Dark Ruins Dawn

Chapter 119 The Hill
"Let me tell you, that place is practically made for you!"

Mao Shanwang cleared his throat and lowered his voice, saying:

"It has an excellent geographical location, hidden in a remote valley in the southwest. The entrance is hidden and there is a natural barrier outside, so it is rarely visited by ordinary people."

"Don't even mention a zombie horde, even if you were flying overhead in a hovercar, you might not be able to find it if you looked down!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his palm-leaf fan creating afterimages: "The interior space is large enough to easily fit over a thousand people! Most importantly, the facilities are in good condition, the power system is complete, and there's even air circulation—just bring your suitcase and move in!"

"What about safety features?" Zhuang Fan remained unmoved.

After hearing this, Mao Shanwang chuckled and said, "Of course it's safe. The rock strata there are thick enough that even heavy artillery bombardment might not be able to shake them. There's also an underground water source that's very clean!"

"The previous owner put a lot of effort into the renovation; the ventilation and sewage system is already in place, and it can be used with just a few minor repairs! It's practically a fortress built just for you!"

After Mao Shanwang finished his description, Zhuang Fan glared at him: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You didn't ask."

"Stop talking nonsense. What's wrong with you that you're stammering and not telling me?"

The smile on Mao Shanwang's face gradually faded, and he stopped fanning himself. "It's just that the price is too high."

"How many?"

"Ninety million."

"Duo Shao?" Zhuang Fan thought he had misheard.

"Ninety million."

Mao Shanwang repeated, shaking his head and sighing, "The seller is asking for gold, exactly ninety kilograms."

"...No discount?"

"The original price was 200 million. I talked myself hoarse and used all my connections to get this price down."

Mao Shanwang shrugged: "This exorbitant price, whoever wants it can have it."

Ninety million… Zhuang Fan calculated silently in his mind.

Currently, the base generates a net profit of approximately 500,000 to 600,000 gold coins per day from processing waste, assuming ample supply and stable market conditions.

To raise 90 million, the entire team would have to work themselves to the bone for more than half a year, without eating or drinking.

However, the green-skinned creatures next to them were eager to fight, the zombie horde had rioted repeatedly, and the crisis in Linhai City was imminent.

It's taking too long; they simply can't wait.

"Old Cat, I've seen your price list. A mini dirty bomb is only ten million. If we really had ninety million, we could arm an entire regiment. What makes these shelters so confident that they can defend against us?"

"That's the truth."

Mao Shanwang did not deny it: "But the seller is Yuanchuan Energy, the head of a conglomerate, so they are really not afraid of you causing trouble."

"Yuanchuan Energy... does it also sell shelters?" Zhuang Fan was somewhat surprised.

"It was just something I did on the side; the competition among the top ten conglomerates is fierce."

Zhuang Fan sighed softly, "Is there anything cheaper?"

“There’s an underground base being built by a non-governmental organization, and they’re asking for 30 million. I can try to negotiate the price down a bit more.”

"Aren't you afraid of being scammed by a grassroots organization?"

"You're afraid, but I'm not!"

Mao Shanwang fanned himself with a palm leaf fan. “For this kind of large-scale asset transaction, a professional intermediary like me is definitely needed to oversee it! I need to inspect the goods, and I need to find a trading company to guarantee them. There are a lot of procedures involved.”

"Okay, then you can continue the conversation."

Zhuang Fan still felt it was too expensive; he thought it would be better to use that money to equip his own team.

He looked at the gray sky outside, his mood also becoming gloomy. "Those lunatics from the Apocalypse Cult have been harassing us time and time again. Next time they might really get serious, not to mention the threat of the Green Tide and the Zombie Horde."

"This is indeed a troublesome matter."

Mao Shanwang reluctantly put away his palm-leaf fan and muttered:

"When I recommended that recycling center to you, I never imagined you'd cause so much trouble..."

"Old Cat, why don't we just run to the South City?"

"You run away, but I can't."

Mao Shanwang quickly shook his head: "I came from there. I have too many enemies, and I can't do business there."

"Let's see about going to the south city later."

Zhuang Fan felt a headache coming on and didn't say anything more. He went inside to find Chu Ningyan.

Chu Ningyan was meticulously polishing arrows at her workbench. When she saw Zhuang Fan approaching, she stopped what she was doing and asked softly, "Is everything alright over there?"

"Well, everything is fine."

Chu Ningyan continued, "I just overheard your conversation. After thinking about it, I realized that Nancheng is not a good choice."

