Night had fallen. The two electric buses finally made it back to the Level 3 Scavenger Camp without incident.
Smooth sailing.
Probably because every Ability User wandering this area had already been eliminated.
The two buses pulled up close to the building. Liang Yuzhi and Zhang Jinjun were both drawn out by the commotion. The forr remained composed; the latter stared in amazent.
"Auntie, please prepare so food!"
"Leon, Thomas, Little Zhang, Xuanxuan — help get things sorted. Let them stay on the second floor for tonight."
Li Wei gave the orders, then personally led the group through the dark periter wall and into the dark building. Sowhere in the crowd, suppressed sobbing began.
Well — this Scavenger Camp wasn't quite the electrically-powered underground base they'd co from. Nothing to be done about that. In an apocalypse like this, running into us is your lucky break.
With torches lit and candles burning, after a flurry of activity, all thirty-eight natural humans were settled.
Only then did a few lines of text appear silently.
[Congratulations, future Lord. You have successfully escorted thirty-eight natural humans into the Level 3 Scavenger Camp. In accordance with the relevant rules, they will from this mont beco Freen of this future territory.]
[From this mont, you may choose to issue Profession Cards to them, improving their physical condition and survival capabilities, and training them to beco qualified territory guards. And if you beco the Lord of this pioneering territory in the future, you will be their Lord.]
[Friendly reminder: from this mont, these natural humans will enjoy the basic rights guaranteed by the All-Heavens Lord Alliance. Aside from the inability to have their mories erased and be returned ho, you may not punish or kill them without cause. However, you may establish laws within the territory and create rules that do not violate basic rights, and impose corresponding punishnts on Freen who break territory law.]
[Friendly reminder: the All-Heavens Lord Alliance has, as per standard procedure, issued initial laws and rules for these Freen. Details as follows:]
[1. Nursing mothers, children under twelve, the injured, and the ill are not required to participate in work or apprenticeship training. The Level 3 Scavenger Camp is obligated to provide them with free food and lodging.]
[2. Non-exempt Freen must work eight hours per day, or reach a certain work value, to receive free food and lodging. Work beyond this threshold will earn Territory Contribution based on quantity. 100 Territory Contribution points can be exchanged for 1 Family Contribution point or 1 Standard Copper Coin. Unlike players, Freen are settled every three months, with wages paid by the Lord or Head of Household. However, all work output by Freen belongs to the Lord or Head of Household.]
[3. Weapons and equipnt for Freen may be provided free of charge by the Lord or Head of Household. Other Family mbers may also gift items to individual Freen. However, Freeman Affinity cannot be settled — only the Lord can perform the next level of operations.]
[4. The above are the three founding rules for Freen. If new situations arise requiring additions, the Lord or Head of Household must explore them independently. The All-Heavens Lord Alliance will not intervene beyond monitoring basic humanitarian standards. However, please rember: you reap what you sow. Freen are not NPCs. Other players may not care, but as Head of Household — and future Lord — please be aware: territory construction and managent begins from this mont.]
——
Well. It was finally starting to feel like being a Lord — even if the outco was still uncertain.
Li Wei let out a long breath, genuinely pleased.
Two and a half years, by his count. He'd been hearing "Lord, Lord, Lord" until his ears had grown calluses. And now, at last, he had one foot on the threshold.
Leon, Thomas, Zhang Jinjun, and Zhao Xuanxuan said nothing, but their expressions conveyed congratulations and envy in equal asure.
Truly — it hadn't been easy.
Though this was probably the speed only a Rookie King could manage.
About to beco a genuine Three-Star Lord with real authority.
Nothing more to say. Thomas gave a quiet laugh and handed over twelve One-Star Profession Cards.
Zhang Jinjun handed over eight. Even Zhao Xuanxuan contributed five.
Yes — issuing Profession Cards to the natural humans and turning them into Freen of the pioneering territory was a critical step. Of course, the All-Heavens Lord Alliance's rules would explain the process to them. So might not be able to handle it — might shout, panic, or despair. That was normal.
Interestingly, when Li Wei was about to go distribute the Profession Cards, Liang Yuzhi proactively traded him twenty One-Star Profession Cards as well.
Was she making a goodwill gesture?
Fine. He'd take it as a goodwill gesture.
He went up to the second floor. Candlelight flickered in the dimness. The natural humans who'd just finished dinner were lying on their bedrolls, restless. A few children slept soundly — they could feel that this place was genuinely safe. Less to worry about, simpler hearts. That was all it took.
Li Wei's arrival didn't disturb most of them. Only the old man in his sixties watched him with worried eyes. They'd shared a bus today, and the old man had heard much of what was said — he didn't fully understand it, but he had no power to resist.
