Chapter 514 An Adventure without Regrets (1/2)

Early November.

Winter has entered on the East Coast. Although it does not snow like last year, the low sky is still covered with thick clouds.

Today is undoubtedly a sad day for the residents of Utopia.

Their hero never returned home.

After waiting for a long time, all I got was this result.

Many people cannot accept it.

Press conference scene.

The spacious venue was crowded, and reporters from various media gathered together.

Although Wu Changnian, deputy director of the General Management Department, had just gotten off the plane not long ago, relevant news had already spread all over the city two days ago. So much so that while he was still taking a nap in the sky, people on the ground had already helped him arrange his itinerary after landing.

Taking advantage of the fact that there was still some time before the press conference officially started, everyone at the scene began to communicate in whispers.

"We spent billions and fought a local war... and this is the final result?"

"I wonder what the council thinks."

"What can you think? By the time our people arrive, they will have already been cold, and it was a few months ago."

"Why."

"Actually, what concerns me more is the enlightenment meeting..."

"Indeed, replacing a person's memory... sounds like it gives people goosebumps."

"Is that really the Blue Jackets' organization?"

"I hope there won't be any of those guys in the shelter in the Cloud Province."

“We shouldn’t be pinning our hopes on hope, the council should do something to make sure we don’t have those guys around us!”

The whispers grew louder.

What people are concerned about is not only that the Pioneer has gained nothing, tens of billions of investments have been wasted, and billions of budgets have been set up for this.

Most people still care more about the enlightenment meeting that is terrifying to think about.

There is no point in creating more value if the fruits of today's labor may be usurped some day in the future.

No one can accept it, coming home from work one day and meeting a pair of unfamiliar eyes, let alone a group of little ghosts hiding in the dark to secretly replace them.

More than 5,000 kilometers, it’s actually not too far away. There is always a way to get there.

At the same time, in the preparation room next to the conference site, Wu Changnian, who had just gotten off the plane and transferred to the bus, walked towards the site before taking a sip of water.

Chasing after him with documents, his office secretary persuaded him earnestly.

"...You should at least sit down and rest for a while!"

"No, I've rested long enough on the plane, from the Great Desert, to the Lion Kingdom, to Dawn City, and back here. There's also a council meeting in the afternoon, and I have to finish the press conference first. Get it done...this is the task assigned to me by the council." Wu Changnian opened the holographic computer pen and glanced at today's schedule, and his scalp felt numb.

He was just a deputy, so being so busy was beyond his expectation.

but--

It's not a bad thing to suddenly be busy.

This is a good sign. Maybe it won't be too long before he can take a further step in his career.

Thinking of this, that slightly tired face became energetic again. Although he only went up there for a walk, he was already a tough guy who had been on the battlefield.

"The reporters outside look aggressive. I'm afraid they won't let you go easily." The secretary on the side smiled bitterly and tried to persuade him, but he pushed him away.

"Then let them come!"

The door opens and the lights flicker.

As soon as Wu Changnian walked to the front desk, before he could say anything, a series of interview drones rushed over and lined up neatly in an arc in front of him, followed by a barrage of questions.

"Mr. Wu Changnian, how do you evaluate this rescue operation?"

"Deputy Minister Wu, we spent countless resources to build the Pioneer and sent the best personnel to the wilderness. In the end, we found nothing... Do you think this is a waste of resources?"

"Excuse me, does the council have nothing to say about this?"

"Whether the setback in Silver Wing Group's share price will affect the change of its board of directors seats."

"I heard that only one person was rescued, and that person happened to be the eldest son of the CEO of Silver Wing Group and a member of the company's supreme council. I want to know if the rescue work is biased."

"Should we increase our interference in the shelter forces——"

"Enough! Quiet!"

The loud voice suddenly erupted, calming the entire audience for a moment, and the hustle and bustle at the press conference fell silent for a few seconds.

Looking at the noisy scene and the confused faces, Wu Changnian took a deep breath, slowed down his speaking speed and tone and continued.

