Fourteen days passed quickly in the intense and orderly preparation and waiting.
During this period, the Helu City settlement was like a precision clock wound up, with all components operating efficiently.
The troops have completed a new round of ammunition replenishment and accumulated supplies sufficient to support continuous high-intensity operations; the training camp site has been renovated in Old Department Store Building and surrounding areas, and the necessary training facilities and student dormitories are in place.
The crucial "Vortex Type I Deep Space Source Energy Condenser" has also been carefully installed and debugged by technicians, and will only be activated after the camp starts.
The first batch of 800 students selected from all over the country have arrived one after another and have been properly placed.
Among them are soldiers, students, workers, and farmers. They are of different ages and backgrounds, but they all have the same desire and expectation in their eyes.
The settlement became more vibrant and energetic with their arrival.
What is even more striking is that one after another foreign missions also passed through Gap Zone and successively arrived in this city that is now of great significance to the Blue Star survivors.
Tomorrow is the day when "East Vanguard Training Camp" officially opens its camp.
In the afternoon, a roar of propellers came from the sky from far to near.
A transport helicopter painted with the Union Jack flag, escorted by two Xia Army armed helicopters, cautiously landed on the temporarily cleared helicopter landing field outside the Helu City settlement.
The hatch opened, and the England delegation, consisting of fifteen people, set foot on this land.
The leader was an old man about sixty years old, well-dressed, and with meticulously combed hair.
He is the diplomatic leader of this mission, Sir Howard.
Behind him was a pair of young men and women. The man was tall and straight, with sharp eyes, named Adams; the woman had a heroic face and a calm expression, named Elizabeth.
They are the two students who were selected from thousands of people in England and are ready to attend East Vanguard Training Camp.
In addition, the mission also includes a serious-looking military attache, two scholars wearing glasses, and several necessary security and accompanying personnel.
A staff member and a translator from the Xia Fang Ministry of Foreign Affairs were already waiting and came forward with a smile.
"Welcome to Helu City, Sir Howard. It's been a hard journey." The tone of the staff was polite and thoughtful.
"Thank you for your reception. This journey has been truly impressive." Sir Howard nodded slightly and said in fluent Xia Kingdom Language.
He tried hard to appear calm, but the shock deep in his eyes that could not be completely concealed revealed his true feelings when he first came here.
When viewed from the air, the impact is already intense.
But when you really get down to earth and walk through this huge survivor fortress, the strange atmosphere that mixes doomsday ruins with tenacious vitality becomes more intuitive.
What I saw was not the deathly silence and despair I imagined.
Although most of the buildings are dilapidated and temporary tents and simple houses can be seen on the streets, the entire settlement exudes an unusually busy and orderly atmosphere.
Soldiers patrolled with sonorous steps; volunteers were busy distributing supplies and assisting in construction; you could even see some children running and playing in relatively safe open spaces.
There is certainly fatigue and vicissitudes of life on people's faces, but more importantly, there is a kind of concentration focused on the present, and an indescribable tenacity to move forward toward hope.
The scholar in charge of recording in the mission subconsciously raised the portable camera in his hand almost as soon as he got off the plane, carefully capturing everything.
What he saw was not a desperate-looking survivor, but a survival Commonwealth that was quickly organized and operated efficiently during the disaster.
At this moment, a slight piercing sound passed very high above the head.
Adams and Elizabeth looked up alertly at almost the same time.
I saw a silver-gray streamlined spherical aircraft, silently gliding across the sky at an extremely fast speed, and disappeared into the background of distant ruins in the blink of an eye.
"That's...?"
Adams couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his eyes full of curiosity and surprise.
The shape and movement of that aircraft were completely beyond his understanding of existing aircraft.
The Xia Fang staff member followed his gaze, with a trace of natural pride on his face, and explained in a calm tone, "That is the 'Flowing Shadow' portable aircraft. It is the means of transportation used by Lin Chief Instructor on his daily hunting trips."
"Lin Chief Instructor. That's the one" Elizabeth said, with a hint of confirmation in his tone.
"Yes," the staff member nodded affirmatively, "It is the most powerful Blue Star, Lin Yi. He goes out every day to eliminate the elite Abyss Beast in the surrounding areas of the settlement to ensure our safety range."
"Daily. Patrol" Adams murmured and repeated. He and Elizabeth looked at each other, and both saw incredible shock in the other's eyes.
Thinking of going deep into dangerous ruins to eliminate monsters as a "hunting patrol", what kind of strength and confidence does this show?
Sir Howard did not speak, but silently retracted his gaze from the sky, his eyes behind the lenses becoming even deeper.
