Snow is like a quilt covering the deserted streets.
Except for the snow removal workers who walked silently, the only noisy thing on the entire street was the cold north wind.
Oh no, there’s a great place to keep the spring energy alive.
People are noisy and partying here, releasing accumulated stress and passing boring time.
This wonderful place is the Prosthetic Leg Tavern. Although it has only been open for less than a month, it has conquered the hearts of all wastelanders with its high-quality drinks. In front of the wine table, the muscular mercenary stepped on the stool with his feet, drunkenly showing off the scars on his body. Girls in hot clothes are wandering in dark corners, waiting for tonight's prey. Gamblers put two tables together and played dice and poker...
Judging from these silhouettes, this place is no different from the Bullet Shell Tavern facing the street. The only difference is that the security here is very good, unimaginably good. But that was not the case when it first opened.
Wine is a huge profit wherever it is placed. The emergence of the prosthetic leg tavern has undoubtedly cut off the financial resources of the taverns on the entire street. Once you have tasted the beer with the aroma of wheat, I believe no one will be interested in that bad beer blended with industrial alcohol. Even the rich in the inner circle would occasionally come to this place to have a drink or two to warm their stomachs.
The huge profits naturally aroused the jealousy of peers. After intimidation and inducement failed, the owners of various taverns resorted to all kinds of dirty tricks.
Making trouble, framing, stealing...
However, those who used these methods obviously underestimated Zhou Guoping's ability. He used to be a bandit, and he was a veteran when it came to using dirty tricks.
Bribery, blackmail, arson...
After chopping off six dirty hands that reached out, those who were ready to make a move finally became cautious. Immediately afterwards, he spread the news: the owner of this store had an unusual relationship with the Ten-member Committee. After hearing the news, those who were still hesitating whether to take the risk finally gave up their evil thoughts. Accepted the fact that prosthetic leg taverns dominated the market.
In addition to good security, the design of the pub is also very user-friendly. The spaces on the second and third floors were converted into warm guest rooms, providing private space for men and women who "like each other". Release deeper levels of stress for exhausted wastelanders...
As usual. Zhou Guoping was wearing a gray suit, sitting casually on a wooden table, bragging familiarly to the mercenaries wandering around the wasteland. The boss was talkative and very popular with these drunkards. Even his barren bald head has become the signature of this pub.
Just like the old man at KFC.
As for why. That's because as long as someone talks about something that interests him, he will waive the bill for them.
"... In the North District of the city center, guess what I saw? It was a Mother Deathclaw! Hell, I just wanted to get close to the nuclear crater to see if there was anything valuable in it. —”
"Okay, buddy, the Deathclaw mother only goes back to the nuclear crater when she's laying eggs. They usually hide in the holes in winter. Your hide is blown." A middle-aged man grinned and reached out to take it. He held a cigarette in his mouth and shook it in the ashtray. There was a horrific scar on his face. Pull it from the left eye to the right corner of the mouth. Because of this scar, his smile looked a little ferocious.
"Since the one-eyed Lev said so, it must be right."
"That's right, kid. The scars on this old guy's face are from the mother of Deathclaws."
The young man's face turned the color of pig liver, and he took a swig of beer silently to hide his embarrassment.
Zhou Guoping looked at the mercenaries who were making jokes with a smile, but in his heart he was thinking about when to speak and which people were worthy of hiring.
That young man should be a newcomer, at least he has not been in the mercenary business before. As for the middle-aged man with a Slavic face. He is a ruthless character. It is said that he used to be a CCC fighter pilot. He was not sent back to China after the war, but was brought to Wanghai City as an experimenter on a special experimental project. When the disaster struck, he escaped from the laboratory with his extraordinary skills. He has been wandering in this wasteland ever since.
However, Zhou Guoping has no intention of hiring him. No matter how ruthless he is, he is just a lone traveler. The instructions given to him by the boss were that a lot of people were needed, at least a large mercenary group of no less than fifty people.
This is difficult to do, especially in an environment where everyone is trying to get downtown.
But the boss's order was absolute. Zhou Guoping's eyes glanced at the door from time to time. He is waiting for someone to appear.
The oak door opened with a bang, and cold air mixed with broken snow blew in.
The man sitting at the door drinking wine was shivered by the wind and was about to curse the guy who opened the door. However, after seeing that face clearly, he swallowed back all the curse words that had rushed to his lips.
With a shaved head and blue-grey cold-weather clothes, he looks very ordinary. After entering the pub, he didn't yell like the others. Instead, he sat down at the bar in a low-key manner, skillfully ordered a bottle of beer and started drinking by himself.
But when he saw this person, Zhou Guoping's eyes lit up and he walked over with a smile.
Luo Yang, leader of the Black Blood Mercenary Group. Although he has a popular face, no one can ignore his strength and the strength of the more than 70 warriors who work for him.
"How was your harvest today?" Sitting next to him, Zhou Guoping asked in a casual tone.
