Qin Shi Lei nodded at everyone after speaking, then turned and walked out with An Qian and the others.
Lu Ren Sheng watched Qin Shi Lei leave, a displeased look on his face.
With a somber expression, he said coldly, "Ungrateful fellow."
He, the esteemed vice president of the Dragon Tiger Association, had invited you to join, and not only did you refuse, you didn't even offer a polite word.
Did you think you were something special just because you were a mid-tier Class A evolver?
Qin Shi Lei didn't expect that simply refusing to join would earn him someone's resentment. Even if he had, he wouldn't have cared.
As he stepped out of the registration point, he was stopped by a refined-looking military officer.
"Do Mr. Qin and Miss An have any interest in taking up a nominal position within the military?"
"I'm used to being free and unrestrained, I'm really not suited to be a soldier."
"It's just a nominal position, to assist in managing civilian evolvers. You won't be overly required to adhere to military regulations."
"Assist? You mean the actual management will be by your military personnel, and we'll be like puppets."
"Qin Shi Lei, you jest. Civilian fighters are also citizens of Great Xia. We all fight zombies for our motherland, for humanity."
"We regret we cannot accept."
After the officer's repeated persuasion, seeing that Qin Shi Lei and An Qian were quite firm, he shifted to another request.
The military would soon be integrating all evolvers in Nanzhuang City.
All registered fighters would form four major legions.
The military would dispatch experts and strategists to guide the legions' operations.
Evolvers of Class A or above, or leaders of organizations with over five hundred members, would automatically become regimental cadres within the legions, assisting in management.
This officer hoped Qin Shi Lei and An Qian, for the sake of humanity's future, would cooperate well with the military and fight a good battle to retake Nanzhuang City.
After relaying the military's decision, the officer hurried away.
"Are we really going to join these four legions?" An Qian turned to Qin Shi Lei and asked.
"If we don't join, we can only leave Nanzhuang City. If we join, we're just cooperating with the military to kill zombies. What's the harm in joining?" Qin Shi Lei replied.
Zhang Qiang and the others had no objections. They also believed Qin Shi Lei wouldn't blindly obey military orders.
If their safety was ever threatened, he would surely lead them to resist or leave.
Qin Shi Lei was surprised by the military's efficiency.
The next day, he and An Qian were led by a soldier to a plaza to attend the legion establishment ceremony.
By the time they arrived, the plaza was already filled with leaders of organizations with a comprehensive evaluation of Class A or above, or with five hundred or more members.
"This is a global catastrophe, and it is also a catastrophe for our Great Xia."
"Staying in a corner will inevitably lead to death. Only by uniting can we win a sliver of survival."
"We will establish four major legions based on you, to retake Nanzhuang City together with the military."
"For you, the military will not issue mandatory tasks. Instead, our military will fight on the front lines."
"The military will allocate a batch of items from the research institute to reward those who fight bravely."
"Zombie serum that can cure the zombie virus, incredibly sharp swords and sabers, and protective suits made of high-tech nano-materials."
Upon hearing about the zombie serum, Qin Shi Lei's eyes lit up.
He wondered if this serum was already perfected. He should find Professor Yu at the research institute sometime and ask for a few bottles to keep on hand.
It seemed the military had privately communicated with everyone present before their arrival, as there were no troublemakers openly opposing the military's decisions.
The four legions were soon announced: Xuanwu, Zhuque, Qinglong, and Baihu.
Qin Shi Lei and An Qian were assigned to the Vermillion Bird Legion.
Each legion comprised fifty to sixty thousand people. The acting legion commander was a young man from the military named Xie Wen Bin.
Below him were five division commanders, currently vacant.
According to the military, they would be promoted from within the legion.
Under the division commanders were nearly forty regimental commanders.
Qin Shi Lei and An Qian were the commanders of regiments 007 and 018 respectively, each with a quota of 1,500 members.
After incorporating their original team into the regiment, the military assigned personnel near the regimental commanders' residences to the regiments.
The military also assigned a deputy commander to Qin Shi Lei and An Qian each.
As they left the plaza, An Qian said incredulously, "I'm actually a regimental commander for fifteen hundred people. If this were before the apocalypse, my classmates would surely think I was a group buying commander."
Qin Shi Lei said indifferently, "Even if we are called commanders, I doubt many people will listen to us."
"Haha."
An Qian laughed gleefully, "Who cares if they listen or not, at least I'm a commander."
As Qin Shi Lei and the others were heading back, an uninvited group arrived at Chi Yuan Hao Ting.
He Kai Ge said sternly, "Yan Gong Yue, you are not welcome here. Please leave immediately."
"Heh heh!"
Yan Gong Yue sneered, "This place was originally mine. I'm just taking back what belongs to me."
"Yours?" He Kai Ge scoffed, "What a joke. Do you want me to beat you up again?"
Back then, they had both set their sights on this Chi Yuan Hao Ting.
Neither was willing to back down, and they had a fierce fight over it.
In the end, He Kai proved superior and drove Yan Gong Yue out.
He hadn't expected him to dare return today.
Yan Gong Yue said viciously, "Things are different now. Unless you kneel down and lick my shoes clean, you won't leave here alive."
He Kai Ge's subordinate, the tattooed man, immediately jumped out and cursed, "Damn bastard, this time we'll beat you so hard you'll shit yourselves."
A effeminate young man beside Yan Gong Yue said coldly, "Why waste words with them? If they don't leave, they die."
"Brother Dong is right," Yan Gong Yue quickly agreed.
Then he pointed his knife at He Kai Ge, "Are you going to step out and die yourself, or do you want me to kill all your brothers?"
It was then that He Kai Ge noticed the effeminate young man and felt a sense of unease.
Skinny Monkey's expression changed, and he whispered to He Kai Ge, "Boss, he's Dong Yuan Liang, a trusted subordinate of Ice King Fan Xiao Bo. He once slaughtered a small gang by himself."
He Kai Ge's face immediately turned grim.
No wonder Yan Gong Yue dared to come back. He had found a powerful backer.
"Are Qin Shi Lei and the others still at the villa?" He Kai Ge asked his subordinate in a low voice.
"Zhang Qiang and the others went out. I didn't notice if Qin Shi Lei was here," Skinny Monkey replied quietly.
Seeing He Kai Ge shrinking back into the crowd, Yan Gong Yue turned to Dong Yuan Liang and requested, "Please, Brother Dong."
His own strength was inferior to He Kai Ge's, so he wouldn't be foolish enough to rush in and seek death.
"Mm," Dong Yuan Liang replied calmly. "I'll take the life of the leader. The rest are yours."
"Retreat," He Kai Ge turned and ran towards Villa Number Five.
His subordinates, hearing this, all turned and followed.
"Hahaha!"
Yan Gong Yue roared with laughter, "Cowardly wretch, let's see where you can run."
After laughing, he and Dong Yuan Liang slowly walked towards Villa Number Five.
At this moment, He Kai Ge's group had entered Villa Number Five, only to find that besides He Yu Yao, Qin Shi Lei and the others were not there.
"We're in trouble," He Kai Ge secretly lamented.
He turned and instructed his subordinates, "Let's go out and fight them."