Cave Refuge-Chapter 288 - 281

Unnoticed, the topic among the survivors gradually shifted, from initially discussing the dangers posed by the Bugs Clan to the Officials concealing the truth and ignoring their right to know. They demanded an explanation from the Officials.

Seeing the mood adequately stirred, with the majority of survivors united in their condemnation, the Official remained calm.

With the Official staying silent and gazing calmly at the fervently discussing survivors, the atmosphere at the scene slowly reached a stalemate. Under everyone’s scrutiny, the once vocal survivors began to lower their voices and then stopped speaking altogether.

When no one else spoke up, the Official finally said, "Tell you for what reason? To heighten your panic?

What good results could come from informing you other than making more people afraid?

We have already found the weakness of those Bugs, and if Martial Artists are present, the Bugs would not dare to appear.

If you have good memories, think back on how often the Patrol Teams have been patrolling the City Center since the disappearances began—hasn’t the frequency increased significantly?

Aside from that incident of a hundred people disappearing, have you heard of any other large-scale disappearance cases?

You might say that people occasionally still go missing, but why don’t you mention that those who vanish are the ones who refuse to follow the Officials’ instructions, insisting on leaving privately?

At this point, if they don’t care about their own lives and take risks for profit, why should we provide them with security?

All of you here have always complied with the Officials’ arrangements. You can complain about the meager benefits provided by the Officials, but think about it. Although the compensation isn’t much, the Officials have never abandoned you.

Truth be told, I know the tasks arranged by the Officials are very hard, but let’s be honest. Isn’t there no danger in the work, and as long as one works hard, although the food isn’t great, it’s enough to prevent families from starving.

We may have hidden the truth about the Bugs, but we didn’t expose you to their threat. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Including the departure from the City Center to this Refuge Center, those people complained about the conditions and chose to leave voluntarily.

But did they ever consider why the living conditions are poor here in the West City District Refuge Center? There are only a few suitable places for settlement, and isn’t it bad to accommodate more survivors?

If only a few hundred survivors lived in the Refuge Center, the conditions here would not be worse than other districts in the city. We would also like to offer each family a small villa with a courtyard, but is that realistic?

Let’s be honest and set aside those disorderly thoughts. Except for the poor accommodation, doesn’t the Refuge Center provide two meals a day and have the Patrol Team tirelessly patrolling the perimeter to ensure our safety?

What more do you want? Those who felt the conditions here were poor have left, and you are now clear about the fate that befell them.

Don’t blame us for not warning them that it’s dangerous outside. Even without the Bugs, is it safe to leave the Refuge Center?

Don’t take offense, but even before the disaster, there were so many people being treated like commodities, dismembered to sell their organs; how much more so now.

There is a saying I think fits well: living by the rules won’t present you with the chance to change your fate, but it also won’t expose you to danger—that’s what it means not to court death.

Enough, stop arguing. As long as I’m the person in charge of this Refuge Center, my stance remains the same.

If you think the conditions of the Refuge Center are unacceptable, I won’t stop you from leaving. However, once you leave and then can’t make it outside and wish to come back, you won’t enjoy the same treatment as now.

And it’s not just this Refuge Center; even if you go to others, the treatment you receive will be largely the same.

Put yourselves in their shoes: if you leave when there’s no benefit and come back when there is, such behavior won’t be welcomed anywhere."

After the Refuge Center manager finished speaking, he disregarded what the survivors might be thinking and went back to his tent.

After hearing the official’s speech and seeing him leave, the survivors quietly began to discuss with the others nearby.

This situation was not unique to their Refuge Center; many other settlements had experienced the same thing.

In fact, such occurrences were quite normal. Although the Refuge Center wasn’t too far from the City Center, compared to staying in the underground Refuge Center, life in the settlement gave many a sense of being uprooted from their homes.

The sudden departure planted a knot in many hearts. It was common for such issues to arise, especially with instigators present, but addressing them openly might actually lead to better outcomes.

In contrast, such incidents did not happen at the Moon Bay camp, because unlike the hurried departure of the ordinary survivors, those with vehicles from this camp left with supplies sufficient to secure a short-term livelihood.

As the saying goes, ’With grain in your hand, your heart does not panic.’ Coupled with their established status in the West City District, they did not experience the same fear and insecurity as the survivors in the Refuge Center.