Apocalyptic Mechanist Section 19

And this sunlight-like demeanor, is he really a criminal? Couldn't it be that he's here for a special reason, just like them?

"Hello, Ms. Xiling, I'll be leaving Xiao Xi in your care now."

Although the atmosphere here was quite good, Jiang Xiao hadn't forgotten that this was Prison Star, and he couldn't stay here forever.

Xiling nodded, her face hidden in her hood, making her expression unreadable.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Jiang, for helping Xiao Xi. I'll handle the matter of entering the Old Capital. Also, before we depart, please reconsider, Mr. Jiang—Sin City's hostility towards Pan-Humans has been intensifying recently. Even Tier 2 human martial artists struggle to protect themselves, and the higher-ups of the Starfire Camp have to constantly hide."

"Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Xiling. I've already thought through the consequences," Jiang Xiao affirmed.

Seeing this, Xiling fell silent for a few seconds, seemingly sighing.

"If that's the case, then let's pack up and prepare to depart."

As Jiang Xiao was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and pointed to the armored jeep he had driven over. "For some reason, this car probably won't be allowed into Sin City, and I also have many firearms and weapons. Does the Starfire Camp have a buy-back service?"

Guilliman stepped forward and took a look. "The jeep and weapons are of good quality. How about we buy them back at 80% of the market price? You can confirm the specific market rates once you reach Sin City."

In the end, the armored jeep and the weapons and equipment in the carriage were sold for 30,000 Sin Coins.

The purchasing power of Sin Coins seems quite high...

Thinking back to how he had only managed to scavenge a little over 10,000 Sin Coins in the Rosaka Settlement back then, Jiang Xiao mused to himself.

Without any delay, Jiang Xiao bid farewell to a reluctant Xiao Xi. After enduring another three minutes of thanks from Xiao Xi's mother, he finally got into the armored jeep driven by Xiling.

Speaking of which, are there only jeeps, trucks, and motorcycles on Prison Star?

Closing the door, Jiang Xiao suddenly noticed that the bartender from the Flame Bar was sitting in the driver's seat.

"Hello, Mr. Jiang," Bruce said respectfully.

"Uh..."

Gazing at this refined middle-aged man with a standard Western appearance, Jiang Xiao, with nothing else to do, tossed a scan at him.

[Solo Bruce (Roar Human)] [Level: Tier 1 Peak] [Talent Value (Source Energy): 1.78] [Source Energy Strength: 47]

He's quite strong. His talent value is only lower than Guilliman's among those he's seen.

Right, and Ms. Xiling.

Jiang Xiao glanced at the back seat.

[Xiling Yarsophy (5% Pan-Human · Silver Elf Gene)] [Level: Tier 1 Peak] [Talent Value (Source Energy): 2.35] [Source Energy Strength: 49]

What kind of Pan-Human race is a Silver Elf? They seem quite strong.

Tsk, Pan-Humans are truly full of talent. Not a single alien in the Old Capital or the Rosaka Settlement had a talent value above 1.5. I didn't expect them to be so common in the Starfire Camp.

There are even two with a value above Tier 2!

Jiang Xiao suddenly became interested in the origins of the Starfire Camp.

Just before they were about to depart, Jiang Xiao suddenly remembered something. He rolled down the car window and asked Guilliman, who hadn't left yet, curiously, "Speaking of which, Brother Guilliman, do you happen to have 19 brothers at home?"

Guilliman, who was about to return to handle paperwork, was taken aback and looked confused.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Cough, just a sudden thought, don't mind it. Take care, Brother Guilliman."

Guilliman had become quite familiar with Jiang Xiao over the past two days and knew his personality was that of a cheerful and carefree type, so he didn't feel offended.

"Okay, be careful on your journey." Guilliman smiled, nodded, and turned to leave.

Xiling, sitting in the back seat, remained expressionless.

She was curiously observing Jiang Xiao's retreating figure. Jiang Xiao's demeanor was similar to that of many college students from human civilizations, and she couldn't imagine why he would be sent to Prison Star.

Despite how united and friendly they appeared, the crimes they committed were indeed the most heinous.

The vehicle slowly started to move.

Half an hour later, unable to bear the silent atmosphere any longer, Jiang Xiao couldn't help but try to strike up a conversation. "Speaking of which, why did Bruce end up on Prison Star?"

"..." Bruce looked at Xiling.

"There's nothing that can't be said. Inciting an uprising on a resource planet on the outskirts of a nascent civilization. Most people in the Starfire Camp were sentenced for this reason," Xiling said calmly.

