235: Chapter 235 Interval

"……Yes. Yesterday, I participated in that chaos." Li Ming sat in the command room, opposite the respectable commander who had held out until now. "The facts prove that they are indeed associated with the Federal government."

Li Ming took out a USB drive. "This was obtained from the leader of the Hunter Gang. You can check the information inside yourselves. Right now, apart from your controlled area, basically everywhere else has fallen into chaos."

"The southern reconnaissance outpost reported that the Federal Army outposts in the south are already retreating." Elsa walked in. "As far as the current situation goes, our infiltration reconnaissance has not been intercepted by the Federal Army. Therefore, theoretically, it can be indicated that they no longer have enough manpower to maintain the blockade of the entire territory."

"Thank you for your hard work." The commander nodded, then looked at Li Ming. "What do you think?"

"Even if the blockade in the south is lifted, we cannot leave the city." Li Ming replied. "I don't know how much anti-aircraft weaponry you have in reserve, but without a doubt, as of now, we do not have air superiority."

"Indeed. However, other forces can effectively expand their own living space. In the coming period, some gangs and communities should migrate south. The gang warfare within the city might decrease to a certain extent, which is a good thing for the civilians." Elsa added. "Commander, the Federal government will not let this go easily; we need to make plans early."

"I captured some fuel and supplies, and I hid them in the hotel parking lot to the south." Li Ming looked at the light-brown-skinned middle-aged man. "Anyway, I can't use so much, you can go and take them."

The commander was stunned and fell into thought. "I understand. Elsa, and… Mr. Li, you two go back and rest first. Thank you for your hard work."

——

"These are… uh, considered a thank-you gift from those gangs?" Li Ming pointed to the large pile of things that had suddenly appeared in Kate's small warehouse. "You can understand it as all the daily necessities for the next period of time being here."

Elsa stared blankly at the supplies filling the warehouse, lost in thought.

She really wanted to say something… but these were Li Ming's things.

"……I'm quite selfish, aren't I?"

Li Ming said, turning his head while refueling Kate's abrams.

"It's full! Hey! It's full!" Kate exclaimed.

"Ahhh?" Li Ming quickly pulled back, but his hands were still covered in fuel.

Elsa sighed. "No, they are just your things, and you have the right to decide where they go."

"I mean, you guys can use them too. Especially the things related to nutrition." Li Ming wiped his hands and was then pushed toward the bathroom by Kate.

"Hurry up and go wash!"

"Hey, hey, hey, don't push me…"

Elsa shook her head. How nice…

The relationship between them is truly great.

When will I also be able to…

Elsa! What are you thinking! After going home, you won't see this kind of person anymore! …

Elsa quickly shook her head. "I'm leaving first, you guys…"

"El～sa～-chan～"

Kate pounced on her from behind with a thud. "You haven't played with me in a long time."

"Didn't we just…"

"I don't care! Stay, stay! Maria is coming too!"

Elsa was taken aback. "No! I have to go!"

"No! Otherwise I'll cry for you to see! Boohoo～"

"Kate, you… sigh!"

Just like that, I don't know how much time passed, but when Li Ming returned, they had already picked up the cards.

Glancing at the time, it was time to cook again.

"Is anyone coming to help?…" Li Ming shrugged, clearly very certain that no one would come to help.

"Hello? I'm here, you know?"

Maria squeezed in. "Oh my, Elsa is here too?"

"Hmm… Good afternoon, Maria."

"Good afternoon! … And Li Ming, how was your day?"

"Me?" Li Ming gave a wry smile and pointed to the still-fresh vegetables—sent over by a few small gangs, likely grown by themselves. "I'm not doing too well; no one is helping, and I have to busy myself for a few hours again."

"Wow, that's really terrible." Maria blinked at him, then walked over and hugged Li Ming from behind. "How about I come and help you?"

No, sister? Are you playing for real?

"Sister, my good sister, can you stop messing around?"

"I'm serious."

A calm statement.

The corner of Li Ming's eye twitched. "Then help me chop the vegetables. If you want to cook, there are other types of pots here."

"Give me a pressure cooker! As for now, we have to deal with these vegetables first."

Elsa and Kate looked at them.

"Elsa, they…"

Elsa was expressionless, but her slightly red earlobes betrayed her heart; clearly, her heart was not that calm.

Heaven knows what she was thinking.

"Elsa?"

"Huh? … Kate, they are quite good like this… hmm… I am happy that Maria found a good man… hmm, that's it…"

Kate wore a bewildered expression. What on earth was she talking about?

"About Elsa…" On the other side, Li Ming hesitated for a moment. "I haven't found a breakthrough."

"Hmm? Do you really want to conquer her?"

"If I say I am completing a mission, would you believe me?"

"…? " Maria turned her head. "Li?"

"……It's nothing, just pretend I was talking nonsense, okay?" Li Ming said somewhat uncertainly.

In fact, he wasn't sure if this was really nonsense to him, or if he actually wanted to…

"I believe you."

"Eh?" Li Ming was stunned for a moment.

"After all, some of your abilities are just too mysterious. I've even started to suspect you're an alien…" Maria paused. "Elsa told me about your wounds… and those supplies you can just pull out a pile of at will. Li Ming, perhaps it's not reasonable for us to operate a tank alone, but you… are even more special."

"It seems that is indeed the case…" Li Ming shook his head. "I don't know if it's right to expose so much to you all, but I… I have no hostility toward you."

"If you had hostility, I wouldn't be alive right now." Maria smiled, turned her head back, and continued doing her own thing. "Thank you, Li."

"I just did what I felt was the right thing to do."

"But if it weren't for you, perhaps we would be being raided by a special forces team right now." Maria kicked him lightly. "Or hiding nowhere under the surveillance of drones."

"You guys could do those things too, right?"

"Our early warning response requires time, but you are different, Li. You did the right thing at the right time, it's almost like a god."

"But gods don't bleed."

"That's why I care more about your situation, whether from a utilitarian perspective or an emotional perspective."