The convoy set out towards the city where Da Xiong was located.
Along the way, they tactfully avoided large factions and annexed smaller ones.
Useless individuals were killed, while useful ones were captured and sent back to their base with the spoils.
The leader squandered the seized resources, eating half and discarding half, then watching the people behind him fight like dogs for the leftovers.
They laughed heartily at the front, living incredibly comfortable lives every day.
Unbeknownst to them, all these scenes were captured by satellites and sent to various bases.
Although the other seven bases were no saints, they still had righteous factions.
Moreover, as the three bases united and their influence grew, the leaders of other bases couldn't sit still.
"If you become stronger and act like this, you'll trample me underfoot in the future. Will I have a good life then?"
The other bases also began to stir in secret.
Seeing these scenes, some powerful, independent bases became even more fearful.
"Do you remember the chaos of the Five Barbarians' invasion?"
"The Han people were almost wiped out, resorting to cannibalism. Women and children became food stores, subjected to wanton abuse and slaughter."
"This scene is not much different from back then."
Survivors in smaller bases feared for their lives. Under the guidance of a certain faction, they hid elsewhere, first avoiding the main force of the three bases.
However, they left behind quite a mess.
The allied forces of the three bases were arrogant at first, but by the fifth day, they had not encountered a single survivor, nor found any supplies.
The massive army had grown to three hundred thousand, far exceeding the initial estimates.
The provisions they brought were insufficient, and the supplies they scavenged were running out.
Haozi's gaze fell upon the "food storage"...
——————
Da Xiong drove his pickup truck up the mountain.
After passing through layers of checkpoints, they finally reached their destination.
An Nuan got out of the car and looked around. "Radar Base?"
"Yes, a military unit was stationed here before. After the apocalypse, a group of people who didn't leave built this base. The current leader is the former commander of the base, a man in his fifties."
"You are about the same age as his granddaughter, so he should be reasonable."
A fifty-year-old man with a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old granddaughter?
How was that possible?
An Nuan, followed by Chen Wenjing and Chang Kai, went inside after undergoing body searches, infrared scanning, and laser scans.
The person who received them was also a middle-aged man.
His head was square and his appearance was righteous. His posture suggested he had undergone military training.
He must have lived in the military for a long time.
Da Xiong introduced, "This is Deputy Officer Hao, Hao Yunfeng. Everyone here calls him Commander Hao. Don't let his stern appearance fool you, he's easily provoked!"
Hao Yunfeng turned back and said sternly, "Silence! The base must be solemn!"
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you. This place is also under strict military management! So, even if the conditions are good, you can apply to join freely, but few people can get in and fewer are willing to stay long."
Hao Yunfeng glared at him. So much nonsense!
How could he slander them like that?
It was clearly those cowardly and weak individuals who couldn't endure it.
He himself had endured it and was living well.
An Nuan could tell that the people here were exceptionally spirited.
It was not easy for these people to persevere; she certainly couldn't.
With her lazy lifestyle, she wouldn't last a day.
"We're here."
Hao Yunfeng swiped his card to enter the elevator. After descending to the -6th floor, they entered a large circular room filled with various instruments.
Some instruments were still running calculations, and people in camouflage uniforms walked back and forth.
Hao Yunfeng stood at attention, the sound of his boots clashing pleasantly.
"Report! The people have been brought!"
"Thank you for your trouble! Welcome to my Frost Base, children!"
The man had short, silver-white hair and a pipe clenched between his teeth. He turned and smiled at them.
His skin was old, but his physique was incredibly robust, superior to many young people.
Especially the sharp glint in his eyes, which indicated he was not to be trifled with.
Da Xiong walked over with a smile and gave him a bear hug.
"Old man, you're in great shape! I'm relieved to see you so healthy."
"Speak quickly if you have something to say, fart quickly if you have something to fart. I don't have time for your nonsense."
Quite straightforward!
An Nuan liked his personality.
The character of a base was inseparable from its leader.
One could say that the tone of the base was set by the leader.
Like her, lazy and laissez-faire, her community followed her disposition.
An Nuan could feel that this base was righteous and strong from the moment she entered, and the leader exuded the same aura.
She took two steps forward. "Hello, my name is An Nuan. These two are Chen Wenjing and Chang Kai, both my companions. We've come to see you about the allied forces of the three bases."
"Ah, what is your rank?"
Da Xiong said sheepishly, "Old man, do you think I would bring you cowards?"
"Don't underestimate this girl just because she's young. She's now the leader of our Hundred Great Regiments, and she's very capable!"
"And she's very loyal! There aren't many loyal people these days."
The old man glared at him.
With just a look, Da Xiong gave a timid, foolish grin and stepped aside.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Chen Shouye, and I am the leader of this base. I know why you've come, but how much confidence do you have? The opposing force is an allied army composed of three hundred thousand ability users and mutants, equipped with heavy weaponry. What do you have to fight them with?"
An Nuan understood this was a test.
If they answered well, there was a possibility of cooperation.
If they answered poorly, forget cooperation, their very lives would be at stake here.
Although they were all Rank Eight, this base had seventy thousand people, the majority of whom were strong and healthy individuals.
Weaponry and equipment were also top-notch.
If it came to a fight, neither side would have an advantage.
Furthermore, their own strength was not weak, and they wouldn't care how many troops or how much ammunition you had.
"Don't they have it?"
"Their equipment is even more complete and better."
An Nuan thought for a moment but couldn't come up with a perfect answer, so she decided to be direct.
"The three of us are all Rank Eight. The people I brought are basically Rank Six. I've also arranged for people to flank them from the rear. Is that enough?"
"Rank Eight?"
Da Xiong's eyes bulged.
"I haven't even reached Rank Seven yet, and you're already Rank Eight? Nuan sister, are you not awake? Did yesterday's alcohol get to your head? You can't just say such things!"
Chen Wenjing activated her mental energy, stirring their nerves.
The mental power of soldiers was the strongest.
The mental power of ordinary soldiers was already difficult to shake, and for veteran soldiers like Hao Yunfeng and the old man, who were also ability users, it was even harder.
The old man believed her instantly.
He grinned, his crow's feet stretching so long they could catch a fly.
An Nuan was puzzled.
This smile was so strange; what did it mean?