Chapter 430: Release Them? You

'Puff…'

Yang Xinqi couldn't hold back a stifled laugh, realized the setting was inappropriate, and quickly cleared his throat, his expression stern: 'Sorry.'

Liu Yao had better control over his laughter; in the dim light, his face twisted, and many others were similar, including Gong Chengming, whose lips curled inward and teeth clenched tightly.

Li Zongkai's face twitched, his abdomen burning from holding back laughter.

Liao Youzhi froze. After hearing Zhang Su's words, he was momentarily at a loss for a reply, thinking: He insulted me—how dare this guy insult people…

'Heh…'

Instantly, Liao Youzhi pressed the call button, smiled, and added: 'Zhang Su, you want to provoke me? I'll tell you, it's not that easy. The situation is right before us—why not discuss how to resolve it properly? I advise you not to play tricks; it won't benefit you or the Civilian Protectors!'

The other side's intent was obvious—but would he fall for it so easily?

Ridiculous! Zhang Su's eyes flickered. He signaled everyone nearby to be silent, then said to Liao Youzhi: 'I cooperated with Li Zongkai over two months ago—we spent less than half a day together. Do you really think we have deep ties? Put yourself in my place—what would you think?'

Liao Youzhi frowned, sneering at the silent Li Zongkai: 'Chairman Li, this man doesn't seem to value you at all. What do you say about that?'

He genuinely didn't believe in any bond between Li Zongkai and Zhang Su. Even before the disaster, how many people would die for a friend? And now, in this world where survival was uncertain, such loyalty was unthinkable.

'Yes, maybe I just imagined it.'

Li Zongkai lowered his head and spoke in a low voice. His only goal: follow the other's lead, just to stay alive.

'Heh, don't rush to cooperate. Even if Zhang Su seems to ignore you, I still think you two might be teaming up to fool me.'

Liao Youzhi continued: 'I know everything about you and Li Zongkai. No need to play games with me. Honestly, I don't want anything. Humanity is already down to scraps—we have no reason to kill each other, right? Peaceful coexistence is the best solution.'

Aggressive tactics weren't working. Try a different approach.

'It was already peaceful—it was you who started this whole thing, wasn't it?' Zhang Su didn't follow Li Zongkai's lead. He hadn't forgotten the root of the issue.

'No, no, no—it was peaceful at first. But you, to maintain peace in your territory, repeatedly lured zombies toward Qincheng. Our area is already small; when zombie hordes arrive, peace vanishes, right, Zhang Su?'

Liao Youzhi regained his negotiating rhythm, becoming methodical.

'Repeatedly…'

Zhang Su muttered dismissively. If he hadn't spoken with Li Zongkai, he'd still be in the dark.

But Tianma Yu's members, seeing Zhang Su's expression, thought he was angry. Lu Yubo quickly explained: 'Boss, we always focus on extermination—we've never lured zombies south!'

Earlier, Zhang Su hadn't been responsible for clearing or luring zombies; Lu Yubo usually led those missions.

'Little Lu is right. If we were to lure them, it'd be west, northwest, or north—never to Beidong Town, let alone Qincheng.'

'Big bro, Liao Youzhi's framing us!'

Seeing his men furious, Zhang Su waved his hands: 'I know this is all Liao Youzhi's trick.'

In his heart: Even if I really did lure them, so what? The villain's role's already taken—why can't I be one too?

'Liao Youzhi, don't bring out your self-directed farce to embarrass yourself. Say something useful!'

At Leigou Mall, most people showed no reaction to Zhang Su's words—frame-ups were common. But Liao Youzhi froze—he'd been exposed.

So what if he was exposed? It didn't matter!

'Self-directed farce? Don't speak nonsense. Qincheng's north has only four survivor clusters. All four leaders are here now—who'd lure zombies to their own doorstep? Chairman Li, Officer Liu, Captain Yang—speak up.' 'I'm Liu Yao of the Little Eagle Society. We're busy clearing zombies outward—we'd never lure them back!'

'Zhang Su, I'm Yang Xinqi of the Tianqi Corps. Don't pressure my men. We only guard our own patch—sudden zombie hordes have caused us serious trouble!'

'There were indeed a few zombie outbreaks…'

Li Zongkai's words were brief. He looked sadly at Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi—these two had no idea at all.

'You heard that, Zhang Su? It definitely wasn't us. The bridge on Provincial Road 51 was blown up. Only Provincial Road 52 allows access from the north. Who else could it be but you?'

Liao Youzhi spoke with grave tone, as if demanding an explanation.

Zhang Su listened carefully, his eyelids slightly drooping.

'Boss, this guy's truly slandering us—we never dumped zombies in Qincheng!'

Chen Hanzhou spoke anxiously.

Zhang Su raised a hand and sneered: 'When someone wants to frame you, any excuse will do.'

'What? Big bro, it's a frame-up! Damn it, we've got to kill this bastard!'

Zhao Dechu was seething, wanting to kill Liao Youzhi right then.

Zhang Su shook his head, signaling Zhao Dechu to calm down, then said to Liao Youzhi: 'You can keep your self-written story and perform it yourself—I've got no time for you. But you sent people to sneak into my territory and cause trouble—that's unacceptable. You must compensate me for my losses!'

???? Everyone froze. So the earlier move wasn't a frame-up—this was the real one…

'Zhang Su, you've got the cause and effect backward. It's because you lured zombies to Qincheng that we had no choice but to send people to investigate you. How can you claim innocence? Since we're here, let's talk about releasing the captives!'

'Release them? You're dreaming… You've come to my door to bully me, and now you expect me to treat you to fine wine and food? More like come collect the corpses!'

Zhang Su lied casually.

But when the other side heard this, they froze.

What? They're all dead? 'Holy shit—he—he—that bastard killed my men?!'

'Damn it, Lao Liao! You led us to investigate Tianma Yu—and now this! We must avenge our brothers!'

Liu Yao and Yang Xinqi were furious. Whether three or five men were sent, they were irreplaceable to their factions.

'Shut up. I sent five men too—and my personal guards!'

Liao Youzhi hadn't expected Zhang Su to be so ruthless. He grabbed Li Zongkai's collar, eyes blazing: 'You said he was smooth! Killing everyone on sight is smooth? Smooth your fucking ass!'

'That was the Zhang Su from over two months ago! I have no idea what he's become now! It's the end of the world—anything can change a person completely!'

Li Zongkai protested.

'Ha! Scared, weren't you?'

At this tense moment, Zhang Su's voice rang out from the mall: 'Just kidding. I'm not a murderer. The men you sent are all tied up and fine. So—what'll you trade for them?'

Negotiation is a psychological battle. Zhang Su's feint had thrown the others off balance.

(End of Chapter)