At dawn, the wind howled and the snow fell heavily.
On the vast ice plains, a solitary group of wanderers struggled against the wind and snow.
Their boots creaked and groaned underfoot, mingled with the occasional groan from a member's stomach.
He Feng sat on the sled in the center of the group, his face grim.
Their purpose for this long journey was to find a place teeming with fish. He Feng took
off
his binoculars, his mind preoccupied with the dwindling food supplies at the back of the sled.
A year ago, He Feng had been brought to this icy world by FAW-Volkswagen and became one of the many scavengers on the ice plains.
This was a world long submerged by the sea; land… was almost impossible to find, and most people could only eke out a living on slightly thicker layers of ice.
Fortunately, he was originally a snow climbing enthusiast, which allowed him to settle down in this nearly desolate, icy wasteland and, relying on his ample experience, become the navigator for this group. His
past life's assistance gave him the means to survive in this world.
However, life was still difficult.
When they reached a particularly challenging point, a deep, resonant whistle broke through the snowstorm, causing He Feng to look into the distance.
It was the Drifting Fortress!
Unlike the other team members who were focused on moving forward, He Feng was extremely envious of the source of that roar.
In the later stages of the apocalypse, after the world was submerged by seawater, it also ushered in an unbearably cold Ice Age.
And with it came tremendous changes.
Monsters of unknown origin, a series of incredibly advanced technological blueprints, and various diverse ecosystems
all appeared one after another in this icy ocean, like a game update.
The Drifting Fortress was a unique product of this frozen apocalypse.
It combined post-apocalyptic technology with human ingenuity to the greatest extent possible, becoming a powerful force for preserving humanity.
There, the accompanying water purification towers could filter contaminated water sources, the massive city could accommodate hundreds of people, and the sturdy city walls and cannons could withstand any swarm of monsters.
Powerful engines allowed them to travel far away, so they wouldn't have to find shade like they did when facing monster hordes…
Most importantly, they would have a place to stay.
He Feng, gazing longingly through the misty fog, gritted his teeth with envy.
"Where's the cheat code? Help me out!" He Feng muttered, secretly seething with resentment.
[Intelligence System Activated]
A sudden electronic voice rang out, making He Feng's body tremble.
His expression instantly transformed into that of Ochumelov, his heart leaping with joy.
"Good milk, buddy, good milk."
[Intelligence 1: Tier 1 food, Snowflake Fruit, will soon spawn on the ice 50 kilometers to the east.]
[Intelligence 2: Monster Island will soon spawn in the Howling Strait, where a Tier 1 boss, the Frost Giant Bear, will appear.]
[Intelligence 3: The Tier 1 drifting fortress, the Skeleton, will soon dock on the shore of the Rift Glacier 80 kilometers to the north; their defenses are lax.]
As the text kept updating, He Feng's mood gradually improved.
Having an intelligence system in this world was incredibly powerful.
Since this world was frozen, many unbelievable changes had occurred, the most significant being the appearance of randomly spawning resources and monster strongholds.
Having access to intelligence meant more than just solving the problem of food and shelter.
Countless resources that were difficult for others to find would be practically free for him, and he would have complete insight into the enemy's every move.
With it, how could he not carve out a place for himself in this world!
Thinking of this, the smile on He Feng's face widened even further.
Looking down, the first piece of information that caught Zhou Qing's eye made his heart leap with excitement.
Tier 1 food was an extremely scarce resource in this world.
He Feng had previously obtained secrets about Tier 1 food from some elderly people seeking asylum.
It was said that the formation of this fruit was completely unpredictable, with an extremely low probability of occurrence, making it a rare and precious treasure.
Not only could it slightly improve the user's physical attributes, but it also possessed powerful healing effects.
It was incredibly difficult to find!
Although called Tier 1 food, its value and difficulty of obtaining it were arguably Tier 2!
If he could obtain it, it would be a considerable bargaining chip for trading or enhancing combat power.
The second piece of information was useless to him. Tier 1 bosses were like kings in this world, something ordinary drifting fortresses would avoid at all costs; how could he dare to provoke them easily?
So he quickly skipped over it. However,
after confirming that the third piece of information was in genuine font, He Feng frowned.
"I'm fighting pirates? Really?!"
This information was undoubtedly too bombshell.
Drifting fortress, the Skull, a massive ship inhabited by pirates.
He Feng had once seen its entirety from afar.
How to put it?
It was practically his dream ship!
The graceful keel haunted his dreams, the rugged, sturdy construction kept him up at night.
But even with such a fine foundation… these pirates had made a terrible mess of it.
The cannons were installed crookedly, and when the ship was wrecked, they used scrap steel to weld together the countless holes. Even one of the propellers that powered the hull was broken.
His dream goddess was being relentlessly attacked by these roughnecks.
