Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Deng Yuanbo’s words sounded like he was lobbying on behalf of Zhu Zheng.

But Zhang Yi couldn’t quite read his true intentions, so he said, “I’ve gotten used to my freedom—I don’t like being ordered around. If I become this squad captain, wouldn’t I have to do whatever the higher-ups say?”

Deng Yuanbo smiled. “But even if you’re in Tianhai City, do you really think you can ignore orders from Blizzard City?”

Zhang Yi gave a meaningful smile. “At the very least, there’s room for flexibility.”

He couldn’t reject them openly, but what about passive resistance behind the scenes?

Blizzard City couldn’t possibly impose strict control over all of the Jiangnan Thirteen Protectors. At the very least, they wouldn’t force them to act.

Otherwise, the entire region would collapse.

Deng Yuanbo raised an eyebrow. “Why are all the young people nowadays like you? Not interested in fame or fortune, just wanting to lie flat and live your own life. You’re even turning down leadership roles.”

He sighed. “Ah, times really have changed!”

Zhang Yi chuckled.

“Indeed, it’s not like your generation anymore. So please understand my decision!”

Deng Yuanbo shook his head.

“That part doesn’t matter to me. Let’s put it this way—what if we made you a temporary captain? Would that be acceptable to you?”

“Temporary captain?”

Zhang Yi repeated those two words, his demeanor calm, saying nothing more.

Wasn’t that just a temporary team leader who had to take responsibility?

And what benefits would there be after the mission was over?

Deng Yuanbo walked over and smiled at him. “Making you the captain was a decision made after much discussion by many people.”

“Everyone appreciates your laid-back nature and lack of ambition.”

“Rest assured, as long as you agree to this, your efforts won’t be in vain. I’ll offer you something you won’t be able to refuse.”

Zhang Yi’s eyes lit up.

“Oh?”

Deng Yuanbo said slowly, “You people from the Outer City have no concept of superhuman powers. The fact that you’ve managed to grow step by step is thanks to your natural talent, but otherwise, you’ve been groping around like blind men feeling out an elephant.”

“That leads to a lot of detours—wasting your talents for nothing.”

“Our Deng Group, on the other hand, has been studying superpowers for over fifty years!”

Zhang Yi’s eyes sparkled. “Half a century? Does that mean Superhumans have existed for that long?”

Deng Yuanbo replied, “Mutation is an inevitable part of biological evolution.”

“With such a massive human population, Superhumans have appeared in every era. It’s just that now, due to mass-scale mutations, it’s become common knowledge.”

“Back then, the study of Superhumans was mostly for medicine and military use. Honestly, those studies brought our Deng Group quite a bit of profit.”

He smiled at Zhang Yi. “We have a professional team that can help you and your companions improve your strength, unlock your potential, and provide top-notch training.”

“You’re strong now, yes. But there’s still a lot of room for growth. And don’t even get me started on your companions.”

“By now, they probably can’t even keep up with your pace, right?”

Zhang Yi had no way to refute that.

The gap in natural talent had made the power disparity within his team more and more obvious.

Still, Zhang Yi wasn’t ready to trust Deng Yuanbo so easily.

“I don’t get it—why are you helping me?”

“To be blunt, if your aim is to turn me into a tool for the Deng Family, someone who follows your every command, I can’t do that.”

To his surprise, Deng Yuanbo burst out laughing, head tilted back.

“Hahahahaha!!”

“Of course I don’t have such thoughts. Even Zhu Zheng couldn’t tempt you with the position of Investigation Captain—I’m not arrogant enough to think I can offer better terms.”

Zhang Yi was even more puzzled.

“Then what’s in it for you? Why go so far to help me?”

Deng Yuanbo’s smile gradually faded.

Whatever he thought of, it caused him to fall silent. He slowly turned his back and looked out into the courtyard at the falling snow.

Zhang Yi waited for his answer.

After nearly a full minute—just as Zhang Yi was about to lose patience—Deng Yuanbo finally spoke in a deep voice:

“I’m helping you to avenge my nephew.”

Zhang Yi immediately thought of Deng Shentong, the confident and striking young man he’d spoken with only briefly.

His death had come as a complete shock to Zhang Yi.

And as the head of the Deng Family, Deng Yuanbo clearly couldn’t accept such a cruel reality.

“Revenge? Even if you didn’t say it, I was already planning to wipe out everyone from Moon of Corrosion.”

Zhang Yi said quietly.

To his surprise, Deng Yuanbo shook his head.

“The people of Moon of Corrosion were just the knife. The real culprit… must be someone inside Blizzard City!”

Zhang Yi’s heart trembled.

He had his suspicions too, but hearing it straight from someone like Deng Yuanbo gave the theory much more weight.

“Someone from Blizzard City killed Deng Shentong? That…”

Zhang Yi didn’t know what to say. This matter had nothing to do with him, and he had no desire to get caught in Blizzard City’s internal power struggles.

Deng Yuanbo’s eyes were full of gloom.

“My nephew was gifted from a young age—exceptionally bright. After the apocalypse began, our Deng Family spared no effort in nurturing him, turning him into one of the strongest Superhumans in the Jiangnan District!”

“His future was boundless. He could’ve become the most brilliant figure of this era.”

“But jealousy is inevitable.”

Deng Yuanbo turned back to Zhang Yi.

“Someone borrowed Moon of Corrosion’s blade to kill him!”

Zhang Yi frowned slightly. “If you know who it was, why not go to Zhu Shuai? With the Deng Family’s power, even if the perpetrator is an Investigation Captain, you should be able to eliminate them, right?”

Deng Yuanbo said, “I don’t know who exactly did it. But I can narrow it down.”

“Who benefited most from Shentong’s death? That’s your prime suspect.”

He didn’t name names.

But his words sent a deep shock through Zhang Yi.

Not going to Zhu Zheng… that implied he didn’t trust even Zhu Zheng.

Because it was possible that Zhu Zheng had Deng Shentong eliminated to solidify his own power.

And as for the other factions in Blizzard City—Tu Yunlie, the Reincarnation Squad, and more—they could all be suspects in the plot.

Zhang Yi felt the weight of it all, and said to Deng Yuanbo:

“I don’t want to get involved. No matter how tempting your offer is, if I’m swept into a storm of power struggles, I and everyone around me will be buried with no grave to speak of!”

If Zhu Zheng really was the mastermind—what could he possibly do to fight back?

Author’s Note