The appearance of such messages immediately aroused public outrage. The eyes of the survivors are discerning, and it is not difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. They began to attack the parents of the rumor-mongers, and soon drowned out these rumors with a barrage of criticism.

One particular message, in particular, raised questions among a small number of people.

"I've been starving all day. Thanks to Mr. Zhang Shi's kindness, I ate a sea fish and feel like I can live again. May God bless you."

"What's going on with you upstairs? Isn't this a trading market in China? How did a foreign devil like you get in here?"

The chat channel was flooded with messages, many of which were quickly pushed to the top, and most people did not notice anything unusual.

Looking at the rapidly decreasing inventory in the trading market and the ever-increasing gold coins in his backpack, Zhang Shi felt a great sense of satisfaction and pondered how to use these gold coins to upgrade his shelter.

Suddenly, a private message from a friend caught Zhang Shi's attention. He clicked on it and saw that it was from Liu Yu. Zhang Shi smiled slightly, already guessing his purpose. Although the Bright Alliance was a competitor, Zhang Shi had no reason to refuse such a major client, so he immediately opened the private message with a smile.

Liu Yu: Zhang Shi, I need two tons of sea fish. Can you give me a friendly price?

Zhang Shi quite enjoyed communicating with straightforward people like Liu Yu. After a moment's thought, he typed out a message and sent it.

Zhang Shi: I'll give you a 10% discount. Click here to make the transaction.

A moment later, the two completed the transaction. Zhang Shi received 18,000 gold coins, and Liu Yu received two tons of fish, mostly sea fish. Both parties were happy.

Ge Dalong spoke up at the opportune moment to offer a reminder.

"If one person eats sparingly, assuming they consume two kilograms of seafood per day, the amount he bought is enough to feed a hundred people for ten days."

Zhang Shi turned his head to look at Ge Dalong, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"You've noticed it too, the Light Alliance is probably planning something big."

Liu Yu's ability to quickly regroup after the disaster and begin recruiting in the regional channels demonstrates his strategic vision and foresight. The Light Alliance not only preserved its strength despite the flood's impact but also grew even stronger afterward, resulting in a large and naturally demanding food supply.

“They must have a stable source of food, and their purchase of food from us this time is definitely not for an emergency.”

Zhang Shi tapped his fingers on the table and said calmly.

"I can't control what they want to do, as long as it doesn't affect our development. If they target forces like the Eagle Gang or the Dragon Tiger Alliance, I'd be willing to sponsor them."

...

In the dimly lit castle, Bell finally opened his eyes after being unconscious for several days. In his line of sight, an old man with red hair was looking at him with concern.

"Young Master, you're finally awake. How are you feeling? Would you like some water?"

Bell felt incredibly weak, his mouth watering unbearably. He weakly raised his finger and pointed to the exquisite kettle beside the table. Seeing this, the old man quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to Bell.

Bell struggled to sit up against the bedside and drank the water in one gulp.

How long was I unconscious?

“It’s been a week.”

"Has anything major happened during this period?"

"Everything is as usual. I've captured a few treacherous blood sacrifices. The castle's defense system is now able to cycle on its own, and the sea beasts scattered when they couldn't break through."

The red-haired old man answered his questions one by one, recounting some important events that occurred during Bell's coma.

After a long while, Bell slowly closed his eyes, stroked a metal necklace on his chest, and muttered to himself.

"Zhang Shi, I really underestimated you. If it weren't for this item, I would have really died in that secret realm."

Upon hearing this, the red-haired old man was about to ask something, but was interrupted by Bell.

"They already have the ability to manufacture firearms, and it's quite sophisticated. That's how I got these injuries. We're probably no match for them at this stage. Let's disappear for a while. I released fire poison before entering the secret realm, and they've already been affected. When the time is right, I'll detonate the poison seed. Then we'll settle scores and get revenge!"

The red-haired old man nodded respectfully in agreement, then turned to leave.

"Wait a moment!"

Bell suddenly stopped the old man and then pointed to the dark blue light curtain outside.

"Let's find a few useless trash to sacrifice to fully revive the protective light barrier, and then we'll find another place to recuperate."

...

A few days ago, on the mountain where the Light Alliance was located—though it was called a mountain, it was actually similar to where Zhang Shi was—floods submerged most of the mountain, and the parts that were above the water formed small islands.

At this moment, hundreds of soldiers in full armor gathered together, led by Liu Yu, who was giving a powerful pre-battle mobilization speech.

"According to reliable sources, our spies have located the Eagle Regiment's stronghold. The culprit, Bell, is seriously injured and recuperating at the stronghold. Our hundreds of brothers have been hiding their strength for so long, just to one day avenge this humiliation. Today, in this battle, we will surely uproot the Eagle Regiment and behead Bell!"

As Liu Yu's impassioned words fell, the soldiers of the Light Alliance roared in unison, their fighting spirit soaring, as if they could already see the dawn of victory. Clad in uniform armor and wielding sharp weapons that gleamed coldly in the sunlight, they displayed their determination and strength.

Liu Yu nodded in satisfaction, his eyes revealing determination and wisdom. He knew that this operation was not only revenge against the Eagle Legion, but also a crucial step for the Light Alliance to establish its prestige and expand its influence in the apocalypse. To ensure absolute success, he had already devised a meticulous plan, with every detail carefully planned, from intelligence gathering to troop deployment.

"There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately!"

At Liu Yu's command, the soldiers quickly lined up and boarded a warship like a tide. The warship moved swiftly, like a water arrow, cutting through the boundless sea.

After several days of sailing, the Light Alliance members finally arrived at their destination. A tall, burly man stared at the system panel, comparing the left and right sides, and finally came to a conclusion.

"Chief, the Eagle Legion's stronghold is located on the seabed directly below. They have covered the stronghold with a magic shield. Our people have already infiltrated their ranks, and with their combined inside and outside support, we can launch a surprise attack."

The speaker was Tang Hao, the vice president.

Liu Yu nodded, then asked Tang Hao.

"Is there really no way to break through the magic shield?"

Tang Hao shook his head helplessly.

“Those giant sea beasts can’t do anything to them, and the old man has always kept control of the magic shield, so our people have no chance to get close to it.”

Liu Yu sighed. He didn't want to engage in direct combat unless absolutely necessary. These soldiers were the result of his extensive training and investment of resources, and he didn't know how many would be lost in this battle.