Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 279: Laying the Foundation

Zhao Xuanxuan continued her report: "Of the hundred healthy natural persons, 62 are female and 38 are male. No elderly. Among them, 12 are female infants under age 5, 8 are male infants, and 24 are children between 5 and 13. Excluding nursing mothers, 46 are available to work and take on tasks immediately."

"As for the 108 low-level Ability Users — they're essentially deep Level 2 Blood Plague carriers. At most one more Radiation Storm and they'll all become Level 3 Ability Users. Of those, 82 are adult males; the rest are adult females."

"Li Yue says the radiation Blood Plague preferentially attacks natural persons with stronger immune systems — the elderly, children, and the weak are actually less likely to be triggered because their immune response isn't strong enough. She recommends binding Profession Cards to all of them immediately, boosting everyone to Level 1 Awakening, then isolating them and having them take Blood Resistance Potions three times a day for three consecutive days. That should suppress the Level 2 Blood Plague from spreading further — at least until the end of the month, there's nothing to worry about."

"Of course, they'll ultimately need Two-Star Blood Resistance Potions, which means Second Aunt will need to put in some effort. As for the specifics, it's your call. Li Yue said — the opportunity is rare. It's a question of whether you dare."

The way Zhao Xuanxuan relayed those words seemed to carry a deeper meaning. Li Wei immediately thought back to Mark's case. It was indeed an unorthodox path.

But he also knew clearly that it was walking a tightrope — extremely risky.

And it would require a great deal of resources.

For now, the safer approach was better.

"Understood. Xuanxuan, go to Warehouse No. 1 and get enough Blood Resistance Potions — make sure everyone gets three doses a day. We'll figure out the rest."

He then pulled out 208 Profession Cards and tossed them into the air.In an instant, the cards became streaks of light, each finding a different person and sinking into their brow.

Just as Li Wei had expected, among the low-level Ability Users, some immediately activated two Profession Cards at once — and instantly upgraded them to Two-Star, with starting Destiny Grid values of 20 or higher.

These were typically men in their prime — around thirty years old, clearly having lived through all fifteen years of the apocalypse, with extensive combat and survival experience. Composed, capable, emotionally stable adults.

The eighteen and nineteen-year-olds, the twenty-somethings who looked like college students or even high schoolers — they were noticeably behind.

Not that they were incapable. But fifteen years ago they had been five or six years old, with no deep memory of the old world and no opportunity to study in it. Their formative years had been spent in constant displacement and fear — even if they had wanted to learn, there had been no motivation.

The thirty-year-olds, by contrast, had been in high school or university fifteen years ago. They had broad knowledge, the courage and drive to survive, and fifteen years of hardening on top of that. It would have been strange if they weren't exceptional.

In this round, the low-level Ability Users won decisively.

Li Wei then pulled out another fifty Profession Cards — primarily for the women, children, and infants among the natural persons. They had no competitive edge, but binding and activating Profession Cards would still help them resist the radiation Blood Plague.

As it turned out, half of those cards were also absorbed by the low-level Ability Users.

Li Wei had no choice but to keep pulling out more. The low-level Ability Users were simply too competitive.

Only after all 108 of them had activated and bound two Profession Cards each did the women and children finally get their turn.

By that point, Li Wei had used 316 Profession Cards.

He called out immediately: "Everyone listen — prioritize raising your Life to Level 1 Awakening. Higher Life helps build resistance against Blood Plague infection."

"Nelson!"

"My lord, I'm here."

"Starting now, the camp needs a dedicated institution to care for and manage mothers, infants, and children under thirteen. Recommend someone for the role and draft a few proposals."

"Also, you may select four people from among these new freemen as your assistants. Now — lead everyone into the camp."

"Yes, my lord."

Nelson accepted the order and moved out. This was exactly what his role as Freeman Manager was responsible for.

"Linus."

"My lord, your orders."

"Select ten freemen as your assistants."

"Ellen — pick ten female freemen to join the kitchen crew."

"Javier — pick two freemen as your assistants."

"Jenny — take two freemen as your assistants."

Li Wei made a quick initial distribution of personnel — primarily to settle the hundred uninfected freemen first. All of this required coordination between departments. As long as he assigned specific tasks to specific departments, the rest would take care of itself. He couldn't micromanage everything even if he tried.

