"What's the situation?" the MDT stopped tossing its eyes around and asked through their mental connection .
"Something's blocking the beacon," Hao Ren said, looking dead serious . "The drone clusters have not received any navigation signals . "
"No navigation signals? Was there no communication established at all, or just no navigation information received?"
A few minutes ago, the drone clusters had received messages from some beacons irregular intervals . But, there was no navigational data in those messages . Signal was lost entirely soon after .
Hao Ren frowned slightly . "Our beacon transmitter has stopped working . But I can still contact it from here . It is on the tallest building in Black Street, but the system shows channel failure between the beacon and the outer universe . The communication between the drone clusters and the beacon only lasted four and a half minutes, and there were hardly any useful signals . "
The MDT thought for a moment and said, "Hold me up!"
Hao Ren put 'her' in front of the comm so that 'she' could see the displayed parameters . The MDT looked frustrated after looking at it . "I just realized I don't even have a slot now . There is no way I can connect to the thing . . . "
"Can it get more absurd than this?" Hao Ren was agitated .
"Anyway, it's impossible to navigate using the beacon," the MDT ignored Hao Ren's anger . "There is still no way to determine the location of Planet Zorm . What are you going to do next?"
"Launch the probe," Hao Ren replied without hesitation . "If there is a layer of distorted space shrouding Zorm, then this space should have a physical limit . We can launch the probe into space and see how far it would go . If this doesn't work, then I will bring in the Petrachelys and fly it out from here . "
The two of them began to study the best way to launch the probe; they did not want to attract unnecessary attention . They were going to leave the mercenary base in the evening and launch the probe in the suburbs, of course, all under some pretenses . Just when they were about to finish the discussion, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the barracks .
Hao Ren peeked through the alloy shutters on the side window . Mercenaries were running around as a bullet-laden armored vehicle was rolling in from the main gate . Then it ground to a halt . A tall man with the body of a bodybuilder jumped down from the vehicle . Hao Ren instantly recognized the man—the mercenary whom he met on the first day, Carl .
"Looks like they have another operation . " Hao Ren whispered . "Look! Nolan is here too . "
"I can't see! You have to carry me out on your back and act like a necrophile again!"
"Wait in the room," Hao Ren said to the MDT . "I go and check out the situation . "
He dashed out leaving the MDT in the room . The MDT's voice echoed in his mind . "Connect me to your vision, please! Are you letting me staring at the ceiling here? Hey, you necrophile! Don't go! Be professional!"
Hao Ren saw Ulyanov was standing there . He came up from behind and patted on Ulyanov's shoulder . "What's going on?"
"Carl has returned from Zero City . He might have come back with a deal," Ulyanov said without looking at him . "He is the liaison officer between Zero City and us . "
Hao Ren glanced at Carl . He was surprised that the rugged guy was a Gray Fox diplomat—Nolan must have chosen Carl for the post based on metaphysics .
Hao Ren glanced at Carl . He was surprised that the rugged guy was a Gray Fox diplomat—Nolan must have chosen Carl for the post based on metaphysics .
All mercenaries stood to aside as Nolan came out from behind the crowd . Hao Ren noticed she was still staggering slightly in her step . But other than that, her bone fracture seemed to have healed thanks to the wonder of Nano-medical technology .
"Boss, White River Consortium offers us a deal," said Carl, his head bowed slightly . "They ask us to escort a few people . "
"Escort?" Nolan raised her eyebrows . "The old fart called you over just for this? Have all his men died?"
"What is White River Consortium?" Hao Ren asked Ulyanov next to him in a whisper . "A ladyboy headquarters?"
"Huh?"
One of the mercenaries said, "White River Consortium is one of the biggest gangs in Zero City . They control a quarter of the Zero City guards . By right, they don't need help from the mercenary in any military operations in the Zero City metropolis and Black street . "
Carl replied to Nolan, "Their operation is not within the bound of Zero City and Black Street this time . They can't deploy their guard this time around . "
"Target destination?" Nolan asked cautiously .
"The Northern Ring Tower . "
There was a sudden outcry among the mercenaries when they heard the place's name . Nolan waved her hand and dismissed it quickly . "We're not going to take this job . "
There was a sudden outcry among the mercenaries when they heard the place's name . Nolan waved her hand and dismissed it quickly . "We're not going to take this job . "
Almost at the same time as Nolan's voice trailed off, another gruff voice said, "I will . "
Hao Ren looked at Ulyanov in astonishment: it was Ulyanov speaking .
