Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Under the Zhongnan Base

“If you’re an ability user, you’ll get a lot of perks and conveniences when moving around the base,” he said, pulling out a few red emblems from the drawer. “These are ability user emblems. How many ability users are in your team? Please have those with abilities come over and fill out this form.”

Then the man saw a group of people walking over, and his head started spinning, making him stutter, “You… you’re all ability users?”

It had only been a few days since the discovery that crystal cores could evolve, and most people didn’t even know what a crystal core looked like. Even in their base, which had over 150,000 survivors, there were only about 50 ability users. Although more ability users had been trickling into the base recently, this team of thirty people had ten ability users?!

Third Brother and the others were a bit confused by the man’s shocked expression. They knew ability users were rare, but since their evolution, the number of ability users in their gathering place, including White Wolf, had already surpassed ten. Plus, the ability team they encountered at Eleventh Square had also evolved abilities. Combined with the high probability of ability evolution in their team, they had overestimated the likelihood of ability users evolving.

If they had known, they might have understood the man’s “I’ve seen a ghost” expression.

Gu Ning filled out her name, age, and origin, then paused at the ability section. Without much thought, she wrote “Space.”

Water, metal, fire, earth, strength, and speed abilities were common, but thunder? Wind? Ice? Psychic? These were rare mutated abilities, and now there were so many of them?!

The man’s expression was completely out of control.

Finally, his gaze landed on the “Space” ability on the last form. He paused, then stared at Gu Ning, “Miss Gu, you’re a space user?”

Gu Ning noticed his strange expression and asked, “Is there a problem?”

He hesitated, seeing that Gu Ning and the others didn’t seem to know what the issue was. Normally, he wouldn’t say more, but this team was so strong that befriending them might be beneficial in the future. So, he leaned in and whispered, “After entering the base, it’s best not to reveal that you’re a space user. You probably haven’t heard, but if a space user is killed, everything in their space will explode out…”

He didn’t continue, but the implication was clear.

This was crucial information. Gu Ning’s expression changed slightly. Although she believed her space was different from the evolved abilities, others wouldn’t know that. If word got out that she was a space user, someone might target her.

She casually took the form from the man, tore it into pieces, thanked the staff, and filled out her details on a regular registration form.

The man opened his mouth but said nothing, handing out emblems to the other ten ability users.

The adults filled out their forms meticulously.

The children only wrote their names and were grouped under the Three-Linked Team.

The staff expressed surprise that the Three-Linked Team had brought so many children.

Then he said, “Please follow her to the checkpoint for inspection, and then you can officially enter the base.”

A young female staff member came out of the small building and led them inside.

As soon as they left, the staff at the window grabbed the walkie-talkie and excitedly reported, “Headquarters, headquarters, a team of fifty-three people has entered the base. Ability users…”

The checkpoint was a couple of makeshift sheds.

On the female side, four middle-aged women in white coats were chatting.

When someone entered, one of them complained, “Why is it earlier every day? Ugh.” She glanced over impatiently and said, “Take off all your clothes. Underwear too. It’s all women here; a few looks won’t make you lose weight.”

There were no partitions, just an empty room. The little girls were a bit scared, but seeing Gu Ning start undressing, they followed suit.

Since Gu Ning and the others didn’t dawdle like some, even the most impatient woman’s expression softened. They were experienced in inspections. After a quick check and finding no wounds, they stamped the forms with a red “qualified” mark.

After exiting, they waited briefly for the men.

Zhang Xiaobai came out cursing, “Damn, the guy checking me must be gay! Kept staring at me! Creeped me out!” He rubbed his arms, “Look, I’ve got goosebumps!”

Everyone laughed, teasing Zhang Xiaobai.

After regrouping, the female staff collected their stamped forms and led them to another building.

Yesterday, Jin Yong had heavy rain all afternoon, and it drizzled until morning. Zhongnan, however, wasn’t even wet. The sun was lazily rising.

The building, according to the female staff, was the Management Office. New survivors had to register here.

When they arrived, a bespectached man in his thirties or forties was waiting. He immediately approached, warmly shaking hands with Third Brother, who clearly had a leader’s presence, “You must be the Three-Linked Team. I’m Director Zhong from the Management Office. Please, come in.”

Third Brother shook his hand, “Hello, Director Zhong. Just call me Third Brother.”

After some small talk, the others curiously looked around, noticing a wall covered in missing person notices, most without photos.

Director Zhong finally got to the point, “Our base has优惠政策 for ability users, but I need to ask, are you planning to stay long-term or just passing through?”

Third Brother smiled, “That depends on whether this base suits us for long-term stay.”

Director Zhong inwardly cursed Third Brother for being a sly old fox but smiled, “Third Brother, I won’t hide it. I’m from the Capital. While it’s better in many ways, it’s crowded, and ability users are abundant. Your team’s strength would only be average there. But if you settle here, our base is just starting and highly valued by the central government…”

Third Brother listened without interrupting, then said, “Director Zhong, we’re new here and don’t know much. If the base is good, we won’t want to leave. Look at us, old and young, quite pitiful. We need a good place to stay first.”

“Of course,” Director Zhong nodded, then called to a pretty young woman at the window, “Xiao Yan, get me the dormitory keys.”

Xiao Yan glanced at Third Brother’s team in surprise, then pulled out a set of keys from the drawer.

Director Zhong took the keys, “Let’s go. I’ll show you the place. You’ll love it.”

As they walked, many people were out in the base. Though they looked tired, they weren’t as fearful as other survivors outside, clearly trusting the base’s safety.

The dormitory was a single high-rise, a premium student apartment costing 30,000 a year. The regular student apartments were 500 meters away, but due to insufficient defense, people preferred tents in the base.

Survivors were arriving by the hundreds daily, and colorful tents were popping up everywhere.

Director Zhong explained as they walked, “If you want to live in the apartments, you need to contribute a pound of supplies monthly. But for ability users, it’s free.”

Seeing the large group heading to the apartments, passersby looked on with envy and surprise at the number of children.

The dormitory had nine floors. Director Zhong arranged rooms on the second floor for them.

Two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and a balcony.

Thanks to Third Brother’s “negotiation,” they took over the entire floor.

With few ability users and even fewer ordinary people who could afford the apartments, several floors were empty. Director Zhong, wanting to keep them, was happy to oblige.

He told them to contact him at the Management Office for anything, then left.

Third Brother, Gu Ning, and the others exchanged relieved smiles, finally feeling settled.

They allocated the rooms: Gu’s parents, Gu Ning, Dr. Gao, Hong Jie, Huang Mengyao, Xiang Xu, Wu Sen, Zuo You, and He He in one unit; about twenty men in another; and the children in a third. Meals were in a separate unit.

After a quick breakfast, some soldiers went to bring the vehicles into the base.

From Jin Yong to Zhongnan, it only took two days.

And so, their life at the Zhongnan Base began.