Chapter 263: Gobi Desert (1/2)
Chapter 263: Gobi Desert
Translator: InsigniaEditor: Svjohn
Along the way, Luo Yuan saw groups of people gathered together every now and then, walking off into the wild.
This place was the border of the Reconstruction Area. Although regular search had been conducted to remove any potential dangers, there was always fish that escaped the net.
To a certain extent, these people worked to keep the threats at bay. Therefore, in the Reconstruction Area people were allowed to be free and do as they pleased, although that was neither encouraged nor prohibited.
Luo Yuan walked alone, but along the way many people approached him and asked him to team up. Luo Yuan smiled and refused politely.
These people were ordinary people, and most of them only hunted for smaller, low-level mutated beasts to improve their lives. Naturally, this kind of thing was beneath him, but he had not gone there to hunt anyway.
After walking five to six kilometers away, the number of people gradually became smaller. Luo Yuan walked in long strides, his speed became faster.
That place had originally been a desert, but the air did not seem to be arid. Sparse yellowed leaves covered the soft sand, exuding the slight smell of a chemical. Luo Yuan knew they had been recently sprayed with herbicide.
Still, he noticed that buds had begun to sprout from the ground, the dewdrops on top of them fluttering slightly as they faced the morning sun and extended their soft foliage. Mankind and nature were bound to have a long-lasting war.
In the distance, a heap of dead insects was gathered on a small hill near a lighthouse. Not all of them were dead, though. Some of their blackened bodies were still struggling, crawling around as if trying to distance themselves from the charnel ground that extended a few kilometers around the area.
Heavy boots stomped heavily on the insects, making their colorful fluids burst out of their bodies. Luo Yuan furrowed his brows in disgust as he walked away.
Suddenly, a gunshot was heard from afar. It sounded like it had been more than one gun.
”You fucking coward, you have the guts to become a deserter? Put the guns down and follow me back to the base! Follow me before the Disciplinary Committee finds out!” An angry voice could be heard shouting from a distance.
”Let me go, I still have children! Just pretend that you haven’t seen me! Please, I’m begging you!” A distressed, trembling voice answered.
”You know how they treat deserters, you will be executed immediately! Stop being so stubborn and come with me! I will act like nothing happened!” The first man was getting increasingly furious, but then he said earnestly, ”You know, these days none of the deserters survive. Unless you want to become a meal for the wild beasts, there is no place for you to escape to!”
”Sir, I know you mean well, and that you have been taking care of me. But if I go to war, my death will be pointless. I’d rather flee. You should all flee too. The Desert City will not hold this time. Why would you want to die in vain?” The other man countered.
After hearing that, Luo Yuan’s heart gave a thud and his face darkened. How could the situation have gotten so serious that even the garrison would not be able to deal with it? How could this be, when their defense was so strong and their fortress so sturdy? Even cannons could not easily destroy it.
The atmosphere had suddenly gotten quiet. After a while, the man trying to persuade the deserter said loudly, ”What kind of nonsense is that? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Where did you get this news?”
”You don’t need to know that. It just did, without even meaning to. The swarm of insects will soon spread to this place. Even if you don’t believe it, you should have guessed it. There has been an increase in ammunition and fuel supply in the warehouse recently. War will break out very soon, so listen to me and let us flee from this place!”
”It’s not like we have not experienced an insect plague before. When has it ever broken our defense? Stop that nonsense, and just answer my question. Will you follow me back to the camp or not?” The squad leader growled quietly in a deadly tone, trying to suppress his anger.
”What if it’s a super plague?” the man tried to persuade him, noticing the squad leader’s unyielding will.