Chapter 500: No Matter Who Dies, He Won't
Qi Hancai frowned deeply, her expression somewhat grim.
The base had been developing well, with several successful outposts established externally.
Yet unexpectedly, something like this had cropped up.
No wonder that squad leader had been so arrogant; he really did have backing.
Even in the apocalypse, people were still relying on their fathers.
"Should we inform the Rescue Team? The military definitely wouldn't let this Huang guy act recklessly," Qi Hancai said directly.
The Rescue Team would want to continue exchanging for food supplies.
They wouldn't tolerate Boss Huang ruining the relationship between both sides.
Wu Heng stood to the side, pondering for a moment, and said, "No need. I'll handle this. Just pretend it never happened, and don't mention it to anyone."
Qi Hancai's eyes darted quickly before she replied, "Understood!"
Wu Heng ordered a skeleton to carry the body outside and bury it.
After the body was taken away, the two of them no longer brought up the matter.
They walked together toward the workshop rooms.
Qi Hancai continued, "Our solar panels are only enough to maintain this single production line. Unless we gather all the solar panels from the other bases, we might be able to add one more."
Cutting off power to the base during this season wasn't a good idea.
Besides, the supply of white powder and various materials wasn't stable yet, so there was no urgency to expand the production line.
As they walked, Wu Heng thought for a moment and said, "Let's maintain this one line for now. In the meantime, use the radio to contact external sources and recruit personnel experienced in building power plants."
"Understood!" Qi Hancai nodded.
The two walked a full circle around the base.
On the way back, Wu Heng said, "Prepare a vehicle. I need to go out."
"I'll drive you there," Qi Hancai said while arranging the vehicle.
"No need. Just assign a skeleton that can drive. You stay here."
Qi Hancai glanced at him and nodded in agreement.
...…
Rescue Team Refuge.
Inside a well-decorated room.
Behind a desk, Huang Guangping sat. On the desk were a bottle of red wine and a half-filled wine glass.
He looked at the figure standing before him and asked, "What have you gathered?"
A subordinate spoke softly, "No news about Captain Huang. The military factory has had continuous convoys entering over the past two days, carrying materials and support personnel."
Huang Guangping sipped his wine and asked, "What about the number of troops and armored vehicles?"
"Well…" The subordinate hesitated before replying, "The exact number of personnel is unclear. The number of skeletons seems to exceed a thousand, with two armored vehicles and several self-modified vehicles."
"I want detailed intel. Have the men tally the ammunition too," Huang Guangping ordered, taking a pack of cigarettes from his drawer and tossing it to the subordinate.
"Understood!" The subordinate caught the cigarettes, nodded, and left.
The study was now empty, save for Huang Guangping.
He smoked a cigarette, occasionally sipping his wine.
Taking a deep drag and exhaling smoke, he looked toward the empty air, but his pupils suddenly contracted.
In the air ahead, a translucent figure of a noblewoman in a Western-style gown and hat floated.
Huang Guangping's expression changed drastically. Startled, he clutched his chest.
At the same time, his eyes darted toward the handgun on a nearby cabinet.
"Are you Huang Guangping?" the figure in the air asked slowly.
Her tone was peculiar, like someone who had just learned Mandarin.
Huang Guangping took a couple of deep breaths and slowly lowered his hand from his chest. Warily, he asked, "You're a ghost? And you can talk?"
"Your term is impolite. Life is merely a form of existence, capable of taking many shapes."
Huang Guangping had no patience for her rhetoric and asked sternly, "What are you here for? I don't think I've offended someone like you… my friend."
Ghosts had been mentioned on the central station's reports.
The local Rescue Team had even held meetings about them.
Based on the gathered intel, ghosts were difficult to kill, and being haunted by one could be a major problem.
Clearly, he was now being haunted.
Huang Guangping was certain he'd never met this ghost before. He hadn't left the base for ages due to external dangers.
He was more of a behind-the-scenes commander.
The ghost continued to look at him and softly said, "Wu Heng sent me. You should know him. No, wait—you call him the King of Hell."
Huang Guangping's pupils contracted sharply.
The leader of Xinfu City's base could actually command ghosts?
How was that even possible?
Though shocked internally, he forced himself to remain composed. "I've had decent cooperation with Xinfu City. Is there something you need from me?"
The ghost smiled faintly, spinning in mid-air before rushing straight toward Huang Guangping.
"Shit~!" Huang Guangping shot up from his chair, reaching for the handgun nearby.
But the ghost was faster. The moment he touched the gun, she entered his body and sat him back in his chair.
Huang Guangping's movements became stiff, his eyes filled with terror.
Now he understood how ghosts killed.
Just like in ghost stories, they could possess people.
