Chapter 600: Turmoil at the Base

Experts had predicted the sun would rise within two months, and all the skeptical residents had been proven wrong. Quincy was feeling gloomy lately. He never expected that the previously unreliable experts would actually be right for once.

In Ethan Dawson’s words, the unreliable "experts" from before the apocalypse would have never been allowed into the base. The people who held influence here were the real deal.

At 4:30 in the morning, the bedroom door was opened from the outside. Evelyn Ford, a light sleeper, woke at the sound of the movement.

"Don’t be afraid. It’s me."

Hearing Ronan Kendrick’s voice, Evelyn Ford lowered the gun in her hand.

"Are you hungry?" Evelyn Ford turned on the light and got up, walking over to Ronan Kendrick.

"I’m not hungry. Were you up all night?" Ronan Kendrick took off his jacket and hung it to the side, then sat on the bed with an arm around Evelyn Ford’s shoulders.

"I collected a lot of things tonight. I saw some documents and photos from Rhys Chase. Our theory was correct—the tectonic plates are indeed shifting. As a precaution, he asked me to collect all the useful items in the base into my space."

Evelyn Ford nodded. "Understood."

Earthquakes were unpredictable, so all they could do was prepare. This was to prevent the shifting plates from triggering a quake and causing immeasurable losses.

The two of them talked for a bit before Ronan Kendrick went to wash up. Evelyn Ford cooked him a bowl of beef noodles. The sun would be up in an hour. She put the clothes he’d changed out of into the washing machine in her space. When he came out of his shower, she had breakfast with him, and then they both went back to sleep for a bit.

The hundreds of tons of salt ore in her space still needed to be refined, and the chicken and duck eggs had to be collected. The argali sheep population had grown to over two thousand, with new lambs born every day. Horses, roe deer, elk, Red Deer... The numbers of other livestock were also increasing wildly, not to mention the rabbits, which bred the fastest of all.

At ten in the morning, the base’s broadcast started right on time. Besides reminding residents to obey the base’s regulations, it also announced another matter.

Over at the settlement housing shelter, thirteen residents had died from full-body ulcerations caused by burns from the toxic sun.

Hearing this news, the group, who had been about to enter the space to work, was quite shocked.

"So many people died all at once. The light and heat from the toxic sun must have gotten stronger," Wyatt Vaughn said, her face full of worry.

Quincy patted her on the shoulder. "Don’t worry. The base’s factories are already working overtime to produce heat-resistant suits. Liam Sterling said the suits can also be used as raincoats. The material is excellent, and as long as they’re stored properly, they can be used for many years. He also said that the base plans to distribute an emergency kit to every resident in a while. Each kit weighs about three pounds, is waterproof and fireproof, and contains a lighter, hemostatic powder, wound medicine, and a survival guide."

Everyone turned to look at Quincy in unison. He gave a smug grin. "None of you knew, did you? Liam Sterling only told me."

"It’s a good decision, but distributing the emergency kits might cause a panic. Besides, theft and robbery of the kits will probably become common."

Ethan Dawson smiled. "The base will probably just handle the distribution. Whether or not people can protect their own kits will be up to them."

It was about time, so the group stopped dwelling on the issue. After entering the space, Evelyn Ford went to check on the waterwheel while the others put on masks and gloves and got to work.

In the conference room of the base’s administration building, Rhys Chase had once again convened a meeting with the management team. The topic was the recent deaths caused by ulcerations following burns from the toxic sun. The meeting started at ten, but by the time it concluded at half-past eleven, Harry Caldwell had still not appeared. The others whispered amongst themselves, speculating as to why he was suddenly absent.

As the meeting concluded, the managers began to rise and prepare to leave. Rhys Chase, sitting at the head of the table, had a dark expression on his face. Though everyone was curious about Harry Caldwell’s absence, no one dared to ask the Commander, fearing they would incur his wrath.

Just then, someone knocked and entered. Seeing that everyone was still there, the person first nodded a greeting to Rhys Chase, then glanced at the others.

"Commander Chase, directors, ministers, cadres... Minister Harry Caldwell unfortunately passed away at his home in Shelter [1] early this morning."

As soon as the words were spoken, something fell from someone’s hands and clattered to the floor. They stared in disbelief at the man at the door who had delivered the news.

The most agitated person was the shelter’s chief. He walked up to the man, examining him with a grave expression. "The Minister Caldwell you’re talking about... is it Minister Harry Caldwell from the food processing plant?"

The man nodded respectfully. "It is."

The chief turned his head to look at Rhys Chase, wanting desperately to say something, but Rhys Chase raised a hand, cutting him off.

He capped his pen, his gaze sweeping across the room, taking in everyone’s expression.

"Liam Sterling, go to Shelter [1] and assist Minister Caldwell’s family with the funeral arrangements. Please convey my condolences to them. Also, the weather is hot, making it inconvenient to hold a memorial service. Don’t let the body lie in state for too long. See that he is laid to rest as soon as possible."

After Rhys Chase finished speaking, Liam Sterling quickly stood up and accepted the task.

The others exchanged glances, all sensing that something was off.

’Rhys Chase hadn’t even asked what time Harry Caldwell died or the cause of his death. He just offered some platitudes and specifically instructed Liam Sterling to have the body cremated quickly. This was not the kind of treatment a deceased member of the base’s leadership should receive.’

"Commander Chase, there is one more thing."

The man hesitated, seeming uncertain whether to say what came next.

Rhys Chase raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

The others tensed up, afraid of hearing another bombshell.

"Minister Caldwell’s body was found stuffed inside the stomach of a crocodile. His body was also wrapped in numerous kraits. Next to his corpse, another body was found—a woman, who died in the exact same manner. The minister’s family believes he was murdered and insists that the base dispatch professional personnel and the army to bring the killer to justice."

The sound of several objects hitting the floor was heard. A few of the managers who were on good terms with Harry Caldwell were scared witless.

The chief staggered, his face turning pale at the words.

"Commander Chase, what are your orders regarding this matter?"

A cold glint flashed in Rhys Chase’s eyes. He glanced at the managers with their deathly pale faces, then rose and walked over to the man who brought the news.

"As it should be. Minister Caldwell was a manager of this base. For someone to dare commit murder right here... it’s utterly lawless. I will dispatch a team of professionals. We must bring justice for the deceased. Chief Warren, I’m putting you in charge of this."

Chief Warren nodded. "Yes, sir. I will be sure to root out Minister Caldwell’s killer. Rest assured, Commander."

Rhys Chase nodded in satisfaction. "All of you may go. Don’t forget what was discussed in the meeting. The most important thing right now is preventing harm from the toxic sun, as well as factory construction and production. Minister Caldwell was a reasonable man; he would surely want us to put the base residents first."

Rhys Chase had said all the right things. The others could only nod numbly in agreement.

After all the management personnel had left, Rhys Chase reached out and began tapping his fingers intermittently on the tabletop.

"Ryan Rowe, you did a good job on this."