This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 373 Actually, You Can Keep Your Opinion

Chapter 373: Chapter 373 Actually, You Can Keep Your Opinion

"Is this really all it takes?"

At the peak of the mountains to the northwest of Rui Valley City, Sesame Paste looked up at the six balloons drifting up into the sky, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

It always felt...

This thing was a bit different from the "communication station" she had in mind.

Standing by her side, Tail didn’t seem worried at all, heaving herself off the ground with a grunt and clapping her hands in a job well done.

"Ooh, no worries at all! Tail followed the instructions to a tee for every step!"

The so-called communication station was, in fact, a box the size of a washing machine, accompanied by six hydrogen balloons connected by a thin rope.

The way it worked was as simple and easy to understand as its structure.

Find an open, relatively high spot, release the signal relay tethered to balloons into the sky and don’t forget to turn on the power, then the whole equipment would start functioning.

Inside the device were two metallic hydrogen batteries built-in, sufficient to maintain its rated power for at least a week even when disconnected from the power grid, providing information services for VMs within a 10 to 20-kilometer radius.

Although the device’s bandwidth wasn’t very wide, it was enough to handle map updates and mission reception for maps with a thousand people on them.

After all, players couldn’t possibly use VMs to scroll through short videos in the game.

As an alternative to satellites, this gadget shared a similar ingenuity with balloon WiFi – it was incredibly handy.

The one thing to be mindful of was the risk of being struck by lightning on rainy days, and flying too high could attract Looters or other curious creatures.

But these were all minor issues.

As a temporary means of communication, the entire setup would provide 1 to 3 weeks of service, which was more than enough. No one expected it to work indefinitely.

The Alliance’s communication system mainly relied on fiber-optic cables, power cables, large signal towers, and countless smaller stations.

These facilities were to be constructed by professionals.

"Let’s go, let’s head back to camp and meet up with Si Si and Meat Meat!" Tail confirmed the signal was good and put away her VM, reaching down to pick up a backpack thrown on the ground.

It was filled with some climbing gear.

After all, it took her quite an effort to haul that metal box up here.

"But... is it really okay to just leave it here like this?"

Worriedly glancing at the six balloons that had drifted far away in the sky, Sesame Paste couldn’t quite let go.

"Relax, this is the Wasteland; there aren’t that many people around. And since it took us Awakeners with Agility systems so long to climb up here, there shouldn’t be any problems!"

Tail gave her companion a convincing expression, making a well-reasoned argument.

"Besides, even if it breaks, it’s no big deal. I’m confident our revered Manager will just send a plane to drop another one!"

...

While Tail and Sesame Paste were setting up the communication station, Si Si was standing in a tent, watching the man named Luo Hua lying on the bed.

The NPC’s current state was too grim to be described merely as "dreadful."

His body was wrapped in bandages, almost to the extent of being mummified, with each weak breath seeming like it might be his last.

Had he suffered such severe injuries in the real world, it probably would have been time to prepare for the worst, but this was the Game world after all, and key story characters shouldn’t be so easy to leave.

Si Si guessed that he must have some cybernetic parts installed to keep him hanging on by a thread.

The cybernetic parts from Ideal City, one costs hundreds of thousands!

If he’s okay, then that’s fine.

But in case something does happen...

It would be a waste not to...

At this very moment, Kaliman, also in the tent, didn’t realize what "evil" thoughts this beautiful girl beside him was harboring, but thought her downcast eyes were out of sorrow for their companion’s predicament.

He sighed softly and spoke in a comforting tone.

"He has a good Constitution and is recovering quite fast. An ordinary person with such serious injuries would have probably returned to the embrace of the Spirit of the Sand Sea by now."

Si Si nodded.

"Mmm..."

Seeing her silent, Kaliman felt a pang of pity, but he couldn’t find any more words to console her.

Musing for a moment,

He suddenly spoke as if having made a decision, slowly beginning,

"The prophet tells us that one day our world will return to the embrace of the Spirit of the Sand Sea, and the armies that gallop across the universe will bring down the final judgment at the end of days. However, before the eternal calm and Silence arrives, we must abide by mercy and not abandon any comrades who fall into quicksand, regardless of gender, whether they are free people or slaves... That is the only way to lighten our sins."

