Chapter 440
He had it all planned out: once the Rhodes Island arrived, he would take all his belongings and move away. Even if the conditions there were harsh, it wouldn't matter; he could achieve his dreams through hard work.
You're telling me now that we've given up on the Mobile Cities we've captured?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
The Hungry Infected felt a surge of energy rushing to his head, and then his vision went black as he collapsed.
June 24, 9:45 am
Deep within the Norbert District Slums are rows of low-rise houses with peeling exterior walls that give them a distinctly aged look.
Because the doors were frequently broken into by rioters, most of the windows were reinforced with Wooden Board and nailed shut from the inside.
The shouts of men, the curses of women, the cries of infants, the pleas of the weak, and the sounds of smashing and destruction are a microcosm of this infected area.
A van loaded with supplies drove into the neighborhood from a distance. The food and water on board attracted many greedy and hungry eyes.
One infected person after another emerged, attempting to block the van's progress with their own bodies. They carried makeshift weapons, intending to seize the supplies.
"Stop the car! Leave the food and water!"
"All the supplies on the truck are mine!"
"***, you're trying to hog it all? You can't eat that much, give me half!"
Before the supplies even arrived, these infected individuals had already begun distributing them. They argued and fought, hoping to seize as much benefit as possible.
Having learned from her previous experience, Vigna's attitude was noticeably tougher. She slammed her hammer on the ground, issuing a stern warning to the infected who were closing in:
"Just line up and you can get free supplies. If anyone tries to steal them, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Ha, isn't this Crownslayer? Haven't seen him in a while, and he's gotten quite powerful?"
Vigna looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the man speaking was the leader of the Razor Hat gang. His presence in this neighborhood meant he had been infected with Originium-related illness.
"Doug, I'm here to distribute supplies. There's no point in turning against my neighbor."
"There are so many of us here. If each person only gets such a small amount, do you think that's enough? If you can grab an extra piece of bread, you can live for another day. If you're lucky, you can live for two more days. If you're like me and haven't eaten for days, you'll do anything to survive."
"Crownslayer, you drove in a truck full of supplies to lure us into looting. If you want to see us fighting tooth and nail, then get out of here and watch. I might not have been able to beat you before, but that's not necessarily true now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Doug's face began to turn red rapidly, and his body also showed subtle signs of sudden change.
Seeing the infected person preparing to Originium Arts, Amiya anxiously tried to stop them:
"Sir, you are not performing magic, but risking your life for power. Please stop this dangerous behavior, and we will provide you with some supplies free of charge."
Doug's face not only turned bright red, but his skin also turned a deep red, even more so than when he drinks alcohol.
"**I already said this isn't enough. Little girl, get the hell out here. This isn't a place for you. The infected people out here grabbing supplies are all trying to survive. Those who didn't want to live or were just lying around doing nothing would have died in the filthy junkyard long ago!"
Seeing that the infected refused to accept small distributions, Vigna had no choice but to lead the Glass Gang members to fight them.
Shi Lei stood beside the Doctor but did not make a move.
Unless these infected individuals go on a killing spree like Rhodes Island did in Chernobyl, he won't attack Vulnerable Groups as long as he doesn't cross the line.
Moreover, many eyes are watching the airships hovering in the sky outside the city. They will also monitor the situation on the ground in the Norbert District. Whether it's Planet Befall or Rock Constructs, any slight movement will be detected.
This small-scale activity involving a hundred people can be left to my two girlfriends.
Vigna and Doug already knew each other; protecting the supplies was to maintain order, so that the infected who wanted to eat but couldn't get any could also get some food.
Seeing that the situation was deadlocked for the time being, Texas and Xi both looked at Shi Lei for advice.
The latter smiled slightly and did not refuse.
"Just don't make a big fuss."
The two were overjoyed to receive permission. Texas didn't even need to unfold the Xuanji Screen; she simply rubbed jade with her hands, which made the rioting infected scream in terror. Xi even painted with her bare hands, and a large number of Ink Specter jumped out of the painting.
