Chapter 71

"Structurally, it's almost identical to the batch of guides that Aegir discarded before. I didn't expect that land dwellers could come up with something similar. But even the activation method is the same. Tsk, those Iberia guys really enjoy copying these kinds of things."

After she finished speaking, she pressed the green button and then returned the dial to its original position.

As soon as the button was pressed to start, a pale blue light illuminated the area around the compass dial, and the red pointer also began to glow. After rotating a few times, it came to a steady stop at a position approximately 180 degrees different from its original position.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you two saying anything?"

Laurentina was somewhat puzzled, and Zuo Jian and the Doctor suddenly fell silent.

[No, I'm very surprised you actually use this.]

"It's essentially Aegir's technology. Iberia modified it, and it's pretty much the same. It was initially installed on the fleet, but after the Great Silence, it was repurposed. I never expected to see it on a land vehicle."

Laurentina waved her hand, then looked at the Doctor.

"Then why aren't you saying anything?"

"No... I..."

The Doctor stared blankly at the pointer beside him.

Then she suddenly broke down and screamed.

"Damn it! So this thing has to be started up like this?! No wonder I haven't seen any of the countries on the map after all this time!!!"

I'm not feeling well... I guess I'll skip the two updates tonight.

As mentioned, I need to start helping with some chores around the house to prepare for the New Year, so I'll only have time to write this in the evening.

But at night, it's like a scene from a ghost story, with all sorts of old folks chatting and gossiping on the radio, plus little kids yelling and playing some random thing downstairs.

In short... I can't write anything. I forced myself to write one chapter, but I really can't write the next one. If I force myself to write, the quality will probably be terrible. So I'll stop here for today and try to write more tomorrow.

(I can't believe I've managed to update twice a day for so many days! I'm really working hard on myself [hands on hips])

Chapter 31, The Real Monster (You know, I've been a fan of the Doctor for a long time)

"Speaking of which..."

Laurentina leaned back in the driver's seat and glanced at the Doctor driving beside her.

"Is the speed a bit too slow? How long will it take to get to Victoria at this rate?"

"Wh... what! I think, I think it's already very fast..."

The Doctor turned his head and said, somewhat incredulously.

"Huh--really? I didn't see you floor the gas pedal."

"How? How could you possibly step all the way down?! If you step like that, you'll lose control of the speed!"

She spoke softly to Laurentina, as if complaining.

[Indeed, in terms of general reason.]

"Ugh--compared to the speed of the third team next door, it's like a tortoise crawl."

Laurentina said, then leaned against the car window and listlessly played with her hair.

A vein suddenly bulged on the Doctor's forehead.

Calm down, calm down. You can't beat her, and she'll just toy with you.

Calm.

"Zuo Jian, how long would it take if we just grabbed her and ran all the way to Victoria?"

[I really don't know about that.]

"Anyway, it's definitely much faster than this car crawling at a snail's pace through this wasteland."

[You can't just leave someone's car here like that.]

"Tsk, what a hassle."

Hiss----

The Doctor's face darkened further, and she gripped the steering wheel tighter, while silently trying to reassure herself.

Calm down, Doctor.

You really can't beat her.

"Ugh--Damn it, this is making me sleepy... Wait, could this be your scheme? Using this slow, leisurely car speed to make me drowsy and fall asleep, so you can find a way to be alone with Zuo Jian?"

[Ha, what kind of conspiracy is this, Laurentina? By the way, if you're sleepy, just go to sleep. I'll wake you up if anything happens.]

Zuo Jian raised his tentacle and touched Laurentina was rubbing her eyes.

"No, wouldn't that be falling right into that woman's trap? How could I possibly fall for such an obvious scheme—"

"That's enough! You wretched guy!!!"

Laurentina had only spoken halfway when she heard the Doctor suddenly shout out.

"You bastard! Do you think I've been walking this far on tenterhooks, all cautiously and tremblingly?!"

"When I first woke up, my mind was completely blank. I was inexplicably kidnapped and even wanted by the entire city for self-defense! To survive, I even lived in a garbage dump, scavenging through trash every day!"

"In order to find a means of transportation to escape, they even have to gamble their lives on a plan that seems extremely reckless!"

"When you're facing the wilderness alone, even the compass seems to be working against you! The only things you can eat on the road are dry, hard bread that's practically indistinguishable from rocks!"

"When you're so cold you want to start a fire, you even have to sacrifice your only..."

Even with such a huge sacrifice, the campfire he created was noticed by those damn mercenaries, and he almost died again!

