novelsite Chapter 3: Spatial Expansion and Initial Gathering of Personnel
Chapter 3: Spatial Expansion and Initial Gathering of Personnel
The morning after the property transaction was completed, a text message popped up on time confirming that the full payment had been received—one million four hundred thousand, not a penny less.
Lin Chen stood in the bank's VIP room, looking at his account balance. His eyes were calm, but filled with a sense of urgency. He immediately transferred funds to settle outstanding payments with suppliers of building materials, grains, oils, and medicines, and set aside 200,000 yuan in cash for future use.
Stepping out of the bank, the sunlight was blinding, and the streets remained bustling. Lin Chen, however, clearly remembered that at this time in his previous life, the leak at the chemical plant in the west of the city was already brewing, and would erupt in three days, causing hundreds of casualties and widespread panic.
In this life, he was powerless to prevent accidents, but he could prepare in advance.
Back home, Lin Chen locked the doors and windows. With a thought, he focused his mind on the folded space in his palm.
Space is a cheat that he unexpectedly awakened after his rebirth. It is about 1,000 square meters in size and 10 meters high. It can freeze time, preserve any material, and expand as his mental strength increases.
At this moment, the space was already filled with supplies: bags of rice, flour and oil, boxes of canned food and biscuits, stacks of medicine and equipment, rows of warm clothing, as well as several generators and barrels of gasoline and diesel, all neatly categorized and stacked.
Looking at the abundant supplies, Lin Chen nodded slightly, then concentrated his mind and focused his will.
hum-
The space trembled slightly, and the boundaries expanded outward, 1,200 square meters, 1,500 square meters, 2,000 square meters... until it slowly stopped at 3,000 square meters.
After a period of mental exertion, Lin Chen's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but a slight smile played on his lips. The expansion of his spatial capacity meant he could store more supplies, further enhancing his survival capabilities.
He continued to organize the space, classifying and storing the newly purchased supplies one by one, until the space was more than half full again before he stopped.
Just then, his phone rang; it was Zhao Lei.
"Lin Chen, I've got it all sorted out!" Zhao Lei's voice was excited, tinged with exhaustion, on the other end of the phone. "I quit my job, withdrew all the money, bought tactical gear, knives, and communication equipment, and contacted five reliable brothers—all veterans or honest, skilled men, absolutely trustworthy!"
A hint of approval flashed in Lin Chen's eyes: "Well done. Where are you now?"
"We've arrived at the open space outside your residential complex with our equipment, and we've also planned out the delivery routes for the building materials you mentioned!"
"I'll be right down."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Chen quickly tidied up and went downstairs to leave.
On the open ground outside the residential area, six figures stood in neat rows, each with a tall and straight posture, sharp eyes, tactical backpacks on their backs, and knives, walkie-talkies, and other equipment beside them, exuding competence and vigilance.
The leader was Zhao Lei. Upon seeing Lin Chen, he immediately stepped forward and introduced the men beside him: "Lin Chen, these are my brothers who have shared life and death with me. They are retired veterans, highly capable in combat, and of impeccable character. They are absolutely trustworthy!"
Several people stepped forward and respectfully greeted, "Brother Chen!"
Lin Chen nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. He could sense the soldierly spirit and reliable aura emanating from them. He nodded in satisfaction: "You are all on the same side. Let's skip the formalities. The apocalypse will arrive in three months. Follow me, and you'll have food and shelter to survive. Those who are willing to work together will protect Cangnan City and the people around them."
"We'll listen to Brother Chen!" the six said in unison, their voices firm.
In their previous lives, most of these people died in the chaos or from the mouths of mutated beasts at the beginning of the apocalypse. In this life, with their addition, the combat power of the city defense team has instantly increased.
"Zhao Lei, when will the building materials be delivered?" Lin Chen asked.
"The first batch of rebar, cement, and barbed wire arrived this afternoon. I've already arranged for manpower to transport them directly to the various entrances and exits to begin setting up temporary fortifications!" Zhao Lei replied. "In addition, I've contacted a security company that can rent heavy-duty cutting machines, welding machines, and cranes. They'll be there tomorrow to speed up construction!"
"Very good." Lin Chen nodded. "I have already set aside funds to ensure the construction of the fortifications. Remember, the fortifications must be sturdy enough to withstand the impact of earthquakes and attacks from early-stage zombies and mutated beasts. Focus on reinforcing highway entrances, national highway entrances, and intersections of main urban roads to form a ring-shaped blockade."
"Understood! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Zhao Lei replied in a deep voice.
After arranging the construction, Lin Chen looked at everyone and said, "Next, we will divide the work clearly: Zhao Lei will lead three people to supervise the construction, coordinate building materials, and maintain order; the remaining two will come with me to purchase more weapons, ammunition, seeds, farm tools, and breeding equipment."
