Chapter 27

The battered pickup truck's engine roared under the strain as it jolted along the cracked road, stirring up a cloud of yellow dust. Chen Mengzhou gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the other resting outside the window, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the door. He had long since changed out of his sterile suit, replaced with a slightly oversized but comfortable black combat uniform looted from the Hound stronghold. His assault rifle sat within easy reach of the passenger seat.

The logistics transfer station marked on the map drew closer. It was an area built around several vast abandoned warehouses, surrounded by a crudely constructed low wall made of wrecked cars, barbed wire, and broken bricks, a sort of defensive fortification. A figure lingered at the entrance, standing sentry with a crude weapon. A few wisps of smoke rose from within, bringing a faint sense of life.

It's not large in scale, but it looks orderly.

Chen Mengzhou stopped the car behind a broken wall a few hundred meters away from the transfer station and did not rush in. She needed to observe first.

After hiding the pickup truck, she climbed up a half-collapsed building like a ghost, found a sniper point with a good view, and raised the telescope.

The transit station itself was even more crowded and dilapidated than it appeared from the outside. Tents and shacks were crammed together in a chaotic jumble, and the inhabitants were mostly gaunt, with dull eyes. A few men who looked like leaders sat outside the relatively clean warehouse, cleaning their weapons and exchanging supplies. A small market was operating, with ammunition, medicine, and scraps of food being exchanged.

She observed the guards and leaders carefully. Their equipment was better than that of the survivors on the lower levels, but still a mess. Standard weapons were nowhere to be seen. Their eyes were filled with vigilance and a cunning desire for survival, lacking the cold sense of discipline of the fortress guards.

This is not an appendage of the fortress, but more like a spontaneously formed marginal stronghold struggling for survival.

Safe for now.

Chen Mengzhou put away her binoculars and pondered how to break in. Bringing in a large number of weapons would be too conspicuous and easily become a target of public criticism. She needed to first understand the rules and power distribution here.

She took out a small amount of compressed biscuits and a bottle of water from her backpack, wrapped them in cloth, and then hid the ammunition carefully in a hidden place under the broken wall. She only tied a bayonet on her calf and put a silenced pistol in her arms.

Then, with her head lowered and a tired and alert look on her face, she walked towards the entrance of the transfer station.

"Stop! Who are you?" The guard at the door immediately raised a rusty hunting rifle and nervously pointed it at her. Other guards also gathered around.

"I'm just passing through... escaping from the east... and want to trade some medicine." Chen Mengzhou paused, raised her hand to indicate she was unarmed, her voice hoarse, the sound of exhaustion from a long journey. She deliberately subdued her aura, looking like an ordinary, slightly luckier wanderer.

The guard looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her relatively clean face and clothes. "Change the dressing? What's going on?"

Chen Mengzhou slowly lowered his hand and untied the cloth bag, revealing the compressed biscuits and clean water inside.

The guard's eyes lit up, and he swallowed. In the apocalypse, food and clean water were hard currency.

"Go in. Be honest and don't cause trouble." The guard made way, but his eyes still contained a warning.

Chen Mengzhou lowered her head and hurried into the transfer station. The foul air and noisy voices instantly enveloped her. She could feel countless gazes on her, some curious, some numb, and some barely perceptible greed.

She ignored him and walked straight to the small market, stopping in front of a relatively friendly-looking old man's stall. The old man was selling all kinds of found parts and homemade gadgets.

"Old man, I have something to ask." Chen Mengzhou pushed a small piece of compressed biscuit over. "Is everything peaceful around here lately?"

The old man quickly grabbed the biscuit and stuffed it into his arms. He looked around warily with cloudy eyes and lowered his voice: "Peace? How can there be peace in this world? Girl, are you new here?"

"Well, I came around from the east. I heard that people can survive on the west side."

"The west..." The old man shook his head, his voice lowering. "It's not peaceful in the west either... The Black Dog guys were here a few days ago."

"Black dog?" Chen Mengzhou's heart moved.

"They're just a bunch of evil guys in black!" Fear flashed across the old man's face. "They're even more ruthless than the guys at the fort! They come and demand food and people, and kill us if we don't give them! I heard they've wiped out several small hideouts in the west!"

Street sweepers! They're called "black dogs" here!

"What do they want people for?"

"Who knows... They said they were looking for some 'special materials'... Bah! They're just capturing people to be slaves or experimental subjects!" The old man spat, "Girl, you'd better be careful when you're alone, especially someone like you..." He glanced at Chen Mengzhou's relatively clean face meaningfully.

Chen Mengzhou nodded and handed over some clean water: "What about the fortress? They don't care?"

"Fortress?" the old man scoffed. "They're probably in a state of panic! I heard something terrible happened in their family, with several important people dead. They're cowering like turtles now, and even the patrols don't dare to venture far... Otherwise, how could Black Dog be so arrogant?"

