When Wen Ling was busy letting a refugee eat into her own food rations, Ling Zhao was having Sentinel Type-I cook some gruel.
Ever since this robot had started following her, she felt that it had been doing quite a few things outside the scope of its duties.
But there was nothing she could do about it. At this stage, whoever was capable had to take on more work.
Ling Zhao had calculated the subsidies on her water and electricity cards. The electricity card actually provided quite a lot as well, but it was nowhere near as durable as the water card.
The electricity card gave her 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
So, how long would 30,000 kilowatt-hours be enough to run the entire shelter, with every floor operating at full capacity?
The answer was one hour.
When she used it only to power the critical facilities on B15–B18, it was enough to last just three days.
Water, on the other hand, had become much more useful precisely because she was the only person using it. She had calculated that even if she temporarily used the water as a commodity for settling transactions, she could still cover the expenses of three hundred people for two months, with some left over.
Now, the shelter’s own energy reserves had been completely depleted. Because she didn’t have enough Management Points, she hadn’t even activated the protective shield.
Management Points came from transaction taxes. Her tax revenue would be converted into points according to the exchange rate.
Sistem had told her that this was the most suitable approach for the wasteland.
Ling Zhao agreed.
She had talked with Bei You and learned what the local currency was.
Large nuts, medium nuts, and small nuts.
Didn’t that sound worthless?
Then what if you gave them different names?
—Gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins.
Currency itself was worthless. What supported the value of currency was the reputation of Shelter No. 199. Because Shelter No. 199 recognized nuts as currency, nuts served as the general medium of exchange here.
A little farther away from Shelter No. 199, there would be different currencies. Therefore, traveling merchants in this region usually carried the currencies of several shelters, or simply accepted barter.
Ling Zhao didn’t need nuts. For now, she planned to settle transactions with water. Later, she would issue her own currency.
Whatever she planned to do in the future, right now she first needed to settle down the group of people at her doorstep.
These were the people she had finally obtained.
As for exactly how she had gotten them, that could be left aside for now. She had simply seen that the town mayor had left and apparently didn’t want these people anymore, so she had picked up the people abandoned at her doorstep.
Some of the more capable fighters had already returned to Listening Wind Town carrying her handheld lamps. A large number of Night Demons had followed them out, so as long as the people remaining in the town hid themselves properly, there shouldn’t be any major problems.
The road was overgrown with trees, and by the time they returned, it would probably be tomorrow afternoon.
Tang Yuan was in charge of security here. With the deterrence provided by Sentinel Type-I, their safety was guaranteed.
While Sentinel Type-I was cooking the gruel, Ling Zhao went outside to inspect their temporary camp.
…It was an absolute mess.
Some people had nothing more than two sticks propped together, making it look like a Eurasian collared dove’s nest. That thing was just as sloppily constructed.
Some shelters were barely large enough for half a person to sleep in. Whether their head or their butt would be sticking out was another matter. It reminded her of wild ducks laying eggs when they couldn’t hold it in anymore—they protected their heads but not their rear ends.
Having two leaves as bedding could practically be considered luxurious…
Forget it. She wouldn’t make another comparison.
Just one glance was enough for Ling Zhao to know that they had no intention of staying for long.
This was merely a temporary arrangement. They would return to the town in the morning. That was their home.
She would first get this group to stay, then slowly make them develop a sense of belonging.
Ling Zhao knew that she only had one winter.
She called Tang Yuan over.
【Tang Yuan (Soldier)】
【Star Rating: ★★】
【Age: 43】
【Traits: Slick, Overactive Imagination】
【Attributes: Strength A, Constitution B, Intelligence B+, Agility B++, Charisma E】
【Skills: Wasteland Survival Lv.7, Shooting Lv.6, Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv.5, Intelligence Gathering Lv.5, Tracking Lv.5, Alcohol Tolerance Lv.4, Reading the Boss’s Intentions Lv.3, Taking the Blame Lv.3, Coordinating Commands Lv.3】
【Description: A former mercenary who was shot in the knee. He hopes to find a stable place to retire. He once had a daughter who, if she were still alive, would probably be about Bei You’s age. He regards Bei You as his successor and sometimes personally teaches her, hoping that she will support him in his old age.】
【Expected Salary: Fluctuates around 300 Management Points per month. He is willing to accept a lower salary if there is a pension plan.】
The moment Tang Yuan saw the shabby camp, he immediately understood what had happened. He bent down at once and apologized.
“I’m terribly sorry! This is all my fault!”
There was an unwritten workplace rule: whenever your superior summoned you, no matter what the problem was, taking responsibility for whatever problems were immediately visible was never a bad idea.
Ling Zhao looked at the man crouching in front of her and felt even more annoyed.
She could accept people bowing to her, but she couldn’t accept people kneeling before her.
She knew this part of herself was rather contradictory, but that was simply how she felt. When she had initially decided to let these people leave, she had already anticipated that they might eventually return and beg her for help.
But bowing and kneeling were different.
“Raise your head,” Ling Zhao said. “Don’t kneel in front of me—I don’t like seeing anyone’s head lower than my knees.”
She didn’t bother explaining why.
Hearing this, Tang Yuan immediately straightened his back.
Workplace Rule No. 2: When your superior’s tone doesn’t sound very pleasant, do whatever she asks.
“Once the food is ready, let them eat first and get some rest. But don’t let anyone leave tonight,” Ling Zhao said. “Also, tomorrow morning, compile everyone’s names and occupations for me. Besides that, I have some things about Listening Wind Town that I want to ask you.”
