Hearing Jiang Baimian's explanation, all the carbon-based life forms present were speechless, immersed in some complex feeling.
Only Shang Jianyao, imitating Long Yuehong's current posture, blurted out:
“You had this all planned from the start?”
Yes, if she had thought of this situation from the beginning, and everything was within her plan, that would be terrifying! Long Yuehong echoed Shang Jianyao in his heart.
Jiang Baimian shook her head:
"Except for an AI like Old Ge analyzing using brute force, it's impossible for normal humans to plan such a thing from the start. At that time, we weren't even sure if Primal Town had an Awakened at the 'Mind Corridor' level, and we didn't know that there would be a mission requiring us to return to First City."
She organized her words:
"The earliest thing was when we were looking for the bandit gang to test the defenses of Primal Town. I was thinking that driving the weak wouldn't have much effect. Influencing a large number with sufficient firepower solely relying on Shang Jianyao would be too difficult. It would require a gradual, step-by-step approach, and absolutely nothing could happen that contradicted our narrative. It's simplest and most convenient, and least prone to accidents, to use Wu Meng's recording.
"And when we escaped First City, we also used Wu Meng's recording. It's normal that the 'Hands of Order' couldn't receive intelligence in time and couldn't figure out the reason, but it would be underestimating them to think they would be kept in the dark forever.
"The similarity between these two events will definitely make them make certain associations, and the former can't be concealed. After all, every bandit needs to hear it, and killing them all to silence them is simply too much work."
"You even had us snipe the witnesses," Bai Chen said slowly.
Jiang Baimian smiled:
"If we didn't do that, how would we show that we were discovered because we didn't do the details well, rather than intentionally?"
That's too, too cunning, no, too sly, right?… Long Yuehong muttered in his heart.
Jiang Baimian continued:
"What I was thinking at the time was, since the Wu Meng recording can't be hidden, we can consider using it to set a trap.
"If we find out that Primal Town doesn't have an Awakened at the 'Mind Corridor' level, then we can take advantage of the chaos caused by the bandit gang's night raid to rescue the townspeople and take them to a new settlement without having to consider the follow-up. But if the 'First City's' secret experiment is important and we can't achieve our goal with our strength, then we'll cover it up and show that we want to hide our identities and not reveal our true purpose.
"In this way, we can link up with the 'Hands of Order's' pursuit and bring about change.
"I've been saying all along that this matter requires expecting accidents, and it's the same now. First City is strong and has many powerful individuals. Even if some of its forces are transferred here and the internal ambitious figures are restless, turmoil may not necessarily occur. It can only be said that this possibility is not small, because even without the Primal Town incident, the situation within the city is very tense and on the verge of erupting."
Her last words were addressed to Zeng Duo, reminding her that this matter was not so certain, and that she had to pray for some luck at times, so don't have too high expectations, and just do it earnestly to be worthy of everyone.
Jiang Baimian didn't mention Pangu Biology's latest instructions and her own report, the latter of which she categorized under accidents and luck—it would be best if Pangu Biology could provide assistance, which would simplify things a lot; lack of assistance wouldn't affect the implementation of the entire plan.
Zeng Duo was silent for a while, then laughed self-deprecatingly:
"I didn't expect that this matter could be advanced in this way.
"This immediately rises to a very high level."
Originally, it was just a matter of dealing with two companies of regular troops and one 'Mind Corridor' powerhouse, but the result was an expansion to the entire 'First City' level.
This means multiple legions, a large number of advanced weapons, enough firepower to cover the entire Northern Shore Wastelands, and countless powerful individuals.
In the eyes of normal people, this is like increasing the difficulty by hundreds or thousands of times, or even more, and no one would be foolish enough to do such a thing.
But following Jiang Baimian's train of thought, it could actually create an opportunity to rescue Primal Town.
To Zeng Duo, this was simply incredible.
Jiang Baimian smiled:
"The main thing is that there is such a situation in itself, and we are just taking advantage of it and guiding it along.
"If 'First City' really didn't have such serious internal conflicts, it would be like an idiot talking in his sleep for us to try to stir up such a big thing. And even now, it's not us who are stirring it up; we are just trying our best to create a suitable environment for them.
"Hehe, if 'First City' could unite, even to a lesser extent, we would have been caught long ago."
Hearing this, Long Yuehong was already sincerely convinced.
Clap, clap, clap, Shang Jianyao's applause was late but arrived.
"What do we do next?" Han Wanghuo took the initiative to ask Jiang Baimian.
