Kingdom of Corrosion
Chapter 568 - 281: The Unmanned Town

Chapter 568: Chapter 281: The Unmanned Town

Maya seemed to think of something and pulled Lin Wu aside, indeed taking out a System Map from her backpack. Besides providing 24 hours of immunity to hunger, thirst, and sleep after reviving, it also provided a map of the nearest town. Having never died, Lin Ma hadn’t even thought of this benefit.

The town is also called North Town, officially part of the Right County of the Southern District of Technology City.

The town layout is circular, much like a target, with buildings constructed around the center in a style reminiscent of ancient Earth’s Middle Eastern architecture, with a limited number of concrete buildings and most houses predominantly made of stone and mud.

After Lin Wu’s drone scouted, it provided more information: "The town center has a Blood Heart, covering 70% of the town."

"Are there any players?"

"None detected."

"How much battery does the drone have left?"

"45%." Even after looting Nightmare and Blood Meng all this while, there wasn’t a suitable time to recharge. The biggest flaw of this damned thing is that it must be charged fully in one go, and each charge takes 12 hours.

"Conserve its use." Maya asked, "Are there any cars?"

"None."

Just like with the North Town in Left County, non-Hardcore Mode players had looted the entire town. When a Titan Blood Heart appeared in the town, players began to evacuate. After entering Hardcore Mode, players were even less likely to stay near a Blood Heart.

According to the map, unless they retraced their steps to the revival point and headed south, they had to cross the town due to the canyon terrain. Lin Wu asked, "Have you considered which direction to take?" Perhaps Future City was just beside Technology City; if they went in the wrong direction, they would be heading in the opposite direction of their intended destination.

Maya said, "Faith is motivation, a goal, but don’t be too obsessed, or it can lead to fanaticism." My faith is to win a Nobel Prize. It’s the goal of my striving and existence, and I can accept if I never receive it in my lifetime. Isn’t that contradictory? Suppose there were no goals like winning a Nobel Prize or contributing to humanity; then the meaning of scientific research for me would merely be a job. The significance of a job is the return, and when there’s a better return, I inevitably would leave scientific research.

This is the importance of faith and ideals.

Lin Wu said, "There are tire tracks to the north, seems like they’re from a vehicle that made an emergency stop."

"Only Hardcore Mode leaves traces. Let’s head north." Maya instructed Lin Wu to retrieve the drone and explained the path with the map: "We’ll take the 4th Street, skirting around the edge of the Blood Mist. Bullets are scarce, so don’t use the gun unless necessary."

"Do you find anything strange?"

"What’s strange?"

Lin Wu said, "Shouldn’t the temperature be the same across the server? Today’s temperature is 39 degrees, so why don’t I feel hot?"

Maya paused, then sighed lightly as if understanding something. Facing Lin Wu’s puzzled look, she said, "Comparing Blue Star’s terrain, the same temperature feels completely different in the high humidity of the southern regions compared to the low humidity in the north. In the south, at 35 degrees, even if one remains still, the body would sweat profusely. Meanwhile, in the north, you might not sweat at 39 degrees as long as you’re not in direct sunlight."

Lin Wu didn’t quite understand: "Do you mean that the place we’re in is different from the North Town in Left County?"

Maya nodded: "Not only is it different, but the terrain features are relatively opposite. I guess we are more than a thousand kilometers away from Future City, maybe even two thousand. We, we may never be able to go home."

Seeing Maya’s sudden melancholy, Lin Wu comforted her: "Going home is a faith."

Maya took a deep breath to compose herself, then said to Lin Wu: "I’m glad I’m not alone."

Lin Wu: "If it were just one person, they wouldn’t revive here. Let’s go."

Entering 4th Street, Lin Wu, the scout, stealthily eliminated threats along the way, with Maya following Lin Wu’s lead; her mind started to ponder the future developments.

First, they needed a foothold, and it had to have water and grassland for sustainable long-term survival resources.

Secondly, they needed a doctor, which was a big problem. For Lin Wu and Maya, bone fractures and bleeding were common occurrences. The best solution was to learn general practice themselves, able to treat bleeding and fractures, even diseases. But first, they needed a comprehensive medical book, which, although common, had to be purchased from veteran players. Moreover, they couldn’t get infected by viruses, or they’d be certain to die.

Lin Wu’s drone needed electricity; not to mention the absence of Sentry Cards, even if they conquered a power station with Outpost Cards, wouldn’t that confine Lin Wu and herself here?

Maya thought it over and felt the best strategy was to find a team, join them temporarily, understand the situation, replenish resources, and collect more regional information. To use them as a stepping stone to make their way home step by step.

The medium strategy was for her and Lin Wu to find a remote location with water and food, trade with old players for a comprehensive and medical book, and spend the last year of game time there.

The worst strategy? Everything else was inferior. For example, she and Lin Wu could commit suicide, then commit suicide again, continuing until perhaps with perseverance they could return to North Town. But what would be the point of going back? With no attributes, no skills, no points, no equipment, nothing at all.

The best strategy was the hardest, requiring the finding of a suitable team to join as newcomers. She could adapt, but with Lin Wu’s character, she feared he would not be content to follow another’s command. Even if Lin Wu were to swallow his pride and start as a newcomer, how could he improve himself?

The medium strategy was the simplest and for most people untroublesome, but it was difficult for Maya. She could accept having a companion who just idly waited for death, but she couldn’t accept doing so herself. If one has faith, one should do something for it. However, some things couldn’t be forced. Considering they were old acquaintances, she could reluctantly accept the medium strategy.