In the vicinity of Lindong, a certain wasteland.
A massive convoy, stirring up dust, was slowly making its way.
At the front were several armored vehicles, their fronts welded with steel plates, forming a ramming horn. Parts were sharpened and carried layers of blackened bloodstains, suggesting what the convoy had been through with just a glance.
The convoy, comprising over a hundred vehicles such as armored cars, trucks, buses, and so on, had all been modified and armed to the teeth. Without exception, they bore heavy stains of blood, and some, like the wheels, were even tangled with strange organs.
On top of the armored vehicles, heavy machine guns were mounted, and countless dark muzzle barrels protruded from the convoy's windows.
The air was filled with a chilly and ferrous scent.
Mostly, there were serious-looking Awakeners, wielding firearms or cold weapons, patrolling the perimeter of the convoy with vigilant eyes.
Within the convoy, the leader glanced at the map in hand, "We are almost there."
The message quickly spread throughout the convoy.
Hearing this, the others couldn't help but relax and show relief.
"Have we finally reached Lindong? Heavens, I almost thought we wouldn't make it."
"Yeah, had I known it would be this dangerous, I would never have come along. There were several close calls, I thought being with a Military convoy would be safer."
These young guards all wore an air of having narrowly escaped death.
A middle-aged man with a small mustache shook his head, "The wild is inherently dangerous, the farther from a Sanctuary, the greater the danger. Our Storm Mercenary Corps are quite renowned in Heng City, but in the wild, one careless move could wipe us out."
"The Military is no different. If the Military had the means to move freely in the wilds, would our human territories still be confined to such a small area around the Sanctionaries?"
"Of course, if it weren't for the Military forces taking the lead this time, we would never have crossed the vast wastelands to reach Lindong. So lads, take it easy. Those who have passed are gone, and those of us who have survived must live even better."
Moustache glanced at the two trucks next to him. These two trucks carried the goods brought to Lindong by their Mercenary Corps.
If not for the benefits, they would not have risked life and death to come all the way from Heng City to Lindong.
The crux of it was profit.
Before the apocalypse, even slightly complex products relied on components from all over the world, and so, post-apocalypse, even less complicated items could no longer be produced.
Like the Military, now they could only manufacture some basic individual weapons. As for armored vehicles and tanks, if replacement parts were not found, each broken piece meant one less available. The science academy was doing its utmost to research and develop special weapons mainly based on post-apocalyptic new materials.
However, post-apocalypse, with the changes in the world, the differences between regions grew greater. Some mineral materials, not scarce in Heng City, might not be found even if one scoured the whole Lindong area.
In the two trucks next to Moustache were Heng City's specialties, including finished products and raw materials.
Initially, he had five large trucks. However, the convoy encountered countless dangers along the way, with frequent losses of personnel, leaving only these final two vehicles and the Mercenary Corps members at his side.
The convoy, seemingly massive, had in fact shrunk considerably.
Moustache shook his head, though it was unclear if he lamented the lost goods or the members who died along the way.
At last, a dark line stretching across the horizon appeared in the sight of the convoy members.
The soldiers guarding the walls of Lindong Sanctuary had also spotted the large convoy from afar.
Surprised by the sheer size of the convoy, which clearly wasn't from Lindong, someone quickly ran to inform the higher-ups.
the steel gates of Lindong slowly opened, and the Awakeners from the Military maintained order as the convoy rolled into the Sanctuary.
"You've finally arrived."
A high-ranking officer from Lindong Military, warmly embraced the person in charge of the convoy.
The envoy from Heng City Sanctuary was the second-highest ranked in their Military. Once the convoy settled down, those on an important mission to Lindong wasted no time starting negotiations with the officials there.
"This time, we've brought quite a few supplies, including some materials for making Space Stabilization Devices, which I believe you won't find in Lindong..."
The two sides, familiar with each other's Military, still conducted their business by the book considering it involved two major Sanctuaries housing millions of people. Following the pre-determined numbers, they exchanged goods and also shared some intelligence.
The root cause behind this cross-regional exchange was the event in Yun City.
"The research on Space Stabilization Device is progressing swiftly in Beiting, and they have also identified some critical materials we need to collect. However, even with materials gathered from both our regions, we still lack certain parts..." Lu Jianjun spoke slowly.
The Heng City leader pondered, "Perhaps our operational reach isn't wide enough. Although we say it's the region around Lin City and Heng City, in reality, the areas we operate in are only around the Sanctuary and a few other regions. There are still many places unexplored, and it's likely that the materials needed for the Space Stabilization Device are there."
"After all, we need to expand the range of Awakener activities, like Beiting's strategies, incorporating Sanctuaries, establishing Transfer Stations. Fundamentally, this increases the scope of Awakener operations significantly. We in Heng City are also getting ready to start our Sanctuary incorporation plan. How are your preparations, General Lu?"
Heng City's second in command inquired.
Lu Jianjun said, "Regarding the Transfer Stations, we in Lindong have already established some, but incorporating Sanctuaries..."
He paused for a moment.
For most small Sanctuaries, they rewarded them based on their aid to survivors, bringing the Sanctuary leadership willingly, with survivors in tow, back to the larger Sanctuaries. Under the lure of benefits, most people wouldn't refuse.
Even if some were selfish, exploiting survivors, and refused to release them, he could take forceful measures. However, there was one Sanctuary...
Lu Jianjun furrowed his brows.
The strength possessed solely by Green Shadow Sanctuary wasn't something he could meddle with casually, and besides, Green Shadow was friendly to survivors, and ordinary Demon Tides wouldn't pose a threat, seeming to lessen any reason to incorporate them.
"Perhaps we could test the waters with Green Shadow's stance..."
In the commercial district of Lindong.
While the high-ranking officials were discussing matters critical to the survival of the Sanctuary, the various forces that came with the Heng City Military were also busily selling the goods they brought.