On the top floor of the Guard Corps administration building, everyone wore proper uniforms. Only high-ranking officials of the Base Guard Corps could enter this area.
Qi Feng took the elevator up to the 33rd floor, knocked on Old Yan's office door, and waited for a response before pushing it open and entering.
"Old Yan."
Old Yan was just over fifty but well-maintained, looking only in his early forties without a single gray hair on his head.
Seeing him arrive, Old Yan gestured toward the sofa nearby, indicating for him to sit.
Qi Feng walked over and sat down. Old Yan rose from his office chair and took a seat opposite Qi Feng.
"How did the mission go?"
Qi Feng spoke truthfully, his voice low and serious: "We encountered heavy rain during the mission. The trucks couldn't enter the depths of the dense forest, so the brothers had to carry the goods out box by box. We were also attacked by a troop of monkeys and lost seven brothers."
Old Yan wore a concerned expression and said, "I will arrange proper compensation for the fallen team members. This heavy rain has had a significant impact. The Base is facing food shortages. Rest briefly, then continue leading the S17 Guard Corps to retrieve the supplies escorted by the A13 Guard Corps. Here are the detailed mission files; I've sent them to you."
Receiving a new mission immediately upon returning was not surprising to Qi Feng, but with the heavy rain outside and the A13 Guard Corps already completely wiped out, retrieving their supplies now would be anything but easy.
Qi Feng voiced his difficulties: "Old Yan, the trucks can't enter the dense forest. I request sufficient boats."
Old Yan stood up and said, "The boat budget is limited. The number the Base can allocate to you is already the maximum I could apply for. Hurry and prepare to depart."
Qi Feng wanted to argue further, but Old Yan gave him no chance to speak.
After leaving the office, Qi Feng immediately posted the newly assigned mission in the S17 squad group chat. Without even time to change clothes, they had to prepare to depart overnight. If those supplies remained in the wild for too long, there was no telling whether they would still be in place.
The team members, who had just dispersed, hurriedly rushed back.
"Captain, another mission? We just got back."
Qi Feng replied expressionlessly, "Old Yan's orders."
"They always assign us such dangerous missions."
"Why don't they give missions like this to Yan Lang? His own son is treated like a person, but we're not considered human." Lei Qi grumbled indignantly.
Qi Feng patted him on the head. "You go drive; I'll take over later."
Lei Qi reluctantly took out a Nutrient Solution and put it in his mouth. "Fine."
The S27 Guard Corps, having just returned to the Base, departed again after less than two hours. Everyone only had time to grab some food before rushing out into the heavy rain.
On the outskirts of the Shantytown, the heavy rain had washed away many shacks. When Sang Luoluo came out the next morning, the water on the ground had already reached the edge of her bed.
Chuanchuan huddled fearfully against Sang Luoluo. Sang Luoluo placed Chuanchuan into her Space. It was still early, so she ate a hot potato and drank a cup of water before paying attention to the commotion outside.
Outside, sounds of looting could be heard. Peering through a crack by her bed, she saw that some households in the Shantytown had run out of food. They had made small boats and rowed over to plunder rations from other Shantytown residents.
Those who refused had Stone Knives and bricks thrown at them.
That was a group of fierce-looking men who barged into any shacks that hadn't collapsed.
Sang Luoluo noticed they had just robbed a household and were now heading her way.
This is bad, she thought to herself.
The shack was empty—all her belongings were in her Space.
Just as she was about to hide in her Space, she heard voices outside.
"Brother Wang, I saw that girl getting off the Guard Corps vehicle from the Base yesterday. Won't we get in trouble if we rob her?"
"Idiot! You only saw her get off—did she have a Guard Corps family badge on her? Or maybe a Guard Corps badge?" Brother Wang smacked the back of his underling's head, annoyed. They hadn't found any food all morning.
The underling quickly fawned, "I paid attention to that—no badges at all. I noticed the raincoat she was wearing looked pretty valuable, so she probably has food on her."
"Let's go, hurry up. Don't let her get away." Brother Wang urged his underlings to row faster.
Sang Luoluo immediately entered her Space and hid there without coming out.
The men spoke loudly enough that she could faintly hear them even from inside her Space.
"Where is she? Weren't you supposed to keep an eye on her?" Brother Wang yelled after breaking down the door.
One of the underlings glanced at the hole in the roof and the submerged wooden bed. "That's strange. Could she have escaped through the roof? She must be quick."
Brother Wang slapped him. "It's all because you were dawdling. This shack is completely empty—she must have run off long ago. Hurry up and chase her! With all this water outside, she can't have gone far."
"Yes, Brother Wang. I'll go after her right away."
Sang Luoluo listened as they rowed away but still didn't dare come out. With the heavy rain, many people in the Shantytown had already run out of food and had started going door-to-door robbing others.
Sang Luoluo didn't dare leave. With her slender arms and legs, she wouldn't stand a chance against anyone out there. It was better to wait here until the heavy rain passed.
The heavy rain lasted for three days straight, followed by intense heat. Daytime temperatures reached nearly sixty degrees Celsius, and the accumulated rainwater dried up within just two days.
By the time she emerged, the bump on her forehead had gradually subsided, so she didn't go buy medicine. She had no idea how chaotic the trading area in the Shantytown had become and didn't dare go there.
[Beep!!]
[Beep!!]
Two notifications came through on her Wrist Device.
[Notice—Due to multiple robbery incidents inside and outside the Base during the heavy rain, the Base has dispatched the S15 Guard Corps, A12 Guard Corps, and A41 Guard Corps to handle the situation. Offenders caught on the spot have been detained and will be dealt with subsequently.]
