Infamous

Unnamed Region
Hazard Level: 1
Rule: Cold
Scale: Micro
Predicted Outcome: Devour
Human activity detected, observable
Anchor?
Xiao Bai finished reading the information displayed on the Anchor and selected Observe. A surveillance image immediately appeared before him, a view so high it felt like a deity gazing down upon the mortal world.
This was a literal descri ption. In this observation mode, the entire Paradise was visible in its entirety, from every ink dot on the paper to every screw on the tools, all clearly discernible. From the composition of the air to the geological environment, everything was laid bare.
Using this mode before, Xiao Bai had even witnessed a French salon being held in a villa, which had been rather awkward...
Moreover, after selecting Anchor, he could choose where the Anchor would appear on the other side, unrestricted by space—whether in the sky or underground.
Despit e its immense capabilities, the Space Anchor could only enter 'Observation Mode' within the Paradise, where signs of human activity were present. Strangely, it couldn't function in the Cthulhu, which was precisely the location that most needed observation.
This limitation led to suspicions about the true purpose of the Space Anchor. Was it really designed to connect to the Paradise?
"I remember the 'Cold' rule," Xiao Bai recalled. "It states that the temperature in the Paradise remains perpetually between -10 to -20 degrees Celsius. No wonder everything is blanketed in white snow as far as the eye can see."
"Although it's a negative rule, it's relatively manageable. The real challenge comes later with the 'Severe Cold' rule of the same type..."
After a brief recollection, Xiao Bai activated 'Observation Mode' to assess the surroundings.
The area was small, roughly half the size of the previous abandoned city, covering about two city districts.
The terrain consisted of a circular valley surrounded by towering snow-covered mountains. At the center lay a flat expanse of snow, upon which stood a structure resembling a greenhouse.
The Abyss Gate stood at the valley's exit, connected by four railway tracks. Capsule-shaped single-carriage trains shuttled back and forth, kicking up large plumes of snow from their fronts.
"Looks like a pretty lively place, huh? So what's this base for? Growing vegetables?"
Xiao Bai's gaze pierced through the snow-covered dome of the base, into its interior. There, hanging on the wall, was a massive flag depicting a stick figure clutching its head and screaming, as if enduring extreme agony.
His immediate reaction upon seeing the flag was to call the police.
This was none other than the infamously notorious "Children of the Abyss," a staple "star player" in every safety campaign and legal awareness program.
"Wait, hold on. No one can hear me anyway, and this place..."
Xiao Bai had already dialed the number, but a new thought struck him:
"This base is quite large and looks pretty advanced. There must be some valuable stuff inside, right? If we attract official crackdowns, it'll all be gone—a huge waste."
"My Radar Station is just a bare little building. Wouldn't it be perfect if some interlopers moved in and took it over?"
With this new idea in mind, he began carefully examining the base's layout.
He first noticed a training ground where over thirty people were undergoing combat training.
Both men and women were present, all with robust physiques. Though their postures were ramrod straight, their expressions were blank and lifeless, devoid of any spirit or vitality.
E ach person bore traces of mechanical enhancements: some had their left forearms or right lower legs replaced with metal prosthetics. These weren't common medical models, but combat-grade limbs equipped with combat knives, guns, stunners, and other weapons.
Just below the back of their skulls, they all shared a uniform exposed data port connected to a computational chip embedded in their flesh.
These enhancements appeared recent; many still bore loose sutures and seeped blood. Yet the trainees stood motionless, seemingly oblivious to any pain, silently watching two similarly enhanced combatants spar in the distance.
These two individuals were even more heavily modified. Not only had both their hands been replaced with metallic prosthetics, but their left eyes were also covered by a metallic visor, revealing only glowing red mechanical eyes.
Their spa rring was nothing like a training exercise; it was more like a life-or-death duel. Their expressions were cold and detached as they exchanged vicious blows, each silver dagger aimed precisely at the other's vital points, their movements swift and ruthless.
The fight only ended when one of them made a fatal mistake, a dagger sl icing through their throat. Yet no blood gushed forth. The "wounded" warrior simply stood up as if nothing had happened, calmly accepting a syringe from a nearby colleague. They squeezed out a toothpaste-like white paste and applied it to the gaping wound.
Within seconds, the fatal injury had completely healed, leaving only a thin scar as proof of the earlier incident.
"What kind of technology is this? Even more advanced than my Medical Bay?" Xiao Bai watched from outside, stunned. He had never imagined that a criminal organization could possess such advanced technology.
As the "top-tier star," the Children of the Abyss we ren't as enigmatic and unpredictable as the Funeral Rangers. Instead, they frequently appeared in various public settings, leaving a lasting impression as petty thieves and mischief-makers—far removed from the image of these indestructible cyborg warriors.
These cyborgs were equipped with high-tech prosthetic limbs armed with various weapons and carried miraculous healing agents that could rapidly mend wounds.
"How much is the official news hiding?" Xiao Bai couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
His attention was then drawn to two figures in white coats, dressed like researchers, standing by the playground. They held tablets, pointing and gesturing at the screens.
He quickly glanced over to see the information displayed on the tablets.
"This seems to be some kind of c ontrol program used to manipulate these cyborg warriors. By implanting various mechanical devices into their bodies, their thoughts can be controlled, their senses adjusted, and their organs and nerves stimulated to unleash enhanced combat capabilities..."
As Xiao Bai observed, he overheard the researchers whispering:
"What should we do? Several key metrics still fail to meet standards. They're far from reaching 'Elite' status."
"What else can we do? Just report the results truthfully. These are ordinary people; their physical capabilities can only be pushed so far. They're not Gene-Enhanced Humans, and enhancements from programs and equipment have their limits. Even if they kill us, there's nothing we can do..."
"If they only killed me, that would be one thing. But I'm afraid my family and parents will be dragged into this..."
"Sigh... Then we'll just have to fudge the data for now and muddle through these next few days. Maybe Little Glasses can lead a rescue team to save us?"
"Sigh... I hope he can really escape..."

Chapter end