Chapter 30: Martinez
The off-road vehicles pursued at high speed, quickly passing through the corner.
But once through the corner, Martinez's group lost their target. Within their visual range, they couldn't see traces of moving vehicles.
The off-road vehicle's speed dropped. The driver raised his head to look at Martinez, seeking his orders.
Martinez's face darkened. He issued orders. "Charge forward. Spread out and search."
The nearly ten off-road vehicles behind immediately dispersed, automatically dividing into three groups heading in front, left, and right directions.
The off-road vehicles were no longer synchronized. Gaps appeared between front and rear.
Martinez's face was black as the bottom of a pot. His fists clenched tightly. He really wasn't willing to let a fat sheep escape like this.
Just as the three vehicle groups searched to the point of impatience, car engine roars came from not far away.
Martinez's face lit up. He pointed at the sound source and shouted loudly, "Chase them, chase them!"
At this moment, he couldn't care whether the other party was the nursing home group or not. He just wanted to quickly grab some spoils of war.
He clearly knew that with the commotion he'd made so large, countless walkers were chasing over. He couldn't linger in one direction too long.
At Martinez's command, the off-road vehicle beneath him immediately shot forward. The other vehicles dispersed into three groups wanted to turn around and follow Martinez.
This made Martinez furious. He grabbed the walkie-talkie and cursed, "You idiots, don't you know to flank from other directions?"
"Don't turn around! Follow your direction and chase!"
"Immediately, right now!"
"If you can't catch them, you're all losing cigarettes and alcohol this month!"
Martinez's roar made vehicles in the other two directions pause. They no longer turned around and drove out in their own directions.
Behind Martinez followed the vehicle group in this direction. Driving through one street, they saw two pickups ahead.
These two pickups were clearly customized, not quite the same as the standard model. Looked like survivors with a camp.
Martinez's mouth split into an excited grin. He felt his luck was truly good—just lost one fat sheep and here came another.
Martinez patted the driver's seat. "Hurry up, full throttle. Don't let them escape!"
Immediately, the driver floored the gas pedal. Off-road vehicles accelerated forward one after another.
Meanwhile, vehicles in the other two directions looked at pickups appearing before them, greed-filled smiles appearing on their faces.
Orders to pursue were given.
They took the bait!!!
Pickups in all three directions followed the recently formulated plan and began running circles.
Because the pickups had familiarized themselves with the streets beforehand, they were a step faster than pursuing vehicles behind, dangling the rear vehicles at a distance.
The distance wasn't enough for Martinez's group to open fire, nor enough to make the rear vehicles lose track.
When off-road vehicles slowed slightly, pickups feared they'd lose them and likewise decreased speed—just like fishing.
Off-road vehicles seemingly didn't notice and quickly accelerated to catch up.
Suddenly, pickups in two directions suddenly boosted speed, instantly shaking off pursuing off-road vehicles a great distance.
Off-road vehicle pressure surged. Drivers gritted their teeth, feet nearly pressed into the gas tank, faces twisted.
This time, pickups didn't give off-road vehicles a chance to catch up. After turning two corners, off-road vehicles could no longer see pickup taillights.
Fortunately, this stretch of road had no other intersections. Drivers didn't dare relax their feet, maintaining speed charging forward, praying they could catch up to pickups after turning.
But what they didn't notice was that ahead at some point, spike strips reflecting cold light had appeared on the ground.
Off-road vehicles ran over them without caution. Four tires instantly exploded.
People in the vehicles only heard a series of urgent, loud "bang bang" sounds accompanied by vehicle shaking and jolting.
The driver controlled the out-of-control steering wheel, face pale. He realized this was clearly premeditated. He and his companions had been hunted.
Vehicles began losing control. At high speed, wheel rims scraped the ground, trailing sparks and swaying left and right.
At a certain moment, the vehicle finally couldn't handle such speed and rolled over sideways.
The off-road vehicle tumbled and slowly rolled to a stop somewhere.
Martinez crawled out from the off-road vehicle, his heart continuously sinking, face gradually darkening.
The other two directions had gone silent. Martinez thought toward the worst direction—they were all already dead.
This indicated the two vehicles ahead had major problems.
Sure enough, the next moment, the pickup ahead accelerated and in the blink of an eye shook off the off-road vehicle a considerable distance.
They were baiting us before!
Martinez felt his thoughts were confirmed. They definitely had problems!
Just as Martinez was somewhat hesitant, from a small alley on the right ahead, a long chain was flung out.
A person also burst out from the left alley, caught the chain on the ground, and pulled it backward.
Delight flashed in Martinez's eyes. "Grab him for me."
"Wait, that's..." Martinez thought about that chain on the ground. That wasn't a chain—it was a spike strip.
Bang bang—
A series of bullets hit the off-road vehicle, making crisp sounds.
"Slow down, slow down!" Martinez bent over, shouting into the driver's ear.
The driver also wanted to slow down, but hitting the brakes at this speed would be suicide. He could only release the gas and gently tap the brakes.
But the spike strip was right ahead. Decreased speed couldn't change this fact. The off-road vehicle still firmly ran over the spike strip.
The sound of tires exploding. The vehicle body swayed unsteadily. Martinez gripped the handle, clutched the grenade launcher, and shouted hysterically at surrounding off-road vehicles also swaying:
"Everyone hold onto your guns! In a moment we're fighting our way out!"
As Martinez expected, several off-road vehicles didn't drive far before appearing in a plaza.
Several overturned off-road vehicles lay in the plaza. One look and you knew they were their own people.
Two off-road vehicles had even already exploded in flames.
Some subordinates had already crawled out of off-road vehicles. Others lay inside vehicles without moving.
Martinez watched this scene and felt the losses were severe. He wanted to take revenge.
At this moment, a pickup drove out from a street on the opposite side. Martinez waved his hand. "Fire!"
Fortunately, off-road vehicles in Martinez's direction hadn't suffered major losses. Just vehicles broken, but people were fine.
They raised firearms and opened fire at the pickup.
The pickup turned a circle and drove straight into the market.
A flash of understanding passed through Martinez's eyes. No wonder they worked so hard to stop us from getting close.
So there's a market here.
Thinking of how abundant the food in the market must be, Martinez flushed red with excitement.
Then this must be their base!
Martinez vaulted over the off-road vehicle door and jumped out, running forward while shouting, "Charge! Kill those bastards!"
"Food's inside! It's all ours!"
Perhaps from panic, perhaps from greed—in an instant, whether injured or uninjured, everyone grabbed weapons and followed Martinez, charging forward.
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