"Old Ge, we'll be cheering you on!"

Shang Jianyao waved his right hand, enthusiastically shouting to Genaeva.

He, Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen were standing on a high ground, looking down at the intelligent robot below.

Because they were unsure how many companions the escaped enemies had, what their respective strengths were, what the maximum range of their senses was, and whether they had set any traps, the "Old Task Force" prioritized caution. They decided to only send Genaeva to pursue the traces and follow the clues. The four carbon-based humans, using telescopes and the surrounding terrain, trailed several kilometers behind, closely observing their teammate's every move, ready to launch a remote attack at any time.

This was a necessity because the intelligent robot had a higher fault tolerance rate. If it encountered an accident, its chances of survival were far greater than those of Jiang Baimian and the other carbon-based humans.

More importantly, the intelligent robot was also immune to most Awakened abilities, not afraid of being sensed by human consciousness.

To ensure Old Ge's safety, the "Old Task Force's" four carbon-based humans unanimously decided to have him wear the "Black Marsh Iron Serpent" bionic intelligent armor, further enhancing his defensive capabilities.

In the old world, there was a saying: "Meat wrapped in iron dies quickly; iron wrapped in meat has a chance to live."

And Genaeva was now "iron wrapped in iron," sturdy and robust.

-- "Meat wrapped in iron" generally refers to humans riding motorcycles or bicycles, with flesh above steel, while "iron wrapped in meat" refers to humans sitting in motor vehicles, with flesh protected by steel.

Genaeva raised his steel arm covered in black scales and waved to his companions, indicating that he had received their encouragement.

Then, he began to follow the bloodstains, footprints, and other clues, tracking into the distance.

Jiang Baimian glanced at the darkening sky, which was approaching the degree of darkness in the main urban area of ​​Koning Miss, and exhaled.

"In this kind of environment, only Old Ge can avoid missing a single trace."

"Yes, yes." Shang Jianyao echoed.

Long Yuehong glanced at them, raised his binoculars, and observed Genaeva's every move, so as to understand in a timely manner what the other party was encountering.

At this moment, the four carbon-based humans were fully armed, three wearing military exoskeletons, and one donned the "Chameleon" bionic intelligent armor.

That one was Long Yuehong.

They didn't skimp on electricity, waiting only to find the enemy to launch an attack.

Through the binoculars and the corresponding functions of the military exoskeleton, the "Old Task Force's" four members saw Genaeva moving forward quickly.

This indicated that, so far, the trail had not been interrupted and the traces remained on the earth.

"Old Ge bypasses a pile of rocks..."

"Old Ge crosses a small stream..."

"Old Ge enters an abandoned village and passes through it..."

"..."

Finally, Jiang Baimian couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted Shang Jianyao.

"No need to commentate; we can all see it."

Shang Jianyao closed his mouth with a disappointed look, regretting that he hadn't been able to fully enjoy the profession of commentator.

Jiang Baimian refocused her gaze on Genaeva's location, and then, relying on the communication system embedded in the military exoskeleton, said:

"Old Ge, stop for a moment. We're moving positions. If you go any further, the angle here won't be very good, and the distance will be too far, making it unsuitable for supporting you.

"Pay attention to your surroundings and be prepared for surprises."

After receiving Genaeva's affirmative reply, Jiang Baimian summoned Long Yuehong and the others to move to the second observation point.

This observation point was not pre-set because they didn't know which direction the enemy was fleeing in beforehand. This observation point was one of several suitable locations they had specifically selected while watching Genaeva's tracking.

The "Old Task Force's" carbon-based members all had equipment assistance and didn't take long to reach the designated location.

It was a water tower.

Jiang Baimian and the others gained a firm foothold on the small steel terrace at the top of the water tower and once again observed the situation on Genaeva's side.

There were no abnormalities.

Genaeva continued his tracking journey.

As he watched, Long Yuehong suddenly had an image pop into his mind.

It was a humorous picture from old-world entertainment materials.

He lowered his voice and shared his feelings with Bai Chen:

"Do you feel like the current situation is a bit like that picture? A group of people watching, and one person doing the work."

"It does feel a bit like that!" Before Bai Chen could speak, Shang Jianyao, who was listening to everything, had already expressed his agreement.

He immediately sighed:

"Poor Old Ge."

As if the person cheering Old Ge on just now wasn't you... Jiang Baimian didn't voice her inner thoughts.

After another while, Genaeva slowed down his pace.

As he got to this side, the traces seemed to be getting fewer and fewer, and harder and harder to capture.

This didn't stump Genaeva. Relying on the assistance of various devices and modules, he pursued forward little by little.

