Apocalypse King System
Chapter 207 207: Survivor Base

Meng Jiamin's fear wasn't just about the gun in the man's hand; more importantly, he feared the consequences of a gunshot alerting nearby zombies. If that happened, they might all end up dead right there.

Therefore, these scavenging teams rarely used firearms. It was simply too noisy, and unless they were pushed to the extreme or in enclosed spaces where sound wouldn't carry, using guns was typically avoided.

"Yes, we're from a nearby settlement. We're out searching for supplies," Meng Jiamin responded cautiously.

"That's good to know. I've been hiding nearby as a survivor. There are some stored supplies at home, which is how I've managed to survive until now. Since there's a gathering place for survivors, could you take me there?" Derick holstered his gun, revealing a faint smile.

The men breathed a sigh of relief, but their guard wasn't completely down. In the apocalypse, the threat of death came not only from zombies but also from other survivors. The reason could be as trivial as a bottle of water or a packet of instant noodles. The ugliness of human nature surfaced rapidly under the pressure of survival in the apocalypse.

"Of course, can I know your name, friend?" Meng Jiamin hurriedly stepped forward, addressing him warmly.

"Derick..."

"Then I'll call you Derick. I hope you don't mind," Meng Jiamin said with enthusiasm.

Derick shook his head, indicating he didn't mind.

"We just finished collecting supplies on this trip and were planning to return to the base. Derick, you can come with us." Meng Jiamin signaled discreetly to the other three men. The four of them, along with Derick, left the supermarket together, backpacks slung over their shoulders.

On the way, Meng Jiamin appeared very enthusiastic, continuously narrating post-apocalyptic events to Derick, including some rules inside the settlement.

The other three men, however, closely followed behind the two, seemingly walking normally but keeping a close eye on the gun holstered at Derick's waist. It was as if they were ready to act if he made any sudden moves.

Meng Jiamin didn't believe a single word Derick said. How could someone stay at home for so many days and still look so clean? Knowing that the water supply in the city had been cut off for half a month, and seeing that he dared to roam alone in the apocalypse, he didn't look like an ordinary person who would stay inside for almost a month without going out.

Derick, of course, noticed the subtle actions of the four men. However, it was normal vigilance, and if they had any malicious intentions, they would have been dealt with long ago.

After meandering for a long stretch, the group finally arrived at the entrance of the survivor base. The location was a high-end residential area surrounded by various damaged cars. The perimeter was enclosed by a high wall, and beyond the wall, there was a fence arranged in a circle—a part of the original protective measures for the neighborhood.

Of course, all the entrances and exits of the neighborhood were sealed off, ensuring that no zombies could enter. Therefore, Derick and the group entered through an entrance to an underground bunker, directly reaching the back of the base.

On the other side of the bunker, seven or eight men were idly smoking and playing cards. On a nearby table were several packets of instant noodles, serving as gambling stakes.

"Hehe."

"I lost, pay up, pay up, pay up~" a man chuckled triumphantly, extending his hand toward the others.

"Damn, what bad luck." The men who lost money looked a bit gloomy.

"Alright, stop playing; someone's back..." Hearing footsteps from inside the bunker, a few men at the entrance became alert.

Upon seeing Meng Jiamin leading Derick, the men relaxed their guard. Someone greeted them from afar, "Boss Meng, how was today's haul? Looks like you hit the jackpot!"

"Where, where, just a small gain..." Meng Jiamin said with a smile, exchanging words with the men and passing over a few cigarettes.

"But this one looks a bit unfamiliar, who is..." One of the leaders at the entrance looked at Derick with some confusion.

"Oh... this is a survivor we met outside, wanting to enter the base..." Meng Jiamin quickly patted the shoulder of the squad leader, whispering in his ear. The two hid in a corner and discussed.

"But... if it hasn't been approved by Director Liu, everyone who wants to join the base needs to go through a check..." The squad leader showed a trace of hesitation.

Meng Jiamin immediately understood and discreetly took out two unopened packs of cigarettes and several packages of beef jerky from his pocket, handing them to the squad leader. "Help us out, this is my friend, and he's in a bit of a bind... Consider these as a little reward for your help."

Seeing these items, the squad leader's eyes revealed a hint of greed. He nodded vigorously, silently accepting them. "Haha, no problem with these. We're like brothers; just tell him to be a bit more cautious..."

Although it had been less than a month since the apocalypse started, the world had already undergone significant changes. Except for a few bases, most places were overrun by zombies. Food and water were scarce, not to mention luxuries like cigarettes, which had become more valuable than staples such as rice and flour.

Moreover, without any surprises, consumables like cigarettes and alcohol were only becoming more expensive in the apocalypse. Especially those produced before the end of the world, they were outrageously expensive now. In the short term, no one would be producing such items; using a bit meant having less.

In the current base, the price of food had skyrocketed. Former currencies turned into scraps of paper, and even gold thrown on the ground had no takers. The hard currency had transformed into firearms, weapons, and cigarettes and alcohol. Only these two items could be exchanged for food, drink, and even women.

As for cigarettes and alcohol, the base's existing stock was already limited. With the recent consumption, their prices had surged. Although it hadn't reached exorbitant levels yet, they were definitely considered hard currency.

That's why the squad leader readily agreed. As for being discovered, how could that be possible? The entire base had a population of over three thousand. Did Director Liu spend every day scrutinizing the newcomers?

"Alright... you can go in now." After handing over half of the supplies from their backpacks, Meng Jiamin's group was smoothly allowed to enter.

The reason these people stood guard here was not only to ensure the safety of the base entrance but also because the base enforced the rule that all resources from scavenging teams had to be shared, with half going to the base for daily use. Although it was morally questionable, there was no other choice for survival.

"Ah... new packaging. This stuff is quite rare." After Meng Jiamin left, the squad leader distributed a few cigarettes to his subordinates and pocketed the rest.

Upon receiving the cigarettes, the other men couldn't wait to light up, showcasing the peculiar priorities of people – unable to secure a meal, yet eagerly pursuing these indulgences.

"Outside the base are zombies and some mutated wild beasts. Normally, no one dares to come out. Only armed soldiers and some particularly courageous survivors dare to form scavenging teams to search for supplies. So, giving some resources is like paying an entry fee. Consider it the cost to enter the city," Meng Jiamin explained to Derick as they walked.

The five of them passed through the entrance of the air-raid shelter, went out through an iron gate, and finally entered the base.

Turning back, Derick understood why Meng Jiamin and his team had to enter through such a complicated route, utilizing both the air-raid shelter and sewer pipes.

The base seemed hastily organized. Besides the original low iron fence outside, there was also a wall made of old cars and miscellaneous items. After entering the base, Derick could see that the gaps between the buildings were blocked with bricks and cement, forming a defense similar to ancient city walls. Based on a small community, the base had expanded some safe areas around it.

From the outside, the area seemed decent, easily accommodating tens of thousands of people. Although these three defense measures might look like trash to Derick, not even comparable to a simple city wall, they were sufficient to block the numerous low-level zombies.