Chapter 252: Chapter 195: The Headquarters’ Decision?
"The Mo University Camp will be taking two steps. First, after the nuclear reactor is constructed, we’ll expand our production lines and use a fully automated system to manufacture equipment. This will meet our own defensive requirements, and any surplus production will be prioritized to supply the rescue team camps in the Modu Region."
Lin Qi hadn’t even finished speaking, but this first point alone made Ding Yang’s eyes gleam.
Ding Yang didn’t interrupt, continuing to listen as Lin Qi laid out the subsequent arrangements.
"However, production capacity can’t be ramped up overnight. The Mo University Camp needs to prioritize its own internal defensive needs, which brings us to the second matter."
"Once our field teams at Mo University Camp have been implanted with Prosthetic Bodies, I hope to cooperate with the rescue teams in the Modu Region through you, Director Ding."
"You face extremely high risks when confronting Tier Two Zombies and monsters. For the Mo University Camp’s squads, however, they can be hunted with precision."
"It’s not just limited to Tier Two. Once our technology and products advance further, multiple squads working in coordination will be capable of hunting even Tier Three Monsters."
"As long as you provide us with the monsters’ location information, Director Ding, we can provide precise support, thereby indirectly alleviating the pressure on the rescue teams in the Modu Region."
Hearing this second point, Ding Yang nearly slapped his thigh in excitement.
This was fantastic news!
This way, even if Prosthetic Body production couldn’t be ramped up in the short term, it would still greatly alleviate the defensive pressure on the rescue teams.
Once the high-tier monsters in the Modu Region were cleared out, the rescue teams might be able to conduct a large-scale sweep on their own.
Once the large-scale monster sweep was complete, Modu, with the Mo University Camp at its heart, could potentially become a massive Survivor Camp—a veritable doomsday fortress.
Then, even if Headquarters was stretched thin and the surrounding cities fell, Modu could still establish a complete defensive system.
Everything Lin Qi had proposed so far was good news—good news for all fifteen remaining rescue teams across Modu’s sixteen districts.
But based on Ding Yang’s understanding of Lin Qi, this support probably wasn’t going to be free. It would require a resource exchange.
Before Lin Qi could say a word, Ding Yang spoke up. "Lin Qi, I can guarantee that Hongshan Camp will prioritize its resource supply to Mo University, including but not limited to materials and Extraordinary Items."
"As for the other camps in the Modu Region, I’ll go to them one by one to persuade them and get everyone on the same page as quickly as possible."
’What did Lin Qi stand to gain from helping all these camps?’
’It wasn’t hard to guess.’
’Resources!’
’Whether they were Extraordinary Items or other, more common resources, the Mo University Camp needed them all.’
Lin Qi nodded. This was exactly what he had in mind.
’Relying on the Mo University Camp alone was far from enough for him to acquire higher-tier resources.’
’Lin Qi needed more people to cover a wider area.’
’Starting from Mo University, he would expand outward until he covered all of Modu, and then the entire Eastern Region.’
’As long as the apocalypse continued its course, Tier Three and Tier Four monsters would eventually appear. Lin Qi’s job was to find out where they were and cultivate a force strong enough to fight and eliminate them.’
"Thank you, Director Ding. Wang Ziru will discuss the details of our cooperation with you."
With that said, there was no need for Lin Qi to involve himself much further.
Lin Qi believed that as the cooperation between Mo University Camp and Ding Yang deepened, he would sooner or later achieve his goal and obtain the resources he needed more efficiently.
With that, Lin Qi left the conference room, heading back to the sixth floor to supervise the work in the experimental workshop.
Entrusted with this important task by Lin Qi, Wang Ziru immediately gave it his full attention.
Fortunately, he was well-versed in the technical details of the Prosthetic Bodies. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to assess resource allocation or begin the discussion right away.
Wang Ziru and Ding Yang talked for nearly an hour before this meeting ended.
The two parties reached a preliminary agreement.
...
Ding Yang and Jiang Shangyang left the Mo University Camp in a camouflaged vehicle.
