Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 1115: Section 694: Hope and Despair (Part 2)_2

Chapter 1115: Section 694: Hope and Despair (Part 2)_2

"Those are the outsiders who have been living in Thainan since the Great Cataclysm. They intermarry to maintain their bloodlines and sometimes follow us to the Western Human World to buy female captives. However, after the Lord of Justice presided over the Civilization Pact of Westland, there has been much less war between human kingdoms, so these guys can only buy those merchant ladies who have fallen into debt." Sage Lin’s explanation opened Malin’s eyes to a world he had only read about in Carterburg. Compared to their original treatment, even Western historians have to admit that the women bought by Thanan people live much better lives—both in terms of quality of life and longevity.

Just as they were speaking, a red-haired lad jumped over: "Where are you from?"

He was speaking Northern Kingdom language, and only Malin understood. So, Malin replied with even more precise Northern Kingdom language, which made the young lad smile with delight: "Great! Find me later for a drink!"

With that, he jumped back to his own ship.

"Bold lad," Sostak No.3 said, lying on the stern of the ship.

"Indeed, I’d rather keep my distance from the sea," Jason agreed.

Only Malin thought back to the young person he had seen on the forum... perhaps this kid was his descendant. Malin had seen his selfie, and despite being bald, his brows and eyes bore an eight-point resemblance.

You see, eight millennia have passed, and we haven’t communicated or known each other, but I know you, and perhaps I just met your offspring.

Fate is truly astounding, and the splendid performance, fueled by life, can shine brightly at every moment.

"I’m also eager to see New Hangzhou," Malin said. He wondered if West Lake was still there if the Broken Bridge still stood, and if that pool of water could still reflect the moon.

Malin was looking forward to it.

"But once we reach New Hangzhou, we’ll need a period of isolation because we’ve passed through many places on our journey, especially for those from the Western Human World. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we’ll spend a month in the quarantine zone at the port," Sage Lin said.

"Even us?" Jason and Sostak No.3 pointed at themselves and asked.

"Yes, even us," Bixiu and Bei Luo answered in unison.

Jason shrugged to indicate he had no problem, while Sostak No.3 fell to the ground: "Ah! No! I want to see the exotic sights!"

"We can share the game library," Bei Luo said.

"Our game library is really large too!" Sostak No.3 countered defiantly.

"But we have the entire server data for Steam in Hangzhou. As far as I know, several nodes in your Europe region have all crashed," Bei Luo said proudly.

"What?!" Sostak No.3 sat up abruptly.

"Yes, all server data, from Cyberpunk 2077 RETAKE to Europa Universalis 13, to Battlefield 2200, and your European favorite Euro Truck Simulator 2200... Wow!" Before Bei Luo could finish, he was embraced tightly by Sostak No.3.

The latter clung to his leg and shook it vigorously: "Quick! Give me Euro Truck Simulator 2200! I want to return to Copenhagen! I beg you!"

"Alright, I’ll share it with you," Bei Luo said, and Sostak No.3 jumped up in joy.

Jason shook his head: "Really like a kid."

"Then what do you want to play?" Bei Luo looked over.

"Europa Universalis 13 with all the DLC, I want to use the Great Ming to show those damned natives what awe means!" Jason put his hands on his hips.

"Someone was just saying others were like children." Malin sighed.

"What does Mr. Malin want to play?" Bei Luo looked at Malin, his eyes full of little stars.

Malin thought for a moment and realized there was no game he wanted to play—this reincarnation was the most interesting game Malin had ever played.

But Malin suddenly thought of a game.

Right, like back in 2077, this was also a game Malin never got to play.

"Shadow Factory, do you have it?"

Bei Luo, caught off guard by Malin’s sudden question, fell silent for a moment: "Let me check the database. Are there any other search criteria?"

"Made by Gao Kan, said to be released in the winter of 2020." That was all Malin could remember.

Bei Luo was quick; after finding the game Malin remembered, he looked up and studied him, then finally smiled: "Sir, are you revealing your identity?"

"A man’s age isn’t much of a secret. So, do you have it or not?"

"Of course, it’s the third part of the Old Gao Trilogy. It’s not a big game; I’ll copy a version for you so you can play it on your tablet."

"Thanks," Malin smiled.

Meng Quyi came over: "What game is it, something from before the Great Cataclysm?"

"Yes... by the way, Bei Luo, give me the whole trilogy, including the DLCs, and especially the short comic." Malin suddenly realized this trilogy was very suitable for introducing to Meng Quyi.

To borrow a phrase—Quyi, welcome to the Godly Masterpiece Promotion Committee.

......

By evening, Meng Quyi had played through To the Moon and Finding Paradise and had already cried several times. So, with a bandaged head, Malin was speechless under Mr. Meng’s murderous gaze, feeling like he was truly clueless—he had teared up himself when he played these games years ago, let alone a girl like Meng Quyi.

The reason for his bandaged head was because Susu came over, saw Miss Meng playing and crying her heart out, and decided to take a look herself.

This lasted for an entire afternoon, leaving behind words of boredom and a head, broken by a punch, as she stormed off.

Wrapping the bandage himself—Malin had never admired so much his talent for courting death.

At this time, Bixiu came over with a medical kit, he changed the medicine on Malin’s head and sighed: "Sir, you are the most adept at courting death I’ve ever met."

"...Should I say thank you for the compliment?" Malin retorted while gasping—Susu’s iron fist came with true damage; had it not been for his extraordinary constitution, Malin might have met a gruesome end.

"If you consider it a compliment, then it’s probably a compliment." Bixiu finished bandaging Malin and hummed a tune as he walked away with the medical kit.

And then Roben Messiah came over, having witnessed Malin being hit on the head firsthand. Regarding Malin, he expressed immense admiration and also showed the courage to ask for the lady’s name.

"Do you really want to know?" Malin looked at him as if he were holding a gun to his own head.

"Yes, although I couldn’t see her face clearly from afar, I’m sure she’s a beautiful girl." Roben Messiah seemed quite confident about his eyesight.

"Her, she’s that lady," Malin smiled and said.

Roben’s smile froze.

"That lady?" His teeth began to chatter.

"Yes, that lady." Malin nodded solemnly.

"Your adventure is awe-inspiring; please forget my earlier question." The young man smiled more awkwardly than crying, turned to leave, and then, under the watchful eyes of Malin and Meng Quyi, inexplicably stepped on a piece of soap that had somehow fallen onto the deck. He skidded like a motorbike across the deck, amidst howls and screams, and eventually flipped over the ship’s railing before everyone’s eyes.

"Man overboard!" the Thanan sailors shouted, unaware of what had happened.

"A giant shark!" another sailor warned.

"Quick, throw a rope to that gentleman... ah, the rope broke," a sailor exclaimed in disbelief.

Malin sighed.

Roben Messiah, who gave you the courage, your ancestors of eighteen generations?