Chapter 696: Argument

"After the sea anomalies came ashore, many convoys at the base have been on edge, afraid that something like that might happen again..."

Chu Che began rambling on about the impact the sea anomalies coming ashore had on the base.

This topic had actually been discussed before in the Bluetooth earbuds group chat.

Some convoys wished they could leave this place right this very second.

The sea anomalies coming ashore hadn't triggered an outright conflict, but the whole affair was like a guillotine blade, constantly hanging overhead.

You had absolutely no idea when that blade would come down.

Quite a few convoys had even started entertaining thoughts of fleeing, giving up on participating in the Return to the City Plan.

If the sea anomalies really did come ashore again, the entire convoy would likely be wiped out.

This time, that annihilated convoy had shown everyone exactly what that looked like.

Not only that, but the sea anomalies coming ashore was like a natural disaster, completely impossible to resist.

With that many sea anomalies, forget about rallying all the base's strength.

Even if the base's power were doubled, or even tripled or quadrupled, it still wouldn't be enough to face those sea anomalies emerging from the ocean head-on.

This feeling of only being able to passively hide was enough to drive anyone insane.

Meanwhile, others held the opposing view.

They had their reasons too.

Where could they even go if they left Xi City? What safe places were left out there now?

If Xi City couldn't hold up, would other places really fare any better?

Xi City was only a very small city.

In terms of danger level, it probably ranked at the beginner stage.

Even if other places didn't have sea anomalies coming ashore, they'd probably have other dangers to deal with.

In comparison, after the sea anomalies came ashore this time, people at least had some understanding of this type of event.

The next time sea anomalies came ashore, people would at least know how to defend against them.

Moreover, with this experience under their belts, they'd handle things much more calmly the next time sea anomalies appeared.

For example, some convoys proposed building underground shelters, so that when the sea anomalies came ashore again, everyone could hide down below.

They could install soundproofing or heating equipment in the basements, stock up on plenty of food, and that way, even if the sea anomalies came ashore again, it wouldn't be too hard to endure.

If they went somewhere else and ran into other dangers, they'd have zero experience dealing with them, and more people would die.

Facing a known danger was always better than facing an unknown one.

Or, alternatively, they could just wait until Xi City was taken, then build city walls around its outskirts.

As long as they didn't draw the sea anomalies' attention, the people in Xi City would be safe.

Or maybe form a large formation...

Besides, if they moved now, relocated somewhere else...

When the sea anomalies came ashore, no matter where they moved to, the sea anomalies coming ashore couldn't be avoided.

Unless they left Xi City entirely...

This current base had been built by the Silent Council with tremendous effort and dedication.

Even if it couldn't defend against sea anomalies, it could still hold off other Anomalies.

If they switched to another location, they'd face different dangers all over again.

After the opposition laid out their arguments one by one, those convoys that had wanted to move, that had wanted to abandon the Return to the City Plan, all fell silent at once.

Everyone knew the base was dangerous.

Especially after the sea anomalies came ashore, everyone had been feeling uneasy.

But what place out there wasn't dangerous?

"This is basically the situation right now. Anyway, they almost tore each other's throats out today!"

Chu Che took a sip of water to wet his throat before speaking.

Squad Leader Chu had just returned and was relaying everything he'd seen today to everyone.

"According to what you're saying, staying here is the best option?"

Dantai Bie rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"No... no... we can't... we can't stay..."

Upon hearing that they might stay here, Chen Hao, despite his stutter, was clearly panicking.

The sea anomalies coming ashore had left too deep an impression on him.

Keep in mind, during those six days, he'd hidden inside his Merry Little Prince the entire time.

That Little Fatty had kept inviting Chen Hao onto his "Mobile Palace."

But Chen Hao, as stubborn as he was, had never once set foot inside the "Mobile Palace."

Seeing that Chen Hao and Dantai Bie actually had differing opinions, and that they seemed to be gearing up to convince each other,

Chu Che quickly interrupted: "Hold on, hold on, they're arguing outside, don't you two start fighting as well!"

"Anyway, this is where things stand, and neither side can convince the other!"

"So it's just stuck like this..."

"However this gets decided in the end isn't something a few third-rate brainstormers like us can figure out."

Chen Hao and Dantai Bie stopped their discussion and both turned to look at Chen Ye.

From start to finish, Chen Ye hadn't said a word.

"Yezi, what do you think?"

Dantai Bie couldn't help but ask.

Chen Ye pulled a cigarette from his jacket and offered one to Dantai Bie and Chen Hao, but both declined.

Chen Ye lit his own cigarette at his leisure, then slowly drawled: "What else is there to think..."

"The way I see it, the Silent Council definitely doesn't want to leave this place!"

"After all, they've poured so much effort into this place. Leaving would be too great a loss..."

"Both sides have their own reasoning, and in the end, neither can convince the other!"

"So this matter just stays deadlocked..."

"I'd bet the Silent Council will accelerate the timetable for attacking Xi City next!"

"But the convoys aren't exactly unified in their thinking, so speeding up the attack on Xi City is going to take some doing on their part!"

"All we can do is sit back and watch!"

"Sometimes, a result with no result is the best result of all!"

Chen Ye wasn't worried in the slightest. After all, when the sky falls, there are always taller people to hold it up.

Like the Silent Council, for instance...

That organization's strength might be far greater than he'd imagined.

"But... what about the sea anomalies..."

Chen Hao was getting anxious...

Too many people had died this time. In his saintly view, this whole affair genuinely made him feel quite distressed...

"You mean what to do if the sea anomalies come ashore again?"

Chen Ye understood exactly what Chen Hao was trying to say and said it outright.

Chen Hao nodded repeatedly.

Chen Ye chuckled darkly, and said in a carefree tone: "We wait to die, what else can we do?"

"Either way, whether we're waiting to die here or waiting to die somewhere else, there's no difference!"

Chen Hao's face turned black.

Dantai Bie's expression soured as well.

Those words were far too pessimistic, and yet they made an awful lot of sense!

That left Dantai Bie and Chen Hao at a loss for how to argue back.

But if those words got around, they'd really hurt everyone's morale.

Chu Che shot Chen Ye a glare, then had no choice but to chime in: "Based on my understanding of Anomalies, these sea anomalies won't be coming ashore again anytime soon."

"Besides, now that we've been through it once, everyone will have experience dealing with it if it happens again."

"Alright, alright, stop overthinking it. Get some good rest. Tomorrow we'll head back to Xi City to take a look!"

"Once we take Xi City, even if the sea anomalies do come ashore, we'll have plenty of ways to deal with them!"

Next, Dantai Bie asked Chu Che why the people on the Sky Whale and that holder of the top-ten numbered Wonder still hadn't shown up.

Chu Che spread his hands: "That bird-man Hou Junji keeps saying 'soon, soon,' but I sure haven't seen anything yet!"

Just at that moment.

A piercing scream rang out from outside the camp.

"Sea anomalies, sea anomalies... they're back!"

That single scream instantly sent the entire base, which had just been preparing to rest, into full alert mode.