Chapter 1413: Uncle Three

At ten o'clock the next morning, the eleventh year of the Calamity's Blizzard finally ended. The sun tore through the thick clouds, illuminating the snow-covered ground; the temperature slowly climbed, and the concentration of Calamity elements in the atmosphere slowly dropped.

The lords, who had fought hard for fifty-seven hours, finally saw the dawn. While encouraging one another over the walkie-talkie channel, they cleared the last layer of snow from the tops of the sheds, greenhouses, and houses. Only after the temperature rose above minus fifteen degrees did they open a crack in the rainproof covers of the sheds and greenhouses, letting the crops inside get some air.

The gap couldn't be too wide—ventilation and heat retention had to be balanced at the same time.

At eleven-thirty in the morning, a jeep had just driven out of Territory One when Tang Huai, carrying a sniper rifle identical to the top sniper's, dashed out from Territory Two. He tripped over the snow on the ground, immediately scrambled back to his feet, and stood on the ruts in the passage waving his arms. "Luo-ge, Luo-ge, over here!"

Soon, Xia Qing heard Tang Huai's whoops come through the walkie-talkie. "Sister Qing, Luo-ge has already left Territory One and entered the passage. Allies who want a photo with me and the sniper rifle, gather at the gate of the Ninth Center in twenty-five minutes!"

"Copy that!"

"Copy that!"

The allies, having safely weathered another Calamity, were immensely excited and rushed outside. The young ones wanted a photo with the sniper rifle, while the older ones just wanted to gather with everyone and chat.

When Luo Pei's vehicle entered the passage between Territory Three and Territory Two, Xia Qing, wearing a full set of Field Grade-3 protective gear and carrying a sniper rifle on her back, walked out and got into Luo Pei's car together with Tang Huai.

Xia Qing took a quick glance at Luo Pei's face and noticed it was a little pale, so she knew his detox treatment last night hadn't been easy. So Xia Qing said with a smile, "Luo-ge, since we rarely get the chance, why don't we both put on single-way see-through protective masks and take a group photo with everyone?"

Tang Huai's eyes instantly went wide. He gazed longingly at Luo Pei in the front seat, and after seeing Luo Pei smile and nod, he excitedly whooped, "Thanks, Luo-ge! Thanks, Sister Qing! Luo-ge, pull over—I'm going back to my territory to change clothes!"

Tang Huai jumped out of the jeep, running back through the snow while whooping, "Lords! Allies! Comrades! Brothers and sisters! Luo-ge and Sister Qing have agreed to take a group photo with us. They're both wearing Field Grade-3 protective gear and single-way see-through protective masks. Anyone who wants to change into protective gear, hurry home and change!"

Why change into protective gear and protective masks? Of course, to GET the same look as the top sniper!!!

Even the usually steady Tang Heng got excited. "Bro, how many single-way see-through protective masks do you have? Bring me one?"

"No problem! I happen to have one extra."

Zhao Ze was regretful. "I don't have a single-way see-through protective mask."

Shi Du followed right after. "Me neither. Huo-ge, do you have one?"

Huo Zhun was a retired special forces soldier; the single-way see-through protective mask was standard issue for special forces, so of course he had one. However—"I only have one here, and my dad has already grabbed it and run off."

Lord Huo Lei also wants a photo.

Single-way see-through masks cost quite a bit more than double-way see-through ones. None of them were important figures, and none had large scars on their faces that needed covering, so there was no need to spend extra points buying single-way see-through protective masks.

Just then, the middleman Kuang Qingwei came online. "Fellow allies, I have single-way see-through protective mask films, twenty-five points each. Anyone buying, give me a shout and I'll bring them right over."

Zhao Ze immediately whooped, "Qing-ge, I want two!"

Shi Du whooped along, "Qing-ge, I want three!"

Little Tan Qi came online. "Uncle Qing, I want three too!"

The usually frugal Yuan Yan also splurged for once. "Qing-ge, I want two."

