Wasteland Echoer

Area A of the Donusk ruins camp in the early morning was not very lively. After all, after experiencing two large-scale battles with the Wuxin and the Lost this year and last year, the Zine Empire basically achieved simple control over this area.

The edge of the camp is closest to the Loess Gobi, and the main road leading to the distant Donusk city ruins and nearby scattered villages can even be seen clearly, which is where Brett mentioned the temporary garage.

Since the "Zhixin-03" line was sabotaged by unintentional people and is now covered with scalding fluid and various sources of pollution, the area previously used to store trains and various military vehicles and tanks was divided into several separate workshops. Come to provide repair, storage and maintenance services for the vehicles used by the legion [soldiers] from various places who go here.

This place is semi-official and semi-civilian. According to the relevant provisions of the "Collection of Civil Laws of the Zine Empire", when the official funds of the empire are not available, some low-level military facilities can be provided by local forces, companies, or under the Explorers Association. Registered team organizations start joint ventures.

As long as taxes are paid on time and they agree to be requisitioned without compensation when the empire fights, this method can bring considerable benefits to all parties.

Of course, many [scholars] and "administrators" in the empire who benefit from it support this.

The four of them walked through a simple road paved with bluestone and other cheap stones, and walked towards a majestic iron gate that exuded a mottled atmosphere.

After Brett pushed it away with force, what came into view was a parking lot with various military mechanical chariots parked, and an "interior" that was more than half the size of an ordinary production plant at the "Mechanical Element Factory" in the city of Sugra. Garage Area".

The weather in early summer in the Empire is variable, but generally speaking, the weather in early April, not yet May, is dominated by scorching heat at noon and coolness in the morning and evening.

As soon as Wright entered the temporary garage area, he felt a cold breeze passing through his body, which was more biting than the winter wind.

After walking a few steps along the concrete road with only a few scattered Imperial soldiers wearing different uniforms, the four Wrights once again saw a small iron gate that was not too wide.

After removing the lock hanging in the middle of the iron door, Brett walked in easily.

"I remember that my mechanical chariot was parked in area Z-20. In the morning, I gave the 'temporary storage card' and new coins to this kid Miyou. Do you think he ran away with the money? Hahaha." Brett said, a hearty laugh bursting from his throat.

"Brett." Wright stared at him with a look of resentment and said breathlessly:

"I suggest you pay attention to the woman on my body when you have unreasonable doubts about your own people? After the three non-staff personnel were dealt with by you just now, you are not willing to touch this woman and let me carry him. You should It’s clear, I’ve eaten that box of cans since noon yesterday, and even vomited, and now I’m dizzy.”

"Although that woman is related to Silent Heights, she should be more related to you. Think about it, Brett is so strong and I am so handsome, why didn't that woman go to us for help at first sight, but directly held your hand? ?" The corner of Moros's mouth curved into a smile with an unknown attitude.

If he hadn't been a teammate, Wright would have immediately gone up to "physically modify" the face with a weird aura, sunken eyes, dry skin and bloodless lips, so that it would look more like a normal human being. .

"I don't know, are you sure you don't want to come...yue...to help?" Wright said with a painful retching sound on his face.

It seemed that his empty stomach was still secreting a large amount of gastric acid. Since the acid could not digest food, it "wanted" to flow back into the esophagus and then gush out of the mouth.

"You are the only superpower in our team, and only you can touch her with near-injury. You know the definition of a superpower. On the surface, it is a person with special abilities, and even masters the power of magic and can use extraordinary abilities. , props can be counted. But in fact, you still need to firmly believe that you are a human being, and be willing to believe in human gods and serve human beings. That Miyou is different, he is a real lost person." Moros turned his head and looked around The relatively empty "internal garage area" explained a digression in passing.

"Based on different beliefs and attitudes, can the supernatural and the lost be divided into two races? It's really nonsense." Wright stuck out his tongue and muttered, unable to understand this outrageous thing based on reality and his own level of knowledge.

"So I said that I hope that the empire can build an inclusive world, where humans, the lost, and humans of different skin colors can coexist peacefully." Brett took over and said:

"Wright, actually I did hide some of my attitude when I talked about superpowers before. At that time in Sogra, all our actions would be monitored by the 'security team'. But it was different in the outer area. I could do whatever I wanted. Express yourself, and if anyone dares to threaten me with this, I don’t mind letting him taste my fist. I’m still a fighting expert, right Wright?”

As he spoke, he spread out his arms crossed on his chest, made fists with both hands, and stepped back half a step with his right leg, making a gesture like a fighter participating in a boxing match.

"Uh, Brett. I think our attention should stay on this woman. She fainted after seeing such a disgusting scene just now. Although I haven't talked to her, I can sense that in addition to her so-called In addition to the 'half-lost' aura, there is also an invisible sense of arrogance and dignity, and with his fluent Imperial language, I can feel that there is endless knowledge in his brain." Wright will lean back. He glanced at the woman on his back and analyzed.

"A teacher? Or a professor?" Moros subconsciously lowered his hands to his sides, wondering.

Just as Wright was suppressing the feeling of dizziness and vomiting, the familiar roar of a mechanical chariot's motor suddenly came to his ears.

Two or three seconds later, a medium-sized mechanical combat vehicle that was almost the size of a truck, but whose overall style was close to that of a military jeep or pickup truck, parked in front of them.

Looking at the billowing black smoke coming from the rear exhaust pipe, Wright ignored the choking feeling and stepped forward to open the rear door of the khaki and military green mechanical chariot and let the woman go. Go in.

After all, he saw a familiar head of dark red hair through the windshield of the cab, and a face with small wounds but a fair complexion.

Following Wright's footsteps, he quickly stepped forward, leaned against the driver's door, half-expanded his head into the open door glass, and asked in his own rich voice:

"Miyou, are you done?"

"It's done, Brother Brett. Including the transportation of the tank, modification and repair, and the cost of parking here for two days, the total is 9 Singapore dollars and 80 cents. I don't need to pay you back the remaining 20 cents, right? After all, this will make others say you are stingy." Miyou closed his left eye tightly, opened his right eye slightly, and stuck out his tongue in a cute gesture that fit his status.

"Okay, but let Wright and Moros get in the car first. You get in the back seat and I'll drive. After all, I obtained the Imperial Class A driver's license when I was in Kusha City, and I can basically drive except trains. Except for airplanes, of course.”

"Okay, Brother Brett. I've been having palpitations since I saw the red sky just now, and my heart still feels stinging from time to time. Also, I have to explain that as a vampire, the stronger the sun's rays, the stronger my heart will be. The sleepier I feel. I guess I won’t be able to participate in the battle until the sun sets in the afternoon." Miyou said with a yawn.

"Okay, I'll try my best to take the main road, where I can meet many convoys from other legions. Relatively speaking, it will be easier to meet unintentional people." Brett nodded and agreed.

After placing the woman smoothly on a row of leather-covered seats at the back of the mechanical chariot, Moros thoughtfully took out a blanket embroidered with the "Edelweiss" pattern from his backpack and covered it with On the woman's body.

Immediately afterwards, after the three of them stuffed all their military backpacks into the trunk full of food, firearms, maintenance tools, medical supplies and other supplies, Brett sat in the front row as a matter of course.

Miyou felt that the sleepiness permeating his brain was getting stronger and stronger. After leaning on the middle row seat closest to the right window, he curled up together, closed his eyes and began to take a nap.

Wright lay on his side on the left side of the open window, opened a can of "cultured meat" and began to enjoy it alone in order to restore his body, which had been depleted of strength due to the unlucky woman.

But the most embarrassing thing was Moros. He placed his hands squarely on his knees and looked around, but no one was willing to chat with him.

In desperation, he had to take out a copy of the "Chekavsk City Newspaper" issued in February, put on a monocle outlined with gold lace, and imitated one of his bosses to read the newspaper. Scattered content that now seems meaningless.

The mechanical chariot driven by Brett drove out of the "temporary garage" without any hindrance and drove along the yellow dusty road for almost fifteen minutes. He finally saw a wall surrounded by barbed wire and another The tall camp gate is made of iron, glowing with red rust and scarlet contamination.

Unlike the entrance near the train station, the general exit checkpoint is more formal and strict.

In addition to a few iron fences, there are two high concrete platforms on both sides of the gate. Two soldiers wearing khaki military uniforms stood above them, looking out with a pair of telescopes produced by "Zooyuan Factory" for various places. In the distance, in order to give an advance warning when possible unintentional crowds invade here, so that the camp can enter a state of combat readiness as quickly as possible.