"You have more questions than the bullets that flew past my head. I know you want to ask a lot of things. Captain Lu Yang's video will answer part of your confusion. We will upload that recording to the endpoint cloud and save it in the museum. For everyone to review...before that, hear me out!"

After a pause, his tone became a little deeper.

"Today...I have a sad story to tell."

"A group of brave young men embarked on an expedition with ideals. They traveled across mountains and rivers, through plains, forests, mountains and deserts, not to find wealth, land or conquest... but for a legend that has been passed down among us. , an ideal that we have repeatedly preached for a century but no one has tried to verify it.”

"Our civilization is stagnant. We are afraid of the risks in the wasteland. We imagine an omnipotent savior living in the dormant cabin of Shelter 0, waiting for the great kingdom of heaven to run to our feet... If not People go there and take a look, we will never let go of that childish idea.”

"I want to say that he did an amazing thing. Even though he might have guessed that the ending would not be perfect at the beginning, he still did what he thought he should do. And he had no regrets until the end, so if you ask me , will I feel regret, will I regret it? My answer is no.”

"never!"

His voice was firm and his eyes were piercing.

The man standing here at this moment does not look like a man in his forties or fifties. Even the vertical and horizontal wrinkles have regained the glow of youth.

"Even if only one person is rescued, even if no one is rescued, this rescue is by no means meaningless to us."

"What is more valuable than gold is credit. We have kept our promise and will not give up any of the displaced residents. We have shown our determination to never compromise to those who doubted us. We have gained valuable valuables during the journey. friendship……"

"More importantly, our bravery!"

Looking at the drones in front of him, he saw faces through them, as well as the prosperous city beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"We are worthy of our ancestors, and the residents of Vault 6 and the colony ship Reach will be proud of our choice."

"We are worthy of being the descendants of heroes!"

There was applause.

At first it was light rain, then it was a storm.

Even the reporters who were prepared to ask difficult questions from the beginning were infected by the atmosphere and couldn't help but put their hands together.

At least the applause at this moment was not for someone present, but for himself.

In the lounge not far away, Ye Shi clapped his hands. While sighing in his heart, he couldn't help but say something sour in a humane way.

"Hey, that's really nice to say."

He could clearly remember that those guys backed down more than once. At least in his opinion, if the managers had not withstood the pressure and promised to end the war within the year, today's press conference might have announced the "missing" of the Pioneer.

By the way, he came to Ideal City by "hitchhiking" from Vice Minister Wu.

Not just him, but also Lao Bai, Stormy Wind, Mole, etc.

Fang Chang, who was standing aside, smiled, patted Brother Ye Shi on the shoulder and said.

"You kid likes to play devil's advocate. The other person is the deputy department of Ideal City. He represents Ideal City and the council. If he doesn't say that, tell me how to say it."

Ye Shi thought for a while and tried to find a fault.

"At least emphasize our role more."

"Our role does not need any verbal emphasis. Some people will remember our kindness, and things that need to be emphasized repeatedly are not so important." Fang Chang patted his shoulder, and then looked at Lao Bai and Bangfeng. My good brother smiled and said, "Come with me and show you what I have accomplished in the past few months."

The group walked into the elevator and arrived at the observation deck on the top floor of the building.

Ye Shi glanced around and saw nothing, looked at this guy and made a joke.

"Don't tell me that the result of your past few months is this rooftop."

Fang Chang said nothing, looked at the time on his watch, and then turned his attention to the Council Building in the center of Ideal City.

"there."

As soon as he finished speaking, the gorgeous light and shadow converged on the wall of the building into a bucket filled with fried chicken and a large glass of black drink.

This is nothing new for the real world with close cultural exchanges, but it is novel enough for the residents of the ideal city.

Lines of advertising slogans flashed across the screen.

[Kendaji’s first store is open! Food from exotic places is waiting for you! 】

[Store address:...]

