604: Chapter 485: Contact (Part 2) 604: Chapter 485: Contact (Part 2) Su Mo and the others soon followed Jialan to the end of the passage, where the scene before them abruptly opened up.
An extrely narrow underground congregational area ca into view.
There, buildings shaped like grid squares were constructed, and the roads were very narrow.
However, many children could be seen squatting together, playing, and laughing from ti to ti.
By its size, this was a congregational area of over 20,000 people.
“There’s an open space over here.
You guys rest there for now.
Without our permission, do not leave that space.
If any new situation arises, I will inform you.”
Jialan led Su Mo to a relatively spacious open space.
It wasn’t that they looked down on Su Mo and the others, but rather, there were simply too many of them to accommodate at once.
“Alright.”
Su Mo and the others had no objections, as they were not picky.
Then Jialan turned around and left.
Lin Ming addressed everyone, “Rest here.”
Upon hearing this, they all sat down where they were.
At this mont, many natives and children of the Hongji Empire curiously gathered around.
For most of them, this was the first ti they had seen newcors.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity and surprise.
However, they did not approach rashly, still retaining a sense of instinctive fear.
At this ti, as the resting group began to take out nutrition bars from their waist packs, preparing to eat and replenish their strength,
though they had eaten before, their previous intense escape had severely drained their energy.
Just as they were about to start eating, they saw pairs of curious and sowhat longing eyes staring at them.
Many children in tattered clothes swallowed hard, their faces filled with desire.
Although they didn’t understand what nutrition bars were, seeing the attractive colors of the bars being put into mouths, they naturally knew it was sothing delicious.
At that mont, Karina, with a smile, handed her nutrition bar to them.
A little girl hesitated before cautiously reaching out her hand.
Karina nodded at her with encouraging eyes.
The little girl then stepped forward, reaching out to take it, her small face breaking into a joyful smile.
She said to Karina,
“Thank you.”
Seeing this, other children crowded around eagerly.
Lin Ming and the others, upon observing this, generously handed out nutrition bars to them.
…..
In the distance, an elder in a blue robe, leaning on a chanical walking stick, was gazing at this scene from afar.
Seeing this, he revealed a contemplative expression.
At that mont, Jialan ca over and respectfully started to speak.
“Grandfather.”
“Jialan, what you did this ti was indeed a bit reckless.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s the point in saying that?
I’m not opposing your actions.
From what we see now, it may not be a bad thing after all, at least these outsiders have made a good first impression on .
Of course, this doesn’t represent my final view of them.
But our current situation is indeed becoming more difficult.
If we can’t change, our complete destruction won’t be far off.
In the contest with the artificial intelligence, Black Cosmos, we truly are losing.”
“Grandfather, it won’t happen.”
Jialan kept shaking her head.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore.
After much consideration, since you brought them here, you’ll be responsible for connecting with them.
As a token of sincerity, I’ll allow you to take so of them to visit and understand our congregational area.
In addition, you must also clearly inquire about their background.”
“I will.”
Jialan nodded earnestly in response.
“Silly child, you don’t have to be too stressed about this.
Take your ti in making contact.
Even if we are not doing well, we won’t collapse in a short ti.
Just one thing I want to remind you of—don’t trust these outsiders too much.
Humans are very complex creatures and possess a strong capacity for deception.”
“I understand.”
“Go ahead, boldly reach out, and as for the different voices from the Elder Council, I will suppress them for you.
The future ultimately belongs to you young people.”
…
———————————————-
Inside the temporary camp, Su Mo and a few others huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
Lin Ming was the first to voice his thoughts.
“I took a mont to observe just now, and I’ve realized that despite the disrepair here, the level of civilization preservation is quite intact.
For example, the air quality here is not even on the sa level as the sewers’, which ans there is a complete air filtration system in place.”
Karina spoke in agreent.
“And that’s not all; if you look closely at the houses here, they’re not made from ordinary tal structures, but entirely from alloys.
They must have been constructed using materials plundered from killed Security Guards, indicating they must possess a fairly sophisticated crafting ability.
They likely retain a part of the manufacturing capabilities.”
“Based on what you’re saying, they’re not just ordinary survivors of the Hongji Empire.”
Su Mo pondered for a mont before speaking.
“They might be core mbers.”
Lin Ming nodded in agreent.
“What’s the difference?”
Victor asked, puzzled.
“The difference is significant.
If they are core mbers of the Hongji Empire, they will surely know how to leave this place.
At the very least, they would know what thod to use to escape.
Keep in mind that until now, we still haven’t figured out how we fell to this damned place.”
Su Mo explained to Victor.
“I doubt it; if they knew how to leave, they would have gone long ago.”
Victor wasn’t very optimistic.
At that mont, Qian Chengxue interjected with a reminder; “Enough about that, the woman nad Jialan is coming this way.”
Su Mo and the others all fell silent.
As Jialan approached, Lin Ming and the others greeted her in turn.
“Miss Jialan, hello.”
Jialan glanced at Lin Ming and the others, then her gaze settled on Su Mo, ignoring everyone else as she said, “You, co with .”
“Ah, ?”
Su Mo was startled.
“Is there a problem?”
“No.”
Su Mo quickly recovered and responded.
Qian Chengxue and Karina watched this scene unfold, their lips slightly moving as if they wanted to speak, but they then abandoned the thought.
They could only watch as Su Mo left with Jialan.
Once the two were at a distance, Victor voiced his concern sowhat uneasily, “If they’ve taken Su Mo away alone, could they an him harm?”
Despite his initial disdain for Su Mo, Victor had co to genuinely admire him during their ti fleeing together.
“Don’t worry.
Have confidence in Su Mo; for now, let’s do nothing to avoid arousing suspicion.”
Unbeknownst to him, Lin Ming had also co to trust Su Mo a great deal.
“Alright.”
…
anwhile, Su Mo accompanied Jialan as they made their way toward the residential area.
Along the way, many heads popped out from the windows of the buildings, curiously gazing at Su Mo.
Su Mo felt like a monkey on display, incredibly uncomfortable.
He originally wanted to strike up a conversation with Jialan to smooth things over, but it felt like anything he might say would be awkward.
Small talk and schmoozing were not his forte, especially when it ca to won, with whom Su Mo had even less experience.
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