Safe City Ch.19

Chapter 19: Preparing for War

— When Blue Sea entered full mobilization mode in order to carry out its mission —

Zhang Xiongyuan was in the laboratory with a group of students, examining soil samples.

In truth, he was still in a dazed state.

Before getting off the helicopter, he thought he had already endured enough shock—enough to accept the idea of working for a foreign regime in an apocalyptic setting.

But after stepping off the helicopter, Zhang Xiongyuan was told:

It wasn’t foreign humans. It was aliens.

Him: “……”

Zombies, apocalypse, aliens—this sounded like something out of a pre-apocalypse sci-fi movie, and not even a good one, but a box-office flop nobody would watch.

Yet it was all real.

And what was even more absurd: these aliens had gone to great lengths to send troops to rescue him, an agricultural expert, just so he could farm for them.

So aliens needed to farm too?!

That was ridiculous.

What was even more ridiculous was that these aliens clearly possessed technology far beyond that of Velvet Star, yet they believed in theology.

And what was most ridiculous of all was that the Velvet Star people who had arrived in Blue Sea earlier than them had also come to believe in Blue Sea’s Creator God.

As a local agricultural academic, Zhang Xiongyuan received quite good treatment upon arriving in Blue Sea. Not only was he given his own independent research project and allowed to apply for various agricultural research resources, but the Blue Sea people even thoughtfully assigned him a Velvet Star translator.

The translator’s name was Li Zhangmu, a native Velvet Star person and also an agriculture student.

Because of this, he had landed a good job as a translator at the agricultural research institute. Not only was the salary slightly higher than average, but he also didn’t have to face any danger.

Living in a safe residential area, eating enough every day, not suffering exploitation—he just had a normal job, and even got attendance bonuses.

Just thinking about it made Li Zhangmu want to laugh out loud. When Zhang Xiongyuan questioned him, he replied with a beaming smile:

“In the name of our God above, the great Creator God saved all of Blue Sea—and now She is willing to save us as well.”

“This world is about to be destroyed, yet we have been accepted by Blue Sea. We can integrate into Blue Sea and, under the guidance of our God, head toward a new world. Those of us who have been saved becoming believers of the great deity—doesn’t that make perfect sense?”

Zhang Xiongyuan: “……”

That sounded way too much like brainwashing.

He had previously suspected whether these Velvet Star people were just pretending, trying to gain acceptance from Blue Sea.

But Li Zhangmu’s behavior was too real—the admiration and fanaticism in his eyes, the overwhelming sense of happiness on his face, every gesture and movement of his body clearly showing that he truly believed in the existence of Blue Sea’s Creator God.

Seeing Zhang Xiongyuan’s complicated expression, Li Zhangmu didn’t mind at all. He smiled and said:

“Academician, you will understand in the future. The world is about to end—only faith in our God is the only hope.”

The academician didn’t know, but after learning that only believers of the God could obtain a residency permit, he had already decided that from this moment on, he and his students would also pretend to believe in Blue Sea’s Creator God.

Then a staff member brought out a crystal ball and had them take turns placing their hands on it.

In the end, they were regretfully informed:

“The crystal ball didn’t light up. You are not a believer of the deity. Please try again next time.”

Zhang Xiongyuan fell silent.

What?

You’re using this ball to determine whether someone is a believer?

Just look at your guns and artillery, look at your laboratories, look at the gene-editing platforms, high-speed refrigerated centrifuges, and artificial climate incubators.

These were clearly technological products!

He could only conclude that Blue Sea’s theocratic regime was probably using this kind of method to control the entire society.

Then Zhang Xiongyuan learned from Li Zhangmu that Blue Sea’s churches were actually hospitals.

The “white-robed high priests” of Blue Sea were doctors, the “monks” were nurses, the “blue-robed high priests” were department directors, and the “pope” was equivalent to a hospital director.

By the time Zhang Xiongyuan realized what he had just heard, it was already too late.

“…So… they can perform surgery?”

Li Zhangmu was actually also trying to adapt to these Blue Sea “characteristics”:

“Yes. And the standard is actually quite high. A friend of mine just had an acute appendicitis surgery yesterday, and he’s still staying in the church hospital right now… no, I mean, receiving ‘blessings.’”

Zhang Xiongyuan: “……”

“And the ‘blessing’ process is?”

Li Zhangmu replied: “They monitor ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate. They also make you get out of bed and walk to prevent intestinal adhesions, and they administer anti-inflammatory IV drips.”

