Chapter 142: One Hundred Thousand Energy Crystals

South City Refuge warehouse.

A group of people were moving box after box of Energy Crystals onto the truck.

A full hundred thousand Grade-1 Energy Crystals—this is almost one-tenth of the South City Refuge's strategic reserves!

"Commander, should we really do this? Isn't this a bit too much?"

The Logistics Department chief looked at those boxes of Energy Crystals and asked uncertainly.

Although he was one of those who agreed to trade with Xuanwu City, taking out a hundred thousand Grade-1 Energy Crystals for a first exploratory trade, Luo Tiancheng's bold move still startled him.

His words immediately drew a chorus of agreement.

"Yes, Commander, I don't object to you trying to trade with the other side, but taking out that many Energy Crystals on the first try just doesn't feel appropriate!"

"I also think taking out a hundred thousand Grade-1 Energy Crystals on the first trade is too much!!"

Outside the warehouse, many senior officials of the refuge voiced doubts; they didn't oppose Luo Tiancheng's proposal, but felt that taking out that many Grade-1 Energy Crystals on the first trade was inappropriate.

Luo Tiancheng didn't speak; he silently took out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.

How could he not know the risks involved?

As the former capital of Su Province, South City far surpasses Su City in both population and military strength.

In the first year after the apocalypse, they basically cleared the city of Mutant Beasts with thunderous force.

In the following two years, they devoted all their efforts to building defenses capable of resisting most Mutant Beast assaults.

It can be said that the present South City Refuge is the foremost super-refuge in all of Su Province and even eastern Huaxia.

But they also face a deadly problem—food shortage.

The apocalypse completely altered the nature of the land.

Vast tracts of land, due to radiation and viral contamination, are no longer suitable for farming.

Although they possess the most advanced hydroponic technology, the yield is merely a drop in the bucket, far from meeting the daily consumption of South City's million survivors.

These past years, they have barely survived by scavenging the city's remaining supplies and enforcing an austere, near-cruel rationing system.

Even so, with South City's current food stores, at most one more year will pass before the entire city plunges into a food crisis.

"Have you all finished speaking?"

Luo Tiancheng fiercely stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, then slowly swept his gaze over everyone present.

That iron-blooded killing aura, honed from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, instantly silenced many of the senior officials present.

"I know all of what you've said."

His voice carried an indisputable authority.

"But don't forget, Zhao Weiguo—he used to be my former superior. I know his character better than anyone here! He's certainly not someone who would spout nonsense for profit!"

"More importantly,"

Luo Tiancheng paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn,

"We have no other choice left."

"At most another year, and our food supplies will be completely exhausted. By then, what will we use to feed the nearly one million survivors in the refuge?"

"Shall we watch them starve to death, or force them to kill each other just to survive?"

His questioning struck each person's heart like a series of heavy hammer blows.

Everyone wore a grim expression; they certainly knew Luo Tiancheng spoke the truth, yet facing the unknown, they still harbored reservations.

"So, we must go through with this trade."

Luo Tiancheng took a deep breath, looking at Lin Hai, who was directing the people moving the Energy Crystals.

"Lin Hai."

"Here!"

Hearing Luo Tiancheng call him, Lin Hai immediately ran over.

"This mission is yours to handle."

Luo Tiancheng looked at Lin Hai, his eyes full of solemnity; he didn't know if what he was doing was right, but he had no other choice.

"Besides completing the trade, you have an even more important task."

"Figure out the details of that Xuanwu City, and… the attitude of that City Lord Lin."

"Such an uncontrolled behemoth is always a huge liability. Even with Commander Zhao's guarantee, I still feel uneasy."

"Yes! Commander! I guarantee to complete the mission!"

Lin Hai hesitated not at all, performing a standard military salute.

The next day, at dawn.

A massive convoy consisting of thirty heavy military trucks and twenty armored personnel carriers, under the watchful eyes of Luo Tiancheng and other senior officials, slowly pulled out of the South City Refuge.

The convoy headed north, and the atmosphere inside grew somewhat oppressive.

Every soldier's face was filled with unease and curiosity.

"Captain, you say… does Xuanwu City really have that much food?"

Inside a personnel carrier, a young soldier couldn't help but whisper a question to the squad leader beside him.

"How would I know?"

The young man called the squad leader replied irritably.

He too had never been to Xuanwu City before; how could he know what it's really like?

However, when the convoy arrived at the outskirts of Xuanwu City after several hours, everyone's mind was filled with a single thought—shock.

A colossal entity, stretching like a mountain range, lay dormant on the distant horizon, its massive body almost touching the clouds in the sky.

Even though several kilometers away, that absolute pressure emanating from the level of life still made the battle-hardened iron-blooded warriors in the convoy feel waves of palpitations.

Just as everyone had not yet recovered from the shock.

Boom—rumble—rumble—

Accompanied by a deep, muffled roar, a stone path tens of meters wide stretched down from above to before them.

Immediately after, a Hummer drove slowly down from above and stopped before them.

A refined middle-aged man stepped out of the vehicle unhurriedly.

"Captain Lin, I didn't expect to see you again so soon!"

Dai Xing looked at Lin Hai, his smile growing brighter.

Lin Hai suppressed the turmoil in his heart, jumped down from the armored vehicle, and strove to keep his voice steady.

"Minister Dai, we meet again. Your city's welcome ceremony is truly… unprecedented."

He thought for a long time, but could only use the word 'unprecedented' to describe it.

"Hehe, our City Lord often says that when dealing with friends who have come from afar, we must naturally show a hundred percent sincerity."

Dai Xing smiled gently and made a 'please' gesture,

"Captain Lin, please. The convoy can drive right up; we have prepared a trading ground for everyone."

"Good."

Lin Hai nodded, turned, and signaled to the convoy.

"Hum—"

The heavy military truck engines rumbled, one after another, cautiously ascending the wide slope made of rock.

Every soldier in the convoy held their breath, their faces filled with tension and disbelief.

Through the windows they watched the ground recede farther and farther, feeling as if they were driving on a road to the sky.

As the convoy entered Xuanwu City, the young soldier who had previously asked a question let out an exclamation.

"My goodness…"