Chapter 407: Trade
“Chief, this zombie energy testing—can it be done on all levels of ability users?”
“Yes. All ability users have zombie energy in their bodies,” Lu Weiyi explained, giving a brief overview of the relationship between explosive upgrades and zombie energy. “Our base has fewer ability users, so the current data comes from a limited sample. The accuracy rate is only about 70%, but it’s much better than upgrading blindly.”
“If you’re willing, we encourage everyone to undergo the test. It helps assess your own upgrade risk and also contributes to our data collection,” Lu added. Seeing some hesitation, he reassured them, “It’s all done using external instruments—it won’t harm your body at all, so don’t worry.”
“With your reassurance, we’re fine with it.”
“Of course—we’ll cooperate with the base’s research and development.”
Seeing no more resistance, Lu Weiyi then announced a piece of good news for all ability users. “Once your squads submit the list of members going out to fight zombies, including names and ability levels, the base will distribute a limited number of Purification Cores for you to use during upgrades.”
“Also, for ability users who died in the line of duty, the base will contact their families later to offer material compensation and job placement support. The base will never forget your sacrifices.”
Once they had finished arranging matters with the ability users, Zhuang Mingxu and Lu Weiyi moved on to speak with the civilian coordinators, giving a general overview of this year’s development plans so everyone would be mentally prepared. Only then did they return to the podium.
By then, the crowd had finished eating and drinking. Xu Chu asked about the people who had come from the East Island.
“There’s no need to test them for the zombie virus anymore,” said the civilian affairs officer. “If they had any issues, symptoms would’ve shown by now. We’ll just do basic health screenings. Their housing has already been arranged according to the list. Once they’re registered and receive their residency permits, they’ll move to the North Island for unified management.”
“Then starting tomorrow—just in time for the Spring Festival—we’ll begin large-scale land reclamation again. Once the earth-ability users open up the land, everyone will be assigned to begin a new round of planting. Our tasks this year are heavy, and we’ll need to concentrate all our strength.”
Zhuang Mingxu thought for a moment, then turned to Wu Yue. “You’ll take them to East Island. After the people leave, take a team to inspect the area. Lastly, have wood-ability users restore the surrounding vegetation.”
“Got it,” Wu Yue nodded.
After a bustling day, all base squads submitted their lists of members preparing for ability upgrades. When Lu Weiyi received the list, he was surprised. “Over six hundred just for A-level upgrades?”
“Not surprising. Just water and earth types already account for over three hundred. Water-ability users contributed a lot over the winter, and those who took part in base missions absorbed plenty of purified crystal cores. It’s natural for them to be ready to upgrade,” Zhuang Mingxu said, handing the list to Lin Yimu to tally up the number of cores needed and arrange the upgrades.
He then turned to Lu Weiyi and brought up the latest news from the capital. “Zheng Yi sent word. He wants our base to help with upgrades. They’ll provide seeds, crystal cores, and some advanced equipment. Your uncle also asked whether we could help upgrade a batch of A-level ability users. Zhao Qiang seems interested as well. What do you think?”
“What do you think?” Lu Weiyi asked.
“For Zheng Yi, it’s best if he successfully upgrades. The Zheng family still needs him to hold the line. Plus, the current three-way balance of power in the capital shouldn’t be broken too soon. Zombies are evolving fast, and reducing internal strife in favor of a united front is our best chance at survival. As for your uncle, we can help him upgrade a batch of A-levels—his faction is the weakest, and a few high-level allies would give him a firmer foothold.”
“Can the lab keep up with production?” That was the most important question. Current purification relies on machines, and the output is still too low. Just upgrading a single S-class requires over a thousand cores—far more than what can be produced quickly. Especially considering how many ability users in their base are also waiting.
“I’ll have them speed things up. I also had Shen Xiuyin build another batch of machines,” Zhuang Mingxu said. He paused, then praised, “I have to admit, that teacher-student duo is incredibly efficient, and their results are beyond expectations.”
“I used to think zombie energy had to be neutralized with all sorts of chemical solutions. Who would’ve thought the two of them would come up with the idea of extracting it directly with machines. It’s impressive.”
“So does that mean if the human body gets infected with zombie energy, it could also be extracted mechanically—to prevent zombification?” Lu Weiyi asked.
“I asked. Not for now. Zhuang Mobai said that once zombie energy enters the body, it quickly alters human tissue. To stop that, you’d need to act in that narrow time window.”
“Ability users can tolerate a certain amount of zombie energy and can use their abilities to force it out. But ordinary people are too sensitive to zombie energy and don’t have powers to expel it.”
Zhuang Mingxu sighed and said, “Future experiments might require test subjects.”
