Chapter 142: Chromium Carbon Town

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Chromium Carbon Town lies to the east of Spark Town, with a straight-line distance of 1,500 kilometers between them. Unlike the desolate and remote location of Spark Town, Chromium Carbon Town is situated in a relatively bustling central region. Covering just over ten thousand square kilometers—merely one-fifth the size of Spark Town—its economic output is more than twenty times greater. Only 120 kilometers away stands a prosperous county seat with a population reaching one million, surrounded in a star-shaped pattern by Chromium Carbon Town and seven other small towns.

As a burgeoning town established within the past two decades, Chromium Carbon Town boasts a population surpassing one hundred thousand. It is built atop a vast deposit of carbon-bearing chromium ore. The town’s primary industry is not merely hunting wasteland beasts; rather, it is an enormous industrial complex integrating mining, smelting, and preliminary processing. Its scale rivals that of a small county, comparable to the peak era of the nameless city in Bone Valley, but surpassing it in economy, productivity, and population quality.

In a sense, Chromium Carbon Town today is akin to what Dawn Glory Town will be twenty years hence.

Yang Bingzhong’s destination is precisely Chromium Carbon Town. The airship will arrive in an hour and a half. Meanwhile, the ground convoy led by Ren Zhong will endure nearly ten hours of arduous travel—crossing mountains and passing through numerous wasteland beast habitats—reaching just outside Chromium Carbon Town at half past eleven in the evening.

The ground convoy consists of eight heavy Feng trucks: Ren Zhong’s two vehicles, four belonging to the teams of Tang Shuying and Jiang Kai, and two additional trucks owned by Yang Bingzhong. Three professional escort teams provide security; Yang Bingzhong did not employ external mercenaries for the task. The drivers of the two trucks Yang Bingzhong inserted into the convoy are dismantling specialists from Tang Shuying and Jiang Kai’s teams.

At Yang Bingzhong’s request, all eight trucks underwent rapid modifications; aside from slight differences in chassis armor, their exteriors are nearly identical. In fact, all eight could have been loaded onto the airship for departure, but Yang Bingzhong’s arrangement undoubtedly conceals ulterior motives. Ren Zhong did not inquire further, nor did he ask about the convoy’s cargo—a prudent stance. His sole duty as commander is to lead the convoy safely and punctually to the outskirts of Chromium Carbon Town and hand over the two trucks belonging to Yang Bingzhong to a contact who might be Yang Bingzhong himself or someone else.

Five days prior, the scheduled commander of this team may have been Lin Wang, but Lin Wang has since died. Until this afternoon, Tang Shuying was the designated leader, but Ren Zhong earned a deeper trust from Yang Bingzhong through a flawlessly executed dramatic finale. This “top-tier scoundrel” rose to prominence through his acting and intellect, convincing Yang Bingzhong that he was the better commander. Otherwise, Ren Zhong would have accompanied Yang Bingzhong aboard the airship, never learning of this ground convoy's existence.

When assigning the mission, Yang Bingzhong spoke little, only thoroughly reviewing the intelligence about wasteland beast distributions along the route with Ren Zhong, prompting him to devise several tactical plans for different simulated scenarios, thereby assessing Ren Zhong’s capabilities. Ren Zhong responded with ease. Leading a semi-professional squad to slay level-four wasteland beasts was no mere stroke of luck. Yang Bingzhong was highly satisfied, ultimately revising some precautions along the route before finalizing the plan.

Tang Shuying and Jiang Kai raised no objections. Within Spark Resources, only Lin Wang ever dared to question Yang Bingzhong’s decisions. Upon Ren Zhong’s command, the convoy of eight heavy Feng trucks surged into the mountains, heading eastward.

About half an hour later, the convoy halted. Tang Shuying and Jiang Kai led two squads totaling eight members to charge out, engaging in fierce combat at the valley’s exit ahead. Ten minutes later, Ren Zhong, stationed at the rear, received word that the area had been cleared. With a wave of his hand, the convoy pressed onward.

At the front, Ren Zhong, Tang Shuying, and Jiang Kai rode side by side on hovering motorboats. Jiang Kai asked with some curiosity, “Why don’t we just raise the hover height a bit and swiftly pass through the wasteland beast zone we just cleared?”

Ren Zhong shook his head. “Mr. Yang instructed that the convoy’s hover height must not exceed ten meters. Jiang Kai, you really shouldn’t question it. My arrangement surely has Mr. Yang’s reasoning behind it.”

Jiang Kai nodded silently. “Understood.”

