CHAPTER 350: CHAPTER 9: PEACEKEEPING? (PART 2)

When the virus erupted globally, these ’Little Pingtou’ abroad quickly organized themselves. The majority of them entered local shelters, enduring a year in harsh conditions.

But this group of ’Little Pingtou’ was somewhat special. They are Xiao’s colleagues who, instead of barely surviving in shelters during the apocalypse, took enormous risks to operate everywhere.

The leader, named Lin Anquan, had secretly returned to the country half a year ago, and this time he joined the "Katrina" to conduct detailed investigations at various survivor settlements in North America, eventually arriving at the "playground."

Xiao Jinlang personally poured the water and placed some dried fruits and sunflower seeds on the table, eager to understand the current global situation.

Lin Anquan took the cup, his expression grave, and said, "Previously, Holy Light had a top-secret report, which you should have seen. The global situation now is basically consistent with the deductions in the report."

The so-called "top-secret report" was a memo Zhou Qingfeng wrote in Washington D.C., combining some internal data from the US Ministry of Health about the virus evolution trends.

Calling it a memo, it is actually more like a memoir.

Old Xiao, of course, had seen this report. At the time, he thought Zhou Qingfeng’s predictions were overly pessimistic, but looking at it now, almost all the prophecies have come true.

"The situation abroad is truly bleak. Many places have fallen into anarchy, a chaotic mess.

The situation domestically is much better, currently having caught a breath and actively assembling peacekeeping personnel, preparing to carry out humanitarian aid to neighboring countries."

Peacekeeping? Humanitarian aid?

Old Xiao displayed an expression as if to say, "We’re all family here, you can speak more bluntly," and he asked with a smile, "Are our peacekeepers all ’Little Pingtou’ in combat gear carrying guns?"

Lin Anquan answered seriously, "It is international practice for peacekeepers carrying out rescue missions to be armed with necessary weapons.

After all, the situation abroad is complex and volatile, and if they encounter unreasonable criminal forces, they can’t afford to be at a disadvantage barehanded, right?"

That’s true.

Lin Anquan continued, "The country has just started recovering, so it can’t let down its guard. Currently, it has a bit of spare capacity to maintain peace in Southeast Asia and the regions around Japan and Korea, but as for North America, it’s indeed a bit beyond reach for the time being.

However, we haven’t given up on the chance to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the United States. I’m here this time to assess the specific situation in North America."

He paused for a moment and continued, "Based on my recent observations traveling on the ’Katrina,’ various scattered forces are emerging all over North America, and there is a tendency for them to re-unite.

However, the way these forces operate is highly undemocratic and unfree, so we can’t just sit back and ignore it..."

Old Xiao nodded thoughtfully, having a rough understanding of the nation’s intentions.

Simply put, the country is willing to take on the responsibility of a great nation, maintaining world peace and development, but for now, it is more focused on solving nearby issues and is temporarily unable to manage the distant North America.

"So, the issues here in North America mainly need us to rely on ourselves," Xiao Jinlang said slowly.

"That’s not entirely the case; haven’t we come here?" Lin Anquan smiled, his tone a bit more relaxed, "Is there any trouble you’re facing here that needs our help?"

"Help us straighten out the public security a bit."

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On the second day after Lin Anquan and others arrived, a group led by Sani in Avoni Town started plotting to escape from this place that had exhausted them to death.

Using the pretext of going out to scavenge, they cautiously avoided the surveillance cameras installed by the exploration team within the town and quietly slipped out of town.

In the past half month, the seven or eight ’basic laborers’ have managed to barely fill their stomachs, and their physical strength and endurance have somewhat recovered.

Sani felt uneasy, always sensing someone might catch up behind them, and therefore quickened his pace.

When they walked a few kilometers out of town on foot, they started feeling dizzy, their stomachs growling empty, and a surge of sour liquid rising up.

"Those yellow-skinned monkeys did it on purpose!" Sani cursed under his breath, gnashingly angry, "They just won’t let us eat our fill.

The food supplied every day is calculated precisely for caloric needs, not allowing a calorie more. How could they be so bad?"

The followers behind him were also panting heavily, drenched in sweat. They now fully understood how harsh the Holy Light team’s management over them was.

Without transportation, relying solely on two legs, the range of human activity is actually exceptionally limited.

If only moving within the town, they could still return to the camp to replenish that bit of meager food when tired and hungry.

But the food is rationed by headcount and is the kind of boiled potatoes in salt water that’s difficult to store. If they don’t eat, not only must they endure hunger, but it will rot and spoil after a day.

Without enough food and strength, even if these ’basic laborers’ wish to escape, where can they run to?

"Boss, not good!" a subordinate suddenly exclaimed, "Omar has run away."

Sani whipped around, only to see the previously most actively instigating black man, Omar, staggering back towards the town.

The guy was evidently also exhausted, not running fast, and was not far from them, occasionally glancing back at Sani and then continuing to shuffle back.