There was still a very serious risk of "Heartless Disease" infection there? Hearing Smith's words, Jiang Baimian raised her eyelids slightly.

Before this, she had somewhat ignored this aspect of the problem.

There were two reasons for this: First, the special commissioner of the Eighth Research Institute who was captured clearly stated that they had entered the city, made preparations for isolation in advance, and resolved the crisis of the "Heartless Disease" sweeping the world again. Second, in the chaotic era, the subsequent dangers in those cities where the "Heartless Disease" had erupted were mainly from attacks by the "Heartless" and the infighting of their own kind, rather than continuous infection.

Therefore, in Jiang Baimian's understanding, as long as they didn't cross the "isolation zone" made by the Eighth Research Institute, exploring the ruins of that city would not be too dangerous.

But now, she found that the situation didn't seem to be like this.

Later, a large number of relic hunters went there and still couldn't escape the threat of "Heartless Disease."

As long as one entered there, regardless of whether one passed through the "isolation zone" or not, there was a very high probability of being infected with "Heartless Disease"? Or rather, the Eighth Research Institute had actually isolated the entire area? But didn't the Eighth Research Institute leave any obstructing force, allowing those relic hunters to pass through? While Jiang Baimian's thoughts were racing, she heard Shang Jianyao ask in confirmation:

"Really?"

Smith nodded solemnly:

"Although these things are just hearsay, many of the relic hunters I know who went there have indeed not returned. At least, I haven't encountered them again."

Jiang Baimian nodded lightly:

"Actually, I was wondering about one thing before:

"It's only been a little over ten years since that city and the surrounding area were destroyed by 'Heartless Disease.' How come no one knows its exact location anymore?

"To be able to support hundreds of thousands of residents, that force would more or less have trade with the outside world, exchanging its own products for necessary resources."

Just that one area could guarantee basic food supply, which was already quite remarkable. And even if they had a large number of factories themselves, capable of producing weapons, bullets, cloth, and other things, they would most likely lack the corresponding raw materials.

Even a force like Pangu Biology, deeply hidden underground and having established an internal ecological system, still had to purchase minerals, oil, and other materials from the outside world.

And that city was unlikely to be like Pangu Biology or the Eighth Research Institute, forces known for their secrecy, keeping their specific location extremely well hidden. The fact that the old squad where Shang Jianyao's father was could find it in the first place could explain a lot. Lao He of the End of Year City also stated that he could occasionally encounter people from that city a little over ten years ago.

Now, Jiang Baimian probably knew the answer:

After the news of that city being destroyed by "Heartless Disease" spread, almost everyone who knew its specific location rushed there, trying to get a share, but only a very few were able to return alive, and they never dared to entertain the idea again.

Smith smiled awkwardly:

"I also wanted to go and get some supplies to sell, but after hearing those rumors, I didn't dare at all, and I usually don't mention that city anymore. We are no longer in the state of eating one meal without knowing where the next is coming from, needing to risk our lives to grab supplies. Living gives us more opportunities."

Clap clap clap, Shang Jianyao applauded him.

Jiang Baimian asked about the specific situation of that city before its destruction, and received satisfactory answers.

It was not until this time that they understood the complete name of the target location:

Koningmis.

This was an ancient place name, somewhat different from the current Red River language, meaning King's Forest.

According to Smith, due to the southward expansion of the ice sheet, the forests there had suffered severe losses. Later, the humans in that city and the surrounding area cut down a large number of trees to cultivate more farmland, and the name of the forest was no longer true to reality.

…

The next morning, outside the ice and snow ruins.

Long Yuehong sat in the back seat of the jeep, watching Shang Jianyao extend half of his body out of the window, enthusiastically waving to Smith and the other "Rootless" who were returning south to the "White Knights" territory.

"Goodbye! We must meet again!" Shang Jianyao shouted loudly, but without implanting any corresponding thoughts.

After he sat back in the driver's seat, Long Yuehong said with a somewhat serious expression:

"Are we still going to Koningmis?"

It was so dangerous there that entering it would very likely result in infection with "Heartless Disease."

At this time, snowflakes began to fall outside the car window again, but not too heavily, and the wind was still relatively gentle.

"Why not?" Shang Jianyao asked rhetorically. "Since there is still a latent, large amount of 'Heartless Disease' virus there, and there is a possibility of it spreading, then we can't turn a blind eye. Uh, when the time comes, let Old Ge send a nuclear bomb in and then detonate it remotely with a boom. The doomsday crisis will be resolved."

Speaking so nobly and righteously… I thought you would play the emotional card, after all, that's where your father last appeared… Jiang Baimian considered it and said to Long Yuehong and Bai Chen:

"I've been thinking about it for a long time yesterday, and I have some ideas.

"The most terrifying thing about 'Heartless Disease' is the unknown. We don't know how we get infected, and we don't know when it will break out.

