Chapter 119: A Call for Help from a Large Shelter

That afternoon, Su Wu, immersed in the thrill of gaming, was abruptly pulled back to reality by an alert from his AI.

A problem had arisen in a large shelter managed by Zhou Xiwu, the privileged offspring of an official with whom Su Wu had previously crossed paths. Mismanagement and unfair resource distribution had led to unrest.

Workers in the generator room and repair crew revolted, killing the management staff, destroying all the main generators and backup systems, and setting the fuel storage ablaze. The ensuing explosion and fire also took out part of the security team that responded.

The revolt delivered a catastrophic blow to Zhou Xiwu's shelter. In the current environment, losing power was tantamount to a death sentence—it was only a matter of time.

"We only have a dozen small diesel generators left, providing minimal power," Zhou Xiwu pleaded in the elite chat group for affluent survivors. "The generators can't even power the central air conditioning. A new repair team is trying to fix the main generators, but they say the chances are slim."

"If anyone can send help—repair workers, generators, security personnel, anything—it could save us. Please!"

The desperation in Zhou Xiwu's message was palpable. He had cast aside his pride, shedding the veneer of a powerful and connected figure to beg for assistance.

But the elite chat group's response was indifferent. While some expressed sympathy for Zhou Xiwu's plight, none offered tangible help. Even the official representative in the group remained silent, showing no intention of aiding a shelter housing tens of thousands of people.

The vehicles capable of traversing the surface in such extreme conditions were precious assets, critical to maintaining stability and serving as last-resort escape options for their owners. Zhou Xiwu's current situation highlighted the vulnerability of even the privileged—if he had just one vehicle capable of leaving the shelter, he wouldn't be groveling now. Whether to procure generators or to flee, he would have had options.

To expect the wealthy members of the group to risk their irreplaceable resources for a mere acquaintance? That was out of the question. Not even close family would merit such sacrifice.

"This is serious," Su Wu privately messaged Ye Luoshuang, the group's official representative, "Why isn't the government stepping in?"

"We can't afford to," Ye Luoshuang replied bluntly. "We have just over twenty modified rescue vehicles that can operate on the surface for limited durations. Deploying more than three at a time requires the Director-General's direct approval."

"Besides, some in leadership believe this is a good opportunity to teach these large shelters a lesson."

She laid bare the grim reality. Letting a shelter with tens of thousands of residents spiral into chaos might have once been unthinkable. Now, just two months into the apocalypse, it was merely another statistic—debatable and dismissible.

This indifference highlighted deeper fractures. Official shelters, once pillars of coordination and stability, had become more isolated and self-serving.

In places like Jianghe City, local officials were no longer simply administrators—they were becoming rulers.

This shift carried both opportunities and dangers. For someone like Su Wu, strength could make him untouchable, even after clashing with these emerging rulers. With the right maneuvers, he could even claim a place among them.

But such a transformation would take time and cost lives—sacrifices made in the name of evolving authority and control.

Understanding the government's stance, Su Wu found himself contemplating a rescue mission. Zhou Xiwu was undoubtedly a tyrant. The fact that his workers had chosen self-destruction over subjugation spoke volumes.

But the suffering of thousands under his rule wasn't their fault. They were humans, not disposable numbers in a political game. Their right to survive should not be denied.

"I can help," Su Wu wrote in the chat group. "I don't have supplies, but my engineering robots should be able to repair most of your generators."

Zhou Xiwu hadn't even had a chance to reply when another shelter leader chimed in.

"If Su Wu is willing to help, that's a game-changer. His rescue team's performance during the earthquake was top-notch—probably the best in Jianghe City."

The praise, while perhaps exaggerated, was not entirely without merit. Su Wu's engineering and construction robots were indeed highly efficient, outperforming even government-led rescue efforts.

"That's amazing!" Zhou Xiwu exclaimed, clinging to this lifeline. "If I make it through this, I'll ensure you're well rewarded."

"I don't want a reward," Su Wu replied calmly. "What I want is your shelter's trade rights."

"From now on, any external purchases your shelter needs must go through me. Additionally, your residents must be allowed to buy goods from me freely, without interference from your administration."

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