"It's terrible... except for the snow, it's just blood. The north area of the city center has been explored, and all the zombie nests have been destroyed. There are no traces of satellite fragments at all." After a sip of wine, Luo Yang said with a tired frown.
"Nothing found?"
"Almost... Only when you enter the city center will you feel a little awe of those stupid zombies. They are so densely packed that you can't see the edge at all. Our people drove trucks and rushed through, desperately holding on to the zombies. The trigger fired at the group of corpses. Even so, it almost ended up there twice.”
"Be open-minded, man. After all, it's a world of zombies, and even Deathclaws have to go around." With a comforting smile, Zhou Guoping took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed him one.
Sighing, Luo Yang took the cigarette and lit it for himself.
"Have you had any good work lately?"
"Have you given up on that one million sub-crystal order?" Zhou Guoping grinned.
"I can't risk my brother's life. I have a hunch that it will be a bottomless pit, and no matter how many lives I take to fill it, it won't be enough." Hearing One Million Yajing. A flash of greed flashed in Luo Yang's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by strong concern.
Compared to his colleagues who swooped on the city center like flies, he still maintained some sense.
"Tell me something happy. I just have a business here."
"How much?" Luo Yang asked with interest after taking a sip.
"Ten thousand crystals."
"Pfft!" Luo Yang spit out the beer in one gulp. He looked at Zhou Guoping with wide eyes, "Ten thousand?! Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Zhou Guoping nodded with a smile.
"What is the commission?" Luo Yang stretched out his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth and asked cautiously.
"Have you ever heard of the Fish Bone Base?" Zhou Guoping asked casually.
"I've heard a little bit about it. A certain force from another province is stationed in Wanghai City, and it's pretty strong."
Since the trade with the Zhao Group was conducted in secret, Zhou Guoping never revealed the identity of the owner behind the tavern. Therefore, to the outside world, the existence of the Fish Bone Base is very mysterious. Many people only know that there is such a survivor base in Qingpu, but even the specific location is unclear.
It's also obvious why. There are many large and small survivor bases in the wasteland, but most of them are unfriendly, such as the gray goo mercenary group that has been wiped out.
"The employer is their boss. As for the content of the commission, that's it."
With that said, Zhou Guoping took out a piece of agreement from his pocket and slapped it on the bar.
After hesitating for a moment, Luo Yang silently reached out and picked up the agreement and glanced at it. The look on his face became more and more solemn.
"This is impossible! Are you kidding me? Blocking the mutants at No. 7 by the Taipu River is risking my people's death."
"Really? If you think so, then forget it, although I personally think it's a pity." Zhou Guoping sighed with pretense of pity and put away the agreement.
"I don't see what's a pity. No matter how much money you have, you have to spend it with your life." Luo Yang sneered.
"Do you think Fish Bone Base will lose?" Zhou Guoping asked with a smile.
"As far as I know, there are more than 3,000 mutants in No. 7. Although they may not have bright minds, they are all good at fighting." Luo Yang grinned. "Even if they take out half of them, it would still be a thousand and a half. With a disparity of more than ten times in strength, only Shabi will accept this commission. The ant-like mutants will crush them into pieces like stepping on ants."
Said. Luo Yang took a swig of wine and shook his head regretfully.
Of course, he was not regretting the fate of the Fish Bone Base, but for the ten thousand Yajing that slipped away from his eyes.
"But according to my intelligence, the strength of the Fish Bone Base is not weak, such as in terms of heavy firepower." Zhou Guoping said with a smile.
"Heavy firepower? Haha." Luo Yang grinned and expressed his disapproval.
Tactics for mutants. He still understands it more or less.
The mutants occupying the steel plant in No. 7 use steel to the point where it can be called a luxury. Relying on the strength of pure muscles and charging with heavy C-type steel plate armor, they are a threat to all light infantrymen carrying rifles. It would be a nightmare.
Heavy firepower? Well, heavy firepower is indeed very effective, but when all the mutants spread out and charge simultaneously on the wide frozen river, how many rounds can your artillery fire? Once the mutants break through the defense line, no firepower will be used, and the next battle is likely to turn into a one-sided massacre.
"As for the specific combat strategy, as a middleman, I don't know. But do you think that since it is a base in another province, if there is no guarantee of victory, it will fight to the end for the land of Qingpu?"
"Whether they are sure or not, the risk is too great for us." Luo Yang shook his head.
"However, risk is directly proportional to profit, isn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't have led your brothers to the city center."
Hearing this, Luo Yang looked slightly embarrassed.
Seeing this, Zhou Guoping paused and lowered his voice.
"I have some news here that I don't know if you are interested in."
Seeing Zhou Guoping's mysterious look, Luo Yang couldn't help but shudder, waiting for his next words.
"Besides this Wan Yajing, there is another benefit. I can reveal it to you, but this is against the rules... For the sake of my business, I hope you can keep it a secret."
"Ahem, Lao Zhou, you know very well what I am like."
"Of course, it's such a good thing that I found you... A trade route from Qingpu to Liuding Town, 10% of the profit, and the type of goods is food." (.)