This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 600 Skeleton Corps Arrives!

Chapter 600: Chapter 600 Skeleton Corps Arrives!

Before entering Brocade River Province, Chu Guang had thought the problems might be more severe than he had imagined, but he hadn’t expected them to have deteriorated to such an extent.

The entire Haiye Province had entered Stage 4 of Nago corrosion, completely falling under the shadow of the plague.

The tragedy at the Pine Cone Wood Farm was just a number 03 there; within the Holy Land, Pioneers and the Saint Heir could morph any settlement into the desired state whenever they wished.

In fact, the people there had already become puppets without autonomous consciousness.

"If it truly is as they say, this problem could be quite thorny... both scientifically and politically."

In the holographic image.

After hearing Chu Guang’s recounting of the academy’s research conclusions, Heya gripped her chin in a grave expression, sinking into deep contemplation, remaining silent for a long while.

Chu Guang was the same.

It took a while before he sighed with a headache and spoke.

"Locking down Haiya Province is a compromise, but perhaps dragging this out will only make things worse... and unfortunately, we don’t have enough manpower; mobilizing everyone from the Alliance wouldn’t be enough."

Heya quietly asked.

"What about the corporations? Aren’t they planning to do something?"

"Their efficiency and the cost they are willing to pay directly correspond to the lack of returns. They only really make up their minds when the problem is serious enough that they must do something," Chu Guang often dealt with successors from the United Human on the East Coast.

Frankly, dealing with corporate fellows was pleasant as long as the returns were substantial and core interests weren’t involved. They didn’t mind letting partners gain some advantages because, after all, goodwill is also an investment.

However, relying on them in times of crisis was simply too naïve.

The Army had torn up a century and a half-old contract, almost piercing through Luo Xia Province; the Supreme Council merely issued severe threats, and it wasn’t until the Alliance seized the Iron Heart that the threats reached the Iron Heart.

Chu Guang had, through Yi Chuan, secured the support of the council, and a batch of valuable aid was on its way.

However, expecting the corporations to help lock down a province thousands of miles away from Ideal City was, Chu Guang believed, utterly preposterous.

"...Can we only use nuclear bombs?" Heya said with a complex expression.

"At the moment, I can’t think of a better solution, but... we need to address the immediate issues first; at least Brocade River City and Brocade River Province are still salvageable."

As he spoke, Chu Guang looked towards the captain’s room’s side port, where the drifting clouds camouflaged the fog-enshrouded Earth intermittently visible.

Currently, only this part of Brocade River Province was suffering from Nago corrosion. After all, this area was once home to the ruins of Singular Point City, and there were many survivors and settlements.

The Wasteland held many uninhabited areas; dozens of miles might pass without a single settlement, and the few households sporadically existing lived almost like wild men.

In such deserted areas, relying merely on animal natural propagation, it was difficult for Nago’s corrosion to suddenly escalate to Stage 2.

It could be said that the plague named "Nago," engineered by the Torch Church, was tailor-made for the vast majority of survivor settlements on the Wasteland.

Noticing Heya’s complex gaze, Chu Guang suddenly thought of something and spoke in a comforting tone.

"Don’t carry too much psychological burden; perhaps your master, Karen, was just misled or coerced by those people... It might not necessarily have been her doing."

Although, after meeting Luo Gan, he felt this possibility was very small.

Those people believed deeply in what they were doing; even if they hesitated, it was only due to their conscience questioning the means, not doubting the outcome.

They truly believed—

That their world was an Utopia even greater than the Prosperity Epoch.

"Don’t comfort me; I will ask her myself..." Heya took a deep breath, adjusting her emotions.

Suddenly as if she thought of something, she looked at Chu Guang, arched an eyebrow, and threw the topic back in a teasing tone.

"Speaking of which, you still haven’t resolved your own headache, yet here you are, comforting me."

Unaffected by her tease, Chu Guang laughed.

"You are our chief biologist; if we lose you, a lot of work won’t be able to proceed."

