CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: ANTIDOTE

Tuzov’s outburst was inexplicable; nobody knew what was going on.

After a long silence, Tuzov became even more agitated, "Since you’re not speaking, get out of here!"

People nearby saw there was a scene happening and wanted to gather around to watch, but were chased away by the Imperial Guard soldiers.

The scavengers’ gaze once again focused on Qu Jianlei.

Qu Jianlei shrugged helplessly, then spread his hands: Can’t you just let me speak alone?

If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he really didn’t like attracting attention. Isn’t staying home and entertaining oneself better?

But the short and stout man grew anxious, "Xiaoqu, we took care of your business before, can’t you help us speak?"

Seeing this, Tuzov directly pulled out a laser gun and fired without a word.

A hole the size of a wine glass appeared instantly on the short man’s forehead.

With a face full of disbelief, he slowly fell to the ground.

He really couldn’t understand why, having been injected with poison and controlled, he was still shot to death.

If you really wanted me dead, wouldn’t just withholding the antidote be enough?

Tuzov snorted coldly, "Who gave you the guts to disregard me?"

He wasn’t deliberately helping Qu Jianlei out; he mostly just wanted to make an example.

Just because I agreed to give you the antidote doesn’t mean there’s an obligation.

A dirty woman saw this and decisively spoke up, "Lord Tuzov, we will increase our efforts to gather information. Please give us a chance."

Tuzov glanced at her and snorted coldly, "Either a fool or a woman... Are the men in the scavengers all dead?"

"Sir," another man spoke up, "We are already working hard to find it, but the mine is genuinely too large."

Tuzov squinted his single eye sinisterly and spoke, "Are you saying... you can’t do it?"

"No," the man quickly shook his head, "This requires time, please understand, sir."

Tuzov’s face showed a slightly amused smile, "How much time will be enough?"

"This... I dare not say," the man replied respectfully, "The thing might not even be in our mine."

Tuzov waved his hand and spoke indifferently, "There must be a reason for choosing you..."

"This time, I’m giving you the antidote, but I’ll say it now: if there’s no news next time, someone else will die!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, finally understanding that the killings were only to establish authority.

Understanding this, everyone felt a faint sense of helplessness and bleakness: In the wasteland, human life is truly worthless.

Tuzov waved his hand, and an Imperial Guard member stepped forward, took a box from his waist, and opened it.

Inside the box were neatly stacked small paper packets.

"Each of you take a packet; in five days, I hope you have good news for me."

He had just killed a person to establish authority, and the scavengers were as obedient as sheep, not daring to think of anything else.

The dirty woman glanced around, saw nobody moving, and proactively stepped forward to take a packet of antidote, "Thank you, Lord Tuzov."

Seeing this, the others followed suit and went up to take medicine, then offered thanks.

Qu Jianlei was the last to take the antidote.

By that time, the dirty woman had already opened the paper packet and poured the brown powder directly into her mouth.

The paper packet wasn’t thrown away but carefully folded and solemnly placed in her chest.

The others immediately understood, and one by one swallowed the antidote as she did.

Qu Jianlei was a bit stunned watching; he understood their actions but... five days had not passed yet.

This early ingestion, what if the timing of receiving the antidote next time gets delayed a bit, would it cause problems?

Having killed a person, Tuzov’s inner rage subsided somewhat, and he noticed Qu Jianlei’s abnormal behavior.

He even smiled and asked, "What, don’t understand their logic?"

"I understand," Qu Jianlei answered honestly, "But I’m still a bit puzzled."

If you say you don’t understand, then you’re just pretending to be stupid! Tuzov nodded slightly, even animals know to guard their food.

So he commented, "The evil of human nature is beyond your imagination... Taking it now ensures survival for at least five days."

Qu Jianlei nodded dumbly, though his mind was pondering: So, is five days just approximate?

Among the survivors, there must be individual differences, so... timing isn’t so precise?

Seeing him dazing again, Tuzov didn’t bother with him and casually handed over a small cloth bag, "This is for the next five days."

Qu Jianlei snapped back to reality, opened the cloth bag to check, and indeed found ten nutrient injections inside.

Then he let out a bitter smile, "I don’t feel deserving."

Just a passive move! Tuzov looked at him, "Aren’t you worried that your antidote will be stolen?"

Only then did Qu Jianlei react, opened the paper packet, swallowed the antidote, and put the packet away.

Tuzov reached out and patted his shoulder, "You actually have your weapons ready, so you have some capability."

With these words, he turned and left, followed by other Imperial Guard members who also left without any extra words.

Qu Jianlei’s gaze wandered, while he experienced the antidote’s effects on his body and stayed alert for potential attacks.

This antidote truly lived up to its reputation; within five minutes of ingestion, his entire body was suffused with a gentle warmth.

