Chapter 62: A Drop in the Bucket

While Lin Yifan was diligently beginning to hand‑craft the medicine, Chen Yunuo was, at that moment, continuously discussing with several guild core members.

"Leader, what should we do now! Several of our members have gone offline."

"The Strong Mosquito Repellent that should be distributed has already been sent out, but the quantity is limited."

"So we just watch them go offline with our eyes open! That's too pitiful!"

"We have no way either! We can barely sustain ourselves, let alone help that many people."

"Why not ask that big shot? I feel he's definitely the number one in our District; if he steps forward, maybe more people could survive!"

……

Chen Yunuo frowned, looked at the messages from these old partners, took a deep breath, and solemnly sent a message saying:

"I want to save people, and I know you want to save people too, but we truly lack the capability. Our guild's rapid start was thanks to that big shot."

"So regarding the rescue, I can ask that big shot, but if he has no intention, I hope you can understand."

"Do not try to morally blackmail that big shot; from what I know, he is certainly not someone who can be morally blackmailed. If we anger him, the cost will be unbearable."

Then, she sent a message to Lin Yifan:

"Lin Yifan, do you still have any Strong Mosquito Repellent? The hot‑spring disaster started less than an hour ago, and already four to five thousand people have died; so many lives, it's truly tragic."

"If you still have Strong Insecticide, or any materials, I hope you can produce more and give them to me for rescue."

"Rest assured, I will not let your effort be in vain! This time I've attracted many members, and because it's a life‑saving favor, their Loyalty is quite good."

"I believe we can soon accumulate some precious supplies; then I'll use those supplies to repay you equally. Does that work?"

Lin Yifan read the message and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly; he hadn't expected Chen Yunuo to be so kind‑hearted.

But this actually suited him; he didn't want to draw much attention now, and had no interest in a lone savior.

Yet he wanted a reward, so he had to let as many people survive as possible, and having Chen Yunuo handle it was the best fit.

Lives hang in the balance; each minute of delay brings mass deaths.

Lin Yifan dared not waste time, immediately agreed, and began hand‑crafting Strong Mosquito Repellent.

Perhaps due to increased proficiency, he used to craft one batch at a time, but now he can produce three or even five batches at once, greatly saving time.

He made a batch and immediately handed it to Chen Yunuo; after fifteen minutes, he had completed all the materials.

Even so, there were only a little over 2,000 units of Strong Mosquito Repellent, which is still a drop in the bucket for the District's Survivors.

But Lin Yifan had no other means; his materials were all exhausted, and even if he wanted to save more, he was powerless.

Even if he felt unwilling, it's like a clever housewife unable to cook without rice.

Anyway, he felt his conscience was clear.

But a clear conscience is a clear conscience; yet when he glanced at the quest reward and thought of not obtaining it, he suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.

"No, I must complete this quest!"

Lin Yifan clenched his teeth, his eyes flickering, and an idea instantly sprang to mind.

He directly opened the chat channel; the time was already 10:00 PM.

Usually at this hour, many people have already rested, since daytime scavenging for supplies consumes a lot of Physical Stamina.

If you don't rest properly at night, you really can't endure it.

But tonight, the chat channel was bustling beyond measure.

No, it wasn't bustling; it was a tragic battlefield of chaos.

"Fellow compatriots, I've been bitten all over by mosquitoes and I'm about to die. I'm Chen Shaojie, living at No. 13 Jin Yang Street, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province. My mother is Li Xiumei, my father is Chen Yonghua. If anyone sees them, please convey this: Son apologizes to you!"

"I am Li Songyun, my Shelter has been flooded by mosquitoes and I'm about to die. My mother is Zhang Yuhong… If any compatriot encounters my parents, please tell them: Son misses you!"

"I am Wu Liuyun, I live at No. 13 Wuyun Street, Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province. My dad is Wu Langcheng…"

"I am Chen Shaoqi, living in Hongyu Village, Baijiang County, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province…"

"I am Li Dongsheng, living in Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province…"

……

One statement after another, each was the final dirge of a Survivor.

Because after their messages, their avatars immediately fell into darkness.

And the others still alive also responded in turn:

"Chen Shaojie, I am also Chen Shaojie, I remember your words; if I meet your parents, I will definitely tell them!"

"Li Songyun, I also share the surname Li, I remember your words; when the chance comes I will definitely tell them!"

"Wu Liuyun, I am also from Jinyun County, Zhejiang; if I encounter your parents, I will certainly convey your words to them."

……

One memory after another, even across text, one can feel everyone's sorrow.

I had thought Lin Yifan could remain cold and detached, yet he couldn't help feeling moved.

The mosquito swarm disaster began at 9:40; now it's only 10:05, just 25 minutes later, and the District's total population has already dropped to 70,000.

Before the mosquito swarm disaster, there were nearly 90,000 people; in this short span, almost 20,000 have gone offline.

But when will the mosquito swarm disaster end?

No one knows, not even Lin Yifan himself.

If this disaster lasts until tomorrow morning, how many will survive?

Lin Yifan examined carefully and found that the victims were mostly those whose Shelters had not been upgraded to level two and lacked Strong Mosquito Repellent.

They were using ordinary mosquito repellent purchased from the 'Heaven and Earth Society', which had a slight effect.

But against such a massive mosquito swarm raid, it was utterly ineffective.

If one wishes to save these people, there are only two ways: provide Strong Mosquito Repellent, or upgrade the Shelter to level two.

Whichever method is used, the required supplies will be astronomical.

All of the Human has about seventy‑to‑eighty thousand Districts, and even if he saves every remaining person in a District, can he really reach the top three?

Even if he could truly enter the top three, would that reward be worth him spending so many supplies?

Lin Yifan doesn't know, but deep down he still wants to give it a try.

Moreover, the most important point is that even if he is willing, relying only on himself, he simply doesn't have enough supplies to support it.

What should he do?

Just give up like that?

Of course not.