Headquarters had specific protocols for such individuals. As long as they didn't lose their sanity, they could live like normal people within the survivor base.

Xu Duoduo looked back at Qin Luo, and only after seeing him nod did she put on the collar. It had an electronic screen, presumably to deliver an electric shock if any aggressive behavior was detected. A green display meant emotions were stable, orange indicated some emotional fluctuation, and red represented loss of control.

Her screen currently showed green, indicating she was completely stable.

Professor Ji was very gentle, gesturing for Xu Duoduo to follow him for some physical examinations. To avoid making her uncomfortable, he also had two female researchers accompany them.

Xu Duoduo kept looking back at Qin Luo, instinctively seeking him out in this unfamiliar environment. Fortunately, Professor Ji noticed and said, "Little Qin, why don't you come along too? You also need to have your abilities monitored."

Qin Luo obediently agreed and followed behind them.

Xu Duoduo felt inexplicably more at ease. As soon as they entered the survivor base's passage, they heard the city's broadcast, which was currently looping information about the disaster situations in nearby cities and the number of survivors rescued.

What moved her most was hearing the announcer say in her professional voice, "We will never compromise with the apocalypse. We will never abandon any human being."

Xu Duoduo looked up at the broadcast when she heard this, listening to the subsequent list of rescue team casualties. Each name represented a life, people who didn't have to die but had rushed to the front lines to save others and perished there.

Along the city wall were over a dozen people whose bodies had grown rock-like, extremely muscular with their upper bodies partially covered in a layer of stone-like material.

"They are rock mutants, with a mutation towards stone. One of their skills is 'Solidification'. This entire wall was built by them working day and night. It gives a sense of security, doesn't it?" said Research Assistant A.

She winked at Xu Duoduo, "Don't worry too much. You're not outcasts. As long as you have human consciousness, you're still you. We now have very comprehensive protection measures for mutants, and most people will accept you."

Research Assistant B promptly added, "The base will also arrange suitable positions for you. The base now uses chip cards, and the currency is points. Points aren't much different from the old currency."

They could still be used to purchase various items. The H City Survivor Base was quite large, and many shops had been preserved, making life quite stable.

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As for how to earn points, it was through labor.

Combat teams could earn points by taking on various missions, with harder missions offering more points. Other logistical personnel could also earn points through work. For example, the rock mutants building the wall earned eighty points per day.

Keep in mind that a full breakfast now only cost three points.

So their wages were considered high.

Not only was Xu Duoduo confused by all this, even Qin Luo was bewildered. He took a sharp breath, "Wait, how has everything changed again? I've only been out on a mission for less than ten days!"

Professor Ji sighed in response, "In the apocalyptic era, rapid changes are normal. Everyone must accept this high-speed change and keep up with the pace."

Otherwise, they would be eliminated.

The younger generation adapted well, but it was the older generation who struggled. Many elderly people who had barely figured out electronic devices now faced a world turned upside down, and quite a few couldn't accept it, becoming mentally unstable.

Xu Duoduo was speechless after hearing all this. As she observed the city's landscape along the way, sometimes if you ignored the massive walls, the street scenes looked just like before. But upon closer inspection, differences became apparent.

For example, occasionally oddly-shaped people would walk by, but they all wore collars around their necks.

Just like the one on her neck.

The buses were still crowded with people, but everyone was carrying weapons and chatting.

"There are new rules in the city. All returning personnel must be quarantined and change clothes before being allowed to walk on the streets. Last time, a team came back covered in blood and almost scared a bus full of kindergarteners to death," Research Assistant A kindly informed them, then glanced at Qin Luo and Xu Duoduo, both covered in blood and grime...

Awkward.

Professor Ji smiled and reassured them, "It's alright, people near the city edge are used to it."

There were always people here who hadn't had time to clean up.

But they should be careful in the city center, as being covered in blood could easily get them arrested.

Xu Duoduo followed them through a special passage, which turned out to be a subway entrance. However, it required a card to enter, and there were few people on the subway.

Their destination was the H City Special Research Center. Once aboard, the subway didn't seem much different from normal, but its speed was terrifying.

Xu Duoduo felt like she had just boarded, and within a minute, the gentle research assistant told her they had arrived. Arrived?? Twenty kilometers in less than a minute??

Her shocked expression must have been quite amusing, as it made both research assistants laugh.

"You're quite cute. I wonder what your mutation direction is? I heard it was zombie-like? But little cutie, you're much cuter than ordinary zombies."

The speaker was Xiao Qiao.

This time, Xu Duoduo clearly saw the name on her work badge, just the characters Xiao Qiao.

Probably a code name.

Da Qiao was a bit more composed. She friendly reminded, "Stay away from Xiao Qiao, she loves dissecting strange things."

Xu Duoduo shrank back in fear.

Qin Luo clicked his tongue, "Don't scare her. As agreed, she's a reserve member of our team."

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were very intrigued. "Oh? Really?" "Didn't your team swear never to take new members? What's different this time?"

Professor Ji reminded them that the elevator had arrived, and the group stepped in once again.

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao continued to chatter.

"How can she join your team? Such a special mutant should definitely stay at our research center to help out! What if she's damaged on the front lines?"

"Exactly! Professor Ji, talk some sense into him. Let's keep this child here."

Maybe it was just an illusion, but these two had very similar expressions. Although their faces were different, their mannerisms and tones when speaking were identical.

Professor Ji didn't argue with them, just chuckled and said, "I'm afraid I can't make that decision."

Xu Duoduo looked back at Qin Luo again. Actually, going out with him wasn't bad. At least she could hoard things, taking advantage of the early stages of the apocalypse to stock up.

She already had a habit of hoarding, and now facing this strange apocalypse, she wanted to hoard even more. It didn't matter if the items would be useful or not; she just liked hoarding. The act of hoarding gave her a sense of security.

However, what she feared most was her spatial ability being discovered.

But Qin Luo didn't seem too worried. He was also looking around at the new environment, showing that the changes brought by the apocalypse were indeed earth-shattering.

He too needed to process the new environment, new rules, and various pieces of information.