Chapter 77: Striving to Embody the Spirit of Betrayal

Duan Wenxuan had to leave because the agreed-upon time with Song Boxue had arrived. Upon returning to the shattered and highly radioactive post-apocalyptic world, Duan Wenxuan immediately heard loud noises. The sounds were not far from the nineteenth floor where he was, likely indicating that about four or five individuals had ascended.

“We didn’t leave the base just to wait for death! Song Boxue, the five days are up, we demand to meet that mysterious person!”

The voice resonated strongly, and even Duan Wenxuan could discern that it was intentionally raised, hoping to draw out the enigmatic figure mentioned by Song Boxue. This suggested that deep down, there was some fear and reluctance to forcefully intrude. Gradually, more people joined in, continuously shouting as well.

Although Song Boxue continually tried to hold them back, his expression did not show much urgency.

He and Roy had witnessed Duan Wenxuan’s peculiarities firsthand, knowing that many things must be seen to be believed. However, these newcomers were different; they hadn’t met Duan Wenxuan and might have simply assumed him to be some privileged individual who fled from a major base. As long as there was a steady supply of red stones, the radiation’s impact would be minimized to its lowest level.

Even amidst the apocalypse, wherever people gather, there exists a hierarchy of status.

However, Song Boxue knew for certain that Duan Wenxuan’s identity was not so ordinary. Consequently, he had no fear of these individuals barging onto the nineteenth floor; he firmly believed they posed no threat to Duan Wenxuan.

The reason for his intervention was merely to prevent Duan Wenxuan from blaming him for inadequate supervision. Otherwise, Song Boxue would have coldly watched as these people met their demise. In the post-apocalyptic world, death was commonplace, and those who survived had long cast aside any sympathy.

Amidst the commotion, Song Boxue suddenly halted his steps when a clear voice reached his ears:

“Come in.”

Everyone unconsciously fell silent, with even the person who had been shouting the loudest now displaying a hint of trepidation. The apocalypse is like this: morality and laws are entirely abandoned, and death becomes a routine occurrence. Ultimately, it was Song Boxue who took the lead, cautiously guiding the group onto the nineteenth floor.

As they entered the room, they saw what appeared to be a very young individual sitting cross-legged near a massive foggy bay window, facing away from them.

Despite being just a young man and looking harmless, there seemed to be a distinct aura about him for some inexplicable reason. It was difficult to articulate, but upon seeing him, one could tell he was not someone to be trifled with.

“What’s all this racket?!”

Detecting Duan Wenxuan’s slight displeasure, beads of sweat formed on Song Boxue’s forehead. ”…I… I couldn’t quite control them. Since you didn’t appear this morning, they thought I was deceiving them.”

Duan Wenxuan slowly rose and turned to face the group. Apart from Song Boxue, there were six others, consisting of four men and two women. Among the four men, one had the largest build and a scabby scalp, likely due to radiation effects causing numerous areas to fester. The other three men were middle-aged, but their postures appeared hunched, giving off an air of old age.

The two women included one with a head full of silver hair. Despite having one eye completely damaged by radiation and constantly oozing pus, she diligently covered it with a clean handkerchief, showing her determined spirit as an elderly lady. The other woman was much younger, but her skin bore large patches of dark scars; whether caused by radiation or some personal issue was unclear.

In this post-apocalyptic world, where morality and laws have crumbled, women less affected by radiation have become valued ‘currency.’ Only these two, one being elderly and the other heavily scarred, managed to barely attain some ‘freedom’ without falling victim to exploitation.

“Are these the only individuals recruited?”

Song Boxue promptly responded, “I dare not return to the base with the food you’ve given me; otherwise, I fear I might never be able to leave again. However, relying solely on my persuasion, it will be very difficult to make these people believe.”

Trust was something severely lacking in the apocalypse.

With survival conditions at their harshest extremes, anything could happen. For instance, husbands might deceive and kill their wives for sustenance, or men may treat women as prey, casually abducting them… Based on Song Boxue’s words alone, how many would truly trust him?

“However, apart from them, there are five more individuals downstairs. If you intend to recruit a larger group, you may potentially come into conflict with the existing base.”

Over several years of the apocalypse, Luoluo City’s original stockpile of weapons had largely depleted. Now, there were few factories or materials available, and many items were designed for single-use only. If the base owner is unwilling to engage in peaceful dialogue, Duan Wenxuan remains undaunted. He wouldn’t even need to resort to force; simply by providing a continuous supply of food, he could win over the security teams of the rival base to his command.

“Afterward, tell me where your base is located, but first, please lead me to meet all your people,” said Duan Wenxuan.

