Chapter 18
While sorting through the boxes, Jiang Zihan quietly suppressed the smile from her lips. It would be best if she feigned ignorance, so that all the blame could be directed towards the tower.
As expected, the barrage was full of question marks, covering the live screen like snowflakes.
Those who were more curious even went directly to other live broadcast rooms to verify the matter. After a while, they came to the conclusion that the withholding of supplies was actually a common phenomenon.
[Lao Wang next door didn’t give me the medicine last time! ]
[It seems that Boss Li's supplies are also leaking.]
[My goodness, is Gaota so blatant? ]
Until the end of this farcical live broadcast, the atmosphere was still like boiling water, and the outside discussion not only did not end, but intensified.
Jiang Zihan was slowly tidying up the papers on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Chenyuan leaning against the corner, looking at her with a subtle expression.
There was no way to cut off this kind of live broadcast. The Tower must have gotten the news, but they had no other choice but to jump up and down in panic.
Jiang Zihan asked casually, "Were you only responsible for the transportation of supplies to Area F before?"
"The work in Area F is easier." Lu Chenyuan lowered his eyes. "Most streamers gather in the central area. There are much more abundant equipment and supplies there, and there are also regular airdrop boxes every month."
He suddenly glanced at her and asked, "Do you want to go too?"
"Forget it." Jiang Zihan sneered, "Although there are a lot of supplies, the danger is also doubled."
Although she hadn't experienced it herself, she could sense from the daily conversations of the other people in the gathering place that they didn't like other streamers, which showed that encountering other streamers wasn't necessarily a good thing. What if she encountered someone who stabbed her in the back just to steal supplies? How many lives would she have left?
The people who went out to explore have now returned one after another.
Jiang Zihan called them into the small clinic one by one for examination. Fortunately, after the food and medicine supply in the gathering place stabilized, the rising trend of everyone's distortion values gradually slowed down. As long as they were properly guided, there was still hope for their continued recovery.
Jiang Zihan printed out all the test reports and archived them. These data were important foundations for her research.
"This formula is still too general..." She muttered to herself as she stared at the data.
Currently, everyone's nutritional meals are still based on the system plan, but after the successful breeding of the war beast cubs last time, the acquisition of points has become much slower. She wants to upgrade the formula, but she still can't find the way.
The energy fluctuations in each person have a unique frequency. Just like war beasts are divided into elemental, quantum and enhanced types, these mutants also show a clear tendency to differentiate.
Kui Feng’s loud shouts came from the training ground.
He had been in the army before, so he was assigned to the training ground to guide the exercises. The sweat was steaming in the cold winter wind. After the training was over, nutritious meals had to be provided.
The elemental type Ye Sheng would follow Lu Renshuang with his nose pinched every day, shuttling back and forth between the greenhouse and the planting fields.
During this period, the fermented fertilizer improved by Lu Renshuang began to show results. Although the pungent smell was kept outside the greenhouse by Jiang Zihan, the young sprouts of vegetables and fruits in the fields covered with plastic film, which had increased fertilizer, finally began to straighten their backs.
Lu Renshuang muttered to herself, "It would be great if I could get a composting machine."
Jiang Zihan had an idea. Although it was not so easy to get what she wanted in the system mall, Gaota still owed her money these days. At this time, she hoped that the other party would continue to commit suicide. In this way, she could extort money from him with a clear conscience later.
Ye Sheng pulled his nose out of the cotton field, stepped away from the field and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Actually, these vegetables are enough for us to eat. Kui Ge and the others also brought back a lot of things from their exploration. If it weren't for the rapid drop in temperature this winter, they would probably have to endure it for a while."
Jiang Zihan was curious: "Did you often go out as a team before?"
Ye Sheng scratched his head and sighed, "Actually, searching for supplies is one thing, and saving food for the gathering place is another. If we can find something to fill our stomachs when we go out, we won't have to compete for rations with weaklings like us."
He was a little depressed, and even the small melon seedlings above his head drooped, but he soon cheered up again. "But this time we prepared a lot of rations, and after they replenished their physical strength in time, they went a little further than before."