Si Si gave him a blank look, not understanding what this NPC was rambling about suddenly.

However, Kaliman did not stop, continuing to explain,

"We set out from Oasis 9 to head to the great wall in the Southern River Province, and we should not have delayed this long on the road, but when he cast his pleading gaze upon us, we could not stand idly by and watch him get swallowed by the sands."

Si Si: "Uh, thanks."

"I’m ashamed to say, I really don’t deserve your thanks," Kaliman said with a complex expression, "because just last night, my companions and I were discussing the idea of leaving him with you... After all, we’ve left the Desert Sea, and we no longer have any obligation to carry him with us. The road ahead is difficult to travel, and with his injuries, he is nothing but a burden."

Si Si was just about to say it was no problem, that they could leave him to her, but this man didn’t give her a chance to speak and made the decision on his own, his face resolute.

"But now, I’ve changed my mind."

"Outside the Desert Sea lies a barbaric land, filled with dangerous beasts and bloodthirsty barbarians, far from the embrace of the great existences... I cannot hand this trouble over to a group of ladies incapable of even trussing a chicken, it goes against my beliefs!"

Si Si stared dumbfounded at the guy.

It took her a while before she spoke in not-so-fluent United Human language.

"...Actually, it would have been fine even if you didn’t change your mind."

However...

Perhaps her way of expressing herself was too indirect; this fellow called Kaliman was completely immersed in his own world.

"There’s no need to feel embarrassed, I’m just carrying out the teachings of the Spirit of the Sand Sea! I will leave half of my guards and accompany you on your journey."

"Until you return safely to your homeland."

His gentle gaze sent chills down Si Si’s spine and raised goosebumps all over her body.

Just as she was about to say something, the VM strapped to her arm vibrated suddenly.

A light-blue pop-up window was flashing on the screen, a communication request from the Manager, interrupting the words she had just organized in her mind.

"I’ll go and discuss the subsequent itinerary with my companions."

With a gentlemanly bow, Kaliman turned and left the tent, leaving only the unconscious Luo Hua and the bemused Si Si behind.

"Forget it... I’ll explain later."

She couldn’t exactly leave the Manager’s call hanging.

After all, compared to the uncertain wild NPCs, the faction leader’s favor was far more important.

Si Si brushed back her hair, put on the headset, and pressed the connect button; a calm and handsome face soon appeared on the VM screen.

"Respected Manager, sir, I was delayed for a moment, what can I help you with?"

"Where is Luo Hua?"

"He’s here."

She wasn’t surprised at how the Manager came to know of the situation; she adjusted her headset so that the camera was pointing at the bed nearby.

Seeing the man wrapped up like a zongzi still breathing, Chu Guang let out a sigh of relief and slowly asked.

"How is his condition?"

Si Si shook her head.

"Hard to say, he has a severe fever, and he still hasn’t regained consciousness. I suggest letting him rest here for a few days until his condition stabilizes."

In his current condition, continuing the journey, he might die on the way.

Their truck was equipped with some basic medical supplies, including hemostatic bandages, syringes, IV bags, saline solution, glucose, and antibiotics, among other things.

Although most players would choose to respawn decisively after being severely injured, long-distance travel was different from moving around the respawn point, and the cost of death was too high.

They had to save him if possible.

Hearing Si Si’s suggestion, Chu Guang slowly nodded.

He remembered that this player worked in a hospital in the real world, not in any hot specialty, but she should still have basic medical knowledge.

"Then let’s do as you suggest, let him rest here for a while."

"Let me know if you need anything, I appreciate you taking care of him during this time. And please, let me know the moment he wakes up!"

Si Si gave a thumbs up to the camera.

"Oh, leave it to me!"

Though she wasn’t any impressive doctor, she would do her best.

After the communication ended, a light-blue pop-up window floated on the VM screen, and Si Si’s face showed surprise upon seeing the task that had been triggered.

