Chapter 120: Ambitions to Annex

Su Wu set his price. Compassion for the ordinary people in the shelter was one thing, but he had none to spare for Zhou Xiwu, the privileged and incompetent leader. This was a rare opportunity—while it might not be possible to swallow the entire large shelter at once, he could at least secure control over a significant portion of it.

"Fine," Zhou Xiwu agreed hastily, not even stopping to consider the implications of Su Wu's demands. "We can negotiate the details later. Just get here as soon as possible."

Desperation left him blind to what he was conceding. For now, survival took precedence over everything else.

Others in the elite chat group watched the exchange with mixed reactions, their silence speaking volumes. Many were astonished at the audacity of Su Wu's demands; some even admired it.

Control over trade rights might not seem like much at first glance, but its implications were enormous. It would allow Su Wu to influence the very foundation of the shelter's operations.

Through subtle methods like colluding with guards to smuggle resources or directly managing trade with external parties, he could easily siphon off the shelter's wealth. If he wanted to take it further, he could use these trade rights to arm certain factions or undermine Zhou Xiwu's authority entirely.

Su Wu wasn't aiming for petty gains; he was setting the stage to annex Zhou Xiwu's large shelter into his growing sphere of influence.

Even though some in the group realized the depth of Su Wu's ambition, none stepped forward to warn Zhou Xiwu. They had no close ties to him, and confronting Su Wu served no purpose.

"Understood," Su Wu replied. "I'll dispatch my team immediately. They should arrive in about 30 minutes."

In the depths of Su Wu's sixth underground level, a rescue team was swiftly assembled. The team comprised one engineering robot and four construction robots, equipped with essential tools and specialized explosives for clearing debris. They were loaded onto a reinforced cargo truck, designed to withstand extreme heat.

The truck rumbled out of the underground shelter, its heavy tires crushing the dry, sunbaked soil. Despite the punishing heat outside, the vehicle moved steadily through the barren wasteland.

After about 20 minutes, the truck arrived at the gates of Zhou Xiwu's shelter. Two haggard shelter staff members quickly opened the gates, guiding the vehicle inside.

The air inside Zhou Xiwu's shelter was marginally better than outside. Su Wu's probes measured an internal temperature of 52°C (125°F), which was high but not yet deadly.

Without a functioning central air conditioning system, the shelter's ability to regulate the temperature was severely compromised. Still, Zhou Xiwu's shelter had held out better than many others. Any delay, however, could have catastrophic consequences.

"This way to the generator room," a shelter administrator said urgently, leading the way.

Su Wu, remotely controlling the engineering robot, followed. The administrator, drenched in sweat, was visibly uncomfortable in the sweltering heat. Even the shelter's management was not spared from the deteriorating conditions.

As Su Wu moved through the shelter, he observed the dire state of its residents.

Everywhere he looked, people sat slumped against walls or sprawled on the floor, their faces pale and eyes filled with despair. Yet when they saw the robots, a spark of hope returned to their expressions.

For these residents, the arrival of high-tech machines symbolized salvation.

These people are far from just numbers in a casualty report, Su Wu thought grimly. They are real lives, teetering on the brink.

The generator room was a large, 300-square-meter hall dominated by two massive coal-fired generators.

One generator was a total wreck—a mangled heap of metal that had been blown apart during the riots. The other appeared intact at first glance but was emitting ominous sparks and black smoke.

Su Wu directed the engineering robot to approach the smoldering generator. Using specialized tools, the robot carefully removed the outer casing to assess the damage.

The findings were grim. The generator's internal components were severely warped, charred, and in some cases, melted beyond recognition. Repairing it to full functionality would be nearly as difficult as constructing a new one.

"Focus on salvaging the operational generator first," Su Wu decided. "We'll prioritize short-term stability."

The engineering robot got to work, assisted by the construction robots. Damaged components were carefully removed and replaced with spare parts carried from Su Wu's base. Temporary fixes were devised for components beyond repair, ensuring that the generator could be restored to partial functionality.

Residents and staff watched anxiously from a distance, their hopes pinned on the robots working tirelessly before them.

After nearly four hours of intense effort, the generator roared back to life. Though it wasn't operating at full capacity, it was enough to power critical systems, including the central air conditioning in key areas of the shelter.

As cool air began to circulate, the residents cheered, their relief palpable.

Zhou Xiwu, who had been conspicuously absent during the repair process, emerged triumphantly. He loudly praised the success of the rescue mission, trying to frame himself as the orchestrator of their salvation.

Su Wu paid no attention to Zhou Xiwu's posturing. His focus remained on finalizing the repairs and securing his agreement on the trade rights.

"Remember," Su Wu said as the robots prepared to leave, "this is just the beginning. If you don't make long-term changes, this will happen again."

Zhou Xiwu nodded eagerly. "Of course! I'll take your advice seriously." 

As the rescue team departed, Su Wu knew he had accomplished more than just a successful repair mission.

By securing exclusive trade rights with Zhou Xiwu's shelter, he had taken another significant step toward consolidating power. This wasn't just about survival—it was about reshaping the balance of power in Jianghe City.

The fallout of this agreement would ripple across the region. Zhou Xiwu's dependence on Su Wu's network was now cemented, and Su Wu's reputation as a savior and strategist would only continue to grow.

Even as Su Wu reflected on his victory, he knew this was only the beginning. Jianghe City was filled with shelters, each with its own challenges—and opportunities.

For now, Su Wu allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction. With every move, his ambitions grew clearer: to not just survive the apocalypse, but to dominate it.

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