How could he tolerate this?
He couldn't!
So He Feng led his team on a 20-kilometer run overnight, finally escaping the pursuit range of the Jaeger.
Having a drifting fortress and not having one are two completely different things. Such a reckless attack was tantamount to suicide; even the worst of the worst could blast a refugee like him into dust with cannon fire.
But now, he possessed an intelligence system.
Absolute information superiority could undoubtedly bridge this gap to a great extent!
The opportunity to acquire a drifting fortress and become a superior being
was placed before him. Would he take it or not?
He had almost had enough of living on the snow.
After some deliberation, He Feng decided to go big.
So he blew the bone whistle he had been working on for a long time, and his gaze became firm.
"All troops, proceed 50 kilometers east."
The command was given, and the long, serpentine team suddenly turned, forming a 90-degree right angle pattern like a gluttonous snake, creating a distinct branch.
A rash decision will inevitably lead to some dissent, but He Feng doesn't care.
Along the way, the number of members in this wandering group has been steadily decreasing, splitting into smaller groups,
until it's now a team of 20.
Those who left need a navigator who can lead them to supply points, not someone who simply issues orders.
People in the apocalypse are very clear-headed, including He Feng.
A successful team must be able to obey orders from superiors, and besides, he doesn't intend to take everyone with him.
Resources are insufficient.
The brutal selection process doesn't allow for personal sentiment.
Acquiring a new ship also requires sufficient strength, so before that, He Feng decided to collect some Snow Crystal Fruits to improve their combat power.
Thinking of this, He Feng felt a surge of energy.
The entire wandering group has been continuously streamlined during the long journey, with most of those remaining being familiar faces that He Feng knew.
This put him at ease.
At the fruit respawn point, He Feng stationed the entire team there.
The restless group picked up ice picks, only to find that the thick ice was impenetrable, filled only with upside-down icicles, and food was nowhere to be found.
Clearly, this was a godforsaken place.
"What do you think our boss is up to? Just for fun?" a scavenger asked, chewing on dried fish, as he spoke to the others nearby.
"Who knows? Maybe he's been in charge for too long and his head's gone blank."
"He even said there were Snow Crystal Fruits. I really wouldn't dare make such a boast. Is it really possible for us to stumble upon something like that?"
Despite this, no one dared to show any displeasure to He Feng, quietly waiting for their headstrong leader to make a fool of himself.
As evening approached, the two-day-long snowstorm finally subsided.
He Feng stared intently at the seemingly barren snowfield, quietly awaiting good news.
The cold wind whistled, reflecting He Feng's inner turmoil.
He wandered alone in the camp, constantly examining the icicles growing there.
Whether the intelligence was true or false, the decision could only be made tonight.
Suddenly, a joyful shout drew everyone's attention, followed by a chorus of exclamations.
Countless icicles sprouted branches, condensing into warm, jade-like white fruits, radiating a faint white light.
These were Snow Crystal Fruits!
The crowd, realizing what was happening, instantly turned their gazes towards He Feng.
Excitement, respect, disbelief.
Doubt instantly reversed, and everyone waited with burning eyes for He Feng's next instruction.
He Feng calmly plucked a fruit and slowly said,
"Everyone can receive half of the quota for all the fruits picked."
The crowd erupted in cheers. This wasn't just one tree; it was an entire forest!
These were rare treasures that these old men who sailed the seas hadn't seen for centuries. And now, these
peasants were finally getting their hands on them.
"Thank you, Chief!"
Without the slightest hesitation, the locust-like crowd swept away all the fruit, some with fruit in their mouths, others with their clothes stuffed full.
A joyful sense of harvest instantly spread across everyone's faces.
Finally, a mountain of fruit piled up on the ground.
Except for the fruit that had just been swallowed whole, all the members of the wandering group tacitly left the rest of their fruit there.
Countless scavengers shouted in unison, their voices deafening, their eyes filled with admiration.
"Long live the Chief!"
He Feng suppressed a smile, looking around at the faces of countless admirers with immense joy, his heart overflowing with satisfaction.
"40 seconds, 40 seconds have passed, you can laugh now!"
He strode forward, arms outstretched, the evening wind ruffling his tattered clothes, exuding an unrestrained and arrogant air. There was something he had been holding back for a long time:
"Could any other chief do this?"
In this world, everything exists in tiers.
Weapons, items, and resources all seem to be clearly categorized by a force.
This line is drawn with extreme coldness and absoluteness!
Like how low-tier weapons cannot effectively damage high-tier creatures, or how the population capacity and speed of a high-tier drifting fortress are always superior to that of a low-tier fortress.
The gap is like a chasm!
Without sufficient strength to guarantee a direct confrontation with the Skua, He Feng would never dare to take such a risk.
