Jiāng Bái Mián chuckled inwardly and helped "explain":

"He's a ghost enthusiast who's been trying to prove that ghosts really exist."

The woman, presumably the landlady of the inn, sized them up, looking back and forth between the four of them, and exhaled, saying:

"I never thought there were people like that."

"The world is vast, and there's nothing you won't find." Jiāng Bái Mián replied quite sincerely.

Even she, who prided herself on being knowledgeable and well-informed, often felt like a frog in a well, especially with Shāng Jiàn Yào, who constantly came up with things she couldn't have imagined beforehand.

Before the woman in the flamboyant dress could speak, Jiāng Bái Mián preemptively asked:

"Are you Ms. Ài Nuò?"

Several smugglers from Redstone Collection had mentioned that the landlady of the "Silent Dream" Inn was named Ài Nuò.

This wasn't her real name; it was a name she had chosen for herself after arriving in Tǎ'ěrnán. It could be treated as a Graysand name or seamlessly connect with Red River names, much like "Ōu Dí Kè."

As for what kind of person this woman was before coming to Tǎ'ěrnán or what she had done, no one knew, like a mystery.

"Yes," the charming woman released the strand of hair she had been twirling around her finger.

She then smiled:

"It seems you were introduced by acquaintances."

"From Redstone Collection." Jiāng Bái Mián didn't hide anything.

Ài Nuò looked somewhat surprised:

"Ha, you can even befriend that bunch who are always hiding and impossible to find, and get information about Tǎ'ěrnán?"

"We happened to encounter the Fishmen and Hill Giants' invasion and fought alongside them for a while," Jiāng Bái Mián said, telling the complete truth.

But this couldn't possibly cover their experiences in Redstone Collection.

Ài Nuò was just making a casual remark and didn't intend to delve deeper. She turned to ask:

"How many rooms do you need?"

"Any recommendations?" Jiāng Bái Mián asked instead of answering.

Ài Nuò sized up Jiāng Bái Mián and said with a smile:

"You do have a clever look about you.

"Our 'Silent Dream' Inn is a bit different from other hotels because I've specifically remodeled the rooms for relic hunter teams and trade caravans from various factions.

"A team like yours definitely wouldn't want to be split into several rooms, which would prevent you from communicating and meeting up in time in case of an accident. But if you all crammed into a room with four beds, you wouldn't be very comfortable, and it wouldn't be much different from being in the wild."

She's probably only a little over ten years older than me, yet she's joking around with the tone of an elder... Jiāng Bái Mián muttered inwardly, stating her position:

"We don't mind that sort of thing. Two adjacent rooms would be fine."

Ài Nuò's eyes flickered:

"If there's a good choice, who would pick a bad one?

"I recommend two types of rooms: one is two adjacent double rooms with a connecting door, which makes it easy for you to move between them; the other is a suite, similar to a three-bedroom apartment from the Old World, which is just right for the four of you to stay in, with a good and private environment."

"What's the price?" Jiāng Bái Mián asked.

To be honest, she was a bit tempted. Just like Ài Nuò had said, if there was a good choice, who would pick a bad one?

Moreover, she glanced over and noticed that Shāng Jiàn Yào and Lóng Yuè Hóng were nodding slightly, indicating that they wanted to pick the good one.

Our "Old Task Force" doesn't lack supplies now!

They had just gotten a large number of portable computers from Mǐ'ēn Sī of the Ten Directions Corporation.

As for Bái Chén, she had lived in environments so bad that Lóng Yuè Hóng and the others couldn't even imagine them, so she didn't really care too much about this aspect.

Of course, she would also feel happy and satisfied with a good environment.

Shallow dimples appeared on Ài Nuò's cheeks:

"It depends on what supplies you're paying with. The least valuable things in Tǎ'ěrnán are electronic products, mechanical products, and canned food, biscuits, and energy bars."

"We only have electronic products, a lot of portable computers." Jiāng Bái Mián knew the situation in Tǎ'ěrnán and wasn't surprised at all.

"What model are they?" Ài Nuò casually asked.

The four members of the "Old Task Force" fell silent.

They really didn't understand how to classify the portable computers produced by "Mechanical Paradise" or what models there were.

Immediately afterward, Shāng Jiàn Yào turned around and ran out of the inn.

Soon, he returned with two black portable computers.

"G-35? This is the latest model. You just arrived in Tǎ'ěrnán, how did you get them? Normally, even in the 'Seashore Alliance,' you wouldn't have a chance to see them until spring, right?" Ài Nuò glanced down at the old computer she used for registration and immediately felt a little envious.

Jiāng Bái Mián explained simply:

"We rescued a trade caravan on the road. They had just left Tǎ'ěrnán and were returning to the 'Seashore Alliance.'"

"Ha, Mǐ'ēn Sī and them?" Ài Nuò laughed after receiving a confirming nod. "I said they shouldn't travel in winter, something would happen, but they didn't listen. Haha, those who don't heed the elders' words suffer losses!"

Because it seemed that nothing had happened to Mǐ'ēn Sī and them, Ài Nuò fully displayed her schadenfreude.

She likes to act old... or is her actual age older than she looks? Some thoughts flashed through Jiāng Bái Mián's mind, but they all lacked enough details to be confirmed.

