"That's right." Jiang Chen said very frankly.

He didn't hide the strength of the NAC because there was no need for it. When the NAC flag flies over the city, the survivors, traders, and mercenaries who have passed here will naturally bring this powerful and unfamiliar name to the entire wasteland.

When he was observing Kong Qian, Kong Qian was also observing him.

"I sense danger from you."

"Can I interpret this as a compliment to me?" Cocking Erlang's legs, Jiang Chen said in a joking tone.

"Absolutely. Our merchants are all over the country, and there are few forces in the wasteland that can make us feel afraid. If the Northern Union is counted as one, you are also counted as one. Kong Qian said with a smile.

"Because of my guns?"

"Because of your ambition." Kong Qian stared at Jiang Chen's eyes.

This behavior was rude in a friendly meeting, but he did it anyway. He tried to find something from Jiang Chen's eyes that could prove his conjecture, but the truth was that he did it, because Jiang Chen did not hide his ambition at all.

"How so?" Jiang Chen said with a smile.

"From the layout of this base," moved the fart. Kong Qian glanced around at the decoration of the room, "And this office." In general, people who have a fanatical attachment to order have a high pursuit of the quality of life for themselves and their neighbors. Of course, the most intuitive reflection is the name of the NAC. New Asian Cooperation Organization? Good name. ”

"Feeling restless?" Regarding Kong Qian's taste, Jiang Chen just asked playfully.

"That's right," Kong Qian said bluntly. "Our businessmen are thinking about a problem. If you pull out this nail in the middle of the road, who can guarantee that you will not move your feet from Jiashi to Hangzhou? ”

"So your proposal?" Jiang Chen asked with a smile.

"Let the city of Chia be our buffer zone. Without the trade routes on the road, our merchants can exploit the shallow sea. Or take the Taihu Lake. But without this nail, I'm afraid we won't be able to sleep soundly. Kong Qian looked into Jiang Chen's eyes. Seriously proposed.

"It can't be." Jiang Chen unceremoniously refused, "Even if we don't take the initiative to attack, the mutants will attack us in winter." At that time, they will occupy the sky, and it is difficult to guarantee that the flames of war will not burn across the Taipu River. I will not gamble on the inevitable war with a short peace. ”

"We can fund the construction of a fortress along the river." Kong Qian stretched out a finger and said seriously, "Five hundred thousand Yajing, as long as you promise not to march westward." ”

For his proposal, Jiang Chen was not moved at all.

"That's a pity, we've already raised two million subcrystals through the issuance of war bonds."

Negotiations have reached an impasse.

Kong Qian and Jiang Chen looked at each other. fell silent.

After a moment, he suddenly smiled and spoke.

"Do you know why mutants get so much armor?"

"Why?" Jiang Chen asked nonchalantly.

"According to intelligence, a group of people who have migrated from the Northern Territory and are being provided logistical support by a group called the Church of Twilight." Kong Qian said with a smile.

This information is a bit outdated, the last time the Twilight Church sent Sun Xiaorou to assassinate her, Jiang Chen had already pried out the conspiracy about the Twilight Church from her mouth in a special way, and understood that the man named Bo Yu had helped the mutants.

In fact, it is not difficult to deduce this, those mutants are obviously weak in industrial ability, but they have heavy machine guns in hand. Even a whole bunch of heavy firepower weapons such as artillery. said that no one supported it, and he didn't believe it when he killed Jiang Chen.

However, from Kong Qian's expression that seemed to be smiling, Jiang Chen read something else.

"You're threatening me?" Looking into his eyes, Jiang Chen asked playfully.

"I haven't said anything yet. But since it's a merchant organization. We reserve the right to invest in any project of value. Kong Qian spread out his hand.

Jiang Chen sneered.

Hehe, don't you dare to admit it when it's so obvious?

"You're playing with fire."

"I'm looking for ways to work together." Kong Qian corrected without backing down.

Jiang Chen stood up suddenly.

A hint of nervousness flashed in Kong Qian's eyes for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"If you think you can do it by funding mutants. Stop us from purging the mutants in Jiashi, then you can give it a try. Jiang Chen walked in front of him. Looking down into his eyes, "But I'll tell you very clearly. If you do lend a helping hand to mutants. ”

Overwhelmed by this momentum, Kong Qian involuntarily held his breath, waiting for the dictator's next words.

Jiang Chen grinned lightly and spit out the last thing Kong Qian wanted to hear.

"That's war."

The atmosphere in the office instantly froze, but this condensed atmosphere quickly dissipated with Jiang Chen's next sentence.

"Of course, I believe that with your foresight, you will certainly not make such a stupid choice."

His eyes faltered for a moment, but Kong Qian finally nodded hesitantly.

"Very well, then welcome back to the negotiating table." Jiang Chen said with a smile, and then sat back on the sofa.

The pressure was relieved, and Kong Qian slowly breathed a breath of fresh air.

At this time, he suddenly found that his back was soaked in cold sweat

The negotiations ended in an atmosphere of peace.

