Chapter 180: Rallying the Troops with a Call

Chapter 180: Rallying the Troops with a Call

The atmosphere in Devil City was listless and deathly silent. The majority of people sat by the roadside with lifeless eyes, like zombies devoid of emotion. Lu Yan had set up a small table to recruit members for his defense team, attracting many curious glances, but as hours passed, no one signed up.

Just as Lu Yan began to doze off while leaning on his chair, a shadow suddenly fell over him. Thinking that a potential recruit had finally arrived, he straightened up and said, "Interested in joining the defense team? Three thousand six hundred time points upon joining, meals provided, no accommodation..."

Before he could finish, he found himself face-to-face with Xing Yuan's insincere smile. The rest of his words died in his throat. "Why are you here?"

Xing Yuan remained silent, instead picking up the crude sign on the table. He noticed there were only fifty-odd characters, eight of which were misspelled. Raising an eyebrow, he said ambiguously, "You said you were volunteering in Devil City. Is this what you call volunteering?"

To an outsider, it might seem like someone was sitting by the roadside, pretending to be a fortune-teller.

Lu Yan rubbed the tip of his nose. "I'm just doing this for fun since I'm bored."

For fun? Unlikely.

Xing Yuan knew Lu Yan wasn't that idle. If he did something, he meant business. Leaning on the table, he looked down at Lu Yan and scoffed. "Lu Yan, do you really think these stragglers in Devil City can amount to anything?"

Lu Yan thought to himself that he couldn't show weakness. "Soldiers are trained, step by step. What about you? Interested in joining?"

This was purely a joke. The Chancellor would never let both of Sky City's lightning ability users join Devil City and would obstruct them at all costs. Xing Yuan wouldn't pay attention to Lu Yan's makeshift operation either. Standing upright, he crossed his arms and looked at Lu Yan. "Wait until you have a hundred people. But from the looks of things, that seems difficult, doesn't it?"

He was clearly expressing his disdain.

Realizing Lu Yan was determined to stand out, Xing Yuan didn't stop him and returned to the defensive wall. Seeing this, He Zhu hurried over. "How did it go? Did he pack up and leave?"

"Leave? Why would he?"

Xing Yuan glanced at He Zhu. Though his tone was lazy, anyone could sense the sharpness in his words. "He's recruiting on Devil City's territory, not Sky City's. Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere with matters outside your city anymore? Why bother now?"

It was like dogs chasing mice—unnecessary meddling.

He Zhu clenched his teeth. "But Lu Yan goes in and out of Sky City every day, and we've never stopped him. Isn't this going too far?"

Xing Yuan replied coolly, "You can stop him if you want. If you can, then do it."

The patrol teams weren't enough to handle Lu Yan.

He Zhu was silenced. The Chancellor wanted these two powerful individuals tied to Sky City forever and wouldn't push them away. It would be like peeling his own skin off. He forced a smile, cursing inwardly, "What are you talking about? I was just joking."

Fine, let Lu Yan recruit. He didn't believe anything significant would come of it.

Sitting by the roadside all morning, Lu Yan started to feel restless. The system had given him twenty-four hours, and if he didn't find recruits soon, his merit points would be lost. Standing up abruptly, he said, "We can't just sit here. We need to take action."

Lu Xiaozhao squatted by the roadside, planning to start a live stream to gain popularity. Unfortunately, with most of Devil City's workforce inactive, large areas were without power, and the internet was on the brink of collapse. "Brother, how do we take action? Should we go door-to-door?"

"It's too inefficient."

Mostly, the people looked dispirited, having lost hope for survival. Door-to-door recruitment probably wouldn't work. Lu Yan squatted by the roadside, flipping through his contacts and began making calls. Although the system told him to create a team in Devil City, it didn't specify that the team members had to be from Devil City. People from Sky City could join too!

Finding a loophole, Lu Yan called Feng Xiangming and his fellow disciples. Half an hour later, they appeared at the entrance of Sky City. Looking around, they saw Lu Yan waving from the roadside and rushed over.