"why?"

“They are constantly at war with mutant groups there, and military control is extremely strict. You will be closely watched just as well.”

Zhuang Fan thought for a moment and slowly nodded: "Actually, as long as you are living under someone else's roof and within someone else's sphere of influence, you can't expand your team smoothly."

"Yes, but I believe in you."

Then, Zhuang Fan explained his purpose: "To ensure the smooth operation in a few days, go to Wuji and ask him to cooperate on a matter."

"What is it?" Chu Ningyan looked up at him.

"Please invite Qiu Shan to have a cup of tea. Drink slowly, and it would be best if you drank until you were drunk."

Chu Ningyan understood instantly and nodded in agreement.

……

Linhai City, the official residence of the administrator, the office.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the blinds, casting dappled patterns on the dark carpet.

Administrator Fein sat behind his large desk, listening to a report from the border district commander.

"...In general, although the green tide last night was large in scale, the main force did not attack our defense line."

The commander's voice was steady, but his fatigue was undeniable: "Only a few scattered greenskins and ghouls crossed the trench, and we lost some outer outposts, but all of them are under control."

Finn nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

"Sir, the last large-scale zombie horde attack exposed a major problem with our defenses."

The commander walked to the holographic map and pointed to the dark line outside the city wall. "The trench is not deep or wide enough. Those Hulks and ghouls can easily jump over it with a little effort, putting a lot of pressure on the front line."

"What's your suggestion?" Finn raised his eyelids.

"Continue to deepen and widen it."

Without hesitation, the commander said, "My suggestion is to dig the trenches to a depth of thirty meters and a width of twenty meters, while increasing the fuel reserves to ensure the incineration pits continue to operate, so that we can keep the threat out of the city."

Finn frowned slightly and sat up straight.

"The project is too large, and the material and manpower costs involved are not small. Let's talk about this later and let the mutants do more work."

Seeing that Finn's attitude was perfunctory, the commander didn't say anything more.

After avoiding the topic, Fein continued, "Have you found out what the Greensmen are up to? Where did they come from?"

"Sir, it's been confirmed."

The commander switched the map and marked a ruined area in the east.

"The source is an abandoned town to the east, not far from us. According to our reconnaissance, a huge green-skinned tribe is entrenched there, numbering at least... 70,000."

"Seventy thousand?"

Fenn repeated the numbers, his expression noticeably darkening. "Why are they entrenched there?"

The commander's expression also turned serious: "They are constantly stockpiling 'meat stores' and have captured a large number of ratmen and other mutated creatures."

"Given their recent actions, I feel... like they are preparing to launch a large-scale war."

The commander's subtext was quite clear: the Greenskins' target was the coastal city.

Finn was silent for a moment, then tapped the table: "How many troops would we need to eliminate them?"

The commander circled the mountainous area on the map: "This area has complex terrain, many valleys, and is shrouded in eerie fog all year round, making it easy to hide."

"To ensure a successful eradication, we would need at least 20,000 ground troops, and we would also have to be constantly on guard against hordes of zombies."

Seeing Finn's troubled expression, the commander offered another solution: "Of course, we can also use high-altitude air strikes to bomb and wash the ground. This method is more efficient and results in fewer casualties."

"It would be best not to send troops if possible."

Finn sighed and rubbed his temples. "The soldiers haven't received their full pay for months, and they're quite resentful. Sending them to fight this kind of tough battle again..."

Before he finished speaking, his meaning was already very clear.

"Sir, then we have no choice but to consider launching missiles."

The commander immediately proposed an alternative: "This way, the cost is controllable and the efficiency is high. The Greenskins' rudimentary fortifications simply cannot stop them."

"missile……"

Fein shook his head: "This is already a medium-sized military operation. The authority is not with me. I have to report to Zhongdu and wait for the council's approval."

It's Zhongdu again... The commander's heart sank.

Given the inefficiency of those councilors in Zhongdu and their endless buck-passing, it will probably drag on for another month or two, or even longer.

But he didn't say anything more, and stood at attention and saluted.

"Sir, if there are no further instructions, I shall take my leave."

“Go ahead,” Finn waved.

The commander saluted, turned, and left the office.

Finn rubbed his throbbing temples and leaned back in his chair; he still had another "distinguished guest" to deal with.

Soon, Wu Ji, the head of the Nuclear Group stationed in Linhai, was invited into the office.

"Your Excellency Wuji."

