13: Clearing zombies from government building

While Jiang Xin was inside the cabin, sharing the relief of surviving the disaster and his worries about the future with his parents, Zhang Lei was leading the Red Alert Soldiers outside, clearing the zombies from the institutional complex.

The dull gunshots, the loud booms of rocket explosions, and the harsh friction of armored vehicles grinding over rubble combined into a symphony of death that pierced the thick walls of the office buildings. Many survivors, curled up behind filing cabinets, in pantries, or even locked inside toilet stalls, were startled by the sudden sounds of battle. They first covered their mouths in terror, then cautiously approached the dusty windows to peek out with fear and trepidation.

When they saw the Red Alert Soldiers on the street below—dressed in uniform military gear, in perfect formation, and moving as swiftly as cheetahs while clearing the stumbling living dead with precise firepower—a massive wave of ecstasy instantly shattered their nerves that had been strained for days.

“Comrade soldiers! Over here! There are people here! Please, come save us!” A middle-aged man slammed open a window, recklessly leaning half his body out while waving a white towel he had grabbed from somewhere, his voice hoarse and distorted with excitement.

“Waaa... Rescue army uncles! We're here! Come quickly... I haven't eaten for a whole day, I'm so scared...” In the building next door, a young girl's tender voice rang out, filled with endless grievance and the desperate hope of seeing salvation.

Then, as if igniting a chain reaction, windows were slammed open one after another. Pale, haggard faces worn down by hunger and fear appeared, and shouts for help rose and fell, merging into a wave of hope amidst despair.

“Save us!”

“Do you have food? Please, I beg you!”

“There are living people down here! Someone come quickly!”

Almost every institutional building hid a varying number of survivors—some with a dozen, others with dozens—all shouting desperately now as if grasping at a life-saving straw.

Zhang Lei's brow furrowed slightly under his helmet, his sharp gaze sweeping over the figures leaning out, a trace of imperceptible solemnity in his eyes. He raised a hand stained with gunpowder and dust and spoke deeply into his communicator: “All units, stay alert and continue to push forward! The objective remains the same!” He did not order a stop for rescue. Time was tight; Jiang Xin and his Guard Squad were still holding out for reinforcements at the Government Building, and meeting up was the current priority. He could not split his forces, nor could he let the troops get bogged down in a rescue quagmire that might slow them down.

“Copy that!” came the crisp response over the communicator. The soldiers did not hesitate; the weapons in their hands continued to spit tongues of fire, ruthlessly harvesting those decaying lives. Since the Red Alert Soldiers' ammunition could “refresh every day,” Zhang Lei had no need to conserve it. They could pour out firepower like water, tearing open a path in the most violent manner possible.

In less than half an hour, hundreds of zombies along the way were turned into severed limbs and broken bodies under the precise and fierce firepower. The silhouette of the Government Building finally appeared clearly before Zhang Lei's eyes. He didn't immediately order a full assault; instead, he raised his hand and made a gesture to “stop advance, guard the perimeter.” The troops halted instantly, surrounding the armored vehicles like a forest of steel, their muzzles pointing alertly in all directions.

Zhang Lei's gaze swept over the zombies lying dead on the ground, wearing various institutional uniforms, lingering particularly on the necks and wrists of the female zombies. He remembered the importance of funds to Jiang Xin. This was an institutional area, and the staff generally came from well-to-do families... A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he whispered into the communicator: “All platoons, take note: collect the gold and silver jewelry from the female zombie corpses. Move fast!”

“Understood!” The soldiers moved into action immediately. While maintaining their guard, they skillfully searched the corpses with cold, efficient movements, removing rings, necklaces, and earrings and dropping them into pouches they carried. Gold, in the Commander's hands, was power.

The Government Building stood twelve stories high, like a silent steel beast looming in the twilight. Zhang Lei looked up at the dark entrance and shattered windows, then contacted Zhang Long on the rooftop via the communicator: “Brother Long, we’ve reached the bottom. Should we fight our way in, or do you have a way to send the survivors down in waves?”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, as Zhang Long was clearly weighing the options quickly. He glanced at Jiang Xin, who was observing the troops' movements beside him. The Commander nodded slightly, his gaze conveying a certain message. Zhang Long understood instantly: the Commander needed gold! This institutional area was a “rich mine”! If they could clear the zombies from the entire building, the harvest would definitely not be small!

“second lieutenant Zhang!” Zhang Long’s voice came through the static, clear and decisive. “Clear the entire building! We’ll work together from the inside and outside, sweeping from top to bottom! Be sure to collect all ‘resources’!”

“Right! I’m moving out immediately!” Zhang Lei understood perfectly and immediately issued the orders: “First Platoon, Second Platoon! Objective: Government Building! Clear it floor by floor! Third Platoon! Responsible for perimeter security, clear any remaining threats, and continue collecting gold and silver jewelry! Move!”