(Please remember the Taiwanese novel website, tv.tv, for the fastest chapter updates.)
Therefore, he decided to first bridge the gap at the basic level.
"The Snow Glow Fruit, strengthens the body and has a recovery effect?" He Feng looked around at the old, weak, sick, and disabled members of the wandering group, lost in thought.
The fruit's effects were subtly reversing their physical attributes; before long, the wandering group would undoubtedly become an elite force.
He Feng glanced at the crowd and the pile of Snow Glow Fruit, nodding approvingly.
The biting wind howled, but it couldn't dampen the scavengers' enthusiasm for He Feng; on the contrary, their respect for him only increased. They
even felt a pang of regret.
They had played mind games with their leader, but he had genuinely been open and honest with them.
What kind of leader would allow their insignificant underlings to flaunt first-tier food?
And they had almost ruined a crucial mission; any later, and those fruits would have been gone.
Their leader was open and honest with them, yet they had tried to outsmart him?
Overwhelmed by contempt and self-loathing, several people in the crowd approached He Feng and knelt down with a thud.
"Please punish us, Leader!"
He Feng raised his eyes, a cunning glint in them.
"Oh, tell me why I'm punishing you."
"We...we, as members of the scavenging group, didn't trust the leader's orders. We cheated and shirked our duties along the way, almost ruining this harvest!"
One member shouted, head bowed, a scab on his lip cracking from the exertion.
"So we feel deeply ashamed. If it weren't for the leader's urgent urging, we wouldn't have been able to harvest this great gift on time."
Another member's voice was choked with sobs, tears welling in his eyes.
He Feng shook his head, neither pressing nor arrogant.
Instead, he squatted down and whispered, "Stand up!"
His voice was so close it was almost in their ears.
The kneeling men looked up, stunned by their leader's frankness, like young girls being confessed to, their expressions a mixture of fear and surprise.
"Chief, how could you?"
"I'll say it again! Stand up... that's an order!" He Feng's voice suddenly rose sharply, his brows furrowed, his tone clearly carrying displeasure.
The group exchanged wide-eyed glances, then simultaneously straightened up.
He Feng slowly rose, casually brushing the snowflakes off his clothes.
Countless bewildered eyes shone upon him, bathing the young man in the bright moonlight, making him appear like a leading actor on an opera stage.
"Do you know why I didn't take everything here for myself?"
All the members looked at each other, still unable to fathom the deeper meaning of his words.
"Admittedly, when I learned of the Snow Crystal Fruit here, I also had some despicable thoughts. I thought of taking only a few trusted followers and monopolizing everything here.
The sheer quantity of fruit would have been enough for me to escape and live a life of wealth, or even rely on my power to achieve a carefree, immortal existence.
But when I saw the members of the scavenging group struggling through the snow, when every member was hungry, when everyone was struggling to survive,
my sense of responsibility as the leader of the scavenging group wouldn't allow me to do that."
The burning trash around the fire emitted a golden glow, and the flickering flames danced in everyone's pupils. A complex yet indescribable emotion quietly grew in their hearts.
He Feng's expression gradually became serious, and he stirred up some emotions to make his words even more impassioned.
"A person cannot wander alone from beginning to end, just as a lone wolf cannot fight like a pack.
So, I chose you, and you chose me.
Today's events have deeply moved me. It's rare that you can self-analyze your actions.
But it also fills me with immense self-reproach. As a leader, I cannot gain the trust of my subordinates, and I can only watch with heartbreaking pain as everyone struggles and flounders in the snow."
He Feng's voice trembled slightly as he pounded his chest with emotion, completely immersing himself in his feelings.
"Am I, in fact, a qualified leader?"
Under the weight of his rhetoric, each member's eyes gradually welled up with tears, their swollen eyelids seemingly on the verge of bursting in the solemn atmosphere.
He Feng's image grew taller in their eyes, and their leader's stature seemed to rise higher and higher.
Their leader was practically an anomaly!
On the desolate ice plains, no force ever tolerated the survival of the weak. Before being accepted by their leader, they were outcasts, useless, and waste-producing machines that consumed food.
But ever since joining the scavenging group, the leader never discriminated against anyone, even though we didn't understand the values he often talked about.
Only under his leadership, through his actions
, did everyone feel truly alive, even when starving and freezing!
Everyone's eyes stopped wandering, their gazes gradually hardening, as if a thousand words were about to burst forth.
"The boss is a good man," one member shouted.
Like a torpedo diving into deep water, it rippled through the silence.
Soon,
a chorus of praise, eulogy, and triumphant shouts rose and fell.
"We are willing to offer our hearts to the leader!"
"The leader is unparalleled!"
echoed across the vast snowfield.
There were no pretentious ceremonies, only a group of scavengers circling the fire, raising their arms and shouting.
