Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 45 – Rebuilding the Stronghold

The sixth floor, once an office, had now become the stronghold’s command center.

A massive city map was spread across the conference table, with dangerous areas and supply points circled in red marker.

Lei Li stood before the map, a half-burnt ladies’ cigarette held between her fingers. Swirling smoke blurred her stern profile.

“The building has been cleared. All eighteen floors are our territory now.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of every core member present with perfect clarity.

Ah Hu, Xiao Min, Xiao Li, and several other team captains were gathered there. Every face wore the exhaustion of having survived a catastrophe, tinged with a hint of uncertainty about the future.

Zhou Ming was also sitting to the side. His wounds were bandaged, but his face was still pale, his vacant eyes staring at the floor.

“The cost was thirty lives.”

Lei Li blew out a smoke ring, her tone betraying no emotion.

But Lin Fan keenly noticed that the fingers holding the cigarette were tightening slightly.

“They were heroes.”

Lin Fan, using Chen Yao’s soft and sweet voice, broke the heavy silence at just the right moment.

Her small face was filled with sorrow, her eyes red as if she were about to cry at any second.

Lei Li’s gaze swept over, lingering on her face for a moment. The tense line of her jaw seemed to soften slightly.

“That’s right. They were heroes, and we can’t let them die in vain.”

Lei Li stubbed out the cigarette in an ashtray and drew a heavy circle on the edge of the map with the red pen.

“You’ve all heard the news Zhou Ming brought back.”

Everyone’s eyes focused on the circle. Marked there were three words: Suburban Military Camp.

“Several thousand… of those monsters…”

Ah Hu’s voice was a little hoarse.

“We had such a hard time just dealing with the one mutated one on the fifteenth floor. Wouldn’t going there be a suicide mission?”

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“A suicide mission?”

Lei Li let out a soft snort, her sharp gaze sweeping over Ah Hu.

“Then what are we doing now? Barely surviving?”

“The zombies outside are evolving. How much longer can we rely on our fire axes and crossbows?”

“When we’re trapped in this building by even stronger monsters and starve to death, we will truly be waiting for death!”

Her words silenced the entire command center.

Everyone knew that what Lei Li said was the truth.

Without stronger firepower, it was only a matter of time before they could no longer defend this building.

Zhou Ming abruptly looked up, his fists clenched and his eyes bloodshot.

“I’ll go.”

“I have to get stronger and find Ruyan!”

Seeing Zhou Ming driven by hatred and guilt, Lin Fan found it amusing, but her face showed a worried expression.

“Zhou Ming, don’t be rash. Your injuries haven’t healed yet.”

She tugged on the corner of Lei Li’s clothes and said timidly, “Lei-jie, a direct assault definitely won’t work… It’s too dangerous…”

Lei Li glanced at her without speaking, seemingly lost in thought.

Just then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, Lin Fan’s eyes lit up.

She tilted her head and spoke in a tone that was both innocent and uncertain.

“Lei-jie… I remember… when we were clearing out that tech company on the third floor, didn’t we find a few of those little flying… planes?”

“You know… the ones with cameras…”

As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, outlining a square shape.

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“You mean… drones?”

A young man with glasses who looked rather scholarly suddenly spoke up. He was one of the few technically skilled people in the stronghold.

Lei Li’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Yes! Drones!”

Lei Li’s voice was tinged with excitement.

“We can use them for reconnaissance, find the location of the armory, figure out where those monsters are, and even find weak points in their defenses!”

“We don’t need to face thousands of monsters head-on!”

“We just need to infiltrate!”

The previously oppressive and desperate atmosphere was instantly ignited by Lin Fan’s words.

Hope reappeared on everyone’s faces.

“That’s great! This way, our chances of success are much higher!”

Ah Hu slammed his hand on the table in excitement.

“Xiao Wang, do you know how to operate those things?”

Lei Li looked at the young man with glasses.

Xiao Wang pushed up his glasses and replied excitedly, “Lei-jie, I used to play with these in college, I even won an award! As long as there’s power, I guarantee I can get them flying!”

“Good!”

Lei Li made a swift decision.

“Ah Hu, take some men to the warehouse and bring those large portable power stations. Ensure we have a power supply!”

“Xiao Wang, I want you to bring all the drones and related equipment here immediately!”

“Zhou Ming, draw everything you remember about the military camp!”

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“Yes!”

The group responded in unison and immediately sprang into action.

The entire command center was filled with a tense and efficient atmosphere.

Lin Fan stood to the side, watching it all unfold, the corner of her mouth curling into an imperceptible arc.

Everything was going according to her plan.

She didn’t need to act herself. She just needed to give a gentle push at the most critical moment, and she could make this group of people risk their lives for her goals.

Soon, several dust-covered drones were brought up.

Xiao Wang and his two assistants began to nervously debug the equipment.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ming hunched over the map, painstakingly trying to recall and sketch the general layout of the military camp.

Lin Fan, holding a cup of water, walked over to his side with small steps.

“Zhou Ming, have some water.”

Her voice was light and soft, full of concern.

Zhou Ming looked up, took the cup, and drank it all in one go.

“Thank you, Xiao Yao.”

Lin Fan looked at his bloodshot eyes and said in a sympathetic tone, “You have to be careful. Sister Ruyan is still waiting for you.”

“I know.”

Zhou Ming’s voice was hoarse but firm.

“For her, I’m willing to do anything.”

Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

As long as the bait of “Liu Ruyan” existed, this tool of a man would have endless motivation.

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She walked over to Lei Li, who was intently watching Xiao Wang adjust the screen.

“Lei-jie, will it be very dangerous?”

Lin Fan gently took her hand, tilting her head up with eyes full of worry.

Feeling the soft touch in her palm, Lei Li’s heart skipped a beat, and the images from last night uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.

She calmly squeezed Lin Fan’s hand in return, her tone unprecedentedly gentle.

“Don’t worry, it’s just reconnaissance.”

“You don’t have to worry about anything. Just stay obediently in the infirmary, stay in my room, and don’t go anywhere.”

“Okay.”

Lin Fan nodded obediently and leaned against Lei Li’s arm.

“I’ll listen to Lei-jie.”

Lei Li’s body stiffened for a moment but quickly relaxed, even indulging her by letting her lean on her.

Guilt is the best means of control, Lin Fan thought to herself.

Soon, Xiao Wang finally managed to start one of the drones.

On the screen, static flickered for a few moments before a clear image appeared.

“Lei-jie! It’s working!” Xiao Wang shouted excitedly.

Everyone crowded around, staring nervously at the screen.

Lei Li took a deep breath and gave the order.

“Take off.”

The image on the screen began to rise, showing the interior of the Fragrant Hills International building.

A high-stakes gamble for the future of the stronghold had just begun.