Chapter 172: D-Level Prospector’s Intel
Without any hesitation, the Academy immediately dispatched a scientific expedition team to investigate.
Originally, this was just a very ordinary archaeological mission. After all, similar missions were available in the Academy almost every day. The only difference this time was that this mission had something to do with the clues of Shelter 0.
No one expected that such an extremely ordinary mission would face such a huge accident.
A hive that was not mentioned in the information was hidden on the ground floor of the research facility. Almost as soon as they passed the gate of the ventilation room, they were besieged by a large number of Slime Mold mutants such as Crunchers, Creepers, and even Tyrants. After a desperate fight, they finally managed to escape. However, only the leader of the scientific expedition team and the engineer accompanying the team survived.
"Then you became the scapegoat?" Chu Guang looked at the young guy and said with a strange expression, "But it doesn’t make sense. Why would they blame an engineer for this kind of decision-making level of a mistake?"
Yin Fang’s expression was a little strange.
At this time, Eugene, who was tied up, smiled and interjected, "Sir, don’t be misled by his ambiguous statement. The mission that the Academy gave us is to hunt down the defected D-level prospector. Engineer? Hehe, obviously he is the leader of the scientific expedition team!"
"...?!"Chu Guang was dazed for a while. He stared at the young guy for a long time, but still couldn’t see how the guy was a leader.
After noticing the fleeting surprise, Eugene smiled wickedly and continued, "The size of the scientific expedition team is generally not big, roughly around ten people. It is more common for a D-level or C-level prospector or researcher to lead the team. After all, fieldwork is not a good job... Tsk tsk, although I am not from the Academy, I’ve dealt with people from the Academy a lot of times."
Being exposed by a mercenary unexpectedly, Yin Fang argued angrily, "I didn’t say that I wasn’t the leader of the research team, alright! Yes, I was the leader, but so what? They obviously got the wrong information, but they want to blame me for everything. What can I do?"
Eugene glanced at him and said disdainfully, "I’m just explaining why there is a 5,000CR bounty on your head. As for your internal affairs, it’s none of my business. Besides, who knows what the truth is? You can say whatever you want, but those people won’t come back to life to refute you."
Yin Fang glared at him, clenching his fists, his angry stare seemed to be able to burst flames. But obviously, this guy was not very good at quarreling. It made Chu Guang wonder if everyone in the Academy was like that, or if the guy was pretty unique...
Holy shit, this guy is actually the head of a scientific expedition team.
Risk value +1…
Chu Guang had a headache. After thinking for a while, he looked at Yin Fang and continued, "Then what’s your plan?"
Yin Fang said with a bitter expression on his face, after pondering for a while. "I originally planned to go to Boulder Town, where there is a way to get to the East Coast. Whether it’s by an airplane or by land with the caravan, as long as I can get to Enterprise’s territory, even if the Academy knows I’m there, they won’t be able to do anything to me."
Chu Guang glanced at his right hand and said thoughtfully, "There is also another place to escape the pursuit of the Academy."
Yin Fang seemed to have guessed Chu Guang’s intention. "Are you trying to tell me to stay in your shelter?"
Chu Guang smiled lightly. "It sounds like you don’t like my shelter."
Shelter, with full protection capabilities, embodied the crystallization of civil defense technology from the Prosperous Era, and theoretically it was almost impossible to break through from the outside.
In addition, people inside wouldn’t have to worry about the shelter being found. Unless the shelter’s administrator was willing, the whereabouts of a shelter would be very unlikely to be exposed.
In terms of security, it was unbeatable!
Yin Fang said carefully, "No, sir, it’s just... Can I trust you completely?"
Chu Guang said in a nonchalant tone, "Do you have any other options?"
Yin Fang was silent for a while.
Eventually, he drooped his shoulders in defeat. "You are right, I have no choice."
Seeing that Chu Guang had reached a consensus with his commissioned target, Eugene, who had a sense of crisis in his heart, said quickly, "Sir, you want to take in the Academy’s fugitive? This is not a good idea..."
"This is the River Valley Province, not the Academy’s territory." Chu Guang interrupted him nonchalantly, looked over Eugene to Yin Fang, and continued, "I am very interested in your abilities. It seems that you can do more than surgery? Tell me what you can do."
"I can do any surgery related to neural connections, or some other simple surgery." Yin Fang paused for a moment and then continued, "But, I’m not actually a doctor, and the main job of a prospector in the Academy is to carry out archaeological studies on the remains of the pre-war civilization, recover valuable data and materials, and bring them back to the Academy for researchers to analyze and repair. My task scope mainly involves neural connections, so I may understand a little."
"You can make bionic prosthetics?" Chu Guang asked with interest.
Yin Fang explained, "There are many types of bionic prostheses. The simplest prosthesis is driven by muscle cells, and it is not difficult to make. But if it is driven by neural currents, neuron-like materials are needed. But that kind of thing is not easy to get anywhere... And I can’t make something out of thin air."
He’s not a doctor, but he is more capable than a doctor. Not only can he perform surgery, but he also knows a little bit about bionic prosthetics.
