151: trade

The members of the Honors Conferment Group spent two rather relaxing days at Lujiang Base. Led by the Lujiang Base Evolvers, they took a chinook helicopter to tour the scenic Stalactite Caves, visited the famous Lujiang Camellia Oil Plantation Ridges, and tasted various mutated beast meat delicacies, experiencing firsthand the vigorous vitality and order of this land in the apocalypse.

Lujiang Base, the top floor of the Commander's residence.

Sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling into the simple office. Only Jiang Xin and Zhang Lei were in the room.

Jiang Xin stood by the window, overlooking the base below, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the window frame as if weighing something. After a moment, he turned around and looked at Zhang Lei, who was sitting leisurely on the sofa, eyes closed as if feeling the flow of energy within his body.

"Brother Lei," Jiang Xin spoke, his tone suggesting a discussion, "there's something I need to trouble you to make a trip for."

Zhang Lei opened his eyes, a glint of light seemingly flashing through them. He grinned and leaned forward, appearing very relaxed. "Brother Jiang, just say it! Why be so polite with me? Even through fire and water, it's just a word from you." The brotherhood between them no longer needed many words to embellish.

Jiang Xin sat down beside Zhang Lei. "It's like this: hasn't our research center successfully developed an Anti-virus Serum? Although it can't reverse an infection yet, it's enough to prevent infection from common zombie scratches. I want to... use this to make a deal with the National Government in exchange for some gold."

Zhang Lei took the document and scanned it quickly, a look of interest appearing in his eyes. "Exchanging serum for gold? That's a great idea! This can greatly speed up our capital accumulation." He continued, "The gold reserves in small places certainly can't compare to the Kyoto Head Office. Brother Jiang, how do you plan to exchange it?"

"My initial plan is to offer 1,000 doses of the Anti-virus Serum in exchange for one ton of gold." Jiang Xin tapped his finger on the table, emphasizing, "What do you think of this ratio?" One ton of gold meant a million in system funds, a huge sum sufficient to instantly produce several thousand soldiers.

Zhang Lei stroked his chin and thought for a moment. "The ratio is fine. This serum is definitely strategic material for the National Government, worth a fortune. However..." He frowned slightly, showing a hint of concern. "Will our massive exchange for gold—a precious metal that seems 'useless' in the apocalypse—arouse suspicion from certain people in the National Government? After all, we have quite a reputation now, and a tall tree attracts the wind."

Jiang Xin had clearly considered this issue long ago. He nodded steadily. "I've thought about that. The excuse is ready-made—we'll say that our cutting-edge equipment like Mechas and apollo fighter jets requires a large amount of specific rare metals as materials. It doesn't have to be gold; others like silver, platinum, iridium, or palladium would also work, but gold has high value and density, making it easy to transport and store, so we prioritize it. This reason should be plausible."

"Brilliant!" Zhang Lei's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "This reason is perfectly logical! As expected, Brother Jiang, you've thought of everything!" With his doubts gone, his mind immediately became active, and an eager excitement appeared on his face. "Then leave this task to me! It just so happens that I've wanted to visit Kyoto Base for a long time to see how many experts are hidden under the National Government's command!" He clenched his fist, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound, his eyes burning with a thirst for battle. There were too few people in the base who could be his opponent; Tanya, also a Tier 3, had recently gone into seclusion to comprehend new abilities, which had left him feeling quite stifled.

"I was planning to send you." Jiang Xin gave a knowing smile, knowing Zhang Lei's combative nature all too well. "The waters in Kyoto are deep; you can keep the situation under control if you go. Tell me, who else do you want to take as your assistants?"

Zhang Lei pondered for a moment. "I'll take Yang Ning, Shen Nan, Wang Kun, and Gold Dragon." He didn't choose the earliest core members like Li Wei, Yang Wen, Chen Hao, or Li Ang. They now held high-ranking positions and were responsible for important matters, making them difficult to reassign easily.

