hotmtlnovel Chapter 101
Chapter 101
“Feels a bit desolate, doesn’t it?” Amara said with a wry smile.
Behind the barrier, rows of low gray buildings stretched out.
The concrete outer walls were painted only in a dull white without any other patterns or decorations, making it hard to describe them as beautiful, just as Amara mentioned.
The atmosphere was somewhat exotic.
It didn’t resemble cities or towns in the United States but rather seemed like a different country. It evoked images of slums in the Middle East or India.
However, Arian closely examined the dry-designed buildings.
The doors were not large but sturdy, and the windows were unusually small. It seemed that these buildings were not constructed for people to live in but perhaps for some other purpose.
Given their proximity to the barrier, they were probably built with the assumption of potential combat.
Arian positively speculated on this, and the buildings were connected to walkways leading up to the barrier.
Inside, people with rifles continued to pass by.
Although Arian had anticipated it by looking at the high barrier, they differed from other groups that either repaired or used the ruined buildings.
Fort Wayne, which could utilize vast military resources, except for the barrier, had almost no directly built buildings inside.
However, these people undoubtedly possessed their own construction capabilities and seemed to have already constructed a significant number of buildings.
“Were all these barrier and buildings built by the Union?”
Arian asked to confirm.
In response, Amara lightly nodded her head.
“Yes, we made them.”
“Does this kind of barrier surround the entire stronghold?”
“No, not exactly. This level of defense is only present at the entry points accessible by land.”
Arian nodded, understanding that even with her limited knowledge of construction, three years seemed too short to enclose the entire stronghold with a 10-meter-high barrier.
“How did you build them, considering there might not be construction materials?”
“Well, we naturally started from there.”
Amara briefly explained the construction process.
It all began when they found an abandoned cement factory near the city while the Union was building the barrier for the stronghold’s safety.
The cement discovered there proved to be a significant help.
After recognizing the importance of cement, the Union attempted to manufacture it. They
“Yes, that one. Something big seems to have happened there.”
“Something big?”
“The base has been completely destroyed. Everyone inside is dead,” the man said.
Amara swallowed hard upon hearing this.
“What... There were only a few hundred people deployed there. Who could have done this?”
“The workers who went there to deliver construction materials testified. The entrance was destroyed, and inside, there were nothing but zombies.”
Arian’s eyes lit up quietly at this quite serious story.
If the man’s words were true, it meant that hundreds of people had died.
“...Is it a misunderstanding?”
“No, it’s not. The long-distance deliveries are escorted by search teams. The parties who followed them confirmed the situation roughly. That’s why the Union headquarters is in chaos right now.”
A long sigh escaped from Amara’s lips.
Not only was the issue of the dead people concerning, but also the recent conflicts within the Union headquarters were vividly clear to her.
“But why are they looking for me at the headquarters?”
“I don’t exactly know... looks like they are mobilizing the junk dealers. After all, that’s your specialty.”
“Junk dealers? What are they going to use those people for?”
“I don’t know. Just go and ask for yourself.”
The man urged Amara. At that moment, Amara looked somewhat troubled.
She probably needed to go to the headquarters immediately, but she had companions with her.
“Just a moment. I’ll talk to those people and be right back.”
Leaving the man for a moment, Amara returned to Arian and Sadie.
“Sorry. Something urgent has come up.”
“Something urgent?”
Arian asked in a somewhat surprised tone, pretending not to know.
Amara’s expression clouded.
“Yes. I’m really sorry. If it’s alright with you, could we reschedule for tomorrow, and I’ll guide you again?”
“That’s not a problem, but... what about us?”
The entry and exit times for outsiders in this Union base were strictly limited. Once you entered, you couldn’t go out until the next entry time at 5 p.m.
Amara, in a more difficult situation, pointed to the man behind her as a temporary solution.
“Well... I’ll talk to him for now. He should be able to find a place for you to spend time.”
However, Arian was bothered by the conversation between Amara and the man.
Arian didn’t come to this place for tourism; she came to investigate the Union. In that sense, the people calling Amara seemed to be quite authoritative figures in the Union. And with Arian around, she could overhear their conversation.
Arian judged that she had the worth to go there herself.
“Wait, but. Where are you going?”
“Oh, that’s... “
Amara hesitated for a moment.
But it seemed she didn’t need to hide the location because she soon gave a direct answer.
“I have to go to the Union headquarters. That’s where I was called.”
“Then... can we wait around there?”
“There? It’s not impossible, but...”
The Union headquarters used a university building a bit away from this place. Of course, outsiders were strictly prohibited from entering.
However, there were plenty of workshops and construction sites outside, so waiting for someone was quite feasible.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“That’s okay. I just don’t want to be wandering around with strangers.”
Arian deliberately spoke coldly. The attitude, combined with her outwardly indifferent impression and her early adolescence, created an extremely convincing persuasiveness.
Even Amara might have panicked if someone told her to spend a few hours with a stranger when she was that age.
In the end, Amara nodded.
“If that’s the case... there’s nothing we can do. Okay. Let’s do that. But please, stay quiet. Entry beyond this point is prohibited. And...”
After giving some instructions, Amara went back to the man, leaving Arian and Sadie behind.
The man frowned slightly upon seeing them.
“What, are you bringing them along too?”
“They will only go nearby. They’re with me, and I have nowhere else to take them right now.”
“Really? Fine, let’s go.”
The man led the group towards the Union headquarters.
As the situation unfolded as expected, Arian faintly smiled from behind.