Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 526 Security Check Upon Entering the City

They were heavily armed soldiers, wearing dark green camouflage uniforms, black combat boots, and steel helmets that covered most of their faces, revealing only their jawline.

Each person held a black rifle, muzzle down, but fingers were on the trigger guard, maintaining a posture ready to engage in battle at any moment.

Walking in the very center at the front was an officer. He wasn't wearing a helmet, but a military cap with the brim pulled low, covering most of his forehead.

He was holding a silver megaphone, and the line stopped in front of the open space.

The officer raised the megaphone to his lips and pressed the switch.

"Please line up in two queues and enter the city in an orderly manner. Everyone must pass through security before entering the city. Repeat, everyone must pass through security before entering the city."

Please follow the instructions of the staff on site, do not crowd or make noise, and do not bring prohibited items. After the security check is completed, you may go home on your own.

After the officer finished speaking, he put down the megaphone, took a step back, and stood at the front of the line.

The two rows of soldiers behind him quickly dispersed and stood in two lines on either side of the city gate, their guns still pointed downwards, but all their eyes were fixed on the crowd in front of them.

First, a few people hesitated and took a step, and then more people followed.

People walked from every corner of the open space toward the city gate, some carrying luggage, some carrying backpacks, some holding children, and some helping the elderly.

The two lines quickly formed, and the security equipment and personnel had been deployed at some point.

Several long tables were set up on the open ground inside the city gate, with scanners and testing equipment on them, and several people in white protective suits standing behind the tables.

Xu Xiaoyan was placed in the middle of the left-hand line, slightly towards the front.

Ahead of her was a middle-aged man carrying a heavy red plastic bucket, the contents of which were unknown. He had to switch hands with each step.

Behind them was a young couple; the woman was holding a sleeping child in her arms.

The little head was tilted on her mother's shoulder, her mouth slightly open, and drool dripped down her chin, leaving a small dark stain on her mother's collar.

The security check was conducted very quickly.

One by one, the people in front walked to the long table, placed their luggage on it, and the scanner scanned it, making a beeping sound.

Some people were asked to open their backpacks for inspection, while others were asked a few questions and then allowed to pass. The whole process was quiet and efficient.

The middle-aged man carrying a red bucket who was in front of Xu Xiaoyan quickly passed through security. His bucket was opened and inspected; it contained some daily necessities and several packets of instant noodles.

The staff member waved, and he picked up the bucket and strode into the city gate.

Then it was Xu Xiaoyan's turn. She walked to the long table, put her backpack on the table, and unzipped it.

The backpack contained only a water bottle, dry food, a power bank, a mobile phone, and a thick coat.

"Go forward," the staff member pointed in the direction of the city gate, and she stepped into the city.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, a commotion arose behind me.

It wasn't a loud commotion, but rather the sound of hurried footsteps, deep commands, and something being suddenly pulled.

Xu Xiaoyan turned around and saw a young man in a gray jacket being dragged out of the ranks by two soldiers.

His backpack was thrown on the ground, its contents scattered everywhere: clothes, toiletries, a notebook, and several packets of biscuits.

He didn't struggle, or rather, he didn't have time to struggle, because the two soldiers moved too quickly.

His legs kicked wildly in the air a few times after his body had been dragged two or three meters away.

Then a black cloth bag was put over his head, covering his entire face.

The entire process takes no more than five seconds.

The scene was very quiet. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the direction where the young man had disappeared, and their faces were filled with the same expression: fear.

Those at the back of the line began to unconsciously back away.

Some people simply stepped out of the queue and stood by the roadside, clutching their bags tightly with both hands, their knuckles white and their lips purple.

"Keep queuing," a soldier's voice came from under his helmet.

No one moved.

"I said, keep queuing," the soldier's voice rose, carrying an unquestionable, chilling authority.

The person at the very front of the line finally moved.

He took one step, then a second, then a third, and walked back to where he had been.

Xu Xiaoyan stood there, watching all of this, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the straps of her backpack.

Who was the person who was taken away with a black bag over their head? What did they do? Or what shouldn't they have brought with them? Nobody knows, and nobody dares to ask.

Security checks continued, but the atmosphere had completely changed.

The previous sense of ease, as if it were just a routine matter, was completely gone, and everyone was on tenterhooks.

Some people couldn't help but start checking their backpacks, taking out the contents and looking at them over and over again.

It's as if they're afraid that something they shouldn't have might have appeared inside at some point.

Xu Xiaoyan turned her head away and stopped looking. She took a deep breath and strode into the city.

The city's scenery was not much different from when she left, but there was an inexplicable strangeness everywhere.

Soon, she arrived at her shop. The items had changed positions since she left, but nothing was missing.

The pot on the stove was moved to the cutting board, and the knife on the cutting board was placed next to the stove.

The red sign on the wall is still there, but there is a black handprint next to the words "sweet potato jelly," as if someone used their hand to support themselves against the wall when they stood up.

She locked the shop and then hurried toward the trading center in District 8.

The bustling scene that was yesterday in the open space in front of the trading center has completely disappeared.

Instead, there were rows of passageways marked out with caution tape, with several uniformed staff members standing on both sides of the passageways, holding clips and walkie-talkies.

Arrows were marked on the ground with white tape, indicating different directions: "Consultation", "Supplies Collection", "Information Registration", and "Missing Person Inquiry".

Xu Xiaoyan followed the arrow into the "Missing Persons Inquiry" area.

It was a small room partitioned off with temporary partitions, containing a table, a chair, and a computer.

A young woman with a ponytail and round-framed glasses sat behind the table.

He was wearing a dark blue uniform with a name tag pinned to his chest that read "Information Services".

Several forms were spread out on the table in front of her, and the computer screen displayed a system interface that Xu Xiaoyan couldn't quite understand, filled with dense text.

"Hello," Xu Xiaoyan walked to the table, trying to make her voice sound calm. "I want to check if there's any news about my friend."

The young woman looked up at her, her gaze lingering on her face for a couple of seconds, then nodded and pulled the keyboard in front of her: "Name".

"Blue Moon, the blue of blue, the moon of moon."