《The Reborn Otaku's Code of Practice for the Apocalypse》Chapter 211 - 215
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Luo Xun looked around, smiled and touched the little girl's head. "Let's rest for a while, we are not in a hurry now."
As the weather grew hotter, the whole world became lush; full of trees and weeds with the lack of human activity. The plants grew extraordinarily vigorous across the previous fields.
In the distance, many of the old buildings had been covered with creeping green vegetation. There was a sense of fantasy compared to the barren ruins from the past.
But this was reality, the survivors of the apocalypse were now accustomed to the environment. The group got out of the car and looked around. Nearby there were some kinds of flowers and grass growing. The red and yellow flowers were beautiful in bloom.
Yu Xinran drank warm water while holding Song Lingling's hand. Luo Xun also let the baby bask in the sun. They had only been inside working, this was not good for the child, so they should also stop for a breather.
The group was resting when the ground suddenly started shaking...
"Zombie...zombie wave?!" Wang Duo wildly looked around and was ready to escape back to the car.
The others were nervous, Luo Xun looked at Zhang Yi, who immediately used his power to scout the area.
However before his wind to deliver the information, Luo Xun saw what was happening...
Two huge wolves were chasing a bunch of panicked ducks were making noises. Luo Xun and the others had now seen everything.
Seemed like since the targets were stupid, the wolves had not deliberately driven the ducks towards then. Instead they had been chasing their prey all over the mountain. Whenever they tired, they would pounce and capture one. Finally the wolves grabbed their rations and ran away.
Luo Xun and party stared as the wolves left, leaving a few birds standing blankly in the field.
For a while, the team exchanged looks before Luo Xun spat out, "I also wondered where the two wolves went? It's time to hunt ducks!" Fine, the phrase was a bit strange.
Wu Xun suddenly asked, "Luo Xun, are those really wolves?"
"What?" Luo Xun was puzzled along with the others.
"I heard that only dogs would wag their tails and not wolves...their tails were moving when they were leaving right?"
"...I didn't notice."
"Maybe they were abandoned, but they were raised?"
"Maybe they are really dogs! Otherwise if they were wolves, why didn't they attack us?"
"Right, and there aren't many wild wolves!"
"Isn't the zoo nearby? What if they are from the zoo?"
The group of idle people actually spent half an hour discussing whether the two canines were wolves or dogs. Finally they remembered that they had a lot of work today. After the discussion, they all unanimously decided to let Yu Xinran sit together with Luo Xun on the road.
She could use her power to turn large pieces of rubble into sand. The smaller pieces and potholes could be ignored but it would help the bumpy road. By the end most of the avenue had been turned into sand.
This time Luo Xun and team were going somewhere relatively far from their base. So when they returned to the main road, they would not need to deal with the troublesome road conditions.
It took the convoy more than a day to reach their destination located in the southeast countryside of A City. The surrounding areas were not as damaged since there was a small population as people were embarrassed with the location.
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Due to this, Luo Xun came to this place but also because there were some warehouses, gas stations and transportation resources. There were fewer people looking after the warehouses.
Driving near the area, Luo Xun looked into the distance and confirmed the situation become proceeding.
Some of the warehouses had been damaged while others retained a decent appearance. From the satellite photos, Luo Xun could only see roofs and general details. They had to wait to see with their own eyes. For example, there were several warehouses with broken doors that they had not seen before.
"People have been here before." The group drove and confirmed with a quick look around.
Luo Xun thought for a moment while driving the car in front of a warehouse. "Let's go to the target and then check the other warehouses." He was pretty sure that teams had visited before.
After all, this was a location filled with warehouses. The base had issued a variety of missions involving this place so it was not a surprise. As long as they found what they were looking for, he would not ask for more.
After a drive around, Luo Xun stopped at a warehouse with a blasted open gate. It was not surprising to see that the place had been broken into. Yan Fei opened the door for him.
The metal gate creaked open, revealing the dark insides of the warehouse. Almost all the doors had signs of being forced open. Should have been the same group of people, Luo Xun was calm because although they had opened the door, all the things would not have been necessarily taken away.
"There's stuff! Luo Xun, there are supplies!" Excited sounds came from the car. Luo Xun spoke with Zhang Yi while suppressing any excitement and carelessness. "Zhang Yi first check what is inside."
They could see boxes stacked outside the warehouse, from the outer packing it looked finished. One only did not know if there were any dead zombies or animals hiding the warehouse.
Zhang Yi's power surveyed the warehouse. "I don't feel anything moving."
Luo Xun calmed his heart, opened the door and let the team carefully enter the warehouse. Nearby, Zhang Yi shot a wind blade and cut open a box, revealing the contents – salt.
This was a salt transport company, there were other things but what needed most was salt.
With the familiar packaging, the team could not help but quietly cheer. After confirming that nothing happened afterwards, the team stepped forward and carefully opened the boxes.
The outer packaging was still intact. Although it was placed outside for so long, since there was little rain and the nearby climate was dry, the boxes had stood the passage of time.
