Strong and burly build, broad shoulders and back, and a face that is also square and honest, matching the information given by the skinny man.
From the change in his pupils when he activated his abilities at the door, he should be a perceptual "Collector".
As for his strength...
Su Huan instinctively opened his "Omni-sense" slightly, covering the person in front of him.
Qi Zhenbang suddenly paused his steps, turning around sharply.
What he saw was Su Huanâs surprised face. The uncontrolled muscles quickly returned to normal, showing that it was genuine.
"Whatâs wrong?" Su Huan asked.
Qi Zhenbang gave them all a suspicious look, then glanced at the ceiling of the hallway and the residents of the adjacent shelters.
He said perfunctorily, "Nothing, normally newcomers to the shelter should be quarantined to prevent carrying the zombie virus, but I just saw you all look clean, so weâll skip this step. You can temporarily stay in this room. Itâs a bit basic, if you need anything you can buy it from the grocery store. No charge for the first day, but after that we will collect rent daily."
Su Huan followed his gaze inward, noticing that the original stair wall was chiseled through, exposing the red bricks on either side.
Several steel beams extended underfoot, covered with iron sheets and wooden planks, stretching out to another building several meters away.
The rain was pounding on the iron sheet room, making a ding-dong sound, as if they were inside a drum being played.
Many people lived directly in this narrow corridor.
Su Huan looked at the rainwater seeping into the corridor, twitching his mouth, "Hiss... isnât there a better room?"
This wasnât feigned distaste; it was genuine.
Although he wouldnât stay long at the Iron Mountain Shelter, he didnât want to suffer.
Qi Zhenbang had already guessed the outcome and felt more contempt seeing the stiff expression of this rich kid, Su Huan.
Even at a time like this, you canât lower yourself, spending money on the edge of the knife, letâs see what youâll do then.
But being in his forties, his expression remained unchanged, "Of course there is, but it will cost more."
Su Huan immediately nodded, "No problem, but what is the âmoneyâ at the shelter?"
"The most conventional is food, of course."
"But we left in a hurry and didnât bring much food..."
Su Huan said helplessly.
Disappointment flashed in Qi Zhenbangâs eyes, and he listed, "Other supplies are fine too, like bullets, firearms, materials dropped by monsters, or collected crystal stones. If nothing else, you can also complete tasks issued by the shelter to earn money..."
Overall, it was similar to the Armed Train, but the Iron Mountain Shelter lacked knowledge of the apocalypse and the Evolver.
They donât purchase information, only support bartering.
Su Huan secretly calculated and then sincerely said, "Then weâll use the ammunition we deposited with you to exchange. After all, itâs safe in the shelter, and we wonât need it."
âTruly a genuine rich kid...â
Qi Zhenbang thought to himself, a bit speechless.
He thought he could extract some other high-value items, but this would do, as the value of bullets was also high.
He wouldnât bother with inflating prices; after all, those items would eventually be used in the Iron Mountain Shelter.
He took Su Huan and his group up a few more floors to the eighteenth floor, finding a fairly decent room, partitioned from a houseâs master bedroom, with a window, though it was black outside at the time.
Two secondary bedrooms, the kitchen, and the living room housed a total of four families.
The level of overcrowding once again amazed Su Huan.
"Just like the back carriages,"
Yu Yue mumbled softly as they closed the door.
Su Huan sat on the bay window, looking at the dim light seeping in from outside. His cold profile was highlighted, with most expressions hidden in shadow.
At that moment, he became the cold, ruthless train conductor once more.
"What do you all think about the Iron Mountain Shelter?"
Old Hu and Shu Wei exchanged glances; the former gestured for the latter to go first.
But Shu Wei got lost looking at Su Huanâs profile.
She missed Old Huâs cue.
Old Hu had to say, "From the prisonersâ testimonies and Qi Zhenbangâs behavior, the Iron Mountain Shelter seems to have some order and a willingness to communicate externally. I suggest we find the true manager of the refuge, Qi Tieshan, to negotiate, having them assist us in finding equipment."
"Hmm, anything else?"