At first, Ye Shi couldn't understand what was written on it. After opening the VM and translating it, he almost laughed out loud.

"Pfft! It's okay if you're willing to beat the chicken. There are so many old jokes."

"It's really an old joke." Bang Feng couldn't help but complain.

"Haha, it means I'm not young anymore." Fang Chang smiled happily.

Lao Bai joked with a smile.

"Good guy, you are moving all the real things into the wasteland."

"It's just complementary advantages," Fang Chang continued while touching the bridge of his nose with his index finger, "Fried chicken and Coca-Cola are just the first step to test the water, and then there will be steamed buns, steamed buns, pancakes, dumplings and pre-made dishes, etc. The plan includes "Mr. Xiaomi" and other fast food brands, we plan to make these food products from the alliance form a matrix with cultural added value in Ideal City."

"We only need to do good standards and quality control. For specific store operations, we can cooperate with other food and catering companies in the form of franchises to produce and sell locally... At present, this cooperation model is the most suitable for us. of."

After all, the alliance cannot send too many employees to the company. One is that it is difficult to integrate into the local society, and the other is that it may take away local job opportunities.

Only providing concepts and ideas was Fang Chang’s plan from the beginning. As long as the "fried chicken" is labeled with the alliance, the residents of Ideal City will immediately look for stores certified by the alliance company when they think of the delicious taste.

If operating conditions are good, Changyue Group will open up a considerable market worth tens of billions for Niuma Group in Ideal City.

Once the market opens and the residents of Ideal City accept the culture of Dawn City, some professional life players can also go to Ideal City to open stores.

Everyone benefits, it’s a win-win for sure.

Ye Shi was confused about the business blueprint described by Fang Chang. He scratched the back of his head for a long time and couldn't understand it, so he simply gave up.

Among all the people he knew, Elder Brother Fang was the only one who could play the game to this extent.

He thought he was not the type to do this, so he simply lay down.

After talking about Niuma Group's future business plan, Fang Chang suddenly turned his attention to Ye Shi and asked with interest.

"By the way, I heard from Lao Bai that you recently met a researcher from the college? What's going on?"

He had always been interested in the academy in the swamp.

Legend has it that there are more black technologies than companies there, but very few of them flow into the wasteland.

According to the official settings, if you really want to buy top-notch equipment, it seems you still have to find a way to pry open the academy's door.

Maybe Ye Shi can be a breakthrough.

However, looking at those gossipy eyes, Ye Shi looked confused.

"What's going on?"

Patting Ye Shi on the shoulder, Lao Bai smiled at Fang Chang.

"You underestimate this guy. Not only the researchers at the college, but also the grandmothers in the company are interested in him."

Thinking of the episode that happened on the plane, Feng Feng nodded subtly.

"But I think there is still a difference...could it be that they just want to have a godson?"

Ye Shi: "???"

Fang Chang looked at Ye Shi in surprise.

"Damn it, you kid is not interesting enough...you don't tell your father anything."

"Get lost! I don't even know what you are talking about. I...I never thought about dating an NPC."

Seeing that Fang Chang's smiling expression didn't look like he had listened to his own explanation, Ye Shi, who was blushing, hurriedly ended this inexplicable topic, and then shifted his focus to the bitch himself.

"Tch, stop talking about me, when are you going back?"

Fang Chang said simply.

"I'll go back with you later."

Ye Shi was stunned for a moment, looking at this guy in disbelief.

"Just leave like that?"

Fang Chang looked at him strangely.

"Yes, what else?"

"It's nothing," Ye Shi scratched the back of his head, "I'm just a little surprised."

Probably guessing what he was surprised about, Fang Chang smiled and said.

"Things here have been arranged properly. Professional managers are responsible for the specific operations of Changyue Group. There are not many things that we need to worry about. This cooperation plan is more of a test of water. After all, in the past more than a year Century, Ideal City has never had direct business cooperation across such a long distance, so I spent a little more time.”

