Chapter 734 A World on Thin Ice
The existence of the entire world is based on the "mercy" of the nanomachine fleet, and what is even more frightening is that no one knows why these fleets stopped back then, let alone when they will restart. The world has not survived the disaster sixty-five years ago at all. In fact, the disaster is still continuing, but it has slowed down - like a postponed execution, humans are waiting for death, waiting for who knows what. The blade will fall when the time comes. In this case, all kinds of rational and crazy voices are emerging.
Some people once tried to rush into the ruins of the Northland and completely destroy the nanomachines, but the fleet has become an irresistible force, and even the use of nuclear weapons cannot completely eliminate it; some people tried to re-establish control over the fleet, and they have all become Gray River Some people hope to rebuild pre-war space technology and preserve the species by escaping from the planet, but their ambitions have no chance of success in this troubled world.
The Rangers regard the nanomachine swarm as a kind of super life that far exceeds that of humans and can dominate the world, and worship it like a god. They believe that the entire world and the entire human race have survived until now thanks to the mercy of the nanomachine swarm. , so they expressed their loyalty to their "masters" in a crazy way, hoping to have a place when the nanomachine swarm finally decided to reshape the world.
But how do the nanomachine swarms react?
It has no response, just flowing quietly in the gray river. Whether it is human attack or control, hostility or worship, it seems to be meaningless to them. They just operate strictly according to a certain law: non-proliferation, It will not reduce or erode the outside world, but it will swallow up adventurers who enter the Northland without hesitation.
Ulanov looked at the hazy other side of the Gray River, his smooth faceplate reflecting the last light of the sky: "People living in other areas of the wasteland always forget where the biggest crisis in the world lies. They may even forget The world is still tied to bombs - only when you come here and watch the Gray River surge with your own eyes will you realize from the bottom of your heart that this world is always walking on thin ice. We can survive today entirely because a human being cannot understand , reasons that are beyond our control. When I was a researcher, I once did a project to explore how two completely different life forms would get along after humans came into contact with alien life. But I didn’t expect the answer would be like this: Now this planet There is an incomprehensible life form on the planet that is completely different from humans, and there is only two words between them: unknown."
"It's just because they can't communicate," Hao Ren looked thoughtfully at the gray-white liquid that was almost solidifying. "I also believe that the nanomachines have evolved thinking, but it's just different from the way humans think. There must be a reason why they stopped. ...maybe you just want to communicate with humans?”
"You are not the first to come up with this idea," Ulanov turned his head slightly, "but having an idea is meaningless."
At this time, Nolan suddenly whispered to himself: "Maybe they stopped spreading just because the world can't handle such complex things."
"What?" Hao Ren didn't hear clearly for a moment.
Nolan shook his head and turned to leave: "Nothing. The Gray River has solidified and is ready to go!"
It was impossible to see the position of the sun in the sky covered with smoke and dust, but the gradually dimming light on the horizon still made people know that dusk was drawing to a close. The viscous liquid in the gray river slowly solidified into a whole piece as Nolan said. It was like liquid metal cooling and turned into a metallic luster ground at a speed visible to the naked eye. The surface could even be seen. To the ripples of the river's surface and the bubbles that just burst: they're all just fixed.
This is also an incomprehensible property of Gray River. People still don't know why the nanomachine group periodically solidifies like this. It can only be explained as the result of program mutation.
The mercenaries got on board one after another, and the three armored vehicles carefully drove to the river. After confirming that the river surface was completely hardened, the first vehicle cautiously drove up. The nanomachine swarm that was still in a liquid state a moment ago is now as solid as steel, and a heavy armored vehicle can't even leave a scratch when it drives up. Hao Ren and the others were waiting in the second car to set off with the team. Ulanov noticed that Hao Ren was fiddling with the "electromagnetic sleep device" he had been given before, and immediately reminded him: "Don't move around. If the frequency is messed up, there will be problems." .”
"I heard you guys say it many times, this thing can hypnotize a swarm of nanomachines?" Hao Ren asked casually.
