Dr. B sat on the ground, his legs trembling as he gulped air, and Jing Shu let out a slow breath. If she hadn't known as much about post-apocalypse survival as she did, they might've soaked those rats in oil and set them on fire just because the doctor said so.
Doing that would've exposed the fact that the supplies below had been stripped clean, and worse, people would've seen the tunnels and where the goods were being moved.
Those giant, diseased rats carried who-knew-what pathogens on their bodies, and they'd eaten so many people on their way. Jing Shu remembered not seeing rats like this back in Wu City.
On the migration during the fifth year of the apocalypse, they'd run into massive swarms of cockroaches in some wide, desolate area. Cockroaches were already one of the hardiest species on Earth, and after evolving in the end times they had no natural enemies. Even though some tyrants had used cockroaches to make nutrient paste, when hundreds of millions of cockroaches attacked migrating humans in the dead of winter, they were a force you couldn't sneer at.
"Sigh, it's about time we figure out how to deal with crap on the migration routes. Once I get home this time I'm going to start preparing. I've been in America a while, yeah the haul was great, but the Cube Space still isn't full so I can't bear to leave. Still, my family's been nagging me to come back, I don't know if they miss me, or if they just miss the chickens."
Thinking of that gave Jing Shu a headache, so she shook her head and refocused on the scene. Everyone was holding their breath, while some overseers started finishing off the stray rats that got away. The whole place was a mess.
Once the fuel truck had lured the bulk of the horde far enough away and emptied its tank, and after they made sure most of the rats were coated in the oil mix, they tossed a few burning logs into the pile.
Boom!
The fire exploded up like a mushroom cloud, the oil feeding the blaze. In minutes the whole swarm was alight, a roaring inferno that lit half the sky. The black mountain gleamed like daylight, even the canal ripples in the distance were lit up. These were post-apocalypse mountains, naked and barren, no grass to tell another tale.
Dr. B felt like his heart would jump out of his chest. Only after squinting and checking did he finally breathe, though his heart kept pounding. Fortunately, their transport ship was docked on the other side.
Everything had passed with more scares than harm.
The fire burned for a good ten minutes before everything fell silent again. The rats were burned clean, but the blaze belched thick black smoke that choked a lot of people. The stench wasn't roasted pork, it was the smell of burning rot.
The overseers panicked for a bit, scrambling to get everyone masks, then they got busy with post-battle cleanup, reports, and casualty counts.
"Damn it, tonight drained me dry. I feel sick, I'm going to rest, don't bother me!" Dr. B was helped down the hill by Ms. C, trembling, while guards and overseers watched with sympathy and understanding.
Back at the base, everyone redoubled the effort to haul supplies. After a long night of work, just as dawn lightened the sky, the mountain finally quieted. Exhausted people slept, only a few guards stayed up to watch.
Jing Shu's own supplies were finally all moved out. When things were quiet outside, Jing Shu, Zhen Nantian, Dr. B, and Ms. C gathered together.
"Old Goat took Xiao Hei and Hao Yunlai to escort the transport ship and they left. Snake Spirit took Ling Ling and Tank to ambush Austin's route. If nothing happens they'll rendezvous as planned. If Austin sends reinforcements, they'll block them on the road. My job now is to finish the last demolition," Jing Shu said, pointing at the Austin map.
Dr. B pointed to the other mouth of the canal, "Tis and our people are gathered over here. C and I and the remaining slaves have to join them before we move. You know how it is, we can't split forces. Besides C and Tis, I trust no one. So we leave now according to plan. I'm counting on you for the rest. Take whatever instruments and experimental gear you want, anything you value. Mirror, my truest partner, I hope we'll work together again."
Jing Shu reached out and shook Dr. B's hand, "I believe so. Next time we meet, it'll be either in China or somewhere in America. When you come up with Luminite, tell your old friend about it. If you invent anything else neat, sell it to me. Until next time, happy cooperation."
"My dear Mirror, I'll come to China to find you, I promise I won't trick you again."
"Heh, you can try."
Jing Shu smiled without saying more. People see things differently. She'd keep what was good, and she'd cut away what wasn't.
Now, aside from the hum of machines, the entire cave was silent. Everyone had left. From the mouth of the tunnel, guards still glanced down now and then, and seeing machines and people moving made them feel secure.
If Jing Shu was the one who wrapped up this operation, then Zhen Nantian was the one holding the rear. The real finale was on his side. Jing Shu couldn't imagine how he'd face two A-tier merc squads plus over two hundred fully armed overseers and thirty private guards. One man with a gun could turn him into a sieve.
All of her weapons and her skeletal mech had been taken by Tank, so she didn't dare show herself among these people.
Actually, she thought Snake Spirit would be the best rear guard. His venom had broad applicability. While it couldn't wipe out A-tier mercs, it could likely kill off the lesser riffraff.
But to her surprise, Zhen Nantian paused quietly, and Snake Spirit waved his hand, saying, "The captain is best suited to cover the rear." So the climax was entrusted to Zhen Nantian.
After all this time, she was still curious about his true power. He seemed never to have shown it. What kind of integrated S-tier Chinese elite was he, and what strength did he actually hold? So far, nothing had exceeded her understanding. The rumored supernatural powers weren't showing up. Everyone here had achieved what they had through talent and hard work. If someone got shot they'd bleed, and without treatment they'd die, all within the realm of normal humanity. Still, five thousand years of Chinese history and culture had birthed a few exceptional people.
"They can start now, they're far enough away," Zhen Nantian opened his eyes and said calmly.