Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Lack of Crystal Cores

Before Tobin left, he had asked about buying some water from her.

He seemed to be planning on bringing someone back from Lornwood Base, so he only took a backpack’s worth of water.

Of course, Nina Jacobs didn’t charge him. It wasn’t a large amount, after all.

Thaddeus Wren had been in a state of constant shock ever since entering the area.

This continued until they were led into a large hall.

"I spent some time at Gralem Prison before, and it was nothing like this back then."

Thaddeus Wren was deeply impressed by the people from Griston. To think that outsiders like them would have the foresight to use Gralem Prison as a base.

Even he hadn’t considered it.

But he was even more impressed by Nina Jacobs and her group, who had managed to build a half-height perimeter wall in just a few days.

"You spent time in Gralem Prison?"

Nina Jacobs asked.

’Could it be that Thaddeus Wren was an inmate?’

Seeing Mirelle Keller look over as well, Thaddeus Wren hurriedly explained:

"In the early days, a friend and I had the contract for the canteen here.

But we only did it for one year and didn’t renew when the contract was up."

’A canteen...’

’The base definitely needs one.’

Since Thaddeus Wren had similar experience, Nina Jacobs decided to put him in charge of managing the canteen for now.

Thaddeus Wren couldn’t have asked for more, but he hadn’t expected Nina Jacobs to trust him so much.

To be given a job assignment right after he arrived.

"It’s a job, but it’s also a responsibility. I’m confident that Captain Wren is more than capable of handling it,"

Nina Jacobs said.

She knew that, privately, there were still people who were skeptical about the new base.

That was why she would remember everyone who was willing to help with its construction at this critical time.

Among the people Thaddeus Wren had brought, many were ordinary people without Superpowers.

"This base doesn’t support idlers. New job positions will be posted shortly.

Once you’ve all rested, you can go and sign up."

Nina Jacobs announced to the crowd.

"Can those of us... without Superpowers get jobs, too?"

After some hesitation among the group, one person finally dared to voice the question.

"Of course. The new base can’t be built without everyone’s help.

Anyone who participates in the base’s construction within the first thirty days, regardless of whether you have Superpowers or not, will have your food and lodging fees waived for six months."

Nina Jacobs replied.

In her previous life, her own small base had also had plenty of ordinary people without Superpowers.

Lacking Superpowers, those people had often been more invested in and attentive to the base’s development.

For the ordinary people Thaddeus Wren brought to have survived in a harsh environment like Keldorn, they were clearly not to be underestimated.

As soon as Nina Jacobs finished speaking, even Thaddeus Wren and Mirelle Keller, who was standing to the side, were shocked.

"By food and lodging fees, you mean both meals and housing?"

Marcellus asked on behalf of a few friends beside him, who were too excited yet timid to ask themselves.

There were men and women among them, but they all shared the same distinct lack of confidence in their eyes.

Nina Jacobs looked at him and nodded. "That’s right. Both meals and housing fees will be waived, but this is limited to those who can pass an assessment.

The relevant assessment system will be announced shortly, and its content will have nothing to do with whether or not you have Superpowers."

The assessment wouldn’t be difficult; it was merely to prevent people from slacking off or cheating the system.

"That’s only fair, of course. But rest assured, Miss Jacobs, the ones who remained at Pyralia aren’t freeloaders. Everyone will definitely pull their weight."

When Thaddeus Wren had decided to bring these people, he had been worried, but after hearing Nina Jacobs’s words, he breathed a sigh of relief.

’As long as they can find work now, no one will have to worry about survival for at least the next year.’

And so, Nina Jacobs also posted job positions specifically for ordinary people.

Some were administrative roles, while others were for the daily cleaning of the base.

After Cordelia led the newcomers to the dormitories to get settled, Nina Jacobs began discussing future personnel arrangements with Felix Finch.

"The base is currently lacking a City Defense Army. Do you have any suitable candidates?"

Nina Jacobs asked.

Felix Finch shook his head regretfully. "I used to, but now... If they’re still alive, they would be the most qualified City Defense Army."

It turned out that Felix Finch had managed to escape from a valley thanks to the help of a military unit from Keldorn.

It was an independent unit, composed mostly of veterans.

They weren’t large in number and had the worst equipment, yet they had rescued many survivors.

But they were later separated. Two months had passed, and though he had asked around, he never found any trace of them again.

Nina Jacobs also expressed her regret. "A City Defense Army is essential for the base. We’ll just have to slowly train people from our current personnel."

She decided to have Silas Crowley and Reginald Sutton join the City Defense Army and serve as its initial captains.

Both were Superpower Users, and their system Friendship levels were acceptable.

Felix Finch naturally had no objections. He had, after all, been just a prisoner.

Besides, after interacting with them for the past few days, he had a very high opinion of both their character and their Superpowers.

"Besides being short-staffed, our supply reserves are also insufficient. I’m planning to go out in the next few days and check a few places for any remaining supplies,"

Felix Finch said.

"Let’s put supplies aside for now. I have another task for you."

Nina Jacobs had already given both Felix Finch and Cordelia administrative access to the warehouse.

"What task?"

"Collect Crystal Cores. And Gold."

Nina Jacobs answered.

Only with Crystal Cores could she use Claire Warner’s identity to trade with Tomorrow Base.

As long as the trade was successful, the base’s supply issues would be resolved.

Felix Finch was a little surprised.

In his eyes, Crystal Cores were only good for replenishing one’s Superpower. Even back at Lornwood Base, you probably couldn’t trade a hundred of them for a single bottle of drinking water.

However, he didn’t ask any questions and immediately agreed. "No problem."

"Good. I’ll also be going out tomorrow."

Despite being in the area for some time, Nina Jacobs had yet to make any real contact with Lornwood Base.

Before heading into Lornwood Base, she planned to go out and scout things first.

「The next day」

Everyone in the base was assigned to their respective jobs.

It was said that these job positions were all decided upon by Nina Jacobs after discussions with the others.

Mirelle Keller, as the construction expert, was also assigned the task of renovating the base.

"It would be great if Nina Jacobs were here. But... I guess we’ll just have to be a bit slower. She must be off doing something more important."

Mirelle Keller said, looking at the four Earth Element Superpower Users waiting outside.

Nina Jacobs had put her in charge of the base’s internal renovations, and she planned to start with the main gate...

While everyone at the base was busy, Nina Jacobs arrived alone at a three-way intersection.

According to her system’s map, this was on the main route to Lornwood Base.

The centermost road led directly to Lornwood Base.

’Almost time for an upgrade. I wonder if I can do business here.’

Nina Jacobs used the "Facial Adjustment" Skill. Ever since her last huge transaction with Mordecai Quinn at Meridia Base, her system’s progress bar had shot up by more than half.

However, to be cautious, she didn’t just pull out her sheet-metal hut like she had in City D. Instead, she decided to wait by the roadside for a while.

It was the time of morning when people would typically venture out, but more than twenty minutes passed, and aside from a few stray zombies that had been drawn over, not a single person appeared.

’Is it because there are no supplies or water to find, even if people came out?’

’Or is this spot simply too far from Lornwood Base?’

Sitting inside her car, Nina Jacobs began to consider moving to a different location.

She was in a beat-up old sedan parked in a fairly concealed spot, so when two people appeared on the road, they didn’t notice her inside.

"We finally shook them,"

one of the men said, panting.

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