Upon hearing this, Song Boxue felt reassured. Duan Wenxuan wasn’t foolish; venturing solo to the base indicated that he must have absolute confidence, otherwise, it would merely be a suicidal move.

Soon, everyone gathered on the first floor.

Duan Wenxuan observed them, and they curiously looked back at him, their eyes expressing disbelief. This was because Duan Wenxuan appeared incredibly ‘clean,’ showing absolutely no signs of radiation exposure.

Nowadays, even newborn infants carried various radiation-induced ailments. Moreover, in recent years, the birth rate had reached an extremely low level. Perhaps one day, all humans in this world would ultimately perish due to radiation-related illnesses.

Altogether, there were eleven individuals present, with five remaining downstairs consisting of four men and one woman.

“Tell me, who are these people?”

Before anyone could introduce themselves, Song Boxue preemptively pointed to the bald man and said, “His name is Min Honghui, 35 years old, previously a military doctor. Despite his imposing stature, he’s actually among the globally leading figures in neurosurgery.”

The others are Zu Shuwang, Sima Mushang, Fang Bai, Chen Tianqin, Luo Haifeng, Luo Kaifeng, and Huo Huailu. Zu Shuwang is the most distinguished female chemist in modern times. She discovered a substance named ‘Shuwang’ within materials, which I also utilized in the development of Sifert medication. One could say that Ms. Zu is the chemist I admire the most.

“Sima Mushang is this young lady here, being Zu Shuwang’s granddaughter and exceptionally talented in mathematics. Fang Bai owned a real estate company before the apocalypse, considered one of Luoluo City’s wealthiest individuals. Chen Tianqin was a hacker but after getting arrested, he became a white-hat hacker. Luo Haifeng is a physicist, and Huo Huailu is a university professor as well as a skilled Go player.”

These were brief introductions for the six individuals who had just ascended the stairs.

Song Boxue then turned to the remaining five people. “This is Di Yi, a martial arts champion. This gentleman here is Lu Ci, formerly a renowned classical musician. As for the last three, since you requested Roy to find some women for cleaning duties, it was difficult to locate suitable candidates. We could only get two men as substitutes.”

The trio consisted of Mu Dalin, Pu Ming, and a woman named Xia Meihua. Mu Dalin used to work on construction sites laying bricks, Pu Ming ran a housekeeping company, and Xia Meihua specialized as a nanny.

It was indeed their only option under the circumstances.

“Well, let’s proceed with this arrangement for now. Since you’re here, stay; I will provide you with food and a relatively safe environment as previously agreed. What you need to do is ask fewer questions and speak less. Whatever research I instruct you to conduct, follow through accordingly, understood?”

No one voiced any objections. In the post-apocalyptic environment, food was the most reassuring necessity. As long as they were provided with sustenance, their research subjects didn’t matter.

In front of everyone, Duan Wenxuan briefly returned to the nineteenth floor and brought down a substantial amount of food. Seeing these clean, uncontaminated foods free from nuclear radiation, the individuals’ eyes lit up.

“Distribute it,” Duan Wenxuan glanced at Song Boxue, intending for him to divide the food, which also served to establish his authority. However, Duan Wenxuan quickly added, “For the five who just went upstairs, their portion will be halved.”

Immediately, the faces of those five twisted. Even Zu Wangshu, the elderly woman, furrowed her brow, casting a resentful glare towards Min Honghui.

Min Honghui, being a military doctor, had a somewhat irritable temperament. If not for his initial incitement, the others wouldn’t have impulsively joined him in causing trouble.

Min Honghui’s heart skipped a beat, wanting to say something, but upon seeing Duan Wenxuan’s gaze, he couldn’t help but hold back his words, daring not to speak further. On the other hand, the five individuals downstairs wore expressions of delight, knowing these were entirely uninfected foods.

Almost everyone exhibited a similar behavior; they didn’t immediately stuff the food into their mouths but swiftly hid it various places on themselves before cautiously consuming it away from others.

Duan Wenxuan glanced at Roy, and she promptly rushed over to him, alert. “Can I assist you with anything?”

“You take charge here. Have these people work together to clean up this floor; we need to find a place to stay. Right now, Song Boxue and I will head to the base briefly, and we’ll be back soon.”

In contrast to his cautious approach in the Fourth Monster World and Lanruo Temple scenarios, Duan Wenxuan’s actions in this world were swift and decisive. With his individual combat prowess, he was nearly invincible here. Most crucially, the world’s conventional weapons have become ineffective due to the nuclear fallout.

