Chapter 480 Let’s Make a Deal
Chapter 480 Let’s make a deal
Chen Yutong didn’t react and started thinking seriously, but the young man sitting next to him blushed unconsciously.
”Like, the girl you like? Why are you talking about this?”
Lao Bai teased with a smile.
”Nothing, if you’re shy, just talk about something else.”
Zhao Xiao seemed unwilling to admit that he was shy, and after a moment of silence, he opened up.
”I… am from Town No. 13.”
”What is that?”
”An autonomous region managed by the Science and Technology Commission. The situation of each autonomous region is different, some are tribal, some are kingdoms, and we belong to the former, with about one or two thousand households.”
Lao Bai nodded.
”That’s pretty big.”
The average survivor settlement has only one or two hundred households, and some even have 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, he continued, “Every December, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a 30-day assessment to recruit apprentices who are 12 years old and meet the standards from each autonomous region.”
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, “I guess so… Basically, one or two people can be selected from each autonomous region. After becoming an apprentice, you can enter the academy and stay away from the hard life in the swamp. Your family and the town can also get a sum of money.” “Then
you can be considered a leader among thousands of people.”
Zhao Xiao was a little flattered by the praise, and embarrassedly rubbed his nose with his index finger.
”It’s OK… But after entering the academy, it’s not as perfect as I imagined. The living conditions are indeed much better than in the swamp, but because they have to cooperate with the regular researchers to carry out some dangerous research subjects, only about 73% of the apprentices can survive and advance to G level every year. And only those who advance to G level can be considered as students of the academy in the true sense.”
”It’s a very strict selection.”
”Yeah…” Zhao Xiao sighed, “Sometimes it’s not easy to think that I can be promoted to E level.” ”
For my sweetheart?”
”Part of the reason, we are apprentices selected in the same batch, and I promised her that I would become a researcher… Then, I would bring our parents 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 an explorer… The minimum researcher is D level. After advancing to D level, you need to master at least one professional skill and pass the assessment, and you also need a mentor’s recommendation. But basically… mastering only one professional skill is not enough. Every year, a large number of apprentices are promoted, and most mentors require proficiency in more than three professions.”
Lao Bai joked.
”Capacity inflation has increased.”
Zhao Xiao nodded and sighed.
”Well… and explorers have to do frontline work, so it’s basically difficult to find too much time to learn those things.”
Lao Bai: “Why don’t you consider living somewhere else? This wasteland is huge, right?”
Zhao Xiao curled his lips and muttered.
”It’s the same wherever you go, and don’t look at me complaining about this and that… I think the academy is pretty good. Just like you said, at least here I can find the meaning of survival, instead of spending my life in a muddle-headed way like other survivors, and degenerating in the ruins.”
Lao Bai’s expression couldn’t help but be a little weird, and he asked curiously.
”Why are you so sure that other survivors will degenerate?”
”What else? Do you think the Enterprise and the Legion have a future?” Glancing at the Enterprise pilot who was sleeping like a pig not far away, Zhao Xiao did not hide his contempt in his heart, and said without hesitation, “A fool who indulges in pleasure, a madman who is militaristic, if the future of this world is handed over to them, it will be really ruined!”
As he said, he clenched the spoon in his hand.
”One day… we will reclaim all the relics before the old heritage is squandered. By then, we will no longer have to miss the past. We will write a new history and go to a more distant world to explore mysteries that the old days never imagined.”
Good fellow.
What kind of “farsightedness” is this? !
Lao Bai looked at the young man with a little surprise.
These great principles did not seem to be his own.
But it may be because he is young that he can speak without scruples.
Of course, what surprised him even more was the academy.
When he first learned about it, he thought the academy was just a simple technical official governing the country, but he did not expect that there was a deeper spiritual core.
Seeing that this guy was getting more and more excited, Chen Yutong coughed lightly and interrupted his long speech.
”The conclusion of the doctor’s theory is indeed true… However, I didn’t think so much. When I was twelve years old, I was lucky to pass the assessment and then entered the academy. In fact, I think it’s good to be like you. There is no such strict level restriction as ours. There is more than one way to live. Even if you don’t become an explorer or researcher, you can still live a good life.”
”That kind of survivor settlement does not exist at all. Where there are people, there are levels. At most, they are just expressed obscurely,” Zhao Xiao said disapprovingly. “I think it’s better to write out the levels and promotion paths clearly, and everyone relies on their own abilities.”
Lao Bai said with a smile.
