My exclusive card pool

Chapter 197 A Trip to Old Los Angeles (Part 2)

A week passed quickly.

This evening.

Wang Xizheng was finishing his work at Yongxie and preparing to go home.

He had just started the hovercar when his phone rang.

When I answered the call, it was from Ms. Xia Ling.

Click.

"Wang Xi, you have a specific request."

Over there, a mature female voice cut to the chase.

"What request?" Wang Xi leaned back in the driver's seat, holding his phone close to his ear.

"Young Master Bai placed a huge order worth 20 million."

Ms. Xia Ling said calmly.

"She needs your help to travel to Old Los Angeles to retrieve an item lost by a loved one."

"Mr. Bai..."

Wang Xi's expression was strange.

He suddenly remembered that Bai Qimeng had invited him to continue the so-called adventure, but he had politely declined.

Could this be the reason?

Unable to reach out privately, and not wanting to damage the friendship, he decided to handle it professionally and pay to publish the commission.

"I remember Los Angeles has already fallen..."

Wang Xidao.

"Yes, after the 'Los Angeles Fall Incident' 15 years ago, that human settlement has now become a disaster zone and is extremely dangerous."

Ms. Xia Ling said.

"In addition, Old Los Angeles is special. The Gear Corporation used armed forces to seal off that area, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter. This was also tacitly approved by the Southern Continent Council."

"Originally, the company did not intend to accept this commission, but because 'Young Master Bai' is a top-level VIP, and this is your first commission as the chief steward, we agreed to it anyway."

"It's up to you."

Wang Xi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll take it."

"Then contact 'Young Master Bai' tomorrow morning. The company will use its resources to help you get the Old Los Angeles City entry permit, and will also provide you with some deck assistance."

Ms. Xia Ling said in a deep voice.

"be careful."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Xi drove home.

That night, Cupid's Housekeeper sent a small box containing dozens of various artificial wild cards, a very complete set.

It includes vehicles, armor, excavation equipment, firearms, and explosives, among other things.

These are all types of cards that cannot be bought on the market; they are controlled cards that are only available in the "Hat Hole" area.

This box of cards is estimated to be worth several million.

Besides that, there is an entry permit.

'The Gear Consortium is truly powerful; not only can it use its private armed forces to seal off large disaster areas, but it also forbids unauthorized entry.'

Wang Xi thought to himself.

There's definitely something fishy going on here.

Everything is ready.

Early the next morning.

Wang Xi then called Bai Qimeng, and the two agreed to meet at a coffee shop.

At the meeting, in addition to Bai Qimeng, Lin Xin'er, as Bai Qimeng's bodyguard, was also present, presumably indicating that she would be traveling with them.

To Wang Xi's surprise, Lin Xin'er's abilities improved rapidly after she hooked up with a rich woman, and she now has a bronze-framed four-star rating.

"Long time no see, handsome Wang."

Bai Qimeng took a sip of iced coffee, crossed her arms, and laughed.

"My family found out I was going to Los Angeles and froze my bank account, so I can't come up with any more of the entrusted funds, only 20 million."

"Dude, that's enough."

Wang Xi waved his hand.

But deep down, I was overjoyed.

Twenty million!
With his chief deacon contract, split in half, he would end up receiving a full ten million in commission!

"Tell me about this in detail."

"Ah."

Bai Qimeng's expression turned serious, and she lowered her voice to begin telling Wang Xi, "I'm going to Luocheng to retrieve my aunt's belongings..."

As she spoke, Wang Xi frowned.

It turns out that the "fall of Los Angeles" 15 years ago was man-made, and the culprit was a high-ranking member of the Gear Corporation.

Laboratory research has shown that maintaining a high level of reality distortion within the maze significantly increases the production of magic stones, ether crystals, and some rare resources.

At that time in Los Angeles, there was a fixed entrance to the "Puppet Master" dungeon, part of the Five of Spades fairy tale series, which became a continuous "cash cow" for the Gear Corporation.

At that stage, the Gear Consortium had only just begun to rise. It was through the "Puppet Master" labyrinth that it acquired a massive amount of technical blueprints, and then continuously registered patents, thus taking off rapidly.

This executive thus became a prominent figure within the conglomerate, wielding immense influence and connections.

However, because the dungeon has maintained a high degree of reality distortion for a long time, disasters occur frequently, and the officials and heroes are exhausted from dealing with them.

This ultimately triggered an orange-level (sudden disaster) calamity, and Bai Yanwei, the "Los Angeles Grand Master Wax Master," died in battle while covering the evacuation of civilians.

