It is completely different from the pleasant scenery and bustling Silver Moon Bay.
This blood-stained beach will only emit a putrid odor more pungent than the smell of fish in the sun. There is no fertile soil flowing with milk and honey, but only shocking fear and death.
Near the Wailing Rock next to the Death Coast, on the cold and damp leeward side, there was a chirping noise at the moment.
A group of blue-skinned humanoids with scales and gills were reciting obscure eulogies and praying under the leadership of the priest for the hunt that was about to begin today.
Two strong monsters walked to the cage that was half submerged in the sea water, skillfully opened the cage, and pulled the dying man out of it.
Being soaked in sea water all day long, the skin on his neck had become ulcerated and sores formed, and the bulging blood vessels seemed to be about to jump out from under the cracked skin.
The two monsters carried him to the beach, threw him among the group of praying monsters, and then stepped aside.
Listening to the strange cries around him, the man tried to get up from the ground, but he couldn't exert any strength at all, and the parts of his body felt like they were not his own.
He had not eaten for three days and was severely dehydrated. He was in a daze and could drift to another world at any time. He could not even utter a voice begging for mercy.
Seeing the guy dying, the scaly monsters around him shouted excitedly and even danced.
This shows that the ancestors who escaped into the waves accepted their tributes. The surging waves swept away the essence of the prey. The weakness of the sacrifices is the best proof!
And now there is only the last step left——
"...the dirty blood will be sprinkled all over the beach to comfort the souls of our ancestors."
The priest, who was chanting the sacrificial incantation and smeared with mud on his face, walked up to him and stretched out his thin but powerful arms to grab him from the ground.
Before he could react, it slit his throat and chest with a sharp piece of flint, letting the blood spurt out and spill on the dark beach.
Those twisted figures were like cheering and screaming imps in hell.
They pounced on the corpse, smearing mud and sand mixed with blood on their foreheads and chests as a symbol of receiving the blessings of their ancestors.
If you are a survivor living in the Cloud Province, you will definitely be familiar with these blue-skinned guys who perform bloody rituals.
They are the aquatic mutants that make countless fishermen and sailors talk about it!
These guys who move along the coastline are even more difficult to deal with than their green-skinned compatriots. They are ferocious, savage, and cunning. When they encounter a lone wastelander, they will swarm them to pieces, and they will say nothing when encountering a tough opponent.
He said to turn around and run away.
Compared with terrestrial mutants, they have less human elements and more beast elements.
It is precisely for this reason that few aquatic mutants can form large tribes of ten thousand people, and most of them live scattered in the form of villages.
Due to their wider range of activities and diet, their thirst for mammalian flesh and blood is not as strong as that of their green-skinned compatriots. Their attacks on humans are usually only motivated by the instinct of hatred and the need for sacrifice and reproduction.
But it would be a mistake to think that they are more kind and docile than green-skinned guys. Precisely because they do not regard humans as their main source of food, their talent in "wasting food" makes them even murderous.
The green-skinned man couldn't help but frown when he saw it.
In fact, before the Church of the Torch set foot on this land, there were no aquatic mutants here.
The militiamen of the Iron Tower organization will patrol along the coastline and destroy every nest they find. They are even more active than the paid military contractors in the Cloud Province, so almost no aquatic mutants can gain a foothold in this area.
However, since the Torch Church came here, everything has changed.
Those magic sticks use the "Kingdom of Heaven" to manipulate ordinary humans who become prisoners of Nago, and for those mutants who are not controlled by Nago, they use what the latter desires as bait to sign an alliance with them.
In just over ten years, the coastline of Haiya Province has completely become a breeding ground for aquatic mutants.
Especially the Wailing Rock area has almost become the domain of these monsters with fish scales. Even cargo ships from the east coast dare not approach this sea area easily.
After completing the ceremony, the priest stood quietly on the shore and put the blood-stained flint into a dirty cloth bag.
At this moment, its pupils suddenly shrank and it looked towards the rocky beach.
I saw a shadow bathed in golden light standing there, like a god emerging from the rising waves.
The surrounding mutants turned a blind eye to the existence of the golden shadow, as if they couldn't see him.
This is also true.
Only the selected people with implanted chips can look into the eyes of the indescribable existence.
The old priest lowered his body tremblingly and knelt on one knee.
Looking at the ugly guy, Arzu slowly spoke.
"Do something for me."
The mutant priest said respectfully.
"Please give your orders."
Arzu continued.
"Go west along the coast, and then go south. You will see a strait, and there is a human village on the north shore."
"Kill them all, leaving no one behind!"
A human village!
Upon hearing these words, the priest's eyes flashed with excitement and bloodlust.
It bent down respectfully and placed its forehead with wrinkled scales on the blood-stained beach.
"yes!"
