“What should we do?” Xu Song pointed to the robbers still rolling on the ground outside.
Yue Zheng also frowned, pondering the situation. Logically, it would be easy to take care of them in some secluded place to eliminate any future threats. These people carried a strong scent of blood, indicating their involvement in various criminal activities.
However, considering the current predicament of the base, more defensive strength would be beneficial. Bringing them back to the base and letting the base handle them, forcing them to fight on the front lines against potential threats like migratory birds, could be a good solution.
The next morning, two parallel container trucks were towing a bread van with all four wheels deflated, covered by a large black sheet. Inside the bread van, a group of people, knocked out by medicinal herbs, had their limbs tightly bound, mouths covered, and eyes blindfolded. They were arranged like sacrificial lambs awaiting slaughter.
Tiancheng provided some plants with strong tranquilizing effects, and milder vines were used to bind them securely. Xu Song and Tianyou monitored them from a distance, ensuring immediate action if any of them woke up.
The outer layer of the van completely blocked all light, making it impossible for passersby to see what was inside. At most, they could guess it was a vehicle carrying something.
The journey back to the base was almost as challenging as the Journey to the West. If it weren’t for the relatively short distance from where they were, they might have encountered even more difficulties.
Fortunately, in less than a morning, they successfully brought the vehicles to the gate of the base.
With the reputation of the B-class squad, Xu Song and his group didn’t face any questions when handing over the looters to the base. The base’s personnel happily took away the new laborers along with the vehicles, even providing a high-quality leather cover for the van. It was the perfect time to recruit more manpower, given the current need. Who else would be willing to work hard at a time like this? The defense force on the walls was simply not enough. Brothers, hurry up and get the laborers in position!
As they entered the base, Yue Zheng was driving towards G area when his wristwatch suddenly received a call.
Seeing that it was from the A area identifier, he had to temporarily pull over to the side. Outside, Abu and the two ostriches kept a close watch on the surrounding people, ready to intervene if someone tried to take advantage of the situation.
Looking at the bustling scene inside the base through the car window, which had regained its prosperity, it was a pity that almost everyone had a worried expression. Many people were glancing up at the sky from time to time.
Before entering the gate, they had seen a deep trench with protective nets on both sides. Even on top of the walls, large nets were set up, creating a continuous protective barrier.
Xu Song couldn’t help but look up as well. The clear sky had almost no clouds, and on some tall buildings, there were peculiar things resembling satellite receivers. Oddly, these “dishes” were not only facing a specific direction but were pointed in all directions. Some buildings even had three or four “dishes,” each aimed in a different direction.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“…Tfr, la’r ja atf rbeat ujaf fcagjcmf,” Tef Itfcu rffwfv ab tjnf olclrtfv atf mjii, pera vlrmbccfmalcu atf lwqgbwqae mbwweclmjalbc. Pa aegcfv bea atja atfrf wbvlolfv kjamtfr, klat mbwweclmjalbc jcv qbrlalbclcu oecmalbcr, rffwfv ab yf wbgf qgjmalmji atjc atf qgf-jqbmjisqalm qtbcfr.
Seeing him hang up, Xu Song asked, “What happened?”
“Elder Wu’s secretary said they want us to go directly to the A area.”
“A Zone?” Xu Song blinked in confusion. “Why go to the A Zone?”
Yue Zheng glanced at him helplessly. “Emergency mission,” he said, looking at the azure sky outside the car. “The bird flocks are about to return, and we need to be responsible for the safety of a specific area.”
Xu Song was momentarily stunned, widening his eyes. “The mission is in the A Zone?”
Of course it was. A few days ago, when they discovered that Squad 0264 wasn’t inside the base, some higher-ups in the A Zone became a little anxious. The only B-class squad in the base had been away for almost a month. If, by any chance, something happened to them… Losing such a powerful force, especially right before the bird flocks arrived, would be a significant loss.
Fortunately, through satellite positioning, they confirmed that the squad’s signal was still present and moving toward the base. It was estimated that they would return in the next two days. So, Elder Wu specifically asked to keep an eye on their situation. Just as they entered the base, they were immediately assigned this task.
The Third Secretary came to pick them up, and upon seeing their combination of a camper, container trucks, and three giant mutant animals, his facial expression contorted. No wonder they couldn’t directly enter the A Zone. The things they brought were a bit too much. No, not a bit too much – it was a long string of items, occupying half the street!
If they hadn’t come to pick them up, who at the A Zone entrance would dare let them in like this?
The Third Secretary quickly greeted Yue Zheng and the others, leading the way with the car.
