Chapter 275 Machine 14

In a few days, the epidemic swept through the entire mechanical city. The hospitals were overcrowded and the streets were filled with disinfecting robots.

After testing, it was found that the source of the epidemic was the pile of corpses in the slums in the west of the city. A large number of corpses accumulated in the dim and narrow streets. There were not only corpses, but also various industrial wastes. The smell was very unpleasant. A rain accelerated the spread of the virus, and it soon spread to the entire mechanical city.

The slums are densely populated, and there are many idle hooligans who are willing to do anything. Even if they are sick, they will go to densely populated areas. Although the royal blockade slowed the spread of the disease, the root cause of the virus was not solved. A fire in the east of the city burned the bodies, giving the residents there a brief respite, and the symptoms were much better than those in the slums in the west of the city.

The west of the city has become a purgatory. Healthy people can be counted on one hand, and the streets are densely packed with withered corpses covered with black spots. Occasionally, a limb would wave, causing the tide of corpses to rise and fall, and the stench would surge out in waves.

"These are special times. To ensure the health and safety of the citizens, the royal family is preparing to quarantine any sick residents. Medication is currently under development. Please remain calm and follow the instructions..."

Drones stayed in the air all night, and residents of the central streets were taken to the nearest hospital. If anyone showed signs of illness, they were immediately taken to an isolation center. This was only what was seen and heard on the surface. In reality, the slums were once again sealed off.

The royal family’s medical resources are limited, and even residents of the central streets cannot receive adequate treatment and care, and the poor children in the slums are abandoned.

Cold-blooded robots are everywhere at the intersections of every street. Once they find anyone with fever symptoms, even mild ones, they will be taken to the incinerator in the name of isolation.

The residential building where Jiang Chan lives is the slum in the east of the city. The high-rise building that was knocked down and bombed by the Silver Armor has been recycled and used as a place to eliminate the source of disease.

The robots come to the homes twice a day to check biometric information. Once an abnormality is found, they are immediately killed and then taken to the incineration site for burning. The efficiency is very high. In just a few days, the population of the slums has dropped sharply, and the drunkards who were seen everywhere on the streets have disappeared without a trace, leaving only broken glass shards on the ground.

“Bang, bang, bang—”

Gunshots rang out, and without even a sound to beg for mercy, the person turned into a limp corpse and was dragged out of the corridor. The robot dragged the body away, and the passage at the back opened, revealing something like a water pipe with a nozzle, spraying disinfectant on the ground, walls, and ceiling.

The entire set of actions flowed smoothly and naturally. In the face of absolute force, even the most scoundrels suppressed their despicable tempers, huddled in a corner, hoping that the Grim Reaper's scythe would fall on those around them and save them from disaster.

During the lockdown, the slums were so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the only sound being the rustle of the wheels of a lowly disinfection robot. This most ordinary sound hung like a knife over everyone's head, unpredictable.

Jiang Chan patted her chest with lingering fear. She thought of her close contact with the corpses. Although Yin Jia had disinfected her entire body, she still felt very uncomfortable. Thinking of the symptoms of the sick, she felt itchy all over. She touched her cheek and asked Yin Jia, "Is there something on my face?"

Yin Jia: "Young Master, you don't." His tone remained steady and calm, but Jiang Chan could hear a hint of worry: "But your temperature is abnormal and high. Young Master, please lie down in bed and rest immediately."

Jiang Chan was pushed back onto the bed. Yin Jia covered her with a blanket and asked, "Young Master, if you can't sleep, remember to tell Yin Jia and he will tell you a story."

"Okay, Yin Jia, I don't need it now." Jiang Chan turned over and faced Yin Jia. She felt really dizzy and closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Jiang Chan's face was very red, her eyes were red, her cheeks were like apples, and her forehead was damp. She soon broke out in sweat while sleeping wrapped in the quilt. Yin Jia stood by her side, checking her temperature from time to time. The temperature was very high, which was not good. Yin Jia picked her up, patted her back to wake her up, fed her some antipyretic medicine, and then tucked her back into the quilt.

Jiang Chan's mouth felt bitter, and she complained about being uncomfortable. Yin Jia mixed some sugar water with it and then gave her some boiled water to clean her mouth. Jiang Chan was enjoying Yin Jia's care, closing her eyes and preparing to sleep, when a cold, mechanical voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Routine inspection, open the door."

Jiang Chan suddenly woke up, breaking out in a cold sweat. She crawled up wrapped in the quilt, her face filled with panic. Her body temperature was definitely abnormal. She could feel herself burning hot. If she was inspected by a robot, she would definitely be taken out for disinfection! This was in a residential building. Silver Armor had an offensive function, but its power was not small. Even if he blew up the robot and the building didn't collapse by chance, there would be other robots coming...

Are they going to blow up the entire slum and then flee in pursuit of the royal family? Jiang Chan broke out in a cold sweat, her voice trembling: "Yingjia, what should I do? Is there any way to cool me down?"

At the door, a quickening mechanical voice said, "Routine inspection, open the door!"

"Open the door!"

"Open the door!"

"Open the door!"

