Chapter 11: Ghost! Ghost!
Lu Li wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but Feebas’s eyes seemed noticeably brighter again. He had experienced the same feeling before.
To be thorough, Lu Li deliberately took out his phone and photographed Feebas from several different angles. He decided to take some photos of Feebas every day for comparison.
After applying some more skincare products to Feebas, Lu Li noticed that the water in the tank seemed to have become considerably murkier.
Although water this murky was no big deal for Feebas, Lu Li still returned to the aquarium out of caution and found a larger fish tank and some fresh water.
The aquarium had a separate water supply system. Although the tap water had stopped, the aquarium’s water had not.
However, because a large number of Water-type Pokémon lived there, no one in the camp dared to fetch water from the aquarium. That worked out nicely for Lu Li.
Of course, this advantage came at a price: if any of the Pokémon in the aquarium ran out, he would be the first one to suffer.
That was why the people in the camp did not envy Lu Li. Some even cursed him behind his back for still being so particular after the apocalypse had begun.
After all, aside from Jun Shutong, Lu Li was the only person in the entire camp with a private suite.
After moving Feebas into the larger fish tank, Lu Li dragged several bags of fish food out of the aquarium and stacked them in his room.
Water-type Pokémon could certainly eat fish food, and Lu Li was worried that one of them might discover the supplies someday.
Knock, knock, knock.
Jun Shutong gently knocked on the glass door.
Hearing the sound, Lu Li hurriedly welcomed her into the room.
After inviting Jun Shutong to sit down, Lu Li asked somewhat reservedly, “Sister Jun, did you need something from me?”
Looking exhausted, Jun Shutong said softly, “There’s something I’d like your opinion on.”
Lu Li sat up straight and adopted an attentive expression. “Go ahead.”
Jun Shutong said, “I’m considering relocating the camp to the apartment building across the street.”
After thinking for a moment, Lu Li offered his opinion. “There are very few supplies in the apartment building. I don’t think it’s any safer there than it is in the mall.”
Lu Li knew that Jun Shutong was worried about Mimikyu. To the people of this world, Ghost-type Pokémon were the ultimate terror. Almost everyone feared them.
Mimikyu’s presence weighed on Jun Shutong’s heart like a heavy boulder. Ultimately, it was because she knew nothing about Mimikyu.
If she knew that Mimikyu did not feed on life energy, she might feel considerably more at ease.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Li decided to put her mind at ease.
For one thing, it would repay her for saving his life.
If Jun Shutong had not intervened back then, he would probably have died beneath Raticate’s incisors long ago. Moreover, humans were social creatures, and Lu Li hoped this camp could continue to survive.
At least for now, there were no major problems with the camp. Under Jun Shutong’s management, none of the sordid behavior commonly seen in an apocalypse had occurred.
“Sister Jun, I’ve studied Ghost demon beasts.” Lu Li looked at Jun Shutong solemnly.
He truly had studied Ghost-type Pokémon. It was no exaggeration to say that, as a walking, talking Pokédex, if he had transmigrated into the Pokémon world, his understanding of Pokémon would have qualified him as a Pokémon Professor at the very least.
Jun Shutong trusted Lu Li. After all, he was a graduate student, the most highly educated “intellectual” in the camp.
“I’m all ears.” Jun Shutong adopted a humbly receptive expression.
“Ghost demon beasts actually aren’t as dangerous as you imagine.”
Hearing this, Jun Shutong opened her mouth to speak. She wanted to warn Lu Li not to underestimate the danger of Ghost demon beasts. They were responsible for at least seventy percent of the vast Federation’s collapse.
But knowing that Lu Li was not someone who made baseless claims, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
“Based on my research, Ghost demon beasts generally fall into three categories. The first feeds on the life energy of others. This kind of Ghost-type demon beast is the most dangerous and has caused the greatest harm to the Federation.”
Jun Shutong nodded, acknowledging his statement.
Lu Li continued, “The second kind feeds on souls. To these demon beasts, souls truly exist. They can devour human souls, and the moment a person loses their soul, they die.”
“On the first night after the demon beasts descended, a report appeared in our law-enforcement system about the people of an entire town suddenly dying under mysterious circumstances.”
“But there were no wounds on their bodies or any traces of poison. Could that have been what you described—their souls being devoured?”