Fein forced a smile. "Any new developments regarding the search for Lei Zheng? The Wirtgen family has sent another letter... pressing us hard."

The black-boned chicken bowed slightly, its face displaying just the right amount of respect:

"Your Excellency Fein, please rest assured, our people have already discovered Lei Zheng's whereabouts in the southern mountains. Although he is hiding very well, we believe that it will not be long before we can bring him to justice."

"Found traces? That's what you said last time too, that Lei Zheng alone could leave you running around in circles?"

Fenn's tone became more serious, and he leaned forward slightly:
"As far as I know, the main force of your Nuclear Group has already withdrawn to the desolate valley. This cannot be kept from me. Surely you, Lord Wuji, are unaware of this?"

Wu Ji's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered and said respectfully, "I'm really sorry, but I have no authority to inquire about some of the group's strategic plans. I've only just taken over."

He paused briefly, then continued, "As for the agreement you reached with the former head of the Raven, I know nothing about it. I will try my best to follow up on this matter and give you a reply as soon as possible. Please wait patiently."

This impeccable argument infuriated Fein, who slammed his fist on the table, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

"Patience? I've had more than enough patience! To help you capture that damned Zhang Dafan, I endured immense pressure, letting your soldiers wreak havoc in the city."

He pointed towards the pile of documents, "The complaint letters have already filled the review department. His Excellency the Consul is very dissatisfied with me! I have fulfilled the agreement, but what about your nuclear division? Is this how you deal with your partners?"

The black chicken was also getting angry. "You're yelling at me, I'm just a chicken! I have no power, no soldiers, I'm not even a supervisor..."

He remained outwardly calm, listening quietly to Finn's rant, his face always bearing an apologetic expression, but offering no real response.
“Sir Finn, I fully understand your difficulties. I will report this to headquarters truthfully. Please calm down.”

Feedback and apologies... Looking at this stubborn guy in front of him, Finn felt a tightness in his chest, like punching cotton, with no way to vent his strength.

However, no matter how low the rank of the person sent by the nuclear force was, he dared not offend them easily, and besides, he couldn't find any fault with them to exert more pressure. "Alright, you can go back now." Finn waved wearily, ending this meaningless conversation.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Wu Ji bowed slightly, turned around deftly, and left the office.

As soon as Wuji stepped out of the administrative office, his deputy quickly approached and whispered, "Supervisor, Ms. Grey Goose has come to the camp and says she wants to see you."

Gray goose?

Wu Ji paused, not daring to show the slightest disrespect to this person who was highly regarded by the minister.

"Okay, let's go back."

Inside the nuclear group's temporary camp, Chu Ningyan sat quietly in the reception room, her tactical mask covering half her face, revealing only a pair of cold, clear eyes.

"Hello, Manager Wu."

"Team Leader Grey Goose, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting."

Wuji strode in, his face beaming with enthusiasm, and gestured for her to sit down.

He had his men bring tea, then sat down opposite Chu Ningyan and got straight to the point:
"Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements. I will personally lead the team to the trial in three days and make sure we arrive on time."

Chu Ningyan nodded slightly: "Thank you, Manager Wu, for your trouble."

"It should."

She continued, "Actually, there's another small matter I'd like to ask Supervisor Wu for help with."

"Please speak, Ms. Grey Goose. I will do my best as long as it is within my capabilities," the black chicken said humbly.

Chu Ningyan's gaze fell on his face, and she said softly:

"On the eve of the trial, I will be dealing with some personal grudges. I would appreciate it if you could find a reason to invite Captain Qiu Shan to your camp for a reunion."

Upon hearing this, Wuji instantly understood her intention: to lure Qiu Shan away from his lair and prevent him from returning.

For him, it was just a matter of talking.

"No problem, it's a piece of cake. I guarantee that Captain Qiu will stay here to have tea and chat, and he won't know what's happening outside."

"Thank you so much."

Chu Ningyan stood up and bowed slightly. "Then I won't disturb you any longer."

"Ms. Grey Goose, you're too kind."

Chu Ningyan didn't linger, and Wu Ji got up to personally see her off, displaying politeness and courtesy throughout.

Only after the guests left did the deputy whisper, "Will Ms. Grey Goose still be our boss?"

Upon hearing this, Wuji slowly shook his head: "Didn't you hear her call me 'supervisor' just now? That's a clear indication that she won't argue with me."

"Manager, this is great news!"

