Chapter 137 - 103: Moving In

Chapter 137: Chapter 103: Moving In

Atop this stout and imposing inverted trapezoidal main structure was a massive, circular platform that cantilevered far out. Its diameter was clearly greater than the base below, and it had a surface area of sixty to seventy square meters.

The fortress had an estimated height of over twenty-five meters, far surpassing the skeletal remains of the surrounding factory buildings. This elevation made it tower over the ruins. Xu Mo immediately understood that this height had not been chosen at random. Considering the previous mega-flood and the threat of aquatic mutants, building the fortress this high was a clear sign that Jiang City had learned its lesson. It was designed to counter a potential recurrence of catastrophic floods, ensuring the observation post could remain functional and overlook the battlefield even when inundated.

’A fortress wearing a giant hat,’ Xu Mo mused, gazing up at the utilitarian structure. The designers had forgone all unnecessary embellishments, investing every bit of the budget and labor into two things: sturdiness and functionality. The incredible stability of the inverted trapezoidal design, the line of sight and flood resistance from its twenty-five-meter height, and the firepower advantage granted by the wide top platform—it all served a single purpose: to plant firm roots in this land of death and endure.

Xu Mo reached out, pressing his palm against the cold, rough concrete wall, which still bore the marks of its casting mold. A sense of immense, grounded solidity traveled up from his palm, as if he could feel the unyielding strength contained within this massive frame—a power sufficient to withstand any assault.

For the next two months, this silent concrete behemoth would be his hard shell against all external dangers. It would also be his completely private space for secluded training, a forward observation post from which, like a periscope, he could peer into the bizarre ruins that had devoured countless lives.

「A few days later」

The wait wasn’t long. Xu Mo received the notice that he could move into Fortress C-07.

He wasn’t surprised. He had observed that the equipment from the core area was already being moved out in an orderly fashion.

Xu Mo brought his gear and went to Fortress C-07, where a staff member was already waiting for him.

Seeing Xu Mo, the staff member verified his identity. Once confirmed, he gestured toward a huge, trapezoidal concrete block at the base of the fortress. It was set into the wall from the inside and served as the entrance.

Just inside the entrance, a sturdy rope ladder was fixed in place, leading up into the fortress. Beside it was a hand-cranked hydraulic jack, clearly designed to connect to the trapezoidal block and seal the entrance from within.

"I’ll take you up to familiarize you with the interior layout and equipment. After that, we’ll perform the final seal," the staff member said.

Xu Mo nodded. He followed the staff member, one after the other, up the rope ladder and into the fortress’s interior.

The interior space was, as he’d estimated, over sixty square meters. It was logically divided into an observation area, a storage area, living quarters, and an equipment room.

The observation area took up the most space. Multiple, carefully designed observation slits with bulletproof metal shutters were distributed along the curved walls. A communications radio and a laptop—described as an "investment in the future"—were set up in one corner. The staff member explained that the laptop was for when the network eventually came online, but in the meantime, Xu Mo could use it for recreation.

The storage area was adjacent to the observation area. Its shelves were already stocked with basic supplies: sealed food packages, drinking water, medical supplies, tools, and ammunition crates, including the AWM sniper rounds and shotgun shells Xu Mo had requested.

The living quarters consisted of a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom.

The equipment room housed a low-noise diesel generator and a supply of fuel. To his surprise, it was also equipped with a wall-mounted air conditioning unit, clearly intended to handle extreme weather and ensure the internal equipment operated at a suitable temperature.

Small holes for ventilation and secondary observation had been cleverly integrated into the walls of every room, ensuring air circulation without sacrificing defensive integrity.

"The living facilities are all here. Power and water are self-sufficient. As long as you have enough fuel and food, holding out long-term won’t be a problem," the staff member explained.

Once the tour was complete, the two men descended the rope ladder back to the entrance. The staff member gestured to Xu Mo. "Now, please operate the mechanism from the inside and seal the entrance."

Xu Mo understood. He gripped the cold handle of the hydraulic crank and began to turn it forcefully. With a low HISS from the hydraulic mechanism, immense force was transferred through the jack to the heavy trapezoidal block. It slid smoothly and steadily along its track until, with a soft THUNK, it settled seamlessly into the outer wall, flush with the concrete surface. From the outside, it was now nearly invisible, and from the inside, it was securely locked.

"Seal complete," Xu Mo called out.

"Roger that! Good luck!" came the muffled reply from outside.

At that moment, Fortress C-07 truly became a completely sealed, independent world belonging to Xu Mo alone.

He climbed the rope ladder back to the main level. Then, he pulled the ladder up and sealed the opening to the bottom passageway with a heavy metal cover plate, locking the airtight rubber seal firmly in place.

With that done, Xu Mo went to an observation slit and looked out. The once-bustling temporary base below was now in motion. Squads of combatants and survivors were boarding the same buses and transport trucks they had arrived on. Armored vehicles and tanks roared to life, beginning their retreat down the road. Tents were being dismantled and remaining supplies were being loaded. The entire operation was busy but orderly; clearly, the withdrawal had been meticulously planned.

The frontline position, which once thundered with gunfire and buzzed with activity, was now visibly and rapidly being "emptied." The din receded like a tide, leaving behind a deathly silence and a few concrete fortresses like C-07, standing solitary on the edge of the ruins.

Xu Mo stood inside his fortress, watching it all unfold through a cold observation slit. He had become one of the last watchmen on this gradually abandoned stretch of land.

His life in the fortress had officially begun.