Hearing everyone rushing to buy the films, Zhang San also got into the spirit. "Qing-ge, I'll take one too."

That "Qing-ge" from Zhang San knocked the excitedly-counting Kuang Qingwei flat on the ground. The lord channel went silent for over ten seconds before Tang Huai set it ablaze again. "Allies, Third Brother is coming out to take a group photo with us too! Xin Yu, you coming too?"

Xin Yu came online with a single, crisp word: "Okay."

Tang Huai's excitement reached its peak. "Awesome! Xin Yu, Huo Zhun, you both bring your full Black Blade sets, Sister Qing's got her Black Blade too—let's take a photo of the four Black Blade warriors today!"

Huo Zhun whooped, "No problem!"

Xia Qing… What the hell are the "four Black Blade warriors"!

The lord channel was set ablaze once again.

Luo Pei, who was driving, smiled warmly. "Hasn't been this lively in a long time."

Indeed it had. Xia Qing suggested, "Luo-ge, why don't we put on the single-way see-through protective masks now and add to the atmosphere?"

Luo Pei, steering with one hand, looked very relaxed. "It's fine, we'll put them on when it's time for the photo. These next few days I need to move around more, let everyone know I'm very weak right now. Only after my injuries heal can I play the pig to eat the tiger and make some big bets with others."

Xia Qing laughed. "You heard about my bet with Zhou Chuan'an?"

Luo Pei laughed out loud. "It's not just me who's heard—it's spread all over Hui-Three Base. Zhou Chuan'an has got himself another nickname now: 'Twenty-One.'"

Twenty-One—Xia Qing's sniper ability compared to Zhou the Baldy's was twenty to one. This new nickname was dripping with sarcasm.

Xia Qing asked curiously, "Who came up with that?"

"A Jin. He publicly called out, telling the team members to go collect their debt from Twenty-One." Luo Pei looked ahead at Tan Qi and Ye Shiyi, who were already standing outside the Ninth Center's main gate, excitedly waving at them, and at Jiang Ying, Qi Fu, Yuan Yan, and Shi Mu standing nearby. His smile grew even warmer.

Xia Qing jumped out of the car and saw Hearing Zhu Li, wearing Field Grade-3 protective gear, running out of Territory Six carrying a large bag.

After Zhang San and Xin Yu also arrived wearing Field Grade-3 protective gear and single-way see-through protective masks, the allies who had already applied films to their masks lined up in territory order and took a big group photo.

Tang Huai, with one sniper rifle on his back and two slung over his shoulder, stood between Xia Qing and Luo Pei. Even wearing the pure-black protective mask that hid his face, his posture alone showed how excited he was.

After the group photo was done, Zhang San called Xia Qing and Luo Pei over. "Let's take one of the three of us."

Seeing her idol was in the mood for photos, Xia Qing—an ultimate devoted fan—immediately took her sniper rifle back from Tang Huai's shoulder and stood on either side of Zhang San with Luo Pei.

After GETting a photo with her idol, Xia Qing raised her hand to wave over her good friend. "Xin Yu, want a photo?"

"Sure!"

Xin Yu immediately walked over and stood beside Xia Qing, GETting a photo of a top boss with two top snipers.

Zhang San, wearing a black protective mask, stood among the lively crowd with a sense of time standing still. The last time he had heard so much sincere laughter was before the Calamity…

Little Shiyi gathered her courage and walked up to Zhang San, tilting her head up to ask, "Th… Th… Uncle Three, may I take a photo with you?"

After entering school, Ye Shiyi had only then learned how remarkable this tall, thin lord of Territory Seven was, how great a contribution he had made to humanity's resistance against the Calamities, and she worshipped him deeply. After Zhang San gave a lecture at the school, Ye Shiyi's worship of him reached its peak.

So she was the first to gather her courage and open her mouth to ask if she could take a photo with him.

Zhang San came back to himself and extended his hand toward the two little girls in black protective masks who had walked up to him.