Chapter 471 New Rules! The Journey Begins!
Doomsday Calendar Month 3, Day 25.
It rained all day, but finally stopped at two in the morning, and the thick clouds in the sky gradually disappeared.
At 6 in the morning, before dawn, many of the crew members got up early.
Although most of the villagers had prominent dark eye bags, excitement was evident on their faces.
In terms of comfort, Hope One’s cabins were not much more comfortable compared to the cave on Iron Rock Mountain.
Particularly since there were a lot of people on board now, 8 or even 10 people had to share a room, so it was not comfortable in any sense of the word.
However, when it came to a sense of security and ease, the cave could not compare to this small cabin.
Lying here, everyone no longer had to worry whether foreign races or other people with ulterior motives would attack them during the night.
Lying here, they did not need to worry about what to do the next day, much less the day after that. They were much happier.
In dormitory 135, Chen Kai opened his eyes and groggily got up from his hard bed.
He had not slept well last night. This was not because the bed was too hard, but because he was too excited to sleep until after midnight.
Looking at the time, he had had only two hours of deep sleep. After rubbing his eyes and wiping the eye discharge off on his clothes, Chen Kai looked over to one side.
He thought the others would be in the same boat, either sitting in bed confusedly or still sound asleep.
However, when he saw what was going on, his jaw dropped involuntarily.
“Yuan Zi, Big Liang, Small Liang, what on earth are you guys doing? Have you gone crazy so early in the morning?”
In the dormitory that measured 15 square meters, apart from the beds, not much s.p.a.ce remained-only two square meters of open s.p.a.ce.
Currently, in this open s.p.a.ce, three people were earnestly doing push-ups.
Next to them, the four remaining people were doing simple warm-up routines.
It was obvious that they had gotten up at least half an hour ago. “Oops, you’re awake, Brother Kai. We’ve disturbed you, sorry about that!”
Chen Kai had not yet managed to digest what was going on. “What? What are you guys doing?”
“Did you forget, Brother Kai? Oh no, that’s right, you went on patrol with the village chief yesterday and didn’t hear the orders that Leader Su issued last night.”
Looking at Chen Kai’s confused expression, Su Yuan realized that he was genuinely lost, so he hurriedly continued, “From the day we set sail until the day we arrive at the New World, everyone onboard will start undergoing militarized training for 7 days. Our instructor is…”
The big-waisted cook Ke Fu filled in, “It’s Instructor Su Deben. I heard he’s led tens of thousands of people, and that he’s super strong!”
“Oh, yes, it’s Instructor Su Deben.”
“During the week-long training session, not only are we to completely discard the wrong foundations that we built in the past due to our lack of expertise, but the training will also be a double test of our physical and mental strength.
“Furthermore, this was Instructor Su’s idea, but Leader Su gave it his tacit approval. The 15 people who are ranked highest after the training session will directly replace the management-level people that we have now. In other words, if we manage to achieve top ranking during the training session, we won’t have to engage in repet.i.tive labor in the future, unlike ordinary villagers!”
After explaining all the points about militarized training in one go and making sure he had not omitted anything, Su Yuan lifted his head.
The next second, Chen Kai, who had been sitting in bed and still looking a bit confused, became almost instantly alert.
“D*mn it, you should’ve told me earlier, but instead you guys are sneakily practicing in here!”
Even before he finished his sentence, Chen Kai quickly jumped out of bed, forcibly squeezed himself among the others, and started training.
He did push-ups one by one. His push-ups were all in perfect form. Thanks to the hards.h.i.+ps he had encountered in the Wasteland, he could already do 40 in a row.
However, since this news had galvanized him, he was in an unusually good state, and he achieved a breakthrough, going past the 50 mark.
Such a scene was not happening only in Chen Kai’s dorm room.
Although no one came out and stated it openly, everyone was in mutual compet.i.tion with one another.
At this time of the morning, before the sun was up, even the dorm rooms of the S-level talents were filled with people competing against each other in all sorts of strange ways.
Push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Pull-ups.
Meditation.
All sorts of peculiar workouts were going on.
VC
A
They trained until half-past 7 in the morning, which was the designated wake-up time in the s.h.i.+p’s rules, then came out of their dorm rooms drenched in sweat, greeting each other.
“Brother Kai, are you guys working out in your own dorm room? You’re all red in the face with thick veins in your neck, and your clothes are drenched!”
“Nah, it’s because of the heat. It was too hot last night. We couldn’t sleep, so we started training. But you guys are all drenched as well. Are you working out too?”
“Ah? No, no, we also felt hot. Hey, Brother Liu, are you exercising?”.
“Nope, we felt hot too.”
“Brother w.a.n.g, did you guys also feel hot?”
“Hahaha, exactly, exactly!”
IL11
For the sake of those 15 ranking slots, everyone onboard was frantically pressuring themselves internally. However, they did not bring up this subject out loud. They washed up according to their ranks, and then quickly went to the dining hall for a meal, arriving just on time.
During their first breakfast on board, each person had three steamed buns, an egg, a plate of appetizers, and a bowl of lean meat congee.
Of these foods, the eggs were obtained from treasure chests, so their shelf life was limited. If they could not finish them, the eggs would be wasted.
The steamed buns, on the other hand, could be exchanged for meal coupons, which could be traded among the crew or used for the next meal.
For breakfast, this meal definitely was rich in carbohydrates as well as protein and fats.
