This Game is Too Real

  Chen Yutong didn't react, and thought about it seriously, but the young man sitting beside him blushed unconsciously. "Hey, what is the girl you like talking about?" Lao Bai laughed and teased.

   "Don't do anything, if you're shy, talk about something else."

   seemed reluctant to admit that he was shy, Zhao Xiao was silent for a while, then opened the chat box. "I...from Town 13." "What is that"

   "An autonomous region managed by the Science and Technology Commission. The situation of each autonomous region is different, some are tribal systems, some are kingdoms, and we belong to the former, with about a thousand or two thousand households." Lao Bai nodded. "That's pretty big too."

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

"Yes," as if thinking about where to start, Zhao Xiao continued after thinking for a while, "Every December, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a 30-day assessment, recruiting people over 12 years old from each autonomous region. And an apprentice that meets the standard." Lao Bai thought for a moment.

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

"Internship?" Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's it... Basically, each autonomous region can be selected one or two. After becoming an apprentice, you can enter the academy, away from the hard life in the swamp, family and children. The town can also get a sum of money." "Then you are considered to be the best among thousands of people." Zhao Xiao was a little overwhelmed by the praise, and embarrassedly rubbed his nose with his index finger.

   It's okay... But after entering the academy, it wasn't as perfect as I imagined. The living conditions are indeed much better than in the swamp, but because they have to cooperate with the researchers in the editor to engage in some dangerous research subjects, only about 73% of the apprentices can survive to advance to the G level every year. And being promoted to G-level is considered a student who truly belongs to the academy. ""Very strict selection.

   "Yeah..." Zhao Xiao sighed with emotion, "Sometimes it's not easy to think that I can be promoted to E-rank." "For the sake of my sweetheart"

   "Part of the reason, we are the same batch of selected apprentices. I promised her that she would become a researcher... Then, let's take our parents into the academy." Lao Bai asked curiously.

   "Aren't you already a researcher?" Zhao Xiao said with a wry smile.

"How is it possible, I'm just a prospector... The researcher is at least D-level. After being promoted to D-level, you need to master at least one professional skill and pass the assessment, and also need a mentor's recommendation. But basically... only master one major Skills are not enough, a large number of apprentices are promoted every year, and most tutors require more than three majors to be proficient." Lao Bai joked. "The ability is inflated." Zhao Xiao nodded and sighed.

"Well... and prospectors have to work on the front line, it's basically difficult to spend too much time learning those things." Lao Bai: "Why don't you consider living in another place? This wasteland is huge." Zhao Xiao curled his lips, muttered.

"It's the same wherever I go, and don't watch me complain about this... I think the academy is pretty good. Like you said, at least here I can find the meaning of life, instead of living like other survivors. After a lifetime, I will be degraded on the ruins." Lao Bai asked curiously with a strange expression.

   "Why are you so sure that the other survivors must have fallen for themselves."

Or else? Do you think there is a future for corporations and legions?" Glancing at the corporate pilot who was sleeping like a pig not far away, Zhao Xiao made no secret of his contempt and said without hesitation, "A fool who is addicted to pleasure, If the future of this world is handed over to them, it will be truly over!"

   said, he squeezed the spoon in his hand.

"One day...we will reclaim all the ruins, before the legacy of the old days is squandered. Then we will no longer have to miss the past, we will write a new history, and go to the farther world to explore the old days. Mysterious." Good guy.

   What is this "farsighted" Old Bai looked at this young man in surprise. These big truths are not like he came up with himself.

   However, it may be precisely because he is young that he can speak out without any scruples. Of course, what surprised him even more was the academy.

When    first got to know him, he thought that the academy was just a mere technical officer to govern the country, but he did not expect that there was a deeper spiritual core. Seeing that this guy was getting more and more advanced, Chen Yutong coughed lightly, interrupting his long speech. "Conclusion Doctor's theory is indeed the case... However, I didn't think about it that much. When I was twelve years old, I was lucky enough to pass the examination and then entered the academy. In fact, I think it's good to be like you, without us. With such strict level restrictions, there is more than one way of life, even if you don’t become a prospector or researcher, you can live well.”

"That kind of settlement for survivors doesn't exist at all. Where there are people, there is a level. At most, it's just a vague expression," Zhao Xiao said disapprovingly, "I think it's better to clearly write down the level and promotion path, and everyone can use their abilities. ." Lao Bai said with a smile.

