"Although it’s not good to take the initiative to attack, this time we need to push the defense line outward. Teacher Yu, where is Teacher Xiaoyu?"

Zhang Su looked at Zhao Dezhu and Yuwen.

"Qingqing is helping with the inventory. Do you need her for something?" Zhao Dezhu pointed in the direction of the warehouse.

"That’s right, Zhuzi, have your wife come over, and also get Liu Tianji to come here."

"Sure thing!"

Zhao Dezhu took out the walkie-talkie, communicating within Celestial Horse Island. Even if the person being summoned didn’t have a walkie-talkie, the people around would immediately notify them.

In less than three minutes, Yu Qing and Liu Tianji entered the dining hall one after the other.

Once everyone was present, Zhang Su got straight to the point: "With the bomb expert, along with Xiaoliu and Luezi, both skilled with electronic devices, here, I now need you to create a batch of remote-controlled bombs. Without interference, they need to be detonated remotely at a distance of at least one kilometer. Can it be done?"

"No problem."

"The conditions are sufficient, Brother Su."

"I-I can do it..."

Both Yu Qing and Wu Lue were mentally prepared, but Liu Tianji was clueless, not knowing why they suddenly needed remote-controlled bombs, but he nodded in agreement.

Zhang Su saw the trio agree wholeheartedly and nodded. Then he looked at Yu Qing and said, "I need a few special remote-controlled bombs. The bomb itself doesn’t need to have much power, and it should have a section for adding liquid. Do you understand what I mean?"

Everyone’s face turned serious; regular remote-controlled bombs were nothing, but that thing was a true weapon of mass destruction.

Liu Tianji couldn’t help but frown and ask, "Brother Su, are you planning some kind of attack, can I know about it?"

"Attack is an act of aggression. I’m just doing this for defense, don’t overthink it. These bombs, along with the outposts in Satellite Village, can extend our defense line four to five kilometers outward at least. If enemies come, we can strike them from afar before they even get close to Celestial Horse Island!"

Looking southward, Zhang Su spoke slowly, then shifted his gaze north and said, "Not only can we guard against humans, but we can also use this method to deal with annoying hordes of corpses!"

If possible, dealing with corpse hordes is best done with cold weapons. But if time is short and efficiency is needed, a bomb will do just fine.

"Um..." Yu Qing raised her hand like one of the students she used to teach, "Brother Su, you want to use the bomb to trigger that, right?"

Zhang Su knew exactly what she meant by "that," so he nodded.

"In that case, there’s no need to reserve a section; you can just drop it onto regular explosives. You wouldn’t put too much, right?"

Yu Qing asked with a strange expression.

The power of Venom Liquid was fresh in her mind, was there really a need for a specially reserved filling mechanism? Was he really planning to hand-craft a nuclear bomb...

Zhang Su helplessly shook his head, "No, it might evaporate!"

"Ah... sorry, I didn’t consider that situation." Yu Qing awkwardly laughed, "Then... Brother Su, there’s no time to lose. I’ll go find Sister Xiaoshan to get the materials and start immediately. If you have any demands, feel free to let me know or have my dad and Zhuzi tell me."

Yu Qing put her hands in her jean pockets, having fully adapted to life in the apocalypse, her personality becoming more decisive and efficient, and her growth was obvious.

"Okay, Xiaoliu, Luezi, you go together. The faster, the better. Be careful, alright, don’t cause any explosions in the camp!"

Zhang Su, not entirely at ease, watched them nod as they left and reminded them once more.

"Don’t worry, Brother Su!"

The technology trio left together, while Zhang Su continued discussing detailed fortification plans for the camp with Yuwen and others.

In the cold weather, the sunsets early, and dusk fell before anyone realized it. In Celestial Horse Island, smoke began to rise from Little Lucky’s kitchen chimney.

In contrast to the tranquil and serene Celestial Horse Island, the Sun City Pedestrian Street behind Qin City District’s Lego Mall appeared somewhat tense.

Before the catastrophic event, Sun City was an old pedestrian street in Qin City, gathering many brand stores and a dedicated food street.

Four or five years ago, it was the go-to place for many young people and nearby counties to shop in Qin City. However, as other commercial areas rose, Sun City Pedestrian Street gradually declined, with a very high vacancy rate among shops. While not as exaggerated as ’nine out of ten empty,’ six or seven out of ten being unoccupied was still quite common!

