Chapter 94
Wen Xin raised his ears and listened. There was more than one sound of iron hammering in the huge factory, but only the one in the deepest part was continuous and huge, deafening.
When you get close, you can even feel the ground shaking.
The little walrus tried to sense it.
After several seconds, it said hesitantly, "I don't sense any mutants in there."
But this seems even more bizarre.
Could it be that the person forging iron inside is a human?
In this extremely dangerous polluted area, there are still people working as ironsmiths here?
Wen Xin continued to carefully explore around the factory.
The lock of the back door was violently damaged by unknown creatures, and the lock core was stuck in the keyhole. The other eight windows were tightly sealed with iron plates or wire mesh. Forcible dismantling would probably cause quite a noise.
Leaning on the window sill and looking inside through the gaps in the wire mesh, my vision was blocked by debris, but I could vaguely see various busy figures, all wearing protective clothing.
The style of the protective suit is exactly the same as the one Wen Xin is wearing.
Are those the missing rat workers? Or the previous batch of trainers?
Wen Xin didn't think about it for long.
He made a bold and effective decision.
"We'll go straight in through the main entrance."
The Scales Viper grinned, his eyes igniting a fire of war, "That's just what I want."
Knock knock.
There was a knock on the factory door, and the busy workers inside stopped their work one after another.
The knocking on the door continued. They talked to each other for a few words, and the one closest to the door reached out to unlock the chain on the door.
As soon as the door lock loosened, a thin and bony hand stretched out from the gap in the door, instantly clamped the worker's arm, and pulled it behind his waist.
Wen Xin said quickly, "Sorry to bother you."
The workers just stood there staring at him stupidly, luckily they didn't react.
The next second, they suddenly screamed "Ahhhhhhhh", dropped the wrenches and hammers in their hands, and ran in an orderly manner to the back room of the factory!
The Scaled Viper was about to strike: "?"
There were many enemies who turned and ran away after being frightened by its power, but I had never seen anyone run so fiercely.
It didn't even have time to release the pressure.
The man captured by Wen Xin was also struggling constantly. Seeing that he had little desire to fight back, Wen Xin loosened his grip and the man immediately ran out using both his hands and feet.
In the blink of an eye, all those people disappeared without a trace.
The green ball held its claws high in the air, looking around blankly, unable to find a target to attack, so it had to put them down, its mouth twitching non-stop: "What on earth are they doing here?"
“Don’t take it lightly.”
Wen Xin did not lose his vigilance. He walked into the factory with his gun in hand, analyzing in an orderly manner: "They ran quickly without any hesitation, which shows that they subconsciously believed that there was something inside that could provide them with protection."
"A-Lu, under what circumstances would you not be able to sense the aura of the mutant?"
The Scales Viper frowned and said, "Either this mutant has the ability to hide itself, and the level of this ability is very high, or..."
Its sound suddenly stopped.
Or, there must be an S-class super-dangerous complete form like them here, which can completely restrain its own aura!
The little walrus also realized this crucial point, and looking at Wen Xin walking in front of them, it hurriedly tried to grab the young man's trousers.
"No, Wen Xin, come back, it's dangerous!"
The frequent ping-pong sounds of steel being hammered inside stopped imperceptibly, and for several seconds, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Lan Tuanzi's persuasion was a step too slow. Before he finished speaking, Wen Xin's footsteps had already stepped into the inner room of the factory.
It’s not that Wen Xin was not careful enough, but that he accidentally caught a glimpse of a small purple figure.
Just that one glance made Wen Xin abandon all his concerns and stride forward impatiently.
"It's him!"
The workers who had run into the house earlier crowded in a corner. When they saw Wen Xin enter the inner room, they pointed their fingers at him in panic and said, "He was the one who attacked us as soon as he appeared. He wanted to kill us!"
The second half of the sentence is purely false.
But Wen Xin no longer had time to explain anything, his attention was all on a plush ball with its back to him.
It has a small, fluffy body, not as tall as a water cup, and can be held in the palm of one hand. It has two pointed little ears, a big tail that is as thick as a plush toy, and unique purple hair.
Before Wen Xin noticed it, it was still swinging the big hammer in its claws with a grunt, and even hitting the iron with a rhythm.
Wen Xin clenched her fingers.
That's Ah Zi from their family.
There is only one in the world. It is unique.
The workers raised a high-pitched scream: "He's coming! He's coming!"
As if noticing Wen Xin's approaching figure, the little squirrel turned around and looked over, with scarlet blood in its eyes.
Wen Xin still remembered that one of the basic characteristics of a mutant going berserk was the rapid rise in hormones that caused the eyeballs to become bloodshot, presenting the red-eye symptom that often appears in movies and TV dramas.