People whose life energy had been consumed turned ashen gray, so Jun Shutong immediately thought of that bizarre case from when the Pokémon had first descended.
Lu Li nodded. “Human technology hasn’t yet ventured into the realm of souls, so I don’t know the exact circumstances, but what you described was probably a case of people having their souls devoured.”
“Ghost demon beasts truly are bizarre. Many of them can even shrug off physical attacks. That’s also why the Federation was brought crashing down by them almost instantly,” Jun Shutong remarked.
“The third kind of Ghost demon beast probably feeds on human emotions, such as fear or happiness.” Lu Li paused there. Seeing Jun Shutong deep in thought, he pressed on while the iron was hot.
“I suspect the demon beast we encountered in the arcade belonged to the third category.”
Jun Shutong’s eyes lit up, and she asked excitedly, “If that demon beast really feeds on emotions, wouldn’t that mean it won’t kill people? Instead, it would keep humans in captivity?”
Lu Li nodded.
“Then what about the disappearance of Yellow Hair and the others?” Jun Shutong raised another point of doubt.
“It’s possible they angered that demon beast, but this is actually very strange. No matter what kind of demon beast it is, it should leave a corpse behind after killing someone.” Lu Li frowned as he voiced the question that had been troubling him.
Jun Shutong agreed. “It really is strange. Ghost demon beasts generally leave corpses behind when they kill people. After all, Ghost demon beasts don’t eat flesh.”
A major reason she had resolved to move away from this place was the exceedingly bizarre disappearance of Yellow Hair and his companion.
Lu Li actually had another theory: Yellow Hair and the others had not been killed by Mimikyu.
But if it wasn’t Mimikyu, then what other Pokémon could make a person vanish without a trace, without even leaving behind any blood?
Lu Li could think of quite a few Pokémon capable of that, such as Gengar, Dusclops, or even larger Pokémon.
However, the camp was so close to the arcade that if a large Pokémon had appeared, the camp’s patrols could not possibly have failed to hear anything.
But if it had been Gengar or Dusclops, Yellow Hair and his companion would not have been the only ones to die. Everyone in the camp would have died.
Lu Li speculated, “Perhaps Yellow Hair and the others didn’t die. Maybe they simply disappeared.”
Psychic-type Pokémon suddenly surfaced in Lu Li’s mind. In this world, the only Pokémon that could rival Ghost-type Pokémon in terms of eeriness were Psychic-type Pokémon.
……………………………
Chapter 12: The Houndours’ Hunt
After Lu Li’s analysis, Jun Shutong temporarily abandoned her plan to relocate the camp.
If that Ghost-type Pokémon truly did not kill people, then having it as a neighbor might even be a good thing.
Just as the two were becoming engrossed in their conversation, a burst of electronic static suddenly came from Jun Shutong’s walkie-talkie.
“Sister Jun, one of the buildings in the Xinghai residential complex across the street is on fire! The fire is huge!”
Fatty Lei’s panicked voice came through the walkie-talkie.
Upon hearing this, Jun Shutong’s and Lu Li’s expressions instantly darkened.
Jun Shutong was worried that the fire might spread, as well as about the people still inside the building. Lu Li, meanwhile, was concerned because he had previously lived in the Xinghai residential complex.
“Let’s go take a look.” Lu Li shot to his feet.
Jun Shutong grabbed Lu Li by the wrist and hurried out of the room.
The windows facing the Xinghai residential complex were already crowded with people. They did not dare draw the curtains too far apart, so many of them were peering at the fire across the street through gaps in the curtains.
“Make way, everyone! Make way!” Jun Shutong pushed through the crowd and squeezed her way to the window.
Lu Li followed closely behind and reached the window as well.
The moment he saw which building was on fire, Lu Li’s pupils abruptly contracted. Overwhelming terror flashed across his face, followed by a surge of relief at having narrowly escaped disaster.
“Thank goodness I came to the mall. Thank goodness…”
Lu Li muttered under his breath.
The building on fire was the very one he had lived in.
The flames had clearly begun spreading from the middle of the building, which meant that anyone above the 15th floor had absolutely no chance of survival.
The apocalypse had already begun, so naturally no fire department would come to extinguish the fire, nor would anyone come to rescue them.