"It should be all right, let's move!" There was a lot of salt in the warehouse, but it was not completely filled. The people who visited before must have removed some salt of perhaps the warehouse had not been filled. Anyway, the remaining salt was only this pile.
In addition to the common iodized salt, there were other varieties such as coarse and sea salt. But it was still the same brand.
The salt boxes were not light but Luo Xun still pulled them into their cars with help from Yan Fei. They were placed in the large truck as well as the smaller solar cars. The team only left the warehouse after the last box was stored away.
The salt storage seemed to be surrounded by food-related warehouses, there was an odd smell even from a distance – what kind of taste would be left after the shelf life? Some were completely empty – likely in the earlier days when teams went scavenging.
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After checking several similar warehouses, Luo Xun finally found something different – an electrical goods warehouse.
"Boss, boss! There is air conditioning! Air conditioning!" He Qiankun cheered from outside the door, as the largest person in the team, he said that the hot weather was not good.
Before, only he would be sweating in these temperatures. He complained about the lack of air conditioning in the new base.
It was not just air conditioning, there were other things such as fridges, televisions, electric fans and so on. This relatively large warehouse was obviously a transport center for a home appliance shopping mall before the end. The things they bought from the mall were basically from here, which led to this place being filled with goods.
Xu Mei even saw certain shelves with giveaway items – the same juicer, hair dryer, small vacuum cleaner and so on.
"Take what we need for now and grab a few more freezers." The ones at home were second-hand so Luo Xun was eager to get these brand-new appliances.
"We need one air-conditioning unit per room right? Also the basement, can't only use the exhaust fan and vents. Do you want to find the central air conditioning?"
"Leader, can you bring a juicer back? The fruit at home is ready and can be juiced for everyone to drink!"
"Everyone get what you need first, the rest can be stuffed into the remaining space in the car..."
The group of people were like those with an unlimited credit card at a mall before then end. They were very excited to "purchase" things.
212
Two containers were towed behind a large truck and the four electric cars were full as well. Luo Xun and team had definitely harvested a lot this time.
There was a lot left in the warehouse but all the food-related warehouses were empty. They only found some salt, pickles and other sauces in a warehouse for side dishes and dressings.
The glass bottles were good and edible, but the ones wrapped in plastic had bloated and released a bad smell.
Fortunately, Luo Xun and company grew their own vegetables, raised mutant quail so they were not short on ingredients. As long as they brought back the salt, they would be fine for a decade. It would be enough for them at the new base.
As for sauces and other things...how could these expired products compare to Luo Xun's cooking? The Otaku squad had no doubt about this. Although they still took these things, it was to sell and exchange at base. Or they would empty the containers and use them for their own food.
After checking around they could not do anymore. They had arrived at their target but the cars were full. For safety they should head back, after all they had found what they needed. The next time they could grab some spare electronics litter all around.
After spending a night in a clearing near the warehouse. The next morning the team journeyed back home but they had bad luck...they encountered some wandering zombies from the wave.
As mentioned before, the shape of the zombies had become more and more inhuman. The one they saw had relatively large change. It was at least several times the size of a regular human, about three meters tall. Its forearms were thicker and longer than the hind legs and even resembled an orangutan.
However as they approached, they realized that the chin was different, and there was no fur. Luo Xun determined that would be a mutant zombie.
"...What's the difference between the different zombies?" Xu Mei's voice came from the radio. Luo Xun did not have time to answer before the zombie hammered its chest and rushed over to the car.
Yan Fei quickly erected a steel plate to block. When the two collided, the zombie grabbed and twisted the metal before trying to throw it back towards the car.
"Obviously its power." Yan Fei was not idle while the the zombie was tearing at the metal like paper. He raised his finger and the metal twisted into a metal thorn targeting the zombie's jaw.
This mutant zombie was not only incredibly power but also had a thick skin. Yan Fei failed to pierce through the head! The undead roared while rampaging in place. It suddenly grabbed a piece of metal and threw it towards the car!
Fortunately, Yan Fei was a metal user and took control of the metal before it hit. On the other hand, Xu Mei shot a fireball from the window hitting the zombie's face. There was a trace of Zhang Yi's wind that pushed the metal thorn into the brain!
Yan Fei regained his ammo and fought back. The zombie tore at the metal again but after getting hit with a synchronized attack, the brain was finally pierced. The zombie was now dead.
Seeing that the zombie was no longer moving, the team breathed a sigh of relief. They looked at each other with eyes filled with gratitude.
Could this zombie be killed? Obviously, was not one at their feet? But easy to fight? Definitely not.
Although they could kill it, it was only because there was only one of them. If they encountered a group, it would take a lot of effort even with the pit digging method. If there was another zombie that could coordinate... After a short breather, Luo Xun took out the crystal core before setting out again.
Unsurprising, the zombie was only a level four power-type zombie, but it was one that had mutated.
This mutant zombie was more difficult to kill with thick skin. How could people survive if one encountered a group of them?
However if the defenses were heavy enough, they could only cause a few depressions at most. Plus if the walls were large enough, they would not get damaged. The wall Yan Fei had made was relatively small. The zombie had a chance to fight back since it could grab the edge, otherwise there would be no issue.
