Chapter 233: Strike First to Gain the Advantage

"Brother Zhang, we're on a mission out here—let's catch up after we finish it!"

"What mission? Hey, you're blocking my way, and you come up asking if I'm surnamed Zhang—could this mission have something to do with me?"

Zhang Su asked, feigning surprise.

Zhang Xin sniffed, pulled out cigarettes and offered a few, then turned to see Deputy Captain Yan and the rest walking over—he knew pretending ignorance was impossible, so he sighed.

"Brother Zhang, we're out here mainly to hunt down a traitor from the Alliance—he kidnapped a crucial scientist. Our leader flew into a rage and sent five squads out to search!"

As he spoke, Zhang Xin idly smoked, watching Zhang Su's expression through the smoke.

"We'll complete the mission!"

"Hmph!"

"Brother Zhang has always kept his word. Once, when a group tried to kill him, he single-handedly lured over a hundred zombies to their hideout—the zombies devoured every survivor there, and he cut down the few who escaped. Better be honest—this is my job. You just wait for your points!"

"Then thank you, Captain Zhang!"

Saying that, Zhang Su gave Zhang Xin an insolent look and sneered, "Old Zhang, I've got to say this—you ever notice how none of my men interrupt me when I speak? You're a lousy captain!"

"What's your meaning?"

Zhang Xin, seeing the look, knew exactly what he meant. He waved his hand impatiently. "Fine, I'll give you credit. Happy?"

His words tightened the suddenly relaxed atmosphere again.

Deputy Yan seized the chance to speak and immediately puffed up, as if he'd forgotten the gun pointed at him.

Zhang Xin blinked in surprise. "Where did they go?"

"This is fucked!"

"Hey, Old Yan, don't move!" Zhang Xin quickly warned as Yan seemed about to explode.

Zhang Xin waited for Yan to speak, but the man stayed silent—strange. Then it hit him: the guy was under crosshairs. He chuckled bitterly. "Brother Zhang, tell Fat Sister to lower her gun. Look at him—he can't even speak. This isn't right!"

Points in the Survivor Alliance were extremely valuable—everyone wanted more, to live more comfortably.

Yan was furious upon hearing Zhang Su's words—he reached for his gun, but before he could move, the sound of a bolt being racked rang out. He looked up: a fat woman leaned out the RV window, aiming an automatic rifle straight at him!

Her posture looked comical, like a sea lion, but the black muzzle was real—stained with repeated use, well-maintained, clearly a frequently fired weapon.

Zhang Su's expression was flawless, his words clear and precise—he could repeat the story backward and still sound convincing. Nine truths, one lie—most deceptive.

"That scientist you mentioned—the one who can't walk, wears glasses, looks refined—he said he wanted to go to Tang City or maybe Jingcheng, even asked us to escort him. Total bullshit. Later, I traded him a gun for some canned food and sent them on their way."

Tap-tap, tap-tap…

Zhang Xin hadn't expected this. He shook his hand. "Brother Zhang, tell me the truth—did those two really head toward Jingcheng?"

Yan snorted, glaring at the fat woman wedged in the window, furious—but now wasn't the time. Something more important loomed.

"Long time no see, Boss Zhang," Tan Huajun didn't move, a smile visible at the corner of her mouth, her tone as casual as greeting someone at a fruit stall.

Inside the vehicle, Zhao Dechu and Chen Hanzhou exchanged glances, both shrugging—neither knew anything about this.

Zhang Su's mind raced. Combining their behavior, he judged they'd gathered scattered info from Xidaying Village. After a moment, he nodded. "We met them."

??!!

All members of the Survivor Alliance froze—unprepared for his outright admission.

The phrase "lousy captain" stretched out by Zhang Su dripped with heavy sarcasm.

"This…"

"Oh, isn't this Fat Sister from the gas station?"

Zhang Xin's expression turned serious. "Correct. We're out here to catch a traitor—tall, bulky, driving a Jinbei. The scientist can't walk. Have you seen them?"

"You fucking—"

"Oh, let me introduce you—this is Deputy Captain Yan of our Vanguard Team Three." Zhang Xin nodded toward Yan, then looked back at him. "Yan, this is an old friend of mine from right after the disaster. I'll handle this—you stay out of it!"

Zhang Xin stamped his foot. If Zhang Su was telling the truth, there was no way to continue the chase—heading north meant entering Qing County. A squad of ten low-ranking men dared not enter the city.

Zhang Su's attention shifted to the three approaching men. "Who was the one just speaking to me?"

Zhang Xin's face twisted into a strange expression—he knew Zhang Su wasn't mocking him, but targeting Deputy Yan. He wanted to laugh but felt awkward, lips pressed tight, speechless.

Some decisions couldn't be made by the captain alone—major missions required joint approval from captain and deputy.

"Heh. Believe me or not—go see for yourselves. Come on, Mr. Zhang, as an old friend of our Captain Zhang, you wouldn't refuse an old friend a cup of tea, would you?"

Tap-tap!