As for those on the 15th floor and below, they might have a chance of surviving, but…
Lu Li narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the group of dark figures near the building’s exit. The most conspicuous among them was an exceptionally burly black dog with sinewy, muscular limbs and horns.
Houndoom, the Dark Pokémon and the evolved form of Houndour.
This species of Pokémon was a dominant predator even in the post-apocalyptic world. They were omnivores but preferred meat, and they usually hunted Pokémon in packs. Humans were naturally on their menu as well.
Led by their Houndoom leader, this pack of Houndour had turned the only safe exit into their own personal “dining table.”
Lu Li even suspected that Houndoom had started the fire.
Some residents who heard the commotion no longer cared whether it was dangerous outside. Desperate to escape the fire, they practically poured out through the emergency exit all at once.
Some carried children, some supported the elderly, and some had even managed to put on only one shoe.
They fled the building in terror, only to run straight into the Houndours that had long been lying in wait at the exit just as they thought they were temporarily safe.
The scene instantly became too horrific to behold. Survivors nearby who had children hurriedly covered their eyes, their entire bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Even Jun Shutong could no longer bear to watch and abruptly pulled the curtains shut.
“How despicable!” Fatty Lei gritted his teeth. “That fire was definitely started by those black dog demon beasts!”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but most of them felt even greater fear.
What if those black dog demon beasts came to the mall at night and started a fire?
Seeing this, Jun Shutong spoke up to reassure them. “There’s no need to worry, everyone. The mall has several emergency exits, and this area should belong to those rat demon beasts. There are so many of them that the black dog demon beasts probably wouldn’t dare invade the mall.”
Lu Li’s expression was grave. He wasn’t as optimistic as Jun Shutong.
In the games, Houndour had to reach level 24 before it could evolve into Houndoom, while the rat demon beasts in the mall were mostly Rattata. Even if there were Raticate among them, they were certainly weaker than Houndoom.
If the pack of Houndour truly set its sights on the mall, the cowardly Rattata might not dare fight them head-on. They might simply abandon the mall altogether.
As the saying went, “timid as a mouse.” Rattata were Pokémon modeled after rats, and these creatures had always been pitifully cowardly.
Houndoom, however, were dual Dark- and Fire-type Pokémon. The Dark typing alone was enough to reveal the vicious and ruthless nature of these Pokémon.
Still, Lu Li couldn’t possibly step forward and contradict Jun Shutong at a time like this. He wasn’t so foolish that he couldn’t read the situation.
The screams outside continued for a long time. A few courageous people occasionally crept over to the windows to peer outside, while most stayed far away, clutching their children tightly as they huddled together.
This was the eternal theme of the apocalypse.
Under the oppression of Pokémon, humanity had already fallen to the very bottom of the food chain.
After much of the crowd had dispersed, Fatty Lei said in a somber voice, “I’ve often seen smoke rising from buildings over the past few days. Now that I think about it, those black dog demon beasts were probably responsible.”
“When I was still at home, I also noticed smoke rising from many places around the city. I thought they were accidental fires at the time, but now it seems some demon beasts were deliberately starting them.” Lu Li also shared what he had observed from his rented apartment.
There was another detail he hadn’t paid much attention to before. He hadn’t deliberately counted them at the time, but thinking back on it now, Lu Li realized that no matter when he looked out the window, there had always been a building belching thick smoke.
“Those demon beasts seem pretty intelligent too. Do you think they might discover us?” Even Jun Shutong had been frightened by the intelligence the Houndour had displayed.
Lu Li reassured her, “We should actually be fairly safe. At the very least, if I were that black dog demon beast, I would definitely target residential buildings with more people in them.”
“And don’t forget that the aquarium is right next door. Normally, it may be a ticking time bomb, but if there’s a fire, those demon beasts might just become our salvation.”
Lu Li paused and glanced at everyone’s expressions before continuing his analysis. “That pack of black dog demon beasts probably practices nomadic hunting style, and humans aren’t their primary source of food. They should leave this area before long.”
Seeing how convincingly Lu Li laid out his analysis, everyone turned skeptical looks on him.
They looked at him the way ignorant masses looked at phony experts.
Being stared at like that made Lu Li feel a little embarrassed, but for the sake of reassuring everyone, he calmly endured their scrutiny.
Seeing that Lu Li had settled everyone’s nerves, Jun Shutong gave him an appreciative look.
