Chapter 6: A Beautiful Roommate?

During their entry into the shelter, Roger shared quite a bit with Lin Xinghai—not only about the gene-enhancing medicine but also some general information about the shelter itself.

The entire Starshield Shelter was divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower. However, the vast majority of people were only allowed to live in the lower level.

To reside in the middle level, one had to become a gene optimizer.

As for the upper level, it was reserved for the shelter’s management and the strongest inhabitants.

For people like them, who had just been rescued, staying in the lower level was the only option.

By then, an administrator from the lower level had arrived to take over the military’s duties. Under the guidance of the security team, the group disembarked and formed orderly lines, then proceeded onward.

The lower level covered an area of about 200,000 square meters. According to Roger’s description, over 150,000 people lived there, making the population density extremely high.

As they moved forward, Lin Xinghai realized that the lower level was even more dilapidated than Roger had described.

There was no planning at all; the streets were haphazardly laid out, and the houses were crammed together to conserve space, creating a chaotic and disorderly impression.

More than eighty percent of the pedestrians looked gaunt and pale, their clothes filthy. Approaching them, Lin Xinghai could even detect a foul stench, likely from many days without bathing.

“This is practically a refugee camp,” Lin Xinghai couldn’t help but sigh.

But he understood there was no other choice—after all, it was a matter of scarce resources.

Considering the desolate landscape outside on the surface, it was almost miraculous that the Starshield Shelter could sustain so many people.

After about fifteen minutes, the procession came to a halt. Before them stood a cluster of dilapidated buildings.

Residents were emerging from these buildings, carrying their luggage. Their eyes were mostly blank and numb. Under the patrol team’s shouts, they hurried away.

At that moment, an administrator at the front of the group stepped up onto the stairs, holding a loudspeaker, and announced loudly, “Hello everyone, let me introduce myself. My name is Ji Yuan. As you can see, this area has been temporarily allocated for your residence.”

A commotion immediately broke out. These buildings were not just old but severely worn, with many parts of the exterior walls crumbling. People doubted whether these places were even habitable.

Some began to protest. At first, only a few voices, but gradually the outcry grew louder.

Ji Yuan stood on the steps, smiling. Raising his hand to quiet the crowd, he continued, “You think these buildings look dilapidated on the outside, right? Rest assured, the interiors… are even worse.”

The crowd erupted into an uproar of disbelief. Many could hardly believe what they had just heard.

“Worse inside? And you expect us to be reassured?”

“Is this even human speech?”

Ji Yuan seemed completely unfazed by the reaction and didn’t alter his smile. “I know many of you have things to say, but please hear me out.”

He cleared his throat and suddenly shouted, “If you don’t want to live here, then leave.”

Silence fell over the crowd.

Ji Yuan’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression. “Resources within the shelter are limited. We do not support idlers or the useless. If you want good food and housing, then demonstrate your abilities, earn points, and you can move out of here.”

He gestured to the side, and immediately several staff members stepped forward, distributing sheets of paper filled with information.

“Let’s not waste time. Everything you need to know is on this paper. Read it when you have the chance.”

“The buildings behind me are all six-person dormitories. You can now find familiar people to room with. If you cannot, arrangements will be made later. I’m giving you ten minutes.” After checking his watch, Ji Yuan stood silently.

Though Ji Yuan’s words were few, each carried significant weight, leaving many stunned.

But these people had no choice but to act. Their situation was already dire. The thought of living with strangers filled them with dread.

At this moment, Lin Xinghai felt like an outsider. Calmly, he stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for the time to end and for his dorm assignment.

The Rift Heaven Mercenary Group provided official members with accommodations in the middle level. The only catch was that one had to be a gene optimizer to live there.

Becoming a gene optimizer was a far-off dream for many, but for Lin Xinghai, it was only a matter of days.

So, feeling bored, he glanced around, awaiting the end of the ten minutes and his dorm assignment.

“Ah! Lin Xinghai, finally found you!” a startled voice came from the side. Turning his head, he saw a graceful young woman with bright eyes fixed unwaveringly on him.

“Uh…” Lin Xinghai was momentarily speechless. He suddenly realized a serious problem: although he had crossed over, he had no memories of this body. He didn’t even know this beautiful woman’s name.

Before he could think of how to respond, she grabbed his hand, saying, “Come with me!”

“Wow! Are women this forward in this era?” Lin Xinghai muttered silently.

But her hand was indeed fair and soft.

Lin Xinghai shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Now was not the time for such distractions. He needed to figure out how to handle this woman without revealing any weaknesses.

As various thoughts swirled and were discarded, Lin Xinghai finally decided to feign memory loss.

Just as he was pondering how to begin, the woman who had taken his hand suddenly stopped.

“The last roommate, I’ve found her!” she announced loudly as she led Lin Xinghai to a group of people.

In an instant, both Lin Xinghai and the four others present were stunned.

Because these were all women—young and beautiful.

“Liu Miaomiao, are you crazy? Why bring a man back?” After a brief silence, the most voluptuous woman among them blurted out.

She immediately pulled Liu Miaomiao aside, and the others quickly followed, leaving Lin Xinghai standing awkwardly alone.

Though standing alone, Lin Xinghai’s gene optimization level had reached 26%, greatly enhancing his physical abilities, including his hearing. From a distance, he could faintly catch snippets of the women’s conversation.

“Wang Yao, don’t get worked up yet,” Liu Miaomiao said seriously to her companions. “I thought this through carefully. This is no longer a peaceful era. What if a group of beautiful women like us attracts ill-intentioned people?”

“So, for safety’s sake, the best solution is to have a ‘bodyguard’!”

“Bodyguard? Him?” Wang Yao sounded doubtful.

“He may not look strong, but he won the provincial ‘Sanda’ championship in his freshman year. Against ordinary people, he could easily take down four or five,” Liu Miaomiao explained.

“Well… even if that’s true, aren’t you afraid of inviting trouble?” Wang Yao asked again.

“Don’t worry, he’s like a ‘wooden stick.’ He was a standout in our class. Many girls tried to get close, even some who were as pretty as I am, but he never responded. There were even rumors about his sexual orientation,” Liu Miaomiao assured them confidently, patting her chest.

Hearing all this, Lin Xinghai’s expression darkened instantly.