   "What you said makes sense. This is similar to the game. As long as the server continues to operate, old players and new players will be separated, and the class will not disappear because of subjective neglect." "Server operation" Zhao Xiao asked curiously. Old Bai coughed lightly and explained.

"I mean, even alliances have levels, such as contribution levels... Probably similar to yours, G, F, and E-level researchers should correspond to the three citizens of citizens. Rank, on top of this there are 'Knights' and so on." "Yes" Zhao Xiao looked at Chen Yutong proudly. The latter did not speak, but his expression was obviously lost. It seemed that the longing was just a short-lived misunderstanding. Old Bai paused and continued.

"However, we won't feel that we are superior to others because our contribution level is higher than others." "This is impossible, who can't speak big words." Zhao Xiao said without hesitation, his expression was obviously full of disbelief .

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

   This question is somewhat difficult to answer. Old Bai couldn't help but fell into contemplation. In reality, it's just a game.

   Of course there are games that deliberately create conflicts among players to provoke comparison and consumption, but "Wasteland Online" is obviously not, there is not even a recharge entrance, not to mention that it is still in the packaging and testing stage, such problems are definitely not common even if they exist.

  Most old players are still very willing to bring newcomers, even if the newcomers sometimes behave a little silly, but everyone has come from that stage, so they can understand 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", and these titles do not give the residents of the refuge the privilege of "being above others". On the player's side, even mosquitoes who have made deeds for the alliance will be sent to the small black room to calm down for violating server regulations. Old Bai felt it before.

   Those titles are not so much a status as an honor, or a collective recognition.

"There is no standard answer to subjective questions. I can't answer you. Everyone has different opinions. If you have the opportunity, you can confirm with your own eyes what kind of place the league is." Putting away the lunch box, the old man Bai smiled and continued.

   "By the way, I have good news for you. It seems that your teammates haven't given up on you yet, they are just following behind our buttocks five kilometers away." This is the news Gu Feng told him before he went offline.

  Chen Yutong looked at him nervously, while Zhao Xiao cocked the corner of his mouth proudly and said as a matter of course. "Of course! As I said, the academy can't leave us!" Lao Bai smiled and continued. "Then let's make a bet." Zhao Xiao "What to bet?"

   Lao Bai said casually, "Just bet... before we cross this mountain and enter the desert, the academy will come to rescue you."

   Zhao Xiao, "Didn't they already come?"

   "Following behind the **** doesn't count," Lao Bai said with a smile, "People who don't know look at Bei, and think your people are sending us off." Zhao Xiao stared at Lao Bai. "What about the bet?"

   Of course he would not naively think that when the people from the academy came, the man in front of him would let his captives go. Like their snipers said, they also needed to block the bullets with him.

   However, beyond his expectations, Old Bai shrugged and said indifferently. "They killed them, and I'll let you go."

   Judging from his experience, if both sides are unwilling to admit this conflict, then not admitting casualties and prisoners is a high probability thing to happen.

   I didn’t encounter the academy’s pursuers when I got here, so there’s a high probability that I won’t encounter them along the way. It doesn't matter if the judgment is wrong. Just let one prisoner go and two more.

   Zhao Xiao looked at him in surprise, seeing that he didn't look like he was joking, and his expression became serious. "Then what do you want from me..."

"It's okay to get anything from you," Lao Bai laughed and said after thinking for a while, "Well, I think... If I win, it's enough for you to buy me a beer." A glass of beer Zhao Xiao was stunned. Stopped, his face flushed slightly.

   The way he didn't take them seriously made him feel a little humiliated. However, the hero does not suffer from the immediate loss, Zhao Xiao still gritted his teeth and nodded.

   "Deal...but you have to keep your word." Lao Bai said calmly.

   "Don't worry, as I said, those things are of no use to you."

In the northern part of the    River Valley Province, on the wasteland near the nuclear bomb crater, there are rows of dilapidated and scrawled camps. The camp doesn't have a name, and it won't even be there next year.

  The scavengers who live here are like nomads chasing grass, moving their tents and campfires wherever the trash is picked up.

  If you are unfortunate, the ghouls wandering around the nuclear bomb crater will naturally help the unlucky guy take care of the funeral.

   Those who choose to "fallen" to become scavengers don't particularly care, whether their corpses fall into the mouths of ghouls or aliens. Anyway, there is no difference in the food between the two, and they are not very elegant.

   Buyers who are interested in the trash they have on hand or their knack for picking up trash will naturally have a way to find out where they are. One morning.

