Chapter 402: Civilization Guard Li Zongkai

"Although we shouldn't take the initiative, this time we must push our frontline outward. Teacher Yu, where's Teacher Xiao Yu?"

Zhang Su looked toward Zhao De and Yu Wen.

"Qingqing is helping with inventory. Do you need her for something?" Zhao De pointed toward the warehouse.

"Right. Zhu, tell your wife to come over, and also get Liu Tianji."

"Got it!"

Zhao De pulled out a walkie-talkie; within Tianma Yu's internal communication network, even if the person being called didn't have one, others nearby would immediately notify them.

Less than three minutes later, Yu Qing and Liu Tianji entered the dining hall one after the other.

Once everyone was assembled, Zhang Su got straight to the point: "The bomb expert, plus Xiao Liu and Wu Lue—the two electronics experts—are all here. I need you to make a batch of remote-controlled bombs. Without interference, they must reliably detonate at least one kilometer away. Can you do it?"

"No problem."

"Conditions are sufficient, Brother Su."

"Y-yes, we can..."

Yu Qing and Wu Lue were mentally prepared; only Liu Tianji was confused, not understanding why they suddenly needed to make remote-controlled bombs—but he still nodded in agreement.

Seeing all three agree without hesitation, Zhang Su nodded, then turned to Yu Qing: "I need a few special remote-controlled bombs. The explosive charge itself doesn't need to be powerful, but there must be a reserved space to add liquid. You understand what I mean?"

Everyone's expressions turned serious. A regular remote-controlled bomb was nothing—what he was describing was the real weapon of mass destruction.

Liu Tianji couldn't help but twitch his cheek and asked: "Brother Su, what kind of attack are you planning? Can I know?"

"Attack is aggression. I'm only preparing for defense. Don't overthink it. When these bombs are paired with the satellite village's outposts, they'll extend our defensive depth by at least four to five kilometers. If enemies approach, we can strike them hard long before they reach Tianma Yu!"

Zhang Su spoke slowly, gazing south, then turned his gaze north: "This method can also be used to deal with the annoying zombie hordes."

If possible, cold weapons were best against zombies—but if time was short and efficiency was needed, a good explosion worked well too.

"Um..." Yu Qing raised her hand like a student in class: "Brother Su, you want to use the bomb's explosion to trigger it, right?"

Zhang Su naturally knew what "it" was, and nodded.

"Then you don't need a reserved space—just drip it onto regular explosives. You wouldn't... use too much, would you?"

Yu Qing asked with a strange expression.

She still remembered the potency of the raw toxin. Was a special filling device really necessary? Was he seriously planning to hand-craft a nuclear weapon...?

Zhang Su shook his head helplessly: "No, it might evaporate."

"Ah... sorry, I didn't consider that." Yu Qing smiled awkwardly: "Then... Brother Su, let's not waste time. I'll go get supplies from Xiaoshan and start right away. Let me know any needs directly, or have my dad or Zhu tell me."

Yu Qing shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. After fully adapting to the apocalypse, her personality had grown increasingly bold and decisive—her growth was unmistakable.

"OK, Xiao Liu, Lue, go together. Move fast. Be careful—don't blow up the camp!"

Zhang Su, still uneasy, watched them nod and leave, then added another warning.

"Don't worry, Brother Su!"

The three from the tech team left together. Zhang Su then discussed specific defense plans with Yu Wen and the others.

On this bitterly cold day, the sun set early. Before anyone noticed, night had fallen. In Tianma Yu's small kitchen, stoves were lit, and smoke curled from the chimneys.

In contrast to Tianma Yu's tranquil serenity, the Taiyangcheng pedestrian street behind the LeGou Mall in Qincheng felt tense.

Before the disaster, this area was Qincheng's old pedestrian street, packed with brand stores and a dedicated food alley. Four or five years ago, it was the top choice for young people and nearby county residents shopping in Qincheng. But as other commercial zones rose, Taiyangcheng declined—shop vacancies were high; not quite nine out of ten empty, but six or seven were.

