Apocalypse: I Have A Multiplier System - Chapter 451

Chapter 451: Chapter 451: Donation
Su Jiyai remained silent.

She could triple the combined item that the base was offering, and yet the amount would not exceed 1 million federal coins.

However…

She wasn’t ready to give a single cent to any base.

Why did these big bases suddenly want contributions from other small bases? From the other base leader’s reaction, it was clear that this kind of bidding was happening for the first time.

So does that mean…this was all a trap for her?

Dong Shin, aka General Dong, said that they would consider bringing the base with the most contribution to the alliance.

So…did they invite her with the intention that the Hope base would contribute more food to get a chance to be invited?

Then what?

Will they continue to ask for more contributions from her?

Su Jiyai’s eyes narrowed a little behind her veil.

So that’s what this was about, huh? A fancy trap with snacks and chairs.

She leaned back in her seat, looking like a calm, serious old lady. But in her heart, she was already rolling up her sleeves.

You guys think I’m stupid? You want my food and medicines for free just so I can join your little club?

She glanced at Qin Feng, who was standing still like a quiet bodyguard, but she could see the tiny smirk on his lips.

He knew too.

“Boss Su,” General Dong said from the front, “Hope Base is known for its supplies and ability to survive. Would you be willing to contribute?”

All eyes turned to her.

Even the soldier standing at the corner turned his head.

The air felt heavy. Everyone was waiting.

Su Jiyai stood up slowly.

She spoke with a calm, old voice.

“Hope Base is just a small base. We’ve worked very hard to survive till now. We don’t have strong weapons or powerful armies.”

Everyone blinked.

“We don’t even have big airships or super fighter teams,” she added, folding her hands behind her back like a wise grandma.

“But…”

She looked up slightly, her eyes sharp behind the veil.

“We didn’t come here to beg either.”

A silence fell over the room.

“We were invited to this meeting, not dragged here with a chain. If you only want Hope Base to provide free goods to earn a seat here…” She paused, “Then I must say—Hope Base is not interested.”

Someone gasped quietly.

General Liu frowned.

Doctor Min raised an eyebrow.

Leader Shi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Su Jiyai continued, her voice steady.

“Is this a meeting or an auction? Do you measure someone’s worth by crates and potions? Then perhaps, the alliance is not as noble as I thought.”

Qin Feng let out a small cough, hiding his grin.

Jin Sang looked amused. Admiral Ru nodded slightly if he respected her words.

For a second, no one spoke.

Then General Dong leaned forward. His face looked serious, but his tone was calm.

“Boss Su… you misunderstand. We simply want to encourage unity and support between bases.”

“Unity built on competition?” Su Jiyai asked.

The room got quiet again.

General Dong gritted his teeth and said with a smile,

“Boss Su, you sell an instant noodle cup for 50 federal coins at your base. Why can’t you donate some to Cedar Base?”

Su Jiyai smiled,

“Just a few weeks ago, my base was attacked by zombies. I am damn sure the alliance knew about it. But no one donated anything to me.

As for the cup noodles? They are indeed worth 50 federal coins in my base, but outside the base, each one of them is worth 10 million federal coins.

If we go by your logic, then…I would have to donate more than 10 billion federal coins, only to listen to the statement that we are considering your proposal.”

Su Jiyai’s words were like a slap, loud and clear.

One of the base leaders almost choked on his tea.

General Dong’s smile froze. He didn’t speak, but the way his jaw tightened showed he was annoyed.

Su Jiyai didn’t care.

She stayed standing, her voice still calm, like she was talking about the weather.

“I didn’t come here to show off how rich my base is. I came because someone invited me. If this meeting is just to trick small bases into giving free stuff…”

She paused and gave a tiny shrug.

“Then I guess I’m not needed here.”

She turned slightly, like she was ready to leave.

“Wait,” Admiral Ru finally spoke, voice low and serious. “Boss Su, your point is valid. I believe what happened just now was a misunderstanding.”

