Chapter 66: Forcing the Issue
Thick smoke and black mist, scorching heat engulfed the narrow corridor.Just as dozens of people were about to be wiped out by several Molotov cocktails thrown by Su Chen, someone with sharp eyes suddenly noticed several windows on the nearby wall!
"Hurry, there are windows over there!"
Like grasping at a last straw, everyone rushed toward the windows.
With a loud crash, the windows gave way.
Abyo and the others scrambled out through the narrow window one after another.
But the first person out let out a scream and rolled on the ground in agony!
Not far away, He Wang and Sun Yuan were lying in wait, holding compound crossbows, eyes fixed on them like predators!
Those who followed saw their comrade's miserable state and were shocked.
They quickly raised their hands, screaming hoarsely,"We surrender, don't kill us!"
But Su Chen had given a strict order — no surrender would be accepted.
He Wang, Sun Yuan, and the others just kept firing their crossbows relentlessly at those emerging from the corridor.
Gao Qiqiang's men completely collapsed.
They had no thoughts of resistance at all.
In the pitch-black night, in the pouring rain, they scattered like headless flies!
Luckily, the hotel layout wasn't complicated. By some stroke of luck, some of them managed to escape!
...
After the battle gradually subsided, He Wang and Sun Yuan led their men to clean up the battlefield.
After counting, seven or eight enemies had been burned to death inside the corridor.
Several others were shot dead on the spot by crossbow bolts as they tried to flee.
A few more were wounded and failed to escape.
The preliminary estimate was that Gao Qiqiang's casualties numbered around twenty.
"Hahaha, Brother Su, this was a complete and total victory!"
He Wang spoke excitedly over the walkie-talkie.
"All thanks to Brother Su's cunning strategy, we finally outwitted the enemy!"
Sun Yuan chuckled and added,"By the way, those bastards Zhang Ying and Zhou Jun were also captured alive!"
"That's perfect! Bring them to the lobby and gather everyone."
After giving the order, Su Chen put down the walkie-talkie.
Beside him, Liu Linger exhaled deeply, relieved after tonight's victory.
She wrapped her arms around Su Chen's waist, her eyes full of admiration."Ah Chen, you're really amazing!"
"I'm capable of much more than that," Su Chen said with a smile as he gently touched her cheek."Come on, let's go deal with those traitors."
The two left the Nomad building and arrived at the hotel lobby.
Zhang Ying, Zhou Jun, and several of Gao Qiqiang's men were tied up tightly and placed on the stage.
The surviving group, still shaken, stiffened when they saw Su Chen arrive and all called out in unison,"Boss Su!"
But Su Chen didn't respond. He only brought Liu Linger up onto the stage.
His face was calm, but his gaze was sharp as a knife as he scanned the crowd below.
Most people dared not meet his eyes and bowed their heads.
Su Chen nodded to He Wang and Sun Yuan.
The two signaled their men, who approached Gao Qiqiang's subordinates from behind and violently plunged their weapons into their backs.
"Ahhh…"
With several agonized screams, those men collapsed and after struggling briefly, stopped moving.
Cutting the grass without removing the roots will only let it grow back.
Though these men were ruthless fighters, they were still Gao Qiqiang's men — and Su Chen had no idea if any had second thoughts.
The safest way was to eliminate them all.
After disposing of Gao Qiqiang's men, it was time for the two traitors Zhang Ying and Zhou Jun.
Seeing the dead bodies in front of them, the two immediately cowered.
"Boss Su, please! Give us a way out!"
"We were just momentarily blinded!"
They frantically kowtowed and begged for mercy.
But Su Chen acted as if he hadn't heard them, sternly ordering He Wang,"Chop off their limbs, make them into human pigs, and hang them at the hotel gate!"
Killing them outright would be too easy.
Only cruel punishment and torment would instill fear in others.
Sure enough, seeing Zhang Ying and Zhou Jun punished so brutally in public, even survivors hardened by countless bloody scenes turned pale and nearly vomited.
But since Su Chen hadn't spoken, no one dared move.
They could only watch as the two were dragged away and hung at the hotel entrance.
After handling the traitors, Su Chen turned his gaze to the survivors.
He said coldly,"Most of you… have really disappointed me!"
"I provided you with supplies so you wouldn't starve."
"But when the enemy attacked, each of you chose to run!"
Shame crept over the survivors.
Only Zhou Xinhong, Li Dong, and a few others who fought bravely held their heads high.
"I hereby declare that anyone who fought to the death with the enemy tonight will have their待遇 upgraded."
"As for those who cowardly avoided battle tonight, all supplies will be stopped!"
At Su Chen's words, the crowd erupted in uproar!
Stopping all supplies meant starvation!
"We were scared and didn't dare to fight, but Su Chen can't just cut off our food!"
They felt deeply wronged.
But having just witnessed Zhang Ying and Zhou Jun's gruesome deaths, they dared not say a word.
"However, don't worry, I won't leave you without a way out."
Su Chen's tone softened as he continued slowly,"At dawn tomorrow, you will attack Gao Qiqiang and Abyo."
"As long as you're willing to fight bravely, I can restore your待遇!"
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.
Sending them to battle these ruthless men was truly forcing the issue.
Without waiting for any reaction, Su Chen took Liu Linger and left confidently.
"To be honest, this isn't Su Chen's fault — it's yours!"
He Wang shook his head with a sigh.
"Su Chen feeds and cares for you, yet when disaster strikes, you only think about saving yourselves."
"Now he's giving you a chance. Whether you take it or not is up to you!"
With that, He Wang ignored the rest and started handing out rewards to Zhou Xinhong, Li Dong, and other outstanding survivors.
Su Chen's so-called待遇 upgrade meant replacing every instant noodle meal with self-heating gourmet meals from Haidilao — spicy braised pork rice and hot pot — and one bottle of beer daily!
In the apocalypse, this was truly a feast!
Despite the bloodstains on the ground nearby, Zhou Xinhong and Li Dong ate heartily with no hesitation.