When it raised its head again, the pale golden light had disappeared, leaving only the sound of the surging tide and waves on the rocky beach.
It stood up from the ground, looked at the tribesmen lying on the beach fighting for the favor of their ancestors, and let out a shrill and sharp howl.
The sound was like the sound of a war drum. Not only did the clansmen lying on the beach straighten up, but faces covered with scales also poked out from behind the Wailing Rock.
Blue fish scales gathered towards the edge of the beach, and in a short time there were thousands of them.
The weapons in their hands are all kinds of, including harpoons, fishing nets, wooden sticks with hooks and shields made of turtle shells. In addition to these simple weapons, there are also some elites in the tribe who carry harpoon guns and iron weapons.
Customized short cannons, tubular mine launchers and even assault rifles.
Most of these weapons were seized from human hands, and some were DIYed by themselves using parts from shipwrecks.
Seeing more and more tribesmen gathering, the priest let out a shrill roar again.
"The enemy! In the south!"
"Along the coastline! You can find their villages!"
"Go to war!"
Pairs of turbid pupils were lit up by the desire for blood, and the roar was answered with even more fanatical and bloodthirsty howls.
"Ouch!"
Looking at those excited young men, the priest's face was filled with a fanatical and sick smile, and his dry hands were trembling with excitement.
finally--
The real sacrifice is about to begin!
…
French fries port.
On the edge of the golden beach, emerald green palm leaves sway gently with the sea breeze, creating a peaceful and peaceful scene.
Under the mottled shade of the trees, in a simple shed made of hay and coconut shells, there were scrawled several pitch-black computer cases that were incompatible with the surrounding scenery.
The fan of the chassis is humming, and the light blue holographic light and shadow are intertwined on the disc-shaped imaging device to form a constantly flashing three-dimensional image.
What is displayed on the holographic screen at this moment is the holographic structural diagram of the "蟞" type engineering armor designed by Shelter 100.
This thing is currently the most advanced land-based multi-functional construction equipment in the Alliance. Even the companies that have completed the grand project of Ideal City are amazed by its exquisite design and praise it as "a miracle born in the sewer."
Although there is an indescribable sense of superiority in this title, there is no doubt that even the engineers of Ideal City were "little bit" shocked by this thing.
Obviously, this shock was also the same for the Coral City engineers.
Looking at the holographic image spread out in front of him, the middle-aged man wearing flat glasses had a surprised expression on his face, and then looked at Fang Chang who was standing aside and asked.
"Incredible design... Is this made by your shelter?"
His name is Zhou Zhehui, a survivor of Coral City, and one of the designers of the "Electric Ray" underwater automatic welding unmanned vehicle.
Since joining the alliance some time ago, he used the professional equipment and editing software provided by the scientific expedition team to copy the drawings of the "Electric Ray" unmanned boat to Meng Liang and the others, and then joined the alliance on the recommendation of the latter.
Scientific expedition team.
The appearance of that thing is similar to that of a real electric ray, like a flat fan. It can crawl forward on the seabed hundreds of meters deep, grab building materials with the suction cups on its lower abdomen, and perform dangerous underwater welding operations on behalf of divers.
According to the drawings he provided, the automated production workshop on the B7 floor of Shelter 404 made ten samples on a trial basis. They have been sent to Chipchi Port by the Niu Ma airship and put into the submarine freshwater pipeline from Chipchi Harbor to the circular island.
of construction.
Judging from the feedback from the construction workers, this unmanned boat called Electric Ray is indeed easy to use, and the construction speed is more than three times faster than the strength-type oxen and horses.
The manager quickly approved the production plan for one hundred electric ray unmanned boats again, and made an exception to arrange it at the front of the production queue. More electric ray unmanned boats will be airlifted to the French fries port soon.
Participate in the construction of ports and submarine pipelines.
Currently, Zhou Gong's daily job is to guide technicians sent by the alliance to master the skills of using the "Electric Ray" unmanned boat, including setting work goals and paths through automated programs installed on the terminal.
Since this work does not take much time, he is very idle most of the time and has nothing to do but wander around in the settlement.
It was also when he was wandering around that he happened to see the Scorpion-type engineering armor installed by the construction team on the shore of Fries Port, and he couldn't help but become curious about that big guy with a unique shape.
After learning of his interest, the alliance's scientific expedition team was not stingy and directly gave him a copy of the drawings and instructions for him to take and ponder.
After learning about this from the scientific expedition team, Fang Chang quickly thought of his experience in designing underwater engineering equipment, so he immediately came over and asked him whether he could use it in the "蟞" type engineering armor.
Make some improvements on the basis of the armor and design an amphibious engineering armor that operates similarly and can be used underwater.
Ever since, Zhou Zhehui dug out the drawings that he had looked through many times and studied them again with a professional attitude.
