Zhou Yan returned from the battlefield and dealt with many matters, preparing to head home for a good sleep when his walkie-talkie suddenly burst to life. Complaint after complaint poured in, claiming their belongings had been stolen.
This wasn’t his responsibility, but as the saying goes, a drowning man will clutch at a straw. The complainants happened to know him and were aware that his status carried some weight, so they approached him directly, hoping he could help solve the problem.
Most of the complaints came from superpower users, all of whom had previously gone to battle against zombies. When Zhou Yan heard this, he realized the situation was very serious and he put aside thoughts of heading home to rest.
After understanding the whole story, he went to see General Song. Upon his arrival, someone was already reporting to General Song. Zhou Yan overheard them discussing precisely the theft incidents at the superpower users’ homes.
After the person finished, General Song nodded his head and turned his gaze to Zhou Yan, "What’s the matter? You haven’t received complaints as well, have you?"
Zhou Yan saw General Song’s upset expression, realizing he was certainly furious, and hurriedly said, "You’re right, General. I have indeed received numerous complaints from superpower users claiming that almost all their supplies and Crystal Cores have been stolen after they returned home."
"These people really are..." General Song slammed his hand on the table in anger, "Do they have no heart at all? What time do they think this is to commit such acts? Isn’t this disheartening? If those superpower users leave, what do they plan to do? Survive on the stolen goods? Hmph! Fools! Fools!"
He pounded the desk again, his face a picture of utter distress!
He had anticipated some people might cause trouble, so he had specifically arranged for a contingency force, ready to strike with thunderous force in case of any disturbance! But he hadn’t expected someone to take advantage of the superpower users being away fighting zombies to break into their homes and steal their vital supplies!
Such behavior was beyond the pale!
Zhou Yan and another person remained silent, heads bowed. They too were seething upon hearing about the incidents, but with General Song in a rage, anything they said might only make him more infuriated.
Yet, to speak well and appease General Song with platitudes like "These people have their reasons; they were driven by necessity, not malice" was simply out of the question for them.
How could it not be deliberate? It was sheer selfishness!
How had other people’s supplies and Crystal Cores come about? They were obtained by risking their lives, by hunting zombies! If these thieves weren’t unwilling to take risks and endure hardship, how could they have reached such a desperate state?
What right did they have to steal others’ supplies? Simply because they were pitiful?
This wasn’t some ridiculous TV drama; this was the harsh reality! They were no saints and wouldn’t entertain such foolish thoughts!
The two exchanged a worried glance in silence, their mood heavy.
The impact of these events was terrible! They had to provide some resolution for the victims, or it would only leave people disheartened!
As they contemplated this, they suddenly remembered they hadn’t checked their own homes yet and had no idea of the current state there!
General Song seemed to discern their concern, waved his hand, and said with a grim face, "Don’t worry, your status is different after all. Those people wouldn’t dare target you!"
Such cowards would only commit their petty thefts when the houses were unoccupied; how would they have the audacity to cross the military?
Then, General Song quickly gave an order, "For now, go and gather all those affected, record the items stolen from them, and lead your teams in a search, house by house, within the Safe Zone! I refuse to believe these people could make the items vanish!"
"Yes, General!" Both knew General Song was furiously serious and promptly acknowledged the command, without speaking out of turn or even considering pleading mercy for the culprits!
As the two left, they encountered several more people with troubled expressions entering, all reporting thefts within homes across the Safe Zone, without exception.
It wasn’t only General Song’s concern; the other two generals had been made aware of the situation as well. After their initial anger, they made the same decision as General Song: to tally the stolen goods and then proceed with a meticulous search from house to house!