Chapter 297: Layers of Scheme and Suspicion

Xia Qing asked, “Third Brother, do you have any surveillance equipment? I earned a lot of points this time and want to set up cameras in the territory.”

She made sure to bring up the security cameras openly, letting everyone know she was investing the points she earned from that fish pond lightning strike. The goal was clear—deter anyone from even thinking about causing her trouble.

Zhang San answered weakly, “I just got a batch of the latest-model surveillance equipment. It’s not cheap.”

Hearing they were made from advanced materials, Xia Qing made up her mind on the spot. “Third Brother, just how many points are we talking about?”

“Depends on how many cameras you want to install. I’ll send Brother Ya over to tally things up for you.”

Knowing Da Ya was coming, Xia Qing realized the medicine for her injuries must be ready. Brother Ya would use the installation as a cover to deliver it. “Alright, thank you, Third Brother.”

A moment ago, when Tang Heng mentioned that the woman from Section Three was close with someone from Territory Seven, Tang Zhengsu didn’t think much of it.

But after hearing Zhang San was actually trading those popular new surveillance systems with her, and even sending someone to handle the setup, Tang Zhengsu had to pay attention. “Who is this Xia Qing, anyway? There aren’t many people surnamed Xia in our base. Did she come from somewhere else?”

He kept his voice down, but with the window open, Xia Qing’s sharpened hearing still caught every word. She shut her eyes, tuning her evolved hearing to the max.

This was a rare chance to get so close to Tang Zhengsu; Xia Qing wanted to use the moment to probe his attitude toward her. She had to figure out whether the Sufeng Squad keeping tabs on her, via Tang Huai, was just because she was tight with Territory One, or if there was something else going on.

Maybe Tang Zhengsu had looked into her background, discovered her father was the man he killed, and placed her on the enemy list. If that was true, Xia Qing knew she’d need to be even more careful.

But if not, she’d have a lot more time—and far more opportunities—to get her revenge.

Sure enough, once Tang Zhengsu realized she and Zhang San had a good relationship, he started paying close attention to this “nobody” he’d ignored before.

A rough, husky voice suddenly cut in, “Xia Qing’s a level-four strength-based evolver, around thirty, no family, not with any squad. Used to work on the construction crew in the Safe Zone.”

Hearing that voice, Xia Qing frowned. It was Qian Lin, Sufeng Squad’s level-four strength evolver. He wasn’t a core member—what was he doing in Territory Two?

Xu Pin, who had clearly investigated her before, corrected him: “Xia Qing is twenty-five. Her strength evolution is above level five, almost at level six. Her father, Xia Yunsong, was a level-four strength evolver who died during the fifth year beast tide. After he died, Xia Qing moved into the evolver dorm and joined the construction team. She’s close to the construction foreman, Zhang Yong. During breaks she’d do low-risk strength missions with the Azure Dragon Squad or Dongyang Squad. She gets along well with Xu Juan from Dongyang and Wei Chengdong from Azure Dragon.”

“In February this year, Xia Qing got her first territory, left the Safe Zone, and became a lord. She used Green Lantern plants inside her territory to get on Zhang San’s good side. Since then she started dating Hu Zifeng from Azure Dragon, picked up sniping skills from him, and has shown rapid improvement. She performed outstandingly during both the third slaughter rain and the migratory bird season, earning recognition from the Territory Management Department.”

“Xia Yunsong…” Tang Zhengsu repeated the name and asked, “Which squad was he with?”

Xu Pin replied, “Our research shows he, like Xia Qing, was not in any squad.”

The image of Tang Zhengsu tossing her father to the beasts as bait was still vivid in Xia Qing’s mind. She’d already learned Tang Zhengsu did it not out of any grudge, but simply because he wanted a scapegoat to lure the monsters away, and her father had happened to be nearby—a stroke of sheer bad luck.

Knowing the facts didn’t make it easier to hear Tang Zhengsu ask about her father in a completely emotionless voice. Xia Qing felt the urge to kill surging up from deep within.

He has to die. Sooner or later, she would kill him herself—that was set in stone.

“Baa.”

Noticing her agitation, Old Goat wandered over and nudged her arm.

Xia Qing took off her protective mask and buried her face in the goat’s soft wool.

Inside Territory Two, someone standing behind Tang Zhengsu turned and reported, “Captain, I hear sheep outside.”

Tang Huai explained, “Section Three keeps a strength-evolved ram, a Red Lantern. It’s a temperamental beast.”

Before Tang Zhengsu could reply, his walkie-talkie crackled with Tang Zhengbo’s voice: “Third Brother, I’ve been raising some Green Lantern shrimp. Shall I bring you a few?”

“Sure.” Zhang San never said no to good food.

At that moment, inside Territory Two, Tang Zhengsu, who’d been racking his brain for a way to approach Zhang San, quickly called Tang Zhengbo. He sounded unusually polite: “Big Brother, are the shrimp from our fish farm in the west end of town? I’ll have someone take the helicopter and fetch them.”

Tang Zhengbo answered, gentle and amused, “No need. The shrimp pond’s right here in my territory. Did you just ride over in the helicopter? If you’re not in a hurry, come over for lunch. Let’s catch up.”

Tang Zhengsu shot a pointed look at Tang Zhengbo’s two lazy sons and agreed at the top of his lungs, “Sounds great—it’s been ages since we’ve had a good drink together, Big Brother. By the way, only Zhang San can treat Fan Ming’s wounds. Think I could take some shrimp to Territory Seven for him?”

Tang Zhengbo replied warmly, “Whenever we do resource trades with Territory Seven, their people always pick things up themselves. Why don’t you come over and tell him yourself?”

“Will do. Be there soon.” Tang Zhengsu hung up and told Tang Heng to lead the way to Territory Twelve.

Once Tang Zhengsu and his group had left, Xu Pin had Tang Huai lock all the doors and windows, then asked in a low voice, “Who from Territory Seven went to Section Three last night to fish?”

Tang Huai said, “Six people went. One was Ji Li, a speed evolver who handles resource transfers for Territory Seven. There was also a short man in his forties, who Xia Qing calls Brother Ya—he seems to manage supplies for Territory Seven. And then there was a level-nine scent evolver, known to Xia Qing as Sister Yan. She dove into the reservoir and fished out five old turtles, each close to two hundred pounds, and two giant eels, both over two meters long.”

Sister Yan… Yan Long?!

Xu Pin’s thin eyebrows drew together. “Xia Qing and that female evolver are tight?”

“They are.” Tang Huai emphasized the closeness between Yan Long and Xia Qing, hoping Xu Pin would be cautious and stop eyeing Section Three. “Saw them sharing food together—they looked pretty friendly.”

Xu Pin locked eyes with Tang Huai. “You get along well with Xia Qing, too.”

Like hell I do, Tang Huai thought, rolling his eyes. “She just wanted me to play the middleman so the red lantern fish and shrimp they caught could be exchanged for points through my dad.”

Sitting at the table, Xu Pin lowered his gaze, quietly watching for any change in Tang Huai’s mood. “Are the wolves inside Section Three really gone?”