“Lu Li is right. We’re already at the bottom of the food chain, while those black dog demon beasts are at least somewhere in the middle or upper levels. We definitely won’t be their first target,” Jun Shutong said, taking the opportunity to reassure everyone as well.
With Lu Li and Jun Shutong playing off each other, everyone’s frayed nerves finally relaxed, allowing them to break free from their fear of being hunted by Houndoom.
Only after Jun Shutong told everyone to head upstairs and not gather together did she pull Lu Li into her room.
Once Lu Li sat down, Jun Shutong thanked him. “Thank you for what you did just now. At the time, I had no idea how to calm everyone down.”
“I was only explaining my analysis. You don’t think I was merely trying to reassure everyone, do you?” Lu Li gave Jun Shutong a strange look.
His entire analysis had been based on his knowledge of these Pokémon. Although he couldn’t guarantee it was one hundred percent accurate, he was at least eighty percent confident in it.
……………………..
Chapter 13: The Camp Enters a Water Shortage
“No matter what, I still have to thank you,” Jun Shutong said stubbornly.
Lu Li said nothing more and simply accepted her gratitude.
“Here, take this as my thanks.” Jun Shutong pulled a bag of chocolates from a drawer and tossed it to him.
After catching it, Lu Li glanced at Jun Shutong in surprise.
It was a large bag containing quite a few pieces. Jun Shutong’s thank-you gift was certainly generous.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Lu Li did not refuse the gift. After all, it had been a long time since he had eaten anything sweet.
Lu Li hid the chocolates beneath his clothes and secretly returned to his residence while everyone was still focused on the fire.
Eight o’clock in the morning on the fifth day since the Pokémon descended.
Since the camp had switched to two meals a day, breakfast and lunch had been combined, with the first meal served at ten in the morning.
Knowing that waking up too early would only make him hungry, Lu Li deliberately remained in bed for a while longer.
He secretly went to the aquarium to fetch some water and washed up briefly. Upon reaching the camp, he received devastating news.
The tap water in the restrooms had finally stopped running. This meant the camp was about to enter an era of water shortage.
Perhaps the news was simply too crushing, but Lu Li noticed that the survivors’ eyes had dimmed considerably.
Previously, they had all clung to some degree of hope that the Federation would come to rescue them. But once the water was cut off, everyone except a handful of people still stubbornly holding on to that hope had no choice but to contemplate a future without federal rescue.
All the young and able-bodied people in the camp gathered in the meeting room once again. This time, the entire discussion revolved around water supplies.
“There might still be water over at the aquarium. Should we—”
Before the middle-aged man could finish, Fatty Lei interrupted him. “Are you going to fetch it, or is someone else? Trying to steal water from those demon beasts living in it, are you tired of living?”
The others in the meeting room nodded, their faces filled with agreement.
The aquarium was occupied by large numbers of Water-type demon beasts. They would not dare steal water from those monsters even if they had ten times the courage.
Having already stolen water from there once, Lu Li silently tried to make himself less noticeable.
There was no way he would reveal that he had used the aquarium’s water. He was not naive enough to gamble on human nature in the apocalypse.
Jun Shutong sighed. “Then all we can do is intensify our search for bottled water.”
Another person spoke up. “We can’t go to the supermarket in the mall, and the chances of finding bottled water elsewhere aren’t high.”
Lu Li, who had remained silent off to the side, suddenly said, “Vending machines!”
When everyone turned to look at him, Lu Li calmly reminded them, “I remember there being vending machines in the mall.”
“We’ve already emptied the vending machines on the fifth and fourth floor. If we want to find any more, we’ll have to search the lower floors,” Fatty Lei said.
A young man who had previously worked at the mall said, “There are quite a few vending machines on the rooftop too, along with large quantities of alcoholic drinks.”
Fatty Lei objected without hesitation. “Forget the rooftop. I have no desire to become bird demon beasts’ food.”
Bird demon beasts hunted humans based on body size. If they encountered one while moving the water, he would definitely be the first to die.
Fatty Lei knew himself very well. How could he not know what sort of easy prey he was?
Big and slow.
He was practically a bird demon beast’s favorite meal!
Jun Shutong suddenly asked, “Lu Li, do you have any other ideas?”
Lu Li fell into thought.
With the infrastructure damaged, the best solution would actually be to find a new water source, but that option had been blocked from the very beginning.
