Chapter 534: Signals and Growth: The Alliance Looks Forward

Many hands make light work. In just three days, the valley was cleared out and layered with fresh soil. It stretched over seventy meters long and twenty meters wide, providing more than two acres of farmland by the time they were done. Warm spring water flowed gently along the newly built channel, seeping into the rocky crevices on both sides, filling the whole valley with a quiet, cozy warmth.

Members of the Lords’ Alliance stood shoulder to shoulder atop a boulder, eyes shining with tears of excitement.

With the valley cleared, it was on to daily upkeep—like installing grow lamps and fetching water. Yue Haiying and Qi Fu took care of these chores, leaving Xia Qing with nothing to worry about.

Every couple of days, the alliance would split into teams and venture into the Evolved Forest, under the pretense of hunting, foraging for edible dried fruits, searching for medicinal roots, or collecting animal samples.

Territory Fifteen, which needed the most water, led every expedition. They weren’t just there to gather supplies but also to provide protection. Even though their people were disabled, with guns and decent combat skills, they were able to keep everyone safe and even taught Qi Fu and his group the essential survival skills for moving through the Evolved Forest.

Whenever Xia Qing wasn’t away at training on Hill Forty-Nine, she’d join the others, leading them on hunting trips up to the Fourth Peak of Hill Fifty.

Unlike the other three peaks on Hill Fifty, the Fourth Peak had never been hit by poison gas. This was the untouched heart of the Evolved Forest.

Qi Fu, Zhao Ze, and the rest got their first glimpse of giant predators like Evolved Wolves, leopards, foxes, and wild boars, not to mention the formidable attacks from evolved plants.

That winter, it wasn’t just Xia Qing growing stronger from her training—every member of the alliance was leveling up.

“Attention all lords: Tomorrow, the Safe Zone will send a construction crew to install ground signal base stations. Locations for Territories One to Ten will be on the northern edge of the corridor between Territory Two and Territory Ten. Lords and interim agents for these territories, please approve the entry of the construction team for installation.” That evening, after the news, Tan Junjie posted this announcement in the Lords’ channel.

In Territory Ten, Madam Shi waited a few seconds—there was no reply from Territory Two. She pressed her walkie-talkie. “Territory Ten approves.”

“Received,” Tan Junjie replied, then asked again, “Temporary agent of Territory Two, please respond.”

Only then did Zhou Xun sign in. “Captain Tan, I’m asking the lord for permission right now. Please give me a moment.”

Tang Huai logged in. “Captain Tan, what type of base stations are we getting here? How many are being installed?”

Tan Junjie answered, “Since our farmlands are the largest in the area, we’re getting 4G base stations. There will be a total of twelve.”

“Whoa!” Tang Huai exclaimed. “Thank you, Captain Tan!”

Twelve of them?! Xia Qing’s eyes lit up. She patted Old Goat’s big head. “Old Goat, we’re finally going to have signal!”

Old Goat shook his head, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Sorry, sorry.” Xia Qing chuckled, rubbing the tuft of curly wool on Old Goat’s head as she continued to brush him.

“Ahem, ahem.” Zhou Xun coughed for attention and started, “Captain Tan, if the signal base station is installed within Territory Two, who’s responsible for maintenance?”

Tan Junjie clarified, “The base station towers aren’t going inside Territory Two—they’ll be set at the northern edge of the corridor. To connect the base stations, fiber optic cables will run between Territory Two and Territory Nine, as well as between Territory Ten and Territory Fourteen. The installation requires access to the territories, but maintenance for the towers, lines, and the mobile exchange center is handled by the local Inspection Team.”

Zhou Xun understood. “Copy that. Territory Two approves entry.”

News about the base stations had everyone buzzing. Zhao Ze asked, “Captain Tan, after we get these towers, will our network just cover a local area, or will it actually link us to the outside?”

For communication between these territories and the Safe Zone, unless they used a satellite link, they’d have to directly connect their fiber optic cables. That wasn’t an easy job.

The real challenge wasn’t technical or a lack of fiber—it was a shortage of workers. These twenty-six territories were 120 kilometers from the Safe Zone, separated by stretches of Evolved Forest and ruined towns, where all sorts of Evolved Animals and mutated plants could threaten the cables.

Chances were, they’d lay a shiny new cable one month, only to have it chewed right through by roots from mutated plants—brought on after a Devastation Rain—or snapped by sharp-toothed beasts before the next month was out.

Tan Junjie replied, “Of the 200 territories outside Hui Three Base, only Territories One through Twenty-Six can actually connect their signal to the Safe Zone, because our base stations will have satellite-capable antennas. But due to hardware limitations, our signal speed and quality won’t match what you get inside the Safe Zone, at least not for now.”

“Whoa—” Tang Huai was exclaiming again. “The base always skimps on us. How are they suddenly so generous this time?”

Questions like that didn’t need Tan Junjie’s answer.

The lords started excitedly discussing the network. Even though they spent way less time online after the calamity began, just being able to access the base’s network had everyone in high spirits.

Back in Section Three, Xia Qing started brushing Er Gou and grinned in surprise. She thought the new base stations would just allow them to communicate in the area—she hadn’t realized they could actually link outside as well.

Was this something that Yang Jin negotiated with the base leader? Or did it have to do with heavyweights like Zhang San being here, prompting the base to upgrade the network beyond normal standards?

Hu Zifeng came online. “Captain Tan, Azure Dragon Squad would like to apply to install a ground base station on Hill Forty-Nine, and connect the fiber for this area as well. Azure Dragon Squad will cover all installation costs.”

Tan Junjie replied, “That’s above my pay grade. You’ll need to apply directly with the Territory Management Department.”

“Got it,” Hu Zifeng answered.

Tang Huai chimed in, “Hu Fengzi, why does your squad want to install a broadcast tower on Hill Forty-Nine? Are you all training up there, or just trying to set up for online gaming?”

Everyone else…

Hu Zifeng chuckled. “You get this hyped about a signal tower going up? What, you want to livestream yourself digging up evolved insects?”

Zhou Xun jumped in immediately. “What’s wrong with digging insects? I bet you couldn’t even manage it if you tried!”

Everyone: That familiar banter—looks like things are back to normal.

“All lords, second announcement: Tomorrow morning the Territory Management Department will send staff to verify crop damage from the recent Devastation Snow in each territory. Compensation talks will begin after losses are confirmed. Please approve entry for the management team.”

Hu Zifeng asked, “Captain Tan, when the Territory Management Department sends the inspection team into our territories, they’re only checking crop losses, right? They’re not going to search anywhere else, are they?”