Apocalypse: After Being Reborn, I Stocked Up on All Supplies

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: This pack of cigarettes, worth the use!

Jiang Yan listened to Sun Jingtao’s words and instantly understood.

No matter when, the true thoughts and considerations of those in power were not something the common folk could know.

Furthermore, after the apocalypse, information was extremely blocked, and ordinary people were confined to an information cocoon with limited awareness.

What they saw and understood might only be what those above wanted them to see and understand.

With this thought, Jiang Yan already retracted her train of thought, and said, “By the way, what did you mean when you said that the powers in Xiangcheng Base are divided?”

Sun Jingtao replied, “The official military force, branches of Flame Base, branches of Yaoben Base, and an unidentified mysterious organization.”

Jiang Yan: “…”

“Mysterious organization?” Su Dai was speechless for a moment.

“Yes, that’s what they said, and it is unclear exactly what it is or who comprises its members. But it’s said that aside from it, the remaining three powers have reached some sort of agreement. They seem to cooperate on the surface, but do not interfere with each other, and there’s actually a fierce undercurrent of open and hidden struggles.

As for that military force, control is not in their hands, for what reason, it is equally unknown.

In any case, the informant suggested that as long as we don’t get involved with those three powers, we should be safe here in Xiangcheng,” Sun Jingtao continued.

These things, actually, they didn’t need to understand.

But his innate investigative instinct made him always want to survey each new environment he arrived at, like he had an occupational disease.

It might also be because of those live breedings they experienced at Shallow Bay and those people who were imprisoned in the air hotel that he had developed a shadow in his mind.

As for the bodies and organs soaked in Formalin upstairs, Ye Qing also found an opportunity to tell him about it.

But the matter sounded too horrifying, and he decided not to tell Su Dai.

When Jiang Yan heard him say the military force was not under control of the military itself, she instantly understood her previous confusion.

As for why it was not under the military’s control, she was not interested, but still, she asked, “Since the four powers do not interfere with each other, then who is the decision-maker? It can’t be without a leader, right?”

“At critical moments, there would be a four-party meeting.

As for other times, you can think of the official military force as a sort of mercenary force. Right now, besides maintaining daily stability and representing the authorities, they have no additional powers.

In the entire base, the Yaoben Base branch is responsible for infrastructure. So, anything related to infrastructure is their responsibility.

The houses we’re living in, their ownership is also theirs.

I heard that they are currently expanding the air raid shelters and converting the underground mines into shelters against the cold, as well as building walls, as the current metal barriers, will become very fragile in extreme cold weather and lose their defensive value.

They also have mercenaries, so speaking of combined strength, among the three powers, they are relatively more influential.

And Flame Base is responsible for the mines, third-party services, which includes renting properties, dock operations, organizing labor, that’s their scope of business.”

“It sounds a bit like building walls and accumulating grain… Since that’s the case, why have the key leaders and core military forces left, though? There’s some contradiction here…” Jiang Yan furrowed her brow slightly.

Sun Jingtao nodded, “That’s also what Xiao Ye and I can’t figure out.”

“It sounds so complicated.” Su Dai pouted, sighing as if her CPU was about to burn out, “Should we just leave the base and find a place to live in seclusion?”

“We would like that too, only, unfortunately, things don’t always go as one desires,” Sun Jingtao said, looking at his wife and smiling bitterly.

If it were before the apocalypse, one could ponder living a secluded life if they could endure the loneliness.

Nowadays, in this vast world, where could such a pure land be found?

Jiang Yan remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Could that mysterious organization be made up of scientific researchers?”

Hearing her words, the other three were startled for a second.

“Research? Didn’t Song Qian previously mention that the five private bases were named after Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, I somehow feel like it’s just some fortune-tellers jumping rope inside.” Su Dai let her imagination run wild.

Speaking of metaphysics, Jiang Yan did think of the Space she acquired, and Black Tai Sui that was previously covered by the Gold net in the box.

But she just smiled and said, “Isn’t there a saying that the pinnacle of science is metaphysics?”

Su Dai: “Uh…”

Ye Qing felt the two were drifting off-topic and quickly said:

“We also found out another thing, every seven days, three cargo ships set sail from Xiangcheng, loaded with coal and such, one heading northwest, two heading east.”

“Oh, did they say where to?” Jiang Yan posed the question with one hand propped under her chin and the other resting on her right leg, her fingers gently tapping on her knee.

She looked a bit tired, yet seemed to be pondering.

Ye Qing shook his head, “No, but Brother Tao and I discussed it, and it’s likely they’re going to Flame Base and Yaoben Base. As for the other one, it’s unknown. So in the future, if we can’t stay in Xiangcheng Base anymore, we’ll likely head east.”

“Yes, after the high temperatures arrive, although we haven’t received much help from the officials, they must be the key holders of information and possessors of cutting-edge technology, and even the terminators of this endless natural disaster. So, I suggest, if possible, try to follow the officials’ movements; it might be better,” Sun Jingtao nodded.

Jiang Yan neither agreed nor disagreed with his remarks, and simply praised, “The cigarettes you guys smoked today were worth it! Lots of information.”

“It’s not just because of the cigarettes, it’s because Brother Tao and the person he got the information from were comrades who apparently never met each other before,” Ye Qing earnestly said.

Jiang Yan: Comrades who have never met, what kind of relationship is that…

“Honey, who is it, do I know them?” Su Dai asked excitedly upon hearing this.

Sun Jingtao couldn’t help but smile, “You don’t know him.”

Just as they were idly chatting, the water in the pot finally boiled, and the steamy mist spread throughout the dim room.

Xiangcheng being a highland with low temperatures, boiling a large pot of water was truly not easy.

Su Dai got up, took some noodles and put them into the pot, then gently stirred with chopsticks.

Once the water boiled again, she then added the chopped cured meat and the dehydrated vegetables Jiang Yan contributed.

The starving group watched the food enter the pot, their attention now focused on it, and the previous heavy topics abruptly ceased.

After all, for them right now, having a full meal was the main thing.

Jiang Yan inadvertently looked up, only then realizing that all the windows in the room were tightly closed.