224: Shen Yuan becomes hostage

The Lawrence Family's forces quickly took control of the entire Shelter, and the people who had been captured by the negotiation team were rescued.

Their timing was too precise; Tian Ming was not there, otherwise, it would not have gone so smoothly.

Meng Xian, Ji Ruping, and the Shelter's management personnel were all gathered in front of the Central Building.

Rogers, the Commander who led this attack on the Shelter, looked at the people below and said coldly, "Where is Lu Tianming?"

"And where is Lisa?"

"Speak quickly."

Shen Yuan stood up.

She had also participated in the battle, but the opponent's consciousness-interfering weapons were too powerful.

In just a few seconds, Shen Yuan's head was throbbing with pain.

She was a rare eight-element Superpower User, but she was still no match.

"Lisa, she went to the Alliance Base with the boss.

The Lawrence Family's unauthorized invasion and attack on our Shelter is an act of war."

Rogers's eyes turned cold.

"An act of war?

Your kidnapping of Lisa wasn't an act of war?

We are merely rescuing our people."

He swept his gaze over the crowd.

"Since your boss isn't here, then you will bear the responsibility.

Take all management personnel away and tell your boss to send Miss Lisa within three days.

For every day overdue, I will kill one person."

The atmosphere among the crowd immediately became tense, and everyone felt the killing intent emanating from Rogers.

Meng Xian and Ji Ruping knew that the Lawrence Family had suffered losses in their many confrontations with the boss, and they truly dared to kill.

"Take them away," Rogers waved his hand, and a team of soldiers stepped forward.

"Wait, I'll go with you," Shen Yuan said sharply.

"You, is your importance as one person comparable to his entire management team?" Rogers snorted coldly and asked.

Shen Yuan looked at Rogers and said, "I am his woman.

As long as I'm safe, your Miss Lisa will be safe.

Management personnel can be replaced, but an eight-element Superpower User, I'm afraid there's no second person in this world besides me."

Meng Xian quickly pulled Shen Yuan.

"No, you can't go.

They use live people for experiments."

"I know," Shen Yuan interrupted Meng Xian.

"As long as you are here, the Shelter will remain.

I am already injured; even if I don't mention it, I would still be taken away."

She turned to Rogers, her eyes shining with determination.

"I will go with you, but you must guarantee that after I leave, the people here will not be harmed.

If you insist on taking the entire management team, then we will fight to the death.

At that time, the Lawrence Family will bear the wrath of the Alliance and the boss, and there will be no room for maneuver."

As Shen Yuan's words fell, her entire body floated up, and the controlled elements around her responded to her call, forming shimmering, fluorescent metallic droplets.

Blood overflowed from Shen Yuan's eye sockets, a terrifying sight.

She was already severely injured, and forcibly using her Superpower worsened her injuries.

Before Rogers arrived, he had already investigated the Shelter's intelligence and the importance of Tian Ming's close associates to him.

He understood Shen Yuan's position in Tian Ming's heart.

Shen Yuan was forcibly activating her Superpower; if the other party didn't agree, she would use her last bit of ability to launch a self-destruct attack.

She would take as many people down with her as possible.

"Alright, I agree.

As long as you cooperate, the people here will be fine," Rogers finally nodded.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, then turned to Meng Xian and Ji Ruping and said, "When the boss returns, tell him that I'm waiting for him to rescue me."

Shen Yuan had no choice; if she didn't resist, she and the entire management team would be taken as hostages.

And now, only she could desperately launch a final suicide attack, but doing so would also kill all the management personnel in the elemental self-explosion.

That would also cut off the Shelter's retreat.

Shen Yuan exchanging herself for the safety of the management team was the optimal choice.

Otherwise, it would only lead to a fight to the death.

Shen Yuan slowly walked towards Rogers and his forces.

The eyes of the crowd were focused on her, with worry, admiration, and reluctance.

She did not look back, because she knew that this was the only choice she could make now.

"Sister!" Shen Yi shouted, wanting to rush forward, but Meng Xian pulled him back.

"Be rational.

The Lawrence Family's restraint is a result of weighing the pros and cons.

If it really comes to a fight to the death, the entire Shelter will be massacred," Meng Xian said in a low voice.

How could Shen Yi not understand, but the one going to be a hostage was his sister, his only family in the Apocalypse.

Shen Yuan paused, stopping.

She did not look back.

"Brother, don't worry, Lisa is very important to them.

If she's fine, I'll be fine."

Although Shen Yuan's voice was calm, it revealed a sense of determination.

Shen Yi clenched his fists, his eyes filled with anger and helplessness.

He understood that Shen Yuan was doing the right thing; this was the best choice at the moment.

After Shen Yuan's departure, the opponent retreated extremely quickly, disappearing within ten minutes.

The entire process, from attack, control, negotiation, to retreat, took only two hours.

The opponent's actions were swift and their coordination extremely tacit, which was the difference between professional and amateur.

After Rogers retreated, he quickly went to the East District Seaport and directly arranged for Shen Yuan to go to Li Island.

He reported this matter to the Duke, and Duke Lawrence quickly sent word, instructing them to garrison Li Island and observe Tian Ming's reaction first.

The grudge had been formed, and both sides held hostages.

In this game, the Lawrence Family finally managed to gain an advantage.

However, the Lawrence Family still couldn't determine Shen Yuan's importance to Tian Ming and had to wait a few more days.

...

Meanwhile, at the Alliance's Dongshan Base, Tian Ming discussed jointly dealing with the Lawrence Family with Ouyang Jie, but Ouyang Jie did not agree.

The overall strength of the Alliance was beyond doubt, but internal decisions required all Alliance Bases to vote.

Globally, the Eastern continent has the largest population, and simply based on proportion, it also has the most zombies, meaning the most top-tier Corpse Kings have evolved here.

Life Origins traveling thousands of miles to capture zombies for experiments precisely demonstrated the excellent quality and strong power of the zombies here.

The Alliance's population totaled over ten million, highly concentrated in various underground bases.

With so many people, the Alliance would not risk anything for some technology.

From a broader perspective, the Alliance also had to cope with the threat of constantly evolving zombies.

"Although you are an Alliance member, the Lawrence Family controls those Western countries and is a behemoth.

The Alliance's deterrent effect exists, but if we truly tear each other apart, both sides will regress to primitive society.

How can our tens of millions of survivors withstand the slaughter of evolved zombies?

At that time, our civilization will be destroyed," Ouyang Jie said solemnly.

Tian Ming frowned.

"So, the Alliance won't intervene?

I can understand it that way, right?"

Ouyang Jie nodded and said, "If the other party initiates an act of war, the Alliance will naturally intervene."

Tian Ming was very disappointed but said nothing.

He could understand that the Alliance had too many considerations.

It seemed that to deal with the Lawrence Family, he could only rely on the Alliance's deterrence and could not actually mobilize the Alliance's forces, so he could only act alone.

A radio message came through Ouyang Jie's earpiece.

"Commander, report: East Sea City Shelter has sent a message, they have been attacked by armed forces, requesting medical support."