Chapter 148 The Ruse of Surrender
After reading Frank's chat logs, Steven didn't feel much angry because he had already guessed most of it.
He didn't think he had such a great personality charm that a shameless opportunist like Frank would follow him wholeheartedly.
Frank's opportunism was normal behavior. He would choose between him and Brock, always opting for the one most beneficial to him.
Frank anxiously leaned in front of Steven, explaining his actions. "Mr. Rogers, you've already injected me; there's no way I could harm you! If something happens to you, I wouldn't survive either."
"Yes, I did say some bad things about you before. But at least I never did anything to harm you! Now, I'm completely on your side!" he added.
Steven didn't speak but started to ponder while stroking his chin.
Through Frank and Brock's chat logs, he obtained other important information.
First, the information Frank leaked to Brock about his weapons only included the fact that he had a handgun.
Frank didn't tell Brock about the strength Steven later displayed.
Probably from that time, Frank had already thought of betraying Brock and switching to Steven.
So, Brock didn't know that Steven had powerful assault rifles, sniper rifles, grenades, and other military equipment.
Second, Brock's main focus was on the large amount of supplies and the snowmobile in Steven's possession.
In his statements to Brock, Frank described Steven's safe house as a warehouse piled high with supplies that could last one or two years.
From the conversation, it was clear that Brock was very tempted.
This showed that Brock's shelter, indeed, didn't have many supplies.
After all, the shelter was built ten years ago, and even if it had once stored a large amount of food, Brock, who later lost interest in it, likely cleared them out.
After some thought, Steven had some basic ideas in his mind.
He threw the phone on the table and said calmly, "Then tell me more about that shelter."
He added, "Especially about the weapons and defense facilities. Don't leave out a single word!"
Seeing this, Frank let out a long sigh of relief.
Steven's attitude just now almost scared him to death.
He didn't dare to hide anything and revealed all the information he knew about the shelter.
So, Frank started explaining, "After the shelter was built, Brock invited a large group of people from the circle to visit."
"He's a very high-profile person, wanting the whole world to worship him. So, he introduced the shelter in great detail as if it were his beloved high-end toy."
"I remember the internal structure is divided into five levels, two above ground, looking much like an ordinary villa."
"Three levels underground, with a stadium, waterbed room, entertainment room for having fun with girls, a warehouse, and a control room... That's about it."
Steven said calmly, "Tell me specifically about its defense facilities."
Frank recalled and slowly said, "The shelter was built to withstand a nuclear attack, supposedly using spaceship materials. Unless a nuclear bomb directly hits it, there's almost no way to break through the front."
"But I guess if a large-scale armed force with heavy weapons attacked, it might be possible to break the shell through a prolonged siege."
"And the defense equipment, you know, that area has strict control over firearms and ammunition."
"Although Brock has the ability to get them, given his status and position, there's no need to take risks for a toy."
"So, there are no heavy weapons in the shelter. I remember he had two Golden Desert Eagles, which were his strongest firepower."
"But there are tear gas and sleeping gas spray devices inside the house."
"And at the entrance of the passage, there's a high-temperature flame thrower."
Mentioning this, Frank cautiously looked at Steven, "This is the most dangerous. When Brock demonstrated it to us, he threw in a chicken. It was cooked in a second!"
"Supposedly, when activated, it turns the passage into a giant oven, with temperatures reaching 3272 degrees Fahrenheit instantly."
"Not to mention people, even steel would melt."
While Frank was talking, Steven listened very carefully, not missing a single word.
After listening, he started drawing in his mind, sketching out the general shape of the shelter.
While Steven was thinking, Frank didn't dare to say a word and just lay on the ground, waiting for Steven to speak.
After thinking for a while, Steven took out paper and pen from under the table and started writing and drawing.
First, he had to consider his own safety.
No matter how good or tempting Brock's shelter was, if the risk exceeded 3%, Steven would temporarily abandon the plan.
After all, he was currently living in a safe house with no immediate risk, and his quality of life was still acceptable.
But if the risk were below 3%, Steven would consider giving it a try.
Because the fact that he had a large amount of supplies and a snowmobile had surely caught the attention of people around the neighborhood.
The people in the neighborhood would inevitably spread the news.
So, if he continued to stay here, trouble would come sooner or later.
And who could refuse a world-class shelter worth 1 billion dollars?
"Brock's target is my snowmobile and the supplies I have. If I don't get them, killing me would be pointless since I have no grudge against him." Steven tapped on the notebook, starting to talk to himself.
"So, when I go over, I'll put away the snowmobile. The worst-case scenario is that I get captured, but he won't kill me. Because to him, my life or death doesn't matter." After finishing his self-talk, Steven looked at Frank in front of him.
Frank couldn't help but shiver.
Steven smiled, pondering, 'The biggest threat from that shelter actually comes from the trap at the entrance.'
'Sleeping gas and tear gas are easy to deal with; I have police-grade gas masks. And the high-temperature flame, since he wants to keep me for questioning, he won't use it.'
Steven repeated it several times in his mind, thinking his reasoning had no flaws.
He nodded and said to Frank, "So, your plan is to pretend to cooperate with Brock and lure me over."
"By then, Brock won't kill me but will use sleeping gas and tear gas to attack me and capture me." Steven continued, "When he opens the door, we'll work together to take him down, right?"
Frank nodded quickly. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean!"
He added, "When we get there, you pretend to be captured. Then I'll take the opportunity to stab him and kill him!"
A gleam of pleasure flashed in Frank's eyes.
Steven suddenly thought that Frank didn't know he had gas masks.
So, in Frank's assumption, he was using Steven as bait to enter the shelter and kill Brock himself.
This trick was often used in some famous books, called feigned surrender.
Steven smiled slightly.
It was good that Frank didn't know Steven had gas masks.
One must always be cautious; it was better not to let Frank know about this.
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