However, no matter how many times he watched it, he could not help but feel admiration and surprise in his heart.
What kind of harsh and harsh living environment led to the creation of such simple, efficient, heavy and flexible engineering armor.
After hearing his inquiry, Fang Chang coughed lightly.
"No, it was designed by the residents of Vault 100."
The creativity of the residents of Vault 404 is mainly concentrated in the realm of imagination.
This kind of engineering equipment that has risen to the realm of science fiction is still a bit too advanced for players whose upper limit of knowledge level is still in the realm of reality.
After listening to Fang Chang's explanation, the expression on Zhou Gong's face became even more surprised.
"They also joined you? Vault 100?"
"That's right...do you know them?"
Zhou Gong shook his head and said embarrassedly.
"That's not true. The only shelter we have interacted with is Vault 117, and it's mainly the blue jackets from Vault 70 who are in contact with them. As for us, we have only heard of their existence and don't know much about them.
not much."
After a pause, he continued to ask curiously.
"What kind of people are they? Are they the same as the residents of Vault 70?"
Fang Chang said with a subtle expression.
"The difference is quite big... A lot of things happened to them, and in the end the people who survived turned themselves into bionic people."
Zhou Zhehui was stunned for a moment, and it took him a long time to give an ambiguous comment.
"That... is such a pity."
Fang Chang shrugged.
“Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite.”
Although most NPCs in "Wasteland Online" have reservations about whether AI can be equal to humans, most players hold an open view on this.
He is no exception and is even more open-minded than the average person.
After all, it is a game.
NPCs that are designed to be AI and NPCs that are designed to be real people, aren't they both AI to people in the real world?
Moreover, the AI technology of this game has been advanced to the point where it looks like the real thing.
If he doesn't deliberately think about those profound philosophical issues, he will always treat them equally and treat NPCs who only have one life as real people.
Zhou Zhehui sighed softly and said.
"I really want to communicate with them if I have the chance, whether it's academic or about us... I just don't know how many human traits they have inherited after becoming bionic people. I always feel that it is a bit strange to discuss the future of mankind with AI.
"
"I feel that the difference between them and humans is not that big. You might be able to chat," Fang Chang paused, coughed slightly and reminded, "Then...it's about modification."
After hearing this reminder, Zhou Zhehui came back to his senses. Zhou Zhehui smiled sheepishly and quickly brought the topic back to technology.
"I took a look and found that the basic problem is not big. Their sealing design is already very good. They just need to redesign the gas exchange system... Give me a week, maybe three days will be enough.
I will get you an improvement plan as soon as possible."
Hearing that it was so fast, Fang Chang's face suddenly showed an expression of surprise, and he said with a smile.
"Then it's up to you! By the way, what do you think is a better name for this improved model? I will use it when I make a budget sheet."
Obviously, this NPC was not very good at coming up with names. He scratched the back of his head and thought about it for a long time.
But at this moment, his eyes happened to fall on the beach not far away, and he saw several players struggling to drag a mutated sea crab that was as tall as two people ashore.
Inspiration suddenly burst out of his mind, not only about the name of this equipment, but also more design details.
He looked at Fang Chang with bright eyes.
"Since it is amphibious engineering equipment."
"Just call it 'crab pose'!"
…
Since the players at French Fries Port reached an agreement with the federal patrol, both parties have spent several days peacefully.
Although nothing major happened during this period that deserves special mention, the changes in French Fries Port were not small at all.
With the addition of Coral City engineers, the settlement is changing almost at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Under the leadership of the engineer named Li Shihao, the construction team responsible for the port construction quickly devoted itself to the port construction work.
At the same time, with the assistance of the Electric Ray unmanned boat, the undersea freshwater pipeline from Chips Harbor to the roundabout has advanced ten nautical miles.
During this period, the Niuma airship made another trip to Dawn City.
Not only did they bring the fifty "Electric Ray" unmanned boats that had just been produced, but they also brought a batch of special port equipment produced by the Boulder City factory.
Even if he is no longer optimistic about this "small fishing village" located on the north shore of the Baiyue Strait, Channing, the governor of the circular island, has to admit that this water pipeline may indeed be used as an alternative to seawater desalination equipment to solve the life of the island residents.
The urgent need for industrial water.
What he couldn't refuse in particular was the price offered by Baiyue Province Development Co., Ltd.
Each cubic meter of tap water only costs 0.8 silver coins, and 1,000 cubic meters costs 800 silver coins. The construction and maintenance of the pipeline are entirely undertaken by Baiyue Strait Development Co., Ltd.
Eight hundred silver coins is only the price of four LD-47 rifles. The residents of the ring island only use about 400 square meters of water a year. This translates into less than two assault rifles. The cost is even more than the destruction of the Ocean Current Power Station.
