Chen Yutong had no reaction and began to think seriously, but the young man sitting next to him blushed unconsciously. "Hey, why are you talking about this with the girl you like?" Lao Bai joked with a smile.
"Nothing to do. If you're shy, just talk about something else."
As if unwilling to admit that he was shy, Zhao Xiao was silent for a while and started talking. "I... come from Town No. 13. What is that?"
"An autonomous region managed by the Science and Technology Commission. The conditions of each tenant autonomous region are different. Some are tribal systems and some are kingdoms. We belong to the former, with about one or two thousand households." Lao Bai nodded. "That's quite good.
Big."
The average survivor settlement only has one or two hundred households, or even a dozen households. It seems that this wandering swamp is not as desolate as he imagined.
"Yes," Zhao Xiao seemed to be thinking about where to start. After thinking for a while, Zhao Xiao continued, "Every December, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a 30-day assessment to recruit students who are over 12 years old from various autonomous regions.
And an apprentice who meets the standards." Lao Bai thought for a moment and said.
"This apprentice...is equivalent to an intern?"
"Internship?" Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "Absolutely... Basically, each autonomous region can be selected for one or two. After becoming an apprentice, you can enter the academy and stay away from the hard life of the swamp, your family and friends.
The town can also get a sum of money. Then you can be regarded as the best among thousands of people." Zhao Xiao felt a little overwhelmed by the praise and rubbed his nose with his index finger sheepishly.
It's okay... but after entering the academy, it's not as perfect as I imagined. The living conditions will indeed be much better than in the swamp, but because we have to cooperate with the current researchers to engage in some dangerous research subjects, we spend about
Only 73% of apprentices can survive to advance to G level. Only those who are promoted to G level can be considered as students who truly belong to the academy. The selection is very strict.
"Yeah..." Zhao Xiao sighed with emotion, "Sometimes it's not easy to think about being able to rise to level E. For the sake of my sweetheart."
"Part of the reason is that we were selected as apprentices in the same batch. I promised her that she would become a researcher...and then let our parents be admitted to the academy." Lao Bai asked curiously.
"Aren't you already a researcher?" Zhao Xiao said with a wry smile.
"How is it possible? I'm just a prospector... The lowest researcher is D-level. After being promoted to D-level, you need to master at least one professional skill and pass the assessment, and you also need the recommendation of a mentor. But basically... you only have one skill.
It is not enough to have one professional skill. A large number of apprentices are promoted every year, and most instructors require proficiency in three or more majors." Lao Bai joked. "Ability has been inflated." Zhao Xiao nodded and sighed.
"Hmm... And since prospectors have to do front-line work, it is basically difficult to spare too much time to learn those things." Lao Bai said: "Why don't you consider changing to a different place to live? This wasteland is quite big." Zhao Xiao curled his lips.
, murmured.
"It's the same wherever I go, and don't look at me complaining about this or that... I think the college is pretty good. As you said, at least here I can find the meaning of living, instead of being confused like other survivors.
Spend your life and let yourself fall in the ruins." Lao Bai couldn't help but have a strange expression on his face and asked curiously.
"Why are you so sure that the other survivors must have surrendered themselves?"
Otherwise? Do you think the enterprise and the legion have a future?" Glancing at the enterprise pilot not far away who was sleeping like a pig, Zhao Xiao did not hide his disdain and said without thinking, "A fool addicted to pleasure,
A militaristic madman, if the future of this world is handed over to their hands, it will be truly over!"
As he spoke, he squeezed the spoon in his hand.
"One day... we will recycle all the relics before the legacy of the past is squandered. At that time, we will no longer have to remember the past. We will write a new history and go to more distant worlds to explore things that the past could not imagine.
Mysterious." Good guy.
What kind of "far-sightedness" is this? Lao Bai looked at the young man in slight surprise. It was not like he had come up with these principles on his own.
But maybe it was just because he was young that he could speak out without any scruples. Of course, what surprised him even more was the academy.
When he first got to know him, he thought the academy was just about governing the country through technical officials, but he didn't expect that it had a more profound spiritual core. Seeing that this guy was getting more and more arrogant, Chen Yutong coughed lightly and interrupted his long speech. "Conclusion.
