Isaac waved to the girl responsible for operating the elevator nearby.
Zhang Chen had a slight impression of this girl.
The first time he visited Isaac's hotel, it was her who operated the elevator for him.
He hadn't expected she was still in charge of the elevator.
It was strange, too. This girl was plain-looking, and her figure was... plain...
Completely not to Isaac's taste, yet why did he keep her around during every escape or move?
The girl silently walked to Isaac's side and then took out a bag of instant noodles and a can of luncheon meat from her ring, placing them before Isaac.
Then, she turned and left.
She hadn't said a single word the entire time.
This left Zhang Chen bewildered.
What was going on?
Were supplies and blueprints less valuable than this bag of instant noodles and can of luncheon meat?
Why else would Isaac take them out at this moment?
Moreover, judging by his expression, there was a hint of reluctance mixed with immense confidence.
"Mr. Zhang, if I'm not mistaken... you came for this, didn't you!"
Isaac said, handing the instant noodles and luncheon meat to Zhang Chen with both hands.
Zhang Chen took the instant noodles and looked at them. They were just ordinary instant noodles; he didn't feel anything was amiss.
He then looked at the can of luncheon meat, also seeing nothing unusual.
It was just that most cans of luncheon meat were square, while this one was round, that was all.
As for the classification of items in a storage ring, it wouldn't consider what brand the item was or what its packaging looked like.
As long as it was luncheon meat and of the same specifications, it would be stored in the same slot.
Instant noodles were the same; regardless of flavor, as long as they were instant noodles, they would be stored in the same slot.
Of course, cup noodles and bagged instant noodles were separated.
What was so strange about such plain instant noodles and luncheon meat?
Seeing Zhang Chen's puzzled expression.
Isaac introduced with a smile,
"Please take a look at the brand of the instant noodles and luncheon meat first!"
Zhang Chen looked down.
The instant noodles were from the Qilu brand, and the luncheon meat was from the Meihua brand.
What was the problem with these brands?
"Take a look at the brands of other instant noodles and luncheon meat in your storage ring!"
Isaac continued to guide him.
Zhang Chen scanned them briefly.
There were many brands of instant noodles and luncheon meat, but there were none from the Qilu or Meihua brands.
So what if these two brands were missing?
Even on Earth, it was normal for product brands to vary in popularity across different countries and regions.
"You're a businessman; you wouldn't not understand this logic, would you?"
Zhang Chen asked, confused.
"I didn't expect Mr. Zhang to know so much. That's right, there is indeed the possibility you mentioned!
But the next two points will surely pique your interest!
First, I didn't collect these two items from a supermarket; I obtained them from a high-level infected!"
Isaac said slowly.
Seeing Zhang Chen's face full of questions, he continued to explain:
"That's right. When I acquired these supplies, I had the same thoughts as you do now!
We already know what infected individuals usually carry: nothing more than cloth, fertilizer, crystal cores, keys, cash, roughly these types of items!
But this high-level infected was different from the others. He had a dark red ring on his hand.
This ring, in terms of its shape, appearance, and material, was almost identical to our storage rings!"
Isaac said, taking out the dark red ring.
"So, I speculate that this dark red ring must be a technological product developed later by the original inhabitants of this world!
Its function is the same as our storage rings, which explains the peculiar phenomenon of supplies appearing!
It's also possible that we were forcibly transported here by these original inhabitants through some form of technology!"
Zhang Chen nodded.
What Isaac said had some merit.
He hadn't seen such rings after killing so many zombies before.
This indicated that those zombies were original inhabitants who died in the early stages of the apocalypse.
At that time, the original inhabitants' research into meteorite energy was not yet in-depth.
As time progressed, the original inhabitants gradually mastered the application of meteorite energy, so it was possible they developed these rings!
The "Journal Wrapped in Scales" that Zhang Chen found, which recorded the new era of the original inhabitants, had mentioned that human technology was gradually maturing, and they had recaptured many cities with it.
At the end of the journal, it also stated that progressive scientists had achieved significant scientific breakthroughs.
However, it did not specify what these breakthroughs were.
It was highly possible that they were related to this dark red ring!
"No!"
Zhang Chen frowned; he had discovered a problem.
The production date of the instant noodles was March 15, 2013, and the production date of the luncheon meat was April 2, 2013!
According to Xu Ruina's experimental record video and the blood-stained diary entries.
The original inhabitants' world was overrun by zombies and mutated creatures around November 2012.
Human civilization was ultimately destroyed around December 2012.
The following three to four months must have been the darkest period of human struggle for survival.
Under these circumstances, how could they have started factory machinery to mass-produce food?
Furthermore, even if they had started the factories, why would they put on labels of brands that had never been seen before?!
It was completely redundant!
But... the original inhabitants wouldn't be foolish enough to do something meaningless.
What was their purpose in doing so?
For a moment, Zhang Chen fell into confusion.
Too many clues led to more mysteries.
Zhang Chen felt as if he were lost in a dense fog, unable to find the correct direction.
However, no matter what, within the high walls of Tengxiang Country, he was sure to find the answers to these mysteries!
Zhang Chen clutched the two items tightly.
Putting them into the ring would be troublesome.
Finding this particular pack of instant noodles among tens of thousands of instant noodles was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.
Zhang Chen planned to store them in the villa's refrigerator for proper preservation.
Perhaps they would be of great use in the future!
"Then... are we... done like this?"
"You must be busy with other matters, so I won't bother you any longer!"
Isaac said softly, as if afraid of waking someone who had just fallen asleep.
"Wait, there's one more thing!"
Zhang Chen suddenly said.
"Ah? Mr. Zhang, I really have no more supplies. I've already given you such important items; I truly have nothing else hidden..."
Isaac said with a苦脸 (bitter expression), complaining.
"No, you misunderstood. Didn't you give me the supplies from the Gorilla Legion? I just took a look, and there are many things I can't use!
Now, I'm entrusting you to help me sell them. The crystal cores and supplies I get in return... I don't have much patience to wait..."
Zhang Chen said with a smile, looking at Isaac with an expression that said, "You understand!"