, his face grim as he surveyed the surroundings, with Tang Wan's family squeezed in beside him.

As an Awakened One, his only privilege was being allowed to bring people aboard.

Unlike the rescue team he had expected, he saw only fatigue and numbness on the soldiers' faces.

After many inquiries, he learned that this search and rescue team had originally been headed to a certain power plant, but suffered heavy losses in an attack by mutants.

Originally a rescue squad of nearly a thousand, now only this few remain.

To avoid making a wasted trip, the search and rescue team chose to scour the suburbs for survivors all along the way.

"Tang Ge, shouldn't we tell the leading officer about that?"

Tang Tian clutched his stomach, his face pale as he leaned close to Tang Long and lowered his voice to ask.

Since they encountered the search and rescue team that day, they have followed it all the way to the present.

But for some reason, Tang Long never spoke up about that matter.

Tang Long glanced at him, his brows furrowed tightly.

He had originally planned to speak up as soon as he got on the vehicle, preferably finding the leading officer to tell him.

Lin An was undoubtedly that Lin An; the slip of paper in his hand was proof enough.

But out of caution, he had endured until now.

There were many reasons for his hesitation.

In his view, news of Lin An was probably the most "profitable" information at this stage.

In the chat channel, countless people offered various high-priced bids, all just to find even a trace of Lin An.

Everyone wants to establish a second safe zone, but so far many major forces are stuck on killing mutants.

Although gathering 100 Awakened Ones is difficult, it's not much pressure for the military, and many populous cities can also muster that many forces.

Stable spiritual energy nodes are not hard to find either; high-rank ones are rare, but low-rank ones exist in several places in every city.

The problem lies with the mutants.

Mutants are not only hard to find and hard to kill, but the key is to slay peak Second Level monsters.

Therefore, everyone wants to get in touch with Lin An, hoping to obtain some key information from him.

What if there actually is some secret? At worst, as the first player worldwide to establish a safe zone, Lin An must know what issues a safe zone should pay attention to.

Insults are insults, mockery is mockery, but many of the abusive messages are even actively arranged by these forces.

All of this is just to lure Lin An into taking the bait.

But Lin An and Long'an Base seemed to have vanished, with no news coming out.

The channel is full of scammers, and some forces, in their desperation, have been cheated out of a lot.

So, Tang Long has always wanted to sell Lin An's information for a high price.

His awakening talent is not strong, and after repeated consideration he clearly realized.

Whether he can live well in the Apocalypse in the future hinges on Lin An's information and the three members of Tang Wan's family.

Therefore, after realizing that this search-and-rescue team is very weak, he naturally could easily guess what condition the Military Region behind it is in.

Just by selling the information like that, can it really bring him a good future life?

He actually tried to kill Tang Wan's family with his own hands.

He feels some regret, thinking he shouldn't have been so impulsive.

He originally hoped that after contacting Lin An, Tang Wan would say a few kind words for him.

But now he fears that if Tang Wan's family contacts Lin An, they might turn around and bite him.

So...

There's no way around it; his safest move is to sell Lin An's information!

As for the favor of saving Tang Wan's family, he'll take it if he can, otherwise forget it.

Sigh.

He feels impatient.

After observing the search-and-rescue team, he generally feels that the Military Region behind them might not even be able to protect itself.

Food is insufficient, and so far only a small amount has been distributed to the survivors.

Their strength is not great; there are only twelve Awakened Ones in total, and it's said that the strongest soldier in the Military Region can barely contend with the lickers.

The geographical location is poor, and furthermore, forced by the capital's orders, they have to frequently send people out to search and rescue civilians.

This Military Region has no future; who knows when it will be breached.

After figuring all this out, Tang Long suppressed his impatience and casually said to Tang Tian:

"What's the rush!"

After arriving at the Military Region and meeting their highest leader, I will naturally speak.

If we speak up now, what do we do if someone steals our merits?!!

Tang Tian heard the voice and a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Swallow merits? What's there to swallow?

Isn't the urgent task to find Lin An and join his Safe Zone?

How can we find it by ourselves? Sending a message could get us killed!

Although the chat channel is full of rumors, one says Lin An is dead, another says Long'an Base is gone.

But Tang Tian doesn't think that way.

If he really died, how is his name still on the ranking list?

My brother-in-law definitely has a bunch of people working for him!

How many days has it been? Has anyone who claimed they could build a Safe Zone succeeded?

With so many Military Regions and so many people unable to achieve this, his brother-in-law did!

Even a little thought makes clear the underlying meaning.

As for the kick Lin An gave him at the start, he has subconsciously chosen to forget it.

My whole family are ordinary people, and Tang Long is a two-faced, untrustworthy guy.

He, Lin An, is my only lifeline.

But what he doesn't know is that Tang Wan never dared to tell him that Lin An wanted to kill them...

That day, after he was kicked unconscious, Tang Mother also fainted; only Tang Wan knew exactly what Lin An intended to do.

But by today, even Tang Wan instinctively thinks positively.

Tang Tian looked at Boss Tang's expression and also guessed what scheme this guy was plotting.

No, we can't drag this out any longer!

A flash of fierce light appeared in Tang Tian's eyes.

As a small-time person like me, wanting to survive the Apocalypse, how can I do without clinging to a powerful thigh?

Like those refugees behind us? To stay alive we have to rely on others' charity!

Looking at the Survivors trailing behind, sallow and emaciated, with numb eyes, a deep fear rose in his heart.

Many of these people were business elites before the Apocalypse, dressed in fine clothes, white-collar rich.

And now?

Fawning and begging, even diamond rings and gold watches can't be exchanged for a sip of water.

Moreover, he saw many decent-looking women baring their chests, uncaring about being groped, just for a bite to eat.

I don't want to live like this! I've had enough of the damn Tang Long's threats!

My brother-in-law is Lin An, the ruler who dominates the region!

I should be a person above others; I should be enjoying the good life in the Safe Zone, playing with whichever woman I want!

Damn it, isn't this damn Tang Long just afraid that after contacting Lin An, he'll bite back?

Tang Tian sat back in his seat without changing expression, fists clenched tightly.

Wait until night falls, then go find the Superior Officer of the rescue team and tell him this!

Have the Military Region help contact Lin An, and tell him our whole family is here!