Chapter 31: Senior fellow traveler?
The dozen or so fighters from the Black Hand Society were very busy the day after the carnival, and each of them was so busy that they had no time to rest.
The men carried iron boxes back and forth, and sealed these boxes full of weapons in the cellar in the center of the town. Each of them had prosthetic body modifications and could carry heavier loads than ordinary people.
There were also a few people wearing simple exoskeleton power armor, who could carry three or four boxes at a time.
These boxes are filled with their weapons. You cannot bring these energy weapons to the new world because there is no place to charge them. Once the magazines are used up, they can only be used as firewood sticks.
Therefore, these weapons in the wasteland must be sealed and will be used when they return to the wasteland.
It's like burying treasure.
That warehouse bar had been quickly transformed into a weapons production line. Several precision machine tools were placed together. Rogge, Su, and the Black Hand's weapons craftsman Malte gathered there.
They are using the stockpiled steel and drawings in the database to replicate the gunpowder weapons that have almost become obsolete in this era.
The living conditions in the wasteland are harsh, but after the nuclear war, this civilization strangely experienced a wave of technological boom, which prevented their production technology from regressing with the arrival of the end of the world.
With the processing accuracy of these machine tools, it is not difficult to produce a batch of weapons within a few days.
Su brought two female soldiers and moved several rocket nests from the warehouse, disassembled them, took out the missiles, took out the explosive parts, and took out the high explosives filled in them, and used them as fillings for gunpowder bullets.
These rocket nests were recovered from the wreckage of robots that the Eternal Life Society had sent to attack. At the back of the warehouse, there stood two rust-red, shut-down hunter robots.
"It's a pity that these two big guys can't be brought over."
Jiang Xia patted the tracked legs of the two robots with some regret, and said to Jasmine beside him:
"If they were here, we would be able to walk around freely in Fengming Country."
"Not necessarily, boss."
Jasmine had just replaced the new chip and was adapting to the three extra functional plug-ins. When she heard Jiang Xia's words, she raised her head and said to her boss:
“There are immortals in that world.
Although I don't quite understand how powerful immortals are, but listening to the stories told by Mrs. Niu and Liu Laosi, they seem to be able to move mountains and seas and do everything.
If they are really that powerful, then even if they take these two robots, they can only bully ordinary people.
Come to think of it, Boss, you grew up there, haven't you ever seen an immortal?"
"Uh, no."
Jiang Xia shrugged and said:
“The status of immortals is so noble, but the mortal world only knows their legends.
How could I, a poor scholar, be qualified to see them? Besides, the matter with Ruyifang would not attract the attention of immortals, right?
They practice cultivation all day, so they probably don’t have that much free time.”
As he spoke, Jiang Xia grabbed an impact drill and jumped onto the robot's tracks.
With the sound of ping-pong, they began to dismantle the six-barreled cannons on the robot's arms. This thing was electrically powered, but Rogge said he could convert it into mechanical power.
Therefore, these machine guns must be taken over, which are real killer weapons. Rogge said that they also hid several simple new missiles and matching launch devices.
Then you have to bring it over.
The entire warehouse was bustling with activity, with sparks flying as the machine tools started up. In just one morning, Rogge and his craftsmen had replicated several classic styles of gunpowder weapons from Jiang Xia's memory.
There aren't many people in the Black Hand Society, and they don't need much to make arms.
A hundred of them would be enough for the first batch, plus some high-explosive bullets.
These advanced small machine tools can be disassembled and folded and brought into Fengshan Mine. If the firepower is insufficient, we can collect materials from there and make another batch.
Anyway, there is absolutely no shortage of ordinary iron ore in Fengshan Mine.
However, at lunch time, a soldier who was on patrol outside the town came running over and brought Rogge an unexpected news.
"Chief, there's someone from outside who claims to be your friend."
The soldier said with a strange look on his face:
"He came across the desert alone, dressed like the Arabs in those old movies."
"Uh? My friends? I have friends out there?"
Roger himself was stunned.
This desert area is controlled by the City of Free Citizens. Ever since the Eternal Life Society issued a wanted order for him, he has no friends outside.
"Go and have a look."
