The group had already reached the entrance of Zhang Yi's home, holding umbrellas as they moved. However, Zhang Yi had ensured that Dragon Security Company installed an unusually high number of pinhole cameras on this floor.
These cameras captured the intruders' every move from various angles.
As they stood at the front door, Zhang Yi watched one of them pull out several shiny metal tools from their pocket and begin working on the keyhole of his security door.
"Picking the lock?" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, but he remained unconcerned.
If his security door were that easy to break into, the professionals at Dragon Security Company might as well eat dirt.
This door was not only top-of-the-line, with security measures on par with a bank vault, but it also had five layers of defense.
To unlock the outermost layer would require the skills of a world-class locksmith, and even then, it would be a challenge.
Moreover, there was a physical lever system inside as well.
The more complex something is, the simpler the method to solve it can be. On the other hand, simple systems can be impossible to deal with.
Take Zhang Yi's door, for instance.
Since he hadn't planned on going out in the first place, he had directly inserted a 10 cm diameter steel rod inside to secure it! Unless someone rammed it with a car continuously, there was no way a person could break through it.
And Zhang Yi had anticipated attempts at picking the lock, so he had installed an additional special defense.
As he watched the surveillance footage on his TV, Zhang Yi pulled out his phone, opened the control app for his safe house, and gently pressed a button.
Instantly, a massive electric current surged through the security door!
Lu Tao, who had been focused on picking the lock, let out a terrible scream as the powerful current shot through his entire body!
The others, terrified, immediately backed away, their faces turning pale.
"S-Save me!" Lu Tao, his face twisted in agony, begged his companions for help.
The strong electric current gripped him like a pair of pliers, holding him in place, unable to break free.
Fang Yuqing, Zhou Peng, and the others stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock.
They hadn't expected anything like this and had no insulated tools at their disposal.
Soon, smoke started rising from Lu Tao's body, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
"Boom!"
He collapsed to the ground, his clothes burned to tatters, and the skin on his arms and face already charred.
He was clearly beyond saving.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Fang Yuqing, Lin Caining, and the others screamed in horror.
Seeing someone die right in front of them was a traumatic experience, shaking them to their core.
Inside the apartment, Zhang Yi's lips curled into a slight smirk.
For some reason, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
But who could they blame for this?
If they dared to target Zhang Yi, then they deserved to die!
Wang Min and the others felt a chill run down their spines, and the plan to break in was a complete failure.
Sun Zhichao, Lu Tao's long-time friend, was burning with rage after seeing his companion die a gruesome death.
"Zhang Yi, you bastard! Get out here, now!" he roared, picking up a shovel and banging it furiously against Zhang Yi's door.
The noise echoed through several floors.
However, the large iron door showed no signs of denting or damage.
After the paint chipped away, the heavy alloy beneath was exposed.
Zhang Yi came to the door, hands in his pockets, his expression amused as he spoke, "You think you can break down my door? You're asking for death."
He shook his head and sighed, "Oh, wouldn't it be better to just stay alive?"
Hearing Zhang Yi's mocking tone, the people outside were filled with both anger and fear.
Wang Min shouted, "Zhang Yi, we came here in peace to discuss cohabitation! How could you kill someone?"
"You're worse than Chen Zhenghao! You're a murdering devil!"
Upon hearing a woman's voice, Zhang Yi realized that the people outside weren't Chen Zhenghao and his group.
But having killed Lu Tao, he didn't feel the slightest bit of regret. After all, people like him deserved to die.
In a moment of reflection, Zhang Yi figured out who these intruders were.
It had to be Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining's group!
They were the only ones who knew how comfortable Zhang Yi's home was.
His expression hardened as he coldly retorted, "You're trying to act innocent? You came to my home, smashed my door, and tried to steal my house. If you die, you deserve it!"
"And now you have the nerve to bark here like a dog. What a joke!"
Sun Zhichao pretended to stay calm.
"Zhang Yi, we don't mean any harm. We just want to talk."
"But without saying a word, you killed our good friend Lu Tao. Isn't that going too far?"
"Aren't you going to give us an explanation?"
Zhang Yi burst into laughter.
"Just to talk, huh? You show up uninvited, break into my home, and call that talking?"
"Hmph, once the door's open, your next step would probably be to kill me or throw me out to fend for myself."
"Then, you'd enjoy the safe house I worked hard to prepare. Isn't that right?"
The group exchanged glances. This had indeed been their original plan.
Sun Zhichao's brow furrowed deeply, hatred for Zhang Yi filling his heart after his friend's death.
But for now, breaking through the door was their main priority.
He took a deep breath and shouted, "Zhang Yi, we're giving you one last chance! Open the door and let us in. Otherwise, the consequences will be something you can't handle!"
Fang Yuqing also yelled from outside, "Zhang Yi, we won't hurt you. We just want to share your space and face the disaster together. Don't be ungrateful!"
Lin Caining chimed in, "Yeah, worst case, we'll let you stay in the master bedroom, and we'll let you use the supplies first!"
They were getting desperate.
Because just beyond that wall was paradise, something they had been waiting for so long.
Zhang Yi sneered at their words.
"Have you lost your mind? This house is mine, and yet you're acting like you own the place, making plans on my behalf."
"If you've got the guts, try whatever you can. Let's see if you can break in!"
As he spoke, Zhang Yi's hands were not idle.
He had already loaded his handgun and prepared his crossbow.
The hunt was about to begin.
Through the surveillance system, he could clearly see everything outside, even hearing their whispered conversations.
Sun Zhichao and the others gathered, discussing their next move.
Among them, the most timid, Ge Jialiang, nervously asked, "What do we do? Lu Tao's dead, and no one else can pick the lock. Should we just retreat? If Chen Zhenghao's group notices, things could get ugly."
Sun Zhichao cursed, "What are you scared of? We're on the 24th floor, and Chen Zhenghao's group would be exhausted just climbing up here. Even if they wanted to kill and loot, they'd start with the lower floors."
Wang Min, with a serious expression, added, "Zhang Yi isn't easy to deal with. It's like he knew this apocalypse was coming, he's so well-prepared."