Chapter 42 News about Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter

In the dimly lit information exchange booth, Lao Dao pushed a thin document in front of Ruan Ning, his face unusually solemn.

"Miss Ruan, we have news about the person you are looking for." He lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "The process has been a bit complicated, so you'd better be prepared."

Ruan Ning picked up the documents expressionlessly, but her fingertips were slightly tense.

Old Dao began his narration, his pace slow but tinged with a barely perceptible sigh:

"Based on the fragmented memories of several survivors from the north, your stepmother Lin Wanyun and stepsister Lin Jiaojiao did indeed escape with that superhuman named Black Snake after the riot at the logistics park."

“At first, Black Snake did treat them as their private property. After all… at that time, a mother and daughter who were both good-looking were considered a rare ‘resource.’” Old Knife said cautiously. “They relied on this to barely survive in Black Snake’s small group and followed the convoy toward Dawn Base.”

"But the road was not safe. They encountered several hordes of zombies, suffering heavy losses, and Black Serpent himself was also injured. Just when they were out of ammunition and food, they encountered a stronger team of superhumans coming from another direction. The leader of that team was a lightning-type superhuman known as 'Thunder Leopard,' who was domineering and powerful."

Old Dao paused, glanced at Ruan Ning's expression, and then continued:

"In order to survive and to ride on the coattails of the powerful, Black Snake offered Lin Wanyun and Lin Jiaojiao as 'gifts' to Lei Bao."

It was at an abandoned highway service station. Black Snake's team was reduced to a handful of men, all wounded and running out of supplies. Thunder Leopard's team, on the other hand, was well-equipped and fully manned.

Black Snake, dragging his injured leg and with a fawning smile on his face, pushed the pale-faced, trembling Lin Wanyun and Lin Jiaojiao in front of Lei Bao.

"Brother Leopard, this is... nothing, just a small token. We only ask that you give us a ride and a way out." Black Snake's voice trembled with humility.

Lei Bao's critical gaze swept over Lin Wanyun's still charming but haggard face, then landed on Lin Jiaojiao's young face, which, despite being dirty, still showed signs of good looks. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Jiaojiao shrank back in fright, but Lin Wanyun held her back tightly. Lin Wanyun raised her head, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity, but her eyes were full of desperate pleading.

Lei Bao chuckled and gestured with his chin towards his subordinates: "Take them with you, they'll keep you entertained on the road." His tone was nonchalant, as if he were receiving two insignificant objects rather than two living people.

Black Snake, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, thanked them repeatedly. Lin Wanyun and Lin Jiaojiao, meanwhile, were led into Lei Bao's car by a sea of ​​numb or sympathetic gazes, completely reduced to appendages and playthings of the powerful.

"Later, they followed Lei Bao's team and entered the Dawn Base about half a month ago." After Lao Dao finished speaking, he quietly looked at Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning put down the documents, her face revealing neither joy nor anger, only a cold glint flashing deep in her eyes. She had long anticipated that people like Lin Jiaojiao, who were ambitious but powerless, would not have a good ending in the apocalypse, but hearing about their miserable experiences brought her no pleasure, only a cold irony of how things had changed.

Lin Jiaojiao, who was incredibly successful in her previous life thanks to her spatial bracelet, has ended up in such a state in this life.

“Lei Bao…” Ruan Ning repeated the name, “Is he at the base now? What’s the situation?”

Old Knife immediately replied, "Lei Bao is a level two lightning-type ability user, very strong. He has gathered a group of people and formed the 'Thunderstorm' team, which is considered a top-tier civilian ability user group in the base. He acts... rather flamboyantly, and is said to be very fond of women." He paused, then added, "Lin Wanyun and her daughter are currently living with them in a rented detached house in Area C, which is considered one of Lei Bao's 'private properties.' They rarely show themselves and are basically kept at home."

Ruan Ning was silent for a moment, then took out three times the agreed-upon reward from her backpack—a few pieces of high-energy chocolate, a few boxes of antibiotics, and a few bottles of water—and pushed them to Lao Dao.