It was lower before!
Once the price of fresh water is lowered, it will not only mean that the residents of the ring island will no longer have to endure the difficult life of taking a bath once a week, but it will also mean that a series of industries that have been shut down due to the rising cost of fresh water will also be restored, which originally required subsidies.
Food production that can only operate will also turn a profit.
After settling the account easily, Chaning signed a contract with Baiyue Strait Development Co., Ltd. almost without hesitation, and signed it for ten years at a time.
As for Baiyue Company, although the profit from this transaction may seem slim, in the long run it is definitely a good deal.
After all, the fresh water resources in Baiyue Province are almost unlimited, and it does not require any advanced technology to deliver this fresh water to the island, and the maintenance cost of the pipeline is negligible.
In other words, as long as they repair this pipeline, they can almost make money in the future.
Not only that, with this faucet in your hand, Fries Port will be firmly tied to the islands in the southern seas!
They will convince local survivors that they are here to solve problems, not to bring destruction and disaster to the land.
In addition to the projects surrounding economic work, the Alliance's military base and logistics warehouses in the highlands northwest of Port Fries have also been completed.
Currently, this is where the Burning Corps and the Jungle Corps are stationed, and other regiments deployed here may also be stationed in the future.
In addition, players have also deployed simple sentry towers and beachheads with machine guns and grenade launchers on higher ground on both sides of the coast just south of Fries Port to guard against possible threats on the coastline.
.
The investigation of the ruins of the Ocean Current Power Station has been a wake-up call for players here.
The Church of the Torch may have cultivated some aquatic alien species that are controlled by psychic interference devices and can move under the sea.
The danger they face is not only from the rainforest in front of them, but also from the beach behind them.
Today's French Fries Port is like a busy construction site.
From under the sea to the edge of the beach, and then to the rainforest within easy reach, there is a constant buzzing sound almost from morning to night.
As for the Dolphin parked near the port and the residents of Coral City on the shore, the sailors of the federal patrol also turned a blind eye as promised and deliberately did not see it.
As a reward for turning a blind eye, Baiyue Strait Development Co., Ltd. will give them an additional "bonus" every month.
Mu Da initially refused the money, which was suspected of being a bribe, and he refused in a stern manner.
He agreed to help the crew of the Dolphin escape capture not for money, but only out of conscience and justice in his heart.
However, Fang Chang finally convinced him and handed the money, which made both parties feel at ease, into the hands of the upright patrol captain.
"... Just think of it as payment for helping us patrol. We are busy with construction and have no time to keep an eye on the surrounding area. If it is not troublesome, you can expand the patrol area to the west by another hundred nautical miles. If there are pirates
If a predator approaches, remember to warn us."
After a pause, Fang Chang continued.
"Besides, even if you don't want the money, you have to think about your brothers. It's risky for them to do this with you."
Looking at the stack of banknotes in his hand, Mu Da was silent for a long time and said with a wry smile.
"Does this count as two wages for me?"
Fang Chang smiled and patted his shoulder.
"How about just treating it as a part-time job? Wouldn't it feel better if you think about it that way?"
Mu Da took a deep look at the guy who was getting him deeper and deeper into trouble, and without saying anything else, he stuffed the stack of banknotes into his arms.
Just when he was about to go back to the speedboat, he suddenly thought of something and said.
"By the way, there's something I need to tell you."
Fang Chang: "What's going on?"
As if he was hesitating whether to talk about this or not, Mu Da paused for a moment and finally spoke.
"There will be a maritime patrol exercise the day after tomorrow. In the waters near North Island, patrol teams from all islands will participate."
Fang Chang raised his eyebrows in interest.
"Then what?"
Mu Da said with a complicated expression.
"There is a very unusual thing. The federal Ministry of Finance has not made any arrangements for the duty tasks of each patrol area that day, nor has it mentioned whether the federal navy will take over the patrol team's temporary duty for one day..."
Fang Chang said with a smile.
"Does that mean you won't be caught even if you're smuggling that day?"
Mu Da glanced at him.
"do not do that."
"Just kidding, we are all good people who abide by the law and only do legal business." Fang Chang put away the smile on his face, looked at him solemnly and said, "Thank you, this information is very important to us."
Someone plans to divert federal patrols from these waters!
It seems that something will happen that day that is not convenient for others to see.
It is especially inconvenient for our own people in the Southern Islands Federation to see it.
Withdrawing his gaze from Fang Chang's face, Mu Da looked at the rough sea in the distance and said with a rather complicated expression.
"I'm just wondering whether the federal navy is planning to conduct a surprise inspection of a certain patrol area, but doing so seems a bit too deliberate. Whether we are suspected or not, you'd better get that submarine out in the next two days.