Jiang Baimian intuitively felt that the person who sent the Nightmare Horse was not Xiao Chong.
Her reasoning was that Xiao Chong, a guy who "is too lazy to go out and only wants to play games," would not personally bother with these things unless he occasionally needed to relax and get some exercise.
Shang Jianyao obviously felt the same way.
"What does that person look like?" Jiang Baimian asked.
The hotel owner recalled and said:
"He's about my height, his hair is black and all knotted, greasy...
"He looks strong and sturdy, wearing a white vest inside and a thin black jacket outside...
"He has a lot of thick stubble, deep hair on the back of his hands, and sunglasses on his face, covering his eyes and those areas...
"He's very introverted, very dull, and speaks very little. Uh, it seems like he didn't say much at all. I offered 10 ore, and he shook his head directly. I gave him 15 ore, and he nodded, left the horse, and then, according to the date I gave him, came to take the horse away..."
The more Jiang Baimian listened, the more she felt something was wrong.
Relying on the auxiliary chip in her bio-prosthetic limb, she quickly remembered someone with a similar image.
That wasn't a normal human, but a "Heartless!"
In the No. 1 Ruins of the Swamp, in the underground of the "City Intelligence Network Control Center," near the room where Xiao Chong was playing games, the "Old Task Force" once encountered a pregnant female "Advanced Heartless." The male "Heartless" guarding her was very similar to the hotel owner's description in terms of image characteristics and some clothing.
Could it be that the hotel owner completed a transaction with an "Advanced Heartless"? Although that one couldn't speak and couldn't understand too complex sentences, he seemed to understand the difference in prices... Was this something Xiao Chong deliberately instilled? Jiang Baimian's eyes flickered slightly, feeling that this matter was incredibly absurd and terrifying.
The things that happened around Xiao Chong were always unbelievable.
After thinking about it, Jiang Baimian decided not to tell the owner the truth. Firstly, it wasn't necessary, and secondly, it might scare the other party.
Normal humans can't accept that they have faced a "Heartless" face-to-face and made a deal.
She pondered for a moment and said:
"It's not Xiao Chong. Xiao Chong is a child."
The hotel owner showed a suddenly enlightened expression:
"That person is renting out horses to earn rent, electricity, water, and food for the child?"
Although that's what it is, it's much, much more complicated than you think... Jiang Baimian mumbled, nodded, and said:
"We'll ask other hunters to see if anyone has seen that person and that horse."
The hotel owner was stunned for a moment and said:
"He's missing?
"Could it be the white wolf who did it?"
He thought Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao were looking for a friend who hadn't returned home.
"More or less." Jiang Baimian said perfunctorily and turned to walk out of the hotel.
In the following time, they and Long Yuehong and Bai Chen asked several relic hunters and camp personnel about similar situations:
Some people had seen a creature similar to the Nightmare Horse carrying supplies and walking on mountain roads;
Some people had seen it grazing in the area where livestock were raised in the main building of the castle, keeping a certain distance from other cattle and horses;
Some people had encountered a man wearing black sunglasses and a white vest, who was in a hurry, not knowing where he was going...
"A powerful mutated creature is actually earning money by transporting supplies in the camp..." Although Long Yuehong had indirectly verified this matter and felt that it should be the case, he still had an incredible expression.
If all the mutated creatures, Advanced Heartless, and even those powerful Awakened and Modified, could be so down-to-earth and law-abiding, the situation in the Greylands would be much better.
At that time, the dawn of the new world should appear.
That's right, Long Yuehong still believes that the "New World" is a parable, a symbol, representing mankind completely walking out of the shadow of the old world's destruction, re-establishing order and civilization, and having a new home.
Bai Chen pursed her lips and said:
"If it hadn't happened to Xiao Chong's pet, I would have thought someone was joking."
When she was still a wasteland wanderer and relic hunter, she had also seen some mutated creatures, which were quite terrifying, full of aggression, and had no connection with human society or earning money.
And when she first encountered the Nightmare Horse and heard Qiao Chu talk about the corresponding things, Bai Chen also felt that this mutated creature was extremely dangerous, the kind you shouldn't provoke if you didn't have to, and you should stay as far away as possible.
Today, the Nightmare Horse's mysterious and terrifying image had collapsed by more than half in her heart.
Shang Jianyao nodded with a gratified expression:
"This shows that Xiao Chong is a law-abiding person, but he doesn't like to go out and likes to play games."