Jiang Chen did not plan to discuss with him the details of the military operations in the autumn, but talked to him without saying anything about how to cooperate on trade routes after the occupation of Jiashi. Although the war had not yet begun, it was obvious that Jiang Chen had already regarded the territory of the mutants as his own.

Kong Qian still expressed concern that Jiang Chen's sphere of influence would border Hangzhou City after he occupied Jiashi. But in the face of Jiang Chen's tough posture, he was helpless.

After agreeing on the trade routes of the trade routes, the setting up of supply depots and outposts on the way, Kong Qian hastily took his leave.

Seeing Kong Qian leaving, Han Junhua walked in.

"Why don't you take him down?"

"Because it doesn't make sense." Jiang Chen yawned. Waving his hand, he said, "Loose polity is so annoying. Even if you kill its leader, it will have a meeting and choose another one for you. Or rather. This kind of leader is a mascot or something in itself. When I shook hands with him, I knew he wasn't a professional businessman. ”

A professional businessman doesn't feel his guns and find calluses, and it's not so much that he's a president, but rather that he's the spokesperson for a group of businessmen who push to the forefront.

"You don't seem to be worried about the reaction of Hangzhou?" Han Junhua asked.

"They need a market, and we have the largest market in the whole of Suzhou and Hangzhou provinces. Safety or Ajing, they have to make a choice, and I'm sure they'll choose the latter eventually. What's more, my attitude towards the merchants of the Sixth Block has somewhat calmed their emotions. Even if the NAC takes over the defense, there will be no loss of property, and most businessmen will certainly think so. Jiang Chen got up and walked to the desk.

Then. There was a knock on the door outside the office.

"Please come in."

It was Wang Qing who came in, and I saw that she looked very serious.

"Marshal, news has come from the Sixth Block, and there has been a frequent trend of xenomorph activity on the outskirts of the city lately. Including many mutant cockroaches, mutant mice and other xenomorphs also show strong aggression, under normal circumstances, these xenomorphs usually do not take the initiative to attack survivors, there are rumors that Wanghai City is brewing a second round of xenomorph tide. ”

"Xenotide?" Jiang Chen frowned slightly.

He hadn't experienced the so-called xenomorph tide, only that he had heard that it was terrifying. In the early years, the United World Organization had not yet launched colony ships. There was a wave of xenomorphs in Wanghai City. It is said that the former government troops stationed at the research institute near the city center were driven out of the city by the rampaging xenomorphs.

It is said that the sixth block was also hit by a lot of impact at that time, but fortunately, with the equipment left behind by the World United Organization, it was able to withstand the impact of the xenomorph tide. It was also at that time. The Sixth Block established the rule of the Council of Ten.

It's at a time like this

Wang Qing nodded.

"Let Wang Zhaowu pay attention to it, his side is relatively close to the city center. I'll give him permission to open and close the door to the Vault, allowing him to lead the ground residents into the Vault if necessary. Other than that. Raise the Vault's energy reserves to 100 fuel rods, and you're responsible for that. Jiang Chen instructed.

"Understood." Wang Qing nodded.

The time span for each Vault to open is large. No one knows in what year several other shelters in Wanghai City opened. The loss of Vault 27 would mean more than a step backwards in the NAC's scientific capabilities. Of course, Jiang Chen would not allow this kind of thing to happen. If there is a real wave of xenomorphs, the first thing he needs to ensure is the safety of scientists.

Whether or not a heterogeneous wave actually happens, you can't go wrong with second-hand preparation.

"In addition, temporary evacuation facilities will be established in sewers. Get a makeshift bunker, a bed, a mixture of nutrients, and a stove. We all know that these things won't be used in the end, but you should prepare them just in case. ”

"Okay." Wang Qing nodded, and after seeing that Jiang Chen had no more instructions, he turned around and walked away quickly.

After a pause, Jiang Chen looked at Han Junhua again.

"Well, in the next few days, it may be half a month, I have some things in the field, you and Sun Jiao can discuss and deal with it. Usually when I'm not around, she also acts as a substitute, so be it. If there is a wave of xenomorphs, I will rush back immediately. ”

Jiang Chen thought that Han Junhua would ask him where he was going, but to her surprise, she just nodded.

"Okay. However, my advice is that in the event of a xenotide tide, it is better for you, as a marshal, not to risk returning to the danger zone. ”

"I will come back because there are people here who are very important to me." Jiang Chen said seriously.

"I'll protect them for you." Han Junhua's tone promised flatly.

"Thank you. But don't get too nervous, maybe the rumors are just rumors. ”

Jiang Chen patted her on the shoulder, then turned around and walked towards the office door.

The door closed.

Looking at the closed door, after a long time, Han Junhua reached out and pinched his face.

Then she lowered her hand.

"Strange."

She muttered to herself in an emotionless tone and looked out the window.

The sun was shining outside the window, and there was not a single cloud in sight.

However, this sunshine faintly gave her an illusion of unreality.

It's like the calm before a storm. (To be continued.) )