Chapter 570: The Pickup
Chapter 570: The Pickup
In a secluded area of the Lower City, Guan Xiaohui and Zhen Ping had arrived at the designated pickup location well in advance to avoid any delays. They had been waiting for quite some time.
Fortunately, the Resistance had chosen this spot carefully—a remote and hidden location. The surrounding Sun Vines and their derivative organisms had been mostly destroyed, and the residents of the Lower City still relied on the light. Additionally, the darkness of the environment suggested the potential presence of unpredictable enemies and dangerous creatures, making it unlikely for anyone to venture here.
After waiting for about half an hour, the time agreed upon with Roadthrough Logistics was approaching, yet there was still no sign of them. Guan Xiaohui began to feel a bit anxious, "Sister Zhen, do you think they might have trouble finding this place?"
Zhen Ping reassured her, "Xiaohui, don't worry. The people from Roadthrough Logistics are very familiar with the Lower City. They won't have any trouble finding us here. At most, they might be a little delayed."
Guan Xiaohui nodded in response.
After waiting a few more minutes, just as they were about to reach the agreed-upon time, the sound of a two-wheeled motor vehicle could be heard in the distance. A blinding light shone from around the corner, and three two-wheeled motor vehicles approached in a triangular formation.
Zhen Ping instructed Guan Xiaohui to stay put while she went to greet them alone.
As they approached, two of the vehicles stopped at a distance, and one person rode towards them. On the back of the vehicle, a thick package was visible.
The rider stopped in front of Zhen Ping, got off the vehicle, and retrieved the package from the back seat, along with a receipt, which they handed to her.
Zhen Ping took the package and signed the receipt before returning it to the rider. The rider quickly checked the receipt and, with a nod, returned to the vehicle. After a brief greeting, the engine roared to life, and they departed, joining the other two vehicles and leaving the area swiftly.
Zhen Ping examined the package in her hands. To prevent the spread of biological fields, the package was securely sealed, making it impossible for her to inspect its contents.
In truth, she wasn't entirely sure if the package they were tasked with delivering was indeed a split body.
She returned to Guan Xiaohui and handed her the package, saying, "Xiaohui, take a look. Is this it?"
Guan Xiaohui replied, "I'll check." According to the Resistance, after undergoing the implantation surgery, she should be able to sense the split body at close range, even if it were isolated.
She placed her hand on the package, and at first, she didn't feel anything. But after a while, a strong field resonance emerged, and in an instant, she felt her ability to perceive fields amplified. Various field information, including faint signals emitted by the organisms themselves, was transmitted to her.
She felt the back of her neck heat up, her blood rushing, and her heart pounding. Following the training, she quickly adjusted herself, filtering out many irrelevant field signals. After taking a few breaths, she looked up and confirmed, "Yes, it's this one."
"Good."
Zhen Ping felt a sense of relief, but it was short-lived as a wave of tension rose within her. The Resistance had entrusted them with delivering such a crucial item, and she felt the weight of responsibility.
She explained, "Senior Officer Yu said we should deliver the package to a member named Xiang from the headquarters. Once it's in his hands, our mission will be complete."
Guan Xiaohui's eyes lit up slightly, "I've never met anyone from the headquarters before."
"Well, now that we have the package, let's not delay. Let's get going."
Zhen Ping quickly walked to the two-wheeled motor vehicle parked nearby, straddled it, while Guan Xiaohui sat on the back seat.
Zhen Ping checked the map provided by Senior Officer Yu, started the vehicle, and they sped off towards their destination amidst the roaring engine.
After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a blocked-off tunnel. Zhen Ping slowed down, got off the vehicle, and walked ahead to examine the markings. "This is the place," she confirmed.
She approached, moving aside the haphazardly piled stones and debris. As she did, numerous large bugs scurried out from within. She wasn't fazed by the sight.
Guan Xiaohui efficiently lit incense behind her, waving it towards the front. The bugs scattered like a receding tide.
After clearing the area, a rusty iron gate was revealed. Zhen Ping grabbed the gate with both hands, twisted it forcefully, and with a creak, the gate deformed and came off in her hands.
Tossing the gate aside, the two women proceeded forward. After a few steps, they heard the sound of flowing water. Zhen Ping consulted the map and said, "Xiaohui, this is the spot. We just need to follow the direction of the water flow to get out."
Having confirmed their location, the two women quickly changed into waterproof suits and entered the water. After swimming a dozen meters or so, Guan Xiaohui seemed to notice something. She grabbed Zhen Ping and said, "Sister Zhen, wait." Anxious, she added, "There's someone behind us, about...one kilometer away. They're following us."