The doctor's theory is indeed like this... However, I didn't think about it that much. When I was twelve years old, I was lucky enough to pass the exam and then entered the academy. In fact, I think it's good to be like you, not like us.
There are strict level restrictions, and there is more than one path in life. You can live a good life even if you don't become a prospector or researcher."
"That kind of survivor colony doesn't exist at all. Wherever there are people, there are levels. At best, they are just vague," Zhao Xiao said disapprovingly. "I think it would be better to write down the levels and promotion paths clearly. Everyone can do it according to their abilities.
." Lao Bai said with a smile.
"What you said makes sense. This is similar to a game. As long as the server continues to operate, old players and newcomers will definitely be separated. The class will not disappear due to subjective neglect. Server operation" Zhao Xiao asked curiously. Lao Bai
He coughed slightly and explained.
"What I mean is that even the alliance has levels. For example, the contribution level... is probably similar to your levels. G, F, and E-level researchers should correspond to the three citizens.
Level, above that there are 'knights' and so on. Right?" Zhao Xiao looked at Chen Yutong proudly. The latter did not speak, but his expression was obviously a little disappointed. It seems that the longing was just a short-lived misunderstanding. Old Bai Dun
After a pause, he continued.
"However, we don't feel that we are superior to others just because our contribution level is higher than others. This is impossible, who can't tell lies." Zhao Xiao said without hesitation, his expression clearly full of disbelief.
Chen Yutong glanced at the lunch box in his hand, but instead of instinctively choosing to doubt like Zhao Xiao, he asked, "Why?"
This question is a bit difficult to answer. Lao Bai couldn't help but fell into deep thought. From a realistic point of view, this is just a game.
Of course there are games that deliberately create conflicts among players and provoke competitive consumption, but "Wasteland OL" is obviously not the case. There is not even a recharge entrance, not to mention that it is still in the closed beta stage. Even if such problems exist, they are definitely not common.
Most old players are still willing to bring new players, even if sometimes the new players' performance is a bit silly, but everyone has been through that stage, so they can understand it to some extent.
As for the relationship between players and NPCs, it can be considered relatively harmonious. NPCs do not care whether they are "citizens" or "knights". These titles do not bring "above others" privileges to the residents of the shelter.
On the player side, even mosquitoes who have made contributions to the alliance will still be sent to a small dark room to calm down for violating server regulations. Lao Bai has felt it before.
Those titles are not so much a status, but rather a kind of honor, or a kind of recognition from the collective.
"There are no standard answers to subjective questions. I can't answer you. Everyone has different opinions. If you have the opportunity, you can use your own eyes to confirm what kind of place the alliance is." He put away the finished lunch box and said
Bai smiled and continued.
"By the way, I have some good news for you. It seems that your teammates haven't given up on you yet and are following us five kilometers away." This was the news that Guangfeng told him before he went offline.
Chen Yutong looked at him nervously, while Zhao Xiao raised the corner of his mouth proudly and said matter-of-factly. "Of course! I said that the academy cannot abandon us!" Lao Bai smiled and continued. "Then.
Let's make a bet." Zhao Xiao said, "What are you betting on?"
Lao Bai said casually: "Let's bet... before we climb over this mountain and enter the desert, the college will come to rescue you."
Zhao Xiao: “Aren’t they already here?”
"Following behind doesn't count," Lao Bai said with a smile. "People who don't know it would think your people are seeing us off." Zhao Xiao stared at Lao Bai. "Where's the bet?"
Of course, he would not naively think that when the people from the academy came, the man in front of him would let his prisoners go. Just like their sniper said, they still need to use him to stop bullets.
However, to his surprise, Lao Bai shrugged and said nonchalantly, "I will let you go when they come to kill you."
Based on his experience, if both sides are unwilling to admit the conflict, then it is highly likely that casualties and prisoners will not be acknowledged.
If you haven't encountered the academy's pursuers until here, then there is a high probability that you won't encounter them along the way. It doesn't matter if your judgment is wrong. Just release one prisoner and capture two more.