The Base had quelled the incident. In Sang Luoluo's memory, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Even if the Base intervened, they couldn't possibly catch every offender. It was just to reassure everyone.
[The heavy rain has ended. Due to residents' insufficient food reserves after the rain, collection work will begin today at 3 PM. Participants will be transported by the Guard Corps to Zone 31B for three days. Please gather at the Base entrance in advance and bring sufficient outdoor survival equipment.]
Sang Luoluo stared at this notification, deep in thought. The Base's notice implied they wouldn't be returning at night—they'd be staying outside for all three days.
Her purpose for going out was to find Crystal Cores. She immediately packed her backpack, placing only a Stone Knife inside, changed into her old clothes, and headed to the Base entrance, estimating the time.
This heavy rain incident taught her a lesson—she must be cautious and careful outside. This time it was an open robbery, but what if next time it's a sneak attack or theft?
This time, the Guard Corps dispatched quite a few people—a full four squads with over eighty trucks. Even people from the Safe Zone ventured out, all for the purpose of finding food.
Sang Luoluo carefully maneuvered through the crowd, covering her face with an inconspicuous silk scarf to avoid being recognized by familiar neighbors.
After wandering around for a bit, she actually spotted Brother Wang and his lackeys—the ones who had robbed her home during the heavy rain. Five or six of them were crowded together in one line, looking around shiftily.
Sang Luoluo averted her gaze and noticed a familiar face in the Guard Corps. This person seemed to be called Lei Qi or something. Without a second thought, she slipped into his truck. People gradually filled the vehicle afterward, packing the large truck to the brim.
Holding her backpack, Sang Luoluo leaned against the truck's interior. Zone 31B was 100 kilometers away, which was also why the Guard Corps was reluctant to travel back and forth. The long distance increased energy consumption, and with so many residents coming out to gather supplies, it was troublesome for them to shuttle back and forth every day. It was better to set up camp in Zone 31B, where the Mutated Animals had already been cleared, making it relatively safe.
After a bumpy journey, they finally arrived at their destination just before five o'clock.
Everyone got off the truck and was free to move around. As long as they stayed within the Guard Corps' protective range, they were safe. If anyone ventured out on their own and lost their life, the Base couldn't be blamed. Once someone was dead, there was no one left to blame the Base anyway.
In the Wasteland, human life was incredibly cheap.
Sang Luoluo immediately wanted to explore the nearby area. She had been eating potatoes every day for the past few days. Although that was already better than most people, the thought of the delicacies in her Space—visible but untouchable—made her itch with longing.
Most people brought tents or similar items for the night, setting up temporary shelters near the Guard Corps to rest properly.
Sang Luoluo thought she'd take advantage of the remaining daylight to search the area for any traces of Crystal Cores.
She walked step by step along the perimeter of the Guard Corps, picking up dry firewood along the way. Zone 31B hadn't been visited in a long time, and the edible plants had never been harvested. Some people had already started moving further away in search of food.
Sang Luoluo followed them and, in a patch of grass, felt a strange pull. Using a wooden stick, she poked around and discovered a small puddle. The water hadn't completely dried up, and mud floated on the surface. As she prodded again, a knee-sized flying insect burst out, lunging straight for her face.
In the next moment, Sang Luoluo smashed a large rock in her hand down on it.
The rock was big enough to crush the insect into the muddy ground.
Relying on her instincts, she took out a tool and started digging. In about ten minutes, she fished out a Crystal Core the size of a fingernail from the mud.
She casually tossed it into her Space, unlocking ten square meters in the Stasis Zone warehouse.
Sang Luoluo was overjoyed. The Stasis Zone warehouse contained many freshly harvested vegetables, chickens, ducks, fish, and eggs. Before she transmigrated, many items from the Space farm had been stored in the warehouse, waiting to be processed.
Although these ten square meters were only a corner of the warehouse, they held fresh eggs, vegetables, and some chicken and pork.
Finally, she wouldn't have to gnaw on potatoes every day.
Another faint attraction emanated from the flying insect's head. Without hesitation, Sang Luoluo picked up a stone and smashed it a few times, fishing out a grain-sized Crystal Core from its brain matter and tossing it into her Space.
The Stasis Zone unlocked another three square meters.
After washing her hands with spring water, she continued forward, walking and stopping with a wooden stick in hand, but found nothing else. Seeing that it was getting dark, Sang Luoluo found a spot with many people, cleared a patch of grass, and started a fire with the firewood she had gathered.
While tending the fire, she immersed her consciousness in her Space and began boiling eggs. A pot of water was already heating in the kitchen, filled with eggs.
Noticing that no one was looking her way, Sang Luoluo broke off a piece of cucumber from her Space and quickly stuffed it into her mouth.
The fresh, sweet flavor instantly filled her mouth. Finally, she didn’t have to eat potatoes anymore. She covered her mouth contentedly.
Sang Luoluo leaned against a pile of dry branches by the fire and dozed off for a while, not daring to sleep too deeply for fear of someone approaching. Half-asleep, she stealthily slipped another egg into her mouth. After finishing it, she drank a few sips of water before dozing off again.
At night, members of the Guard Corps would patrol the area. Sang Luoluo was startled awake by their voices.
"Hu Tian, I only ate one of your dried earthworms. Do you have to be like this? Ignoring me for half the day?"
"You know that 200g of dried earthworms costs 200 Credits. That one bite of yours took a quarter of it. You owe me! Otherwise, let’s take this to the captain and see who ends up in trouble."