Most importantly, he seems to know how to pick up high-quality trash and recover useful technical materials from the remains of pre-war civilizations.
Chu Guang became more and more interested in Yin Fang.
"I want to learn more about the Academy from you. It just so happens that I plan to go back to the shelter. Let’s go together. By the way, do you want to pack your luggage first?"
Yin Fang shook his head and said, "I don’t have any luggage to pack."
Chu Guang smiled and said pleasantly, "Alright then, congratulations on starting a new life."
Yin Fang also smiled, although it looked pretty hesitant.
To be honest, he didn’t hold out much expectations from this so-called new life, but as this administrator said, he didn’t have a choice.
After saying that, Chu Guang suddenly remembered that there was another person in the room, so after thinking for a while, he looked at Wrench.
"Send this mercenary to the brick kiln and hand him over to the foreman there."
It was impossible to let him go. Besides, he was still useful to Chu Guang.
In short, this man would be sent to reform through labor first. Maybe that Brigade Commander named Vanus would love his company.
Eugene’s face paled after hearing the words brick kiln and foreman. He probably guessed that he would either end up working in a dark brick kiln until his death, or being sold to a slave trader and having to continue to work until his death...
However, Wrench would not sympathize with him. He diligently followed the order.
"Yes, sir."
...
Eugene was assigned to work as a laborer in the brick factory.
As for Yin Fang, Chu Guang intended to place him on level B2 of the shelter.
There were still 100 vacant rooms in Area B on level B2. Chu Guang originally intended to house some technical talents gathered from the wasteland in those rooms, but he didn’t expect that they would come in handy so soon.
As for whether it was appropriate to keep him so close to the players…
To be honest, Chu Guang wasn’t worried at all.
Worrying about stuff like that would be as boring as worrying about whether it would rain the next day. Cloning technology may be a little more sensitive to the world he came from, but to the people in the wasteland, it was as common as cigarette butts on the ground.
Xia Yan still believed that there was some kind of technology in this wasteland that could produce a clone in just one day, so taking three days to produce one was nothing at all. But when Chu Guang asked her where she had heard it, she scratched her head and couldn’t answer.
The wasteland was too large and it was normal to have some ridiculous rumors.
Didn’t the survivors of Clearspring City also say that it was him who defeated the Enterprise’s expeditionary force? That was also when Clearspring City often had Enterprise caravans passing by.
No matter what Yin Fang saw, Chu Guang didn’t care. After entering the shelter, he didn’t plan to let him out for a little while.
If he did something stupid, he would soon experience the feeling of having a red name in the game.
That would be very exciting.
A certain big lizard, who was squatting in the shelter and unable to get out, would definitely be interested in the rare opportunity to perform.
Before evening, the returning truck arrived at the north gate of the wetland park.
Back at the elevator of the Nursing Home.
When Chu Guang pressed the down button, he glanced at Yin Fang next to him and reminded, "Have you made up your mind? There is still a chance to regret it now. After entering, I’m afraid you won’t be able to come out for a while."
Yin Fang sighed softly, "Even if I want to come out, at least I have to wait for the people in the Academy to forget about me."
"How long will it take to forget a D-level personnel?" Chu Guang frowned.
Yin Fang thought for a while and replied, "Maybe three years, maybe five years… It depends on how much they want me to die, although I don’t think I’m that important."
If he had found clues to Shelter 0, the Academy would probably go to great lengths to hunt him down, but sadly, he didn’t find anything like that.
...
About 6:00 in the evening.
A group of happy players, dragging a three-meter-high Crackleclaw Crab with a wooden cart, returned from the direction of Longevity Town.
The Crackleclaw Crab had an exaggerated hole on its back, presumably from getting blasted by an Armor Fist Bazooka.
Regardless of whether it was worth it to sell a Crackleclaw Crab at 50 silver coins or not, they killed one anyway.
Autumn Weed and Autumn Leaves gasped in surprise when they saw the monster being carried to the North Gate market; their faces were filled with expressions of disbelief.
“Is that… Is that a Crackleclaw Crab?"
Autumn Weed nodded blankly. "Yes..."
With sparkling eyes, Autumn Leaves looked at the residents of the shelter admiringly and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, "So amazing!"
"Yes..."
In the wasteland, a Crackleclaw Crab was even more dangerous than a Deathclaw. They wouldn’t move around and make exaggerated roars for no reason. Most of the time they would just hide in some deep puddle, or rest in a damp cave, disguised as algae or mossy rocks.
In their tribe, those who could defeat the Crackleclaw Crab were without exception the most powerful warriors, and such warriors generally only appeared in the legends of old.
She was so surprised that she even forgot to hold her sister and tell her not to stare at them.
While players wouldn’t be celebrating just because they had defeated a Crackleclaw Crab, the outpost was as lively as a festival.
"The crab legs are cooked! Everyone hurry up and eat them quickly! The crabs won’t be delicious if kept for too long!"
As soon as the voice announcing the meal was ready sounded, the group of players immediately gathered around.
"Yummy, yummy, this crab meat and truffles are so delicious!" Yaya, who was munching on half a crab leg in her hand, showed a happy expression.