”What you said makes sense. This is similar to the game. As long as the server continues to operate, there will definitely be old players and new players. The class will not disappear due to subjective neglect.”
”Server? Operation?” Zhao Xiao asked curiously.
Lao Bai coughed lightly and explained.
”What I mean is that even the alliance has levels, such as the contribution level… It is probably similar to your classification. G, F, and E-level researchers should correspond to the three levels of citizens, and above this there are “knights” and so on.”
”Really?” Zhao Xiao looked at Chen Yutong proudly.
The latter did not speak, but his expression was obviously a little disappointed.
It seems that the vision was just a short-lived misunderstanding.
Lao Bai paused and continued.
”However, we don’t think we are superior to others just because our contribution level is higher than others.”
”That’s impossible. Everyone can brag.” Zhao Xiao said without hesitation, and his expression was obviously full of disbelief.
Chen Yutong glanced at the lunch box in his hand, but he didn’t choose to doubt instinctively like Zhao Xiao, but asked.
”Why?”
This question is a bit difficult to answer.
Lao Bai couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
From a realistic perspective, this is just a game.
There are certainly games that deliberately create conflicts among players to provoke competitive consumption, but “Wasteland OL” is obviously not one of them. 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 newcomers, even if the newcomers’ performance is sometimes a little 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 is relatively harmonious. NPCs don’t care whether they are “citizens” or “knights”, and these titles do not bring “superiority” to the residents of the shelter.
On the player side, even if it is a mosquito who has made contributions to the alliance, he will be sent to a small black room to calm down for violating the server regulations.
Lao Bai has felt it before.
Rather than saying that those titles are a kind of identity, it is better to say that they are a kind of honor, or a kind of recognition from the collective.
”There is no standard answer to subjective questions. I can’t answer you. Everyone has different opinions. If you have a chance, you can use your own eyes to confirm what kind of place the alliance is.”
Putting away the lunch box, Lao Bai smiled and continued.
”By the way, let me tell you a good news. It seems that your teammates have not given up on you. They are following us five kilometers away.”
This is the news that Kuangfeng told him before he went offline.
Chen Yutong looked at him nervously, while Zhao Xiao raised the corner of his mouth proudly and said as a matter of course.
”Of course! I said that the academy can’t abandon us!”
Lao Bai smiled and continued.
”Then let’s make a bet.”
Zhao Xiao: “What is the bet?”
Lao Bai said casually: “Just bet… before we cross this mountain and enter the desert, will the academy come to rescue you.”
Zhao Xiao: “Aren’t they here already?”
”Following behind doesn’t count,” Lao Bai said with a smile, “If someone who doesn’t know sees it, they will think your people are seeing us off.”
Zhao Xiao stared at Lao Bai.
”Where’s the bet?”
Of course, he would not be naive to think that if the people from the academy came, the man in front of him would let his captives go.
Just like their sniper said, they still need to use him to block bullets.
However, to his surprise, Lao Bai shrugged and said indifferently.
”If they come to kill us, I will let you go.”
According to his experience, if both sides are unwilling to admit the conflict, then it is likely that they will not admit casualties and prisoners. If they
have not encountered the pursuers of the academy until here, then they will not encounter them on the way forward.
It doesn’t matter if the judgment is wrong.
Let one prisoner go and capture two more.
Zhao Xiao looked at him in surprise, and seeing that he didn’t look like he was joking, his expression became serious.
”Then what do you want from me…”
”It’s okay to get something from you,” Lao Bai laughed, thought for a while and said, “Well, let me think… If I win, you can just buy me a beer.”
A beer? !
Zhao Xiao was stunned, his face flushed slightly.
The look of not taking them seriously made him feel a little humiliated.
However, a hero would not suffer a loss in front of him, so Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and nodded.
”Deal… but you have to keep your word.”
Old White said calmly.
”Don’t worry, I said, I won’t use those things for you.”
…
In the northern part of the Valley Province, on the wasteland near the nuclear bomb crater, there are rows of shabby and shabby tents.
This camp has no name, and it may not even be in this location next year.
The scavengers living here are like nomads chasing pasture. Wherever they pick up garbage, they move their tents and campfires there.
If you are unlucky, the ghouls wandering around the nuclear bomb crater will naturally help the unlucky guy to take care of his afterlife.
They who choose to “degenerate” into scavengers don’t particularly care whether their bodies fall into the mouths of ghouls or aliens.
Anyway, there is no difference in the way they eat, and neither is very elegant.
Buyers who are interested in the garbage in their hands or their ability to pick up garbage will naturally find a way to find them.
