Zhang Yi methodically worked his way through the veterinary clinic, searching for the deadly rat poison. He'd heard of people using it in the past, and it was perfect for his needs. A few bottles of the stuff could wreak havoc on the delicate balance of power in the complex. No one would suspect the source of the sudden chaos, and even if they did, they'd have no way to trace it back to him.
After a few minutes of careful searching, Zhang Yi found what he was looking for. He tucked several vials of rat poison into his bag, feeling a grim satisfaction. The bait was set, and it would only be a matter of time before it took effect.
As he left the clinic, Zhang Yi took one last glance at the mall. It had once been a bustling hub of commerce, a place where families and friends gathered to shop, eat, and socialize. Now, it stood silent and empty, just another casualty of the apocalypse. Zhang Yi couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia, but he quickly shook it off. Nostalgia wouldn't keep him alive. Only careful planning and ruthless action would.
He made his way back to the snowmobile, the cold wind biting at his face as he sped through the streets of Tianhai. He didn't need to go far—he just had to make sure the residents of the complex stayed busy, distracted, and most importantly, divided. If they were too focused on working and surviving, they wouldn't have time to look for the traitor among them.
As he approached Building 25#, he noticed a few of the residents standing in the snow, eyeing each other with suspicion. The harmony of the moment was already starting to crack. The tension was palpable. Zhang Yi couldn't help but smile. This was just the beginning.
When he returned to the complex, he made his way straight to the garage, unloading the supplies he'd "gathered" earlier. As he expected, Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang were already waiting for him, eyes full of anticipation.
"Did you find anything good?" Huang Tianfang asked, his voice laced with greed.
Zhang Yi grinned. "More than enough," he said, tossing them each a cigarette. "Get back to work. The sooner you all finish clearing the snow, the sooner we'll be able to move on to the next phase."
The two men eagerly took the cigarettes, lighting them up and inhaling deeply. They didn't know it yet, but their addiction to those cigarettes had made them easier to manipulate than they could ever have imagined. Zhang Yi had them right where he wanted them.
As the days passed, the complex remained in relative peace—at least on the surface. The residents worked together to clear the snow, while Zhang Yi continued to play his part as the benevolent leader. But beneath the calm exterior, things were starting to unravel. The limited rations, the increasing inequality, and the pressure to work were taking their toll.
Zhang Yi watched from the sidelines, content to let the chaos unfold. His plan was working. Slowly but surely, the cracks in the alliance were widening, and soon enough, they'd all come crashing down. It was only a matter of time before the rats turned on each other, just like he'd intended.
The only thing Zhang Yi had to do now was wait.