章 63: Wang Yong

Mobilize orders.

Soon, a group of able-bodied survivors stood in a row, weapons in hand. After some scavenging, a few managed to arm themselves with makeshift weapons, though most were only equipped with mops, bricks, and stools—items with minimal lethality.

When they learned about the opponents they would face, fear set in. Some began to cry and begged to stay behind. The memory of the previous excursion was still fresh in their minds—eleven people slaughtered, their bodies never recovered. For these survivors, ghouls had become a symbol of terror, a forbidden fear.

This fear led to three people having their legs broken.

Discipline Enforced.

The noisy crowd was quickly silenced.

Chen Feng's earlier warning echoed in their minds: disobey orders and face severe punishment. In this harsh world, a broken leg was a grievous injury. Recovery required a healer, but such chances were slim. Without combat abilities, and lacking protection from combat professionals, most awakened healers in the wild had already become monster fodder.

A broken leg meant the end of any hope for survival.

Those who remained were trembling. Their faces were pale with fear, but they dared not scream or protest as they had before.

No escape on the battlefield.

Turning your back on the enemy was a death sentence.

Intimidation.

While force alone couldn't instill courage in these people, it taught them to obey orders.

Creak.

The door of the air-raid shelter opened. This time, the survivors were obedient. Even though they were terrified, they stepped outside.

Chen Feng did not reprimand them.

Adapting to the environment takes time.

The group set out on their journey.

As they left, Chen Feng made a gesture, and a crack appeared. In the corridor of the air-raid shelter, a bloated figure emerged.

With all the men gone, the shelter was defenseless. As its master, Chen Feng felt obligated to protect his property.

The Dretch was stationed at the entrance of the shelter. The narrow and dim passage made it look like a little girl crouching on the ground, her face occasionally showing a 'sweet' smile.

Silver-ranked Dretch.

Except for powerful creatures, ordinary monsters posed no threat to the Dretch.

Maximum defense.

The Dretch's slimy skin was almost immune to physical attacks, making it a formidable guardian.

---

Factory.

A burly figure moaned atop a pale, lifeless body. The man was broad and muscular, his face flushed with exertion. The woman beneath him was as white as a sheet, her eyes vacant, reflecting a numbing despair, like a piece of wood devoid of consciousness.

People were all around them.

But the man didn't care in the slightest. The act of domination, of conquest, in front of everyone gave him a perverse pleasure.

After a while, the man got up from the woman, casually grabbing a piece of clothing and dressing himself. The woman was left ignored.

Wang Yong.

He was a notorious black-market boss in J City, known as "The God of Wealth." A man who navigated both the underworld and the upper echelons of society, Wang Yong had remained untouched by the law, even after committing countless crimes, thanks to his wealth and influence.

As the apocalypse approached, he gained the ability to control insects. Using a few fearsome bugs, he took over the factory. Over time, he recruited three professionals and began expanding his influence, gathering survivors from the surrounding area. In just over 20 days, his numbers grew from 300 to over 600.

Ambition grew.

Before the apocalypse, the state's power kept Wang Yong in check, but now, with the collapse of law and order, his darker impulses had fully surfaced.

With over 600 people under his control, Wang Yong killed and punished as he pleased. This absolute power over life and death intoxicated him. As time went on, his lust for control only grew. The factory was no longer enough to satisfy his ambitions; he sought to expand further.

Consumed by power.

Every man harbors dreams of heroism, but reality often suppresses them. Yet in a world plunged into chaos, those once unattainable fantasies now seemed within reach.

This was far from uncommon.

After gaining power, many ambitious individuals began to form their own factions. Religious cults and warbands became widespread, with some even going so far as to resurrect monarchies, naming their factions after long-lost kingdoms.

These people were lost in their own utopias, chasing unrealistic dreams.

However, Wang Yong was different. He had real ability, cunning, and a strategic mind. Though he committed heinous acts during this time, the fearsome insects under his control and the support of three professionals kept ordinary people in check. They lived in his shadow, too afraid to resist.

"Rat, any news from the shelter?" Wang Yong asked, resting in a chair after his earlier exertion.

A scruffy middle-aged man stepped forward, his clothes tattered, his hair disheveled, and his mouth filled with yellowed teeth.

Before the apocalypse, he was a good-for-nothing thug, imprisoned for nineteen years after assaulting a young girl. He had no family or connections, a true societal outcast. But in the apocalypse, he had become a professional, able to move freely underground, earning the nickname 'Rat'.

Rat had been the one negotiating with Wei Xun and Yuan Wen regarding the shelter.

"Boss, that punk Wei Xun promised to get back to me in a week, but there's still no word. You don't think he might be trying to scam us, do you?" Rat slouched to the side, his tone flippant as he casually picked his nose, displaying the mannerisms of a complete lowlife.

Rat's demeanor was truly abysmal.

If it weren't for the fact that he was also a Professional, Wang Yong wouldn't have even let someone like him shine his shoes. Wang frowned, unwilling to waste words: "Since Wei Xun agreed to our plan, he's made up his mind. Take some men and check out the air-raid shelter. If he hasn't made a move yet, break the ice and join forces with him to take it down."

"Big Brother, why not just let me and Wolfhead storm the place and be done with it? Why go through all this trouble?" Rat suggested loudly, clearly favoring brute force.

"What do you know? I told you to negotiate, so just do as I say. Haven't you been eyeing those twins? Get this done, and I'll give them to you as a reward. If this goes well, they're yours to enjoy however you want!" Wang Yong waved his hand dismissively.

"Boss, you're not kidding, right? Alright, I'm on it!" Rat's face lit up with a lecherous grin. Not wanting to risk Wang Yong changing his mind, he quickly called his men and rushed out the door.

As he watched Rat leave, Wang Yong's eyes filled with disgust. He knew Rat was a piece of shit—lazy, filthy, a complete waste of space. In the old world, Wang Yong wouldn't have even looked at him.

But fate had a twisted sense of humor, making someone like Rat a professional.

Wang Yong was cunning, with a sharp mind—traits that had made him one of the top crime bosses in J City. After observing the world's changes, he knew the future belonged to professionals. Wealth, national power, beauty, and talent—none of it mattered anymore. The number of professionals under one's command was the key to survival in this new world.

In just half a month, Wang Yong had expanded his power, relying on his professionals and the fearsome insects he controlled.

For Wang Yong, the hundred or so people in the shelter were nothing special, just a group of laborers. What he truly valued was Wei Xun.

If he could bring Wei Xun into his fold, Wang Yong would have four professionals under his command. With their combined abilities, he could expand his influence to any corner of the city.

"Let's hope everything goes smoothly..."

Leaning back in his chair, Wang Yong muttered to himself, watching the door close behind Rat.

Of course, he wasn't worried about Rat failing. With Wei Xun willing to join forces, the two professionals together would make taking the air-raid shelter a simple task.