Kingdom of Corrosion
Chapter 975 - 421 Divergence_2

Chapter 975: Chapter 421 Divergence_2

Shana was startled and said, "I’m not sure about that. As for The Ring of the Fortress, although Starlight performed very well, there’s definitely no chance. Assuming Maya is not participating in the competition, I think I have a chance."

Lin Wu asked, "How many times have you died?"

Shana replied, "You already know about the death penalty. The two times I died were not treated well, and not many points were deducted. I’m tired now, let’s rest a bit."

Both leaned back and half-reclined as Shana said, "There are drones above us."

Lin Wu said, "I noticed too; they’re not from Veteran Base." Secretly shadowing people is very impolite.

Shana said, "Eight or nine out of ten, it’s a drone from the Survivor’s Alliance. This not only indicates they are starting to act but also signifies that they have infiltrated the control zone of the Veteran Base. Otherwise, they couldn’t have flown so far."

Lin Wu smiled and said, "It’s quite interesting, isn’t it? Without Survivor’s Base, the last few days would have been very boring for us."

"It’s the difference between games and life," Shana asked. "Before leaving, Maya said she supports the options of the oil refinery and central city. As for which action to choose, she left it to me to negotiate with the Veteran Base and make the final decision. If you were me, would you bet on the oil refinery or go to the central city?"

Lin Wu said, "Surgery has a 50% mortality rate, but not having surgery means you can live another five years. Which would you choose?"

"Five years?" Shana thought for a long time, "How about two years?"

"Five years."

Shana sighed, "I wouldn’t choose the five years then. If it were ten years, I’d choose ten years. If it were only two years, I’d choose surgery. Indeed, making choices about oneself becomes more difficult."

...

The head officer of Veteran Base, Baldy, received Maya and Lin Wu, inviting them to the parlour for tea. The military system suits the apocalypse well, but the Veteran Base hasn’t started production yet.

Faced with Lin Wu’s curiosity, Baldy told him that they would stockpile various materials this year. They plan to implement universal conscription next spring. Civil when producing, soldiers when taking up arms. Currently, they are short of people and estimate they need around 40 individuals. In recent days, two small teams comprising five veterans from South City joined their base. The newcomers brought information that the Survivor’s Alliance has completed their strategy in South City and the next step is to expand westward.

The railway bridge to the west, 3.5 kilometers, is Mountain Base; originally, there was a road that went deep into the mountain, and the road end was an abandoned coal mine. This resource is a strategic target for Survivor’s Base’s five-year plan. Once they control the coal mine, they can restart the thermal power plant and integrate the industrial zone factories for production.

The day before yesterday, Baldy and a prominent figure from the Survivor’s Alliance held a meeting, during which they offered quite generous terms. He suggested that Veteran Base trade a commercial street in South City. Around 30% of the surroundings of Veteran Base consists of railways and riverside areas, while 70% is industrial zones, which relatively lack resources and arable land. This South City commercial street is built near the river to serve Riverside Park. Although the resources are not comparable to a real urban area, they are substantial. The biggest highlight is that this Riverside Park could easily be transformed into farmland.

The two sides can also sign a non-aggression treaty. If Veteran Base is willing, they can join the Alliance as an independent base. An independent base means having complete rights, free from conscription. The only obligation is the defense right; when someone attacks the Alliance, the independent base is obliged to provide certain materials or combatants to the Alliance.

Shana said, "It sounds like a strategy to create discord."

Baldy asked, "How so?"

Shana explained, "Even if we give up all our bases, restarting coal mining is a major project. The railway only reaches the railway bridge, and the next 7 kilometers can only use trucks. We’re not even counting the machinery needed and the roads to be built. How many people would be needed to ensure coal mine output? Thermal power plants, mines, factories all need people, as well as armed personnel, and these people all need to eat, which in turn necessitates agricultural personnel. Five years? That’s impossible."

Shana elaborated, "We’ve discussed this before. We know their target is this industrial zone, which stores a large number of materials such as rubber, cotton, plastic products, electronic parts, furniture, stone, metal, etc. These materials have limited use for individuals or small teams, but they are treasures for large teams. Moreover, the open area along the river west of the industrial zone counts as premium farmland."

Shana added, "Now that they’ve put it this way, it’s turned into potentially Veteran Base going to war with Survivor’s Alliance over the railway bridge base, which could affect your morale somewhat. Besides, the conditions offered by them are indeed not bad; it’s not out of the question that some of your people might be tempted. Why bother going to war with Survivor’s Base over the railway bridge base?"

Shana said, "Yesterday, when I met with him, he told me their only target is Veteran Base, and they could also assist me in seizing control of the railway bridge base."

Baldy asked, "Has this affected you internally?"

Shana answered, "Indeed, there were some differing opinions, but they have all accepted our viewpoint, determining the Survivor’s Alliance as the enemy. Our structure is quite simple, and it doesn’t quite align with yours, so you don’t need to worry about us."

Baldy fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject. "This visit is about the refinery and Veteran’s Club mentioned in yesterday’s call, right?"

Shana appeared somewhat worried, as Baldy’s attitude suggested that there were quite a few people inside Veteran Base advocating accepting the proposal, moving the base to the more suitable suburban commercial street. However, due to long-standing hostile sentiments, most were reluctant to accept. If they continue to adopt a conciliatory policy, the possibility of appeasing Veteran Base cannot be excluded.

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