Chapter 51

After firing the emergency signal flare, Shang Jianyao and the three others drove the jeep back to the small hill where Black Rat Town was located. They set up camp at a hidden spot on the hillside, allowing them to overlook the small forest and monitor whether any relic hunters or wilderness wanderers approached the cave entrance.

After setting up the tent, Long Yuehong, who had removed her exoskeleton suit, couldn't help but ask loudly, puzzled:

"Team Leader, there's something I don't understand."

"What is it?" Jiang Baimian was happy to answer the new recruit's questions.

Long Yuehong frowned and said:

"Why did that group of people have to attack Black Rat Town? Upon discovering the ruins of an old-world city, they could have obtained more resources through simpler means, without the need to attack Black Rat Town, which is relatively well-armed. Didn't you say that this is a special environment where relic hunters and wilderness wanderers can coexist peacefully, or even form alliances? After all, everyone hopes to have more helpers to deal with the dangers lurking in the ruins."

Jiang Baimian nodded first, then smiled and said:

"Good question.

"However, while the general premise is correct, we still need to analyze the specific situation. I once read an old-world book that described the rigid application of existing principles, concepts, and situations without analyzing the changes, development, and corresponding special characteristics of things as committing the error of 'dogmatism.'

"Specifically regarding the situation in Black Rat Town, there are two main differences:

"First, as we just analyzed, the attacking group either has at least thirty members or has seven to eight core, elite members, along with a large number of subordinates. In either case, they are undoubtedly very powerful. Combined with the weapons and ammunition they have, they can be clearly distinguished from ordinary relic hunter teams or wilderness wanderer groups.

"Second, as a sub-human settlement, Black Rat Town would definitely not explore the newly discovered city ruins when a large number of humans are rushing there. They would at most gather intelligence on the periphery and could not become cannon fodder for the attacking group.

"Given this situation, if the attacking group is confident they can almost completely or with minimal losses eliminate the residents of Black Rat Town and obtain a significant amount of resources, they have every reason to create such a tragedy.

"This way, even if the city ruins are too dangerous for the attacking group to approach, they will still have sufficient gains and won't have come for nothing."

Seeing Long Yuehong nodding frequently, Jiang Baimian added:

"Moreover, there are many other possibilities. For example, the attacking group might have a deep hatred for all sub-humans due to past experiences and would rather suffer losses to kill them. Or, they might have rushed here because of strange howling sounds coming from north of the Yuelu Station, not yet knowing about the newly discovered old-world city ruins. Or, Black Rat Town, due to its proximity to the area north of Yuelu Station, might have been the first to detect the anomaly and sent people to investigate, obtaining something that made the attacking group willing to take risks."

Long Yuehong felt dizzy but had to admit that the team leader was right.

Given that the situation in all aspects had not been fully investigated, there were indeed too many possibilities.

Jiang Baimian didn't explain further, looked around, and thought for a few seconds before saying:

"In the next few days, we will operate in pairs.

"The person staying at the camp will be responsible for guarding the jeep and monitoring the cave area, while the person going out will investigate for any signs of murder and other clues.

"Okay, this time, I will be with Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen will be with Shang Jianyao."

"Why?" Long Yuehong blurted out.

Shang Jianyao laughed:

"Because you are weaker.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"..." Long Yuehong felt like he had been punched and couldn't fight back, becoming a bit dejected.

Indeed, the reason for the reassignment was not hard to see:

Shang Jianyao had demonstrated the abilities of an Awakened and sufficient calmness, combined with the physique, energy, skills, and talents of a genetically modified individual. In the "Old Adjustment Team," his strength could be ranked between second and third. In close combat, he was undoubtedly stronger than Bai Chen, but at a distance, Bai Chen, who was skilled in sniping and had rich experience, was still a bit stronger.

This way, the strongest Jiang Baimian and the weakest Long Yuehong being paired together could more effectively ensure the latter's survival and balance the strength of the two teams.

Hearing Shang Jianyao's mockery, Jiang Baimian glanced at him and shook her head slightly, helplessly.

At this moment, Bai Chen, who was responsible for guarding the surroundings, interjected:

"Team Leader, it's actually unnecessary. We won't need the jeep for the next few days. The solar panels can charge the backup batteries, so we don't have to worry about the exoskeleton suits running out of power at critical moments."

"That's true," Jiang Baimian smiled at Long Yuehong, "You will continue to be with Bai Chen. When you go out, remember to wear the exoskeleton suit. Ha ha, with this, you will actually be the strongest in the team. After all, the most important thing is the equipment. I remember an ancient text that said: A gentleman is not different by nature, but he is good at using things."

Long Yuehong's spirits quickly recovered, feeling that the team leader's words were indeed very reasonable.

