12: Night shadows spy

Chapter 12: Secret Armory, Night Shadows Lurking

Night fell like a heavy black cloth, slowly enveloping the ruined city. The base's searchlights pierced the darkness, casting bright spots of light on the steel walls. The roar of the War Factory gradually subsided, leaving only the conveyor belts of the Ore Refinery still tirelessly operating with a rhythmic "click-clack."

Lin Zhou stood in the command room of the Main Base, his fingertip sliding across the Radar screen. On the screen, green dots representing the members of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group were moving toward the base. In the back of their armored personnel carriers were rifles brought back from the mall and a map of the Western City Armory. Su Mei sat in a nearby chair, wiping a military dagger, its blade glinting coldly under the lights.

"Wild Wolf's people have a good foundation; they're all tough characters who have struggled to survive in the apocalypse," Su Mei said without looking up. "They're just a bit lacking in discipline and need to be polished properly."

Lin Zhou nodded, his gaze falling on the map. The marker for the Western City Armory was conspicuous, surrounded by a dense cluster of red dots—representing at least a thousand zombies. Among them were three large red dots indicating Elite Types, whose energy fluctuations were stronger than any they had encountered before.

"The heavy weapons in the armory are something we must obtain," Lin Zhou said in a deep voice. "anti-aircraft guns, howitzers, and possibly tank shells. With these, our base can truly become an impregnable fortress."

"But there are too many zombies there," Su Mei frowned. "Over a thousand zombies and three Elite Types—if we try to force our way in, the casualties will surely be high."

"Of course we won't just force our way in." A curve formed at the corner of Lin Zhou's mouth. "I have a plan. Tomorrow, have Old Zhou take the construction workers to build temporary defensive fortifications on the outskirts of the armory, and train ten grizzly tanks and twenty Rocket Troopers. We'll use the tanks to draw the zombies' attention, the Rocket Troopers to strike the Elite Types from a distance, and finally send in a strike team to seize the equipment."

Su Mei's eyes lit up: "This plan is feasible. However, we must leave enough people to guard the base to prevent anyone from taking advantage of our absence."

Lin Zhou's gaze suddenly became sharp: "You felt it too?"

"Yes." Su Mei put down the dagger and looked out at the darkness outside the window. "When we rescued Wild Wolf today, I kept feeling like someone was watching us. Although the Radar didn't pick anything up, that feeling of being peered at couldn't be wrong."

Lin Zhou walked to the window, looking at the distant ruins. In the darkness, it seemed as if a pair of eyes were silently watching this steel fortress. He clenched his fist: "No matter who it is, if they dare to target the base, they will pay a price."

Just then, Scarface's voice came over the intercom: "Boss, Wild Wolf and his group have arrived! Also, we found some strange footprints on the outskirts of the base—they're not from zombies, they're human!"

Lin Zhou's heart tightened: "Increase the alert level and send Police Dogs to search! I'll be down immediately."

He and Su Mei walked quickly out of the command room to the base's main gate. Wild Wolf was standing in the open space with over fifty mercenary group members. They were covered in blood and filth, their faces weary, yet their eyes were full of hope. Seeing Lin Zhou approach, Wild Wolf immediately stepped forward and said respectfully, "Commander Lin, thank you for taking us in."

"No need for formalities," Lin Zhou said calmly. "Scarface, take them to the living area and arrange for lodging and food. Also, pick ten of the most capable ones to go to the west of the city with me tomorrow."

Scarface nodded in response and led Wild Wolf and the others away. Lin Zhou followed the Police Dog team to the outskirts of the base. Under the moonlight, there were indeed some scattered footprints on the ground, extending toward the distant ruins. The Police Dogs barked fiercely in the direction of the ruins, their fur standing on end, clearly sensing danger.

"It seems someone really is spying on us," Su Mei said gravely. "Could it be another survivor camp?"

"It's possible." Lin Zhou stroked his chin. "In the apocalypse, resources are life. Our base is developing too quickly; it's inevitable that we'll attract the envy of others."

He pondered for a moment and then ordered into the intercom: "All anti-aircraft guns and machine gun nests are to be on full alert tonight! Rocket Troopers will be divided into three shifts to patrol in rotation!"

"Yes, sir!"

After arranging the guard duty, Lin Zhou and Su Mei returned to the command room. He looked at the system panel; he had 4185.5 metal points and 80 power, enough to train another batch of units.

"Train fifty Police Dogs and thirty Rocket Troopers," Lin Zhou commanded. "Also, increase the height of the walls by another two meters and install an electric fence."

"[Consumed 1500 metal, 50 power. Remaining metal: 2685.5, power: 30]"

"[Police Dogs and Rocket Troopers training... Wall upgrade in progress... Electric fence installation in progress...]"

