Chapter 12: Feet Beneath the Table
Li Changsheng, unaware of Andrea’s thoughts, continued speaking:
“First, I will divide everyone in the camp into three groups: combat, survival, and engineering.
Second, the camp will provide basic food and water to its members. But if you want a better quality of life, you’ll have to exchange contribution points for the corresponding supplies.”
“Contribution points?!”
“Let me finish. Third, there are two ways to obtain contribution points. One is by working. For example, Amy’s current role is quartermaster; she’ll be in charge of distributing everyone’s daily food rations. This job will earn Amy extra contribution points every day.
The other way is by completing tasks issued by the camp. Once we reach the CDC, I’ll set up a mission board. Complete the listed tasks, and you’ll get your reward.
Fourth, after we seize the CDC, aside from fulfilling your main duties, you’ll be allowed to go out and gather resources, but you must turn in fifty percent of what you find.
That’s all.” At this, Li Changsheng paused, giving everyone time to process.
After a moment, he asked, “Daryl, Amy, Andrea—any thoughts?”
Daryl shook his leg and shrugged. “Didn’t catch all of that, but it sounds fair—do more, get more. I’ve got no complaints. Just one thing, I want to join the combat group, not logistics!”
Li Changsheng nodded. “Alright, but during the journey to the CDC, I’ll be handling combat. You and Moore will help protect the team.”
“No problem!” Daryl replied, quick and decisive.
Amy raised her hand and shouted, “Boss! I’ve no objections either!”
Li Changsheng smiled at her. “Good. Since you’re fine with it, Andrea, what about you? Which group do you want to join? But regardless of your choice, I need you to drive the RV on the way to the CDC.”
“No problem. As for the group, I’d like to be with Amy,” Andrea replied.
Li Changsheng considered this, then agreed.
“Hey, Boss, you forgot about me!” Moore shouted, feeling overlooked. “I have a few—”
He didn’t finish before Li Changsheng shot him a fierce glare. “What? You have a few what?”
Being stared at by Li Changsheng was like being hunted by a beast. Moore’s skin prickled. He forced himself to swallow his words. “I—I—don’t have any, not one…”
“It’s fine, you can speak up if you’ve got suggestions. I’m very democratic.”
Democratic, my ass!
Damn it, bullying the honest guy.
Moore cursed inwardly but said, “Boss, I was mistaken, I really don’t have any.”
Daryl sneered at Moore, “Coward.”
“Who are you calling a coward, you bastard!” Moore retorted, flustered.
Amy couldn’t help laughing at the scene.
Andrea, seeing Moore so thoroughly subdued by Li Changsheng, was both surprised and relieved.
At least that instability was dealt with, wasn’t it?
“Alright, since there are no objections, we’ll regroup here in half an hour!”
...
Moore and Daryl, two big rough types without a penny to their names, didn’t own much. Their entire stock of supplies fit in a small car.
Li Changsheng had them drive their old car.
Andrea and Amy, on the other hand, had loads of stuff—clothes, makeup, all sorts of useful and useless things.
Li Changsheng frowned as he looked at the pile.
Fortunately, the RV roof had plenty of space, so he tied all their things up there.
After bidding farewell to the rest of the camp, everything was ready.
Li Changsheng stood before the four of them. “Let’s move out!”
The two vehicles set off, one behind the other, raising clouds of dust as they rumbled toward the distant CDC.
...
Noon.
The sun blazed high, the sky a spotless blue.
The highway snaked across the endless plain like a giant dragon, winding through towns and around hills.
By now, Li Changsheng’s group had driven dozens of kilometers, still a day’s journey from the CDC.
Moore and Daryl drove the car ahead of the RV.
The small car was more maneuverable and could spot threats first, giving time to react.
Both vehicles kept a moderate speed.
Drive steady.
That was Li Changsheng’s instruction.
“Moore, stop hiding it! I saw the wine in your pocket!” Daryl cursed as he drove. “Damn it! Hiding from your own brother!”
Moore chuckled, pulling the wine out and waving it in front of Daryl, grinning mischievously. “Want some?”
“Get lost! You can’t drink and drive, the boss said so!”
Daryl had been out here for two months—just getting enough to eat was a problem, the food rough and tasteless. His mouth watered at the sight, though he kept up the tough act. “Moore, you bastard, are you and the kid in on something? Why did he give you wine? Why won’t Amy give me any?”
Moore grinned. “That’s a secret!”
Daryl fumed, “Bastard, tell me or I’ll throw you out!”
Moore relented. “Alright, I traded a gun for it.”
Daryl was suspicious. “Where’d you get a gun? Didn’t Rick confiscate them all?”
Moore smirked. “Yeah, he did. But before leaving, I helped myself to a few from Rick’s bag.”
“Damn, Moore, you really are a piece of work!”
...
Andrea drove the RV, glancing at the rearview mirror now and then.
Li Changsheng sat on the couch in the lounge, flipping through a magazine out of boredom.
There were two sofas in the lounge, with a pull-out table between them.
Amy had just finished showering, her fair feet bare as she lounged on the sofa’s other end.
As Li Changsheng turned the pages, he suddenly felt a delicate foot brush against his trouser leg.
He looked up to see Amy’s face calm, eyes closed, feigning sleep.
Her small foot slowly hooked his pant leg, gently rubbing his calf.
Li Changsheng marveled at Amy’s boldness—Andrea was right there at the wheel, sneaking glances back. But under the table, it should be safe.
Amy’s actions grew bolder, her toes climbing higher, eventually sliding up his thigh—until Li Changsheng trapped her foot between his legs.
A surge of indescribable excitement rushed through him, a fierce impulse welling up from deep within his soul.
Damn, the side effects of the G-organism were kicking in.
Unable to help himself, Li Changsheng reached out, playing with her small foot, his hand tracing from her slender calf upward, then back down.
His grip loosened, even drawing her foot closer.
It was summer, and their clothes were thin.
Suddenly, Amy shuddered. She felt her foot press against something hard, her fair cheeks flushing crimson.
At that moment—
Daryl’s car screeched to a stop.
Andrea braked as well. “Boss, something ahead!”
Damn, could this timing be any worse!
Li Changsheng, in a fit of retribution, gave Amy’s foot a firm push, then tidied his clothes and stood, wrapping his jacket around his waist.
He picked up the handgun that Moore had surrendered and got out.
There was no question of who would go—he was a G1 organism. His skin wasn’t armored, but even if bullets tore his flesh, the G-cells would heal him in short order.
But the others weren’t so lucky.
If anyone were killed by a sniper, it would shatter the team’s confidence.
He told Andrea and Amy to stay in the RV and stay alert, then got out and joined Daryl and Moore a short distance away.
Daryl was armed with a crossbow, pointing in one direction.
Moore, waving his handgun, pointed ahead as Li Changsheng approached. “Boss, see that car broken down in the middle of the road? There are two bastards hiding on the right side!”