In the apocalypse, it's not enough to just stockpile ready-made supplies; you also need to prepare for long-term survival—seeds must be able to grow into food, and livestock equipment must be able to raise poultry, in order to achieve self-sufficiency and survive the long catastrophe.
"yes!"
The group immediately sprang into action and went their separate ways.
Lin Chen led the two straight to the agricultural supplies market and underground weapons trading point on the outskirts of the city.
In his previous life, he accidentally learned that there was a hidden underground weapons market in Cangnan City where civilian crossbows, high-pressure air guns, controlled knives, and even a small number of modified gunpowder weapons could be bought. In the early days of the apocalypse, these were all life-saving tools.
After a long and winding journey, avoiding surveillance cameras and passing through narrow alleys, we arrived at an abandoned factory.
The factory was dark and damp, filled with the smell of rust and machine oil. A dozen stalls were lined up, displaying a dazzling array of weapons and equipment: sharp machetes, daggers, military crossbows, high-pressure air guns, stab-proof vests, helmets, and even a few pistols and bullets.
Lin Chen's sharp eyes scanned the area quickly before he found the shopkeeper and got straight to the point: "I need one hundred military machetes, fifty daggers, twenty military crossbows, five hundred crossbow bolts, ten high-pressure air rifles, five hundred rounds of ammunition, fifty sets of stab-proof vests and helmets, five pistols, and two hundred rounds of ammunition—all the best quality. I need them now. How much?"
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with a face full of scars, was taken aback upon hearing this. He looked Lin Chen up and down with a wary gaze: "Young man, what do you need so many weapons for? This is no joke!"
"You don't need to know what I'm doing, just tell me if you're selling or not, and how much." Lin Chen's tone was icy, his eyes sharp as knives. "Money is no problem, I'll pay in full cash, as long as the goods are genuine."
The shopkeeper was silent for a moment, looking at the two tall, wary henchmen behind Lin Chen, and then at Lin Chen's calm and ruthless demeanor. Knowing he was no ordinary person, he gritted his teeth and nodded: "Sell! 800,000 in total, cash transaction, cash on delivery!"
Without hesitation, Lin Chen took out 800,000 yuan in cash from his backpack and slapped it on the counter: "Count the money and deliver the goods."
The boss's eyes lit up as he looked at the stacks of brand-new cash. He immediately ordered his men to quickly count the cash and, at the same time, to move all the weapons and equipment Lin Chen wanted out of the warehouse and arrange them neatly.
Lin Chen carefully inspected the items and confirmed that they were all genuine and of excellent quality. He nodded in satisfaction and waved for the two people behind him to store all the weapons and equipment into his spatial storage.
The boss stared in shock at the large number of weapons that had vanished into thin air. His pupils contracted sharply, and he looked at Lin Chen with awe, not daring to ask a single question.
After securing the weapons, Lin Chen headed straight to the agricultural supplies market and purchased a large quantity of wheat, rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, as well as farm tools, irrigation equipment, chicken coops, pigsties, feed, and veterinary medicine—several large truckloads in total—which he then stored in his spatial storage.
By the time all this was finished, it was already evening.
As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the sky red, and the city is bathed in a warm glow, its prosperity undiminished.
Lin Chen stood on the rooftop of a high-rise building, looking down at the bustling traffic and gradually brightening lights of Cangnan City below, his eyes filled with complex yet resolute emotions.
This city holds his memories, his obsessions, and the people he wants to protect.
In his past life, this place was a living hell; in this life, he will personally transform it into a post-apocalyptic fortress, a haven of hope for countless survivors.
Behind him, Zhao Lei called, his voice filled with excitement: "Lin Chen, the first batch of building materials has all arrived, and construction has begun! The brothers are working like crazy to ensure the task is completed on time!"
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Lin Chen said calmly, "Be careful and speed up the process."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Chen took a deep breath, the evening breeze ruffling the hem of his clothes.
The space is full, the workforce is initially assembled, and construction has begun.
The defense of the city has officially entered the right track.
But he knew this was just the beginning.
Next, he will have to face the greed of human nature, hidden enemies, impending natural disasters and strange beasts, and many more unknown dangers.
But he was fearless.
He holds space in his hands, cherishes memories of his past life, and has brothers by his side to help him.
In this life, he is determined to defy fate, defend the city, protect the people, and forge an immortal legend in the apocalypse!
As night deepens, the city lights begin to illuminate the night.
The hustle and bustle of Cangnan City continues unabated. Unbeknownst to anyone, a global catastrophe is quietly approaching, while a plan to protect the city's life and death is being carried out methodically under the cover of night.