Apocalyptic Mechanist Section 17

A good place to get information.

However, this time the target is Starfire Camp, where there should be even more information available.

Chapter 18: Starfire Camp's Gratitude

Blackstone Settlement, under a blazing sun.

The well-connected dirt and stone roads showed no signs of life. The scorching heat seemed to make the very air ripple.

Outside an unremarkable brick house on the outskirts of the settlement, stood a weathered wooden sign. Four neatly carved characters in standard interstellar script were already blurry and indistinct.

Flame Bar.

A somewhat gaunt middle-aged human wiped a cloudy glass, his meticulously trimmed mustache perfectly straight. His eyes, like amber, stared blankly into the glass, lost in thought.

Bruce felt uneasy.

It was his responsibility, in part, that one of the few children in the camp had been kidnapped in Blackstone Settlement.

Even though Instructor Guilliman had told him not to worry, he felt he should do something.

This thought grew stronger after the team sent to rescue Xiao Xi returned empty-handed.

Perhaps I should apply to go to Sin City. Chief Li must be short-handed lately, and I could keep an eye out for any news about Xiao Xi there.

Ding-a-ling~

The bell hanging on the door chimed softly. Bruce snapped out of his wandering thoughts and looked towards the entrance.

He then blinked in surprise.

A human, and an ordinary one he'd never seen before??

The Pan-Humans on Frontier Prison Star were quite scarce, numbering only a few thousand, and ordinary humans were even rarer. Starfire Camp and the gang combined had fewer than ten!

So, who was this?

Bruce surveyed the small bar. Since the man wasn't wearing the characteristic goggles, Bruce didn't recognize Jiang Xiao.

"Sir, may I ask..."

"Uncle Bruce!!"

Before Bruce could even ask his question, a clear voice called out from behind Jiang Xiao, followed by a small figure happily running towards the bar.

As Xiao Xi's voice rang out, his glass-wiping motion froze. Time seemed to stop.

Bruce was slow to react, even thinking he was hallucinating.

Composing himself, Bruce was overjoyed. His usual calm and elegant demeanor vanished as he rushed out to lift Xiao Xi into his arms.

"Xiao Xi!! What are you doing here? Are you hurt? You..."

Suddenly, Bruce turned to look at Jiang Xiao, understanding dawning on his face. He said earnestly, "Come in."

Jiang Xiao and Xiao Xi exchanged a glance. Jiang Xiao subtly winked.

Xiao Xi hesitated before nodding.

In a certain rift valley, over thirty large vehicles and more than a hundred armored jeeps were neatly arranged, forming a makeshift camp.

A figure rushed into the central tent of the camp, looking agitated.

"Instructor! Instructor!! Xiao Xi has been found!"

The blond man, who had been poring over intelligence documents, suddenly stood up. "Found? Where? Is she safe?"

"Yes, she's safe, at the Flame Bar. She was brought in by an ordinary human!"

"An ordinary human?"

"Yes, apparently a Tier 1 martial artist. He said he was passing through Rosaka Settlement and saw a shop holding Xiao Xi captive, treating her like merchandise. He managed to rescue her, just a few hours before Rosaka Settlement was destroyed."

"Good, good, good! Hurry and have Bruce bring them back to the camp. Wait, first, let's share this good news with everyone!"

The person excitedly acknowledged the order and then rushed out of the tent, shouting:

"Xiao Xi has been found!"

"Xiao Xi..."

Listening to the gradually growing cheers outside, Guilliman's tense expression slowly relaxed. He let out a long sigh.

"That's great."

This Frontier Prison Star was not suitable for human reproduction.

For over twenty years, thousands of their kin had been thrown onto this planet, yet only less than forty children had been born.

It was foreseeable that without external human replenishment, the Pan-Humans on the prison star would eventually die out.

Therefore, within the camp and the gang, these children were the absolute spiritual pillars and hope. While he wasn't sure about other cultures, for the Pan-Humans, this was certainly the case.

