226: On the eve of negotiations

The Lawrence Family set the exchange time for 9 AM tomorrow at the East District Seaport. Tian Ming planned to go with Lisa, and he did not ask Xin Xin to release her mental control over Lisa.

As a powerful and ancient family, the Lawrence Family had suffered a loss at his hands. Now that they had finally evened the score, they naturally wouldn't exchange hostages peacefully.

Tian Ming spent a day restoring the power system and buildings within the Shelter. He also used his replication ability to set up dense fort and firepoints on the city walls.

The Shelter suffered significant losses, but the main personnel structure did not have major problems. The Alliance's deterrent power still had an effect; at least, the Lawrence Family's actions this time were quite restrained.

As evening approached, Tian Ming finished his busy work and came to the office.

The office door was pushed open, and Zheng Haoyu limped in.

"Boss, the Special Operations Group suffered 18 casualties this time. Also, this is the battle damage report Minister Ji Ruping asked me to give you. She is very busy, currently working with Meng Xian to relocate the main personnel to the Underground City."

Zheng Haoyu said, looking at Lisa, who was standing nearby.

Tian Ming did not look up. He was checking the inventory list on the computer. Shen Yuan had been captured, and if the other party wasn't foolish, they would definitely hide Shen Yuan. Tian Ming already had a plan in mind, preparing for a long trip. Before leaving, he intended to prepare all the necessary supplies for the Shelter.

"Boss, I'll go with you tomorrow. I used to be with Life Origins Company, so I know a bit about them..."

Tian Ming finally looked up and said, "No need. I will prepare a year's worth of medicine for the Special Operations Group, and I will have our biologists accelerate the development of new medicines."

Zheng Haoyu was stunned and asked, "Boss, are you going to be away from here for a long time?"

Tian Ming looked at Zheng Haoyu and nodded slightly: "Yes, I may need to leave for a while. While I'm gone, the safety of the Shelter will be in your hands. Dr. Qiao and the two Corpse Kings are at your disposal. Although they are zombies, they are no different from normal people. When they get hungry, just give them some blood plasma."

"Boss, aren't we exchanging hostages tomorrow, to get Shen Yuan back?"

Tian Ming's lips curled into a cold smile, and he slowly said, "They won't exchange Shen Yuan back. This exchange is more about testing my attitude. Shen Yuan is now the Lawrence Family's protective charm."

Tian Ming saw it very clearly. What he could think of, the Lawrence Family couldn't possibly not think of. Once Shen Yuan was exchanged back, Tian Ming would naturally seek a reckoning with the Lawrence Family. The Lawrence Family would not be unaware of this point.

The person had already been tied up, and the Lawrence Family was caught in a dilemma. They would absolutely not lose Shen Yuan, this protective charm. Unless Tian Ming gave up the idea of a reckoning, but the reality was that besides Shen Yuan, there was nothing that could restrain Tian Ming.

Zheng Haoyu was silent for a moment, then said, "Boss, if it really is as you suspect, what do you plan to do?"

"After tomorrow, no matter what moves they make, I will only have one principle: the Lawrence Family must hand over everything to appease this incident. If anything happens to Shen Yuan, then they have no reason to exist."

Lisa, who was standing by, trembled slightly and asked, "Are you really going to completely destroy my family?"

Tian Ming turned his head and looked at Lisa, his eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation: "I ask you, if I were just a Superpower User, if your laser weapons and those high-tech devices had an effect on me? Then would I not be lying in the Life Origins Laboratory, at the mercy of others?"

After hearing this, Lisa silently lowered her head. She simply couldn't answer Tian Ming's question. The Lawrence Family had always been a dominant presence; they never showed sympathy for the weak.

Now, with their positions reversed, how could Lisa possibly try to gain Tian Ming's sympathy and forgiveness by acting as the weak party?

Tian Ming explained the situation to Zheng Haoyu, Meng Xian, Ji Ruping, and others, and then worked through the night to replenish the Shelter's short supplies. This kept him busy until the early hours of the morning.

Having not slept for two consecutive nights, Tian Ming was fine. But Lisa, who had been following him, was starting to struggle. She looked extremely tired, and if Tian Ming moved beyond the control radius while she was dozing, she would immediately wake up and follow him.

Tian Ming didn't pay attention to her, just letting her follow. This torment was a form of punishment, slowly pushing Lisa towards a breakdown, both physically and mentally.

Finally, when the last batch of supplies was replenished, Tian Ming checked the time; it was already five o'clock in the morning. He turned around and found Lisa utterly exhausted, asleep leaning against the wall. Looking at her haggard face, Tian Ming felt no sympathy or any sense of triumph.

Tian Ming turned and went to the cafeteria. Lisa instantly woke up and followed him.

"Aren't you tired?" Lisa's tone had become somewhat irritable, but her voice was very low.

Tian Ming glanced at Lisa, said nothing, and handed her a breakfast. Two consecutive days of mental torment had made her seem somewhat deranged. She took the breakfast, lowered her head, and stirred the bowl with a spoon.

A figure walked over and sat down beside Tian Ming's table. It was Qiu Qian. During the battle, she had been directly hit by arc bombs and shockwave weapons, suffering extremely severe injuries. But in just one day, she had recovered.

"Boss, I'm coming with you," Qiu Qian said.

"You stay..."

Qiu Qian said somewhat unhappily, "Why? Even though I was injured this time, it doesn't mean I can't help. How was I supposed to know their weapons could emit such a strong shockwave? I was just careless for a moment. Boss, after I recovered, I feel my body is stronger than before."

Tian Ming looked up at Qiu Qian, then lowered his head to eat again.

"If you were invincible, I could take you. Stay in the Shelter and wait for me to return!"

Tian Ming's words carried an undeniable authority. Qiu Qian knew it was hopeless, so she lowered her head and said, "My brother was seriously injured this time and is still unconscious. Although the protective suit saved his life, his leg might not be saved. I just wanted to go with you to seek justice from them."

Tian Ming listened, put down his bowl, and looked at Qiu Qian: "Come on, there's still some time. Take me to see him."

The two arrived at the Shelter hospital. Qiu Wuhui was lying in a hospital bed, his legs bound with makeshift bandages, and a strong medicinal smell hung about him.

"Many people were injured this time, and medical resources are very stretched. My brother was also affected by the shockwave weapon, but he was farther away. However, his leg was broken by collapsing concrete blocks."

Tian Ming said nothing. He stood up and walked back and forth a few steps in the ward. At this moment, his consciousness was communicating with Xin Xin.