43
The administrator has lost contact.
Although Chun San had noticed before that the administrator did not respond to the report, she was still a little surprised when she learned that Consul General Su had contacted the administrator three times to request a meeting but received no response.
The administrators seem to have abandoned the main city.
Maybe it shouldn't be surprising.
Everyone is avoiding it, but everyone knows this day will come.
Ever since Area D began to collapse more than a decade ago, it has become something that cannot be avoided, especially for those of them who are regarded as the "main city managers" in the eyes of the main city residents.
It's just... is this really how it starts
The black fog that swept in yesterday afternoon and covered most of the main city has now dissipated, and everything seems to have returned to normal. The people who fled in panic on the streets yesterday have returned to the streets.
But the traces are still there. In the sky under the sunlight, the black fog seemed to be torn apart when it dissipated, leaving behind wisps of gray-black smoke and dust that can be seen by looking up.
Lei Yu sat astride A01. Ever since Lian Chuan joined the cleanup team, he basically never led the team to carry out missions himself. Although Lian Chuan and Long Biao did not get along with each other, as long as one of them was there, all missions would not go wrong.
But today, he was sitting in the car, ready to go at any time.
There were cases of people fleeing from several major administrative agencies in the main city.
Ordinary residents fled in greater numbers, but they could be dealt with directly by the security and city guards. When officials from the main city fled, a cleanup team was needed. After all, no one knew who might be hiding some of the secrets of the main city.
As a captain who had been warned twice for tolerating his subordinates' disobedience and was placed on probation for leading his team to rob the training department's transport vehicle that was escorting Lianchuan, and who could be dismissed at any time, Lei Yu had to carry out the mission personally today.
Of course, he has no regrets.
The main city does have a strict hierarchy, and any violation may become a reason for disappearance. However, the hierarchy of such a main city at the moment is slowly becoming meaningless as it guards a tiny piece of land that could collapse at any time due to being swallowed by the black fog.
The only reason why the main city still has to guard this point is probably just to make it easier to select who can survive when that day comes.
There were familiar footsteps coming from behind, Lei Yu turned around and saw Chun San in uniform.
"Why are you still out on the field?" he asked.
"I'll check the border myself to see if there are any traces," Haruzo said, "and come in if you pass by."
"Who will escort us?" Lei Yu asked.
"Patrol." Chun San replied.
"I came to see my husband during the mission," Lei Yu smiled, "Commander Xiao will be angry."
"Who knows how many times I can see him? I don't care if he's angry or not," Chun San also smiled, "Go home more often if you can."
"Okay." Lei Yu nodded.
"Seeing the boss, let him come over as well," Chun San said, "Its body needs to be checked. I will find time to check it myself."
"I haven't seen it for a while. After Chuan left..." Lei Yu's voice was a little heavy, "I haven't seen it since then."
"A target has been found under the B3 bridge pier in Area D," Lu Qian's voice came from the intercom, "waiting for a disposal plan."
"Scan, confirm the identity first. Group 2 is at B2. Two people go over to assist." Lei Yu started the car and glanced at Chun San.
"Be careful." Chun San waved at him.
Early in the morning, when the black fog had not yet completely dissipated, Guangguang discovered that someone had broken the window, climbed into the store, and hid on the first floor.
This is one of the main streets leading from Area C to Area D. People who want to leave the main city usually pass through here.
She did not call the police or go downstairs, but simply locked the door leading to the second floor.
Although the main city has slowly returned to normal, people are still fleeing.
Although no one knows where to escape to.
Except for the high-level residents in the core area of Area A, no one can guarantee that if there is a glimmer of hope, they will get the chance.
An hour later, the patrol broke down the store door.
When Guang Guang went downstairs, there was no trace of the store except the broken window.
The intruder had disappeared.
Several patrolmen stood outside the store. After checking her ID card, one of them looked at her in surprise and said, "You should go back to your settlement in Area A. The outer circle is not safe."
"Thank you." Guangguang said.
"Do you dream?" Ning Gu lay on the roof, resting his head on his arms, and glanced at Lian Chuan who was sitting next to him.
"Very rarely." Lian Chuan said.
"Are the people in the main city dreaming?" Ning Gu asked again.
"I don't know, I guess we are all dreaming." Lian Chuan said.
"Uncle Feng said that when you dream, you see things you've thought about and seen before," Ning Gu looked at the black sky and felt that his nostrils were almost blown bigger by the wind. "So I always dream about ghost towns, black, nails, and the captain... Most of the dreams with the captain in them are nightmares. Every time I dream that he wants to hang me on the bell tower."
Lian Chuan didn't say anything.
"I dreamed about nails," Ning Gu sniffed, "I..."
Lian Chuan turned his head and looked at him.
"I didn't cry," Ning Gu waved his hands, "The wind blew into my nose, I inhaled it and closed my nostrils."
Lian Chuan still didn't say anything, probably because he didn't know what to say, so he just turned his head back.
"If there were someone around," Ning Gu sat up, "could you spot it?"