Not knowing how long it had been, as true night was about to arrive, Genaeva stopped and pointed to a building ahead, saying:

"The enemies should have entered there."

That building belonged to a small town on the edge of Koning Miss, near the northern pass.

It was originally the tallest building in this area, but it was later modified to look somewhat like a哨所 (shàosuǒ).

"How about we just blow up that building?" Shang Jianyao, with his sinister and venomous nature, suggested.

The honest Genaeva replied:

"But according to my detection, there are no living creatures inside."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Shang Jianyao, seeking novelty and the unusual, was disappointed for a moment.

"Transferred in advance? A trap?" Jiang Baimian muttered to herself, then instructed Genaeva, "Old Ge, go in and search, be careful."

"Okay." Genaeva always obeyed orders.

Then, his report, with the help of the communication system, continuously entered the ears of Shang Jianyao and the others:

"There are traces of human life on the ground floor, very recent..."

"They also keep animals... there's a smell of dung coming from the patch of mud outside the window on the side rear..."

"Found a storage room, there are some supplies inside, but not much, there are traces of moving..."

"There is an observation point on the top floor, from which you can see the roads into Koning Miss from the northern and western passes..."

"Preliminary judgment, three to four people once lived here, plus a very large animal..."

"I found relatively clear wheel tracks on the east side of this building. There is reason to believe that a few hours ago, the humans here hurriedly transferred, taking most of the supplies with them. The direction is, the main urban area of ​​Koning Miss..."

Jiang Baimian listened carefully and frowned.

She murmured to herself:

"This is unscientific..."

"Is the Eighth Research Institute only this many people in Koning Miss? Moreover, the one we severely injured has top-notch combat power..."

In her original understanding, the Eighth Research Institute should have had at least dozens of people in Koning Miss, responsible for clearing out investigators, guarding the area overlapping with the "New World." Among them, Awakened at the "Mind Corridor" level could not necessarily be counted on one hand, and they carried items that could directly contact those "New World" experts of the Eighth Research Institute.

Who knew, according to Genaeva's statement, there were only three or four people here, plus a giant black feline, and because the one who attacked the "Old Task Force" suffered severe injuries, they chose to transfer in a hurry, instead of organizing a stronger encirclement and suppression.

"Could they not be people from the Eighth Research Institute?" Long Yuehong grumbled.

"No, the commissioner we captured confirmed that the Eighth Research Institute has set up a quarantine here, so there will definitely be people left to guard it." Bai Chen shook his head.

Jiang Baimian gave an "hmm" sound:

"And there is the existence of a giant feline. It's not such a coincidence."

At this moment, Shang Jianyao laughed, his voice simultaneously entering the ears of Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the distant Genaeva:

"The answer is simple.

"The Eighth Research Institute doesn't attach enough importance to this place and only sent a small team to guard it.

"And why don't they attach enough importance to it? It's because outsiders entering the main urban area of ​​Koning Miss are basically equivalent to death, or becoming 'Heartless Ones.' The few who can survive have the blessings of the Ruling Gods to varying degrees, and the Eighth Research Institute can't really control them..."

He repeated the statement he had discussed with Genaeva earlier.

Jiang Baimian nodded, thoughtfully saying:

"This guess is very reasonable, but the problem is, under such circumstances, why would the Eighth Research Institute still send such a small team to guard Koning Miss? Do they think there are too many Awakened at the 'Mind Corridor' level?

"What exactly are they 'guarding'?"

"That can only be asked of them." Shang Jianyao replied sincerely.

Jiang Baimian immediately used the communication system to say to Genaeva:

"Old Ge, track the wheel marks and see where those people went."

Genaeva's tracking led him to the edge of the main urban area of ​​Koning Miss.

After nightfall, it was pitch black here, one could not see their hand in front of their face. Looking out, the depths seemed to hold some dangerous presence.

After observing for a while, Genaeva said to Shang Jianyao, who was trailing several kilometers away:

"That group of people seems to have entered the main urban area. Aren't they afraid of contracting 'Heartless Disease'?"

-- Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen didn't dare to get too close to this side and could only send Shang Jianyao to provide support.

"Maybe they also have someone or other to bless them." Shang Jianyao, "not surprised by strange things," didn't care.

When he and Genaeva returned to the main group and reported this matter, Jiang Baimian considered it and said:

"There are too many mysteries here, and our reserve power is about to drop below the safety line.

"Next, let's go to the 'White Knights' sphere of influence first, replenish the energy, and then come back here again to explore further."

As far as the "Old Task Force" knew, the closest "White Knights" human settlement to here was Gestburg, the place where the "Rootless" team had departed from before.