"Dozens of artillery pieces?" Long Yuehong asked back in surprise.

This kind of strength far surpassed the "Old Task Force's" previous encounter with the "Hyena" bandit gang, almost comparable to those who occupied mineral resources in remote and wild areas.

Dawson stroked his messy beard:

"Our hunting team heard it from passing relic hunters, we haven't actually encountered them.

"If we had, how would we have gotten back?

"Anyway, I'm just giving you a heads-up. Believe it if you want, if you don't, I can't find any more reasons to convince you."

After saying that, as the elder of this settlement, Dawson asked with concern:

"How many cans of meat are you going to trade for mushrooms and moss?"

It doesn't matter if the outsiders die, but the exchange of supplies must not be delayed.

--Dawson had actually lied about some details earlier, mainly concerning the output of mushrooms and moss.

Although it really wasn't that high, the sewer system of a large city in the Old World was so vast, and there were mushroom-growing spots everywhere in the ruins. Plus, with generations of breed improvement, they were barely able to feed themselves with staple foods.

Dawson deeply understood the principle of "don't show all your wealth to others," lest these outsiders get any ideas they shouldn't have. So, he deliberately said that the production of edible mushrooms and moss was very problematic and not enough for the townspeople to eat.

Of course, these kinds of foods weren't very nutritious and didn't fill you up much, so they still had to regularly organize hunting parties to go out and hunt, pick fruits, and also not miss opportunities to trade for military canned goods, compressed biscuits, and other foods.

These were not only delicious, but also filling!

Jiang Baimian answered before the "spirited" Shang Jianyao could:

"Four at most, we don't have many left.

"Well, do you need weapons? The types are quite mixed, and there aren't many bullets for the corresponding models, but a few bags of dried mushrooms can get you one.

"If you have a need for metal resources, we've collected some as well."

These were all scavenged from that "Heartless" cave, filling the remaining space in the jeep.

Therefore, Jiang Baimian hoped to clear them out as soon as possible and replenish some food, lest they have to work as hunters on the way to First City.

Real hunters.

Dawson scratched his slightly damp hair:

"I'm afraid we don't have that much to trade.

"There are a few other settlements in this area, why don't we team up and trade?"

Hearing these words, Long Yuehong deeply understood the scarcity of resources in similar settlements.

This couldn't be described or encompassed by "poverty."

"No need, it'll delay our time..." Jiang Baimian worked hard to sell the resources they had scavenged, and in exchange, received three bags of dried mushrooms, a package of edible moss, and a distribution map of the less polluted water sources in the surrounding area.

Everyone was happy.

After Dawson saw them out of the shed he had built in the sewer, Long Yuehong waved the flashlight in his hand, illuminating the green and damp moss on the walls on both sides.

This settlement only had a fuel generator and a few solar charging panels from the Old World, and was very sensitive to energy consumption. Even when Elder Dawson was talking with the "Old Task Force," he mainly relied on the flashlight beams in Jiang Baimian's hands for lighting.

And after staying in the dark and humid environment for a long time, the residents here had developed certain facial deformities, allowing them to move freely and swiftly in the sewer like rats.

"Team Leader, are we going to that place with the magnetic field disturbances to the west?" Long Yuehong asked when he saw that no one was around.

He wasn't too concerned about that bandit gang called "Zorro." As long as they didn't have an Awakened at the "Mind Corridor" level, with the "Old Task Force's" current strength, and with the element of surprise, it was almost impossible to fail.

Even more artillery pieces require people to operate them. If something happens to the people, the artillery pieces can't be used.

Thinking of this, Long Yuehong glanced at Genaeva somewhat guiltily.

Well, an Artificial Intelligence is also a person!

Jiang Baimian thought for a moment and said:

"That area has magnetic field disturbances. Whether it's Old Ge, our military exoskeletons, or various weapons, none of them will work. And who knows if there are any dangerous creatures lurking there.

"Let's report this matter to the company and let them organize a team of Awakened to investigate."

Jiang Baimian paused and said in a team leader's tone:

"You must always remember that we have a large organization behind us. You don't have to think about doing everything ourselves. Always doing everything ourselves, not to mention whether it's dangerous or not, just running around will exhaust you to death!