Seeing the crowd around him, seemingly injected with adrenaline, He Feng couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.
At this moment, He Feng was undoubtedly someone they would follow to the death.
Benefits could bring many things, but they couldn't bring loyalty.
Therefore, He Feng would use a large amount of benefits to forcibly achieve loyalty.
Seeing that the time was ripe, He Feng decided to add fuel to the fire.
"I cannot refuse your kind invitation. It seems you all acknowledge me as an incompetent leader.
I assure you, today will be a turning point. The future... requires our struggle.
Those who have bullied us will be punished, and our life of wandering will end now."
Countless members' eyes, illuminated by the flames, burned even redder, deeply immersed in He Feng's speech.
"Are you willing to fight alongside me for a new future?" He Feng finished speaking with all his might.
As soon as he finished speaking, the earth trembled, the air vibrated, and an unprecedented sonic pressure swept over them.
He Feng glanced around, and countless faces flushed red, whether from the effects of the fruit or the speech, they all shouted in unison,
"Fight for our leader!"
"For the future of the Scavenging Corps!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
The earth trembled, the air hummed, and the deep shouts across the snowfield seemed determined to shatter the dawn.
The perfect conclusion of the speech undoubtedly provided a powerful boost to the next step of the operation, finally relieving He Feng of a huge weight on his mind.
The combination of kindness and severity was indeed a universally acclaimed PUA tactic.
After this, no one would question He Feng's decisions anymore; they would only believe that everything the leader did was for the sake of the entire scavenging team.
The team's cohesion was now stronger than iron.
The fact
that the scavenging team arrived at their target, the Jaeger, a mere 120 kilometers away in just one day, is the best proof of this.
Even such a long journey hadn't worn down their patience; everyone remained full of fighting spirit and excitement.
Night fell.
Until they reached the glacier on the northeastern edge of the Watt Blue Ice Sheet, a roughly designed and rusty medium-sized warship came into view.
The ship was similar in size to the large fishing boats He Feng had seen in his previous life, but the only difference was that this ship was made with high-quality materials. Its
massive hull, 35 meters wide and about 140 meters long, stood imposingly.
Rivets, gears, and a jumble of metal plates welded together formed the ship's basic armor, making it look incredibly durable.
Furthermore, there were numerous windows on the sides of the hull for mounting cannons, their dark barrels protruding, exuding a chilling aura of aloofness.
The sight before him gave him a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of Mad Max.
This wasteland-like ship, in terms of both its keel and materials, was undoubtedly among the best.
"What a treasure!" He Feng thought, his eyes shining.
The entire scavenging group disappeared into the darkness, staring intently at the new warship they were about to acquire.
One member, dazed, looked at the behemoth before him and asked He Feng in a daze.
"Boss, can we really get our hands on this thing?"
He Feng turned his head, a half-smile on his face. "Yes."
Such a brief promise was more powerful than any empty promise.
Greed was undoubtedly the best fuel for battle.
With their leader's promise, all the members stared intently at their prey like jackals, gripping their harpoons impatiently, their morale soaring.
On the noisy warship, the sound of the winch turning was like a hidden melody.
He Feng waved his hand, giving the order to lie in wait.
Everyone concealed themselves, waiting for the opportunity.
"Buzz~~"
The ship's crane rolled the conveyor belt, and under the pull of the steel cable, a long, narrow iron deck tilted down from its vertical position.
Finally, with a "boom," the heavy weight stirred up the surrounding snowflakes, forming a cloud of frost, and the deck was shallowly embedded in the ice.
After a short while, a swaying crew member emerged from the hull opening, holding a half-empty bottle of liquor, his face slightly drunk.
Finally, shaking his head, he pulled down his pants and started urinating into an unremarkable snowdrift.
Suddenly, the snowdrift in front of the unfortunate crew member burst open, and a thin, tall figure emerged from it—a young boy.
The boy grinned maliciously, holding a bone knife directly to the crew member's neck, veins bulging on his thin arms, and he growled angrily in a low voice,
"Use it? Did I tell you to keep urinating?"
The pirate crew member, bewildered, stared at the boy who had sprung out, instantly snapping out of his drunken stupor, speechless with surprise.
"The snowdrift is talking?"
Before the poor crew member could finish his thought, a sharp whooshing sound accompanied the gushing of blood from his carotid artery, staining the silvery-white snow with a crimson hue.
He staggered and collapsed to the ground.
"Lin Mo, how many times have I told you to stay calm?" He Feng shook his head helplessly and said to the boy.
Lin Mo flicked the blood off his bone knife, grumbling, "Boss, you try getting soaked yourself, the worst part is he not only peed, but he vomited and peed at the same time, who can stand that? The smell was fucking awful, I've reached my limit."
He then pinched his nose and dry-heaved.
