Chapter 143 - 131: All Members, Answering the Call

Chapter 143: Chapter 131: All Members, Answering the Call

Xi Xue and Peaches exchanged a glance. They seemed to recall that the Manager had issued a quest to recruit the Lost. As the Safe Zone continued to expand, it genuinely needed a group of employees who could stay in the camp permanently. This perfectly aligned with the needs of Luo Susu and the others from Elk Camp—it was a perfect match. However, since Luo Susu and her two companions weren’t members, they couldn’t use member privileges to open a portal and introduce their people to the Safe Zone.

"The portal isn’t an issue," Shi An thought. "I can’t control where the Safe Zone’s random portals open, but as long as a Watchtower is built, a fixed entrance and exit can be established."

He was also pondering the situation with Elk Camp. He truly wanted to recruit the people there. The Safe Zone needed staff, and if he wanted to develop the Fire Shimmering Stone Vein, he would need a workforce. Elk Camp seemed to have dozens of people. Among them were many elderly, young, and disabled individuals. They might seem like a burden, but if the village chief of Elk Camp was merely acting out of pure kindness, he wouldn’t have been able to lead a group to survive in the Nightmare World for so long. The disabled were elite veterans, and the elderly were experienced craftsmen. Many of them were talented individuals; had they not been restricted by their environment, their achievements would have been far greater.

Before long, Zhuo Ling arrived at the mining area. She wore a black dress and held a small black parasol, exuding the aura of a true master. After wandering around the perimeter with Xi Xue’s trio, Zhuo Ling ventured deep into the mining area single-handedly.

Soon after, a deafening BOOM echoed from the depths of the mine, accompanied by a terrifying Roar. Terrifying flames surged out of the mine’s entrance, but faster than the flames was Zhuo Ling, who had transformed into a stream of water. Countless Crimson Beetles across the entire mining area began to seethe, but the Ghost and the six Dream Descenders had already retreated far away.

"That’s impressive!" Luo Susu marveled at the effortless grace of Zhuo Ling’s unscathed retreat. However, she also advised, "No matter how strong an individual is, it still isn’t enough to clear this mining area."

Zhuo Ling gave a cool, aloof nod.

Xi Xue acted as her spokesperson. "But our Safe Zone is preparing to raid this mining area the day after tomorrow. Also, regarding what your Elk Camp is going through, the Manager has expressed his willingness to offer some assistance."

"But it’s impossible for us to help clear the mining area," Luo Susu replied. "We can barely fend for ourselves as it is."

Filled with doubts and anxieties, Luo Susu and her two companions headed home. They carried several large backpacks containing the raw Fire Brilliance Ore they had found in the mining area, along with a batch of humanitarian aid from the Safe Zone. It was said to be filled with food and various supplies, though Luo Susu hadn’t opened it yet, planning to wait until they returned to camp.

Meanwhile, at Elk Camp.

After a bitter wait by the village chief and several upper management members, the experts from the Countermeasures Bureau finally arrived. This had not been an easy feat. The active area for the Lost was limited, preventing them from traveling too far from the camp. Even if they wanted to venture further out, they had absolutely no idea where to find the Countermeasures Bureau’s camp.

At this moment, Village Chief Chen Jianghuai was pouring out his grievances. He was a middle-aged man with resolute features, though right now, he looked rather worried, streaks of white hair visible at his temples. Leading dozens of people to survive in the Nightmare World felt like walking on thin ice, and he couldn’t even see the other shore.

The two men in black trench coats who had arrived were high-ranking members of the Baijiang Strategy Bureau: Captain Li Yunfeng of the Third Squad and one of his team leaders. Li Yunfeng was one of the strongest individuals Below the Extraordinary in all of Baijiang City. However, he still held immense respect for Village Chief Chen Jianghuai.

Chen Jianghuai called himself a village chief, a title that seemed quite lowly. In reality, before the fall of Baijiang City, he was already a renowned powerhouse within the Celestial South Province and the leader of an official special combat team. He bore the title of the ’Earth-Shattering Fist’! Rumor had it that a full-power punch from him could reduce an entire two-story building to Shattered Earth. Let alone Captain Li Yunfeng, even Director Yan would have to show Chen Shuotu a degree of respect face-to-face.

However, regarding Village Chief Chen’s request for help, Captain Li was utterly helpless. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to save them; he simply couldn’t.

"I don’t even know exactly where our Countermeasures Bureau’s camps are located," Li Yunfeng said. "Usually, when we need to visit those camps, we use special methods to anchor the coordinates and initiate a Fallen Dream. You’re aware of this, Village Chief. The most we can do is record the coordinates here and bring a batch of supplies the next time we initiate a Fallen Dream. I’m very sorry."

Village Chief Chen sighed heavily.

"Can’t you track down that intelligent Ghost?" Li Yunfeng asked.

Village Chief Chen shook his head slightly. "It’s more than that. The Ghosts outside are already acting abnormally. It probably won’t be long before a small-scale Ghost Tide strikes our Elk Village. And this Ghost Tide..."

Even a small-scale one would consist of at least several hundred entities!

Elk Camp had him, an expert in the Extraordinary Realm, holding the fort. But even so, it wouldn’t be enough to stop this Ghost Tide. In a Ghost Tide, an Extraordinary could at best protect themselves and perhaps shield one or two others.

"Our only option now is to migrate," Village Chief Chen continued, "either to rebuild our camp in another area or seek refuge in another camp."

However, establishing a camp was fraught with difficulties. It wasn’t as simple as picking a random spot and clearing the area. Only a very few ’low-hazard zones,’ or even ’hazard-free zones,’ were suitable for building camps that could support survivors long-term.

If it were merely about setting up a transit or logistics camp for passing Dream Descenders to rest briefly, the requirements wouldn’t be nearly as stringent.