The sounds of intense combat rang out again, this time echoing inside the building. The soldiers formed tactical squads, providing leapfrog cover as they pushed upward floor by floor. Gunshots, explosions, and the roars of zombies collided violently in the empty corridors and offices. Occasionally, these were punctuated by the surprised cries of survivors being found. Time slipped away amidst the smoke and blood, as the setting sun sank completely below the horizon and dusk fell.

By the time Zhang Lei led the last group of soldiers to kick open the heavy iron door of the rooftop, it was almost dark. The soldiers turned on the tactical lights on their helmets for illumination. He finally reunited with Jiang Xin, who was protected by the Guard Squad. Jiang Xin’s face showed fatigue, but seeing Zhang Lei arrive safely, a clear light of relief shone in his eyes.

“Brother Lei, thank you for your hard work!” Jiang Xin stepped forward and gave Zhang Lei a firm hug.

“Brother Jiang, you’re being too polite with me!” Zhang Lei’s voice carried a hint of imperceptible relaxation.

After the pleasantries, Jiang Xin immediately began deployment: “Everyone, listen up. Shrink the defensive line and focus on guarding the Government Building! Establish a defense based on the structure!”

Late at night, in a corner of the rooftop.

After confirming no one was paying attention, Jiang Xin and the Guard Squad quietly retreated to a leeward shadow. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air, which carried the scent of smoke and blood. Just then, No. 1’s emotionless voice rang directly in his mind:

“Congratulations, Commander, on achieving: Butcher of Ten Thousand (Cumulative zombie kills: 10,000)!”

“Congratulations, Commander, on achieving: Light of Sanctuary (Cumulative survivors rescued: 100)!”

“Achievement Reward: +5,000 Funds!”

“5,000!” Jiang Xin snapped his eyes open, his heart leaping with massive surprise. A genuine smile finally appeared on his face, which had been tense for days. This was truly help in a time of need! Combined with the heavy gold and silver jewelry the troops had collected along the way during the day, the system funds instantly soared to 8,500! Without any hesitation, he immediately pulled up the system interface in his mind and issued construction orders to No. 1:

hind attack helicopter x1 (Cost: 3,500)

Produce: Conscript x48 (Cost: 48*100=4,800). Military Dog x1 (Cost: 200)

Total Cost: 6,500. Remaining Funds: 2,000.

What he needed urgently now was manpower! Reliable soldiers who could stand guard and form the foundation of a defensive line! As for heavy firepower? The six armored personnel carriers equipped with 20mm autocannons and the ifv with its 50mm infantry gun parked downstairs were enough to handle ordinary threats, not to mention the two “hind attack helicopters.” Jiang Xin cautiously set the “spawn point” for the new units on the building’s rooftop—this way, when the reinforcements appeared, they could be explained to the survivors below as “airborne troops.”

Before long, a low and powerful roar of rotors approaching from the distance tore through the silence of the night. A massive gust of air swept down from the rooftop, making clothes flutter. Then, under the suspicious and uncertain gazes of the survivors, accompanied by heavy footsteps, squads of fully armed Conscripts with resolute expressions emerged from the stairwell in neat formations like a steel torrent. Following at the very back was a Military Dog with sharp eyes and its tongue out, guarding the surroundings. They moved swiftly with clear objectives, heading straight for the first-floor lobby to assemble.

County Magistrate Luo, who had been restless all this time, saw this “fresh force” that had seemingly dropped from the sky with top-tier equipment, and a light of wild joy immediately burst from his cloudy eyes. The more troops there were, the more guaranteed his safety would be! He almost jumped up, a fervent and flattering smile plastered on his face as he hurried toward the officer leading the way, who wore the rank of a second lieutenant. He reached out his hand from afar, his voice exaggeratedly excited: “Oh! Fantastic! Finally, you’ve arrived! I am County Magistrate Luo of Yongjiang County! On behalf of all the surviving cadres and masses of the county, I thank the army for its timely support! You’ve worked hard, comrade! Which unit are you from?...”

However, the second lieutenant officer named Li Hong acted as if he didn't even see the hand extended in front of him, and completely ignored County Magistrate Luo’s enthusiastic “speech.” His eyes were sharp, his pace never faltering as he brushed right past County Magistrate Luo with an icy aura that warned others not to approach. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he stopped precisely in front of the Guard Squad leader, Zhang Long, and snapped a standard military salute, his voice loud and powerful:

“Reporting, sir! second lieutenant Li Hong, leading 47 soldiers and one Military Dog, has arrived as ordered to provide support! Please provide instructions!”

Zhang Long straightened his back, his gaze steady, and returned the salute just as crisply. His voice was deep and full of power: “Good work, Lieutenant! Fall in and await orders!”

This scene caused the entire first-floor lobby to fall instantly silent. All the survivors' gazes focused on County Magistrate Luo, whose face had turned pale in an instant. His extended hand was still frozen in mid-air, and the smile on his face had hardened into an extremely embarrassing, distorted expression. His lips trembled, but he couldn't say a single word. However, he was also a smart man; knowing that they didn't care for him, he stopped trying to suck up to them.