In the early morning, Su Wan emerged from the bedroom to see everyone already in their places in the living room—Xiao Han leaned by the window, his expression alert; A Mo sat in a corner of the sofa, so quiet he almost blended in with the furniture.
Li Xinhu and Li Kui were in the kitchen making breakfast. Several small dishes were already laid out on the dining table.
Xiao Han swiftly moved to the door, one hand on the weapon at his waist: “Who is it?”
“Pan Yong,” a steady male voice responded.
Su Wan and Lu Shiyan exchanged a glance; after a silent communication, Lu Shiyan nodded, signaling Xiao Han to open the door.
The moment the door opened, a tall, well-built middle-aged man stood at the entrance, followed by two wary attendants.
Pan Yong was about forty years old, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, his face etched with the marks of wind and frost, exuding the fierce aura of someone long experienced in battle.
His gaze swept inside, then fixed on the steaming dishes on the dining table—plump, white steamed buns, meat pies fried golden on both sides, thick freshly squeezed soy milk, flavorful braised tea eggs, and several appetizing cold side dishes.
Pan Yong’s Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed.
Whoa!
This food was too damn extravagant!
In the base, how many Evolution Squads struggled with even basic sustenance, yet these few were eating better than during the New Year!
Simply inhumanly rich!
“Sorry for the intrusion.”
Pan Yong grinned, then strode into the room, waving a hand to signal his two attendants to wait outside and not follow him in.
He crossed to the dining table in a few steps, and without regard for anyone else’s reaction, he brazenly pulled out an empty chair and sat down, his movements smooth and practiced, as if he were returning to his own home.
“Heh, my nose is truly sharp; I smelled the aroma from afar. Looks like I arrived just in time!”
Pan Yong looked up, his gaze sweeping over Su Wan and Lu Shiyan, the smile on his face carrying an air of uninvited triumph and subtle probing.
“You don’t mind an extra pair of chopsticks, do you?”
Before he even finished speaking, he had already unceremoniously reached out and grabbed a bun, stuffing it into his mouth and chewing, his eyes instantly lighting up.
“Holy cow, mushroom and vegetable? Amazing!”
Pan Yong, his mouth full, praised indistinctly, “It’s been so long since I tasted proper vegetarian filling. In this world, vegetables are precious!”
He finished off a bun in a few bites, then slowly turned to Lu Shiyan:
“Mr. Lu, Miss Su, we meet again.”
His tone carried a hint of familiarity, mixed with an indescribable nuance.
Su Wan’s lips twitched; she thought to herself that this man’s brazenness was truly extraordinary.
Outwardly, however, she merely maintained a polite, shallow smile: “Captain Pan, you’re too kind. We appreciate your good intentions.”
Pan Yong chuckled, picked up a spare pair of chopsticks from the table, and unceremoniously grabbed a sizzling meat pie, devouring it with gusto, chewing as he spoke:
“It’s a small matter, it’s only right, it’s only right.”
He swallowed his food, wiped his mouth, and then abruptly changed the subject, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight:
“After all, Lei Laohu over there thinks very highly of you all.”
Lu Shiyan walked to the dining table and sat down, his hands clasped on his knees, not even raising an eyelid: “Oh? We’re just ordinary survivors who recently arrived at the base.”
Pan Yong swallowed his food, a knowing smile playing on his lips, “Ordinary? Mr. Lu, that’s being too modest.”
He paused, his gaze subtly sweeping over Lu Shiyan, as if he could see through him to the surging abilities within.
“To not only emerge unscathed from an ‘accidental’ encirclement by the Hyena Squad, but also to clean them up thoroughly, that cannot be explained by the word ‘ordinary’.” Pan Yong’s tone carried undeniable certainty.
“You truly wouldn’t think the ‘Southern District Factory’ mission was yellow-level, would you? That was a red-level mission. Lei Laohu is quite satisfied with your ‘performance’.”
