Time can change a lot. A year and a half had passed since the end of the world, and the new world was still developing in disorder. Some people held on to the old world's rules, some grew ambitions to lord it over everyone, and maybe a few, like Shen Cong, did whatever they pleased.

What hadn't changed was that everyone liked to talk business over drinks.

Except Shen Cong.

"There's no need for food or drinks. I still have a lot to do. If you're willing to trade and work together, we can exchange lists of the supplies and information we each have right now."

Luo Shouhai didn't press him and soon had the Chinese Empire's research experts brought over.

The Chinese Empire had more than a million people, and many of them did research. Luo Shouhai's rise to nuclear-grade had a lot to do with how much weight he put on research himself. The expert, Gao Fan, was an ordinary person, around forty, refined and scholarly. He showed Luo Shouhai no particular respect; if anything, he was a little cold.

"I don't know why you called me here. If it's nothing, I still have to get back to my project," Gao Fan said impatiently, without addressing Luo Shouhai as "Your Majesty" or anything like it.

Luo Shouhai said, "Professor Gao, this is a survivor from elsewhere, Boss Hu. He'd like to learn about our Chinese Empire's research results. You can introduce them to him on this emperor's behalf."

Only then did Gao Fan take a careful look at Shen Cong in the Hell Plant Armor. "You came from outside? How are things out there? How many people are still alive?"

Shen Cong nodded. "A lot. Henan Province alone has nearly a million survivors. Of China's one and a half billion people, at the very least, more than ten million have survived."

Gao Fan asked at once, "Then where are you from? Did you also come from a big survivor organization?"

Before Shen Cong could answer, Luo Shouhai cut in. "Professor Gao, save these questions for later. For now,…