He Feng awkwardly laughed, "Well, we should make an exception."
Lin Mo was a veteran member of the scavenging group, a reliable young man. He Feng usually had him act as the team's ambush operator. He was young and promising.
So this operation was a rare opportunity for him to gain experience.
"Boss, these pirates are all like this, why don't you just let us shoot them all now?"
Lin Mo slowly vomited, looking at He Feng, waiting for further instructions.
"Wait, wait a little longer," He Feng said in a deep voice, his face stiff.
His mind was racing.
The facts were undeniable.
After a prolonged observation, no sentry posts were visible on the entire ship.
The only sounds were the shouts and jeers of the crew drinking and the pungent smell of cheap liquor.
Now was the perfect time to strike while the enemy was down.
"Our opponents? All this scum," He Feng couldn't help but frown. It seemed his thinking was a bit too simplistic.
After all, the information from the intelligence system couldn't be wrong.
The time had come!
He Feng issued new orders.
"Brothers, this battle will decide our future, and it will be a battle to the death."
"Now! All hands on deck, attack!"
With He Feng's command, more than twenty figures surrounding the ship materialized.
Each pirate, wielding a sharpened bone harpoon, greedily eyed the enormous creature that seemed to be theirs for the taking.
"Charge!"
Rapid footsteps pounded on the iron bridge, producing a crisp, metallic clang, as the menacing scavengers brutally pushed open each hatch containing a drunkard.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
The terrified pirates had no time to react, fleeing in a cat-and-mouse game.
Shouting and yelling, they desperately tried to rouse their alcohol-numbed bodies.
Bang—
a gunshot rang out.
Several pirates, having found broken gun barrels, grinned maliciously, their muzzles menacingly pointed at the warriors engaged in the fierce fighting.
Bullets pierced their abdomens, blood gushing out.
"Gun! They have guns!"
Time froze. Fear of the impending battle surged through the crowd, their anxiety fueling their fury against the pirates.
"Got it! Haha, got it!" The two pirates clapped and cheered, beaming with joy.
Firearms were extremely valuable items in the apocalypse.
Possessing firearms meant having the opportunity to
fight monsters head-on. It also determined the outcome of every battle against humans!
The battle situation reversed in an instant, and the advantage of firearms would undoubtedly deal a fatal blow to the morale of this battle.
The pirates shouted, with ten or even nine parts smugness.
"Disarm and you won't be killed, I...we have guns, all of you better behave!"
"You think you can take over our Tier 1 fortress? Don't dream about it!"
The pirates began to regroup, trying to reverse the decline caused by their indulgence.
He Feng snorted coldly, cutting through the crowd of drunkards, his bone knife dancing in the blood, effortlessly.
Under everyone's gaze, He Feng flashed forward, pressing a wet cloth soaked with fruit juice directly into the wounded man's abdomen.
A flash of light appeared.
Under the glow of the fruit, the wound vanished instantly!
Only a dark bloodstain remained on his clothes.
This was the power of the Snow-Glow Fruit; its extraordinary regenerative ability was their greatest asset in this operation.
Silence fell.
Incredulous and bewildered, countless pirates witnessed this astonishing turn of events, their minds reeling.
"Boss…you…"
"Don't think so much. If you're so capable, kill a few more pirates to heal me!"
Fueled by the power of the fruit, He Feng's veins bulged as he charged towards the newly formed pirate squad.
He Feng was radiating heat, as if his entire body was boiling. Blades couldn't pierce his skin; in his rampage, countless pirates were slit in an instant.
"Bang bang bang!"
The pirates, regaining their senses, hurriedly reloaded their ammunition, firing all their bullets at He Feng,
but to no avail.
Only shallow dents remained on He Feng's body, which had consumed a massive amount of fruit.
The gunman was instantly dealt with, and several guns fell into He Feng's hands.
This guy wasn't human at all.
They couldn't beat him, they simply couldn't.
"Monster, this guy is a monster." The pirates who had just been shouting were now filled with fear, their teeth chattering, their legs weak, and their cowardice overwhelming.
"He's the incarnation of the Snow Demon, run for your lives!"
Terror was reflected on their faces, the last trace of emotion remaining in this world.
The little morale that these drunkards had just mustered was instantly extinguished.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, He Feng straightened his chest, his voice rising, almost a roar.
"Brothers, go all out and kill! We'll take care of you if you get hurt!"
With He Feng's guarantee, everyone's fighting style became completely unrestrained.
"I'll take on ten of them, boss!"
one of the members shouted in response, and quickly dispatched a pirate, ignoring the pirate's dying struggles.
The wounds were no longer a concern!
Sparks flew like wildfire.
The members' murderous intent instantly spread.
"For the future of the Wandering Gang!"
"Kill these sons of bitches!"
