Invasion of America

Chapter 45 Preparation
The terrorist attack on the Caribbean cruise ship has not yet passed, but there is good news worth celebrating - William Congers was finally released on bail and left the Miami Regional Jail.

A dinner is being held to celebrate Congers' return.

The long table was covered with a white tablecloth, and the silver cutlery gleamed brightly.

The hired maids shuttled between the kitchen and the dining room, carefully serving plates of steaming hot delicacies.

From the golden and crispy grilled lamb chops to the fragrant cream of mushroom soup to the colorful vegetable salad, every dish exudes an enticing aroma.

Julia was the happiest. For this dinner, she specially learned several new dishes in advance and even invited a professional chef to help.

She hoped that this meal would make her husband happier and bring more joy and warmth to the family. After all, after more than a month in prison, Congers's changes were obvious.

After being arrested, Congers was under considerable pressure. After all, more than a dozen lives had been lost at his hands, and some of the killings were necessary but absolutely illegal.

Julia and Selena visit the prison two or three times a week to offer encouragement and convey good news.

But Congers's strong body had become much thinner, and there was a bit more fatigue in his eyes. His temperament became more calm, and the baptism of prison had obviously had a great impact on him.

Kangsi sat at the head of the table. Although his mental state had not yet fully recovered, the joy of returning to his wife and daughter made his face look more radiant.

He always gently squeezed Julia's hand, and although he didn't say much, his words were full of affection. Julia smiled with a look of sweetness after suffering, and her eyes were full of tenderness.
-
As the initiator of this family gathering, Zhou Qingfeng also invited the Connery family and old Baker as guests.

The Connerys brought a bottle of red wine from their collection as a gift, and old Baker brought a box of handmade chocolates, smiling and hoping that Zhou Qingfeng would like them.

At the table, in addition to the guest of honor, there were three bodyguards - Luxor, Jaeger and Monica.

Luxor and Jaeger were as silent as ever, sitting in the corner and observing everything around them.

Monica is completely different. She is not restrained at all. She chats with others from time to time, or orders the maid to do this and that. At first glance, she looks like a housekeeper, but more like a master.

This boldness and confidence made Zhou Qingfeng look at her twice more, secretly wondering about this woman's background and intentions.

Before leaving the Caribbean, there was a subtle threat from Diaz, and then a woman named Monica gave Zhou Qingfeng a wake-up call.

In the past few days, he has been thinking about who he can still trust and who can become his true ally.

Before, Zhou Qingfeng had thought about finding a place to serve as a base, stockpiling supplies to survive the apocalypse, and waiting for civilization to recover.

But based on his past experience with the apocalypse, he deduced that a coward like him wouldn't last long.

It is a common practice for extremely hungry bandits to search all channels for obtaining supplies and find out who may have stockpiled supplies and where from the production and sales logistics.

Therefore, in the end times, we must stick together, and the bigger and more united the team is, the better life will be internally - this alone has eliminated the possibility of Zhou Qingfeng enduring hardship in the United States.

They are not of the same race, nor of the same culture. Among the large number of white, black and brown people, the smaller number of yellow people are naturally suppressed.

What’s worse is that there is no unity among the yellow-skinned people, and even the Chinese are divided. There are too many dogs who want to lick the hands of foreigners.

Zhou Qingfeng thought that the safest way for him was to bring the money back home - but after Carl Vinson lifted his exit ban, he hesitated.

Looking back now, that might have been his only and last chance to escape from the hell of America.

By the time Luxor and Jaeger showed up, Zhou Qingfeng was already under the surveillance of Dias from the Department of Homeland Security, unable to escape. At least, he couldn't take the money and leave.

When the woman named Monica showed up, it meant that the other party's surveillance had been strengthened and a cage had been built for him.

Zhou Qingfeng had imagined various possibilities of resistance, but none of them were very likely to work - the enemy controlled a large number of violent organizations and could even openly kill the governor.

