Jiang Baimian's gaze didn't linger much as she subtly shifted it to the next piece of news.
After the newspaper had been passed around to the eight members of the two teams plus Ferlin Tong, she finally spoke up:
"Did you find any information worth noting?"
– Because there were outsiders present, Genava had to act like a regular robot.
The tall, blond, blue-eyed Fals shook his head:
"It's all very normal news."
Saying this, he chuckled self-deprecatingly:
"Actually, I'm someone who particularly likes to flip through old newspapers in city ruins. It allows me to imagine what kind of life people in that era lived, how it was better than the present. Sometimes, they make me forget about the current Ashlands and feel that life isn't so bad.
"Well, this post-newspaper doesn't have any obvious differences from the newspapers I've read. It's the same in terms of form and content."
Wang Fugui, Witte, and Grey also spoke in succession, saying that they hadn't found any valuable news from the *Fahhe Post*.
"But Wu Meng didn't seem to be joking when he had Ferlin Tong take away this newspaper," Jiang Baimian said thoughtfully.
Wang Fugui thought for a moment and said:
"Maybe it's because we don't have enough experience.
"Can I copy the contents of the newspaper? Hehe, I can ask people with more experience in the future."
"No problem," Jiang Baimian agreed very readily.
"Are you really going to copy it by hand? I think it would be more convenient to borrow a camera and take pictures of each page, turning it into an electronic document." Shang Jianyao pointed to the backpack behind Wang Fugui.
Inside it was an old computer model that ran sluggishly.
"But there's no one here with a camera," Wang Fugui looked like he was thinking, "Do you think I don't know it would be easier this way?"
Shang Jianyao revealed a smug smile and pointed to Genava:
"Multifunctional."
*You went through such a big detour just to promote Old Ge?* Jiang Baimian cursed inwardly.
With Genava's help, Wang Fugui and Grey obtained electronic documents of the newspaper. Fals, Witte, and Ferlin Tong didn't have computers and didn't think there was anything truly valuable in the newspaper. They only copied a few news items in the form of writing a summary.
After watching them leave, Jiang Baimian looked around, held up the newspaper, and pointed to the "International Biotechnology Expo" news item, saying:
"Do you see anything?"
Shang Jianyao immediately smiled:
"Northern Company."
*Shouldn't the focus be on 'gene research results'?* Long Yuehong grumbled, but didn't say it out loud.
Bai Chen nodded in agreement:
"It reminds me of a certain place in the North, a certain hospital in the North…"
The former was where the vegetative patient in the Ironworks Factory medical record in Blackmarsh Wilderness received new treatment, and the latter was a secret organization where Jiang Xiaoyue participated in an experiment as a volunteer to escape her comatose state.
The two were suspected to be the same company.
"The common word is 'North'?" Genava tried to analyze Bai Chen's train of thought.
"Yes," Jiang Baimian affirmed. "I have the same association, but unfortunately, this is just a comprehensive newspaper. The report on the 'International Biotechnology Expo' isn't detailed enough. It doesn't specify what exactly the Northern Company is displaying."
Shang Jianyao laughed:
"That's simple. I remember that every region has specialized science newspapers. The reports on relevant matters will definitely be more detailed. As long as we return to the Wasteland Ruin 13 and look around in places like libraries, we should be able to gain enough information."
"This…" Jiang Baimian hesitated and said, "Without understanding Wu Meng's true intentions, I think it's better not to explore there for the time being."
"Yeah, yeah!" Long Yuehong quickly echoed.
He believed that he had been influenced by Wu Meng the previous two times when he decided to explore Wasteland Ruin 13. Otherwise, how could he have agreed and joined in so boldly?
Jiang Baimian turned to smile and said:
"Let's visit Xiao Chong when we get back, and then decide on a follow-up plan based on the situation."
Hesitating for two seconds between seeing friends and going on an adventure, Shang Jianyao was already impatient to leave this forward operating base and return to First City.
At this time, Long Yuehong muttered in a low voice:
"Why not associate gene research with the company?"
He was referring to the fact that the Northern Company was displaying gene research results, not vegetative awakening technology.
And when mentioning gene research, those with more experience on the Ashlands would immediately think of Pangu Biology.
Jiang Baimian chuckled:
"The location isn't quite right. The company is in the very northwest. If you really want to connect 'North' and 'gene,' the White Knights have more suspicion."
"That's true," Long Yuehong breathed a sigh of relief.
