Chapter 280: City of Mist and Madmen

There are many similar abandoned cities scattered across the land in this era.

Driven by a certain need for security most people preferred to gather in villages or camps even when forming larger groups.

Whether such towns truly held danger or not the sheer empty vastness was enough to unsettle people.

Strictly speaking however these abandoned cities were actually safer.

When the Red Moon first appeared in the sky hordes of madmen emerged across the world. The collapse of civilization and the disappearance of order were directly linked to these madmen. They became the most terrifying predators of that time and haunted the nightmares of those who survived that era. Even now some people remain deeply afraid of the Wasteland and those dark gaping abandoned cities.

But by now most of the madmen who once roamed the land had already been wiped out.

Finding one or two was like spotting an endangered species.

Furthermore Lu Xin knew that Pollution Sources born from Mental Alteration tended to appear in densely populated cities or settlements. Empty desolate cities like this one lacked the basic conditions for such bizarre phenomena to arise.

Although…

Looking up through the thin layer of mist towering buildings loomed like unknown sentinels. The quiet city sat there in silence. Unseen things seemed to lurk just beyond sight sharpening their claws in the shadows stirring unease.

…It was indeed quite frightening.

…

One by one the trucks rolled into the mist-shrouded city.

Each vehicle maintained a distance of about ten meters from the next whereas on the main roads they usually kept a hundred meters apart.

This way even if ambushed they wouldn’t all be caught in one net.

“Uncle this city looks loaded…”

Old Zhou behind the wheel eyed the dark looming houses around them greedily.

“Wonder where we’ll stop for the night. If we could just swing by for a quick scavenge that’d be great…”

Lu Xin glanced around and nodded silently.

A city this vast and empty surely hid countless valuables.

Even though such cities had undoubtedly been picked over by many scavenger teams they could never be completely cleaned out.

“Heh heh don’t get greedy kid…”

Old Zhou took the opportunity to lecture his nephew, “You know back in the day scavengers actually avoided cities like this.”

Little Zhou and Lu Xin both looked at him curiously, “Why?”

“See you two youngsters just don’t get it do you?”

Old Zhou puffed up proudly telling Little Zhou, “Roll a cigarette for your uncle…”

Then he began his story, “Everyone knew cities like this were fat but they were also dangerous. Back when madmen were running wild everywhere cleaning them up in the Wasteland was easier. They weren’t fast couldn’t use guns. A team with guns could easily mow them down. But in the city there were too many corners. One could pop out of nowhere grab you and start chewing…”

…

Lu Xin tried hard to picture it concluding Old Zhou was describing a terrifying scene.

But why did it sound somewhat… improper?

“I thought it was something serious. Just madmen? I saw them at the circus. They’re nothing special couldn’t even beat a hunting dog…”

Little Zhou unimpressed stuffed the cigarette he was about to hand his uncle into his own mouth.

“Hey you little rascal…”

His uncle’s eyes widened instantly, “You were just born in good times. You never saw how fierce those madmen were.”

“Those few years before you were born were the most chaotic times. How many people got eaten by madmen?”

“Your Uncle me ah that’s how I met your aunt back then. Lucky I had good marksmanship hit whatever I aimed at. I’m not bragging mind you. Back then a dozen madmen surrounded me. I only had one gun four bullets. But I kept calm pop pop a few shots…”

…

Lu Xin’s interest was piqued. “And then?” he asked curiously.

Old Zhou’s eyes bulged, “And then I started running and yelling for help!”

…

Lu Xin fell silent joining Little Zhou in a look of disdain.

“I was pretty impressive let me tell you. How many people just froze legs trembling at the sight of madmen? Not me! I ran damn fast yelled damn loud too! Besides if I hadn’t yelled for help so loudly back then how would I have met his aunt?”

Old Zhou beamed with pride, “That shout was worth it! Got me a wife and daughter just like that…”

…

Little Zhou seemed thoughtful listening, “So Aunt wasn’t wrong when she said you had an old habit of wetting your pants?”

Old Zhou flared up, “What the hell are you talking about brat? Give me the cigarette…”

Amidst Old Zhou’s rambling tales of his past heroism the trucks gradually drove deeper into the city.

They generally didn’t drive too fast within city limits.

Although the advance scouts had already confirmed this main road through the city was clear for vehicles and had removed minor obstacles the large trucks still proceeded cautiously. They moved slowly through the silent steel forest shrouded in thin mist.

Wind swirled through the city rustling the curtains hanging in the windows.

Even in broad daylight the empty desolate city sent a faint chill down one’s spine.

