Kapitel 20: Temptation
Inside the dimly lit three-story building, Wang Yong reached the third floor. A slender woman sat trembling in a chair, while beside her, a man with a buzz cut and dark skin focused intently on playing a video game.
The screen displayed a grim and dark style, showing an armored warrior with a large shield and a straight sword battling a giant flaming titan. Meanwhile, another screen played scenes of passionate lovemaking—the source of the seductive noises Wang Yong had heard.
However, Wang Yong was not surprised by this scene; he had seen it before. Others might think his cousin, Wang Gangjian, was busy with women here, but in reality, Wang was merely gaming.
Wang Gangjian played these sounds deliberately to avoid the perception that he was neglecting his duties for leisure. After all, as the boss of Black Blade Security, managing hundreds of subordinates, it wouldn't do for his men to think he was just gaming, which would undermine his authority.
Yet Wang Gangjian was keen on gaming, so he devised these scenarios: bringing a woman to the building, playing suggestive sounds to mask his gaming.
Suddenly, a scream sounded from the screen, and Wang Gangjian put down the controller with a sigh, "This giant is really tough."
"Tell me, what is it?" he said, turning to his cousin Wang Yong.
Wang Yong promptly recounted the scene he had witnessed at the unfinished building, in great detail and without omission. Wang Gangjian's expression was initially casual but quickly turned serious.
"High-level zombies, it must be high-level zombies," Wang Gangjian said gravely. "What did that old Zheng from the research institute say?"
Wang Yong shook his head, "They said nothing, and when I pressed who had rescued them, they evaded the question."
Wang Gangjian sighed lightly, "East Lake City is really not a good place to be, with advanced zombies appearing one after another. Just a while ago, didn't Zhao Hong notify us that an advanced zombie appeared at the Walmart, and then it vanished?"
"What should we do?" Wang Yong asked.
Wang Gangjian glared at him, "What else can we do? Increase our vigilance, and stay away from that area. And, ask for some support from the Linjiang Army. We are a force established under the guidance of the Linjiang Army. With advanced zombies appearing frequently in East Lake City, we have to ask them for support."
Wang Yong grinned, "You're always the smart one, big brother."
Just as Wang Gangjian was about to pick up the controller again, he suddenly remembered something else, "You came back just in time. Zhao Hong bought a batch of canned food and medicines from us. Take some men and deliver it to them."
"Eh? Didn't he always complain about the prices? Why is he buying now?" Wang Yong was puzzled.
Wang Gangjian spoke offhandedly, "The Spirit Hounds has always been short on medicines. Initially, they staunchly refused to buy, claiming they still had supplies. Now that they've run out, they've no choice but to grit their teeth and pay the premium."
Wang Yong chuckled, "Fine. I'll take some men and deliver the goods then."
"Go on, then." Wang Gangjian, without turning his head, waved dismissively and resumed his frustrating game.
Meanwhile, Wang Yong and two men climbed into a Wuling van and headed towards the Spirit Hounds's headquarters at the Haotai Hotel. The gang maintained several strongholds, with the hotel serving merely as their main base.
Additionally, there were food supplies from a large greenhouse to the north and a small fishery to the south. Due to East Lake City's modest size and relative abundance of resources, the Spirit Hounds and Black Peak Security had coexisted without fatal conflicts.
An hour later, the van pulled up outside the Haotai Hotel. As one of the men started to disembark, Wang Yong hastily pulled him back.
"Something's off—it's too quiet. The Spirit Hounds is never like this."
Wang Yong's face was grave as he sharply sensed the anomaly. It was broad daylight, a time when the gang members typically gathered in noisy clusters, playing cards or brawling. Each delivery was usually met with loud commotion from inside, but this silence was unnervingly odd, as if everyone had vanished.
"Look carefully," Wang Yong whispered.
The two men nodded and peered around cautiously. Suddenly, one exclaimed, "Brother Yong, there's a body over there, a mutilated body!"
Wang Yong followed their gaze and indeed spotted a body. To call it a body was somewhat inaccurate—it was merely a fragment, consisting of part of an arm and a leg.
"Let's get out of here, fast!"
Wang Yong swallowed hard and growled. The presence of body parts indicated that the Haotai Hotel had definitely been attacked. Whether by zombies or some other formidable foe, the adversary was undoubtedly powerful.
After all, Zhao Hong was considered a first-level superhuman. For an enemy to have silenced Zhao Hong, their strength had to be immense. Their only option now was to flee as quickly as possible!
Buzzing with urgency, the van sped away with remarkable speed. However, they had not driven far when several figures appeared on the rooftops ahead.
Through the car window, Wang Yong caught sight of two towering figures, resembling moving mountains. Each of their movements seemed to shake the ground. Their faces were fierce, their appearances bloodthirsty, bearing some resemblance to zombies yet with slight differences. Accompanying them were two giant hounds, which Wang Yong recognized as Zhao Hong's dogs, Daho and Erho.
High-level zombies! And two of them! Even Zhao Hong's dogs had abandoned him and now followed these formidable creatures.
Wang Yong's heart nearly burst from his chest. He bellowed, "Speed up, get us through! Don't stop!"
The driver, equally terrified, floored the accelerator, wishing he could merge with the engine to spin the wheels faster.
Bao noticed the moving vehicle. The scent of living humans immediately ignited its bloodlust. Baring its teeth, it prepared to charge.
Daho and Erho displayed equal aggression.
"Roar."
But Hu growled low, a sound so threatening it immediately subdued the others. Bao, Daho, and Erho's voices quieted, tinged with resentment.
Hum!
Under the watchful eyes of the two zombies and two dogs, the van sped away.
Wang Yong's heart raced.
"Are they following? I can faster!" the driver shouted.
"Urgh... no... urgh..."
Wang Yong vomited several times before managing to sit upright.
"You really need... urgh... to improve your driving skills..."
The driver gave an embarrassed smile.
Wang Yong glanced behind them. The four figures accelerated toward the Haotai Hotel. In the blink of an eye, they entered the hotel and disappeared.
Wang Yong suddenly pieced everything together. He realized that the Spirit Hounds had likely been annihilated by the two high-level zombies. Zhao Hong was probably dead. The Haotai Hotel and its surroundings had become the territory of these advanced zombies!
"Let's get back! We need to inform the boss immediately! Urgh…" Wang Yong growled.
"Alright, I get it. Just don't throw up on me," the driver nodded.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein