Tokyo underground city

Chapter 257 Merits

"This is your achievement, but it is a pity that we cannot publicly reward you."

Roslov looked at the star medal in his hand and put it on Lin Huaien's chest.

Lin Huaien didn't know the medal system of the Moscow Association, but along with the badge, Roslov also gave him two ribbon-like things.

According to Vaskov, this was recognition of the "highest level".

Normally, it would only be awarded to explorers from the country, but before the award ceremony began, Vaskov asked Lin Huaien and Hara Yumu to urgently fill out a few forms. Just like Tanya, they can now be regarded as members of the Moscow Association. A "foreign" explorer.

"Actually, it's even higher than that level..."

When explaining the situation to Lin Huaien, Vaskov also seemed a little hesitant: "In short, as long as you don't do anything that will go against the interests of the association, you can join Moscow at any time. We have registered a file for you in the personnel department. The nationality is left blank, as long as you are willing to give up your nationality from Shangcheng, you can become ours at any time."

Lin Huai'en knew that Vaskov was just exaggerating, because the other party also knew very well that Lin Huai'en could not give up his nationality.

But he was grateful for this rough Slavic kindness.

"As for the reason why the award cannot be made public... it is for your safety. This is also the requirement of the Shangcheng Association."

Vaskov communicated a lot with Lin Wynn privately.

"As beautiful as a tree is in the forest, the wind will destroy it... You are not an official explorer. If a country wants to do harm to you, neither the Shangdu Association nor the Moscow Association can protect you well..."

"Although according to my opinion, you have already reached this level, you might as well just join the Shangcheng Association."

"I don't like the feeling of being out of control - especially in an organization that I don't know much about."

Lin Huai'en shook his head and said with a smile: "You can think that I am pursuing 'freedom', but what I care more about is the liberation of my 'humanity'."

Having said this, Lin Huaien looked at Vaskov's expression and said very seriously: "In other words, I want to be 'the person I want to be'."

"Self-realization... Only people of your level are qualified to talk about it."

Vaskov smiled bitterly and patted Lin Wynn on the shoulder, giving up his plan to make him an official explorer.

Anyway, people who arrive at the same destination by different paths, no matter what their identities and origins are, will eventually walk on the same path.

.

"This card of yours is customized."

After awarding the medal to Lin Huaien, Roslov picked up a dungeon pass from the brocade-wrapped tray.

At first glance, this pass is no different from an ordinary red card.

But if you look closely, you will find that this card has two fronts - one side is decorated with dragon patterns and auspicious clouds, and the other side is decorated with a double-headed eagle emblem.

"This is a new form that we and President Zhou have decided upon, and is ready to be awarded to unofficial explorers jointly recognized by the Moscow Association and the Upper City Association."

Roslov said while looking at Lin Huaien: "In other words, as long as you hold this card, you can ask for support from our two associations at the same time - at the same time, your contribution to either party will be credited to both. Party’s database.”

"This is an attempt, and even we don't know what it will look like in the end."

Roslov looked at him and smiled, and Lin Huaien realized that this bearded man with a serious expression actually had such a cute side——

“We call it [internationalism].”

.

"Even if it is only recognized by two associations, can it be called [internationalism]..."

Lin Huaien looked at the new pass in his hand and couldn't help but feel a little funny.

But I have to admit that the new pass is much more refined than his original card. Even the details and workmanship can be seen to be quite different.

"After all, it was made for you as a [National Explorer]. Except for not indicating your identity as a [National Explorer], the other processes are all in accordance with the [National Level]."

Minister Xiao, who was opposite Lin Huai'en, looked at Lin Huai'en's actions with some amusement. In order to pick him up, she flew back from Shangdu City again.

However, Lin Huai'en felt that Minister Xiao and the others took things so seriously, which did not necessarily mean they valued him.

But to respond to the grand treatment from Moscow and give corresponding courtesy——

After all, from the perspective of the Moscow Association, both he and Yuan Ximu can be regarded as heroes who saved the country.

So both Vaskov and Roslov rejected his idea of ​​returning directly to the city via Kadecchan. They first sent him from Siberia to Moscow, and then invited him to visit the Kremlin and other important places in Moscow at public expense. After arriving at the landmark building, a special plane was used to send him back.

Except for the lack of publicity, he is almost equal to a national hero.

To be honest, Lin Huaien felt a little flattered.

I also have a very clear understanding of what "the times make heroes".

"So, do you think you are holding me up..."

Putting away the dungeon pass in his hand, Lin Huaien looked at the little minister in front of him and couldn't help but feel helpless.

"When I applied for permission to use ballistic missiles from the Shangcheng Association, you asked me to urgently fill out a [National Explorer] qualification application form... You said that if you don't do anything, it won't be easy to use the permission... Now you... What happened to my application form?"

"Nothing has been done about it." Minister Xiao crossed his fingers, looked at Lin Huaien and said with a smile: "After all, based on the abilities of you and Yuan Ximu, there will be many places that require our support in the future, so I will give you a temporary observation object. 's identity will bring a lot of convenience in operation."

"I'm going to give you a very long inspection period."

Minister Xiao tilted his head slightly, looked at Lin Huaien and said, "Until you are embarrassed yourself and are willing to become a national explorer."

"It's also possible that you will find more suitable people and gradually forget about me."

Lin Huai'en shook his head: "Strictly speaking, I am no different from ordinary explorers."

"It's just that Yuan Ximu's live broadcast exposed me and made you pay too much attention to me..."

“Circumstances create heroes, and I never thought ‘it has to be you’.”

However, Minister Xiao shook his head and smiled: "I just 'hoped it was you'——"

"Your approach makes many people feel comfortable, so we are just unilaterally investing in you our wishes that we have never or have been unable to realize..."

"Just like what the head maid said——"

Minister Xiao looked at Miss Xiyang Xixue who was wandering around in the cabin in the distance——

Although Hara Yumu often has the opportunity to fly first class, this time they took a special national plane of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.

So according to the live-streaming mad lady's wishes, she planned to film every corner of the special plane as material.

"The abyss beyond the reach of ordinary people——"

"We want to pass day thieves."

"Let's go and see."

.

Although he and Yuan Ximu became the preparatory observation targets of national explorers, Lin Huaien's identity in the country was just an ordinary explorer after all, so after leaving the environment in Moscow, the daytime thief team was immediately brought back to its original shape - —

Even on the way back to Changying from the airport, he always used Minister Xiao's taxi.

"Originally, I also learned to drive...but after leaving the dungeon, my legs are no longer qualified to step on the brake and accelerator."

On the way back, Minister Xiao and Lin Huai'en chatted about relatively personal topics.

Therefore, Lin Huai'en took advantage of the situation and asked——

"Boss Xiao, are your feet... caused by 'soul wear and tear' caused by constant death in the dungeon?"

"Yes." Minister Xiao nodded without hesitation: "My last resurrection far exceeded the resurrection time limit of the pass, so among the seven teammates including me, I was the only one who came back alive. ”

"But in addition to personality-related memories, he still maintains more than 90% of the control rating. Physically, he is no different from a disabled person."

"I can't run or jump. Too strenuous movements will exceed the upper limit of the load on my nerves. So, even if my muscle strength is fine, I still can't fight, so I retired from active service."

Hearing what Minister Xiao said, Lin Huai'en couldn't help but hesitate. He recalled what Lu told him, and couldn't help but look at the short woman sitting in the passenger seat——

"Director Xiao, how much do you know about the underground city? I also have some information from the defenders, but I don't know if I should communicate with you..."

"You can submit a report later and include those things that you think are more important."

Director Xiao looked at the rearview mirror and said: "There is an [Intelligence Department] within the association that is responsible for collecting dungeon information, and a [Recording Department] that is dedicated to sorting and classifying dungeon information."

"We go to the Urban Association. Among all the underground city associations in the United Nations, we don't have more information, but we don't have less information either."

Minister Xiao looked at Lin Huai'en and reminded him slightly: "If your information source comes from a superficial source, then there is a high probability that it has been known to us, but because of considering public opinion and influence, it has not been announced to the outside world."

Having said this, Minister Xiao paused: "This is why I recommend that you become a [national] explorer. If you don't become an association explorer, I have many things that I can't tell you -"

"Unless you find out on your own somehow."

"For example, the relationship between the soul and the Abnormal Body..."

Lin Huaien rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.

Because he also knew very well that many of the things Ulora told him were too much nonsense.

Even he himself was not sure that these statements were correct.

It's like a physicist from the National Academy of Sciences asking the Dungeon Society "what is magic?"

Neither Lin Huaien nor the [Records Department] of the Dungeon Association can be sure that the information they have collected must be correct.

The process of verifying whether they are "correct" is the process of human civilization's continuous expansion into the underground city.

"It's a pity that Tanya didn't come with us."

While Lin Huai'en was discussing the information about the dungeon with Minister Xiao, Yuan Ximu was the only one who paid attention to the hunter girl with whom he had only been friends for three months.

"Tanya also has many considerations of her own..."

Lin Huai'en thought for a while and replied.

He knew that Hara Yumu had asked Tanya if she would be a member of the "Day Thieves" team.

But after all, the two people didn't understand each other's language. After Lin Huai'en took back the [external brain] from Yuan Ximu's body, communication between the two had to go through the automatic translation system on the mobile phone.

And this is why Lin Huaien did not ask Tanya if she wanted to follow him.

After all, from his point of view, how could Tanya, a person who was so dedicated to her hometown, follow him and Yuan Ximu to an unfamiliar place like Shangdu to stay for a long time just because of their three-month friendship? Go down——

"Ultimately, I still don't quite understand what she's thinking."

Lin Huai'en propped up his elbows and looked out the car window at the snowy scene——

"I originally thought that it was difficult for me to understand myself, but Tanya was even more difficult to understand than me."

As a result, as soon as he said these words, Yuan Ximu and Minister Xiao both looked over.

Both of them had strange expressions.

This made Lin Huaien subconsciously surprised: "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"No... I just think that men really don't understand unless they say it directly."

Minister Xiao added: "Men after the age of 35 will be much better, but most people are still not enlightened."

"No... what you mean is that Tanya has fallen in love with me, right?"

As a result, Lin Huai'en didn't say anything, but after blurting it out, he directly received a lot of "eye rolls."

"Here it comes! Men's unique brain circuits! All interactions between women and men are all about flirting!"

Compared to Hara Yumu’s complaints, Minister Xiao’s tone was much better——

"Lin, do you think what Tanya needs most now is a 'lover'?"

"..." Lin Huaien hesitated for a moment, but he could answer this question easily——

"If I were Tanya... what I want most right now should be a 'home'..."

"Yeah..." Minister Xiao sighed.

Yuan Ximu, on the other hand, held up her face and looked at Lin Huai'en with a strange and somewhat relieved expression——

"It seems that at least you can understand this."

Lin Huai'en looked forward silently.

Human beings' joys and sorrows are not mutually exclusive.

What's more, Tanya is still such an unusually taciturn girl.

But for some reason, he had a vague premonition in his heart——

If he stepped into the community and saw a snow-white hunter girl sitting with her knees in front of his house, he wouldn't be surprised at all.

Because this is how Tanya got his help.

After getting out of Minister Xiao's taxi, Lin Huai'en looked at the snow behind him.

He was clearly on the wide road in the city, but he vaguely returned to the tundra in Siberia.

There, he is not the urbanite Lin Huaien.

It was a Siberian hunter who had just lost his hound, followed by a snow-white lone wolf.

Lin Huai'en thought the snow wolf wanted to attack him, but it wasn't until he arrived at his hunter's cabin that he realized that the snow wolf wanted to be his companion.

He looked back.

There are only two lines of footprints on the endless snowfield.

One after another, slowly extending towards the sky.

As of this chapter, the third volume should be finished.

I have been trying to make an attempt in Capital City, which is to use a left-wing language to tell a grander story.

To be honest, for me, this is a process of becoming unfamiliar.

This month I have been revising the text and adjusting my mentality. After 800,000 words, I feel quite dissatisfied when I look at the first 400,000 words.

Because there are too many things that I am trying to express, they are too complicated, and my writing ability and writing experience are limited. There are problems of this kind in various places.

Even in the middle of the third volume, I was in the same situation as at the end of the second volume, with a vague urge to give up on myself and give up treatment.

But in the end, after finishing the third volume, I am still very grateful to myself for being able to implement my own ideas and write such a story.

Perhaps because of these and other problems, it is difficult for this book to become a "mature work".

But as I have always mentioned in the book -

It allows one to see the "wilderness".

Perhaps "wilderness" is not as clear-cut as "jungle", allowing people to see the "meaning" very clearly.

But in this aimless wilderness, when I realize that "I am just myself" and not some kind of "meaning" given by the jungle, it is the biggest "breakthrough" for me.

The word count has been exceeded, although there is still a lot I want to say, especially my apologies for not being able to write this story more maturely and excitingly.

But in the end, it condensed into one sentence, that is, it is useless to talk more.

Thank you for watching the struggle between an author and his own work.

Tokyo is my "Old Man and the Sea"