Gust, who is over 50 years old, got up early as usual, and was about to drive his "Excavator No. 1" to the nearby ancient battlefield to dig some valuable treasures. Just when he put the basket on his back and went out with equipment. , A Qiang, the bald head of the digging warrior group next door, suddenly came to the door.

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

   Hearing that there was a big deal, Gust squinted his eyes, sat on the stool by the door, and knocked his pipe on the sole of his shoe. "What job" "salvage job." "Location?"

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

   Hearing this vague statement, Gust frowned. "You can just say it's a wandering swamp."

   To dig the treasures of the Renlian era under the eyes of the academy, it is simply too long to live. In the eyes of those people, they are not much better than the predators, and even more hateful than the predators.

   Even if he borrowed ten thousand courage from him, he would not dare to expand his business to the academy's territory. 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 while and continued. "How many people will he recruit?" The bald man opened his right hand.

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

   Old man Gust widened his eyes and smacked his mouth.

   "That's a big guy... What are they going to take apart." The bald man shook his head and said.

   "Then don't know... But they promised that as long as we could take it down and ship it to Xizhou City, they could pay us a total of one million silver coins. One million silver coins?!

   Hearing this number, Gust was instantly moved. This is not a small amount, it would be close to a thousand tons to replace it with wheat!

   Of course, no one will exchange silver coins for wheat. Go west to Oasis No. 8 in Luoxia Province to get cheaper.

   What really makes people excited are the alliance's KV-1 exoskeleton, metal hydrogen batteries, "electric mules" light trucks, and various large-scale engineering equipment.

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

   "Sounds a bit interesting..." Gust touched his chin, his eyes were clearly excited, "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 here, let's go together. This business is not something that a salvage team can eat. Let's work together with a team to make more money."

  Gust glanced at him and snorted noncommittally, "Let's go and have a look." The center of the scavenger camp.

  Looking at the black beggar in ragged clothes, the lost Mengxin who was standing next to the old sixth in the corner couldn't help but muttered.

   "Can you do it with these beggars?" Bai Jidai couldn't help but whispered.

   "+1, I'm afraid that one plane will take out the parts of two planes when it collapses. The old sixth in the corner is stunned. "That's not good."

   "What a hammer," Bai Jidai rolled his eyes, "Can you fly?"

   While the players were whispering, the old man named Gust was secretly looking at the three outsiders. Three sets of Type 5 "Hussar" exoskeletons.

   This kind of equipment is not uncommon in some urban ruins, but there are only two possibilities for the new appearance, either it is imitation or it is in the shelter.

Whether    is imitation or not, of course he can tell from the **** he has been picking up for so many years. There is no doubt that these three people are all Union soldiers. Seeing the concerns on the faces of the two of them, Gust grinned and said respectfully.

   "Respected adults, don't look at the ragged clothes we wear, but just pick up the trash... Everyone here is a connoisseur."

   A bald man next to him also agreed.

   "That's right, our ancestors were all scavengers, from the People's Alliance Aerospace Frigate to the can of old popsicles, as long as it is something that can be exchanged for money, we have thought about it!" 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 a beggar gang."

   "Sigh..." Bai Jidai, who took a deep breath, rubbed his chin, "With your analogy, I suddenly think they can do it again."

   "What the hell! Come on, try it first! It's not our fault if it doesn't work."

   interrupted the teammates' dispute, and the sixth man in the corner took a step forward and looked at the experienced scavengers in front of them.

"As we said just now, we need at least 500 experienced landlifters here to help us recover a large piece of equipment that has broken down. We bid one million silver coins, and how to divide it up and discuss it yourself... I hope you will first Bring out someone who can talk."

   The scavengers looked at each other, and they whispered together as if they had come to an idea. The old man who spoke first took over the conversation.

"No problem, my lord, as long as you are willing to pay, we promise to deliver the items to you, and we promise not to say a word to other people. By the way... can you tell us what the items are for recycling? We are sure we need to bring tools." This request is reasonable.

   The sixth man in the corner hesitated for a while, then nodded and said. "It's an airplane," Gust hesitated. "What about the specific model?"

"The captain is more than 20 meters long, about six or seven meters high, weighs over twenty tons, and has two plasma engines... I can only say so much, knowing too much is not good for you." Hearing this parameter Gust A look of surprise appeared on his face. This describes...

