69: A strawberry conquered the mountaintop village

Reich fell into deep thought after hearing Wei Monk's words.

Recalling the beast tide attack from a week ago, he couldn't help but tense up, as that last attack had caused them heavy losses, significant casualties, and a rapid depletion of weapons and defensive supplies.

If another beast tide of similar scale were to occur, Mountaintop Stronghold might fall.

In other words, going down the mountain now carries risks, and not going down the mountain also carries risks; it truly is a dilemma.

Pan Han saw Reich's hesitation and understood most of it. It seemed that some strong measures were necessary.

"Lord Reich, I understand your concerns. We came here this time only because Wei Monk highly recommended it; he is someone I trust deeply. I believe you also trust him greatly, don't you?" Pan Han said slowly.

Reich didn't understand Pan Han's meaning, so he simply nodded in agreement.

"That's good. Since we all trust Wei Monk, I am willing to make a final offer for that trust."

Reich and Ma Ji immediately became interested upon hearing this.

Wei Monk looked bewildered, while Qin Zhong frowned, neither of them knowing what Pan Han was up to.

"Heshang, go drive our car up here. I have a hidden gift inside."

Wei Monk immediately ran down to the mountainside, where their car was parked.

About half an hour later, Heshang, with great effort, finally drove the car up.

"Lord, the car is here. It's parked at the entrance," Heshang said, wiping his sweat.

"Please wait for me a moment, everyone." Pan Han turned and walked away.

Everyone present was stunned, not knowing what else Pan Han could conjure up.

Pan Han went to the car's trunk, pretending to look for something, but actually taking out a box of strawberries he had purchased earlier from his spatial storage.

Originally, these were for him to eat, as he couldn't stand eating canned food all day long.

"Heh heh, let me show you what a true tycoon is!"

Pan Han walked into the meeting room with an arrogant swagger, opened the box, and arranged the strawberries one by one on the table.

Everyone quickly gathered around.

"Holy cow! Are these strawberries?!" Reich was astonished!

"Oh my god, are these fresh strawberries?!" Ma Ji was dumbfounded!

"Ah? Lord, you still have fresh fruit?!" Qin Zhong was on his knees!

"My goodness, these strawberries are still dripping with water!" Wei Monk just collapsed!

Terrifying!

Exaggerated!

It's just ridiculous!

After so many years in the apocalypse, who has ever seen fresh fruit anymore?!

If this stuff got out, wouldn't it cause a bloodbath among the major factions?!

Pan Han was not surprised by their reactions at all!

At this moment! He was a god!

"One per person! Taste it first as a sign of respect!" Pan Han gestured for everyone to eat the strawberries.

Everyone exchanged glances, no one daring to make the first move.

Pan Han, however, picked one up himself and put it in his mouth.

Pffft! Strawberry juice flowed down his mouth, and the scent of strawberries wafted through the air.

"It's real strawberry, see for yourselves!"

After seeing Pan Han eat one, everyone slowly awakened from their dazed shock, and cautiously took one each.

But they didn't eat them immediately; instead, they held them in their hands and smelled them carefully.

"Eat, eat, there's plenty of this stuff!"

Urged by Pan Han, everyone finally began to taste them.

Reich took a small bite first. The long-lost taste and sweetness of fruit made him intoxicated, and his soul felt as if it had been baptized.

Ma Ji had a similar reaction; she also took a tiny bite and savored it carefully.

Qin Zhong and Wei Monk were slightly better, eating half a strawberry in one bite. After all, they had witnessed Pan Han's magic before.

"This is really a strawberry! This is a real strawberry!" Reich closed his eyes, words could no longer describe his shock at this moment, and a drop of saliva from the corner of one eye couldn't help but flow down, sparkling brightly.

"It tastes just like the strawberries my dad grew!" Ma Ji was dumbfounded, unable to utter a word. She recalled that afternoon 20 years ago, the scene of her and her father harvesting strawberries together – that was her lost youth. Similarly, two streams of saliva flowed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes, and she cried until her face was tear-streaked.

For a long, long time, no one spoke in the meeting room, only Pan Han leisurely smoking.

"A box of strawberries for your entire Mountaintop Stronghold! You might make a huge profit, but I'll never lose!" Pan Han mused to himself.

"How about it? Lord Reich! Now we can talk again, can't we?!" Seeing that the other party had become a statue, Pan Han had no choice but to break the silence himself.

"Lord, you just said you have plenty of this stuff?" Reich, as if waking from a dream, remembered Pan Han's previous words and asked dazedly.

"That's right! As long as you submit to me, you can eat this every week." Pan Han confirmed again.

"Lord, we agree!" Reich and Ma Ji said in unison.

The situation was already very clear; there was no need for further discussion.

Encountering such a wealthy tycoon, not submitting now would be forcing a show-off.

One can survive in the apocalypse, but one cannot show off!

Whoever shows off gets slapped in the face!

"Very good! Welcome to Dawn Base. Next, let's discuss the details!" Pan Han was very satisfied with the answer.

"Understood, Lord Pan!" Reich immediately changed his tone and address.

Qin Zhong, on the other hand, looked triumphant, thinking to himself that he was among the first to follow Pan Han, and now he realized that choice was truly correct!

"I see your place here is easy to defend and difficult to attack, a rare and good location. You will leave a portion of your people to guard and reinforce it. This will be our second base."

"Lord, that's a great suggestion!" Wei Monk's heart blossomed with joy, seeing that both sides were about to become one family.

"Lord Pan! We have one last request, I wonder if you can grant it." Reich had somewhat recovered his senses now and remembered something.

"Oh? Speak."

"Can we not wear slave collars?"

Pan Han did not answer directly but began to consider the feasibility.

Wei Monk and Qin Zhong each had their own thoughts. Wei Monk himself was still wearing a collar; if Pan Han agreed to Mountaintop Stronghold's request, could his own also be removed?

Qin Zhong, on the other hand, was concerned about whether the safety risks would be controllable without collars.

"I cannot answer you for now; I need to go back and think about it," Pan Han replied.

He didn't really want everyone to wear collars either. He just hadn't figured out how to remove them.

"I was thinking before, what method to use to unite everyone. Relying solely on violent means like collars, I don't think it's sustainable. So, give me some time to make a plan." Pan Han's words were not only for Reich but also for Wei Monk and Qin Zhong.

"Lord, after we go back, I will devise a plan for your reference," Qin Zhong quickly stated.

When faced with the boss's command, the best way is to quickly agree.

"Very good. Although our Dawn Base needs to expand, expansion is not the goal. Changing this apocalypse is my ideal. Lord Reich, you will slowly come to understand me." Pan Han gave Reich another reassurance.

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord!" Reich bowed with cupped hands.

"Your place here needs reinforcement and troop division. Let's discuss these details next. Qin Zhong, take minutes of the meeting."