Prior to this, most cooperation between enterprises and the outside world would be conducted through indirect means.

For example, the company's company cooperates with the merchants of Yunjian Province to trade the resources needed by Ideal City, while the merchants of Yunjian Province take the products of Ideal City to further places in exchange for what they need.

This is undoubtedly a significant change.

As for what impact it will have in the future, it is still unknown.

By the way, just a few days ago, Fang Chang had completed several courses at Yunjian University.

Although it was only some superficial knowledge, it was enough for him to digest for a long time.

If there is a chance in the future, he will come back to study again and try to get that diploma.

"Li Shuyue, CEO of Ruyue Group, is also full of confidence in this. She also believes that this will become a historic moment... After more than a century, the direct business of Ideal City has once again expanded beyond the Yunjian Province, and the residents here have finally From what she said, she was quite grateful to us for leaving this fortress and heading back to the wasteland."

Storm sighed.

"Sounds a bit like the beginning of a new story."

Fang Chang smiled.

"right?"

Because of an expedition, stagnant history began to move forward, and each of them was a witness to this moment. In the distant future, when people remember that ancient version, they will probably also think of the names of these participants.

Ye Shi suddenly laughed slyly and said.

"By the way, I almost forgot to ask, what does Li Shuyue have to do with you?"

Fang Chang rolled his eyes.

"It doesn't matter... and I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense everywhere, especially over there. I have a wife."

Ye Shi: "Damn! You are so particular in the game!"

"You don't understand," Fang Chang shook his head and said quietly, "The reason why sincerity is precious is because it only comes once."

"Ugh, vomit, vomit!"

Just when Ye Shi was holding on to the wall and vomiting, Fang Chang looked at Lao Bai who was looking at them with a smile.

"By the way, Lao Bai, what task does the manager give us this time?"

Lao Bai said with a grin.

"One thousand cubic meters of helium 3 is waiting for us to recycle it in a research institute in Jinchuan Province."

Fang Chang took a breath of cold air.

"How much does that cost..."

"Based on the energy consumption in the real world, assuming that the third generation of fusion technology is unlocked, one thousand cubic meters of helium-3 is enough for the earth to consume for one year. As for the game," Kuang Feng thought for a while and shrugged, "it is estimated that the alliance's energy consumption The level is sufficient until the service is stopped.”

Even in an ideal city, the energy consumed in a year should not exceed this number.

One can imagine what a huge wealth this is!

"It's too exaggerated to stop the service," Fang Chang couldn't help but smile in surprise and looked up at the sky, "Where is our end."

"Stop talking nonsense, how long do you plan to rest?" Lao Bai patted his buddy on the shoulder and said with a smile, "The manager has given us a lot of time. We can finish it within half a year."

"How long will you rest?" Fang Chang was stunned for a moment, "Didn't I say that I would go back with you this time -"

Ye Shi rolled his eyes.

"Are you sure? You won't be with your Dolly when you go back?"

A rare hint of morning glow appeared on the usually calm face. Fang Chang coughed slightly in embarrassment and looked to the side.

"Wait for me for a few days..."

Looking at Fang Chang who suddenly became "shy", Ye Shi felt goosebumps all over his body and turned his face to the sky with a look of discomfort.

"Damn it... I really want to throw this guy off the rooftop!"

Looking at Ye Shi who was twisted with envy, jealousy and hatred, Lao Bai laughed heartily and patted his shoulder hard.

Kuang Feng, who was standing aside, gave the boy a sidelong glance.

"...Didn't you insist on bringing this up yourself?"

…

A week has passed since the "Vault 0" incident.

Across the vast desert more than 5,000 kilometers away, people who have not yet evacuated are still busy doing some cleaning and finishing work on the battlefield.

Although some fast young players have returned to the alliance early, and have even gone as far as the easternmost part of the Central Continent, Chu Guang, as the manager, has not left yet.

There are still a lot of things waiting for him to deal with here.