The black fox of the wasteland drank up the water at hand, wiped the sweat off his face, stuffed the paste-like nutrition bar into his mouth, then, wearing a vest stained with oil, stood up and followed the soldier out.
Outside the town, on the yellow sand under the scorching sun, Rogge saw from afar a man dressed like a desert traveler, standing there leisurely holding a parasol.
At his feet, there was a white dog wearing goggles, with a look of despair on its face and its tongue sticking out.
When Roger saw this man, his eyes suddenly lit up. He took a few quick steps forward and waved to the man.
"Mr. Crow! Long time no see. Did your trip to Paradise go smoothly?"
"It went well."
The man laughed, walked over and hugged Rogge, and said:
“I stayed there for a long time, but it was boring. Those virtual entertainments were soulless and I got tired of them. The city just looked like a normal civilization.
But it was just a crude disguise, exuding a shoddy and disgusting atmosphere, and it was not even as real as the desert in my eyes.
Let’s not talk about this anymore.
I heard that you found the star array here, so I hurried back. Did you find a star explorer like me? Is he here? "
——
Jiang Xia is taking a nap now.
The hot desert is not suitable for work at noon. Even though the warehouse has an air circulation system and refrigeration equipment, you will still be exhausted after staying there for a few hours.
His body has been neglected for many years.
If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he would get heatstroke, so he went to Rogge's house and planned to rest for a while, and then go do some work when it was cooler in the afternoon.
At this moment, Jiang Xia was half asleep and half awake when he suddenly felt a life signal approaching, and the chip in his brain issued a warning.
He closed his eyes and still maintained a sleeping posture, but his left hand had silently clasped the gun handle at his belt. When the strange life signal approached within three meters, Jiang Xia jumped up suddenly.
The black muzzle of the gun was pressed against the forehead of the person in front of him.
The man seemed startled and quickly raised his hands, giving a true French military salute while still speaking.
"Don't panic, don't panic, I have no ill intentions."
"Who are you?"
Jiang Xia's face was grim as he looked at the guy in front of him who was wearing a white robe, with his head tied up with a turban, and dressed like Lawrence of Arabia.
He had never met this man before in Black Hand.
He was probably in his thirties.
His face was not handsome, but his skin was in good condition, which was completely different from the rough skin of the wastelanders. He looked like a pampered young master, with a pair of eyes that were distinctly black and white, and a gentle smile.
It's just ordinary, and the standing posture is full of flaws.
He was like a weak scholar, standing in front of Jiang Xia and posing no threat to him at all .
The most peculiar thing is that behind this guy there is a white dog with goggles hanging around its neck.
Well, it should be a purebred Husky, with fluffy white hair, except for the hair on the chest. It looks like the dog has been tortured by the scorching heat of the desert and has lost the desire to live.
However, when Jiang Xia was looking at it, the dog, who was lying in the shade and panting, suddenly looked up, stared at Jiang Xia, and bared its teeth at him viciously.
This combination appeared in the wasteland...
Very interesting.
"I'm Roger's friend."
Facing Jiang Xia's questioning, the man took a step back, away from the dangerous muzzle of the gun. He introduced himself with a smile:
"Like you, I am also an explorer of the star sea. I was in the City of Bliss before. When I heard that my companions appeared here, I rushed over immediately."
"Oh, you're the guy who taught Roger Chinese?"
Jiang Xia looked outside and saw Rogge standing outside the house, gesturing to him not to get into conflict with this person.
Seeing Rogge's actions, Jiang Xia put away his pistol and made a "please" gesture to the person in front of him.
The latter sat on a chair, waved the sleeves of his wide robe, and threw a pack of unopened cigarettes to Jiang Xia, and also threw a silver metal lighter.
This is a gesture of goodwill.
Jiang Xia followed the virtual motion capture markers in his left eye prosthesis, took the two objects in his hands with precise movements, and glanced at the lighter.
There is a relief of a crow with its wings spread out, which is very delicate.
He had a lot of questions in his mind.
After all, compared to himself, a fake, the man in front of him is a genuine Star Wanderer. It was he who gave Rogge and his companions the information and suggestions that brought them to the desert to look for star arrays.
This person looks sloppy, but he is definitely not simple.
“How many worlds have you traveled to?”
