Chapter 376: Settled People

Chapter 376: The Settlers

The mountain city.

“Turn on the lights!”

At Chen Jian’s command, the lamps in the buildings surrounding the makeshift command post flickered to life one after another.

The night sky over the mountain city was instantly flooded with brilliance, and atop the tallest tower a massive laser‑emitting array prowled under the guidance of radar fire‑control, ever ready to strike down any unknown monster that dared approach the core.

The defensive installations of the core zone began to awaken in succession, spreading outward ever farther.

In Lin Yu’s words, the city was “reviving.”

Yet it was a revival of a different sort.

He gazed curiously at the distant skyscrapers, his eyes revealing not only the ordinary sights any human could see, but also a cascade of data, symbols and advisory tags.

Signal strength, transmission rate, physiological condition, item name, function, purpose, even… effect.

For instance, when he looked at a far‑off tower, a translucent panel before his eyes displayed that building’s power consumption, circuit occupancy, and the operation of certain special electrical devices.

He could of course shut all that data off—such a thing was merely a fleeting thought.

Yet, for the moment, he chose not to.

Because it gave him a novel sensation, as if he were not in the “real world” but inside some fantastical dream.

“.So the electricity for these lights doesn’t come from beneath the mountain city, but from the generators you shipped in?”

Lin Yu turned to Chen Jian beside him and asked.

Chen Jian nodded and replied:

“Yes.”

“The power grid of the whole mountain city was severely damaged by the nuclear blast; only a small fraction can be restored now.”

“Even if we mobilize every unmanned intelligent device left in the city for repairs, a complete fix won’t be possible in the short term.”

“So, overall, the ‘residential‑area power consumption’ of this city remains relatively low.”

“A few small fusion reactors can cover it entirely.”

“Understood.”

As Chen Jian spoke, brief explanations of certain keywords flashed before Lin Yu’s eyes; he listened and watched, comprehending virtually every sentence Chen Jian uttered without hindrance.

The experience even began to enchant him.

Because he felt a sense of…

an all‑knowing illusion.

With that thought, he asked:

“Then why not equip everyone with this kind of brain‑machine interface?”

“I mean, even without uploading consciousness, those auxiliary functions would still be useful, right?”

“You could use it for education, for communication?”

“When efficiency rises, the speed of learning accelerates; isn’t that beneficial to your development as well?”

“We are indeed contemplating that.”

Chen Jian answered:

“But the brain‑machine is still too radical—a smart visor could solve the problem; why resort to a brain‑machine?”

“Has the brain‑machine changed you? Made you smarter?”

“Not really.”

“What makes you smarter are the quantum computers underground; they provide the computational power.”

“You yourself haven’t changed; you’ve merely gained a more convenient channel for information.”

“.Makes sense.”

Lin Yu’s realization struck instantly.

That “all‑knowing” illusion was not granted by the brain‑machine interface but by the quantum computers.

He instantly lost interest in the topic and asked instead:

“So what are we going to do next?”

“It’s simple.”

Pointing at the illuminated buildings, Chen Jian replied:

“Can’t you see? I’m cleaning the room.”

“.I don’t get it.”

Lin Yu shook his head.

“.Looks like I should have Fuxi allocate you more computing power; you’re a bit too dim right now.”

Chen Jian laughed and said:

“We aim to build—or rather restore—the mountain city into a central metropolis capable of housing a massive population.”

“Thus, naturally, we must repair all kinds of living facilities.”

“We want every newcomer to feel that life here is fundamentally different from that of other wasteland cities.”

“Therefore, the existing infrastructure must be put to use.”

“In short, cleaning the room.”

“.I thought there was some deeper meaning.”

Lin Yu paused, then continued:

“I don’t need more computing power; I’m fine as I am.”

“Nonsense—you’d ask for it and I wouldn’t give it to you.”

Chen rolled his eyes.

“We don’t need a second artificial intelligence here.”

“That’s true.”

Lin Yu let out a soft sigh, then, with a hint of melancholy, said:

“I never imagined I’d survive in this way.”

“Tell me, if we truly get past the apocalypse, will I still have a chance to become a normal human?”

“Yes.”

Chen Jian said solemnly:

“You’re an important test subject; if one day your body ages to death, we’ll preserve your consciousness.”

“When humanity returns to its most glorious era, we’ll thaw you and revive you.”

“When that moment arrives, you will truly be an ‘old man’.”

“Then I must say, I’m rather looking forward to it.”

Lin Yu shrugged his shoulders.

At that instant, the worshippers of the Mechanical God cult who had been gathered on the open ground and resting in the pitch‑black rooms, together with the refugees who had fled from all directions, began to stream toward the illuminated complex of buildings.

The volunteers stationed within the mountain city instantly went on high alert, yet Chen Jian simultaneously issued the order to “lower the guard line.”

“You want them to come in right now?”

Lin Yu asked in astonishment:

“Weren’t you the one who said we should clean up first?”

“When I spoke of cleaning up, I meant furnishing them with a basic living environment, not literally sweeping every speck of dust from the floor.”

Chen Jian looked at Lin Yu wordlessly, then continued:

“Their lives here must be built by their own hands.”

“And they must start from scratch.”

“Only then will they forge an emotional bond with this place.”

“Such a bond will also dilute their hollow faith in this city.”

“Come, go lend a hand.”

“Together with Ji Xing, escort the people and assign them quarters.”

“Ji Xing will handle the selection—at this juncture, the one who decides first reaps the greatest advantage.”

With those words spoken, Lin Yu’s eyes flashed brightly.

“Bullets?”

Chen Jian gave a mysterious smile and replied:

“Exactly!”

An hour later, at the doorway of a spacious apartment in the “Light District.”