The people who knew Listening Wind Town best were definitely the mayor’s guards. That guard’s status panel was practically that of an all-purpose butler. Ling Zhao was extremely envious of it.
Unfortunately, that person was the mayor’s private soldier and had nothing to do with her.
“Now, do you have anything you want to ask?” she said.
“I have two questions,” Tang Yuan said. “May I ask why you recruited Bei You in the first place?”
“And… what exactly do you want to do with the rest of us?”
At first, Ling Zhao had been short on food while trying to complete her missions. Who would have thought that recruiting an employee wouldn’t complete the task after hiring Sistem?
Sistem didn’t count as a person at all.
【Hmm?】Sistem said. 【Did you just mention me?】
Ling Zhao: [Shut up.]
Sistem: ( Q.×Q. )`
Ling Zhao said, “Because she was the only one who received the recruitment form, had a clear goal, and wasn’t late.”
Although she had run in the opposite direction, that was a minor issue.
“You all spent far too long in the bathroom, even though you knew there was a Night Demon inside.”
“I understand now!” Tang Yuan pondered for a moment before suddenly having a flash of insight. “Knowing there was danger but remaining completely unaware is ignorance! Being distracted by petty gains when faced with an important decision is indecision! And still being late despite receiving a clear warning is stupidity!”
Ling Zhao: ?
Although she had no idea what he was talking about, Ling Zhao still nodded instinctively.
“I see! As expected of the chairwoman! I’ve truly learned a lot!” Tang Yuan suddenly bowed deeply. He even remembered that Ling Zhao had just said she disliked people kneeling before her. “I definitely won’t make the same mistake again. I’ll strive to become one of your official employees!”
This boss was much more generous than the town mayor… Just from the glance he had taken earlier, the food they were eating was already better than the irradiated rats many people usually ate.
Ling Zhao coughed twice. “As for why I’m keeping you here, the reason is simple. We each have what the other needs.”
“You need me to help you get through this winter, while I need you to work for me. It’s that simple.”
“…What about afterward?” Tang Yuan asked. This time, his gaze became considerably more serious. “What you need definitely isn’t just this small number of people, right?”
“So, what exactly is your goal?”
Ling Zhao glanced at him and reached out to pat his arm. “I’m still figuring out my long-term goal, but I can tell you what my short-term goal is.”
She beckoned him closer, signaling for Tang Yuan to lean in.
“Not telling you yet,” she whispered.
Tang Yuan scratched his head and walked away somewhat dejectedly.
[That guy failed to pry anything out of you.] Sistem said. [So what exactly is your goal now?]
“—I want the right to mint currency in this region,” she said. “I want the name of Shelter No. 999 to replace that of Shelter No. 199.”
“Until I find the starting point that can give me leverage over them, I won’t let anyone know about this goal. By the time they find out…”
“The name of Shelter No. 999 will already have spread throughout the entire Tianshui City.”
…
After Tang Yuan left, the confusion on his face completely disappeared.
He swaggered over and called everyone over for a meal. As he handed out the bowls, he told each person, “Remember to thank the chairwoman.”
Although he was just as tempted—the food was genuinely good. The potato powder even had herbs mixed into it, along with a little soy sauce and salt. Compared with the rye bread they usually ate, which was hard enough to kill someone if you used it as a weapon, this was considerably better.
But he couldn’t start eating himself. He had to complete his first assignment.
“I didn’t know you could do this.”
Lin Xiao was the last one in line. He sauntered over and was surprised to discover that Tang Yuan had actually saved him a portion.
Normally, whenever Tang Yuan saw him coming, he’d scrape off half of the last serving for himself!
“Oh? Has the sun risen in the west today?” Lin Xiao took his portion of mashed potatoes and teased him.
“I won’t target you anymore.” Tang Yuan wolfed down his food without even looking up. “If you want to leave, then leave. Whatever. You’re the only one I won’t stop. As for everyone else, I won’t let them leave.”
“Why?” Lin Xiao was utterly stunned. “You’ve suddenly changed your personality?”
“No, I haven’t changed.” Tang Yuan gave him a cold laugh. “Do you know why I used to target you?”
“First, the town mayor would never want the three people with the greatest combat strength to have a good relationship. I already had a decent relationship with Bei You, so I couldn’t also have a good relationship with you.”
“Second, there’s the matter of promotion.”
Tang Yuan used his spoon to pile the mashed potatoes in his bowl into a little peak, then slowly pressed out one step after another.
“Under the town mayor, she would never promote two people at the same time. If one person went up, the other was bound to come down.”
Lin Xiao: “So you’re planning to work under her like this now?”
“Yeah… because she’s generous.” Tang Yuan narrowed his eyes. “Only someone who wants more would be this generous.”
And only someone who wanted more would give the people under them opportunities and hope to climb higher.
Even someone with Tang Yuan’s judgment could tell that very few of these people would be willing to stay here. So what basis did she have for believing she could keep them?
Suddenly, the corner of his eye caught a movement.
Someone was moving in the corner.
Author’s Note:
Uncle Tang Yuan—a socially savvy office worker who is clear-headed about reality, but loves overthinking things.
Unless something unexpected happens, Chapter 13 should enter the VIP section on the 13th.
As for the typos… Um, I’ve actually checked them once before posting. I use a double-pinyin input method and have been correcting things as I write, but maybe I’m just too blind. orz
I’ll try to check the typos more carefully after it goes VIP. Why doesn’t JJ’s own Author Assistant have a proofreading function? Damn it.