Zhang Xin frowned, stepped closer, and whispered to Zhang Su's ear: "You saw it yourself—some things aren't up to me alone. Give me face—take me around your camp, just a quick look. Our Alliance has no interest in the northern villages. We won't cause trouble at your place."

Zhang Su's suspicions were confirmed: the ten-man squad was indeed split into factions. Factionalism was normal—but he hadn't expected such fierce infighting within a tiny squad. And he hadn't expected Zhang Xin to be such a skilled liar!

He assumed Qing County was either overrun by zombies or controlled by a faction—either way, inconvenient.

After hearing everything, Zhang Xin sighed, turned to Deputy Yan, whose face was dark with rage. "You heard it. No point continuing. Let's report back and see what the leader says."

"Left?"

Tan Huajun's fat body was wedged in the window, her feet hooked around the sofa edge, perfectly steady.

"You shut the hell up stirring up trouble! Our Alliance's internal affairs are none of your business! You're—die!"

Zhang Xin had already wanted to back out since meeting Zhang Su. He didn't want to make an enemy—this mission was already repulsive. If not for Yan constantly pushing, he'd have led his men to loot some village long ago!

Five squads searching—everyone slacking off—who'd know?

"Do you not believe what I said, Deputy Yan?"

Zhang Su pointed toward Xidaying Village and spoke confidently.

"Captain Zhang, we can't take anyone's word at face value. I think we should at least visit this Mr. Zhang's camp, right?"

Through simple words and observation, Zhang Su had gathered much. He subtly scanned the ten men, reading their micro-expressions and glances—confirming his suspicions. Finally, his gaze settled on Yan.

"Brother Zhang…"

Zhang Su nodded but didn't tell Tan Huajun to lower her gun.

He hadn't immediately mentioned Xidaying Village.

When he mentioned factions, he noticed the ten men subtly shift positions—five edged closer to Zhang Xin; two stayed behind Yan; one stood stiffly in place, a foolish neutral.

Seeing Zhang Xin's hesitation, Zhang Su guessed his thoughts perfectly. A subtle understanding formed—he picked up the thread.

Those simple words instantly changed how the Survivor Alliance members viewed Zhang Su—was this guy insane?

Yan's face darkened. His submachine gun gripped tight—he couldn't raise it, couldn't lower it. His two subordinates touched their waist holsters, unsure whether to draw. The scene froze.

"I'm just confused…" Zhang Su gave Zhang Xin a strange look. "Old Zhang, who's really in charge here—you or him? Don't tell me your ten-man squad's split into factions?"

Zhang Su pinched his nose, puzzled. "Old Zhang, is this how you want to run your squad? Keep a guy like that around? Doesn't he annoy you?"

"Aren't you just here to talk to the boss? Why make everyone else get down? All this nonsense—can't you see I'm talking to your captain? Where's your nerve, deputy, to keep yapping?"

"Fine, go ahead."

Just as Yan moved to lunge and kill Zhang Su, two blood jets erupted from the back of his skull. His eyes widened in disbelief—the last thought in his mind: How the hell did that fat woman shoot so accurately?

Simultaneously, Zhang Su sharply swung his shoulder rifle forward—the safety already off, ready to fire.

On the surface, Zhang Xin was captain, Yan deputy—merely the Alliance's internal check-and-balance system, designed for mutual oversight.

Zhang Su gave Zhang Xin a look that said, "If you don't believe me, don't ask." "How should I know? They headed north after leaving my place—who knows where? Even if they went to Russia, I don't care."

Zhang Su pointed bluntly at the livid Yan, offering zero room for negotiation.

Zhang Xin hadn't expected to meet two acquaintances at once—he'd nearly forgotten Tan Huajun. Seeing her aim so perfectly, he felt a pang of regret. The woman he'd once ignored was now being used to defuse tension.

Zhang Xin was still pondering how to negotiate after Zhang Su denied everything—when Zhang Su admitted it.

"Um… Brother Zhang, where are those two now?"

Yan suddenly sensed danger—he realized if they kept talking, he might die here. Better strike first.

Yan replied indifferently, then glanced at Zhang Su, then at his shoulder rifle, then pointed to the RV: "Why won't your people get down? Do you look down on the Survivor Alliance?"

Inside the vehicle, Chen Hanzhou and Zhao Dechu exchanged confused glances—had they misremembered?

"You! You fucking—"

Hearing this, Yan's face turned glacial.

"Tan Huajun, from now on, when I speak to Old Zhang, I don't want to hear his voice. Keep your rifle aimed at this Yan deputy—if he makes a move, shoot him dead."

"Cough… no need to boast about old glories. Old Zhang, you mentioned a traitor?"

"You don't care?"

"That tall, bulky traitor you mentioned—he lived in the same housing block as me, same unit. I saw them stopped on Haihe Bridge and helped them out. We traded supplies, then they left."

Tap-tap…

Zhang Su fired. Tan Huajun kept firing.

Before Yan's two subordinates could draw their pistols, their eyes went glassy—two bloody holes appeared in their foreheads, identical to their leader's.

(End of Chapter)