Fragile Alliances

The group followed the scar-faced man deeper into the ruins of the train station. The crumbling walls groaned under the weight of decay, and rusted metal beams jutted out like the bones of a long-dead beast.

Every step echoed in the silence, their boots crunching against shattered glass and debris. Shen Mu kept his hand near his weapon but didn't draw it. Tension between this unknown group and himself was vivid. Neither he nor the people trusted them completely.

Zhao Ling walked a little behind Shen Mu, her eyes sharp, scanning every corner of the ruins. Luo Qi limped slightly, his injuries slowing him down, but he was alert. These people had been watching them for a while before revealing themselves. That meant they weren't just desperate survivors—they were tacticians, calculating every move.

Finally, they came to what was left of an old maintenance tunnel. There was a heavy steel door at the entrance, reinforced with scavenged armor plates. The scar-faced man knocked three times in a deliberate rhythm. A slot in the door slid open, and a pair of sharp eyes peered through before the door creaked open.

"Inside," the man said, motioning for Shen Mu and the others to follow.

They descended into a dimly lit underground space, miles away from the ruined wasteland above. The smell of oil, gunpowder, and desperation wafted through the air. Men and women, even some children, wandered through the tunnels, some tending to their weapons, while others rationed their supplies. Shen Mu looked around the makeshift hideout. This was no disorganized, desperate bunch of scavengers trying to survive. There were people here preparing for war.

The scar-faced man turned to him. "Welcome to what's left of civilization."

They were taken to a small room further in the tunnel. A table in the middle was covered with old maps, stolen documents, and scavenged weapons. Several others stood around it—leaders, fighters, survivors who had clearly seen more than their fair share of battle. A woman in her forties, wearing a tattered military jacket, eyed Shen Mu's group warily. "Who are they?"

The scar-faced man introduced himself as Jian Wu. "Potential allies."

Shen Mu crossed his arms. "Depends on what you're fighting for."

Jian Wu chuckled. "The same thing you are-survival. And keeping the Crimson Fangs from turning this entire city into their slaughterhouse."

Zhao Ling leaned forward. "How many of them are there?"

The woman answered, her voice grim. "Too many. And more are coming. They have an entire supply chain keeping them strong. Weapons, food, even armored vehicles. Someone out there is feeding them resources."

Luo Qi frowned. "And you've been fighting them with what? Scrap weapons and old bullets?"

Jian Wu smirked. "You'd be surprised what desperation can do."

Shen Mu studied the map spread across the table. There were marked territories, patrol routes, and supply caches from the Crimson Fangs. If this information was correct, then the resistance had already half the job done for them. "We have a fortress," Shen Mu said finally. "Strong defenses. We just need to get better intel before we move on."

The woman nodded. "Then you're in luck. We have something the Fangs don't want anyone to know."

Jian Wu walked to a rusted metal cabinet, unlocking it with a key around his neck. He pulled out a bundle of documents and threw them onto the table. Blueprints.

Luo Qi picked them up, eyes widening. "These are… supply routes. Base layouts. Even access codes?"

Jian Wu grinned. "Intercepted radio transmissions, stolen documents, and a few well-placed informants. The Fangs think they're untouchable, but they're sloppy."

Shen Mu's mind raced. This was it. The advantage they needed. "We'll help you take them down," he said, his voice firm. "But we do it our way. No reckless charges. No wasted lives."

Jian Wu held out his hand. "Then we have a deal." Shen Mu shook it, sealing an alliance that could change the future of the city.

The group spent hours dissecting the information, marking key points on the map. If they could strike the right locations, they could cripple the Fangs before they realized what was happening. "Hit their supply lines first," Zhao Ling suggested. "Cut off their resources and they'll start fighting among themselves."

Jian Wu nodded. "And take out their communications hub. If they can't coordinate, they'll be blind."

Shen Mu nodded. "We strike them hard. Fast. And leave nothing standing."

Luo Qi looked at the crude weapons the resistance had. "Even with all this information, how do you expect to win? You don't have the firepower."

Jian Wu's smirk returned. "That's where you come in, isn't it?"

Shen Mu didn't say anything. The system had already provided him with new objectives. If he played his cards right, the fortress would be stronger than ever by the time this war truly began.

[SYSTEM QUEST UPDATED]

"Enemy at the Gates" (Stage 2)

Objective: Infiltrate the Crimson Fangs' outpost and retrieve their communication logs.

Reward: Advanced Surveillance Drone, 400 System Points.

"Fortress Expansion"

Objective: Install new security measures, including reinforced gates and automated traps.

Reward: Advanced Defense Blueprint, 500 System Points.

Shen Mu clenched his fists. The system was pushing him toward a path that would ensure victory. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore. He was building something greater—something that could outlast the apocalypse itself.

"You'll get your weapons," Shen Mu finally said. "But I expect your people to be ready when the time comes."

Jian Wu grinned. "You won't be disappointed."

As they left the underground hideout, Shen Mu couldn't help but think that this only marked the start of something. The control war in the city had begun. And in a way, they would not be able to stay outside of it anymore.