Chapter 429: Those with Ulterior Motives

Wangjiang Military Region Meeting Room was completely silent.

No matter how hostile they were toward Long'an Base, when they saw the brutal city defense, everyone still gave it a certain respect.

After all, they were both humans, both survivors struggling in the apocalypse.

Watching the savage howling female demon rush into the crowd and devour humans on the screen, many couldn't help but sigh.

Dissolved, eaten clean.

The soldiers stuffed into the female demon's chest could only turn into a pool of pus amid their screams.

The Awakened One who had performed impressively earlier and looked like an assassin kept maneuvering at the side.

The gap between First Level and Second Level was still quite large.

As for the strongest combat power currently appearing at Long'an Base, it was Gao Tian.

He also lacked the strength to unleash that terrifying strike again.

Wang Meng watched the relentless 【Impactor】 destroying the city wall with a complex feeling, silently sentencing Long'an Base to death in his heart.

"At most three minutes, this group will collapse."

He noticed four mutants trapped in place by alloy ropes.

Now, that tough 'rope' was about to break from the struggle.

The staff officer beside him noticed the commander's complex mood and couldn't help but speak:

"Yes, commander."

"They probably have no other means."

"We've come to this point; any remaining means should be used."

The Awakened Ones who had been watching the battle for three days and two nights all nodded.

During this period of discussion, they also learned many details about Long'an Base's actual situation.

Although they didn't know why that impressive bald strongman had disappeared, no one really cared.

At this point, not taking action couldn't be hiding strength.

Long'an Base had even issued threats to intimidate them.

"With such heavy casualties, what's the point of intimidation?"

Wang Meng unconsciously glanced at the silent Gao Yan sitting not far away and slightly shook his head:

"The Lin An you mentioned really doesn't give any face at all."

Although his words carried no mockery, they also revealed Wang Meng's attitude.

As for Gao Yan's words, he had little reaction.

On one hand, the young lady was the daughter of his former superior; on the other, he merely thought Gao Yan had been frightened.

Based on the available intelligence, Long'an Base had merely made a mistaken decision.

Essentially, Lin An was too confident.

Indeed.

Long'an Base's defensive strength truly gave him a shock.

That twenty-meter alloy city wall could withstand hundreds of thousands of zombies without mutants.

The psychic defense tower was even more a city-defense weapon.

As for Gao Tian and the sandworms that joined the battle later, they also gave him some shock.

Judging solely by Long'an Base's displayed combat power, it was indeed quite impressive.

What a pity.

After all, ordinary people are ordinary people; their perception and judgment of their own strength are extremely limited.

As a high-ranking officer of a remote region's army, Wang Meng was merely considered high-ranking in Wangjiang.

Having no contact with the capital side, he naturally didn't know Lin An's performance in the Long'an Project.

But even if he knew, he probably wouldn't take it seriously.

A forcibly retired disabled person is just that.

"What a pity..."

The Wangjiang Military Region's sole Second Level Awakened One gazed at the striving Gao Tian, his eyes full of regret.

After the defense line fell, where could this group possibly run to?

The entire Long'an Base's members performed remarkably.

Every single person was fighting desperately.

He even noticed many girls who clearly still looked like students, wearing medical corps white coats rushing to the Frontline to rescue wounded soldiers.

Wang Meng casually turned his head toward his strongest subordinate and let out a scoff:

"Nothing to pity."

"An incompetent general exhausts the three armies."

"We haven't withheld opportunities from Long'an Base; in fact, it was Lin An himself who actively refused."

"If he had sought our aid after learning the scale of the zombie tide, would he have ended up like this?"

"Bringing troops to self-importance, self-righteous."

"Not surprising either."

"If an ordinary retired soldier suddenly gained power, and even relied on luck to recruit a batch of powerful subordinates,"

"Anyone in his place would feel extraordinary, with an inflated mindset."

The staff officer beside him nodded in agreement.

Watching the defense line gradually collapse on the screen, he couldn't help but softly ask the commander:

Commander, our troops...

Commander troops

Wang Meng waved his hand, his eyes conveying that everything was under his control.

Wang Meng

We're already near Long'an Base.

