#347 - Chapter 347 Collecting protection money?
Night.
An abandoned factory in Shenzhen.
The Green Source team dared not continue sleeping.
Everyone roused themselves and found places to observe and defend, maintaining vigilance throughout the night.
Leaving only half the team on night watch was simply too dangerous.
Although the abandoned factory wasn't large, they had arrived in haste and hadn't had time to set up a detailed defense.
They couldn't even easily stand on the surrounding walls.
They couldn't do what they used to do on missions, bringing various long guns, wall-climbing ladders, searchlights, and so on.
The three off-road vehicles they drove only carried a few small items.
The rain finally stopped around midnight.
At least the team members weren't soaked through.
There were still about a hundred ordinary zombies lingering outside, not much of a threat.
And the team members would periodically climb the walls to deal with them.
Their main focus was naturally on the more terrifying mutated zombies.
Fortunately,
all night long,
until the sky began to lighten,
only the Jumper appeared, and no other mutated zombies showed up.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Given the zombie density in Shenzhen, the probability of a significant number of mutated types appearing was very high.
"Everyone pack up, and after we eat something, we'll head back to base!"
The sky was getting brighter, the zombies outside were gradually dispersing, and the remaining dozen or twenty were no longer a concern, they could be dealt with in a short time, so Team Leader Li told everyone to prepare to go home.
The team members hadn't rested well all night, but they could still hold on; staying up all night was no big deal for adults.
Before long, the Green Source team members took out simple rations and began to eat.
"Um... can you take us with you?"
As Team Leader Li and the others were eating their breakfasts of ham sausage, instant noodles, and biscuits, Xiao Ming and the remaining two companions came over and asked.
They looked at the snacks the Green Source people were eating, swallowing hard with envy.
Their original team of seven had been reduced to three after last night's Jumper attack...
If it weren't so difficult to survive, Xiao Ming wouldn't have opened his mouth...
Li Bowen stared at the approaching group.
After thinking for a few seconds, he said:
"We can take you, but our base isn't accepting new members right now. You can follow us back and live near our base. Our base accepts food trades."
As he spoke, he gestured to Zhou Xin beside him.
The latter understood and began to give Xiao Ming and the others a brief introduction to the Green Source's situation.
A few minutes later.
"We're willing! Please take us with you! Thank you!"
Xiao Ming and the others exchanged excited glances, all seeing disbelief in each other's eyes!
The force this group belonged to had actually built such an amazing place!
The hope of survival!
They also lamented their bad luck, having not picked up the Green Source base's flyer last year.
The combat team members quickly finished their breakfast, and they didn't give any extra food to Xiao Ming and the others. The lodging last night had already been paid for, and giving more now would seem superfluous.
Xiao Ming and the others didn't say anything; they still had a little bit of food themselves, their last bit of rations.
As long as they could reach Mentang Town, where the Green Source base was located, they could exchange tasks or find supplies for food!
******
Seven o'clock in the morning.
The Green Source team members finally finished eliminating the lingering zombies outside, and the vehicles were also inspected.
Taking Xiao Ming and the three with them, they were ready to rush back to base.
Clang!
The vehicle started and backed up, the lock on the damaged gate was opened, and everyone began to leave the abandoned factory where they had stayed overnight.
Li Bowen glanced at the sky in the passenger seat. Although it wasn't exactly sunny, there weren't many clouds either.
At most, it was just a cloudy day.
That was okay.
As long as there wasn't another sudden extreme rainstorm like yesterday, he didn't think there would be a problem.
The lead armored vehicle had just driven out of the gate.
Li Bowen suddenly frowned.
Huh, someone's there!?
In front of him, three vehicles were approaching in the same direction, and if he wasn't mistaken, they were heading for the factory!
Without him reminding them, the other team members behind also saw the approaching vehicles!
The momentum of leaving was interrupted, the armored vehicle stopped, and they raised their weapons, becoming more vigilant!
They didn't know who these people were or what their purpose was.
"It's the Tian Hong Gang!"
At this moment.
Xiao Ming, who was sitting in the back seat of the lead armored vehicle, cried out!
Huh?
The Tian Hong Gang?
What the hell was that?
Just as Team Leader Li and the others were wondering, Xiao Ming began to explain with a grim expression:
"They're a well-known large force in the surrounding area! They're called the Tian Hong Gang!"
"I'm so sorry! They're probably here for us."
Li Bowen frowned even more. They were just lodging for the night and were planning to leave, and didn't want to get involved with any gangs.
"What are they here for?"
This time, it was Liu Qing who was sitting in the back seat. Yao Lei and Zhou Xin had switched to another vehicle to sit with Xiao Ming and the other female companion.
He asked with a slightly curious expression.
This was also Team Leader Li's question.
"They're here to collect protection fees! They come every once in a while, and today is the day!"
What?
What kind of world was this?
There were still people collecting protection fees?
Hadn't money collapsed?
Just as Team Leader Li and the others were getting even more curious, Xiao Ming continued to explain:
"Of course, they don't collect money, they make us hand over food! Or some weapons and other valuable supplies! These people are vampires!"
"They don't protect anyone at all, they're just using force to coerce the survivors in this area!"
"In the surrounding area, they have a lot of people, and anyone who comes in will be targeted by them! Even if you want to leave, you won't be allowed! We were originally planning to hide from them and leave today."
As he said this, his voice was a little gritted, and his face was a little flushed with anger.
Collecting grain as protection fees?
A little smart.
Liu Qing thought to himself, but of course he didn't say it out loud.
While they were talking, the three vehicles opposite had already driven over.
To the surprise of Team Leader Li and the others.
The other party didn't seem to be afraid of the Green Source's vehicles at all. After stopping less than twenty meters away, several people got out and walked straight towards the armored vehicle.
Li Bowen even heard the other side talking.
"Holy crap!! We're rich!! Look at what these vehicles are!!"
"Wow! They're police armored vehicles! And they've been modified and reinforced! Giving them to the boss will definitely make him happy! We're rich!!"
A young man with earrings all over his right ear and dyed yellow hair was shouting loudly, looking at the lead armored vehicle!
The way he looked, he already regarded the vehicle as his own!
(End of chapter)
