Chapter 480 Let’s Make a Deal (1/2)

Chen Yutong had no reaction and began to think seriously, but the young man sitting next to him blushed unconsciously.

"Hey, the girl you like? Why are you talking about this?"

Lao Bai joked with a smile.

"Nothing to do. If you're shy, just talk about something else."

As if he didn't want to admit that he was shy, Zhao Xiao was silent for a while and started talking.

"I... come from Town No. 13."

"what is that?"

"An autonomous region managed by the Science and Technology Committee. The situation in each autonomous region is different. Some are tribal systems and some are kingdoms. We belong to the former, with about one or two thousand households."

Lao Bai nodded.

"That's quite big."

The average survivor settlement only has one or two hundred households, or even a dozen households. It seems that this wandering swamp is not as desolate as he imagined.

"Yes," Zhao Xiao seemed to be thinking about where to start. After thinking for a while, Zhao Xiao continued, "Every December, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a 30-day assessment to recruit students who are over 12 years old from various autonomous regions. and qualified apprentices.”

Lao Bai thought for a moment and said.

"This apprentice...is equivalent to an intern?"

"Internship?" Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "Absolutely... Basically, each autonomous region can be selected for one or two. After becoming an apprentice, you can enter the academy and stay away from the hard life in the swamp, with your family and friends. The town gets some money, too.”

"Then you can be considered the best among thousands of people."

Zhao Xiao felt a little overwhelmed by the praise and rubbed his nose with his index finger sheepishly.

"It's okay... But after entering the academy, it's not as perfect as I imagined. The living conditions will indeed be much better than in the swamp, but because we have to cooperate with the current researchers to engage in some dangerous research subjects, every year Only about 73% of the apprentices can survive to advance to the G level, and only those who advance to the G level can be considered as students of the academy. "

"Very strict selection."

"Yeah..." Zhao Xiao sighed with emotion, "Sometimes it's not easy to think about being able to reach E level."

"For my sweetheart?"

"Part of the reason is that we were selected as apprentices in the same batch. I promised her that she would become a researcher... and then, we would bring our parents into the academy."

Lao Bai asked curiously.

"Aren't you already a researcher?"

Zhao Xiao said with a bitter smile.

"How is it possible? I'm just a prospector... The lowest researcher is D-level. After being promoted to D-level, you need to master at least one professional skill and pass the assessment, and you also need the recommendation of a mentor. But basically... only master one One professional skill is not enough. A large number of apprentices are promoted every year, and most instructors require proficiency in three or more majors.”

Lao Bai joked.

“Capacity is inflated.”

Zhao Xiao nodded and sighed.

"Well...and prospectors have to do front-line work, so it's basically difficult to spare too much time to learn those things."

Lao Bai: "Why don't you consider changing your life? This wasteland is quite big."

Zhao Xiao curled his lips and muttered.

"It's the same wherever I go, and don't look at me complaining about this or that... I think the academy is pretty good. As you said, at least here I can find the meaning of living, instead of living in a muddle like other survivors. Live your life in ruins."

Lao Bai's expression couldn't help but be a little strange, and he asked curiously.

"Why are you so sure that the other survivors must have surrendered themselves?"

"Otherwise? Do you think the enterprise and the legion have a future?" Glancing at the enterprise pilot not far away who was sleeping like a pig, Zhao Xiao did not hide his disdain and said without thinking, "A fool addicted to pleasure. , a militaristic madman, if the future of this world is handed over to them, it will be truly over! "

As he spoke, he clenched the spoon in his hand.

"One day... we will recycle all the relics before the legacy of the past is squandered. At that time, we will no longer have to remember the past. We will write a new history and travel to more distant worlds to explore the past. The mystery.”

Good guy.

What kind of “far-sightedness” is this? !

Lao Bai looked at the young man in slight surprise.

It's not like he came up with these big principles on his own.

But maybe it's just because I'm young that I can speak out without any scruples.

Of course, what surprised him even more was the academy.

When he first got to know it, he thought the academy was just about governing the country through technical officials, but he didn't expect that it had a more profound spiritual core.

Seeing that this guy was getting more and more arrogant, Chen Yutong coughed slightly and interrupted his tirade.

