According to Tang Xiaoman’s original plan, the bodyguard team was supposed to undergo not only the first round of assessment, but also a second round of elimination.

But the disaster had arrived half a month early, catching her off guard, and the second round had never been carried out.

Now was the time to test their combat ability—and their will.

“You’ve all received your first month’s salary. Anyone who chooses to resign and leave now will receive a full set of equipment from me: combat uniform, military shovel, combat knife, nail gun, one week’s worth of food and clean water, two life jackets, an assault boat, a first-aid kit, and a repair toolkit.”

The severance package Tang Xiaoman offered was generous enough to make anyone salivate.

But the bodyguards only looked terrified, shaking their heads like rattles.

“I’ll be the first to sign up to kill crocodiles!” Number 09 shouted, raising his arm with the heroic air of a man marching to his death.

Aside from the female bodyguard, Number 10, he was the weakest fighter among them. He was constantly worried that his boss might eliminate him.

If his combat skills weren’t enough, then his attitude had to be.

Under the current circumstances, who would voluntarily leave this safe haven and go outside to feed the crocodiles?

Floodwater was everywhere. Crocodiles were everywhere.

If you didn’t kill them, they would come for you.

Avoid them? There was nowhere to hide—unless it was inside their stomachs.

Even if they somehow avoided being eaten, where could they go? The outside world was drowning in floods, and the starving survivors were already desperate.

After Number 09 took the lead, the rest of the bodyguards quickly volunteered.

“Number 07 signs up to kill crocodiles!”

“Number 04—Number 06 too!”

“Number 05—Number 08 too!”

“Number 10! Number 02 and Number 03 as well!”

…

Once all ten bodyguards had signed up, Number 01 stepped forward and said solemnly, “I also—”

“You can’t go,” Tang Xiaoman cut him off, leaving no room for discussion. “Someone capable has to hold the fort at home. When Captain Zhou and I are away, you’ll lead the team and guard the villa. We can’t have our base taken out from under us.”

Now that Gu Heng knew she was alive, he would certainly start scheming again.

And as Villa 98’s strength became more exposed, more eyes would turn toward her—and toward the supplies here.

At present, Number 01 was steady, experienced, capable, and respected. He was the best choice to guard the house.

Receiving his boss’s public recognition, Number 01 felt a surge of emotion.

His eyes brightened as he looked at her. After a moment’s hesitation, he gathered the courage to suggest, “It’s dangerous outside. Why don’t Captain Zhou and I take turns leading teams out to search for supplies? Miss Tang, you should stay in the villa.”

She was the boss, after all.

Weren’t bosses supposed to sit comfortably at home while their subordinates handled the dangerous, exhausting work?

They ate her food, drank her water, lived under her roof, and collected a monthly salary of 200,000. Yet instead of working them like beasts of burden, she insisted on doing everything herself.

What kind of boss did that?

Tang Xiaoman smiled. “I like going out on risky missions. If Captain Zhou had your steady temperament, I would’ve left him to guard the house instead.”

That was undoubtedly giving Number 01 face.

He rubbed his large hands together, embarrassed, and chuckled. “Not at all… Captain Zhou is actually pretty steady too.”

Zhou Yichen: “…”

Seeing that no one objected to her arrangements anymore, Tang Xiaoman continued.

“Since you’ve all chosen to stay, from now on, we’re teammates who live and die together.”

“If anyone is injured in battle, I’ll cover all medical expenses and follow-up treatment. If someone is disabled, they won’t have to go on missions anymore and can switch to logistics. If they can no longer care for themselves, teammates will take care of them.”

“We are a team that advances and retreats together, through life and death. You should be able to entrust your backs to one another. Trust each other, look after each other, and keep going together. Any objections?”

The team answered in unison, “We’ll follow Miss Tang’s arrangements!”

Tang Xiaoman immediately had Lu Jingming bring out the combat supplies for patrol duty: two short combat knives and two chainsaws.