"Are you sure you want to go to the Northern Ring Tower?" Nolan looked at Ulyanov; her gray eyes lacked emotion . "That place is a life-forbidding zone . "
"But you came out alive, and more than once," Ulyanov said, staring at Nolan through his visor . "Gray Fox knows the safest route . Otherwise, White River Consortium wouldn't have looked for us to do the job for them . "
"You know this is business, don't you?" said Nolan, raising her arms and folding across her chest . "I can't afford to lose money in any deal . I have been to the place three times and lost money three times . The most tragic one was only three persons came back alive . So I'm not going to take this job . "
Carl suddenly said, "White River Consortium is offering good money for it . "
Nolan's eyebrows twitched as Carl bent down and whispered into her ear . Hao Ren took this opportunity and asked Ulyanov, "What…I mean is: where is the Northern Ring Tower? Why are you so adamant to go there?"
Hao Ren thought that the Northern Ring Tower was a thing . But he quickly realized his mistake when he noticed the reactions of the mercenaries . He quickly rephrased so not to appear like an ignorant .
Ulyanov remained silent for a moment before he said, "None of your business . I go there and have a look . "
Ulyanov not quite acquainted with Hao Ren yet . He did not want to elaborate .
Ulyanov remained silent for a moment before he said, "None of your business . I go there and have a look . "
Ulyanov not quite acquainted with Hao Ren yet . He did not want to elaborate .
Hao Ren felt a little disappointed . Suddenly the MDT spoke in his mind . "Northern Ring Tower? Do you want me to search information of it?"
"You?" Hao Ren hesitated for a moment . "What can you do now? You can't do shit except moving your eyeballs . "
"I stood up just now . One of the legs is working . . . "
Hao Ren suddenly choked and coughed . All eyes suddenly stared at him . He quickly waved his hand, apologized, and looked down to conceal the surprised look on his face . "You could get up? You've mastered the ability to move in such a short time?"
"I'm a genius, right?" the MDT said with a boastful voice . "I have written a dozen drivers using programming language . Now the body can move . By the way, do you want me to look for information? I can almost reach the laptop now . "
"Do it . "
As Carl finished whispering to Nolan, she brooded . After a long while, she looked at the mercenaries around her . "Okay, you're free to choose whether to join this mission . Anyone who could come back alive will get an eco-home in Zero City as a reward . "
It was the White River Consortium that made this offer .
Hao Ren had no clue how much an eco-home worth . But judging from the reactions of the mercenaries probably is worth a lot .
The MDT had gotten something . "Found it . The Northern Ring Tower was the control center when the Nanomachine Swarms lost control sixty-five years ago . That place is still intact, and Three-Master Computers are still buried underneath!"
Whats the situation? the MDT stopped tossing its eyes around and asked through their mental connection . Somethings blocking the beacon, Hao Ren said, looking dead serious . The drone clusters have not received any navigation signals . No navigation signals? Was there no communication established at all, or just no navigation information received? A few minutes ago, the drone clusters had received messages from some beacons irregular intervals . But, there was no navigational data in those messages . Signal was lost entirely soon after . Hao Ren frowned slightly . Our beacon transmitter has stopped working . But I can still contact it from here . It is on the tallest building in Black Street, but the system shows channel failure between the beacon and the outer universe . The communication between the drone clusters and the beacon only lasted four and a half minutes, and there were hardly any useful signals . The MDT thought for a moment and said, Hold me up! Hao Ren put her in front of the comm so that she could see the displayed parameters . The MDT looked frustrated after looking at it . I just realized I dont even have a slot now . There is no way I can connect to the thing . Can it get more absurd than this? Hao Ren was agitated . Anyway, its impossible to navigate using the beacon, the MDT ignored Hao Rens anger . There is still no way to determine the location of Planet Zorm . What are you going to do next? Launch the probe, Hao Ren replied without hesitation . If there is a layer of distorted space shrouding Zorm, then this space should have a physical limit . We can launch the probe into space and see how far it would go . If this doesnt work, then I will bring in the Petrachelys and fly it out from here . The two of them began to study the best way to launch the probe; they did not want to attract unnecessary attention . They were going to leave the mercenary base in the evening and launch the probe in the suburbs, of course, all under some pretenses . Just when they were about to finish the discussion, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the barracks . Hao Ren peeked through the alloy shutters on the side window . Mercenaries were running around as a bullet-laden armored vehicle was rolling in from the main gate . Then