Jiang Xiao suddenly understood. No wonder there were so many talented individuals; they were the backbone of the rebellion.

"And you?"

Suddenly, Xiling asked.

Jiang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

What was he supposed to say? That he was a breathing offender? Or a visible offender?

No, that was completely incomparable to the noble reason of rebellion. It was too humiliating.

He couldn't say it, at least not without some embellishment!

His thought process lasted less than a second before Jiang Xiao calmly stated, "For the sake of survival, I smuggled some Tier 1 contraband into the territory of a certain intermediate civilization."

Xiling was taken aback, then her expression turned solemn. She could tell Jiang Xiao wasn't lying.

An intermediate civilization? A Tier 1 martial artist??

He really dared! One truly couldn't judge a book by its cover.

Bruce couldn't help but glance at Jiang Xiao a few more times, his eyes filled with surprise. The gap between civilization levels was often vast. Something created by an upper-level civilization could cause significant damage to a lower-level one with just a handful of sand.

Even though it was just smuggling, in terms of sheer recklessness, a Tier 1 martial artist smuggling Tier 1 contraband to an intermediate civilization was even more extreme than their rebellion.

At least they had a genuine chance of succeeding.

"Impressive,"

Xiling didn't know how else to describe it, finally saying dryly.

"Hahaha." Jiang Xiao inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He still cared about his reputation in front of his own kind.

For the rest of the day, Jiang Xiao couldn't find any more topics of conversation.

He could only study and comprehend knowledge related to FT Alloy in his mind, and try to deduce other potential uses for this alloy in reverse.

After an unknown amount of time, a piercing siren suddenly tore through the sky.

Jiang Xiao's eyes snapped open. He found that it was already evening. A red, serpentine flare illuminated a large swathe of the wilderness in the night sky.

Bruce rapidly slowed the vehicle, his expression wary.

Jiang Xiao asked gravely, "What's going on?"

Had the Black Mech Gang attacked?

"Hunters, wilderness bandits," Xiling's calm voice replied.

"They often rob settlements and passing convoys. It seems they've set their sights on us this time."

The next moment, the roar of engines grew from a distance, approaching rapidly.

Dozens of dilapidated jeeps and motorcycles screeched closer, and faint monstrous roars could be heard echoing.

Jiang Xiao touched his Source Energy Battle Blades and the Floating Cannon disguised as an arm shield, his tone unchanged, "How strong are they?"

Xiling looked at the red signal in the sky, her brow furrowed.

"The Venomous Hunter Group. They're a well-known hunter group nearby. There are about seventy of them in total, four of them are Tier 1 Peak, and most of the members are from the Viper Race."

Seeing Jiang Xiao's silence, Xiling tried to comfort him, "Don't worry. Hunters are most afraid of getting injured. Not all Vipers are affiliated with the Viper Gang, so they don't have that many medical resources.

Bruce and I are Tier 1 Peak. At most, they'll demand a toll; they won't fight to the death..."

Jiang Xiao listened to Xiling's comfort but remained silent.

He indifferently watched the Venomous Hunter Group surrounding them.

Why was it the Vipers again, those beasts?

"I really don't get along with the Viper Race."

Chapter 21: Arriving at Sin City (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The roars of the Venomous Hunter Group shattered the desolate silence of the wilderness. Dozens of headlights, like the fierce eyes of beasts, surrounded the jeep.

Xiling's Source Energy fluctuations flickered.

Finally, she suppressed her aura.

If a conflict broke out, she might survive, but Jiang Xiao and Bruce would most likely be injured or killed.

The former was the benefactor who saved Xiao Xi, and the latter was an elder of the Spark Gang. For both reasons and sentiment, she had to be responsible for their safety and couldn't act rashly.

"Hoo, Bruce, stop the car first," Xiling said, then opened the car door.

"Mr. Jiang, please don't get out,"

Bruce reminded her, then followed her out, cloaked in black. The auras of the two Tier 1 Peaks were unleashed without restraint, stirring up the sand into a vortex.

"Tier 1 Peak?"

"They're actually Tier 1 Peak! Call the boss!"

The Venomous Hunter Group immediately fell silent. The dozens of motorcyclists who had been shouting shut their mouths and turned to look behind them.

Immediately after, four Vipers, larger than the other members and clad in dilapidated mechs, emerged from the Viper crowd. The one in the lead had a particularly dense Source Energy aura, clearly stronger than the other three Vipers!

"Hmph, a mere two Tier 1 Peaks aren't qualified to pass for free. If you want to go through Venomous territory, it's five thousand Sin Coins per jeep!"