"Don’t overpraise me, there are many more experienced than me," Heya rolled her eyes, feeling a sweet satisfaction in her heart.

Having one’s hard work acknowledged was always a pleasant matter for anyone, and she was no exception.

Noticing her improved mood, Chu Guang smiled and nodded.

"Knowledge and experience can be gradually accumulated, and to the Alliance, what’s irreplaceable is you... The basic situation is just as I just discussed. We should end the call now; it’s getting late, rest early."

Heya curved her lips in a smile.

"You too; you just finished dealing with the trouble in Giant Stone City and now you’ve headed off to Brocade River Province. Don’t wear yourself out."

Chu Guang laughed heartily.

"Don’t worry, my body is still pretty robust; you know that all too well."

For some reason,

This person, who always liked to joke about him not being serious, suddenly blushed, spit, and vanished from the holographic image...

...

In an utterly white Virtual Space, the ceiling emitted a warm white light.

Florae had begun to grow on the pristine white floor, though their leaves were all white, swaying eerily in the breezeless room.

Their crystal-clear outlines were akin to flowers blooming on corpses...

Standing in the center of the room, Jiang Xuezhou scanned his surroundings, quickly spotting the girl sitting in the corner hugging her knees.

Her face was expressionless, just sitting there quietly, gazing at the patch of floor in front of her shoe tips, as if pondering over something.

Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Xueszhou ultimately decided to use an ordinary opening greeting to say hello.

"You...are you okay?"

Yinyin raised her head to look at her and nodded slowly.

"Yes, I’m fine... just a bit puzzled."

"Puzzled?" Jiang Xuezhou supported herself with her hands on her knees, bending down and speaking in a gentle tone, "My name is Jiang Xuezhou, and I’m a researcher at the Academy... Can you tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I can help you solve it."

"It’s not that I can’t," Yinyin leaned the back of her head against an invisible wall behind her, staring at the unfamiliar sister in front of her, "The big brother called ’Manager’ told me that Grandpa Luo Gan gave me this strange room, allowing me, who should’ve died, to live on. But..."

Her bright eyes displayed a hint of confusion; Yinyin unconsciously cocked her head slightly and said something completely uncharacteristic for her age.

"What am I really?"

What am I really?

Jiang Xuezhou was slightly startled and responded instinctively.

"You are, of course..."

"Zhao Yinyin; I know my name," Yinyin interrupted her, exhaling lightly, her expression seemingly distressed, "But I also don’t know whether I am myself now or the me in that old grandpa’s memory."

Jiang Xuezhou stared blankly at Yinyin, sitting in the corner, her mouth slightly agape, unable to believe these words were coming from an eight-year-old girl.

Seemingly noticing the astonishment on her face, Yinyin gave an embarrassed smile and swept the troubled expression from her face.

"Sorry for saying something strange; this is my personal worry, please don’t mind it."

Jiang Xuezhou didn’t know how to respond; she could only nod softly.

"We...will help you get out of here as soon as possible, please give us a little time."

"Yeah, I believe you. It would be nice to go out and play. Little Lamb and I had promised to play hide and seek together," Yinyin’s face brightened with a smile as if the previous concerns never existed, shifting the topic, "You came here for something, right? Can you tell Yinyin what it is?"

Jiang Xuezhou nodded somewhat sheepishly.

"Yes, I do have some things I want to ask you; this could save many lives... Of course, you can refuse if you don’t want to, just tell me what you know truthfully."

She had thought it would take some time to open this little girl’s heart, but to her surprise, Yinyin quite generously nodded her head and looked at her with a smile.

"No problem, I’ll tell you everything I know, just ask away!"

She didn’t want to make the same mistakes from not being honest again.

Having died once, she had already learned her lesson.

Staring blankly at this little girl, a reanimated Jiang Xuezhou, blushing, hurriedly thanked her before beginning her questioning.

In fact, before coming here, she had already anticipated obtaining information about Nago and its research from her mentor.

This questioning mainly involved some basic information about Pinecone Wood Farmstead, including the initial behaviors of infected patients and the overall atmosphere changes of the settlement.

