"Yes. The first time they came by the house to collect survivors and supplies," Zhenlan said, answering Lingyun's question. "By the time most people understood how bad things were becoming, the military bases and government safe zones had already become the obvious choice. They were overcrowded, strict, and miserable, but they had order. That was the selling point. People gave up privacy, supplies, weapons, and freedom because order felt like survival."
Chenghai gave a humorless sound. "For a while."
Yeah... for a while.
In the first life, the base had not been kind, but it had been controlled. Guards had manned the entrances. Vehicles had been searched. Food, medicine, fuel, and weapons had been recorded or confiscated depending on who asked and how important the person being asked appeared to be.
Refugees had lined up for hours or days outside the gates, angry and terrified, but still believing that getting inside meant something.
It had meant something then.
