Chapter 21: Gathering Information

That morning at precisely 9:50, Wang Ji arrived with Little Six at the entrance of the camp’s only hotel—the Dinghai Tower Hotel. The five-story building had once been a famed restaurant in the apocalyptic camping park, renowned for its local specialty: sweet and sour pine nut fish.

Before the catastrophe, Zhang Zijian had been a dashing, carefree young master. This hotel was his family’s property; his father, Zhang Xiong, was a famous tycoon from City F, with business interests spread across numerous southern cities. When disaster struck, fortune favored them—Zhang Zijian and his father were vacationing at the hotel, and with enough loyal men at their side, they survived by relying on their advantageous position.

Later, when Chen Yukai from the City F military district arrived, Zhang Xiong immediately offered his utmost cooperation, providing Chen with the hotel’s cold storage and most of their food supplies and equipment. Chen, impressed by Zhang Xiong’s tact and capability, entrusted him with greater responsibility. Zhang Xiong was swiftly promoted to the camp’s logistics department as chief, overseeing civilian supplies and market management within the base.

Zhang Zijian’s status rose alongside his father’s, and he soon became the leader of the largest civilian faction in the camp. He stood shoulder to shoulder with another prominent figure, Cui Dazhou, at the helm of the camp’s most formidable armed squad.

At that moment, Zhang Zijian lounged in the hotel’s first-floor office, having just finished breakfast. An alluring woman reclined beside him on the sofa as he picked at his teeth with a toothpick. He had arrived early to receive an important guest—the commander of the Second Company, Cao Muhua, had reserved a private room to discuss business, and Zhang dared not be remiss in hospitality.

The camp’s greatest power was the military, and Commander Cao led the largest, best-equipped force, poised to dominate half the camp. “If I can win over Commander Cao, I’ll truly be set for life…” Zhang thought, gripping the woman’s softness as he indulged in fantasies.

The woman gasped in pain but forced a smile, bowing her head and daring not resist as Zhang pressed her beneath him—this goddess of high society, whom even before the apocalypse he’d only dared admire from afar, now lay at his mercy, swelling his arrogance.

Outside, the hotel’s doorman eyed the shabby Wang Ji and Little Six with disdain. “Hey! You two, don’t just stand around here!”

Stung by the taunt, Little Six bristle