After Xu Hao got off the car, Zhang Yi stored the snowmobile in the spatial dimension.
Standing nearby, Xu Hao's eyes widened.
"This... what is this?" he exclaimed.
Zhang Yi glanced at him casually, "Haven't seen it before?"
Xu Hao was at a loss for words, thinking, "I must be hallucinating!"
"So, Brother Zhang, you're a mutant, huh?" Xu Hao said.
Zhang Yi replied, "Actually, I prefer names like superhumans or anomalies. The term 'mutant' always feels a bit discriminatory."
Xu Hao, full of curiosity, said, "I've learned a lot; this is truly eye-opening!"
Zhang Yi trudged through the snow, and Xu Hao hurriedly followed, flattering, "Brother Zhang, I'll stick with you from now on! You're like a big brother to me; take care of your little brother, okay?"
Zhang Yi remarked, "It depends on your performance."
Xu Hao nodded vigorously, "Rest assured, Wang Siming, that guy, I know him well. This operation will definitely be foolproof!"
Zhang Yi smirked, "You better hope so!"
Storing the snowmobile was to prevent Wang Siming from resorting to violence. Although Zhang Yi possessed new abilities in the spatial dimension, he wasn't willing to take unnecessary risks.
The two walked towards the residential area.
Inside Cloud Peak Manor, there were over a hundred villas. Most of the snow had been blown away, submerging only half of the gates. Due to proximity to the river, the temperature here was even slightly higher than in Yue Lu District.
As they walked through the snow, Zhang Yi noticed some figures behind windows, and he asked Xu Hao, "Why do I feel like there are still many living people here? Do wealthy people usually store food?"
Xu Hao was quite familiar with this. He told Zhang Yi, "Yes, indeed. However, what they store is quite different from regular households. For example, my dad had over a hundred top-quality Spanish hams in our home freezer!"
"Moreover, those who can afford to live here are famous tycoons. Basically, each villa has a wine cellar and exclusive food supplies."
"Considering everyone lives separately, unlike in Yue Lu District, there won't be widespread hunger and conflicts. Naturally, they can survive a bit longer."
Zhang Yi nodded, "I see."
He wasn't too concerned about this. Since no one here knew him, and due to the scarcity of food, the wealthy residents would eventually starve.
As they moved forward, Wang Siming's villa, numbered 101, was located in the center of the neighborhood.
The two proceeded at a leisurely pace, with Zhang Yi observing the surroundings as they walked – checking for dangers and familiarizing himself with the environment for future reference.
As they passed by one villa, Zhang Yi suddenly heard an excited shout, "Hey, are you here to rescue us?"
Zhang Yi and Xu Hao turned to look.
The window of the villa was forcefully opened, and a man in a black down jacket vigorously waved towards them.
"Who's that?" Zhang Yi asked Xu Hao.
Xu Hao was uncertain since he had many acquaintances in the area. He said, "I don't know, but, Brother Zhang, let's not bother with him; let him die!"
Xu Hao was indifferent.
Zhang Yi nodded and intended to continue, but the man, seeing their lack of response, became agitated.
"Hey, are you deaf? Damn it, can't you hear us calling you? We've been calling for you on the phone for so long, and now you come to take us away. I really don't understand what you people, funded by our taxpayers, are doing!"
Zhang Yi frowned slightly.
Why was this guy so foul-mouthed? He felt strangely familiar. Zhang Yi placed his hand by his thigh, considering dealing with him. However, thinking about the upcoming mission, he decided not to make a move for now. He just coldly stared at the man, trying to understand his identity.
Xu Hao, aware of the situation, stepped forward and asked, "Who the hell are you?"
The man pulled down the scarf covering his face, revealing his pale and chubby face.
"Don't you recognize me? I'm the famous TV host, Zhang Dada!"
Zhang Yi smiled; no wonder the voice sounded familiar, especially that foul mouth, it had become a symbol of him in the entertainment industry.
Ignoring their expressions, Zhang Dada started cursing as soon as he approached, "Are you two candles? Why can't you get it together? Damn it, we've been calling you for so long, and now you finally come to rescue us. I really don't understand how you people, living off our taxpayers' money, operate!"
Zhang Yi originally wanted to slap him, but hearing Zhang Dada's words, he and Xu Hao became curious. They called for help? Taxpayers? Could it be that Zhang Dada could contact the organization hidden in Tianhai City?
"What do you mean? We..." Zhang Yi was about to ask, but Zhang Dada interrupted.
"Let me tell you, right now, we're leaving this place. Although the villa is expensive, there's not much food left inside, and the charcoal and alcohol are all used up. You have to take us to the shelter and arrange a place for me and Zhiyin to stay. It must be a separate house! We can't live with others."
Hearing the words "shelter," Zhang Yi raised his eyebrows.
It was the first time he had heard someone mention a shelter in Tianhai City. However, upon reflection, it wasn't surprising. After all, every city had contingency measures for extraordinary situations. In the face of floods or air raids during wartime, shelters were necessary. Those hidden organizations probably operated from these locations.
Zhang Yi asked, "Do you know where the shelter is?"
Hearing this question, Zhang Dada widened his eyes, "You're asking me? You actually came to ask me? What do you people eat? Aren't you here to pick us up from the shelter?"
Zhang Yi had been annoyed by his foul mouth from the beginning. Zhang Dada had always acted high and mighty.
He coldly said, "We're not from there. Don't daydream. Right now, they are busy taking care of themselves and won't come to take care of you."
"What... what?" Zhang Dada raised his little finger, covering his head in shock, "How is this possible? We paid a lot of taxes, we're big celebrities. If they don't even care about us, aren't they afraid of public opinion?"
Zhang Yi and Xu Hao looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Xu Hao leaned over to Zhang Yi's ear and whispered, "There are fewer people in the villa area, and information exchange is limited. Maybe he doesn't understand the situation outside."
Zhang Yi said, "Doesn't he use the internet?"
After the apocalypse, communication had been greatly restricted. When Zhang Yi was in Yue Lu District, he could only contact people around him. Friends or relatives in distant places couldn't be reached. However, several large media outlets still disseminated information across the country through super servers.
Could it be that Zhang Dada had no access to external information?
Suddenly, Zhang Yi remembered the news broadcast by the official media.
"According to data from Johns Hopkins University, this snow disaster will last for three months. After three months, global temperatures will significantly rise, reaching above 0 degrees."
"For this snow disaster, Huaguo has launched a comprehensive rescue operation, achieving remarkable results."
"In response to the demands of the masses, based on facts, persistently combating the snow disaster..."
"Establishing a new work mechanism, clarifying new directions for development, expanding new income sources, accumulating new advantages in construction, and exploring new pilot routes..."
"It is a premise, a foundation, a key, a core, and a guarantee..."
"This snow disaster, we will fully open up, allowing everyone to adapt to the cold. Although there will be short-term pains, it will be beneficial in the long run."
"Surveying the world, the scenery is better here!"
He suddenly realized, understanding why Zhang Dada was in this state.