"Hello, please show me your ID." The soldier standing at the door stopped the mechanical chariot that several people were riding in.

He was wearing a military green uniform similar to Moros and a pure black simple armor. In his hand was the slender "Dark Night-02" produced by the "Light of the Dark Night" factory in Chekavsk. rifle.

It seems that he should have served in the Chekavsk Corps.

"Has the inspection become stricter now? I heard that you could come and go at will before." Brett asked with a puzzled look on his face.

But he still put his right hand wearing a tactical glove into the inner pocket of the guard's silver-white uniform, and took out the square cardboard "resident card" and a similar material with a steel stamp of "membership card" certificate".

Simply, after the soldier saw the "Red Earth 2" professional rank information written in Zine Empire language in red at the end of Brett's ID, his eyes were filled with respect, and he not only did not continue to check other people's IDs or While inspecting the vehicle, he performed military etiquette and said respectfully:

"Sir, the strict inspection now is also to prepare for the battle in the future. You also know that this battle of Silent Highlands is very important to us. My commander said that as long as the empire wins this battle, we can take advantage of the situation. Attack the Church of the Lost to completely eliminate the unintentional people in the empire.

Although our Donusk Army is not in the main order of battle, many unintentional people have recently gathered at the city ruins. We must ensure that no lost people mix in our camp, obtain information, and direct the unintentional people to launch attacks. Please understand this. "

"I understand." Brett nodded and said with a smile:

"After all, there are reports from various legions that the Lost Ones have been infiltrated, and some people have taken the initiative to betray humanity. But you can come and see, which one of our carloads looks like the Lost Ones, and which one looks like a traitor?"

"Don't dare, sir." The soldier shook his head with respect and smiled:

"But I heard that several action teams under our legion were ambushed before. But according to those who escaped, it seems that they were not the Lost, but organized 'ruin hunters'. You also know that they are very annoying. Although They have also ambushed the lost and the unintentional, but they will also plunder our materials without mercy.”

"We will definitely pay attention. After all, we also need to go to Silent Highlands and may not be able to avoid dealing with them." Brett also responded with a smile.

"Okay, good luck." The soldier exchanged the two certificates with Brett and said "blessing".

"It will go well, and so will you." Brett looked at the black army badge with a double-headed eagle pattern engraved on the soldier's chest and smiled.

…

After passing through the barbed wire fence checkpoint that exuded a slightly depressing atmosphere in the camp, Brett finally found his unique feeling of driving a mechanical chariot.

He was galloping on the dilapidated road filled with yellow sand, as if he were a tall, great knight from the Second Age, wearing silver armor and holding a three-meter long sword.

In his brief fantasy, he was fully armed, facing the scorching sun and the irrepressible masculine smell exuding from the armor, riding on a tall brown-haired horse.

He stroked the black leather steering wheel with his hands, more like stroking the body of a precious horse that sweated bright red, and was intoxicated by it.

He still remembered that every major city in the empire would hold a Wasteland Games at the same time around August every four years. Workers, military personnel, members of the guard, and all kinds of scattered personnel could participate.

Equestrian is also one of the important events in the Wasteland Games.

This is not only to gather morale to fight against the unintentional and the lost, but also with the high new currency rewards, it can also comprehensively improve the physical fitness of the people in the cities under the control of the empire, thereby providing better quality for production and combat. "Talent".

Brett was so immersed in the joy of driving a mechanical chariot that he didn't even bother to appreciate the unique scenery of the desert area in front of him.

In the distance are endless undulating mountains, which appear hazy and abnormally shrouded in the rising yellow sand, like a mirage in the desert.

There are many withered trees on both sides of the dilapidated road. They are twisted and posing in various "humble" postures, as if they are praying to the gods in charge of nature for the possibility of survival.

There were some messy yellow weeds near the winding road, but as the mechanical chariot accelerated, the distant Donusk city ruins and nearby scattered villages began to gradually change from a hazy and looming state to become clear.

At the end of the road filled with withered air, there is a "pool" that seems to be forever inaccessible. It floats at the bottom of the city ruins, making Brett feel as if half of the entire city has sunk into an endless and deep lake.