The route and location had already been discussed with Shepherd on the way over.
In short, the commission was simple: rescue the hostage, escort her back to the Inner Ring, and collect the payment.
It was as simple as putting an elephant in a fridge!
“I am terribly sorry, Mr.
Agent.
Time was too short to prepare an entry-exit permit for you, so I must trouble you to cross the border through alternative means,” Shepherd said apologetically.
Jiang Yu: “…” A bad premonition welled up in his chest.
Why did this feel so unreliable?
*** After crossing the border, a post-apocalyptic atmosphere hit him in the face.
Looking out, there was nothing but ruined skyscrapers and Hollows sprawling across the land.
Pulling out his phone, he saw only a single bar of signal left.
He figured that once he went deeper into the Outer Ring, his connection would vanish entirely.
On his phone, there were two unread messages on the Chuckle app from Rein.
*Are you there?
What have you been busy with lately?* Normally, the master hacker Rein wouldn’t reach out to him so proactively.
It seemed she might have run into some trouble of her own lately.
Once he finished this job, he would check if there was anything he could do to help her.
After all, Rein was the first friend he had made in this world.
“Busy with work.” “Chat later.” He sent the two messages, and Rein actually replied instantly.
“Oh.” Jiang Yu smiled helplessly.
This hacker was a bit cold.
Pocketing his phone, Jiang Yu pulled a map from his coat.
To prevent him from getting lost without a signal inside the Hollows, Shepherd had thoughtfully prepared a hand-drawn map, marking out several key locations in the Outer Ring.
For example, the rebels’ minor bases, supply depots, and several towns in the Old Oil Well Zone were marked.
Jiang Yu looked at the crudely drawn map.
Many of the routes looked like they had been scribbled by hand.
Not to mention the towns, rebel bases, and supply points represented by mere squares.
A strong urge to turn back and run rushed to his head.
*Dammit, is this guy playing me for a fool?* Put a pen in a German Shepherd’s mouth, and it would probably draw a better map than this!
The hand-drawn map was large, with several place names he had never heard of before.
The closest place to his target location was an area called the Old Oil Well Zone.
Estimating the distance from the target location to the Old Oil Well Zone, it would take at least half a day’s drive.
The route details for the Old Oil Well Zone were far more refined than those for the rebels’ side.
What the hell was this guy’s deal?
Instead of wasting time on that, he should have drawn up a defense layout of the rebel base for him.
To prevent Jiang Yu from losing his bearings in the Outer Ring, the map also thoughtfully indicated which direction the sun rose.
Holy crap, incredible.
This guy was a real genius!
Memorizing the location of the nearest rebel outpost, Jiang Yu put away the ridiculously primitive map and headed deeper into the Outer Ring.
Hollows of various sizes sprawled chaotically across the ruined landscape like chess pieces, carrying a bizarre, almost fantastical beauty.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the faint roar of a car engine echoed from behind.
Jiang Yu turned his head to look.
Dust billowed in the wind as a large cargo truck drove up.
Jiang Yu stepped to the side of the road to let the truck pass, but to his surprise, this truck—emblazoned with the words “Wild Bull Rush”—actually pulled to a stop right in front of him.
The truck’s window rolled down, and a girl who looked severely sleep-deprived yawned.
“Is there anything I can help you with, traveler?” Today, Piper was quite happy because the Old Oil Well Zone was promoting the Inferno Ride.
Caesar had decided that the Sons of Calydon would participate as well.
To celebrate this decision, everyone had decided to throw a party.
The supplies in the truck bed were prepared specifically for the celebration.
Seeing those energetic youngsters made her very happy.
The dust was too thick, so Jiang Yu pulled his collar over his nose and mouth.
His deep eyes sized up the girl in the truck.
Her face looked like that of a little girl, making her seem younger than him.
From her attire, she didn’t look like a rebel.
She was likely with the transportation company Wise had mentioned.
Since it was a company, they had to be in it for the money.
“I only have 100 Dennies on me,” Jiang Yu said bluntly.
“Poor kid, hop in.
Piper here is a very helpful person, you know.” He had expected this person calling herself Piper to drive off because he had no money, but she actually felt pity for him.
Well, with only 100 Dennies to his name, he really was quite pitiable.
