Chapter 393 - 365: Preliminary Investigation
In the first-floor pharmacy, people bustled in and out, sorting and removing the various medicines.
Zhao Pu said with a smile, "Chairman, this medicine couldn’t have come at a better time. The hospital director had some real foresight; they’d just received a huge shipment."
Director Zhou, who was walking alongside them, explained, "It’s actually somewhat related to the transmigration. A number of buildings have disappeared from all over the country, you know? The official explanation is that it’s a supernatural event.
"But among the general public, most people are saying the buildings were either taken by aliens or just transmigrated."
"So the director pulled some strings to get a few extra shipments. He said that if our hospital ever transmigrated, at least we’d have more medicine."
Qin Ziwen found this amusing. "Your director is quite the character. Where is he?"
Director Zhou gave an embarrassed smile. "He didn’t come to the hospital today..."
Wu Shanqi, who was also trailing along, sighed to himself. ’If I’d known this was going to happen, I would’ve taken the day off.’
Qin Ziwen stopped and looked at the crowd of doctors gathered around him.
"The Qin Alliance is currently recruiting new members to expand our medical department. We’re in need of skilled and compassionate doctors and healthcare workers."
"If any of you are interested, you’re welcome to sign up. The Qin Alliance provides security, food, and other forms of support."
Many of the surrounding doctors perked up their ears, silently mulling it over.
Unlike many others, most of the people who worked at this hospital—aside from a few who got in through connections—were highly skilled and genuinely capable.
Upon hearing this, some of them couldn’t help but feel a bit of professional pride.
’Skilled people are in demand everywhere.’
’Especially in an apocalyptic setting like this, after the transmigration, doctors are bound to be essential.’
’No one can guarantee they won’t get sick, and when you’re sick, you need a doctor.’
’A wise bird chooses its branch carefully. They had to at least see what the offer was really like.’
Of course, the Qin Alliance had been the first to send people to rescue them. All else being equal, they were still willing to give the Qin Alliance priority.
"I’ll join!" Wu Shanqi agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
Between his connection to his old classmate and the fact that the Qin Alliance had just saved his life, he felt there was no other possible answer.
Hearing Wu Shanqi agree so quickly made many of the other doctors’ expressions stiffen.
’Agreeing so enthusiastically makes the rest of us look bad!’
"I’ll join too," responded an attending surgeon who was on good terms with Wu Shanqi.
Once the first few had spoken up, more and more doctors began to join in.
Soon, more than half of the doctors present had joined the Qin Alliance.
The remaining half were left hesitating.
They had intended to hold out for a better offer, but now it seemed they had shot themselves in the foot.
"Chairman Qin, how many people are in the Qin Alliance?" Wu Shanqi mustered his courage and asked loudly.
Zhao Pu smiled. "Basically, everyone in the Gated Community is one of us."
Upon hearing this, the remaining doctors instantly cast aside their hesitation and rushed to sign up.
They were afraid of being too late.
As they left the main hospital building, Zhao Pu reported, "Chairman, we’ve recruited most of the doctors. We’ve also taken all the medicine and medical supplies. Essentially, anything of value has been removed."
Qin Ziwen understood his subtext: now that everything of value was gone, the place itself wasn’t worth much.
"Continue screening the remaining patients. We can’t afford to overlook any talent. As long as they’re honest and don’t have any devious ideas, we can bring them in as provisional members for an observation period. Once they’ve proven their worth, they can be promoted to full members of the Qin Alliance."
"Understood."
Taking over the hospital and bringing it under the Qin Alliance’s control hadn’t required much effort.
The Qin Alliance held an overwhelming advantage in both numbers and capability.
Furthermore, months of survival had made the original residents of the Qin Alliance far superior in both experience and stamina compared to the sedentary, out-of-shape people who had spent their lives in the city.
So, it had all been a matter of course.
Of course, both Qin Ziwen and the other leaders of the Qin Alliance understood that this takeover was merely the first stage.
They had all seen this sort of thing before.
People who had spent their whole lives in an urban environment would have their mindsets shift rapidly when suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar, primitive world, especially one without any form of law and order.
It was a process of adaptation.
Some people would adapt and integrate quickly.
Others would start to get ideas.
It was better to channel these things than to suppress them.
What Qin Ziwen had to do was wait. Wait for the pimples to form and come to a head, and then pop them.
...
After things at the hospital were settled, Qin Ziwen gathered the Qin Alliance’s senior leadership for a meeting.
"This underground cavern is even larger than we imagined. Judging by the tunnels and the sheer size of the surrounding area, we’re probably in an entire subterranean world."
Yuan Ming said, "This place is huge. Scouting the surrounding area will likely take a considerable amount of time."
Deng Guang spoke up. "Lighting is a major issue. This underground world is dark, and we haven’t found any native light sources. We have to rely on bonfires, but burning them constantly uses up a lot of firewood. Our current stockpile won’t last very long."
"It uses that much?"
Cao Biansheng nodded. "Yes. For security, we have at least ten bonfires burning around the Gated Community at all times. And that’s after cutting back. Any fewer and it won’t be bright enough. Large areas would be left in darkness, and we might not spot any insects approaching."
Li Yue licked his lips. "So the main danger in this cavern is just insects? Have you found any real behemoths? It’d be a perfect chance to test out our new superweapon."
Cao Biansheng replied, "The biggest centipede we’ve found so far was only six meters long, which isn’t that big. Its Defense Power wasn’t too ridiculous either; our weapons could pierce its hide. With proper coordination, about three able-bodied men with Long Spears can kill one without taking any injuries."
Wang Yun sighed at that. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but a six-meter-long centipede was now considered "not that big."
Back on Earth, a centipede that size would have sent entomologists and zoologists into a frenzy.
Du Yu spoke up. "There’s water south of the Gated Community. It’s dangerous. There might be something big in it."
"Stagnant or fresh?"
Du Yu shook his head. "I’m not sure. It’s a large body of water, so it doesn’t seem stagnant."
Hearing there was water, Zhang Chongshan’s expression shifted. As a member of the Qin Alliance’s "navy," arriving in a land-locked map like this was like getting hit with a huge nerf in a game update.
Without a suitable body of water, his ship, the Lost Home, would be left to collect dust in this new world.
But whether the Lost Home could be deployed on the water was ultimately up to the Chairman.
Noticing Zhang Chongshan’s hopeful gaze, Qin Ziwen glanced at him. "Let’s not be hasty. We won’t be scouting the water for now. Just stay on alert for any threats from the south. I believe our main priority right now is to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance of the five tunnels surrounding the Gated Community."
"First, we need to know if there are any major threats within a one-kilometer radius of those five tunnels, like that centipede nest behind the hospital."
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