Jiang Baimian nodded:
"We'll split into two groups. One group will stay on the Northern Shore, leaving some traces from time to time to make the people of 'First City' believe that we are still eyeing Primal Town, still plotting, uh, plotting something."
She originally wanted to say "plotting something wrong," but when the words came to her lips, she realized that it was a derogatory term, so she forcibly made a replacement.
She couldn't treat herself as a villain, right?
"The other group will return to First City and act when the opportunity arises." After Jiang Baimian finished the plan, she looked around and said, "Zeng Duo, you are most familiar with the situation in the Northern Shore Wastelands, so you stay here. Old Han, Old Ge, you give her a hand. Well, I'll allocate you a military-use exoskeleton, so that you have sufficient mobility. Remember, don't try to be brave. Mainly wander in the outer areas. Once you find that you are locked on by the people of 'First City', immediately find a way to retreat."
"Okay." "No problem." Zeng Duo and Han Wanghuo answered separately.
They all knew that staying in the Northern Shore Wastelands was relatively safer than returning to First City. After all, they didn't have to confront them directly, nor did they need to risk approaching and probing for intelligence.
This heavily polluted area is so vast that hiding two or three people is not too easy. The Noss Bandit Gang has been able to repeatedly evade the powerful encirclement and suppression of the 'First City' regular army for so many years, and "terrain advantage" is definitely one of the main reasons.
The reason why Jiang Baimian let Genava follow Zeng Duo and Han Wanghuo was partly because she wanted to reassure them, and partly because Genava's appearance was too conspicuous. Even if he returned to First City, he wouldn't dare to wander around outside normally. Once he was discovered, it would inevitably lead to investigations, and the role he could play would be limited.
Jiang Baimian continued:
"Before that, we have to find some materials to camouflage the vehicles returning to the city."
"I know which city ruins have them." Zeng Duo's advantage of being familiar with the situation in the Northern Shore Wastelands came into play.
"I'll take charge!" Shang Jianyao was excited and eager to try.
Jiang Baimian's mouth twitched slightly as she glanced at this guy:
"You can do it, but don't make it too fancy. My requirement is ordinary, nothing special."
If Shang Jianyao really sprayed a cartoon paint job on the jeep, how would it pass the city entry inspection?
"Okay." Shang Jianyao was slightly disappointed.
…………
Golden Apple District, 22 Booni Street, in a house with a garden, a lawn, and a swimming pool.
Chief Constable Wall entered the study and saw his father-in-law, the newly promoted Elder, a military power figure, and the leader of the Reformists, Gaius.
The general had his black hair neatly combed back, his nose was hooked, his cheeks were slightly sunken, and he looked very serious, with a certain atmosphere that made people nervous.
But when he gave speeches, he was full of passion and extremely inflammatory.
Gaius's deep blue eyes swept over and pointed to the opposite side of the desk:
"Sit down."
Wall, who was calm and unhurried in the face of his superiors and many nobles, first greeted him and then sat down somewhat restrainedly.
"What's the matter?" Gaius asked.
He was already in his forties and had been in battle for a long time, so his face inevitably had traces of wind and frost.
Wall roughly recounted the affairs of Xue Shiyue and Zhang Qubing's team and the military's secret mission in the Northern Anherford area, and finally asked:
"Whose power are they using?"
Gaius tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table and nodded slowly:
"The one in the No. 13 Ruins.
"Someone actually dared to record his broadcast…
"Maybe that team has become his puppet, or maybe the two sides have reached some agreements."
As a descendant of the aristocracy, Wall vaguely understood the dangerous existence sealed in the No. 13 Ruins in the Wastelands.
He frowned slightly and said:
"Does the force behind Xue Shiyue's team want to release that demon?"
"That depends on how much they know," Gaius said calmly.
He then sneered:
"The one in the ruins wouldn't think that after so many years, we haven't found a way to completely eliminate him, would he?
"If it weren't for…"
Speaking of this, Gaius stopped and said to Wall:
"Someone will be responsible for handling the affairs in the Northern Anherford area. You don't need to worry."
He picked up his teacup and said as if chatting:
"Alexander's youngest daughter is back."
Alexander is the current Inspector of "First City", one of the three giants.
Wall was stunned for a moment:
"Garolan?"
…………
Under the night, in the Northern Shore Wastelands, in an abandoned town surrounded by malformed trees.
The Old Task Force was waiting for a call back from Pangu Biology.