Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 15 – Establishing Connections

Lin Fan looked at Lei Li, a perfectly calculated hesitation on her face.

“Lei-jie, we actually went to a pharmacy before.”

Her voice was cautious, laced with the nervousness of someone afraid of saying the wrong thing.

“We found quite a few medical supplies. If you need any in the future, we could trade.”

Lei Li narrowed her eyes.

She re-evaluated the seemingly fragile woman before her.

“Interesting.”

Lei Li’s voice was tinged with amusement.

“Where’s your base?”

Lin Fan shook her head.

“It’s not convenient to say. But if you have a need, Lei-jie, you can give us a way to contact you.”

Smart.

Lei Li praised her silently.

She knew how to protect her trump cards and didn’t rashly trust strangers.

She had originally thought this girl was just a pretty face kept by the man behind her.

But now, it seemed the one who truly held the dominant position between the two was this seemingly fragile girl.

“Fragrant Hills International building, sixth floor.”

Lei Li gave the address.

“That’s our base. If you have good stuff, you can come find us directly.”

Fragrant Hills International?

Lin Fan’s heart pounded.

In her past life, that place had been a major survivor settlement.

Its geographical location was superior, and its structure was sturdy. It was indeed a prime base in the apocalypse.

For Lei Li to be able to occupy it, her strength was definitely not to be underestimated.

“Okay, we’ll remember that.”

Lin Fan nodded obediently.

“In that case, Lei-jie, we’ll go up to the second floor to look at the gear.”

Lei Li waved her hand, signaling for her subordinates to continue packing things up.

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Lin Fan pulled Zhou Ming up to the second floor.

At the turn of the staircase, she couldn’t help but glance back.

Lei Li was inspecting the equipment on the shelves.

That calm and unhurried demeanor, along with the terrifying strength she had displayed when she kicked the zombie to death earlier.

She had to find a way to get close to this woman.

The equipment area on the second floor was clearly more high-end than the first.

All sorts of professional outdoor gear filled the shelves in a dazzling display.

Lin Fan quickly scanned the shelves, mentally calculating which items were the most practical.

“Ruyan, look at this.”

Zhou Ming held up a pair of black, high-top hiking boots.

“Waterproof, anti-slip, and they have steel toes for protection.”

Lin Fan took them and inspected them carefully.

They were indeed good.

The soles had deep treads for a strong grip.

The steel toes could prevent injuries from heavy objects and also increase damage when kicking.

“We’ll take these.”

She found a suitable size on the shelf and changed into them on the spot.

Her original white sneakers were tossed aside.

Although those shoes were sneakers, they were designed to appeal to female aesthetics and had hidden height-increasing insoles.

They made it especially easy to get injured during truly strenuous exercise.

The high-top hiking boots offered excellent support, providing ample protection for her ankles.

Next was the backpack.

Lin Fan chose a 50-liter tactical backpack.

Its multiple compartments allowed for a reasonable distribution of equipment weight.

The carrying system was also professional, so long-distance treks wouldn’t be too tiring.

An entrenching tool was a necessity.

Lin Fan selected a German-style multi-functional entrenching tool.

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It could be used for digging, cutting, chopping, and even as a shield.

Its foldable design made it easy to carry.

“Ming-ge, you take this.”

She handed Zhou Ming a carbon fiber trekking pole.

“It can be used as a crutch or a weapon. It’s lightweight and high-strength.”

Zhou Ming took the trekking pole and swung it a few times.

It was indeed much sturdier than a wooden stick.

It could be used to make a spear or a long-handled axe.

Electronic devices like flashlights, power banks, and solar panels were also important.

Lin Fan chose a set of the best quality for each.

Especially the hand-crank generator and solar panel set.

After a complete power outage, these things would be life-saving artifacts.

Protective gear was even more crucial.

Lin Fan found a set of stab-proof clothing, which, when worn close to the body, could effectively prevent injuries from sharp weapons.

A well-fitting shell jacket could withstand harsh weather and also provide a certain degree of protection.

Cut-resistant gloves were a must-have.

They were useful for both combat and handling supplies.

She even found a few head-mounted night vision goggles for nighttime operations.

“Ruyan, this expandable baton is nice.”

Zhou Ming handed over a tactical expandable baton.

Lin Fan took it and tested its feel.

The baton was sixty centimeters long when extended and only twenty when collapsed.

It was easy to conceal and carry, and could be used as a hidden weapon at a critical moment.

Finally, in a corner, Lin Fan discovered a pull-along camp cart.

Its wheels were large, allowing it to travel over various terrains.

The cart’s capacity was considerable, able to hold a lot of supplies.

“We’ll take this too.”

She pointed at the camp cart and said to Zhou Ming.

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“It’ll be much more convenient to transport supplies in the future.”

The two of them loaded all their selected equipment into their new backpacks.

It wasn’t light, but compared to the security they gained, the weight was completely acceptable.

Just then, Lei Li’s voice came from downstairs.

“Finished packing. Let’s move out.”

Lin Fan looked through the window.

Lei Li’s group was leaving the store.

Each person carried a full pack of gear, their movements neat and uniform.

This level of discipline was definitely not something ordinary people could achieve.

Only after they were far away did Lin Fan and Zhou Ming go downstairs.

The equipment on the first floor had been mostly scavenged.

However, there were still some things Lei Li and her group couldn’t carry.

For example, cassette stoves and gas canisters.

In the apocalypse, being able to eat a hot meal was a luxury.

These small cooking utensils were definitely useful.

Lin Fan loaded everything she could into the camp cart.

The entire scavenging process took two hours.

By the time the two of them left the outdoor supply store, the camp cart was packed to the brim.

“Ruyan, we really hit the jackpot this time.”

Zhou Ming pushed the camp cart, his face full of excitement.

“With this gear, our chances of survival have at least doubled.”

Lin Fan nodded, but her mind was no longer on the equipment.

She was thinking about Lei Li.

Fragrant Hills International building, sixth floor.

This information was too important.

Knowing the location of Lei Li’s base gave her an opportunity to make contact.

But winning her over would not be a simple matter.

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Lei Li was too strong; a direct approach would never work.

She had to use her wits.

Moreover, with so many subordinates around her, acting alone would be even more difficult.

It required time, patience.

And a suitable opportunity.

Lin Fan and Zhou Ming pushed the cart full of equipment, slowly returning along the route they came.

The wheels rumbled on the ground.

Every time they rolled over gravel or trash, they made a considerable amount of noise.

Compared to their cautious approach on the way here, they were now like targets walking in the dark holding torches.

“Ruyan, is this noise too loud?”

Zhou Ming looked around worriedly.

At noon, scattered figures had already begun to appear on the empty streets.

The wandering zombies seemed to be attracted by the sound of the wheels and were gathering in their direction.

“There’s no other way.”

Lin Fan frowned.

She also realized the severity of the problem.

But this equipment was too important to be abandoned.

“Let’s speed up.”

The two of them started to jog.

The camp cart bounced on the gravel road, making even more noise.

The clattering sound was particularly piercing on the silent street.

In less than five minutes, seven or eight zombies had gathered behind them.

They swayed as they followed, letting out low growls.

“Ming-ge, that intersection up ahead.”

Lin Fan pointed to a crossroads not far away.

“We’ll deal with them there.”

Zhou Ming nodded, tightening his grip on the entrenching tool in his hand.