A faint blue light lit up in the base as new Police Dogs ran out of the Barracks, barking at the air. Rocket Troopers, carrying rocket launchers, lined up in an orderly fashion for patrol. The walls slowly rose, and dense electric grids appeared on the surface, flickering with dangerous electrical arcs.

The night passed without incident. The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced the darkness, spilling onto the base's steel walls. Lin Zhou stood by the command room window, looking at the fully trained grizzly tanks and Rocket Troopers, his eyes full of confidence.

"Move out!"

Ten grizzly tanks roared out of the base, followed by twenty Rocket Troopers and ten elites selected by Wild Wolf. Lin Zhou sat in the lead tank with Su Mei in the passenger seat. On the Radar screen, the outline of the Western City Armory became clearer and clearer.

An hour later, the convoy arrived at the outskirts of the armory. Old Zhou had already set up temporary defensive fortifications with his construction workers; the bunkers made of sandbags and steel bars were enough to withstand the impact of zombies. Lin Zhou ordered the tanks to form a single-line formation, while the Rocket Troopers hid behind the bunkers, aiming at the armory's main gate.

"Fire!"

The tank muzzles spat fire, and shells whistled toward the armory gate. The heavy iron doors were instantly blown open, and the zombies inside surged out with a roar, a dark mass like a black tide.

"Tanks, draw their attention! Rocket Troopers, get ready!"

The ten tanks advanced slowly, their tracks grinding over the rubble on the ground. Shells were fired continuously, blooming into flowers of blood within the zombie swarm. The zombies lunged frantically at the tanks but couldn't break through the thick armor, only to be crushed into pulp under the tracks.

Just then, three Elite Type zombies rushed out of the swarm. One was massive, its body covered in rock-like bone armor; one was extremely fast, with six legs on its back; and another was covered in pustules, looking exceptionally eerie.

"There they are! Rocket Troopers, fire at will!"

Twenty Rocket Troopers fired simultaneously, their rockets trailing flames and accurately hitting the three Elite Types. Intense explosions instantly engulfed them. The bone armor of the Rock Elite Type was shattered to pieces, the Six-Legged Elite Type had two legs blown off, and the Pustule Elite Type exploded directly, splashing dark green pus everywhere.

"Strike team, follow me!"

Lin Zhou opened the hatch, jumped down, and gripped the Fire Axe fused with bone blade fragments, charging toward the armory. Wild Wolf followed closely with ten elites, their rifles firing continuously to clear out any stray zombies.

Inside the armory, rows of weapon racks were neatly arranged, filled with anti-aircraft guns, howitzers, and crates of shells. Lin Zhou's eyes lit up and he immediately ordered, "Load all these weapons onto the vehicles! Move fast!"

Everyone jumped into action, moving the weapons onto the armored personnel carriers. Just then, a dense cluster of red dots suddenly appeared on the Radar screen, moving rapidly toward the armory.

"Not good! It's a zombie tide! At least two thousand of them!" Su Mei's voice carried a hint of urgency.

Lin Zhou's expression changed, and he immediately looked deep into the armory. There was a massive ammunition depot there, with a heavy lock hanging on the door.

"Wild Wolf, come with me!"

Lin Zhou led Wild Wolf into the ammunition depot, which was filled with explosives and missiles. His eyes lit up as he immediately had an idea: "Move all the explosives to the armory entrance. We'll use them to blow up the zombie tide!"

The two of them acted immediately, moving crates of explosives to the entrance. Lin Zhou lit the fuse and shouted, "Retreat! Everyone retreat!"

Everyone scrambled onto the armored personnel carriers and drove toward the temporary defensive fortifications. Just as they reached a hundred meters away, a deafening explosion rang out. The armory was instantly swallowed by flames, and the violent blast kicked up clouds of dust, burying the pursuing zombie tide.

"[Ding! Detonated armory explosives, killed Tier 1 Zombie × 2100, Elite Type × 5, gained 10,000 experience points, current level 7 (18040/7000) → Level 9]"

"[Free Attribute Points +20, Constitution +10, Strength +10, Spirit +0]"

"[Devoured zombie bones and metal fragments, metal points +2000, current metal points: 4685.5]"

Lin Zhou looked at the soaring flames behind him and breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, Scarface's anxious voice came over the intercom: "Boss! The base has been ambushed! A group of people attacked the back gate while we were away!"

Lin Zhou's face instantly darkened. He turned to look in the direction of the base, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

In the distant ruins, those spying eyes finally revealed their true form. A man in a black trench coat watched the soaring flames, a sinister smile curling on his lips.

"Lin Zhou... your base will soon be mine."