"Boss, we'll take our leave now!"
Quentin and his group were eager to return, as he still had to mobilize everyone.
Although the road had been cleared, especially along the coastal avenue, making it relatively safe, convincing everyone to move here was still a challenge.
Some people were reluctant to take any risks.
Quentin had resolved that if they couldn't handle even this minimal risk, then they might as well fend for themselves.
After understanding Elijah's criteria for accepting new members, Quentin realized that his previous approach of being overly accommodating and accepting everyone was not suitable for survival in the apocalypse.
Recently, he had noticed some people in his group who were lazy and just waiting for resource distribution, which was unfair to everyone.
Each person should contribute to the community.
Upon returning, Quentin planned to discuss with Ivy about implementing a points system for distributing resources within the community, moving away from the communal distribution model.
Elijah could never have imagined that his involvement would prompt Quentin to introduce a points system, which had been very popular in their previous world.
In the previous world, three main modes of transaction existed.
The most common was bartering.
The second mode emerged when corpse cores were discovered and used as currency.
These two modes were typically used for external transactions.
Internally, communities usually employed the third mode: a points system.
Points were awarded based on contributions to the community, such as completing tasks or submitting resources, which could then be used to exchange for needed supplies.
This exchange was usually cheaper than external transactions, serving as a community benefit.
These three modes coexisted and became the foundation of social interaction in the apocalypse.
Elijah didn't implement these systems within his own community because his group was small, had ample resources, and everyone had a close relationship with him.
However, for external dealings, he still used the first two modes.
After saying their goodbyes to Elijah, Quentin and his group headed back to their community, filled with anticipation.
Sophia joined Elijah, and together they threw the second-tier zombie's body into the sea. Whitey rushed forward and bit the body in half, swallowing one part whole.
"Will Whitey be okay eating a zombie's body?" Sophia asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. Even if something happens, I'll take care of it. I won't let it pose a threat to the island's inhabitants," Elijah reassured her, carefully monitoring Whitey's condition.
Whitey ferociously battled the zombie corpse, and thanks to its large size, quickly devoured the entire body. Afterward, it floated on the water's surface, no longer moving around.
Elijah and Sophia observed Whitey for a while, seeing no abnormal changes.
This made Sophia breathe a sigh of relief, but Elijah felt a bit disappointed.
Considering it was a second-tier zombie's corpse, he had expected some noticeable changes.
Just as Elijah had this thought, Whitey suddenly moved in the water. Its body began thrashing about, creating huge splashes.
It repeatedly surfaced and occasionally rammed into nearby boat hulls as if it couldn't feel pain or was enduring some intense agony.
"Elijah, what's happening to Whitey?" Sophia asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, it's a good sign!" Elijah closed his eyes and sensed through his mental link, detecting waves of energy emanating from Whitey akin to an awakening.
"Who would've thought Whitey would awaken before Yello?" Elijah remarked.
However, his joy was short-lived as the energy waves from Whitey began to diminish and finally vanished altogether. In the water, Whitey also ceased its struggles.
"Did it fail to awaken?" Elijah was stunned.
"No, it didn't fail exactly," Elijah said, looking at Whitey. Its body had grown larger, and its dorsal fin had changed, giving it a less menacing appearance.
"Whitey is evolving towards a more physical mutation rather than awakening an ability. And this mutation process hasn't stopped yet," Elijah explained.
Whitey's current state was similar to a newly awakened human, with enhanced physique and greatly increased potential, requiring time to accumulate and manifest changes.
"Regardless, it's still a good thing!" Elijah said happily.
Sophia, reassured by Elijah's explanation, also looked relieved and happy.
Whitey, having somewhat adapted to its changed body, leapt out of the water towards Elijah and Sophia, radiating joy.
Feeling Whitey's happiness, Elijah grinned. "Since you're so happy, let's ride you to see those bikini beauties!"