"Yes." Lian Chuan replied.
"Can you find it in such a strong wind?" Ning Gu asked.
"Yes." Lian Chuan said.
"How far away can it be detected?" Ning Gu continued to ask.
"Where are you going?" Lian Chuan did not answer but asked back.
This man is indeed very perceptive.
Ning Gu leaned closer to him and whispered, "Tongue Bay."
Lian Chuan looked at him.
"But Tongue Bay is full of aboriginals," Ning Gu said, "I'm going to go to the Land King to grab some equipment first. You help me keep watch and don't let anyone find out."
"Don't you need me to help you rob it?" Lian Chuan said.
"You don't know much about my fighting skills," Ning Gu said, "The Earth King is an incompetent traveler, and he always..."
"Robbing the elderly?" Lian Chuan interrupted him.
"What's wrong? The elderly also robbed me and beat me up," Ning Gu said, "The elderly in the ghost town are different from the elderly in your main city."
"There are few elderly people in the main city," Lian Chuan said.
"Yes, I heard that after the age of 60..." Ning Gu pointed his finger at his head and made a shooting gesture, "Don't waste the resources of young people."
"Grabbing the land king." Lian Chuan helped him bring the topic back.
"I can take care of this old scoundrel of the land by myself, you just help me spread the word." Ning Gu said.
"He can tell others as soon as you leave." Lian Chuan said.
"Then silence him." Ning Gu said.
"Yeah." Lian Chuan responded.
"Hey!" Ning Gu turned his head and stared at him, "I was just kidding."
"Me too." Lian Chuan said.
"You are joking with such a straight face," Ning Gu said, "You sound just like the truth."
"You didn't laugh either." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu bared his teeth at him and smiled: "The main thing is that you are a hyena, and your job is to kill people and silence them. When others say this, it's just a joke whether they laugh or not, but it's different when you say it out loud."
Lian Chuan didn't say anything.
"Let's go." Ning Gu jumped off the roof and picked up a small iron rod from the side of the road.
The King of Earth has not slept well in the past two days. Ever since Ning Gu and Hyena came back together, he felt that he would definitely be in trouble.
Hyena is here as an undercover agent. Even if he betrays, he will always have to find some information to return to Mengmeng's main city. A veteran trader like him who has visited all the old maps and information databases in the ghost town is definitely his first target.
In addition, he took advantage of the situation and got Ning Gu a favor.
Thinking of this feather... Di Wang immediately turned over and sat up, squatted in the corner, carefully picked up a piece of loose ground, and revealed a large hole.
The feather is hidden in here.
He carefully took out the glass bottle containing the feather, restored the ground to its original state, and then placed the bottle in an empty hole under the bed.
If Ning Gu brings hyenas to steal the feathers, they won’t be able to find his other good stuff.
Having made all the preparations, the King of Earth breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the bed.
Just when I was about to lie down, the door was suddenly kicked open.
The King of Earth was so shocked that he almost sprained his waist. When he saw that it was Ning Gu who came in, and there was indeed a hyena following behind him, he fell down on the bed: "I knew—"
Ning Gu grabbed him by the collar and said, "Are you shouting again?"
"Are you here to steal something?" The King of Land glared at him.
"In exchange, but it will take some time before I can get you something," Ning Gu raised his fist, "If you keep quiet I won't beat you."
"What do you want?" asked the Land King, "I'll help you find it!"
"Anything is fine, as long as it can protect yourself." Ning Gu stared at him for a while and slowly let go of his hand.
The King of the Earth sat up from the bed, straightened his clothes, and squatted beside the bed: "I have some things, but not too much..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Ning Gu said.
"What are you going to do?" The king dragged a box out from under the bed. "If you get into any trouble and the captain knows it's my fault, I'll be finished."
"As long as you don't sell me out, I'll keep my mouth shut better than you." Ning Gu said.
"I believe this." The King of Land sighed and opened the box.
Lian Chuan stood at the door and looked at the land king's house.
There were many locked iron boxes and some small items of probably low value placed on the tables and chairs, filling up the room.
The trading form of Ghost Town is very similar to that of Lost Valley. The difference is probably that Lost Valley has a richer supply of goods, one more means of trading, and can use the currency of the main city.
However, whether it is the Ghost Town or the Lost Valley, this form of trading is more interesting, more lively, and more like life than in the main city.
The King of the Land took out some unknown "self-defense equipment" from the iron box and gave it to Ning Gu. He taught Ning Gu how to use them while sighing.
It was safe outside the house and it was very quiet. There was no other sound except the wind.
Lian Chuan was not surprised that Ning Gu was going to Shewan. If there were any secrets in the ghost town, they must be in Shewan.
Ning Gu was not satisfied with these pieces of equipment, so he bent down and took out a few more items from the box: "You name the price, as long as it's reasonable, and I'll find it for you."
The land king did not make an offer, but just asked Ning Gu to bring the things he wanted to exchange for a meeting.
When Ning Gu was leaving, the King of Land actually sent him to the door.
