Root and Branch: Defend the City!

Jiang Xiaoci's plan was nearly flawless; she had predicted every possible route her opponent might take, considering every eventuality. To Mike, it seemed like Jiang Xiaoci had set a perfect trap, a web of schemes woven so intricately that escaping was impossible, even for Dongfang Qiang.

Yet, despite the apparent certainty, when Jiang Xiaoci saw Wang Shi return, she muttered, "Sir, I'm still not certain of his identity."

She knew her words would reach Mike.

The frail man captured by Wang Shi—was he Dongfang Qiang?

Jiang Xiaoci fixed her gaze on the screen of the command vehicle, watching Wang Shi and the prisoner closely. Even now, in this moment, Jiang Xiaoci believed that there was still a chance for Dongfang Qiang to escape.

She had no reliable means of confirming the man's identity. Even though he had confessed during questioning, even though lie detection had cleared him, Jiang Xiaoci didn't believe a word he said. After all, those with special talents had countless mechanisms at their disposal. Jiang Xiaoci thought even Wang Shi's lie detection method might not be foolproof.

She doubted everything. At this point, she still questioned whether the man in front of her was just a decoy planted by Dongfang Qiang. After all, leaving a secret escape route in the gathering place seemed like a clumsy move. The tunnel might not have been his escape route but a trick to deceive them.

But what if this man wasn't Dongfang Qiang?

Jiang Xiaoci saw Wang Shi standing outside, and with a quiet sigh, she said, "Sir, regardless of who he truly is, he must be Dongfang Qiang now."

Victory had to belong to the Sir. Even if the real Dongfang Qiang had already escaped, Jiang Xiaoci would publicly declare that Mike had captured him. There were other considerations at play, unrelated to the current battle.

Mike didn't respond to Jiang Xiaoci's words. Upon seeing Wang Shi's appearance, he immediately opened the shelter's alert information, which he had previously turned off. The battle alerts had piled up so much that they overwhelmed him, causing him to turn them off for a while. Now, Mike quickly skimmed through the battle logs.

In the latest entries, one caught his eye:

"Due to the outstanding combat performance of your talent unit 'Wang Shi,' Dongfang Qiang, resident of the hostile shelter 'Jinling People's Apocalypse Relief Command Center,' is now in a state of helplessness."

"You may proceed or dispatch a talent unit to occupy and destroy the enemy shelter."

"He's Dongfang Qiang!" Mike immediately confirmed with a laugh and quickly relayed to Jiang Xiaoci, "Xiaoci, don't worry! I checked the combat records—mechanisms don't lie! This is the big fish we've been waiting for!"

"Xiaoci, I think you're still overestimating the opponent."

Mike chuckled, trying to reassure her. "In my opinion, not many can match you in intelligence."

Jiang Xiaoci always regarded her enemies as equals, cautious to the point of suspicion, never underestimating anyone. Mike thought this approach was good, though it could sometimes backfire, as it had now.

Jiang Xiaoci thought Dongfang Qiang's final attempt to escape was rather crude, but Mike saw him as just an ordinary person with powerful talent. For someone with his abilities to get this far was impressive; not every leader in the world had both wisdom and strength to outmaneuver Jiang Xiaoci.

"Well, if the Sir has spoken, then his identity is without doubt."

Jiang Xiaoci sighed with relief, then smiled softly. She returned to her serious demeanor, waving at the officers, signaling them to open the command vehicle. Wang Shi and his team boarded, bringing the frail man with him. The prisoner was tossed onto the floor of the vehicle, completely immobilized by an electromagnetic device Wang Shi had used to control his body.

"Dongfang Qiang, at last, I see your true face."

Jiang Xiaoci was surrounded by her guards, scanning the small man before her. He was of average height, with a nondescript appearance. He was the kind of person who would disappear into a crowd. It was hard to imagine that this unremarkable man had once been a powerful force, a top leader of the city's shelter, commanding great respect and influence.

He, too, was eyeing Jiang Xiaoci, his eyes filled with hatred and panic, but also a flicker of surprise.

"You're a woman?"

"I thought the commander would be a man! To think I lost to a woman's hands!" Dongfang Qiang's voice was low, his eyes narrowing. "You've really concealed yourself well. I still don't even know your name."

