Published: February 7, 2025
Ye Zhongming did not doubt what this person was saying. In his previous life, he had indeed heard information about the sea beast tide.
However, he remained silent, waiting for the person to continue speaking. Many matters do not conclude simply when someone finishes narrating the specifics; sometimes, the key moment of conversation comes after everyone understands what might happen.
Sure enough, seeing that Ye Zhongming made no response, the captain realized that the young man in front of him was not only exceptional in terms of combat power but was also someone who wouldn't be easily taken advantage of.
He quickly adjusted the tiny bit of deception he had left in his heart and began to recount some details that the big shots from the Cloud Port Alliance had given him before he came here.
Ye Zhongming listened patiently, but as he continued, his expression grew increasingly grave.
He understood that rather than seeking allies everywhere, the Cloud Port Alliance did not intend to give too much in return. In other words, they held a very ambiguous attitude regarding whether it was necessary to defend Cloud Port.
If a lot of people came to help and their strength was sufficient, they would defend it. But if not many people came, or if hardly anyone did, then they would abandon it. They didn’t care about Cloud Port anymore.
At first glance, this seemed a bit insincere, but the captain kept emphasizing a phrase: "When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold."
What the Cloud Port Alliance essentially meant was: it would be best if you came to help me. I don’t mind giving you a little benefit. But if you don’t come, I won’t hold out here to bear the brunt for you. I’ll just leave, and when the sea beast tide comes, everyone can run away just like me. No one will care about any bases or strongholds.
This was the intention of the Cloud Port Alliance, and having such a plan was the most normal mindset in the apocalypse.
Bases are indeed very important, but compared to life, they mean nothing. As long as one is alive, a new base can be established anytime.
Cloud Port is a coastal city with a large population, resulting in a massive zombie horde. Furthermore, the mutated life forms in the ocean far outnumber those on land, providing a nearly inexhaustible source of magic crystals and materials. One could say it is the most suitable place to establish a powerful base.
However, once an event like the sea beast tide, which is even more terrifying than the beast tide on land, breaks out, then the coastal base becomes a headache.
Even a decade after the apocalypse, it is rare for any faction to withstand the sea beast tide. Magic crystal weapons only provide people with the capital to resist mutated life forms; they are not a guaranteed win.
Now, nearly a year into the apocalypse, Cloud Port had a good grasp of this "measure." Thus, they began negotiating with the surrounding factions, without any intent to force or threaten, only presenting the pros and cons based on factual foundations.
As for how to weigh these options and make decisions, it would depend on how these factions thought after understanding the situation.
Ye Zhongming contemplated the conditions the captain put forth; they weren’t too favorable, but also not entirely bad.
"Is there a team called 414 in your area?"
Huh?
The captain was taken aback, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic. After a moment of stunned silence, he replied, "Well, I’m not too sure. I need to check for you. But even if there is, it shouldn’t be large; otherwise, I would definitely know about it."
Ye Zhongming responded with a hum, a cold face surfacing in his mind.
"Besides coming to me, do you have any other tasks?"
Ye Zhongming's question jumped again, and the captain stammered, "We also need to see if there are other factions in Ying City that want to help."
"You don’t need to do that." Ye Zhongming waved his hand with authority, leaving the captain stunned.
What do you mean, no need? Interfering with my freedom?