Chapter 67: Moving into Shuangqiao

"Ice-type, Tier 2?" Xu Shan gasped in astonishment upon hearing this.

Not only she, but the other ability users still waiting in line couldn't help stretching their necks to steal a glance. The male clerk who had just finished registering Yue Xuanxuan's information gave a start and immediately stood up.

He took the registration form from Xu Shan's hand, looked it over carefully, and asked, "Your name is Lin Qingqing?" How could he have never heard of a Tier 2 ability user who was also an ice-type? Someone like that shouldn't be so obscure.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Lin Qingqing found the man's expression rather strange. Could it be that she was wanted?

"Ah, no problem at all, no problem at all. It's just that Tier 2 ability users are extremely rare, let alone a mutated ice-type. Pardon my ignorance for asking too much; please forgive me," the young man said, realizing Lin Qingqing had misunderstood, and immediately nodded in apology.

"I've spent a long time out in the wilderness, so it's normal that you haven't heard of me. Hurry up and register," Lin Qingqing said, not wanting to bicker with him.

"Alright, please wait a moment," he said, personally taking the registration form to log information for the three of them. As he wrote, he explained, "According to regulations, anyone entering the base must undergo a physical examination for injuries. Please cooperate with us shortly."

"Mm," Lin Qingqing replied, a fact she had long anticipated.

Seeing that she was so easy to talk to, the male receptionist hurriedly expressed his gratitude, showering Lin Qingqing with all sorts of flattering compliments as if they cost nothing.

Once he finished praising her, the formalities were complete. He laid the filled-out form aside, casually picked up a copper ball from a small box, squeezed it in his hands to flatten it into a walnut-sized metal disc, and used a special metal pen to carve the two characters "Shuangqiao" on the front. On the back, he carved a slightly smaller "Qingmang" alongside an even smaller "Tier 2," which Lin Qingqing surmised represented their team's rank.

The metal disc was made on the spot; she hadn't expected this male receptionist to actually be a Tier 1 metal-attribute ability user.

Perhaps sensing Lin Qingqing's gaze and feeling a bit self-conscious, the male receptionist lowered his voice and explained, "You can call me Xiao Yao. I used to be in sales and am not very good at fighting—this is all the skill I have. Please don't laugh at me."

"It's quite good. This can be considered putting your own specialty to use!" Lin Qingqing remarked.

"Thank you for the compliment! These are your belongings. Take your time, and welcome next—" Ugh, he almost blurted it out. Damn occupational habits.

Lin Qingqing waved her hand dismissively, then got into the vehicle and drove through the side gate with her team members.

The full-body inspection at Shuangqiao Base was not very strict; as long as there were no obvious wounds, people were allowed to pass.

Once all the procedures were finished, a young woman came over to guide them to their lodging and resting quarters.

Lin Qingqing knew that ability teams were ranked, but she hadn't expected the accommodations here to be graded as well. Because they were a Tier 2 team, their living quarters were much quieter and more spacious than those of other Tier 1 teams.

"As you can see, this area is where the Tier 2 ability teams are stationed. This one, this one, and the entire row on the right are all vacant; you may choose whichever you prefer," the young woman who guided them said, pointing to a small row of townhouses ahead.

"Oh? We can choose any of these? Are there any specific criteria?" Lin Qingqing asked, reaching out to retrieve two crystal cores and handing them to the young woman.

Seeing the crystal cores, the girl's eyes lit up instantly. She carefully put them away and eagerly began to chatter away, explaining the situation.

She shared everything she knew and was allowed to say, including the fact that there were sixteen resident Tier 2 teams, which five teams possessed the strongest combat power, where they lived, and what abilities their captains had.

Carried away by her enthusiasm, she even spilled gossip about the base leadership and several team captains.

Ultimately, from the young woman's chatter, Lin Qingqing and her companions not only gained a rough understanding of the strength of the ability users in Shuangqiao Base, but also learned who the most promising and popular young talents in the base were.

To think that a young girl merely in charge of reception work would know so much, Lin Qingqing thought with an amused smile.

"Oh my, look at me getting carried away talking! I haven't even finished your paperwork yet!" the young woman said cheerfully, having evidently already accepted Lin Qingqing and her group as friends in her gossip circle.

