Chapter 129: Reliance
The smell of blood mixed with gunpowder smoke surged into O'Donnell's nostrils. He lay on the ground, his body trembling involuntarily.
Sweat poured from his forehead, hanging on his eyelashes. O'Donnell had no mind to wipe it away.
After waiting a while, O'Donnell pushed up with both hands, slowly raising his body, then leaned out to glance outside.
He saw those black-armored warriors holding steel guns walking toward the gun positions they'd just eliminated, then gun muzzles spat fire tongues, finishing off each one.
A great opportunity!
A trace of delight flashed through O'Donnell's eyes. They hadn't discovered him—he could run backward.
O'Donnell glanced at another gun position.
The wall beside that position had been bombarded by powerful firepower. Bricks were falling, but he could vaguely see figures moving in the smoke and dust.
Subordinates were still alive.
O'Donnell's eyes turned. His mouth corners split open as he thought of a good idea.
He immediately hurried to pick up several bricks from the ground and threw them toward that position.
His aim wasn't bad—hit his own subordinate squarely, producing a miserable cry.
The sound attracted those warriors' attention. They cautiously held their guns and walked toward that area, approaching from three directions.
Go, go, go!
O'Donnell crawled outward, using the wall to avoid the warriors' line of sight.
Taking advantage of the enemy not looking over, O'Donnell quickly darted out and ran backward fiercely.
Not long into his run, O'Donnell saw his subordinates.
They held guns, cowering timidly toward the front, terrified those warriors would attack.
Seeing them holding guns, O'Donnell instinctively raised both hands high, shouting, "It's me, it's me, O'Donnell, don't shoot."
Seeing O'Donnell's face full of dust, in complete disarray, with some blood stains on his body, they slowly lowered their guns, their hearts continuously sinking.
O'Donnell opened his mouth, wanting to rally morale, but couldn't say anything. He himself had no confidence in surviving—how could he persuade others?
"We're going back to hide in a room! They're very strong fighters—we can't beat them in close quarters either."
O'Donnell looked around the circle. Similar to the earlier defense line, they definitely couldn't stop the enemy—might die even faster.
Better to find somewhere to cower and wait for the enemy's judgment.
O'Donnell's performance was very defeatist. His subordinates had no better methods and followed O'Donnell to find an office to hide in.
Not long after, dull footsteps sounded outside the door.
The air in the entire office seemed to freeze. Everyone's hearts skipped half a beat.
The footsteps grew louder, then suddenly stopped.
They stopped at the door.
O'Donnell had no choice. His eyes signaled subordinates to take up guns. He also aimed his gun muzzle at the door.
Everyone's hearts felt gripped tight. Their entire body's muscles tensed. Arms trembled slightly from excessive force.
But unexpectedly, the footsteps sounded again—they left.
Could it be they hadn't discovered them?
A question arose in O'Donnell's mind. The unease on his subordinates' faces instantly transformed into delight.
The feeling of surviving disaster surged over them. Their faces wore relieved smiles.
O'Donnell didn't know why, but his heart kept beating drums—he couldn't smile.
Immediately after, the wall was smashed open without warning.
Bricks flew. A fragment struck O'Donnell's head. He immediately fell to the ground, only one thought in his mind.
They're here!
The explosion sound brought tinnitus and concussion. People in the office had no ability to resist whatsoever.
In an instant, all were pressed to the ground, hands behind backs bound with zip ties. One by one, they weren't angry about being captured—rather they looked pleased.
Being captured alive was better than death!
Catching this group of big fish, Morales immediately reported the situation to Caesar.
Caesar nodded. "I understand. The remaining areas need to be cleared quickly."
"Making such a big commotion, we need to withdraw quickly."
"Understood." Morales paused, as if remembering something. "Boss, the hospital people already loaded the warehouse medicine and everything onto transport vehicles."
"They should have been preparing to flee immediately, but before they could escape, we attacked."
Caesar grinned. "This counts as an unexpected bonus. Then hurry up and move."
Not long after, Dawn, Dr. Steven, and a crowd of lower-class people were escorted over.
Caesar swept his gaze over those lower-class people and had Morales release them.
When they'd first captured them, they'd already searched everyone—no need to worry about safety issues.
Andrea looked at the lower-class people's bruised and swollen appearances. Fire burned in her heart. When escorting those police, her strikes were very harsh, making people cry out.
Carol still had moderation—making people suffer without reaching the degree of injury.
Dawn, Dr. Steven, and O'Donnell knelt at the very front.
Both Dawn and O'Donnell wore defeated expressions. However, O'Donnell raised his head to look at Caesar, the viciousness between his brows dissipating considerably.
Caesar glanced at him once, then looked at Dawn. "Come, tell me, where are all your private stashes?"
Kneeling to look at both at eye level, Caesar's black eyes held unrefusable ruthlessness.
O'Donnell hesitated a moment but still revealed his stash location.
Dawn then said, "I don't have a private warehouse."
"Hm?" Caesar narrowed his eyes. Separating private warehouses from camp warehouses was very normal—greatly beneficial for distinguishing public from private.
Dawn had a pair of sword-like eyebrows that looked very heroic. She said lightly, "I don't need a private warehouse. Everything belongs to the collective."
"Oh!"
Caesar's tone dragged long, carrying teasing meaning.
Dawn gritted her teeth. "If you don't believe it, you can go check yourself."
O'Donnell kneeling beside let out a cold laugh, the mocking appearance self-evident.
"No, I believe you." To Dawn's surprise, Caesar nodded.
Dawn was a monster transformed by power's temptation. She herself had no interest in embezzling camp warehouse supplies. Everything she did was for power, not for other reasons.
"Morales, take people and quickly find the items and load them on vehicles. We're withdrawing!"
After obtaining the information he wanted, Caesar didn't waste more words with them and immediately ordered.
Just as the combat squad was escorting people toward the underground garage, Dr. Steven loudly called out to stop Caesar.
"Wait, wait. Hello, my name is Steven, I'm a surgeon."
Steven cast a hopeful gaze toward Caesar, his voice full of vigor without the slightest fear, very confident.
Caesar turned around and glanced at Steven.
Morales said quietly, "Boss, he really is this hospital's only doctor. His skills are very good."
Caesar nodded, pointing at Steven. "You're in."
"Yes, yes!"
Steven jumped up excitedly, even his breathing trembling slightly.
Yes, just now he'd been forcibly calm. Facing death, even with utmost confidence in his medical skills, he would still tremble.
Fortunately, his medical skills practiced hard for many years brought him great reliance even in the apocalypse.