In previous battles, the Alliance captured a total of 120 disciples of the Enlightenment. These people will be brought back to Dawn City and tried by the court there.

Although they are Vault Dwellers, the Alliance will not treat them differently based on where they come from, and will treat them the same as other prisoners in terms of punishment.

However, the legal workers of the alliance and the public still need to discuss which law should be used as the criterion and the details of sentencing people at different levels.

But one thing won't change.

Even if they were victims of the Enlightenment, they were still responsible for being the accomplices of the devil.

They will be sentenced to more than ten years in prison and undergo labor reform during the period of imprisonment. At the same time, they will undertake voluntary work in welfare institutions such as refugee homes and workers' schools, and help survivors rescued from the wasteland in medical and education-related fields. Performance during the sentence may be reduced.

If you make special contributions while serving your sentence, your criminal liability can also be reduced.

Punishment is only a means, not an end. The knowledge, skills and experience acquired by shelter residents are a valuable asset, and this is also the legacy left by the Awami League.

The stubborn part had already died on the battlefield, and Chu Guang felt that it was worth giving them a chance to reform for these prisoners who were wavering in the face of death.

In addition to the placement of more than a hundred prisoners, there is another important matter that must be resolved before returning home.

That was the airship anchored next to the camp.

Although buffer airbags and parachutes slow down the speed of the airship's fall and the impact of hitting the ground, they do not have no impact on the structure of the airship.

Especially the wings on both sides.

When the outer armor was blown up to reduce weight, the connection between the wing and the airship was damaged, causing it to break during the fall.

Even if everything works fine with the anti-gravity device, this guy can't go anywhere.

Fortunately, those five base vehicles can process the parts needed to repair the airship wings and propeller engines, and they have almost been repaired this week.

In comparison, the situation of the Arbitrator is much miserable.

Although Chu Guang didn't ask, he could guess just by looking at Captain Adria's face that the situation of that thing must be terrible.

In the past two days, players who planned to go back with the Heart of Steel have been wandering around, building the alliance's outpost in the desert while searching for traces of the Enlightenment Society.

However, they did not find any clues about the Enlightenment Society. Instead, they found many mutant lairs hidden in the ruins.

As a result, there were nearly one hundred and sixty more rescued survivors in the Alliance camp.

Including those who came before, the number of survivors in the camp was close to three hundred.

What makes people feel complicated is that this may be just the tip of the iceberg of this hell. In places where the Alliance has not yet set foot, there are countless more similar tragedies...

…

Near the industrial building.

A concrete slab with sharp edges stands on the steps of the building's main entrance. The steep stone slab was engraved with rows of names that Chu Guang was familiar with.

The company took away the belongings left by its employees in the wreckage of the Trailblazer.

Before setting off for the return voyage, the man named Yun Song and his 26th Commando found a piece of concrete nearby as a stone tablet and engraved the names of the Pioneer crew members on it as a souvenir.

A sturdier and more beautiful monument is still being made and will be sent from Ideal City to the Alliance next month, and then the Alliance will deliver it here.

In the past few days, Chu Guang would come here every day to see the familiar names and the places where they had fought.

In fact, he always remembered it.

Luo Hua, who seems to be gentle, is actually an alcoholic, but he will not refuse delicious mushroom soup. Ai Si, a beautiful bodyguard who talks little, likes furry things...such as meat, and she is even willing to pay for it.

The water tanker driver Yuan Hao liked to eat steamed buns and bought more than fifty at a time and distributed them to his colleagues. That was the beginning of the alliance's "light industry." Li De, the head of the logistics section, is a cunning old man, but he still paid his salary in a very regular manner... and there are many, many interesting people.

In order to earn more Cr from them, Fang Chang and Brother Mole wrote a lot of strategies, and Chu Guang would sometimes take a peek and learn a trick secretly.

As for Lu Yang.

He is a man with a strong sense of justice. His determination, bravery and kindness are impressive and enviable.

pity……

A lot of people are gone.