Zhen Ping immediately concealed her presence. She signaled to Guan Xiaohui, who nodded in understanding, and the two women swiftly swam back to the shore, taking cover in the tunnel they had come from.
In the flowing waters behind them, Che Gao Yi and Number Nine were swimming across. As they passed by the tunnel entrance used by Guan Xiaohui and Zhen Ping, Che Gao Yi seemed to sense something and glanced back.
He spotted some wet footprints on the ground, indicating that someone had just passed through.
Che Gao Yi stared for a moment before turning his attention back to the front and continuing forward.
His primary task was to escort the Split Body, and as long as it didn't attack him, he wouldn't interfere. Judging by the water marks, there were only two people, and their strength didn't seem impressive, posing no real threat to him. Thus, he didn't need to pay them any mind.
Guan Xiaohui and Zhen Ping waited for Che Gao Yi and Number Nine to pass by before finally emerging from their hiding spot.
Both of them heaved a huge sigh of relief, especially Guan Xiaohui, whose face had turned slightly pale. The two people's field information had given her an overwhelmingly intimidating feeling, even from a distance, causing her to feel breathless.
Concerned, she asked, "Zhen Jie, those two people earlier seemed really powerful. Should we wait a bit longer before we continue?"
Zhen Ping thought for a moment and replied, "No need. Their speed is much faster than ours. Xiaohui, you should be able to detect the situation around us in advance, right?"
Guan Xiaohui nodded.
Using the Split Body in her hand, she maintained the normal state of her implants, allowing her to maintain a vigilance range of at least one kilometer.
Zhen Ping said, "Then we can react in advance. Let's go, and be extra careful."
Guan Xiaohui acknowledged, then submerged herself in the water again, keeping an eye on the two people ahead as she cautiously moved behind them.
Above this underground river, the armored vehicle carrying Chen Chuan was navigating through the winding tunnels.
Lan Shen Nan spoke up at this moment, "This road below leads to an underground waterway. Both paths can take us to the outskirts, and the underground river is for emergency use, allowing us to reach the outside faster than this route."
However, we don't need to get into the water here. It's a slightly easier path, but the road ahead was excavated for people, not vehicles. We'll have to walk for about a kilometer before reaching the edge of the Central City."
Chen Chuan nodded, understanding her words.
After another ten minutes or so, the vehicle stopped at a tunnel entrance with a damaged opening.
Lan Shen Nan announced, "This is the place."
Chen Chuan glanced back and said, "Captain Lan, you can head back. What happens next won't involve you anymore."
Lan Shen Nan acknowledged, knowing that this was for their consideration. Whether it was the Handling Bureau or Union Victory Company, both were colossal entities to them, and getting entangled with either wouldn't be a good thing.
She leaned forward and said to Chen Chuan as he was about to descend, "Chen Xiaoge, be careful."
Chen Chuan nodded at her, then adjusted his protective coveralls and held the Snow Lady Saber as he walked towards the narrow passage.
Outside the tunnel, Che Gao Yi emerged carrying a handbag, with Number Nine following a few steps behind.
He looked outside and realized they were beneath a slope covered in dense vegetation, with bright sunlight shining through.
He could confirm they were outside the Central City as he didn't see any flickering rifts or the annoying bugs that were common within.
Just as he was about to relax, a voice came from above:
"Are you the delivery people? Wait, you're not those two young ladies, are you?"
Che Gao Yi turned to look and saw a man in his thirties standing on a distant tree trunk, hands in his pockets, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned to reveal an undershirt with an eye pattern.
The man's hair looked black and stiff, and his expression held a hint of cynicism.
He stroked his chin and said to himself, "Hmm, it's also possible that you took their stuff... Never mind, regardless of what you took from in there..." He glanced at Che Gao Yi's handbag, "...and carried suspicious items, I can't let you leave so easily."
In the instant Che Gao Yi saw this man, he sensed something unusual about him. Without explaining further, he said, "Number Nine, go and deal with him."
Even though they had left the Central City, it didn't mean they were completely safe. Thus, Che Gao Yi couldn't afford to linger.
Hearing Che Gao Yi's command, Number Nine rushed towards the man without a word.
Meanwhile, Che Gao Yi sprinted forward with the handbag, but after a thousand meters or so, a figure flashed by, and the man appeared in front of him, lifting his chin with a playful expression.
"Where are you going?"
Che Gao Yi was startled and glanced back, seeing Number Nine embedded in the slope behind, seemingly forced into it.
He realized he was facing a formidable opponent and cautiously asked, "Who are you?"
"Me?" The man straightened up and patted his chest. "I'm Xiang Tiancheng, a senior officer of the Resistance Alliance Frontline."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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