One morning.
Gust, who was over 50 years old, got up early as usual and prepared to drive his “Excavator No. 1” to the nearby ancient battlefield to dig up some valuable treasures.
Just as he was about to put on his backpack and go out with his equipment, the bald Aqiang from the Digging Warriors next door suddenly came to the door.
”Several big families have come to the settlement and said they want to recruit people.”
When he heard that there was a big deal, Gust narrowed his eyes, sat on the stool at the door, and tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe.
”What kind of work?”
”Salvage work.”
”Where?”
”North of the northern mountains of Luoxia Province.”
Hearing this vague statement, Gust frowned.
”Why don’t you just say it’s the Wandering Swamp?”
Digging treasures from the Human League era under the nose of the academy is simply asking for too long. In the eyes of those people, they are not much better than plunderers, and are even more hateful than plunderers. Even
if he had ten thousand guts, he would not dare to expand his business to the academy’s territory.
The bald man said with a chuckle.
”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 500, and they need professional equipment and experience in dismantling large machines.”
”Five hundred?!”
Old Gust’s eyes widened and he smacked his lips.
”That’s a big thing… What are they going to dismantle?”
The bald man shook his head and said.
”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 was instantly moved.
This is not a small amount. If it is all converted into wheat, it would be close to one thousand tons!
Of course, no one would use silver coins to exchange wheat. Going west to Oasis No. 8 in Luoxia Province, you can buy cheaper ones. What
really makes people excited is the Alliance’s KV-1 exoskeleton, metal hydrogen battery, “Electric Mule” light truck 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.
”It sounds interesting…” Gust touched his chin, and his eyes were obviously moved. “Those people are still in the camp?”
Seeing the heartbeat in the old man’s eyes, the bald man smiled and said.
”Still there, let’s go together. This business is not something that a salvage team can take. We can make more money by working together.”
Gust glanced at him and hummed noncommittally,
”Let’s see when we go there.”
…
In the center of the scavenger camp.
Looking at the ragged beggars in front of him, the lost newbie standing next to Lao Liu in the corner couldn’t help but mutter.
”Can we rely on these beggars?”
Bai Gei with a sniper couldn’t help but complain in a low voice.
”+1, I’m afraid that one plane will be dismantled into parts of two planes.”
Lao Liu in the corner was stunned.
”Isn’t that good?”
”What a hammer,” Bai Gei with a sniper rolled his eyes, “Can it fly?”
While the players were whispering, the old man named Gust was secretly looking at the three outsiders.
Three sets of Type 5 “Light Cavalry” exoskeletons.
This kind of equipment is not uncommon in some urban ruins, but there are only two possibilities for the new look, either it is a replica or it is from the 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, Gust grinned and said respectfully.
”Respected sir, don’t look at our tattered clothes, but when it comes to picking up trash… everyone here is an expert.”
A bald man next to him also echoed.
”That’s right, our ancestors have been scavengers for generations. From the People’s Alliance’s aerospace frigate to the canned food of old popsicles, we have thought about anything that can be exchanged for money!”
The aerospace frigate is okay.
Looking at the translated subtitles projected on the tactical eyepiece, the eyes of the lost newbie suddenly showed a surprised expression.
”Wow, what a wasteland version of the Beggars’ Gang.”
”Hiss…” Bai Ge Daisniper took a breath and touched his chin, “You made such an analogy, and I suddenly think they are okay.”
”Who cares! Since we are here, let’s try it first! If it doesn’t work, it’s not our fault.”
Interrupting the teammates’ arguments, Lao Liu from the corner stepped forward and said to the experienced scavengers in front.
”We just talked about the requirements. We need at least 500 experienced scavengers to help us recover a large equipment that has been stranded. We offer one million silver coins. You can discuss the specific division among yourselves… I hope you can nominate someone who can speak first.”
Several scavengers looked at each other, whispered to each other, and seemed to have 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 others. By the way, can you tell us what you want to recover? So that we can determine the tools we need to bring.”
This request is reasonable.
The sixth old man in the corner hesitated for a while and nodded.
”It’s an airplane.”
Gust hesitated.
”What’s the specific model?”
”It’s more than 20 meters long, about 6 or 7 meters high, weighs more than 20 tons, and has two plasma engines… I can only say so much. It’s not good for you to know too much.”
Hearing this parameter, Gust’s face showed a trace of surprise.
This description…
is the enterprise’s killer whale transport plane? !
Guessing something vaguely, the old man didn’t dare to ask any more questions, and quickly ended the topic, bowing his head respectfully.