"What?" Ning Gu turned his head and looked at him warily.
"Where are you going?" asked the King of Land.
"It's none of your business." Ning Gu was still very vigilant. After all, the land king was well-known in the ghost town for being cunning and sly.
"If you want your feather," the king said, "I can give it back to you without any trade."
Ning Gu looked at him for a while before saying, "No need. Dingzi promised me that he would find me another one."
Without waiting for the King of Earth to speak again, he turned and strode into the wind.
"No one is there?" Ning Gu stopped when he was about to leave the ghost town and go to the garbage dump.
"No." Lian Chuan replied.
"Go back to Uncle Feng's place and wait," Ning Gu instructed, "No one should go there before I come back. If someone goes there, just keep quiet. You always have a sullen face anyway."
"Yeah." Lian Chuan responded.
"Let's go." Ning Gu turned around.
Lian Chuan stood there and looked at him.
He walked a few steps and turned back: "That's not right."
Lian Chuan said nothing.
"Why don't you try to persuade me?" Ning Gu said, "If I hadn't said no, the old swindler would have tried to persuade me."
"Go ahead." Lian Chuan said.
Ning Gu was stunned.
Lian Chuan turned around and walked towards the crazy uncle's cabin.
Ning Gu pulled his clothes, watched Lian Chuan disappear into the darkness, then turned around and trotted a few steps towards the garbage dump.
It's impossible to persuade him.
When he followed the team leader and Li Xiang out of She Bay, he had already made up his mind to go again.
He was going to find the nail, whether it was dead or alive, or something else, he wanted to find out.
The nail got into the Tongue Bay for him, and even though it was just a shell now, he had to find a way to get the nail out.
Lian Chuan's unexpected "Go" gave him some comfort.
After all, it was Tongue Bay, and he wasn't sure if he could really get out of it safely.
I just didn’t consider what to do if I couldn’t withdraw.
The road to Tongue Bay was still very familiar. He adjusted the cold light bottle to the lowest light, illuminating only a small area at his feet, and he could still recognize where to go.
But Tongue Bay has changed.
When Ning Gu stood at the tip of the tongue, he found that his tongue was gone.
He was stunned for a long time, then climbed up to the highest shelf and looked over there.
The tongue did not disappear, but was submerged in the black fog.
The thickest patch of black fog in the entire Tongue Bay advanced several hundred meters forward, and the thick black fog carried by the strong wind was about to swallow up the shelf under his feet.
Ning Gu looked at the unfamiliar tongue bay in front of him, not knowing what was going on.
But he knew that this must have happened not long ago, and the captain and the others didn't know about it, otherwise they would have strengthened their equipment, and he would not have had the opportunity to come here today.
Ning Gu jumped off the shelf and took out a handle that the King of Earth gave him. This thing could explode a small hollow area in the air to block the attack.
If he doesn't enter Tongue Bay now, and wait for the captain and others to discover something unusual, he will never have another chance to go in no matter what happens.
The black fog was no different from before. Ning Gu took a breath and there was no unusual smell in the wind. He turned the cold light bottle to the brightest, walked slowly forward, and looked down at his feet.
He needed to determine the original boundary of the black fog and go to the basement first.
After walking for a while, he saw a small piece of something stuck in a crack in the ground.
He slowly squatted down, and after making sure there was no unusual movement around him, he carefully picked up the piece of thing.
It was a piece of paper, a corner torn from something.
It was not something valuable. From time to time, strange things would be blown in by the strong wind, and a piece of paper was too ordinary.
However, when Ning Gu turned it over and saw the other side of the paper, he carefully put it into the small compartment on the side of his boots.
There were words on the other side, handwritten, and he wanted Lianchuan to see what was written.
After all, although not all the people in the ghost town are illiterate, almost no one can write on paper. Even if someone writes, the torn fragments will not appear in the Tongue Bay against the wind.
After putting away the piece of paper, Ning Gu stood up and continued to search the basement.
But after walking for a while, he felt a little lost.
He didn't find the small downward ramp outside the basement.
It is possible that he has passed it, or it is possible that he has not arrived yet, but he dare not move around casually. Although there is nothing around, the black fog itself is a maze.
Fortunately, the easiest way to determine the direction of a ghost town is the wind direction.
The wind never changes and always blows from one direction, so he knows that the way back is behind him.
Just when I was about to retreat and re-determine my position and walk again, I heard a small noise in the black fog ahead.
Ning Gu immediately swung his right hand and grabbed the handle on his wrist.
But he soon realized that this was not the voice of an indigenous person, nor was it the guttural sound that sounded like someone's neck was being strangled.
It was the sound of metal chains dragging on the ground.
Ning Gu leaned back slightly, ready to run away at any time, then lowered his voice and called out in an almost inaudible tone: "Nail?"
The sound of metal chains moved closer to him, then stopped.
"You are Ning Gu." A hoarse voice, as if the throat had been rubbed against black iron more than ten thousand times, came from the wind.