Duan Wenxuan’s demeanor remained calm and composed, leaving Roy momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. After a while, she amusingly managed to stammer out, “Then… good luck on your mission?”

Song Boxue rolled his eyes at her remark. Victory from the outset… Are we going to war?

“Let’s go.” Duan Wenxuan glanced at the people who were continuously eating, then briskly headed outside. Song Boxue promptly followed him, knowing that as long as he stayed close to Duan Wenxuan, the radiation’s effects would barely bother him.

The base was not far from the hotel, which is why initially, Song Boxue and Roy had been wandering nearby in search of food.

As they walked slowly along, the surroundings were desolate, occasionally punctuated by glimpses of mutated rabbits hopping past. Even some birds perched on ruins displayed mutations, such as having three legs.

Curiously, Duan Wenxuan asked, “Do you also consume radiation-mutated creatures?”

Song Boxue sighed, “There’s no other choice; food is severely scarce. Consuming mutated radiation-infected creatures affects our health, but if we don’t eat them, we’ll starve to death within two or three days. In this environment, cultivating plants is also extremely difficult; they can only grow in certain indoor conditions. Most of these foods are exclusive supplies from Heaven, and we have no right to consume them.

It’s said that specialized botanists are diligently researching crops adapted to radiation environments, and every year, the base’s slogans echo, but it’s futile. People continue dying incessantly. Last year, our entire base had approximately two million inhabitants, yet the birth rate for newborns was less than one hundred.”

Under such pressure, women themselves struggle to survive long, let alone having any chance of bearing children.

As they conversed along the way, Duan Wenxuan soon spotted the base Song Boxue mentioned.

The base, housing around two million people, appeared quite vast overall. It was established relying on the premises of a former university, with its outermost perimeter cluttered with various abandoned construction materials.

Outside the gate, Duan Wenxuan hardly saw any personnel managing the area. Instead, quite a few individuals were lying aimlessly, with no certainty if they would ever get back up again. Occasionally, some people entered or exited, their faces showing signs of malnutrition.

There were also others carrying massive bamboo baskets, scavenging through the trash at the periphery, likely hoping to find some food or useful items within.

To be honest, Duan Wenxuan’s presence was highly conspicuous.

As before, he appeared immaculate.

Cleanly dressed and strikingly handsome, his entire figure stood out amidst the crowd affected by various radiation-induced ailments, making him truly too eye-catching.

“Let’s go inside for a look.”

Song Boxue led Duan Wenxuan into the base, unimpeded. However, wherever they went, it seemed everyone’s attention was fixed on Duan Wenxuan.

The overall management of this base was rather lax, but the base managers still held substantial authority. As soon as they entered, four or five armed individuals immediately surrounded Duan Wenxuan and Song Boxue.

Without hesitation, Song Boxue raised his hands instantly.

Duan Wenxuan surveyed the surroundings. “Take me to see the manager.”

Soon, Duan Wenxuan met with the manager of Luoluo City’s largest survival base. This base had established a three-person management team, and surprisingly, the one seated in the central position was an elderly woman. She was very old, her entire back hunched over to the point where her head nearly touched her knees, forcing her to recline half-seated in her chair.

“Are you… from Heaven?” the elderly woman spoke with difficulty.

“Nearly so. I’ve come seeking cooperation. I need some pre-apocalypse skilled professionals. In any case, they can’t do much here at the base now, and I hope to recruit them freely. In return, I can provide you with some food.”

“Food?” The three managers looked incredulously at Duan Wenxuan.

Food served as hard currency.

“How much radiated meat can you supply?”

“It’s rice.” Duan Wenxuan took out a small plastic bag from his pocket. “Please take a look at this rice.”

One of the managers swiftly snatched the small plastic bag, then unexpectedly grabbed four or five raw grains of rice directly from it and popped them into his mouth. Finally, he closed his eyes, savoring each bite slowly.

“Rice, truly rice, and moreover, non-radiated contaminated rice. It’s been almost half a year since I last ate such rice.”

“Give me some,” another manager attempted to snatch from him.

The elderly man, eyes still closed in enjoyment, evaded slightly before carefully placing four or five grains of rice into the other’s hand. “Be careful, be careful; spilling them wouldn’t be good. If even a bit is wasted, it would break my heart.”

Soon, the entire hall was filled only with the soft sounds of these three elders slowly chewing on raw rice. Nearby, Song Boxue neither smiled nor spoke, instead feeling deeply moved by the scene.

After about seven or eight minutes, the old woman strained to lift her head and meet Duan Wenxuan’s gaze. “For this type of rice, how much can you provide?”

