Chapter 111、Surrounded: Surrender and Live

"The More You Kill, The Stronger You Get?"

Inside the command vehicle, Jiang Xiaoci's gaze swept over the prisoners before her, her eyes filled with a trace of suspicion. "Are you sure that's Xiao Bai Xiong's talent?"

"Not sure," Xiao Liu Ge lowered his head, forcing himself to calm down, trying to look more sincere. "Miss Jiang, we really don't know what his talent is exactly, we can only guess."

"From Xiao Bai Xiong's behavior over the past month, his talent is definitely combat-related."

"According to the old members of the gathering place, Xiao Bai Xiong was once a small gym owner and trainer. It wasn't very big—he lived and worked there."

"After the apocalypse, his gym became his shelter. From the very beginning of the outbreak, he gathered nearby survivors to unite them."

"He was already familiar with the people nearby because of the gym. Plus, he's tall, muscular, and gives off a sense of security. Those nearby basically all followed him."

"But on the third day of the apocalypse, he started killing people... or rather, he started killing while destroying shelters."

Xiao Liu Ge racked his brain for more key details, trying to seem useful. "There was some resistance, but no one could stop Xiao Bai Xiong. Even when he encountered people with strong talents during his expansion, as long as Xiao Bai Xiong took action, he easily suppressed and killed them."

"Have you seen him fight?" Jiang Xiaoci asked lightly.

Xiao Liu Ge nodded. "I saw it once. Some combat-type talent users were sent from the city center. They were supposed to be B-grade talents, really strong."

"But when Xiao Bai Xiong killed them, it was instantaneous, so fast we couldn't see it."

"I was right in the crowd and I only saw a flash—then their heads were gone. I didn't even know how he killed them."

"An instant kill technique..." Jiang Xiaoci's eyes flashed. She had already begun forming a rough guess in her mind.

She asked Xiao Liu Ge a few more questions, and he answered every one of them. The man was eager to please, offering information as though his life depended on it. His only hope was that Jiang Xiaoci would spare him and his group.

"Understood," Jiang Xiaoci said after a moment. She gave Xiao Liu Ge and the others a quick glance, then smiled lightly, her tone reassuring. "Since you've been so cooperative, as long as what you've said is true, I will do my best to ensure your safety."

"I won't harm you. I promise."

Xiao Liu Ge, overjoyed, immediately nodded and thanked her. "Thank you, Miss Jiang! You truly are a big figure, a person of great tolerance!"

Suddenly, the communication system in the command vehicle crackled to life with a report from the front.

"We've arrived at the target area. The encirclement has been completed."

"Targets detected. Awaiting further instructions."

Jiang Xiaoci glanced at the communication screen, then looked at Lin Yue. Lin Yue nodded, signaling she would take over.

"I'll go," Lin Yue said. She quickly gathered the other members of her team—Lu Nianxin, Chen Qiuren, and the rest of the staff—and swiftly exited the vehicle.

Xiao Bai Xiong's Base:

Xiao Bai Xiong's shelter was located in a bustling pedestrian street in the southern part of the city. His gym, now the core of his shelter, stood at the end of the street, flanked by two residential buildings.

The military vehicles pulled off the main road, stopping some distance away from the pedestrian street. Above, the helicopters circled, their powerful searchlights unrelentingly shining down on Xiao Bai Xiong's territory, illuminating the gym and its surrounding buildings.

The once-innocent, residential area had been steadily transformed by Xiao Bai Xiong into his stronghold. The entire pedestrian street had been altered, and even the two nearby residential areas had become part of his territory.

Inside the shelter, the night watchmen were the first to notice the approaching threat.

"Helicopters? Damn it! How could they have that?"

"Alarm! Quick, sound the alarm!"

The shrill wail of the alarm rang out, disturbing everyone in Xiao Bai Xiong's gathering place.

"Beep beep beep!"

The blaring siren echoed across the night sky, spreading panic throughout the shelter. The helicopters hovered above, transmitting live footage of Xiao Bai Xiong's shelter back to the command vehicle.

Jiang Xiaoci could clearly see through the footage as men armed with guns and makeshift weapons filed out of the buildings, preparing to defend their territory. They wore rudimentary armor—leather and iron plates covering vital areas—and brandished an array of improvised weapons.

"They have some military training, better than a rabble," Jiang Xiaoci muttered to herself. "Looks like there are survivors here with some tactical experience."

As the defenders assumed their battle positions, the soldiers outside the shelter began disembarking from the vehicles, taking up formations for close-quarters combat. The encirclement was closing in, and they advanced toward the shelter with unwavering confidence.

This was a blatant display of force—a naked intimidation tactic.

Inside the shelter, the survivors had already realized what was happening outside. Panic spread quickly.

"It's the army! It's really the army! I saw them! All armed soldiers!"

"Shit, the lights are shining over here… What the hell? Are those tanks?"

"Helicopters, tanks, soldiers... Is this the national army coming back from the apocalypse?"

"We're finished! We're done for! We've done so much bad, we'll be shot on sight!"

"Who cares about the army? Our boss is a superman! Why would we be afraid of the army?"

"Where's the boss? Someone get the boss!"

The panic among the survivors reached a fever pitch. The fighters hidden in their makeshift barricades could feel the pressure mounting. Looking at their handguns and crude spears, they compared their meager weapons to the terrifying military-grade equipment before them.

It was clear. There was no chance of winning.

The difference in firepower was overwhelming. The helicopters, the tanks—the very sight of them sent a shiver down the spine.

"Attention inside!"

The chief of staff stood on top of a military vehicle, holding a loudspeaker and a pistol. His calm, authoritative voice boomed through the night.

"You are surrounded! Put down your weapons! Do not resist!"

"Let Xiao Bai Xiong come out and cooperate with our investigation!"

"I repeat—do not resist unnecessarily. Surrender and you will save your life!"

The voice from the loudspeaker echoed across the gathering place, sending waves of panic through the survivors.

What did this mean?

Listening to the tone and phrasing, it was clear this wasn't just a normal military operation. They had already gathered intelligence on Xiao Bai Xiong and his people. They were here to capture him.

At that moment, some of the survivors began to tremble, whispering to each other, "I... I'm just an accomplice, right? I probably won't get into too much trouble..."

"An accomplice? How many people have you killed? How much food did you steal and waste?"

A cold voice interrupted from nearby. "If we're counting, you're going straight to the firing squad."

"I... what do we do? Do we fight back? What's your talent? Can you fight against tanks and helicopters?"

"Hmph."

A heavy silence settled over the crowd. Though some bristled, the weight of the situation was undeniable.

The military had encircled them, and anyone who made a move could trigger a massacre. Even a steel plate would be shredded by their firepower.

After more than ten minutes of tense standoff, the chief of staff heard the commotion from within the shelter.

"Boss! We're surrounded! It's all army outside!"

"Boss, what should we do? Looks like they're the real deal—tanks and artillery included!"

"Boss, should we fight or surrender? We'll follow your orders!"

From the sounds of it, Xiao Bai Xiong was finally making his appearance.