"Anyway, this is related to the mysteries of Awakening, the company definitely won't let it go. And once there are results, won't we benefit from it?

"At that time, we can also apply to access the relevant information and see if it contains the cause of the Old World's destruction and the origin of 'Heartless Disease.'"

Bai Chen expressed agreement:

"According to what that elder said, it takes two to three days to get there, which completely deviates from our planned route."

"I understand," Long Yuehong replied in an educated tone.

Shang Jianyao looked hesitant, but in the end, under Jiang Baimian's gaze, he chose to obey the leader.

The five members of the "Old Task Force" passed through a section of sewer planted with edible moss and arrived at the metal stairs leading to the ground.

There were many residents lining up here, climbing one after another.

At this time, it was afternoon, and the outside was full of sunshine.

Jiang Baimian and the others climbed out of the sewer and casually looked around. They found that the townspeople who had come out earlier first went to various cool and humid places to check their mushroom cultivation, and then found a place where the sun was direct and relatively protected, and lay down one after another, squinting their eyes comfortably.

The environment inside the sewer made them all like basking in the sun very much.

And because of this, they chose to believe in the July's Ruling Star "Double Sun."

Jiang Baimian noted down this custom with interest.

Seeing this scene, Long Yuehong opened the door to the back seat of the jeep and exclaimed:

"Compared to many wasteland wanderer settlements, this place is simply paradise.

"Being a little outside the 'First City' sphere of influence, and the town being mainly in the sewer, it's quite hidden, so you don't have to worry too much about slave hunting teams and all sorts of bandits.

"Moreover, they have also found the Old World's mushroom cultivation technology and edible moss cultivation plan, and have a relatively stable food source. Saving a little is enough to cope with famine..."

After Long Yuehong finished speaking, the honest Genaeva reminded:

"But they can't escape the perception of the Awakened, and they don't have enough strength to resist foreign enemies.

"If we hadn't happened to run into them and easily solved that 'Heartless' group, when they had exhausted their food reserves and started 'hunting,' the humans in this settlement might not have survived either."

Long Yuehong was silent.

A few seconds later, the honest Shang Jianyao helped him curse:

"This damn world!"

This is the Ashlands.

…………

Because many places required detours and many roads were difficult to travel, it took the "Old Task Force" more than a week to drive the jeep to the southern entrance of First City.

Looking at the yellow-earth tanks and armored vehicles parked on the side of the road, the city defense soldiers holding assault rifles and submachine guns, and the vehicles and pedestrians being inspected in order, Long Yuehong felt that on the one hand, it was no different from before, and on the other hand, it seemed a bit different.

Jiang Baimian, in the passenger seat, glanced left and right and said:

"There's no one like Jardi here."

Jardi was a Red River person that the "Old Task Force" met at the other end of the Red River Bridge when they first came to First City. He was responsible for helping convoys and hunters carrying contraband to smooth out relations and enter the city safely.

But now, there was no one like that active at the south city entrance.

This was quite abnormal.

Seeing Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao's gazes turn to him, Genaeva put on a pair of sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, blocking the red flashing lights in his eyes:

"When I left here, Governor Gaius was reorganizing the army, emphasizing discipline on the one hand, and promising to expand on the other..."

"So, the city defense soldiers don't dare to take money anymore?" Jiang Baimian suddenly understood.

The Jardis no longer had room to survive.

If it were the previous "Old Task Force," they would definitely be a little annoyed by such a change, but now, they just parked the car in the distance, had Bai Chen and Shang Jianyao switch positions, and continued forward.

Before long, it was their jeep's turn to be inspected.

Shang Jianyao, who had made certain disguises, stopped the car, took out the documents given by General Fockes, and waved them casually, saying:

"I really envy you guys, you don't have to run around every day, just do the same thing all the time, while we have to look for people everywhere.

"See you later, buddy."

Compared to "Reasoning Clown," "Thought Guidance" was gentler and more subtle. The city defense soldier next to the jeep immediately smiled and waved them through:

"See you later."

They thought this was a colleague on a secret mission.

The "Old Task Force" easily returned to First City.