   It was the company's killer whale transport plane that vaguely guessed something, the old man didn't dare to ask any more questions, he quickly ended the topic and bowed his head respectfully. "Understood... Then, my lord, when will we set off?" The affairs between these big forces are not something that a few scavengers can join in the fun. As this Union soldier put it, it's not good for them to know too much. Seeing that the old man did not ask any further questions, the old sixth in the corner heaved a sigh of relief and said immediately. "Just now, the sooner the better," Gust said respectfully with a grin.

   "Follow your orders! I assure you that our service will definitely satisfy you!" Old Six in the corner nodded. "hope so."

   Under the leadership of three players, more than 500 scavengers left the camp and headed for the mountains in the northern part of Luoxia Province.

Some of them are driving a three-meter-high forklift, some are leading a tinkering robot, and some are leading a two-headed cow or pushing a broken car... The guys in their hands are basically IY, or It is a second-hand product from a merchant, and it is almost impossible to find a few duplicates.

  Looking at these scavengers, Lost Mengxin is full of doubts, but he has come this far, so he can only choose to trust them.

   At the same time, after nearly five days of trekking, the group of Lao Bai who escorted the pilot finally walked out of the mountain and saw the endless yellow sand. "Ugh..."

   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 in the south of the mountain is significantly higher than that in the north, and the climate is dry, which makes it feel obvious discomfort for the humid environment. Luo Yu touched its little head and comforted. "Hold on, we're almost there." "Ugh"

The    comfort seemed to have an effect, Xiao Yu made a happy voice, and the tentacles on the back of his head waved happy ripples like seaweed.

   A smile appeared on Luo Yu's face. This kid is too sweet.

   Ye Shi glanced at Xiao Yu and muttered softly. "Mom... I've got a rash looking at these tentacles." Luo Yu said embarrassedly.

   "Me too at first, but I'll get used to it."

   Zhao Xiao, who was not far away, looked at the matrix that lived in harmony with people in surprise, and felt that his worldview was impacted. But now he has no time to digest the surprise in his heart.

  After five days of traveling, they have reached the edge of Luoxia Province, and they will soon see Oasis No. 8 after walking a few dozen kilometers. Owing to a beer is a small thing.

   Zhao Xiao couldn't believe it, and what was even more unacceptable was that he was actually abandoned by the academy. He noticed that NPC's dejected expression, and Ye Shi, who knew about the bet, stepped forward and joked. "Don't be so depressed, think about it from another angle... The academy may not have given up on you." Zhao Xiao looked up at the annoying guy in front of him, not understanding why he suddenly comforted himself. But soon he realized that he was thinking too much. Ye Shi then continued with a teasing tone. "Maybe they just signed you off."

   "You..." Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and glared at him, but in the end he held back the "fart".

  People were under the eaves and had to bow their heads. Zhao Xiao comforted himself in his heart.

   At this moment, a cloud of smoke suddenly floated from a piece of yellow sand in the distance. Looking at the movement in the distance, Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, 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, equivalent to a quasi-vassal of the Academy.

   Those people might be reinforcements of the Golden Lizard Kingdom!

  Although the combat power of the feudal lord army is pulling the crotch, but the scale is there, even one person can drown these guys with a mouthful of spit. However-

   This joyful mood did not last in his heart for even two seconds, and trucks soon appeared behind the sand.

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

   Not only Zhao Xiao, but also the Beacon Squad who followed him all the way. The rear of the tracked vehicle.

   Jiang Xuezhou, whose eyes were tightly closed, moved his lips.

   "Reinforcements from the Alliance! At least 300... No, maybe 400." The medic sitting beside him smiled wryly. "As for?"

   Zheng Hao, who had been silent the whole time, spoke slowly.

   "These people are not to guard against us... 80% of them are to deter the Golden Lizard Kingdom." It is impossible for the alliance to not know the relationship between the Golden Lizard Kingdom and the Academy.

  Although their preparations were completely redundant, in order to pick up their pilots home, the Alliance was ready to go to war with the Golden Lizard Kingdom.

  Thinking of this, Zheng Hao couldn't help feeling a little complicated. Lao Song, who was sitting in the driver's seat, looked at the captain. "What should we do now?"

   It was impossible to rescue those prisoners.

   They literally watched those people stroll around under the academy's nose before swaggering home.

   Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth. "Report the situation to your superiors...wait for news."

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

   She was about to launch a signal repeater when suddenly her brows moved slightly and her index finger pressed against the edge of her temple. "There is an unfamiliar communication request... It should be sent by those people." Zheng Hao said immediately. "Take me here."

