Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Not wanting to see Ling Feng any longer, he waved him away, ordering him to be confined for a week as punishment.

However, just thinking about Zhang Yi made Chen Xinian’s head ache again.

“I underestimated him!”

Chen Xinian sighed.

Originally, he had thought Zhang Yi was just a small-time character who had awakened his abilities by luck. He figured he could easily take him down by sending a few elite soldiers.

But reality had slapped him in the face. The man he had dismissed as insignificant had caused him tremendous losses!

“The heavy losses have severely weakened West Hill Base’s power! I must replenish the ranks quickly, or if a conflict with other forces arises, this will be a major threat.”

With this thought, Chen Xinian called for Ge Rou.

He asked, “How are the people Ling Feng brought back from Xu Family Town?”

Ge Rou replied, “We just ran some tests, but the results aren’t in yet. However, they all appear to be in excellent physical condition. There’s a high chance of producing mutants!”

Chen Xinian, however, snorted. “If Superhumans were so easily born, I wouldn’t be so reliant on that fool Ling Feng!”

“No more waiting. We need manpower now. Begin the experiments immediately. If the catalysis fails, implant Ling Feng’s cells into them.”

Ge Rou’s eyes flashed with a trace of fear at his words.

“If we rush like this, the success rate will drop even further. Less than one in thirty will survive!”

Chen Xinian dismissed her concerns. “That doesn’t matter. What I need now is combat power, not labor. There are still plenty of survivors in this city. We can always replenish the population.”

“Only with formidable force can we have a voice in this city!”

A ruthless gleam appeared in his eyes.

“I want the whole of Tianhai City! We can’t just be confined to West Hill!”

Ge Rou bit her lip and nodded. “Understood, I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

After Ge Rou left, Chen Xinian sat at his desk, contemplating how to handle Zhang Yi.

Yes, "handle" was the word.

To him, Zhang Yi was like a rusty nail, firmly lodged in his territory.

The known factions of Tianhai City each controlled different parts of the city. Zhang Yi’s location, unfortunately, was within West Hill Base’s territory.

A wild card like him was a destabilizing factor, a potential threat to the base’s control and, more importantly, Chen Xinian’s personal authority.

He had to remove this thorn in his side.

“But even when Ling Feng led the team himself, they couldn’t deal with him. What should I do?”

“Am I really going to have to ask that guy surnamed Zhu for help and get him to fire a missile?”

Chen Xinian’s face showed a flicker of hesitation.

At their level, owing someone a favor was the hardest debt to repay.

The commander of Jiangnan District owed him a huge favor and had once promised to help him out. As one of the six major military districts in China, Jiangnan District had the authority to launch missiles.

This was Chen Xinian’s trump card, a deterrent to use against other forces. He was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary.

Was he really going to waste it on Zhang Yi?

Chen Xinian’s thoughts were conflicted.

If he didn’t use the missile, he couldn’t get rid of this problem. And if a conflict with another faction broke out one day, this thorn could very well end up killing him.

After much deliberation, Chen Xinian made a decision.

He would make one last attempt to negotiate with Zhang Yi, offering him the chance to submit to West Hill Base.

If Zhang Yi refused, then Chen Xinian would use his trump card and erase the shelter from the map.

Chen Xinian immediately summoned his Minister of Information, Geng Yilin, and ordered him to contact Zhang Yi.

Soon, Zhang Yi, inside his shelter, received a communication request from Chen Xinian.

This time, Zhang Yi felt no anxiety at the request.

He had successfully repelled Ling Feng’s month-long assault and knew that West Hill Base didn’t have the strength to breach his shelter.

In this negotiation, he was the victor and could now speak to Chen Xinian from a position of superiority.

Zhang Yi instructed Yang Xinxin to ensure the network’s security defenses were in place, then accepted the video call.

A projection of the video appeared in the air, and Zhang Yi saw Chen Xinian’s gloomy face.

Zhang Yi smiled. “Chen Xinian, long time no see!”

Being addressed so casually by his full name made Chen Xinian’s gaze grow even colder. He forced a stiff smile and said, “Zhang Yi, it has been a while. I’m honestly surprised you’ve lasted this long.”

Zhang Yi sighed in mock sympathy. “Old Chen, stop fighting. You’ve lost so many elites from West Hill Base—things must be rough for you.”

“Why are you still fighting with me? Even if you win, so what?”

