Chapter 768: Chapter 768: A Life-and-Death Choice

As time passed, the pollution grew steadily worse. Evelyn Ford distributed masks and specialized medicine to everyone.

To expand the green areas as quickly as possible, Ronan Kendrick proposed spreading grass seeds before planting saplings. The Four Seasons Green grass seeds had an extremely high survival rate and weren’t picky about their environment; they could take root quickly even in scorched earth baked by fire. Once the grass sprouted and took root, it would rapidly improve the soil. Planting tree saplings afterward would be far more effective.

Evelyn Ford agreed with Ronan Kendrick’s proposal. The smog, however, was now so thick that you couldn’t see three meters ahead, even with a flashlight. Spreading seeds by helicopter was no longer an option; it would have to be done by hand. After some discussion, Roy Henderson, Owen Chapman, Jonas Lucas, and Flynn Hansen took on the mission. They would be the first to enter Varden to spread grass seeds, with the rest of the group following to plant trees and water them.

The four men took a total of thirty tons of grass seeds with them. Evelyn Ford estimated that it would take them two months at most to spread all the seeds.

After Roy Henderson and his team left with the seeds, Evelyn Ford quickly organized everyone to enter Varden and begin planting trees. Varden was suitable for growing pine and fir. Whether on high mountains or in low-lying areas, trees were to be planted wherever there was soil.

All the rivers in Varden had dried up. Evelyn Ford tried to find water using a drill rig, but unfortunately, after drilling down ten meters, she didn’t find a single drop.

Fortunately, the temperature wasn’t high, so water evaporated slowly. The survival rate of the saplings was as high as ninety-nine percent.

"I’m worried that planting trees won’t be effective enough to purify the polluted smog. We still need to prepare a second refuge—entering The Undercity." Rhys Chase found Ronan Kendrick and voiced his concerns.

"You’re right. Unless these were all towering trees over a decade old, saplings grow too slowly to have much effect."

But right now, they had no other choice but to plant trees.

Before the apocalypse, humanity had tried many methods to manage smog, but the most effective were always reducing pollutant emissions and reforestation.

Back then, with the most advanced machinery and the most brilliant technical experts, nations could only resort to this rudimentary method to purify the pollution. Now, the most useful things they had were saplings and grass seeds.

"Regardless, we can’t give up on planting trees halfway through."

Rhys Chase nodded. "Of course. I was just thinking it would be great if we could develop a device that could absorb the pollution."

"That device is Azure itself, but its self-healing process is incredibly slow," Ronan Kendrick bluntly shattered Rhys Chase’s fantasy.

"So, after nature has been destroyed, it’s this difficult to recover... Human strength is so insignificant. Can we really succeed?" Rhys Chase couldn’t help but doubt himself.

"We just need to cover one million square kilometers with trees. That will form a relatively large natural ecosystem. Within that ecosystem, even if the pollution persists, humanity will have a guarantee of survival."

"So you mean, if we completely green Varden, we can survive?"

Ronan Kendrick nodded. "Yes."

"We can tell everyone. People are now aware of how severe the pollution is. As long as everyone works together, we can definitely complete this ecological chain within six months."

During this period, whether it was Evelyn Ford, Ronan Kendrick, or the other survivors, no one rested for more than five hours a day. The rest of the time was spent working. Nobody wanted to die. As long as there was a glimmer of hope for survival, everyone would desperately cling to it.

There was another reason everyone worked so desperately: here, they could eat their fill. If they left the group, forget about food and water; they probably wouldn’t even be able to find Famine Clay Soil to eat.

Evelyn Ford’s management system was extremely strict, especially now. Men and women, young and old—everyone had to follow her arrangements. If anyone violated the rules, the first time was a reminder, the second a warning, and the third meant expulsion from the group.

Planting trees was not an act of charity; it was the final battle for survival. Everyone had to approach this work with the determination of someone facing death. If anyone slacked off, they would be dragging down everyone else’s chances of survival.

Two months later, the tree-planting team had relocated to central Varden, where they would set up a new base camp. The men who had been spreading grass seeds also returned. Jonas Lucas and Owen Chapman had been in a vehicle accident and were severely injured. When they got back, Owen Chapman was still in critical condition. Fortunately, his life was saved thanks to the medical treatment from Evelyn Ford and Wendy.

It was then that Evelyn Ford decided to open The Undercity. She would have all the children and young people under twenty enter first to escape the worst of the pollution, while the adults would remain outside to continue planting trees.

The Undercity had a limited capacity, but with over fifty thousand survivors planting trees, this meant that at least half of them would not get the chance to enter. In the face of life and death, everyone is selfish.

But to her surprise, many people voluntarily gave up their chance to enter The Undercity, choosing to stay behind and plant trees to fight for humanity’s last chance at survival.

They gave their spots to the elderly and the disabled. They came to Evelyn Ford, one after another, to give up their places in The Undercity.

"Miss Ford, I don’t want to be a deserter. I want to stay here and face this crisis with everyone. Please give my spot to someone else. I don’t need it."

"I can plant trees. I want to stay with everyone."

"I want to stay, too."

Looking at their young, earnest faces, Evelyn Ford felt a storm of complex emotions.

"You’re willing to give your spots to the older generation, so go ask them if they’re willing to accept your spots."

The moment Evelyn Ford finished speaking, the adults in the distance responded in unison.

"No, we won’t accept!"

"Miss Ford, I’m old. I don’t have many days left. The meaning of my life right now is to plant one more tree for everyone. The children are still young. They are the hope of humanity. They can’t die."

"I don’t even have my legs anymore! If Miss Ford hadn’t taken me in, I would’ve starved to death downstream long ago. This life of mine has no value. All I can do is plant one more tree for everyone. The children are more valuable than we are. They’re young, they’re healthier than us—they have to live. When the environment improves, they’ll take over our work and keep planting trees, helping Azure return to its vibrant state one day sooner. If I don’t live to see that day, all of you have to see it for me."

...

"Did you hear that? They won’t accept. The meaning of your lives is to stay alive. This is not the time to be modest and give up your spots. Survival is your responsibility. And that’s an order."

"Yes!"

Hearing the resounding reply, Evelyn Ford nodded in satisfaction.

"Mr. Chase, you will lead the children into The Undercity. The fuel, food, and water are all ready. Quincy, Mr. Graham, Wendy... you all go in too."

"What about you two?"

Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick could enter their pocket dimension at any time, so going into The Undercity was of little use to them. They chose to remain outside with all the others who stayed behind.

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