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

   Zheng Hao saw this man for the first time.

   But looking at the man's eyes, he always had a very familiar feeling... They had met eyes a few days ago! "I am the Legion Elder Bai of the Burning Corps." The man on the holographic screen said. Without introducing himself, Zheng Hao stared at him and said. "What do you want to say."

   "It's nothing, I just think that you group of archaeologists are not expected to fight. It's unfortunate to be sent by the superiors to provoke us." Zheng Hao's heart sank slightly. It seems that the prisoners should have recruited something.

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

  "You came to taunt me on purpose?" Zheng Hao said with a frown. "I'm so bored." Smiling, Lao Bai continued.

"I heard that this place has left the coverage of the academy's signal tower, then I'll open the skylight and say something bright... Let's make a deal." "What deal." "We are very interested in your crawler." Zheng Hao Stunned for a moment, he smiled coldly. "Oh, and then what?"

   "Leave the car and take the prisoners away." "Haha." Zheng Hao laughed. It's ok to stay.

   He admits that his squad is no match for those well-trained soldiers, just as they may not have their own specialists in dealing with aliens.

   But wanting this "reindeer" crawler to stay is undoubtedly a bit of a fool's dream. The off-road capability of this thing is far from what those trucks can match. Anticipating his reaction, Lao Bai continued with a smile.

   "Don't rush to refuse, I can give you twenty more rifles and a truck..." Zheng Hao said with a sullen face.

   "What's the use of those junk I want." Lao Bai said with a smile.

   "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 as if mocking himself, and said in a low voice.

   "You mean a win, you mean we dropped a tracked vehicle and finally returned with a few E-class captives and rifles"

   "What if we add a little tissue sample from the mother of the idiosyncratic mutant slime mold, number x-277"

  Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, and suddenly there was a hint of enthusiasm in his eyes, but he was not dazzled by this enthusiasm. He stared at the house called Lao Bai with alertness, "Would you like 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 tissue debris floating in it.

"Well, our allies have authorized me to provide you with a little tissue sample of the parent body. After all, the mutant slime mold is our common enemy. If you can make progress, it will be good for us." Of course, it is not the enterprise that authorized him, but is the manager.

   And the tissue fragments in the test tube in his hand were of course not the samples that had just been collected, or even collected from Koba. It was extracted from the mother's nest on the B6 floor, and was flown to the vicinity of Oasis No. 8 by the enterprise's plane together with the other soldiers of the Burning Corps. Still, it should be enough to fool the prospector. Presumably the Academy will not believe that the Alliance actually keeps a brood that can be researched at will.

   Just look at the splendor of Qingquan City’s annual “wave”, something that the post-war reconstruction committee can’t handle. What's more, this is a desert, and there is no mother's nest nearby.

   Zheng Hao stared at the test tube, silently starting the pattern recognition program. After getting an 87% match, he was short of breath. No doubt it was a tissue fragment from the mother or the brood!

   He thought that he had no chance of being promoted to researcher in this life, and he was very satisfied to keep his status as a D-level prospector. However, now, this opportunity has been placed in front of him again...

The door of Wu'ao's biological experiment treasure will knock on him, and hundreds of mentors will throw twigs at him, recruiting his team and projects into his laboratory, while he and his teammates will It will also change from the most promising investigation department to the promising research department. No one will care about the loss of a mere "reindeer". Those academic experts will rush to pay for him! And the most important thing is, This is the harvest outside the mission! No one can take their credit! "...how to lose"

   Hearing this answer, the corners of Lao Bai's mouth twitched into a smile.

"It's very simple. We leave the prisoners, props, and the truck for you in the camp. You send someone to drive the crawler over, and then drive the truck away from us." Zheng Hao cautiously said: "How can I Do you know you won't regret it?"

   "We don't have a reason to do that. If we wanted to kill you, we would have already done it, or you suspect that we don't have that ability."

   Seeing that the man did not speak, Lao Bai continued.

"And I have to tell you that although I got authorization from my superiors, it's not a deal between the Alliance and the Academy, it's a deal between the Burning Corps and the Beacon Squad. So I hope that tracker better not have any locators or Surveillance and stuff like that... From your standpoint, you don't want anyone else to know about what happened today, right?"

   Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth. "I hope you will keep your promise." Lao Bai smiled and nodded. "We will." "And I always have a hunch that there are still many opportunities for us to work together in the future."