"But we already have a lot of understanding of 'Heartless Disease,' and we clearly know that it is related to the 'New World.'

"We currently speculate that there are three routes for the source of 'Heartless Disease':

"One is the 'New World' powerhouse, the second is the node connecting to the 'New World,' and the third is human faith in the Year Star or even certain 'New World' powerhouses.

"So, where did the 'Heartless Disease' virus, which is spread throughout Koningmis and whose decline and disappearance is currently unknown, come from?"

Genava did not seize the opportunity from the carbon-based humans, allowing Bai Chen to answer:

"The third route can be ruled out. There are no living humans in Koningmis to provide faith. All that's left are corpses and a small number of 'Heartless.'"

After so many years, the "Heartless," who don't know how to produce, find it difficult to maintain their original scale. Moreover, although the climate in that area is relatively warm and can be cultivated, unlike other parts of the ice sheet, it can still freeze people to death in winter.

Long Yuehong followed:

"The 'New World' effect brought about by faith should not be able to create such a large-scale 'Heartless Disease' either. Since the middle and late stages of the chaotic era, there have been a majority of places with faith, but apart from Koningmis, we haven't heard of any place encountering such a serious epidemic.

"As for the 'New World' powerhouse, I can't find a reason why they would have to destroy Koningmis, or even stay there all the time, not even letting go of the relic hunters who entered later."

Shang Jianyao laughed:

"Maybe it's like Yan Hu, unable to return to reality, unable to control his body, involuntarily."

"Speaking of which, it does sound quite similar." Long Yuehong nodded while thinking.

After Yan Hu fell asleep, the human settlement on Lake Heart Island was also destroyed by "Heartless Disease."

Although not everyone contracted "Heartless Disease," those who remained did not last long under the continuous "Heartless Disease" infection and attacks by the "Heartless."

And those who subsequently explored the island, once they stayed for more than a certain limit, would also be infected with "Heartless Disease."

"I think there is still a difference." Bai Chen expressed his own opinion. "As relic hunters, when they enter Koningmis, they certainly won't be thinking about exploring any secrets, but rather about getting supplies as soon as possible. Even if there are 'Heartless' interfering, given the condition of the place not having been searched yet, they can fill their cars in a few hours. In short, they should be able to leave Koningmis the next day, not exceeding the critical point of three days. It's impossible for so many people to be unlucky enough to directly run into the area where the 'New World' powerhouse is sleeping, right?"

Jiang Baimian added:

"The area of the entire Koningmis should be much larger than Lake Heart Island. If they only operate in the outer areas or even the edge of the city, it may not be a problem to exceed three days."

What she meant was that relying solely on the "New World" powerhouse could not create the current situation in Koningmis.

Jiang Baimian then concluded:

"Either there is the incarnation of a certain Year Star sleeping there, or the investigation back then created a very, very, very large 'New World' node, or a large number of 'New World' nodes distributed in different places in Koningmis."

"Why weren't the people from the Eighth Research Institute infected with 'Heartless Disease'? They even claimed that they searched the entire city and couldn't find my dad's whereabouts." Shang Jianyao was still concerned about this. "Couldn't they have put in a little more effort? That would have saved us so much trouble!"

His disappointment with the Eighth Research Institute was evident.

"It's possible that the people from the Eighth Research Institute also mastered a way to eliminate 'New World' nodes, but the effect is not long-lasting. When those relic hunters arrive, the 'New World' nodes recover again. It's also possible that the Eighth Research Institute didn't search the entire city and deliberately avoided the most dangerous area," Genava said in his analysis.

Long Yuehong nodded:

"The Eighth Research Institute also has 'Professor Li,' 'Vice President,' and other 'New World' powerhouses, and even the legendary Darkness to provide shelter. It shouldn't be so easy to get 'Heartless Disease.'"

"We have it too!" Shang Jianyao immediately took out the "Angel of Life" necklace and said with his hand hanging down, "The long night is endless, may the Fate Overseer protect us!"

Long Yuehong and the others were speechless.

Our backers are indeed not much worse than the Eighth Research Institute…

Shang Jianyao emphasized with righteous words:

"Our exploration of Koningmis this time is a mission approved by the company, so we will definitely receive the blessing of the Big Boss."

It seems like there is probably some truth to that… Jiang Baimian muttered silently.

"When the time comes, I'll take the 'Angel of Life' necklace and go into Koningmis with Old Ge first to determine whether the problem there is a 'New World' node or a 'New World' powerhouse, or a legacy of a certain Year Star," Shang Jianyao applied to be the vanguard.

Jiang Baimian was silent for a moment and said:

"Okay."

She continued:

"According to Smith's description, Koningmis is only two or three days' drive from here. We'll go there now. Hey, make sure you maintain a good mental state."

The driving distance she mentioned was calculated based on the driving speed on the ice sheet.