Zhao Xiao looked at him in surprise. Seeing that he didn't look like he was joking, his expression became serious. "Then what do you want from me..."
"What can I get from you?" Lao Bai laughed and said after thinking for a while, "Well, let me think about it... if I win, you can just buy me a beer." A glass of beer Zhao Xiao
He was stunned and his face turned slightly red.
The way he didn't take them seriously made him feel a little bit humiliated. However, a good man wouldn't suffer the immediate consequences, so Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Deal...but you have to keep your word." Lao Bai said calmly.
"Don't worry, I told you I won't have any use for you."
In the northern part of the River Valley Province, on the wasteland near the nuclear crater, there are rows of dilapidated and scrawled camps. This camp has no name, and it may not even be at this location next year.
The scavengers living here are like nomads chasing pasture, moving their tents and bonfires wherever they pick up garbage.
If unfortunately he gets caught, the ghouls wandering around the nuclear crater will naturally help the unlucky guy take care of his funeral.
Those who choose to "degenerate" into scavengers don't particularly care whether their bodies fall into the mouths of ghouls or alien species. Anyway, there is no difference in the appearance of the two, and neither is very elegant.
Buyers who are interested in the garbage on their hands or their ability to pick up garbage will naturally find a way to find out where they are. One morning.
Gust, who is over fifty years old, got up early as usual and was about to drive his "Digger No. 1" to a nearby ancient battlefield to dig up some valuable treasures. Just as he was carrying a basket and equipment on his back and heading out.
, the bald Aqiang from the Digging Warriors group next door suddenly came to the door.
"Several big families came to the settlement and said they wanted to recruit people."
As soon as he heard that there was a big deal, Gust immediately squinted his eyes, sat down on the stool at the door, and knocked his pipe on the sole of his shoe. "What kind of salvage job is it? Where is it?"
"The north of the northern mountain range of Luoxia Province."
Hearing this vague statement, Gust frowned. "Why don't you just say it's Wandering Swamp?"
To dig up treasures from the AFC era under the eyes of the academy is simply too long a life. In the eyes of those people, they are not much better than the predators, and are even more hateful than the predators.
Even if he had 10,000 courages, he would not dare to expand his business to the territory of the college. The bald man said with a smile.
"Not in the swamp, just on the edge of the swamp." Gust stared at him suspiciously for a while and continued. "How many people does he want to recruit?" The bald man opened his right hand.
"At least five hundred, and you must have professional equipment and experience in dismantling large machines. Five hundred."
Old Man Gust's eyes widened and he smacked his mouth.
"That's a big guy...what are they going to do?" the bald man said, shaking his head.
"Then I don't know...but they promised that as long as we can dismantle it and transport it to Xizhou City, they can pay us a total of one million silver coins. One million silver coins?!
Hearing this number, Gust's heart was instantly moved. This is not a small amount. If it were all converted into wheat, it would cost close to one thousand tons!
Of course, no one would exchange silver coins for wheat. You can buy cheaper ones by going west to Oasis No. 8 in Luoxia Province.
What’s really exciting is the alliance’s KV-1 exoskeleton, metal hydrogen batteries, “e-mule” light trucks and various large-scale engineering equipment.
For those who make a living by scavenging, the simple, crude and cost-effective industrial products produced by the Alliance are exactly what they need.
"Sounds interesting..." Gust touched his chin, with obvious heartbeat in his eyes, "Those people are still in the camp."
Seeing the heartbeat in the old man's eyes, the bald man said with a smile.
"It's still there. Let's go together. This business is not something that a single salvage team can take. Let's work together and make more money."
Gust glanced at him and hummed noncommittally, "We'll have a look later." In the middle of the scavenger camp.
Seeing the ragged beggars in the darkness in front of him, the lost and cute newbie standing next to the sixth man in the corner couldn't help but muttered.
"How can you do it with these beggars?" Bai Bai couldn't help complaining in a low voice.
"+1, I'm afraid that one plane will dismantle the parts of two planes. The old man in the corner was stunned for a moment. "That's not good."
"What a hammer," Bai Guaishou rolled his eyes, "Can it fly?"