On the road, Jiang Shangyang looked worried. He turned to Ding Yang and said, "Old Ding, can we really trust him? I can’t help but feel like the Mo University Camp has a... certain..."
Jiang Shangyang didn’t say it outright.
But Ding Yang didn’t hold back. "You’re trying to say that the Mo University Camp seems to be heading toward independence, and you’re worried our decision goes against Headquarters’ wishes, that we’re essentially feeding a potential threat, right?"
Jiang Shangyang nodded. That was exactly what he was worried about.
Ding Yang continued, "But have you considered this? Given how fast the apocalypse is progressing, how long can our camps hold out if we just stick to the old ways?"
"The real purpose of the camps is to serve as the eyes and ears for Headquarters. We’re meant to monitor our respective regions to prevent high-tier monsters from emerging too quickly, and to watch for... Moon Worshipers."
"Only by surviving can we complete the mission given to us by Headquarters and slow the pace of the apocalypse’s advance."
"If we fall, then we’ll have failed the mission Headquarters entrusted to us."
Ever since he met Lin Qi, Ding Yang had been in more frequent contact with Headquarters, which gave him a clearer understanding of their true intentions.
It wasn’t that Headquarters actively wanted to abandon them. The truth was, the apocalypse was progressing so quickly that they had to be selective and protect only the most critical regions.
Listening to Ding Yang’s words, Jiang Shangyang was lost in thought.
It was the first time he’d ever truly considered the purpose of the camps’ existence.
Ding Yang continued, "Besides, you don’t really think that Headquarters doesn’t know about the decisions we’re making, do you?"
"That official document for the Mo University Camp was issued by Headquarters in the first place."
"And just a while ago, Headquarters even awarded Lin Qi a Special Merit."
"Headquarters’ intention was always to use the strength of the Modu Camp to slow the apocalyptic advance in the Modu Region, and perhaps even the entire Eastern Region."
"As for whether or not Lin Qi has ambitions of his own, Headquarters doesn’t really care."
This string of revelations from Ding Yang left Jiang Shangyang speechless.
"You’re saying Headquarters doesn’t care? How is that possible? Headquarters has always prioritized unity..."
As Jiang Shangyang spoke, his own confidence began to waver.
After all, the examples Ding Yang had cited were real. Every single one was a decision made by Headquarters.
’Come to think of it, this time, the Tier Three Awakened from Headquarters passed right by Modu but didn’t go to support Changpu Camp. Could that have been a test from Headquarters as well?’
The more he thought about it, the more horrified Jiang Shangyang became.
Ding Yang patted Jiang Shangyang’s shoulder and shook his head. "Too small. Your thinking is too small."
’My thinking is too small? What does he mean?’
Jiang Shangyang felt like Ding Yang was speaking in riddles, and he couldn’t quite follow.
"Ever since the apocalypse broke out, Headquarters’ priorities have shifted," Ding Yang began to explain.
"You can see it in how Headquarters deploys its Tier Three Awakened. What they care about now isn’t the same kind of conflicts as in the past."
"What Headquarters actually cares about is the survival of humanity, the continuation of civilization."
"As long as Lin Qi isn’t a Moon Worshiper, as long as he’s defending a camp and protecting his fellow countrymen..."
"Then in a sense, Headquarters will choose to trust him. He represents a spark of hope, one that exists independently of Headquarters itself."
"Maybe one day, even Headquarters won’t be able to hold on. It might fall under the onslaught of monsters."
"But as long as sparks like that exist in the world, it means humanity endures. It means the civilization of our Dragon Country endures."
At this moment, Ding Yang’s gaze was distant, looking in the direction of Headquarters.
’In truth, Ding Yang wasn’t certain. Was Headquarters trying to force the Modu Region’s hand? Were they truly willing to place their trust in this spark of hope that was Lin Qi?’
’But for now, everything seemed to be heading in that direction.’
’Headquarters was acting as it always did. Beneath its seemingly cold decisions, there was always a hidden concern for the greater good.’
’Ordinary people like them could rarely see through the profound intentions of Headquarters.’
’It was often only in hindsight that they could appreciate the wisdom of Headquarters’ decisions.’
