Chapter 965: with translation of chapter title

The next morning, Yingshan Safe Zone.

Heads swarmed on the city walls; outside the safe zone at the valley entrance, large numbers of soldiers and Awakened Ones marched out of the city to gather.

Inside and out, hundreds of thousands of Survivors curiously craned their necks, gazing doubtfully at the hurriedly lining up High Level administrators.

The morning weather was still somewhat cool.

Despite their drowsiness, many Survivors outside the city crawled out of their tents, some uneasily whispering to each other, curiously sizing up everything before them.

"What's this for?"

"How come all these High Level officials are out!? Wasn't someone just saying last night that there would be a 'coup'?"

"Who is supposed to come?"

"Is Lord Yuanfeng coming back?"

"I don't know, isn't he dead?"

The crowd was noisy.

Ordinary Survivors who knew nothing couldn't help but glance sideways, their faces full of doubt as they looked at the forward 'honor guard' formation.

They didn't know what had happened, nor why these High Level officials had collectively appeared.

As the lowest tier, they really had too few information channels.

Many people were still caught up in yesterday's events, not yet come to their senses.

Third Rank battle, unknown strong force stormed the Safe Zone, the leader disappeared, Lin An appeared...

Even now, many people still dare not close their eyes.

They feared that, as rumored, because of Lianglong and Lord Yuanfeng's disappearances, the Yingshan Safe Zone's internal High Level officials were preparing to fight to the death, selecting a new administrator.

Or perhaps Faction: Long An would send people to take over; some, frightened, blatantly spread rumors that Long An would purge them, hoping to lead their troops to flee the Safe Zone.

All kinds of speculation varied, and people's hearts were panic-stricken.

But today, they suddenly discovered...

The rumors seemed all false; inside the seemingly chaotic Safe Zone, it seemed they had reached some kind of consensus in just one night.

In the welcoming assembly gathered outside the city, at a glance they were all Yingshan High Level officials.

The garrison army commander, the deputy commanders of the Corpse-Hunting Squad, representatives of the First and Second Awakened Ones Legions...

Each one is a big shot; each is a high-ranking Awakened One whose word can decide their life or death.

But these big shots who once loomed high and mighty now stand honestly and neatly outside the city.

Everyone 'awaits with bated breath', gazing at the sky beyond the valley as if hoping for stars and the moon.

Seeing this posture, it seems as if some tremendous existence is about to appear, forcing them to do this.

And the truck units formed into convoys drove out of the valley one after another, taking the Corpse-Hunting Squad collectively on departure.

They waited idly for over two hours.

In the formation 'welcoming' team, a burly Awakened One numbly rubbed his stiff neck.

Looking at the distant sky still showing no movement, he couldn't help but quietly ask the army group commander beside him:

"Are you sure Lin An will come?"

"How long have we been waiting... This is damn like standing here like monkeys, it's not right!"

"If Lin An never comes, are we just going to keep standing? Even if he does come, we don't need to do this, do we?"

His tone was full of Impatience.

Given his status and strength, people always try to curry favor with him; when has he ever done something like this?

A group of people foolishly stood outside the city, wishing they could hold flowers like elementary school students, just to welcome Lin An's arrival.

"So embarrassing!"

Looking around, all he saw were Survivors staring at them like monkeys; he only felt a belly full of resentment and pent-up anger.

However, just as his words fell.

The army group representative standing beside him, hearing his words, his face suddenly changed, and he hurriedly lowered his voice to whisper to him:

"You damn, say less two sentences!"

"Call him Lord Lin An! Don't call him Lin An!"

"You forgot those few guys who died!?"

He swallowed, looking rather steady and honest, the representative cautiously glanced around, seeing everyone still looking at the sky, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

"Brother, I'll remind you two things, watch your speech."

"From now on, our Yingshan will bear the surname Lin."

"Never mind standing here to welcome; whether we can live well from now on depends entirely on today..."

"Didn't you hear that old fox of the garrison army say? Lin An brought people over, wants to merge Yingshan! Wants to be our boss! If you don't perform well today, tomorrow you'll be waiting to be hung on the wall? How many heads do you have for Lin An to chop off?"

"Merge the Safe Zone? And still send people to manage us?"

The burly man heard it and was stunned; his personality is rather rough, he only knew that Lin An was coming, and privately he didn't know anything else.

His face changed, he somewhat resentfully blurted out:

"What the hell is this? They're just sending people to manage us?"

"Lord Yuanfeng? Lin An says he'll swallow our Safe Zone just like that? On what authority!?"

Hearing that resentful tone.

The middle-aged representative gave the burly man a sideways glance, a flash of contempt flickering in his eyes.

If it weren't for the other side's strength being still decent, he really wouldn't bother reminding them:

"On what basis? Just because he's Lin An!"

"Lord Yuanfeng?"

He gave a cold snort, the middle-aged man shook his head, only feeling that this burly man really hadn't grasped the situation:

"Don't even say whether he's still alive or not."

"Even if he's alive, do you think he'd dare to face Lin An? You either haven't watched the battle zone channel or weren't there yesterday?"

"With Lin An's strength, one person could wipe us out..."

"Unconvinced? If you're not convinced, come up! If you can beat Lin An, I'll bare my ass to greet you!"

"If you want to die, don't drag me along."

Having said that, the middle-aged man stopped nagging.

His gaze was focused; even though Lin An's "special plane" hadn't appeared yet, it didn't stop him from putting on a serious expression, patiently waiting for Lin An's arrival.

He thought it very clear: Lin An's annexing of Yingshan might not be a bad thing.

