Knights of the Wasteland Fortress

Chapter 30 The Return Ceremony

The moment Jiatu saw this sentence, he froze for a moment.

The slightly angry brain immediately calmed down as if a basin of cold water had been poured on it.

"'Survival' is a necessary prerequisite for 'existence', not a 'consequence'..."

"Existentialism..."

After thinking about it for a while, Jiatu realized that this sentence was answering "that question"——

That is, "what is life for".

What is "alive" for?Is "living" really just to live?
Isn't "living" for kindness, love and justice in the world?

Or you can answer with another extreme——

Isn't "living" to satisfy one's own desires, to enjoy a happy life, and to satisfy oneself's pleasure of trampling on others?
These two "answers" were debated for many years in Jiatu's time. It was not until he saw the sentence above the refuge gate that he realized that the person who said the sentence wanted to say——

"To live" is really just to live.

Whether it is "kindness", "love" and "human justice", or "greed", "arrogance" and "cruelty"...

Everything is for better "living".

Live "by whatever means".

And this is the answer that the pioneers of the refuge gave to history——

Also the "answer" to everyone in the shelter:
"Because we are here, we can sing the beauty of it!"

"Because we are here, we can cast aside its cruelty!"

"Because we are here, because we are still alive!"

With the second long sound of steam, a large amount of water vapor was ejected from the gate of the shelter.

Then, in the hazy fog, the steel gates slowly opened to both sides.

"Welcome home!"

Jiatu saw people around him raise their hands high.

Huge waves of sound swept from the square below the box, and Jiatu even felt that the surface of his cheeks was being oppressed by waves of sound like a tide.

Huge cheers resounded throughout the Golden Square.

From the gradually dissipating white mist, Jiatu saw a huge black shadow like a mountain.

For a split second, he even thought he saw a black giant.

But as the engine started and the black mountain continued to move forward, he realized that it was not a "giant", but a human "baggage truck".

It was a huge machine like a mine cart, seven or eight meters high, and more than ten meters wide. It looked like a section of dark gray city wall when it pushed the shelter head-on.

But Jiatu also noticed that the people in the refuge did not pay attention to the monster-like giant truck, but all raised their hands towards the black figures under the truck and cheered loudly.

It was a huge team of about 100 people.

Most of their figures hidden in the mist were wearing dark gray cloaks. They were tall and low, and they lined up in several long rows. They stepped into the shelter one step ahead of the truck.

As they walked forward, the water vapor in front of the gate gradually dissipated, and Jiatu could see their faces clearly.

He couldn't help but gasp.

What kind of people is that group of people?

Originally, he thought that, based on the specifications of the return day, no matter how heavy the sacrifice of the expedition team, they would still pack themselves up as a triumphant return.

However, it is not.

It was a group of tired and damaged people.

There were men and women, adults and children, the oldest looked to be in his 30s, and the youngest was probably only a year or two older than Jiatu and the others.

There are exposed lines like integrated circuits on the childish cheeks, and two shattered closed masks are hung on the neck. The expression is full of exhaustion, and the blood-stained bandages are tied on the body, some of which have dried up and turned brown, and some are still. Like brand new, with blood oozing out.

Among the returnees of the expedition team, there are also seriously injured people who are lying on stretchers or have lost their limbs. They hang their broken arms around their necks, or are supported by their companions. Through the gate of the shelter—

That road means the dividing line between "home" and "outside".

"Welcome back."

Cheers rang out again, and this time even Jiatu couldn't help chanting from the bottom of his heart.

The leader of the Explorers is a middle-aged man who looks to be in his 30s.

He has a mature face and a tall body unique to ordinary shelter residents.

He walked at the forefront of the queue, and bowed his body towards the old man in white who greeted the crowd at the forefront——

"I'm back, Elder Yin."

With the ear-piercing howl, the man's voice echoed throughout the refuge:
"Fulfill the mission and return with a rewarding experience!"

As the man's voice fell to the ground, the delivery truck behind him slowly opened up——

Until then, Jiatu didn't notice that huge truck was driving backwards into the shelter.

As the body of the supply truck was raised, a large amount of daily necessities collapsed like a landslide, covering the entire golden hall amidst the cheers of the residents of the refuge.

"I know that thing!"

Warren beside Jiatu hugged him and shouted loudly:
"That's the water filter element! With that, we can drink clean water for years again!"

"And new batteries and exoskeleton units! Automated turrets! Rip out the Duke's heart! Modular lathes! My brains!"

"Clothes! Tents! Cans and medical kits!"

Jiatu felt all this numbly.

He couldn't imagine that human beings would have to make such a big sacrifice just to get some of these supplies.

But he also knows that in order to get these supplies, the people in the shelter are willing to give everything——

After all, the operation of the shelter is inseparable from the exploration of the "outside" by the expedition team, and the materials found by the expedition team are also important to ensure the survival of the shelter.

With clean water and food, more people can be fed.

With enough clothes and medical supplies, the sight of corpses strewn across the fields during the great plague a few years ago can also be avoided.

Therefore, even if it is only for the existence of the refuge, the loss of the expedition team is acceptable.

Even one "expedition" is enough to reduce their staff by more than half.

Even seeing the incredible battle marks on the expedition vehicles.

The eyes of the boys and girls beside him were still full of fanaticism and excitement.

Because in the minds of each of them, there are illusions called "heroes"——

"Survival is a necessary prerequisite for existence, not a result..."

Jiatu looked up again at the paragraph above the shelter.

have a deeper understanding of it.

He also finally realized why it is "survival"——

Rather than anything else, it became the highest purpose of the refuge.

　After writing this chapter today, it will enter a new stage, and it should speed up appropriately. It was even later yesterday, and it will definitely be this afternoon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)