While the players were communicating in low voices, the old man named Gust was also secretly looking at these three outsiders. Three sets of five-type "light cavalry" exoskeletons.
This kind of equipment is not uncommon in some urban ruins, but there are only two possibilities for it to look like this, either it is a replica or it was found in a shelter.
Whether it is a replica or not, he can certainly tell after picking up garbage for so many years. There is no doubt that these three people are soldiers of the Alliance. Seeing the concerns on the faces of two of them, Guster grinned and said respectfully.
"Dear Sir, although we are dressed in rags, but when it comes to picking up garbage... everyone here is an expert."
A bald man next to him also echoed.
"That's right, our ancestors have been scavengers. From the People's Alliance Sky Frigate to the cans of Popsicles, we have considered everything that can be exchanged for money!" The Sky Frigate is okay.
Looking at the translated subtitles projected on the screen of the tactical eyepiece, a look of surprise suddenly appeared in Lost Mengxin's eyes. "Good guy, what kind of wasteland version of Beggars' Gang."
"Hiss..." Bai Gaidai took a breath and touched his chin, "You made such an analogy, and I suddenly felt that they were good."
"Whatever! It's already here, try it first and then say it! If it doesn't work, we won't take the blame."
Interrupting the controversy among his teammates, the sixth man in the corner took a step forward, looked at the experienced scavengers in front of him and said.
"We have just mentioned the demand. We need at least 500 experienced waste collectors here to help us recover a broken down large piece of equipment. We offer one million silver coins. You can discuss the details among yourselves... I hope you can
First, nominate someone who can speak up."
Several scavengers looked at each other and whispered among themselves as if they had come up with an idea. The old man who spoke first took over and said.
"No problem, sir, as long as you are willing to pay, we promise to deliver the things to you, and we promise not to say a word to anyone else. By the way...can you tell us what the things we want to recycle are? We are sure we need them.
Bring tools." This request is quite reasonable.
The old man in the corner hesitated for a while, nodded and said, "It's an airplane." Gust hesitated and said, "What's the specific model?"
"The aircraft is more than 20 meters long, about 67 meters high, weighs over 20 tons, and has two plasma engines... I can only say this much. Knowing too much is not good for you." Gus heard this parameter.
A hint of surprise appeared on Te's face. This description...
It was the company's killer whale transport plane that vaguely guessed something. The old man did not dare to ask any more questions, so he quickly ended the topic, bowed his head respectfully and said, "Understood... Sir, when will we set off?" Between these big forces,
It is not something that they, the scavengers, can join in the fun of. As the alliance soldier said, knowing too much is not good for them. Seeing that the old man did not ask further questions, the sixth man in the corner breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Now.
The sooner the better," Gust said respectfully with a grin.
"Yes! I promise you that our service will definitely satisfy you!" The sixth man in the corner nodded. "I hope so."
Under the leadership of three players, more than five hundred scavengers left the camp and headed for the mountains in the northern part of Luoxia Province.
Some of them drive three-meter-high forklifts, some lead repair robots, some lead two-headed oxen or push shabby carts... The guys in charge basically do things by themselves.
Or they are second-hand goods bought from merchants, and it is almost impossible to find a few duplicates.
Looking at these scavengers, Lost Mengxin was filled with doubts, but having come this far, he could only choose to believe them.
At the same time, after nearly five days of trekking, Lao Bai and his party escorting the pilot finally walked out of the mountains and saw the endless yellow sand. "Uh-huh..."
Looking at the air distorted by the heat wave in the distance, Xiao Yu, who was walking in the team, let out a slightly tired whine. The temperature south of the mountains is obviously higher than that in the north, and the climate is dry, which makes people who like humid environments
It felt obvious discomfort. Luo Yu touched its little head and comforted it. "Keep on holding on, we are almost there. Uh-huh."
The comfort seemed to have an effect, Xiaoyu made a happy sound, and the tentacles on the back of his head undulated with happy ripples like seaweed.
A smile appeared on Luo Yu's face. This child is so sweet.
Ye Shi glanced at Xiao Yu and murmured in a low voice. "Oh my god...the sight of these tentacles makes me panic." Luo Yu said embarrassedly.