Lu Weiyi stayed silent. Zhuang Mingxu went on, “I’ve found a few vicious gangs and outlaw enclaves. We’ll lead a team to capture them and make them contribute to the progress of humanity.”
“Righteous as always,” Lu Weiyi rolled his eyes but didn’t object. “Just make sure Zheng Yi and the others know the numbers, and mention materials too. We’ll only help after we’ve kept enough for ourselves.”
After that, Lu Weiyi asked about this year’s special mission for the Unique Squad.
“This year, I want your team to capture some live wild animals and release them on East Island. We’ll purposefully develop it into a natural livestock range,” Zhuang Mingxu said, pulling out a map of East Island. “The problem is: should we let them live entirely wild and self-regulate, or divide the area and intervene artificially?”
“In the short term, we’ll have to intervene,” Lu Weiyi said after studying the map. “They need time to breed and grow; otherwise, they won’t last. We should first collect vegetarian-type mutated animals.”
“Mutated animals mostly eat meat, don’t they?” Zhuang Mingxu raised an eyebrow, thinking of the chicken-eating rabbit and the people-attacking cattle he’d seen.
“Let’s try anyway. Everything needs a process. East Island is large, and some mutated birds already live there. When the earth-ability users were building houses, they found rabbit dens. It won’t be long before small animals start appearing on their own.”
“Alright.” Zhuang Mingxu rolled up the East Island map and pulled out a North Island one. “You’d previously planted some fruit trees up here, right? We could ask the residents to start collecting and bringing back fruit saplings to gradually cultivate a man-made orchard.”
“I’ll just grab some along the way. No need to bother them,” Lu Weiyi replied, confident in Taotao’s ability to move plants.
“Don’t worry about tiring them out—we still need to assign work properly—”
Before Zhuang Mingxu could finish, Lu Weiyi cut in with a smirk, “I just don’t want to pay them with crystal cores. If it’s something I can do on the side, why should I pay them?”
“Haha, cheapskate.” Zhuang Mingxu ruffled Lu Weiyi’s prickly hair.
“You don’t know how expensive basic living supplies are until you’re the one in charge,” Lu Weiyi shot back.
“Fine, we’ll do it your way,” Zhuang Mingxu said, then added, “Also, this year, you’ll need to lead a team here—”
He pointed to a map.
“Before the apocalypse, this place was known for coal production. Go collect some and bring it back. We’ll still need coal to survive this winter.”
Lu Weiyi examined the distance and calculated the route in his mind—then heard Zhuang Mingxu say:
“No trucks—you’ll fly a helicopter.”
“What?” Lu Weiyi was startled. They only had two helicopters. He’d used one once when lost at sea. It hadn’t been touched since.
“Yes,” Zhuang Mingxu confirmed. “The oil island has finished refining a batch of gasoline. It’s enough for several trips. And there’s more good news—Han Jing said there’s a direct underground extension from the oil island, and early surveys suggest it might contain oil.”
Lu Weiyi’s eyes lit up with joy, only to hear Zhuang Mingxu pour cold water on him:
“But with our current equipment, we’re not yet capable of extracting it.”
“Not even with ability users? Let Li Zhuang try. For an earth-ability user, moving things from a few kilometers underground isn’t too difficult.”
Zhuang Mingxu heard how casually he said that and once again felt sorry for the ability users under Lu’s command.
“…You can go ask him yourself.”
“Alright, I’ll talk to him,” Lu Weiyi replied happily, and the next day he sent Li Zhuang to the oil island.
As temperatures continued to rise, the base thrived once more. Through the winter, the management had used action to prove their commitment—there wasn’t a single person who froze or starved to death.
This gave the leadership unprecedented credibility among the people. Once farming resumed, nearly 20,000 people signed up to participate in agricultural work, and the reclaimed area reached over 200,000 mu (around 33,000 acres).
Zhuang Mingxu had them screened and selected the strongest and most capable to form the base’s trade team, which would deliver and exchange goods with nearby Pingjin and Capital bases.
Bai Miao and Li Dongsheng resumed managing their previous roles. At the same time, Lu Weiyi led a squad to hunt zombies near central Pingjin City while also gradually bringing back mutant animals. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
Before the first trade deal with the Pingjin base could officially launch, Tang Bai personally arrived with a small supply of goods. Officially, it was to represent Pingjin Base in establishing friendly cooperation with Half Moon Bay and to apologize for previous conflicts. In reality, it was to check on his wife and daughter.
After some polite exchanges, that evening, Tang Bai quietly made his way to where Xu Wen was staying.
He had been worrying the whole journey about whether they had suffered or been mistreated—but when he saw the chubby little girl who had gained three pounds, his heavy fatherly love was no match for the shock of her weight. The phrase “you’ve suffered” simply couldn’t leave his mouth.