In a world where they could encounter wild Pokémon every few steps, ordinary people like them would be courting death by traveling long distances. Even if they found a water source, obtaining water from it would still be a problem.
Pokémon would only be more densely concentrated around water. Moreover, it was not as though the mall had no water source; rather, the water source there had already been taken over.
Since relocating elsewhere would present the same problem, their only option was to collect water themselves. However, the bird Pokémon in the sky prevented humans from obtaining resources from the open air.
“Conserve water, and then… search for water supplies around the mall. That’s the only path left to us. I remember there being a water station in District 1 that wholesales large water jugs.”
Jun Shutong shook her head. “But District 1 is at least six hundred meters from the mall. There’s no guarantee we could even reach it alive, let alone transport the water back.”
Of course she knew about the water station in District 1. She even knew the locations of the surrounding water stations.
But it was the same problem as before. They could only remain holed up in the mall and cling to survival. Going outside to search for resources was far too dangerous, especially when they would have to travel so far.
“There’s nothing we can do, then.” Lu Li spread his hands, indicating that he was out of ideas too.
There was no way he would risk his life for the camp. After all, he already had Feebas. As long as he could survive until Feebas evolved into Milotic, this hell-difficulty apocalypse would become normal difficulty.
“All right, everyone, go eat first. We’ll head out after the meal.” Jun Shutong looked exhausted, once again feeling lost about the future.
After everyone had left, Lu Li looked at Jun Shutong with mixed emotions.
Anyone with too strong a sense of morality and responsibility was destined to find true happiness elusive, especially in a world like this.
Lu Li could not help comforting her. “As the saying goes, a road will reveal itself when you reach the mountain. You don’t need to think too far ahead. Just focus on surviving today and tomorrow.”
Jun Shutong raised her head and glanced at Lu Li, a trace of bitterness flashing across her face.
“I’m a law enforcement officer. It’s my duty to protect civilians, but… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore. I really don’t know what to do.” As Jun Shutong spoke, she laid her head on the table and began sobbing quietly.
Lu Li started to step forward to comfort her, but after hesitating for a moment, he decided to stay where he was.
“You’ve already done more than enough,” Lu Li said solemnly.
In this apocalypse, the camp under Jun Shutong’s management could certainly be considered a rare haven of decency. Those in power did not cruelly exploit those beneath them, the strong did not hold absolute power over the lives of the weak, and the elderly and children were all well cared for.
Such a camp might be a burden to those adept at surviving the apocalypse, but to the elderly and children, it was a utopia amid the end times.
Even if that utopia could collapse at any moment.
In truth, Lu Li had a far crueler suggestion that he had kept to himself. If she abandoned the elderly and children who lacked the ability to survive, Jun Shutong, who possessed a gun, would undoubtedly live quite comfortably.
But if Jun Shutong had truly been that sort of person, he would have died the day he arrived at the mall.
Seeing her like this, Lu Li did not disturb her any further and turned to leave the office.
Today’s breakfast consisted of two eggs and some corn. After collecting his meal, Lu Li returned to his residence, slowly scattering fish food into the tank as he gnawed on the corn.
…………………………
Chapter 14: The Missing People Return
In the mall corridor, a pale-skinned young man with yellow hair staggered forward, his legs trembling as he dragged himself along while clutching the corridor handrail for support.
A middle-aged man followed behind him in even worse condition. His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles under them as thick as if splashed with ink, and his unsteady steps made it seem as though he might collapse at any moment. Yet he remained close behind the yellow-haired young man.
They were none other than the middle-aged man and the yellow-haired youth who had gone missing yesterday.
“Jiafei, wait for me! Wait for me!” the middle-aged man called weakly.
Huang Jiafei stopped and quietly reassured him, “Old Xu, the camp is just ahead. We’ll be safe soon.”
“Yellow Hair!”
At the startled cry, both men looked ahead.
Fatty Lei stared wide-eyed at the two of them, his face filled with shock and disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
Everyone in the camp had already assumed that Yellow Hair and his companion were dead, but unexpectedly, the two of them had returned at noon today.
“Are you humans or ghosts?” Fatty Lei demanded in a trembling voice.
Were it not for his duty, he would have turned and fled long ago, because these two before him—no matter how you looked at them—did not seem like people who could still be alive.