The various tearing pains subtly present in his body also significantly decreased in an instant.

Moreover, the effects were long-lasting; even after half an hour, it continued to work.

With the pain gone from his body, Qu Jianlei felt so comfortable that he could soar with the wind.

"No wonder Tuzov would kill for it..." he mused under his breath.

If his guess was correct, this so-called "antidote" was a rare and beneficial medicine for the body.

Killing a person could at least save a dose of the medicine; establishing dominance by killing was just a tactic, not purely the goal.

He was in a daze, just like the others who were immersed in the joy of repairing their bodies.

However, there were those who were more alert, as a burly man fully armed approached.

The muscles on his face were still twitching involuntarily, yet he forced himself to suppress them.

"Xiaoqu, we got through this time like this; what about the next time?"

Qu Jianlei snapped out of his stupor, and troubled, he rubbed his forehead, "I’ve got no solution, just take it one step at a time."

The burly man’s brow furrowed slightly, "They hold you in high regard, why don’t you take the lead and figure out a plan?"

Someone nearby chimed in, eagerly echoing, "Yes, we can’t just keep dying like this."

Asking me to take the lead? Qu Jianlei raised his eyebrows, slowly shaking his head, "I don’t have that ability."

"No one else does either!" the burly man spoke sternly, "I, Collins, will fully support you; any dissenters can come to me!"

Collins was a top-tier force among the scavengers, lone, ruthless, and had never bullied Qu Jianlei before.

It wasn’t that he was upright; it was just that Qu Jianlei was too insignificant to bully.

Qu Jianlei grimaced speechlessly; you fear death, but do I not?

However, he didn’t bother explaining and turned to browse other shops.

Collins watched him leave, his brow furrowing slightly, then looked at the companions not far off, "Aren’t you going to support him?"

Someone sighed lightly, "Apparently, we should have a proper talk with Sha Qu... Could this guy be someone’s illegitimate child?"

They were really puzzled about how this fool could be given such preferential treatment.

Collins’s eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness, "We’re implicated in this... all to save him, ultimately."

Qu Jianlei wasn’t aware of such a situation behind him; it was his first time outside the settlement, and naturally, he wanted to take a look around.

Here, he finally saw the legendary currency—the Hongsi Coin.

This currency was issued by Hongsi Settlement itself, and unexpectedly, it was minted from silver.

In the wasteland, silver was an uncommon metal, with considerable value.

Silver had good electrical conductivity, but its use wasn’t widespread, and there wasn’t much industry here.

Qu Jianlei had a small silver token, which he obtained from Third Uncle, though its purpose was unknown.

So he took it out to ask the shopkeeper, "How many silver coins is this worth?"

The shopkeeper, a slightly chubby middle-aged man, glanced at the token and replied nonchalantly, "It can only be exchanged for five silver coins."

"Forget it," Qu Jianlei pocketed the token and left, not noticing the greed in the shopkeeper’s eyes.

Seeing him leave, the shopkeeper furrowed his brow slightly, "A secret silver token... How does this guy have such a thing?"

Just then, another person walked in; a strapping man, "Second Brother, who are you scheming against again?"

The shopkeeper glanced at him and lowered his voice, "Old Five, that guy just now had a secret silver token on him."

"A silver token?" Old Five became interested immediately, "Can you discern its origins?"

"No idea," the shopkeeper shook his head, "I offered five silver horns, and that guy wouldn’t sell."

"It’s worth at least five silver coins; you’re really cutting it close," Old Five chuckled, "Shall we take a shot at him?"

The shopkeeper nodded slightly, "A new face, probably an uncommon wild one; his equipment wasn’t bad."

"So what if his equipment is decent?" Old Five replied indifferently, "With seven or eight people surrounding him, can he dare to retaliate?"

"Better to be cautious," the shopkeeper said seriously, "First, try to figure out that guy’s connections, just in case it’s a trap."

In the wasteland, schemes and counter-schemes were commonplace; if the opposite party was baiting, verifying it was difficult.

Soon, Old Five returned, "Second Brother, it’s a group of outside scavengers, one of whom got killed by One-Eyed Wolf."

"Scavengers... So it’s probably a chance acquisition?" the shopkeeper furrowed his brow, "How many companions does he have in total?"

Nearby the junkyard, scavengers were indeed not to be trifled with, but the elites of Hongsi Settlement truly had nothing to fear.

It’s just black against black; some calculative aggression, and who fears whom?

Old Five’s expression darkened at his answer, "Seems like over forty of them came, with three vehicles."

"Over forty?" the shopkeeper was stupefied, "Since when did scavengers become so united?"

Old Five spread his hands helplessly, "I heard they’re somewhat connected with One-Eyed Wolf... the details are still unclear."

"This is a bit..." the shopkeeper troubledly furrowed his brow.