Thinking of this kind of zombie and their base, Luo Xun had a heavy expression while facing Yan Fei. "Before we repair the buildings above ground, we have to build a circle of metal walls around the house. Not just to block the mutant plants, but also mutant zombies."
Yan Fei understood the seriousness of the problem. "We brought back metal last time, after we finish with the underground building, we can start the wall." They had to set up the wall before they could set up planting space, otherwise the vines came in, the team could not move easily.
As for how the wall should be designed to avoid getting destroyed by zombies? They would have to wait until they had enough metal to conduct all kinds of experiments.
It took a day and a half to get there and the same amount of time to return. Including the time in the middle for scavenging, it took four days to return to base.
In the fields, Luo Xun found a silly goose that had strayed into the mutant plants. It was not long before the plants were fed. The remaining birds were far away from the farmland, walking on the lush greens. Not far from were two wolves laying around eating, drinking and snoozing in the sun.
The two wolves heard movement on the road and looked over. Seeing the familiar red and white caterpillar things, they seemed to know that it was Luo Xun's team. They just yawned and continued to sleep.
Luo Xun had no time to pay attention to the two who had turned a blind eye to their convoy. They hastened home and unloaded the cars again.
Of course Yan Fei did the usual on the way back and brought back two metal balls. Before to avoid notice, the metal ball was made to look a car but it costs energy. Controlling a ball was easy, since the southwest base was under siege, with no other people around it was more convenient to have the metal roll back.
The things had been moved from the car and into the storage rooms. Items were sent upstairs as well. Li Tie and some others excitedly said to first set up air conditioning, it would be easy with Yan Fei's assistance, it was air conditioning! They just had to change the machine and not touch the wall at all.
The group of people were busy in the heat. Of course they did not forget to carefully examine the situation outside. Checked that the metal wall underground had no signs of damage.
Yan Fei did a careful examination to make sure there were no problems at home. On the other hand, He Qiankun checked the satellite feed they had receveniced to check on the zombie wave at the southwest base.
Li Tie pointed at a satellite photo and said to Luo Xun, "It looks like zombies are going to stick around but the walls should be fine, there are no broken areas."
Luo Xun carefully observed while looking at a few other photos before shaking his head. "This angle is straight down, we can't see whether there is anything at the wall. There would be definitely zombies that can dig through the ground." More importantly in the past, did the zombies not appear without warning? Who could say what was going on from outside the southwest base.
But at least from the photos when they were taken, there were no signs of the zombies breaking through the walls.
The southwest base was not the best, but it was Luo Xun's only exchange platform with regular society. If one of the large bases was destroyed, the number of humans would be greatly reduced again then Luo Xun might not be able to protect their small base. Especially since today's zombies were getting stronger and more evolved.
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After resting at home for a night, the team had neither the nood or physical strength to leave. Even if they wanted to go out again, it was not possible right away. What's more, considering the duration of each zombie siege – a small-scale wave would be around three to five days, larger ones may last more than a week. The size of this wave was not large but if they were outside when they withdrew towards them...it would dangerous part way through.
They packed up everything in the room, Yan Fei brought the metal they collected to the basement and strengthened places that were not finished. The others also organized and packed before waiting for the new shelves to be made. Then they filled it with compost to grow crops, the process was repeated.
The Otaku squad was stuck at home for a day. At night, He Qiankun and Wu Xin sorted out the satellite photos and with the rest of the team they analyzed and observed.
"You see, there seems to be signs of the zombies retreating!" He Qiankun zoomed in on a few photos and showed the computer screen to everyone.
Unlike the previous two days, the zombies showed signs of leaving the southwest base. The past zombies had surrounded the outside regiments while others continued arriving. But now the group surrounding the army looked like a line, as if gathering towards the north-right side of the base.
"Maybe they are going to retreat, in this case the zombies should be heading north after this. There is no danger to our area or the warehouse." Luo Xun touched his chin and pointed at the screen. "If this continues, the zombies will be gone tomorrow or the day after at the latest. The base will wait a day or two before cleaning up the battlefield and sending out teams to do tasks."
Even if the base speculated that the zombies would leave, for the sake of safety they would temporarily keep people inside. After all, they could not control when satellite photos would get taken. It seemed that because some tech sites were destroyed after the end of the world, although the satellites would regularly photograph the situation and send, those on the ground could not control the target, frequency or other variables.
Coupled with the fact that many places had been destroyed with the apocalypse, there seemed to be no way to launch satellites into space. Once one was broken...the people on earth could not repair it. One satellite gone was one permanently lost.
The team temporarily withdrew their concerns about the satellite. After discussion, they decided to hurry and go out again. They would head to the transportation company from last time. If there were no supplies, they could go back to the warehouse and collect a lot of metal instead.
After making up their minds they acted very efficiently. The next day they drove out, the round trip took four days and Luo Xun harvested a lot. The place was strange, Luo Xun felt it was because – all kinds of strange food and drink were all mixed together. Although it was visited after the apocalypse, it was not a person's first priority due to the mess.
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