Wasteland Development Diary.

Chapter 594 You know how to pick your targets.

In the depths of a certain Dead Sea on the western continent.

There was a cargo ship that was mostly buried by sand and dust.

Several squid were swimming around.

Zhou Yi noticed that these light squids were not ordinary B-level life forms; their strength had reached A-level. They seemed to be playing a role similar to guards here.

Cat God hovered beside him and said, "Chairman, they have all been modified. Just like androids, they have implanted electromechanical life units in their bodies, which can be described as artificial light nano-species."

“Any unrecognized life that approaches the shipwreck will be driven away and attacked by them.”

Wu Ye mentioned this during the interrogation.

While conducting experiments on artificial humans, he also attempted similar modifications to light-sensitive nano-species.

Unlike humans, who are often cowardly and fearful, most of the Lightbringers exhibit deeply ingrained arrogance and haughtiness. Wu Ye considers this a kind of pathology as well.

The experimental results were not good.

The light-electromagnetic species believes itself to be the best and right. They resist and oppose the new body formed by the electromechanical and optical imprints, and ultimately most of them will sever this connecting part of the body.

Electromechanical life forms possess unparalleled manufacturing capabilities, as well as efficiency and focus far exceeding those of other life forms on Earth.

But deep down, the Light Naz were contemptuous of mechanical life, viewing them as nothing more than pitiful metal creatures trapped in programs, a form of inferior life. They were unwilling to be bound by programs.

The supposed alliance turned out to be wishful thinking on Wu Ye's part.

Only humans who are surgically transformed into artificial beings tend to cherish their newfound powers. For ordinary people, this is like receiving a lifeline in a time of crisis.

Wu Ye quickly abandoned this direction.

Among them, only some of the less intelligent light-emitting species have some successful cases.

The most successful example of modification is the light squid. They can reach grade B after adulthood, but their survival depends entirely on instinct, which makes the modification process much smoother.

This batch of light squid became the guards outside the laboratory, issuing commands through implanted electromechanical light imprints to make them patrol repeatedly.

However, under the Cat God's [Selflessness] ability, they were completely unaware of Zhou Yi's appearance and existence.

Enter the sunken ship.

Zhou Yi saw that there were many metal coffins fixed inside, each with a transparent glass window. Inside the coffins, which were filled with icy mist, were sleeping men and women, with instruments displaying their vital signs beside them.

"These are all artificial humans. There are a total of 30 people in the entire laboratory, but only 6 have been awakened so far."

Cat God said, "Most artificial humans are usually asleep, which reduces energy consumption and slows down lifespan."

Zhou Yi walked all the way to the core laboratory.

The place is very well sealed off; you have to go through a disinfection room to get inside.

Outside the operating table stood a middle-aged woman in a white protective suit and a young man sitting in a chair, looking somewhat dazed.

Zhou Yi first looked at the woman.

She was around forty years old, with clear fine lines around her eyes, and her mouth and neck were not as smooth as those of a younger woman.

"You're Ms. Wu? Wu Ye's top assistant?"

"I'm."

The woman spoke fluent Eastern Continental dialect: "Excuse me, are you a friend of my father?"

"No."

Zhou Yi stated frankly: "Wu Ye has been detained and is under investigation for dereliction of duty and abuse of power. I am here to verify the situation."

The woman froze abruptly: "Detention investigation...you are..."

Zhou Yi raised his right index finger and made a shushing gesture.

The other party immediately became extremely docile: "I will do my best to cooperate with whatever you want to investigate."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Which agents have been here before?"

"I do not know about this."

Ms. Wu said, "Because even if the adults come over, they can't be seen. My father also forbids me from asking about this."

Zhou Yi then asked, "Do you know where the more than 40,000 androids that Wu Ye deployed to the outside world went?"

Ms. Wu nodded.

"knew."

"Although we all live in different regions, we still keep in touch with each other occasionally."

She said, "Because there are maintenance issues with the androids, even though I taught them how to maintain their electromechanical components before they left, there were still unexpected cases of serious damage. Sometimes when I go to cities to maintain the androids, I will encounter them and help them in any way I can."

"Wu Ye knows about this?"

“I don’t know, but Father probably wouldn’t care about such things. Father is a scientist who is very focused on improving humanity.”

Zhou Yi sized up Wu Ye's first assistant. She was an experimental subject at the age of eight and was the first successful artificial human. She was actually over two hundred years old.

His face didn't look that old at all. It was just that his eyes definitely gave off an old man's vibe, filled with a lot of complex emotions.

Where do those androids live?

"Most of them settle in remote towns, inconspicuous places."

Ms. Wu explained, "If their identities are exposed, they will immediately move away and flee. However, due to the influence of electro-optical devices, most people prefer a stable life, engaging in ordinary jobs and avoiding big cities and being in the spotlight as much as possible."

Zhou Yi then asked her for more information.

One noteworthy aspect is the lifespan of artificial humans.

Contrary to Zhou Yi's expectations, the lifespan of this group varies.

"It is directly related to one's own flesh and blood body."

Ms. Wu said, "Because the body is still driven by the original brain and heart, the electromechanical part cannot replace thinking, it is only an auxiliary organ."

"If ordinary people become cyborgs, they will still die within a few decades."