She made sure to phrase her questions in a way even a child could understand, and Yinyin, after listening, responded honestly to each one.

After the last question was posed, Jiang Xuezhou pinched her chin, deep in thought, gazing unblinkingly at Yinyin, who suddenly spoke in a pleasing voice.

"You and that sister look alike."

Jiang Xuezhou was mildly startled and stopped pondering.

"That... sister?"

"Yeah." Yinyin nodded lightly, her bright eyes fixed on her, "There was also a sister who asked these questions before... She seemed to be a doctor from the Alliance, always the one who checks on Little Lamb’s health."

A doctor, huh?

Even though it felt odd, Jiang Xuezhou didn’t dwell on it; she nodded, thanked her, and waved goodbye to Yinyin.

The infirmary on the Iron Heart.

Standing next to the fully enclosed cryochamber, Little Lamb looked worriedly at Jiang Xuezhou, who had just removed her Neural Connection Device, and asked softly,

"Yinyin...is she doing okay?"

After placing the Neural Connection Device on the nearby table, Jiang Xuezhou cast a gentle gaze at Little Lamb and asked,

"She’s a bit lonely, could you keep her company more often?"

Little Lamb nodded sagely.

"Yes... I will stay with Yinyin, telling her about the outside world until she awakens."

Watching her obedient demeanor, Jiang Xuezhou couldn’t help but smile, reaching out her right hand and lovingly caressed her little head.

"Good girl."

Looking at those eyelashes curved into crescent moons and the almost glowing smile, she felt her day’s fatigue and displeasure had been healed.

Damn!

It’s like raising a pet!

But it was merely a thought and not an actual plan to bring the little girl back to the Wandering Swamp.

Though the Academy had extremely affluent material conditions, that was only for its researchers. For the ordinary people, who couldn’t produce "value outside of production," it was a completely different matter.

At the settlements managed by the Committee, ordinary survivors may not starve to death, but they could only ensure basic nutritional needs. There was almost no hope for change other than carving a bloody path out during the only assessment.

She had heard that a few settlements operated under rules outside of the Committee’s regulations, primarily inhabited by the families of senior researchers, aiming to ensure the transmission of superior genes and thought patterns to the next generation.

But she was just a Class D researcher, without even the means to move her own family there, let alone someone unrelated by blood.

After visiting Yinyin, Jiang Xuezhou exited the infirmary and gently closed the room door behind her.

Yet, as soon as she stepped out, she saw an annoying figure, her face instantly dropping, her arms crossed and eyes coldly fixed on him.

"I had the Manager’s permission to come here."

Faced with the visible murderous aura, Night Ten embarrassedly scratched the back of his head and muttered.

"I know."

"So, what are you doing here?" Jiang Xuezhou lifted his chin slightly and said with cold eyes, "Do I need to say that line? The junk you guys make is of no interest to me. I’d rather daydream about planarians than steal your technology—"

"I’m sorry."

"..."

Jiang Xuezhou hadn’t expected an apology from him and he involuntarily stopped his harsh words halfway, staring at him slightly stunned.

Night Ten’s gaze drifted to the side, embarrassed to look at her face.

Because it was indeed very awkward.

He had only just found out from the Task System that she had come here to help with her mentor.

It was the same when they were in City of Dawn.

Not only had he suspected her of being a spy, but he had also questioned why she was only coming now... Thinking about it, what he said was indeed inappropriate, at least it shouldn’t have been him telling her that.

Before logging off, after getting an eye-roll from his sister, he hesitated for a moment, then finally climbed out of his Sleep Cabin, deciding to clarify the matter before logging off.

"I said some pretty harsh things earlier, and I can’t lie and say that wasn’t my intention because I really did think so at the time, thinking maybe it triggered a hidden task or something... But please allow me to take back those words. Jumping to conclusions without a proper investigation was my mistake, hence the big misunderstanding."