Li Wei said nothing. He simply swept his gaze over everyone. A few seconds later, a wisp of gray mist settled over the entire second floor. At the sa ti, Li Wei produced all the cheap One-Star Profession Cards he had — Farr, Cook, Hunter, Fisherman, Craftsman, Woodcutter, Tailor, Blacksmith — nothing special.
Under the influence of the gray mist, the cards floated up on their own and drifted toward each natural human. So flew directly into the foreheads of infants, sleeping children, or adults already asleep.
The natural humans who were still awake were given two chances to choose.
Almost all of them made a choice. After all, what other option was there? The apocalypse had already arrived — what was too strange to accept? As long as they didn't turn into monsters, even becoming an NPC was fine.
The gray mist dissolved silently. Li Wei left without a word. He didn't need to say anything — the Freen would figure it out themselves, allocate their own points. These weren't illiterate people from ancient tis; their minds worked just fine.
In ti, they'd adapt.
After that, Li Wei had Leon and Thomas go patrol the farmland. From now on, one of the two would always remain at the camp, responsible for security patrols.
"Auntie, there's sothing I'd like to discuss with you."
In the fourth-floor dining area — which was starting to look like a proper restaurant — Li Wei finished the hearty dinner Liang Yuzhi had carefully prepared for him, and spoke with a slight hesitation. Truthfully, he really wanted Liang Yuzhi to keep handling the cooking. Her skill was exceptional.
Especially that wild mushroom broth — it was genuinely helpful for restoring Spiritual Power.
"Little Wei, just say the word. Your auntie still has so strength left in her."
In the dim candlelight, Liang Yuzhi's eyes flickered. He'd brought back so many natural humans today — clearly he and his group had done sothing major out there. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't anxious. Because unlike the others, she knew exactly who Li Yue was.
She'd never considered Li Wei a worthy rival. He had no idea what a real high-level player was capable of.
Either way, because of the distance, Liang Yuzhi didn't know the specifics of today's battle. And even if she did — so what? She was still under the Dictator BUFF's control. But Li Yue was now a Family mber. How could she not be anxious?
"We found a large cache of supplies in the underground base out there. So Little Sister is staying behind to handle dismantling and guarding — responsible for the safety of everyone involved, keeping Ability Users and mutated creatures away."
"But Little Sister is only one person. She can't also handle the security escort for the transport runs. That's what's been worrying ."
Li Wei sighed and looked at Liang Yuzhi. She seed expectant, but made no move — the picture of soone who had him exactly where she wanted him. And honestly, it wasn't hard to guess.
If Li Yue was handling security at the underground base, who else would handle security along the transport route?
Liang Yuzhi understood imdiately. 'You little chick, trying to play gas with ?'
But then Li Wei's tone shifted abruptly. "Earlier, with Little Sister's help, we killed a very powerful Ability User and got two Universal Gold Cards. I gave them to Thomas and Leon — their strength has improved significantly. They should be fine handling transport security. The one thing that's been nagging at is that Leon's two-handed greatsword was damaged. So I was wondering, Auntie — is there any way you could help repair it?"
What?!
Liang Yuzhi's pupils dilated slightly. 'You little brat — you played .'
But what shook her even more was this: Li Yue had actually killed a five-star Ability User?
Damn.
So Li Yue's injuries should be fully healed now?
This was getting worse. Because she herself had very serious internal injuries.
And now Li Yue had to have accumulated a massive amount of Contribution and beco a Family mber. So this little chick was worried he couldn't keep Li Yue in check — and had co back hoping to pit her against Li Yue in a two-tiger fight, while he sat back and reaped the benefits?
Oh!
Clever-looking, but still too naive.
Playing hard to get with her? Dragging it out?
She saw right through it.
Liang Yuzhi laughed inwardly. What experience did she have, what history? The mont he twitched, she knew exactly what he was up to.
She shook her head candidly. "I'm afraid not. In tallurgy, I'm far behind Little Sister. Why don't I go to the underground base and replace her — let Little Sister co back to handle the repair?"
At those words, Li Wei's expression darkened visibly, as if he were about to explode with frustration.
Ha!
Liang Yuzhi felt a surge of satisfaction. 'Little chick, your ga isn't deep enough.'
"If that doesn't work either, Xuanxuan could help — she's a decent little blacksmith. Three to five days at most, and it'll definitely be repaired. Or for the next few days, I could temporarily replace Leon and handle transport security?"
Liang Yuzhi finally showed her hand.
She knew perfectly well this was a fat piece of at. And during the transport runs, there might be all sorts of small surprises along the way — this was a critical opportunity to break free of the Dictator BUFF. Once she beca a Family mber, the sky would be the limit.
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