Food Shortage

In fact, Clark had known about the food shortage for a while. Black Claw not only abducted young women from the fortress but also conveniently took away the majority of the food supplies. When Clark organized the reconstruction, he had assessed the food inventory, and it couldn't sustain the population for more than a month. During these days, he had resorted to primitive measures of reducing food for everyone, but it still wouldn't last long.

"Alliance soldiers may endure hunger without causing trouble, but if everyone is hungry, problems will arise!" Michael expressed his concerns.

"I know that, but the fortress doesn't produce food, and now the Ark is gone. We can't go out to get food. If this continues, the most miserable outcome for everyone is starving to death," Clark banged on the table, feeling frustrated.

He had already sent a message to the Alliance through Michael, explaining the situation and requesting support, but there was no response. It was as if the Alliance had completely forgotten or abandoned this fortress.

"Since we can't rely on the Alliance, we have to figure out a way ourselves!" Michael calmly said. His personality had changed a bit after a life-and-death experience. "From what I know, Charles should have hidden some supplies. I'll force him to spill the beans, but..."

"But even if we get those hidden supplies, we still need to find a way. We can't be trapped here and starve!" Clark lifted his head, looking toward the black hole above the fortress. If Black Claw could come in from there, then he could get out!

Light illuminated the dark room, revealing a man with his head lowered and curled up. The brightness made it hard for him to open his eyes.

"Captain, long time no see!" Michael walked in slowly. He had attached simple prosthetics to his legs, allowing him to walk with some difficulty, making him limp.

"Michael?" Charles recognized the newcomer and showed a hint of disdain on his face.

"I need your help with something. Where did you hide the supplies?" Michael asked slowly. "People are starving, and if you tell us, your punishment may be reduced."

"Ha ha ha!" Charles laughed maniacally. "Let those peasants starve. Now they come begging to me!"

"Michael, you're still an Alliance soldier, yet you follow the commands of an ordinary person like that. Pathetic!" Charles spat at Michael, even though he knew he couldn't reach him.

"Captain, I'm not Mad Dog. Your words don't affect me!" Michael calmly said, touching his prosthetic leg, "When you're alive, don't always think for yourself. The people you look down upon might be doing better than you!"

Having said that, Michael directly pulled out a laser gun and aimed it at Charles's head!

A laser beam shot out directly!

Charles felt a scorching sensation on his left cheek and quickly dodged to the right in fear.

"Captain, you know I'm disabled now, and my marksmanship isn't what it used to be. Next time, I might not miss." Michael said with a hint of playfulness, aiming at Charles again.

"You bastard!" Charles gritted his teeth in anger, but he knew that Michael could follow through with the kill.

"I'll talk, I'll talk!" Charles hastily shouted!

Michael successfully learned the location of the hidden supplies.

Outside the room, Clark watched everything that happened inside through a small window.

Michael came out and smiled at Clark.

"I didn't expect this guy to be so afraid of death!" Clark was a bit speechless.

"He's afraid of death, and he knows that I would dare to kill him!" Michael remained calm, giving Clark a strange feeling. Initially, Clark was cautious around him, not sure if he was good or bad. But now, he felt he could trust him, even though he continued to act ruthlessly.

Michael led a group to search for supplies, while Clark, accompanied by Sophia, went to the area beneath the black hole.

The black hole was several tens of meters above the bottom of the fortress. According to Michael, Black Claw used a machine similar to a tunneling machine, breaking through the top of the fortress. A cloud ladder descended from above, and personnel were transported using this method.

This meant that the black hole was actually a tunnel, connecting to the outside world!

But how to get up there now?

Sophia had been following Clark like a little shadow. When Clark spoke with others, she never interrupted, but now, she walked in front of Clark.

She lifted her head, forcefully sniffing the air as if searching for something.

"What are you doing?" Clark asked curiously.

"Shut up!" Sophia said with some disdain, then smiled, "There's something you're afraid of inside that black hole. What should we do? Do you want me to tell you?"

"Hey, you always talk nonsense!" Clark didn't pay much attention to Sophia. She rarely spoke, and when she did, it was usually something others couldn't understand.

"Humph, you still don't believe it? Forget it, I won't tell you!" Sophia pouted, a bit angry, and stopped speaking.

Before coming here, Clark had asked. The elevator in the fortress had been destroyed, and there was no way to lift people to that height.

Staring at the black hole, Clark thought of a solution.

He had someone bring a rope and some tools, tied them around himself, then jumped upward with all his strength. Activating his skill, he accelerated a hundredfold, becoming like a launched missile, soaring from the ground to the mid-air.

People working or walking around the fortress could see a figure with a long rope ascending from the ground, directly crossing dozens of meters in height and reaching the edge of the black hole.

Clark took the opportunity to reach out, firmly grabbing onto the edge of the black hole's stones, climbing up with force. As he speculated, the inside of the black hole wasn't vertical but rather zigzagged, with some areas being horizontal, making it feel like standing on the ground.

"As long as the passage is connected, we can get out!" Clark quickly used the tools he carried to stake down in solid places and tightly tied the rope. He had already arranged everything in advance; once he succeeded, others below would climb up using the rope, and two additional ropes would be brought up.

Soon, others came up as well. Three ropes were securely tied and released. Next, they installed wooden boards, completing a makeshift ladder!

"Perhaps, he can really provide everyone with a way out!" Michael stood on the ground, looking at this simple ladder and smiling. "Emma Kensington, your vision is better than mine!"

After setting up the ladder, the next task was to assemble an exploration team to depart from the fortress, searching for food, supplies, or other surviving individuals. At least, until now, the isolated condition of the fortress had been broken.

Possibly, even the people who designed this fortress initially wouldn't have imagined that what was meant to be a perfect refuge from disasters turned into a cage after losing the Ark. Yet, after breaking through the barriers with Black Claw's intrusion, it became unbelievably transformed into a ladder constructed by Clark, offering hope to everyone.