The ghost controlled his body, making him sit, sip the wine, and rummage through his desk drawers.
She then pulled out a dinner knife.
Slowly, she slit his throat.
Blood flowed down his collar as the terror in Huang Guangping's eyes gradually turned into lifeless emptiness.
Finally, he slumped back in his chair.
...…
In a desolate roadside area.
Wu Heng sat in the passenger seat, silently waiting.
Before long, Glenda appeared from one side and spoke softly, "He's dead. It looks like suicide."
"Thank you for your effort," Wu Heng said.
Glenda smiled and replied, "It wasn't much. The people of your world are mostly ordinary folk—not even first-tier Professionals."
"This place's development focused on technology," Wu Heng noted.
"Yes, I can see that. If it weren't for the virus outbreak you mentioned, life here for ordinary people would have been quite good," Glenda agreed.
Wu Heng nodded and said to the skeleton beside him, "Let's go back."
The skeleton driver turned the vehicle around and headed back.
...…
Morning.
The Rescue Team base was in slight chaos.
Large numbers of personnel were mobilized.
Investigations into the cause of death and the capture of the culprit had begun.
Inside the conference room.
Representatives of the military and Tiancheng Group sat together to discuss the matter.
"With Huang Guangping's personality, it's impossible for him to have committed suicide," said a middle-aged man in a suit from Tiancheng Group.
On the other side, the Rescue Team's commander massaged his brow. "Investigations found no signs of anyone disguising a murder as a suicide."
"That's what makes it serious," the suited man replied.
Anyone could commit suicide in the apocalypse, but Huang Guangping would never do so.
Even if his son had died, he'd simply find another woman and have another child. Suicide wasn't his style.
Selfish people like him thrived once they gained power.
In the current environment, Huang Guangping had even more influence than he'd had during peacetime. Why would he choose now to end his life?
"There's no explanation. If someone in the base could kill him, it's either you or me," the commander said, looking at the suited man.
The suited man sneered, "I wouldn't do something like that."
"Then it's suicide."
Knock, knock, knock~!
The door was knocked, and several figures entered.
One of them glanced around and said softly, "Commander, we've found some clues."
"Speak."
"The last person to see Deputy Commander Huang alive was one of his trusted subordinates. At that time, he issued a mission to them..." The speaker paused mid-sentence.
Everyone in the room turned to look.
The commander asked, "What mission?"
"To tally troops and ammunition while investigating Xinfu City's military factory defenses and personnel."
The room fell silent.
Everyone looked shocked and incredulous.
Huang Guangping had secretly bypassed them and continued causing trouble for Xinfu City.
Furthermore, he issued the mission and then committed suicide, making it hard not to suspect a connection.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing more."
"Alright, announce that Huang Guangping committed suicide due to the grief of losing his son. Reclaim all weapons and troops under his command."
"Understood!" The personnel responded and exited the room.
The conference room remained silent for five or six seconds.
The suited man finally spoke, "Could this be related to Xinfu City?"
"If it is, their methods are terrifying."
If they could kill Huang Guangping silently, they could kill anyone in the room.
And it would be the kind of death that couldn't be traced.
This realization left every high-ranking official uneasy.
Those in power might not fear war, but they avoided personal involvement.
If their lives could be directly threatened, they'd act more cautiously.
"I think we should explain ourselves to them," the suited man suggested.
The commander thought for a moment and shook his head. "Do nothing. Just maintain normal cooperation. Taking extra steps now might lead to unfavorable results."
The suited man pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, we'll do that."
...…
Time passed in the blink of an eye, two days later.
During those two days,
Wu Heng made arrangements for Gold-Silver Island and the military factory.
Ensuring that after his departure,
everything would run smoothly without any issues.
In the courtyard.
"Master, let us know when you arrive," Andviel said softly, leaning against his left side.
"Yes, spend two days with Sister Wen Mansa and come back soon. We miss you too," Minnie said on the other side, hugging his waist and speaking softly.
Wu Heng gently patted their backs and reassured them, "Watch over the house. I'll be back in a few days. If anything happens, seek out Sheila Grey."
The two women hummed softly, snuggling into his embrace.
Minnie looked up again and said, "When you come back, bring my two friends over, okay? The manor's so big, and it's just me here every day."
Uh…
She still remembered those two friends!
"That depends on whether they're willing. I'll ask them when the time comes."
"Okay!"
After bidding farewell to the two women, Wu Heng donned the [Conductor's Hat]. The Ghost Train appeared, and Wu Heng boarded it with the skeletons, waving goodbye to the two women.
The train doors closed, and it plunged into the void.
Sitting inside the carriage, Wu Heng felt his senses fade away.