Chapter 1369: Chapter 780
The two of them walked up the stairs.
When they reached the second floor, Li Angās pace gradually slowed down, falling behind Xu Zhong.
Xu Zhong noticed this as well and became nervous, "Why are you walking so slowly? Is something wrong?"
"Not exactly..." Li Angās expression was somewhat hesitant, and his steps became slower and slower until he simply stopped, "Why donāt you go up by yourself. When you reach the seventh floor, someone will be at the door; just introduce yourself, and itās fine. Iāve already informed them, theyāre specifically waiting here for you."
"Huh? Arenāt you coming with me?"
"I wonāt be coming along. Donāt worry, thereās no danger on these upper floors."
"Whyās that?"
Upon hearing Xu Zhongās question, a red-haired female figure flashed in Li Angās mind, and he suddenly shivered.
"Donāt ask, itās just a private matter. Anyway, Iām leaving first. If they ask you what Iām doing, just say you donāt know."
"I really donāt know what youāre up to... hey! Wait..."
Before Xu could finish speaking, Li Ang had already vanished.
Left with a stomach full of questions, Xu continued up the stairs by himself.
Before long, he met the person Li Ang was afraid of.
It was a tall woman. She was wearing a jacket, her left hand entirely replaced by a prosthesis, and her long red hair was casually draped, giving off a very dashing vibe. Her features and face shape appeared sharp and full of vigor. Her attire was entirely in a warrior style, with a flat stomach and exposed arms displaying defined muscle contours.
She wasnāt a conventional beauty, but she was unforgettable at first sight.
Especially considering her identity.
Her name was Mei Zheng, and she was a fugitive.
"Hello, Miss Mei, this is our first meeting, but I am already familiar with you. Your wanted poster has my signature on it."
Mei Zheng sat confidently in her seat, and the so-called āwanted posterā didnāt cause any change in her expression: "Oh, so thatās how it is, but I donāt mind. Those big companies have been after me for a long time, I believe Officer Xu, you couldnāt help it either."
Xu Zhong said seriously, "No, this was my own decision. Iāve long heard of the Rebel Armyās reputation. I know you are fighting against the big companies. Even though Iām doing something similar, I still canāt agree with your violent actions."
"Hahaha!" Mei Zheng burst into laughter, "So, Officer Xu is a peaceful protester! In that case, why did you come to us?"
Xu Zhong sighed deeply, "Through an introduction, and also because I have nowhere else to go. Right now, Iām like a lonely ghost, wandering in a city that no longer belongs to me, with nowhere to go, nowhere to stay."
"So you want us to take in a lonely ghost?" Mei Zheng shook her head, "Maybe in Officer Xuās eyes, weāre a group of outlaws who like to use violence, but I need to clarify, we never deny that we use force at times, but we see it as very necessary."
As she spoke, Mei Zheng stood up, her full height on display. Xu Zhong himself wasnāt short, but in front of Mei Zheng, who was probably over 1.85 meters tall, he was still half a head shorter.
The female leader continued, "Look at this Era City, from the Financial Building in the Central District, to the commercial and entertainment plaza in Xiyang District; from the technology park in Gaoyun District, to the factories in He Dao District; from the upscale residences in Minghu District, to the pigeon buildings in Tianxiu District... Where in the entire Era City isnāt under the control of those big companies? Everywhere is their industry, the government is like a puppet on strings, how can peaceful protest ever succeed? Even someone like you, Officer Xu, with status and standing, hasnāt been forced step by step by the big companies to come before me?"
Faced with Mei Zhengās words, Xu Zhong found himself unable to refute.
Isnāt this the truth?
"Of course, we are not just brutish beings using martial force. We are a disciplined, idealistic, intelligent team. We deeply understand the huge disparity between the rebel force and those major companies. We must skillfully strategize, awaken more of the populace, and strengthen our own power. Furthermore, we can see the internal conflicts within these large companies too. We need to be patient and wait for the right moment."
After her long speech, Mei Zheng once again focused her gaze on Xu Zhong:
"So, after hearing my introduction to the Rebel Army, has your view of us changed?"
"Indeed it has," Xu Zhong replied.
"So, are you willing to join us and fight for our common cause?"
"I am willing," Xu Zhong said, "Not just because of Miss Meiās discourse, but because, in my ten-plus years of experience, Iāve personally witnessed that peaceful protest only leads to failure in the end. Since that path has failed, Iāll spend the rest of my life seeing if another path can succeed."
Mei Zheng smiled broadly, stepped in front of Xu Zhong, and extended her hand, "Then we are comrades from now on!"
Xu Zhong also extended his hand, shaking with Mei Zhengās.
After the handshake, Mei Zheng posed another question, "Then, Comrade Xu Zhong, I have a question that you must answer for me."
"Go ahead."
"Where did Li Ang run off to? Why didnāt he come with you to see me this time?"
"Uh... He said he couldnāt come due to some personal reasons."
Mei Zheng let out a cold laugh, "Personal reasons? Hehehe!"
Before she finished laughing, someone burst into the room.
"Sister Mei!"
"Whereās Li Ang?"
"Sorry, Sister Mei... we couldnāt keep up, and that guy ran away!"
Mei Zheng slammed her fist down, her expression turning angry, "He got away again!"
Xu Zhongās expression became bewildered, "Uh... Miss Mei, is there some misunderstanding with Li Ang? I always thought he was your comrade too?"
Mei Zheng replied, "Not āyourā, but āourā. Thereās no misunderstanding between us, just some personal grudges. Heās not our comrade yet, but he will be in the future. Iāll catch him sooner or later and make him marry me!"
"Pfft..." Upon hearing the word āmarryā, Xu Zhong couldnāt hold back and sprayed out the tea he had just sipped.
"What?" He found it hard to reconcile the woman who wanted to force a marriage with him with the fierce leader who had just been discussing the necessity and strategy of violent resistance.