As he said this, he felt a bit unsatisfied, feeling as if he was admitting defeat, so he couldn’t help but mutter quietly.

"Of course, this isn’t entirely my fault either. If you had just been straightforward about why you were here...all sneaky, and having me show you around, talking about secrets and tasks, I couldn’t help but think otherwise."

Jiang Xuezhou stared at him for a while, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Night Ten looked up, dissatisfied.

"What are you laughing at? I’m seriously explaining myself here."

He thought she would be a bit more restrained, but she only laughed louder.

"Ahahaha! It’s nothing really, seeing as you’re being so forthright for once, I guess I can just pretend those unpleasant things didn’t happen."

Raising her right hand, Jiang Xuezhou flipped her ponytail from her shoulder to her back, lowering her nose held high and slightly curled up the corners of her mouth.

"It’s actually quite interesting. It’s the first time I’ve ever been mistaken for a spy and thrown into the police station... although my mentor scolded me when I got back."

Actually, getting scolded didn’t bother her, it was just the trouble caused for many unrelated people that made her feel a bit sorry. Later, even the governor of the City of Dawn got involved.

When she went back, she would send a thank-you letter to everyone at the City of Dawn police station...

Seeing Jiang Xuezhou’s spirits lifted, Night Ten relaxed and his usual goofy smile appeared on his face.

"So... now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, if you have any tasks— I mean troubles or annoyances, feel free to ask me. I’m going to head back now."

As Night Ten turned to leave, Jiang Xuezhou instinctively called out to him.

"Wait a second!"

Night Ten stopped and turned back, casting her an inquiring look.

"Is there anything else?"

"Um..."

Jiang Xuezhou glanced to the side, feeling a bit embarrassed. Twirling a strand of her ponytail with her fingertips, she hesitated and said,

"You know... my mentor and I are here to address that Nago issue, right? Because field research is mainly the responsibility of us Class D, I might need to be involved quite often. Even though I’m also pretty strong, single-handedly taking on a couple hundred Awakeners is no problem, but it would be nice to have some help with simple errands like serving tea or miscellaneous tasks..."

Seeing that he hadn’t responded for a long time, Jiang Xuezhou bit her lip in frustration and blurted out the whole thing desperately.

"So... if you’re not busy, could you please help me out?"

*Sigh.*

It’s just this little thing!

After hearing her beat around the bush for a long time and finally understanding it, Night Ten burst out laughing heartily.

"Leave it to me! Although I can’t help much with serving tea or running errands, protecting you is no problem at all! Don’t worry, as long as I’m alive, I won’t let you suffer a scratch."

Unexpectedly faced with this direct promise, Xiao Jiang was stunned at first, and then quickly regained her composure, her whole face turning red as an apple.

"You—you—you just be mentally prepared, I—I—I won’t go easy on you... Re-remember to write your will!"

Stammering and making no sense, Jiang Xuezhou fled like a startled rabbit.

By the time she regained her senses, she found herself standing in her room’s bathroom, the shower splashing water relentlessly on her face.

Jiang Xuezhou regretted so much that she wanted to punch herself, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. In the end, her fist thumped on the wall of the bathroom.

Ah!

What stupid things did I say!

She wished she could find a crack in the wall to hide in...

Unlike the regretful Xiao Jiang, someone else wasn’t bothered at all by that ominous remark and didn’t take it seriously.

It was a joke—who could outtalk him?

He could spout a basketful of even more devastating words, even spin them into a poem. Even the most eloquent Fang Chang couldn’t compare and would just roll his eyes and shut up to play the game.

He wasn’t bragging.

As a player from the competitive scene, he had never lost a verbal duel.

What really puzzled Night Ten was something else...

As he watched that NPC walk away, he pulled out his VM, glanced at it, opened the task panel, and scratched his head.

"Strange."

Why didn’t the task trigger?

Logically, serving as a bodyguard for the Academy’s "special envoy researcher" should count as a hidden mission.

Doubts began to arise in Night Ten’s heart.

Could the planners have forgotten about me...

