The man in overalls seemed frightened. He swallowed hard and asked tremblingly, "That water...that water is corrosive! I, I even secretly drank a few buckets! Will it dissolve me too?"
"Hahaha~" The others burst into laughter. The leader was so breathless he laughed and cursed, "The water you're pumping in isn't even from the tunnel! The radiation level in your water is at most excessive! They purify the water they pump out, and use it for disinfection."
"When you dissolve one day, we will help you take care of your wife and daughter, don't worry!" the young man teased him.
These people told this little pre-dinner story, which left Jiang Ling completely bewildered. If their conversation was true, then the only possible truth was that the "water in the tunnel is corrosive." A liquid that could dissolve gold would most likely be some kind of acid. If the tunnel water was acidic, it would likely damage the tracks and tunnel walls, potentially leading to a widespread flooding incident.
No wonder they mentioned the tunnels were closed, but if that was the case, how would she get to the Green Zone? There were only two options left: a detour or surface travel. She didn't feel confident enough to think she could run from the main station to the Green Zone border in half a day. The straight-line distance alone was over sixteen kilometers, not to mention the surface conditions now... Never mind, let's not talk about it.
A plate of monster meat noodles and a beer cost Jiang Ling twelve points. The prices here were indeed slightly higher than back home. Of course, it might have been because the food she'd ordered was more expensive. She recalled the insect sashimi she'd first had in a bar like this, and her stomach churned. She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on the ingredients or cooking methods anymore. Out of sight, out of mind; it wouldn't kill her anyway.
Jiang Ling finished eating, but Dong Xidu and Xidu still hadn't returned, leaving her waiting for a long time. Just as she was growing impatient, they returned with a thin man. It was already nine o'clock in the evening, and the bar was filled with drunks. Naturally, no one bothered Jiang Ling's table; those who drank without causing trouble weren't likely to lose their lives to this mysterious female searcher.
"Sorry for the wait! Sorry for the wait! This is the 'guide' we were talking about!" Xidu introduced them, "This is the lone traveler 'Pharmacist' we met on the road!"
"I've heard a lot about you!" Jiang Ling said this politely as he stood up and asked everyone to take a seat.
"No need to be polite!" The guide seemed to see Jiang Ling's impatience, and hurriedly pushed the two of them to sit down, then signaled Dong Xie with his eyes.
Dong Xie watched the man wink at him and realized that the atmosphere was indeed a bit awkward, so he said, "Miss Pharmacist, you've been waiting for a long time, haven't you? Do you mind having a drink? It's my treat!"
Jiang Ling nodded slightly, but she didn't say anything.
"Boss, bring me a bucket of wine and some barbecue!" Dong Xie turned to look at the boss and made a "four" gesture with his hand.
"How did you two meet? Don't tell me that you brought back a rare female solo traveler just for your return trip!" the guide asked doubtfully.
"Ahem~ We met on the subway. Don't underestimate her!" Xidu explained. He leaned close to the guide's ear and said, "She uses a 120-pound crossbow!"
"What? Are you sure? Most people can't open it!" The guide conspired in a low voice. He frowned and glanced at Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling didn't say anything about their whispers. She heard the whole thing clearly. There were some misunderstandings that she didn't want to resolve. If this could make them feel awe, it could sometimes be an advantage.
The bar's barbecue was quite wild. Jiang Ling spotted maggots, strange fat, and some unusual gray tofu. The maggots were roasted to a golden brown, the fat embedded in the red muscle emitting a rich amino acid aroma. The gray tofu had been smoked and turned brown, with a fecal stench. She had come to like insects. As long as they weren't sashimi, they were still delicious after cooking, bursting with juices and tinged with a subtle mushroom aroma.
The fat was not very greasy and tasted delicious, so she tasted it carefully; the texture and taste of the tofu were obviously not traditional tofu. Jiang Ling felt that it was more like some kind of fermented cheese. She didn't know what kind of milk they used to make the cheese, so she only tasted a little.
"We've talked about it. Let's rest tonight. We'll go from the surface tomorrow!" The guide spoke when they were slightly tipsy after eating the midnight snack.
"Is there any problem? I heard that the water in the tunnel is very corrosive?" Jiang Ling tried to get information.
"Yes, that's one aspect." The guide didn't want to mention those things, as if the tunnel was hiding some unspeakable secret.
"Okay, so where are we staying tonight?"
"In the old subway, they renovated some tunnels and turned them into rental compartments. As long as you are not too curious, it will be safe there. It is now in trial operation, and the housing prices will be relatively cheap. Well, mainly cheap." The guide recommended a good place. Of course, if you have enough points, you can go to the residential area to find a house.
"After you finish eating, I'll take you there. Do you have protective suits?" The guide put down an iron skewer and wiped the grease off his mouth and hands with a synthetic tissue.
Several people nodded at the same time, without saying anything more, and quickened their chewing speed.
The old subway system was closer to the underground level. Following their guide through a series of passages, the three arrived at a gate. Several soldiers stood guard at the gate, and everyone was asked to show their passes. The guide led the way, with Jiang Ling at the end. The first few people passed through normally, but when it came to Jiang Ling, the two soldiers suddenly tried to salute her, but she quickly stopped them with her telekinesis.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com