190: Chapter 190 The First Batch of People Boarded the Ship! The Morale of the City-State Was Shattered

At 6:55 AM, Lu Chen stood at the main entrance of the first floor.

The heavy airtight door slid open to both sides, and the lethal cold of minus forty degrees was held a hundred meters away by the Dispersal Generator with a two-hundred-meter radius.

Outside the door, a large patch of moist soil in the Snow-Free Zone was revealed.

Zhao Tiezhu stood guard by the entrance, followed by eight soldiers, split into two groups of four on either side.

"City Lord, the Relocation Team is on its way. Lin Xiao just sent a communication; the first batch is five hundred and twenty people, plus twelve leaders, totaling five hundred and thirty-two people."

"Formation status?" Lu Chen asked.

"Four columns, with City-State Patrolmen guarding the front and rear. The walking distance is about a hundred and fifty meters."

Lu Chen looked out the door.

The massive wreckage of the Black Rock City-State stood a hundred meters away.

The signs of collapse on the front wall were striking in the grayish-white morning light.

Figures began to pour out from a temporary entrance carved into the side of The City-State.

The queue was disorganized.

Some carried bundles on their backs, some held bedding, some supported the elderly, and some led children by the hand.

"Zhao Tiezhu."

"Here."

"After they enter, have them gather in the first-floor Storage Area. Chen Li has set up three folding tables there for name and ID registration. Once registered, they should head to the Residential Area. For those who can't wait for the Registration Terminals, arrange for them to sleep on the floor first and register once a terminal becomes available."

"Alright."

"Any medical cases?"

"Lin Xiao said there are three elderly people with mobility issues in this batch who need help getting up to the second floor."

"Assign two people specifically for this; don't let the elderly fall."

"Understood."

Lu Chen watched the slowly advancing group.

It took them nearly ten minutes to cover the hundred-and-fifty-meter distance.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a heavy fur coat; his footsteps faltered for a moment after entering the Snow-Free Zone.

He looked down at the moist soil beneath his feet and then up at the outer wall of the Polaris.

The 206-meter-long steel behemoth stretched out horizontally along the edge of the Snow-Free Zone.

The Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems at the four corners of the walls were on standby in the morning light.

The Dome Greenhouse on the roof emitted warm-toned light simulating sunlight.

The middle-aged man stood frozen in a daze until the person behind him bumped into his back.

"Keep moving, don't just stand there," the person behind him urged.

Only then did the middle-aged man start walking again toward the main entrance.

As he passed by Lu Chen, he stopped.

"Are you the City Lord?"

"Go inside and register," Zhao Tiezhu spoke up from the side.

The middle-aged man was pushed inside by the flow of people.

It took twenty-five minutes for the five hundred and thirty-two people to enter the Polaris.

Zhao Tiezhu finished counting the people at the entrance and pressed his communicator.

"City Lord, all five hundred and thirty-two people have entered the first floor. No one is missing."

"What about the supplies?"

"Mostly personal luggage, with some bedding and winter clothes. Lin Xiao said the transport of supplies starts tomorrow; today is just for moving people."

"Good."

Lu Chen turned and walked toward the elevator.

"Zhao Tiezhu, keep an eye on the registration in the Storage Area. Once registered, direct them to the Residential Area according to their ID numbers. Prioritize the elderly and those with children for the empty beds."

"Alright."

"One more thing."

Zhao Tiezhu looked at him.

"Han Zhengqing's Storage Area partition project starts today; the housing for your three hundred men depends on it. You'll run into Han Zhengqing's people in the Storage Area, so coordinate well and don't get in each other's way."

"I'll go have a word with Chief Engineer Han."

"Go ahead."

The elevator doors closed.

Lu Chen returned to the Cockpit, took his seat in the pilot's chair, and pressed the communicator.

"City Lord Lin Xiao."

Three seconds later, Lin Xiao's voice came through.

"Have they arrived?"

"All five hundred and thirty-two people have entered."

"Good." Lin Xiao's voice was raspy, carrying the grogginess of someone who had just woken up. "The first batch went smoothly. I'll increase the second batch to six hundred tomorrow."

"Can the logistics keep up?"

"They can. I've arranged the leaders. Luggage is packed uniformly, not in loose pieces. No stops on the way."

"There were three elderly people with mobility issues; I've already arranged for people to help them."

"There will be more in the later batches. I'll send the list to Zhao Tiezhu in advance."

"Alright."

"Lu Chen."

"Speak."

"The atmosphere inside The City-State has changed."

"How so?"

"After the news of the noodle distribution spread yesterday, twice as many people as I estimated lined up for relocation this morning. Some weren't even on today's list but came to line up anyway. I told them to wait until tomorrow."

"Wanting to move here is a good thing."

"A good thing," Lin Xiao paused for a moment, "but it also means The City-State's unity has crumbled. They no longer believe The City-State can hold out much longer; they only believe in your ship."

Lu Chen didn't respond.

"The second batch at seven tomorrow."

"Alright."

The communicator disconnected.

Lu Chen wrote a line in his logbook.

Day 60. The first relocation batch of 532 people has arrived. Tomorrow, the second batch will be 600. At this rate, combined with the 750 to 800 people registered daily at the three terminals, most of the relocation can be completed within twelve to fifteen days. However, the registration speed is the bottleneck. Those who move in first will not have shield protection.

He put down his pen and looked at the signal log column on the panel.

Four dark red records.

No fifth entry.

The clock showed 7:28.