"I did the same at first, but you get used to it."
Zhao Xiao, who was walking not far away, looked at the matrix that lived in harmony with others in surprise, and felt that his world view was impacted. But at this moment, he no longer had the time to digest the surprise in his heart.
After five days of traveling, they had reached the edge of Luoxia Province. If they walked a few dozen kilometers further, they would soon see Oasis No. 8. It was a small matter to owe them a beer.
What Zhao Xiao couldn't believe, and what was even more unacceptable was that... he was actually abandoned by the college. He noticed the devastated expression on the NPC's face, and Ye Shi, who had learned about the bet, stepped forward and joked. "Don't be so depressed.
Think about it from another angle...the academy may not have given up on you." Zhao Xiao raised his head and looked at the annoying guy in front of him, not understanding why he suddenly comforted himself. But soon he realized that he was thinking too much. Ye
Ten then continued in a teasing tone, "Maybe they just canceled your identity."
"You..." Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and stared at him, but in the end he suppressed the "fart" sentence.
People were under the eaves and had to lower their heads. Zhao Xiao comforted himself in his heart.
At this moment, billowing smoke and dust suddenly rose from a piece of yellow sand in the distance. Looking at the movement in the distance, Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, and hope suddenly ignited in his heart.
He suddenly remembered that the Golden Lizard Kingdom seemed to be a "preparatory member" of the Science and Technology Committee, equivalent to a quasi-vassal of the academy.
Those people might be reinforcements from the Golden Lizard Kingdom!
Although the combat effectiveness of those feudal main armies is huge, the scale is so large that even one person can drown these guys with a spit. However,
This joyful mood did not last even two seconds in his heart, and trucks soon appeared behind the sand.
That was obviously not the army of the Golden Lizard Kingdom.
It was not only Zhao Xiao who felt his mood sinking to the bottom, but also the Beacon Team and the other people in the back row of the crawler vehicle who were following behind.
Jiang Xuezhou, who had his eyes closed tightly, moved his lips.
"Reinforcements from the Alliance! There are at least three hundred... no, maybe four hundred." The medical soldier sitting aside said with a bitter smile. "As for that?"
Zheng Hao, who had been silent all this time, slowly spoke.
"These people are not trying to guard against us...most likely to frighten the Golden Lizard Kingdom." It is impossible for the Alliance to not be aware of the relationship between the Golden Lizard Kingdom and the academy.
Although their preparations were completely redundant, in order to take their pilot home, the Alliance was actually prepared to go to war with the Golden Lizard Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Zheng Hao couldn't help but feel a little complicated. Old Song, who was sitting in the driver's seat, looked at the captain. "What should we do now?"
It was no longer possible to rescue those prisoners.
They really watched those people stroll around under the nose of the college, and then swagger home.
Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, then slowly said, "Report the situation to your superiors...just wait for the news."
This place has left the coverage area of the signal tower, but they can transmit messages by launching drones as signal repeaters. Jiang Xuezhou nodded.
She was about to launch the signal repeater when suddenly her brows moved slightly and her index finger pressed on the edge of her temple. "There is a communication request from an unknown person... It should be from those people." Zheng Hao said immediately. "Get it here."
At the same time as the order was issued, a light blue holographic screen unfolded in his field of vision, and an unfamiliar face appeared in front of him.
Zheng Hao saw this man for the first time.
But looking at that man's eyes, he always had a very familiar feeling... They had met their eyes a few days ago! "I am Bai, the leader of the Burning Corps." The man in the holographic screen said. He did not act like himself.
Introduction Zheng Hao stared at him and said, "What do you want to say."
"It's nothing, I just feel that you group of archeologists are not the type to fight in the first place. It is quite unlucky to be sent by your superiors to provoke us." Zheng Hao's heart sank slightly. It seems that those prisoners must have recruited something.
However, he didn't understand why this person wanted to contact him, let alone why he wanted to reveal this news to him.
"Are you here to ridicule me specifically?" Zheng Hao frowned and said. "I'm so boring." After smiling, Lao Bai continued.