"In conclusion, the doctor's theory is indeed true... However, I didn't think about it that much. When I was twelve years old, I luckily passed the exam and then entered the academy. In fact, I think it's good to be like you, no. With our strict level restrictions, there is more than one path in life, and you can live a good life even if you don’t become a prospector or researcher.”

"That kind of survivor colony doesn't exist at all. Wherever there are people, there are levels. At best, it's just vague," Zhao Xiao said disapprovingly. "I think it's better to write down the levels and promotion paths clearly. Everyone can do it according to their abilities. ”

Lao Bai said with a smile.

"What you said makes sense. This is similar to a game. As long as the server continues to operate, there will definitely be separation between old players and newcomers. The hierarchy will not disappear due to subjective neglect."

"Server? Operation?" Zhao Xiao asked curiously.

Lao Bai coughed slightly and explained.

"What I mean is that even the alliance has levels, such as contribution levels... which are probably similar to your levels. G, F, and E-level researchers should correspond to the three levels of citizens. On top of that, there are' Knight' and so on."

"Really?" Zhao Xiao looked at Chen Yutong proudly.

The latter did not speak, but his expression was obviously a little disappointed.

It seems that the longing was just a short-lived misunderstanding.

Lao Bai paused and continued.

"However, we don't feel superior just because our contribution level is higher than others."

"This is impossible. Who doesn't know how to tell lies?" Zhao Xiao said without hesitation, his expression clearly full of disbelief.

Chen Yutong glanced at the lunch box in his hand, but instead of instinctively choosing to doubt like Zhao Xiao, he asked.

"Why?"

This question is somewhat difficult to answer.

Lao Bai couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

From a practical perspective, this is just a game.

Of course there are games that deliberately create conflicts among players and provoke competitive consumption, but "Wasteland OL" is obviously not the case. There is not even a recharge entrance, not to mention that it is still in the closed beta stage. Even if such problems exist, they are definitely not common.

Most old players are still willing to bring new players, even if sometimes the newcomers' performance is a bit naive, but everyone has been through that stage, so they can understand it to some extent.

As for the relationship between players and NPCs, it can be considered relatively harmonious. NPCs do not care whether they are "citizens" or "knights". These titles do not give the residents of the shelter the privilege of "above others".

As for the players, even mosquitoes who have made meritorious service to the alliance will still be sent to a small black room to cool down for violating server regulations.

Lao Bai has felt it before.

Those titles are not so much a status, but rather a kind of honor, or a kind of recognition from the collective.

"There is no standard answer to a subjective question. I can't answer you. Everyone has a different opinion. If you have the opportunity, you can use your own eyes to confirm what kind of place the alliance is."

After putting away the finished lunch box, Lao Bai smiled and continued.

"By the way, let me tell you some good news. It seems that your teammates haven't given up on you yet and are following us five kilometers away."

This is the news that Guangfeng told him before he went offline.

Chen Yutong looked at him nervously, while Zhao Xiao raised the corners of his mouth proudly and said matter-of-factly.

"Of course! I said, there is no way the academy will abandon us!"

Lao Bai smiled and continued.

"Then let's make a bet."

Zhao Xiao: "What are you betting on?"

Lao Bai said casually: "Let's bet...whether the academy will come to rescue you before we climb over this mountain and enter the desert."

Zhao Xiao: "Aren't they already here?"

"Following behind doesn't count," Lao Bai said with a smile. "People who don't know saw it and thought your people were seeing us off."

Zhao Xiao stared at Lao Bai.

"Where's the bet?"

Of course, he would not be so naive as to think that the man in front of him would let go of his captives when the people from the academy came.

Like their sniper said, they still need him to take bullets.

However, to his surprise, Lao Bai shrugged and said nonchalantly.

"When they come to kill me, I will let you go."

Based on his experience, if both sides are unwilling to admit the conflict, then not admitting casualties and prisoners is what will happen with a high probability.

If you haven't encountered any of the academy's pursuers since you got here, there's a good chance you won't encounter them along the way.

It doesn't matter if your judgment is wrong.

Just release one prisoner and capture two more.

