Chapter 140

Inside the meeting room, a deathly silence prevailed; no one dared to speak.

After Nie Ping finished speaking, his eyelids drooped, and he prepared to leave in a desolate manner; before walking out, he muttered to himself.

"Perhaps I'm getting old..."

"Actually, I shouldn't be the one saying these things..."

He glanced at the crisp, neatly pressed uniforms of those present, then at his own somewhat wrinkled military attire.

"When one gets old... one doesn't love cleanliness as before..."

Nie Ping shook his head and slowly walked out the door, but behind him, General Lin Zhan suddenly spoke.

"Perhaps after you read these, you'll understand why I think this way."

He calmly met Nie Ping's gaze as the latter turned his head, then picked up the report on the table and waved it twice.

Special Operations Team Seven - Long An Unit Personnel List

Long An Base.

Lin An raised his hand to quiet the excited crowd, his gaze thoughtful.

As expected, everything has been moved forward.

The ranking list that only appeared when the first Second Level safe zone was established in my past life has now appeared.

It's just that the two characters "Long An" actually attract a bit of attention.

However, it's not a big deal; as his strength grows, his name and everything about him will eventually catch the attention of the higher-ups.

The two characters "Long An" hold special meaning for him: on one hand, taking one character each from "Black Dragon" and his own name, symbolizing Lin An's hope that the Black Dragon will someday become the guardian defending the safe zone.

On the other hand, it is related to his six years of military service...

In my past life, I was merely an ordinary person, so naturally no one would pay attention to someone like me, a minor figure.

But in the future, as he gradually reveals his talent, someone will surely make a big deal out of his background.

Unlike the trainees' cheers and excitement, the few members of the rescue squad, looking grim and worried, stared up at Lin An standing on high ground.

Team voice chat.

Lin Dui, we've all received the system alert about the zombie tide attack.

"Damn it, there's a new mission again!"

Zhang Tie clenched his fists, although Lin An had previously told them that once the safe zone was established, there would be a zombie siege.

But they had received two such notices in a row.

"1. Safe Zone Defense Mission: Repel the zombie tide attack numbering thirty times the safe zone's total population (total: 83190)"

"Upon completion, reward: formula for producing basic awakening elixir (Awakening Elixir: reduces awakening mortality by 30%)"

"Mission start time: 29 days, 23 hours, 56 minutes from now"

"2. Rescue Squad Defense Mission: Repel an attack of 200,000 zombies, mutant quantity:???"

"Mission start time: 19 days, 23 hours, 56 minutes from now."

"Similar missions detected; mission difficulty is being combined, current mission:"

"Defend Long An Base (Horror-tier): Repel 300,000 zombies, mutant count:???"

"Upon completion, reward: formula for producing intermediate awakening elixir (Awakening Elixir: reduces awakening mortality by 60%)"

"Mission start time: 29 days, 23 hours, 56 minutes from now."

A zombie tide of three hundred thousand attacks, mixed with an unknown number of mutants.

Zhang Tie, Wen Ya, and the others exchanged grim glances.

They have witnessed how terrifying it is when zombie numbers exceed five digits—endless killing, capable of draining any Awakened One to death.

This is different from when they previously entered the mall, where merely surviving sufficed, and if worse came to worst, they could fight their way out.

After establishing the safe zone, they can only hold their ground; it's not over until the zombie tide is completely wiped out.

"Brother Lin, does every safe zone have to face such a difficult mission after it's built?!"

An Jing Tian was somewhat puzzled, wondering why the mission difficulty had increased again.

According to this calculation, who could possibly hold out?

A zombie tide of 300,000 is not many compared to the zombie population of Linjiang City, but the base has fewer than 3,000 people.

To be precise, the number of personnel truly capable of combat does not exceed forty, and that even includes the newly awakened Liu Shiming.

Each person would have to face an average of ten thousand zombies...

Not counting the mutants.

For a moment, several people felt as if a heavy stone weighed upon their hearts.

Lin An noticed that several people's emotions were off, and he involuntarily spoke up in the team voice chat to comfort them.

"Our situation is somewhat special, so the difficulty is higher."

"Don't worry, I have my own way to solve it."

His voice calm and steady, hearing his words, several people let out a slight sigh of relief.

They believed in Lin An; with Lin An present, nothing was a problem.

Lin An was not surprised that additional defense missions would arise after the safe zone was established.

His use of the Doomsday Base Vehicle to establish the safe zone is itself an exception.

Where there is gain, there is loss.

The Doomsday Base Vehicle spared him the requirements of doing missions, but it likewise imposed enormous pressure.

Enjoying the benefits of establishing a safe zone ahead of time inevitably requires bearing an advanced cost.

Under normal circumstances, any force capable of establishing a safe zone would certainly have substantial armed forces, plus hundreds of Awakened Ones.

For them, merely resisting zombies numbering thirty times their population can only be described as extremely difficult, yet it remains barely manageable.

To wear the crown, one must bear its weight.

If one wants to be the first to establish a safe zone and to accelerate one's strength increase, one must inevitably do what ordinary people cannot.

After the missions were merged, the zombie tide's attack time was also merged to one month later, which is the only good news.

With an extra ten days, the safe zone could gain an extra day of construction.

Suppressing his thoughts, Lin An released his mental power and slowly spoke:

"First, Long'an Base has been established, and you will all be the first batch of survivors in the safe zone."

"Here, I propose three requirements."

Disliking nonsense, Lin An directly announced the three great iron laws starting today.

"First article! Without my permission, anyone is forbidden from leaking any information about Long'an Base to the outside. Violators... death!"

As the word 'death' left his mouth, the crowd below suddenly fell silent.

