Chereads / Survival: Building a Shelter in the Fog / Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Forming an Alliance

Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Forming an Alliance

Luke: "Brother James, are you short on food?"

 

James replied, "I have prepared quite a bit, but I'm not sure if it will be enough, depending on how long the cold wave lasts."

 

Luke: "You're right. We don't know what the cold wave will be like until we experience it. We must make the most of the last bit of time to stock up on more food."

 

James was curious about what Luke meant by stocking up on food.

 

James: "What's your plan, brother?"

 

Luke quickly sent over information about two items.

 

[Name: Beast Exploration Scroll (Good)

Function: Explore beast tracks within a 20-mile radius.

Description: A hunter's artifact…]

 

James asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"

 

Luke traded the Beast Exploration Scroll to James, saying, "The beasts near my shelter have almost been hunted to extinction, and it's unlikely we'll encounter many tomorrow. But there should still be plenty of beasts near your shelter. My idea is to use the last day to help you clear the area around your shelter and stock up on some meat."

 

James was delighted but then frowned and replied, "Brother, your idea is great. But I'm far less strong than you. I'm more likely to be solved by the beasts than to solve them!"

 

"Oh, I forgot to send this to you!"

 

Luke slapped his thigh and sent over another item.

 

[Name: Ally Scroll (Excellent)

Function: Form an alliance between two parties. Allies have special privileges:

1. Small teleportation circles appear at both shelters, allowing teleportation to each other's shelters (once per week).

2. Allies cannot harm each other.

3. In times of danger, one can seek help from an ally.

Description: True mutual support and protection.]

 

Luke said, "I spent a lot of food to get this item, which they say came from a mysterious place."

 

James was shocked and couldn't help but admire his limited knowledge. 

 

He hadn't expected such an item to exist. 

 

Considering the base of over 7 billion survivors, countless items are discovered every day, including gifts like shelter shields, dimensional backpacks, plant catalysts, and the Ally Scroll in front of him.

 

Luke completed his part of the form and then traded the scroll to James. 

 

After carefully checking the contract, James also signed his name. 

 

The alliance was officially established, and Luke and James's status as allies was recognized by the system.

 

Inside the house, near the entrance to the basement, a silver-white circle of light appeared, looking mysterious and majestic. It was the teleportation circle. 

 

The allies could use this circle to teleport to each other's shelters, although the number of uses was strictly limited to once per week.

 

After forming the alliance, the plan to clear the beasts around the shelter the next day could be smoothly implemented. James anticipated a significant gain. 

 

After agreeing on the next day's actions, James decided to go to bed early to replenish his energy and spirit.

 

It was a calm night. 

 

Outside the shelter, the snow wasn't heavy but never stopped, indicating that this snowstorm was no ordinary event. Experienced people know that sudden blizzards aren't scary because they don't last long. In contrast, persistent snowfall heralds a long winter.

 

That night, the snow quietly covered everything, and the temperature dropped to freezing point. Outside the shelter, it reached -20°C. 

 

The vast foggy world fell into a deathly silence. Animals in the wild, whether as strong as wolves, bears, lions, tigers, or as small as mice and rabbits, all curled up in their warm dens, shivering.

 

Even the most resilient creatures stayed home. Many cold-resistant plants withered overnight. Only a few good-quality plants could withstand such cold. 

 

This wasn't happening in just one place but in every corner of the foggy world. It wasn't just the weather or climate; it was akin to a mini ice age, a significant ecological change challenging the entire natural environment.

 

In the scattered shelters, tragedies were unfolding. 

 

In some level-two shelters, frail middle-aged people shivered and froze to death. Some women infected with colds lapsed into comas amid high fevers, never waking up again. Many people, listening to the wild wind howling outside, struggled to sleep.

 

 

The next morning, James got up as usual to find it still completely dark outside, without a glimpse of light. 

 

The oppressive cold wind outside was blowing fast, sounding like the roar and hiss of a repressed beast. 

 

James felt exceptionally heavy-hearted! The prelude to the cold wave was already this formidable; he couldn't imagine what the actual cold wave would be like. He also wondered if today's plan would be affected.

 

James sighed deeply, braving the bone-chilling cold as he crawled out from his 12-pound cashmere blanket. 

 

After adding some charcoal to the fireplace, he began to prepare breakfast, planning to make extra for Luke. 

 

After all, not only did Luke provide the valuable Ally Scroll, but he also came from far to help clear the beasts around the shelter. It wouldn't be right not to offer a meal.

 

James took out enough flour for four people and followed the steps to make noodles. He cut the fat off two steaks, rendered the fat in a pan, and then cut the lean meat into thin strips to stir-fry in the fat. Soon, an enticing aroma filled the air. After dishing out the meat strips, James poured the remaining fat into the noodles to enhance their flavor. Finally, he prepared the Qingyue algae, boiling it briefly until it turned a vibrant green, then quickly serving it.

 

The simple cooking steps calmed James's restless heart. Outside the window, the snow flew wildly, while inside, smoke curled up. In the desolate wilderness where birds no longer flew, the faint scent of food mixed with the smoke, bringing a sense of life.

 

Humming a tune, James reached out to Nancy and Luke through the "Survival Handbook in the Fog" for their bowls. 

 

He divided the noodles, meat strips, and Qingyue algae into three large and one small portion and traded them to both sides. 

 

He also checked on Nancy, advising her to be careful when going out. The marshland would be even more dangerous under the snow-covered conditions.

 

James didn't want his only two good friends to die in an accident. 

 

If Nancy lacked resources, James was willing to share his abundance. 

 

After breakfast and completing his daily exercise, Luke requested to use the teleportation circle to come over. 

 

Teleporting to another's shelter required the host's approval; it wasn't an open door.

 

After giving his consent, Luke could come through the teleportation circle. 

 

Although they had known each other for only six days, James felt their relationship was deeper than that of many long-term friends, as they had shared hardships. 

 

This was his first real-life meeting with Luke.