”I understand… Then, sir, when are we going to set off?”
The affairs between these big forces are not something that a few scavengers can get involved in.
Just as the alliance soldier said, knowing too much is not good for them.
Seeing that the old man didn’t ask any more questions, the sixth old man in the corner breathed a sigh of relief and said immediately.
”Now! The sooner the better!”
Gust grinned and said respectfully.
”Yes! I assure you that our service will satisfy you!”
The sixth old man in the corner nodded.
”I hope so.”
…
Under the leadership of the three players, more than 500 scavengers left the camp and headed for the mountains in the north of Luoxia Province.
Some of them drove three-meter-high forklifts, some led repaired robots, and some led two-headed cows or pushed broken carts by themselves… The things in their hands were basically DIY, or second-hand goods bought from merchants, and it was almost impossible to find a few duplicates.
Looking at these scavengers, Lost Newbie was full of 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 team, who were escorting the pilot, finally walked out of the mountains and saw the endless yellow sand.
”Eh…”
Looking at the air distorted by the heat wave in the distance, Xiaoyu, who was walking in the team, made a slightly tired hum.
The temperature south of the mountains is obviously higher than that in the north, and the dry climate makes it feel obviously uncomfortable for it, which likes a humid environment.
Luoyu touched its little head and comforted it.
”Hold on a little longer, we’re almost there.”
”Eh!”
The comfort seemed to have an effect. Xiaoyu made a happy sound, and the tentacles on the back of his head rippled with happy waves like seaweed.
A smile appeared on Luoyu’s face.
This child is too easy to coax.
Ye Shi glanced at Xiaoyu and muttered softly.
”Oh my God… These tentacles make me scared.”
Luo Yu said embarrassedly.
”I was the same at first, but I got used to it.”
Zhao Xiao, who was walking not far away, looked at the mother body that lived in harmony with others in surprise, and felt that his worldview was shocked.
But now he had no time to digest the surprise in his heart.
After five days of traveling, they had already reached the edge of Luoxia Province. If they walked a few dozen kilometers further, they would soon see Oasis No. 8. It
’s a small matter to owe a glass of beer.
What Zhao Xiao couldn’t believe and couldn’t accept was… he was actually abandoned by the academy? !
Noticing the NPC’s lost expression, Ye Shi, who knew about the bet, stepped forward and teased.
”Don’t be so depressed, think about it from another angle… the academy may not have given up on you.”
Zhao Xiao looked up 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 Shi then continued in a teasing tone.
”Maybe they just cancelled your identity.”
”You…” Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and stared at him, but finally held back the “bullshit”.
People under the eaves have to bow their heads,
Zhao Xiao comforted himself in his heart.
Just at this moment, a cloud of dust suddenly floated in the yellow sand in the distance.
Looking at the movement in the distance, Zhao Xiao was slightly stunned, and hope suddenly ignited in his heart.
He suddenly remembered that the Golden Lizard Kingdom seemed to be a “preparatory member state” 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 lords’ armies was poor, at least the scale was there, and even a spit from each person could drown these guys.
However-
this joyful mood did not last even two seconds in his heart, and trucks soon appeared behind the dust.
It was obviously not the army of the Golden Lizard Kingdom. It
was not only Zhao Xiao who was in a trough, but also the Beacon Team who followed behind all the way.
The back row of the tracked vehicle.
Jiang Xuezhou, with his eyes closed, moved his lips.
”The Alliance’s reinforcements! There are at least three hundred… no, maybe four hundred.”
The medical soldier sitting next to him smiled bitterly.
”Is it that serious?”
Zheng Hao, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke.
”These people are not here to guard against us… most likely to intimidate the Golden Lizard Kingdom.”
The Alliance could not be unaware of the relationship between the Golden Lizard Kingdom and the Academy.
Although their preparations were completely unnecessary, in order to take their pilots home, the Alliance was actually ready 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 impossible to rescue those prisoners.
They really watched those people stroll around under the eyes of the Academy, and then swaggered home.
Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, and slowly spoke.
”Report the situation to the superiors… wait for the news.”
This place has left the coverage 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, but suddenly her eyebrows moved slightly, and her index finger pressed on the edge of her temple.
”There is an unfamiliar communication request… It should be sent by those people.”
Zheng Hao said immediately.
”Receive it to me.”
At the same time as the order was issued, the light blue holographic screen unfolded in his field of vision, and a strange face appeared in front of him.
It was the first time Zheng Hao saw this man.