"Is it delicious? It’s alright…?" Teng Teng frowned and took a bite, looking confused.
Why do I feel like it’s so much worse than mashed potatoes?
"You call this average?! Oh right, I have to bring some for Xiaoyu!" Yaya grabbed half of the crab legs and skipped away happily.
"To be fair, the food system of this game is really awesome! The soft crab meat is tender like jelly before it is cooked, and after it is cooked, the soft crab meat has a hint of earthy fragrance. It’s just like a work of art..." Holding a half of roasted crab leg in his hand, Ample Time sat on the stone stool and took a bite, and suddenly looked up at the sky, and sighed.
Night Ten, who was covered in moth hair, patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "That’s enough bootlicking. It’s very embarrassing, you know. If I were Light, I would definitely stay away from you."
Ample Time glared at Night Ten, his face extremely red. "Fuck off! What do you mean bootlicking! How can you call testers sharing their gaming experience bootlicking?"
Gale and Old White were exchanging 18 ways to eat crab legs, so they didn’t have time to participate in Ample Time and Night Ten’s conversation.
Irene, who was sitting beside the stall, was filling his mouth with crab meat. That was the ninth crab leg he had eaten.
Suddenly, he frowned, as if he felt something.
"Wait, I feel a warm current flowing in my body. Could it be that the crab meat can provide a buff?!"
He opened the VM at the speed of light and glanced at it.
Alas.
That wasn’t it.
"Buff my ass," Elf Wang, who held the crab leg with both hands, interjected with a mocking smile, "your period must be coming."
"Fuck you!" Irene yelled angrily.
Makka Pakka couldn’t help but roar with laughter, "Hahaha!"
Later it was proved that the meat of the Crackleclaw Crab would not provide buff, but eating too much would definitely cause diarrhea.
In the end, the warm current did not disappear.
Throwing away their crab legs, the three of them rushed to the toilet in a panic, and almost got into a fight at the door because of the only remaining cubicle.
In the end, no one knew how they resolved it.
In short, when they went back to the shelter, their legs were really shaky.
That night.
After many players went offline, an announcement was posted on the official website of Wasteland Online.
[Announcement: Two new NPCs have been added to the outpost, Yin Fang, a D-level prospector from the Academy, and Eugene, a bounty hunter who was hired to hunt down Yin Fang.]
[Hint from Little Seven: Yin Fang’s clinic is on level B2. If you need to install implants, you can find him. (Subject to availability)]
[Luca: Eugene is being re-educated. I will definitely turn him into a useful person.]
Tail: What happened again?! Why did it have to happen when I’m gone?! (??Д??ノ)ノ
Quit Smoking: !! Does this mean that the career system will be launched? Devs are awesome! (Cracking Voice)
Teng Teng: I have a question! Is this a pair of CP who love and hate each other? (*/ w * )
Night Ten: ?? When I put these two question marks, it’s not that I have a problem, but I think you have a problem.
Irene: +1 ( ͡
Teng Teng: What do you mean by I have a problem?! (;`O)o
Ample Time: With this new surgeon, Gale no longer has to worry about losing his right hand and being unable to put it back on. He is the most buffed person in this version, confirmed. (Wink)
Escaping Mole: Damn you and your luck... T.T
Gale: (’w’)?
...
In the shelter.
After posting the announcement, Chu Guang did not peek at the forum, but stared at the text document on the screen and fell into contemplation.
About ten minutes ago, he learned about the Academy from Yin Fang, and there were a lot of things worthy of his attention.
"The Academy is located in the center of Wandering Swamp. Before the Prosperity Era, the location was once a desert, and after the Prosperity Era, it was transformed into a man-made ecological reserve. During the Doomsday War, due to the bombardment of strategic weapons, the landscape there was destroyed. It was permanently altered into a swamp, an area equivalent to 1.5 times the size of the River Valley Province.
"The Academy’s origin is unknown. Most of their technology comes from archaeological studies, and their core members are composed of researchers and prospectors. Among them, E-level prospectors are roughly similar to the low-level employees of the Enterprise, and the squad leaders of the Army. D-level personnel are probably middle-level cadres, which is equivalent to the Company Leader or Region Commander of the Army.
"In addition, the Academy seems to have embarked on a path different from that of the Army and the Enterprise. The implanted prosthetics and informatics technology there are quite developed. Their equipment is mainly made up of energy weapons and shield technology, and their industrial capacity seems to be relatively weak... Maybe it’s because they’re located in a swamp…”
However, even after two centuries of archaeological studies, they still haven’t finished studying the legacy of the pre-war civilization. Chu Guang couldn’t help wondering just how exaggerated the legacy of the pre-war civilization was.
Chu Guang could not imagine what happened in the years after the Prosperity Era by comparing with the development trajectory of the earth before he came to this world.
Holding the mouse, Chu Guang thought for a moment, then took a paragraph from the information that he had sorted out, and copied and pasted it on the official website.
"Well, whatever. It’s better to use it as the game background settings on the official website."
Maybe his cute little players could help him spot something.