Free Web NovelChapter 446: Chapter 446: Losing A Team
The return journey was far quieter than when they had left.
The two boats cut slowly through the murky floodwaters, their speed not too fast but not slow either.
No one spoke for a long time. The earlier battle still lingered in their minds and the loss of the members of their base pressed down on everyone’s thoughts.
Behind them, the massive corpse of the mutated leader had already sunk beneath the surface.
Leng Pan sat on one side of the boat, her eyes scanning the water with heightened vigilance.
Even though the immediate danger had passed, she didn’t dare to lower her guard down
After what they had just encountered, she wasn’t taking risks. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"They’re gone for now," Lu Tao said, his voice unusually subdued as he leaned slightly over the edge of the boat.
"But those things will definitely be back." Lu Hao said, sitting beside his younger brother.
No one argued with that because they all knew it was true.
The floodwaters that were seen as a source of unexpected food and salvation just a day ago, had now revealed their true nature.
They had turned into a deadly trap that hid evolving monsters that could claim lives at any moment.
Leng Pan finally spoke.
"Once we go back, pass down the order. No one can go out alone no matter how confident they are. Also, the fishing teams will add more people. Instead of five people in one team, eaçh team will have at least ten members. We can’t risk anyone again."
Assistant Yao nodded immediately.
"I’ll inform the others as soon as we return."
Lu Zhen added, his tone equally firm, "And no more treating fishing like a leisure activity. It’s a mission to eliminate those creatures now."
Lu Tao sighed lightly.
"There goes my peaceful fishing dreams..."
But no one laughed this time.
As the boats approached the building, several people were already waiting by the eighth-floor opening. Their gazes focused on the approaching boats.
Word had spread quickly about the accident involving team three.
When Leng Pan and her team climbed back inside, wet and exhausted, the crowd instinctively stepped forward.
"Commander Leng, Commander Lu... what happened?"
"Why did you take so long?"
"Did something go wrong?"
Questions overlapped with each other as everyone expressed their concern.
Leng Pan didn’t answer immediately, she was too drained to speak.
Instead, she glanced at Lu Zhen who immediately understood what she wanted.
Taking a step forward, he spoke calmly but clearly.
"The floodwaters are no longer safe."
Silence fell instantly upon hearing that statement.
"There are evolved creatures inside," he continued. "They aren’t just some mutated creatures swimming for fun. They’re organized into hunting groups and have a stronger leader among them."
A ripple of shock spread through the crowd.
"What...?"
Leng Pan could see the panic in the eyes of those present and she cut their shock short and continued to explain what Lu Zhen hadn’t finished.
"It means the water is now a battlefield, so when you go out to fish or search for supplies, be very careful. I don’t want us to lose more people." frёeωebɳovel.com
"What do you mean, Commander?" Someone from the small crowd asked.
"We lost a team today. Only one member survived by sheer luck."
The sentence landed like a hammer and the crowd froze in place for a long moment.
It was the apocalypse and death had become part of everyday life, but it still stung to lose someone you were talking and laughing with just hours earlier.
Lu Tao lowered his head slightly.
"The third team," he said quietly. "They went out earlier this morning... that was before we discovered that the mutated creatures moved in groups."
A woman’s cry broke through the silence that followed.
"My husband was in that team."
Her voice trembled violently as she wailed and fell to the ground, her eyes already turning red.
Another man staggered slightly, as if losing his balance. He was frail from the lack of proper nutrition.
"My brother... he...he went out too..."
In just moments, the whole place descended into chaos and grief.
The news about the perishing of team three spread faster than expected considering that there were floods and people couldn’t run across to other buildings so easily.
Leng Pan stood to the side watching as various people collapsed and had to be helped up by their neighbors and friends.
Her expression remained calm, but only she knew the turmoil going on inside her.
Her heart was in a lot of pain and she, like everyone else, was also grieving.
However, she couldn’t show it because now what the people in the base needed wasn’t some human leader but a pillar of support.
Someone who could hold the sail up when everything else was collapsing.
Lu Zhen seemed to read her mind as he moved to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Slowly, patting it in comfort.
It was a silent gesture, but one filled with understanding and love.
After a moment, Leng Pan raised her hand.
"Listen."
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried across the crowd.
Gradually, the sobbing quieted down and came to a stop.
"We cannot change what has already happened," she said calmly.
"But we can make sure it doesn’t happen again. This loss... take it as a warning." Her gaze swept across the survivors.
"If we continue treating this flood like an opportunity instead of a threat, more people will die."
Before today, many people had seen the flood as a blessing.
Fish meant food, and food meant survival.
It had given them hope.
But now...that illusion was shattered.
"We will set new rules," Lu Zhen continued after letting the information sink in for a moment.
"From now on, no one will leave the base alone. Also, all supply runs must be approved by high-level leaders. And most importantly, combat teams will escort any fishing or scouting missions."
Assistant Yao quickly stepped forward and offered.
"I’ll organize the teams."
Leng Pan nodded in appreciation.
Right now, any help would be of great help.
"And we will begin training specifically for water combat." She added.
That statement drew attention.
"Water combat?"