Zhao Xiao looked at him in surprise. Seeing that he didn't look like he was joking, his expression became serious.

"Then what do you want from me..."

"What can I get from you?" Lao Bai laughed, thought for a while and said, "Well, let me think about it...if I win, you can just buy me a beer."

a cup of beer? !

Zhao Xiao was stunned and his face turned slightly red.

The way he didn't take them seriously made him feel a little bit humiliated.

However, a good man will not suffer the immediate consequences, so Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Deal...but you have to keep your word."

Lao Bai said calmly.

"Don't worry, I told you I won't have any use for you."

…

In the northern part of the River Valley Province, on the wasteland near the nuclear crater, there are rows of dilapidated and scrawled camps.

The camp has no name and may not even be in this location next year.

The scavengers who live here are like nomads chasing pasture. They move their tents and bonfires wherever they pick up garbage.

If he was unlucky enough to get caught, the ghouls wandering around the nuclear crater would naturally help the unlucky guy take care of his funeral.

Those who choose to "degenerate" into scavengers don't particularly care whether their bodies fall into the mouths of ghouls or alien species.

Anyway, there is no difference in the eating appearance between the two, both of them are not very good-looking.

Buyers who are interested in the trash they hold or their ability to pick up trash will have a way to find out where they are.

One morning.

Gust, who is over fifty, got up early as usual and prepared to drive his "Digger One" to a nearby ancient battlefield to dig up some valuable treasures.

Just when he was putting on his backpack and equipment and heading out, the bald Aqiang from the Digging Warriors group next door suddenly came to the door.

"Several big families came to the settlement and said they wanted to recruit people."

As soon as he heard about the big deal, Gust immediately narrowed his eyes, sat down on the stool at the door, and tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe.

"What job?"

"Salvage work."

"Location?"

"North of the northern mountain range of Luoxia Province."

Gust frowned upon hearing this vague statement.

"You can just say it's the Wandering Swamp."

To poach the treasures from the People's League era under the eyes of the academy is simply too long. In the eyes of those people, they are not much better than the predators, and are even more hateful than the predators.

Even if he had 10,000 courages, he would not dare to expand his business to the territory of the college.

The bald man said with a smile.

"Not in the swamp, just on the edge of the swamp."

Gust stared at him suspiciously for a moment, then continued.

"How many people is he going to recruit?"

The bald man opened his right hand.

"At least five hundred, and they must have professional equipment and experience in dismantling large machines."

"five hundred?!"

Old Man Gust's eyes widened and he smacked his mouth.

"That's a big guy...they're going to tear something down."

The bald man shook his head and said.

"I don't know...but they promised that as long as we can dismantle it and transport it to Xizhou City, they can pay us a total of one million silver coins."

One million silver coins? !

Hearing this number, Gust's heart suddenly moved.

This is not a small amount, it would cost close to a thousand kilograms to completely replace it with wheat!

Of course, no one would exchange silver coins for wheat. You can buy cheaper ones by heading west to Oasis No. 8 in Luoxia Province.

What’s really exciting is the alliance’s KV-1 exoskeleton, metal hydrogen batteries, “e-mule” light trucks and various large-scale engineering equipment.

For those who make a living by scavenging, the simple, crude and cost-effective industrial products produced by the Alliance are exactly what they need.

"Sounds interesting..." Gust touched his chin, with obvious heartbeat in his eyes, "Those people are still in the camp?"

Seeing the heartbeat in the old man's eyes, the bald man said with a smile.

"It's still there. Let's go together. This business is not something that a single salvage team can take. Let's work together and make more money."

Gust glanced at him and hummed noncommittally.

"We'll talk about it later."

…

In the center of the scavenger camp.

Seeing the ragged beggars in the darkness in front of him, the lost and cute new man standing next to the sixth man in the corner couldn't help but muttered.

"Can we do it with these beggars?"

Even the sniper Bai couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

"+1, I'm afraid that one plane will dismantle the parts of two planes."

The old man in the corner was stunned for a moment.

"Isn't that good?"

"What a hammer," Bai Guaishou rolled his eyes, "Can it fly?"

While the players were communicating in a low voice, the old man named Gust was secretly looking at the three outsiders.