What was needed here was talent in internal administration.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xuanxuan had already set up a large pot, poured in warm water, and dissolved the Blood Resistance Potions into it. She stirred the mixture and had the low-level Ability Users line up to drink — one large bowl each. Drinking it down produced no immediate visible effect, which was normal. One-Star Blood Resistance Potions weren't particularly effective against Level 2 Blood Plague.

Fortunately, since all the Level 2 carriers had prioritized raising their Life — some pushing it all the way to 200 — that alone would provide some degree of suppression against the spread of the infection.

Li Wei then had Thomas designate a section outside the walls as a quarantine zone. Blood Plague spread through blood contact, but it was still better not to cause unnecessary panic.

Once the initial handling was roughly done, two related notifications appeared.

[Your Level 5 Scavenger Camp has received 208 freemen. They have been successfully integrated into the Prestige Card management system. You can now perform various remote operations through the Prestige system. Newly joined freemen can now receive relevant information.]

[You have earned 50 Prestige. Current total: 300.]

—

Not bad.

Li Wei took the opportunity to post several reward announcements through the Prestige Card — visible to all freemen.

[Freeman Manager, Level 3 Freeman Nelson has been diligent and conscientious over the past period. The lord hereby issues a special reward: 50 standard copper coins and one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, Camp Engineer Linus has worked hard, been reliable, and demonstrated careful professionalism. The lord hereby issues a special reward: 30 standard copper coins and one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, Camp Kitchen Manager and Warehouse No. 2 Manager Ellen has worked diligently over the past period. The lord hereby issues a special reward: 30 standard copper coins and one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, Warehouse No. 3 Manager Javier... has been awarded 20 standard copper coins and one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, First Patrol Squad Captain Santiago and two patrol members... each awarded one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, Second Patrol Squad Captain Benjamin and two patrol members... each awarded one Bronze Clearance Token.]

[Level 3 Freeman, Transport Team Captain Xavier... awarded one Bronze Clearance Token.]

...

Seven announcements appeared before all the freemen at once. The rewards were substantial — Li Wei had distributed a total of 11 Bronze tokens. The three Silver tokens from before could only be broken down into 12 Bronze, after all.

But it was necessary.

Nelson was the Freeman Manager, Linus was the engineering chief, Ellen ran the kitchen — all three would need to be on duty during the Radiation Storm.

As for Javier, he had already used one Bronze token on himself previously, but that was fine. The old man was no slouch in a fight — giving him another was perfectly reasonable.

Including Santiago, Benjamin, and Xavier — all three would now have Profession Card levels of 3+3+2. Their average combat strength would be on par with Leon. Once the last Bronze token went to Mark, those four freemen would form a solid combat squad — and that was before counting the four newly promoted patrol members.

"Thomas — you, He Yuying, and Zhang Jinjun, along with Santiago's first patrol squad, manage these people here."

"Benjamin — your second squad handles perimeter patrol."

"Leon — you and your team continue mining coal and ore."

"Xuanxuan — take your people and get back to forging. This month's orders are piling up."

Li Wei issued a few more quick commands, and the camp was essentially back to normal operations.

Thomas, Leon, Zhao Xuanxuan, Santiago, and Benjamin all acknowledged loudly — the first three with obvious satisfaction, the latter two with sharp focus. Only Zhang Jinjun and He Yuying were exceptions.

Well — Zhang Jinjun had at least grown used to it, his expression as placid as still water.

He Yuying wore a look of barely contained resentment with nowhere to direct it.

She was already isolated. Being assigned to watch over the Ability Users was as good as being shelved. There was no way she'd accumulate 300 Contribution points before the end of the month — and when that deadline came, she would be eliminated by a plot kill.

And she couldn't even resist.

The camp had a leader's buff in effect. Even item cards wouldn't work against it.

What made it worse was that Li Wei had assigned Thomas plus a local patrol squad to keep an eye on her.

Outside of bathroom breaks, eating, and sleeping, this was all she could do.

But she had no one to blame. She had accepted benefits and come here with an agenda to cause trouble. The trouble never materialized — and now she was the entertainment.

She had gambled and lost. Time to accept it.

Who could have imagined — in yesterday's desperate situation, when even the Scorpion and the Widow, two half-crippled veterans, had been completely at a loss — that Li Wei would somehow turn the tide and pull off the impossible?