Chapter 316: It’s Scavengers, So That’s Fine
The blazing sun scorched the exposed skin painfully, but Fried Potato with Oxalis’s back was breaking out in a cold sweat.
She was immensely grateful that when her teammate said to get in the vehicle and go, she insisted on scouting the outside situation first.
Those few vehicles were coming straight for them! She was absolutely certain.
When the opponents spotted their people walking out of the Service Area and standing by the Gate raising binoculars, they clearly hadn’t expected them to be so cautious.
She saw a fierce and menacing face.
That feeling was hard to describe; after surviving the Apocalypse for so long, often you could tell just from the eyes and expression that the other person was someone who licked blood from the blade and was accustomed to killing.
If they’d gone straight out just now, forget keeping the supplies they’d just obtained—whether they could even survive was uncertain.
Service Area maximum stay time is 24 hours.
More than 3 hours had already passed, and that group wouldn’t give up easily.
Their team didn’t dare go out, only hoping more players would arrive soon, so with more people they could go out together and have a better chance of escaping.
For those private chat messages asking her about Service Area intelligence, she told the truth, hoping later players would come sooner, while also issuing reminders for everyone to be careful outside the Service Area and to daze that group a bit.
Players who went to great lengths to stockpile scrap wouldn’t give up easily on exchanging for supplies.
The Merchant Caravan had also collected quite a bit; they had the strength to hire combat power players for protection, plus The King Called Me to Patrol the Mountain.
As long as they waited for other teams before being forced out of the Service Area, they still had a way to survive.
“Someone’s coming in,” a teammate reminded.
There was only the sound of a beep from the parking toll Gate, and a beige Vehicle drove in.
The driver was a male player with stubble, a cigarette between his fingers; the way he looked at them wasn’t like looking at people, but like looking at lambs ready for slaughter.
He was with those few people ahead, specifically coming into the Service Area to keep watch.
Realizing this, Fried Potato with Oxalis quickly withdrew her gaze, trying to act natural.
“Should’ve known not to earn that bit of reputation reward,” her teammate said in annoyance.
Reputation achievement rewards weren’t much, but the risk was high.
“Knowing there’s a Scrap Yard Service Area where you can exchange for supplies, even without public screen messages, they would still stake out; we’re not sure if it’s a Tracking Card or if someone arrived outside the Service Area early to wait.”
Fried Potato with Oxalis took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Big Shot replied to me; she said their team will arrive tomorrow, time uncertain.”
Fried Potato with Oxalis understood; the other Big Shot wouldn’t specify the exact time, since they didn’t know if she was good or bad.
Yu Jiang looked at the public screen discussion about that reminder message and wasn’t surprised.
Sharing the method to obtain supplies—normal players could see it, but robbers and bandits could too.
She still hoped the other side would stake out a bit longer; tomorrow it wouldn’t just be her team going, but several others as well.
She was just afraid of black eat black, not enough things to go around.
Thinking of this, Yu Jiang smiled and took out the Camouflage Car Cover.
At night, wearing the fully enclosed Filter Mask to grind missions, pick up scrap if you can, no big deal if not.
Including what she’d collected bit by bit today, she alone had 2000 pounds of scrap in hand, a full ton.
Pure Love Cockroach Spicy Spicy and Strawberry Candy’s Vehicles had strong loading and transport capacity; everyone put what they couldn’t fit on their vehicles, and they replenished Energy.
The Merchant Caravan also needed to rent; the two of them earned a nice sum.
Poison Rain’s first mission (99/99); as soon as the completion prompt appeared, Yu Jiang gestured for Shi Xu to head back.
The Filter Mask was not only stuffy but heavy, with limited visibility.
Even at night it was 37 degrees; wearing it for high-intensity physical activity was deadly, persisting until the missions were done was already impressive.
She really needed the other two profession-exclusive equipment; with the Poison Master’s Hood, she wouldn’t need to wear this thing.
Once back on the vehicle and removing the mask, Yu Jiang felt her waist no longer ached and her shoulders no longer hurt—this smooth breathing was pure salvation.
She had guarded the second half of last night; today it should have been Shi Xu, but considering the Service Area wasn’t peaceful, she swapped with the Merchant Caravan players.
Yu Jiang guarded the first half of the night; in the afternoon she’d been sleeping with Autopilot and Air Conditioning on, so her spirit was still good at night.
After confirming medicine stockpiles with companions from several teams, soon the temporary camp and Team Channel quieted down; everyone except those on night watch went to rest.
The next day.
Yu Jiang got up; the timed Air Conditioning had long turned off, and there wasn’t much cold air left in the RV.
She usually only turned it on again for a few hours at noon; the morning weather was still tolerable.
“Is everyone ready?” Yu Jiang asked in the Team Channel.
Hand Holding Cleaver Chopping Wire: “1.”
Han Jiang Gu Ying: “Our team is ok too.”
Yao Yao Qie Ke Nao: “Same here.”
There wouldn’t be few players going to exchange supplies today; this Parallel Road intersection Service Area might not be the only one.
Yu Jiang received Fried Potato with Oxalis’s location.
Because of her reminder, many players had already formed teams to go exchange supplies together.
If it were an ordinary robbery team, they wouldn’t dare make a move in this situation.
Only teams with lots of people and high combat power would still dare to stake out; for safety, she needed to form a group too.
This Service Area today was definitely going to be a massive brawl.
Yu Jiang’s Team was 100 km from the Service Area, deliberately controlled distance—perfect to finish the Mileage Task, over an hour without stopping midway to arrive.
Today’s temperature hadn’t risen further, but air quality was worse; surviving as humans in this environment wasn’t easy.
This time Shi Xu led the way, Strawberry Candy’s Transport Vehicle brought up the rear.
Yu Jiang and Lightning Mage King took one lane, Lightning Mage King behind; his Vehicle was small and agile, easier for emergency Change Lane and overtaking.
The Merchant Caravan’s Vehicles went in the middle of the team.
No need to explain the formation; everyone had tacit understanding.
The situation on both sides of the Road was about the same as before—still desolate, littered with Trash, stinking to high heaven.
Getting closer to the Service Area, some building ruins appeared on both sides.
These were all perfect cover, easiest spots for ambushes.
2km distance; the team slowed down again, preparing to enter the Service Area.
“Didn’t spot anything; no Wheel tracks on both sides of the Road either,” Lightning Mage King said.
Yu Jiang: “I didn’t spot anything unusual either.” Not sure if it was psychological, but the surroundings felt unusually quiet.
Maybe it was still early; they set off at 5, safety time hadn’t passed yet, and they’d smashed over a dozen Radiation Zombies flying down the road.
Small zombie hordes—no need to get out, just run them over like speed bumps.
Passing player teams overnighting on the shoulder, a flash of headlights, and they even posted on public screen:
[Holy crap, scared me to death, thought I was dreaming. Setting off before dawn—who’s this crazy, driving so Fast, smashed a Zombie flying that landed right beside me, even got me a Kill, 40 Crystal Coins! Thanks big bro big sis passing by.]
Yu Jiang’s Team arrived outside the Service Area at just 6:15, sky barely light.
Safety time just 15 minutes past; no other teams this fast, unless they stopped outside yesterday.
Lights were on in the Service Area, buildings looked pretty good—practically refreshing in the Wasteland World, exciting mood booster.
Yu Jiang parked in her usual spot and headed straight to the house in back with the scrap recycling sign.
Snow Ferret Boss opened the door with a face full of resentment.
What good person comes knocking at dawn to sell scrap?
A Scavenger? Then no problem.
She was willing to share info; bringing so many customers to the Scrap Yard, definitely a good person.