Did something terrible happen inside the fortress? Did someone important die? Was it because of her escape? Or something else?

Chen Mengzhou asked a few more indirect questions, but the old man only knew limited information. He only knew that the "Black Dog" was active frequently, the fortress was shrinking, and the west was becoming more and more chaotic.

The intelligence was basically consistent. It seemed that the "Scavenger" (Black Dog) and Fortress were not in the same group, and might even be enemies. It seemed that Fortress had really gotten into some trouble because of her escape.

This may be an opportunity.

She was about to leave the market and look elsewhere when suddenly, there was a commotion coming from the door!

"The black dog is coming! Run!" Someone shouted at the top of his lungs!

The entire transfer station exploded in an instant! People screamed in terror and ran around like headless flies! The market was instantly overturned, and the goods were scattered all over the ground!

Chen Mengzhou's pupils shrank, and he suddenly dodged and hid behind a pile of debris, pulled out his pistol, and looked at the door coldly.

Three pitch-black, modified off-road vehicles, equipped with rams and machine gun mounts, violently smashed open the crude gate and rushed into the transfer station! The bloody claw logo on the vehicles was glaring and ferocious!

Four or five well-equipped, strong men in uniform black combat uniforms, sunglasses, and other gear jumped out of each car. They moved swiftly and in perfect coordination, quickly dispersing as soon as they got out of the car, occupying advantageous positions and aiming their guns at the chaotic crowd.

A man who looked like the leader, with a hideous scar on his face, held a megaphone and shouted coldly, "Everyone! Kneel where you are! Put your hands on your head! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

There was an undeniable cruelty and efficiency in his voice.

Several people who tried to escape were instantly knocked down by the precise bursts of gunfire! Blood and brain matter splattered all over the ground!

The brutal suppression took effect immediately. The remaining people were so frightened that they trembled all over, fell to their knees on the ground, and cried for mercy.

Chen Mengzhou huddled behind the shelter, her heart tightening slightly. These "black dogs" were operating with far greater efficiency than she had expected, like a well-trained army! Who were they?

The scar-faced leader looked at the people kneeling on the ground with satisfaction and waved to his subordinates.

Several Black Dog members immediately produced a strange, tablet-like device and began scanning the kneeling figures one by one, seemingly detecting something. The screen glowed a faint blue light.

Another member held up a folder and read out names and descriptions: "Zhang Dashan! Li Si! Wang Cuihua! Anyone who hears their name, stand up!"

The people whose names were called out had pale faces and were dragged out trembling, their hands and feet bound and thrown aside. They seemed to be the targets that the black dog had been targeting for a long time.

Chen Mengzhou was filled with awe. They weren't arresting people indiscriminately; they were searching for specific targets! That scanning device... what was it detecting? Energy signatures? Genetic characteristics?

Could it be that... they are not looking for ordinary slaves, but... "special beings" like her or Niu Niu?

At this moment, the Black Dog member holding the scanner seemed to notice the area where Chen Mengzhou was hiding. The indicator light on the instrument flickered slightly. He adjusted his direction in confusion and walked towards this side.

not good!

Discovered! Although I don't know what the instrument is detecting, her special ability and mental strength are likely to cause abnormal reactions!

We can't just sit there and wait for death!

Chen Mengzhou's eyes sharpened and he made a decision instantly!

Just when the Black Dog member was about to approach!

She suddenly leaped out from behind cover! Instead of running away, she attacked like a cheetah pouncing on its prey!

Puff! Puff!

Two extremely quiet gunshots rang out! The silenced pistol accurately hit the Black Dog member's forehead and chest! The confusion on his face froze, and he fell to the ground without a word. The scanner in his hand fell to the ground, and the screen shattered!

The sudden change made all the black dogs stunned!

They had never thought that someone would dare to resist! And the means were so clean and efficient!

"Catch her!" The scar-faced leader was the first to react. He roared and the automatic rifle in his hand instantly spewed out flames!

Da da da da!

Bullets poured down like a rainstorm!

Chen Mengzhou had anticipated the other party's reaction and rolled to the side the moment the gun was fired, hiding behind another pile of rubble! The bullets sent debris flying everywhere where she had been hiding!

"Everyone, concentrate your fire! Kill her!" Scarface obviously regarded her as an extremely dangerous target and would not leave her alive!

All the Black Dog members turned their guns around, and the powerful firepower instantly enveloped the ruins where Chen Mengzhou was hiding! She couldn't even lift her head!

This won't work! I'll be exhausted to death here!

Chen Mengzhou gritted his teeth, pulled out a smoke bomb from the armory, pulled the ring, and threw it out!

puff!

Thick white smoke spread out instantly, blocking the view!

"Smoke bomb! Be careful of sneak attacks!" The black dogs were in a commotion, and their firepower hesitated for a moment.

Now is the time!

