Chapter 75: False Peace and Hidden Snakes

Such a large-scale migration obviously attracted a massive influx of wandering zombies from the surrounding ruined structures.

However, not a single one managed to even reach the outer perimeter of the advancing convoy.

Moving silently beneath the thick snowdrifts and inside the hollowed-out sub-tunnels beneath the highway, One and her forty-three Elite puppets systematically cleared every single threat before it could even catch the scent of human flesh.

This silent massacre took place without a single survivor’s knowledge.

Although this invisible defensive ring saved thousands of ordinary humans from risking their fragile lives in open combat, it also had an unintended consequence.

Seeing miles of open snow entirely devoid of horrific monsters, many civilians began to naively believe that the apocalyptic wave was finally dying down and that the world was slowly returning to normal.

Naturally, there were certain ambitious individuals who gained far too much misplaced confidence because of this peaceful illusion.

In a heavy cargo truck positioned near the middle section of the long convoy, a group of burly men were laughing and talking loudly over the roar of the engine.

They were a ruthless crew of seasoned thugs who had managed to survive the initial outbreak in Lancity before taking refuge inside the Northern Settlement.

Most of them had secretly awakened combat or utility talents over the past few weeks, but they had carefully hidden their abilities from Mayor Vincious and Assistant General Jacob.

Their intention was to quietly consolidate their strength in the dark, waiting for the precise moment when the military grew weak enough for them to stage a bloody coup and take full control of the settlement’s resources.

However, they had never anticipated the sudden, terrifying appearance of the Rogues.

The arrival of Salma Al Mansari and her ruthless shadow legion had completely derailed all their carefully laid plans.

The sheer difference in raw combat power was so astronomical that these thugs had no choice but to swallow their greedy ambitions and lay low like quiet mice, terrified of catching the Rogue leader’s attention.

So, when the news had initially leaked that Salma and her little daughter were packing up to leave Lancity permanently, Nadir Sha’s crew had been ecstatic.

They had quietly celebrated in their barracks, believing their long-awaited time to reign over the settlement had finally arrived.

But they had never expected the foolish general to abandon the city walls altogether and follow right behind that terrifying woman with the entire civilian population in tow.

"Damn it, boss, what the hell are we supposed to do now?" A heavily built man with a deep, jagged scar running across his right eyebrow spat onto the floorboards, glaring at the man lounging comfortably in the far corner of the truck.

The man sat in a leisurely posture, entirely unbothered by the swaying motion of the vehicle.

He was dressed in a pristine, spotless dark suit that looked as though it had just been taken off a boutique mannequin, contrasting sharply with the filthy, rugged rags worn by the men around him.

To a clueless outsider, his smooth features, manicured hands, and calm demeanor might make him appear as a refined gentleman of high society.

However, he was far, far removed from anything remotely resembling a gentleman.

His name was Nadir Sha, once known as the most dangerous and elusive drug lord in the entire country.

On the exact day the apocalypse descended upon the world, he had been conducting a personal inspection of a massive underground distribution warehouse located on the outskirts of Lancity.

When the infection began to rise, Nadir Sha and his private syndicate had been uniquely prepared.

Stockpiling a private arsenal of heavy military-grade weaponry that rivaled the local police force, they had easily blasted their way through the early hordes.

They survived comfortably for a full week until the terrifying Feral variants began to emerge from the shadows.

That was the moment conventional firearms began losing their lethal efficiency, but it was also the exact moment humans started undergoing mysterious awakening rituals.

Nadir Sha had been among the very first humans in the region to awaken a talent, and his luck had been nothing short of monstrous.

He had unlocked an ultra-rare, SSS+ rank talent known as Absolute Domain.

When his domain was fully activated, his body entered a state of complete biological isolation, where no virus, no toxin, and no corruption could breach his flesh.

Even if a horde of zombies sank its fangs directly into his neck, the infection would be instantly negated by the absolute laws of his domain.

Riding on the back of this terrifying invincibility, Nadir Sha had gathered the surviving remnants of his criminal organization, feigning the role of helpless refugees to infiltrate the Northern Settlement and bide their time.

"Boss, I just got confirmed information from one of our contacts in the command truck," the scar-faced man continued, his tone laced with heavy frustration.

"The general received a transmission saying the main military army will reach Baidu in less than a month! If we merge with the main army, we won’t be able to do anything at all. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life being ruled by those self-righteous military bastards?"

Nadir Sha slowly turned his head toward the speaker, a subtle, elegant smile remaining fixed on his lips.

He raised a chilled can of imported beer to his mouth, taking a slow, deliberate sip before speaking in a smooth, velvety voice.

"Ruled by the military?" Nadir Sha let out a soft, amused chuckle, shaking his head slightly as if he had just heard a child tell a silly joke. "What an utterly ridiculous thought."

"Then what is your grand plan, boss?" the scar-faced thug asked, leaning forward eagerly alongside the rest of the armed men in the truck.

Instead of answering immediately with words, Nadir Sha reached into the inner breast pocket of his tailored suit jacket.

He casually pulled out an object, holding it up between his index finger and thumb for everyone in the truck to see.

It was an exquisite, dark green crystal that glowed with a sickening, pulsating inner light.

The faint, corrupting energy radiating from its polished facets was so dense that the air inside the closed cargo truck instantly grew heavy and ice-cold.

If Summer had been present in the vehicle, her crimson eyes would have glowed with pure greed, and her mouth would have salivated uncontrollably at the sight.

It was the corrupted core of a Lord-tier zombie.

The men in the truck gasped in unison, leaning back instinctively as a strange, primal fear washed over their minds just looking at the object.

"Boss... what in the hell is that thing?" the scar-faced man swallowed hard, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and fascination.

Nadir Sha kept his eyes fixed on the glowing green crystal, his smile broadening into something deeply sinister as he looked up to lock eyes with the scar-faced thug.

"Something that will grant you the power you so desperately crave," Nadir Sha purred softly, his voice echoing like a devil’s whisper inside the dark truck. "Something that can turn a weak, pathetic human into a true god among insects."