Chapter 277 - 245: Activate

Chapter 277: Chapter 245: Activate

Whatever the reason, Yu Dong had to win over Ji Luo and have him guard the research institute.

Because he didn’t have the energy to go to the institute himself, he needed to entrust this most critical location to an expert who had been proven by time.

Someone else might not be able to handle the nearby villagers, let alone develop and expand the place.

"Lawyer Ji, I don’t know whether the current you or the future you is the one lying, but... we still have a third key. Something only I can do in this world. I can predict tonight’s 9:15 PM lottery numbers."

"Go on. I’m listening."

"32, 11, 20, 03, 13, 09, 02."

"Fine. If this is correct, I’ll come find you."

After he hung up, his three roommates, who had been staring at him with bated breath, had their eyes wide.

Huang Zhiqiang exclaimed, "Holy shit, is that for real, Dongzi? You even have the lottery numbers! If it’s real, each of us brothers can get a ticket, and we’ll be set for life, right? No... to honor the mood you’ve set today, I have to go buy four tickets myself."

Yu Dong quickly stopped the dreaming Huang.

"Are you crazy? Don’t screw this up for me. This step is critical."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

The waitress from the milk tea shop knocked and entered, placing four iced Americanos on the small table in their private room.

Yu Dong lifted his hand and glanced at the time. It was 7:36 PM. They had been sitting in the milk tea shop for ten minutes.

He had only contacted one person, Ji Luo, and he hadn’t even sealed the deal.

He pressed his hand down, signaling for Huang and the others to keep listening. Yu Dong dialed the number of the second key person.

"Song Jinchuan, you’ll be very interested in what I’m about to say. Beneath your ancestral shrine, there are two loose bricks. Behind them is a large chest containing 9.85 million in cash—money your Song Family earned from the sea-walking trade."

A bombshell right from the start.

Song Jinchuan was in his comfortable villa teaching his young grandson how to tie a sailor’s knot when the sudden call nearly made him jump out of his skin.

’The Song Family’s past business wasn’t exactly legal...’

’Now this person had revealed the exact amount of money they had left. The figure was so precise... It was obvious... this person has been here!’

He walked toward the ancestral shrine built in his villa’s courtyard and asked in a low voice,

"Who are you? When were you at my house?"

Yu Dong didn’t answer, continuing instead.

"Your Song Family made a lot of money over many years as a Sea-Walking Clan in the south. Five years ago, after the official crackdown, you chose to wash your hands of it, leading your clan to a new city to start a new life."

"You came to this underdeveloped Yanhai City and used your earnings to collectively buy seaside villas in Golden Sand Bay No. 1, where property values were still low. The Song Family bought up half the entire villa district. After the money was distributed, the remaining collective funds were all left with you."

"Since coming to Yanhai City, you’ve been kind to others, lived off your substantial wealth, and kept a low profile, staying out of trouble. Your decision to quit while you were ahead saved the Song Family. Your status within the clan is unassailable. All your kinsmen admire your wisdom, and they’ll listen to whatever you say. Am I right, Uncle Song?"

Song Jinchuan had reached the ancestral shrine. His son saw him and asked, "Dad, what’s wrong?"

He jutted his chin, indicating for him to open the bricks beneath the shrine.

CLICK~ The bricks were moved aside.

Seeing the chest and the money inside, Song Jinchuan let out a sigh of relief, but he also grew more confused.

"Who are you really? Why... do you know so much? You found my family’s money but didn’t take it. What do you want from me?"

"Heh~ It’s so much simpler talking to a smart person. Song, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Yu Dong, a Reincarnator and your future friend. You’re the one who told me all this, so that I could win your trust now."

"Yu Dong... Reincarnation? I don’t believe it. You’re from back home... The Wang Family? The Liu Family? Or the Zhuang Family? Are you trying to get the Song Family to return to our old business? We’re out of that life. We’ve lost the touch. Whatever you want to do, don’t involve us."

Yu Dong sighed. ’This was the limitation of a single key.’

’It always made people’s minds run wild with speculation.’

’Especially smart people. They overcomplicate things.’

"Stop guessing, Song. I am who I am, Yu Dong. You also told me a second secret... Everyone thinks you quit while you were ahead at the perfect time, leading the Song Family away from home before the net closed in. But only you know... the real reason you were able to get the entire Song Family out was that you anonymously reported the other Sea-Walking Clans to the police. While the police were making their move, you secretly escaped with your family. Not even your own kin knows this. They think Song Jinchuan is a wise man who is smart and plays by the rules, but in reality..."

"Enough! Let’s meet! Yu Dong, I need to see you right now. I believe you! You are a Reincarnator."

Song Jinchuan left the shrine and found a private spot, his expression heavy.

’This was a secret he would never tell anyone in his life, unless... there was something more important that was worth using this secret for.’

"Relax, Song. I’m not your enemy. Like I said, we’re friends. The world is about to change. In seven days, a zombie virus will break out. Ninety percent of the world’s population will instantly turn into zombies. Order will collapse. No one will care about the past anymore. What I need is your wisdom and your family. The Song Family is very lucky; half of you survived."

"I think it’s best we talk in person. What you’re saying is too much to take in. Are you in Yanhai City? I can bring my nephew to see you right now."

"Tomorrow at 9 AM, I’ll inform you of the time and place to meet... Finally, one last key. The lottery numbers for 9:15 PM are: 32, 11, 20, 03, 13, 09, 02... You know you can’t buy a ticket, right?"

"Understood. I’ve got it. See you tomorrow."

’Song Jinchuan was anxious, but right now... the ball wasn’t in his court. He had to follow the commands of this mysterious Yu Dong.’