If he turns against her, he has no chance of winning.

But, if you missed it, you missed it. Zhou Qingfeng didn't regret not being able to escape the fire pit too much. He began to think about what other strength he could use.

Just then, William Congers showed up.
-
The former sheriff, burdened with lawsuits, needed Zhou Qingfeng's money and connections, while Zhou Qingfeng needed strong thugs. The two sides were extremely complementary.

Dinner officially began, Zhou Qingfeng was the first to raise his glass and said with a smile: "Today is a day worth celebrating.

First, Mr. Congers was successfully released on bail and returned to his family. Second, I want to thank him for his decisiveness and efficiency in handling Chris's family affairs - it really saved me a lot of trouble."

Everyone raised their glasses and gave a stream of congratulations.

Jeff Connery also raised his glass and said with a smile to his two daughters, "William, it's great that you're back. We all believe that justice will be on your side."

Old Baker nodded in agreement. "That's right. Victor promised to help you win the case. You'll be defended by the best criminal team in Florida. You can rest assured."

Kangsi expressed his gratitude one by one, his tone calm but polite: "Thank you all for your concern and support. The experiences during this period have taught me a lot and made me cherish the people around me even more."

His eyes swept over everyone at the table, finally stopping on Julia and his daughter, his eyes full of tenderness.

The dinner was held in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Monica suddenly interrupted, "Victor, what have you been busy with recently? Is there any chance for me to join in?"

There was a hint of provocation in his tone, and his eyes were fixed on Zhou Qingfeng. Everyone present was keenly aware that something was amiss between the two, and their eyes darted back and forth, wanting to know what was going on.

Zhou Qingfeng suppressed his unhappiness and said with a calm smile, "Monica, your duty is to protect everyone's safety. It's better not to worry about other things."

Monica shrugged and smiled disapprovingly: "I want to apologize to you. I didn't know much about you before, which caused some misunderstandings.

If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. I'd be happy to put in the effort and show some sincerity."

Zhou Qingfeng didn't agree in his heart, but a smile was on his face. He didn't refuse, nor did he say anything insincere. Instead, he took the initiative to say:

"Thank you for your honesty. I do have some problems and need help. I'll talk to you in detail after dinner."

It seemed that the feud was resolved, or temporarily put aside by both parties.
-
After dinner, Congers walked to the balcony alone, looked at the night view in the distance, and took a deep breath.

Zhou Qingfeng followed him and stood side by side with him, comforting him, "Don't worry, you won't go to jail again. Everything will be fine."

Congers looked at the younger man, who was a head shorter than him, and whispered, “Thank you, Victor.

If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to save Julia and her daughter. If that were the case, I would be in pain for the rest of my life even if I were alive."

Zhou Qingfeng smiled and said, "I am your daughter's boyfriend. I am also under Julia's care and I also have the responsibility to save them."

Kang Gesi was silent for a moment, then looked back and asked doubtfully, "Your three bodyguards. Especially that woman."

Zhou Qingfeng shook his head lightly and whispered, “Those three are not my people, they are not only bodyguards, but also guards.

At the moment, I am cooperating with them, but I don’t know what the future holds.”

"Oh," Kangges seemed to understand, but Zhou Qingfeng didn't continue to say anything, and he didn't continue to ask, but just kept it in mind.
-
As the night deepened, the breeze from the balcony brought a hint of coolness, blowing away the hustle and bustle of dinner.

Zhou Qingfeng leaned on the railing, staring at the city lights in a daze. He heard light footsteps behind him. It was Jeff Connolly.

The other person was holding a glass of whiskey in his hand, with a half-smile on his face, obviously having something to say.

"Victor, would you like to talk?" Jeff approached, his voice low but his eyes meaningful.

Zhou Qingfeng nodded, signaling him to continue. Jeff glanced towards the living room, took another step closer, and asked in a low voice:

"How did you manage to get Governor Weston? Don't tell me you didn't do anything. I don't believe it." Zhou Qingfeng smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I didn't get him. Someone else got me. That was a surprise to me, too."