"It doesn't matter, we've already chosen," Lin Qingqing said, pointing to a small villa situated at the very end on the right.

"This one is quite nice! Although the area is a bit small, there aren't many of you, Captain Lin, and your neighbor on the left happens to be vacant, so it's very quiet."

The girl quickly found the key corresponding to the front door, handed it to Lin Qingqing, and said, "The rent is thirty crystal cores per month, with a minimum rental period of half a month."

Lin Qingqing smoothly handed her fifteen Tier 1 crystal cores. Only after watching the girl walk away did she park the vehicle in the garage, retrieve some necessary supplies along with Luimin and Wenling, and enter the villa together.

The interior decoration of this villa was not complicated; the overall style was full of a pastoral vibe. The exterior walls were covered in climbing ivy, various flowers and plants grew all over, and the courtyard featured a small fish pond and a swing. A sunshade canopy was erected against half of the wall, with a table and chairs for tea placed underneath it. One could easily imagine how pleasant it must have been to sit here and chat over tea with friends during the summer.

Regrettably, after the arrival of the apocalypse, no one had tended to it anymore; the flowers in the garden and the little fish pond had all withered, leaving an atmosphere of desolation and decay everywhere.

Lin Qingqing and the others didn't mind this. After quickly inspecting the three floors from top to bottom, inside and out, they sat down in the living room with peace of mind to prepare for dinner.

"This base looks quite large. I wonder if it can hold all those people outside," Luimin said, unboxing a pack of self-heating rice.

"Even if it can hold them, it doesn't mean they'll all be let in," Lin Qingqing said, handing her a ham sausage.

"Why? Are they afraid they'll cause trouble?" Wenling asked by feel, opening a bottle of water.

"That's part of the reason, but the base probably won't completely ignore those people either. After all, their numbers are considerable, and together they form quite a formidable force."

Lin Qingqing thought of the people still waiting outside the base gates. "Due to the sudden increase in zombie strength, I'm afraid more and more people will be coming to the base in the next few days."

"Actually, I'm more curious about the strength of the other teams in the base. Look at the names they've given themselves—lions, tigers, dragons, leopards... they sound so majestic and fierce." While waiting for the food to heat, Luimin gnawed on a pack of spicy chicken feet.

"And their teams have so many people; each team has at least seven or eight members," Wenling said, taking a sip of water.

Their own team only had three people, which indeed seemed a bit small. However, fewer people did not imply weakness.

As the captain, Lin Qingqing had no intention of recklessly expanding the roster for that reason. In her view, Qingmang should be an elite team with formidable combat strength; the members not only needed to be powerful, but their character, personality, and temperament all had to be compatible.

"Everyone has been working hard lately, and Minmin hasn't rested well either. Let's get a good night's sleep tonight, and we can discuss any matters tomorrow," Lin Qingqing said casually, freezing a piece of ice and dropping it into her cup.

"By the way, Minmin, can you turn ice water into hot water? Just enough for us to wash up."

"Captain, are you treating me like a water heater?"

"Think of a way, will you? Don't you want to take a hot bath?" Lin Qingqing took a leisurely sip of her water.

"Minmin, I think you can do it!" Wenling chimed in, raising both hands in approval the moment she heard the words "hot bath."

"Little Bell, are you implying that I haven't been working hard enough killing zombies?" Luimin protested.

According to the principle of a water heater, heating the water in an entire bathtub would require her to constantly maintain a metal conductor within a relatively stable temperature range using her ability, which was a very exhausting task for her right now.

Yet, the thought of being able to take a bath stirred some temptation in Luimin: perhaps she really could give it a try?

Watching Luimin's changing expressions, Lin Qingqing suddenly realized that the lightning-attribute truly was all-purpose: if Minmin's ability could genuinely be used as electrical energy, would she be able to charge mobile phones in the future? Or perhaps they could directly find an electric vehicle, making Minmin an eternal storage battery so they wouldn't have to fear traveling to distant places—energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

"It looks like I'll have to urge Minmin to practice her ability control more diligently in the future!" Lin Qingqing secretly placed a checkmark next to this idea in her mind.