Chapter 117 Mental Overload (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)

During the conversation.

Minister Bai had already led her to a courtyard.

A white building stands in the courtyard, which seems somewhat out of place in contrast to the surrounding antique environment.

This is what is known as a noise-reducing room.

Similar to a safe house.

It can block out all outside sounds; if a person stays inside, even if they scream their lungs out, no one outside can hear them.

"No one is seeing patients in this noise reduction room today. Let me take you in to have a look."

Yun Zhao nodded and followed Minister Bai into the house.

Upon entering, the first thing you hear is white noise playing at the same frequency as outside.

It was the sound of waves mixed with the sound of wind.

The room, about 20 square meters, is decorated in warm colors and has a cozy feel.

The floor is covered with a soft beige carpet, making you feel as if you are walking on clouds as soon as you step in. Next to the bookshelf is a simple white table with an exquisite vase on it, containing a few delicate flowers.

There is also a single bed, a rocking chair, and a sofa.

The sentries are free to choose whether to sit, stand, or lie down.

What is particularly striking and jarring is that thick iron chains hang on the walls next to the bed, rocking chair, and sofa, creating a contradictory sense of division in the entire room.

"There's nothing we can do about it. If the sentries get out of control, they will threaten the guides' lives."

Minister Bai was also helpless.

The process of guiding the guides needs to be quiet, and it is not advisable for any third party to be present. The base must ensure the safety of the guides.

Minister Bai then pointed outside the door and explained, "There is a tea room and a washroom outside, and a rest room inside, which is for the guides to use."

"Before carrying out the guidance work, the guides need to tidy themselves up, make sure they don't have any irritating smells, and adjust their mindset before starting work."

Yun Zhao listened attentively, and once again felt fortunate that he had not joined the Special Abilities Department.

The little bluebird had no patience.

She really couldn't stay here all day doing repetitive work and still maintain a good attitude.

Minister Bai seemed to sense her emotions and explained with a smile, "Actually, the guides' workload is not high. The base takes everyone's physical and mental health into consideration, so they can rest after guiding two or three sentries each day."

"You don't have to stay here during your break; you can go wherever you want."

The guides have excellent benefits.

Free housing, free medical care, and free water and electricity.

There are ten days of vacation per month. In addition to the basic points issued, there are often various bonuses, and various gifts and supplies are given away for free on holidays.

This contrasts the sentinels who have to go out and face mutants and contaminated areas with the ordinary people inside the base.

In a wasteland era where resources are scarce.

While most people are struggling to make ends meet, the guides are well-fed and clothed, and don't have to go out to risk their lives. They are the envy of everyone.

Yun Zhao nodded again, offering no comment.

Minister Bai knew her personality; she was quiet and reserved. So he continued the conversation, saying, "As for precautions, the second one is to observe the sentries' reactions and confirm their condition."

"The symptoms of the Sentinels fall into two categories. The first is that they are severely corrupted by dark matter and need to be cleansed."

"The second type is mental overload, which causes all five senses to be focused on one point, making the mind confused and unable to pay attention to other things."

"In severe cases, it is possible to become trapped in one's own mental state."

We call this state "spiritual wandering".

Minister Bai said, "Almost all the sentries in the Operations Department have both of these symptoms."

The mental burden brought by powerful senses, and the erosion caused by dark matter from frequent entry into polluted areas.

This is a genetic defect that occurs when the ability to awaken arises.

"Then how should we guide the second type of guides?" Yun Zhao asked.

Minister Bai's answer was just two words: "Appease."

The Sentinel's mental realm is extremely fragile, and all the inner, imperceptible things will manifest in that realm.

Guides are naturally able to soothe sentries, and the higher the compatibility, the better they are.

"Is that so...?" Yun Zhao's tone carried a hint of uncertainty.

Because she remembered the oranges from Jiang Mu's team.

Within contaminated zone 88, Orange was in a dazed state, much like what Minister Bai described as 'wandering in a trance'.

Yun Zhao had always believed that he was influenced by dark matter.

In reality, they are two different symptoms.

It seems that despite all the counseling she's done these past few days, she hasn't even figured out the root cause of other people's problems.

appease?

Yun Zhao was certain that her little bluebird didn't have this function.

At the time, Little Bluebird went in alone to provide psychological counseling.

The little guy went in and started causing trouble, messing up other people's mental space, and even slapped Orange's lynx so hard it flew far away.

What kind of appeasement is this?

