Chapter 48 - 44: Arriving at the Destination

Chapter 48: Chapter 44: Arriving at the Destination

Ning He had been in this world for less than two months. Frequent natural disasters had blurred the concept of seasons; if she had to guess, she really couldn’t tell what time of year it was right now.

The woods outside the window offered no clues either. There were massive trees with canopies of green leaves, as well as bare, dead trunks that gleamed with an oily sheen. Some were entwined with vines, some had golden leaves, and others shone with a strange metallic luster. There were even some that looked as if they had been struck by lightning, half charred black while the other half sprouted tender shoots. Every tree displayed a different state, which was quite baffling. But one thing was certain: to survive in such a harsh climate, each species possessed its own unique survival method. These plants were clearly all mutants.

Once the vehicle entered the forest, the ride became so bumpy it was hard to sit still, but Ning He didn’t care in the least. The system’s notification chimes rang continuously in her mind. In just a few short minutes, it had scanned the data of over a dozen mutant plants, and her experience points were skyrocketing. Her face revealed an eerie excitement, though no one noticed her unusual state.

Jia Mei was holding up a pair of binoculars, gazing out the window. Nearby, a couple from a family of three held their young daughter, gently pointing out and explaining the forest outside. The other passengers were all immersed in their own worlds, paying no attention to their surroundings. Such an opportunity to experience nature up close was fleeting and rare; no one wanted to waste time focusing on anything else.

The convoy navigated several turns through the woods, with a hulking mecha tank leading the way, forcefully carving out a path.

"Spit it out," Macken said, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he sat in the main control seat of the mecha.

In the passenger seat, Johnny finally couldn’t hold back anymore. "Boss, isn’t the price you offered that little chef a bit too high? Even Uncle Hansha only makes six hundred. She’s just here to be a kitchen hand. Do we really need to pay her that much?"

Although he was the one who had invited Ning He, he only intended to hire her as a helper. Had he known it would cost so much, he definitely wouldn’t have been so quick to agree. This was all hard-earned money from risking their lives!

Macken kept his eyes fixed ahead, both hands steadily manning the control sticks, his expression unchanging. "Uncle Miao is in poor health, and Hansha’s cooking still lacks a bit of finesse. If the Gourmet Group’s business is to continue, we must have a head chef who can hold down the fort. We’ve privately reached out to so many people over the past six months, but has a single one been willing?"

Recalling those encounters, Johnny scoffed. "Those cowards have no vision. I wouldn’t want them anyway!"

"Whether you want them or not, the problem is right in front of us. This girl seems to have some guts. If she’s truly capable, maybe we can try negotiating with her."

Johnny understood. "Then I’ll have a word with Uncle Hansha later and test her real skills!"

The system’s notification chimes stopped after ringing over forty times. It seemed there were no more new mutant species in the immediate vicinity. Ning He felt a little disappointed. She had thought she could break into the triple digits in one go!

Before she knew it, the convoy had come to a halt. A notice came through Annie’s walkie-talkie, instructing the passengers to stay in the vehicle and wait for a moment. Ning He looked outside. The convoy had stopped at a riverbank covered in wild grass and scattered rocks. Not far away flowed a sluggish river. Under the sunlight, the water shimmered like fish scales, dancing with fragmented golden light. Ning He couldn’t help but slow her breathing.

A scene she would have once taken for granted now looked like an absolute paradise on earth. She could even feel the atmosphere inside the bus brightening from the beautiful view outside, a hint of a smile unconsciously spreading across everyone’s faces.

Except for their sightseeing bus, the personnel from all the other armored vehicles disembarked. They unloaded their equipment and quickly began setting up. Johnny and a few others pushed lawnmowers, clearing a flat patch of grass about twenty meters from the riverbank. After a careful inspection, they laid down a very thin mat. The mat appeared to be custom-made, its surface gleaming with a silvery metallic luster. Next, they pitched a tent and arranged tables and chairs.

Uncle Hansha came into view pushing a dining cart. Piled high on the cart was a large heap of meticulously packaged ingredients, clearly prepared for today’s lunch. Meanwhile, people from another vehicle unloaded numerous crates and erected a high-voltage protective netting around the cleared grass. They also placed megaphone-like devices at regular intervals outside the perimeter.

Boss Macken, clad in dark green camouflage, gave Johnny a few brief instructions. Then, leading a few heavily armed subordinates and operating a drone, he headed into the woods on the opposite side of the river.

Half a kilometer across the river lay a continuous stretch of hillsides densely covered with trees. It was pitch-black inside, hiding who knew what, but Ning He subconsciously felt that the area was extremely dangerous.

"They’ve gone hunting," Jia Mei explained from beside her. "I hope they have good luck and can catch some Arrow Birds. Have you ever eaten Arrow Bird meat? It’s delicious."

Ning He shook her head, recalling the mutant birds the system had scanned earlier and wondering if they were the same species.

Johnny and his crew worked quickly. Twenty minutes later, they signaled Annie that she could lead the passengers out. The protective netting extended all the way to the door of the sightseeing bus, so the moment they stepped off, they were within the safe zone. This setup was clearly very well thought out.

The ground beneath their feet was no longer hard concrete; the soft sensation of stepping on soil felt a bit unfamiliar to Ning He. Up ahead, the little girl was bouncing around in excitement. Her small red leather shoes stepping back and forth on the silver mat made for quite a lovely picture.

"Why did they lay down a mat?" Ning He asked Jia Mei.

Jia Mei was indeed knowledgeable. "There are some bugs and animals that can attack people by ambushing from underground. This mat is specially made to prevent those kinds of dangers."

So that was it. It seemed this place wasn’t as peaceful as it looked.

"Are you planning to go out later? The view here is pretty good. I’m thinking of painting right here." Jia Mei surveyed her surroundings, satisfied with the scenery before her, and took the easel off her back.

Ning He was just about to reply when Hansha’s voice rang out.

"Little girl, it’s time for us to get busy!"

"Coming!" Ning He called back. She smiled at the surprised Jia Mei. "I forgot to tell you, I’m a chef. I’ll be helping prepare today’s lunch."

Recovering from her shock, Jia Mei said, "That’s wonderful! I’m really looking forward to it."

Ning He walked toward the dining cart while Jia Mei found a suitable spot to set up her easel, taking out her paints and brushes. Annie thoughtfully had someone fetch a bucket of water from the river so Jia Mei could wash her brushes.

Everyone else also settled into their own activities. The short, plump man in a suit, who had been sitting in the very back, went down to the river to fish, accompanied by a guard. The young man with red hair changed into protective gear—boots, gloves, and a helmet—hopped onto a dirt bike, and set off on an adventure with an excited whoop, supervised by two escorts. The family of three didn’t leave the perimeter. Johnny was setting up a bouncy castle in the middle of the safe zone, and the little girl was staring at it eagerly, unable to wait any longer.

The only person sitting quietly inside the tent was the middle-aged man with glasses. He was nestled in a lounge chair with a book in his hands, a beverage and a few snacks resting beside him, looking thoroughly relaxed.

As for Ning He, she was assigned a massive pile of ingredients to prep by Hansha. She really was destined for a life of toil! Ning He sighed, tied her apron, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.