“You deserve this. Keep an eye on their movements and those of the Thunderstorm Squad, especially whether Lin Jiaojiao has awakened any special abilities.” Ruan Ning stood up, her tone calm and even. “I don’t want a third person to know about what happened today.”

Old Dao quickly put away the payment and solemnly promised, "Miss Ruan, rest assured, I know the rules."

Ruan Ning walked out of the information exchange. The afternoon sun shone on her, but it couldn't dispel the chill that enveloped her. The whereabouts of her enemy were finally clear, but the situation was more complicated than she had anticipated. Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter had attached themselves to Lei Bao, a powerful leader of superhumans.

Taking direct action would immediately confront the entire "Thunderstorm" squad, creating too much of a commotion, which doesn't align with her current principle of operating covertly.

She needs a more meticulous plan, and even more so... a suitable opportunity.

However, knowing where they are and what humiliating lives they lead is enough. Lurking in the shadows like a venomous snake, waiting for the opportunity to strike a fatal blow, might inflict more torment on them than immediately killing their enemies.

Ruan Ning looked up towards Area C, a faint, cold smile curving her lips.

"Lin Jiaojiao, enjoy your hard-won life now. We... will meet again soon."

After confirming the whereabouts of Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter, a figure flashed through Ruan Ning's mind—her father, Ruan Chenyang.

Ruan Ning's feelings towards this nominal father were complex and cold. In his past life, he knew that Lin Jiaojiao had killed him, but he chose to remain silent for the sake of a comfortable life. That indifference had long since eroded any father-daughter bond.

She also learned that Lin Jiaojiao was his illegitimate daughter, and that he had already betrayed his mother and family, while pretending to be deeply in love and unrepentant, which disgusted Ruan Ning.

"Ruan Chenyang..." she murmured the name in her heart. Had he been taken away from the logistics park by the Black Snake along with Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter? Or had he died somewhere long ago? If he was alive, was he at the Dawn Base now, or somewhere else? Was he still with Lin Wanyun and her daughter, dependent on Lei Bao? Or... had he already been abandoned by them as a burden?

Ruan Ning did not specifically inquire about Ruan Chenyang from Lao Dao.

On the one hand, she really didn't care much about this man's life or death. A selfish and cowardly father who abandoned his daughter at a crucial moment was not worth her too much effort.

On the other hand, if he is still alive and with Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter, then finding them will naturally lead to him. If he is dead, then inquiring will be futile.

"Perhaps death would be cleaner." A cold thought flashed through Ruan Ning's mind. If he were alive and witnessed his wife and daughters being reduced to playthings, given his personality, he would probably live a humiliating existence. Such a scene might be more painful for him than death.

She temporarily suppressed her thoughts about Ruan Chenyang. Her current focus was on Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter, and Lei Bao behind them. As for her biological father, she'd let him drift along; if he were lucky enough to appear before her, she could decide what to do then.

According to Lao Dao's subsequent more precise verification, as well as the rumors that Ruan Ning heard in the mission hall and information circles, Lei Bao, the captain of the "Thunderstorm" team, actually has a level one lightning-type ability, but he is at the peak of level one and seems to be only one step away from level two. Among the civilian ability users in the Dawn Base, he is already considered one of the best.

His team's rapid rise to prominence is also closely related to his powerful lightning-based supernatural ability.

Upon learning that Lei Bao was at the peak of Level One, Ruan Ning felt even more confident. Thanks to the advantage of her spatial spring, she had already stabilized at Level Two, giving her a clear advantage in terms of ability level against Lei Bao.

However, the opponent has an entire squad, and lightning-type abilities are known for their swift attacks and explosive power, so she still needs to plan carefully.

A cold smile curved Ruan Ning's lips. The game was now clear; all that remained was to patiently place her pieces and wait for the opportune moment. She would make Lin Jiaojiao and her daughter pay the price for their betrayal in their past life and their scheming in this one.

As for his nominal father, Ruan Chenyang, if he is still alive by chance, his fate will depend on his own destiny and choices.