Kingdom of Corrosion
Chapter 295 - 173: Riverside_3

Chapter 295: Chapter 173: Riverside_3

Lin Wu asked sorrowfully, "This ’someone else’ would be Lin Wu, right?"

Maya held back a laugh, "You have some self-awareness."

Lin Wu let out a sad sigh, "This self-aware person will go search the two pavilions first."

Maya nodded, "I’ll need about one more minute."

...

The plank walkway had a triangular roof designed to provide shelter from the rain, so there was no snow accumulation inside. Having removed his skis, Lin Wu reached the first pavilion first. This pavilion had three long tables, one circular stone table, each paired with benches or stone drums fixed to the ground.

On one table were pizza and pastries. Lin Wu picked up a slice of cake, looked it over for a moment, then took a bite, nodding his head after tasting it for a while: not bad. There was also a stuffed rabbit and a toy car on the table, suggesting that a family with children had once stayed there. Supermarket paper bags were placed on the chairs, and Lin Wu dumped the contents onto the table, finding towels, socks, and other miscellaneous items. There was also a set of car keys.

Maya walked over, and Lin Wu handed her the car keys, "What kind of car is this?" It was his first time seeing car keys with a shrimp logo.

Maya seemed surprised, "It’s a very high-end sports sedan called Road Star," she said.

Lin Wu asked, "How does it compare to a pickup truck?"

Maya replied, "If I remember correctly, there are only 50 Road Stars in the entire world, said to have unparalleled handling. Where’s the car?" Maya pressed the key fob and listened intently but heard no response from a car.

Lin Wu was unconcerned, "I’ve never really understood handling. Does it mean the wheels can rotate 360 degrees?"

Maya said, "Silver two-seater convertible."

Lin Wu’s eyes twinkled, "Must be cool, right?"

"Super cool."

Lin Wu declared, "We’ve got to find this car." Without hesitation, he sent out a drone to search along Route 2 heading south.

Maya said, "Even if we find it, we won’t be able to drive it. Let’s just keep the keys, and we’ll come back after the snow melts."

While saying this, Maya walked over to another long table, examining the clutter of items and the blanket spread out on the bench, appearing to be a temporary dwelling for a homeless person. Reaching into her backpack, she searched for a moment before calling Lin Wu over and handing him an ID.

"It’s a soldier." Lin Wu asked, "How did he end up here?"

"A deserter?" Maya took out a notebook, sat down, and began leafing through it, "He was a master gunner for an armored train, tasked with commanding the train from North City to Left County to coordinate local virus control and maintain order. The notes here say a sergeant on the command train showed symptoms of the zombie virus, was executed by an officer, and a gag order was issued. He and a comrade were in charge of burying the sergeant. During this time, they suspected there must be somebody infected with the virus on the train, so they decided to desert. Their thinking was, if they were infected, they couldn’t stand to harm their fellow soldiers. If it was someone else infected, staying on the command train would be too dangerous."

Maya continued, "They changed into civilian clothes and swam across to Shuidong, hoping to find a suitable means of escape. The notes mention that no virus patients were found in Left County, Shuidong, but an apartment building was quarantined in Shuixi. His comrade was swept away by an undercurrent during their swim, but he successfully made it to Shuidong."

Maya went on, "He rested in the pavilion for one night. The next day, helicopters broadcasted overhead that Left County was going into lockdown, advising all residents to immediately return to their homes. Those who were homeless could go to shelters. That’s all there is; he probably went to a shelter, opting not to take the backpack with him due to the excessive number of personal items inside."

Lin Wu said, "I think the system intentionally made him leave the backpack behind."

"Always finding bugs in the story, you’re not a romantic person," Maya said as she stood on the railing and looked towards Shuixi. "If he swam from Shuixi to Shuidong, it means the command train is likely parked on some track in Shuixi. According to the map Nightmare provided, there are lots of factories in Shuixi with a dense network of railroads. The mountains also have various mines, all connected by railroads."

Maya lamented, "It’s a clue with insufficient direction."