Three sets of Type 5 "Light Cavalry" exoskeletons.

This kind of equipment is not uncommon in some urban ruins, but there are only two possibilities for it to look like this, either it is a replica or it was found in a shelter.

Whether it's a counterfeit or not, he can certainly tell after picking up trash for so many years.

There is no doubt that these three people are all soldiers of the Alliance!

Seeing the concerns on the faces of the two of them, Gust grinned and said respectfully.

"Dear Sir, even though we are dressed in rags, when it comes to picking up trash... everyone here is an expert."

A bald man next to him also echoed.

"That's right, our ancestors have been scavengers for generations. From the People's Alliance Air and Space Frigates to Old Popsicle cans, we have considered everything that can be exchanged for money!"

The aerospace frigate is okay.

Looking at the translated subtitles projected on the tactical eyepiece, Lost Mengxin's eyes suddenly showed a surprised expression.

"Good guy, what a wasteland version of the Beggar Gang."

"Hiss..." Bai Geidai took a breath and touched his chin, "You made such an analogy, and I suddenly felt that they were good."

"Whatever! It's already here, let's try it first and then talk! If it doesn't work, we won't take the blame."

Interrupting the controversy among his teammates, the sixth man in the corner took a step forward, looked at the experienced scavengers in front of him and said.

"We just said the demand. We need at least 500 experienced scavengers here to help us recover a broken down large piece of equipment. We offer one million silver coins. You can discuss the details... I hope you will first Nominate someone who can speak up."

Several scavengers looked at each other and whispered among themselves as if they had come up with an idea. The old man who spoke first took over and said.

"No problem, sir, as long as you are willing to pay, we promise to deliver the things to you, and we promise not to say a word to anyone else. By the way... can you tell us what the things are to be recycled? We are sure we need to bring them Tool of."

This request is quite reasonable.

The sixth man in the corner hesitated for a while, then nodded and said.

"It's a plane."

Gust hesitated.

"What's the specific model?"

"The aircraft is more than twenty meters long, about six or seven meters high, weighs just over twenty meters, and has two plasma engines... I can only say this much. Knowing too much is not good for you."

Hearing this parameter, a hint of surprise appeared on Gust's face.

This description...

Is it the corporate killer whale transport plane? !

Having vaguely guessed something, the old man didn't dare to ask any more questions. He quickly ended the topic and lowered his head respectfully.

"Understood... Sir, when will we set off?"

Things between these big forces are not something that a few scavengers can join in on.

As this Union soldier said, it does them no good to know too much.

Seeing that the old man did not ask further questions, the sixth man in the corner breathed a sigh of relief and said immediately.

"Now! The sooner the better!"

Gust grinned and said respectfully.

"Follow your orders! I assure you that our service will definitely satisfy you!"

The old man in the corner nodded.

"hope so."

…

Under the leadership of three players, more than five hundred scavengers left the camp and headed for the mountains in the northern part of Luoxia Province.

Some of them drive three-meter-tall forklifts, some lead tinkering robots, some lead two-headed oxen or push tattered carts... The guys in their hands basically do everything themselves. Or it is second-hand goods bought from merchants, and it is almost impossible to find a few duplicates.

Looking at these scavengers, Lost Mengxin was filled with doubts, but having come this far, he could only choose to believe them.

At the same time, after nearly five days of trekking, Lao Bai and his party escorting the pilot finally walked out of the mountains and saw the endless yellow sand.

"Uh-huh..."

Looking at the air distorted by the heat wave in the distance, Xiao Yu, who was walking in the team, let out a slightly tired whine.

The temperature south of the mountains is significantly higher than that in the north, and the climate is dry, which makes it feel obvious discomfort as it likes humid environments.

Luo Yu touched its little head and comforted it.

"Hold on, we're almost there."

"Ugh!"

The comfort seemed to have an effect, Xiaoyu made a happy sound, and the tentacles on the back of his head rippled with joy like seaweed.

A smile appeared on Luo Yu's face.

This kid is so sweet.

Ye Shi glanced at Xiao Yu and muttered something softly.

"Oh my god...the sight of these tentacles scares me so much."

