Apocalypse: Hero of Potato Fields-Chapter 379 - 364: Evolution Horse

Sure, here’s the translation:

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On the outskirts of Düsseldorf, a long convoy was heading toward the city...

"Are there really people there, brother? And will they take us in?"

"Of course, why would those people lie to us?"

The bus was crowded, bumping along with many people standing.

Two tall and skinny teenagers sat in the middle, curiously gazing out the window.

They had recently visited the hospital, just returning from picking up medicine for their sick mother.

Surviving had been pure luck; someone activated zombie bait and wiped out all the zombies in the city.

This allowed the kids not only to procure medicine for their mother but also for many others, and they even found some food!

Shortly after, someone from their camp discovered a tall pole, with a laminated paper attached to it, at the train station.

According to the notice, there was a survivor camp in Düsseldorf welcoming refugees.

The camp residents hesitated a bit, but not for long.

After scavenging essentials, food, and weapons from the city, three thousand five hundred survivors set out for Düsseldorf.

The notice they found at the station even included a map of the safe route.

"Mom! I can see the city already!" a little girl shouted.

She kneeled on her seat, staring at the woman in front.

"Mom’s sleeping."

"Let her rest, Shoma. She needs to sleep more to get well," her brother smiled and said.

"Okay!" the girl replied, plopping back onto her seat.

She looked at the city and smiled.

She wasn’t the only one excited; even the adults couldn’t believe their eyes.

They had been living like mice, afraid to leave the camp, with people dying every day, mostly from hunger and disease rather than zombie bites.

And now they had hope! Real hope!

A city where people don’t have to hide inside all day! A city that can light up at night!

A few minutes later, the convoy was stopped by a patrol team. Fortunately for the refugees, the city leaders agreed to take them in.

Rein and Leia had recently been expanding production, recruiting more soldiers, clearing more areas, and doing everything to develop their city.

Lin Yi had truly inspired them.

If they just hid behind the walls, the only thing they could hope for was Earth’s destruction...

~~~~~~

Lin Yi sat in the office at the castle, listening to everyone’s reports, including those from Chen Youyou and Immanuel.

"In short, the total cost of our battle was nearly 1.5 million Coins. You can see more detailed accounts in my documents," Immanuel summarized, then sat down.

"Those Americans were right, using shells is like throwing money away... How much did we make from today’s trade with Tilian?"

"We earned 10 million from Rast alone, and an additional 1.2 million from charging the Energy Core, selling equipment, and providing logistical services," Immanuel replied.

"Not bad, but Rast’s warehouse is soon going to be full, right?"

"Correct. They’re going to make two more purchases, then they won’t need fuel for a long time."

"Got it. And what about the Americans and the anti-aircraft guns?"

"All maritime routes are blocked by mutant sea creatures, including the La Manche area and the North Sea. The Irish Sea has some troubles too."

"Understood, but at least they now have the ’Lightning’ skill. It will make things easier for them; sell them one hundred bottles of Stat Reset Potion."

"They’re out of Coins," Immanuel replied awkwardly.

"They can owe us or give us some military equipment, anti-aircraft guns, cannons, tanks, even second-rate firearms will do."

"Okay."

"Solomon," Lin Yi suddenly turned to the Shelter’s security chief.

Solomon looked tired; he had used his third eye to shoot beams and take down flying Chimera, consuming a lot of Magic Value.

However, his wife forbade him from going to the recovery center, even just for a "quick sauna."

"I’m here, boss!" Despite exhaustion, Solomon responded energetically.

"How long will you spend on our... space mall? Haha."

"I’m not sure... There are many things to consider: security issues, the size of the building, capacity, storage... such things."

"Alright, how’s the situation with the refugees?"

"They’re doing well; we’ve arranged accommodation for everyone and registered them. We’re now providing medical services.

The evacuation to the castle went quite smoothly, and now everyone’s back home. Farm work is a bit behind, so some have to work overtime."

"Any military volunteers?"

"A few volunteers, two people who used to lead scavenger teams, said their members want to join the military. They have ninety people, all with system skills.

Refugees are still considering; I’ve given them two days to choose a job, anyone undecided will go to farm work."

"Understood, those two red-haired girls I mentioned to you could be your new assistants, they’ll do very well."

"You mean the Riggs sisters?"

"Riggs?" the boss asked.

"That’s the surname of the twin sisters."

"I didn’t even ask them their names, but they certainly caught my attention."

"Okay," Chen Youyou nodded.

The meeting ended quickly.

Lin Yi returned home and spent the evening lying in bed reading, though Natasha interrupted him once to tell him the new orphanage was completed.

The orphanage cost 45,000 Coins, designed to accommodate 500 children under 18.

Like all children in the Shelter, these orphans would attend school or daycare depending on their age.

~~~~~~

Space-time.

Lord Mizar Altus’s Ark.

Underground catacombs.

"Mizar! We’ve lost 600 brothers! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

A young vampire wearing a blue cloak, with a face flushed blue, shouted.