“Of course I’m still alive! Give me water! I need water!” Huang Jiafei muttered weakly, his voice hoarse and his lips cracked.
“Wait here. I’ll go get Sister Jun.” With that, Fatty Lei turned and ran, giving them no chance to respond.
Many survivors were drawn over by Fatty Lei’s startled cry. Several elderly people clutched the hems of their clothes, their eyes filled with surprise and fear as they stared fixedly at the two returnees.
“Wasn’t that Yellow Hair dead? How did he come back to life?”
“They certainly don’t look alive. Could they be ghosts?”
“Maybe they wanted to go somewhere else, then realized they couldn’t survive there either, so they came back?”
“Could this be some Ghost demon beast’s scheme? Maybe these two are a kind of changgui you read about in novels.” [TN: According to legend, a person killed and eaten by a tiger cannot rest. Instead, their spirit becomes a changgui bound to that tiger. The ghost acts as an accomplice, tricking or luring other humans into the tiger’s path so the tiger can eat them.]
The survivors whispered among themselves, none daring to approach.
Huang Jiafei looked glumly at the survivors gathered around them.
“Could one of you at least give us a hand?”
Finally unable to hold on any longer, Huang Jiafei’s legs buckled, and he fainted on the spot.
Behind him, Old Xu’s mouth twitched violently at the sight. His throat was so parched it felt as though it were smoking, and he shouted urgently, “Water! Give me water, quickly!”
An old woman looked at Old Xu, then at the half-empty bottle of water in her hand with a pained expression. Gritting her teeth, she tottered over to him.
“Here. Drink slowly so you don’t choke,” the old woman said softly.
Old Xu was in no state to thank her. Staring at the bottle of “life-saving medicine” before him, he “snatched” it without hesitation and began drinking in small sips.
With his throat finally moistened by water after so long, Old Xu collapsed weakly onto the floor, his back pressed firmly against the safety railing.
“Ah… I’m finally alive again!” Old Xu exclaimed in relief.
Before long, Jun Shutong came hurrying over with Fatty Lei.
Seeing Old Xu sitting on the floor and Huang Jiafei lying there unconscious, Jun Shutong asked with concern, “Old Xu! Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just haven’t eaten anything all day, so I’m starving,” Old Xu said feebly, clutching his stomach.
Jun Shutong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ordered, “Someone carry Huang Jiafei back. One of you help Old Xu.”
Two able-bodied young men stepped out of the crowd carrying a simple homemade stretcher, while Fatty Lei helped Old Xu to his feet.
Lu Li was summoned to the meeting room because the two missing people had returned.
When he arrived, he did not see either of them. He simply sat down beside Jun Shutong.
Since he had already decided to remain in this camp, he naturally needed to raise his standing subtly. The way to do that was to stay as close to Jun Shutong as possible.
Lu Li asked quietly, “I heard Yellow Hair and the other man came back?”
Fatty Lei, seated to his left, nodded and lowered his voice. “I was the first to find them. You have no idea how terrifying the sight was.”
“How so?” Lu Li prompted cooperatively.
“They looked as though they hadn’t eaten in days. For a moment, I thought I’d seen ghosts.”
Lu Li asked thoughtfully, “You mean they really hadn’t eaten for several days?”
Fatty Lei nodded. “They’d definitely been starving for days. You’ll hear the details from Sister Jun in a moment.”
Once everyone had arrived, Jun Shutong coughed softly, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the meeting room.
“Old Xu and Huang Jiafei returned just a short while ago.”
No one reacted much, since they had already heard the news.
“According to Old Xu, they were trapped by some strange demon beast in a bizarre space. While inside, they could neither move nor close their eyes. All they could do was watch what was happening outside through a mirror. And…”
Jun Shutong paused, glanced at Lu Li, and continued, “They also saw Lu Li and me. According to them, they were attacked by that demon beast inside the arcade.
They saw us searching for them there, but because they couldn’t move or speak, they could only watch helplessly as we left.”
A glimmer of understanding flashed through Lu Li’s eyes. He had already more or less guessed the truth of what had happened and why.
However, this was not the sort of speculation he could voice in the meeting room. He decided to discuss it with Jun Shutong after the meeting ended.
“Fortunately, neither Huang Jiafei nor Old Xu suffered any serious harm. After eating, they went straight to sleep.”
