The organization originally planned to use the city center of S as a key pilot area, but the Hope Base was too powerful, and they were afraid of offending the base leader, so they shifted their focus and replaced it with the honest and simple Zhang Zhengyi.
As for why they didn't just evacuate, Jia Yao automatically filled in the blanks with reasons.
Hope Base is the largest base in the apocalypse, with the most ordinary people and superhumans. The other side is currently only recruiting ordinary people and low-level superhumans, probably hoping that the leader will not break ties with the organization because of these people.
As for high-level superhumans, even if they offer resources, they won't be easily bribed. Hiding and acting mysterious will only fool those at the bottom.
Zhang Zhengyi should be a high-ranking believer in the organization, but this believer seems to have thoughts of betraying the organization. Although he tried his best to hide it, the longing for Hope Base revealed in his eyes could not escape his notice, and he also flattered Hope Base quite a bit in his words.
Jia Yao had a fairly good impression of Zhang Zhengyi. He might be cunning, but he didn't know how to hide it; he was someone who thought himself clever, and the kind of person was the easiest to control.
If even someone like him can wield considerable power within this organization, its future development is pretty much predictable.
Although Zhang Zhengyi didn't say much, and these were all just guesses he made from snippets of conversation, and there were many inconsistencies in them, it was precisely because of this that Jia Yao felt he was getting close to the truth.
Having figured this out, Jia Yao sneered. It was nothing more than an ambitious but powerless cult, actually trying to establish a base like its leader? Without real strength, such crooked methods would only invite ridicule.
After the group left, Lu Yan looked at the cheerful Zhang Zhengyi with a complicated expression, "Does the shop manager know that she's a hypocritical, overly kind person?"
“These are all minor matters. The store manager is very magnanimous and will certainly not hold it against us,” Zhang Zhengyi said with an air of righteous indignation.
Lu Yan, recalling Zhang Zhengyi's nonsensical words, became serious. "What's your purpose in saying this? Are you trying to provoke the leader of Hope Base into making a move, or are you trying to incite a conflict between Hope Base and the Inn?"
"Uh, why do you have to have a purpose when you speak? I was just talking nonsense." Zhang Zhengyi looked puzzled. "They wanted to find out what was going on in the store, so I just answered casually. There was no conspiracy involved. Xiao Lu, you're overthinking it. By the way, your acting was great. You were really cooperative just now."
Lu Yan: "...Really? I don't believe it."
Lu Yan couldn't figure it out, but he wasn't too worried. Old Zhang did like to talk nonsense, but he was still sensible in his actions.
Zhang Zhengyi smiled sheepishly. "Actually, there's no conspiracy at all. I heard that Hope Base has released a new policy, and it's not as free to enter and leave the base as it used to be. Isn't that making things difficult for everyone? Especially for ordinary people, they don't dare to risk being turned away by the base. I'm saying this just to make things easier for ordinary people. Well, as for the rest, it depends on how the other party interprets it."
"The way you've put it makes it sound like our inn is hiding something. Aren't you afraid they'll think the worst of us?"
"So what? They can't beat us anyway. Let them think the worst. If they really can't help but come after us, I can admire them a bit. If they don't take action, it confirms what the guests said: hopefully, those in power at the base aren't good people either."
As for whether the other party might damage the inn's reputation after imagining things, that's just wishful thinking, and he's not afraid.
Of course, it's fine if Jia Yao doesn't overthink it. Hopefully, the people in charge at the base are a large customer group, so they can earn more points.
An Ge never imagined that she would return as a suspected leader of a cult after only one night away. Looking at Zhang Zhengyi's honest face, she felt that this possibility was almost certain.
An Ge remained silent for a long time before finally sighing. She didn't blame Zhang Zhengyi, because when one's strength reaches a certain level, what others think doesn't really affect her.
Moreover, Zhang Zhengyi also brought a lot of revenue to the inn. With the cooperation with Hope Base, there will be other bases, and the inn's reputation will spread.
After all, as the largest base, Hope Base's every move is the focus of attention from all sides.
On the way back to the inn, Meng Qiu still shared his observations of the base, which confirmed Wen Zihao's guess that An Ge was taking the leader seriously, at least in his current identity he wouldn't alert the enemy.
And indeed, things turned out exactly as An Ge had expected.
Jia Yao returned to the base and reported what he had seen and heard at the inn to the leader.
In the dimly lit room, Jia Yao was filled with trepidation after speaking. Ever since the leader advanced to the eighth rank, his aura had become stronger and stronger, and every time she faced him, she felt an indescribable pressure.
I heard that the leader is now striving for the ninth rank, no wonder he has such a powerful aura.
The leader was silent for a moment before speaking, "He's just a clown, nothing to fear. Ordinary people and low-level ability users can leave if they want. The base's supplies are running low; if they leave, they can at least carve out a way to survive."
We don't yet have a clear understanding of the forces behind the inn, so it's not the time to escalate things. Since they've proposed cooperation, we might as well buy more supplies from them first. We can deal with things later if things go wrong.
After Jia Yao left, the leader narrowed his eyes. Jia Yao's speculation might not be correct, but it had some merit. At least it confirmed that the other party didn't intend to target Hope Base. Now was a crucial time for his advancement. Once he successfully advanced, no matter what schemes the other party might have, he would not let them get away with it.
Inside the Immortal Fate Base, An Ge looked at the growing number of people and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, more and more ordinary people will come to the inn in the future. The zombies around the inn have been mostly cleared out, but there are still quite a few zombies in the central area. We still need to consider the dangers to ordinary people."
Lu Yan's eyes lit up. "Manager, you can turn the surrounding area into guest rooms and build a new base."
Just as An Ge was about to refuse, she heard Zihao say, "I agree with Manager Lu. I suggest registering all the places outside that can be used for accommodation and redistributing them. Then the store manager can set up a protective array to serve as temporary housing."
Perhaps sensing An Ge's concerns, Wen Zihao explained, "If the shop manager feels this is illegal occupation of a private residence, there's no need to worry. After the apocalypse, everyone has accepted a rule: if you want protection, you always have to give something in return."
Moreover, in the past few years since the apocalypse, almost half the population has been infected, especially in the city center. The probability of accidentally encountering a former occupant of a residence is extremely small. Of course, if it does happen, we can take special measures; many bases do this.
Losing one's home is just the tip of the iceberg of the cruelty of the apocalypse!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