With this matter settled, Ài Nuò seemed to be a lot friendlier to them and said directly:

"Then I'll give you a suite, two units for seven days."

Two units for seven days? Just take one unit to a place like Initial City or Wildgrass City, and you could live for more than a month... Jiāng Bái Mián knew that portable computers were in high demand within the major factions, especially those produced by "Mechanical Paradise."

This was because the production capacity in this area was severely insufficient, and in many fields, one computer could play a very large role.

The fact that Mǐ'ēn Sī's Ten Directions Corporation could get such a large batch of the latest portable computers from Tǎ'ěrnán showed how deep their relationship was.

After considering it, and with the thought that it was unexpected wealth anyway, Jiāng Bái Mián gave a positive answer:

"Okay."

After receiving the black room card printed with a delicate rose, the four members of the "Old Task Force" took the elevator to the second floor.

Many inns in the Graysand have some common rules, such as the lower the floor, the more expensive the room—this makes it easier for guests to jump out of the window and escape in case of an attack or accident.

This is a change brought about by widespread demand.

The "Old Task Force's" room was "221," at the very end of the corridor. After opening the door, the first thing they saw was a living room furnished with sofas, a coffee table, tables, chairs, and cabinets. There were four doors in the living room, leading to three bedrooms and a bathroom and toilet.

It couldn't be said to be luxurious, but for Jiāng Bái Mián, Lóng Yuè Hóng, and the others, who had been away from "Pangu Biology" for a long time and hadn't stayed in a good place, it was simply satisfying to both their bodies and minds.

"I'll sleep in the living room!" Shāng Jiàn Yào volunteered.

Although she didn't know why he wanted to sleep in the living room, Jiāng Bái Mián decided not to let him have his way, so as not to cause any trouble:

"I'm the team leader, I'll sleep in the living room."

She immediately added:

"I have to keep an eye on you guys, especially you. I can't let you get up in the middle of the night and scare Little Red."

Hearing the last part, Shāng Jiàn Yào's eyes lit up, as if saying, "Why didn't I think I could do something like that?"

While Lóng Yuè Hóng inexplicably felt a chill, Jiāng Bái Mián became even more determined to sleep in the living room.

After assigning the rooms with the authority of the team leader, they washed their faces and hands and had a simple dinner.

After cleaning up, Jiāng Bái Mián looked around and said with a smile:

"There's a training subject tonight."

"Huh?" Lóng Yuè Hóng was feeling tired and wanted to go to bed early.

Jiāng Bái Mián said with a smile:

"This training subject is called 'Solo Action.'

"Although I've been emphasizing cooperation and teamwork, things are unpredictable, and everyone will inevitably be alone at times. Without the corresponding experience, you might not be able to solve the difficulties you encounter.

"Tonight, we'll go out separately and gather information in Tǎ'ěrnán."

After speaking, Jiāng Bái Mián turned her wrist to look at her electronic watch:

"It's 8:30 now, return to the room at 10:00."

"Okay!" Shāng Jiàn Yào responded excitedly.

Is it really okay to let this guy act alone? Is that a good idea? Lóng Yuè Hóng was most worried not about himself, but about Shāng Jiàn Yào, who would be out of control.

He was very worried for the people of Tǎ'ěrnán.

Not giving Lóng Yuè Hóng a chance to speak, Jiāng Bái Mián pointed at him and said:

"Little Red, you go out first."

"Okay." It wasn't until Lóng Yuè Hóng walked out of the "Silent Dream" Inn and stood on the street, which was quite deserted, with cold wind blowing and a deep night sky, that he suddenly realized something:

It's just me alone...

This is an unfamiliar city, and everyone around me is a stranger.

He habitually looked left and right, but couldn't find the figure that made him feel at ease.

At this moment, he felt a bit uneasy.

Breathe in, breathe out... Lóng Yuè Hóng took a few deep breaths, initially calming the fear and anxiety in his heart.

Then, he decided to plan what he should do first.

Once the goal is clear, the heart won't be so flustered.

Just then, a figure passed him, heading straight for the most bustling street.

Lóng Yuè Hóng raised his head and only had time to see Shāng Jiàn Yào's back as he turned right.

"..." He once again worried about the people of Tǎ'ěrnán.

It took him several seconds to regain his thoughts and consider his own problem:

"The team leader said to gather information... What kind of information should I gather?

"Our goal is to see the 'Mainframe,' no, the 'Source Brain,' to find clues about the destruction of the Old World. If it doesn't agree to see us, then we have to come up with something that can impress it.

"Hmm, I should walk around the street and find older local townspeople to learn from them what things 'Mechanical Paradise' has a strong demand for."

With a direction, Lóng Yuè Hóng was indeed much calmer.

So, he plucked up his courage and walked towards the intersection where Shāng Jiàn Yào had disappeared.

After turning right, he went straight for another two or three hundred meters, and the sounds he heard grew louder and louder.

Finally, that bustling street appeared before his eyes, with many pedestrians coming and going, including Red River people, Graysand people, and many branches of these two major races.

Lóng Yuè Hóng watched for a while, took a breath, and silently cheered himself on:

"It's okay..."

Then, he stepped into the street ahead.

During this process, he subconsciously touched the "Icemoss" pistol on the armed belt around his waist.