"That's right. This thing may not be common among natural people, but it is often used by mercenaries who can't lead." Ulanov pointed to the small device, "It has two systems, corresponding to these two green Indicator lights, one main and one backup. They can make you become the same thing as them in the eyes of the nanomachine swarm, so that the swarm will not attack you, but once the hypnosis stops, the swarm will immediately rush up - even in the frozen state The Gray River will also wake up soon."
Ulanov said, raising his finger and pointing to the roof of the carriage: "We also have a set of big ones in the car. So if there is a problem with your device when you go out for action later, you must run back to the armored vehicle as quickly as possible. It’s nearby, and if you’re fast enough, you might be able to survive.”
"So don't touch that thing," Nolan glanced at Hao Ren. "If one of the lights turns red, report it immediately. It will be too late when both systems are broken."
The lead vehicle sent back a safe signal, and the other two armored vehicles cautiously drove from the river bank to the river. Hao Ren felt the car shake, and then saw the expressions of the mercenaries around him becoming nervous. He asked curiously: "Speaking of the fact that the Gray River is so dangerous, why not just cross it from the sky?"
"There are also nanomachine swarms in the sky." Ulanov did not laugh at Hao Ren's ignorance, because most people really don't know how to study the environment of the Northland ruins. "Atmospheric purification models, but now they have become a plague over the Northland ruins." . They live symbiotically with the clouds, occasionally suddenly descending to only a hundred meters above the ground, and often actively attack aircraft."
At this time, a Shirakawa Chamber of Commerce researcher sitting at the back of the carriage suddenly spoke: "Ploplaning nanomachines float in the air, and the aircraft will suck them into the combustion chamber when it is running. The fleet will regard this as an attack signal, and they will destroy the aircraft. It’s to protect our companions.”
"Ah, I thought you were all mute," Ulanov raised his head and looked over. "What you said really sounded like you were excusing the nanomachine swarm."
The thin Baihe Chamber of Commerce researcher had no embarrassment on his face: "I am a scientist, I only talk about my findings."
Ulanov shrugged: "What a coincidence, I was also a scientist before I picked up a gun."
"Okay, be polite to your customers," Nolan interrupted Ulanov, and then looked at the four members of the Baihe Chamber of Commerce, "Also, please cooperate with us as much as possible later, otherwise you will die. That would be a pity - my order says that as long as at least one of you returns alive, the commission will be completed."
The atmosphere suddenly became a little cold. Hao Ren realized that Nolan was not only powerful in terms of combat experience and knowledge, but also that she had experienced hundreds of battles.
The Gray River is extremely wide, and because of fear of disturbing the fleet, the armored vehicle does not drive very fast, so we don't know how long it will take. The monotonous gray-white world outside made people look drowsy. Hao Ren yawned and leaned against the carriage to be confused for a while.
A voice sounded in his mind, which seemed to be from a data terminal: "...What do you want to find there?"
"Perhaps it's the eldest son's tentacles," Hao Ren replied vaguely in his mind. "The 'collapse' of this world began sixty-five years ago, and the out-of-control nanomachine swarm was the root of everything. If this was not a man-made disaster, It can only be a natural disaster...I heard that the core container of the nanomachine swarm is buried deep underground. Perhaps the container was dug too deep and was close to one of the tentacles of the eldest son..."
"...What if I can't find it?"
"Look for it somewhere else. If it doesn't work, I'll find a place to dig a hole myself."
"What if there isn't what you're looking for here at all? Will you leave?"
"Leave? Why did you leave?" Hao Ren felt a little more awake, "The matter is not finished yet."
"Leave quickly, we can't support this place for much longer..."
Hao Ren suddenly woke up and immediately called the data terminal: "What were you talking about just now?"
"I'm still practicing walking - are you sleepy?"
(Please vote for me~! It’s almost the end of the month. Take a look at the monthly tickets you have on hand. Maybe you will have an extra monthly ticket available before you know it. Anyway, Dian Niang has a metaphysical voting mechanism all year round =. =)