Power bank

Chi Bai wondered where these people found the audacity to assume Brother Bing would comply.

It was baffling how, even in such dire circumstances, some still believed the world revolved around them.

He barely spared them a glance before his interest waned, his gaze drifting away.

The object Brother Bing held was no mere toy; though its muzzle typically remained unpointed at them, its presence alone was a potent deterrent.

As expected, when Brother Bing impassively declared that those unwilling to cooperate could “get out,” most people promptly reined in their unruly behavior.

Yet, to his dismay, a few individuals who had awakened special abilities still harbored no desire for peace.

Speaking of which, Chi Bai even noticed some individuals in the main hall actively recruiting those with awakened abilities to form their own teams.

Their stated goal was to live free from centralized state control, to rise as self-proclaimed kings—a clear sign, Chi Bai mused, that they had indulged in far too many chuunibyou (TL Note: A Japanese slang term, ‘chūnibyō,’ referring to a phase in adolescence where individuals believe they possess special powers or knowledge, often leading to exaggerated self-importance and eccentric behavior) anime.

No sooner had that thought crossed his mind than a commotion erupted.

What initially appeared to be a fight was, in reality, Brother Bing’s unilateral suppression of the instigators.

It was then that Chi Bai first realized Brother Bing also possessed an ability.

It made perfect sense, of course; how else could he possibly subdue such recalcitrant individuals without an ability of his own?

This particular Brother Bing seemed familiar, the very one who had escorted Chi Bai and his group to this temporary residence.

Chi Bai observed his actions, surmising that his ability was likely a form of psychic telekinesis.

The male instigator had awakened a body enhancement ability, clearly intending to cause a destructive scene and claim a larger room for himself.

Yet, with a mere cold snort from Brother Bing, a layer of icy blue aura shimmered around the man.

He was then abruptly hoisted skyward, as if by an unseen, colossal hand, and suspended upside down from the ceiling.

A steel pipe, its original purpose unknown, bent and coiled around his ankles, immobilizing him instantly.

With another effortless motion, Brother Bing used a different pipe to secure the man’s hands as well.

Honestly, Chi Bai mused, how long could it have been since these abilities first manifested?

Yet, Brother Bing’s execution was astonishingly practiced.

He couldn’t help but wonder how many unruly individuals Brother Bing had already subdued in such a fashion to attain this level of effortless mastery.

Chi Bai watched the man suspended upside down from the ceiling, thrashing against his bonds with futile effort.

‘This “body enhancement” doesn’t seem to have enhanced much at all,’ he mused inwardly.

‘Could it be that, much like body enhancement potions, the improvement is relative to one’s original physical constitution?

If so, it suggests he wasn’t particularly robust to begin with.’

Brother Bing’s decisive act of “killing the chicken to warn the monkey” (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to punish an individual as a warning to others) proved remarkably effective.

Subsequent arrivals, witnessing the man suspended like an “upside-down bat” and hearing hushed explanations from “kind-hearted” bystanders, quickly abandoned any thoughts of causing trouble.

This unexpected calm brought a welcome period of peace to Chi Bai’s ears.

Just as Chi Bai was savoring the last mouthful of his delectable Spicy Beef Noodles with Small-Leaf Coriander, another figure ascended the stairs.

This newcomer scanned the room, quickly located Brother Bing, and presented him with an unidentified card or badge.

After a brief exchange, Brother Bing nodded, then turned his gaze directly towards Chi Bai.

Chi Bai, still slurping his noodles, felt a prickle of unease as he watched the scene unfold.

His premonition proved accurate; Brother Bing and the newcomer began making their way directly towards him.

Yet, the moment Chi Bai caught sight of the badge clutched in the man’s hand, the entire situation clicked into place.

This was the “token”—or so he’d vaguely recalled—that the registrar at the entrance had given him earlier, with the instruction that someone would eventually come to find him.

Moments later, the two men stood before Chi Bai, their presence drawing the veiled scrutiny of those nearby.

Chi Bai carefully set aside his instant noodles, met the man’s gaze, and inquired, “Is there something you need from me, Officer?”

The man offered a small smile, waving a dismissive hand.

“I’m no officer,” he clarified.

“You can simply call me Li Gang.”

“It’s like this,” he began, “I presume the registrar at the entrance gave you a badge or token, correct?”

Upon Chi Bai’s nod, he continued, “To sustain daily life, we require not only water resources but also a steady supply of electricity.

Our S-City is coastal, and this district, in particular, lies directly by the sea, so water resources are not our primary concern.

However, the conversion of seawater into fresh water necessitates the continuous operation of specialized equipment, which, as you can imagine, consumes a substantial amount of power.”

The moment Li Gang uttered the word “electricity,” Chi Bai grasped the true purpose of their visit.

‘Are they planning to turn me into their personal power bank?’ he mused, a hint of wry amusement in his thoughts.

Noticing the flicker of confusion in Chi Bai’s eyes, Li Gang didn’t prolong the suspense.

“The world has changed irrevocably,” he stated plainly.

“To ensure the survival of more humans, the nation has decided to establish bases right where they stand—one in every province, city, and district.

The only distinctions lie in their scale and available resources.”

He paused, allowing his words to sink in.

“The base is not a charity; it cannot provide free sustenance and daily necessities for such a large population.

This is where contribution points come into play.

Would you be willing to contribute to the sustainable electricity resources of the base?

Rest assured, generous contribution points will be awarded for your efforts.”

The surrounding populace had been subtly observing the stranger Brother Bing escorted, their ears perked, straining to catch snippets of the conversation.

The moment keywords like “base” and “contribution points” reached their ears, a cacophony of excited chatter erupted.

Meanwhile, the boss and his group, who had registered alongside Chi Bai, emerged to assess the situation.

They collectively exhaled in relief upon realizing that Brother Bing was merely acting as a guide, not engaging in any punitive action.

They, too, had caught the crucial phrase “contribution points.”

Li Gang, in any case, had no intention of keeping this information under wraps.

Besides, the news would soon be disseminated through national, provincial, and district-level chat groups.

The main hall would also broadcast a message, summoning more people—especially those with awakened abilities—to contribute to the base’s defense and development.

Therefore, Li Gang simply raised his voice, addressing the crowd that had gathered around them and reiterating the base’s system.

Several questions arose, one prominent concern being how ordinary people, lacking abilities, could earn contribution points.

For those with powers, the path was clear: engaging zombies or defending the base.

But what about the rest?

Surely, the nation wouldn’t simply allow them to starve.

Li Gang’s response was swift.

“That certainly won’t happen,” he assured them, pushing up his glasses.

“However, if you choose to do absolutely nothing, then you will, of course, receive absolutely nothing.

The base requires extensive construction; where everyone is currently residing is merely a temporary arrangement.

Moving forward, numerous roles will be necessary to build the base, including the establishment of fundamental infrastructure.

Likewise, the ongoing operation of the base demands human effort.

Someone, after all, must prepare meals for everyone, mustn’t they?”

Noting the collective nods from the crowd, Li Gang spoke again.

“All right, everyone, please disperse from here.

The detailed announcement will be posted in the group chat shortly, so remember to keep a close eye on the messages there.”

Only then did he turn his full attention to Chi Bai, extending a hand.

“So,” he inquired, “are you willing to lend your assistance?”

Chi Bai, of course, had no intention of refusing such an offer.

It felt entirely natural, a simple recognition that with great power, indeed, came great responsibility.

Still, one question lingered in his mind.

“But how exactly do I do it?” he asked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

“Won’t I accidentally blow up the machines or something?”