Fortunately, the base’s streets were constructed quite wide. Yue Zheng drove directly into the A Zone and parked not far from the small building where Elder Wu was located.
As they got off the car and approached the building, Elder Wu’s wife, holding their two children, was on high alert, checking the car and looking around.
Most of the camper’s window curtains were drawn, except for one window partially open. The jade wasps could easily come in and out, and the roots and branches of the small tree could also enter when necessary. Outside, there were two ostriches and a mutant dog, and apart from creatures capable of high-altitude warning, the defense of the group was almost foolproof.
It seemed busier inside the A Zone than outside. Many people were rushing around. Most of the buildings had those peculiar “dishes” set up on top. However, since the A Zone already had many receivers dedicated to satellite signal reception, comparing them now, they seemed a bit different.
Without a telescope, Xu Song silently complained about Yue Zheng’s ability, following closely behind him into the small building.
In Elder Wu’s small building, there were still quite a few people coming in and out. They waited for a while until the personnel reporting work left the room, then they were led in by the secretary.
“Ah, you’re back?” Elder Wu saw the two of them come in and smiled, gesturing for them to sit.
Yue Zheng courteously greeted him, taking out the lens used to capture those humans invaded by mutant creatures, explaining, “We encountered some people unexpectedly outside. When we fought back, we found out that they didn’t seem to be real humans.”
The secretary took the digital camera, opened it somewhat confused, and pulled out those photos.
The things captured inside made the secretary change color instantly. Xu Song, with a touch of malice, coughed lightly. “Ah, forgot to mention, the photos are a bit disgusting…”
…Only now you mention how disgusting they are? Clearly intentional!
The secretary trembled, handing the camera to Elder Wu with shaky hands, resentful of his boss.
Elder Wu, seasoned from countless battles, only slightly changed his expression. He magnified the sectional part and examined it carefully. “What… what is inside?”
“It should be mutant insects and mutant plants,” Yue Zheng explained.
“When we encountered them, we found it strange. Some of them had no heartbeat at all, and the heart rates of others were very odd, different from humans. Although they could speak, it seemed their language system had significant issues. As soon as they saw us, they attacked…”
The Third Secretary gasped at this point, looking at Elder Wu. “Elder Wu, those few in the base…”
Elder Wu glanced at him somewhat reproachfully before turning his gaze to Yue Zheng. “Where did you encounter them? Why did these things attack you?”
Yue Zheng explained the situation, saying, “We can’t be sure if these ‘people’ are so aggressive because they have little contact with humans. As for whether the humans in the base, invaded by plants, have this strong predatory nature, I dare not assert.”
Elder Wu nodded slightly and looked at the secretary. “Have them control those few people for now. The base is about to become tense; we can’t afford any more accidents.”
A few?
Hearing Elder Wu’s words, Xu Song raised his eyebrows with some curiosity. So, it wasn’t just the one they encountered last time…
After discussing this matter, Elder Wu mentioned the bird flock situation. “From satellite images and predicted routes, it seems that our base will inevitably face an attack from the bird flock this time.” He sighed lightly.
Because the Third Secretary went out to deal with the situation of the mutated plant people, the Second Secretary came in with a pile of documents. Smelling the news, he explained to the two, “There are quite a few small bases in the south that have been completely destroyed in this bird flock tide. Currently, there is no contact.”
“Do we have any preventive measures in the base?” Yue Zheng asked with a somewhat solemn expression.
“The research institute has urgently improved a new bird-repellent device, which has been installed on the outer walls and various rooftops. However, we still don’t know how effective these bird-repellent devices are against mutated birds.”
The outer electric nets, deep trenches, and these bird-repellent devices were the measures the base had taken to prevent the bird flock tide.
Some bases had also built preventive measures upon discovering the possibility of bird flocks passing by. Unfortunately, even with these measures, except for some people who barely survived by digging shelters, hiding underground, or taking refuge in caves, most bases were completely wiped out.
After receiving this news, the base quickly withdrew all manpower from expanding farmlands. Earth-element ability users were now vigorously constructing underground bases.
However, the project was too vast, and safety had to be considered. Therefore, until now, only several air raid shelters had been established in Zone A and a few other areas outside. These shelters, apart from ventilation facilities, had almost nothing else and were only used as a last resort when the defense measures outside proved ineffective against the birds.
Vultures? I thought they has ostriches?
Thank you
A few chapters ago, the ostriches became vultures… no idea…
Aaah no, that is a mistake. They are still ostriches, lol. I’ll fix it.
ヾ(ﾟдﾟ)ﾉ
Thanks for the update ❤️❤️❤️