Chapter 394: Return to the Shelter

Farrah’s curiosity grew when she heard the name.

"Stable Gene Enhancement Serum?"

She stepped closer and looked at the vial in Kai’s hand.

"Isn’t that different from the other Gene Enhancement Serums we’ve found?"

Kai nodded.

"That’s what I was thinking."

They had encountered several different types of Gene Enhancement Serums during the apocalypse.

There was the Alpha Gene Enhancement Serum, which provided balanced improvements to overall stats and offered a small chance of awakening a Gene Skill.

There was the Warrior Gene Enhancement Serum, which focused heavily on improving Physique.

The Super Gene Enhancement Serum provided smaller improvements but had a much higher chance of awakening a Gene Skill.

Then there was the Mutagenic Gene Enhancement Serum.

That one was particularly dangerous because although it could provide massive improvements, it could also cause unpredictable mutations and severe drawbacks.

They had even encountered the Prime Gene Enhancement Serum, another powerful serum that focused on greatly improving Physique while providing a chance of awakening a Gene Skill.

However, the serum in Kai’s hand was different.

Stable.

That single word immediately caught Farrah’s attention.

"So what exactly makes it stable?" she asked.

Kai looked at the vial again. He read the description, but it wasn’t really that detailed.

"Well... It can reduce the risks caused by previous genetic modifications? That’s what it says."

Farrah immediately looked toward the rescued survivors.

The importance of the serum became obvious.

Many of them had undergone years of experimentation.

Their bodies had been injected with different substances, had their genes altered, and had even been implanted with mechanical components. Some had developed extreme mutations, while others had barely retained their original human appearance.

For ordinary survivors, a serum like this would already be valuable.

For them, it could be even more important.

"Then this might be exactly what they need," Farrah said.

Kai nodded.

"Maybe."

He wasn’t going to immediately give the serum to anyone.

The fact that it reduced genetic instability didn’t mean there were no risks at all. Their bodies had undergone extreme modifications, and Kai wanted to understand the serum properly before allowing anyone to consume it.

Of course, with an Alchemist waiting for them in the shelter, it would be better store this item for a while.

After all, if it could stabilize the bodies of the rescued survivors, they might finally have a chance to develop their abilities without constantly worrying about their mutations becoming worse.

Kai carefully stored the vials inside his Inventory.

"We’ll give them to Vera in the shelter..."

Farrah nodded.

"That’s probably for the best... She’s our only Alchemist."

Kai then looked at the pile of equipment they had collected from the attackers.

The weapons were nothing compared to his own equipment, but they were still useful. The Codebreakers Shelter had hundreds of survivors, and not everyone could be equipped with the advanced weapons Kai possessed.

Even damaged weapons and machine components could potentially be repaired or studied.

And now they had several Gene Enhancement Serums as well.

Kai made sure everything had been collected before returning to the trucks.

The rescued survivors were already preparing to leave.

The two repaired trucks were loaded with supplies, medical equipment, food, water, spare parts, weapons, and everything else they had gathered because of the excess from the gift pack and also from other trucks.

Kai also stored the remaining useful equipment inside his Inventory.

There was no reason to leave anything valuable behind.

After everything was ready, Wilson climbed into one of the trucks and carefully inspected the repaired engine one last time.

"It should hold," he said. "The repairs won’t last forever, but it should be enough to get us back."

Kai nodded.

"Good."

Wilson smiled faintly.

Hanabi was also helped into the truck, while the other survivors found places to sit.

Some were still weak, and several needed assistance simply to move around, but their condition was already much better than when Kai had first found them.

Farrah climbed onto one of the motorcycles they had taken from the attackers.

Kai looked at the road ahead.

The night had become colder, and the ruins around them were almost completely silent.

Somewhere beyond the darkness was the Codebreakers Shelter.

A place where these people could finally rest.

"Everyone ready?"

The survivors nodded.

Kai climbed onto his own vehicle and looked toward the two trucks.

"Then let’s go."

The engines roared to life.

One by one, the vehicles began moving down the road.

Kai stayed near the front while Farrah and Atom remained around the trucks, making sure nothing approached them from the sides.

Behind them were the fifty-eight rescued survivors, while Xian and Xinyi were in the front of the truck...

"I hope we get there already," Xinyi muttered as she really wanted to be within the protection of a safe shelter.

Being outside the city was already putting pressure on her.

Xian understood his sister and held her hands... "Don’t worry... Did you not see that black armored guy? He came from the Codebreakers Shelter, and he’s super strong, right? I think we’re safe now."

Xinyi’s eyes lit up...

"Right! I heard Sir Kai call him Atom!"

"Yes. Let’s greet Uncle Atom later."

"I will!"

***

In the meantime, within the Codebreakers Shelter, Maris received the news that Kai would be returning with a bunch of rescued people.

Needless to say, Kai had also requested some roasted chicken!

"Oh... Then this is going to be luxurious. I guess Kai wants those guys to stay with us. I don’t blame him. We need more manpower," Maris muttered as she looked at the two hundred or so chickens on the farm.

Only about 150 of them were hens, which meant they were the ones capable of laying eggs. Removing some of the others for meat wouldn’t be a huge problem at all.

Maris quickly began making preparations.

The shelter already had enough experience handling large groups of people, but sixty new survivors arriving at once was still a significant addition. They would need food, water, clothes, sleeping arrangements, and probably medical attention.

Fortunately, Kai had sent a message ahead of time, so they had some time to prepare before the group arrived.

Maris was only assigned to one thing...

Roasted chicken...

Soon, she walked toward the farm and looked at the chickens again.

"Alright, let’s see..."

She counted them for a moment before pointing toward several of the larger chickens.

"These ones should be enough."

As she said this, she noticed someone casually entering her space carrying a sculpture of a chicken...

"Eh?"