"...When I saw Luo Hua, I actually thought that you might have encountered something unexpected, and this rescue might not have any results. But I still told my friends that our friends are in danger , we are going to pick them up."

"We crossed deserts, crossed valleys, marched 2,500 kilometers, and defeated powerful enemies that were considered invincible... It's a pity that we couldn't bring you back in the end."

"I thought for a moment that I would kill those prisoners to avenge you. Even if those disciples were not the murderers, they had been accomplices of the murderers. But I quickly thought that if you were still alive, you would definitely stop me and tell me this. Not revenge, just pure venting of anger, meaningless and ugly..."

With a slight sigh, Chu Guang placed a bouquet of wild flowers in front of the tombstone.

"The right choice is always the hardest. If we don't correct the mistakes that have happened and are happening, the Wasteland Era will never end."

"You are an amazing group of adventurers."

"Thank you for coming."

The Heart of Steel has been repaired and will return tomorrow.

However, I will come back to visit you.

Chu Guang withdrew his gaze from the tall concrete stone monument, turned around and walked down the steps, when suddenly there was movement from the side.

Chu Guang stopped and looked aside, only to see Rama standing there.

He remembered this brave girl who was the first to stand up when everyone was silent and provided many important clues.

Seeing through the expression on her face that she had something to say, Chu Guang said in a gentle tone.

"Is there a problem?"

Rama hesitated for a moment, but the determination in her eyes did not change. She bit her lower lip, said nothing, and knelt on the ground on one knee.

Chu Guang sighed.

He was not used to the survivors being like this.

"Get up and speak."

Hearing the tone that refused to be refused, Rama stood up silently, and after a short while, he slowly spoke.

"Dear Manager, I... want to stay."

Chu Guang said patiently, probably guessing her concerns.

"You can start a new life in the Alliance. There are many survivors like you there, and people won't care about your past."

"I believe you, but... I still want to stay here," Rama whispered after a long silence, "There are still many people here who have not been rescued."

Chu Guang glanced at her in surprise, not expecting her to be so aware.

His eyes gradually became serious, and he asked again in a serious tone.

"Have you thought about it?"

Rama nodded seriously.

"Well... this is not a temporary idea of ​​mine. I have thought about it for a long time. I am very grateful to you for saving us. If possible, we also want to do something."

After she saw the girls rescued from the mutant lairs by the Alliance, and after she thought that there were countless mutant tribes like the "Blackstone" tribe in this wasteland, she had the idea of ​​​​staying in her heart. idea.

Even though the battle is not easy, no one is born as an awakened person. If you don't take the first step, you will always be a lamb in the sheepfold.

In fact, this was not her idea alone.

This is also a thought shared by many rescued survivors.

Their thoughts are more simple. Instead of going to an unknown place to start a new life, it is better to start from the land under their feet.

There is plenty of fresh water here, there are food sources, and there are already built houses. Even if you don't become a warrior, you can still take care of crops or raise insects. Although life here is accompanied by danger, where is the safe place in this wasteland?

At least here, they don't have to face strange looks from strangers...

The surprised look turned into approval. Chu Guang looked at her and nodded, saying happily.

"I'm glad you think so. I will leave you some weapons, enough for you to protect yourself. We will also leave some people to act with you, and we will send people to send supplies from time to time. If we encounter something that cannot be solved "Trouble, you can ask for their help. Although they have their own tasks, they will also be happy to complete some challenges outside of the tasks."

"In addition, if the tools on the Pioneer are still usable, they can be recycled. After retirement, you can help others, that person will feel gratified... Remember to come here occasionally to visit his grave and say thank you to him Just fine.”

Rama nodded and said respectfully.

"I will remember your teachings."

"Nothing to talk about, just a suggestion."

Chu Guang turned his attention to the stone tablet not far away.

He had had similar thoughts before.

The company has commemorated those brave people in its own way, and the alliance will also commemorate those partners in its own way...

"from now on."

"This is Kaifeng City."