So he didn't stop.
A few dumplings came to stop Wen Xin, and he picked them up with one hand, walking as usual.
Ah Zi just needed someone to comfort her, so how could he stop here?
The workers were at a loss, looking at Zituanzi repeatedly: "He's here, why isn't he…"
Wen Xin could almost guess what they didn't say next.
Why haven't you taken action yet?
Why don't you eliminate the enemy in front of you and protect us?
Wen Xin's eyes had always been as warm as spring, but now they showed a hint of cold resentment.
Under the workers' horrified gaze, he picked up the purple ball and put it into his arms.
“Why does it have to take action?”
Wen Xin couldn't feel how much force he used at this moment.
The palm covered with fine ropes was pressed on the back of the purple squirrel's head. A warm heat continuously came from the palm, and the tight embrace made the squirrel feel extremely safe.
It hadn't moved for a long time and couldn't help but blink.
"squeak."
Wen Xin, with a frown on his face, was suddenly grabbed by a pair of small claws that stretched out from below and had his chin grabbed.
He lowered his head and his sight met a pair of red eyes with flickering light.
The purple squirrel carefully touched the young man's face and called out again quickly: "Squeak! Squeak?"
Wen Xin was inevitably stunned for a moment, not understanding why the little squirrel suddenly cried so happily.
The three little dumplings beside him knew that the purple squirrel was saying in surprise: "It turns out that it was not my illusion, you really appeared! But why did you appear here?"
Something is not right.
The purple squirrel's state and mood are very stable, not at all like a person who has lost his self-consciousness.
The Scaled Tree Viper couldn't help but stretch out its claws and poked the Purple Squirrel's tail: "So you're not in a frenzy?"
The purple squirrel asked in confusion: "What frenzy?"
It suddenly realized that the scale viper had not just communicated via sonic waves, and said in surprise, "You are actually willing to learn human language."
The Scaled Tree Viper subconsciously retorted: "That was a special situation at the time. I didn't learn it on my own initiative anyway."
At this moment, there was a sudden burst of chaotic footsteps outside the factory, and the security personnel rushed into the room at almost full speed.
Seeing Wen Xin holding the purple squirrel in one hand, their minds went blank, and the leader's voice almost broke: "What do you want to do! Put the factory director down! We will give you whatever you want!"
What factory manager? Which factory manager?
Is there a director of the ordnance factory here?
It was rare that Wen Xin's brain did not come to its senses at the first moment. He maintained a calm expression and slowly looked down.
The other three dumplings were also looking at the purple squirrel.
The purple squirrel subconsciously changed to a comfortable position in Wen Xin's arms, met several pairs of surprised eyes, and said belatedly: "Did you misunderstand something?"
Wen Xin raised his head.
The guard held his breath, his face full of anger, his hands holding the gun trembling.
If they were also furry little animals, all the hair on their bodies would probably have exploded into dandelions by now.
Looking at the workers behind him, one by one they picked up the shovels and hammers on the ground.
Ever since Wen Xin took the purple squirrel into his arms, they have been in this state of shock and anger.
It was as if Wen Xin had touched their vitals.
"..." Wen Xin said slowly, "Maybe there are some misunderstandings."
But it was easy to clear up the misunderstanding.
The purple squirrel lay in the young man's arms in a relaxed manner, and even looked a little bit enjoying it, which was the best proof that it was not being threatened.
The security guard half-knelt on the ground, looking anxiously at the little squirrel curled up in Wen Xin's arms: "That time when we cooperated with Desire Market, you were involved and almost got hurt. We are too embarrassed to see you again."
Another security guard apologized and said, "There was a reason for our visit today. We saw a lot of mutants that were killed along the way. We thought that people from the Desire Market had once again infiltrated the factory area and intended to attack you."
It's no wonder they think this way.
Even if an ordinary person is fully equipped, he cannot deal with so many mutants at once, and kill them all in just a few hours.
As for the mutants around Wen Xin.
Please forgive these security guards for their lack of knowledge. The recruitment notice has been posted for more than ten days, and only today did they happen to recruit a real trainer.
It turns out they were all fake products and couldn't help at all.
Under such circumstances, how can the security personnel believe that Wen Xin has the ability to deal with so many mutants?
The only thing that can be thought of is that the Desire Market, which has the power to deal with mutants, is causing trouble again. After being taught a lesson, it is still unwilling to give up and wants to murder their factory director once again.
The purple squirrel suddenly realized and pointed to the worker next to him who hadn't figured out the situation yet: "Then they weren't sent here by you to help?"
Purple squirrels' cognition is slightly different from that of their guards.
