Industrial Cthulhu doesn't believe in the end times.

Chapter 164 Discussion and Direction

Haiqu Safety Zone.

With the battle on the front lines nearing its end, Su Xun decided not to linger in Hailing County any longer and prepared to return to the Taimeng Base. On the way, he stopped by Haiqu, where he was accompanied by his division commander, surnamed Song, to inspect the safety zone.

"You're hiding in the rear while sending your daughter to the front lines?"

The division commander's full name was Song Lin. As soon as they met, Su Xun started to mock him, which made him shake his head and smile bitterly.

Of course, this was just a joke. The Haiqu Division sent many people to participate in the battle of Hailing County, but the local defense could not be neglected. After all, the two cities were very close to each other, and they might become the breakthrough point for the zombie horde after the battle started.

And indeed, in the final stage of the battle, a high-level zombie led a horde of hundreds of thousands of zombies towards Haiqu. It was under Song Lin's command that the safe zone successfully thwarted that offensive.

"But you only have one precious daughter, aren't you worried that something might happen to her in Hailing County?"

"Sigh, Commander-in-Chief," Song Lin sighed, "Of course I'm afraid, how could I not be?"

"But if she wants to go, then let her go."

The vehicle the two were in passed through a residential area, which seemed unchanged except for a few more new white ribbons, but compared to the soldiers who died on the front lines, the number was actually not many.

In reality, many more people die without anyone to remember them; after the catastrophe, they have no relatives left in this world.

Song Lin said in a low voice, "Two hundred thousand people, many of whom were separated from their wives and children and lost their homes in the great catastrophe. They went to the battlefield for the sake of other people's families, other people's children, and other people's lives."

"There were also those who had finally settled down, started new families, and were preparing to embrace a better life, but at the order of the Corps, they left their newlywed wives and rushed to the front lines."

"If they can go, why can't my daughter, Song Lin's daughter, go?"

Su Xun was silent for a moment before speaking: "The affairs of the fallen soldiers must be handled properly. They died for the collective, and their names and deeds cannot be forgotten. If this is not done well, not only will they feel disheartened in the afterlife, but the surviving soldiers will also feel resentful. In this special historical period, this aspect of the work must be given top priority."

"I see."

Song Lin solemnly agreed. In fact, the Grand Cemetery was created for this purpose. It would faithfully record the names of each of them. In the years to come, perhaps students would salute those tombstones, or perhaps people from the safe zone would sweep their graves. For these soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives, this was perhaps the best ending and final resting place.

After discussing this topic, Su Xun added, "Most of the people from Haizhou have evacuated to Hailing County, where a large survivor settlement will be built according to the standards of a fortress base."

"You should have already heard that in the future, after the zombie problem is basically solved, we will still need to fight against sea monsters. Hailing County is located far from the coast, so the buffer zone is larger, but it's different for you."

"Haizhou Bay used to be a large fishing ground, but now it will become a landing ground for marine animals. You are relatively close by, so you will face considerable pressure in the future. How about it, are you mentally prepared?"

At this moment, the two had already gotten out of the car. Song Lin straightened up and solemnly said, "Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief, our Haiqu Division will definitely defend the line to the death, not retreating even half a step, and will never allow the sea beasts to penetrate deep into the inland!"

Su Xun patted the other person on the shoulder and shook his head, saying, "If it really comes to a last resort, we should retreat when necessary and advance when necessary, and find a way to fight back."

“Save people and lose land, and everyone and land will survive. Save land and lose people, and everyone and land will be lost.”

"In the end times, people are the most precious thing. Without people, everything is just empty talk."

"I'm telling you this in advance so you can prepare yourself and plan ahead for the future construction of the safe zone, and make targeted modifications."

"At that time, a decision will need to be made on whether to relocate people to the mainland or to build a base city in the original location."

There are many things that Su Xun and his companions have never faced in their previous lives. Back then, they did not have so many people to settle, nor did they have such great resources for construction. The choice of which path to take is a decision they must make themselves now.

"I understand."

Song Lin nodded in agreement.

The two resumed their conversation about the front lines, but Song Lin was curious about something in particular. "I heard that several spies were captured in Hailing. Commander-in-Chief, have you heard anything about this?"

"I've looked at it briefly, but it's not very meaningful. None of these people came into contact with the real zombie king." Su Xun shook his head and said, "Those who should be executed will be executed, and those who should be sentenced will be sentenced. The court handled the matter itself. There was one person who surrendered in advance, which can be considered meritorious service and earned him a reduced sentence."

"Are you interested in this?"

"I'm just curious about the zombie king's abilities. I've heard it can bring people back to life?"

Su Xun stopped in his tracks, raised one hand and gently stroked his chin: "What, you don't want to be human either?"

"How could that be?" Song Lin quickly shook his head. "I still plan to advance to the higher ranks step by step. Principal, you must understand that I have no ulterior motives."

"You're pulling this stunt too? I really should teach Yin Danyi a lesson when we get back." Su Xun smiled helplessly.

He didn't doubt Song Lin, but suddenly realized how attractive the story of resurrection was to people in this era. Perhaps Song Lin's mention of this matter was a reminder to him.

"Of course it's fake. I saw their interrogation results back then."

Su Xun explained, "These people were deceived by that zombie king through its parasitic ability. It used parasitism, memory theft, and personality forgery to create the illusion of the dead being resurrected. In reality, the ones who came back to life were its parasites."

Thinking that the zombie king was still alive, Su Xun said, "We should broadcast this news later. We can't judge high-level zombies by mindless individuals, especially these mentally mutated beings. Their cunning and troublesome nature is impossible to guard against."

Song Lin nodded in agreement.

-

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Just as the East was embarking on a new round of construction in full swing, an old man was walking along the shore of an unnamed beach.

Food is scarce and resources are not plentiful here. The mutated beasts and ordinary sea creatures hunted on the beach are one of the important food sources for the people here. The old man is an extraordinary person, but his status in the settlement is not high, partly because of his ordinary background.

The current settlement is ruled by several families. Even a lone superhuman like him, despite his immense strength, still has to obey their orders.

Of course, compared to ordinary people, the old man still had quite a bit of prestige. This time, when he came to the seaside to patrol and hunt, he let a group of followers go to the places where mutated beasts and zombies often appeared, while he found a secluded place with a nice view and prepared to find a place to enjoy the wine in his hand.

It was a gift from a surviving couple to him in order to join the settlement. Of course, accepting a gift doesn't mean you can get anything done. The old man could have said a few words about it, but he found it too troublesome, so he simply crushed the two of them to death and threw them out to feed the zombies.

If it's outside the gathering area, naturally no one will care about this kind of thing.

Just as I was savoring the woman's struggles and cries before her death, in the distance, as the tide receded, a white object appeared on the beach.

The old man was startled. He took a few steps in that direction and was slightly surprised to see a young girl lying on the beach.

The figure was completely naked, with a delicate and exquisite figure, fine bones, and smooth skin. Although she was covered in wounds, her hair was disheveled, and her body was covered in water stains, fine sand, and seaweed, all of this only added to her unique and fragile beauty.

The old man swallowed hard. All the women with any looks in the settlement had already been taken by members of those families. He had never met such a stunning beauty before.

He stepped forward and tentatively pinched the other person's skin, and was surprised to find that the girl's body was still soft and delicate, no different from a living person.

"Yoshi..."

The old man was no longer able to consider whether there was a problem. He hoisted the other person onto his shoulder, looked around, and headed towards a lush thicket of trees.

He didn't notice that the girl on his back slowly opened her eyes, and in her tired eyes, there seemed to be a blood-red abyss.

(End of this chapter)