Zhang Xiongyuan: “……”

He didn’t understand. He truly didn’t understand.

Although he couldn’t quite grasp what kind of ecosystem existed between Blue Sea’s government and its theology, when the Blue Sea people told him he could take a break, Zhang Xiongyuan still firmly refused.

He needed to work.

First, the Blue Sea people had gone to great lengths to rescue him and his students. In such an unfamiliar environment—an unfamiliar civilization, even—the fastest way for them to gain a sense of security was to contribute as quickly as possible.

Although agricultural research could not be rushed and results might not come anytime soon, being proactive in work was never wrong.

Second, as someone who had spent nearly his entire life in agricultural science, Zhang Xiongyuan was simply too curious about extraterrestrial crops.

Seeds, soil, water sources—he was already eager to examine everything and understand the characteristics of Blue Sea’s crops in detail.

He was currently observing various Blue Sea seed data in a standard seed testing room when suddenly every mobile phone in the room emitted a unified “beep” notification.

Even the security guard standing at the door received it.

He had just arrived and couldn’t read Blue Sea’s language yet, so naturally he didn’t have a phone.

This scene—where everyone except him clearly received the same message at the same time—felt extremely eerie.

The few students following Zhang Xiongyuan showed visible unease and instinctively moved closer to their teacher.

Zhang Xiongyuan also stopped what he was doing and looked toward the Blue Sea staff in the room.

Fortunately, Li Zhangmu also received the message. Since he could only communicate orally and hadn’t yet learned Blue Sea’s written language, he put his phone to his ear to listen.

While listening, he raised a hand to signal them to stay calm and began translating:

“Citizens of Blue Sea, please pay attention… Blue Sea… mobilization… all citizens…”

After finishing the translation, Li Zhangmu froze.

“Blue Sea has entered full mobilization mode?!”

He had just arrived in a place that felt completely safe and free of oppression—and now there was going to be a war?

Zhang Xiongyuan and the students also felt their hearts tighten.

A war?

With whom?

Were the zombies coming?

Or was it, as Li Zhangmu had mentioned before, that the other safe cities were going to go to war with Blue Sea?

At first, Zhang Xiongyuan also instinctively became tense. But being older and more composed, he quickly noticed that everyone else in the area remained very calm.

They glanced at their phones, put them away, and continued with their work as if nothing had happened.

He reassured his students:

“It probably isn’t anything serious. Everyone else is very calm. Maybe Blue Sea’s idea of ‘mobilization’ is different from ours.”

After all, this was a place that treated hospitals as churches.

However, Li Zhangmu shook his head.

“No, Academician Zhang, you don’t understand. Blue Sea people’s understanding of combat is different from ours.”

As he spoke, he lowered his head, looked at his hands, then suddenly clenched his fists. His expression turned fierce.

“I’m already a Blue Sea citizen too. I won’t be afraid!”

“This is our homeland. If anyone dares to invade—by the name of our God above! Even if I die, I’ll take a few of them with me!!”

At this point, Zhang Xiongyuan was completely convinced that Li Zhangmu truly did believe in Blue Sea’s Creator God.

That sense of belonging wasn’t fake.

But how had Blue Sea managed to achieve this in such a short time?

And more importantly—what exactly did Blue Sea’s “mobilization mode” look like?

—

Zhang Xiongyuan quickly learned what Blue Sea’s “full mobilization state” looked like.

First, every Blue Sea citizen who went out now carried a weapon.

And it wasn’t for any special reason—it was just worn naturally. Those with money hung firearms at their waist; those with less savings carried cold weapons.

Those who truly couldn’t afford even a single weapon simply carried large bags filled with stones.

Li Zhangmu had once curiously asked what use such small stones could possibly have.

A research staff member immediately demonstrated.

He picked up a stone with his right hand, raised it, and threw it hard.

A bottle placed at a distance was knocked over with a sharp “clang.”

When they retrieved the stone afterward, there was a deep indentation on its surface.

Li Zhangmu: “……”

Zhang Xiongyuan and the students: “……”

Although they were shocked that an ordinary Blue Sea researcher had such arm strength, after a few days of interaction, Zhang Xiongyuan had also realized something—while Blue Sea people looked extremely dangerous, they were actually quite friendly in their behavior.

For example, right now.

Seeing that Zhang Xiongyuan and his students had no weapons and lacked the strength to throw stones, a leader at the agricultural research institute even specially applied for weapons for them.

