MMB Chapter 322 Kidnapped
Chapter 322 Kidnapped
Zhao Lei has had a very fulfilling few days.
To be precise, I was exhausted.
After Lin Jianguo made the decision to dig an underground warehouse in the Gobi Desert 30 kilometers to the northwest, Zhao Lei was entrusted with this important task and led the construction team to work back and forth every day.
It was called an engineering team, but it was really just a group of survivors plus a few strong men who could operate excavators.
Of course, the so-called construction team is not a professional team.
But one's destiny lies in being capable.
In the apocalypse, who cares about professional skills? As long as you can get the job done, that's all that matters.
Every morning, Zhao Lei would lead more than 30 people and set off in five trucks.
We returned via the same route in the evening.
They truly worked tirelessly, rain or shine, leaving early and returning late.
After working for four consecutive days, the underground warehouse was beginning to take shape.
The rock layer is indeed hard enough to make digging difficult, but its geological stability is a major advantage.
"Brother Zhao, at this rate, it should be finished in about half a month."
Li Dazhuang, who was in charge of safety, wiped his sweat and squatted down by the pit to say something.
"Half a month is too slow. Mr. Lin said it would be best to get it done within ten days." Zhao Lei handed over a bottle of water.
"Ten days? We'll need to add more staff."
"I'll go back and talk to my superiors to see if we can transfer another twenty people over."
"Okay, add another twenty people, and the progress will be much faster."
As the two were talking, a whistle sounded in the distance.
They are the team members responsible for perimeter security.
Zhao Lei looked up.
The guard gestured to him, noticing unidentified individuals moving in the distance.
"Did you see clearly? How many people?" Zhao Lei asked into the walkie-talkie.
"I didn't see very clearly, but there were probably three or four of them behind a hill about two kilometers away. They retreated after they noticed us watching them."
Zhao Lei frowned.
"They might be refugees, or they might just be passing by. Let's not worry about that for now, just increase vigilance."
"clear."
Zhao Lei didn't take it too seriously.
After the apocalypse, there are wandering individuals and small groups everywhere, so it's normal to encounter them.
Moreover, their convoy was well-equipped, and most people wouldn't dare to approach them.
Unbeknownst to him, the men who had retreated behind the hill were lying on the ground, intently watching them through binoculars.
"See that? Five trucks, two construction vehicles, and about thirty people."
"Where's the gun?"
"They have guns. They look like standard-issue weapons. Quite a few."
"Such good equipment?"
"Of course, Raccoon City is the only large base around here. These people must have come from there."
The speaker was a bald man with a scar running from his forehead to his chin, looking fierce and menacing.
His name is Jason.
Of course, this wasn't his real name; it was a name he gave himself after the disaster. He thought it was a ruthless name.
Behind Jason, there were two more people lying down.
One of them was a fat man with a full beard, named "Hammer".
The other one was a tall, thin man nicknamed "Nail".
Hammer and nails.
Putting these two names together, they sound exactly like a hardware store.
"Jason, when do we make our move?" Hammer asked in a low voice.
"What's the rush?" Jason put down his binoculars. "Observe them for a few days first. Figure out their routes and patterns before making a move."
"A few days? The brothers' food supplies are almost gone..."
"We won't starve," Jason said coldly. "Raccoon City is right in front of us. Once we take that place, we can have anything we want."
"But Raccoon City isn't easy to get into. We sent people to scout it out before; there are patrols on all sides, and watchtowers too..."
"That's why we need these people." Jason gestured towards Zhao Lei and the others. "Hostages. Understand?"
The nail and the hammer exchanged a glance and both smiled knowingly.
"Are you trying to use these people as hostages to threaten them? Do you think that'll work?"
"It'll definitely work. The people in Raccoon City seem to be living too comfortably. People in a place like this are bound to be weak. As long as we take the hostages, they'll have to open the door obediently."
"Then we'll charge in..."
"The entire Raccoon City is ours."
As Jason said this, a greedy glint appeared in his eyes.
There were more than sixty people in their group.
They were all outlaws.
After the disaster, these people survived by robbing other survivors. They committed murder, arson, and all sorts of atrocities.
A few days ago, they wandered into this area and discovered the existence of Raccoon City.
A large, well-functioning base.
There is electricity. There is water. There is a wall. There is a population.
In the apocalypse, this is a gold mine.
Jason immediately had an idea.
However, Raccoon City was heavily defended, and they had not been able to find an opportunity.
Adding to the fact that the mutated beasts had recently rioted, they were so frightened that they huddled in their temporary camp, afraid to move, and were almost wiped out by a passing horde of mutated beasts.
Now that they've finally seen a group of people coming out, they certainly won't give up easily.