Among the people he picked, Yang Ning had been on missions with him for quite a while, and his strength was very impressive. Like Chen Hao, his Superpower could enhance Mechas. In a pure Mecha battle, even Blaze Ash and Yang Yi were no match for him, as their spell-based Superpowers didn't adapt well to Mechas. Shen Nan's transformation ability also had immense potential, with top-tier speed, strength, and endurance.

Wang Kun and Gold Dragon were skilled civilians brought out when they first started in Yongjiang County. They had been fighting with the army all along, and their strength was very good; they had now been trained to Tier 2.

"Alright, you decide on the personnel. I'll have the serum prepared as soon as possible." Jiang Xin nodded in agreement... Welcome Hotel.

Zhang Lei found Li Xian and Ye Anhe.

"You two, have you enjoyed yourselves in Lujiang these past two days?" Zhang Lei walked up with a smile and asked in a relaxed tone. He had specially arranged personnel and helicopters to take them sightseeing, fulfilling his duties as a host and giving plenty of face to the National Government.

After the last lesson, Li Xian was exceptionally polite to Zhang Lei, even a bit constrained. He quickly said with a forced smile, "We did! Very much so! Thank you for your warm hospitality, Officer Zhang Lei. The scenery and people of Lujiang have truly opened our eyes!"

Ye Anhe was much more graceful. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhang Lei, with undisguised admiration and a faint, hard-to-detect attachment. She said brightly, "More than just enjoying ourselves, it was a total surprise! The Stalactite Caves, the tea mountains... and so many new and interesting things... Officer Zhang Lei, your arrangements were too thoughtful!"

"I'm glad you had a good time." Zhang Lei smiled and got straight to the point. "I just received notice that the National Government is urging you two to return and report for duty as soon as possible. I think it's better if we set off today, what do you say?"

"We're leaving today?" Hearing this, a visible flash of disappointment and reluctance appeared in Ye Anhe's eyes. Her tone dropped a few notches, and her gaze subconsciously drifted back to Zhang Lei.

"Yes," Zhang Lei nodded, as if not noticing her girlish sentiment, and continued, "I will personally escort you back to Kyoto Base this time. It just so happens that I have some military matters to discuss with the relevant departments of the National Government in Kyoto." He didn't explicitly mention the details of the serum trade.

"Officer Zhang Lei, you... you're personally escorting us?" Ye Anhe's gloom instantly turned to joy. Her cheeks even flushed slightly from excitement, and her voice carried a hint of cheer. "That's wonderful! With you along the way, we'll be completely at ease!"

Beside her, Li Xian also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With this great deity escorting them, their safety was absolutely guaranteed.

"In that case, please pack your bags as quickly as possible. The plane is already on standby at the airport," Zhang Lei said resolutely... Lujiang Base.

Air Command Center Airfield.

Two apollo aerospace fighters stood ready, quietly parked on the takeoff platforms.

Under guidance, the members of the Honors Conferment Group boarded one of the fighters. Meanwhile, Zhang Lei, along with more than twenty Evolvers including Yang Ning, Shen Nan, Wang Kun, and Gold Dragon, boarded the other fighter.

Yang Ning wore a specially made combat uniform, his gaze steady. Shen Nan's face also carried a hint of anticipation for Kyoto Base. Wang Kun and Gold Dragon were checking their equipment, their expressions focused and sharp.

Zhang Lei stood on the magnetic hatch door, took one last look at the base, nodded to Jiang Xin and Zhang Long who were seeing them off, and then entered the cabin.

The hatch door slowly closed.

"Hum—"

A low energy hum sounded as the Gravitational Field Modulation Engines beneath the Apollo Fighters started. A ghostly blue light lifted the massive fuselages, which rose steadily and vertically, hovering several meters above the ground.

"Depart!"

At Zhang Lei's command, the rear and underwing thrusters of both fighters simultaneously blasted out dazzling streams of particles!

"Boom!!!"

A powerful sensation of being pushed back into their seats followed. The silver fighters were like two bolts of lightning tearing through the sky, instantly accelerating and breaking the sound barrier. Trailing long plumes of fire, they raced northward—toward the heart of Huaxia, the direction of Kyoto Base!