Chapter 1002: Prestige

Screams echoed.

Looking at the crowd of survivors panicking like savages, Lin An instantly realized these people had probably never seen an Awakened One before.

To these people, the way Lin An and Xiong Hanzi broke down the door seemed no different from a monster, really too stimulating.

After a slight frown, he simply released his aura. In an instant, like a superior's crushing pressure, an instantaneous pressure from the third rank, from life strength, spread out, directly suppressing the screaming crowd into collapsing on the ground.

Too lazy to talk.

Before the stiffened crowd, Lin An walked straight to the middle-aged man holding a gun at the front.

He sized him up, slightly bent down, and after a second spoke calmly:

"I ask, you answer."

His tone brooked no argument.

Before him, 33 survivors, disheveled.

At a glance, empty cans and trash bags piled in a nearby corner, everyone's complexion yellow, lips chapped, the air reeking of strong urine and feces.

All these circumstances showed that this group of survivors' days were not looking good.

Hearing Lin An's emotionless inquiry, the director, who had just come to his senses with a belly full of questions, suddenly felt like a duck with its neck grabbed, forcibly swallowing the words on his lips, only able to stiffly nod.

He wore a mournful face; the sudden arrival of Lin An and the other really gave them too much fright.

"How many people are in the post? What kind of people are they? Are you their leader?"

Three questions in a row, under the aura's pressure, the director felt like a mouse facing the top of the food chain.

Is this the legendary Awakened One? No, the news didn't show it this terrifying...

Suppressing the fear in his heart, he stammered his reply:

"3... 34 people.."

"Besides Wang Peng with a broken leg in the back, this is all of us here."

"I'm Zeng Hongtian, director of this aerospace institute... not involved in research, but in launches..."

"The rest are from the communications department, engineers, security department... and the warehouse..."

While speaking, Zeng Hongtian pointed at the silent crowd behind him while explaining to Lin An.

At close range with Lin An, the pressure on him almost made his legs go weak.

Every cell in his body screamed for him to run.

If he weren't a member of a confidential department with regular military training, he really couldn't take it.

He swallowed, and just as Lin An was sizing him up, he too carefully observed the two mysterious people.

In his eyes, Lin An, disguised as a surgical knife, looked like a somewhat aloof young man with a long sword on his back and wearing clean combat fatigues.

He didn't look like a monster.

Under his "ordinary" appearance, it's hard to link the terrifying scene just now with this young man.

After hearing Zeng Hongtian's introduction, Lin An swept his gaze back and forth over the crowd.

The personnel were mixed... few useful people survived.

A faint disappointment flickered and vanished.

On the other side, while the crowd anxiously waited for Lin An's next move, Zhang Tie likewise curiously sized up these savages, seeing everyone's fear, he hehehed:

"What's there to fear? We're here to save you."

"Obey honestly, and you'll eat well and drink spicy!"

"Diu!"

While speaking, Xiong Hanzi kicked aside the empty can at his feet, pulling out a roast chicken from nowhere like a magic trick.

Roasty aroma filled the air; instantly, the scent from the fresh roast chicken shot into everyone's noses like manchineel flower.

Starved for food and drink, these survivors couldn't resist the temptation; instantly a chorus of gulping saliva rose.

But behind the desire lay a hint of wariness.

Not thinking further, after a moment, Lin An looked at the director still secretly sizing him up and spoke directly:

"Do you know where the neighboring military region went? Also, after all this time, has no one come to rescue you?"

Regarding these survivors here, Lin An indeed had considerable doubts.

Food shortage is understandable; after all, with these survivors' abilities, it's normal they'd been stuck in research posts and dared not fight zombies.

The underground ventilation ducts were clearly broken; with power shortage, water supply equipment must also have failed.

If I had arrived any later, these people would likely have all met their end here.

Food shortage-lack of strength-dare not go out, in this vicious cycle shelters often become coffins. He had heard too much of this in his past life.

Although sending messages consumes stamina, Lin An didn't believe these people had never sent a single distress signal.

Hearing Lin An's question, Zeng Hongtian hesitated a moment, then a bitter smile appeared on his face:

"The neighboring military region..."

"We don't know; we only know that before the apocalypse broke out, the military sent people over once to inquire about the meteorite fragments."

"After that they left. After the apocalypse we also contacted them, but got no reply."

"As for seeking help from others..."

Before Zeng Hongtian finished, a female researcher wearing glasses and with disheveled hair showed a look of grief and indignation and spoke out:

"We've tried! But we could only contact the original local government."

