Chapter 95 Crocodile Island
Shanhe wasn't concerned about family ties; he was worried about incurring Shanran's wrath.
"You know she's at the height of her fame? She even has a stake in the Yu family's shipping business, and who knows how many more families she'll be collaborating with in the future. She's one of the most sought-after superhumans right now, and the powerful families of the First Continent value her highly, wanting her to help clear the fog. With someone like that, you still dare to mess with her?"
Shan Xuerong said indignantly, "I've hated how much you all value her since I was little. When we were kids, she could get whatever she wanted so easily. But even if I begged you, I might not get it!"
Do you think she can stay in that high position forever? The higher she climbs, the harder she'll fall! Do you really think that many people like and support her? Many people, like me, want to see her downfall, want to kick her while she's down from her pedestal!
"You..." Shanhe wanted to raise his hand, but he held back.
Shan Xuelou interrupted the tense standoff between the two: "Dad, do you think she won't come looking for us if we don't provoke her?"
Shanhe's body trembled; his son's words struck a nerve with his inner anxieties.
“Although we weren’t directly involved in what happened back then, we did reveal the whereabouts of my second uncle and aunt when those people came to us.”
"What?!" Shan Xuerong's eyes widened, unable to believe what she had just heard. "So, we really were involved???"
The older brother glanced at her, feeling there was nothing to hide: "We weren't completely involved. We didn't know much about what happened before, but we were mainly involved in the division of the property. But no matter what we think, in Shanran's mind, we are definitely accomplices."
"In that case, we must be fully prepared. Otherwise, given her current abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for her to decide to take our lives one day if she decided to avenge her parents."
Shan Xuerong shivered, suddenly feeling a chill down her spine, and realized that even sitting at home didn't feel safe.
She looked around, shivered, and cautiously asked, "Dad, brother, do you think she's hiding in some dark corner right now, eavesdropping on our conversation?"
Shanran, who was hiding in the closet in the corner at that moment: ......
The father and son were speechless; of course, they didn't take it seriously.
Shan Xuelou tapped his younger sister on the head: "There's no need to be so paranoid. Don't scare yourself unnecessarily."
Shan Xuerong stuck out her tongue: "I was just kidding, brother. Of course you won't be scared. You're so powerful, Dad, don't worry. Even though you don't have superpowers, we are! With me and brother here, our eldest son's position is unshakeable!"
But brother, what exactly are these thorough preparations you're talking about?
Shan Xuelou narrowed his eyes.
He already had a plan in mind.
He plans to completely bind the Shan family's base to the Solomon family.
Currently, the two largest factions in Zone 2 are led by the Solomon family and the Lawrence family.
The Solomon family is a long-established, top-tier family, while the Lawrence family is a native noble family of the Second Continent, and their heirs have close ties with Shan Ran.
Most of the bases and organizations have already taken sides, while a small number are still observing.
The Shan family had been wavering, observing and waiting for one side to gain an overwhelming advantage before joining, as this was the safest approach.
Shan Ran: a fence-sitter.
"But as far as I know, that old fellow Xie Huaimin completely sided with Solomon some time ago. Now I don't know where he's hiding; even I can't find him."
After hiding in the Shan family's house for a night, Shan Ran finally found some clues about the Xie family. She immediately perked up, afraid of missing any clues.
"Was he running so fast because he was afraid of Shan Ran's retaliation?"
"Not only that, he also has a son who's just as crazy as him. That son is determined to run away with Shan Ran, how could he possibly allow it?"
Mentioning Xie Qingheng made Shan Xuerong grit her teeth in hatred.
She had only spoken a few truths online, and Xie Qingheng came to bite her like a mad dog, cutting off one of her arms!
Fortunately, the treatment was timely, and the arm was still intact. It was stitched up on the spot, and then a healing ability user helped, so it was saved.
However, long-term effects are still unavoidable.
Now, whenever it's cloudy or rainy, her arms throb with pain, and her fingers aren't as nimble as before.
"That damned guy, we haven't heard from him in so long, could he be dead?"
Shan Xuerong's voice revealed some anticipation and excitement. Heaven knows how afraid she was of Xie Qingheng. If he died, her life would be more peaceful.
Shanhe shook his head: "Impossible. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cub. Although Xie Huaimin, that old scoundrel, is not mentally sound, he only has one child. He wouldn't do such a thing."
Besides, I heard he'll be attending the Solomon family party in two weeks. The fact that he can still attend such occasions suggests his family situation is relatively stable.
What party?
Shanhe took an invitation out of the drawer.
"It was sent by the Solomon family's butler. If we accept it, then we'll be in the same boat from now on."