“In the first year, I’ll supply one thousand pounds for free, but there are conditions. I know you have numerous firearms here, albeit now reduced to empty shells without ammunition. Trade me a batch of them.

Additionally, my recruitment efforts aren’t limited to Luoluo City alone. I am aware that you maintain certain connections with other bases, so you also need to find individuals from those bases for me. Starting from the second year, people will compensate for rice: one person equals one hundred pounds, capped as such.”

“What do you intend to do?” The old woman furrowed her brow, trying to discern something from Duan Wenxuan’s eyes. “This world has already been devastated to this extent, yet what more destruction do you seek?”

“Don’t worry; as you’ve mentioned, it’s already in such a state. No matter how much I might interfere with it now, there’s little more to be done.”

After a long moment, the three individuals in the hall nodded. ”…We are indeed very curious about your background and the seemingly casual promise of one thousand kilograms of rice. However, everyone has their own secrets, and we won’t deliberately pry. If you can fulfill what you have promised, we will also adhere to our agreement.”

They had their considerations too. Duan Wenxuan’s proposal was truly enticing, not to mention the potential of him seeking collaborations with other bases. Even if he were simply to announce at the base that supporting him would grant access to this thousand kilograms of rice, allowing free-for-all competition, the trio knew they would likely be beaten to death by the over two million residents, leaving no trace of their bodies intact.

In truth, they had no real choice but to agree.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll distribute the food in batches over these next few days.”

For Duan Wenxuan, one thousand kilograms of rice wasn’t a significant amount. Previously, he had been neglecting matters related to the Love Apartment world, using it only for occasional shopping purposes.

Within Love Apartment, Duan Wenxuan had purchased a house and even arranged for someone to open a grain store, all with the intention of utilizing them someday. Now, the only challenge lay in gradually transferring the grains to Luoluo City.

While Duan Wenxuan diligently managed various affairs of the apocalyptic world, accelerating its development, something also occurred in the Fourth Monster World.

It had been two months since the last time mutants obtained from defeating monsters were taken to Headquarters. Typically, each Night Church branch would send personnel every two months or so to deliver these mutants and unique items for storage at Headquarters.

After Qiao Si returned to the branch and discussed their speculations about Duan Wenxuan with Nelson for quite some time, they suddenly remembered this matter. However, the previous two mutants from Westphalia—the Plant Heart and Hardened Gloves—had already been fused by Duan Wenxuan.

This time, they had nothing significant to bring to Headquarters for storage, which wasn’t a concern. They could simply claim that Westphalia had been fortunate lately, experiencing calmness and tranquility.

The issue arose because the nearest continent to Westphalia, Adaha, often sent their Nightwatchers to deliver mutants to Headquarters. These Nightwatchers typically stopped by Westphalia and, most of the time, even planned joint trips to Shoulong Continent together. And tomorrow, Black Pearl Windsor, the Nightwatcher from Adaha, was scheduled to arrive.

Night fell.

Nelson flipped through a book featuring the cover of the Night Church’s Dark Goddess, while internally it contained teachings from the Universal Church’s Sacred Scriptures. Meanwhile, Qiao Si savored his steak with evident enjoyment on his face.

Previously, due to the mutant ‘tongue’, although Qiao Si could digest anything, the perpetual hunger and madness rendered him unable to truly savor the taste of food. But now, it was different.

With each bite of steak, he closed his eyes momentarily, quietly enjoying the experience. It’s only when you’ve lost something as ordinary as this that you realize its true value.

“Qiao Si, tell me, how should we handle the meticulous Black Pearl lady who will arrive tomorrow?”

Qiao Si took a sip of red wine. “Inform her that we have no mutants here and advise her to leave promptly. We weren’t familiar with her in the first place; Vena used to chat with her often. But since Vena isn’t around either, there’s no need for us to be overly courteous.”

“What if she discovers something amiss?”

“If we don’t even let her enter the church, what could she possibly find?” Qiao Si’s expression seemed utterly unyielding, devoid of any hint of gentleness or consideration.

“You’re right.” Clergyman Nelson looked at the lamplight, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Suddenly, he lowered his voice, “Suppose… just hypothetically… we detain the Black Pearl, then take the mutant she intends to seal away. Do you think the saint would commend us then?”

Qiao Si immediately put down his fork and knife, staring incredulously at Nelson.

Well, you’re certainly embracing the traitor spirit wholeheartedly. However, it is indeed a brilliant idea.

A slight smile appeared on Qiao Si’s face. “Let’s discuss how we can bring Lady Black Pearl under the guidance of our saint,” he said.