Feng Xiangming was out of breath. "Brother Lu...you asked us to join your defense team, but why is there no one here?"

Lu Yan's eyes lit up when he saw that Feng Xiangming had brought six people with him. He stood up, grabbed Feng Xiangming's shoulders, and shook him gently. This young man was reliable! "You're the first batch of core members of my defense team. You'll be the founding elders. I thought of you first for this great opportunity!"

Feng Xiangming was stunned. They had been spending their days in the lab researching corrosive sprays against the wanderers. When Lu Yan called to say he was organizing a defense team, they rushed out immediately. They expected to see a large, well-equipped group, but it turned out there were only a few people.

Feng Xiangming hesitated. "Brother Lu, although your abilities are impressive, we're ordinary people. Without high-tech equipment or weapons, isn't it a bit...impulsive to form a team so hastily?"

"And a bit foolish," Meng Xichuan added, also part of the group. "Those ordinary people can't carry or lift much. If you want to train them to the level of the patrol teams, it will take years. Moreover, the dark clouds are fading, and according to statistics, nearly one-third of the wanderers have already evolved. The red moon will end soon."

He pointed to the sky. The dark clouds had faded to a deep gray, and the crimson moon showed signs of returning to normal.

This wasn't a good omen, as the disappearance of the red moon signaled the imminent attack of the wanderers on the cities.

Lu Yan spoke with the enthusiasm of a company leader promising grand futures: "Weapons will come, and abilities will come. If you join now, I can get these for you. Devil City is in crisis and needs people. Are you willing to join my team?"

Lu Yan had spent the morning browsing through the tens of thousands of items in the system's store. Finally, he found an electric shock device that could stimulate human potential. However, the system said it was a special item that could only be triggered under certain conditions.

As for what those conditions were, it was clear that forming a team of twenty people was the first step.

Hearing this, Feng Xiangming and Meng Xichuan exchanged looks of disbelief. They knew Lu Yan meant well, but did he have to make such grand promises to form a team? It was almost as if he was trying to feed them more than they could handle.

Weapons were one thing—they existed, and with Lu Yan's combat prowess, he might actually be able to acquire some. But abilities were a different matter. They were gifts of talent and divine providence; they couldn't be conjured out of thin air.

Still, Feng Xiangming respected his idol and clenched his fist solemnly. "We're all fighting for Devil City, Brother Lu. Of course, we'll join!"

After all, since Professor Mo had openly challenged the Chancellor during the conference, the Seventh Institute had been marginalized. Most of the core research was no longer entrusted to them. They spent their days idly in the institute. They might as well entertain their idol.

Feng Xiangming had a pragmatic attitude.

Meng Xichuan and the others, grateful for Lu Yan saving their lives before, felt it was unreliable but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. They nodded in agreement:

"Alright, we'll join."

"I'll join too."

"Me as well."

"Go, Little Lu! I believe in you!"

There were seven of them, plus Lu Xiaozhao, making eight in total. They still needed twelve more people to reach a team of twenty.

Lu Yan had run out of contacts to call. "I plan to recruit twelve more people. Do any of you have relatives or friends? Help me spread the word!"

Meng Xichuan widened his eyes. "Spread the word? Do you know that this behavior is equivalent to fraud and could land you in jail in Sky City!"

In Meng Xichuan's mind, Lu Yan's organization, which had nothing to offer, was only slightly better than those involved in online fraud. He could jump into the fire pit himself, but how could he drag his relatives and friends along? Only a fool would come over.

Lu Yan was incredulous. "When did I ever commit fraud?"

Meng Xichuan: "You said weapons would be available, and so would superpowers. What is that if not fraud? You deserve life imprisonment!"

"You!"

Just as Lu Yan was about to say something, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "Um... Are you really recruiting for the security team?"

Lu Yan looked over instinctively and saw a teenager of about sixteen or seventeen standing not far away. The other party was tall and thin, wearing a tattered T-shirt. His face looked somewhat familiar, like the child who shouted under the city wall on the day of the lockdown. His eyes were sharp, which made a deep impression on Lu Yan. Even now, he could recall what the other party said that day.