Once Jun Shutong finished speaking, murmured discussions broke out across the meeting room.
Everyone was speculating about what kind of demon beast Yellow Hair and Old Xu had encountered, but most of them were marveling at how lucky the pair had been. They had encountered a demon beast and survived, merely being imprisoned by it for a day.
“Sister Jun, could that demon beast have deliberately released Yellow Hair and Old Xu so it could follow them back and locate our camp?” Fatty Lei asked with a worried frown.
Jun Shutong shook her head. “That’s unlikely. The arcade is less than a hundred meters from here. At such a short distance, even if that demon beast were blind, it would have discovered us long ago.”
“So… Yellow Hair and the other man were just unlucky enough to get toyed with by that demon beast?” a middle-aged man quipped.
After all, it had captured them without eating or killing them. No matter how they looked at it, the demon beast seemed to have merely taught the pair a lesson.
“That’s possible. Not all demon beasts eat humans, after all,” Jun Shutong agreed with a nod, recalling Lu Li’s analysis from yesterday.
“Lu Li, what do you think about this?” Jun Shutong looked toward Lu Li, who had remained silent throughout the discussion.
“At least it’s good news,” Lu Li replied perfunctorily. “Yellow Hair and Old Xu returned safely, which means that demon beast doesn’t see us as food.”
Having come to understand Lu Li fairly well, Jun Shutong knew that he was holding something back, or that there were things he could not say in the meeting room.
With that thought, Jun Shutong formed a plan.
……………………………….
Chapter 15: Sacrifice for Survival
Jun Shutong quickly brought the meeting to an end, leaving only Lu Li behind.
After taking Lu Li to her office, Jun Shutong asked, “You said there was something you couldn’t discuss in the meeting room. You can tell me now, right?”
Lu Li nodded and sat down across from Jun Shutong.
“Sister Jun, what we can confirm now is that the demon beast in the arcade feeds on human emotional energy. The fact that Yellow Hair and his companion survived after being imprisoned for an entire day proves it.”
“That demon beast didn’t kill them, but it restricted their freedom. It must have been feeding on their fear and despair, which means that demon beast probably feeds on fear and despair.”
Jun Shutong listened to Lu Li’s analysis and nodded in agreement. “The fact that Huang Jiafei and the others returned safely is enough to prove that your previous analysis was correct. I completely agree with your judgment.”
Seeing the joy on Jun Shutong’s face, however, Lu Li poured cold water on her enthusiasm.
“Sister Jun, don’t celebrate too soon. Just as people need to eat three meals a day, that demon beast can’t possibly be satisfied after feeding only once. It will definitely hunt for food again in the future.”
Jun Shutong’s expression darkened. This was what worried her most.
What if the demon beast grew hungry again and directly attacked the camp to create panic?
“So…” Lu Li looked at Jun Shutong hesitantly. He was wondering whether he should voice his true thoughts, but he was also worried that his words would repulse her.
Jun Shutong noticed his misgivings and reassured him directly. “Go ahead and speak your mind. Whether you’re right or wrong, I won’t blame you.”
Seeing this, Lu Li steeled himself and said, “Sister Jun, do you know about the sacrifices humans offered to gods in ancient times?”
Jun Shutong’s pupils contracted when she heard this. Lu Li had all but stated his intentions outright.
“You mean…”
There was a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in Jun Shutong’s voice.
“My plan is this: We should send two people to walk around the arcade every day. If that demon beast really is hungry, it will treat the people we send the same way it treated Yellow Hair and his companion.”
“Yellow Hair and his companion have already proven that the demon beast won’t directly take anyone’s life. At worst, the people we send will suffer a little. But compared with the entire camp being attacked, I think that price is worth paying.”
Jun Shutong said with an ashen face, “You’re helping that demon beast raise us like livestock.”
“The truth is, we’re already being raised like livestock.” Lu Li spread his hands and stated an even crueler truth.
They were merely fortunate that Mimikyu did not feed on life energy. Otherwise, not a single person in the camp would still be alive.
“Besides, this might not necessarily be a bad thing for us. If we’re being raised like livestock, that proves we have value, and in this apocalypse, being valuable is the only reason we’ll be allowed to survive.”
Lu Li’s words were cold-blooded and cruel, but Jun Shutong had to admit that he was right.
