After launching the emergency flare, Shang Jianyao and the others drove the jeep back to the mountain where Black Rat Town was located, setting up camp in a concealed spot on the mountainside. This allowed them to keep a high-angle watch over the small woods, observing if any relic hunters or wasteland wanderers approached the cave entrance.
Having removed his exoskeleton, Long Yuehong, after setting up the tent, couldn't suppress his confusion and asked loudly:
"Team Leader, there's something I don't understand."
"What is it?" Jiang Baimian was happy to answer the newcomer's questions.
Long Yuehong furrowed his brows and said:
"Why did that group have to attack Black Rat Town? With the recent discovery of an Old World city ruin, they could have easily obtained more resources through simpler means. There was no need to target Black Rat Town, which is relatively well-armed. Didn't you also say that relic hunters and wasteland wanderers are currently in a special environment where they can coexist peacefully and even form alliances, since everyone hopes to have more help to deal with the dangers lurking in the ruins?"
Jiang Baimian first nodded, then chuckled:
"Good question.
"However, while that's generally true, specific situations still require specific analysis. I once read an Old World book that described the act of rigidly applying existing principles, concepts, and situations without analyzing the changes, developments, and corresponding particularities of things as committing a 'dogmatism' error.
"Specifically, there are two main differences regarding the Black Rat Town incident:
"First, as we analyzed earlier, the attacking team either had at least thirty members or possessed seven or eight core, elite members, accompanied by a large number of dependents. Regardless of the possibility, they are undoubtedly strong, and considering the weapons and ammunition we observed at the scene, they can be clearly distinguished from ordinary relic hunter teams and wasteland wanderer groups.
"Second, Black Rat Town, as a demi-human settlement, would definitely not explore the newly discovered city ruin when a large number of humans flocked there. At most, they'd gather information from the periphery, making it impossible for them to serve as cannon fodder for the attacking team.
"In this case, if the attacking team was confident in resolving the residents of Black Rat Town with almost no losses or minimal losses, and obtaining a decent amount of resources, then they would have every reason to commit such a tragedy.
"This way, even if the city ruin is too dangerous for the attacking team to approach, they would still have enough gains, making their trip worthwhile."
Seeing Long Yuehong nod frequently, Jiang Baimian added:
"Moreover, there are many additional possibilities. For example, the attacking team may be filled with hatred for all demi-humans due to past encounters, willing to endure losses to kill them. Or, they may have been heading this way because of the strange roars coming from north of Yuelu Station, unaware that a new Old World city ruin was discovered there. Or, Black Rat Town, due to its location near the area north of Yuelu Station, may have been the first to notice the anomaly, sending people to investigate and obtaining something that the attacking team was willing to risk everything for."
Long Yuehong's head spun, but he had to admit that the Team Leader made a good point.
With all the circumstances not yet investigated, there were indeed too many possibilities.
Jiang Baimian stopped explaining, looked around, and pondered for a few seconds before saying:
"For the next few days, we'll operate in pairs, taking turns.
"Those at the camp will be responsible for guarding the jeep and monitoring the cave area, while those going out will investigate whether there are any signs of murder to silence witnesses, or any other clues.
"Well, this time, Long Yuehong and I will be a team, and Bai Chen and Shang Jianyao will be a team."
"Why?" Long Yuehong blurted out.
Shang Jianyao smiled:
"Because you're weaker.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"..." Long Yuehong felt as if he'd been punched and couldn't retaliate, making him a bit dejected.
Indeed, the reason for the reorganization was not difficult to discern:
Shang Jianyao had demonstrated the abilities of an Awakened and sufficient composure, combined with the physique, energy, skills, and talent of a gene-modified individual, making his strength rank between second and third in the 'Old Task Force.' At close range, he was undoubtedly stronger than Bai Chen. Beyond a certain range, Bai Chen, who was skilled in sniping and experienced, was still slightly better.
In this way, the strongest Jiang Baimian and the weakest Long Yuehong would form a team, which would not only more effectively guarantee the latter's survival but also make the strength of the two teams more even.
Hearing Shang Jianyao's mockery, Jiang Baimian glanced at him and shook her head slightly, helplessly.
At this time, Bai Chen, who was responsible for guarding the surroundings, interjected:
"Team Leader, it's actually not necessary. The jeep won't be needed in the next few days. The solar charging panel can charge the spare battery, so there's no need to worry about the exoskeleton device draining power too quickly and being unusable at a critical moment."
"That's true." Jiang Baimian smiled and said to Long Yuehong, "You continue to team up with Bai Chen. Remember to wear the exoskeleton when you go out. Hehe, with this setup, you've become the strongest in the team. People, after all, the most important thing is equipment. I remember an ancient text saying: 'A gentleman's nature is no different, but he is good at utilizing things.'"
Long Yuehong's spirits quickly recovered, feeling that what the Team Leader said was very reasonable.
