Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Chapter 240: Target, Cloud Manor

To cover up his earlier slip of the tongue, Xu Dongtang quickly threw Zhang Yi under the bus, hoping to divert attention away from Xu Chunlei. After all, Zhang Yi was a Superhuman, so mentioning him could effectively fill the gap and keep Xu Chunlei's existence hidden.

"That Zhang Yi is a terrifying figure! He single-handedly killed over a hundred people from Xu’s Town! We can’t do anything but swallow our anger and keep quiet about it," Xu Dongtang lamented. "Leader, now that you’re here, please, you have to stand up for us!"

Following Xu Dongtang’s lead, the villagers eagerly shifted all their problems onto Zhang Yi, desperate to keep their guardian, Xu Chunlei, a secret.

As it happened, Zhang Yi was the exact person Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were sent to find. Their mission aligned perfectly with the information they had just received, filling them with satisfaction. Now, they only needed to complete this final task to return to the base and report their findings. Moreover, discovering Xu’s Town was an unexpected bonus.

Eager for more details, Xie Huanhuan pressed the villagers for information about Zhang Yi. However, Xu Dongtang realized they knew little about Zhang Yi’s age, height, or appearance. After all, the villagers had fought him in the dead of night, being hunted like dogs by Zhang Yi, who wielded a powerful sniper rifle.

"We only know that traps surround his home, he’s armed, and he has a vehicle that can traverse the snow," Xu Dongtang reported.

Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang noted these details, especially the information about the weapons and traps, which would be crucial for their investigation.

"And what about his Superhuman ability? Do any of you know what it is?" Xie Huanhuan asked, focusing on the most important detail.

Superhuman abilities varied greatly. Some mutations were detrimental, while others offered only minor advantages. However, a powerful ability could be incredibly valuable to West Hill Base.

The question left Xu Dongtang and the others stumped. During their encounter with Zhang Yi, they were too busy dealing with traps and sniper fire to witness any use of supernatural powers. Their knowledge was limited to what they had heard from Xu Chunlei.

Awkwardly, Xu Dongtang laughed. "We wouldn’t know about that! We’re not familiar with Superhuman abilities. All we know is that he’s not normal—something about him is off."

"Leader, this is something only you can investigate!" he added, deflecting the responsibility back onto Xie Huanhuan.

Disappointment flickered in Xie Huanhuan’s eyes. Understanding a Superhuman’s ability was crucial for knowing how to counter them, but she could not obtain this critical information. Despite her repeated questioning, the villagers genuinely knew nothing.

Even Xu Chunlei wasn’t entirely sure about Zhang Yi’s abilities, only that they were related to space manipulation. Zhang Yi had done an excellent job keeping his powers and arsenal a secret, leaving even those close to him, let alone these villagers, in the dark.

After finishing their meal, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang prepared to leave Xu’s Town, having gathered all the information they could. Before departing, Xu Dongtang, still hoping for a favor, hinted at wanting an official position. To him, a second lieutenant’s rank was as good as a high military honor.

Xie Huanhuan smiled and nodded, "From now on, you’ll be responsible for this area. If you come across any valuable information, report it to me immediately."

Xu Dongtang’s heart swelled with joy. "Of course, I’ll do everything I can for the organization! You can count on me!"

Before they left, Xu Dongtang sent them off with gifts, and while Xie Huanhuan didn’t take much, she did keep a few bottles of good liquor.

Once outside the village, Xie Huanhuan reported back to West Hill Base using her device: "Discovered a large village, Xu’s Town, with approximately 2,000 survivors and significant food reserves. No Superhumans detected."

After completing her report, Xie Huanhuan put away her device. Standing guard nearby, Liu Ziyang asked, "Back in the village, why did you lie to them?"

Liu Ziyang couldn’t understand why Xie Huanhuan had told Xu Dongtang and the villagers things that were almost entirely untrue like the snow disaster ending soon or helping them rebuild after the disaster.

Xie Huanhuan glanced at the simple-minded soldier and smiled dismissively. "If we told them the truth, do you think they’d still treat us as honored guests, feeding us and providing us with information?"

Liu Ziyang scratched his head. "I get that, but it still doesn’t feel right. Those villagers were nice to us."

Xie Huanhuan chuckled softly, her voice laced with irony. "That’s why you’re just my subordinate."

Liu Ziyang could only smile wryly and shake his head. While an elite warrior, he wasn’t as savvy in dealing with people as Xie Huanhuan.

"They heard what they wanted to hear. Far from resenting me, they’ll be grateful that I gave them hope," Xie Huanhuan explained.

"But won’t they eventually realize you were lying? What will you do then?" Liu Ziyang asked, puzzled.

"I’ll have new explanations ready by then," Xie Huanhuan replied confidently as if everything was under control. "As long as we represent the government in their eyes, whatever we say will be considered the truth."

Liu Ziyang was left feeling uncertain. Could they claim to represent the government? After all, West Hill Base had undergone a power shift, with control taken from the former government officials and placed in the hands of Chen Xinian, who now commanded the military. Strictly speaking, they were rebels. But in these chaotic times, the lines between right and wrong had blurred. Liu Ziyang knew only one thing for sure: as a soldier, his duty was to follow orders.

He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on such complicated matters. Xie Huanhuan, for her part, didn’t care what Liu Ziyang thought. She was in charge of this mission, and Liu Ziyang was merely her subordinate.

"Next stop, let’s go see Zhang Yi!" she said, brushing her hair back with a curious gleam in her eye. "From what the villagers of Xu’s Town said, this guy is something else. He might even be a Superhuman!"

Liu Ziyang smiled eagerly. "If we can bring him back, that’ll be a major achievement!"

A knowing smile spread across Xie Huanhuan’s lips. "There’s more to it than just him."

Whether Zhang Yi was a Superhuman was uncertain, but her briefing had instructed her to investigate his connection to the Walmart warehouse theft. Initially, the leaders at West Hill Base hadn’t paid much attention to Zhang Yi, but after hearing the villagers’ accounts, Xie Huanhuan suspected there was more to the story.

Perhaps, through Zhang Yi, she could uncover the whereabouts of the stolen goods from what was once the largest warehouse in South China.

Excitement sparkled in Xie Huanhuan’s eyes. "If I can find those supplies, the credit I’d earn could make me the second-most powerful person at the base—or maybe even more..."