Just this startling glance and that understatement gave him a more concrete and frightening understanding of the power Xia Kingdom possesses.
Then they followed the staff and entered the settlement.
Along the way, we saw more scenes of active reconstruction.
Damaged buildings are being reinforced, new fortifications are being constructed, and some small workshops can even be seen resuming production, with the sound of clanking knocking being heard endlessly.
The staff introduced to them, "The safety of Luming District where we are now has been greatly guaranteed since the destruction of Nest No. 3. At present, with the training camp as the center, the buildings within two kilometers of the surrounding area have basically been cleaned and reinforced and are being put into use one after another. The repair work of the entire Luming District is also gradually advancing."
He pointed to a large building in the distance that seemed to be being renovated. "Like the former entertainment center, we plan to transform it into a permanent residential area to house survivors whose homes are occupied by intermediate-level or above Nest or who are homeless. After all, we can't keep everyone living in tents."
At this time, a younger attaché in the mission seemed to have thought of something, and muttered in a low voice, "These buildings and land were originally private property, right? They were requisitioned like this."
Before he could finish his words, Sir Howard, who was walking in front, suddenly turned back and glared at him sternly, his eyes as sharp as knives. The attendant instantly fell silent and lowered his head in embarrassment.
Jazz reprimanded in an almost inaudible England language. "Put away your outdated thinking! Look around, discussing this now is extremely stupid!"
In the face of survival, the concept of property rights in the old era seems so pale and ridiculous.
More importantly, questioning the owner's decision-making on someone else's territory is undoubtedly extremely rude and unwise behavior.
The staff didn't seem to hear this episode, and still guided them calmly, and finally arrived at a hotel not far from Hongfu Restaurant.
This hotel has obviously been carefully tidied up. Although the appearance cannot hide the traces of time and the scars of disaster, the interior is clean and tidy and has complete basic functions.
"Everyone will rest here for the time being. The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow morning, and we will have someone there to guide you to the ceremony."
After the staff arranged the room, they left politely.
However, just as Sir Howard and his group were preparing to go to their respective rooms, another group of people came out from the other side of the hotel lobby.
Seeing the other party, Sir Howard's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly, and the usual diplomatic and calm expression on his face showed an extremely small crack.
It is the America mission.
There were more people than them, twenty of them.
The leader was a middle-aged man who looked smart and capable, and behind him, there were six or seven young people of all colors and genders.
The two sides met unexpectedly in the hall, and the atmosphere instantly became a little subtle and awkward.
Just over a month ago, when Xia Kingdom initially issued an initiative to establish a consortium around the world, England had privately asked America for his opinion.
At that time, America's advice was to "wait and see with caution and not respond for the time being."
England initially chose to refuse based on his past alliance relationship and his habitual trust in America's judgment.
However, as the news of the success of "Dawn Operation" and the existence of the strong "Stardust Rank" was announced by the Xia Kingdom in a high-profile manner, England, after intense debate in the country, finally decided to change its strategy and actively responded to the Xia Kingdom's call.
And this time, they did not ask for America's opinion again - they subconsciously believed that the other party would still insist on refusing.
However, he never expected that America not only came, but also sent a larger mission, and seemed to have obtained more observer quotas.
Sir Howard quickly adjusted his facial muscles, with just the right amount of surprise and enthusiasm on his face. "Oh! Mr. Williams, I really didn't expect to meet you here!"
Mr. Williams, the head of the America mission, is also a veteran diplomat who has experienced battles in the field. A flawless smile instantly broke out on his face, "Sir Howard! This is really an unexpected surprise. It seems that we have all made the same wise choice for the future of mankind."
The two people walked forward quickly and shook hands enthusiastically, as if they met at an international summit in some peaceful era, rather than in the simple lobby of a post-apocalyptic inn.
"Of course, of course, in the face of a common threat, unity is the only option."
Sir Howard agreed with a smile, but inadvertently glanced at the six or seven young faces behind him, "Your country is really full of talents."
"To each other, these two young talents from your country are also very generous."
Williams smiled back and glanced at Adams and Elizabeth.
The two of them exchanged a few false polite greetings, asking each other whether the journey was smooth, what their impressions of the settlement were, and other sterile questions. Then they said goodbye tacitly and led their own people to different floors.
As soon as he left the other party's sight, the smile on Sir Howard's face quickly faded. He gently twitched the corners of his lips and whispered to the military attaché beside him, "It seems that everyone is in a hurry to find a new position."
The military attaché nodded silently.
On the other side, Williams returned to the room and whispered to the deputy, "Tell our young people to seize every opportunity. Times have changed, and this is the center of the future."