The black chicken smiled, deliberately mimicking the composed tone of a superior: "Have you ever heard the old saying, 'A drop of water in need is repaid with a spring of water'?"

"Um... I've heard of it a little bit."

Wuji patiently explained, "We need to handle this perfectly, ensuring that Ms. Grey Goose's path to promotion is unobstructed, allowing her to rise to the position of regimental commander. Do you understand?"

"Understood. This way, Ms. Grey Goose will be even less likely to return to the Nuclear Center, and the commander will have one less competitor."

The quick-witted adjutant added, "But the superior is equally capable and is well-suited for the position of supervisor."

These words struck a chord with Wuji. He patted his adjutant on the shoulder and said, "Let's go back and have some roast chicken."

The deputy followed closely behind, still puzzled. Was the position of a mercenary leader really that attractive?

……

Over the next three days, the two frequently met with Lao Cui, and truckloads of scrap were transported to their base outside the city.

Zhuang Fan barely rested, working day and night to deal with the decaying fog, while Mao Shanwang quickly sold off the secondhand goods.

To evade the Morisaka Network's investigation, Maoshanwang even sold his goods in Nanjo.

Chu Ningyan led a team to stake out various hideouts and camps to ascertain the distribution of Qiu Shan's forces.

With the efficient cooperation of both parties, the Spark team earned a total of 1.6 million gold coins.

"One million six hundred thousand is definitely enough. I've already checked the goods. Cash on delivery."

Mao Shanwang's eyes were burning with desire. "Use this money to bomb the strongholds. Let alone Qiu Shan's old lair, even if we bomb the Nuclear Group's strongholds, it will be enough to give them a hard time!"

"Then you can place the order."

"Yes."

Mao Shanwang's spirits lifted, and he began to plan the procurement of weapons:
"We need more of these armor-killing pills. They're best for dealing with tin cans. Give us a dozen or so to start."
"Keep plenty of thermobaric grenades on hand, they're great for clearing the area! And EMP grenades too, they can disable electronic equipment..."

"Cluster grenades are useful for blocking road chokes and preventing reinforcements; smoke grenades are also essential for covering the raid..."

Mao Shanwang got more and more excited as he spoke, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Give me a hundred mechanical dogs. These things are cheap and easy to use. I'll go and find some second-hand ones to save on costs."

According to the plan, this raid will be divided into several groups, which will simultaneously destroy various strongholds in Qiushan and draw as many troops as possible from the main camp.

Finally, the team members concentrated their firepower to destroy the base and steal everything of value.

Four hours later, several inconspicuous freight trucks stealthily arrived near the safe house under the cover of night.

Crates of weapons were unloaded and piled up in the garage, next to which a hundred mechanical dogs were neatly arranged.

However, these mechanical dogs were obviously of different sizes and models, and their shells were covered in rust, making them look like they had just been dug out of a garbage dump.

"Old Cat, these dogs... can they run?" Zhuang Fan looked at the broken-down things and was a little doubtful.

"Don't worry, it can definitely run!"

Mao Shanwang patted his chest and assured him, "Anyway, it's just a thing meant to be sent to its death. What's a little damage to the outer shell? As long as it's nimble and can carry bombs, that's fine!"

However, Zhuang Fan did not approve of this method of warfare and was considering another possibility.

Xiong Er silently stepped forward and skillfully installed thermobaric grenades on the abdominal mounting brackets of each mechanical dog.

Cole frowned as he looked at the massive swarm of mechanical dogs: "One hundred... that's too many. Synchronizing them will be extremely difficult, requiring at least a dozen experienced mechanical soldiers to coordinate."

Mao Shanwang scratched his head: "We did buy too much, but it's okay, we can just set it to run automatically."

"The cost-effectiveness is not even as good as a rocket launcher."

Zhuang Fan rejected his suggestion: "The purpose of buying mechanical dogs is to penetrate deep into enemy territory and inflict greater casualties on enemy strongholds."

"Uh...that makes sense." Mao Shanwang crashed.

Chu Ningyan glanced at everyone present and softly suggested to Zhuang Fan, "How about we each control a few machines and try?"

"Need not."

Zhuang Fan made a calculation and said, "I can control all these mechanical dogs. You can focus on attacking Qiu Shan's stronghold and don't need to disperse your forces."

Mao Shanwang almost dropped the cigar he had just lit. He stared at Mao Shanwang with wide eyes and said, "Brother, don't be reckless! The best mechanical soldiers I know can only control ten at most with their brains. These things are very mentally taxing."