“The enhanced individuals were originally very strong and had long lifespans. This made AB-level human experimental subjects extremely scarce, and my father was constantly searching for them…” “After death, the electromechanical organs in the android would send out signals, and we would retrieve them for use in the next person. Because these electromechanical organs, which have been continuously adapted to the human body, have excellent compatibility. They have a large amount of data records, making them better than brand-new electromechanical equipment. They can be used after maintenance and optimization.”

This reminded Zhou Yi of the former Wang's Beiyang Army.

Human data was uploaded into Tetsuo's body, beginning his journey to immortality. The downside is that whether the data person is the real person or a created data ghost is quite controversial.

Zhou Yi pondered that artificial humans and companion plants were more similar in direction.

The companion plants of the Mud Tree Man are deeply connected to the body, becoming a completely new extension of the body.

Companion plants have a higher growth rate, but they require a long time to adapt. They are usually planted when the plant is young and then gradually adapt to adulthood.

The artificial human model that Wu Ye created through biochemical experiments uses a photoelectric printing machine as a supplement and enhancement to the body, in order to improve the stability and strength that he sees as the most lacking qualities in humans.

This significantly raises the lower limit of the human body, and this can be accomplished through neural prostheses, even faster than with symbiotic plants.

After thinking for a while, Zhou Yi finally decided: "Suspend all activities here and maintain the status quo."

"Miss Wu, I'm now giving you a task."

"Go find those androids, record their detailed living conditions and group ecology, and then compile a report for me. The investigation into Wu Ye needs this information. If you need anything, just let me know."

Ms. Wu immediately said, "I only need to bring three assistants. We have always gone out like this to other cities to perform maintenance and inspections on androids."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Okay. Let's go then."

Ms. Wu immediately went to make preparations.

……

Zhou Yi then turned his attention back to the young man beside him.

"You come from the Mountain of Flesh?"

The other person appeared dizzy, as if suffering from a hangover, with unfocused eyes. This was because Wu Ye had administered a special anesthetic block to him.

After being awakened, he still needs time to regain his alertness and mental acuity.

"You...you saved me?"

"good."

"I remember being captured in City 404... You managed to break through even City 404?"

The other person looked surprised, but seemed somewhat dazed.

Zhou Yi sat down next to him: "Tell me about your story."

"I……"

The young man was still somewhat absent-minded.

He rubbed his cheeks and temples vigorously, as if trying to concentrate: "My name is Yang Zhao, and I have lived in the mountains since I can remember."

“Those mountains have no trees, no grass, but they have meat. The mountains are meat. As long as you dig through the hard, dry outer shell, there is meat underneath that can be eaten. That is what outsiders call the meat mountain.”

"I grew up eating that meat."

Zhou Yi asked, "Where's the water? Don't you need water?"

"The meat contains moisture."

Yang Zhao squinted and said, "There is water deep in the mountains. The water in the Meat Mountain is different from the water outside. It tastes much better."

He seemed to have regained some clarity at this point.

"you are?"

"My name is Zhou Yi."

The other person's eyes widened immediately: "Wasteland Development Company, Chairman Zhou Yi?"

"Ah."

"No wonder... Your company can even break through 404? That's unbelievable... It's even more terrifying than the rumors... Thank you so much for saving my life, otherwise I probably would have been stuck in 404 City forever."

A hint of respect and gratitude flashed in Yang Zhao's eyes, which then transformed into a strange fervor and longing.

Zhou Yi saw all of this and asked him again, "Were you born from a mountain of flesh?"

The other person nodded: "Inside the mountain, there are many soft chunks of flesh... or rather, a viscous area where all sorts of substances are mixed together. I was conceived from there. I have memories of this in my mind because my brain was born first."

"The mountain of flesh is my mother and father; they gave birth to me."

“I came out after I grew up. There was a voice telling me to go outside. But I grew very fast. It took about nine years from my birth to my capture... After I came out, I heard your name everywhere. You are really amazing.”

Does he look only nine years old?

Zhou Yi was speechless.

I previously knew that the Mountain of Flesh was the Seeders' biological manufacturing plant, producing Golden Elephants and Killer Rats from the consciousness of old humans. I didn't expect there to be a human regeneration process involved?
The person in front of me looked normal, like a young man in his twenties, with a nose and eyes, but he was wearing a hospital gown.

Why were you arrested by 404 City?

"Because of poaching."

Poaching?

"I attacked a skeleton, and it was emitting a strong, delicious smell, just like you. I couldn't resist, so I followed it and attacked it, wanting to eat it. I couldn't win, and it captured me. When I came to my senses, I was already in City 404."

The young man gave an embarrassed smile.

Zhou Yi's heart skipped a beat: "The skeleton you attacked, was it wearing a black muscle suit, with very white bones, and a bone chain around its neck?"

"All correct! You recognize it?"

Yang Zhao was surprised and somewhat frustrated: "That skeletal figure looks like a jailer from City 404. I saw it over there too. Sigh, my luck isn't very good..."

Zhou Yi's face twitched.

You know how to find a target.

The fact that he was able to hunt down the No. 7 agent of the 404 city as soon as he came out of the mountains and was not killed on the spot is already considered incredibly lucky.

(End of this chapter)