"I noticed some people wearing the Information Technology Parkâs uniforms; maybe they can help us find equipment and assist in the âFloating Logâ project."
"Knock, knock, knockâ"
The sudden sound of knocking interrupted the conversation inside.
Yu Yue whispered, "Itâs a sixteen-year-old boy."
Su Huan stood up, "Two short and one long, just the way I like polite kids."
He went over and opened the door. Outside stood a boy in a beige half-sleeve shirt, his hair freshly buzzed. Although the clothes were a bit sweaty, he was not as disheveled as the dystopian adults.
Before Su Huan could ask, the boy hurriedly said, "My name is Xiaodong, I live next door, my family has been a long-time resident of the shelter. Itâs complicated here, let me know if you need a guide."
No no no..."
Su Huan waved his finger.
Xiaodong looked a bit dejected, "I got it."
"You should say, you need a guide and Iâm your only choice," Su Huan smiled.
"Huh?"
Xiaodong opened his mouth wide, nervously.
"Isnât that a bit exaggerated? Iâm not that capable..."
"Do you know where to find some fun?" Su Huan patted his shoulder and asked.
Xiaodong looked at him, eyes sparkling with curiosity, and nodded thoughtfully.
"Thatâs enough, Iâm going for a walk, you all sort it out yourselves..."
Su Huan raised his hand, shaking the wristband above, and went out with Xiaodong, followed quickly by the giraffe.
Leaving four people in the room.
Old Hu looked at Yu Yue, asking with a hint of seeking approval, "Then Iâll go look around, check out the Iron Mountain Shelter."
"Go ahead."
Yu Yue smiled gently.
After Old Hu left, only Bai Lu, Shu Wei, and Yu Yue remained in the room.
Bai Lu sensed something amiss, glancing at the gentle Yu Yue, then at the ashen Shu Wei, suddenly enlightened.
She hurried out, "Old Hu, wait for me..."
Leaving just two women in the room made it even eerier.
...
Qi Zhenbang hadnât intended to disturb his father, but the distinct presence of Su Huan and his group made him decide to go upstairs and wake up Qi Tieshan hesitantly.
He relayed the situation of Su Huan and others.
Qi Tieshan sat up with a solemn expression as he listened to the beginning.
"Nonsense about a rich kid, this is clearly a dragon crossing the river!"
Iron Old Man thumped the table, eyes blazing sharp, voice powerful.
The years of military demeanor were fully manifest.
Qi Zhenbang was startled by his fatherâs reaction, murmuring, "Is it that exaggerated? That rich kid doesnât seem like someone with power..."
Iron Old Man snorted coldly, pulling down the shotgun from the wall.
"Donât be too enamored with your capabilities. Learn from your big brother; think things through. What time is it now? The end of the world!"
"Human lives are not even worth weeds, what use are background and identity?"
"Even for a fool, theyâd have caught on in three months. Moreover, those two you mentioned, theyâre clearly ex-military. To not serve the country and instead follow a rich kid?"
Qi Zhenbangâs expression changed drastically, realizing the seriousness, he hurriedly followed.
"Iâll bring someone over now!"
Iron Old Man stopped, turning to push his younger son.
"You go back. Since they didnât tear their face off with you and handed over the guns boldly, they have the confidence and arenât afraid of the two of you."
Qi Zhenbang, "Then I canât just stay here, right?"
Iron Old Man squinted, putting on a coat, "Go find your big brother. Iâll take a look first downstairs."
Qi Zhenbang immediately caught on, quickly running to his brotherâs place.
Luckily, the two brothers were both scared of flooding and lived on the rooftop iron rooms, making it convenient to find them.
By the time Qi Zhenbang rushed over, his brother and sister-in-law were having dinner.
The sister-in-law was venting grievances to the brother about something, her brows furrowed deeply, the resentment palpable.
Seeing him come, she switched to a smile.
"Zhenbang, what brings you here this late, in such heavy rain..."
Qi Zhenbang hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, sister-in-law, I need to see my brother about something."
Qi Jian Country, seeing his rain-soaked clothing, sensed something was up, didnât ask, and just followed along, still in his clothes.