"Kill—"
The clash of weapons, accompanied by the warriors' roars, plunged into the crowd.
Countless harpoons rose and fell, piercing the vitals of each pirate. Against a group of drunkards who couldn't even hold a gun properly, this was clearly a massacre without suspense.
Each person was like a berserker, fearless and ignoring their torn wounds.
In the chaotic crowd, only Lin Mo was truly frenzied, his dagger flashing, venting his rage against these filthy bastards.
Stabbing, stabbing, impaling.
His skills, honed through years of fishing in the scavenging gang, were now comparable to those of someone who had studied at a large supermarket for decades!
The pirates were strung together, one after another.
The liquor and the pirates' blood mingled, creating a unique, sweet-smelling aroma.
Blood soaked through He Feng's body, staining his hair and clothes crimson, making him look even more like a ferocious god.
Gone was the bitter resentment of his past hunger; a relieved smile graced his face, a testament to his victory and triumph.
The battle was over, the rising sun stained crimson with blood.
The victorious warriors drank heartily from their newly acquired spoils, clinking glasses and indulging in a hearty feast.
Fruit juices were mixed into the liquor, a reward and a physical comfort.
He Feng, holding a glass, stood on the highest platform, the thick wooden barrel still frothing at the top.
He sipped contentedly, the bitter aroma of rye in the liquor soothing.
Today, for the first time, the wanderers adrift on the ice had a future.
He Feng gazed at his ghostly reflection in the glass, a faint smile appearing on his face.
The glass was full, then emptied.
This cup was a toast to himself, and a farewell to the distant horizon.
After a brief rest, the Skua welcomed its new master.
When they finally stepped onto the deck, not only He Feng, but every member of the wandering crew felt a sense of unreality, as if they had been transported to another world. In the past, when they were wandering the ice floes, they all believed themselves to be abandoned by the apocalypse, destined to await death in their turbulent lives. But now, they had defied fate! How could this not be exhilarating! Grateful and filled with anticipation, He Feng had become an unshakeable idol in their hearts. With inexhaustible energy, they worked smoothly under He Feng's direction. The villains' corpses were thrown overboard, leaving only the stench of blood on the ground. He Feng moved about the ship, occasionally lending a hand, directing everyone to familiarize themselves with this behemoth, establishing his authority through each task. The pirates' belongings were all cleared away, and their legacy was taken over by the wandering crew. After a thorough inventory, the operation yielded a substantial haul: 2,000 jin of rye flour, 50 kilograms of dried fish, and 10 kilograms of coarse salt. The highlight was a relatively well-preserved drifting fortress, its internal steam power system functioning perfectly. Hidden beneath the deck were retractable agricultural facilities cultivating improved, cold-resistant crops like rye and barley, which could be harvested within a quarter of a year from the warm pipe network below deck. While the icebreaker bow was quite old, it was sufficient for extended icebreaking operations, but the ship's propulsion system was worn and needed replacement. There were also 10 ordinary cannons, 5 cannonballs, 20 ordinary single-shot rifles, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition. The only drawback was the meager energy reserves, only 20% full, a significant problem at present. Nevertheless, overall, this drifting fortress remained among the best of its kind. The reception was complete. Everyone stood on the deck, awaiting the final ceremony. The skuas flag that once flew high on the Skuas's lookout tower was cast into the snow along with its departed owner. In its place hung a magnificent azure banner, its soft yet sturdy fabric a treasured possession of a high-ranking pirate, adorned with a fiery red sunrise, symbolizing the radiance that would illuminate the vast blue sea. The Skuas was officially renamed the "Azure!" Countless crew members, their faces solemn and filled with anticipation, watched the flag slowly rise, their hearts pounding with excitement. Yes, once this flag was raised, they would no longer be wanderers on the icy plains; instead, they would possess everything they had always longed for. They had a home! All thanks to their Boss He Feng! Overwhelmed with emotion, sobs broke out. Several tall, burly men wiped away tears like children, tightly shielding their rough faces with their sleeves, afraid to show even a hint of weakness. He Feng pulled the winch heavily, surveying his surroundings, his excitement indescribable. The outcome of the battle was clear: zero deaths, zero casualties—a resounding victory. Even so, cold sweat still clung to his forehead, a testament to lingering fear. This was also a gamble. And he had won. A gamble of extreme unfairness, the prize being this drifting fortress, the stakes their insignificant lives. Defeat meant only merciless death. Thinking of this, He Feng felt a wave of lingering fear, then exhaled a soft, relieved breath. "Click..." The flag reached its highest point, and all the members fell silent in unison. Their gazes were fixed on one person; the people of the Azure needed this great leader to guide them. He Feng cleared his throat, about to speak, when a rigid voice silenced him. [Intelligence System Updated] [1. The Mineral Crab is migrating near the Watt Blue Ice Cap; its