Chapter 572: Signal Returns to the Territory

“Sister Qing, the Safe Zone will be sending someone over soon to install cell towers and set up communication equipment across our territory. We’ll finally have mobile signal here.”

While the five-person Red One survey team was investigating the explosion site, Su Ming sidled up next to Xia Qing, a wide grin on his face as he shared the good news.

The installation of the signal tower in this area had been halted due to the beast tide. If the survey team hadn’t shown up, the Base never would have sent a crew to finish the job so soon.

Most people here don’t have phones that can connect directly to satellites, so this was huge for them.

Xia Qing’s own phone could connect to satellites, but it only supported calls and simple messages. With regular signal restored, she’d finally be able to check the public information at the Safe Zone’s administration hall, see what tasks were posted, and find out which combat teams were recruiting evolved fighters for outside missions.

Having access to that info mattered a lot to Xia Qing too. She stopped studying the Red One team’s gear and lowered her voice. “Is the investigation team staying in our territory or heading back to the Safe Zone?”

“A few of them are staying here, but most are going back to the Safe Zone. All the intruders we caught have been sent to the Safe Zone’s prison.” Su Ming dropped his voice even lower. “Looks like they’re getting serious this time.”

He didn’t say it outright, but Xia Qing understood—if the investigation was truly that strict, maybe Tiger and the others would finally get justice.

She asked quietly, “Did you handle the arrangements for Tiger and the others?”

“It’s all been taken care of,” Su Ming said, his voice heavy. “A few of their families fell sick, though.”

Getting sick during a disaster year was dangerous. One careless moment and it could cost you your life. Xia Qing asked, “How’s Tiger’s mom holding up?”

“She’s stable for now. Captain Tan promised to report their situation to the Base and help Tiger’s sister get a formal job in the Safe Zone.”

Two people sticking together is always better than just one on their own. Xia Qing asked again, “Is Tiger’s sister an evolved fighter too?”

Su Ming shook his head. “She’s nineteen but hasn’t shown any signs of evolving yet.”

“Nineteen’s still young—there’s time.”

Xia Qing slung on her big backpack, about to move on to install more cameras. One of the surveyors came over, “Miss Xia, after we finish up here, may we also examine the explosion site in your Section Three?”

Xia Qing had checked his badge earlier—he was Peng Zhen, leader of this survey team. “Would tomorrow morning work? I’ve got to finish installing surveillance equipment in this area today. Besides, we’ve already cleaned up the explosion site in my territory and repaired the ruined greenhouse.”

Peng Zhen nodded and confirmed the schedule with her. “We only need to verify the location. Eight fifteen tomorrow morning—does that work for you?”

“That should be fine.”

Once the surveyors left, Xia Qing led her team in installing cameras throughout the morning. Around noon, they headed for Bear Cave on Third Peak. After making sure the cave was clear of ethyl mercaptan gas, Xia Qing let everyone take off their protective masks and enjoy a midday break in the office, eating a rice-less meal.

First into the valley, Xia Qing searched for the wolf that had been standing guard for her. “Hey, Balding Weasel! Are you there? Balding Weasel, can you hear me? Balding Weasel…”

Nearly two minutes of calling later, a pair of small round ears poked timidly out from the same crevice as last time—it was the Balding Weasel.

Wearing her protective mask and keeping her distance, Xia Qing placed a chunk of roasted rabbit on a rock and tried to negotiate. “Balding Weasel, you don’t need to watch this valley anymore. You can go back to your own territory. Thanks for everything these past few days—this piece of meat is a little thank-you gift.”

The Balding Weasel sniffed the air, dashed out to snatch the meat, and scampered right back to the crevice. The valley soon went quiet again.

Twenty minutes later, Xia Qing called softly, “Balding Weasel, are you still here? Balding Weasel?”

When those brownish-yellow ears popped out of the crevice again, Xia Qing let out a sigh and asked, “Why haven’t you gone home yet?”

The Balding Weasel blinked at her with big round eyes as shiny as black pearls, looking as innocent as could be.

Xia Qing paused a few seconds. “Your home’s on the Third Peak of Hill Fifty, right? It’s close by?”

It actually seemed possible. After fighting with the three wolves at Third Peak, the Alpha had howled in Bear Cave, and Balding Weasel had shown up right after.

Maybe it lived nearby, which would explain why the Crippled Wolf put it on valley duty.

Xia Qing was certain—the valley hadn’t been a weasel’s territory before. After all, it used to house two evolved bears and even a Devastation Snake.

But now?

Who could say…

Xia Qing wanted to pull off her protective mask and rub her face, but she didn’t dare, worried she’d throw up her just-eaten lunch.

Food from the Green Lantern couldn’t go to waste.

Gently, she tried to reason with the weasel. “In a bit, a few of my friends will come through the valley to work in the fields. Please don’t attack them, okay?”

The weasel twitched its whiskers a few times, and when Xia Qing stopped talking, it slipped back into the crevice.

At that, Xia Qing waved Yue Haiying and the others in. She pointed at the crevice and explained, “There’s an evolved yellow weasel in there. I asked it to keep watch over the valley. It’s really timid and will spray a poisonous, foul-smelling gas if it gets startled—direct contact can knock you out cold. So don’t go near this crevice. If you see it moving around, just ignore it. It won’t attack people.”

Anyone who’s lived through eleven years of disasters wouldn’t underestimate any evolved animal. Once Xia Qing explained the weasel wasn’t dangerous, everyone relaxed.

Qi Fu was thrilled. “Yellow weasels are great at catching mice. Now that one’s living in the valley, we don’t have to worry about rodents wrecking our crops. I was worried earlier that if some mouse burrowed in and dug tunnels, all that dirt we laid would just fall through their holes.”

It really was a huge advantage, so long as you left it alone and didn’t make it spray.

Qi Fu and Yue Haiying stayed in the cave to tidy up the farmland, while Xia Qing, Shi Du, Zhao Ze, and Yu Shou kept going with installing cameras.

That night, returning to their territory after a long day of installation work, the team spotted two military trucks and a construction vehicle parked in the middle of the corridor between Plots 1 and 10.

Xia Qing pulled out her phone and noticed she already had service.

Back at home, she grabbed the old phone she used in the Safe Zone from the tool shed and put it on to charge. Before she could even turn it on, Tang Huai was calling.

“Xia Qing!” Tang Huai’s voice was as energetic as ever. “Did you see? We’ve got cell service here now!”

Xia Qing replied calmly, “Yeah, I noticed.”

Tang Huai didn’t miss a beat. “I set up a group chat for all territory leaders from plots 1 to 26. Add me as a friend so I can pull you in—makes it way easier to share info or swap supplies. Want to use this number or another one for the group?”