When the disaster struck, the shops hadn't opened yet, and no one was shopping—it was utterly deserted. The narrow alleys between buildings preserved the area relatively intact.

Now, due to its proximity to the LeGou Mall, the pedestrian street had become a functional facility for the Survivor Alliance. It was tidily maintained—not comparable to pre-disaster times—but standing on the street, you felt no apocalypse at all, just like the desolation of a Great Depression-era commercial district.

Earlier, Liao Youzhi planned to place the Alliance's entertainment industry here, but before implementation, a severe cold snap hit. With heating concerns, the plan was shelved. Now, this area mainly served as the Alliance's training ground and, more importantly, housed the vital exchange market in the only underground mall in Taiyangcheng.

"Welcome, brothers of Civilization Guard. Good evening, Chairman Li. The leader has been waiting. Please, this way."

A tall, upright member of the Survivor Alliance's elite guard gestured with a hand toward the man stepping down from the vehicle.

In front of him, five vehicles had pulled up, and twenty people disembarked one by one. Each vehicle was packed; everyone was fully armed, alert and tense upon exiting—except one.

"Ha, tonight's Alliance is bustling."

Li Zongkai wore a long wool overcoat, a wool sweater underneath, a black scarf hanging over his chest, and a vintage felt hat. He looked nothing like a warlord of the apocalypse—more like a pre-disaster chamber president. And since he had indeed been a chairman in politics before the collapse, he now styled himself as such.

The only thing about him that even slightly resembled an apocalypse warlord was the submachine gun hanging at his waist.

Soon, five members of Civilization Guard gathered around Li Zongkai, forming a protective circle around him.

"Those are Xiao Ying Hui's vehicles over there, right?"

Li Zongkai didn't head straight for the banquet hall. Instead, he pointed toward four cars parked in the dim distance.

"Correct. Commander Liu of Xiao Ying Hui has arrived."

The guard answered honestly.

"Young man, besides Xiao Ying Hui and our Civilization Guard, who else is coming tonight?"

Li Zongkai pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one for himself, then shoved the pack into the guard's hand with a smile.

The guard didn't refuse—he slipped the cigarettes into his pocket and replied calmly: "The Tianqi Corps will also be arriving."

"Hmm, it's been a while since I've seen Commander Liu and Director Yang. Haha, tonight's truly a grand gathering of Qincheng—all the northern forces are here!"

With that, Li Zongkai brushed dust off his overcoat and walked toward the lit restaurant.

The Survivor Alliance claimed in its broadcasts to control northern Qincheng, but its headquarters was merely directly north of the city center. Northeast and northwest held several survivor camps. While their populations were smaller than the Alliance's, their strength was not to be underestimated.

As Li Zongkai pondered this, he walked toward a luxurious restaurant with the sign "Jiuding Zhuang."

Before the disaster, Jiuding Zhuang was a high-end restaurant specializing in fish dishes, with a solemn exterior of blue stone. The minimum per-person cost was three hundred, typically hosting business banquets. Despite its location, slightly mismatched with the surrounding commercial environment, its business thrived due to nearby office buildings.

Now under the Survivor Alliance's control, Liao Youzhi liked hosting leaders of other camps here—it carried prestige.

Some factions traveling to Qincheng for trade occasionally dined at Jiuding Zhuang. It wasn't what it once was, but in the apocalypse, it was already quite respectable.

Once survival was secured, urban survivors longed to return to their former lives, striving to reclaim every aspect of the past.

"Chairman Li of Civilization Guard has arrived!"

Before Li Zongkai reached the door, two men at Jiuding Zhuang's entrance pulled open the heavy double doors with impeccable etiquette.

Li Zongkai smiled at these formalities, not relaxing even slightly due to their courtesy. Instead, he quietly reminded those around him to stay alert—his gesture, to them, seemed like praise for their polished service.

Li Zongkai brought five men to the banquet; the remaining fourteen were scattered across Jiuding Zhuang's various areas for defense. The apocalypse was like wartime: interaction among factions was necessary, but safety was vital.

(End of Chapter)