At the onset of the disaster, the shops on this street weren’t yet open, and no one was shopping, enveloping it in extreme solitude. Nestled between buildings, it had remained relatively intact.

Due to its proximity to Lego Mall, the pedestrian street has now become a functional facility of the Survivor Alliance, neatly organized. Though not comparable to the pre-disaster days, standing on the street feels devoid of the apocalyptic atmosphere, reminiscent instead of the Great Depression era with entirely empty shops.

Liao Youzhi had previously planned to establish the alliance’s entertainment industries on the street but had to pause the plans due to unexpected freezing temperatures, focusing instead on heating problems. Currently, this area is mainly used as a training ground for the alliance and hosts a very important trading post, housed in Sun City’s only underground mall.

"Welcome, Civilization Guardian brothers. Good evening, Chairman Li, the leader has been waiting for you, please."

An upright member of the Leader’s Guard Team from the Survivor Alliance gestured with a hand to the man getting off the car.

A row of five cars before him, with people disembarking one by one—twenty in total. Every car was packed, each person fully armed and vigilant post-deboarding, without any hint of relaxation—except for one individual.

"Haha, your alliance’s quite lively tonight."

Li Zongkai wore a long woolen coat with a wool sweater underneath, a black scarf draped on his chest, and an old-fashioned felt hat atop his head, resembling more of a pre-disaster business association chairman than a faction leader in the apocalypse. Given he indeed held an official position before the catastrophe, he now carried on as a chairman.

The only somewhat apocalyptic characteristic was probably the submachine gun hanging at his waist.

Soon, five members of the Civilization Guardian flocked around Li Zongkai, arranging themselves defensively as they tightly protected him in the center.

"Isn’t that the Little Eagle Association’s cars over there?"

Li Zongkai didn’t head directly towards the banquet area but pointed to four cars parked in a dim spot not far away.

"That’s right, Director Liu of Little Eagle Association has already arrived."

The Guard Team member responded truthfully.

"Young man, besides the Little Eagle Association and our Civilization Guardian, is there anyone else here tonight?"

Li Zongkai pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. After taking one, he handed the pack to the Guard Team member, smiling as he inquired.

The Guard Team member didn’t hesitate, pocketing the cigarettes, and replied with neither humility nor arrogance, "The Apocalypse Corps brothers will also be here."

"Hmm, it’s been a while since I saw Director Liu and Director Yang. Haha, tonight’s truly a grand event in Qin City, with all of North City’s powers gathered!"

With that, Li Zongkai dusted off his coat and walked towards the illuminated dining hall.

The Survivor Alliance proudly claimed to occupy the northern part of Qin City, merely because its headquarters coincidentally lay directly north in the Qin City District; some survivor camps lie to the northeast and northwest directions. Although their population is not as numerous as the Survivor Alliance, their strength is notable.

Contemplating, Li Zongkai headed toward a luxurious restaurant not far away, bearing the signage of Nine Tripods Manor.

Before the disaster, Nine Tripods Manor was a high-end restaurant specializing in fish cuisine. Its green stone exterior appeared quite solemn, with an average starting price per person of three hundred, typically a venue for business dinners. Though it opened in a commercial surrounding not quite complementing it, its business remained brisk due to nearby office buildings.

Now, it had become the Survivor Alliance’s territory, where Liao Youzhi liked to host heads of other camps, providing great face.

Forces occasionally transacting in Qin City also would dine at Nine Tripods Manor, and while it’s certainly not as before, it remains quite a respectable dining establishment in the apocalypse.

With survival secured, survivors within the city yearn to return to their former lives, striving to catch up in every aspect.

"Civilization Guardian’s Mr. Li has arrived!"

Before Li Zongkai even reached the entrance, two people stationed at Nine Tripods Manor’s heavy double doors pulled them open, practicing due etiquette.

Regarding these superficial formalities, Li Zongkai merely scoffed, without any relaxation in response to the other’s politeness but instead smiling as he softly reminded his people to stay cautious—it seemed to the others as though he was praising their formality.

Li Zongkai brought a total of five people to the banquet, while the remaining fourteen dispersed throughout Nine Tripods Manor for defense. The apocalypse, like a time of war, necessitated multiple interactions, yet security remained imperative.