Once the trouble was stopped, they quickly ordered the rabbits to be tied up.
Naturally, seeing the animals still twitching, they had the sense to put on rubber gloves first, just in case the creatures could give them a shock.
After the rabbits were sent into the base, the older soldier who had been speaking with them earlier said, "We really have to thank you this time. These rabbits pop up every so often to cause trouble, sometimes even blocking the road for anyone trying to get to the base. It's been a long time since we've had people come here on their own. About my earlier attitude, I owe you an apology."
Since there was a reason behind it, none of them took offense. Still, what if someone really did come looking for the base? Wouldn't these rabbits be blocking their only chance?
The soldier explained, "Anyone running missions has to pass through the city center, whether going out or coming back. Once we put it on the broadcast, they'll get picked up on the way."
It made sense. Most people in the city center had abilities, so it was relatively safe. There was no need to worry too much for them.
Lan Jin asked curiously, "Then why don't you just hide inside the base?"
Another soldier answered, "It's useless. They're incredibly strong. Once, more than thirty rabbits attacked us together. We thought hiding in the base would work, but they rammed the gate until it broke. Luckily, one of our teams returned in time. If they hadn't, I don't want to imagine the outcome."
That was why they didn't bother hiding. These rabbits would never leave until they got what they wanted. Last time, it started with just over a dozen of them. When they didn't succeed, they called their companions, and soon all the rabbits attacked at once. Even a dozen was hard enough to handle, let alone over thirty. Better to fight head-on from the start.
Ling Jiang frowned. "Aren't there ability users inside the base?"
According to what Lao Gao had heard at the J city base, in the early days, the people inside had enough food, so they never ate insect powder and had no reason to. That meant most of them had no abilities at all. Later, more and more ability users came to live there, and along with them came insect powder.
After all, who wouldn't want to gain abilities? Ordinary people began searching everywhere for insect powder, hoping to use it…
But having a rule against it was one thing. If eating it caused chaos in the base, that was something else entirely. This was why there were temperature scanners at every entrance — to make sure no one foolish enough to eat insect powder got inside to cause another disaster.
This was also why the J city base, despite its size, wasn't overcrowded. Not everyone who ate insect powder became an ability user. Those who did were often punished by being sent out on dangerous missions. The rest were either expelled or given the harshest, most exhausting labor. Many didn't survive long. Under such rules, it was no surprise the base population remained small.
"Yes," the soldier replied, "but all the ability users are sent on missions. The mountains around here are crawling with animals that used to be cute, but now… not so much."
Keeping ability users inside the base was less useful than sending them out to deal with deadlier threats. That way, they could remove danger and turn the animals into food supplies for the base. Comparing the two, sending them out was far more worthwhile.
…
As for relocating the base somewhere else, no one even suggested it.
Leaving aside the enormous manpower and resources needed to build a base, there was the question of where they could possibly move.
The outside world was in extreme cold now, and while people could survive on ice, what would happen when the cold ended and the vast ice sheets melted into water?
Besides, this base had been built on solid ground from the start. Even if other disasters struck, it could withstand them.
Of course, none of this mattered much to their small group, who were only here temporarily. Lao Gao spoke up eagerly, "I counted just now. Sixteen rabbits, all taken down by us. So… does that mean…?"
"Yes," the soldier said with a smile. "They can be eaten. Once they're exchanged for contribution points, we'll put the points directly into your residence permits. How does that sound?"
The four of them grinned. This was an unexpected windfall. No one was going to object.
"Deal," Lao Gao agreed.
Once everything was explained, they followed the soldiers at an easy pace toward the base.
Like the J city base, there was a temperature scanner at the entrance. Once they passed inspection, they were allowed inside.
After that came the temporary registration. The staff at the counter said, "Temporary stays are usually three days. I'll set your access cards for that. If you want to stay longer, come back to this window before your three days are up to renew."
Then the staff added, "Since you're not locals, there's a fee for temporary stays. A bed in the dormitory is five contribution points per person per day. Water and electricity are—"
Before the staff could finish, the older soldier who had spoken with Lan Jin earlier cut in, "If you're only staying three days, the fee's waived. Water and electricity too."
He added, "Consider it a thank-you. But my authority is limited. If you stay longer, you'll have to pay." Then he smiled. "My surname's Zhang. If you don't mind, call me Brother Zhang."
Free lodging was nothing to refuse. The three of them thanked him and accepted the arrangement, just as they had in the J city.
"Thank you, Brother Zhang."
Once the registration was complete, Brother Zhang didn't leave. Instead, he led them straight to the supplies exchange.
He pointed ahead. "They've already tallied everything. Let's get your contribution points sorted before you move in."
The four nodded. The exchange counter was on the same floor, just behind the registration area, so it was convenient.
When they arrived, the staff there looked them over for a moment before asking, "About the contribution points for the rabbits just now, how should the four of you split them?"
Lan Jin glanced at the others, then replied, "Evenly between the four of us."
"For edible mutant animals, the standard is ten contribution points per jin of meat," the staff explained. "After skinning, each rabbit weighs about forty to fifty jin. Sixteen rabbits come to a total of 7,200 contribution points. Split four ways, that's 1,800 points each."