Chapter 730: Chapter 716: The Guest Becomes the Host (Part 2)

After arranging the post-mortem details, He Lei dashed towards the third floor without a moment’s rest; there, he would find the forces he desperately needed to unite and persuade.

If he couldn’t secure the help of those brothers, he’d truly become the stray dog Yang Buwei had foretold.

All his detained subordinates were locked in the same room, totaling over 20 people. What was originally a decently sized standard room became cramped and suffocating with so many people crammed inside.

In order to cut off any source of information from this group, apart from posting guards outside the door, all the curtains inside were sealed tightly, and people conducted random checks. If any anomaly was discovered, they could expect a brutal beating.

In the dim room, everyone exchanged glances, crestfallen and silent, only the sound of heavy breathing breaking the stillness.

A few with strong nicotine fixation seemed a bit restless, but despite that, none dared to make a noise. Compared to the physical discomfort, preserving their lives was evidently more crucial.

Before the two subordinates were sent out, they still hoped Liu Fugui would come to save them. Realistically speaking, they were well aware of the formidable reputation of their boss, and they also knew what this resource-loaded Factory meant to him. So even if he didn’t care about their lives, just for the Factory alone, they all believed their boss would surely fight tooth and nail to seize back what was rightfully his.

After all, during their time with Liu Fugui, they had never seen anyone manage to take something from under his nose, and even if by fluke, the outcome was always the same—it had to be obediently returned.

Unfortunately, their wishes, no matter how good, were harshly battered by reality.

Once the two guards dejectedly returned and shared their ordeal with everyone, the whole crowd deflated like punctured balloons.

Liu Fugui had fled, taking his son with him, and from his solo return, accompanied only by his son, it was likely that the brothers who’d joined him met an unfortunate fate.

At this moment, no one believed that just by Liu Fugui’s own strength any major wave could be raised, despite his prowess and cunning. Nevertheless, reality was reality; the overall situation was now set, and the Factory seemed destined to change hands.

After the transfer of ownership, what it meant for them as ex-subordinates of Liu Fugui was self-evident.

Over 20 people—such a number, if placed in the past civilized society, would have made the Factory’s leader consider the consequences before taking action against them, as police weren’t merely for show. But in today’s world, where the rule of law and moral fabric have long collapsed, and the enforcement system was nowhere to be found, it didn’t matter if it was 20 people or even 100 or 1,000, nobody would say no; as long as you had the ability and power, you could do whatever you wanted.

Thus, as matters developed to this degree, the group realized salvation was hopeless, and everyone was downcast, left with no choice but to await their execution, head down.

Yet He Lei appeared at precisely this moment; he casually found an excuse to send off the two guards, and to prevent eavesdropping, he specifically called out one of his former subordinates and whispered a few words in his ear, instructing him to stand guard outside the door. If anyone approached the room, he would cough as a warning, allowing He Lei to prepare in advance.

He Lei knew well the loyalty of this subordinate.

The reason he had this subordinate imprisoned with the others was to plant an insider among them, creating a backline just in case Liu Fugui had an astonishing comeback, providing him with an escape route.

Additionally, he didn’t want to expose all his cards to Spring Xiu, after all, he wasn’t yet Spring Xiu’s trusted aide, and if Spring Xiu ever turned against him, he’d have no retreat left.

Having this concealed little brother might prove crucial; like now, his greatest value came to light.

The subordinate instructed by He Lei to keep watch outside the door was extremely anxious, utterly lacking in confidence. Having only followed He Lei for about a year, he was filled with frustration towards his superior. When He Lei was in power, this subordinate didn’t benefit much; instead, he endured plenty of insults and punishments due to He Lei’s violent temper.

After He Lei was indirectly sidelined and placed under house arrest, the Factory was mainly operated by Huang Yong’s people, naturally making someone like him, who started with He Lei, unwelcome.

He had thought of switching allegiance to Huang Yong, but he didn’t dare due to He Lei’s temper.

Until today, when He Lei defected from Liu Fugui’s camp and joined Spring Xiu’s, he thought he could finally hold his head high. However, to his surprise, He Lei didn’t seek him out all day, and on top of that, locked him in the room. This thoroughly shattered his confidence.

He Lei was oblivious to his subordinate’s true feelings. After clarifying things that needed to be said, he ignored them and walked straight into the room.

His arrival also changed the dead atmosphere in the room, though this change made the place feel even more stifling.

"What the hell! Why are you all so listless? Are we here for a funeral or what!"

None of the subordinates showed interest in his joke; they maintained their silent posture, prompting He Lei to raise his voice, "Damn it, I was planning on taking you all to reclaim this Factory, but it looks like I can forget about that!"

His words were like a pebble dropped into a stagnant pool, creating ripples and stirring the crowd into a commotion. Soon, one bravely asked, "Bro... Brother Lei, is what you’re saying true? You... you plan to reclaim the Factory?"

"Nonsense! When have I, He Lei, ever lied? I’m telling you straight; it was indeed I who handed over this Factory to those guys downstairs. The reason? It’s because of that bastard Liu Fugui with no sense of honor. All of you have worked for the Liu Family for some time; you know how much I’ve done for them, only to be cut from my position and placed under house arrest for his son’s sake. Would you tolerate that in my shoes? That’s why I decided to join Spring Xiu’s group. But now I’ve changed my mind, and you know why? Because they plan to use you people as bait to attract Zombies, making it easier to gather supplies. Although I, He Lei, am no saint, I know brotherhood. I can’t and won’t step on my brothers’ blood to climb higher. So, that’s my piece; it’s up to you now. Those who want to live, follow me. If not, I won’t force you. But if seizing by Zombies later, don’t blame me."

He Lei’s speech was beautifully crafted; he skillfully framed his betrayal as a righteous act while exploiting everyone’s desire to survive.

He believed that at this moment, nobody would challenge his words. And indeed, as he expected, after some whispering, everyone expressed their willingness to join him. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets for us at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)