Chapter 380: Joining the Black Shield Police Department? Zhou Yuan’s Resolve, Departure

Just as the Big Gold Tooth Brotherhood’s thugs were busily lighting more bonfires and heating their food, Night Owl, Yu Yuan, and Zhou Yuan arrived at the room where Big Gold Tooth was staying.

Big Gold Tooth already knew what had just happened and showed an excited expression. With Night Owl’s support, he stood up.

“Boss, will you help us? From now on, me and my brothers will follow you, and we won’t slack off.”

As he spoke, cold sweat poured from Big Gold Tooth, his face pale. Clearly, the chill and fever had taken a serious toll on him.

Yu Yuan took out a bottle of green, viscous liquid and handed it to Night Owl.

“This will help him recover quickly and can treat the illness too. Have him drink it.”

Yu Yuan had the Doctor prepare this concoction from the juice of the Green-haired Seaweed. The Green-haired Seaweed could restore bodily functions, so it suited Big Gold Tooth’s condition. More importantly, at this critical moment of bringing the Big Gold Tooth Brotherhood under control, Big Gold Tooth could not be incapacitated.

Big Gold Tooth didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the bottle and gulped it down without a moment’s pause. Yu Yuan found himself liking the guy a little more.

Checking the time, Yu Yuan didn’t waste words and turned to Big Gold Tooth.

“Then let’s get to the point. How many of you are left?”

Big Gold Tooth looked to Night Owl. Night Owl’s face was grave. “There are 237 still alive now……”

Sss—

Although Yu Yuan had known in advance that the Big Gold Tooth Brotherhood had suffered heavy losses, he hadn’t expected the number to be this small. Yu Yuan looked at Big Gold Tooth and Night Owl.

“If you’re sure you want to defect, there’s no reason to stay here. After you eat and recover your strength, everyone will come with me……”

“Boss, where are we going? Most of the brothers don’t have enough clothing for a long move, and with the heavy snow blocking the roads out there……” Night Owl considered aloud.

“I’ve thought of that. But you’ve got no supplies here, no defenses. Staying means waiting to die. The place we’re heading isn’t far, it’s in the Eastern District.”

“Eastern District……” Big Gold Tooth and Night Owl both felt a jolt. Ever since the connection between the Aurora Animal Assistance Association and the Black Shield Police Department was exposed, the Eastern District had become taboo territory for many factions in Green Forest City. Only the most reckless Thug Prison still kept pressing attacks into the Eastern District. But the Thug Prison had the Mechanical Vanguard Society backing them, so it wasn’t comparable. Now, hearing that the very person they’d just pledged themselves to planned to take them to the Eastern District surprised them greatly. Their minds ran wild with speculation.

“Boss, the Eastern District is the turf of the Black Shield Police Department and the Aurora Animal Assistance Association, we……” Big Gold Tooth felt much clearer-headed, his mind sharper. A bold idea formed in his head. Yu Yuan didn’t bother denying the guess, because he didn’t have to. He admitted directly, “That’s right. I’m taking you to the Black Shield Police Department. You’ll be folded directly into the Black Shield Police Department……” At those words, Big Gold Tooth and Night Owl gaped. Then their hearts exploded with joy.

Although their feelings were complicated—until now they had viewed the Black Shield Police Department and the Aurora Animal Assistance Association as potential adversaries—the saying is true: only your rivals recognize your strength. The Black Shield Police Department was undeniably the benchmark across Green Forest City. Even before the Aurora Animal Assistance Association was exposed, the Black Shield Police Department’s combat strength had been far beyond what the Big Gold Tooth brothers could match. Otherwise, how could the Eastern District—the largest and most resource-rich area of Green Forest City—be held by the Black Shield Police Department? Now Big Gold Tooth and Night Owl’s emotions swung wildly like a roller coaster. One moment they worried about their brothers’ survival, the next they learned they were joining the Black Shield Police Department. It felt like street thugs enlisting in a formal army—they were being brought into the fold.

But the two quickly realized another thing. If the Black Shield Police Department belonged to the Aurora Animal Assistance Association, didn’t that mean this boss in front of them was from the Aurora Animal Assistance Association? Jackpot! They felt no awkwardness about switching sides. Previously, their Ring East City Resistance Alliance had opposed the Aurora Animal Assistance Association out of necessity; banding together was survival. If given the choice to join the Aurora Animal Assistance Association, who in their right mind would refuse?

Still, their looks toward Zhou Yuan grew strange. Night Owl especially felt bitter. So Zhou Yuan—who looked benevolent, with thick brows and kind eyes—had already joined the Aurora Animal Assistance Association and had been our inside man all along!

“Boss, I’ll go tell the men now and get them ready to relocate!” Night Owl immediately stood and hurried out, afraid Yu Yuan might change his mind if he delayed even a second. Zhou Yuan watched Night Owl leave, and his inner shock was no less than theirs. He had long suspected something about the Black Shield Police Department and the Aurora Animal Assistance Association. After all, when the Aurora Animal Assistance Association had its turbulent night, he personally held back the leaders of the other three factions in the Ring East City Resistance Alliance. But suspicion is one thing; he had no concrete confirmation. Now, hearing this news directly from the boss changed everything. Zhou Yuan recalled that the boss had earlier asked him and the President about joining the Pioneering Group. His instincts told him this was a chance to bind himself completely to the boss. If he missed this opportunity, he, Yuan Lang, and the Black Rock Caravan would regret it for life.

“No, I must go back and discuss this with Old Yuan. The situation in Green Forest City has already spiraled beyond our control.”

“The boss’s rule over Green Forest City is already a fact. Once the other factions fully come under the boss’s banner, the Black Rock Caravan will inevitably be marginalized—after all, even forces under the same boss are ranked. The Black Shield Police Department is clearly top-tier. Maybe joining the Black Shield Police Department, like Big Gold Tooth and the others, would be a good path.”

“With our current contributions, the Caravan brothers’ treatment wouldn’t be terrible either.” In seconds, Zhou Yuan’s mind ran through countless scenarios and settled on a plan: return and persuade Yuan Lang.

The Big Gold Tooth Brotherhood moved faster than Yu Yuan expected—perhaps the extreme cold disaster in recent days had left a deep psychological scar, or perhaps knowing they were about to join the Black Shield Police Department made them eager. In less than an hour, everyone had packed and were ready to relocate. In truth, there wasn’t much to take. Survival supplies were nearly gone, but they had more than twenty wasteland combat vehicles. However, the fuel had long since been drained and used as heating fuel. In the end, under the almost reverent gazes of the gathered men, Yu Yuan opened the Motel Main Guest Room. He moved all the weapons, gear, and ammunition the Big Gold Tooth Brotherhood could take into the main guest room, and put the seriously ill thugs inside. He also retrieved the fuel stored earlier in the main guest room to refuel all the vehicles. Only then, with Gigantified Zhi Zhi clearing a path, did the group cram into the wasteland combat vehicles and slowly drive toward the Eastern District. Thus began this extreme-cold relocation plan.