Apocalyptic Disaster: Stockpile Supplies for Free and Make a Comeback

Chapter 144 Mutant Insects
It was already dark when Jiang Shi'an and Cheng Yancai returned one after the other.

"Are you busy with work over there?" Song Jinhe took the mung bean paste and water that had been chilled yesterday out of the refrigerator.

"It's alright. I checked the progress of the data I brought out from Wucheng earlier." Jiang Shi'an went to wash his hands first.

Cheng Yan ate a bowl of iced mung bean soup in a few bites after entering the room, took a couple of breaths, and then said, "It's a bit busy, but it's okay. There are no seriously ill patients today. Seeing the familiar environment, I felt like I was back in my old days of working."

"When they were in quarantine at the shelter, they set up an operating room in a makeshift building. The equipment and supplies they provided filled the gaps in the town's clinic. Later, they even used helicopters to search for hospitals in the city."

The base has the facilities to perform surgeries, though complex combined surgeries are not feasible. Although a considerable amount of medical supplies were prepared in the early stages, the base now has a large population, and supplies are extremely scarce after depletion. Some medications have a high contribution point requirement, and the team members and management use them for free.

The temperature control system currently only guarantees food supply; for Chinese medicinal herbs, only a small portion is available, which are not demanding in terms of growing conditions.

Western medicine requires much stricter conditions, so even if it can be produced, the quantity cannot be greatly increased.

"So now the fastest way for teams to get contribution points is to find medical supplies, especially life-saving items."

Everyone was present, so they brought out chairs and sat down to prepare for dinner.

Qi Sixing had been craving roast duck and rabbit meat for a long time, and couldn't wait to grab a piece. The crispy golden duck skin and tender duck meat were so satisfying that every bite brought tears to his eyes.

After so long, this was the first time Song Jinhe had ever eaten authentic crispy roast duck. With 399 contribution points, she only got half a duck, so everyone left the legs and wings for her and Jiang Shi'an.

It has to be said that rabbit meat is really cost-effective and most people can afford it. Uncle Li said that rabbits reproduce quickly and the base raises quite a few.

After the meal, Uncle Li and his son helped clean up the restaurant and kitchen before leaving.

"Am I spending too many contribution points?" Song Jinhe asked, turning around as she stood by the door.

“I have what they want, not much.” Jiang Shi’an smiled and looked down.

In order to familiarize themselves with the base as soon as possible, in addition to taking turns guarding and going out to clear zombies, their team also took on a lot of odd jobs when they had free time. After a week, they basically got a good grasp of the base.

Apart from the entrances and exits connecting the outer perimeter and the interior of the base, as well as the laboratories, the guards and patrols in other areas are all second- or third-tier gifted individuals, as well as ordinary people with physical abilities.

The lab is there because it contains samples; a leak would cause a major incident.

While Song Jinhe was here, she took the items from her spatial storage to Jiang Shi'an's laboratory.

When she took out that piece of vine, she still felt a little psychologically traumatized.

The air conditioning in the laboratory was set quite low, and there was an operating screen on the table.

"It has indeed fused." Jiang Shi'an raised his head. "This thing does have mental talent, but it hasn't grown to the point where it can attack with mental power yet. It must have captured your mental power."

Talented individuals can enhance their talents by killing powerful mutated zombies, and conversely, zombies can become stronger by eating talented individuals.

Song Jinhe: "Special zombies convert less energy, but their conversion rate is high when they devour similar talents. Am I right?"

"Hmm." Jiang Shi'an's eyes were focused, and his spotless white lab coat looked even more aloof against the backdrop of the cold and rigorous laboratory. He turned to Song Jinhe, "This thing used to be a pitcher plant."

Song Jinhe was somewhat lost in thought when the words "pitcher plant" shocked her.

Anyone who has ever raised pitcher plants knows that they don't grow very big, while the things they encounter can climb from the basement to more than ten stories high.

No wonder there are so many zombies outside the hotel, but far fewer inside.

Song Jinhe looked at the vine sample. This guy had come out of the elevator quite a few times to catch zombies. Luckily, they didn't rush in to fight head-on; the ground below might have been full of digestive fluids.

However, if you could raise one, it would definitely be very strong at guarding the house and fighting zombies!
She remembered hearing something like this: a powerful figure in the apocalypse raised a mutated creature that looked terrifying and was actually terrifying and ferocious. It was said that everyone who saw it died.

She had only heard the rumors, and since they had nothing to do with her and she didn't know if they were true or false, she didn't pay any attention to them.

“Such a rare mutation is very unlikely, so there’s no need to worry too much.” After saying that, Jiang Shi’an subtly deleted Song Jinhe’s data comparison.

"What are you thinking about so intently?"

"I'm wondering, is it possible to keep this as a pet?"

"We can look into it," Jiang Shi'an said with a smile.

Song Jinhe:
Seeing his brooding gaze, which first turned thoughtful and then intensely interested, Song Jinhe suddenly felt that something was amiss.

Could it be such a coincidence?

-

Evenings can reach temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius, which should be deadly for insects like mosquitoes.

But for some reason, the number of insects flying around under the lights gradually increased at night.

Sometimes I wake up to find my body covered in red welts, especially in less comfortable accommodations.

An insect whose body is about half the size of a palm has seen a surge in numbers within a day or two.

Initially, the bite only causes redness and swelling. After a few hours, the skin becomes burning and painful, followed by ulceration. In severe cases, it can cause high fever and shock.

If you swat the insect with your hand, it won't be completely dead. The toxic sap it releases can cause skin ulceration, which is more serious than being bitten.

Initially, these insects only appeared in temporary dwellings, but overnight they spread throughout the base.

If you look closely at the insect's body, you will see almost transparent wings on its black and red body. When it rests, its slender tail will curl upwards, and its mouthparts at the front are jet black and sharp.

These are rove beetles! To grow this big and be so aggressive, they're clearly not a species from before the apocalypse.

Many people in the central area have also been bitten; just now, two people from the villa went to the clinic.

Song Jinhe sprayed the insecticide and even used medicated oil, almost choking herself to death. The mutated rove beetle flapped its forelegs and flew towards her again.

Being touched by this thing will disfigure you! She quickly grabbed her notebook and slapped it down. Rove beetles are incredibly resilient; you can't kill them without using some force.

Zhang Yi then slammed her right fist onto the notebook, saying, "Okay."

Qi Sixing: How could it not be good? This force is enough to stun a zombie for a few seconds.

Notices are being sent out in various areas outside.

"All residents of the base are requested not to swat any insects directly with their hands, to minimize going out, and to go to the treatment center immediately if bitten. Those who conceal fever symptoms will be expelled from the base. Valid reports will be rewarded with contribution points!"

The base has no problem with organizational efficiency and capability, but there are too many of these insects. They can be eliminated in swarms with a flamethrower, but there's nothing that can be done about the scattered ones.