Chapter 284: Wooing and Threatening
Although Zhang Yi disliked Chen Xinian as a person, he couldnât help but agree with what Chen Xinian was saying.
Zhang Yi recalled his experiences managing a warehouse, especially what he went through during that time. When he was just a junior employee, he had to be careful to please both his superiors and the senior staff. Even when dealing with a supervisor who was only one level above him, he had to think hard about their preferences and act accordingly.
After a few years, he finally became a supervisor himself, managing seven or eight people. That was the first time he truly felt how wonderful power could be. A simple task assigned with just a word had others working hard to complete it. During meals, everyone always made sure to order dishes to his liking, with the fish head always facing him. When singing, the women always sat next to him. And this, was just the privilege of being a warehouse supervisor.
The higher one climbed, the more intoxicating the allure of power became, even to the point of reaching the fabled "your word is law." With just a hint or a few words, someone would arrange everything for you.
Listening to Chen Xinianâs rosy description of the future, Zhang Yi couldnât deny that part of him did miss those days. However, without hesitation, he flatly refused Chen Xinianâs offer.
âWhat youâre talking about doesnât hold any appeal for me anymore,â Zhang Yi said coldly. âIf it were before the apocalypse, I wouldâve happily taken a position of power, because in a stable society, the rewards of leadership far outweigh the risks. But now? Now, risk and reward go hand in hand. Iâm not interested in meddling in the mess youâve got at West Hill Base, and Iâm even less interested in being anyoneâs second-in-command.â
Zhang Yi wasnât someone with grand ambitions. Perhaps his biggest dream in life was to date a few girls with baby faces and slim waists and then live a carefree life until the end. This laid-back attitude meant he was never cut out to lead a large group of people.
He wasnât like Chen Xinian, who could be heartless, feasting on the finest delicacies while forcing the people below to survive on protein made from cockroaches and corpses.
Moreover, Zhang Yi didnât trust Chen Xinian. Go to West Hill Base? On their turf? By then, he would be at their mercy, not as easy as this negotiation was now.
âI refuse,â Zhang Yi said icily. âI enjoy my current life and have no intention of joining any faction or being under anyoneâs control. If you withdraw your forces now, Iâll let bygones be bygones, and we can stay out of each otherâs way in the future. How about it?â
Even though West Hill Base had attacked him several times, Zhang Yi hadnât suffered any real losses, while the enemy had lost a lot of men. He wasnât bent on revenge, so if things could end like this, heâd be happy to let it go.
But Chen Xinian wasnât happy. Seeing that Zhang Yi wouldnât budge, his expression finally darkened. Since diplomacy wasnât working, it was time for force.
âHmph! Do you think you can just walk away after killing so many of our people at West Hill Base?â Chen Xinian sneered. âZhang Yi, Iâm offering you a chance because I recognize your talent! But if you donât appreciate it, I wonât hold back!â
âWith the strength of West Hill Base, itâs only a matter of time before we take down your little shelter!â
Zhang Yi chuckled. âItâs just a matter of time, huh? Youâve sent so many men, guns, and explosives, but tell me, have any of them even managed to harm a single hair on my head?â
âTheyâre the ones who suffered heavy losses!â he added coldly. âYouâre not offering me an opportunity; Iâm giving you one!â
âChen, stop now! Youâve got no chance of beating me!â
Calling him âChenâ was a clear sign of Zhang Yiâs contempt, and it made Chen Xinian boil with rage.
He glared at Zhang Yi with a menacing look and hissed, âDo you really think hiding in that turtle shell of yours means I canât touch you? I could wipe you out with just one missile!â
Zhang Yiâs heart skipped a beat. A missile?
Now that was a serious threat. If his shelter were hit by a missile, no matter how much space he had in his pocket dimension, he wouldnât be able to absorb such massive destructive force. Even the shelter itself would suffer devastating damage, with the surface completely destroyed and the underground sections severely shaken.
But Zhang Yiâs face remained calm, even breaking into a relaxed smile.
âOh, really? This is the first time Iâve heard that Tianhai City has missile-launching authority. Impressive, very impressive!â Zhang Yi clapped his hands, his expression full of mockery.
Tianhai City didnât have a large military district. Even if there were missile defenses in place, the authority to use them wouldnât be in the hands of local forces. Especially now, in the apocalyptic world, such high-level weapons would be firmly controlled by the higher-ups. Who did Chen Xinian think he was? A mere regional warlord, thinking he could deploy missiles?
Zhang Yi was convinced that Chen Xinian was bluffing. He didnât buy it for a second.
Chen Xinian, his face dark, replied, âWhat does a small-time warehouse manager like you know? Iâm only giving you a chance because I donât want to see you and your supplies go up in flames!â
âZhang Yi, donât make a mistake youâll regret! When the missiles hit, there wonât be anywhere for you to cry!â
Author's Note