"I heard that this place has left the coverage area of the college's signal tower, so I'll open the skylight and speak out... let's make a deal. What kind of deal? We are very interested in your tracked vehicle." Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment.
, said with a cold smile. "Oh, what next."
"Keep the car and take the prisoners away. Haha." Zheng Hao laughed out loud. It's okay to stay.
He admitted that his team was no match for those well-trained soldiers, just as they may not have the expertise of experts like himself to deal with alien species.
But wanting to keep this "Reindeer" tracked vehicle is undoubtedly a bit of a dream. The off-road capabilities of this thing are far beyond those of those trucks. Anticipating his reaction, Lao Bai continued with a smile.
.
"Don't refuse in a hurry, I can give you twenty more rifles and a truck..." Zheng Hao said with a stern face.
"What do I need those rags for?" Lao Bai said with a smile.
"It's useless, but you've been with us for so long...are you willing to go back empty-handed? Don't you want to win once?"
Zheng Hao smiled self-deprecatingly and lowered his voice.
"What you mean by winning once is that we left behind a tracked vehicle and finally came back with a few E-class prisoners and rifles."
"What if we add a little bit of tissue sample No. x-277, the mother body of the specific mutant slime mold?"
Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, and a hint of fanaticism suddenly appeared in his eyes, but he was not dazzled by this fanaticism. He stared at the house called Lao Bai with vigilance, "Are you willing... to us?"
Lao Bai, who was standing in the holographic screen, smiled and shook the test tube in his hand. There were several pieces of fine tissue debris floating in it.
"Well, our allies have authorized me to provide you with some maternal tissue samples. After all, mutant slime mold is our common enemy. It will also be good for us if you can make some progress." Of course, it was not the company that authorized him, but
It's a manager.
And the tissue fragments in the test tube in his hand were certainly not freshly collected samples, or even collected from Xiaoyu. They were extracted from the brood on the B6 floor, and were collected through the process together with other soldiers of the Burning Corps.
The company's plane was airlifted to the vicinity of Oasis No. 8. However, it should be enough to fool the prospector. I think the academy will not believe that the alliance actually keeps a brood in captivity that can be studied at will.
Just take a look at the grand scene during the annual "wave" in Qingquan City, and you will know that this kind of thing is something that even the post-war reconstruction committee cannot deal with. What's more, this is a desert, and there is no brood nest nearby.
Zheng Hao stared at the test tube and silently started the pattern recognition program. After getting the recognition result with 87% matching, his breathing became rapid. There was no doubt that it was tissue fragments from the mother's body or mother's nest!
He originally thought that he would never be promoted to researcher in this life, and he would be satisfied if he could keep his status as a D-class prospector. However, now, this opportunity has been placed in front of him again...
The door of Wu'ao's biological experiment treasure will be knocked open to him, and hundreds of mentors will throw olive branches to him, recruiting his team and projects into their own laboratory, and he and his team members will
It will also be transferred from the least promising Investigation Department to the promising Research Department. As for the loss of a mere "reindeer", no one will care at all. Those academic experts will rush to pay for it! And the most important thing is,
This is a gain beyond the mission! No one can share their credit! "...What a way to lose"
Upon hearing this answer, Lao Bai's lips turned up into a smile.
"It's very simple. We leave the prisoners, props and the truck for you to escape in the camp. You send someone to drive the crawler truck over, and then drive the truck away from us." Zheng Hao said cautiously: "What should I do?
Do you know you won't regret it?"
"We have no reason to do that. If we wanted to kill you, we would have done it long ago. Or do you doubt that we don't have that ability?"
Seeing that the man didn't speak, Lao Bai continued.
"And I have to tell you, although I have the authorization from my superiors, this is not a deal between the alliance and the academy, but a deal between the Burning Corps and the Beacon Team. So I hope that there is no locator or locator on the crawler.
Things like surveillance... From your standpoint, you don’t want today’s events to be known to other unrelated people, right?”
Zheng Hao was silent for a long time and then slowly said. "I hope you keep your promise." Lao Bai smiled and nodded. "We will. And I always have a hunch that there will be many opportunities for us to cooperate in the future."