Jiang Zihan was surprised: "Do you know where they went this time?"
Ye Sheng blinked: "Don't you know?"
Seeing that he could finally be of use, he pulled out a map like a treasure. "Look, those green dots up ahead are where they've explored before. As for Area C, that's also territory they've never explored before. They're moving much faster this time, and they've almost covered the entire east side."
Jiang Zihan: "Did they bring this map with them when they explored?"
"Of course not." Ye Sheng tilted his head. "This is what I sensed. How can I explain it... Oh." He grabbed Jiang Zihan's hand and said, "You should see for yourself."
Jiang Zihan didn't have time to struggle before the scene before her began to rapidly recede. People with 3D vertigo fear this kind of immersive experience the most. As someone who couldn't even watch a 3D movie, her stomach immediately began to churn. When the experience was over, she was determined to have a good talk with Ye Sheng.
Suddenly her eyes focused and she saw a furry ball near her field of vision.
"Dian Dian?"
During this period, Diandian's vital signs were quite unstable. Perhaps it was because he had too much energy, and he was often filled with static electricity, which made him swell up like a ball. He ran around the house in this state every day.
It must have just released its energy outside.
The next second, the shadows of the distant trees swayed slightly, and several dark figures silently infiltrated the base's perimeter. A large black bag descended from nowhere, unexpectedly catching Dian Dian right in the act.
Jiang Zihan suddenly opened his eyes. No, this wasn't an immersive experience, it was visual sharing! Dian Dian had been kidnapped!
"Be on alert!" Her face darkened. "There's a nasty rat sneaking in."
Lu Chenyuan and Kui Feng immediately chased after him. When they arrived at the scene, their fingertips brushed across the messy footprints on the ground. According to the trajectory, the person should be heading towards the dense forest.
There are no surveillance cameras nearby, so if someone wants to tamper with it, it would be easy.
Jiang Zihan and Zhizhi also caught up.
The advanced big-eared mouse twitched its nose, then jumped in one direction.
There weren't many people at the gathering place. She had just discovered during the live broadcast that Dian Dian had the potential to advance, but it was captured not long after. Isn't this obviously bullying!
She was furious and secretly called up the system panel, adding several points to her physical strength. A warm feeling ignited from deep within her body: "Let's chase after them."
Several people followed Zhizhi in twists and turns. Zhizhi kept sniffing the ground with the tip of her nose. She walked and stopped, and suddenly a hesitant whimper came from her throat.
"The smell of electricity should still be there." Lu Chenyuan looked at the scratches on the ground, extending messily into the depths. "The footprints are messy, and there are also charred marks around them. It might be that it suddenly struggled and caused a disturbance."
Jiang Zihan's heart suddenly tightened. How scared must the little kitten, who usually only knew how to eat, drink and act coquettishly, be to be taken away by a group of strangers?
She stroked Zhizhi's back fur and said, "Don't worry about other traces, just smell the electric ones."
Zhizhi understood, her big ears trembled, and she suddenly tensed her body and rushed forward.
Everyone followed closely behind, passing through the tall trees with tangled roots. Gradually, the fog in the forest became thicker and thicker, covering the way ahead.
Kui Feng rubbed his arms. The sudden drop in temperature here was obviously unusual.
The position of the advancing team changed quietly. Originally, Kui Feng was in the lead, Lu Chenyuan was the rear guard, and Zhuifeng protected Jiang Zihan in the center. Unknowingly, Lu Chenyuan gradually walked to the front.
Jiang Zihan watched his back. He was moving very quickly, even before Zhizhi gave any instructions, he had already made a judgment, as if he already knew the destination. She suddenly realized something.
They stopped and rushed through the thick fog, finally reaching the final destination -
The pitch-black tower stood silently in the center of the desolate forest like a sharp sword.
The tower is covered with a cold metal shell, and there is no grass growing on the surrounding ground. Dense protective electric fences are spread all around, blocking out any creatures that want to approach.
"...High Tower." Jiang Zihan's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth. The last incident had not yet been explained, and now there was a new grudge. They really knew how to do things.