He said humans would survive,

He said he didn't believe Devil City would fall without Sky City's protection. He said that although they didn't have superpowers, they could protect themselves.

He also said that even if only one person survived in this city, Devil City wouldn't be considered defeated.

Lu Yan straightened up slightly, feeling a bit more energetic. Based on what the kid said that day, wasn't he a perfect candidate for the security team? "Recruiting, of course we are. How old are you? What's your name?"

Hearing the answer, the teenager let out a slight sigh of relief. "My name is Tang Xiao, and I'm sixteen years old."

Meng Xichuan commented from the side, "You're hiring child labor, that's another crime."

Lu Yan directly pulled Meng Xichuan back. "Shut up, I'm the captain now. In the future, don't speak unless the captain tells you to!"

After saying that, he walked up to Tang Xiao, reached out to pat the other party's shoulder, and found that although he was a bit thin, his bones were quite good. "Have you thought it through? Joining the security team may put your life at risk. Think carefully before answering."

Tang Xiao nodded. He had a handsome face, and at sixteen, he would have been a charismatic school heartthrob in high school. But there was an inexplicable sense of maturity and stability about him. "Even if we don't join the security team, we still face life-threatening situations. Now that Sky City has abandoned us, if we don't stand up for ourselves, we'll really just be waiting to die. We might as well take a chance."

As he spoke, he pointed to the distance. "Actually, Brother Xuyang and the others wanted to come too, but too many people died yesterday, and there were many corpses to deal with. They couldn't spare the time."

Hearing this, Lu Yan felt a little relieved. He thought so, his charisma couldn't possibly be that weak. "Okay, then join us. From now on, you'll be the ninth member of the security team!"

Lu Xiaozhao glanced at the time. "Brother, what about the other eleven people?"

Feng Xiangming and Meng Xichuan all waved their hands, indicating that they wouldn't drag their relatives and friends into trouble. Tang Xiao said he had a few friends he could call over, but Devil City was currently chaotic, and they couldn't make phone calls. It would take time to find people.

"Let's do this. Go home first, and tomorrow morning at seven o'clock, gather here on time for training."

Lu Yan came over today mainly to recruit team members. Once he had enough people, he could find the system to exchange for store items and then start formal training. Others couldn't understand why he was doing such a thankless task, wasting both time and energy, but seeing the growing crowd on Cloud Road, he swallowed his words.

So many people, if they all died, even gods and Buddhas would be reluctant to witness such a monstrous slaughter.

Seeing that Lu Yan was still squatting by the roadside recruiting students, Feng Xiangming and Meng Xichuan had no choice but to temporarily return to the research institute with their fellow students. However, just as they reached the entrance to Sky City, a sarcastic voice sounded behind them:

"Hey, isn't that the top student from the Seventh Academy? Why aren't you staying in the research institute properly? Why are you running off to Devil City to join those messy security teams? You only have brains, your physical strength can't compare to superpowered individuals. Going to do that kind of fighting work now isn't seeking death?"

The speaker was none other than Xiao Shian, whom Lu Yan kicked down the stairs that day. The bruise on his face hadn't faded, making him look somewhat comical, but the hostility in his eyes was like poison.

Upon hearing this, everyone from the Seventh Academy stopped in their tracks, their eyes blazing with anger. "What did you say? Say it again!"

"So what if we have superpowers? Truly looking down on people!"

"What does it have to do with you that we're joining the security team!"

Xiao Shian patted the gate next to him, implying something. "Indeed, it has nothing to do with me. I just can't stand some people being traitors. Clearly living in Sky City, yet going to help that bunch of scum in Devil City. Lu Yan doesn't have guns or cannons. Are you all under a spell, or are you really stupid, to actually join his ragtag team."

"You dare insult my idol!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiangming was furious. Rolling up his sleeves, he rushed forward to fight, but was quickly restrained by his fellow students, who whispered, "Forget it, Xiangming. Why bother with this kind of person."

"That's right, a beast who doesn't even recognize his own kind. Why argue with him."