Chen Mengzhou shot out from the other side of the smoke like an arrow! She didn't rush towards the black dog, but instead rushed towards the black SUV closest to her, whose engine was still running!

Her speed was so fast that before the black dogs could react, she had already opened the car door and rushed into the driver's seat!

"She wants to steal the car! Stop her!" Scarface was shocked and angry!

The bullets chased her figure and hit the car door and bulletproof glass, making dull bangs!

Chen Mengzhou ignored it completely and stepped on the accelerator to the bottom! At the same time, he slammed the steering wheel!

The off-road vehicle roared, its tires rubbing against the ground frantically, and it rushed out like a wild bull on a loose rein, braving the hail of bullets, and directly crashed into another Black Dog car next to it!

boom!

There was a loud crash! Another SUV was knocked sideways, its door dented, and the Black Dog members inside were thrown away screaming!

"Stop her!"

The remaining black dogs opened fire wildly, and the bullets hit the car body with a clang!

Chen Mengzhou lowered his body and turned the steering wheel to the limit. The off-road vehicle made a huge drift on the spot, smoke came out of the tires, and the rear end of the car swept towards the surrounding black dog!

Bang! Ah!

Several black dogs that failed to dodge were knocked away!

The scene was extremely chaotic!

Scarface was so angry that his face turned blue. He raised the rocket launcher and was about to fire, but he was afraid of blowing up the vehicle (which was obviously very important to them), so he hesitated for a moment.

Just this moment of hesitation!

Chen Mengzhou had already adjusted the direction, and the off-road vehicle made an unbearable roar, slamming aside the debris blocking the road and the people kneeling on the ground, and rushed madly towards the broken gate!

"Chase! Chase them! No matter if they live or die!" Scarface was furious. He jumped onto the last intact car with the rest of the people and chased after them while roaring!

The two cars, one in front and one behind, rushed out of the transfer station like crazy beasts and rushed into the desolate ruined road!

The chase breaks out instantly!

Chen Mengzhou stepped on the accelerator to the floor, and the SUV jumped and ran wildly on the bumpy road. Through the rearview mirror, she could see the car behind her chasing closely, even with a light machine gun mounted on the roof!

Da da da da!

Machine gun bullets whizzed in, cracking and shattering the rear window!

Chen Mengzhou swung the steering wheel left and right suddenly, and the car drew an S-shaped trajectory on the road, avoiding the stray bullets that hit the car body, splashing a string of sparks!

This won't work! The other team's car seems to be better and has more firepower!

She needed to find a way to get rid of them, or... kill them!

Her eyes swept across the passenger seat, where were several backpacks that the Black Dog members hadn't had time to take off the car.

She steadied the steering wheel with one hand and grabbed her backpack with the other, rummaging through it quickly.

Food, water, ammunition... and a... remote control? It has a red button and an antenna on it!

This is... an IED (Improvised Emergency Dose)?!

These black dogs are carrying this thing?!

A crazy plan flashed through my mind in an instant!

She spotted a large curve on the road ahead, slammed on the brakes, and turned the steering wheel sharply!

laugh--!

The off-road vehicle made a harsh friction sound, and after a sharp drift through a corner, the vehicle body almost flipped over!

The black dog vehicle following behind also turned the corner right after it!

At that moment when the two cars were almost parallel and the other car's speed slowed down slightly due to turning!

Chen Mengzhou suddenly pressed the red button on the □□!

Boom!!!!

A deafening roar came from behind!

A massive fireball erupted from the underside of the Black Dog SUV chasing her! The immense force of the impact sent the vehicle flying, tumbling through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground and exploding with a bang! It was reduced to a ball of flaming scrap metal!

Sure enough! These guys had planted IEDs along the route their convoy was taking as a backup or trap! And the remote control was right in the car!

Unfortunately, it has now become their own grave!

Chen Mengzhou stepped on the brakes, parked the car far away, and looked at the burning flames coldly.

All pursuers were destroyed.

She picked up the □□, looked at it, and then threw it out the window.

These "black dogs" are indeed ruthless and well-prepared. What are they planning?

She restarted the car and instead of returning to the transfer station (which would surely be in chaos), she drove further west according to the map.

After this encounter, she realized that the Black Dogs might be even more of a threat than the Fortress. They acted efficiently, brutally, and with a clear goal of finding "special individuals."

She needed to learn more about the Black Dog and find a safer, more secluded base.

The next place marked on the map that might be of some size was an abandoned resort next to a huge lake. The terrain there was complex and easy to hide, so it might be a good choice.

The pickup truck was on the road again, its body covered with bullet holes and dents, just like her current situation, scarred but still driving firmly towards the unknown future.

The ruins outside the window flashed by quickly.

Chen Mengzhou's gaze became deeper and colder.

Black Dog...Scavenger...

Whoever you are, whatever you are looking for.

Since you have provoked me.

Then, your doomsday is not far away.