"2000 silver coins and 1000 Contribution Points?!"

That much?

Usually, at the level range of Level 10 to Level 20, task rewards would barely be in the hundreds. Single rewards of 1000 silver coins were quite rare.

Especially the 1000 Contribution Points.

That was unbelievably generous.

However, her face didn’t show any surprise, instead, she touched her chin and fell into thought.

"...Looks like there might be follow-up tasks."

She had a feeling that the journey had become more troublesome...

...

At the entrance of the tent, four guards armed to the teeth were on duty.

Previously, Kaliman who left here had disappeared without a trace, probably conferring with his companions.

Watching Si Si walk outside through the curtain door, Meat Meat, who was squatting beside the truck, immediately approached with a face full of concern and asked,

"How’s the NPC’s condition?"

Out of concern for frightening the patient, she thoughtfully didn’t go in, and instead, stayed by the side of the truck.

"He hasn’t woken up yet. By the way, we just received a signal. The Manager ordered us to take care of that NPC, and there will probably be other tasks triggered after he wakes up."

"I got it too, and the reward is actually 2000 silver coins!" Meat Meat said excitedly.

"The more generous the reward, the more complicated the trouble we could encounter. The cargo we are hauling is worth at least 200,000 silver coins... Honestly, I don’t want any unexpected complications, but we can’t just ignore him either."

Si Si sighed with some headaches and said to Meat Meat,

"I’ll go get some hot water. Do you remember where the medical kit is?"

"It’s in the truck, I know the spot!" Meat Meat enthusiastically patted her chest with her bear claw, "Leave it to me!"

"Then I’m counting on you."

Taking off the water bottle hanging by the truck, Si Si headed towards the direction of the well. However, she hadn’t gone far when a strange sensation suddenly crept up on her.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Si Si scanned her surroundings, but apart from rows of tents, there was not a single person in sight.

And therein lay the abnormality.

There is no real safe zone in the Wasteland, and certainly not a place like the Karting Post Station, with its mere hundred-odd permanent residents.

The tents were still there, but the people were gone, not even someone left to watch the luggage. This place’s security was obviously not at the level where things don’t get lost or stolen.

That being said,

There was only one possibility...

Her expression unchanged, Si Si was about to turn back the way she came.

But she had barely taken a step backward when a rustling of footsteps came from behind the row of tents.

A group of people wearing black cloaks had cut off all her paths of escape.

"It’s quite obvious they came for me..."

When she saw that task reward earlier, she had an ominous premonition that something bad might happen.

Only, she didn’t expect it to come so quickly.

Silently cursing the "dog designers" in her mind, Si Si completely gave up the idea of fleeing. As she put her right hand in her pocket, she counted the number of people around her.

The number wasn’t great, just eleven.

However, Si Si was well aware that those standing in the open were probably just a part, and there was likely another group at a distance, pointing guns in this direction.

The man closest to her was likely the leader of this group, his high-bridged nose quite similar to some people in the POW Camp.

The other ten were the same.

Their identities were self-evident.

She could guess with her toes.

"Are you from the Army?"

"Your reactions are very sharp, commendable," the man at the front said, casting an approving glance at the girl in front of him, "But unfortunately, it’s a little too late."

The dark muzzles under their cloaks were showing intermittently, and Si Si quietly glanced at their weapons – they were all standard Pu-9s.

This submachine gun, firing 9mm subsonic rounds, could unleash massive firepower at close-range targets in a short time.

Because of its high firing rate and low recoil, this weapon, although standard issue for the Army, also had reproductions in many Survivor Settlements.

However, this weapon still has a fatal flaw.

It’s too weak in penetration!

Although the vast kinetic energy could still cause effective harm, against some of the larger Variants, this "small pipe" couldn’t even break through their defenses.

Si Si was well aware of the performance of this weapon.

After all, she had used it herself not infrequently.

"I would advise you not to act rashly. Even Awakeners can’t stop bullets," the man said with a smile.

"Oh, what do you want?"

"Bring out Luo Hua, hand him over to us."