Shang Jianyao, however, was more concerned about another point:

"Why haven't I studied this ancient text?"

Bai Chen had never even heard of it.

Jiang Baimian recalled and said:

"Extracurricular reading, extracurricular reading."

Thinking of Jiang Baimian's father, a biologist, and that he was at least a D9-level employee, one step away from management, who could receive much better treatment than his own family, Long Yuehong immediately felt relieved, and Shang Jianyao had no more questions.

Jiang Baimian then looked up at the sky, confirming the position of the sun:

"It's still early. Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, you stay at the camp and monitor the Black Rat Town area. I will go out with Shang Jianyao to search for a while."

"Yes, Team Leader!" Long Yuehong and Bai Chen answered loudly at the same time.

Without delay, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian left the hidden spot and headed down to the base of the hill.

They each carried two pistols, one with a rifle slung over his shoulder and the other holding a grenade launcher.

After leaving the small hill where Black Rat Town was located and entering the dense vegetation of the hilly area, Shang Jianyao suddenly spoke:

"Team Leader, why do we have to wait for the company's people and not take action ourselves to track down those attackers?"

Jiang Baimian slowed her pace, turned her body slightly, and said quite directly:

"For your safety."

"We have exoskeleton suits and sufficient firepower. We can definitely handle that attacking group without much danger," Shang Jianyao said seriously.

Jiang Baimian looked into his eyes and responded calmly:

"I know you have a fire in your heart."

She paused and exhaled quickly:

"I do too.

"But in battle, bullets don't have eyes. They won't spare you just because you are handsome and a new recruit. On the contrary, they like such people.

"Moreover, how can you be sure that the attacking group doesn't have the ability to deal with military exoskeleton suits? They already have thermobaric bombs, so it wouldn't surprise me if they had other powerful equipment."

"We can track and investigate first, confirm the situation, and then consider whether to attack. If it's not feasible, we can retreat and wait for the company's people," Shang Jianyao still wasn't giving up.

Jiang Baimian turned her body, walking forward while saying:

"Don't make tracking and investigation sound so simple.

"In the Security Department, the employees responsible for reconnaissance are definitely among the best in their teams.

"If you and Long Yuehong had enough experience, I would indeed consider trying it, but now, can you guarantee that you won't be discovered during reconnaissance and trigger a battle on the spot?

"In a mature team, it's not that everyone can't make mistakes, but when someone does, the other members know how to compensate.

"When I and Bai Chen make mistakes, and you and Long Yuehong can quickly make up for them, our 'Old Adjustment Team' can attempt such things."

At this point, Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao, who was quickly catching up:

"Weren't you just criticizing Long Yuehong, trying to damage his confidence, and make him fail the assessment and leave the 'Old Adjustment Team'?

"Now you're not worried about the danger of tracking the attackers to him?

"Ah, I get it. You're thinking that you'll wear the exoskeleton suit, charge into the attacking group, and slaughter them, while Long Yuehong just watches."

As she spoke, Jiang Baimian laughed:

"Aren't you supposed to save all of humanity? How can you take such a big risk at this time? If you die in battle, who will carry out that sacred mission?"

"… Team Leader, don't make being afraid of death sound so noble," Shang Jianyao almost got caught up in it.

Then, he said seriously:

"There will be others."

"Uh… I'm not sure if you're joking," Jiang Baimian said, "I have to be responsible for you. You and Long Yuehong are not married and don't have children. If you die, it would be too much of a waste, ha ha, and it wouldn't be good for the company either."

"Then, do you have children? Don't you often take risks?" Shang Jianyao asked.

Jiang Baimian glared at him:

"No.

"During the unified marriage allocation, I was lying in the hospital, on the brink of death. Later, I survived through genetic modification as a volunteer, ha ha, anyway, I would die anyway, so I might as well take a chance, and the result was quite lucky.

"After that, due to the unclear situation of genetic modification, with potential risks that needed further observation and more convincing data from various experiments, such as the stability of inheritance, I never participated in the marriage allocation."

Jiang Baimian suddenly frowned:

"Why am I telling you this? Our situations are different. Most of the time, even though I take risks, I still have a good chance of success."

She didn't want to continue this topic and changed the subject:

"You are because…?"

She pointed to her head:

"…So you gave up on the unified marriage allocation?"

Shang Jianyao answered frankly:

"While I do have this issue…"

Before he could finish, Jiang Baimian laughed and asked:

"You know it yourself?"

Shang Jianyao ignored her and continued:

"But a large part of my abnormal behavior is intentional."

"Why?" Jiang Baimian asked.

Shang Jianyao's eyes flickered, and he turned his head to look into the distance:

"I don't want children, and I don't want a woman to be attached to me."

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