Lin Yu, reading the text that materialized before his eyes, addressed the man at the door dressed as a bishop of the Mechanical God cult:

“You see, the chief distinction between this apartment and the others lies in its newer, more complete facilities.”

“The plumbing runs freely; a turn of the tap yields clean water—should the Huaxia forces later finish the municipal water plant, this water will be purified and safe to drink directly.”

“Moreover, basic amenities are already in place: simple furniture and a handful of appliances. Look, there’s even a radio here.”

“It’s a fine piece—do you know what price such a functional radio fetches on the black market?”

“Yet now, all you need are forty bullets to claim it.”

“Honestly, it’s practically a gift.”

“Forty bullets.”

The bishop reached into his pocket, examined its contents carefully, and said with a hint of hesitation:

“But that is not ownership.”

“By your terms, it’s merely a lease.”

“Leasing a dwelling for a month costs forty bullets—that price is exorbitant.”

“Then you may choose another apartment.”

Lin Yu shrugged again and continued:

“I have other options as well; each one is satisfactory.”

“At the very least, they’re far superior to those dilapidated rooms you occupy in Anhan City, aren’t they?”

“Those aren’t dilapidated rooms.”

The bishop replied with a touch of obstinacy:

“It is the earthly dwelling bestowed upon me by the Holy Trinity, erected by the Sanctum itself.”

“Enough, enough.”

Lin Yu cut him off and added:

“There’s no need for such pretentiousness.”

“Do you know why I tell you this? Because I recognize that you differ from the rest.”

“Look, the true hardliners—the so‑called ‘faith‑steadfast lambs’ you speak of—have long since turned away.”

“They refuse to accept the so‑called charity from the Huaxia forces.”

“Yet you are clearly far wiser than they are, aren’t you?”

“At least for you, your faith is not exclusive.”

“In fact, who says devotion to the Holy Trinity precludes cooperation with the Huaxia army?”

“The commander of the Imperial Guard—Guo Xu himself—has even fought side by side with the Huaxia troops.”

“Moreover, as far as I know, he holds the Huaxia forces in high regard and is eager to learn their strengths.”

“You are alike, aren’t you?”

Lin Yu’s words were laced with bewildering intent; in that instant he felt himself a consummate real‑estate broker.

Though it was his first encounter with the term, he truly believed no phrase captured his current undertaking better than the four characters “real‑estate broker.”

And his persuasion took immediate effect.

The bishop opposite hesitated for several seconds, then gritted his teeth and spoke:

“Then let’s settle on this.”

“But that does not mean I renounce my devotion to the Holy Trinity.”

“I merely require a safer environment in which to propagate our doctrine.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Lin Yu nodded in agreement, while silently cursing the man’s hypocrisy.

What faith?

You have simply been famished for days, exposed to the elements, and at last realized you can no longer endure.

But what of it?

Such a person is precisely whom the Huaxia army covets most.

When these lofty “bishops” realize they need not claw upward nor barter their faith for gain, yet can still secure a life superior to their former one, their entire belief system begins to crumble.

“So shall we trade now?”

“Let’s trade right now!”

The bishop counted out forty bullets from his pocket and handed them to Lin Yu; Lin Yu glanced swiftly into the bishop’s satchel and discovered a surprising surplus of stock.

A marvelous thought flickered through his mind.

He cleared his throat and spoke:

“Though the deposit need not be paid, if you rent for three months at once, I can offer you a little discount.”

“For instance, just 100 bullets, how does that sound?”

“One hundred?”

The bishop stared at Lin Yu in astonishment, then asked:

“Can you make such a decision? This isn’t a small number!”

“Of course I can.”

Lin Yu spread his hands and immediately asked:

“Do you have that many?”

“I don’t.”

The bishop shook his head and replied:

“I’m short by 25 bullets, but I can go trade for them.”

“It’s fine.”

Lin Yu reassured him, saying:

“You can give me the bullets you have now; any shortfall you can make up after the deal is done.”

“I know you must have considerable assets, but honestly, those assets may not be worth much in Mountain City.”

“So, while they still hold value, act quickly.”

“Alright, alright.”

The bishop nodded repeatedly, and when he handed over all the bullets he had hoarded to Lin Yu and then stepped into the room, his whole being finally relaxed.

This was his new dwelling.

Even at a superficial glance, it was far better than his residence in Anhan City.

Clean, tidy, and even equipped with a bed.

Yet the bed bore no linens, merely a bare frame that seemed both metal and plastic.

It seemed he still needed some household items.

Some furnishings worthy of this room.

The bishop retrieved another pocket hidden beneath his oversized coat and emptied its contents.

They were a few hefty pieces of gold.

Perhaps it was truly time to slowly exchange this gold for the “currency” recognized by Mountain City.

After all, he would be staying here for a long while.

He needed food, water, clothing, and even aid for other arriving believers.

Completely refusing contact or trade with the Huaxia army was absolutely untenable.

Anyone who made such a choice, no matter how steadfast their faith, is inevitably a fool.

The bishop looked around the apartment room, walking toward an obvious “switch.”

He pressed the switch, and the lights went out.

Pressing it again, the lights flickered back on.

He was certainly no stranger to such designs.

Yet for some unknown reason, this time he felt something peculiar.

When he moved toward the “kitchen” area and turned the water valve, clean water surged forth instantly.

The flowing water washed away the grime from his hands; he rubbed them instinctively until they became spotless, even faintly pale, then stopped.

In that moment, he seemed to have lost many things.

Yet he also seemed to have gained many things.

It was time for a bath.

Here, in this place?

No, he recalled the holy blooded one saying that this apartment had a shower.

The bishop explored the room, and when he entered the cramped shower and turned on its tap, his mood completely relaxed.

Though the water was cold.

Yet it was said that once the water plant was completed, the water here would be hot.

That is.

true living.

(End of chapter)