Luo Yu said sheepishly.

"I did the same at first, but you get used to it."

Zhao Xiao, who was walking not far away, looked at the matrix that lived in harmony with people in surprise, and felt that his world view was impacted.

But now he had no time to digest the surprise in his heart.

After five days of traveling, they had reached the edge of Luoxia Province. If they walked a few dozen kilometers further, they would soon see Oasis No. 8.

Owing a beer is a small thing.

What Zhao Xiao couldn't believe, and what was even more unacceptable was that... he was actually abandoned by the academy? !

Noticing the lost expression on the NPC's face, Ye Shi, who had learned about the bet, stepped forward and joked.

"Don't be so frustrated. Think about it from another perspective...the academy may not have given up on you."

Zhao Xiao raised his head and looked at the annoying guy in front of him, wondering why he suddenly comforted him.

But he soon discovered that he was thinking too much.

Ye Shi then continued in a teasing tone.

"Maybe they just wrote you off."

"You..." Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and stared at him, but in the end he suppressed the "fart" sentence.

People under the eaves have to bow their heads,

Zhao Xiao comforted himself in his heart.

At this moment, billowing smoke suddenly rose from a piece of yellow sand in the distance.

Looking at the movement in the distance, Zhao Xiao was slightly stunned, and hope suddenly ignited in his heart.

He suddenly remembered that the Golden Lizard Kingdom seemed to be a "preparatory member" of the Science and Technology Committee, which was equivalent to a quasi-vassal of the academy.

Those people might be reinforcements from the Golden Lizard Kingdom!

Although the combat power of those feudal main armies is low, the scale is so large that even one person can drown these guys with a spit.

However--

This joyful mood did not last even two seconds in his heart. Trucks soon appeared behind the sand.

That was obviously not the army of the Golden Lizard Kingdom.

It was not only Zhao Xiao who was in deep depression, but also the Beacon team who were following him all the way.

The rear of the tracked vehicle.

Jiang Xuezhou, who had his eyes closed tightly, moved his lips.

"Reinforcements from the Alliance! At least three hundred... no, maybe four hundred."

The medical soldier sitting nearby smiled bitterly.

"As for it?"

Zheng Hao, who had been silent all this time, slowly spoke.

"These people are not here to guard against us...most likely to frighten the Golden Lizard Kingdom."

It is impossible for the Alliance to not be aware of the relationship between the Golden Lizard Kingdom and the academy.

Although their preparations were completely redundant, in order to take their pilot home, the Alliance was actually prepared to go to war with the Golden Lizard Kingdom.

Thinking of this, Zheng Hao couldn't help but feel a little complicated.

Lao Song, who was sitting in the driver's seat, looked at the captain.

"What should we do now?"

It was no longer possible to rescue those prisoners.

They really watched those people stroll around under the eyes of the academy, and then swagger home.

Zheng Hao was silent for a long time and then slowly spoke.

"Report the situation to your superiors...wait for news."

This is out of range of signal towers, but they can transmit messages by launching drones as signal repeaters.

Jiang Xuezhou nodded.

She was about to launch the signal repeater when suddenly her brows moved slightly and her index finger pressed on the edge of her temple.

"There are strange communication requests...it should be from those people."

Zheng Hao said immediately.

"Get to me."

At the same time as the order was issued, a light blue holographic screen unfolded in his field of vision, and an unfamiliar face appeared in front of him.

This was the first time Zheng Hao saw this man.

But looking into that person's eyes, he always had a very familiar feeling... They had met their eyes a few days ago!

"I am Bai, the leader of the Burning Legion." The man in the holographic screen said.

Zheng Hao stared at him and said without introducing himself.

"What do you want to say."

"It's nothing, I just think that you group of archaeologists are not the type to fight in the first place. It is quite unlucky for you to be sent by your superiors to provoke us."

Zheng Hao's heart sank slightly.

It seems that those prisoners must have recruited something.

However, he didn't understand why this person wanted to contact him, let alone why he wanted to reveal this news to him.

"Are you here specifically to ridicule me?" Zheng Hao frowned and said.

"I'm not that bored."

After smiling, Lao Bai continued.