當初它一路走走停停，尋找适合留下來進化的地方，在抵達南部地區的邊界時，無意中瞅見了正在抵抗喪屍潮的極光軍械廠。
那時的軍械廠豈止叫一個狼狽，混泥土和鋼筋堆砌制造的圍牆不堪重負，倒塌下來，落石砸中了一個人，斷掉的鋼筋從一個人的胸口穿插而過，血澆了滿地。
十幾只喪屍從突破口鑽了進去，逮住人就開始撕咬。
到處都是尖叫，到處都是嘶嚎，令人膽寒的咀嚼聲從未停止。
紫松鼠這一路上都在做好事。
不是它想要做好事，而是它在用做好事的方式來提醒自己，不能淪陷于殺戮的本性。
所以在看到那凄厲的一幕時，紫松鼠想也沒想地沖了過去。
A級變異體，接近S級的實力，讓它輕易地驅散了那些還沒有進化的普通喪屍。
它救下了一個中年人，據那個人自己說，他是這座軍械廠的主任，也是唯一剩下的管理層。
末世爆發後，軍械廠制造裝備的噪音太大，徘徊在城市邊界地區和周圍一帶的喪屍，全都被吸引了過來。
有人拿着裝備突圍出去，說是要找人增援，結果再也沒回來。
有人在接連出現了好幾波喪屍潮之後意識到了不對勁，迅速地組織人員，帶走了許多的武器設計圖紙和軍/火，轉而投靠了欲望市場。
權限受限的主任根本沒辦法阻止他們，軍械廠差一點被那些人掏空。
在紫松鼠出現之前，這座軍械廠已經是強弩之末，沒有對方突然伸出援手，必将淪陷。
了解完始末之後，紫松鼠就留了下來，它發現打鐵費力，正好可以用來消耗體內溢出的能量。
說直白點，就是把身體累到極致，就沒有力氣狂化了。
在那個時候，許多機械儀器因為電力不足而停止運轉，留守在這裏的人們，只能無奈地用手來制造後續對抗喪屍的武器。
聽起來很不可思議。
但就像很早以前的那些偉人，用算盤硬生生地打出了核彈的數據一樣，條件受限，他們只能想方設法地制造條件，來獲得生存下去的資源。
紫松鼠和人們一起打鐵。
打着打着，其他人全都停了手，望向那只把錘子揮舞成風火輪的小松鼠，臉上爬滿了億點點震撼。
自那以後沒用上兩三天時間，主任恭敬地叫起了紫松鼠廠長。
軍械廠和欲望市場的合作是一次意外，也是逼不得已。
機械恢複了持續供電就能運轉下去，但人必須要有吃的喝的，還有足夠的鹽。他們可以種地種糧食，但沒有種子。
欲望市場背靠第一基地，幾乎壟斷了這一片地界的所有資源。人類賴以生存的物資，需要從市場的手裏獲取。
結果就是那一次合作中，軍械廠出了叛徒。
紫松鼠的存在遭到了暴露。
欲望市場正好在研究怎麽控制變異體，加上南部地區從來沒有遇見過這樣對人友善的變異體，幾乎是想也沒想地把它當成了獵物。
然而他們估計錯了紫松鼠的戰鬥力。
埋伏在軍械廠附近的，總共有七輛中型裝甲車，一輛重型裝甲車，十多架戰鬥飛機，一個連的武裝人員。
到最後，戰鬥飛機被錘子打落下來，重壓過高轟然爆炸，機身焦黑如炭。裝甲車炮口被擰成麻花炸了膛，精鋼外殼像紙片一樣被撕開，駕駛艙內部如同被剖了殼的螃蟹，凄涼地裸/露在外。
一個連的武裝人員，沒有活下來一個。
小小的紫色團子只是松了松筋骨，稍微活動了一下，就叫他們感受到了毀天滅地的恐懼。
收拾完了人，紫松鼠站在血泊中，慢條斯理地舔舔爪子。
它突然感受到自己快要瀕臨進化的臨界點了，就給神色呆滞的主任知會了一聲，讓對方疏散人群，不要輕易靠近它的窩，以防被它不小心誤傷。
主任很聽話，在那之後，紫松鼠果真一個人都沒有再看到過。
它度過了一段平穩且安全的進化階段。
唯一的問題是，有天它醒來之後，空氣中突然飄散起一股股古怪的紅霧。
紫松鼠的力量還沒有完全穩定。
它出去逛了一圈，發現大家都已經安全撤離了，也就放心地跑了回去，繼續拿着錘子敲敲打打。
它做事習慣有始有終，舊廠區裏還有好幾個火炮沒有完成，必須搞定了再出去。
結果因為太專注，太忘我，回過頭來的時候，外面廠房的角落裏已經縮了好幾個瑟瑟發抖的人類。