Shan Xuerong's eyes lit up: "Go! Why not go? Before the apocalypse, we never had a chance to get an invitation from the Solomon family. Now, such a great opportunity is right in front of us, what's there to hesitate about?"
Shanhe was still hesitant. He was a conservative and a typical fence-sitter. He dared not easily take sides until he had a clear advantage.
Shan Xuelou examined the invitation and remained silent for a long time before speaking: "Dad, times have changed. In this chaotic world, there are also the most opportunities. Look at the Yu family, they seized this opportunity and acquired the most lucrative business."
Sending an invitation to our family shows that they value us now, but doesn't that also mean that those top families are already in decline?
but......
Their gradual demise gave us our opportunity. Besides, it's good to have a powerful backer; we can't stop Shanran's growth at all. Now, it's not just us who see her as a thorn in our side; we just need to let them fight it out, and then we can reap the benefits..."
The three discussed the matter at length and decided to join the Solomon family's camp.
Besides them, the third son and the youngest sister also received invitations. This time, the Shan family members were surprisingly united and all accepted the invitations. While united against external threats, the various branches of the Shan family were still able to maintain a facade of harmony among themselves.
"Don't worry, even if we choose a new direction, those guys from Shandong Airlines won't be able to pull any tricks. The Shan family is still in charge!"
They envisioned a bright future and imagined many possibilities.
I never imagined that the people involved were in the same room, quietly listening to their statements.
When Shanran heard news related to her parents, she was not surprised at all.
She had long suspected that this matter was not simple, that there must be someone behind it, and that those uncles and aunts were all involved.
However, based solely on the chat, the information is too vague. We don't know who is behind this or what Xie Huaimin has done.
However, it is certain that Xie Huaimin will be seen at the Solomon family party next week.
After the three of them left the bedroom, Shan Ran appeared directly in front of the desk and took out the invitation.
After taking photos and confirming the time and place, Shanran left the Shan family.
She came in personally not only to look for clues, but also to see the place where she lived as a child.
Unfortunately, there is no trace left of her living with her parents.
This is no longer her home.
She has no relatives in this world.
Having obtained an important clue, Shan Ran led the two away from the Shan family's territory.
"Ranran, where are we going now?"
Shan Ran thought for a moment, then a playful smile appeared on her face.
"Let's find a base first."
——
Fifteen days later, on a lake island in Zone 2.
The lake is not large, but the islands in it are very large. This area was the property of the Solomon family before the apocalypse.
After the apocalypse, the island was free of fog, and it already had a lot of supplies stored on it, making it an important base for the Solomon family.
Like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, a large family naturally has more than one residence, but tonight, all the important members of the family are present.
Because tonight is a very important party.
Unlike the low-key and reserved Ram family and the strict and rigid Arlesde family, the Solomon family has always valued enjoying life to the fullest.
They are bold, reckless, thrill-seeking, and pleasure-seeking...
Before the apocalypse, Solomon controlled half of the gambling and entertainment industries, more than the other two combined.
After the apocalypse, thanks to the long-accumulated resources of their families, they did not fare badly. In fact, due to the collapse of order and the decline of morality, they lived even more freely.
Unlike the First Continent, Solomon's branch on the Second Continent did not experience being surrounded and blocked by a large amount of fog, and instead lived a more comfortable life.
These people haven't stopped now; instead, they're looking for other tricks.
Inside a private room, the light was dim, with colorful lights, and a middle-aged man sat in the middle of a spacious sofa.
The man was impeccably dressed, his suit made of expensive fabric, and the gemstone on his ring shimmered with dazzling light.
He was good-looking, with a high nose bridge, well-defined features, and a well-maintained physique. However, beneath his prominent brow bones, a pair of gloomy eyes glanced at him without any emotion, enough to make anyone next to him weak in the knees.
A scene of debauchery and lewdness was unfolding inside the private room, yet there was no one within a few meters of the man.
People around him automatically kept their distance from the man, leaving him a quiet area, and dared not disturb him at all.
Amidst the chaotic sounds, the man suddenly coughed lightly.
Immediately, everyone present stopped moving and dared not make any sudden movements.
A boy dressed as a waiter was kneeling on the ground. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the boy was only wearing a waiter's apron, and from behind, he also had a long tail.
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the boy's tail was not his own, but a prop.
The boy is not a fox-type superpowered individual, but an ordinary person with his tail between his legs.
He wore white fox ear hair clips and had a lace trim on his apron, which made him look even more delicate and pitiful.
The boy was thin and fair-skinned, so fair that you could see the bluish veins under his skin.
He knelt beside the middle-aged man's legs and carefully lifted the tray, which contained a sealed syringe.
The syringe contained a light blue liquid.
