Davis got back into the car and started it.
They drove forward, stopping to explore resource item shops along the way, but to no avail. The buildings were all empty.
Allen frowned and pointed to a shop on the side. "Let's check out that store."
It was a furniture repair shop. After Davis entered, he quickly showed surprise and then hurried out of the shop.
"This shop isn't empty, there's something inside!"
Allen asked, "What is it? Is it unrelated to resources?"
Davis paused and said, "Yes, it's unrelated to resources. Inside are some tools, and the bones of mutated creatures."
Allen frowned. "As expected."
Ji Ruyue asked, "Have you thought of something?"
Allen mused, "This place is exactly like the Ruined City, as if it's been replicated. So, is it a bit far-fetched to describe it as another world?"
Gonzalez asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Allen explained, "This world was likely artificially constructed, or perhaps it's just an illusion. Of course, I'm not entirely sure how it was built or how to prove it's an illusion, but the absence of any resources along the way suggests something."
Ji Ruyue nodded. "That makes sense. Because no resource items could be replicated. After all, if that were possible, they could just conquer the wasteland, or even rebuild civilization."
Allen frowned. "Those crystal beings might be related to the Rhine Corporation. So, is it possible that this world is also related to the Rhine Corporation?"
"Bingo!"
Bai Ye shouted inwardly.
He really liked intelligent people like Allen and Ji Ruyue.
They didn't need much prompting. With just a simple hint, they would start thinking and even discover the anomalies themselves.
Davis and Gonzalez, on the other hand, weren't as good; they were too slow.
As long as Allen suspected something, the rest would be easy.
Because once Allen suspected, he would be willing to investigate the Rhine Corporation. Then, Bai Ye just needed to give some hints and guidance, leading Allen to find clues, and eventually, Allen would naturally discover everything.
Meanwhile, Allen said to Davis, "Don't stop anymore, just keep going. We're heading to Laboratory No. 3."
Davis nodded.
The mission their boss gave them was to find resources from another world, but it seemed that mission was almost impossible to complete.
In that case, following Allen to uncover the truth wouldn't be so bad. xxs壹贰
The car quickly drove forward, and then a steel high wall appeared in front of it.
This was the dividing line between the slums and the affluent district. Beyond that steel wall was entirely Rhine Corporation territory.
Davis slowly parked the car by the side and then leaned out to look. "The gate is closed, but I don't see any guards."
The gate was that wall, which completely isolated the city in the Ruined World.
So, the people in the slums called this wall the Gate.
While the people in the affluent district proudly called that wall the Gate of Paradise.
Inside the gate was paradise; outside was hell.
"It's my turn." Ji Ruyue picked up a small metal box and said, "Give me fifteen minutes!"
Ji Ruyue took the box to the guardhouse by the gate, unscrewed the metal casing of a machine, opened the box, revealing a holographic computer.
Ji Ruyue pulled out two data cables, connected them to the instruments in the guardhouse, and then quickly started typing on the keyboard.
Bai Ye looked at Allen and asked curiously, "Is she also a computer expert?"
"Brain domain!" Allen pointed to his head. "Besides her special abilities, Ruyue is also very intelligent. After all, her brain domain development is higher than ours, so she knows a lot."
As Allen spoke, he took out a crumpled box from his pocket and offered some of his hand-rolled cigarettes to the others.
In the wasteland, these were good things, very difficult to obtain, and could be considered luxuries. Alcohol was the same.
Everyone struggled to eat, so where would they get the grain to brew alcohol?
Bai Ye and the others opened the windows and blew out smoke rings. By the time the cigarettes burned out, Ji Ruyue also came out of the guardhouse, carrying the box.
A small iron door in the corner of the massive gate slowly opened.
Ji Ruyue got back into the car and said, "Let's go!"
After passing through the gate, they entered the affluent district.
The affluent district was distinctly different from the slums.
The slums were the most realistic portrayal of the wasteland: dilapidated buildings, desolate land, people wearing tattered clothes, some even in rags.
Just being able to fill their stomachs was a luxury. The entire slum exuded a sense of sorrow and numbness.
For most people, living one day at a time was all they could hope for.
But the affluent district...
The feeling was subtle!
The buildings in the affluent district also had a sense of desolation.
After all, under the wasteland, everything was decaying, consumed by time, gradually turning desolate.
However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that it wasn't that simple.
The surrounding buildings had clearly been repaired, with no messy debris. Although the streets were old, they had no cracks and appeared clean. There was no debris on the sides of the streets, nor piled-up scrapped cars.
Everything was merely ancient, but compared to the slums, this place felt like it was still living the life before the wasteland.
Continuing forward, there were even still-functioning metal tracks that could transport people anywhere within the affluent district.
Furthermore, various robots gradually appeared in their sight.
Barrel-shaped garbage cleaning robots, drone-like city surveillance robots, patrolling robotic dogs, and armed robots responsible for enforcement.
Of course, these robots were all stationary. After all, making robots move required energy, and the mirror world was a false simulation world that couldn't replicate any resource products.
Davis clicked his tongue twice. "The affluent district is also exactly like the Ruined City."
Ji Ruyue pouted. "As if you've been to the affluent district."
Davis retorted, "Why wouldn't I have been? I've taken on missions in the affluent district too!"
As Davis spoke, he slowed down the car, allowing everyone to observe their surroundings. At this moment, Bai Ye's brow furrowed deeply.
Because...
"Due to a participant discovering and entering the restricted zone, Rhine Corporation's Laboratory No. 3 (Mirror World), all participants currently located in the Ruined City (Mirror World) will be included in this restricted zone."
Restricted zone...
It had suddenly opened!
...