Embers Ad Infinitum

More than a week later, the army-green Jeep was driving on a scorched land.

Collapsed houses and deformed plants that are so lush and creepy can be seen everywhere. Only occasionally strange beasts and ruin hunters using various means of transportation pass by.

"This area was the most severely damaged place when the old world was destroyed." Bai Chen, who was in the passenger seat, looked out the window and sighed, "But it was near this area that mankind built the first building in the new era. City."

In the textbook of "Pangu Biology", it was only mentioned that the Prime City was the first city built by humans based on the ruins of the old world. It was not mentioned that its adjacent areas were the most severely damaged places. This made Long Yuehong confused. Somewhat entranced, he said to himself:

"They must have suffered a lot and paid a lot..."

But not defeated.

"Well, no matter what the 'First City' has become now, they are worthy of our appreciation for their ability to persevere from the apocalypse and rebuild a human civilization." Jiang Baimian, who was driving, agreed.

Bang bang bang, Shang Jianyao clapped his hands directly.

"What's there to applaud for?" Jiang Baimian was a little annoyed.

Shang Jianyao answered truthfully:

"What you just said reminded me of my teacher at school."

"Are you allowed to applaud during class?" Jiang Baimian responded angrily.

Shang Jianyao glanced at her profile:

"In addition to classes, there are also morning meetings."

He had a "did you never go to school" look.

Jiang Baimian grinded his teeth and looked forward.

As the jeep drove quickly, a river so wide that Long Yuehong was amazed appeared in front of them.

Red River.

The longest and widest river above the dust.

Its water waves don't look so clean, with green floating algae and various garbage floating on it from time to time.

On the other side of it, there are densely populated buildings of low height, with chimneys standing tall, spewing grayish white or rusty yellow gas upwards.

This made the entire sky look foggy, and even though it was not yet evening, the light was quite dim.

There was a loud noise, and two dark black helicopters flew past in mid-air.

Further away, drones circled back and forth, patrolling the territory.

This made Long Yuehong hold his breath.

This means they arrived at Prime City, the capital of the Prime City.

After leaving Weed City, the "Old Tune Team" spent most of the time traveling through the wilderness, except for a visit to a wilderness wanderer settlement to replenish food.

Although the "Primary City" is known as the largest force on the earth and has the largest population, the only things it can actually control are large and small settlements, places that can be called cities, areas around them that can be cultivated or have mineral resources, and main traffic.

The "Prime City" is also beyond the reach of wilderness, mountains, swamps, and ruins. Therefore, the "Old Adjustment Team" has only encountered many teams of ruin hunters along the way, and has never encountered the regular army of the "Prime City".

Now, they are finally about to officially come into contact with the largest force on earth.

In the jeep, in addition to Shang Jianyao who showed his excitement unabashedly, Jiang Baimian and others also showed a certain degree of expectation. Even Gnawa, the intelligent robot, followed the program analysis. As a result, I look more excited.

After driving downstream along the Red River for a while, the chimneys gradually became rarer, and high-rise buildings made of steel and concrete rose from the ground.

There are a large number of ordinary buildings between them, which together create a real city.

Even compared with the Ruins of Swamp No. 1, it is not inferior.

"How many people can live here?" Long Yuehong asked with emotion.

"It is said that there are tens of millions of people." Bai Chen could not give an accurate number because the "Prime City"'s own statistics department could not figure it out.

Moreover, there are many hunters and caravans coming and going here, and the floating population is the worst in the world.

While talking, the "Old Tune Team" saw a bridge.

It can accommodate eight vehicles in parallel and connects the wasteland and mountains on the north bank of the Red River to the original city on the south bank.

At both ends of the bridge, a fully armed regular army was stationed, with about a hundred people on each side.

Wearing dark gray helmets and uniforms of the same color, they wielded multiple machine guns and used several dark green armored vehicles to build a simple fortification at the end of the bridge, leaving only a gap for two ordinary vehicles.

Every vehicle and every person passing through the gap must stop and undergo a very strict inspection.

According to the intelligence provided by the company before the team set off, Jiang Baimian knew that light weapons could be brought into the city, but heavy weapons would be confiscated, as well as other contraband.

Unfortunately, military exoskeleton devices are military controlled items.

Of course, the "Old Adjustment Team" can also choose to take a detour and head to the south bank of the Red River from somewhere else. However, the initial entrance to the city is also guarded by troops, and there are various aircraft in the sky monitoring this area.

Long Yuehong wasn't nervous about this, she just glanced sideways at Shang Jianyao.

There is a "mystery clown" here, where can't he get in?

The army-green Jeep continued to move forward and soon entered the queue channel.

Jiang Baimian stepped on the brakes and looked out.