Jiang Yu wasn’t one to hesitate.
He pulled open the passenger door and climbed inside.
Hitching a free ride was a good deal.
The interior of the truck was clean.
On the seat lay a sleeping girl with a short golden ponytail.
Her outfit was incredibly stylish, and her ample chest rose and fell in rhythm with her deep breaths.
Taking only a brief glance, he quickly looked away.
Piper shifted gears and slammed the gas, sending the truck launching forward from a standstill.
The sudden acceleration pinned Jiang Yu to his seat back.
Only then did he notice that although Piper had slender arms and legs, her gear-shifting and clutch-work were exceptionally smooth and dashing.
Was this the legendary “small girl driving a big rig”?
“Young man, didn’t you find your own utopia in New Eridu?” Piper asked with a yawn.
“A friend of mine got lost in the Outer Ring.
I came to look for her.” “Young man, it seems you’re a sentimental one!
Let me guess, the friend you’re looking for is a girl, right?” Piper’s interest was piqued, and she tilted her head to ask him, completely ignoring the road ahead.
Going by the photo Shepherd had provided, unless he was blind, it was indeed a female.
“Yeah, a girl.” “Oh~ I knew it.
Then let me guess again—is your friend very pretty?” Piper tilted her head even further.
Jiang Yu pulled the photo Shepherd had given him out of his coat pocket.
He hadn’t looked at it closely before, but seeing it now, she was indeed a rare Fox Thiren beauty.
“Oho~ She really is a looker!
Young man, you’d better seize the opportunity.” He looked up, only to find that Piper’s head had somehow leaned right next to the photo.
Looking down at the steering wheel, one of her tiny feet was resting on it.
“Watch the road, hey!
Haven’t you ever heard that reckless driving leads to tears for your loved ones?” Jiang Yu immediately covered the photo and pushed Piper back into the driver’s seat.
“Don’t be so stingy~ What’s there to hide from others?” Piper stretched comfortably, complaining with a yawn.
Jiang Yu’s mouth twitched.
If the hostage’s photo got seen by the rebels, how would he even rescue her?
Just as he was about to put the photo away, a gust of sweet, alcohol-scented wind swept in from behind.
A fair-skinned hand suddenly snatched the photo from his grasp.
“Aha!
Got it!
Piper, it’s a cute little Fox Thiren girl!” Burnice cheered, practically dancing in her seat as she showed off her prize to Piper.
Having gone to the Inner Ring to buy alcohol, she had indulged a bit too much.
As the bartender for the Sons of Calydon, she had thought that amount of alcohol would only give her a slight buzz.
She hadn’t expected to pass out cold before even getting in the truck.
Overdrinking ruins things!
Overdrinking ruins things!
When she woke up and saw Piper chatting with a strange man, she noticed Piper winking at her.
Seizing the moment when the man wasn’t paying attention, she snatched the photo right out of his hand.
Looking at the photo, ha!
Quite a little beauty!
“Look, Piper!
Got it!” Burnice waved the photo excitedly, her ample chest bouncing in rhythm with her movement.
Jiang Yu was in no mood to admire her assets.
He snatched the photo back from Burnice’s hand and turned to Piper.
“Please stop the truck.
I’m getting off!” “Young man, don’t you want a ride?” Piper asked, squinting her sleepy eyes in confusion.
Jiang Yu said grumpily, “No, we’re not going the same way.” “Alrighty then.” Slam!
Jiang Yu slammed the truck door shut and headed toward the abandoned buildings without looking back.
“Piper, he seems angry.” “Nah, that young man has a good temper.
He’s not that petty.” “Hey!” Burnice leaned her sexy body out of the window.
Seeing Jiang Yu look back, she yelled, “If you get the chance, bring your little Fox Thiren girlfriend to hang out with us at the Sons of Calydon!
We’re in Blazewood in the Old Oil Well Zone!” Jiang Yu said nothing, simply continuing his walk.
Behind him, the truck’s engine roared back to life, its sound quickly fading into the distance.
He glanced back, a faint smile gracing his lips.
The Sons of Calydon?
What an interesting bunch.
About two kilometers ahead, a small outpost stood quietly amidst the abandoned buildings.