Su Jiyai looked at him.

Admiral Ru stood up slowly and faced the room.

“If we turn this meeting into a competition of wealth, then we’re no different from scavengers fighting over scraps,” he said.

“Hope Base is clearly capable. Instead of asking for donations, we should be discussing fair cooperation.”

Governor Lei nodded. “Agreed. If we want to build something real, trust has to come first.”

Su Jiyai raised an eyebrow behind the veil.

Hmph. So now they’re trying to fix things?

But she didn’t say anything.

General Dong finally let out a breath and spoke again.

“Boss Su… You’ve made your position clear. I apologize if the earlier words caused any discomfort. Please sit. Let’s continue this meeting properly.”

Su Jiyai looked at Qin Feng.

He gave her a small nod, like, Alright, they backed off—for now.

General Dong had barely finished his sentence when a chair squeaked loudly.

General Liu stood up.

His face was calm, but his voice was sharp like a blade.

“I propose,” he said slowly, “that Hope Base be accepted into the alliance right now.”

Everyone turned to look at him in shock.

General Dong’s brows furrowed. “General Liu… this decision cannot be made so quickly. If we let Hope Base in just like that, what about the other small bases? Don’t you think they’ll feel unfairly treated?”

And just like he wanted, the small base leaders started muttering.

“That’s true.”

“We’ve waited for more than a year.”

“Why should she get in so easily?”

“What has she done that we haven’t?”

A few voices got louder.

“General Dong is right! If Hope Base can join just because she said some cool lines, then we want an explanation too!”

Su Jiyai stayed silent, arms crossed, like she was watching a group of kids fighting over candy.

But General Liu’s face turned cold.

He stared at the crowd.

“The matters of the alliance,” he said clearly, “are decided by the alliance leaders. Not by who cries the loudest.”

The room went silent.

“If any base leader is upset with this decision,” he continued coldly, “you may leave. No one is forcing you to be here.”

A few small base leaders looked away, embarrassed.

General Liu ignored them and turned to face Su Jiyai.

“Boss Su’s base,” he said, “sells food, medicine, and supplies at reasonable prices. If she joins the alliance, trade exchange can be made official between bases.”

That caught Su Jiyai’s attention.

She blinked slowly behind her veil.

Trade exchange? Through the alliance?

That… actually made sense.

Trading during a zombie apocalypse was hard. Roads were unsafe. People stole or lied. She had been planning to open trade with other bases, but other matters had kept her busy.

But if she joined the alliance, then they would come to her. And she could control the prices and the flow.

General Liu was still talking.

“Hope Base has the most hygienic and clean living conditions out of all the bases we’ve investigated. Their security system is top-level. Even their outer walls are stronger than most of our bases.”

He looked straight at General Dong.

“If Boss Su doesn’t join the alliance,” he said, “it is not her loss. It is the alliance’s.”

The room stayed quiet for a few seconds.

Then someone chuckled.

It was Jin Sang.

He leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, grinning lazily.

“General Liu,” he said with a smirk, “you’ve been praising Boss Su like she’s a national treasure.”

He turned toward Su Jiyai.

“Tell me honestly, Boss Su. Did you bribe him?”

The air got awkward.

Su Jiyai looked at Jin Sang, and her lips curved into the smallest smirk.

Behind her veil, her eyes sparkled.

“General Liu is just someone who knows how to recognize talent,” she said lightly. “If compliments sound like bribes to you, then maybe you’re not used to hearing them yourself.”

Someone at the back gasped. Another stifled a laugh.

Jin Sang grinned wider.

“Ohh, I like her,” he said. “She’s got claws.”

General Liu just ignored Jin Sang’s teasing and looked back at the alliance leaders.

“My vote is clear,” he said. “Hope Base should be added.”

General Dong gritted his teeth and whispered in a voice only two of them could hear,

“If you love her so much, why not become her lapdog?”

Liu Feng smiled,

“Sure, I will resign from the military today itself.”