On the surrounding scorched black earth, there were many human beings in old clothes squatting or standing.

Some of them are of the standard Red River race, with sunken eye sockets and eye-catching hair color. Some of them have dark brown skin color and black eyes, and are thin and capable.

The latter are a branch of the Gray Tu people who migrated to the Red River Basin, called the Red Bank people.

In the "First City", most of them have citizenship.

Seeing Jiang Baimian roll down the car window, a Hong'an man who was at most 1.65 meters tall stood up and walked towards the "old tune group".

His black hair has obvious natural curls, and his dark brown face has a flattering smile:

"Guys, do you want to help?"

He spoke pure Honghe dialect.

Pure refers to the original accent.

Jiang Baimian raised his eyebrows but did not answer.

The Hong'an man looked around and said in a lowered voice:

"I have a way for you to enter the city without being inspected. I just need you to pay some money."

He made a gesture of counting banknotes with his index finger and thumb.

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment, then turned around and made eye contact with Bai Chen and the others.

Then, she said to the guy outside the car window in Honghe dialect:

"What do you call it?"

"Jady." The Red Bank man replied with a smile.

"How many are needed?" Jiang Baimian continued to ask.

"50 Ore." Jiadi reported the number, "This is very cheap."

Jiang Baimian pretended to be thinking, and then said after a few seconds:

"How to do?"

Jia Di’s smile became even more obvious:

"Follow me and go somewhere else to wait."

Jiang Baimian turned the steering wheel and asked the Jeep to follow the "guide" and drive slowly toward the ruins on the bank of the Red River.

There is no one here, it seems very quiet.

Jia Di pointed to a relatively intact roadside room and said:

"You guys sit down and wait while I discuss with the guards when to enter the city."

There are tables, chairs, benches and other utensils in that room.

Jiang Baimian glanced at both sides of the room and opened the car door without hesitation.

Jia Di put on a sincere smile and watched several members of the "Old Tune Team" descend one after another.

When Gnawa's tall silver-black body came into view, his expression changed instantly.

At this time, Jiang Baimian pointed to the room on the roadside and said:

"You can let your companions come out."

Jia Di tried his best to smile:

"What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."

As soon as he finished speaking, Long Yuehong had opened the trunk, picked up the individual combat rocket launcher, and aimed it in the direction Jiang Baimian pointed.

After a brief silence, four or five people came out, all of whom were red-brown Hong'an people, holding slightly old assault rifles and mini-submachine guns in their hands.

"You are very enthusiastic." Shang Jianyao said with a smile.

Jia Di forcefully explained:

"This is just a little bit of protection for our own safety."

Shang Jianyao walked over, took advantage of his height, stretched out his hands, helped Jiadi lift his shoulders, and asked in a very friendly tone:

"Are you comfortable? Do you want to use more force?"

This made Jiang Baimian and others' mouths twitch slightly. They didn't know what illness this guy had contracted, or what old world entertainment materials he had read recently.

However, Jia Di felt fear inexplicably, could no longer control himself, and shouted loudly:

"Put the gun down, put the gun down!"

The Red Bank men slowly bent down, put down their guns, and raised their hands.

Shang Jianyao continued to massage Jiadi's shoulders and asked in a soft voice:

"What are you going to do if we don't enter this ruins?"

"Just, I'll help you bribe the guards and ask them to simply check your car." Jia Di answered tremblingly.

Shang Jianyao smiled and asked again:

"How many people do you usually rob like this?"

"No, not many. Most people won't be fooled and won't come here." Jia Di said with a sad face.

At this time, Jiang Baimian asked:

"How many ores do you need to buy off the guards?"

"20 to 30 is enough." Jadi replied timidly.

Shang Jianyao's expression suddenly changed, he kicked the guy down and took out the pistol from his waist:

"You asked us for 50.

"You profiteer!"

Seeing Heiyouyou's gun aimed at this side, Jia Di almost couldn't control his bladder and peed his pants.

"We, we only rob, not harm anyone." He quickly shouted injustice.

Shang Jianyao suddenly smiled again, pulled him up, and patted the dust on his body:

"Don't be afraid, we are very kind, we just want to ask you some questions."

Seeing this, Jiang Baimian couldn't help but raise his hands to cover his face.

This guy has so much drama!

Jia Di glanced at his companions who were being stared at by the robot, and tried his best to smile:

"Speaking."

"Are the guards here easily bribed?" Jiang Baimian "helped" Shang Jianyao asked.

Jia Di nodded quickly:

“As long as it’s not a big problem, they prefer Ole.

"Anyway, whatever contraband is seized is the benefit from above. Orei is a real person to ordinary citizens like them."

PS: As I said yesterday, there is only one update today.