“Here. These are high-quality steel pipes. Look—this sharpened tip has been specially ground. It’s perfect for stabbing into an eye socket. Whether it’s for killing people or zombies, it works very well. Take them—one each!”

Zhang Xiongyuan looked at the sharpened ends of the steel pipes designed specifically for eye sockets.

…This was already considered a lethal weapon, wasn’t it?

They hadn’t even received residency permits yet—they were still technically outsiders. And yet Blue Sea people were so trusting that they just handed out weapons like this?

Aren’t they afraid these weapons might be used against Blue Sea citizens?

Not only did he think this, but one of the students also thought the same—and even asked it out loud.

Li Zhangmu faithfully translated everything.

The Blue Sea staff member who had come to distribute weapons burst out laughing on the spot.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

She patted the student on the shoulder.

“The kindergarten has guards.”

After translating this, Li Zhangmu also added an explanation:

“What she means is that if you’re holding that weapon, you can only beat Blue Sea kindergarten kids—in other words, you can’t even beat their elementary school students.”

The student: “……”

“…She’s joking, right?”

The staff member had been quite friendly to them over the past few days, and everyone occasionally joked with each other, so it felt like a possibility.

But Li Zhangmu shook his head.

“No. Look, Blue Sea adults are tall and strong, right? But they only ended a war six years ago. Most of this generation of adults didn’t have good nutrition when they were children, which is why their height is like this.”

“Now Blue Sea elementary school students are well-fed and well-nourished—by third grade, some are already 1.8 meters tall.”

The students, who averaged around 1.7 meters in height: “……”

So if Blue Sea people are already this strong… who exactly are they preparing to defend against?

Commander Alice already had the answer:

—“Against anyone. Including zombies.”

That was the order she issued to the military.

Not only had the civilian population entered a mobilized, armed state, but the outer city—which had previously been scheduled for slower development—was now being rapidly accelerated, with certain approved extraterrestrial residents assigned to live there separately.

At the same time, large amounts of anti-air weaponry were being deployed.

The city walls of the safe zone already had an inherent defense system, but this time, since they might be facing other safe cities, Blue Sea judged those defenses to be insufficient.

A large number of expeditionary troops were pulled back from small outposts. Most were withdrawn, and massive construction orders for wall reinforcement were issued.

On top of the existing outer walls, slanted outer defenses were being built using black alloy materials, poured and reinforced as a single structure, eliminating as many weak points as possible.

High-voltage electric grids were, of course, installed. Rows upon rows of automatic turrets were aimed outward.

Long, sharp spikes were buried beneath the city walls, leaving absolutely no opportunity for enemies to approach.

Drones that had previously been used mainly for exploration outside the city were also recalled.

Military drones were needless to say, and even the earlier civilian drones had long since been converted—armed with mounted weapons on their arms and external bomb payloads attached.

If necessary, millions of combat drones would carry out suicide attacks to eliminate threats at the earliest stage.

Considering that safe cities could forcibly initiate warfare, Blue Sea even dug large fields of traps at the main gates.

If another safe city truly initiated conflict with Blue Sea and their gates aligned, however many entered… would simply fall in.

Zhang Xiongyuan was very busy. Since he had no faith affiliation, he was still living in the outer city—though his living conditions were clearly better than most others.

There is a side note here: it wasn’t until he saw the first rabbit-eared extraterrestrial in the outer city that he truly believed Blue Sea really was from another planet, and not some religion disguising itself as such.

But before he could even be shocked by the aliens, he was first shocked by Blue Sea’s war preparations.

What…?

You call this “preparation for war”?

This looked more like they were getting ready to blow up a planet!

Saying they were armed to the teeth was even an understatement. When he personally saw blimps loaded with thermobaric bombs rising into the sky, he thought that was already the final reserve force.

But then came a second ship, a third… dozens, even hundreds of blimps appearing over the safe city’s airspace.

Zhang Xiongyuan fell completely silent.

So… we’re really going to blow up a planet, huh?

…Huh?

“Why did I use the word ‘we’?”

Zhang Xiongyuan took a sip of coffee and suddenly shook his head.

People really were drawn to strength.

As Blue Sea’s military capabilities rapidly revealed themselves, the students he had brought along had gone from initial anxiety and caution to a strong desire to integrate into Blue Sea as quickly as possible.

Three of them had already passed the crystal ball test and become official Blue Sea residents. He could clearly see their excitement—along with the envy of the remaining students.