Xiao Xi's disappearance had plunged the entire camp into a state of depression.

"Right, I need to inform Brother Li. No need to send anyone anymore."

Guilliman quickly got up and took a metal box from the drawer.

Meanwhile, at Blackstone Settlement.

Jiang Xiao sat back in the jeep, about to start the vehicle to follow Bruce to Starfire Camp, when the passenger door suddenly opened.

Xiao Xi climbed into the seat with difficulty. Bruce, in the car ahead, poked his head out with some concern. Seeing Xiao Xi get into his car, he ultimately didn't say anything more.

"Why did you get in my car?"

"Um... because Brother Xiao's car is more comfortable."

Xiao Xi seemed to have become much closer to him.

He nodded indifferently. Seeing the car ahead start, Jiang Xiao followed.

"Why didn't Brother Xiao let me say you defeated the bad guys? Why can't the name Old Capital Killing God be mentioned?" Xiao Xi asked curiously.

"Cough, cough."

Jiang Xiao coughed twice. "Because Old Capital Killing God is an affectionate nickname. Saying it would make me too popular and attract more bad guys to me. As for why I can't say I defeated the bad guys, the reason is similar. If it got out, a lot of bad guys would come looking for trouble."

Jiang Xiao had not revealed his identity to the people at Starfire Camp. He wasn't sure about their composition yet. If Sin City got information about his appearance, he'd be in serious trouble. He didn't know about anything else, but the Black Mech Gang would definitely use any means necessary for the industrial crates! The reason the Black Mech Gang hadn't attacked the Old Capital to kill him immediately was likely because the industrial crates couldn't be exposed. In short, he was confident but not stupid. Walking into Sin City brazenly would definitely cause problems. Even if he didn't die, it would be difficult to obtain resources related to mechanical knowledge again. As for the loopholes in Xiao Xi's words, he believed her elders wouldn't care. Under the effect of Origin Data, he was at most a Tier 1 Peak martial artist on the Source Energy radar. Humans tended to believe their ears and eyes more than spoken information.

The temporary encampment of Starfire Camp was not far from Blackstone Settlement. A little over two hours later, Jiang Xiao saw a small, unremarkable rift valley in the distance. Such valleys were common in the Gobi Desert. The rift valley before him was indeed a strategically advantageous location, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The rift valley had three paths leading in different directions, allowing for quick retreats if enemies arrived. It wasn't easy to block them, as the exits were far apart. Blocking them would require a large number of troops.

Driving into the rift valley, a temporary camp made up of many vehicles quickly came into view. At this moment, two to three hundred people had already gathered in front of the camp, standing densely and looking up expectantly.

So many people, should I say a line?

Seeing the dense crowd, Jiang Xiao's latent social anxiety immediately surfaced. This kind of personality only appeared when he faced a large number of his own kind. Facing a large number of aliens? He also had social anxiety, the kind that was truly terrifying.

He slowly parked the car. Xiao Xi hurried out and, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd, ran into the arms of a woman who looked gentle but had swollen, red eyes and a haggard face.

Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, his expression tense, and pushed open the car door.

Guilliman, who was smiling at Xiao Xi's reunion with the woman, immediately looked over. His eyes lit up. He saw a well-proportioned, handsome, and stern young man step out of the car, his expression unreadable. A faint, sharp aura surrounded him. As the young man got out of the car, his right hand remained near his waist, in the optimal position for a quick draw.

"A fine warrior!" Guilliman praised inwardly.

At this moment, Jiang Xiao also noticed Guilliman in the crowd. It was unavoidable; the aura of a strong individual was too distinct.

[Robert Guilliman (70% Sub-gold Human Gene)] [Talent Value (Source Energy): 2.11] [Source Energy Intensity: 65 (Tier 2)] [Spirit Energy Intensity: 1 (No special abilities)]

What the hell?!

Jiang Xiao's expression almost broke. Dude, what's your name? Robert Guilliman? What is that?!