"They're all wearing clothes they picked up from others. Olande and Tang Xuhai's clothes don't even fit, while the rest are somewhat okay but a bit outdated."
Wen Zhaoming hesitated for a moment then nodded decisively, "Find a place to sell these things off, cigarettes and alcohol count as luxuries. It'll be enough to buy new clothes."
Clothes are cheap now; the ability users can afford cigarettes and alcohol, which raises their value. With their current resources, they can still afford fitting clothes.
Olande chuckled and turned to Fu Shiwu, invitingly, "Fu, how about we go shopping together?"
Fu Shiwu promptly shook his head, "I've agreed to go to the academy with Xuhai. You can buy it for me; I wear size 175."
He's 179cm tall but lean; size 175 fits.
Tang Xuhai raised his hand, smirking at Olande, "I'm 190."
Although 188cm tall, Tang Xuhai is solidly built, needing looser clothing.
Olande could only nod and ask the others, "What sizes do you need?"
The rest reported their measurements.
Wang Dan wiped her mouth, "I'll go with you; it'll provide a reference. Also, the credits from the sales can temporarily go on my ID."
Zhen Zi raised her hand, "I'm going too!"
Emma! It's been so long since I've strolled the streets; I can't miss this chance.
With company around, Olande fell silent.
Liu Peiqi sympathetically glanced at him, wondering if he knew the shopping prowess of Huaxia women, especially when buying clothes for several people at once...
Tang Xuhai glanced at Fu Shiwu, satisfied with his choice.
Since that day's astonishing glimpse in the lake, Tang Xuhai had been a bit overly curious about Fu Shiwu. He'd occasionally glance at him, observing if that phenomenon would occur again.
Now, just a look from Tang Xuhai to Fu Shiwu conveyed understanding.
Even though Fu Shiwu had just glanced without saying a word, Tang Xuhai understood his desire to go to the academy.
Truly a good brother, with an unspoken understanding.
They took off in a small van; Liu Peiqi stayed to guard the house. Olande and two girls drove another car, leaving Tang Xuhai and Fu Shiwu with the remaining sedan.
Modified cars and freight trucks aren't suitable for the streets.
Tang Xuhai said, "Once I get familiar with this area, I'll see if I can find a way to get an armored vehicle."
Fu Shiwu looked surprised, "You can get an armored vehicle?"
"Yeah," Tang Xuhai said nonchalantly, "With the military's casualties and limited resources, they're encouraging private militias. I don't need a perfect one; I can repair a scrapped vehicle with my metal ability. The crucial part is the tires; they're bulletproof and fire-resistant."
The economic system is collapsing, and sustaining a large military force will soon become unsustainable. Military districts are scrambling to raise funds, even acquiring scrapped armored vehicles from logistics departments is feasible.
"Are you... going back to the army?" Fu Shiwu asked after a moment of silence.
"No," Tang Xuhai said. "Maybe you don't know, but I used to be in the Special Forces. I performed special missions. Large-scale frontal combat isn't suitable for me; I think smaller militias suit my current abilities better."
Tang Xuhai had considered returning to the army but to his previous Special Forces unit, not the regular troops.
The current situation, with the confrontation between aliens and regular armies, was too costly.
Due to the unique nature of the Sky Curtain, armies worldwide became exceptionally cautious, lacking any strategic depth. Forget about planes or missiles; wherever there were people, there were aliens. Bomb the aliens or the people? With aliens increasing and armies dwindling, countries were afraid to employ strategies resulting in substantial losses.
It wasn't like the usual confrontational battles where you occupy a piece of land, providing some respite.
Aliens didn't need that. Previously gathering into tribes even briefly excited the military, but before they could mobilize aircraft and artillery, the advanced aliens began assaulting survival bases. Many major cities, including Beijing, were besieged by hordes of aliens.
These advanced aliens were surprisingly cunning, understanding the importance of striking down major cities first.
