Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

That morning, sunlight pierced through the clouds to illuminate the sea surface. The pale white sunlight appeared icy cold, offering little warmth. Even though it was mid-July and they had reached tropical waters, the temperature remained below minus twenty degrees Celsius. Yet compared to the northern regions, this was practically paradise. At the very least, human survival rates improved significantly in such conditions.

After a night of snowstorms, Zhang Yi and the others couldn't help but come up to the deck, gazing at the gradually calming icy sea with complex emotions. Just then, a series of "toot-toot" horn sounds reached their ears. At the endless horizon, a black dot was slowly approaching.

Old Tian hurried over and reported to Zhang Yi: "There's a warship approaching - it's the Malayan Navy!"

Zhang Yi asked curiously: "Isn't this international waters?"

Old Tian smiled bitterly: "You should know by now that maritime rules have become like land rules - many old regulations no longer apply. Due to resource shortages, many small nations have turned into pirate states. Some national navies even moonlight as sea bandits. Apart from world powers like our Huaxu Kingdom or Columbia, this situation is quite common among other nations!"

Zhang Yi slowly narrowed his eyes. Malaya was a significant nation in the ocean region. Unless they showed hostility first, Zhang Yi couldn't just attack outright. "What do they want?" he asked.

Old Tian replied: "They've requested to board for inspection. Mr. Zhang, what should we do?" Old Tian's heart was pounding. The Malayan warship was no joke - equipped with advanced weaponry. Even the Golden Edge's thick armor couldn't withstand naval artillery and torpedoes.

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, considering countermeasures. Zhu Yunque suggested: "We can communicate with them. If they know we're from Huaxu Kingdom, they wouldn't dare cause trouble."

"Even as civilian ships, perhaps..." Zhu Yunque's voice trailed off. Having witnessed so much violence during their journey, her mindset had gradually changed. In this apocalypse, human life was cheaper than grass. If they were truly civilian ships, no one would care what happened to them.

Old Tian asked: "Then what's your decision?"

Zhang Yi calmly rose from the railing. "Let them come. We'll play it by ear." It depended on their intentions. Zhang Yi didn't seek trouble, but feared none either. Strength was his greatest asset.

Following Zhang Yi's orders, Old Tian immediately had the crew respond to the boarding inspection request. Zhou Ke'er leaned against Zhang Yi, her small hand enveloped in his large one, instantly dispelling her nervousness. Looking up at his composed profile, she smiled with relief.

Zhu Yunque was actually quite nervous too - this was her first time facing such a situation in her life. Without revealing her identity, she was just a civilian. It was impossible not to feel tense about facing foreign naval inspection on her first experience as a commoner at sea. She had wanted to move closer to Zhang Yi for a sense of security too, but seeing him with Zhou Ke'er made her feel utterly superfluous.

Soon, a gray warship approached the Golden Edge. Not particularly large - slightly bigger than their ship - it was packed with soldiers completely wrapped in white combat suits, weapons in hand. Zhang Yi never took his eyes off them - at the first sign of unusual movement, he would immediately deploy his Dimensional Gate to block any attack.

On the Malayan warship, an officer-looking figure stepped forward, his combat suit distinctly different from regular soldiers. He waved, and the two ships slowly drew alongside each other. Soldiers laid planks and filed across onto the Golden Edge's deck.

Zhu Yunque explained to them: "We're from Huaxu Kingdom. This is just an ordinary civilian ship carrying no contraband." The Malayan Navy ignored her. Instead, a soldier strode over, roughly shoved Zhu Yunque to the deck, pressing his gun barrel against her forehead. "Speak only when spoken to! Now shut your mouth and keep quiet!" The dark muzzle pointed at Zhu Yunque's head - she could even see the cold spiraling grooves inside. Never in her life had someone pointed a gun at her. The young noblewoman froze in terror, sitting dumbstruck on the deck.

Zhang Yi silently observed this scene without intervening, though his eyes tracked the soldier's trigger finger. The gun was just intimidation - his finger wasn't on the trigger. "Now, all of you stand properly with hands behind your backs for inspection!" the soldier shouted, brandishing his weapon. Other soldiers had already rushed into the cabins to loot.

Zhang Yi remained expressionless. The ship carried minimal supplies - anticipating such situations, he usually kept only about a week's worth of provisions onboard. Zhu Yunque turned pale with fright, casting pleading looks at Zhang Yi, only to see his calm expression. Clearly, he didn't want their identities exposed. Little pearls began falling from Zhu Yunque's eyes. Zhang Yi simply didn't care about her. She could only stand up obediently and move beside Zhou Ke'er.

A soldier demanded they surrender any weapons. Zhang Yi subtly signaled with his eyes, and everyone placed their guns on the deck. Their cooperation prevented rougher treatment from the Malayan Navy.

The officer-looking man scanned Zhang Yi's group. "Who's the captain here?"

Zhang Yi replied: "Sir, I'm this ship's captain." The Malayan officer, Oberon Ques, stared coldly at Zhang Yi's face. "Huaxu people, what brings you thousands of kilometers out into the ocean? State your purpose!"

Zhang Yi gulped, affecting a frightened stutter: "I-I received my sister's distress signal. She's stranded on an island! I'm here to rescue her!"

"Rescue? What a touching brother," Oberon Ques sneered, clearly unconvinced. Loud banging came from the cabins as the soldiers ransacked everything with brutal thoroughness.

Zhang Yi couldn't help saying: "Sir, we're already low on supplies. Could you leave us some food?"

Author's Note