Chapter 32: Farewell for Now! The Three Mobile Cities Each Make Their Own Choices

Li Jin and Lei Jian both nodded thoughtfully. “According to our plan, there’s no need to rush leaving,” Li Jin spoke first. “Yes, let’s develop slowly for a few months first,” Lei Jian followed. Li Ye, however, shook his head firmly. “No, the entire Wasteland Zone will be completely destroyed in three months... no, the remaining time is less than three months.” The two were startled instantly. Seeing Li Ye’s unusually serious attitude, they chose to believe him. Ruined cities, mobile labyrinths, freshwater lakes, mountain ranges... Li Ye recounted the general situation of the Wasteland Zone to them. “West of the Wasteland Zone is also a Level 1 area?” Lei Jian pondered. “Then I’ll head west.” For the Conqueror, equipped with molten lava treads, crossing mountains was no problem. As for Li Jin, his Azure lacked tracks like the Conqueror’s, so it couldn’t traverse mountains. The western option was ruled out first. “If we go north, we can travel together, crossing the city ruins as a group,” Li Ye proposed. Li Jin thought carefully, then made his decision. He thanked Li Ye for the offer but ultimately decided to develop here for a month and then head south. After all, this is the southern part of the Wasteland Zone, and traveling south to a new area would take less than a week. “Suppose that area is a Level 2 zone, or even a higher-level zone, then the Azure would be doomed...” he chuckled, scratching his head. Before leaving, Lei Jian asked Li Ye to custom-build a Rolls‐Royce. The burly man then drove it around once. “Although making it is a bit extravagant, it sure is fun to drive!” he laughed heartily. Li Jin watched enviously and had Li Ye custom‐build one for him too. Finally, the time to part came. The three shared a glance and nodded. Boarding their respective mobile cities, the three lords waved gently at one another from afar. Parting is always sad; they didn’t know when they would meet again. Maybe an exciting reunion embrace, or perhaps everything and everyone had changed. Li Ye watched the two mobile cities depart in their directions, then waved to those behind him. “Let’s go! We head north all the way!” ... “The new route is set, all parameters configured. Over the next five or six hours, we can leisurely enjoy tea and chat.” In the cockpit, Tang Fang reclined in his chair, hands behind his head. The other helmsman nodded slowly. This helmsman, A‐Bai, like Old Zhou, had been a slave who supported Li Ye’s uprising. A‐Bai was a few years older than Tang Fang but seemed junior to him. Because Tang Fang’s piloting skills on the Tomorrow were much more advanced, and he often patiently taught A‐Bai various driving techniques. Over time, the two had developed tacit cooperation. During these days, Tang Fang had become increasingly familiar with piloting the Tomorrow, becoming quite adept. “I told you, you can become an excellent helmsman.” A leisurely voice came from outside the cockpit; Li Ye stepped in and tossed two bottles of cola to Tang Fang and A‐Bai. “You’re here, Brother Li?” Tang Fang said in surprise. Li Ye smiled and patted his head, then nodded toward A‐Bai. “I heard you’ve even learned evasive maneuvers?” he asked. Tang Fang nodded. “Yes, but I’m not sure how the real thing will go.” While the three were chatting, Old Zhou quickly walked in. “Ah Li, the new people’s rooms are arranged too.” Li Ye nodded. “Good.” The Tomorrow had originally 84 people, but during this time, six wounded died from heavy injuries, leaving 78 people. Li Ye felt extreme pain and regret. At the same time, he was even more eager to recruit a doctor. But finding a doctor in the wasteland was very difficult. In fact, doctors—this kind of professional talent—were even scarcer than mechanics or helmsmen. Training a doctor requires a good environment like a medical school and abundant medical resources for practice and growth. On the wasteland, where everyone’s primary goal is survival, no one thought from childhood about becoming a doctor. Mobile city lords want to cultivate them, but they can’t build hospitals or find enough medical resources. After clearing Glos Mine, the Tomorrow suffered some additional casualties, and the newly recruited 40 people helped fill the labor gap. To Li Ye’s surprise, one of them had applied to be a lookout. That person was Lin Xia. After careful assessment, Li Ye nodded in surprise. “Your skill is pretty good. When did you practice?” Lin Xia smiled slightly and gently tucked her short hair behind her ear. “This is what I learned from mom since childhood.” “Hm?!” “When I was little, Roland Fortress was only a Level 1 mobile city.” Lin Xia gazed into the distance and softly said. “My father was the lord of the Roland, and my mother was the lookout of the Roland. I often snuck over to her in childhood, on the watchtower watching distant scenery, and she taught me a lot of lookout knowledge.” “At that time, I stood on the watchtower, squinting at the gentle breeze, occasionally watching the adults below bustling about. That feeling was really beautiful...” As she spoke, bitterness appeared at the corner of her mouth. “Only later...” Li Ye gently patted her shoulder without saying more. After Lin Xia left, Li Ye seemed to realize something, and his eyes showed surprise and emotion. Helmsman, gunner, mechanic, lookout, combat captain... before he knew it, he had gathered them all. ... Currently, the Tomorrow had 78 people, growing stronger and gradually becoming regular. Therefore, it could no longer operate like a makeshift troupe of a dozen people. Among them, Li Ye was the lord, Old Zhou was his deputy and combat captain. Helmsmen Tang Fang and A‐Bai, mechanic Lin Wu, gunner Ning Wen, lookout Lin Xia. Originally, there were 20 combat personnel; the rest were ordinary residents. Li Ye thought and decided to expand combat personnel to 30. After assigning a person to assist Lin Wu and his friend’s sister Xiao Yao, there were 39 people available. Li Ye quickly made arrangements. Fifteen people responsible for mining, logging, and other tasks. Ten people responsible for tending fields and managing sunshine fruit trees on the upper deck. Five people responsible for daily cleaning of the Tomorrow. Five people working downstairs in the fuel room and engine room. The remaining four served as logistics personnel, filling gaps wherever needed. Li Ye arranged tasks for everyone—after all, a mobile city couldn’t have idle people. At the same time, he set up a tiered system. Treatment of levels from low to high were: Level 3 resident. Level 2 resident. Level 1 resident. Combat personnel. Professional talents: combat captain, helmsman, lookout, gunner, mechanic. Deputy/management. Lord. With each higher level, daily allocation of freshwater, mantou, and potatoes increased—that was a bit ridiculous, but resources on the Tomorrow were limited. But besides that, there was also cola, instant noodles and future mature sunshine apples to allocate. The warehouse stored some vegetables and fruits, also to distribute to higher-level personnel. Implementing a hierarchy in a mobile city was necessary; it could motivate residents to work actively. Soon, Li Ye gathered everyone and announced his arrangements and this tiered system. To his surprise, people didn’t have much demands regarding food supplies. That wasn’t unusual. After all, in the wasteland, survival and safety were the first priorities.