The summoning of creatures into the battle quickly turned the tide of the war into a one-sided affair. Even with some infected Originium Arts, they were still unable to withstand the onslaught.
This was the first time Vigna had seen them fight, and she was amazed by their formidable combat power.
Previously, when they attacked the Abandoned Distillery in the Sardien District to rescue Heidi of the Self-Rescue Army, Vigna and the others waited outside with the Doctor and did not go in.
In her mind, Mudrock, who wielded a hammer, should be quite formidable. Texas and Xi, who wore Qipao, seemed more like decorative figures, but she hadn't expected them to be so strong.
The infected people hadn't eaten for days, and realizing they couldn't win, they had no choice but to surrender and obediently line up to receive supplies.
"Um?"
Within a six-kilometer radius, Shi Lei suddenly sensed a target that shouldn't be there. He turned his head to look in the direction he sensed and instructed his girlfriend:
"Texas, Xi, you two stay here to protect the Doctor and Amiya. There's something I need to check on; I'll be back when I'm done."
"Okay, I'll contact you again if things get too complicated here."
Texas made a writing gesture with her right hand, indicating that she would use the Rock Constructs Writing Tablet to stay in touch. Xi nodded in agreement, indicating that she meant the same thing.
This method, which ignores Signal Jamming and eavesdropping, ensures unimpeded communication between the two parties. It prevents additional complications arising from information asymmetry and communication breakdowns.
June 24, 9:55 AM
After Doctor's examination, the infected person who had suddenly fainted had regained consciousness. He did not have any terminal illness; he had simply not eaten for several days, which was why he was in this state.
Given the social status of those infected, it is very difficult for them to find a job to make a living in Victoria.
In the past, I could work for nobles or Duke, doing dangerous jobs like Originium Mine. Although I couldn't become rich and powerful, I could barely make ends meet.
At worst, they'd be doing dirty work like collecting recyclables or unclogging sewers. Jobs that ordinary people wouldn't do are usually assigned to infected individuals because they're cheap and readily available.
However, with the arrival of the Sarkaz Army, the nobles either died, fled, or surrendered. They no longer needed the Infected to Originium Mine; they could handle it themselves.
The wealth that Sarkaz plundered in the city was mostly used to buy food or to support the factory workers who worked day and night to produce the materials needed for the project.
Those infected lost their source of income, and their lives became increasingly impoverished. Some began petty theft to earn a living, which gradually escalated to burglary.
Previously, local residents in the Mid-level District would generously help them. But now, struggling to survive themselves, they are tightening their belts to keep infected people out.
"Ugh..."
The Hungry Infected sat up, rubbing his forehead, still feeling the warmth of the white porridge he had just been fed.
A pink-haired nurse in a white coat, so clean she didn't seem like someone from the Rhodes Island:
"You are very weak right now, please don't get up. We can only provide a limited amount of supplies, please understand."
The infected remained silent. What could they say now? Even if they wanted to resist, they couldn't possibly defeat them.
"Miss, what's your name?"
"Me? Percival."
"What a beautiful name! She's also very pretty. It's such a shame she became infected."
Percival frowned upon hearing this, sensing a frivolous undertone in his words.
Some male COVID-19 patients have never been in a relationship and feel they shouldn't have lived in vain before they die. Therefore, they often make frivolous remarks towards her; this is not the first time such an incident has occurred.
Red didn't speak, but simply pulled out his Red Blade and wiped it in front of the infected, using his actions to establish deterrence.
There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.
After a large number of Rhodes Island members entered this Infected Community, many infected people in the area who had heard the news took the initiative to come and inquire.
Some expressed support, others expressed trust. But most were inquiring about that Mobile Cities.
Even after learning that the Rhodes Island had not Mobile Cities, some of the infected remained skeptical.
"Tsk, is it really true?"
"Is it because you don't have many supplies that you're giving the same answer to the outside world, saying you don't have any Mobile Cities?"
