Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

After maxing out his account to purchase supplies, Su Wu encountered an unexpected issue: he couldn't afford the exorbitant shipping costs.

"Seven million worth of goods, and the shipping cost is fourteen million?"

Frowning, he forwarded the invoice to Ye Xi, hoping for an explanation as to why transportation costs exceeded the value of the goods themselves.

"No choice," Ye Xi replied. "You're talking about transporting several thousand tons of supplies. It would require an entire convoy of heavy trucks for several days.

"You've seen how bad things are out there. Every extra second on the surface is a risk to their lives. A large portion of the fees goes toward hazard pay."

Her tone was tinged with helplessness. She wasn't trying to overcharge him—these were the harsh realities of the current world.

After a moment's thought, Ye Xi offered a compromise.

"Don't you have a transport truck? An autonomous one at that. That should cut your costs significantly.

"If you'd like, we can store the goods for you for free. You can transport them back to your base yourself at your own pace."

"Transport them myself?" Su Wu pondered the idea.

It wasn't a bad solution. Compared to the outrageous shipping fees, slowly transporting the goods himself was far more feasible, even if it would take more time.

Considering the relatively short distance between his bunker and the official shelter, combined with his upgraded 20-ton capacity truck, this arrangement was manageable.

"Alright, let's do that," he finally agreed.

With that, the massive transaction officially concluded.

---

Hours later, on a desolate road leading out of the city, a heavy-duty truck rumbled silently through the ash-laden terrain. Its massive wheels crushed the thick layer of dust on the ground, leaving two distinct tracks illuminated by its tail lights.

In a shadowy, abandoned house nearby, a pair of eyes observed the scene intently.

"Boss, this is the fourth trip. Every time, it leaves full and returns empty. That truck must be carrying something valuable," whispered the thin figure into a radio.

"Any idea how many people are inside?" came the reply through crackling static.

"I can't tell for sure," the lookout replied. "But I'd guess just one or two, three at most. That cab isn't large enough to fit more."

As an amateur mechanic before the apocalypse, he could tell at a glance the approximate capacity of the truck's cab.

"Alright. I'll bring the crew over," the voice on the radio said. "Set up the trap. We'll hit them next time they head out."

In a basement not far from the abandoned house, a scar-faced man with a fierce presence set down his radio and turned to his gathered crew.

"Xiao Qi's got a juicy target. Get ready, everyone. This might be our ticket to the good life."

The scar-faced man, Lu Gaofeng, was a recently escaped convict. During the chaos of a prison evacuation, he had slipped away unnoticed. With no legitimate options for refuge, he had rounded up a gang of like-minded criminals and raided an unguarded private shelter.

After killing the shelter's original owners, they had taken over the place as their base.

"Boss, should we bring the explosives?" a bespectacled man asked eagerly. "I've made some that could flip an armored car."

Lu Gaofeng considered this for a moment before nodding. "Bring them. We don't care if the truck gets damaged, as long as we get the cargo."

Despite his rugged appearance, Lu Gaofeng was a cautious and calculating leader. He knew that any group capable of transporting valuable goods repeatedly in this climate wasn't to be taken lightly.

If they were going to strike, they had to strike hard and fast, leaving no room for retaliation.

---

Several hours later, a fully loaded truck once again headed toward the outskirts. As it passed near an abandoned house, a powerful explosion erupted, shoving the truck off the road and into a dilapidated building.

"Move out!" Lu Gaofeng barked, tossing away his cigarette and grabbing a homemade shotgun.

His gang followed, brandishing weapons ranging from knives to makeshift firearms.

As they approached the truck, the dissipating smoke revealed an unnerving sight: the vehicle was almost entirely intact.

"Boss, this thing is built like an armored vehicle," one of his men muttered uneasily.

"Spread out and stay cautious," Lu Gaofeng ordered. "Xiao Qi, use the megaphone. Tell them to get out and talk, or we'll keep blowing them up."

"Got it, boss," Xiao Qi replied, pulling a loudspeaker from his belt.

He was well-practiced in this routine. It was the same tactic they had used to trick their previous victims into opening their shelter.

What he didn't know was that this time, the target wasn't so easily intimidated.