Although researchers had some status, they couldn't compare to these superpowered individuals. Plus, the Seventh Academy was now being cold-shouldered and marginalized, so it wasn't a good time for an argument. Feng Xiangming and the others could only endure and leave.

Xiao Shian stood there and sneered, spitting. "A bunch of trash!"

A cold voice suddenly sounded from behind, giving him a big fright.

"Who did you call trash?"

Xing Yuan was just about to go home when he happened to see this scene. He slowly descended the steps, the sound of his leather shoes hitting the ground crisp and clear. His expression was unreadable, seemingly with a hint of curious probing.

Xiao Shian was instantly drenched in cold sweat upon seeing this. He hurriedly moved aside, pressing his back against the wall. "I... I didn't say anything."

Xing Yuan had seen many people like Xiao Shian. Because they had lived in hardship before, once they obtained superpowers, they became arrogant, looking down on everyone. And these kinds of people would often fall hard in the end.

Xing Yuan asked abruptly, "What level is your superpower?"

Xiao Shian hesitated for a moment before answering, "O... One."

Xing Yuan understood. "Promoted from Devil City a few years ago?"

Xiao Shian's face turned pale, and he fell silent instantly.

"Tsk."

Xing Yuan burst out laughing. That subtle ridicule stung like a needle. He asked meaningfully, "You're trash yourself, yet you dare to laugh at others for being trash. They may not have superpowers, but they at least have brains. What about you?"

If one day they lost their superpowers, they wouldn't even have brains.

After saying that, Xing Yuan ignored Xiao Shian's flushed face and left directly. This kind of person wasn't even worth a glance from him. Dealing with him would lower his own status.

On the other side, Lu Yan received a text message from Xing Yuan urging him to go home, and began preparing to pack up and return to the city. He thought that he probably wouldn't be able to recruit enough people today, and would wait until tomorrow for Tang Xiao to invite a few more friends. But just as he bent down to lift the table, a strong hand suddenly pressed against the edge of the table, forcefully pressing a heavy gun onto it. The table hit the ground with a muffled thud—

"Do you still recruit team members?"

A low, deep voice sounded in his ear, somewhat familiar.

Lu Yan paused at the sound of the voice, instinctively lifting his head only to find that an imposing shadow had materialized before him—Chen Yan and his band of patrol soldiers. Their spines stood as straight as steel spears, their presence undeniable even in the shroud of night. Each man held a gun, their figures robust, a testament to their well-trained discipline.

"I saw your recruitment notice this morning," Chen Yan began, "I asked around one by one within our ranks, and it just so happened we gathered over forty men. We have guns and ammunition; all we need is food. Will you take us?"

These were veterans who had survived the crucible of battle, their combat experience rich enough to lead squads with ease. If they became the backbone of Lu Yan's force, he could instantly muster a group nearly a thousand strong—a formidable and terrifying power.

A shock ran through Lu Yan's heart. "But aren't you part of the patrol team?"

Chen Yan's response was succinct and clear: "We weren't happy there, didn't want to stay! So, will you find us too many?"

The sudden good fortune left Lu Yan's mind blank, and he immediately replied, "Not at all, not at all, the more the merrier!"

As soon as he spoke, a distant shout pierced the air: "Captain! Don't close up shop yet! Wait for us!"

Lu Yan followed the sound, spotting Tang Xiao leading a group of young men rushing towards him. Though their clothes were worn, their eyes sparkled with vitality and spirit.

Tang Xiao, breathless from running, bent over with his hands on his knees to explain, "Captain, I found some friends, they're all willing to join. Worried you might not have enough people, I went around the streets looking for more. These folks are all eager to participate."

Today, Lu Yan had been somewhat out of sorts. He knew that Devil City's network was down, so he hadn't considered live streaming, but he hadn't anticipated that most residents would be stationary, not moving about. The news of his recruitment had only spread in a small circle, leaving vast crowds unaware. Tang Xiao and his brothers had run through dozens of streets, spreading the word. Within hours, they had gathered a crowd, all rushing over in fear of missing out.

Despite it being late into the night, there was a peculiar sense that dawn was near.