Previously, Brocolli Camp escaped from the cave with two hundred seventy-seven individuals.
Still, being pursued by those two Rodents midway resulted in over sixty deaths, leaving only two hundred twelve.
"Barry, just call me Uncle John, please don't call me Leader anymore, now that I'm part of Harper, it would be a joke to continue that."
Seeing William, John relaxed.
They'd known each other from years ago, and he recognized the name Barry because he'd seen him as a child.
Thus, he spoke more freely now.
Noticing everyone was assigned to different teams and the Cold Beast Meat quotas were announced, John was naturally pleased.
The Cold Beast Meat was secondary; most importantly from Shi Ping's arrangements, he was sure Harper genuinely intended to accept them.
It wasn't just him; Freddy, Bryan, and the rest from Brocolli Camp realized they were part of Harper from today, feeling settled, no longer anxious.
"Old John, you're lucky. The wooden house should be complete in two days; you'll get to live in a new house upon arrival, haha, being early doesn't beat impeccable timing, hahaha…"
With a settled heart, John was more inclined to chat.
Hearing William's tease, he just shook his head and explained how they arrived.
William had missed the discussion about the Rodent horde, though Barrywas present.
Hearing the harrowing escape of Brocolli Camp and the massive Rodent horde on the northern slope, William comforted John but soon realized the significant threat facing Harper Camp.
Learning the Rodents were drawn away but returned to the northern slope, knowing that Harper was not yet out of danger, Barry and William showed worry.
---
In sharp contrast to the joy of Brocolli Camp's people, Bruce had just returned to a temporary wooden house.
Seated alone, Bruce wore a look of worry, his brow furrowed deeply.
He'd maintained this attitude since returning to the camp.
"The torches aren't working. We can't fight them, can't flee either. Must we truly just wait for doom?"
To wait idly by!
Hoping the Rodents wouldn't find the valley camp.
What's the difference from awaiting death?
"There must be a way. First, calm down. According to John, the lure for the Rodent horde is above the northern slope, farther from the valley and hopefully unnoticed. If things turn serious, we'll take everyone back to the mound!"
Constantly without a good plan, Bruce forced himself to stay calm; though the crisis was near, it hadn't arrived yet, and they couldn't panic.
Exhausted from the night outside, Bruce lay back in his chair to rest, though before he could relax, Charlie and Edward entered.
When they approached and Bruce opened his eyes, Charlie was the first to speak:
"Leader, the people from Brocolli Camp have been settled, totaling two hundred and twelve, including those above six…"
As Bruce listened and nodded, he learned more details about Brocolli Camp's many children and adults and their gender ratio beyond the system's knowledge.
Once Charlie finished, Bruce looked to Edward, who displayed an eager expression, guessing what was about to come.
"Leader, tomorrow, the wooden house can be completed!"
Despite still pondering the Rodent horde, hearing Edward, Bruce couldn't suppress a hint of joy.
A new home, after over half a year of construction, was finally near completion.
In fact, the moment the rodent swarm appeared on the north slope of the mountain wall.
The significance of the new dwelling was no longer as great as before.
Six months of preparation, taking nearly seven months in total; a massive amount of Golden Frost Wood; iron ore regardless of cost, almost everyone in the camp involved…
If so much manpower and material were invested solely to improve living conditions, then Bruce was just being irrational.
The greatest purpose of the new dwelling, built at such a high price, was to defend against the Cold Beasts constantly expanding out of Redwood Ridge.
According to the original design of the wooden house, with six-meter-thick Golden Frost Wood walls, reinforced at key points with iron fittings, even when faced with Cold Beasts like Snow Mane with powerful impact, there wouldn't be any risk of collapse unless a hundred charged at once.
The Cold Beasts expanding from Redwood Ridge currently include Snow Mane, Frost Wolf, and Golden Sheep, which means once the wooden house is built, they can protect themselves even if the Cold Beasts discover them during the day by hiding inside the wooden house.
If discovered at night, they can even use the house's defenses to hunt the attacking Cold Beasts.