“Crocodiles have thick hides. Nail guns and military shovels won’t do much. Only chainsaws have enough killing power. But be careful—don’t injure yourselves.”

She had the ten bodyguards draw lots to decide the patrol rotation. The daily schedule was quickly settled, rotating once every five days.

Today’s patrol would be Number 03 and Number 08.

Tang Xiaoman then messaged Huo Kai privately to confirm the patrol time for Villa 98’s two bodyguards. Their shift was arranged from six in the evening to midnight.

After that, she had Lu Jingming bring over two waterproof head-mounted mining lamps and two military canteens filled with drinking water, handing everything to them.

Seeing how methodically their boss arranged everything—and how familiar she seemed with the weapons and supplies needed for combat—the team couldn’t help feeling that she seemed like someone who had fought many battles before.

Their understanding of her deepened yet again.

Their boss wasn’t just agile, sharp-minded, and a good shot.

She also knew how to command.

As if she had once survived countless battles.

—

Huo Kai sent Tang Xiaoman a private message.

“Steward Hong brought back the three generator silencers you gave me. We’ve installed one already. Works great. Thanks.”

“No need to thank me. That was your commission,” Tang Xiaoman replied.

She was always clear about debts and favors. What should be paid, she never withheld.

But who would have thought the other party would immediately push for more?

“We’d just finished installing the silencer on the diesel generator when some of the owners who came to pick up generators saw it. Now they’re all asking where I got it and whether I can help them buy one. Price is negotiable.”

Tang Xiaoman thought about how many silencers she had in stock and replied readily, “One catty of gold for one set.”

“Then I’ll take a hundred sets,” Huo Kai said frankly, not bothering to hide his intent. “I want to keep ten for myself.”

“Fine.”

Aside from the ones in her spatial storage, she had also had Zhou Yichen stockpile two hundred sets. There were more than enough.

But Huo Kai wasn’t done.

“The owners who didn’t manage to buy generators are crying and begging for them too. They’re willing to pay extra. Can you get another hundred units?”

Tang Xiaoman was stunned.

Did he really think she was a warehouse?

“At most, I can get sixty. The deal will be split into three batches. Price: two kilograms of gold per unit.”

Huo Kai didn’t even haggle. “Deal. Little sister, when should I have Steward Hong bring people over to collect them?”

Little sister?

Tang Xiaoman felt a chill of disgust.

Who was his little sister?

She frowned unhappily. Were they that close?

Pretending she hadn’t seen the new form of address, she replied, “Tomorrow.”

“One more thing, little sister,” Huo Kai clearly had no intention of ending the conversation. “To defend against crocodiles, the villa district is preparing to surround the perimeter with wire fencing. Property management is asking each household to donate at least a hundred meters of wire mesh. I’ll cover your share too.”

“Fine!”

After being called “little sister” over and over, Tang Xiaoman was getting irritated and decided to collect a little interest.

Huo Kai had only been making a polite gesture. He hadn’t expected her to accept so readily.

After a pause, he said, “Little sister, that’s what I like about you. Straightforward. You don’t treat me like an outsider.”

She couldn’t be bothered to reply.

—

Tang Xiaoman handed full responsibility for the supply exchanges to Lu Jingming. He had the keys to all the storage rooms anyway and was responsible for recording every item that came in and went out.

Lu Jingming was careful, reliable, and his character had already been tested in her previous life. With him handling things, she had absolute peace of mind.

She called Lu Jingming and Number 01 over to give them a few instructions. At the end, she said, “I may be gone for three to five days this time. Don’t worry about me. Just guard the house.”

Once everything was arranged, she and Zhou Yichen set out with the assault boat.

Zhou Yichen steered the boat away from the villa district, while Tang Xiaoman took Su Ke’s phone from her spatial storage—along with the severed right thumb.

Using the severed finger, she unlocked Su Ke’s phone, found Su Cheng’s number, and sent a message.

“Your son is in my hands. If you want him alive, bring me a mid-sized yacht in exchange. Otherwise, in five days, prepare to collect his body.”