8: Acquire a gold shop - massive funds

"Zhang Long! Take the men and smash open all the display cases! Collect all the gold jewelry, don't leave a single piece behind! Hurry!" Jiang Xin scanned the gold-glittering yet filth-covered jewelry scattered on the ground. There was not a shred of pity or hesitation in his eyes, only an absolute craving for resources.

"Understood! Commander!" Zhang Long immediately directed the soldiers. Some smashed them with rifle butts, others pried them open with combat knives, or ripped them apart with brute force, violently breaking open the sturdy bulletproof glass display cases one by one! The soldiers moved with agility, like well-trained robbers, stuffing gold necklaces, gold rings, gold bracelets, gold bars... everything into their tactical backpacks or makeshift shopping bags.

In less than ten minutes, the once glittering Huaguo Gold store had been completely looted, leaving only shattered glass and twisted metal frames on the floor. With a thought, Jiang Xin instantly "recharged" all the looted gold and silver into the system!

【Funds + 5600!】

The system notification sounded like music to his ears! Adding the 400 funds remaining from before, the total instantly reached 6000! Listening to the still-intense gunfire and zombie roars outside the store, the corners of Jiang Xin's tightly pursed lips could no longer be suppressed and curled upward, forming a smile filled with power and ambition. It worked!

His brain worked at high speed: current troop strength — 15 Conscripts (including Zhang Long), 2 Heavy Infantry, 1 Sniper, 2 Riot Troopers. Without hesitation, he immediately began mass-producing troops according to the "gold standard" configuration of the first elite squad: one squad consists of 8 Conscripts + 1 Heavy Infantry + 1 Sniper + 2 Riot Troopers = 12 personnel. He would directly fill out 3 squads!

"Summon: 3 Snipers, 2 Heavy Infantry, 6 Riot Troopers, 17 Conscripts!" As the mental command was issued, the 6000 funds were instantly wiped to zero!

The spawn point was set inside the Huaguo Gold store. White lights flashed in succession, and 36 fully armed, sharp-eyed new soldiers instantly formed up! The space inside the store was instantly packed, and the murderous aura almost solidified.

"Squad One, continue to follow me! We're going to the Phoenix Gold store next door!" Jiang Xin didn't pause for a moment, leading the high-morale Squad One soldiers who had just been summoned, rushing toward the Phoenix Gold store next door like a whirlwind.

The same script played out again! Breaking down doors, clearing the area with firepower, and violent looting! The gold jewelry from the Phoenix Gold store brought Jiang Xin another massive income of 5000 funds!

"Summon: 2 armored personnel carriers, 1 ifv!" 2400 funds were instantly deducted! Five minutes later, three brand-new steel beasts appeared on the somewhat crowded commercial street, accompanied by the distortion of space and the low roar of engines, drawing glances from the soldiers on guard.

"Summon the 5th combat squad (12 people)!" 4400 funds evaporated again! The newly born soldiers quickly integrated into the ranks.

Jiang Xin's gaze swept over the interface with only 600 funds left, without a hint of regret. He immediately arranged for a Heavy Infantry to board that ifv with more complex lines and a more formidable turret. A magical scene unfolded! As the soldier entered, the turret on top of the ifv rapidly deformed and reorganized. A short-barreled but significantly larger-caliber rapid-fire cannon rotated into place with a "click," its pitch-black muzzle exuding an aura of destruction!

【ifv (Heavy Infantry Mode): Main weapon upgraded to 50mm rapid-fire infantry cannon, ammunition capacity 100 rounds.】 The system information flashed by. This was the most powerful fire support pillar currently in Jiang Xin's hands!

Jiang Xin quickly calculated: the gold resource points in Enjiang County. The two gold stores on Ougong Commercial Street had been swept. The remaining few gold stores were located on Yingbin Avenue and the Wanda Mall on Xinjie Commercial Street, 5 kilometers away, and were in the complete opposite direction of the government building.

"Abandon Yingbin Avenue! Target: The bank branches along the street! Collect all gold reserves!" Jiang Xin decided decisively. Rescuing his parents was the core objective; he couldn't lose the big picture for the sake of small gains.