Tang Shuying smiled. “Ren Zhong, you don’t have to be so tense. According to the map, we’ll only encounter level-three wasteland beasts over the next hundred kilometers or so.”

Ren Zhong sighed. “When Captain Lin led us back from Dawn Glory Mining Area to Spark Town by shortcut, he thought the same. But then we encountered legion beasts. Pan Fenglian and Song Qianlian were unfortunately lost. So I dare not be careless.”

Tang Shuying said, “That’s truly regrettable. No wonder Mr. Yang entrusted you with command—you think things through thoroughly. No surprise you came from the citizen class. I heard you used to work in academia?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Kai admired, “Impressive! Now Ren Zhong isn’t just from the citizen class; he’s become a citizen again! I really envy you. Remember how miserable the Ma family father and daughter looked earlier? Usually, when we meet Ma Xiaoling, we keep our distance and dare not provoke her. Ren Zhong, you’re truly remarkable!”

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Ren Zhong smiled awkwardly. “Captain Ma and I truly love each other, but life is unpredictable and fate is cruel. Sigh.”

Tang Shuying rolled her eyes and glanced back at one of Ren Zhong’s heavy Feng trucks. The driver was Zheng Tian, with Chen Hanyu riding shotgun.

Men’s words are often deceptive. Your so-called true love is even more insincere than Mr. Yang’s fleeting fancy.

“By the way, I’m not very familiar with the resource recycling company’s relocation procedures. Could you tell me a bit? When we arrive, will Mr. Yang have settled everything so we can resume production tomorrow? What arrangements will the Chromium Carbon Town government make?”

Ren Zhong asked, seemingly casually.

Tang Shuying answered without reserve: “It should be settled tonight. You just joined the company recently and have been busy with many changes. Mr. Yang didn’t tell you, but it’s not to keep secrets. The relocation process goes roughly like this...”

After Tang Shuying’s explanation, Ren Zhong understood much. Chromium Carbon Town’s population, number of scavengers, and wasteland beast yields all far exceed those of Spark Town. It lies close to a large county seat, and the social atmosphere is entirely different.

In a place like Spark Town, even if the wastelanders fought among themselves until all were dead, it wouldn’t be a major issue. But disorder in Chromium Carbon Town would bring trouble to the large county seat; chaos is unacceptable.

The procurement and recycling of wasteland beast resources relate not only to material production but also to the internal harmony and stability of Chromium Carbon Town. This matter cannot pause for a single day nor be allowed to fail lightly.

To this end, the town government dispatched an inspection team this morning to Spark Town, entering the submarine building. They are conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the production line’s capabilities in wasteland beast transformation, dismantling, storage, and logistics—assessing the renamed Chromium Carbon Resource Recycling Company’s technology, capacity, and management to confirm Yang Bingzhong’s ability to handle the carcass processing and trade for a town of 100,000.

Tang Shuying concluded, “According to Mr. Yang, the inspection should finish just as the airship arrives and lands in Chromium Carbon Town. Mr. Yang has already expanded production capacity, so if anything on the line falls short, it will be immediately procured from the nearby Zhansha County. We likely won’t have a rest day and can start work right away.”

“But my suggestion is that, since we’re new here, we shouldn’t rush hunting. Instead, we should first greet the town’s semi-professional teams and have them guide us to scout the area and wasteland beast conditions before making plans. Although our three teams are outsiders, with Mr. Yang’s backing, the locals won’t dare offend us easily. Then we can work together... Ren Zhong?”

Ren Zhong snapped back to attention. “Sorry, I was distracted. I heard everything. Sure, Tang Jie and Jiang Ge, please lead me tomorrow.”

Tang Shuying teased, “No more calling us by our first names in the middle of the mission, okay?”

Ren Zhong shrugged. “But we’re talking about tomorrow now, aren’t we?”

Jiang Kai laughed heartily. “Ren Zhong, you’re hilarious. I bet you were just thinking about Zhansha County. I envy you. Now that you’re a citizen, you can go to the county seat. I can’t; if I get within five kilometers, the hunters will kill me without mercy.”

Ren Zhong replied, “Jiang Ge, don’t underestimate yourself. With Mr. Yang’s support, we’ll all become citizens eventually. The county seat we see so close will be accessible one day.”

Jiang Kai shook his head, despondent. “Not necessarily. I’m different from you two. Soon, a level-five professional will join the company. I can only take it one step at a time.”

An awkward silence fell among the three.

