Zhang Yi's reply to Chen Lingyu carried an unmistakable warning—he wanted her to understand that he was not someone to be provoked or manipulated.
Inside Building 9, Chen Lingyu paced slowly across the room. It wasn't anxiety that drove her movement, but the need to keep warm. She was wrapped in multiple layers of clothing, yet she still maintained her refined appearance. Draped over her shoulders was a coat trimmed with a fox-fur collar, a subtle display of her obsession with status and control—even at the end of the world.
When she read Zhang Yi's curt response, she sighed quietly."He's truly formidable… I can't afford to be careless."
She had long heard the rumors about him. They said he had single-handedly slaughtered nearly half the residents of an entire building. Worse still, he possessed advanced weaponry—among them, a sniper rifle. Someone like that was not a man she could confront head-on.
After gathering her thoughts, she typed carefully:
"Mr. Zhang, we've all heard about your capabilities. We know you own a snowmobile and can travel outside to gather supplies. That gives you unmatched mobility. Building 9, on the other hand, is well-organized and harmonious. I currently have seventy-six loyal workers under my command. If we combine your mobility with our manpower, we could dominate the entire city."
Zhang Yi read the message and let out a cold scoff.
"Cooperation?" he replied. "What exactly can you offer me? Cooperation only works when both sides bring equal value."
Chen Lingyu hesitated for a moment before responding again, her tone turning softer, almost pleading.
"We only hope you can provide us with a stable food supply. In return, Building 9 will remain neutral in any conflicts. We won't oppose you."
Zhang Yi's eyes narrowed as he typed back:
"So if I refuse… you're planning to attack Building 25 instead?"
Chen Lingyu's fingers trembled slightly over the keyboard. Even through text, she could feel the pressure he exerted. Still, she forced herself to stay composed.
"We're simply trying to survive," she answered. "With my management skills and your overwhelming firepower, we could easily take control of the entire residential community."
Zhang Yi burst out laughing when he read her reply.
"I've never seen someone beg for help with such arrogance," he wrote.
After a brief pause, he added one final sentence:
"Let me think about it."
He tossed his phone aside and leaned back, silently evaluating the situation.
Dealing with a single building posed little threat to him. But if all twenty-nine buildings united and launched a coordinated assault, even he would have to treat the situation seriously.
Fortunately, his safe house was constructed from aerospace-grade alloy. It could easily withstand gunfire. And with the extreme cold and widespread power outages, heavy demolition equipment was impossible to operate.
"They can't even survive outdoors for long," Zhang Yi muttered to himself.
With that thought, his expression relaxed slightly.
"There's nothing to worry about."