In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Ye Xiao's message was transmitted verbatim to the Xuan Nu fighter jet high in the sky via the tactical terminal.

"Ye Xiao's accent is getting more and more bandit-like."

Bai Lu gave an objective assessment.

"That's always been his style! Simple, brutal, but effective."

Su Ran continued, her gaze still fixed on the screen.

"That's exactly the effect we want. By directly and decisively shattering their pride, we can reduce the resistance to the subsequent promotion of the superpower system."

The gaze returns to the ground.

Mike pushed aside the guards blocking his way and strode to the edge of the pit.

He was nearly two meters tall and was a well-known strongman in the military camp before the apocalypse.

But even now, standing in front of this mecha that is over six meters tall, one still has to crane one's neck.

He even raised his hands, palms facing outwards, making a very standard tactical gesture of weakness.

He is a smart man.

The ability to assemble a force of 40,000 in the wasteland was not achieved through mindless recklessness.

The technological gap displayed by this mech made him completely incapable of forcibly taking it.

"Hey buddy, put that scary big knife down first."

Mike shouted in heavily accented Texas English as well.

"I am Mike, the commander of this survivor camp. Before the apocalypse, I was a captain in the North American National Guard."

He is now the highest-ranking official in this survivor camp.

I don't recall us ever provoking you.

Inside the mecha cockpit, Ye Xiao raised an eyebrow.

He originally thought that there would be a big battle after landing, and he was still thinking about how to handle the situation. He didn't expect to run into a polite and muscular man.

"You're quite composed."

Ye Xiao turned on the loudspeaker, and the translated mechanical electronic voice resounded throughout the entire square.

"I've already come knocking on your door, and you, as the boss, aren't you even worried?"

Mike's cheek muscles twitched violently twice.

How could he not be furious?

But he knew even better that an energy shield that couldn't be destroyed even by large-caliber armor-piercing rounds had a defensive capability that ordinary armor couldn't match.

"Commander Ye. We who survive in this wasteland have always held the broadcasts of Great Xia in high regard. We have also received Great Xia's global broadcasts."

Mike took a deep breath and played his biggest card.

"You have come to eradicate the mutated creatures and save humanity."

We are human beings, survivors.

You just said you were a vanguard officer. Since you're a regular army, you wouldn't attack your own countrymen, would you?

Ye Xiao let out a cold laugh.

"Stop trying to get too close. Great Xia has no shortage of compatriots."

The mech raised its right arm, and a three-meter-long high-frequency vibrating blade pointed directly at Mike's nose.

"Since you've heard the broadcast, you should know that Great Xia is going to launch a crackdown across the border. I'm currently carrying out a top-level mission."

His voice turned cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I'm here today to do only one thing: take over the No. 6 strategic grain reserve warehouse."

Mike's facial muscles twitched.

The expressions of the awakened leaders behind him also changed.

Take over the grain depot?

This is going to destroy their very lifeline!

"take over?"

Mike gritted his teeth, staring at the unyielding mech.

"How much are you taking?"

"You talk too much nonsense."

Ye Xiao answered directly, "Of course, all of them."

As soon as he said that, the group of leaders behind Mike went wild.

"Fuck you! You're dreaming!"

A mutant covered in red scales jumped out, pointing at the mecha and cursing loudly.

"This granary is the lifeblood of tens of thousands of us! You think you can just take it all away with a single word?"

"You've taken all the grain, what are we supposed to eat? This pile of yellow sand?"

"Exactly! Do you think you're God?! We'll die together, no matter what!"

The crowd was filled with indignation.

Mike turned his head sharply, glared at his men, and silenced their shouting.

He looked at the mecha again, his tone much firmer now.

"Commander Ye, this request is too much, absolutely unacceptable. If you take them all away, tens of thousands of us will only face certain death."

Mike held up one finger.

"We'll compromise. You can take half of the grain. The other half is our bottom line for survival."

This is the biggest concession I can make as the person in charge.

Don't force us to fight to the death.

The air was still for a few seconds.

"Creak!"

A piercing metallic scraping sound rang out.

Ye Xiao controlled the mecha with his left hand, slowly stroking the back of the long sword he gripped tightly in his right hand, sending sparks flying.

"It seems the negotiations have broken down."

Ye Xiao looked at the red radar dot on the holographic screen in front of him and laughed out loud.

"This matter still needs to be resolved by taking action."

He had no intention of reasoning with these people.

Su Ran's plan was originally intended to teach them a lesson so that it could be used to emulate them later.

All of the things mentioned above were also meant to incite hatred.

If they were to simply take away half of the grain, these people might later harbor illusions, thinking that the Great Xia Dynasty only compromised because they feared their fighting power.

"I'm in a hurry."

The sound from the loudspeaker suddenly increased in volume.

"You have three minutes to call for reinforcements. Call all the awakened ones in your camp who consider themselves strong."

Bring your toughest guys.

Ye Xiao maneuvered the mecha and slammed the long sword heavily onto the ground, shattering the concrete pavement.

"I can take you all down in ten minutes by myself."

Mike was stunned.

He felt he had already been humble enough in his attitude towards this enemy who had broken into the camp.

He was even willing to give up half of his life-saving food supplies to avoid disaster.

As a result, the other side not only refused to budge an inch, but also became so arrogant that they wanted to take on the entire camp's high-level combat force by themselves.

"Arrogant Easterners."

Mike snorted coldly, his knuckles cracking as he gripped the weight.

Since there's no way to retreat, the only option is to dismantle this iron lump.

"Guards, withdraw from the square! Seal off all exits!" Mike gave the order.

Whoosh!

The thousand armed guards, as if granted a pardon, retreated like a tide, quickly clearing out the vast central square.

Just two minutes later.

Immediately afterwards, heavy footsteps echoed from all directions.

Underground passage, warehouse roof, behind the watchtower.

Dozens of figures darted out one after another.

More than forty awakened individuals have all assembled!

These people were of various appearances. Some were covered in grayish-white rock armor;

Some people's arms transformed into sharp bone blades; others had their feet dangling in the air, surrounded by raging miniature tornadoes.

Some people even had half their bodies covered in thorny mutated plants.

More than forty people formed a huge encirclement, tightly surrounding the Cheng Ying mech in the center.

However, although the encirclement was complete, an eerie silence descended upon it.

No one dared to fire the first shot, and no one dared to take the first step.

The mech just stood there casually, without adopting any defensive stance, its battle sword even stuck in the ground beside it.

But the oppressive feeling that originated from the pinnacle of the Great Xia's industrial achievements was like an invisible mountain pressing down on the heads of every awakened one.

"I already said I'm in a hurry."

Ye Xiao's impatient voice boomed through the loudspeaker.

"Don't worry, I'll hold back! After I'm done with you, I still have to get to my next target."

He piloted the mech and slammed the three-meter-long sword heavily into the concrete ground.

boom!

"I'll give you a chance."

Ye Xiao looked at the various wasteland awakened individuals around him and threw out the bait.

"All forty of you come at me together. You don't need to win."

"If you can hurt me, or leave an impenetrable hole in this mech."

"I turned around and left immediately."

His tone was extremely arrogant as he made promises in public.

"And I guarantee that no other Great Xia person will ever break into this place again."