After thinking for a while, Huang Jinghe quickly said, "Actually, I already contacted my parents. As long as we know each other is safe, that's enough. So for us, this trip is really not urgent. You don't need to worry about my opinion. Compared to taking risks, staying alive is more important. But Lao Gao is right, no matter what, we must first figure out the exact time the extreme heat will arrive before we set off. I'll call my parents again and ask them to think of a way."
If you really calculated it carefully, Lan Jin and Ling Jiang actually had less burden to remain here than Huang Jinghe did.
But the real issue was that Qiao Qiao, Grandma Ling, and Nana were still inside the space. If they decided not to leave, should they bring them out now and take them back to the base, or wait until later to bring them out?
After all, if they failed to set off now, once the extreme heat arrived, it would be impossible to leave at all. Lao Gao had already analyzed it: for at least several years, they would not be able to move. They could not possibly keep them in the space all that time.
So the problem was not whether they should leave or not, but whether those two people and one dog should be brought out of the space.
Regarding Lan Jin's question, Lao Gao gave her his reasoning. "I think, whether we leave now or not, our destination isn't this place. No matter how long we stay, one day we will still leave. So there's no need to have the elder and the child live outside the space now.
Whether in H City base or later in R City base, we can't live for free. We have abilities, the base will definitely assign us missions. And we can't just sit around living off old savings. When we go on missions, can you really feel at ease leaving the elder and the child alone in the base?
Forget R City base, even here in H City base, if you ask me, I definitely wouldn't feel at ease. Even when we're together, dangers are everywhere. A child crying and fussing we can manage, but an elder being frightened… what if something happens?"
After speaking, Lao Gao glanced at Ling Jiang. "I'm not cursing Grandma Ling. But Grandma Ling is already so old. Even for us, those mutated animals scared us half to death. And that was still considered a good outcome. If we're out on missions while they stay in the base alone, can you really feel at ease?
And children crying and fussing, that's not something you can always wave away. They might carry scars in their hearts later. Even if we go live in the Capital city base, we'll still face the same problem, since they can't live inside the space forever. But in H City base, it's really unnecessary. After all, we won't stay here forever. No matter how long, one day we will leave. So there's simply no need for them to come out and live here."
"Yes, our destination is not this place anyway. Since we'll leave eventually, why get tangled up over just a few years?" Huang Jinghe agreed, then paused before adding, "Actually, there's something I've wanted to say for a while. I want to go to the Capital city base because my parents are there. I was separated from them when I was young and we never spent much time together. Now that the world is so chaotic, who knows what the future will be like. So I want to stay with them. That's why I want to go. So you all…"
Lan Jin cut him off. "I want to go to the Capital city base not because of you, but because the world is already in chaos. Our country's capital is still the capital. There are more powerful families there, more backgrounds, and their policies will naturally be more complete. Things like elderly care, education, daily living. That's why. It has nothing to do with you. I want to find a more stable place to live in this chaotic world. Of course, J City base or H City base are not bad, but I still want to go to the Capital city base."
After all, from the very beginning, the Capital city base had been her goal. Since she had a goal, why not pursue it? Besides, she had an invitation letter. If she did not try, it would be a waste.
Hearing Lan Jin say this, Huang Jinghe finally relaxed a little. He had really been afraid these people were going to escort him all the way to the Capital city base just for his sake. That would have been far too much.
Still, he had to admit, were the three of them really that good? That they would go out of their way to send him to the Capital city base?
…
Ling Jiang said, "So today's problem is actually no different from yesterday's. We've just decided that no matter if we leave or not, Grandma Ling and Qiao Qiao will not be taken out of the space."
Lan Jin nodded. "Yes. For now, we'll stay put. We'll first figure out when exactly the extreme heat will come. If it is still a long time away, we'll leave. If it is near, we'll stay and leave later."
"Right. Above all, our lives must come first." After saying this, Lao Gao put down his bowl, glanced at the time, and asked, "It's still early. When should we go back?"
Lan Jin said, "No matter if we stay in H City base or not, let's take out two sets of clothes for changing, then pack up the things we want to exchange. When we go back, we'll trade right away. After all, whether weapons or daily life, everything needs contribution points. Right now, the ice field still allows us to move freely, but once the extreme heat comes, we won't be able to leave for a long time."
That meant the contribution points in their accounts would have to last a long time.
After thinking a moment, Lao Gao said, "Sister Lan, I remember you have a big bag, right? I want to take some more things to trade. My backpack definitely won't hold it all."
"Take it then, go look for it yourself."
After she said that, Lao Gao went to a corner and found several sturdy canvas bags. He packed them full with things to trade… completely stuffed.
As soon as lunch was finished, the group left the space and slid back toward the base.
…
[Attention, comrades. Dangerous creatures have been sighted outside the base. Do not wander. Return indoors immediately, shut your doors and windows, and do not go out…]
The base loudspeakers repeated the announcement again and again. Outside the base gates, Brother Li had already gathered all the ability users to guard the entrance.
But there were no dangerous creatures in sight. Instead, the ability users who had just returned with injuries had not even recovered yet, and now standing outside was truly unbearable.
There was no helping it. Unless they used heavy firepower, only ability users could deal with such creatures. And heavy firepower, unless absolutely necessary, who would dare use it right at the gates of the base?
On the other side, Brother Li held his gun, his expression tense. Frowning, he asked, "Where are they? I don't see them. Could it be you misjudged with your spiritual sense?"
Brother Zhang replied, "No mistake. Just a moment ago, large groups were rushing this way. But now, suddenly, they stopped moving."
"They stopped? What are they? Did you see clearly?"
"Couldn't see. Too small. Just sensed that there were many, like insects." Brother Zhang said bitterly. If only his spiritual power were stronger.