Shang Jianyao was more concerned about another point:
"Why haven't I learned this ancient text?"
Bai Chen had never even heard of it.
Jiang Baimian recalled and said:
"Extracurricular reading, extracurricular reading."
Considering that Jiang Baimian had said that she had a biologist father, who was at least a D9-level employee, just one step away from management, and that the benefits she could receive were far beyond his own family, Long Yuehong was immediately relieved, and Shang Jianyao no longer had any doubts.
Jiang Baimian then looked up at the sky and determined the position of the sun:
"It's still early. Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, you two guard the camp and monitor the Black Rat Town area. Shang Jianyao and I will go out and search for a while."
"Yes, Team Leader!" Long Yuehong and Bai Chen replied loudly at the same time.
Without delay, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian left the hiding place and headed towards the bottom of the hill.
As before, they each carried two pistols, and one had an assault rifle while the other carried a grenade launcher.
After leaving the hill where Black Rat Town was located and arriving in the densely vegetated hills, Shang Jianyao suddenly spoke:
"Team Leader, why do we have to wait for the company's people to come? Why not take action ourselves and track down that group of attackers?"
Jiang Baimian slowed down and turned her body slightly, saying quite directly:
"For your safety."
"We have exoskeletons and enough firepower to deal with that attacking team. There won't be much danger," Shang Jianyao said with a serious expression.
Jiang Baimian looked into his eyes and replied calmly:
"I know you have a grudge in your heart."
She paused and quickly exhaled:
"I do too.
"But in battle, bullets don't have eyes. They won't show you any mercy just because you're handsome and a newcomer. On the contrary, they prefer people like that.
"Besides, how can you be sure that the attacking team doesn't have the ability to deal with military exoskeletons? They can get their hands on thermobaric bombs, so I wouldn't be surprised if they have other powerful equipment."
"We can first track and scout, and then consider whether to attack after confirming the situation. If things are impossible, we'll retreat and wait for the company's people," Shang Jianyao still didn't give up.
Jiang Baimian turned her body and said as she walked:
"Don't make tracking and scouting sound so simple.
"In the Security Department, the employees responsible for scouting are definitely among the best in their respective teams.
"If you and Long Yuehong were both experienced enough, I would indeed like to try, but now, can you guarantee that you won't be discovered while scouting and that you won't detonate the battle on the spot?
"In a mature team, it's not that everyone can't make mistakes, but when someone makes a mistake, the other members know how to make up for it.
"When Bai Chen and I make a mistake, and you and Long Yuehong can quickly remedy it, our 'Old Task Force' can try similar things."
Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao, who was quickly catching up:
"Weren't you just criticizing Long Yuehong, trying to undermine his confidence so that he wouldn't pass the assessment and would leave the 'Old Task Force'?
"Now you're not worried that tracking the attackers will put him in danger?
"Ah, I understand. You're thinking that you'll wear the exoskeleton and rush into the attacking team, killing them all, while Long Yuehong only needs to watch."
As she spoke, Jiang Baimian laughed:
"Aren't you trying to save all of humanity? How can you take such a big risk at this time? If you die on the spot, who will bear that sacred mission?"
"...Team Leader, don't make cowardice sound so high-sounding," Shang Jianyao was almost swayed.
Then, he said seriously:
"Others will come later."
"Uh... I'm not sure if you're joking," Jiang Baimian said instead, "I have to be responsible for you. You and Long Yuehong are not yet married and have not had children. It would be too unworthy to die like this. Hehe, it's also not beneficial to the company."
"Then do you have children? Don't you often take risks?" Shang Jianyao asked without thinking.
Jiang Baimian glared at the guy:
"No.
"When unified marriage was happening, I was lying in the hospital, likely to die at any moment. Later, I survived by volunteering and undergoing gene modification. Hehe, it was going to be death anyway, so I might as well take a gamble. The result was quite fortunate.
"After that, because the situation of gene modification was still unclear, there was uncertainty about any hidden dangers, and it needed further observation and waiting for various experiments to provide more convincing data, such as the stability of inheritance, so I never participated in marriage."
Jiang Baimian suddenly frowned:
"What am I telling you this for? Can our situations be the same? Most of the time, when I take risks, I still have a good grasp of the situation."
She didn't want to continue this topic and changed the subject:
"You are because..."
She pointed to her head:
"That's why you gave up unified marriage?"
Shang Jianyao answered frankly:
"Although I do have problems in this regard..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Baimian asked with amusement:
"You know it yourself?"
Shang Jianyao ignored her and continued:
"But a large part of the usual abnormal behavior is actually deliberate."
"Why?" Jiang Baimian asked, pursuing the question.
Shang Jianyao's eyes flickered, and he looked off into the distance:
"I don't want children, and I don't want a woman to worry about me."
ps: Asking for recommendation tickets~