Lu Chenyuan's eyes were terribly dark. He raised his hand and grabbed her arm: "Don't be impulsive. You can't get in from the front. Come with me."
Several figures suddenly disappeared from the spot.
…
As night falls, the drainage channel on the west side of the tower.
A figure pushed aside the rusty metal mesh, and Jiang Zihan followed closely behind him, bending over. Cold wind blew in with the smell of engine oil. She squinted her eyes and scanned the surroundings with her enhanced vision. There were many fresh scratches here, and it was obvious that someone had entered through here not long ago.
She couldn't help but glance at Lu Chenyuan: "The tower has left such a well-known passage, do you think life is too easy?"
Lu Chenyuan glanced at her silently and said, "Since they were able to get rid of the war beast robbery, they will definitely not leave any evidence to others. To avoid any further trouble, they will probably send Dian Dian away overnight."
Jiang Zihan was furious: "What are we waiting for? Let's go stop them!"
Lu Chenyuan looked up and said, "We have to go in through the ventilation duct." Then he looked at Kui Feng silently.
Kui Feng was startled. He glanced down at his own height, then compared it to the pipe. He hesitated and asked, "Is there another entrance?"
"Yes, there is, but we have to go around the outer wall." Lu Chenyuan took out a map. "From here... around here... it's a little farther, but it's safer. But be careful, there's a monitoring room nearby. If it's convenient, it's best to knock out the person inside to prevent him from noticing our whereabouts."
Kui Feng folded the map and put it in his arms: "Understood."
The three of them split into two groups. Jiang Zihan was pushed into the passage and moved forward along the pipe. After crawling for about ten minutes, they finally saw a bright light.
There was a large area of freight containers underneath, and huge robotic arms were loading the goods in an orderly manner.
The two of them landed silently in the corner. Jiang Zihan's eyes quickly swept over the containers. Zhizhi's ears suddenly pricked up, and her eyes were directed at a small box in the corner.
It was an iron cage covered with black cloth, and faint crackling sounds could be heard from within.
Jiang Zihan's heart skipped a beat, and he turned on the system and scanned it from a distance.
The data on the screen was extremely confusing, indicating that the other party's situation was not very good.
She frowned. If her guess was correct, Diandian was actually undergoing a transformation!
The transformation of a war beast is not that easy. Chi Yan was well fed and nourished by her at that time, and it took a long time to replenish his nutrition before he successfully overcame the difficulties. Diandian obviously entered the breakthrough state in advance to save himself. If there was an accident during transportation, his state would be disturbed. Not to mention transformation, even his life might not be saved!
She was breathing rapidly and was about to rush over, but Lu Chenyuan grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Be careful, someone is coming."
Sure enough, the next second, two guards in high tower uniforms turned out from the corridor, yawning and complaining, "What's the point of shipping goods in the middle of the night? It's so annoying..."
"I heard it's an incredible treasure." Another person lowered his voice, "It was a direct order from above, without even going through the registration process."
The companion paused and said hesitantly, "This doesn't comply with the regulations..."
Jiang Zihan's eyes darkened at the same time. There was indeed something wrong with this tower.
She couldn't help but glance at Lu Chenyuan: "What kind of organization did you join before? Why does it sound so unreliable?"
Lu Chenyuan hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke out, "In the early days, the tower belonged to the military. It was built to communicate with the outside world and maintain order on the island. But after it was designated as a place of exile, the people in the tower weren't so pure anymore."
Jiang Zihan's eyes darted around: "Are you saying this place is still under the military's jurisdiction?"
Lu Chenyuan stared at her cunning eyes and asked, "Do you want to complain?"
"Isn't it possible?" Jiang Zihan sneered. "They stole from my supplies and are now trying to steal my cubs! Yes, the war beasts are valuable resources, but I raised them bite by bite. Why should they be able to capture them whenever they want?"
Her eyes were blazing. "I don't care if there are any hints from the military, but I must bring my war beast back."
There seemed to be endless energy hidden in those eyes, firm and bright.
Lu Chenyuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but look away: "Don't worry, I will help you."
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