On both sides of the commercial street, the signs of several major state-owned bank branches were very conspicuous. Under the overwhelming firepower of five full-strength Red Alert squads (60 soldiers) as well as three armored personnel carriers and one terrifying ifv, capturing these bank branches, which only had ordinary bulletproof glass and a small number of security guards (who had turned into zombies), was as easy as taking something out of one's pocket.

The soldiers surged into the bank lobby like a black tide. They cleared out the scattered zombies with precise shots, and the Riot Troopers used special tools or brute force to break open the heavy vault doors (the branch vaults were not high-level) or the VIP safe deposit rooms. Soon, stacks of packaged small investment gold bars printed with the bank's LOGO were looted. Although it was only branch-level reserve, the quantity was extremely considerable.

【Funds + 11800!】

When the last gold bar disappeared from Jiang Xin's hand, the system funds had shockingly reached the astonishing figure of 12400! Adding the 600 remaining from before, the total was: 13000 funds!

Jiang Xin stood in front of the shattered main entrance of the China Construction Bank, with broken glass and scattered documents under his feet, and the air filled with the smell of bank note ink and a faint scent of blood. Looking at the five-digit funds in the system, a sense of pride in controlling power welled up within him. He already had five full-strength elite combat squads (60 men) under his command, only one step away from a company-level establishment (usually around 80-100 men)!

"What will promoting to Company Commander unlock?" This thought burned like a flame within him. Platoon Leader unlocked vehicles, so what about Company Commander? More powerful armor? Air force? His heart surged with excitement.

"Number 1!" Jiang Xin called out in his mind, "Summon 4 squads immediately according to the standard combat squad configuration!"

【Command confirmed. Summon: 4 standard combat squads (per squad: 8 Conscripts, 1 Heavy Infantry, 1 Sniper, 2 Riot Troopers). Total: 32 Conscripts, 4 Heavy Infantry, 4 Snipers, 8 Riot Troopers. Funds consumed: 9600. Remaining funds: 2800. Under construction... Estimated completion time: 20 minutes.】

The funds were instantly deducted. Jiang Xin suppressed his inner excitement, pacing back and forth at the bank entrance like a restless lion, lifting his wrist to check his watch from time to time. Every minute became exceptionally long. The gunfire outside gradually thinned, meaning the security forces had already controlled the area, but he had no time to spare for that; his entire focus was tied to the new power that was about to arrive.

Finally! Twenty minutes later, in the open space in front of the China Construction Bank, space fluctuated violently again! Forty-eight dazzling white lights erupted simultaneously like forty-eight miniature suns! As the light dissipated, forty-eight fully armed Red Alert Soldiers, with eyes as sharp as knives and exuding the aura of battle-hardened elites, stood neatly in formation! They silently integrated into the existing ranks, and the momentum of the entire team instantly surged, like a peerless fierce blade about to be unsheathed!

【Ding!】 The cold system notification sounded like a great bell, ringing directly in the depths of Jiang Xin's soul:

【Congratulations, Host! The number of combat units under your command has reached the standard company-level establishment!】

【Military rank promoted: Captain Company Commander!】

【Command authority upgraded!!】

【Special reward: Company Commander-level strategic supply crate × 1, airdrop procedure initiated!】

【Airdrop coordinates: Current location, 3 o'clock direction, 800 meters in a straight line. Estimated arrival time: 5 minutes. Please proceed to the coordinate point to receive as soon as possible! Repeat, please proceed to receive as soon as possible!】

Company Commander! Captain!

Although there was no unlocking of new units as expected, this "strategic supply crate" instantly ignited even greater expectations in Jiang Xin! In the Red Alert game, supply crates could contain Construction Yards, advanced technology, or even superweapons! apocalypse tank? prism tower? Or... a fighter jet that could let him soar through the sky?

Ecstasy instantly overwhelmed Jiang Xin! He almost jumped as he took out the high-powered binoculars, his fingers trembling slightly from excitement. He quickly adjusted the direction, aimed at the 3 o'clock position, set the magnification of the binoculars, and anxiously scanned the area 800 meters away with the crosshairs!

Streets, ruins, wandering zombies... His gaze swept across every corner like a searchlight, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, almost about to burst out!

"Where is it? Where is the crate?!" He muttered to himself, every cell in his body screaming with desire for the unknown reward.