Jiang Xia asked straight to the point. The man in front of him chuckled, took out a pack of cigarettes, flicked one out, put it in the corner of his mouth, and lit it with the lighter handed to him by Jiang Xia.
He first exhaled a puff of smoke comfortably, then said slowly:
“Over ten years or so, I have traveled to hundreds of worlds, but most of them are boring. They are either so backward that it is regrettable, or so developed that it is incomprehensible.
It was like a quick tour, I walked, played, made some friends, and finally got here.
And you?
You look so young, you must have just become a Wanderer not long ago, right? "
"Um."
Jiang Xia did not hide it either.
The man in front of me seems to have a special aura.
When I sat with him, my guard was quickly relaxed. Even though it was our first meeting, I felt a sense of closeness, as if I were meeting a new friend.
But this made Jiang Xia feel alert.
He was not a person who would open his heart to strangers, so he just nodded in response without saying anything, so as not to lose his temper.
This cold response did not make the man opposite angry. On the contrary, he was still cheerful. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and said to Jiang Xia:
"We haven't introduced ourselves yet. You can call me 'Crow'."
"crow?"
Jiang Xia asked back.
The man nodded and said:
"Yes, crow."
"Why do you use such a weird name? Is it a nickname?"
Jiang Xia asked again:
"Can't you reveal your real name?"
"cannot."
Mr. Crow, like his predecessor, taught slowly and earnestly:
“As you visit more worlds, you will realize that some places always have some strange things. For example, I have been to a world where people practice witchcraft.
As long as I know your real name, I can cast a curse on you.
I was a young and reckless man at that time, and I was tortured badly. In the end, I had to use some power beyond the rules to escape by chance.
We weren't the only two wandering among the stars.
Maybe you will meet them in the future. Everyone uses code names. This is the rule of this industry."
"Um."
Jiang Xia nodded, thought for a moment, and said to Mr. Crow:
"Then you call me 'Wolf'..."
"No, I'm going to call you 'pigeon'."
Before Jiang Xia could finish his words, he was stopped by Mr. Crow, who waved his hand and said:
"I have learned some physiognomy. The name 'pigeon' really suits your face. Believe me."
Jiang Xia's face suddenly fell.
He doesn't like this nickname, not at all.
No one likes to be a pigeon.
"Hahaha, okay, no more jokes."
Mr. Crow seemed to be telling a joke and amused himself. He sat on the chair and laughed so hard that he fell backwards. After several seconds, he waved his hand and said to Jiang Xia, who looked unhappy:
"Let's get down to business. I need you to do me a favor."
"Um?"
Jiang Xia looked at him with a questioning look in his eyes, as if to say, you are a guy who can travel across the world and has such great powers, what else do you need my help with?
"To be honest, I'm stuck here."
Mr. Crow spread his hands helplessly and said to Jiang Xia:
"Every wanderer has a different way of traveling through the world. Some use magic, some use technology, and some use supernatural powers. As for me, I use a more special method.
I won’t tell you the details.
In short, I can only travel through worlds where spiritual energy exists, but this piece of wasteland... As you can see, from the birth of civilization to now, there has been no concept of the existence of spiritual energy.
I was like a reckless moth that dove in headfirst and ended up being trapped in this barren world, unable to find a way out.”
“Liar!”
Jiang Xia knocked on the alloy table and immediately retorted:
"You ask Rogge and the others to find the star array. You know there is a road leading to the outside world in this world, and you can leave on your own!"
"Yes, that is indeed my way of saving myself."
Mr. Crow tilted his head and looked at Jiang Xia with strange eyes, like a man experiencing a midlife crisis. Sitting there, his entire appearance had lost its luster.
He took a puff of cigarette silently, then said quietly:
"But the final road was ruined by you, wasn't it?"
Jiang Xia was suddenly speechless.
Indeed, if he had not interfered, Rogge and his men would have found the star array, activated it with the energy battery pack, and then left the wasteland. It was he who destroyed the star array at Fengshan Mine, completely cutting off this route.
"You ruined my hope of leaving, so you have to pay me back."
Mr. Crow shrugged and said:
"Since you are going to take Roger and the others away anyway, why not take me with you? To be honest, I am also very interested in the unique things in your world."