Xiao Han idly twirled his short knife, the blade flipping nimbly between his fingers, glinting with a cold light: “Are we getting straight to the point? I thought we’d have some insincere pleasantries and eat our fill before discussing serious matters.”
“Time is pressing.” Pan Yong’s expression darkened, and he put down his chopsticks. “I presume you’re already aware of the current situation in the base.”
“Please explain more clearly, Captain Pan.”
“The base is currently divided into two factions.” Pan Yong rested his elbows on his knees, leaning slightly forward.
“Lei Laohu controls the military and the base’s defense forces, while Scorpion controls resources, black market transactions, and the administration of Sector B. He has gathered a large number of desperate low-level individuals and gray forces under his command.”
A sharp glint flashed in Lu Shiyan’s eyes: “So, the note last night that read ‘Net cast, Tiger in danger’ refers to this?”
“Scorpion’s net has been cast; he’s preparing to make a move against Lei Laohu.”
“Over the past six months, by controlling resource distribution, he has gradually eroded morale and garnered support from many factions. Now, openly and secretly, at least one-third or more of the guards in the base have sided with him.”
Lu Shiyan’s expression remained calm and unruffled: “What does this have to do with us?”
“You only have two choices.” Pan Yong held up two fingers, one pointing to the ground, the other to the door.
“Either you pick a side and join us, or you immediately get out of this base.”
Lu Shiyan picked up the soy milk from the table and took a small sip. Pan Yong’s soft-and-hard approach, though seemingly offering a choice, was in fact cornering them. This old fox was indeed more troublesome than expected.
He subtly exchanged a look with Xiao Han, whose faint smirk grew a few degrees colder, carrying a hint of “I knew it” mockery and a barely perceptible excitement—the show, finally, was officially beginning.
“Interesting.” A faint curve appeared on Lu Shiyan’s lips, a half-smile. “Why should we get involved in your base’s internal power struggle? What’s in it for us?”
A hint of appreciation flashed in Pan Yong’s eyes: “Direct enough! I like dealing with smart people. The benefits are simple—you help Lei Laohu, and after it’s done, you can pick the best accommodation in Sector A, have priority in all resource distribution, and most importantly—you will have a place among the base’s high-level officials.”
“And the cost?” Xiao Han cut straight to the chase.
“The cost is that you will completely offend Scorpion.” Pan Yong was blunt and forthright. “As long as he lives, he will cling to you like a maggot on bone, never giving up. You’ll soon understand how dirty Scorpion’s methods are; he will not hesitate to strike at everyone around you, using every despicable means.”
Su Wan lowered her eyes; it was truly too dangerous here. The Scorpion Pan Yong spoke of was definitely not a benevolent person. If they stayed, the child… If there could be a safe place…
Like with her father…
“You are not the first team Lei Laohu has taken an interest in, but you are definitely the most valuable so far.” Pan Yong continued to raise the stakes.
“According to our intelligence, Scorpion recently connected with a mysterious force outside the base and acquired a large amount of weapons and resources.”
Xiao Han raised an eyebrow, asking with a hint of roguishness: “What kind of force?”
“We don’t know the specifics, but we can confirm it’s definitely not a regular survivor team.” Pan Yong shook his head, his expression grim.
“It could be a lost military research institute, or remnants of a fallen regime.”
“So, you need our combat strength?” Lu Shiyan hit the nail on the head, accurately grasping the core of the other party’s words.
Pan Yong nodded heavily, his gaze sharply scanning Lu Shiyan, as if his eyes could penetrate flesh and blood to see the surging power deep within his soul.
“Mr. Lu, Lei Laohu knows your background very well, and I know a little too. Four-element abilities: lightning, electricity, fire, wood. Tsk, each element above Level Three—that’s a monstrous existence.”
He then shifted his gaze, like a spotlight, onto Su Wan, lingering for a moment with an ambiguous meaning on her flat stomach.
His tone carried a hint of playful certainty. “As for you, Miss Su—”