"You don't need to know that."

Jiang Xiaoci flicked her hair back and glanced at Wang Shi. Before she could ask, Wang Shi began his report.

"Miss Jiang, after I received your orders, I followed the hidden tunnel all the way. When I found him, he was being beaten by someone."

"Beaten?" Jiang Xiaoci blinked, glancing at Dongfang Qiang. His face bore several bruises, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth.

"I thought it was your doing."

"Miss Jiang, treating prisoners humanely is our army's fine tradition," Wang Shi replied calmly. "According to the person who beat him, he's a local resident. He saw Dongfang Qiang emerge from the tunnel, attempting to escape into the sewer."

"This resident thought he was a slave trying to break out of the city center. As one of our supporters, he ambushed and captured Dongfang Qiang. I revealed my identity, and that's how we brought him in."

The story left Jiang Xiaoci speechless. She had plotted everything to the finest detail, yet it had almost been for naught, with Dongfang Qiang nearly escaping. But, in the end, it was the righteous people of Jinling who had stopped him. The will of the people was unyielding.

"Powerful talent, but no combat skill."

Jiang Xiaoci's gaze fell on Dongfang Qiang. She asked calmly, "Where did you spend all your points?"

"Hmph!" Dongfang Qiang sneered but refused to answer.

He seemed to already know his fate, unwilling to reveal any more information at this point.

"Not going to speak? I can guess a few things."

"It seems your gamble was too big. You poured all your points into the development of the gathering place, but never considered whether you should have defensive skills or combat mechanisms for yourself when things went south."

Jiang Xiaoci shook her head. "You were cautious but also stubborn. The apocalypse war wasn't wrong, but you picked the wrong timing. The country is in turmoil but not completely destroyed. The will of the nation still stands, and it won't allow you to rise up and claim kingship."

"Sir," Jiang Xiaoci said, turning to the special communications line, "How should we handle him?"

Dongfang Qiang stared intently at her communicator, his eyes widening with realization.

The commander wasn't this woman? Even now, the real commander remained hidden!

"Sir, should we take him as a vassal?" Jiang Xiaoci suggested. Dongfang Qiang's slave talent was indeed powerful, and if they could bring him under their control, with Lu Nianxin's abilities, they could slowly win his loyalty.

Jiang Xiaoci thought it was a good idea, but she knew the Sir would never agree.

"No," Mike's cold voice came through. "We handle him according to the gathering place's rules."

Mike's reasoning was simple. He had taken Chen Dafeng as a vassal because the situation was unique, and Chen's combat strength was extraordinary. But Dongfang Qiang? His talent overlapped too much with Mike's own, and there was no value in trying to tame him.

"Mm."

Jiang Xiaoci nodded.

Suddenly, Dongfang Qiang spoke up, "According to the rules of your gathering place, what will happen to me?"

"Our rules are similar to peacetime laws, though somewhat more lenient, with room for amnesty in some cases."

Jiang Xiaoci smiled and twirled her hair. "But you haven't been granted amnesty by the leader, so what do you think?"

It's death. Dongfang Qiang bowed his head, his eyes filled with conflict, his face twisting in rage.

He wanted to beg for mercy but couldn't bring himself to do it. At this point, he had never even seen Mike's face. He had no idea who his real enemy was!

The humiliation and terror of facing death caused his body to tremble. He almost opened his mouth, but Jiang Xiaoci didn't give him the chance.

"Take him away."

She waved her hand. Not one for humiliating her enemies, she signaled Wang Shi to remove Dongfang Qiang. As she shifted focus to the aftermath, she knew the situation wasn't over. The thousands of scattered slaves, the prestige Dongfang Qiang had built in the city center, the resources and wealth—all of it needed her careful handling.

"Finally, it's over."

Mike exhaled with relief. Dongfang Qiang's capture marked the fall of the last strong resistance in Jinling.

"Next, I'll focus on my true responsibility as commander."

"Let's manage the apocalypse situation and secure Jinling."

"Wait!" Mike suddenly slapped his forehead. "I need to destroy Dongfang Qiang's gathering place! So many assets need to be inherited. Running the city's resources is no small task!"

As his words fell, a new message prompt slowly appeared in front of him.