Chapter 300.1: If It's Not Possible, Think Of Yourself As The Missle!

North of Dawn City.

A group of refugees appeared in the patrol squad’s view.

To be truthful, as soon as these people passed by Remote Creek Town, the sentries on duty had already noticed them. It was impossible for so many people to cross the forest, so they could only walk along the roads.

In the past, although there were refugees who had joined Dawn City one after another, it was rare to see a group of three hundred people travel together like this.

Not daring to take the matter lightly, the patrol captain, carrying an Arbiter on his back, led 5 squad members to meet them. From a distance of fifty meters, he called out, “Who are you people?”

At the same time, he carefully observed the group.

Their group had men and women, elderly and children... They didn’t seem like marauders, but they couldn’t completely let their guard down.

The person at the head of the group took a few steps forward. “We are survivors from the West Continent City. Marauders have destroyed our homes... On the broadcast, you said you would accept people with no homes. We don’t have anywhere else we can go. I beg you to take us in.”

“West Continent City? There were still other living people aside from the marauders there?” A patrol guard muttered in a low voice.

Another guard replied in a low voice, “It does sound weird indeed. Perhaps the Fang Clan doesn’t have the manpower to control an entire city... Isn’t there a resistance group?”

The patrol captain also felt perplexed, but he still reported the situation to his superior through the communication device hanging on his ear.

They didn’t have to wait for long as orders were quickly passed to take them in.

After receiving orders, the patrol captain raised his voice and continued, “We’re willing to take you all in, on the condition that you willingly surrender your weapons.”

There was commotion amongst the refugees.

Obvious hesitation was surfacing in some people’s eyes.

To surrender one’s weapon meant to surrender one’s life to another.

However, the person leading the front was very straightforward and agreed without a second of hesitation.

“There is no problem!”

“As long as you can promise our safety.”

The equipment of these guards was much better than theirs. In comparison, their iron-pipe rifles were merely fire sticks, so they’d be useless even if they kept them.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The patrol captain nodded, “Of course. The New Alliance will protect each of its law-abiding citizens.”

“Please follow me.”

......

The ‘Home of Refugees’ was located on the northwest of Dawn City, close to the resettlement village, which was located to the west of the Longevity Town; and not far from the Trading Post and the Commercial Street located north of the town.

As a dormitory-style dwelling used to house refugees, the average living space per person wasn’t much, with 4 beds stuffed inside one room. But no one was nitpicking.

A room that could provide shelter from wind and rain, clean beds and sheets... Each room even had a window.

For refugees with no home to speak of, it was simply heaven!

In most cases, it was already difficult to even borrow a straw-strewn barn; they didn’t even dare to dream of having a room to sleep in. Likewise, the staff at the Home of Refugees also didn’t expect that the patrol squad would bring back so many people.

There were more than 300 hungry refugees. In order to tally, cook, and allocate the rooms, the few staff members were so occupied that their hands and feet couldn’t stop moving.

Due to a shortage of manpower, the staff belonging to the Logistics Department of the Trading Post had some of its members temporarily deployed to help out and take care of the elderly, women, and children.

“Be good.” Looking at a sleeping child huddled in his mother’s embrace, Frost River stroked his head and slipped a bottle of two-headed oxen milk to his mother, saying warmly, “Take it.”

That was supposed to be her dinner, but nothing would happen if she drank one bottle less.

There were tears glistening in the woman’s eyes, trembling as she reached out to accept it. “Thank you.”

Frost River’s lips curved into a soft smile. “No need for thanks. This was how the administrator took us in back then.”

Although conditions back then weren’t as good as they were now...

Without disturbing the sleeping child, as Frost River planned to go take care of the others, the woman suddenly extended her skinny hand and grabbed her arm.

“Wa-wait, just now on our way... we met a group, they wore black armor, and there were 8 of them. I don’t know if they were one of your people, but they gave me a very bad feeling.”

Black armor?

Frost River looked at her in surprise, and said seriously, “I will report the situation to the guards.”

The refugees were soon given the promised hot water and food. Although it was only a bowl of green wheat porridge, it was already much better than the root and bark they ate on the road.

There was even the smell of meat in the soup!

Everyone was devouring all the food they could.

After they were done eating, Luca would bring someone to register their identities and, according to their abilities, introduce or allocate them to a suitable job.

In the Security Department next to the apartments.

The refugees’ leader sat on the sofa of the reception room with an uneasy expression.

Just 10 minutes ago, he was escorted over and learned from the guard on duty that the administrator of the New Alliance wanted to speak with him.

When he was still uneasy, the door opened and an azure-colored exoframe walked in.

With a single glance, he recognized the New Alliance’s administrator. The man was startled but he hurriedly stood up. He looked like he wanted to kneel down to pay his respects, however, Chu Guang raised a hand to stop him.

“No need for such formalities, you can just sit, I only came here to learn more about the situation.”

After ending a meeting to determine a strategy for the Northern Expedition, Chu Guang heard the news about the refugees, so he came over to take a look.

To be honest...

After seeing their circumstances, Chu Guang was even more determined about carrying out the Northern Expedition.

It wasn’t entirely because of kindness or sympathy. From a strategic point of view, with Boulder Town in the south, there would be too much resistance if they tried expanding south, thus, the New Alliance had to turn its strategic advance to the north.

If those marauders were allowed to pillage and burn as they wished, the center of River Valley Province would probably become a land devoid of humans.

No matter how fertile the land was, they needed humans to plant crops.

The guard on duty brought over a steel chair for Chu Guang, who nodded in thanks and sat opposite of the other man. He didn’t bother beating about the bush and he simply asked, “The guards should’ve told you about my identity, so I won’t introduce myself. Your name is?”

The man said respectfully, “My name is Zebra, sir.”

The corner of Chu Guang’s mouth twitched slightly with a strange expression.

Taking notice of the subtle change in the administrator’s expression, the man hurriedly yelled, “Please bestow me a name, sir!”

Chu Guang didn’t even think much and spoke casually, “Mhm, then... You shall be called Ma Ban.”

The man didn’t have any distinctive characteristics at all. Neither tall nor short. The type of person who’d not be found if thrown into a crowd. Chu Guang really didn’t know what kind of name to give him, so he simply reversed the order of his name.

But much to Chu Guang’s surprise, this guy actually took a liking to his new name. He cried out in delight, “Thank you, sir!”

Chu Guang coughed lightly. “Let’s leave the pleasantries here. Tell me about the situation in the West Continent City.”

Ma Ban straightened on the sofa and his expression turned serious. “What do you wish to know?”

Chu Guang inquired, “How many marauders are there? How many survivors?”

“Marauders... You mean the Fang Clan? I’m afraid the number isn’t small,” Ma Ban said with a heavy expression. “Originally at the beginning of the year, they only had 10 brigades, but afterward when the snow melted, many marauders from other areas went and joined them. Now, I’m afraid there are 20,000 or even 30,000 of them.”

Chu Guang nodded slowly. The number was close to what he had heard from Make Me, the Ratman.