Jeff wasn't satisfied with the answer. He took a sip of whiskey and pressed on, "Who's that Monica?"
Seeing how flamboyant she was at the dinner table, she didn't seem like an ordinary bodyguard. I get the feeling she's much more senior than the other two quiet bodyguards, right?

Zhou Qingfeng secretly weighed how much to say. Finally, he whispered, "She's from the Department of Homeland Security. As for the specifics, I don't know."

Jeff couldn't help but sigh and said, "Department of Homeland Security? Victor, you're really stepping into muddy waters."

Congratulations, you have officially come into contact with America's 'deep government'.

These people are like the ancient gods in the Cthulhu mythos, untouchable, unlooked at, and certainly not disobeyed. You better be careful not to get yourself into trouble."

Zhou Qingfeng did not respond, but just looked deeply at the night scene in the distance, as if he was thinking about something.

Seeing this, Jeff patted his shoulder and said with a hint of ridicule: "But having said that, I think you are quite insightful and lucky.

The fact that you were easily rescued from the governor's case and no one bothered you afterwards shows that the person behind you is very powerful.

High society isn't without its constraints; money and power are inherently intertwined. As long as you don't get yourself killed, you'll succeed sooner or later."

After he finished speaking, he moved closer, almost touching Zhou Qingfeng's ear, and lowered his voice even lower: "Listen to my advice, and go along with that Monica.

From my experience, she's quite powerful and has a bad temper. If you go against her, you'll definitely be the one who suffers."

Zhou Qingfeng remained expressionless.

Seeing this, Jeff shrugged and raised his glass: "Okay, I've said everything I need to say. Good luck to you."
-
After Jeff left the balcony, Monica came uninvited, holding a glass of red wine, and appeared in front of Zhou Qingfeng quietly, with a playful look in her eyes.

"Boy, you don't seem to really accept my apology." She asked straight to the point.

Zhou Qingfeng is indeed not shrewd enough, especially when facing a character like Monica who is often provocative, his expression management is bound to reveal flaws.

He asked coldly, "Are you used to everyone licking your boots when they see you? Sorry, I'm not that kind of person."

Monica scoffed and shrugged nonchalantly. "That's about right, it's true. There are very few people who can make me humble myself."

She paused, still staring at Zhou Qingfeng with disdain, "Tell me, what did you ask me to do for you just now? Don't tell me you just wanted me to say 'sorry' a few more times."

Zhou Qingfeng was straightforward. "I have Aamir Khan's encrypted hard drive. But the FBI arrived too hastily, and Luxor sent him back by drone, so we didn't have time to get the password."

Monica waved her hand and interrupted, "That Indian guy has no backing anymore. I've already asked for you. The hard drive password is eight '8's. But..."

She changed the subject, her tone carrying a hint of warning, "I have to remind you, don't think about making money from biopharmaceuticals.

That thing won't produce any results without tens of billions of dollars of investment. You'd better be frugal with the little money you have, otherwise you won't even make a dent."

Zhou Qingfeng knew this very well. He hadn't originally intended to make a fortune in biopharmaceuticals; he simply wanted to prevent the apocalypse by acquiring Apocalypse Biology.

However, as the situation developed, he realized that the end of the world was inevitable, so he turned to seize the initiative and get some enhancements for himself.

As for whether the contents of the hard drive are useful, you have to find a professional to identify them.
-
After dinner was over, everyone left one after another and the apartment returned to peace.

Zhou Qingfeng returned to his bedroom alone, closed the door, and collapsed exhaustedly onto the spacious bed. It was exhausting to be scheming against those cunning men.

He took out the homemade mobile phone given to him by Gray Shark. The black body looked particularly thick and heavy. There was no brand logo on the surface and there were a few minor scratches.

Zhou Qingfeng stared at his phone screen, his mind racing with thoughts. Monica's arrogance intensified his sense of crisis.