"That's right, that must be it! One Mobile Cities can't hold so many infected people. How long will it take you to capture a second Mobile Cities? I'm really good at cooking, I can work as a cook in the logistics department."
Talulah and the others were unwilling to fabricate lies, and even though they knew it would disappoint people, they still explained the truth.
"I'm sorry, sir, we really don't have any."
After repeated confirmations, the answer remained the same. Gradually, they accepted the harsh reality.
They were all dejected and silent. When they raised their heads and looked around in confusion, their eyes had lost their sparkle.
If they weren't truly desperate to survive, who would willingly leave their hometown for a strange city?
The infected people lost all their enthusiasm and hope, and the scene immediately fell into an unbroken silence.
Talulah stood by the window, and suddenly saw a man through the cracks in the Wooden Board. A man who had appeared countless times in her dreams, a man as terrifying as a nightmare.
Her eyes widened, her emotions a jumble of complex feelings. Then she squeezed her eyes shut and looked out the window again. The man had indeed arrived, and was looking in her direction, as if extending a silent invitation.
Nine was listening to his subordinates report on the local situation when he suddenly noticed Talulah's unusual behavior and asked:
"What's wrong?"
Talulah bit her lip, remaining silent.
My mind was playing a slideshow of all the experiences I had with Shi Lei.
He once traveled to the Frozen Icefield and used a giant stone to suppress five Ursus Inner Guards who were attempting to wreak havoc.
He traveled to Bitter Cold Land to help the Rhodes Island and guerrillas build houses suitable for wintering.
He once traveled thousands of miles to airdrop supplies to the Rhodes Island, which had just captured Mobile Cities.
He also entered Chernobyl, killing a large number of Rhodes Island cadres and members. In the end, he found himself controlled by Koschei, erased Black Serpent's soul from his body, and sent her to Lungmen.
The rise and fall of the Rhodes Island is inextricably linked to this man.
It's true that Shi Lei was both their strength and their Shi Lei.
Seeing that Jiu had walked up to her and was about to peek out through the crack in the window, Talulah interrupted her in time:
"It's nothing, I just ran into an old friend."
"An old friend?"
Nine looked puzzled, not believing that she would have an old friend in Londinium, a city she had never been before.
"Stop looking, I'm going out to talk to him."
Talulah knew perfectly well that no one could stop Shi Lei from taking her away. She felt no psychological burden at all; on the contrary, she felt a sense of relief.
What's meant to happen will happen eventually; there's no escaping it.
Since that's the case, then face him.
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Chapter 517 Three Days Apart (4K)
Shi Lei stood in the square of the neighborhood, his gaze sweeping over a cluster of low-rise houses.
There's no need to knock or investigate; Psychic Scan is enough to determine how many people are inside.
He was spotless, standing out starkly against the dilapidated and filthy surroundings. Furthermore, the lack of any discernible racial features on his head made him easily noticeable.
"Squeak."
The slightly dented iron gate was pushed open from the inside, making a harsh, scraping sound.
Talulah walked straight towards them, pulling her gray hood back as she called out:
"Mister Shi Lei, it's been a long time."
"Indeed, it's been almost a year since we last met. You seem so calm, not at all surprised by my presence here?"
In the period immediately following her escape from Lungmen Prison, Talulah had nightmares every night. She dreamt that no matter where she escaped, Shi Lei would catch her and bring her back.
When a scene that appears endlessly in a dream is reenacted in reality, it feels somewhat unreal.
"What's so surprising about that? I knew you'd come knocking on my door sooner or later when I left prison."
The conversation between the two was very relaxed, without any tense atmosphere. Out of consideration for Officer Chen, Shi Lei did not immediately attempt a forced arrest.
"Now that you know why I'm here, things will be easier. Do you need to explain anything to the people inside? Once you've explained, come with me."
He had no reason to kill Talulah; he had simply promised Chen that he would bring her back if they encountered her.
"Mister Shi Lei."