Married by Paper, Loved by Fate 30
Chapter 30: Who to Sleep With Tonight?
Shen Tang thought this mission wasn’t difficult, all she had to do was follow the team to the abandoned factory. The only problem was the time crunch.
After Shen Li finished the impromptu meeting, he happened to walk over to her.
Shen Tang stamped on the almost burnt-out bonfire in front of her, looked up at him, and asked casually, “How many days until we reach our destination?”
Shen Li shook his head. “The City Lord said to return the way we came.”
Shen Tang froze abruptly. “Huh? Why?”
“The danger level of the A-class contamination zone far exceeded our plan, resulting in heavy casualties. The path ahead is fraught with peril. Furthermore, the vehicles transporting supplies were previously attacked by contaminated creatures, and there isn’t much dry food left. If the team continues forward, the supplies won’t be enough to support everyone’s return. It’s not worth the risk, so it’s better to terminate the mission now.”
Shen Tang frowned. “Then what about the beastmen trapped in the contamination zone?”
Shen Li glanced at Shen Tang faintly, not expecting this female to one day care about beastmen in distress. He paused and explained gently, “Sacrificing pieces to save the king. There’s no other way. We’ve already recorded this new route on the navigation device, which will save a lot of time the next time we come.”
But if they came back next time, would those missing beastmen still be able to hold on?
Shen Li saw Shen Tang’s confusion and proactively explained, “The City Lord has sent out a message through a portable mini base station he’s carrying. If… someone replies to the message, it means they are still alive, and the team might continue forward.”
“Then, did anyone reply to the signal?”
“No.”
Shen Tang said unwillingly, “To just give up like this, and not save those people? Didn’t we come here precisely to save people?”
Shen Li leaned lazily against a tree, his arms crossed and shoulders hunched, a playful smirk on his lips. “Do you think the City Lord is that kind-hearted? He went to such great lengths to lead the troops personally just to save people?”
“…”
“After so many days, with no signal, stuck in an A-class contamination zone, with no water or food, those people should have died long ago. Even if we rush over now, we won’t be able to save them. The City Lord’s true purpose for this expedition was to obtain the energy core from the factory.”
Shen Tang asked the System in her mind, “What is an energy core?”
[The origin of the energy core is unknown, but it contains extremely powerful energy that can be converted into electricity, heat, wind, and other forms of energy. The operation and maintenance of the shelter cannot lack energy supply. One energy core can at least maintain the normal operation of the shelter for ten years.] the System explained, [Besides, an energy core can be exchanged for a large number of atonement points. If the Host obtains the energy core, they can leave the contaminated land and return to the Empire.]
So that’s how it is.
Shen Tang didn’t have any interest in the energy core. Her mind was entirely focused on how to complete the mission. If the City Lord led the team back the way they came, her mission would surely fail.
Shen Tang did have a large amount of supplies in her space, rewarded by the System, enough to support the team’s advance. She could also guarantee that Lu Xiao’s team was still alive and waiting for rescue, but what excuse could she give to others?
Last time, the “trap” could still be vaguely explained away, but this time, it wouldn’t be so easy to find a reason.
Tonight, the entire team would rest. Shen Tang planned to think of a countermeasure carefully.
The City Lord had issued another order: to prevent attacks from contaminants, females must be protected by males at all times. In other words, females had to find a beast husband to sleep with at night.
Shen Tang’s lips twitched slightly. Those four scoundrels were avoiding her like the plague, who was she supposed to sleep with?
Dylan