280: Chapter 280 The Current Official Situation: Food Crisis!

Night falls, and lights are lit.

In the old world, this description would be unremarkable, but in today's Apocalypse, it is enough to make any survivor weep with gratitude.

But tonight, Lin Yuan Shelter is not only lit, but ablaze with light.

In the central square of the base, a grand "Harvest Banquet" is underway.

It is to celebrate the harvest of the first batch of psionic crops and the return of the Lord of the Shelter.

Su Yuyan made a grand gesture, approving tonight's "Carnival Privilege" — unlimited Mutated Beast meat, all-you-can-eat psionic rice, and even long-lost fruit wine.

Thirty thousand female survivors are entering in three batches.

But even so, the square is bustling with noise, filled with delicate beauty and the fragrance of perfume.

Looking around, it is like a real-life version of the Kingdom of Women, with the air permeated by intoxicating pheromones.

As the only "King" of this Kingdom of Women, Lin Yuan is currently sitting on the main platform at the highest point of the square, with all kinds of exquisite delicacies laid out before him.

"Brother Lin Yuan, try this! I specifically asked the kitchen to save this flame steak. It's medium-rare and super tender!" Ye Qingyue approached with an exquisite plate.

Her bright, lively eyes curved into crescent moons.

She is wearing a pale pink dress today, looking exceptionally fresh and cute in this gathering of beauties.

"Qingyue, did you get that for the boss? I think you just wanted to eat it yourself, right?" Su Yuyan, sitting on the other side, took an elegant sip of red wine and mercilessly exposed her.

"I just saw someone sneakily eat two pieces already. Aren't you afraid of getting a stomach ache?"

"No way!" Ye Qingyue's pretty face flushed, and she retorted righteously, "I was helping Brother Lin Yuan test for poison! Yes, test for poison! What if this steak is too hot?"

"So you used your mouth to test the temperature?" Her older sister, Ye Qingxue, helplessly held her forehead. "Qingyue, mind your image."

"Pfft." Chen Hanyue, who has always maintained the persona of a cold queen, couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.

Compared to the cold, dead Hanyue Shelter of the past, she is increasingly fond of the relaxed, even somewhat noisy atmosphere here.

This is what it means to be alive, not just surviving.

Lin Yuan looked at this heartwarming scene, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He reached out and took the plate from Ye Qingyue's hand, cutting off a small piece of steak to put in his mouth.

"Hmm, the taste is not bad." Lin Yuan nodded, casually pushing the remaining large piece toward Ye Qingyue.

"Since it was to test for poison, then our school beauty Ye can handle the rest."

"Wow! Brother Lin Yuan is the best!" Ye Qingyue cheered instantly.

She sat down and began to devour it without any regard for her image; there was no trace of the reserved school beauty left.

"Eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you." Lin Yuan shook his head helplessly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

In the square, the Female Warriors had shed their usual cold armor and changed into casual clothes. They were in small groups, sitting around bonfires, eating meat and drinking wine heartily.

The air was filled with the aroma of food and a long-lost scent called "Hope."

"Everyone's physical constitution is improving." Xia Muqing, who has been responsible for data monitoring, pushed up her glasses, her eyes flashing with the unique excited light of a scientific fanatic.

"Boss, the effect of this batch of psionic rice is even better than expected. I just monitored the data of fifty ordinary survivors through their wristbands. After eating a bowl of rice, their cellular activity increased by an average of 15%, and their fatigue was reset to zero."

"Even..." Xia Muqing lowered her voice, "A few girls who originally had weaker constitutions show signs of awakening a Superpower."

"Really?" A sharp light flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

"Data doesn't lie," Xia Muqing said confidently.

"If consumed long-term, the physical constitution of everyone in our base will reach the level of special forces from the old era. This is simply an assembly line for mass-producing strong individuals."

Lin Yuan nodded with satisfaction: "It seems that building this underground ecosystem was the right choice."

Just then, a burst of exclamation suddenly erupted from the corner of the square.

"Awakened! Someone has awakened a wood-type Superpower!"

A girl who was originally just responsible for cleaning saw the chopsticks in her hand actually take root and sprout, growing tender green branches.

The crowd instantly boiled over.

Everyone's gaze toward the rice in their hands changed; that wasn't just rice, that was clearly a ticket to becoming strong!

For a moment, the sound of frantic "eating" rang out across the square.

"This is the Apocalypse..." Lin Yuan sighed, "A bowl of rice can make people go crazy."

"Because this isn't just rice, it's life." Luo Qinghan, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly spoke.

She was wearing a simple, elegant white long dress tonight, holding little Qi who was still gnawing on a chicken leg. She looked exceptionally soft, like a goddess under the moon.

"In the past... in my memory," Luo Qinghan paused and corrected herself, "In the late stages of the Apocalypse, brothers would stab each other for half a moldy steamed bun. But here, we can eat this god-tier food. Lin Yuan, do you know what this means?"

"It means I'm the biggest landlord in the world?" Lin Yuan joked.

"It means you are a god." Luo Qinghan looked at him seriously, her eyes reflecting Lin Yuan's face. "To them, you are a god."

Lin Yuan was slightly stunned. He smiled immediately, said nothing, and just raised his wine glass, clinking it gently with Luo Qinghan's.

Just as the atmosphere was perfect and the ambiguity was about to peak, a rush of footsteps broke the peace.