"I heard that this place has left the coverage of the college's signal tower, so I'll open the skylight and speak frankly... let's make a deal."

"What a deal."

"We are interested in your tracked vehicle."

Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, then smiled coldly.

"Oh, and then."

"Keep the car and take the prisoners away."

"hehe."

Zheng Hao laughed out loud.

It’s okay to stay.

He admitted that his team was no match for those well-trained soldiers, just as they may not have the expertise of experts like himself to deal with alien species.

But wanting to keep this "reindeer" tracked vehicle is undoubtedly a bit of a dream.

The off-road capability of this thing is far beyond what those trucks can match.

Anticipating his reaction, Lao Bai continued with a smile.

"Don't refuse in a hurry, I can give you twenty more rifles and a truck..."

Zheng Hao said with a serious face.

"What do I need those rags for?"

Lao Bai smiled and said.

"It's useless, but you've been with us for so long...are you willing to go back empty-handed?"

"Don't you want to win once?"

Zheng Hao smiled self-deprecatingly and lowered his voice.

"What you mean by winning once is that we left behind a tracked vehicle and finally came back with a few E-class prisoners and rifles?"

"What if we add some tissue samples from the parent species of the specific mutant slime mold numbered X-277?"

Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, and a hint of fanaticism suddenly appeared in his eyes, but he was not carried away by this fanaticism. He stared at the guy named Lao Bai with vigilance.

"Are you willing... to give it to us?!"

Lao Bai, who was standing in the holographic screen, smiled and shook the test tube in his hand. There were several pieces of fine tissue debris floating in it.

"Well, our allies have authorized me to provide you with some maternal tissue samples. After all, mutant slime mold is our common enemy. It would be good for us if you can make some progress."

Of course, it is not the company that authorizes him, but the managers.

And the tissue fragments in the test tube in his hand were certainly not freshly collected samples, or even collected from Xiao Yu.

It was extracted from the mother nest on the B6 floor and airlifted to the vicinity of Oasis No. 8 via the company's aircraft together with other soldiers of the Burning Corps.

However, it should be enough to fool the prospector.

The academy will probably not believe that the Alliance actually keeps a brood in captivity that can be studied at will.

Just look at the grand occasion of Qingquan City's annual "wave". That kind of thing is something that even the post-war reconstruction committee can't handle.

What's more, this is a desert, and there is no mother nest nearby.

Zheng Hao stared at the test tube and silently started the pattern recognition program. After getting the recognition result with 87% matching accuracy, his breathing became rapid.

There is no doubt that they are tissue fragments from the mother's body or mother's nest!

He originally thought that he would never be promoted to researcher in this life, and he would be satisfied if he could keep his status as a D-class prospector.

However, now, this opportunity was placed in front of him again...

The doors of countless biological laboratories will be opened to him, hundreds of mentors will extend olive branches to him, and recruit his team and projects into their own laboratory, and he and his team members will also start from the very beginning. The investigation department with no future was transferred to the research department with great future!

As for the loss of a mere "reindeer", no one will care at all. Those academic experts will rush to pay for it!

And the most important thing is that this is a gain beyond the mission!

No one can take credit from them!

"...How to lose?"

Upon hearing this answer, Lao Bai's lips curled up into a smile.

"It's very simple. We leave the prisoners, props, and trucks for you to escape in the camp. You send a person to drive the crawler truck over, and then drive the truck away from us."

Zheng Hao said cautiously: "How do I know you won't go back on your word?"

"We have no reason to do that. If we wanted to kill you, we would have done it long ago. Or do you doubt that we don't have that ability?"

Seeing that the man didn't speak, Lao Bai continued.

"And I have to tell you, although I have the authorization from my superiors, this is not a deal between the Alliance and the Academy, but a deal between the Burning Corps and the Beacon Team. So I hope that there is no locator or locator on the crawler. Things like surveillance... From your point of view, you don’t want other unrelated people to know about today’s events, right?”

Zheng Hao was silent for a long time and then slowly spoke.

"I hope you keep your word."

Lao Bai smiled and nodded.

"We will."

"And I always have a hunch that there will be many opportunities for us to cooperate in the future."