"What if I refuse?"

His smile unchanged, the man’s eyes suddenly grew colder.

"That would be the worst outcome. We don’t want to slaughter indiscriminately, but if you force us to do so, we won’t be merciful."

Si Si suddenly laughed.

"Since when has the Army started being so reasonable?"

The man lifted his chin slightly.

"We always convince with reason. Now, slowly take your hand out of your pocket and then squat down with your head in your hands."

"Or we can put a few holes in you first."

It seemed they were probably looking to capture someone alive...

And they must have been short on manpower; otherwise, there would have been no need to wait for him to be alone, when they could have just gone for it at the right moment.

As Si Si pondered this silently, she silently drew her right hand out of her pocket.

None of those present noticed the light silver ring that had appeared around her right wrist.

Embedded within the silver ring were six magnetic projectiles, each less than 5mm in diameter. Once activated, the projectiles would hover around the bracelet and fire according to preset attack commands.

Its name was the Magnetic Slingshot.

Because its maximum effective range was only 20 meters, and because the projectile’s caliber was so small, it was considered a piece of equipment that was more flash than substance.

At the end of the last update, she had been lucky enough to draw this piece of equipment, but soon found it to be even more useless than she had imagined, so she had never used it in real combat.

However...

It turned out to be quite useful today.

"It looks like a few ribs are going to break..." Si Si murmured in her heart, preparing to hit the ground as she waited for the bracelet to automatically lock onto the nearest target.

Seeing her open palm empty of any weapons, the man’s face broke into a pleased smile.

"Good, now squat down—"

Before his words could finish, a series of sharp whistling sounds tore through the air in all directions.

A warning flashed in the man’s mind, and he almost reflexively threw himself to the ground.

And that searing sensation almost simultaneously grazed over the top of his head, even scorching his scalp.

What was that?!

Watching five of his brothers topple to the ground, blood holes stamped on their foreheads, his eyes instantly filled with a bloody red as he roared an order.

"Fire! Kill her!"

There was no need for orders—

Almost the very instant the anomaly occurred, his soldiers had already pulled the triggers.

Five PU-9 submachine guns spat out tongues of flame, unleashing fierce firepower in an instant!

Si Si, hit by several bullets, grunted, taking advantage of a brief gap in the encirclement to burst into a nearby tent, ignoring everything else.

9mm bullets failed to penetrate the Devil Silk bulletproof vest, but even so, the massive kinetic energy still broke several of her ribs.

Thankfully, the overwhelming pain was blocked by the helmet.

Otherwise, even an Awakener with the Body Constitution System, known for their incredible resilience and recovery abilities, would have been knocked unconscious by the pain of that instant.

The bullets that were chasing her footsteps almost burrowed into the tent.

"Damn—"

"Missed one!"

That crappy piece of equipment was indeed unreliable...

Without time to hesitate, Si Si decisively pulled out a dagger, slashed a slit in the back of the tent, and kept running without stopping.

Getting up from the ground, the man with the prominent nasal bridge stared at the tent riddled with bullets, completely dumbfounded.

Hit by over a dozen shots and still acting as if nothing happened.

Is this even human?!

It must be fake!

But—

There was no time to hesitate now.

"Chase after her!" He roared, picking up a submachine gun from the ground and signaling his men to follow.

However, at that moment, deafening roars came from one side.

A white bear with a steel plate hanging on its chest suddenly broke into everyone’s line of sight.

The man looked sharply in that direction, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and a hint of panic washed over his face.

What scared him was not the clawing and gnashing white bear, but the row of tents flattened by wheels, and the truck barreling straight toward them.

The mounted heavy machine gun on the roof of the truck was already aimed straight at them.

"Si Si—hold on!"

"We’re here to help you!!"

-

(Thank you "Spirit" for the chief patron’s reward! To be honest, I feel quite ashamed as I write this thank you... Recently, my writing speed has really dropped, not even reaching 1000 words per hour. Sometimes I want to work hard to write out the plot I have in mind, but it always feels a bit off... Sorry, guys.)

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