"The Northwest Branch has lost contact, but the Southeast Branch, South City Branch, and Industrial Park Branch can still be reached. Currently, there are 869 guards on duty and 500 contractors. The Armed Forces have 400 active-duty members and 359 contractors. The Government Affairs Hall has 432 people and 123 contractors, and the public 532 people and 201 contractors.
South City Bureau has already reached its limit. We must find another place."
In the meeting room of the South City Bureau, a middle-aged man in a black guard combat uniform was speaking. His cheeks were thin, his hair peppered with gray, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
Guo Wutao, director of the South City Guard Bureau, was also the third most important person in the South City camp.
"Director Guo, we can actually hold out for a while if we do not continue to take in more people. The fog has not dispersed, and it is unsafe to go out. Besides, there are some matters that are even more urgent..."
"Urgent my ass, what can be more important than human lives?"
Guo Wutao pointed at the bespectacled man who was speaking and cursed loudly, slamming the table with such force that the sound reverberated through the meeting room like thunder, almost bearing down on the entire space.
"Guo Wutao,"
a man in the center seat spoke with a steady, unquestionable voice: "Calm down. We are discussing strategies. You should understand the situation at the bureau as well. Let him finish what he has to say."
The words of Li Ruikang made Guo Wutao's expression somewhat ease as he said, "The bureau is too close to the center. The more concentrated the people are, the more creatures there will be, and the more difficult it will be to move them when the time comes."
"That's why we need to make a plan."
"Old Li, what are you thinking? Tell us."
A square-faced man in Armed Forces uniform on the left side, with a hoarse voice, started, his keen gaze fixed on Li Ruikang.
Li Ruikang's eyes were firm, still poised and composed in his scholarly demeanor, years of managing government affairs enabling him to remain calm even in the face of apocalypse.
"Wen Zhenhui, how many days can we last with the food, how many vehicles do we need to move 2233 people at once, and do we have enough gasoline?"
"The day before yesterday, the special warfare guards brought back supplies from the supermarket. We can last about two months on a rationed distribution. But we need at least twenty buses to move over 2200 people, which is a huge difficulty. We only have 6 buses, and together with the service vehicles, we can move at most 600 people at once. If we squeeze, we can transport seven or eight hundred."
Although Wen Zhenhui was yelled at, he still displayed ability. He was clear about the details of some supplies, which was also why he could still sit here.
"But... but moving in separate groups is too dangerous. Even with guns, we can't protect so many people, and too many haven't formed contracts yet. Their strength, their constitution..."
"For those without contracts, then make contracts immediately. This is the apocalypse, not peacetime. Government Affairs Hall has a lot of people, but the least number of contractors. What, do they still expect others to protect them?"
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Li Ruikang's eyes narrowed, his presence alone commanding: "Whether it's the Government Affairs Hall, Armed Forces, guard staff, or the public, everyone except for children and the elderly who are immobile, will be given opportunities to contract by the guard and Armed Forces contractors over the next two days. Everyone will make a contract.
For those who can't manage it, their food distribution will be cut to the minimum. If some people don't want to survive, then we'll ensure that those who can survive will go on. Also, continue dispatching supply search teams; we must ensure gasoline is available."
"Understood, but we'll need cooperation from Director Guo and Director Yan for this."
"Zhao Yaqing,"
Li Ruikang's gaze was deep, "Since that eerie fog spread that day, and our meeting wasn't even finished before that eyeball appeared, supernatural phenomena have gone beyond our understanding. No matter where these Contractors came from, they are destined to become the mainstream force. Without harnessing this power, humanity has no chance of survival."
When the eerie mist emerged, the official reaction was quick. Even before it reached the suburbs, they discovered communication disruptions, unidentified creatures in the fog, and a few individual cases of it oppressing people's mental states.
The Government Affairs Hall immediately convened people from the Armed Forces and the Guard Bureau and held an emergency meeting, even inviting scholars such as Bai Qiuwen, a professor of biology at South City University, and Tian Jiaxuan, a professor of physics, among others.
But before they could understand what was happening, the situation escalated. They were lucky that the City Bureau was next to the Government Affairs Hall; otherwise, the death toll would have been much higher.
Those present certainly understood the importance of Contractors. They were here not only because of their pre-apocalyptic positions and abilities but more so because they were now Contractors themselves and understood the power of Contractors.
"Professor Bai, any progress on the evolution and enhancement of the Angel Envoys?"
Yan Tiejun looked at Bai Qiuwen, who shook his head and said, "Currently, the best method we've managed is to inject active tissues. At most, we can use the tissues of monsters that have an evolutionary link to one another to inject and improve the efficiency of evolution.
As I said, only with a laboratory and complete experimental equipment is there a chance to purify a more efficient injection solution."
With a bitter smile, Li Ruikang said, "We'll try to sort out the laboratory and equipment as best we can, but not right now. Our primary goal is to survive, to secure our footing before we can start rebuilding."
Bai Qiuwen nodded and replied, "I understand, but the monsters are evolving too. They're even forming their communities and gaining power, gradually taking over higher ecological niches and establishing their ecology. If humans fall behind, they may no longer be the protagonists of this land."
"As long as we're still here, and our guns are still firing, those monsters won't have their way."
Yan Tjieun's voice was firm, but Bai Qiuwen ignored his militaristic attitude and said with self-mocking laughter, "Is that so? A mere First-level Intermediate Contractor like me, an old man, can stride as though in flight, possessing the physical fitness one or two times that of an adult. What about those who are even more powerful?"
Yan Tiejun's face stiffened; he certainly knew that Contractors and Angel Envoys possessed transcendent powers. Guns and ammunition could, for now, still cope.
But with the severance of various supplies, the depletion of South City's current weapons and equipment, and the advancement of the monsters, it was very possible that the situation would turn around.
South City wasn't a fortified city; the Armed Forces weren't numerous, and they weren't well-equipped on a regular basis. Moreover, the equipment they were now acquiring was limited.
Beyond these problems, the fog caused the plants to wither and even die. Although the Lamp Trees could ensure plant life, if the population continued to grow, the Crystals of the Lamp Trees might not suffice. And what about that eyeball-like monster? Was that truly something humans could contend with?
And what was the purpose of the Contractors? A gift from the gods or a lure? Nobody knew.
Noticing the gravity on the faces of the three, Bai Qiuwen's old friend Tian Jiaxuan shook his head at his side, signaling him to stop speaking.
The three supported the entire base. In those first few days, a significant part of the armed forces was sent out to make contact with branches and the Armed Forces. When monsters attacked, they even had to fight personally. Now they were also constantly planning for the future of the camp, the burden was so heavy it was suffocating.
Bai Qiuwen sighed and said, "It's not without hope. That girl Zhao Yaqing sensed some boundaries of a First Order Upper Grade, and she vaguely saw something. Maybe at Second Order, things will be different. We still have a chance; humanity also still has a chance."
"Let's hope so."
Li Ruikang's voice was low, then he turned to Yan Tiejun and Guo Wutao, "Set the relocation point to the new park area. There are many factories and warehouses, which can accommodate more people and also facilitate the resumption of production. However, the situation there is unclear, and we need to send people to scout it out."
"I'll take care of the arrangements," said Guo Wutao.
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