Chapter 165 Free City

Northwest Base, Command Center, three underground floors, encrypted conference room.

Ruan Ning pushed a data chip to Qin Li. "Deep in the Qilian Mountains, in the Seventh District Energy Station. One of the energy cores left over from the 'Origin' Project, it is still operating at low power."

Qin Li inserted the chip into the terminal and quickly browsed the images and log fragments that had been brought back. When he saw "Vehicle No. 07 (Water/Mental Tendency)," his finger paused.

“Number 07…” He looked up at the pendant around Ruan Ning’s neck, “Your necklace, is it ‘Carrier 07’?”

"The power station's control panel has verified it," Ruan Ning nodded. "It shares the same origin as the necklace and can resonate with it. The logs show that there's more than one 'carrier.' Qin Li, where's your necklace?"

Qin Li pulled a silver chain from his collar, with a jade pendant hanging from the bottom.

Ruan Ning sensed it and found that Qin Li's jadeite emitted a stable and heavy energy fluctuation, which was different from the cool and flowing feeling of her jadeite pendant.

“The power station’s control panel has a physical interface that matches the outline of my pendant. Perhaps yours can be docked as well.” Ruan Ning looked at him. “We need to know its number and what information it carries.”

The next day, the team set off again for the Qilian Mountains.

We entered the valley with practiced ease and opened the entrance to the energy station. The circular hall remained serene and tranquil, its blue hue undiminished.

Ruan Ning inserted her jade pendant into the console interface, and the screen lit up, displaying "Carrier 07 - Temporary Visitor Permission".

She took a step back and looked at Qin Li.

Qin Li brought the necklace close to the console interface.

Screen refresh:

[Identity verification: Carrier 06. Access level: Temporary visitor.]

[Suitable for: Strength/Defense/Energy Resistance Enhancement]

[Status: Dormant (Low Energy Maintenance)]

[Final Record: Basic compatibility testing completed with carrier 07. Synchronization rate: 31%. Conclusion: Functionally complementary; can operate independently or with low coordination. Recommended application scenarios: Area defense, energy diversion.]

"The synchronization rate is not high." Zhou Min looked at the data.

“The functions are complementary,” Shen Yan pointed out. “One focuses on control and perception, while the other focuses on defense and resistance.”

Qin Li's operation interface brought up the list of accessible permissions for carrier 06, which mainly included permissions for energy station structural reinforcement, energy isolation, and physical barrier generation.

One of the messages reads: "[Joint authorization with carrier No. 07: Activate the 'Guardian Protocol' - Basic].

Ruan Ning's interface also displays the following: [Joint authorization with carrier No. 06: Activate "Guide Agreement" - Basic].

“Give it a try,” Ruan Ning said.

Qin Li nodded.

Both of them chose to authorize.

The screen displays: [Joint licensing request sent... Verification successful. Activate primary protocol? Warning: This will consume significant energy.]

"Activate," Qin Li confirmed.

The energy station's reactor emitted a brilliant blue light, its pulse accelerating. The patterns on the walls lit up, forming an energy network that covered the entire hall.

Screen display:

[“Guide Protocol - Basic” activated: Increases mental perception accuracy within a 50-meter radius of Carrier 07 by 30%, and increases water-based ability control efficiency by 25%.]

[“Guardian Protocol - Basic” activated: Increases physical defense strength within a 50-meter radius of Carrier 06 by 40% and energy resistance by 35%.]

[Protocol Linkage: The overlapping area of ​​the two protocols forms a "Primary Collaborative Domain," within which all authorized units receive a slight boost to all attributes and accelerated energy recovery.]

An invisible force field spread. Ruan Ning felt her mental energy become more concentrated, and her control over water vapor became effortless. Qin Li felt as if his body was covered with an invisible armor, and external energy interference was reduced.

Zhou Min, Lin Yan, Shen Yan, and Da Huo stood in the overlapping area, and their fatigue was significantly relieved.

"It can't be used for long, it consumes energy too quickly." Qin Li sensed it for a moment and then proactively closed the protocol.

The power station returns to a low-power state.

Ruan Ning pulled out the pendant: "It seems that 06 and 07 are a pair. The other carriers should also have their own pairs or functions."

“The vessel that the Shen family is looking for is not just a key,” Shen Yan analyzed. “They may want to assemble a complete set of vessels to obtain full authority or power.”