"What kind of life do you think I've been living, living on tenterhooks?!"

"And you! What do you know, you guy who's been taken care of by your Originium partner, or rather, by Zuo Jian all day long!"

"And now, you're complaining that I drive too slowly... cough cough cough-- cough cough--"

The Doctor spoke very quickly, and then choked and started coughing repeatedly.

[Are you alright, Doctor? Don't worry about her. Laurentina was just saying it; she didn't mean any harm... I guess?]

Zuo Jian transformed his tentacles into the shape of a hand and patted the Doctor's back to comfort her.

"Cough cough... Damn it, I also want someone to help me start the fire, someone to take care of me, and someone to comfort me when I'm in a bad mood! Instead of having to rely on myself and now being criticized by people like you... people like you!!!"

As if using all his strength, the Doctor shouted out what was in his heart.

"Oh dear, you've gotten a fever?"

Looking at the Doctor's flushed face, Laurentina suddenly felt that the threat level posed by him had decreased considerably.

"You're complaining about this and that! If you're so capable, why don't you drive it yourself!"

"Real?"

Upon hearing this, Laurentina suddenly became interested, and she looked at the Doctor with her eyes seemingly shining.

"... Ah... no, I mean..."

The Doctor sensed something was amiss.

"Then I won't be polite."

As soon as Laurentina finished speaking, her skirt transformed into extended tentacles, reaching towards the Doctor and then opening the car door while he was driving.

Then, he simply grabbed the Doctor and threw him out of the car.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"

Outside the car, the tentacles caught the Doctor, then carried her over the roof against the wind and waves, before opening the passenger door and shoving the Doctor inside.

Inside the car, Laurentina climbed directly into the driver's seat and grabbed the steering wheel.

Everything happened so fast that even Zuo Jian didn't have time to react...

Wait a minute.

Surely Laurentina didn't do this on purpose, right?

Perhaps.

Zuo Jian turned his Zuo Jian and glanced at the somewhat frightened Doctor beside him, then at Laurentina was sitting in the driver's seat, eager to try it out.

[I said, um, Laurentina, you can actually drive?]

"Of course I can. I sat down and learned a bit when I watched the third team train before."

"Unfortunately, I'm not as skilled as Captain Three, so I can't keep up with the Orca."

[Footsteps? Catching up?]

Zuo Jian was taken aback.

She was probably referring to... the other car's speed.

It must be two people racing together, right?

It's impossible for one person to be driving and chasing another person who is running on foot, right?

No way?

Laurentina gripped the steering wheel, then briefly recalled what she had learned in the past.

"Listen up, Skadi! I'm going to floor the gas, so figure out a way to get out of the way! Seaborn won't give you a heads-up like I do! And you guys in the second team, watch closely! This is how hunters should be trained!"

Okay, the first step is to floor the gas pedal.

Thinking of this, she stepped on the gas and watched the speedometer soar in an instant!

"Hey, um... are you really sure you can drive? Maybe I should take over—"

The Doctor, who was sitting to the side, had barely finished speaking when he was suddenly interrupted by a powerful back thrust!

Almost instantly, a pair of invisible hands seemed to press her firmly into the seat, rendering her completely immobile.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Stop! Stop the car! I'm going to die!"

"Ahead, ahead! Ahead, ahead are trees!!!"

The Doctor screamed, pointing to a tall, withered tree in front of him.

"Stop yelling, it's just a tree, watch me go around it!"

Laurentina flashed an excited smile, then suddenly jerked the steering wheel!

"Waaaaaah!! Slow, slow down!! I want ahhhhhh!"

The Doctor felt as if his brain was about to be shaken to its core.

No! If this continues, I'll die in the car first!

You'll definitely die!

[Laurentina, slow down, the Doctor seems to be having trouble keeping up with your pace.]

Zuo Jian looked at the Doctor, who was almost foaming at the Zuo Jian, with some concern, and then gestured to Laurentina not to rush.

[At that speed, the fuel shouldn't run out completely so quickly.]

After he finished speaking, he pointed to the fuel gauge.

"Tsk, it seems so. How boring."

Laurentina glanced at the fuel gauge and pouted, somewhat annoyed.

The car then slowed down slightly.

"Zuo Jian..."

The Doctor looked at him with gratitude.

Damn it, why would someone like that be with a wicked woman like Laurentina?!

Lucy, I'm not reconciled!

Why!

And... I just said those things...

She won't hold a grudge, will she...?

The Doctor glanced fearfully at Laurentina, who was driving, and looked into her scarlet eyes.