“To be honest, if you ever manage to breach my shelter, I’ll destroy all the supplies. You won’t get a thing.”

“There’s no way you’ll come out the victor. Let’s just call it quits. I’m willing to live in peace with you.”

Zhang Yi spoke condescendingly, as if offering a handout.

But he had every right to. In this war, he had achieved complete victory.

Chen Xinian sneered.

“Zhang Yi, don’t be so full of yourself. Do you really think I can’t deal with you?”

“I’ve been lenient because I value your talent. I’m offering you a chance to serve me.”

He raised a finger and pointed at Zhang Yi. “This is your last chance. Surrender to me, and I’ll guarantee you a comfortable life in West Hill Base. I might even make you my second-in-command.”

“But you must prove your loyalty by handing over all your supplies!”

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow.

Chen Xinian was still dreaming big.

How could he have the audacity to make such demands after losing?

Regardless, Zhang Yi had no interest in putting his life in someone else’s hands.

After this battle, he had realized that West Hill Base wasn’t as strong as he once thought.

If he ever encountered a truly overwhelming force, Zhang Yi wouldn’t mind surrendering. But who did Chen Xinian think he was?

Zhang Yi chuckled. “Old Chen, did you take the wrong medicine? You lost, and I won!”

“You have no way to deal with me, and yet you want me to be your lackey? Are you out of your mind?”

“Here’s a better idea—I’ll make you my little brother. You stay put at West Hill Base, and if you run into any trouble, just mention my name. I’ll look out for you!”

Zhang Yi deliberately taunted Chen Xinian.

As expected, Chen Xinian slammed the table in a fit of rage. “Arrogant! You’re asking for death!”

“Oh, really? But it seems you don’t have the power to kill me,” Zhang Yi retorted, locking eyes with Chen Xinian, not backing down.

“Hmph, you think I have no way to handle you?”

Chen Xinian stared at Zhang Yi, gritting his teeth. “Let me tell you—I can deploy a missile to blow up your shelter!”

“No matter how sturdy your shelter is, can it withstand a missile strike?”

Zhang Yi’s heart skipped a beat.

But he quickly smiled. “Don’t try to scare me. There’s no missile base in Tianhai City, and no one has the authority to launch one. You’re not a military district commander!”

Chen Xinian laughed.

“I may not be a commander, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get my hands on one! You’re just an ordinary person—you don’t understand the complex relationships at our level.”

“Don’t doubt it. If I want to, I can flatten your shelter in an instant!”

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes and coldly smirked. “If you could do it, why didn’t you use it earlier? Why wait until now?”

Chen Xinian replied, “I’ve already told you—I value your talent and want to give you a chance. Zhang Yi, don’t make a mistake you’ll regret.”

“My patience is wearing thin.”

“Either submit to me or die. Choose.”

Zhang Yi cursed inwardly: Do you think I’m easily scared?

What, you think you’re from Naruto now? Mastering the art of talk-no-jutsu?

But he remained cautious and said, “Oh, if you really can launch a missile, go ahead. Prove it to me.”

“If you can, I’ll follow you. I won’t mind.”

Chen Xinian’s expression darkened. “Do you know how valuable missiles are now? There’s no way I’d waste one just to prove something to you.”

“Stop stalling. I’ve run out of patience.”

Chen Xinian’s eyes were bloodshot, and the murderous intent in his gaze was unmistakable.

Zhang Yi suddenly felt that the old man might not be bluffing after all.

But who knew? A man like this was good at deception and lies.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Yi said, “Give me a few days to think it over.”

Zhang Yi’s softened tone made Chen Xinian feel triumphant.

He thought he had finally scared Zhang Yi into submission, and his sense of dignity began to return.

“Don’t try to play any tricks. Stalling for time won’t work.”

Zhang Yi replied, “You’ve waited this long, what’s another couple of days?”

“I’ll give you one day. If you don’t surrender by then, I’ll flatten your shelter!”

With that, Chen Xinian abruptly cut the call.

Sitting back on the sofa, Chen Xinian let out a long breath.

He closed his eyes, bringing his hands together in prayer.

“Let’s hope that guy is smart enough to surrender. I really don’t want to waste this precious opportunity on him.”

Meanwhile, in the shelter, Zhang Yi casually rose from the sofa.

“One day, huh? Well, if I can’t beat him, I can always run, right?”

Even though Zhang Yi loved this perfect shelter, he valued his life more.

If it came down to it, he would abandon it to survive.

Author's Note