They did not even have the ability to leave the mall. Moreover, the rat demon beasts downstairs might come up one day, or the demon beasts in the aquarium might come over.
Either scenario would spell utter disaster for them.
But now an opportunity lay before them: sacrifice two people each day to appease the Ghost demon beast. And these sacrifices would not even cost them their lives.
From a leader’s perspective, Lu Li’s proposal was the most correct choice. Although cruel, it would at least increase the camp’s chances of survival.
Jun Shutong frowned deeply as conflicting thoughts warred within her. After pondering for a moment, she finally gritted her teeth and made her decision.
“So what should we do?” Jun Shutong raised her head and looked firmly at Lu Li.
Lu Li said, “Here’s what we’ll do…”
After working out the details with Lu Li, Jun Shutong summoned everyone in the camp.
Meeting everyone’s questioning gazes, Jun Shutong took a deep breath and steeled herself before saying, “Everyone, an incredibly difficult choice now lies before us.”
Jun Shutong then recounted everything about Mimikyu and Lu Li’s plan.
“So I’ve decided to send two people to the arcade every day. As the ones who proposed this plan, Lu Li and I will be the first to go.”
“In other words, Lu Li and I will go to the arcade shortly to meet that demon beast. It would be best if the demon beast can communicate. If it can’t, then we’ll be the first to make a sacrifice for this plan.”
Hearing this, Fatty Lei shot to his feet and hurriedly objected, “Wait! Sister Jun, I agree with the plan, but we absolutely can’t let you go in person!”
“That’s right! Officer Jun is the person in charge of the camp. What will we do if something happens to you?”
“Exactly! Any of us can go, but you can’t! You’re the pillar holding us together!”
“Will that Ghost demon beast really only imprison us for a day? It won’t eat us, will it?”
“Yellow Hair and his companion came back alive. Doesn’t that prove it?”
The people below immediately erupted into a heated argument. Jun Shutong frowned deeply, looking rather troubled by the chaotic scene before her.
“Silence!” Jun Shutong shouted.
Everyone instantly fell quiet.
Seeing this, Lu Li looked at Jun Shutong with admiration. In a way, Jun Shutong had quite a lot of popular support, which was a good thing.
“I made this decision, so naturally, I must lead by example!”
“In a moment, everyone will draw lots to determine the order in which you’ll go to the arcade. For fairness’s sake, everyone must participate at least once.”
Jun Shutong paused there before adding, “Lu Li and I will go first, but from now on, neither of us will be included on the sacrifice list.”
Everyone turned to look at Lu Li in unison. Their eyes held curiosity and suspicion, but above all, confusion.
They did not understand why Lu Li, who had joined the camp later than them, should receive such special treatment.
“Because starting today, Lu Li will be my deputy. He is a postgraduate and has studied those demon beasts extensively. He is our camp’s think tank, so naturally, he deserves certain privileges.”
“Moreover, if this plan succeeds, it will mean that the camp’s safety has improved once again, because we will gain the protection of a Ghost demon beast. And all of this will be thanks to Lu Li’s research.”
“So, who supports this decision, and who opposes it?”
After Jun Shutong finished speaking, she swept a sharp gaze over everyone, looking as though anyone who dared step forward would be openly defying her.
The crowd began murmuring among themselves again, but regardless of what they thought, no one was willing to step forward.
Seeing this, Jun Shutong nodded in satisfaction.
“In that case, everyone, come draw lots.” As she spoke, Jun Shutong brought out a box she had prepared in advance.
Fatty Lei went first and drew number sixteen.
Once Fatty Lei had taken the lead, the others gradually lined up to draw their lots.
Excluding Lu Li and Jun Shutong, there were thirty-six people in the camp. Divided into pairs, that made eighteen groups.
Fatty Lei was in the sixteenth group, which meant his turn would not come for another fifteen days. That was actually a good thing.
After everyone had finished drawing lots, Jun Shutong continued, “Before being sacrificed, everyone will be allowed to eat their fill so that what happened to Yellow Hair won’t happen again.”
The gloom on everyone’s faces finally lifted somewhat. In this apocalypse, where they went from starving one meal to eating their fill the next, the chance to enjoy a hearty meal made going hungry for a day and a night afterward seem somewhat more bearable.
Even so, everyone still felt uneasy. After all, their fear of Ghost demon beasts had already become deeply ingrained.