The middle-aged man hesitated to make a move, while the boy with the fox tail, whose arm was aching from holding it up, couldn't help but look up.
I noticed the man's eyes immediately.
Those were light brown amber eyes, looking at him as if he were a dead object. Just one glance made one feel cold all over, chilling one to the bone.
The boy couldn't help but shudder and quickly looked down, but the movement was too big, the tray tilted, and the syringe fell out and hit the ground, spilling blue liquid all over the floor.
The entire place was eerily quiet.
Everyone fell silent, staring intently in their direction.
Some people looked at the man, wanting to know his reaction; others looked at the boy, enjoying his trembling appearance.
The boy suddenly dropped to the ground, sweeping the syringe and liquid into the tray with his hands while begging for mercy in a trembling voice.
The broken glass of the syringe pricked his finger, and blood seeped out.
"Swallowed it."
The voice from above made the boy stop in his tracks.
He remained silent for a moment, then with trembling hands, he stuffed the liquid glass shards from the ground into his mouth.
Swallowing glass and liquid medicine is terrifying, but if you don't do as the man says, the consequences will be even more terrible.
The boy's face turned bright red, his eyes widened, and he was extremely nervous and fearful.
His throat remained motionless as he swallowed.
Having spent a few days here, he knew what it was. It was harmless to those with superpowers, but a deadly poison to ordinary people like them!
He clenched his fists, his eyes wide with rage, and was about to vomit up whatever was in his mouth when suddenly someone grabbed his throat.
The middle-aged man didn't move. Two bodyguards emerged from the shadows, one of whom grabbed the boy by the throat, forcing him to swallow.
The boy was then thrown to the ground like trash.
He tried to gag his throat with his dirty hands, but all he did was gag and vomit.
Soon, the boy's body reacted. He was like a fish thrown onto the shore, his whole body convulsing violently, and he made a "hoarse" sound.
All eyes were focused on the boy; his eyes glowed eerily in the darkness, making him seem less human and more like a group of animals in the night.
Bloodthirsty creatures huddled together in a frenzy, while helpless humans screamed in despair.
The boy on the ground quickly fell silent and collapsed, seemingly dead.
One of the bodyguards stepped forward and pulled the boy up by the arm.
Suddenly, the boy, who had just lost consciousness, opened his eyes, lunged forward, and bit the bodyguard's arm.
His eyes turned completely black, his nostrils twitched, and he bit down fiercely, completely devoid of any human glint, like a wild beast that had lost its mind.
The bodyguard's body was petrified in an instant; his superhuman defense made it impossible for his teeth to penetrate his skin.
Seeing the boy's change, Hugh Solomon, who had been sitting lazily, finally became somewhat interested.
“Not bad,” Hugh nodded. “This potion turned out well; the success rate has increased.”
He gestured to his bodyguards to drag the man away, then continued, "Bring me a vial, and also, find more people to test the drug. If that's the case, the polluting factory can use it on a large scale."
"Yes, sir."
The other bodyguard was two seconds slower as he disappeared into the darkness. He looked around suspiciously, feeling as if a strange gaze had just been cast upon him, but he couldn't see anything in the surroundings.
There were no extra people in the room.
"What's wrong?" Hugh picked up the syringe that another person handed him. Unlike the previous one, this syringe was light red.
He injected the medicine into his body, noticed the bodyguard's actions, and asked impatiently.
"Master, it's nothing." The bodyguard bowed, then frowned and retreated. He thought it might be due to recent medication use, causing him to be nervous and hallucinate.
I should not follow others' medication practices in the future, as it will affect my judgment.
The private room became restless again, returning to its previous state.
As Xiu sensed the changes brought about by the potion, he quickly squinted, his gaze becoming unfocused, and joined in.
Meanwhile, different vehicles arrived at the dock outside the island in the lake.
Some vehicles were allowed to pass directly, while others were subject to strict inspections.
One of the vehicles was stopped, and the people inside were asked to get out for inspection.
"Hey bro, we're from the Fortune Base. We got an invitation and came over. Could you please make an exception and speed things up a bit?"
A man got out of the passenger seat of the car in front. He was wearing a vest, jeans, and Crocs, and looked sloppy.
The man's hair was clearly dyed blonde before, and it still had layers from the fading of the dye.
Along with the invitation, several unopened packs of cigarettes were handed over.
For many people from small bases and small families, it's a rare treat to visit the Solomon family's place, and exchanging gifts upon meeting is not uncommon.
However, there aren't many people who are this generous.
I haven't smoked a single cigarette in days, let alone several packs. The security guard accepted the cigarette, smiled, and said, "Just verify my identity as usual."
After sending out invitations, you need to announce the number of people attending the party and inform them of the details of each person's special ability.
