Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Chapter 241: The Infiltrator

With the ground completely covered in snow and the area around Cloud Manor being quite open, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang knew that approaching recklessly could easily lead to being discovered by Zhang Yi. So, instead of heading straight for the manor, they first scrolled the area using binoculars, carefully observing the surroundings.

From what they had learned from Xu Dongtang and the other villagers, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were already wary of Zhang Yi, knowing he was not someone to be underestimated and possibly a powerful Superhuman. They decided to wait until nightfall before making their move.

They knew from Xu’s Town that Villa 101 was Zhang Yi’s residence and the area was littered with traps. By the time night came, they were fully prepared for their infiltration. Liu Ziyang pulled out a military tactical monocle and scanned the snow-covered ground, revealing the hidden traps buried beneath the surface.

“Good thing we got the intel beforehand. If we had just rushed in, we might have gotten hurt,” Liu Ziyang remarked in a low voice.

Xie Huanhuan looked at the luxurious villa ahead of them and couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. “To live in such luxury during the apocalypse, enjoying such comfort... even I’m envious!”

Liu Ziyang, however, wasn’t impressed. “What’s there to be envious about? With the freezing temperatures outside, heating such a large house must consume enormous energy. Where does he get enough fuel to keep warm, not all the food and other necessities?”

Xie Huanhuan glanced at him but didn’t bother to explain further. Liu Ziyang wasn’t aware of the South China warehouse situation. After all, he was just a soldier who didn’t need to know the specifics of their mission, only to follow Xie Huanhuan’s orders.

“Take me across,” Xie Huanhuan commanded.

Liu Ziyang crouched down, and Xie Huanhuan nimbly jumped onto his shoulders. Carrying her, Liu Ziyang stepped onto a protruding rock in the snow, then leapt five meters into the air. Grabbing hold of the villa’s eaves with his right hand, he swung them like a pendulum towards the corner of the shelter’s wall. They were back on the ground in a flash, half-buried in snow, but not a single flake touched Xie Huanhuan.

Dismantling the simple traps buried in the snow would have been easy for them, but they decided against it to avoid alerting Zhang Yi. Instead, they opted for a stealthy approach. Once on the ground, Xie Huanhuan slid off Liu Ziyang’s shoulders and took a moment to examine the black villa before them. The building’s solid, fortified appearance impressed her.

“No wonder this was the residence of a former tycoon. It’s flashy, but in terms of defense, it’s like a fortress!” Xie Huanhuan murmured with a smile. “Unfortunately for him, there’s no such thing as an impregnable fortress in my world.”

Behind her, Liu Ziyang said, “Are you sure you don’t want to negotiate with him? Your abilities aren’t suited for combat, and sneaking in could be dangerous.”

Xie Huanhuan frowned, her voice cold, “Liu Ziyang, don’t forget—I was part of the special forces even before I had any abilities!”

Liu Ziyang, realizing he had overstepped, quickly backed down. “I’ll wait outside. If anything happens, fire a shot, and I’ll find a way to get in.”

Xie Huanhuan chuckled dismissively. “Don’t worry, Zhang Yi won’t even imagine that someone could infiltrate his place like this.”

With that, she approached the wall. The thick, specially alloyed wall, capable of withstanding artillery fire, seemed to become as insubstantial as air as Xie Huanhuan walked right through it. Or perhaps Xie Huanhuan herself turned into air, passing through without resistance.

The next moment, she was inside Zhang Yi’s shelter, specifically in the living room. Although she wasn’t familiar with the shelter’s layout, she had waited until late at night, confirming that the lights had been off for some time before entering. As soon as she was inside, the warmth of the place enveloped her, surprising her with its comfort.

“This place is even warmer than West Hill Base!” she thought, astonished. The luxurious interior decor and furnishings filled her with envy. Although such items had lost much value in the post-apocalyptic world and were scattered everywhere, returning them to West Hill Base was nearly impossible due to space limitations. Even as a special forces member, Xie Huanhuan had only a tiny room of about ten square meters.

“I can already tell he has access to a vast amount of supplies,” Xie Huanhuan mused. “Whether it’s food or energy, he must have plenty. Otherwise, he couldn’t be living in such comfort!”

A smile curled at the corners of her mouth. Just as she was about to continue exploring the room, a cat’s meow suddenly startled her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Realizing she was unaware of the full extent of Zhang Yi’s capabilities, Xie Huanhuan decided it was too risky to continue. She could tell this shelter was far more important than the West Hill Base leaders had initially believed.

However, she didn’t want to leave without leaving a mark. She decided to leave something behind that would make an impression on Zhang Yi and potentially unsettle him, making it easier to take the shelter without a fight later on.

Xie Huanhuan drew a military knife from her thigh and placed it on the table in the living room. With that done, she slipped into the shadows and vanished as quietly as she had arrived.

Emerging from the wall, she found Liu Ziyang waiting outside to assist her. Seeing her return so quickly, he asked eagerly, “Did you find anything?”

Xie Huanhuan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “A lot! Let’s head back—I’ll fill you in on the way!”

Liu Ziyang was surprised. “Head back?”

They had always handled missions together, never encountering problems they couldn’t solve. Even when dealing with remnants of Tianhai City’s former gangs, they had easily handled things. But this time, Xie Huanhuan wanted to leave—was she planning to request backup from the base?

“Did you encounter a tough opponent?” Liu Ziyang asked.

Xie Huanhuan quickly replied, “I’m not sure yet, but based on what I’ve seen, that man Zhang Yi is not simple. I’m not a fighter, so I do not need to stay here and take risks. The best action is to report this information to the higher-ups and have them send reinforcements.”

Xie Huanhuan’s ability made her perfect for external reconnaissance. She could seamlessly blend into her surroundings, making her immune to the cold and capable of bypassing the most formidable fortresses. However, her power was unsuitable for direct combat, so Liu Ziyang accompanied her.

Following her orders, Liu Ziyang helped her onto his shoulders, and they quickly left Cloud Manor.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, sleeping soundly, suddenly woke up, sensing something was wrong.

Author's Note