Chapter 526, Polluted Zone 24 (XIV)

The group headed straight for the internet cafe, which was brightly lit with neon lights.

Pushing open the door, all I saw was deathly silence.

A faint smell of dust filled the air, and the pale, lifeless light shone on rows of neat but empty computers.

Qi Ling noticed something was wrong as soon as she entered.

In the 22nd century, quantum computers have become widespread, yet these computer mainframes are still using traditional chips from the last century.

The screen is a regular flat-panel LCD with a wide bezel, the chassis is bulky and has an old-fashioned appearance, as if it was moved from a history museum.

“These computers are too old; they’re more like relics from the last century,” Qi Ling said truthfully.

Xia Mingang: "Never mind whether it's an antique or not, let's try to turn it on first."

Qi Ling did as instructed, reaching out to press the power button on the main unit.

The screen flickered a few times and then the startup screen appeared.

"It actually starts up."

Qi Ling muttered to himself, "The cyber world is known for its technology, I thought the electronic products would be very advanced..."

Yun Zhao landed on the cashier counter and said, "It seems that only the art style is similar."

Xie Tu glanced around and nodded, "It's basically confirmed that the goalkeeper is imitating a cyberpunk style."

"To prove that the real topic has nothing to do with cyberpunk?" Qi Ling said casually, staring at the startup screen.

"uncertain."

Yun Zhao said, "It's possible that its obsession is to create a real cyber city."

Because our current strength is insufficient, we can only use Chongqing's terrain to achieve a superficial resemblance.

Thinking about the dream he had last night, Yun Zhao was completely baffled. "What could cyberpunk have to do with zombies?"

Qi Shiqi kept his notebook close at hand and analyzed from a researcher's perspective: "Judging from the Memory Hotel's promotional slogans, it's definitely not what it claims to be."

"I suspect that the Memory Hotel is a setting, originally intended to store memories, but due to the gatekeeper's insufficient strength, deviations occurred."

"The fact that only the two of us dreamed of so-called zombies, while others did not, suggests that the core obsession of the contaminated area may have resonated with some of our memories or perceptions."

resonance?

Yun Zhao lowered his head in thought.

Qi Shiqi, this research fanatic, has countless theories about contaminated areas in his mind.

It's understandable that the goalkeeper could resonate with him.

But she knew about zombies because she had seen them in the contaminated area before. How could the gatekeeper have seen zombies?

Will it also resonate with zombies?

"I said, is it possible that you're overthinking it?"

Xia Mingang had somehow climbed over the counter and was rummaging through a pile of posters. "Because only the two of you went to sleep last night, that's why only the two of you dreamed about it."

Qi Ling is a mutant; she doesn't dream.

As for Xie Tu and Xia Mingang, one keeps watch at night and the other suffers from insomnia. Apart from the three of them, there's only Yun Zhao and the mad scientist.

"Shut up and stop interrupting my train of thought."

Qi Shiqi yelled at him, then turned around and, as if nothing had happened, continued to take notes and explain.

"Cyber ​​world and zombies seem to have nothing in common, but if you think about it from the perspective of contaminated areas... there must be similarities."

Qi Shiqi asked, "What is the essence of the zombie virus?"

Before anyone could answer, he gave the answer himself.

"It is uncontrolled replication and infection, and the underlying logic of the cyber world is precisely the infinite replication and spread of information."

Unlimited copying and dissemination of information?

Upon hearing Qi Shiqi's words, everyone fell into deep thought.

This seems to be exactly what a gatekeeper does.

The city is flooded with advertisements, and the promotional tactics are misleading...

In the old days, hiring female celebrities as spokespeople was also a form of marketing. This shows that in the old days, products needed promotion and had a certain appeal.

Everyone felt they were getting closer and closer to the truth.

The computer booted up quickly.

Qi Ling saw the red cross in the bottom right corner and looked disappointed. "No internet..."

The answer was as expected.

The others didn't react much, still pondering Qi Shiqi's deduction.

Xie Tu and Yun Zhao went into the private room to check.

Qi Shiqi couldn't stand Qi Ling's expression; it always reminded him of their unpleasant first meeting.

Admittedly, Qi Ling is indeed a mutant.

But Qi Shiqi had long realized that he was different from the other monsters.

Qi Shiqi said stiffly, "It's alright, try to remember carefully, maybe you can recall it."

Qi Ling was completely clueless. "Technology products rarely use celebrities as spokespeople. My family's company, for example, never hires celebrities."

What's more, he's just a third or fourth-tier celebrity with little fame.

Qi Ling buried himself in thought.

What exactly is it?

Not far in front of him, Xia Mingang was bent over, rummaging through the cash register.

The internet cafe in the residential building had a small counter, and the wall in front was covered with game posters. The rest of the posters that couldn't be pasted on were stuffed into the cabinet below.

Xia Mingang pulled out the posters and laid them out one by one on the cashier counter.

He didn't recognize any of the games mentioned above, and he couldn't even pronounce those English letters.

"What are you talking about?"

Xia Mingang slammed all the game posters on the bar counter, his voice filled with anguish, "Were teenagers in the old days really that idle? Didn't they have to study? Didn't they have to train?"

"Before five in the morning, I was dragged out of bed by my own grandfather's guards and made to stand on the training ground in the northwest wind?"

A stone tablet slowly emerged from behind him.

Xia Mingang seemed to sense something, turned around and angrily pointed at the stone tablet, saying, "You want to beat me up again? Get this straight, I'm your master! You want to get beaten up for this?!"

Bixi remained silent, only continuing to hurl the stone tablet at him.

Xia Mingang flipped over and jumped off the bar to avoid it.

However, since the Bixi was one with him, the stone tablet was always behind him, and he could not escape it at all.

"You just wait, see how I deal with you later!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... How many times have I told you not to hit someone in the face! You've ruined my devastatingly handsome face, how am I ever going to face anyone again?!"

"I'm sorry, okay? Please be gentle with my beating..."

Xia Mingang's transformation from being tough to yielding took only ten seconds.

People moved around between computers, making more noise than a group of people, and the internet cafe instantly became lively.

Qi Ling's train of thought was interrupted several times.

In the old days, there were a plethora of products and countless commercial endorsements from all walks of life, not to mention some obscure brands that I'd never even heard of.

As a wealthy second-generation heir who doesn't follow the entertainment industry, how would he know what endorsements third- or fourth-tier female celebrities can get?

He covered his ears and tried desperately to recall, but still had no clue.

All I could hear was the noisy commotion of Bixi chasing and beating Xia Mingang.

A strange anger welled up inside me.

Qi Ling looked up, intending to tell Xia Mingang to be quiet, but her gaze was suddenly drawn to the pile of messy, faded game posters on the bar counter—

The edges of the yellowed pages curled up, as if they had been repeatedly caressed by countless hands.

Qi Ling's expression froze, then she became excited.

"I know what it is!"