"Hello, hello..."
Ma Xiyu, with an awkward smile, nodded at Zhang Su, then looked at Liu Yao: "Boss, this is so sudden, why?"
He voiced the confusion in many people’s hearts. Although everyone knew that as ordinary members, they only needed to comply, they didn’t want to be in the dark.
Liu Yao put one hand on his waist, tilted his head, and said with a mocking expression: "That idiot Liao Youzhi meticulously plotted against Celestial Horse Island, intending to wipe us out along with the Apocalypse Corps and Civilization Guardian. He even made a bomb that could turn people into zombies. But all his schemes were crushed by King Yama! Just yesterday, the Yama Corps of Celestial Horse Island completely annihilated the gangs of Liao Youzhi and Gong Chengming, saving all our lives!"
Once these words were spoken, the venue immediately buzzed with discussions.
"Liao Youzhi is dead, damn, this..."
"Liao Youzhi’s ambition was too great!"
"Didn’t you hear Director Liu? Liao Youzhi made some kind of bomb that could turn people into zombies. That’s just crazy!"
Liao Youzhi was quite famous among the various forces in Qin City. A powerful figure like him dying just like that showcased the unpredictability of life.
However, everyone also caught some key points in Liu Yao’s words: Liao Youzhi had the ambitions of a wolf, wanting to eliminate the other three families, allowing the North City Four Tigers to dominate. He even came up with an inhumane weapon, making him a figure of hatred. With such a guy dead, people started looking at Zhang Su with less unfamiliarity and suspicion.
Liu Yao raised his voice and continued: "After removing the cancer that was Liao Youzhi, we also banded together to defeat a zombie horde of thirty thousand, though the main credit goes to Celestial Horse Island!"
He paused deliberately, and sure enough, it caused an uproar.
Thirty thousand, yes, most of the people at the scene had a concept of that amount of money, but thirty thousand zombies...
In Qin City, they had struggled to survive for over four months and had never seen such a massive horde. The most they’d encountered was five to six thousand, which already filled the streets to the brim, and the overwhelming sight was terrifying. It’s hard to imagine the scene with thirty thousand zombies crammed together.
Like West Lake during May Day, the Great Wall during October 1st, or a train station during the Spring Festival travel rush, perhaps?
"Ahem!" Liu Yao coughed to signal everyone to quiet down, then continued: "Considering Qin City’s future development and stability, I, Chairman Li of Civilization Guardian, the captains of Survivor Alliance, and... Director Yang, have unanimously decided to join Celestial Horse Island. From today, this will be the Xinglong Branch of Celestial Horse Island!"
When mentioning Director Yang, Liu Yao’s words were mumbled, but the message was clear: the North City Four Tigers are now part of Celestial Horse Island!
"Didn’t know there was such a powerful force in the northern county, must’ve blocked a lot of zombies for our city... makes me feel safe."
"Yeah, as long as they’re not like Liao Youzhi causing trouble, it’s definitely a blessing for humanity!"
"Does Celestial Horse Island’s Xinglong Branch mean we don’t have to move?"
After a brief moment to digest the information, over forty people gave Zhang Su friendly smiles, making it a very peaceful takeover that everyone seemed to welcome.
"Hello, Brother Su!"
"Hello, King Yama!"
Ma Xiyu exchanged a complicated glance with Liu Yao. If anyone was reluctant about the Little Eagle Association merging into Celestial Horse Island, aside from Liu Yao, it was this second-in-command.
Seeing the other nod heavily, Ma Xiyu finally let out a sigh of relief and relaxed, smiling and nodding to Zhang Su: "Hello, Brother Su!"
The initial reluctance was because once they joined Celestial Horse Island, his privileges as a second-in-command would cease to exist. But thinking about already willing to be a subordinate, what was he holding onto? Without the duty, it seemed rather freeing.
Zhang Su nodded in response to everyone, feeling happy inside. Although the Little Eagle Association didn’t have many members, only seventy-seven in total, the number willing to join Celestial Horse Island quickly rose to seventy-three, indicating the gradual dissolution of the Little Eagle Association’s headcount...
"I am honored by everyone’s enthusiasm and recognition, but there’s something I need to say!"
Zhang Su raised his hand, and the scene immediately quieted down, then he humorously continued: "The name Xinglong Branch doesn’t sound right; let’s call it the Kindergarten Branch, as I prefer this name full of innocence and hope!"
Liu Yao, with an awkward face, scratched his head and said: "Alright, from now on, we are members of the Celestial Horse Island Kindergarten Branch!"
Though it sounds a bit childish, as Zhang Su said, a kindergarten is a place that nurtures tomorrow and hope.
"Since we’re a family now, if you have any needs or hope for lifestyle improvements, feel free to raise them. I may not be able to meet all of them, but having ideas is the first step to improvement, don’t you think?"
The facilities at Lego Mall were much more basic than at the kindergarten. To win people’s hearts, Zhang Su promised benefits beforehand, and upon joining the Little Eagle Association, he switched tactics, yet all necessary welfare would still be arranged.
The atmosphere was very warm, with high recognition for the new leader.
"Afterward, I’ll conduct a personnel survey, so brothers with skills and abilities, don’t hide them. We need you for development, and there will be more suitable job positions waiting for you, along with better benefits!"
In the reconstruction era, manpower is important, but talent is even more so.
Upon hearing this news, everyone’s spirits lifted. People need to feel recognized; in this apocalypse, being able to contribute to the group and receive rewards in return is something that fulfills one’s heart.
After announcing these matters, Zhang Su looked at Liu Yao: "Old Liu, are all the brothers here? How many are on lookout outside?"
Seeing only four people with some resistance in attitude, Zhang Su decided to get to the bottom of this.
"Three!"
Liu Yao raised three fingers, pointing in various directions: "Over there, someone is on the rooftop monitoring the west and northwest, the footbridge earlier mainly watches the east, and the rooftop of a high building to the south scouts the southern situation. No choice, the buildings in Xinglong Hua Mansion are all too low."
"Three..."
Zhang Su nodded slightly, then smiled and glanced at Yang Xinqi: "Isn’t there another brother at Director Yang’s place?"
Yang Xinqi, hearing this on the side, gave Liu Yao a displeased glance.
Liu Yao, unfazed, laughed: "Haha, yes, three watchmen plus Old Cao, they’re the four not here, the rest are all present!"
"Hey, what the hell!"
Suddenly, Ma Xiyu shouted, his relaxed expression disappearing as he slapped his forehead.
"What’s wrong?"
Liu Yao looked at Ma Xiyu in surprise.
"It’s just that... Old Cao, he..."
Ma Xiyu’s face changed colors, his expression conflicted as if he wanted to say something but didn’t, very much in a dilemma.
"What about Old Cao?"
Zhang Su pressed on with a feeling of foreboding in his mind.
"Just spit it out!"
Liu Yao, more impatient than Zhang Su, urged Ma Xiyu, who was hesitating to speak.
"Old Cao contacted me earlier!"
Ma Xiyu’s expression went rigid, giving Yang Xinqi a sympathetic glance.
"Old Cao contacted you? Is there something up with the Apocalypse Corps..."
Liu Yao gave Yang Xinqi an odd look.
"Director Yang, you’d better be prepared mentally."
Ma Xiyu didn’t speak directly but instead gave a heads up first.
Yang Xinqi frowned and said: "What do you mean? Just say it already!"
Ma Xiyu, forehead creased tightly, said: "About twenty minutes ago, Old Cao contacted me, um... I’m not sure about it either. At that time, Old Cao was captured by people from Absolute Justice, according to the person who spoke with me, they’ve wiped out the entire Car Yard!"