"That’s right, Mizar! How do you explain your failure?!" The young vampire next to him echoed.

"Mekar, Valderus... first, allow me to point out that it was you who did not complete the mission." An old vampire in a red cloak retorted.

Mizar sat calmly, eyes closed, contemplating something.

"What are you talking about?! We kept the defenders on the walls busy for long enough!"

"Your task was to kill the dragon and defeat the enemy mage, but you returned in utter defeat! How dare you blame Lord Mizar!"

The old vampire pointed at Mekar and his follower.

"You two retreated even before flying magicians had lost half of their force! You weren’t fighting at all; you were just stalling for time!"

"Valatar! Their mage was too powerful, we couldn’t even get close! And that crazy woman made of darkness... she was terrifying!"

"A woman scared you, did she?"

The old vampire mumbled, shaking his head, ashamed to be of the same race as these fools.

"I’m telling you, she’s made of darkness! She effortlessly passed through our barriers to attack our mages from behind!

She could create some kind of black dome, turning both mages and Chimera into ice pillars! And there was an archer whose arrows caused extremely powerful explosions!"

"Nonsense!" The old vampire slammed the table with his fist, "Even if what you say is true, it only brings disgrace to you and your family!"

"Now is not the time for blaming each other, we need to decide what to do next." Mizar opened his eyes and said to everyone.

"We underestimated the enemy and rushed into battle. As we know, by the time we arrived, they had already successfully repelled the devouring monster of the Ark and were preparing to attack it."

"So, in your opinion, they are stronger than us and that entire island combined?!" Asked a blond young vampire.

"Combined? Far from it... but they successfully separated us." The Ark Lord calmly said.

"What should we do then?"

"Wait for reinforcements! Lord Balut is already on the way, and others will soon arrive."

"Before they get here, the humans will kill us all!" Mekar objected.

"Attacking is different from defending! If they attack us, they won’t have those high walls to hide behind." The blond youth replied.

"That’s true..." The young follower Valderus muttered.

"Do you have a plan, Lord Mizar?" The blond youth asked the ancient vampire.

"Yes." Artus revealed a sinister smile.

"We will leave as few slaves as possible and use the remaining slaves to create the strongest Chimera our resources will allow.

If we lose, the enemy will take all our treasures anyway, so we might as well make good use of them, hehe."

"But... that would make us beggars, and utterly defenseless..." Mekar mumbled.

"At least we’ll still be alive." The old vampire in the red cloak chuckled dryly.

"If everyone agrees, then let’s proceed..."

~~~~~~

September 28th, Central Clearing, early morning.

Breakfast time.

It was quiet during breakfast. No one had slept well, and the fatigue from the previous day had not yet faded.

Da Chuan and Mira were absent.

The Silver Dragon was severely injured, recovering in its nest, with Da Chuan taking care of her, despite being beaten himself.

Rein wasn’t in great shape either; she exhausted all her Magic Value in the last battle and then fainted.

If Lin Yi hadn’t saved her, she would have been killed.

The Weapon Smiths worked overnight to repair the damaged equipment, so Sylvie hurriedly ate and staggered home to sleep.

Unlike others, Annie was as energetic as usual, with no rewards to hand out, so she had little work to do.

"I have something for you to do, Rein."

"Hmm? Me? Alright!" Rein took a moment to realize what was happening.

Her heart began to race, and vivid images flashed through her mind.

But as always, reality was disappointing.

After everyone else left, Lin Yi conjured up a heap of Energy Cores and ordered Rein to summon her horse from the shadow.

"Res... respected master..." The stallion could only say this, otherwise punishment awaited him.

At the thought of being punished by this cruel tyrant, his tail and mane began to emit a dark aura.

He still remembered the fear in the eyes of the twelfth follower...

"Do you have something to say?"

Lin Yi fixed a fierce gaze on the stallion, and the stallion’s ears drooped in fear.

"I don’t understand..."

"Your mistress ran out of Magic Value yesterday! You didn’t even notice! If I hadn’t saved her, you’d all be dead!"

"He really cares about me!" Rein thought as she blushed, her breath quickening.

"I was wrong. Please forgive me! Once I evolve, I’ll become stronger, and it won’t happen again!"

"It better not. Now eat and evolve."

"Alright! Thank you!" The stallion charged toward the pile of Energy Cores, greedily chewing and swallowing them.

He gulped down the Energy Cores so quickly that he nearly choked a few times.

Two minutes later.

The black stallion neighed in satisfaction and then transformed into darkness, melting into Rein’s shadow.

"How is it?" Lin Yi’s sharp gaze pulled Rein back from her fantasies.

"Hmm? Marty has evolved. He now has a magic power source I can use, and my Magic Value has increased by 50%." Rein read out the prompt.

"What’s the capacity of the magic power source?"

"300 points of Magic Value!"

"Not bad, seems those Energy Cores weren’t wasted after all."