Three people got off the car quickly: two women and one man.
One of the women was red-haired and clearly a fire-type ability user; that's how she registered.
"Mary, fire-based ability."
Gu Li possesses psychic abilities.
Nia, a pigeon-type superpower.
Roman, a wood-type ability user.
The security guard paused briefly at Gu Li's name, then looked up and sized him up.
The man named Guli was wearing a silk V-neck shirt and leaned against the car door. He looked languid and boneless, like a male concubine.
Although he doesn't look threatening, his superpowers are quite unique.
"Psychic abilities? That's quite rare. What are their attack methods?"
Yu Yuan, still bearing the name Gu Li, maintained his lazy demeanor and exchanged a glance with Shan Ran beside him.
"I can create illusions, would you like to try?"
There is a difference between illusions and dreams. Illusions are similar to being lost in a maze, or even more complex ones, like a fog. A person can walk in the illusion, or remain physically still while only their mind is in the illusion. Upon waking, they will remember what happened.
In dreams, one must be in a dream state, with the body in a deep sleep. Upon waking, there is no recollection of the dream, and the mind will subconsciously follow the controller, making it the perfect time to extract information.
However, both attacks use similar methods, and both can cause brain death inside the body.
Shan Ran instructed Yu Yuan to conceal the fact that he could extract information from her, in order to avoid arousing suspicion.
Rhine's abilities were too obvious, so this time they didn't send him over, but instead waited for him somewhere outside.
"No need, I've already registered."
Over there, blond-haired Roman was still joking around with the person in charge, chatting and flattering him while slipping two bottles of wine over.
The wine comes in small bottles, making it easy to carry.
These cigarettes and alcohols were all from reputable brands before the apocalypse, and are even rarer now. They were all prepared by the Yu family for Shanran and were placed in the trunk of the car.
After several days of observation, Shanran specifically chose the location to make money.
It's not large in scale, but it has a lot of people and is in a phase of rapid expansion. It recruits anyone who is suitable, especially those with high-level superpowers.
They joined Solomon's camp early on, but remained inconspicuous.
It is perfect for Shan Ran and others to infiltrate.
The three of them not only possessed impressive supernatural abilities, but they also brought a whole truckload of supplies. The Fortune Base was overjoyed and immediately granted them the status of high-ranking members of the base, fearing that if they escaped, the supplies would also be lost.
The security manager's eyes lit up after accepting the two bottles of wine.
Roman, trying to ingratiate himself, said, "Last time it was our base commander who came, but this time she had something to do, so she asked me to lead the team."
I heard they had all been here once before, so the security guards were almost completely off guard and became much more relaxed and talkative.
"Then your base commander lost out. This party was prepared for a long time, and it's bigger and more exciting." As he spoke, the security guard raised his eyebrows and gave a meaningful look.
Roman was puzzled.
After the base commander returned last time, she didn't eat properly for several days. When asked what had happened, she remained tight-lipped and didn't say much.
Upon receiving the invitation again, the base commander treated it like a hot potato and immediately passed it on to Roman, instructing him to take his men over.
Isn't it just parties, fun, and relaxation?
Roman's eyes darted around, and he put his arm around the security guard's shoulder: "Brother, what's different this time compared to last time?"
The security guard leaned closer and whispered, "Last time it was a beast, this time it's a human."
He finished speaking with a knowing look.
Roman: ? ? ? What do I know? I don't understand.
Filled with doubt, Roman got into the car, and the group was allowed to pass, driving onto the bridge connecting the islands.
The bridge is very grand and luxurious, with three lanes in both directions, and can accommodate six vehicles side by side.
The fences on both sides are very high, with guards standing every few meters. There is a fairly large sentry post at each end of the bridge.
Through the fence, you can see the lake below—
Crocodiles are everywhere.
Before the apocalypse, this island was also known as Crocodile Island.
Because the lakes surrounding the island are full of crocodiles.
These crocodiles were bred in captivity by the Solomon family, but they are very wild.
Fierce and cruel, they are fed large amounts of raw meat every day.
After the apocalypse, Solomon deliberately had these crocodiles fight and devour the monsters. More than half of them survived.
All of these crocodiles possess supernatural abilities.
Today, they are not only pets of the Solomon family, but also companions and guards.
Shan Ran opened the car window and looked out through the railing into the distance, where she could see black shadows swimming by underwater.
Near the shore, countless crocodiles inhabit the area.
Some of them were lazily basking in the sun, while others were quietly observing the people coming and going on the shore.
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Author's Note: Thank you to the lovely readers for the nutrient solutions: 75248835 and 55418769
Thank you for your support! [dog head with rose in its mouth][dog head with rose in its mouth][dog head with rose in its mouth]
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