But in the end, Orange was lively and energetic, showing no signs of discomfort.

Yun Zhao silently asked the little bluebird in his heart, "Are Sentinels masochists?"

Do you enjoy seeing spirit entities causing trouble in the spiritual realm?

The little bluebird snorted and raised its noble head.

They're useless.

The little guy's words clearly meant that he was cursing both the guide and the sentry.

The other guides are useless, and the sentries are useless too.

After showing Yun Zhao around the noise reduction room, Minister Bai took her to see other places and explained in detail the operation of each part of the evacuation room.

During this time, the two encountered a sentry and a guide who had just come out of another noise-reducing room.

We visited the guide's rest area.

Three hours had passed by the time Yun Zhao returned to the hall.

Xie Tu was the only one left in the hall.

Xu Mingcheng was nowhere to be seen; he had probably already entered the noise reduction room.

The man leaned back on the single sofa, his eyelids lowered as he looked at the messages on his communicator.

I heard familiar footsteps getting closer and closer.

Xie Tu stood up, and Chao Yun Zhao looked over.

"alright?"

"Um."

Xie Tu nodded slightly, then turned to Minister Bai and said, "Then we'll be going now."

Minister Bai glanced back and forth between the two men, his expression unchanged, and said gently, "Well, if you need Yun Zhao's help next time, Captain Xie, don't refuse to let him go."

Xie Tu: "Of course not."

Yun Zhao wanted to ask Minister Bai where Bai Yu was, but in the end he held back.

I guess they're busy and haven't seen the message.

The two said goodbye to Minister Bai and came out of the evacuation room.

Xie Tu opened the car door and got into the driver's seat. "Minister Duan just sent a message saying that the data has been registered and that there will be a meeting at nine o'clock tomorrow morning to collect the settlement bonus."

Yun Zhao said "Oh," and asked, "So, will training resume the day after tomorrow?"

Xie Tu: "Mm."

Yun Zhao: "Can we skip the mountain climb? It's too hot."

Xie Tu answered very readily, "Sure."

Yun Zhao glanced at him suspiciously. Was he really that easy to talk to?

"If you don't like it, then we'll change the training method. It will be more tiring than climbing mountains, so be prepared." Xie Tu said as he started the armored vehicle, which slowly moved forward and entered the main road.

Seeing how seriously he was driving, Yun Zhao said, "You said you would teach me to drive. Can we learn to drive first and then practice?"

She felt that her training progress was very slow.

Results will not be seen in the short term.

It's better to learn how to drive first, so that at least you can drive yourself to the training ground later without having to climb mountains or bother others.

Xie Tu smiled and replied, "Okay."

It was already past 5 p.m.

As the various research institutes and office buildings closed for the day, the once quiet inner city streets suddenly came alive, breaking the usual silence.

Yun Zhao looked out the car window.

This was the first time she had ever seen so many people in the inner city.

People in uniforms of different colors hurried home, while others strolled leisurely, enjoying this moment of relaxation.

The bicycle bell rang crisply and melodiously, and the faint sounds of conversation could be heard.

Without exception, each of these people had a white red-crowned crane perched on their shoulder.

It's exactly the same as the one on her combat uniform.

The car quickly drove out of the inner city and into the more bustling outer city.

Xie Tu gripped the steering wheel with one hand, glanced at his watch, and said calmly, "It's almost six o'clock. I bought some groceries on the way here this morning. I'll make braised pork tonight. Shall we eat dinner before heading back?"

Yun Zhao hesitated for only a moment before readily agreeing, "Okay."

She didn't get to eat any meat yesterday.

Braised pork...it must be delicious.

Seeing that she agreed, the man driving the vehicle relaxed, and the armored vehicle drove straight out of the base.

Without going through security, I quickly exited the base through the least crowded gate.

During the ascent up the mountain.

Xie Tu seemed to sense something and suddenly slowed down.

Yun Zhao turned to look at him, "What's wrong?"

Xie Tu squinted at the pointed area halfway up the mountain and replied, "There are people in the training ground."

My senses were severely impaired, and I didn't realize it until I got very close to him.

"Is it the rabbits?"

Xie Tu shook his head: "No."

He seemed to have guessed who it was, and sped up again, heading towards the training ground.

After thinking for a moment, Yun Zhao guessed it too...

On the day she returned, Dawn Base requested that she provide psychological counseling for S-class Sentinel Fuheng.

After she agreed, she was already on her way.

Is Fu Yu... here?