"Leave it all to me, no problem."

Zhuang Fan calmly said, "Right now we don't have computing power support, and the enemy is no pushover either. You're not familiar with the controls, so it will be very difficult for you to infiltrate."

Cole was a little doubtful. The boss rarely seemed to operate robotic dogs; could he really control so many?

Chu Ningyan knew that he had some incredible abilities, and it seemed that it wasn't impossible for him to control a hundred mechanical dogs at the same time.

"...Then be careful and don't overexert yourself," Chu Ningyan whispered a reminder.

"Well, don't worry."

As night fell, the lights inside the safe house were dim.

This was the last pre-war meeting.

A simple holographic map was projected onto the wall, clearly marking Qiu Shan's lair and six other hideouts marked with red dots.

More than twenty core members sat around a simple table, listening attentively to Zhuang Fan's words.

"...The abandoned factory buildings are only what's visible; the underground space is much larger, with well-developed fortifications, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Moreover, with Soren's support, there are at least fifty armored soldiers in Qiushan's stronghold, which is a tough nut to crack. The good news is that none of them are equipped with nano-linings."

Zhuang Fan traced his finger across the map. “According to the intelligence provided by Grey Goose, Qiushan has stockpiled a large amount of weapons, rare materials, and at least three million gold coins in hard currency. If we can take this place, we can not only make up for all the expenses of our operation, but also severely damage the foundation of Qiushan.”

Upon hearing "three million gold coins," Mao Shanwang's cat-like eyes lit up.

"Although the overall plan has changed, it is still the same as before, and it will be implemented in three steps."

Zhuang Fan slid across the holographic map, outlining several attack routes with light.

"The first step is a feint attack."

Zhuang Fan pointed out several marked hideouts, "I will create as much chaos as possible, launch multiple attacks, and bring out reinforcements to weaken the defenses of the base."

"The second step is to launch a strong attack on the enemy's stronghold."

He emphasized the red markers, saying, "Once the reinforcements are transferred away, you must blow up the enemy's stronghold as quickly as possible and eliminate their manpower. Don't be stingy with explosives; use them all."

"Xiong Er is responsible for clearing out sentries. If he encounters any tough armored soldiers, he should switch to a Gauss sniper rifle and blow them up without even considering recovery."

"Furthermore, the main attack force must obey the orders of the Grey Goose and is prohibited from acting without authorization, understand?"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

Zhuang Fan looked at Chu Ningyan, who gave him an affirmative look, indicating that there was no problem.

"The third step is to fight and retreat simultaneously."

Zhuang Fan then drew up an underground passage. "The Jetta team will be responsible for providing support and covering the rear. You will evacuate quickly along this route without leaving a trace."

He then looked at Mao Shanwang and said, "Your mission is to cover the main force and destroy all the hovercraft and armored vehicles. Santana will then pick you up for your evacuation."

The plan is clear, simple, and direct, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

At this moment, Chu Ningyan glanced at Zhuang Fan, who instantly understood: "Oh right, there's one more thing I must emphasize."

Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"We will lure Qiu Shan away, but if you do encounter him during the operation, you may cripple or capture him, but you are forbidden to kill him."

Mao Shanwang was taken aback: "Why? Wouldn't it be easier to eliminate the problem completely?"

Zhuang Fan patiently explained:

"Grey Goose and Hill Mountain are currently the only two candidates for combat commander, and they are also the core of the game between the two sides."

"If either side dies suddenly, the blame will fall on the other side, the neutrals will immediately switch sides, and the situation will be completely out of control."

"This is a show."

Chu Ningyan picked up the conversation and added softly, "It's about showing off strength, prestige, and methods to gain the approval of the neutral faction. That's why Qiu Shan insisted on a public trial of me."

Mao Shan Wang understood and chuckled strangely, "Let's be polite first, then use force, and settle accounts later. Once the dust has settled, we'll find a reason to kill Qiu Shan."

"Old Cat, aren't you saying that harmony brings wealth?"

“Except for that bastard Qiu Shan, he must die.” King Mao Shan’s expression was unusually serious.

Zhuang Fan nodded: "I agree."

With no further objections, the goal was clear, the plan was well-defined, and all that remained was to execute it.

The whispers that had filled the safe house vanished, replaced by a chilling atmosphere.

Zhuang Fan stood up, his gaze sweeping over each member present, his voice low and clear.

"The code name for this operation is—Over the Hills."

(End of this chapter)