一問才知道，他們都是被軍械廠招聘來的。
紫松鼠先入為主，把他們當成了自己人。
看人一直跟在它尾巴後面，不願意離開，又以為是主任叫這些人過來幫忙，順勢接納了他們。
團子們反應不一。
鱗樹蝰：“心真不是一般的大。”
小海象咕了一聲：“沒事就好。”
小熊貓：“你還蠻好的欸。”
紫松鼠陡然被發了好鼠卡，注意到了這只新團子，打量幾眼，因為毛色相近生出了一些親切感：“你還沒成年吧，多大了？”
小熊貓久違地感受到了來自長輩的關懷，積極地說：“雖然沒成年，但我有一歲了！”
紫松鼠拍拍它的腦袋：“那也還是崽崽。”
溫辛仔細地檢查了一下紫團子的身體，還好，團子不像金絲雀那樣弄得遍體鱗傷。
他相信團子們的能力，但也怕出現那麽些個萬一，畢竟強大如藍鯨都差點出事。
溫辛柔聲說道：“下次要先問清楚，不然又叫人抓住機會偷襲了怎麽辦？”
紫松鼠好久沒聽見青年的聲音，靜下心來多聽了一會兒。
它也沒想到誤會這麽深，深刻反思道：“可能是那段時間太專注了，沒有留意其他事。”
說着，它轉向另一邊的工人，狐疑地問：“但你們為什麽沒有解釋自己的身份？”
工人們就是之前失蹤了的鼠工。
他們遭逢變異體的襲擊，隊伍被沖散，活下來的人拼命地往前跑，歪打正着地撞見了待人友善的紫松鼠。
只需要幹活賣力點，就有地方住，有東西吃，還有小松鼠保護。
這日子又有什麽不好的？
鼠工是黑話，這個稱呼最早流傳于欲望市場，形容那些處于最底層的雜工。
久而久之，大家都忘記了原本的官方稱呼是什麽，只一個勁兒地叫着鼠工鼠工，什麽雜活、累活、賠命的活計，都會丢給鼠工。
他們就是這樣一群活在淤泥陰溝裏的老鼠，哪怕只是見到了一點光亮，都想要抓住。
保衛人員勃然大怒：“所以你們是故意隐瞞廠長！”
虧得他們以為那一次叛徒事件惹怒了廠長，導致廠長再也不願意看見他們，甚至放下了狠話，接近者死。
“……”溫辛輕聲詢問小松鼠，“你說了接近者死？”
紫松鼠也很震驚：“我說的是接近的人可能會死。”
畢竟它進化的時候情緒不穩定，随時都可能會發狂的。
如此一來，好歹事情終于都解釋清楚了。
保衛人員顧不上去怪罪那些工人，低聲懇求道：“歸根究底是我們的錯，一股腦地自責，沒膽子來找您求證贖罪。”
“還有主任，主任一直歸咎于自己沒能把好關，讓您遇到危險，他這段時間不再相信別人，做事也非常偏激。”
“如果可以的話，您可不可以出去看看他？只見一面就好……”
紫松鼠嘆氣：“他都誤會成這樣了，我不回去能行嗎？”
“正好，剛做出來的武器還沒有測試數據，讓他來調試一下。”
溫辛很早就注意到了廠房最中央，在那幾十根鋼柱組建成的金屬架子上，正擺放着一個龐然大物，防塵帆布披蓋在物品的身上，隐約透出炮口的輪廓。
“是不是它？”
“對，我怕我走了之後，軍械廠被欲望市場欺負，所以抓緊時間做了出來。”
紫松鼠跳過去，爪子拉開了帆布。
一縷縷璀璨奪目的金屬銀光流瀉而出，鋼鐵巨物在衆人的眼前展示出了它威武的身姿。
這，這東西不就是——！
溫辛被震撼住了。
他聽到紫松鼠問他：“我還沒找欲望市場算總賬，溫辛，有沒有興趣試試手？”
【作者有話說】
一直在寫，沒注意晚了時間（一百八十度深鞠躬）（沒站穩三百六十度原地翻轉）（噗通落地磕一個）QAQ
感謝在2023-06-09 03:54:38~2023-06-10 00:59:45期間為我投出霸王票或灌溉營養液的小天使哦~
感謝投出地雷的小天使：橫濱好忙、JCY 1個；
感謝灌溉營養液的小天使：花非凋零、S.M、橫濱好忙 20瓶；佳佳 10瓶；逄白 6瓶；快樂海膽 5瓶；慕南枝 2瓶；柚子不吃桃、想佛系5555、鮟鱇、阿巴阿巴阿巴、克萊斯勒 1瓶；
非常感謝大家對我的支持，我會繼續努力的！