They could feel the resolute killing intent in Lin An's tone.

Originally they had been thinking of waiting for the chat channel to open so they could go show off a bit, after all this is the world's first safe zone.

In a certain sense, their status is no less than having an apartment in Zhongnanhai in their past life!

They didn't understand the doubts, but Lin An's authority was too overwhelming, so for a moment no one dared to question.

"Second article, anyone who disturbs the safe zone's order, any violation will be executed on the spot!"

"The violation regulations are formulated by the enforcement team; if there is deception or harboring... they will be executed together!"

As soon as his words fell, everyone began to discuss in panic, even the enforcement department that personally drafted the regulations was no exception.

The regulations currently established by the base are quite simple.

From minor offenses like theft, robbery, insult, slander, laziness, to major ones like enslavement, rape, obscenity, framing, and murder—all constitute violations of the system.

For these disciplinary offenses, the punishment originally devised by Jing Tian An and others was at most judgment, after which execution could be decided discretionarily.

For threats, insulting others and the like, at most it would be corporal punishment like flogging, or confinement.

Just that alone already seemed overly strict to many people.

But who would have thought Lin An's methods would be so brutal—any crime merits death? How could they possibly accept this!?

Especially since everyone is treated equally, does that not mean the Awakened Ones will receive no special treatment?

Put bluntly, what gives these Awakened Ones the right to be flanked by attendants and have female students throw themselves into their arms?

Besides hoping the Awakened Ones will protect themselves, it is mostly a covert threat, an invisible intimidation.

Following Lin An's approach, all Awakened Ones in the entire base, except the few he brought himself, will all have to die!

The murmurs below grew louder and louder, only a few noticed the increasing impatience and icy coldness in Lin An's eyes.

Lin An's idea is simple: in chaotic times, one must use heavy measures.

Awakened Ones and ordinary people must be treated equally!

After the apocalypse erupted and order collapsed, without restraint, many have already lost themselves in power.

After the safe zone resists the zombie tide, it can obtain the formula for the awakening potion, which means any ordinary person in the base could be a reserve for the Awakened Ones.

Unlike the past life's various safe zones, which used the awakening potion as a means to exploit ordinary people.

Lin An intends to distribute it for free based on contribution.

In the past life, after three years, the huge chasm between ordinary people and Awakened Ones had already reached an irreparable point.

It can even be said they are two different species.

Many were oppressed before awakening, but after fortuitously becoming Awakened, they would instead intensify their oppression of their former 'selves'.

Thus, among players, the later the stage, the harder it becomes to unite against the enemy.

The reason is simple: when I was weak you treated me like a dog; once I gain strength, I will surely repay you tenfold.

In this vicious cycle, the awakening potion originally meant to boost survivors' strength eventually becomes like a prohibited drug, and no base dares to distribute it casually.

They are afraid, they are fearful.

They fear that those who were oppressed, once they gain power, will treat them with the same methods.

Under the scorching sun, beneath Lin An's feet.

The Awakened Ones among the trainees cannot understand why Lin An would do this, when clearly they are the ones who should be won over.

Yes, Lin An said the base would implement martial rule, stricter.

They can accept that having their rights stripped away is tolerable.

But now you treat us the same as that bunch of good-for-nothings?

I don't even have the right to command them? Even my life is as important as theirs!?

Then what reason do I have to risk my life, what reason to face dangerous zombies!

The crowd grew heated; ultimately a male Awakened One, surrounded by supporters, lifted his neck and, full of indignation, began to question Lin An:

"Lord!"

"Our work is more dangerous than theirs! We also have to protect them! On what grounds should we receive the same treatment!"

He pointed at an ordinary student nearby, and the crowd instantly frightened, began to retreat.

"Do you think this is fair!"

The male student stared straight at Lin An; he indeed feared Lin An's strength, but he did not feel he had said anything wrong.

Having borne the danger, one should receive recompense!

Seeing Lin An remain silent, he gathered his courage and shouted loudly:

"Lord Lin An! Now it's the apocalypse!"

"Survival of the fittest! The strong reign supreme! You treat us the same as ordinary people! This is unfair!"

In the silence, everyone raised their heads, gazing at Lin An, awaiting his reply.

Especially those ordinary trainees.

Although Lin An's regulations are a bit stricter, they undoubtedly benefit them more, but...

Lord Lin An will probably make some concessions.

After all, the value of Awakened Ones is indeed far higher than theirs...

Lin An looked around, then let out a light chuckle.

"Yes."

"What you said is correct."

"Doing this... is indeed unfair."

The male student who mustered courage to speak up and question let out a sigh of relief; it seems Lord Lin An took his words to heart.

Yeah, I am an Awakened One.

Aren't we supposed to face a zombie siege soon?

Without them, are we supposed to rely on those ordinary people who can't even hold a knife steady to go die?

However, Lin An's tone shifted, and he sighed.

He tilted his head slightly, seeming quite troubled.

"I don't like unfairness."

"But I also don't have any good solution."

"So..."

"I can only solve the person who raised the question."

"Bang!"

Like a substantive mental shock instantly shattered the male student's skull.

Brain matter burst, and the sprayed blood dyed the black-gold ground red.

The whole venue fell silent; everyone watched in horror as the headless male student's body swayed and collapsed to the ground.

The next second.

Lin An's voice was no longer calm; his violent mental power locked onto everyone present, and the icy, bone-piercing killing intent pressed against their brows like a tangible force.

"Clause three! My orders brook no questioning!"

"Violators die!"

The violent mental power precisely split into a hundred strands.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang"

Gorgeous blood-colored fireworks burst forth, scattering across the land.