Shelter
Red Dust Main City.
A fleet of black cars covered in mud roared forward on the empty streets.
Huang Suyue sat in the back seat of the car, looking at the familiar buildings sweeping past out the window, a mix of emotions in her heart... She had finally returned after all.
The speed of the fleet wasn't slow. From deciding to turn back to returning into the city, it didn't take too much time. Fortunately, they were one step faster and didn't encounter the subsequently attacking Witchcraft Association, otherwise they probably wouldn't have been able to enter the city even if they wanted to.
Sky-high firelight reflected in the rearview mirror, continuously flickering. The direction of the city gate had already turned into a purgatory, with rolling black smoke connecting to the sky.
"Miss, we have already returned... What do you plan to do next?" Uncle Quan asked in confusion.
"...Stop the car."
"What? Now?"
The fleet slowly pulled over at a Crossroads. Huang Suyue pushed the door and got out. She carried a Leather Suitcase, her long yellow dress fluttering in the wildly surging wind at the street crossing, running straight towards several Police Officers who were evacuating refugees.
At this time, the Police Officers were shouting something at the top of their lungs to the numerous refugees, while pointing in a certain direction:
"See that intersection ahead? Turn the corner, there are stairs to an underground Shelter, go there."
"If that Shelter is full, head southeast. A few dozen meters away is a wine cellar, the underground area there can also hide people."
"Those Silver Phantoms aren't familiar with the terrain, they won't find the Shelters that easily. Once you get inside, you absolutely cannot make too much noise, understand?"
"Once you go in, you absolutely cannot come out again! No one can guarantee when those guys will appear on the road. If they see you and find the location of the Shelter, it will kill everyone inside!"
"Quick quick quick! Hurry up!!"
"..."
The residents coming from various towns outside the Main City were being orderly evacuated by the Police Officers to different locations, deeply afraid that if they ran a step too late, they would be attacked by those Silver Phantoms and their whole families would lose their lives.
Several Police Officers, referencing maps marked with various signs in their hands, were just about to turn around after sending off a batch of people when they saw a yellow-clothed figure running towards here.
"What's going on, why aren't you going to the Shelter yet??"
"Officers, I'm not here to take shelter." Huang Suyue stopped and spoke solemnly. "I am Huang Suyue, Chairman of the Huang Consortium. I want to buy an item from you all."
"Huang Consortium?" The Police Officers froze. From the corner of their eyes, they looked at the fleet beside them, their expressions somewhat doubtful. "What do you want to buy?"
"This."
Huang Suyue pointed at the map filled with marks in their hands.
"This thing isn't for sale." A Police Officer decisively shook his head. "I don't care who you are, this is a special period. Please immediately go to the nearest Shelter to take refuge!"
"No, listen to me, I want this map for another use! Red Dust Main City is too large, your manpower isn't enough to manage it, so..."
"The safety of the Main City is not an issue you need to worry about..."
"Give her one."
A deep voice came from a distance.
Everyone turned their heads to look, only to see Wang Jincheng, covered in injuries all over, dragging his exhausted body walking over. His gaze fell on Huang Suyue. "We still have quite a few of this kind of map, we aren't short of this one... Miss Huang is a famous philanthropist in the Main City. I believe she won't do things detrimental to the Main City."
"Director Wang??" Seeing the newcomer, the Police Officers immediately stood straight.
"Director Wang... Long time no see." Huang Suyue sized up Wang Jincheng. "How did you get injured like this?"
"Fought with a guy from the Witchcraft Association, almost died... But it's not a big problem." Wang Jincheng took a map from a Police Officer's hand and handed it to Huang Suyue. "I heard you left the city, but ended up coming back?"
"Yes, I want to do something for Red Dust."
Huang Suyue took the map, faint light flickering in her eyes. She immediately opened the small Leather Suitcase in her hand. "How much is this map?"
"No need."
Wang Jincheng waved his hand uncaringly. Then he seemed to recall something, squinting at Huang Suyue. "However, next time if you run into Six of Hearts again, remember to pass a message for me... The matter of him playing me, isn't over."
Huang Suyue froze for a moment, then holding the map with both hands, gave a deep bow to Wang Jincheng, and quickly ran towards the fleet.
Clang——
The car door closed.
"Miss, what are you..." Uncle Quan looked at the map in Huang Suyue's hands, asking blankly.
Huang Suyue had no time to explain to Uncle Quan. The short jog just now had already caused sweat beads to hang on the tip of her nose. Her eyes stared earnestly at the map in her hands, a sharp light flickering in her eyes, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Uncle Quan, let's go."
"Where to this time?"
Huang Suyue put down the map and spoke pausing after each word:
"Dinglu Consortium."
...
Dinglu Consortium, underground.
In the dim lighting, intricate roads intertwined with each other, like a magnificent underground palace. And at this time, in the central area of the underground palace, dozens of figures were gathered together, silently.
A large marble round table was placed in the center. Three lavishly dressed figures sat on three sides respectively. The incandescent lamp overhead trembled slightly along with the trembling earth, making the shadows of the three people on the ground sway unsteadily.
Dinglu Consortium Chairman Lu Yuanzheng, Paradise Consortium Chairman Pang Shan, Whale Shark Consortium Chairman Su Xiaohong.
Behind the three people were numerous highly oppressive bodyguards, like an unbreakable city wall shrouding the three. Further out, were countless shelves.
These shelves were almost entirely stuffed full of reserve supplies. Aside from canned goods, compressed biscuits, and other reserve food that could be kept for a long time, there were also Bread, fruits, rice, noodles, and other short-term improvement supplies. Right now, on the marble round table, a plate of crystal-clear grapes was placed for the three people to pass the time.
"How is the situation outside?" Su Xiaohong glanced back.
A bodyguard quickly walked forward and spoke softly:
"Just received news, those people from the Witchcraft Association have already fought to the eastern city gate... Currently, the people from Floating Life Painting are still resisting desperately, but the situation isn't looking good... I heard a batch of Silver Phantoms have entered the city."
"Silver Phantoms?" Pang Shan was alarmed. "Are they very powerful?"
"Roughly equivalent to Second-Tier or Third Tier Combat Power. Moreover, they all rely on vision to lock onto enemies. They shouldn't be able to threaten the underground Shelter in a short period of time."
Pang Shan finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. He looked back again at the bodyguards behind him who were on average Third or Fourth Order, his heart feeling increasingly steady... He leaned his whole body back on the chair, popping a grape into his mouth.
"Thankfully, we are safe."
"Isn't your safety brought about by our Dinglu Consortium?" Lu Yuanzheng coldly snorted, his expression somewhat gloomy. "If I hadn't taken you in, you guys would probably be like those civilians right now, squeezed in public Shelters... or exposed on the surface, liable to be annihilated by the Witchcraft Association's people at any time."