Little Zhou pressed his face against the car window swallowed hard and said, “Wonder if there are any madmen in these empty houses…”

“Tch…”

Old Zhou couldn’t help but chuckle, “What era is this? Still madmen?”

“If there really were madmen we’d actually make a profit. Catch ’em sell ’em to the circus. A hundred bucks each…”

“That’s worth way more than the junk we scavenge…”

…

Hearing this Lu Xin felt a slight stir within him, “There’s that kind of business opportunity?”

“Beep…”

Suddenly a sharp whistle sounded up ahead exceptionally piercing in the empty city.

“What’s wrong?”

Everyone who heard the whistle slowed down craning their necks with confused expressions.

This kind of whistle was usually blown only during emergencies.

“Beep beep…”

The whistling suddenly grew shriller and closer.

A motorcycle frantically sped towards them coming into the view of the old drivers.

On it a scout looking panicked held a megaphone shouting desperately, “Fall back! Fall back…”

“Ahead… there are madmen!”

…

“What? Madmen?”

Lu Xin who had been looking at the abandoned city outside and Little Zhou with his face pressed to the window froze simultaneously.

For a moment their expressions were filled with confusion.

“Really? Madmen?”

Speak of the devil?

Most madmen had vanished long ago. The occasional one or two could be dealt with easily a few shots.

Now there were actually madmen in this city?

Shouldn’t they be catching them to sell to the circus?

…

Despite these thoughts Old Zhou slammed the truck into gear shouting, “Careful!”

The convoy’s regular training and strict orders kicked in.

Even without knowing exactly what happened Old Zhou decided to retreat immediately.

It wasn’t just him. The trucks twenty-odd meters behind and ten-odd meters ahead reacted similarly. The old drivers responded instantly but their vehicles only shuddered slightly before stopping. Their trucks were too large turning around on the city roads was difficult.

They could only retreat to the city’s main road to have any hope of turning around but that would also take a lot of time.

In an instant Old Zhou broke out in a panicked sweat.

Their convoy’s habit was to maintain a certain distance but not too far apart.

Too far apart and they risked being picked off piece by piece by attacking Knight Orders with others unable to rescue them in time. Too close and they risked being ambushed or surrounded together. Maintaining a distance of several dozen meters while traveling was a habit honed over many years but now it had become their greatest weakness.

They couldn’t turn around and couldn’t retreat easily.

You could say this abandoned city was a natural counter to their caravan.

“Damn it forget it. We can’t get out.”

Realizing this Old Zhou grabbed his gun with a clatter shouting, “Grab your weapons! Where are the madmen? Let’s fight ’em!”

“Where?”

Little Zhou also grabbed his gun yelling, “Catch ’em and sell ’em for cash!”

“Swish!”

Before the uncle and nephew’s shouts could fade a sudden crashing sound came from outside the truck mingled with a scream.

Looking down from Old Zhou’s driver’s seat they could just see a grey shadow dart out. The scout on the motorcycle who had been shouting and rushing forward was tackled directly to the ground letting out a terrified scream.

This abrupt scene stunned both Old Zhou and his nephew.

Watching the figure pounce on the scout biting savagely made their hair stand on end.

It was a tall person or rather a humanoid monster.

It wore greyish-black overalls and its limbs were noticeably thicker and stronger than a normal person’s.

Bald headed its body was twisted unnaturally but it moved with beast-like speed.

After tackling the scout off the motorcycle it immediately opened its mouth and bit down.

The sickening crunch of bones being crushed echoed accompanied by the sounds of swallowing flesh and blood and agonizing screams.

Old Zhou and Little Zhou stared blankly expressions stunned.

The color drained from Old Zhou’s face at a visible rate as if some terrible memory had been triggered.

…

“Bang!”

Suddenly a spray of blood blossomed on the monster’s bald head. Its body slammed to the ground twitching uncontrollably.

The gunshot snapped Old Zhou back to reality. He whipped his head around to see Lu Xin pulling himself back in through the window.

A wisp of smoke still curled from his muzzle.

It was Lu Xin who despite the awkward angle had leaned out the window and killed the monster with a single shot.

“Don’t panic yet. Wait in the truck.”

Lu Xin said to Old Zhou then pulled himself back fully and pushed open the car door.

“You…”

Old Zhou was startled, “What are you doing?”

Getting out of the truck Lu Xin replied calmly, “I’ll go check how many madmen there are first.”

“Ah you…”

Both Old Zhou and Little Zhou were somewhat taken aback by Lu Xin’s actions.

But Lu Xin didn’t think there was anything wrong.

Whether from a risk management perspective or an economic one his actions seemed perfectly reasonable didn’t they…