Even he himself, after witnessing Blue Sea’s overwhelming combat strength, could no longer ignore the sense of security rising from within.

It was a kind of peace that came from the deepest part of one’s heart.

The world was in chaos, zombies were at the gates, and humanity was powerless in the face of such disasters.

But now, he had been taken in by a powerful civilization and placed within its protection zone.

Cheng Qisheng set down the milk tea in her hands.

She had just heard Qin Zhi reporting progress to her.

“Hmm? Everything’s ready?”

The great Creator God looked over the safe city, confirming that all residents who were to be evacuated were already inside, before opening the City Lord group chat.

City lords generally did not reveal their locations, but since they were all targeting the same objective—and would inevitably end up in the same city anyway—the few safe cities that had purchased coordinates had openly shared their positions.

This was mainly so that the next arriving safe city would not get too close to them.

Moreover, when facing a Tier-3 zombie—especially one that could summon ordinary zombies—and also needing to rescue a virologist, the participating city lords who had purchased coordinates all tacitly agreed to cooperate.

[Withered Star Safe City]: I’ve arrived. I’ve posted my coordinates in the group. When you come over, don’t get too close—at least 20 kilometers away, or it will be considered an act of war.

[Meow Meow Safe City]: Meow has arrived too. Here are my coordinates. Please stay at least 30 kilometers away from me, meow~

[Blue Leaf Safe City]: I’m here, I’m here. Same old rules. Coordinates posted. 20 kilometers is acceptable.

[Gu Gaga Safe City]: I’m here! Coordinates are posted! Friends, since we rarely get to be this close, we can do offline trading without paying fees. If you have anything you want to buy or sell, come find me~

[Coriander Safe City]: trembling while watching the big shots QAQ

[Blue Leaf Safe City]: Five cities bought coordinates. Four have arrived now—who’s the fifth one?

[Withered Star Safe City]: Who bought coordinates and didn’t show up? Say something.

Since not everyone had arrived, the four safe cities couldn’t proceed with the next phase of the operation.

If they were already fighting zombies and the fifth safe city suddenly descended, it could stab them in the back.

Cheng Qisheng replied quickly.

[Blue Sea Safe City]: I’m here, I’m here. It’s my first time doing a mission, so I took a bit longer to prepare =v=

[Blue Leaf Safe City]: Oh, so it’s Blue Sea. I guessed it was you. Remember to prepare your “escape crystals”—I mean the crystals for leaving this world. If we lose this mission, or if there’s a big boss and we can’t complete it, it’s better to leave early to preserve your assets.

They were simply sharing “experienced player advice” with a newcomer who seemed both new and extremely strong, trying to build goodwill.

Naturally, Cheng Qisheng replied politely as well:

[Sure, thanks for the reminder. I have enough crystals. I’ll choose a coordinate and head over.]

She indeed needed to choose carefully—after all, after absorbing the core of Cosmic Safe City, Blue Sea Safe City had become somewhat too large.

When selecting coordinates, she had to be careful with distance, so she wouldn’t accidentally get too close to the other city lords.

In the end, Cheng Qisheng carefully picked a location that allowed her to observe the other safe cities from afar, while still maintaining a safe distance from everyone else.

She posted a notice in the group chat:

[I’m coming =v=]

“Aether, let’s set off.”

The water jellyfish sat in Cheng Qisheng’s palm.

“Understood. Following your orders, City Lord.”

After spending 1,000 crystals, the massive safe city instantly arrived in another city that had not yet been cleared—one filled with zombies everywhere.

The next second, the long-prepared combat drones immediately lifted off with a hum.

Blimps carrying thermobaric bombs rose into the air, while millions of drones filled the skies above Blue Sea Safe City, ensuring there were no aerial threats.

On the tops of the city walls, black turret emplacements had already begun automatically firing at the zombies outside. Soldiers waiting at firing ports quickly joined in.

It all seemed to happen in an instant—but in reality, less than three minutes had passed.

The zombies that had originally occupied the area were already mostly wiped out.

Some had just noticed this suddenly appearing city and hadn’t even managed to climb up before being shot dead on the spot.

Groups of combat drones circled around the safe city, dropping bombs on dense clusters of zombies, proving they were far more than just a show of intimidation.

From afar, the enormous safe city—almost mountain-like in scale—looked like a massive, ferocious black beast.

The other four city lords watching through binoculars: “……”

Wait—this is a Tier 2 safe city???

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