Improving living conditions is merely incidental; after all, compared to safety, comfort is not considered a significant need at all.
Unfortunately, with the arrival of the rodent swarm, Bruce's plans were all for nothing.
With the rodents' abnormal tunneling ability, the large swarm on the north slope of the mountain wall, Bruce even has doubts whether this wooden house, or even a house made purely of iron, can stop them.
Before getting rid of that swarm of rodents, the security guarantee brought by the new wooden house is certainly minimal, and Bruce is not the only one who understands this, Charlie, Aaron, and the other five also know.
---
The second night, in the temporary wooden house.
Just after Bruce finished eating Cold Beast Meat, feeling the long-awaited immense heat within his body, his eyes immediately showed a joyful expression as he quickly stood up and started practicing long boxing.
Bruce's basic strength of over twenty thousand kilos, combined with his mastery of the long boxing routine, can display a force of up to thirty percent more, which is over twenty-six thousand kilos.
Such terrifying strength accompanied the fist pouring out crazily, with explosive sounds ringing continuously, causing the outer walls of the wooden house to tremble and the bonfire inside to crackle fiercely.
Today is the last day of the completion of the new residence, and there's a lot to do.
Almost all the adults in the camp went to help, leaving only about a hundred young children in the temporary wooden house.
The harsh environment made these children understand the importance of strength early on.
Seeing Bruce's imposing boxing now, their eyes were full of admiration and awe.
Some of the braver ones even imitated Bruce's moves and began practicing earnestly.
"No wonder he's the leader, even the sound of his punches is louder than others."
"Nonsense, the leader is the strongest in our Harper."
"My father is in the Hunting Team, and he said the leader alone can hunt Cold Beasts. I will definitely become as strong as the leader in the future."
"Derry, stop bragging.
You're not even six yet and can't even swallow big chunks of Cold Beast Meat, yet you want to become as strong as the leader, hahaha…"
"Hahaha, indeed, Derry boasts too much."
"Trobin, you also got stuffed eating Cold Beast Meat yesterday, don't think I don't know. Just wait, once I can eat big chunks of Cold Beast Meat, I will definitely be stronger than you."
"Hmph, fine, then let's see who's stronger!"
---
The whispers of the children inside the house, though lowered, could not escape Bruce's ears as he was practicing his punches, and hearing their childish arguments, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
If he remembered correctly, among the two arguing, Derry is Aaron's son, and Trobin is Nathan's son, both are not yet six years old.
Nowadays, children in the camp are not the same as before.
The last time, it was tested that the minimum age to eat Cold Beast Meat is after six years old, so the age standard for reservists was directly lowered to above six years old.
In other words, anyone in the camp over six years old is now included in the reserve; while children under six, although unable to digest large pieces of Cold Beast Meat, can still improve their physique by making baby food from mashed Crystal Fruit and Cold Beast Meat.
These children under six each have a personal monthly quota of five kilos, plus their parents, who are at least in the reserve, making most of their daily diet to include Cold Beast Meat baby food.
In just a few months, changes have already taken place in these children eating the Cold Beast Meat baby food.
Not only have they grown rapidly, but their physiques have also soared like calves, and they often practice boxing with other adults, completely changing from their past frail and weak image, adding much vitality to the valley.
Bruce knows well that this is only a short-term change; improving physique is a gradual process, and this batch of children's current changes are merely a beginning.
Being able to eat Cold Beast Meat baby food under six, once they start formally eating Cold Beast Meat at six, with the foundation in place, their training speed will definitely far exceed their predecessors;
And as generations continue to propagate, the physique of people born later in the Harper Camp will also rise to an extremely terrifying height.
Perhaps, one day, as long as they are descendants of Harper, their physique will far exceed other humans, and even rival Cold Beasts, unafraid of mimicking monsters…
"Thinking too far ahead!"
Bruce chuckled softly, shook his head, and just as the heat in his body had almost dissipated, he walked to the Force Measuring Stake beside the chair, tested it, and nodded.