Furthermore, everyone was hungry from practice. They gobbled up their food, and the hall was filled with the sound of people sliding their bowls around.
After the meal, the “newly appointed” Chen Shen walked up and announced the first big meeting for the integrated village.
“Ahem. After the meal, line up on the main deck and get into formation. We’ll start our departureceremony soon!”
1,400 people was not sot many, yet it was not so few either.
At the very least, the main deck of Hope One could contain everyone after they got into formation.
As more and more people went up the stairs to the first floor and stood in the established formation, Su Mo also slowly walked out of the c.o.c.kpit.
Today, he was not wearing armor, not even a combat suit.
Beneath his loose-fitting tee, his firm muscles could be seen.
He also wore a pair of loose-fitting training pants that constantly fluttered in the breeze.
There was something of the remote ascetic about him, someone who had transcended the petty matters of the world.
As Su Mo walked out, the sounds of chatter below also seemed to die away, as if the words had been caught in everyone’s throats. The entire place was still, apart from the sounds of the wind blowing; even the sound of breathing was inaudible.
“Excellent. I am very pleased to see that you can show such spirit here. This means that our combat abilities have not decreased even in this distressing environment!”
Su Mo picked up the microphone. Looking down at all the people whose spirits had been completely different a month ago, he was touched for a moment.
When he was a student, he used to tremble a little when he read speeches under the gaze of thousands of students. He had felt slightly uncomfortable when everyone looked at him and wanted to hide behind the crowd.
However, in the wasteland, his mentality had completely changed!
This is my team!
‘This is my team that will help me battle the world in the future!
“This feels amazing!’
This feeling was completely different from how he felt when he looked at the cold population figures in a simulation game. He was full of excitement!
After a pause, Su Mo continued, “Previously, we divided everyone into three levels according to talent: S-level, A-level, and B-level.
“However, after thinking over it, I discovered that this was incredibly unreasonable. In the wasteland, we have to boldly overturn previous dogma!
“Therefore, in the future, especially in the next 7 days of militarized training, Instructor Su Deben will do his best to provide a level playing field for everyone to display their prowess.”
Right after he said this, a murmur of voices came from the crowd below.
Su Mo was not surprised. He gestured with his hands again. “I know that some of you have doubts about how fair this environment will be, but please rest a.s.sured.
“For those who are intelligent and good at cerebral matters, 70% of the tests you will face in this environment will be related to your mental capabilities, while the remaining 30% will test your physical strength. For those who have better physical strength, the same applies. We will calculate a figure to measure your talent level based on your weighted scores in both areas, as well as your future performance.
“Along with the new talent levels, we will also accord different treatment!”
One had to make the right decision at the right time.
After having an in-depth conversation with Su Deben the previous night, Su Mo had obtained a lot of insight into talent management.
He and Su Deben had stayed up half the night and crafted a new rating model.
The complicated calculation method would not be mentioned for now.
Su Mo focused on explaining how the people at different levels would be treated, which was everyone’s main concern.
“The first grade, S-level!”
“These talents are the most valuable a.s.set in our shelter and our strongest creative sparks. For their meals, we’ve initiated something unprecedented-a buffet!”
Wow!
After Su Mo said that, a clamor arose from the crowd despite Su Mo’s imposing aura. It was clear to see that almost everyone wore the same expression.
Shock!
Incredulity!
Envy!
Desire!
Ambition!
No one knew better what the word ‘buffet’ meant than those people who were sick of being poor and hungry.
“The buffet is only the first example of preferential treatment we offer to S-level talents.
“Starting from clothing, food, housing, and transportation, as long as you become an S-level talent, you don’t have to worry about anything. Our shelter will provide a full complement of services.
“Even your family members can enjoy half of the treatment given to S-level talents, with the highest level of protection.
“You will have the best homes, the best environment to grow up in, the best learning conditions, and training standards of the highest quality.
“However, please note that the treatment of S-level talents is not a permanent thing. We will hold an evaluation every three months. Those who are able will be promoted, and those who are mediocre will be dismissed!”
Every time Su Mo brought up a point, a cheer would come from the crowd below.
However, by the time the last sentence was spoken, namely, “Those who are able will be promoted, and those who are mediocre will be dismissed,” everyone had calmed down again, and the deck was quiet once more. “Excellent. It’s very good to see that everyone is eager for the privileges that S-level talents can enjoy.
“Of course, in addition to S-level, we’ve established the A, B, C, and D levels. The privileges enjoyed by individuals in each level will decrease following that order.”
Su Mo chose to leave the explanations about the latter levels to Chen Shen.
Once Chen Shen had finished explaining the privileges of each level, as well as the upgrade system, the excitement of everyone present had been thoroughly stirred up.
Su Mo exchanged glances with Pei Shao, Qi Qin, Shen Ke, Su Deben, and the others. Taking advantage of the villagers’ hyped-up emotions, Su Mo stepped up to the high platform. “Fate is an excuse for the weak, and luck is just a humble word for the strong!
“If the world is not at peace and the foreign races are not yet destroyed, how can we call it home!
“I officially declare the start of Hope Village’s journey right now! Our goal… “The New World!”
Wow!
The gun salutes went up once more, and the s.h.i.+p’s large anchor was pulled up!
The hitherto stationary Hope One’s engines slowly began humming, swiftly leaving Iron Rock Mountain behind.
With Su Mo’s grand rhetoric, this moment began a new chapter in mankind’s reclaiming counteroffensive, which would be recorded in the wasteland’s history by future generations.