Near Long'an Base

Gao Yan gave me the private contact of Long'an Base's second-in-command.

Gao Yan second-in-command private chat method

Lin An doesn't care anymore.

Lin An

But we should try to bring back the safety token, as well as the archery and illusion Awakened Ones.

Safety Token archery illusion Awakened Ones

Having said that, he sent Chu An a pre-prepared message, and his face instantly grew weary.

Chu An he

The system private chat really consumes a lot.

system private chat

I am Wang Meng, the acting commander of the Wangjiang Military Region.

Wang Meng Acting Commander of the Wangjiang Military Region

I now order your unit to withdraw to our side.

your unit our side

The coordinates show our armored corps to the southeast.

southeast direction our army armored corps

Per the order, when your unit withdraws, you must carry the token and two special Awakened Ones.

token Special Awakened Ones

After receiving the order, our unit will immediately launch an indiscriminate bombardment on Long'an Base to aid the evacuation.

our unit Long'an Base indiscriminate bombing

The phrasing is cold and threatening.

Generic.

Sitting not far away, Gao Yan anxiously watched the brutal battle on the screen, noticed Wang Meng's behavior, and couldn't help but speak up.

Gao Yan Wang Meng she

Uncle Wang, what did you just send?!

Uncle Wang

How do we still have forces near Long'an Base?!

troops

Fan Bing–disguised Gao Yan wondered if she had leaked any information; logically, the Wangjiang Military Region shouldn't know Long'an Base's coordinates.

Fan Bing Gao Yan Wangjiang Military Region Long'an Base

Wang Meng startled at the sound, then nonchalantly opened the private chat panel to show her.

Wang Meng she

Nothing.

Generic.

Before you departed, I had someone install a signal tracking device on the bottom of your military boots.

military boots signal tracking device

To avoid leaking information, the other squads sent out were kept in the dark about this.

unit

Hearing this, Gao Yan felt a chill run through her body and almost froze.

Gao Yan

The signal tracking device may lack laser precision, but it's enough to trigger a broad missile strike nearby.

signal tracking device laser positioning missile bombardment

The message Wang Meng just sent clearly threatens Long'an Base.

Wang Meng Long'an Base

The so-called assistance in the evacuation.

Generic.

The implication is to profit from the chaos.

Generic.

Does Long'an Base intend to fight to the death, grasping at the last hope?

Long'an Base

Sorry, the missile strike may not kill every mutant, but it will definitely kill you.

Mutant

If anyone at Long'an Base still wants to survive, the only choice is to obey.

Long'an Base

Seeing Gao Yan's uncharacteristic expression, Wang Meng grew suspicious.

Wang Meng Gao Yan

How?

Generic.

What are you worried about?

Generic.

He spoke with a hint of self-satisfaction.

he

Those folks at Long'an Base have no idea what kind of mind‑altering drug Lin An has given them.

Long'an Base Lin An bewitching medicine

Even now, you haven't gotten in touch with us.

Generic.

Well then, we might as well force their hand.

Generic.

Take the safety token and run to us; at least there's still a hope.

Safety Token

If they're stubborn, let them die; if they can't be used by me, we might as well destroy them.

oblivious

In the army's iron‑blooded tradition, Wang Meng thinks very clearly.

troops Wang Meng

Are the tactics despicable?

Generic.

Not really.

Generic.

He—or rather the whole capital—has given Lin An an opportunity.

he capital Lin An

Give up the token and the mission's secret, and everything will be settled.

token

You're courting death; don't blame others.

Generic.

Even Wang Meng, unexpectedly, feels a hint of pity for Long'an Base's survivors.

Wang Meng Long'an Base Survivors

Too bad you've chosen the wrong side.

Generic.

Following an arrogant but timid leader will surely lead to ruin.

leader

Such a person seeking their own death is bad enough, but they also drag others down.

Generic.

Gao Yan says Long'an Base has also accepted a batch of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled.

Gao Yan Long'an Base the elderly weak sick disabled

Tragic and pitiful.

Generic.

War is always brutal, especially in the apocalypse.

Apocalypse

The capital is correct.

capital

Those with ulterior motives deserve death.

those with ulterior motives

All unstable factors should be eliminated.