Qin Li put away the crystal: "We need to find out the whereabouts of the other carriers. We can't take the data from the energy station with us, but at least we know what we have and what we can do with it."

On the way back to base, the communicator rang; it was Qin Li's adjutant who had stayed behind at the base.

"Team Leader Qin, we've caught two remnants of the 'Business Alliance.' They confessed that the Shen family has recently been buying 'special crystals or ancient jade' at high prices on the black market. Also, we have news about the 'Doctor.'"

"Speak," Qin Li said.

“Someone spotted a person matching the description in ‘Liberty City’ to the south, accompanied by several people in white coats. They also seemed to be looking for something, but the specifics are unclear. Our people are working on confirming this.”

Ruan Ning took the communicator: "Keep a close eye on the movements of 'Freedom City'. Also, strengthen the screening within the base, especially for medical personnel who have recently been in contact with radiation patients or patients with special injuries."

"clear."

Hang up the communication.

Shen Yan looked at Ruan Ning: "'The doctor' appeared in Liberty City, and the Shen family bought the carrier at a high price... They may have obtained other identification numbers, or they may be looking for them."

“Let’s go to Liberty City,” Ruan Ning said.

Qin Li frowned: "That's a no-man's-land, with mixed factions, it's very dangerous."

“That’s why it’s a good place to hide and make deals.” Ruan Ning looked out the car window. “The ‘doctor’ may have the clues we need, or even other means of communication.”

Qin Li was silent for a moment: "We need a plan. Free City is a complicated place; we can't just barge in."

"Let's go back to base first," Ruan Ning said. "To replenish equipment and gather intelligence. We'll set off within a week."

The vehicle accelerated into the night.

A trip to Liberty City is imperative.

One week later, on the outskirts of the Northwest Base.

Two camouflaged SUVs were parked next to an abandoned gas station, with faded "Free Trade" signs on them.

Qin Li unfolded the hand-drawn map: "Free City is divided into three areas: the outer area where refugees gather, the middle trading market, and the inner city, which is the territory of several major forces. The last time 'Doctor' appeared was near 'Black Scorpion's' territory in the inner city. There is an underground medical station there that specializes in superpower modification and black market organ trading."

Shen Yan inspected the equipment: "'Black Scorpion's' leader is called Viper, a fourth-tier poison-type ability user, and he employs a group of desperados. They have a history of weapons transactions with the Shen family."

Ruan Ning stored the jade pendant in her spatial storage: "We'll go in as a medicine caravan. Qin Li, you play the boss. Shen Yan, the technician. Zhou Min and Lin Yan are the guards. Da Huo and I will stay in the shadows."

"Not going to act together?" Lin Yan asked.

“The target is too big.” Ruan Ning looked at the messy cluster of buildings faintly visible on the distant horizon. “There are no rules in Liberty City, only the strong and the weak. Let’s find out the situation at the medical station first and locate the exact position of the ‘doctor’ before we make our move.”

Qin Li nodded: "The intelligence says that the 'Doctor' has at least two fourth-level ability user bodyguards, one mental and one physical enhancement. His own ability is unknown, but he is proficient in biological modification and pharmacology, making him extremely dangerous."

"Prioritize information gathering, avoid direct confrontation." Ruan Ning opened the car door. "Let's go."

The vehicle drove towards Liberty City. The scenery along the way became increasingly desolate, with potholes and abandoned vehicles and skeletons scattered everywhere. As they approached the outskirts, makeshift shacks and wary-looking refugees began to appear.

A rusty steel gate blocked the way, and several men dressed in haphazard leather armor and carrying weapons stepped forward.

"Stop! City entry fee: two Tier 1 crystal cores per person, vehicle fee extra." The leader was a burly man with a scar on his face.

Qin Li rolled down the car window and handed over a small bag: "Ten Tier 1 pills, is that enough?"

The scarred man weighed the bag in his hand and grinned, "You know the rules. Go inside, and don't cause trouble."

The door slowly opened.

The interior of Liberty City was more chaotic and crowded than the outside. The streets were narrow and dirty, lined with crooked shacks and tents, and the air was thick with the stench of decay, blood, and cheap fuel.

All sorts of people moved among them, many of them bearing obvious abnormalities or disabilities.