"At first it was the mayor; the mayor was fine, saying he'd rescue us soon. After the mayor died, it became the Security Bureau's. The rescue matter kept being delayed, and later it turned into civilian forces taking over!"

"When they heard we were from the satellite base, they directly said we were useless! They stopped caring about us! They even said if there were women, pretty ones could come out themselves, maybe they could join them!"

His chest rose and fall rapidly; in just a few short sentences, though not much was said, given Lin An's familiarity with the apocalypse, he could naturally imagine the situation these survivors faced when seeking help.

Indeed, the aerospace base before the apocalypse was a nation's crown jewel, every staff member a treasure.

But after the Apocalypse, in the eyes of ordinary people, this place is no different from a garbage dump.

Cars can barely run anymore; what's the point of rockets? Setting off firecrackers?

In grief and anger, the section chief who had just interjected looked at Lin An's profile, his eyes half probing, half conflicted, and spoke again:

"This... friend... I don't know what you mean by coming here...?"

Recalling the burly man's words beside this youth just now, his gaze shifted between the roasted chicken and Lin An, longing mixed with struggle.

Lin An turned his head at the sound and spoke calmly:

"The purpose of coming here is simple."

"From now on, you belong to me; follow me and work."

"Those who agree, obey my commands; those who disagree, leave and fend for yourselves."

No nonsense—among these survivors, few are useful, but in this situation, every usable person counts.

Although the Chief Engineer we imagined would be the best to survive has turned into a Zombie, these people at least are familiar with aerospace, right?

Just as his words fell, while Zhang Tie was about to pull out more food to share with their future comrades, the whole survivor group fell into silence, merely exchanging glances.

Huh?

Moments later, a voice, mustering courage, rang out in refusal:

"This... friend..."

"Although we're grateful you came to save us, we... will not join you!"

"We are members of the East Mountain Satellite Base; we will only serve Huaxia!"

"The secrets here are too important!"

He instinctively glanced at the door blown apart by Lin An's bare hands, and at the pit that made his scalp tingle just thinking about it.

Zeng Hongtian's face showed fearless resolve.

It's true that he's afraid, it's true that he wants to eat roasted chicken, and it's even more true that he wants to leave and survive.

But having had contact with outside forces, as aerospace personnel and the nation's pride, they cannot allow themselves to abandon their duties.

In his view, the knowledge they possess is about as useful as that of a cripple in the current environment.

Take them with you? That would be like becoming prisoners—moreover, although the outside world doesn't care about these things, to them they are secrets as vital as life!

Zeng Hongtian swallowed, took a deep breath, and added:

"You're strong, strong, strong! But we also have our duties! We will only accept official recruitment! We will only serve the nation!"

Lin An blinked slightly, looking at the ragged bunch who had all refused him, and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

"They will only... serve Huaxia?"

They've come to this point and still insist on these things—no wonder no one has come to rescue them. The military can't act, and private individuals can't be bothered.

From a certain perspective, they're a bunch of somewhat stubborn and obstinate fools.

Moments later, Lin An stared at Zeng Hongtian with interest; as their eyes met, this bearded, ragged-looking middle-aged man, resembling a refugee, gathered his courage to meet his gaze.

"Our mission is... to defend this place!"

"We... won't go with you!"

Seeing Zeng Hongtian's actions, Lin An also realized these people would indeed only follow the military. Even if the newcomer were strong enough to kill them all in an instant.

He shook his head, saw no point in wasting words, and simply tossed a gold medal from his ring.

"Will they only serve the Huaxia Military?"

"Ding-"

The medal was tossed lightly, drawing a graceful arc in midair before landing in Zeng Hongtian's hand.

The next second, Lin An spoke calmly again:

"Then what about me?"

On the gold medal, a Republican Glory shed a solemn, sacred feeling in the dim light, reflecting a faint glow under the yellow lamp.

On it, clear markings identified the medal's bearer.

The medal came from an award reluctantly issued by the capital authorities; although Lin An didn't care, this honor was high enough to rank among the highest merits in Huaxia.

Standing beside Lin An, Zhang Tie crossed his arms, watching the middle-aged man who had just taken the medal and now stood stunned.

Zeng Hongtian's slightly trembling hand and his incredulous gaze revealed just how shaken he was.

Before Zeng Hongtian could speak, Xiong Hanzi wore a proud expression, thrusting his head forward impatiently and loudly introducing Lin An:

"You damn well look clearly!"

"Standing before you is the General-rank, the Governor of the Three Provinces, the Strongest Representative of the Military!"

"Lin An!!"