Who gave you permission to travel through time with Earth?

Chapter 51 The Expedition Begins

Two days later, at the border of Northwest City.

The scavengers have rather unpleasant names, but that doesn't mean they're destitute. On the contrary, they are probably the wealthiest organization in the entire West Market, and their size has grown even larger in recent days.

The gaps that Fang Jin and his group made when they landed last time were among the few relatively remote points that did not block the channels through which scavengers could enter the abandoned land. As for the others, they were all guarded by special personnel who would never allow anyone else to pass through.

Their headquarters were located on the edge of the border area. Before the corpses fell from the sky, this place was a castle-like museum. Because it was well preserved, it was directly occupied by scavengers as their base.

Of course, these guys clearly lacked any sense of aesthetics. The peeling paint was covered with graffiti, and broken or completely detached glass was left untouched, with black stains of decay gradually seeping into the entire floor.

"The headquarters' location is well-chosen. The scavengers selected four outermost cut points closest to the corpses, and the headquarters' defenses cover all these areas."

"The plan of the liquor club is to take advantage of the fact that the scavengers have infiltrated the debris field today, and then split into two groups. One group will attack the headquarters to cut off their retreat, while the other group will go directly into the ruins to ambush the scavenging team."

Jiang Yu humbly explained that at this moment, she, Fang Jin, and Guo Shi were all staking out several ruined buildings at the back of the museum, and the spies arranged by the liquor company were spread across most of the windows.

Fang Jin held binoculars and looked out the window, while simultaneously rotating and stepping on the warm footrest. Jiang Yu's face contained pain... and a hint of pleasure at the possibility of awakening.

“Eh…”

Guo Shi glanced at the weaver with disdain. She had been worried about this vanguard who was clearly hostile to her, but now it seemed unnecessary... The vice leader's methods were quite terrifying.

"Why split up the forces? Since this is headquarters, why not just take it out while they're deep in the debris field? How long can those guys stay in the ruins?"

Fang Jin waved his hand, intending to express his innocence, but it was clear that both Jiang Yu and Guo Shi had misunderstood. The former even let out a soft moan and lowered his head, saying:

"The reason is... whether it's us or the soju club, our goal is to 'eat' the scavengers, not simply to destroy them."

"The drawbacks of setting up a headquarters, as well as the inevitable separation of combat forces entering the abandoned area every day, have been considered by the leaders of these scavengers. They cannot possibly put all the good stuff here."

"They even set up outposts in the ruins?"

"To be precise... it's the forward base. The Sixteen Forward Bases hide more than 80% of the entire Scavenger Organization's wealth. The museum is actually a place with less lucrative opportunities."

"Furthermore, the forward bases are equipped with basic water and biscuits. Even if we take over the headquarters, they can simply leave with their valuables through other gaps and establish a new scavenger base in a new location."

"So we have to use a two-pronged approach..."

Fang Jin said softly, "These detailed arrangements are not something he and the Red Sentinel Gang could just ask anyone they randomly grab. Intelligence sources either have to be expensive (like the Money Shop), or they have to be accurate."

As for the liquor club's plan, it was also very clear: two vanguards would be sent to attack the headquarters, while the other two, along with Chairman Xu Hao, would hunt down the scavenging team and try to kill them on their way back.

The building behind is where the personnel for the raid museum are stationed. The others will soon go to the area further ahead to observe and determine which gap they will use to reach the corpses today.

"...Will Chen Yuanqing head to the degraded zone today?"

"Of course, he and another level 19 player are the backbone of the scavengers. Every two days, one of them will go to the ruins with the team. As far as I know... today it's him."

Chen Yuanqing is undoubtedly the leader of the scavengers. He is the one who integrated and organized this group of peasants and even brought them into the public eye. The whole process has only been five years.

He was the person Xu Hao feared the most. The two sides clashed more than ten times. As a third-tier player, the guild leader did not gain much advantage. The latter used the special features of the ruins to fight a very good guerrilla war.

It is said that this slick man is quite young, no more than twenty-five years old, and has a dark bruise on his face and around his eye, which makes him look sinister and cold.

"Boss, that's not something I should worry about. I know every room and branch of headquarters like the back of my hand. That 20% treasure will just be a secret treat for us!"

"Twenty percent of the bait may not seem like much, but it's a complete package. Besides, the group that ambushed Chen Yuanqing didn't have the chance to take all the treasure from the sixteen bases. In the end, they'll still be rewarded according to their contributions, won't they?"

Jiang Yuyin rubbed his hands with a smile. He and Tie Zhao were assigned to raid the scavengers' hometown, while the Little Gang Leader and the Boxer were to assist Xu Hao in venturing deeper into the devastated zone. The subordinates could be selected by themselves.

Before Guo Shi could speak, the Weaver and the Iron Cover chose Fang Jin almost simultaneously. The two had completely different intentions, but Fang Jin was naturally assigned to the assault team.

Guo Shi and Fang Jin remained silent. As long as they were assigned to different teams, the first step was considered complete, even more so than expected.

"...Be careful."

Guo Shi stepped forward and patted Fang Jin on the shoulder. The people keeping watch at the four landing points ahead relayed the information that a main team of scavengers had set off from headquarters.

"it is good."

Fang Jin nodded, and at the same time naturally stuck the thought thread to her ear. This was not using the Little Spider Web's skill, but simply continuing to make a call with a single thought thread. Guo Shi could withstand it within a hundred miles.

The next moment, Guo Shi disappeared from the abandoned building, while Fang Jin leaned against the window with her eyes closed, chewing on a mint candy. The crisp sound seemed quite abrupt in the quiet room.

As time ticked by, the building grew increasingly quiet, and the remaining members became more and more tense, their battle nearing its final countdown.

"Ready..."

Suddenly, the voices of the Iron Cover and the Weaver rang out simultaneously. Flat earphones were pressed to their ears, and everyone immediately stood on the windowsill, densely packed like locusts ready to take flight.

"Bang—!"

Just then, a violent explosion suddenly came from afar! The defenses of the third channel were violently blown open, and dark shadows filed in through the gap, with the ambush troops following closely behind them!

"They succeeded! They drew away the main force of the scavengers!"

"It's our turn, let's get started!"

The roar of the Iron Shield echoed throughout the entire building. The moment everyone received the signal, they cheered and leaped from their windows! Like a mass suicide, they charged towards the scavengers' headquarters from all directions!

The punitive expedition begins.