Compared to the two previous third-rank individuals, Lin An's strength could be described as utterly crushing them.

Especially after watching the recording in the trade channel, he felt a chill run down his spine.

That guy is practically a human-shaped monster!

Having such a monster as their boss, aside from anything else, at least the sense of security is still quite strong...

As for who Lin An plans to send over to manage, that has nothing to do with him at all.

Even if it were a dog, he wouldn't mind treating the other party as the Supreme Dog Emperor...

To live, to live well, without suffering cold.

"Whoosh—bang!!"

Three hours later, a series of sharp, rapidly approaching sonic booms suddenly came from high altitude.

Amidst the gazes of ten thousand people "expecting", a giant warplane like a black bird slowly hovered above Yingshan.

The high-level officials of the Safe Zone were shaken by the sound, exchanging tense glances.

They've come!

The person who came was none other than Lin An.

In an instant, the long-awaiting high-level officials of the Yingshan Safe Zone all wore respectful expressions, hastily forming two lines, looking up at the warplane below in a fawning manner, waiting for Lin An to appear.

"Welcome back, Lord Lin An, to Yingshan!"

"First Legion, Second Legion, Yingshan Garrison... greetings!"

The shouts shook the heavens.

Under the arrangements of various high-level officials, large numbers of Awakened Ones shouted in unison; moreover, the garrison commander who had been temporarily appointed by Lin An as a deputy ran all the way, forcing a smile as he rushed to the warplane below, ready to report to Lin An his 'efforts' from last night.

Watching the hatch slowly open, his heart pounded and his palms were slick with sweat.

Compared to others who only knew partial information, as the one who directly received Lin An's private message, he naturally knew more.

Unlike what others imagined, that Yuan Feng would return differently, he clearly knew that Lin An had already subdued that former third-rank individual!

And today, he came to reorganize security, the airborne selection!

However, just as he was about to report his work, preparing to speak the lines he had painstakingly devised all night.

But he was surprised to discover that after the warplane's hatch opened and a girl was dropped down, no one else came down.

The next second.

"From today on, she is the Deputy Leader of Yingshan! Other matters, Long An will contact you!"

"If anyone is dissatisfied..."

"Kill!"

"Buzz!"

Vast mental power turned into mental pressure; as Lin An issued a clear, cold command, it instantly swept across the scene, causing everyone's hearts to suddenly stagnate.

That feeling was like walking around the edge of a cliff.

After the shock, disregarding everyone's astonishment, only see the hovering warplane suddenly burst forth a strong airflow, directly shooting upward like a sharp sword, turning into a black dot and disappearing.

On the ground, nearly a hundred Yingshan high-level officials stared blankly at the girl who had been 'dropped down', everyone's faces filled with astonishment.

After a while, they finally recovered from that terrifying intimidation, their hearts still pounding.

Holy shit!?

"This... it just left!?"

After dropping a sentence, it just left like that!?

If it weren't for that oppressive feeling seemingly not yet gone, they would almost suspect they were hallucinating.

Everyone exchanged glances, giving a bitter smile.

Too fast, too arrogant...

Lin An's conduct is truly overbearing and decisive, not caring about them at all...

Even though it is a safe zone, Lin An's behavior actually makes them feel ignored.

What terrifying strength, it feels even stronger than before.

Still feeling uneasy, the Yingshan garrison commander swallowed dryly, only after regaining his composure did he turn his gaze to the girl.

For a moment, his expression involuntarily turned somewhat strange.

This airborne person... actually is...

A first-rank?!

A gentle breeze brushed past, the massive crowd curiously craning their necks.

After a brief silence, Fang Yirou, somewhat at a loss, looked at the countless eyes staring at her.

Especially the nearly hundred second-rank individuals before her, all fixedly staring at her, not knowing what they were thinking.

When had she ever faced such a situation alone?

As she wondered what to do, the Yingshan high-level officials who had been lined up to welcome Lin An exchanged glances; a second later, under the city guard commander's lead, they all bowed and greeted her.

Their expressions were sincere, not feigned.

Standing at the front, the city guard commander wore a hint of ingratiation, his eyes flickering.

He paid no heed to his own image, rather respectfully gesturing toward Fang Yirou.

"Esteemed Deputy Leader, please follow us into the city; I have already prepared a welcoming banquet. Whatever your orders, I will spare no effort to carry them out!"

"Serving Lord Lin An is our honor!"

Smiling, the city guard commander kept sizing up the seemingly young girl before him, lost in thought.

Their attitude was not put on.

Just a few seconds ago, they all realized something.

This girl, who looked utterly ordinary and at most merely decent-looking, had been dropped in by Lin An—she must have some connection with him...

Therefore, upon realizing that, everyone felt a surge of ingratiation.

Even the burly man who had earlier been resentful now honestly followed the crowd in declaring his stance.

There was nothing they could do; Lin An's displayed strength had truly stunned them.

Such a bearing clearly showed absolute confidence in his own power, with no worry that they might harbor other thoughts.

"Submit or die..."—truly overbearing...

Looking at the respectful crowd before her, Fang Yirou couldn't help but feel a bit dazed.

Every person present could crush her; each was stronger than she.

Thick as clouds, a legion of hundreds of thousands, as she arrived slowly formed two lines; the whole Safe Zone seemed to be awaiting her arrival.

Just.

She knew full well that all of this was because of what—or rather, whom—they were welcoming...

She instinctively turned her head, gazing at the vanished black speck, her eyes unfocused.

This is...

Strength?