But looking at the man’s eyes, he always had a very familiar feeling… They had met eyes a few days ago!
”I am Lao Bai, the commander of the Burning Corps.” The man on the holographic screen said.
Without introducing himself, Zheng Hao stared at him and said.
”What do you want to say.”
”Nothing, I just think that you are a group of archaeologists, and you are not good at fighting. It’s unlucky to be sent by your superiors to provoke us.”
Zheng Hao’s heart sank slightly.
It seems that the captives should have confessed something.
However, he didn’t understand why this person contacted him, and he didn’t understand why this person revealed this news to him.
”Are you here to ridicule me?” Zheng Hao frowned and said.
”I’m not that boring.”
Smiling, Lao Bai continued.
”I heard that this place has left the coverage of the academy’s signal tower, so I’ll be frank… Let’s make a deal.”
”What deal?”
”We are very interested in your tracked vehicle.”
Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, and said with a cold smile.
”Oh, then what?”
”Leave the vehicle here, and you can take the prisoners away.”
”Haha.”
Zheng Hao laughed out loud.
Leaving it is okay.
He admitted that his team was no match for those well-trained soldiers, just as they might not be as professional as these experts in dealing with aliens.
But wanting this “Reindeer” tracked vehicle to stay is undoubtedly a bit of a pipe dream.
The off-road capability of this thing is far beyond the comparison of those trucks.
Expecting him to have this reaction, Lao Bai continued with a smile.
”Don’t rush to refuse, I can give you another 20 rifles and a truck…”
Zheng Hao said with a gloomy face.
”What use do I have for those junks.”
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.
”By winning once, do you mean that we left behind a tracked vehicle and finally got back a few E-class prisoners and rifles?”
”What if we add a little tissue sample of the mother of the special variant slime mold numbered X-277?”
Zheng Hao was slightly stunned, and a hint of enthusiasm suddenly appeared in his eyes, but he was not overwhelmed by this enthusiasm. He stared at the guy named Lao Bai vigilantly.
”Are you willing to… give it to us?!”
Lao Bai, standing on the holographic screen, smiled and shook the test tube in his hand, in which a few pieces of fine tissue debris floated.
”Well, our allies authorized me to provide you with a little tissue sample of the mother. After all, the mutant slime mold is our common enemy. If you can make some progress, it will also be good for us.”
Of course, it was not the enterprise that authorized him, but the manager.
And the tissue fragments in the test tube in his hand were certainly not the samples that had just been collected, or even collected from Xiaoyu.
It was extracted from the mother nest on the B6 layer, and together with other soldiers of the Burning Corps, it was airlifted to the vicinity of Oasis No. 8 by the enterprise’s aircraft.
However, it should be enough to fool this explorer.
I guess the academy would not believe that the alliance actually kept a mother nest that could be studied at will.
Just look at the grand occasion of Qingquan City’s “wave” every year. That kind of thing is something that even the post-war reconstruction committee can’t handle.
What’s more, this is a desert, and there is no mother nest nearby.
Zheng Hao stared at the test tube and silently started the pattern recognition program. After getting the recognition result of 87% matching, his breathing became rapid.
There is no doubt that it is a tissue fragment of the mother or the mother nest!
He thought that he would never be promoted to a researcher in this life, and he was satisfied to keep his status as a D-level explorer.
However, now, this opportunity is in front of him again…
The doors of countless biological laboratories will be open to him, and hundreds of mentors will extend olive branches to him, recruiting his team and project into their own laboratories, and he and his team members will also transfer from the most unpromising Investigation Department to the promising Research Department!
As for the loss of a mere “Reindeer”, no one will care at all. Those academic masters will rush to pay for him!
And the most important thing is that this is a gain outside of the mission!
No one can share their credit!
”…How do you lose?”
Hearing this answer, Lao Bai’s mouth curled 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 tracked vehicle over, and then drive the truck away from us.”
Zheng Hao said cautiously: “How do I know you won’t regret it?”
”We have no reason to do that. If we wanted to kill you, we would have done it a long time ago. Or do you doubt that we don’t have the ability?”
Seeing that the man didn’t speak, Lao Bai continued.
”And I have to tell you that although I have been authorized by my superiors, this is not a transaction between the Alliance and the Academy, but a transaction between the Burning Corps and the Beacon Squad. So I hope that there is no locator or monitoring on the tracked vehicle… From your point of view, you don’t want other irrelevant people to know what happened today, right?”
Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, and slowly spoke.
”I hope you will 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.”
(End of this chapter)
