As their situation stabilized, a piece of bad news arrived from City A's base. A giant symbiote had appeared in one of the city's slums. In just one week, the symbiote's attack had killed tens of thousands of people. Ultimately, to protect more lives, the administrators of City A's base ordered a small nuclear bomb to be dropped on the slum.
The symbiote was annihilated, and along with it, nearly ten thousand ordinary people were killed. City A's base had never been a place of fairness. Those ordinary people, living difficult lives, had previously endured silently and dared not confront the base. After this incident, someone immediately organized the commoners to "rebel."
City A's base was split in two: one part was the East District, led by the so-called aristocratic class, and the other was the West District, composed of ordinary people. Both sides had ability users, and their forces were evenly matched. Initially, they were at odds, with the West District heavily raiding the East District's resources. It took several days before both sides reached an agreement of non-interference.
Following this upheaval, people in some smaller bases elsewhere became restless, fearing they too might become casualties or victims of symbiote attacks if anything else happened. Many decided to come to Lin Cheng base. However, some faced formidable obstacles like large rivers and the symbiote-infested Shi Li Lian Lian Scenic Area on the best route to Lin Cheng base, making them uneasy.
Finally, someone contacted Jin Wen Ye, pleading for their assistance. Jin Wen Ye convened a meeting of important figures from the base to discuss the matter.
He stated directly, "Our original intention in establishing this base was to save more people. Now that people are willing to join, of course, we should agree. The symbiote in Shi Li Lian Lian has already killed many people, and it is likely to threaten us in the future. Therefore, I suggest we directly drop a nuclear bomb on Shi Li Lian Lian to destroy the symbiote there, allowing people from other places to come here."
Others raised their hands in agreement one after another. When the number of assenting individuals exceeded two-thirds, the proposal was decided. To accept more survivors, the base had to expand outwards. They hadn't repaired the gates during this period for two reasons: firstly, they anticipated many survivors seeking refuge, and secondly, due to the virus infection, Shen Zhong Yan had been using powerful attacks lately, eliminating anomalies before they even reached the gates.
Their plan was to develop the entire Lin Cheng city into a base. No matter how large, it would be limited to this scope, especially since the world's population had dwindled to less than one-fifth of its pre-apocalypse levels. Many large cities had become desolate ruins. Lin Cheng, which once had millions of inhabitants, now had only a little over a hundred thousand, a significant difference.
Before people from other bases could set off, they received a group of "international friends" returning from abroad. Reportedly, they were from a multinational corporation that once held influence comparable to Jin Wen Ye's Jin Corporation. However, Jin Corporation's core was in China, while that company's parent company was overseas.
The primary reason this group chose Lin Cheng base was Lin Wan, who possessed the spiritual spring space. Their first request upon arrival was for spiritual spring water.
Jin Wen Ye showed strong resistance to this, even contemplating refusing someone's admission for the first time. Shen Qian, seeing his thoughts, said, "I find that group quite restless, and their intentions might not be pure. If you don't want them to join, just refuse."
Jin Wen Ye hesitated, "The information they brought about the R virus is very valuable. Perhaps with that data, the research department can develop effective drugs and vaccines, as well as weapons. I cannot refuse people who are beneficial to the base based on my personal preferences."
As for ability users, even if they claimed their abilities were powerful, Jin Wen Ye was not particularly concerned. No matter how strong, they couldn't surpass Shen Zhong Yan.
That group returned by plane, manufactured by their company and modified to withstand the intrusions encountered along the way. The weapons they brought were also all things the base was currently in short supply of. The information on the R virus was extremely valuable, making it difficult for Jin Wen Ye to refuse them outright.
Shen Qian said, "Then think more broadly. We also provide spiritual spring water to others. If they join, they should be given it too. Treat them as ordinary refugees. As for influence, don't worry, Xiao Yan and I are both on your side, and they won't cause any trouble."
The management of Lin Cheng base, to outsiders, appeared to be a clear case of family control. It was widely rumored that Shen Zhong Yan was Jin Wen Ye's brother-in-law. Jin Wen Ye acted as the public face, while Shen Zhong Yan was the admired top expert in the post-apocalyptic world among many survivor bases, serving as Lin Cheng base's protector. The woman with the spiritual spring space was Jin Wen Ye's wife.
Having gained all these advantages, countless people envied Jin Wen Ye, the administrator.
The people arriving this time not only brought valuable items beneficial to them but, more importantly, included several high-level ability users. In other bases, such a configuration would be seen as a power grab.
It was no wonder Jin Wen Ye was wary of them.
"I know, I'm just worried about Wan Wan. If she knew those people were here for her, she might not take it well."
Lin Wan was four to five months pregnant. Jin Wen Ye was most concerned about her being stimulated or experiencing any complications.
Shen Qian also fell silent.
"The decision to keep them or not is yours. We will support you. If it really comes to it, we can just snatch their things and drive them out. After all, a few dozen people can't defeat us."
This remark made Jin Wen Ye chuckle, "Mr. Shen, I remember you used to be very proper and a model of a gentleman. How has it come to this...?"
"This is called adapting to local customs. What time is it? Being a gentleman can't be eaten as food. Besides, being a gentleman wasn't my true intention before; I just had to act like a decent person among a crowd."
Jin Wen Ye couldn't help but laugh heartily. Lin Wan knocked and entered, seeing them both laughing so hard that they could barely stand. Curious about what they were discussing, she asked.
Shen Qian composed himself slightly and said, "A group of people has arrived at the base, claiming to be from the management family of the SH Group. They've brought a lot of weapons and materials related to the R virus and want to join us, but their condition is that they can use the spiritual spring water freely."
"The Sang Hua Group from France in Europe?"
There was only one famous group of that caliber, and a company of this magnitude wouldn't share a name. Lin Wan had naturally heard of them.
"Yes," Su Dan novel network.
"You don't want them to join?" Lin Wan immediately guessed the reason. "If the things they brought are truly useful, then there's no reason to refuse. The current output of the spiritual spring is enough to supply the entire base, so you don't need to worry, A Ye."
Jin Wen Ye's worries extended beyond just that.
He had a feeling that those people were not here with good intentions and had ulterior motives, yet they were connected to Lin Wan. Concern made him act erratically, which was why he hesitated.
"You two discuss it. Whether you keep them or not, we will support your decision."
After Shen Qian left, Jin Wen Ye voiced his concerns. Lin Wan immediately understood his meaning and said, "Since their goal is me, then I will go meet them. Don't worry, I have the space. If anything happens, I can enter it immediately. Besides, Xiao Qian and the others are here, so it will be fine."