You really treat Xiao Chong as a friend... Don't forget that the initial "Heartless Disease" epidemic in the city may be related to Xiao Chong... Jiang Baimian didn't say what was in her heart and said "Mm":
"15 ore can't last long in Initial City. Could the Nightmare Horse, and that 'Advanced Heartless,' be working in some mountain settlements or forward camps?"
The image of the Sleeping Cat is too terrifying and not suitable for contact with humans.
"Maybe." Long Yuehong couldn't deny this guess.
Bai Chen followed up and said:
"Then we'll expand the scope of our inquiries."
Anyway, the "Old Task Force" will have to look for other entrances and exits of the cave later, and it's very likely that they will pass by other forward camps and other wasteland wanderer settlements.
"Mm." Jiang Baimian nodded, "Actually, there's another idea."
"What?" Genaver diligently collected data, trying to establish a Jiang Baimian analysis model.
Jiang Baimian said:
"Now it seems that when Xiao Chong left the No. 1 Ruins of the Swamp, in addition to taking away the two major pets, the Nightmare Horse and the Sleeping Cat, there was also a group of 'Advanced Heartless' who followed him.
"What do you think, where are these 'Advanced Heartless' likely to be?"
"Earning money!" Shang Jianyao replied without hesitation.
Before Jiang Baimian could glare at him, he said to himself:
"Judging from the situation at the time, some of the 'Advanced Heartless' would stay by Xiao Chong's side, guarding him and protecting him, while others would go out to find food and control the ordinary 'Heartless' within the city ruins."
"That's right." Jiang Baimian exhaled, "So, there should be several 'Advanced Heartless' around Xiao Chong now. Although they have a certain amount of intelligence, the level is obviously not high, and they are often controlled by instinct. When we return to Initial City, we can try to start from this point, use the instinct of the 'Heartless' to lure them out, and then find Xiao Chong."
This... Team Leader even wants to deceive the "Advanced Heartless"... Long Yuehong muttered to himself.
He felt that this plan was very feasible.
Shang Jianyao then smiled and said:
"Maybe it won't be so troublesome. Maybe the Nightmare Horse and the Sleeping Cat will tell him that I'm looking for Xiao Chong, and he'll come to see me in person."
"Hopefully." Jiang Baimian replied perfunctorily.
She immediately showed a thoughtful expression:
"Judging from the situation last night, the range of the Sleeping Cat's ability is not much larger than Shang Jianyao's, and the Nightmare Horse's is not as terrifying as we expected..."
After discussing this topic for a while, Genaver and Shang Jianyao continued to study the various electronic components that could be collected.
These were exchanged for with some of the previous spoils.
Long Yuehong was busy for a while, then stood up feeling a little bored.
He always said that his grades were average, and that was the truth.
In university, he was always mediocre, and he didn't particularly love his major. The reason he chose it when he applied was that it was relatively easier to be assigned to a better job.
Jiang Baimian glanced at him and said with a smile:
"This doesn't require so many people. It's meaningless for you to stay here. Why don't you go shopping in the camp? Hmm, maybe you can find out some information."
"Okay." Long Yuehong was just about to move around and quickly agreed.
Based on the principle of not letting team members be alone, Bai Chen followed beside him.
When entering the main building of the castle, a young man with flaxen hair and eyes of the same color came out from inside and brushed past them.
At that moment, Long Yuehong seemed to feel a gaze full of hatred.
He subconsciously turned his head to look at the other person, who lowered his head and hurried away.
While Long Yuehong was looking puzzled, Bai Chen said in a low voice:
"I remember him. His companions died in our hands."
"Oh, that's how it is..." Long Yuehong suddenly understood.
Bai Chen looked back and asked calmly:
"Should we find a chance to kill him?"
"Uh, no, no need." Long Yuehong quickly shook his head.
He felt that the "Old Task Force" didn't need to be afraid of this level of hatred. They had enough self-preservation power and didn't need to create more killings.
Bai Chen didn't say much and took the lead in entering the main building of the castle.
...
A few days later, when Wait returned from Initial City, Longen and the other survivor's injuries had almost healed. They split up and led the "Old Task Force" and the group of solo hunters to look for other cave entrances in the mountains.
In the afternoon, a deep cave appeared in front of them.
Wait immediately took out a remote control car from his backpack and steered it into the cave.
"We had him specifically get this from Initial City." Wang Fugui turned his head and smiled at Jiang Baimian and the others.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Jianyao also took off his tactical backpack and took out a black remote control car that looked simple but was full of industrial style.
"We made this ourselves." Shang Jianyao looked at Wang Fugui and smiled.
"..." Wang Fugui opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.