’The two keys had already made him somewhat believe, but he needed to meet in person to be sure. If the lottery numbers were correct, then he would really have to consider what Yu Dong said about the apocalypse.’

After hanging up, Yu Dong was satisfied.

’Song’s keys are solid. To ensure his survival, he gave me nothing but concrete proof... Truly reliable.’

Song Jinchuan was one of the few leaders who had never caused Yu Dong any trouble after the apocalypse. He was always cooperative with any decision and was also a very humble person.

The Triple Key he designed for himself in the end was also extremely logical.

’As expected of the old fox who managed to retreat unscathed from the crackdown back then.’

’A sharp mind. A force to be reckoned with.’

In comparison, Yu Dong found Ji Luo to be... truly baffling.

’How could someone with his intelligence act like this? Was there something wrong with the future Ji Luo, or the present one?’

Watching Yu Dong calmly and casually talk about tens of millions in cash, speaking with such an imposing tone to the boss of a Sea-Walking Clan as if the man were just his underling...

His three bros were all stunned.

Huang Zhiqiang said, "Dongzi... are you really a Reincarnator? You’re not just putting on an act for us, are you?"

Xufeng replied, "Doesn’t seem like it. The other person’s speech and tone sounded very real, and Dongzi was also very natural. If this was an act... how many lines and performances did Dongzi secretly study behind our backs? And the person on the other end would have to be a veteran actor... Impossible. Dongzi, you’ve changed so much. You’re a completely different person from this afternoon!"

Xufeng was still relying on his ability to read people to judge Yu Dong’s words. For someone to change so drastically between noon and evening... he was either a master actor, or... Yu Dong had been reincarnated.

Zhao Youcai put his phone down completely. He grabbed Yu Dong’s hand.

"Dongzi, if you’re for real... you must have my activation key, right? Tell me... just tell me what it is, you have to have it, right?"

Zhao Youcai was almost begging. He wanted to believe in this future that Yu Dong was describing...

Seeing his three brothers actively engaging with his Reincarnator topic, Yu Dong didn’t hold back.

"Youcai, I will make you watch your family die, tearing each other apart."

Zhao Youcai shot to his feet, staring at Yu Dong... tears welling up in his eyes uncontrollably.

A moment later, as if he had made up his mind, he hugged Yu Dong tightly.

"Dongzi, take me with you! I want to follow you. I want to make a name for myself! Did the future me give you any information to bring back?"

’Zhao Youcai, activation successful.’

’This key was perfectly accurate, no upgrade needed. Or perhaps... Youcai was just desperate for someone to give him a dream to hold on to. Even if it might be fake, he wanted to try.’

Huang Zhiqiang scratched his head. "What kind of key is that...? Youcai, are you some kind of sociopath?"

Yu Dong didn’t bother explaining further to them.

"We’ll talk about our business later. I have a few more calls to make right now. You guys listen and think it over. Figure out for yourselves whether you should believe me or not. Xufeng, stop staring at me. You don’t have an activation key, because you died very early..."

As Yu Dong spoke, he dialed the numbers for Fan Zhenyu, the leader known as the ’Community War God,’ and Zhang Yihuai, the leader of the Olympic Sports Center Base. He successfully matched their keys and arranged to meet them tomorrow morning.

He took a sip of coffee to wet his throat.

Yu Dong dialed the number of his old partner, Officer Wang. In his past life... Wang Dingbei had also given him a key. The two of them had their ups and downs, their philosophies clashing, but in the end, Wang Dingbei had come to genuinely respect Yu Dong.

When Yu Dong had turned the tide of battle with a drone swarm deployed by the student soldiers Wang Dingbei had overlooked, and then had the foresight to proactively cede power for the sake of the future... Wang Dingbei knew that Yu Dong had triumphed, not just in tactics, but in his overall vision.

Afterward, he even found himself wanting to avoid Yu Dong, out of... shame.

Yu Dong had sought him out, and Wang Dingbei had readily given him his double key, which was very simple.

"Officer Wang, in the bottom drawer of your study, there’s a set of listening devices. The target is your colleague, Wang Yi. You’ve known for a long time that he was bought by Yin Shuangyang to spy on you. You’ve been pretending not to know, just coasting by at the precinct, but in reality, you’ve been counter-monitoring him..."

"You also have another secret that only you know. Two years ago, even though you were transferred to the precinct, you still had two of your apprentices from the criminal investigation team continue to track down evidence of Yin Shuangyang’s crimes. Your two apprentices had actually sensed something was wrong with that hotel, but you still sent them in, thinking you had everything under control. Your arrogance... got your two apprentices killed. And you’ve never told anyone, because you’re afraid that if you lose your position as a precinct officer... you’ll never be able to take down Yin Shuangyang and avenge your apprentices. So you hate Yin Shuangyang, but you also hate yourself..."

"In a little while, the lottery numbers will be 32, 11, 20, 03, 13, 09, 02..."

"Officer Wang, let’s meet and talk tomorrow afternoon."

After Wang Dingbei hung up, he was speechless for a long time... This was a secret he had buried in the depths of his heart, one that only he knew.

’Is reincarnation real?’

’A Reincarnator... what kind of person is he? Is he good or evil?’

Yu Dong then found Lin Mo’s number. The key she had provided made it even easier to gain her trust, and they also arranged to meet tomorrow afternoon.

After arranging all these calls, Yu Dong glanced at the time. It was already 8:30 PM, with 45 minutes left until the lottery drawing.

He looked at the last two names in his notebook: Qiao Yunliang and Lin Zhixue.

’For these two people, Yu Dong had different strategies...’