Ren Zhong found an excuse to check the surveillance scanner for potential wasteland beast ambushes and parted from them, returning to his heavy Feng truck. He began pondering and soon arrived at a conclusion.

Yang Bingzhong had crafted a straightforward but clever ruse—drawing attention openly while secretly moving something hidden within the convoy. That was the true core of the relocation. Everything else was mere distraction.

He glanced back toward the distance. Spark Town had long since vanished behind the mountains. In a sense, he was grateful for the lie Yang Bingzhong spread to stabilize the wastelanders before leaving. It had at least spared the wastelanders of Spark Town, granting them half a chance and a final month of peace.

Of course, without the resource recycling company, chaos was inevitable, though people clung to faint hope.

Ren Zhong was powerless to change this. He now had four million credits in his pocket, a sizeable sum. Buying chips and carcasses from others’ hunts might sustain Spark Town for two years, but it was meaningless—it wouldn’t pass inspection. Futile kindness would only slow his progress, making him guilty of greater evils for the sake of selfish goodwill, betraying his ideals.

Furthermore, Ren Zhong harbored many regrets. Ju Qingmeng remained in Spark Town. Yu Jin had not followed him.

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This was Ren Zhong’s request. He did not want to trouble Yu Jin. Taking along Zheng Tian’s team was barely justifiable, but including Yu Jin’s mother was out of the question.

Thus, Ren Zhong insisted that Yu Jin stay behind in Spark Town as his scout, reporting the town’s conditions at all times. Yu Jin’s mother, however, suspected that Ren Zhong wanted to abandon Yu Jin for her presence and attempted to cut off Yu Jin’s retreat or force him to leave with Ren Zhong by threatening him.

Only after Ren Zhong repeatedly promised that Yu Jin’s mission in Spark Town was important and that he had entrusted second-level citizen Ju Qingmeng to make proper arrangements for Yu Jin did she finally relent.

Such reactions were human and understandable.

At half past eleven at night, the convoy arrived smoothly at Chromium Carbon Town. Under the dim light of the waning crescent moon, the town’s forest of colossal chimneys soared skyward. Even at night, thick smoke billowed relentlessly into the heavens.

Long trains of flying vehicles lifted off from the town’s outskirts in strings, heading toward a gigantic steel fortress suspended in the sky, disappearing into its left side.

Simultaneously, on the fortress’s right side, long strings of flying trains descended at a slightly faster pace, landing.

As the group neared the precise location marked on the map, the steel fortress slowly rose into the air, drifting away. Another fortress floated in from the distance, taking over its duties.

Though separated by several kilometers, Ren Zhong could smell the strong scent of smoke and fire.

Compared to Spark Town, which plunged into darkness after ten o’clock, Ren Zhong immediately sensed these were two entirely different towns. Chromium Carbon Town appeared ablaze with activity, a city that never slept.

Yet Ren Zhong knew these were all massive unmanned machines, vividly showcasing the terrifying productivity of Source Star and decisively negating the need for low-end human labor.

Exactly as he had long suspected.

...

Yang Bingzhong waited alone, piloting a spider tank behind a small hill at the rendezvous point. Seeing the eight vehicles arrive on time, he exhaled deeply and stepped forward to greet them.

“Good, you arrived right on schedule. Well done.”

Ren Zhong stood tall. “Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Yang.”

Yang Bingzhong smiled. “Alright, Ren Zhong, hand me your vehicle keys. You and your team can take the other trucks into town to rest. I’ve made all the arrangements.”

“Understood!”

During the quick modifications, Yang Bingzhong had quietly placed something inside Ren Zhong’s truck. This reflected both Yang Bingzhong’s cautiousness and his immense trust in Ren Zhong at this moment.

The highest-level ten-year contract was certainly not just empty words.

As the convoy entered the town, Ren Zhong immediately sensed the overwhelming postmodern industrial atmosphere.

The town was stratified into three levels—upper, middle, and lower.

At the top level moved silently various large machines, transporting unknown materials.

The middle level resembled an ant colony, with numerous medium and small machines bustling back and forth.

The bottom level comprised buildings of varying heights.

On the streets, many autonomous patrol robots emitted buzzing sounds as they roamed.

A few armored night guards in biochemical combat suits strolled casually.

Ren Zhong’s armor’s energy detection scanners revealed that even the lowest-ranking night guards were second-level professionals.

Compared to Spark Town, under the same blue sky and only 1,500 kilometers apart, these were utterly different worlds.

One was nearly nineteenth-century; the other, twenty-second-century.