Most aircraft had been mobilized there; losing Beijing was absolutely unacceptable.
Peicheng, being distant from Beijing, remained relatively safe. However, according to the latest satellite images, it might not stay that way for long.
"Do you think there's something up with Olande...?" Tang Xuhai paused, then halted, unsure how to phrase his question.
"What's up with Olande?" Fu Shiwu turned to look at him.
Why does Olande keep seeking you out? And his attitude seems a bit odd. Tang Xuhai pondered.
He could ignore it by the lakeside before, but today, with so many people at the table, why did Olande only approach Fu Shiwu?
Liu Peiqi was free too, plus himself, and two ladies who were clearly avid shoppers.
Tang Xuhai didn't want to stop others from getting acquainted with Fu Shiwu, but maintaining Fu Shiwu's crucial image was his duty. If people found out about Fu Shiwu's stark contrast in behavior, it wouldn't bode well for Tang Xuhai's future public image.
Wen Zhaoming and Miao Jia were okay, but if Olande got too familiar with Fu Shiwu... imagining their friendly interactions made Tang Xuhai uncomfortable. It would tarnish Fu Shiwu's reputation.
Of course, he never thought that his daily routine with Fu Shiwu could have any adverse effects. That's different. He and Olande were not the same.
"Nothing," Tang Xuhai swallowed his words. Even if he told Fu Shiwu, he wouldn't understand. This responsibility was better left to him.
The distance from Dong Development Zone to the New City District wasn't far, and with hardly any traffic, they reached the academy quickly.
The academy used to be a disease control center in Peicheng. Later, with widespread outbreaks, it gathered the province's biomedical experts. After decrypting the Source Molecule, instead of disbanding, it expanded and became the Peicheng Science Academy, covering various post-apocalyptic scientific branches.
The academy occupied vast grounds, not just for research but also for educational purposes.
Upon entering the academy's gate, a notice indicated an ongoing report on aliens in the multi-functional auditorium.
Seeing this, Fu Shiwu and Tang Xuhai immediately dropped their plans, heading towards the auditorium.
By the time they arrived, the presentation had already begun.
Fu Shiwu and Tang Xuhai quietly slipped in through a side door and found seats.
A scientist in a white coat was on the podium, but they arrived late and didn't catch his name.
"... According to our latest research, this newly emerged type of alien is classified as a Level 3 alien. Previously, we analyzed that the ordinary Level 1 and Level 2 aliens were born from the mutation of animals and plants. However, Level 3 aliens differ significantly. They aren't derived from a single organism but rather from various organisms under a controlled mutation process."
Fu Shiwu furrowed his brows slightly; the presentation seemed to make sense.
He had once read about Level 1 and Level 2 aliens on the internet. Level 1 aliens were mutated animals and plants. Level 2 aliens were intelligent beings, more powerful and diverse than Level 1, but they weren't the main threat.
The appearance of Level 3 aliens was the real game-changer.
The researcher continued, "The Level 3 alien's primary mutation source isn't from Earth's organisms but extraterrestrial. Our data shows their capabilities extend to mimicking abilities from organisms they've encountered, gaining powerful abilities in the process."
Fu Shiwu's eyes widened as he exchanged glances with Tang Xuhai. Mimicking abilities from encountered organisms sounded too similar to what he and others could do.
The researcher displayed some videos recorded by survivors.
"Please pay attention to this footage."
The video showed a humanoid creature surrounded by a dozen other aliens, each exhibiting distinct abilities—some spitting fire, others emitting corrosive substances. The humanoid figure seemed to absorb the abilities of those attacking it.
"We have named this type 'Mimic.'"
The auditorium buzzed with discussions and questions.
Tang Xuhai whispered to Fu Shiwu, "Looks like we've got a new player on the field."
Fu Shiwu nodded gravely. The existence of Mimic aliens signaled a significant change in the ongoing survival battle against extraterrestrial threats.
This brought about more urgency in the pursuit of knowledge and abilities for their survival.
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