shell can produce large quantities of ordinary iron ore.] [2. Undercurrents are brewing in White Raven City; the current city lord is bedridden.] [3. The daughter of the White Raven City lord has planned an escape; young Ji Chun is among the refugee ships from White Raven City. He possesses the talent "Mechanical Specialization."] He Feng quickly received the information, then couldn't contain his joy. The first piece of intelligence was typical resource-based information. Wandering monsters are naturally insignificant, but a place with a large gathering of monsters is a rich resource point. At the same time, the gathering of a large number of monsters avoids the predicament of hit-and-run; wiping them out in one fell swoop is not impossible. Currently, most of the equipment and parts of the Azure Ship urgently need to be upgraded, and a large amount of iron ore is undoubtedly a necessity. And fresh meat... speaking of which, it's time to reward his brothers who have fought so hard. "Crabs," He Feng wiped away the tears flowing from the corner of his mouth, full of anticipation. The second and third intelligence reports were factual. He only offered a brief expression of sympathy for the people there before stopping short of taking action; he wasn't particularly interested. Sure enough, power breeds trouble… His gaze drifted downwards. The Azure was currently in dire need of rebuilding and desperately required a large number of technical personnel. A top-tier talent with exceptional mechanical expertise was undoubtedly someone he coveted. Given the opportunity, he would definitely make sure such a person devoted all their wisdom and talent to the Azure. Afterwards, He Feng picked up the prepared documents and solemnly allocated various positions, housing, and food rations for the Azure. Since everyone had crawled up from the snow, even the worst living conditions were far better than their previous rough and tumble existence. Moreover, with food, shelter, and sleep, the allocation process for his own people went quite smoothly. He Feng's authority also ensured relative fairness in the allocation. Next were another group of people: the remaining pirates from the Skua. Since most of them were craftsmen working on the Skua, the backbone of the fortress's development, He Feng naturally chose not to harm them in the slightest. Firstly, most of these people had been enslaved here and had no sense of belonging to the pirate group. Secondly, these pirates had oppressed them for a long time, and they were somewhat grateful to He Feng, their new lord.
Most importantly, they are still useful to the Azure.
The Azure still has many technical problems. Although the fortress has high-tech machine tools that can be manufactured with just blueprints, parts replacement and upgrades still require human intervention.
After all, they are different from those post-apocalyptic madmen; rather than continuing to enslave them, it's better to treat them equally, thereby increasing the Azure's cohesion.
With this in mind, He Feng pondered for a moment before leading a few trusted confidants directly into the Azure's lowest level.
Steam rose from the cell ceiling, dripping intermittently onto the floor with a chilling sound.
Silence reigned supreme, broken only by the whimpering of the wounded, like wild dogs.
This was the refuge of the defeated, the long-time den of those oppressed by pirates.
"Thump, thump, thump—" Three or five footsteps approached from the gangway, as terrifying as a death knell.
The slaves, who had been wailing in pain, now dared not breathe, fearing another lash. Closer…closer. The footsteps abruptly stopped at the cell exit, each slave's heart leaping into their throat. Everyone pressed against the wall, terrified of even a second's eye contact with the ruthless killer before them. They could at least swallow the whips of the pirates, but the man who would wipe out all the pirates in one night was likely even more ruthless than those pirates. A sense of fear spread through the dark underbelly, a gloomy atmosphere of despair pervading the air. Then came the sound of a key turning in an iron lock; after a few sharp clicks, the lock collapsed. First, the nearest cell was opened, then one, two… three. He Feng looked around; the entire space was dark and cramped, yet crammed with slaves. He then gestured to his subordinates, several burly men quickly understanding. They immediately began banging on the cage bars with their gun barrels, shouting as they went. "Come out, all of you! Our lord wants to see you!" "Don't cover your heads! We're not villains!" The hunched slaves were herded out like chickens, trembling as they were shoved before He Feng. In no time, all the slaves stood in the prison corridor, a total of more than 20 people. The group was small but comprehensive, including mechanics, welders, and boiler operators—a miniature encyclopedia of human labor professions. Looking at the numerous emaciated slaves, He Feng couldn't help but shake his head, then issued orders to his subordinates. As soon as he finished speaking, several workers brought out a large, gleaming pot. The lid was lifted, releasing the fragrant aroma of oatmeal porridge, along with bits of finely stewed fish. The rich aroma filled the room, causing the stomachs of many slaves to rumble; they hadn't had a proper meal in a long time. Hunger, they were desperately hungry. Their primal craving for food almost made them forget their fear. Countless slaves, their eyes practically glowing with hunger, no longer cared about meeting He Feng's gaze, focusing their greedy eyes on the hot