The robot's voice was cold and flat. It began to make a clicking sound. Even through the door panel, Jiang Chan seemed to be able to feel that its bullet hole was opening, ready to force the door open and deal with the people inside.

Yin Jia: "Don't worry, young master." The steady tone gave Jiang Chan a moment of peace of mind. She tightly grasped Yin Jia's fingers. His palms were very wide and thick, and she couldn't hold them, so she could only grab his fingers.

As long as there is electricity and internet, it is not a difficult task for Yin Jia. Robots can share their locations and transmit information in real time, so he can cut off their communication paths and follow the invisible thread to aim at the robot's location, invade its core system, and destroy, control, or disguise it as he pleases.

The urging voice outside the door gradually became stuck: "Open the door... open... the door... open..."

Jiang Chan's ears pricked up, and she moved forward wrapped in the quilt. Yin Jia put one arm in front of her to block her from falling. Jiang Chan loosened Yin Jia's fingers and grabbed his arm instead, putting her whole weight on the strong metal arm and leaning her head forward. After a while, the taut string slowly loosened.

"Ginger Armor, is it malfunctioning?"

"Yes, young master."

"Did you do this?"

"Yes, young master."

"Wow, Yin Jia, you are so powerful? That's the royal robot, can you control it?" Jiang Chan's face was full of shock. Her hand was still on Yin Jia's arm, but she began to grope around, trying to see what was different about him.

Shining Armor's voice remained calm. "Young Master, Shining Armor will protect you. Shining Armor won't let anything hurt you."

Inside the house, a warm conversation unfolded. Outside, the invaded robot was battling the virus within its body. Slowly, it began to emit a humming sound. Then, its bullet port closed, its aiming program shut down, and its roller began to rotate. "Inspection complete, no danger..."

It left Jiang Chan's door.

Jiang Chan exhaled and raised her hand to wipe the sweat off her face, but Yin Jia got there first and wiped the sweat off her forehead and neck with a towel. He then stuffed her back into the quilt, tucking in the corners, and stared intently at Jiang Chan, who was wrapped like a silkworm cocoon.

"Young Master, you are very weak and need to rest. Please sleep peacefully. Silver Armor will always be by your side."

Jiang Chan hummed softly, clenched one of Yin Jia's fingers, and soon fell asleep.

Jiang Chan slept until dark. Yin Jia fed her porridge and medicine during the night. In the second half of the night, Jiang Chan's temperature was very high, very hot, like a stove. Yin Jia touched her forehead, which was covered with sweat. He wiped it clean for her and stayed by her side. Jiang Chan murmured about being hot, then murmured about feeling uncomfortable. She tossed and turned in the quilt and couldn't fall asleep.

The family prepared baijiu, a common practice for the orphanage's mother. If a child had a high fever, they would rub it on their body. As the alcohol evaporated, the temperature would drop, effectively alleviating the pain. Yin Jia carefully took Jiang Chan's hand and smeared the liquor on her palm, then her lower back. He pulled up her clothes, wiped the sweat off first, then smeared the liquor on her legs, the soles of her feet... Once all the baijiu had been used up, Jiang Chan looked like she'd been soaked in a wine vat, her whole body reeking of sweet and spicy alcohol.

Jiang Chan's temperature was finally no longer so hot, and she fell asleep. Yin Jia stared at her. His cold and ruthless metal eyes could emit a warm red light, enveloping Jiang Chan's body. Jiang Chan frowned in her dreams. Yin Jia didn't dare to make a sound for fear of waking her up. His limbs occasionally made a clicking sound when he moved, so he kept still.

At this moment, screams were suddenly heard in the corridor, followed by gunshots. Such things happened every day. Because of the blockade of the slums and the reduction of food supply, some people who were short of food and clothing took risks and broke into houses to rob. Yinjia did not feel much about these things. He was an emotionless robot, but now, those sounds woke up Jiang Chan.

Jiang Chan began to groan again, pulling back the covers to complain about being hot, then a moment later complaining about being cold. Yin Jia pulled out the quilt and wrapped it around her, while he huddled up at Jiang Chan's feet. The warmth of the quilt blocked out most of the noise, but Yin Jia still felt dissatisfied.

Yes, he was dissatisfied.

Jiang Chan was very well-behaved in her sleep, and even when she was upset, she was also very well-behaved. She never cried loudly, and when she was very upset, she would only hum in frustration. She was very fragile, very cute, very beautiful, and very smart. She didn't belong here. The slums were filled with blood, violence, and filth. She was a bird with pure white wings, a bird that should fly in the blue sky, not be trapped in a cramped and dark cage...

Silver Armor slowly lowered his head, like a devout believer kneeling on the ground, looking up at his master intently.

Looking at her eyes, her curved eyelashes were like beautiful wings, her round nose was covered with sweat, her cheeks were red, like bright red berries, her whole body exuded a burning breath, but her lips were very white. Yin Jia moistened her lips with water, but they dried up immediately, so Yin Jia moisturized them again. He thought, he wanted to give his little master a better life.

He didn't understand how this idea was different from before, but he vaguely sensed the hidden meaning in it.