Chapter 65: Lei Shi agrees to the trade! The strange atmosphere at the pit's bottom!

Food for salt?

Upon hearing this, the miners below, who had been on the verge of fighting, suddenly erupted in commotion.

"Food? They have food?"

"Real or fake? You wouldn't trick us and then strike a deadly blow when we let our guard down, would you?"

On the watchtower, Lei Shi's hawk‑like sharp eyes fixed on Gui Ying on the city wall, his brows furrowed.

They certainly need food, after all, their stores aren't plentiful either.

But…

He glanced at the terrifying beast as huge as a mountain, then at the fledgling city on its back, and his wariness and doubt only grew.

No matter how you look at it, this doesn't look like a trade mission!

He knew well that in this apocalypse, people's hearts are hidden; dealing with others cannot afford the slightest carelessness, or else it could bring disaster upon himself.

Moreover, their Green Mountain Refuge hides a secret that must not be known to outsiders…

Thinking of that secret, a flicker of deep dread and fear crossed Lei Shi's eyes.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, raised the loudspeaker again, and his voice sounded even firmer than before.

"We don't lack food, and we're not trading!"

"I don't care if you have ill intent! Now! Immediately! Leave this place!"

These words made Gui Ying's brows furrow slightly.

He could feel that the other side's hostility was extremely strong, and moreover… they seemed to be afraid of something.

In the command room, Wang Gongtou panicked at once upon hearing this.

"What… what should we do? These people are utterly unresponsive!"

"Don't rush, Old Wang."

Lin Yue, however, remained calm and composed, looking at the burly iron‑tower man whose exterior was fierce but interior weak, and curled his lips with a meaningful smile.

"No shortage of food?"

"Who are you trying to fool?"

From the drone's footage, everyone in the pit looked sallow and thin, clearly suffering from long‑term malnutrition.

Moreover, Lin Yue noticed that when Lei Shi uttered the four words "we lack no food," several miners beside him involuntarily flashed a hint of disappointment in their eyes.

This shows he is lying.

The reasons for lying are only a few.

Either he fears his own strength and dare not trade,

or the refuge hides a secret more important than food, which he does not want outsiders to know.

Either way, it's no problem for Lin Yue.

"Captain Gui Ying,"

Lin Yue said via the communicator to Gui Ying,

"You've already sent people here before, and you're an official organization. I believe once they know your identity, they should agree to this trade!"

"Understood."

Gui Ying nodded, no more nonsense.

"I am Gui Ying, from the Hangcheng Third Prison Refuge!"

"By order of the refuge's Supreme Responsible Person, Commander Zhang Zhen'guo, I have come to conduct a salt‑for‑food trade with the Green Mountain Refuge, hoping you will agree!"

Hearing this, Lei Shi's face grew solemn; he never expected the other side to be the Hangcheng Third Prison Refuge, which is the largest official gathering place in Hangcheng!

Even though the apocalypse has lasted over half a year and order has largely collapsed, the power of the state is not something their little Green Mountain Refuge can afford to offend!

Even so, his doubts were not completely dispelled.

After all, words alone are proof‑less.

"How do I know you're not impersonating?"

Lei Shi forced himself to stay calm, but his voice was no longer as firm as before.

"Simple."

Gui Ying seemed to have anticipated that he would say that.

He took the black military satellite phone from his waist and, in front of everyone, dialed a number.

A few seconds later, Zhang Zhen'guo's voice came through the loudspeaker, clearly reaching the entire pit.

"Gui Ying, how's the situation?"

Gui Ying immediately straightened his body,

"Commander, we have safely arrived at the Green Mountain Refuge!"

"I knew that as long as Mr. Lin steps in, there will be no problem!"

On the other end of the satellite phone, Zhang Zhen'guo laughed heartily.

Beside him, Lin Yue rolled his eyes at once upon hearing that.

Next, Gui Ying briefly reported the current situation to Zhang Zhen'guo.

On the other end of the satellite phone, after a brief silence, Zhang Zhen'guo's voice came again,

"Gui Ying, hand the phone to Leader Lei!"

And on the watchtower, Lei Shi's pupils contracted sharply!

The other party truly is the Supreme Responsible Person of the Third Prison Refuge, Zhang Zhen'guo!

Because he had previously spoken with Zhang Zhen'guo on the phone, he could still recognize the voice.

The satellite phone was quickly delivered into Lei Shi's hands.

Lei Shi took the satellite phone, and for a moment he was at a loss.

"Lei... Chief Lei?"

Just as Lei Shi's brain froze, Zhang Zhen'guo's voice came from the satellite phone.

"Zhang... Commander Zhang?!"

Lei Shi gave a start, suddenly came to his senses, and the hand holding the satellite phone began to tremble slightly.

"Chief Lei, I hope you've been well."

Zhang Zhen'guo chuckled, as if lecturing an old man.

"I suppose Captain Gui Ying has already made our intentions clear to you. What do you think, Chief Lei?"

Although Zhang Zhen'guo's tone on the other end of the satellite phone was calm, it made Lei Shi feel immense pressure.

At this moment, fine cold sweat had already begun to seep onto his forehead without him noticing.

What does he think?

If he refuses the deal, will he break with the Third Prison Refuge?

What a joke!

The Third Prison Refuge is over a hundred kilometers away; the other side went through great trouble to get here, and he had no doubt that if he dared to say a single 'no', that giant beast would, in the next second, level the entire Qing Shan Refuge to the ground.

"I... I understand, Commander Zhang."

Lei Shi swallowed hard, his voice dry and hoarse as he said,

"We... we agree to the trade."

"Hahaha! I knew Chief Lei was a reasonable person!"

Zhang Zhen'guo laughed heartily in satisfaction.

After hanging up, Lei Shi stood rooted to the spot for a full half minute.

"They're friends! Put away your weapons!"

His voice was filled with complex emotions—like a burden lifted, helplessness, and a hint... of deep fear.

With his order, the alarm was lifted.

Those heavy machine guns and "rocket launchers" were no longer hidden.

Lei Shi even personally walked down from the watchtower.

Lin Yue, seeing that, also led the people down from Black Tortoise's back.

Under Lei Shi's leadership, everyone quickly arrived at the bottom of the pit.

Just as they reached the pit's bottom, Lin Yue keenly sensed that the refuge's atmosphere was very strange.

The miners, although they showed great reverence for him and Black Tortoise, behind that reverence Lin Yue clearly caught a hint... of fear buried extremely deep.

Furthermore, Lin Yue could be certain that this fear was not directed at him or Black Tortoise.

It seemed as if something more terrifying than those mutant beasts outside lurked within this refuge.

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