it ground to a halt . A tall man with the body of a bodybuilder jumped down from the vehicle . Hao Ren instantly recognized the man—the mercenary whom he met on the first day, Carl . Looks like they have another operation . Hao Ren whispered . Look! Nolan is here too . I cant see! You have to carry me out on your back and act like a necrophile again! Wait in the room, Hao Ren said to the MDT . I go and check out the situation . He dashed out leaving the MDT in the room . The MDTs voice echoed in his mind . Connect me to your vision, please! Are you letting me staring at the ceiling here? Hey, you necrophile! Dont go! Be professional! Hao Ren saw Ulyanov was standing there . He came up from behind and patted on Ulyanovs shoulder . Whats going on? Carl has returned from Zero City . He might have come back with a deal, Ulyanov said without looking at him . He is the liaison officer between Zero City and us . Hao Ren glanced at Carl . He was surprised that the rugged guy was a Gray Fox diplomat—Nolan must have chosen Carl for the post based on metaphysics . All mercenaries stood to aside as Nolan came out from behind the crowd . Hao Ren noticed she was still staggering slightly in her step . But other than that, her bone fracture seemed to have healed thanks to the wonder of Nano-medical technology . Boss, White River Consortium offers us a deal, said Carl, his head bowed slightly . They ask us to escort a few people . Escort? Nolan raised her eyebrows . The old fart called you over just for this? Have all his men died? What is White River Consortium? Hao Ren asked Ulyanov next to him in a whisper . A ladyboy headquarters? Huh? One of the mercenaries said, White River Consortium is one of the biggest gangs in Zero City . They control a quarter of the Zero City guards . By right, they dont need help from the mercenary in any military operations in the Zero City metropolis and Black street . Carl replied to Nolan, Their operation is not within the bound of Zero City and Black Street this time . They cant deploy their guard this time around . Target destination? Nolan asked cautiously . The Northern Ring Tower . There was a sudden outcry among the mercenaries when they heard the places name . Nolan waved her hand and dismissed it quickly . Were not going to take this job . Almost at the same time as Nolans voice trailed off, another gruff voice said, I will . Hao Ren looked at Ulyanov in astonishment: it was Ulyanov speaking . Are you sure you want to go to the Northern Ring Tower? Nolan looked at Ulyanov; her gray eyes lacked emotion . That place is a life-forbidding zone . But you came out alive, and more than once, Ulyanov said, staring at Nolan through his visor . Gray Fox knows the safest route . Otherwise, White River Consortium wouldnt have looked for us to do the job for them . You know this is business, dont you? said Nolan, raising her arms and folding across her chest . I cant afford to lose money in any deal . I have been to the place three times and lost money three times . The most tragic one was only three persons came back alive . So Im not going to take this job . Carl suddenly said, White River Consortium is offering good money for it . Nolans eyebrows twitched as Carl bent down and whispered into her ear . Hao Ren took this opportunity and asked Ulyanov, What…I mean is: where is the Northern Ring Tower? Why are you so adamant to go there? Hao Ren thought that the Northern Ring Tower was a thing . But he quickly realized his mistake when he noticed the reactions of the mercenaries . He quickly rephrased so not to appear like an ignorant . Ulyanov remained silent for a moment before he said, None of your business . I go there and have a look . Ulyanov not quite acquainted with Hao Ren yet . He did not want to elaborate . Hao Ren felt a little disappointed . Suddenly the MDT spoke in his mind . Northern Ring Tower? Do you want me to search information of it? You? Hao Ren hesitated for a moment . What can you do now? You cant do shit except moving your eyeballs . I stood up just now . One of the legs is working . Hao Ren suddenly choked and coughed . All eyes suddenly stared at him . He quickly waved his hand, apologized, and looked down to conceal the surprised look on his face . You could get up? Youve mastered the ability to move in such a short time? Im a genius, right? the MDT said with a boastful voice . I have written a dozen drivers using programming language . Now the body can move . By the way, do you want me to look for information? I can almost reach the laptop now . Do it . As Carl finished whispering to Nolan, she brooded . After a long while, she looked at the mercenaries around her . Okay, youre free to choose whether to join this mission . Anyone who could come back alive will get an eco-home in Zero City as a reward . It was the White River Consortium that made this offer . Hao Ren had no clue how much an eco-home worth . But judging from the reactions of the mercenaries probably is worth a lot . The MDT had gotten something . Found it . The Northern Ring Tower was the control center when the Nanomachine Swarms lost control sixty-five years ago . That place is still intact, and Three-Master Computers are still buried underneath!
Chapter end
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