"Master! We have a situation!" A short-haired girl in a signal corps uniform ran onto the main platform, panting, holding a freshly printed document.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Lin Yuan put down his wine glass, his expression calm.

"The Authorities... an urgent telegram from The Authorities' base!" The girl caught her breath, "No, to be precise, it's an open-band broadcast on all frequencies!"

"Oh?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Read it."

The girl opened the document, her voice trembling slightly: "Notice to all survivor bases: Due to recent abnormal climate conditions, The Authorities' grain reserves have become damp and moldy, resulting in serious damage to stored grain. We are now seeking to purchase non-contaminated grain from all civilian forces and individuals at a high price. The Authorities are willing to exchange them for crystals, firearms, rare metals, and even... even human population. Price... negotiable. Repeat, this is an emergency purchase message, serious inquiries only."

As the girl's voice fell, the lively main platform instantly quieted down.

Su Yuyan, Chen Hanyue, Ye Qingxue, and other core members looked at each other, seeing shock in each other's eyes.

The Authorities are short on grain? This is a bombshell!

You have to know, although The Authorities were slow to react at the beginning of the Apocalypse, they still control the national apparatus. In everyone's impression, The Authorities should be the force least lacking in grain.

"It seems that the 'back-to-south' weather from a few days ago was more severe than we imagined." Chen Hanyue analyzed calmly.

"That kind of corrosive humidity can not only corrode metal but is devastating to stored grain."

"And The Authorities' base has a huge population, with millions of mouths waiting to be fed. Once the grain supply is cut off, the consequences will be unimaginable." Su Yuyan added, "No wonder they didn't even care about their reputation and sent out a full-frequency broadcast."

"Boss, this is an opportunity!" Ye Qingyue suddenly looked up from her plate, black pepper sauce still on her lips, her eyes shining like two big light bulbs.

"Didn't we just have a big harvest? We have so much grain we can't eat it all, why not sell it to The Authorities? We can gouge them hard!"

The women looked at Lin Yuan, waiting for his decision. In this base, Lin Yuan's will is the absolute command.

Lin Yuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took his wine glass leisurely, gently swirling the scarlet liquid inside.

He looked at the lights reflected in the glass, a playful arc curling at the corner of his mouth. That smile looked exactly like a fox that had just seen its prey fall into a trap.

Lin Yuan took a sip of red wine.

"Boss, so are we selling it?" Su Yuyan asked, "There is indeed a batch of old grain in the warehouse that needs to be processed to make room for the new rice."

"Sell, of course we're selling." Lin Yuan put down the wine glass, his fingers tapping the table lightly, "However, not now."

"Why?" Ye Qingyue was puzzled, "They are the most desperate now, the price will definitely be the highest!"

"Things that are too easy to get, no one will cherish." Luo Qinghan answered this question on Lin Yuan's behalf, her eyes filled with a hint of doting as she looked at Ye Qingyue.

"Selling now is just a transaction. Selling when they are so hungry they are about to eat dirt, that is called... salvation."

"Exactly." Lin Yuan glanced at Luo Qinghan with appreciation, "Let them hang for a few days. When that special envoy comes to beg us, that will be the real beginning of the negotiations."

"Pass the order down." Lin Yuan stood up, a heart-stopping dominance radiating from his body.

"Level 1 combat readiness is lifted, but perimeter vigilance will be strengthened. No one is allowed to leak the news of our harvest. Violators will be executed without mercy."

"Also," Lin Yuan looked at the signal soldier, "Send a reply to The Authorities, just say..."

Lin Yuan paused, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.

"Just say we are also having a hard time, and we are currently researching how to make protein bars with mutated cockroaches, and ask them if they are interested in purchasing cockroach powder."

"Pfft—" Xia Bingli, who was drinking water, spat it out, and even the usually cold Ye Qingxue couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth.

That is just too mean!

The Authorities are probably starving and seeing stars right now; hearing this reply, they might just vomit blood in anger on the spot.

Qin Ziyan was slightly stunned. She was originally from The Authorities' side. Regarding Lin Yuan's statement, she expressed understanding. Moreover, she is now Lin Yuan's woman, so naturally, she must think of Lin Yuan. She felt this analysis was very reasonable.

"Brother Lin Yuan, you are really too bad!" Ye Qingyue gave a thumbs up.

"But I like it! Hehe!"

"Alright, continue the banquet." Lin Yuan waved his hand and sat back down,

"No talk of state affairs tonight, only food."

The cheers in the square rang out again. No one knew that on this night of revelry, Lin Yuan had already set a trap.

A trap that would completely tie The Authorities' forces to his own chariot.

...

At this moment, three hundred kilometers away from Lin Yuan Shelter, The Authorities' First Refuge.

The conference room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was suffocating.

"Still no reply?" The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table had a hoarse voice, his eyes bloodshot. He is the highest official of this super base with a population of three million.

"Report, sir..." The communications officer stood up tremblingly.

"M-most forces replied that they have no surplus grain. Only... only that Lin Yuan Shelter..."

"What did they say? Aren't they known for having the most abundant supplies?" The official stood up abruptly, hope igniting in his eyes.

"Th-they said..." The communications officer swallowed, not daring to look the official in the eye, "They are researching mutated cockroach powder and asked if we want to buy it..."

"Bang!" The teacup in the official's hand smashed hard onto the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Deception goes too far!!" The roar echoed in the conference room, but everyone present knew clearly that behind this anger lay deep helplessness and despair. Because in this Apocalypse, grain is life.