Hiding by the door, Little Lamb quietly tucked her head back, mimicking the big brother’s action of scratching her head.

She had heard people arguing in the corridor and wanted to see what was happening, only to witness a scene that totally confused her.

Although she didn’t understand what they were saying, it seemed very intense...

...

The long night finally passed, and as dawn rose from the horizon, the gray sky also brightened with a hint of pallid light.

No matter how dense the fog on the ground, it couldn’t block the sun that regularly rose, nor could it stop the world’s yearning and longing for the warmth of sunlight.

On the distant horizon, outlines of armored chariots emerged amid rolling dust.

The menacing torrent of steel, carrying grenadiers with skulls emblazoned on their breastplates, moved directly towards Brocade River City with high morale.

Since the war in Luo Xia Province had ended, each army had plenty of time to rest—or rather, loaf around. Therefore, spurred by some enthusiastic individuals, various corps each designed their own insignia, to be painted on the exoskeletons’ breastplates or shoulder guards.

For the Skeleton Corps, the emblem was, naturally, a skull.

Of course, during this rest time, the brothers of the Skeleton Corps were not just painting. They did other tasks as well.

The operational "Chimera" wheeled armored personnel carrier was a joint design by the Skull Corps players and Goblin Technology’s engineers.

This was based on experiences summed up from the previous wars with the Army—the Alliance’s armored forces needed a fast, light vehicle that could carry light infantry and keep up with the pace of tanks advancing forward.

In previous wars with the Army, the infantry of the Skeleton Corps generally sat in armed trucks, but those vehicles had poor maneuverability and were essentially like dumplings exposed to the open. When it came to fighting, the veteran players preferred running behind the tanks rather than sitting in those vehicles and getting pounded.

Thus, the "Chimera" was created.

Its design was influenced by the Army’s "Hyena" reconnaissance vehicle, and the six pairs of load-bearing wheels and the forward placement of the power cabin were modeled after the real-life WZ551.

In addition to a driver and a gunner, six light infantry soldiers dressed in full protective exoskeletons could also ride in the back.

The turret on the roof was equipped with a 37mm rapid-fire cannon, which used the same model of ammunition as aircraft cannons, and the turret was also equipped with a "Dove" type missile launcher, posing a significant threat to heavy vehicles and large targets.

However, although the armored vehicle had built-in space, most of these veteran players were used to sitting on trucks and could not stand the confined space.

They all chose not to use their seats, instead sitting on top of the vehicle.

Not only that.

Even though they were just a few kilometers from the battlefield, not a trace of fear could be seen on any of their faces. What could be seen was an unbearable thirst—

"I’m ready to take down twenty-two! Any takers?"

"Ha ha, ones taken down by the ’Chimera’ don’t count!"

"Cut it out, do I need that thing?"

"Don’t cry for daddy to save you if you get captured by the mutants."

"I will!"

"Man, have some dignity!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The Steel Heart’s bombardment would begin punctually at 8 am.

Whether it was the armored vehicle’s 37mm rapid-fire cannon or the rifles they carried on their shoulders, all were already loaded.

Half out of the armored vehicle’s turret, the Mole held a telescope, looking towards the fog-shrouded abandoned city in the distance.

There was Brocade River City!

Dropping the telescope and grabbing a megaphone, he tore open his voice, excitedly shouting out loud.

"Brothers—!"

"Ahead lies the stronghold of the Qi Tribe!"

"A gang of flesh-eating savages throwing a party and singing unaware of what they’ve stirred up!"

"Let those green-skinned beasts witness whether their fangs and bones are tougher, or our tracks and cannons!"

An untimely shout came out.

"Boss! We came in an armored vehicle! There are no tracks!"

Ignoring that mood breaker, Mole continued shouting exuberantly.

"Skeleton Corps! Forward—!"

"Throw death in their faces—!"

The hands of his watch pointed directly at eight o’clock.

The rumbling of cannons above them began on time!

Amidst the deafening sounds of cannon fire, a series of spirited shouts responded.

"Kill!!!"

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