The Knife Society was the most powerful gray organization in the outer base of Vanguard City. It is said that the leader at the time survived the apocalypse with just a small knife and built this organization with a core of more than two hundred people.
By doing favors or illegal things for the big shots in the inner city, they successfully gained some rights to dominate the outer bases, including the lifeline of the outer bases—energy supply.
As mentioned earlier, the weather in these past few years has been extremely extreme, except for the three months of July, August, and September when it is normal. Most of the year is characterized by scorching heat during the day and freezing cold at night.
What ordinary people in the surrounding area need most is a temperature regulator, as well as resources such as water and food.
In order to get ordinary people in the outer city to willingly grow crops, mine minerals, and even do some extremely dirty and dangerous work for the lords in the inner city, the allocation of resources became a noose around their necks.
In the outer layer, ordinary people have no human rights, although the big shots in the inner city occasionally come out to put on a show, shouting slogans of equality for all, to satisfy their empty hearts.
But in reality, the outer city is full of exploitation and oppression. There is no 996 work schedule or rest. If you want to survive in the outer city, you have to work endless 007.
Every ordinary person in the outer city had to work tirelessly to obtain the water, food, and energy they needed for survival, sacrificing their lives to provide the privileges enjoyed by the lords in the inner city.
Since the apocalypse, social order has completely collapsed, and the ugliness that was originally hidden in civilized society no longer needs to be concealed.
The powerful bully the weak, and the strong enslave the weak; this is the rule of the apocalypse.
In the past, the Knife Society, who had always bullied others, experienced for the first time what it felt like to be bullied themselves.
No, it wasn't bullying; Xu Xiao was acting in self-defense.
After all, as soon as these gunmen from several peripheral forces appeared, they all opened fire on him without saying a word. He could only helplessly crush their heads like tomatoes.
In the end, one lucky person was spared and taken to the headquarters of the Knife Society, where he met this man who was said to be the most powerful in the outer city.
"You're Du Yu? You don't look like someone very capable."
Xu Xiao pulled over a long bench and sat down by himself. Opposite him was a middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes who looked very kind.
"For your own good, put that thing away; it won't work on me."
Du Yu swallowed hard, then obediently raised his hands, which had been touching the gun, while a harmless, fawning smile appeared on his face.
"Sir, may I ask who you are?"
Just over ten minutes ago, he received news that the outer energy storage center had been attacked again, so he dispatched his men to handle the situation.
But just now, this man swaggered into his house, and all the gunmen and superhumans guarding him didn't make a sound. He knew then that something bad had happened.
As the saying goes, those who are kind do not come, and those who come are not kind. Xu Xiao barged in like this, so he certainly didn't come to catch up with him or have tea.
Who I am is unimportant, and you don't need to know.
Xu Xiao looked at the other person with amusement. He didn't mention the name because the superpowered individuals in this world Eight Gates abilities.
Unlike Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, this place is not a wise place to rashly reveal one's name; it would be an unwise decision.
"Yes, yes, I won't ask. So, what brings you here? If I can help, I will do my best."
Du Yu got into character very naturally, displaying a very skilled sycophantic demeanor.
"Two things," Xu Xiao said, tossing a crystal core onto Du Yu's table.
"Where did this crystal core come from? Is it true that it was taken from the head of a mutated beast, as legend has it?"
"Answer me honestly, and while you're at it, help me figure out where this stuff is most abundant."
"It comes from the head of a mutated beast, I can assure you of that. We've hunted some mutated beasts before and occasionally found this crystal core."
Du Yu nodded, speaking without the slightest hesitation.
"However, ordinary people can't use this. We usually take it to exchange for resources in the inner city, or use it to convert energy into energy in energy storage tanks."
"If we're talking about quantity, there are definitely more in the inner city."
"I have a few more here. If you need them, sir, I'll go get them for you right away."
As he spoke, Du Yu had already guessed Xu Xiao's identity; he must be the mysterious person who had broken into the outer energy storage center earlier.
As for why Xu Xiao asked about the origin of the crystal core, or even what he wanted to do with it, he had no interest in knowing at all.
In this world, the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes; he might just fall into trouble today.
I just hope this guy is after money and we don't kill him like that; he hasn't lived enough yet.
Du Yu's sensible tone made Xu Xiao nod, and then he asked another question:
"Tell me about your understanding of the inner city. For example, its armed forces, superhumans, and how it connects with higher-level cities."
Don't blame Xu Xiao for not knowing these things; although he survived for seven years in the apocalypse, he always remained at the very bottom of society.
When he wandered from his hometown to the vicinity of Vanguard City, the city had already been completed. After that, Xu Xiao lived as a scavenger in the outer city.
This is also the life trajectory of most ordinary people in the apocalypse. In the year or two after the apocalypse, they live in hiding and survive by sheer luck.
Then suddenly they came across a fortified city with a seemingly civilized order, and following the human tendency to live in groups, everyone attached themselves to it.
Even if they are bullied or treated unfairly, most people will not leave, since apart from some powerful superhumans, most people do not have the ability to survive alone in the wild.
No matter how much Vanguard City exploits people, at least they can survive. But once they leave Vanguard City's protection, most of them will end up as dinner for the mutated beasts of the apocalypse.
This is why these guys in Vanguard City act with such impunity; they know that ordinary people can't live without them, so they relentlessly exploit and oppress them.
"Sir, I don't know much about the inner city. I only know that they have organized super-powered squads and high-tech equipment. That's all I Taiqing."
Du Yu spoke with a bitter face, realizing that this unfamiliar and powerful man probably had some bold ideas.
This made him even more terrified of Xu Xiao!
In this day and age, daring to target a city is akin to an old man taking poison; it's a death sentence.
"It's alright, Du Yu. Actually, I know you quite well, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you first."
"It's just that you have this little habit of trying to be clever and lying, and I think you're using it in the wrong way."
Xu Xiao smiled and unleashed an invisible stream of Spiritual Power from his palm, which entered Du Yu's body.
Then, the middle-aged man suddenly began screaming like a pig being slaughtered, and rolled around on the ground.
His face was twitching uncontrollably, snot and tears were streaming down his face, and his hands were scratching himself frantically.
Enhanced Life and Death Talisman!