He was clearly aware that in the eyes of those in power, he was just an insignificant shrimp.

In order to survive this game, he must prepare several escape routes.

"Gray Shark should be reliable." He muttered to himself, swiping his finger across the phone screen to activate the device.

Gray Shark's phone is extremely complex in design and requires multiple verifications upon startup - fingerprint, eye print, voice print, and password, none of which can be missing.

What’s even more frustrating is that there are no prompts during the verification process. Even if you enter the wrong number, the phone will start up normally, but the functions will be locked.

If you make the same mistake multiple times, the phone will be formatted and all data will be lost.

Zhou Qingfeng carefully completed the verification process, and his phone finally unlocked. He opened the text messaging interface and sent a message to Gray Shark: "Porter, can you do me a favor?"

A few seconds later, Gray Shark replied concisely and crisply: "Speak."

Zhou Qingfeng's fingers tapped rapidly on the screen. "I'll give you some money, about thirty to fifty million US dollars. Help me think of building a few secret bases that can survive the apocalypse."

At this time, 'Gray Shark' was sitting in the basement of his new home, surrounded by scattered electronic equipment that had not yet been completely sorted out.

Seeing Zhou Qingfeng's message, his eyes suddenly widened and he exclaimed: "Oh my God! Is the end of the world coming? Quickly admit that you are from the future!"

Zhou Qingfeng couldn't help but roll his eyes when he saw this reply, and he felt furious. He quickly replied:

"Yes, yes, I admit it, I admit it. I am the Terminator T-800, and you are the leader of the resistance, John Connor. Are you satisfied?"

Gray Shark, on the other hand, laughed and replied excitedly, "No, I don't think I can be the leader of the resistance. I should be Dr. Miles Dyson, the man who created Skynet."

Zhou Qingfeng was amused by his naivety and thought to himself: "I just made up some nonsense, and you really believed it?" So he ruthlessly punctured the other party's fantasy.
"Stop dreaming, idiot. If the apocalypse really comes, a cripple like you who can't take care of yourself, and has a sixty-year-old mother, will be the fastest to die."

Gray Shark was stunned. He stared at the screen, his fingers trembling slightly, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

Since childhood, he has been living on the margins of society because of his disability, and for more than ten years he has almost depended on his mother alone.

Although he possesses extremely high intelligence and technical talent, deep down, he has always longed to break free from the shackles of fate and become a true hero.

His mother always encouraged Gray Shark and never discouraged his self-confidence, but Zhou Qingfeng's words were like a sharp knife, shattering his fantasies.

He lowered his head and looked at his legs that had shrunk due to illness, and a wave of sadness welled up in his heart.

Reason told him that Zhou Qingfeng was right - if the end of the world really came, it would be difficult for people like him to survive even if they had only wisdom.

After a long moment, Gray Shark slowly replied, "You're right, I'm a loser. If it weren't for my mother's care, I would have died long ago."

Zhou Qingfeng didn't expect Gray Shark to accept reality so quickly and calmly. He replied, "You're not useless. You at least have a smart mind."

Given enough resources and time, you can handle most problems in this world. But be aware that there aren't many people you and I can trust, so you need to be more considerate in this regard.

Now, I need you to help me prepare a way out, which is also your way out."

Resources? Time? Gray Shark took a deep breath, regaining some strength. "Okay, I'll give it a try. Give me a timeline first."

Zhou Qingfeng looked at the message, his tense heart relaxed a little, and replied: "Half a year, you still have half a year."
-
Gray Shark was depressed for less than three minutes before excitedly finding his mother, Aunt Nasha, and said mysteriously:
"Mom, my friend really is from the future. He just admitted it."

Aunt Nasha has worked hard for half her life, and now she is chatting with the housekeeping "hourly worker" who comes to her home for service.

In response to her son's excitement, she said perfunctorily, "Yes, yes, you are John Connor, then who am I?"

(End of this chapter)