porridge. He Feng took the bowl and spoon, calmly filling it with the extremely thick porridge. The rising steam made any starving slave's mouth water. He slammed the iron bowl to the ground, nearly overflowing, and after regaining his balance, handed it to a withered old slave. He Feng half-squatted, trying to look him in the eye. "Old man, here, I've prepared some more porridge for you." The old craftsman, Liu Neng, raised his aged neck, his dim eyes timidly glancing at He Feng. Upon seeing him, the man, nearing fifty, was instantly stunned. Before him lay not the hideous, man-eating bandit, but a refined, handsome young man! Except for his slightly large frame… nothing more. "The little train is going through the tunnel…" Before he could react, a spoon full of porridge was already close to his lips. The broth moistened his dry, calloused lips, and Liu Neng, in a daze, swallowed the food in one gulp. Sweet and delicious, accompanied by a rich meaty aroma, it slid down his parched esophagus into his stomach. When Liu Neng realized what was happening, it was too late. He quickly lowered his head and kowtowed heavily to the ground. "Sir, it's all because this old man was greedy and couldn't control himself. It's all my fault for being stupid. I shouldn't have eaten the food you fed me!" Liu Neng's voice was hysterical, his words laced with desperate sobs. "I'm sorry, sir, just consider it feeding the dogs. Take... the whip, yes, the whip, just hit this old man. I beg you, don't involve them. I can endure the hunger!" After saying this, the old man frantically searched for the whip, kneeling on the ground and rummaging around. The scene before him undoubtedly made He Feng's nose sting with tears. He had thought that these slave workers were miserable, but he had never imagined they were this miserable. He casually threw the hot porridge in his hand aside, the soup spilling extravagantly all over the ground. He Feng suddenly shielded the old man covered in grease, embracing him tightly, hot tears welling up in his eyes. All the prepared words and communication skills had been completely forgotten. He had thought that in this broken world, he could harden his heart, but faced with true suffering, his little tricks were worthless. He Feng was truly moved. "Grandpa, I know you were once enslaved and bullied by those scumbags. I don't know what to say, but please believe us." Blood gushed from Liu Neng's head as he stared dejectedly at the burly young man who was tightly embracing him. Tears streamed down the young man's cheeks, silently dripping onto his withered face. The sincerity of emotion was more powerful than a thousand words, and the genuineness between people surpassed all vows. In his hazy state, he seemed to see his grandson, enslaved and killed by pirates; at that moment, illusion and reality overlapped. The walls of Liu Neng's heart completely crumbled. He began to weep bitterly.
"Grandson, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have let you go to the outer wall to repair the ship that night. That's
why you were bitten to death by the sea monster. It's all my fault! Why wasn't it me who died that day? You were so young, you shouldn't have died... you shouldn't have died!"
Liu Neng cried until he was almost fainting. This scene deeply moved He Feng.
He had originally thought that as long as he had the fortress, all his suffering would be resolved. But the tragedy that had occurred on the fortress was no less than their past hardships and displacement.
He Feng slowly got up, took out a wet towel soaked in the juice of the Snow Crystal Fruit, and carefully wiped Liu Neng's head.
He wiped away the bloodstains and also erased the fear that everyone had of He Feng and his group.
He Feng slowly raised his voice and said, "My fellow countrymen, please don't bow your heads anymore. Please look at us."
Perhaps it was his sincerity, but countless ragged slaves actually dared to raise their heads and look at He Feng and his group.
Looking closely, the people in front of them were no different from them, and even more so than them.
Their coarse cotton clothes were patched in many places, and their gaunt faces bore the marks of malnutrition, yet a light shone in each of their eyes—the hope they yearned for.
"Today, in the name of the Lord of the Azure, I hereby release you from your slavery.
You are now legal citizens of the Azure and deserve the care you are entitled to.
Now, line up to receive your food rations."
He Feng's voice was firm and resonant.
All the slaves were utterly bewildered.
They looked at He Feng, then at the iron pot.
Such a large pot of soup, all for them?
One slave, his head bowed, timidly asked He Feng, "Can I have an extra bowl?"
He Feng smiled gently, "Not only today, but from now on, you can have more than one extra bowl."
These words immediately caused a stir among the crowd; even those starving rushed to join the porridge line.
After a whirlwind of activity, the large pot of porridge was completely devoured.
The iron bowls were licked clean, the lingering aftertaste of the fresh porridge lingering in their mouths.
Liu Neng was the first to kneel down in the crowd, followed by a multitude of slaves who, like a virus spreading, all knelt in unison.
"Thank you, Lord!"
Dozens of hoarse, resonant voices shouted in unison, causing the entire lower level to tremble.
"I, Liu Neng, am willing to serve you, Lord, without hesitation! " "Without hesitation!"
He Feng silently watched everything unfolding before him, clenching his fists, his heart filled with boundless excitement. The Azure Ship was finally about to recover.