novelnext Chapter 207 207: Survivor Base
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
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.