The moment the words "Sakura" were uttered, the celebratory atmosphere on the deck instantly froze over.
The smile vanished from Qin Yu's face, replaced by an undisguised look of disgust. It was a deep-seated, visceral revulsion.
"What damn bad luck," Qin Yu spat. "Just finished cleaning up the house, and the flies come swarming."
Hearing those two words, Li Ruobing's brows furrowed into a deep frown. She picked up the shotgun she had just set down. "People from the Sakura Zone? They're notoriously sneaky. Stealing kills, finishing off weakened targets, stabbing you in the back—they're experts at all of it."
With a sharp click, Li Ruobing chambered a round. "Do we fight?"
"Of course we fight," Qin Yu said, narrowing his eyes as he watched the rapidly approaching red dot on the radar. "But first, let's see what tricks they're trying to pull. Wouldn't it be even better if we could swindle some supplies out of them before we kill them?"
...
Twenty minutes later, a fleet of ships slowly emerged from the mist on the horizon. At the bow of the lead ship flew a flag that made one's stomach churn.
"Stop your ships!" Qin Yu stood on the towering bow of the President, holding a loudspeaker, looking down at them as if they were mere ants. "Take one more step forward, and I'll blast you all to pieces."
By now, the two newly printed Automatic Sentry Machine Guns were powered up and warming up. Their barrels began to rotate slowly, emitting an unnerving, grinding hum.
The opposing fleet was clearly intimidated by this display and immediately slowed down, coming to a halt about five hundred meters away.
Soon after, a small boat was lowered from the largest flagship in the center. It carried no weapons, only a single person—and no white flag was raised.
The small boat puttered over and stopped beneath the President.
"Is that the one from the Sakura Zone?" Yao Qian leaned over the railing, glanced down, and curled her lip. "Why is it an old lady?"
Standing in the small boat was indeed a woman—a woman with considerable charm. She appeared to be in her early thirties, wearing a modified kimono with a low-cut collar that revealed a generous expanse of pale, smooth skin. Hers was the allure of ripe maturity; compared to an inexperienced young girl, this kind of woman knew exactly how to leverage her physical advantages.
She looked up at Qin Yu standing on the bow, her face breaking into an impeccably practiced, coquettish smile. Then, she bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, causing the front of her kimono to gape open.
"Mr. Qin Yu," she said in fluent Chinese, clearly having prepared for this. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Meihuizi, commander of the Sakura Zone's 7th Fleet."
Qin Yu stared coldly at her, saying nothing. His fingers tapped lightly on the railing as he calculated and assessed—whether there was anything on this woman's ship worth wasting bullets on.
Seeing Qin Yu remain silent, Meihuizi showed no sign of annoyance.
He straightened up, his smile widening even more.
"Qin Yu-sama."
"I have come with sincerity."
"We are not enemies."
"Oh?"
Qin Yu finally spoke.
His tone was playful.
"Not enemies?"
"In this Wasteland World."
"Aside from my own people."
"Everyone else."
"Either is already dead."
"Or hasn't died yet."
"Which one are you?"
Meihuizi was momentarily stunned.
Clearly not expecting Qin Yu to break the script so blatantly.
But she quickly adjusted her expression.
"Qin Yu-sama is truly humorous."
"I have come this time representing the Sakura District, seeking cooperation with you."
"Cooperation?"
Qin Yu sounded as if he had heard some joke.
"You think you're worthy?"
"If it were before, we truly wouldn't be worthy."
Meihuizi's eyes flickered slightly.
Her tone turned serious.
Carrying a hint of flattery, a hint of probing.
"But now it's different."
"Qin Yu-sama."
"You killed Odin."
"So what?"
"Because I killed him."
"You're scared now?"
"Come to lick my boots?"
Meihuizi covered her mouth with a light laugh.
That gesture.
Utterly captivating.
"Qin Yu-sama speaks too harshly."
"This isn't called licking boots."
"This is called... recognizing the current situation."
She gently stroked her collarbone.
Her gaze became suggestive.
"With Odin dead."
"The world's power structure now needs reshuffling."
"Those lunatics Solomon and his crew, and Black Widow."
"Are all eyeing this piece of fat."
"Although Qin Yu-sama is mighty."
"After all, two fists cannot fight off four hands."
"And our Sakura District."
"Possesses the most powerful naval fleet aside from yours."
"As long as we join forces."
"Plus my... service..."
She deliberately paused.
That word "service."
Pronounced heavily.
Full of implication.
"This sea area."
"Will become our backyard."
"When the time comes."
"Whatever Qin Yu-sama wishes to do."
"Will be possible."
After speaking.
She even deliberately straightened her chest.
Displaying her "sincerity" to Qin Yu.
Li Ruobing watched from the side, grinding her teeth.
The shotgun in her hand creaked under her grip.
"Slutty fox."
"I'll blow her head off with one shot!"
Qin Yu reached out and stopped Li Ruobing.
He looked down at Meihuizi below.
And smiled.
Smiled brightly.
"Sounds good."
Meihuizi's eyes lit up.
There's a chance!
Men, after all.
None can resist a tempting offer.
Especially meat delivered right to their door.
"So Qin Yu-sama agrees?"
"Agree?"
Qin Yu shook his head.
"I have a condition."
"Please speak."
Meihuizi laughed, her body trembling like a flower.
"As long as we can form an alliance."
"I'll agree to any condition."
"Even if it's tonight..."
"I want all your ships."
Qin Yu cut off her fantasy.
His tone as calm as if saying "what's for dinner tonight."
"And all the supplies on those ships."
"And also."
"The heads of every single one of you."
The smile on Meihuizi's face froze.
As if she had been slapped hard.
"Qin... Qin Yu-sama."
"This joke."
"Isn't funny at all."
"Joke?"
Qin Yu withdrew his smile.
That face.
Instantly turned colder than the sea breeze.
"Who's joking with you?"
"People from the Sakura District."
"I'll kill every single one I see."
"Cooperation?"
"You think you're worthy?"
"Why don't you take a piss and look at your reflection."
"Reeking of rotten fish and shrimp."
"Can stink someone out from five hundred meters away."
"And you still want to enter my backyard?"
Qin Yu raised his hand.
He snapped his fingers.
"Take action."
"Leave no one alive."
At this moment.
Qin Yu displayed the ruthlessness befitting a post-apocalyptic overlord.
No mercy for the fairer sex.
No exchange of interests.
On matters of principle.
He was a tyrant.
"You dare!!"
Meihuizi could no longer keep up the act.
That charming face twisted into a hideous grimace.
"Qin Yu!!"
"Don't you dare push your luck!!"
"We have three more fleets behind us!!"
"If you dare kill me..."
"Bang!"
The response to her.
Was a muffled gunshot.
Not from Li Ruobing's shotgun.
Nor from Qin Yu's Kiss of Death.
But from the newly installed [Sentry Machine Gun].
The 20mm armor-piercing round.
At a distance of less than a hundred meters.
Was terrifyingly powerful.
This shot.
Struck Meihuizi directly in the waist.
Without any suspense.
That body, which had just been posturing seductively.
Was instantly severed in two.
The upper half flew two meters away.
Landing on the small boat.
Entrails spilled everywhere.
"Ahhhhh!!"
Only then.
Did the screams ring out.