Having discussed it to this point, they could no longer continue because they lacked enough clues.
When it was completely dark and "Old Task Force" had finished dinner, they left the main castle building and walked towards the parking area.
While walking, they suddenly saw a figure fall from the sky, crashing heavily onto the concrete ground.
*Bang!*
Blood quickly flowed from the base of that person's head. Their body twitched a few times and then lost all movement.
"Suicide by jumping? Or were they thrown down?" Because of the distance, Long Yuehong couldn't see too clearly.
Shang Jianyao took the lead and walked over, looking like he wanted to check if the person could still be saved. Jiang Baimian, Genava, and Bai Chen followed behind.
Long Yuehong was stunned for a second and quickly followed.
"Jumped from the hotel window." "It should be suicide…" The ruin hunters watching at that place were exchanging what they had seen and the judgments they had made.
After passing them, Long Yuehong's eyes suddenly widened.
The person lying on the ground was no longer breathing. Their blue eyes were wide open, and their blond hair was stained with bright red blood.
Fals!
This was Fals from the lone hunter team!
Fals who had explored Wasteland Ruin 13 with "Old Task Force!"
When the adventure was over and everyone had returned safely, he actually chose to leap and kill himself.
At that moment, all that surfaced in Long Yuehong's mind were the hunters who had committed suicide in Wasteland Ruin 13.
Five of them had jumped to their deaths like this.
Now it's Fals. Who will be next… Long Yuehong suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
The next moment, Jiang Baimian said in a deep voice:
"Wei and I will go find Wang Fugui, Old Ge, you go find Grey and Ferlin Tong. Little White and Little Red, you go find Witte, confirm that they are okay. Also, keep an eye on each other on the way. Don't ignore strange behavior."
Among them, only the Genava, the intelligent robot that hadn't entered Wasteland Ruin 13 afterward, was confirmed to be unaffected.
"Okay!" Shang Jianyao answered immediately.
*Dong, dong, dong, clang, clang, clang,* the five members of "Old Task Force" split into three groups and rushed into the main castle building, heading towards the campground hotel located on the fourth floor.
…………
*Bang!*
Shang Jianyao directly crashed open Wang Fugui's door.
Wang Fugui, who was facing east and doing a soaring eagle pose with both hands raised, was startled and reflexively curled up and rolled to the side.
*Pa, pa, pa,* Shang Jianyao clapped and praised:
"Very experienced."
"What's wrong?" Wang Fugui was both surprised and suspicious.
Although this guy seemed a little abnormal, being this abnormal was quite abnormal.
"Fals jumped to his death," Jiang Baimian said in a deep voice.
Wang Fugui's eyelids twitched, and his pupils suddenly dilated.
"What about the others?" he blurted out.
"Not yet determined," Jiang Baimian was waiting for Genava and Bai Chen and Long Yuehong to report the situation via walkie-talkie.
…………
At another room, Genava, imitating Shang Jianyao, crashed open the wooden door.
Inside, Grey was dancing around the furnace in the hot summer night, illuminated by the lights.
Sensing the movement, he suddenly stopped, raised his head, and looked towards the door.
At the same time, he struck an evasive posture.
He didn't sense a human consciousness, so he didn't prepare to fight back.
Then, he saw the robot with red eyes flailing its arms and legs, also starting to dance.
"…" Grey was stunned.
Genava finished the simple dance and explained:
"Wei said, politeness is reciprocity."
"Is there, what's the matter?" Grey looked blank.
Genava answered in a slightly synthetic baritone voice:
"Fals jumped to his death."
"What?" Grey was terrified.
…………
At the door of Witte's room, where he had reaped a rich harvest.
While Long Yuehong hesitated, Bai Chen had already raised his right foot and kicked the lock with force.
With a *bang*, the door sprang open backward.
What came into Long Yuehong's view was a pool of bright red. Witte was lying in a pool of blood, his face abnormally pale, already in a dying state.
A dagger was stuck in his chest. Judging from the slanted angle, he should have done it himself with his right hand.
He had also committed suicide.
Long Yuehong only felt a chill rush up from the bottom of his heart, but his instinct rushed over, habitually checking Witte's injuries, while Bai Chen looked around and picked up the walkie-talkie.
At this time, Witte seemed to see Long Yuehong. He opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound.
His eyes wandered as he moved his right hand, pointing to a place on the side.
It was a table that came with the hotel room, with a piece of paper held down by a ballpoint pen on it.