BXBX NOVEL Chapter 74: Hunter_l
The soldier suggested that Wang Tao get a permanent identity, saying it would make things much more convenient for him.
Then he also suggested that after getting his identity, Wang Tao could apply for a job as a base guard or a hunter, remarking that both jobs were very good.
“…I get the idea of a base guard, but what is a hunter?’1
Wang Tao was curious.
“A hunter is usually understood as someone who goes out hunting, right? Our base’s hunters mean the same thing—they are the ones who go out to find resources. Hunters hold a high status in our base, and they are treated well,” the soldier explained, as Han Rui also pricked up her ears to listen.
After listening to the explanation, Wang Tao roughly understood.
Within Suzaku University Survivor Base, those who dared to go out and look for materials were treated very generously by the base, and the survivors respected them greatly.
And the base wouldn’t force anyone to hand over materials—it was up to you. However, the base had created a contribution system, where handing over materials could earn you contribution points, which could be exchanged for many things, including food and weapons.
Of course, there are various types of hunters, some of whom sign contracts with the base. For example, promising to bring back a certain amount of materials to the base every week, in return, the base would provide you with the best welfare and treatment.
In any case, the system was very flexible, it all depended on your own choice.
To be honest, it sounded quite good to Wang Tao.
“Thanks!”
Wang Tao expressed his gratitude.
“Hey, we’re all survivors, helping each other is the right thing to do.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the base’s inner gate opened, Wang Tao called to Han Rui to get into the car, and then waved goodbye to everyone.
The first thing that came into view upon entering Suzaku University were the hand-painted slogans on both sides of the road.
On the left was written, “The end of the world is not scary, zombies fear fire and headshots!”
On the right was written, “Many hands make light work, united we create the future!”
The ground was also spray-painted with slogans like, “Unity and love, mutual help,” and “United we stand, to overcome all difficulties!”
If he had seen these slogans before the apocalypse, Wang Tao would have found them tacky. But now, he felt an inexplicable sense of kinship.
It wasn’t just him, Han Rui next to him felt the same way. Looking at everything, Han Rui felt as if the air had become much fresher.
Suzaku University had completely changed compared to what Wang Tao remembered.
The university used to have a lot of ornamental plants, lawns, sculptures, and the like. They were impractical but did look nice.
Now, those obstructive things had almost all been removed, and replaced with large sheds made of color steel plates.
Inside the sheds, some people were refitting vehicles; others were setting up stalls; some were sharpening tools…
Bloodstains, burn marks, and bullet holes were all over the campus grounds and walls… It seemed that establishing the base hadn’t been easy.
Buzz-
Wang Tao’s car instantly attracted the attention of the people inside the sheds.
They were often here and recognized at a glance that Wang Tao was new, and looked at him curiously.
Especially seeing Wang Tao’s modified electric car, many of them showed looks of envy.
“I’m going to the administrative building. How about you?”
Wang Tao looked towards Han Rui, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“I’m going too. Trouble you to take me there.”
“Alright.”
Wang Tao had been here before, and with the direction signs around, he quickly found the administrative building.
It was a three-story structure, with a few survivors going in and out occasionally.
Wang Tao parked the car and entered with Han Rui.
In the lobby on the first floor, a slightly overweight middle-aged woman was surrounded by several emaciated people.
The middle-aged woman was writing on a piece of paper and working on a laptop by her side.
Wang Tao, being tall, easily squeezed in, and Han Rui quickly followed behind him. Although she disliked cutting in line in the past, at this time, niceties were of little concern.
“Hello, new survivor. Are you applying for a temporary or permanent residency?”
The middle-aged woman had naturally noticed Wang Tao and his companion, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.
Wang Tao asked,
“What’s the difference between temporary and permanent residency, and what are the requirements?”
“Temporary residents do not enjoy the various benefits of our base, nor do they accumulate Contribution Points. Permanent residents, on the other hand, can enjoy all sorts of benefits and accumulate Contribution Points…”
The middle-aged woman handed Wang Tao a piece of paper.
On the paper were listed the various advantages of permanent residency at Suzaku University Base.
Skipping over the trivial benefits, the important thing was that permanent residents could enjoy the protection of the base, accumulate Contribution Points, and be allocated work and housing for free.
As for food, those who work could get Ration Tickets—this old-fashioned thing had made a comeback. As long as you work hard, you could receive one or two Ration Tickets a day. Though the food you could get with a single Ration Ticket might not be filling, it was enough to keep you from starving.
“As for the conditions, there are none for temporary residency; just register with me directly. For permanent residency, there are two options, and you can choose one of them. The first is to exchange too Contribution Points or submit items worth too Contribution Points; the second is to work unpaid for a week— of course, we provide basic living security.”
These two conditions were quite interesting.
For most ordinary survivors who were new, they would not have any Contribution Points, and they likely wouldn’t have anything valuable on them either.
Therefore, if these people wanted to obtain permanent residency, they had no choice but to opt for the second condition.
The second condition was much simpler compared to the first; although it meant working for free for a week, the base would provide the minimum sustenance every day during this time.
Moreover, during this week, the base wouldn’t have survivors do any particularly hazardous tasks. Mainly, it involved safe work such as construction, digging, and transporting. If you were lucky, you might even get to do something like standing guard or reception.
Wang Tao felt that this wasn’t so much the base trying to exploit a week’s worth of labor for free because, from his own experience recently, most survivors were living in hardship. As long as you could provide them with food and safety, working was not an issue at all.
Wang Tao leaned more towards the idea that the week was a period for the base to observe the survivors, for instance, if they found someone being sneaky or having impure intentions, the base could simply choose not to accept them.
Although it was the post-apocalyptic era, and people were important, one couldn’t let one wrong person spoil the whole batch, especially since this would affect the lives of hundreds, if not thousands.
“I’ll submit items.”
Wang Tao spoke up directly.
The middle-aged woman’s eyes lit up.
A hundred Contribution Points was not a small number, and previously, almost no one chose to submit items directly.
“All right, sir, please wait a moment.”
She then looked at Han Rui.
After giving Wang Tao a glance, Han Rui said,
“I’d also like a permanent residency, but I choose to work unpaid for a week.”
“All right, please follow me….”