In Jason's eyes, this was simply an opportunity handed to him by God.
"Let's observe for two more days," Jason made the final decision.
……
After observing for two more days, Jason and his team discovered that the group of people who came from Raccoon City were very organized.
They come to this part of the Gobi Desert every day to dig holes.
Although this team was well-equipped, these people looked like they had been pampered for a long time. With more than sixty of them, taking down these people should have been a piece of cake.
Moreover, in the past few days, the food they have has become increasingly scarce.
Jason, who couldn't wait any longer, immediately gathered all sixty-odd of his men.
In the makeshift camp, a group of ragged thugs, armed with various weapons, sat together.
"Listen up, everyone."
Jason stood in the middle, holding a machete.
"Let's get started today."
"You all need to remember this: our goal is to arrest people, not to kill them."
"When the time comes, stop that convoy, grab the people inside, and then make them take us into Raccoon City."
"What happens after we go in?" someone asked.
"After going inside?"
Jason grinned.
"Once inside, we'll follow our routine."
That place is ours now. There's food, drink, women—anything you could want.
Upon hearing this, the group of thugs immediately became excited.
"However, there is one point."
Jason stopped smiling.
"Don't kill any hostages before you go in. You better remember that."
Once we're in the city, we can do whatever we want.
"clear!"
"Set off!"
……
early morning.
As usual, Zhao Lei led the convoy out.
The convoy traveled along the Gobi Desert highway, raising clouds of dust along the way.
Zhao Lei sat in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle, holding a walkie-talkie, explaining today's construction schedule to the vehicles behind him.
"We'll weld the support frame for the second floor today, and figure out how to get the concrete over tomorrow..."
However, before he could finish speaking, several dilapidated vehicles suddenly appeared on the road ahead, blocking the middle of the road.
The driver slammed on the brakes.
"What's going on?" Zhao Lei frowned, becoming increasingly wary.
However, before the convoy could react...
The next second, dozens of people suddenly appeared from behind the earthen slopes on both sides of the road.
They were all carrying guns.
"Get off! Everyone get off!"
"Anyone who dares to move will be killed!"
The thugs surrounded them from all sides.
Zhao Lei glanced around and estimated there were more than sixty people with a variety of weapons, including rifles, shotguns, and even baseball bats.
"Brother Zhao, what should we do?" The driver gripped the steering wheel nervously.
Zhao Lei glanced back.
There were only ten combat personnel in his convoy. The remaining twenty-odd were all workers, unarmed.
We can definitely fight.
The firepower of ten men is enough to deal with this rabble.
But what about the workers? If a firefight breaks out and workers are killed, the construction of the underground warehouse will be delayed again.
"Don't move yet." Zhao Lei thought for a moment and said into the walkie-talkie, "Everyone stay in the car and don't fire."
"Brother Zhao?"
"Listen to me."
Zhao Lei pushed open the car door, raised his hands above his head, and got out.
Jason saw Zhao Lei get out of the car on his own initiative and a smug smile appeared on his face.
"You're smart to know what's good for you."
He strode up to Zhao Lei and looked down at him.
"Are you the head?"
"I guess so," Zhao Lei said calmly.
"People from Raccoon City?"
"right."
"Great." Jason patted Zhao Lei on the shoulder. "Take us to Raccoon City."
Zhao Lei glanced at him, his head full of question marks.
"What are you doing in Raccoon City?"
Why are you so nosy?
Jason placed the machete on Zhao Lei's shoulder.
"Just show me the way. If you don't, I'll kill you first. I believe someone will be willing to lead the way."
Zhao Lei remained silent for two seconds.
Then he nodded.
"OK."
"...You just agreed like that?" Jason was stunned for a moment.
"What can I do if you disagree? There are too many of you, I can't beat you, there's no point in arguing." Zhao Lei said calmly, "But I have a condition."
"You still have conditions?" Jason chuckled.
"Don't hurt my people. They are just workers and pose no threat to you."
Jason looked Zhao Lei up and down for a few seconds, then burst into laughter.
"Brothers, did you hear that? This guy says he can't beat us!"
The surrounding thugs burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"People from Raccoon City are all cowards!"
"That's it? This kind of trash guarding a base?"
"Hahaha, robbing them is child's play!"
Zhao Lei stood there, his face expressionless.
The workers in the car behind him, looking out the window at the arrogant thugs, shared a surprisingly similar sentiment...
These idiots.
No, these dead men.
Do you really think Raccoon City is just for show?
An older worker whispered to the person next to him, "Haven't these guys ever heard of our boss?"
"I don't think so."
"Should we remind them?"
"What's there to remind me of? Can't we just watch the show?"
"That's true."
The two exchanged a glance and silently retreated back to their seats.
Let's wait and see what happens.
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