This "Empress Dowager" is Bai Qimeng's aunt.

This incident served as a warning.

Nowadays, no city dares to risk acquiring resources with a high degree of reality distortion and has adopted a conservative attitude. However, the evil deeds of the Gear Consortium have never been punished as they deserve.

The reason is simple: a lack of clear evidence.

The person in charge was given a symbolic demotion, and the Gear Group was fined tens of billions, that was all.

"The Gear Consortium has powerful backers."

Bai Qimeng said this.

"Several members of the Southern Continent Council have vested interests with them. Of course, the main reason is the lack of clear evidence..."

She sneered.

"But the evidence was buried by that devastating disaster, which is the fundamental reason why the Gear Corporation spared no effort to blockade Old Los Angeles."

"The so-called 'sealing off the disaster area to prevent the spread of danger' is just a lie to deceive people, but what can we do?"

There really is no way.

With many insiders dead and no clear evidence, almost no one could bring down the Gear Group.

"Miss Bai, this request isn't as simple as just retrieving the relics, is it?"

Wang Xi pondered for a few seconds before asking.

He could hear the hatred and resentment in Bai Qimeng's tone, and he felt that making a big deal out of a 20 million yuan order by simply getting back her belongings was making a mountain out of a molehill.

“I know a secret location in old Los Angeles that may be hiding evidence of the Gear Corporation’s crimes.”

Bai Qimeng said calmly.

"And the place where my aunt died in battle was very close to there... If possible, I would like to take this opportunity to obtain this evidence."

"What do you want to do?" Wang Xi frowned slightly. "Even if you get this evidence, do you think you can bring down the Gear Consortium?"

"I'm not that naive."

Bai Qimeng picked up her coffee cup again, took a sip, and said.

"But having this evidence is an opportunity."

Wang Xi suddenly added, "It is also a death warrant."

Bai Qimeng understood his subtext.

If they obtain evidence of her guilt, the Gear Corporation will definitely try every means to kill her.

“If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have gone to Old Los Angeles.”

Bai Qimeng said calmly.

After a few seconds of silence, she took a deep breath, looked up at Wang Xi and said, "Wang Xi, during my investigation of the 'Fall of Los Angeles Incident,' I discovered your parents' whereabouts."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xi's eyes narrowed.

Bai Qimeng's words were like a sharp ice pick, piercing deep into his memory.

The faces of my parents appeared in my mind.

Father Wang Xing always wore those black-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses sparkling with a thirst for knowledge; Mother Dong Qin'er liked to tie her long hair into a simple bun, and she always carried the smell of laboratory disinfectant.

"Let's talk on the way," Wang Xi said in a low voice.

Lin Xin'er keenly sensed that the temperature around her seemed to have dropped slightly, and the atmosphere had become oppressive.

...

...

After a while.

Lin Xin'er drove the hovercar away from Gucheng and traveled through the wilderness.

Bai Qimeng and Wang Xi sat in the back seat. She glanced at the young man and said, "...Don't misunderstand, I didn't investigate on my own initiative. I found some research notes and photos while sorting through my aunt's belongings."

As she spoke, she took out a yellowed photograph from her bag and handed it to Wang Xi: "This is their last photo together."

The photo shows two young couples. Wang Xi recognized his parents at a glance; they were standing between an unfamiliar couple, and behind them was a metal door marked "Gear Foundation Los Angeles Research Institute".

The stranger had the same silver hair as Chu Nai, only a darker shade.

"These are Chu Nai's parents..."

Wang Xi's fingertips gently traced the photograph.

Bai Qimeng nodded: "Professor Chu and his wife were university classmates with your parents, and they all later entered the field of maze research. Fifteen years ago, the Gear Foundation invited them to participate in a joint research project, which took place in the Spade 5 'Puppet Craftsman' maze in Los Angeles."

Lin Xin'er added at the opportune moment: "According to public records, it was a routine maze exploration, but the 'Los Angeles Fall Incident' occurred two weeks later."

“This was not an accident,” Bai Qimeng said coldly. “My aunt’s notes mentioned that they discovered a black cube deep within the labyrinth, some kind of… living metal. After that, the Gear Corporation strengthened security and prohibited any non-core personnel from accessing the research data.”

Wang Xi turned the photo over, and on the back, in faded ink, were written the date and four signatures: Wang Xing, Dong Qin'er, Chu Mingyuan, and Su Yuqing.

His thumb traced the date; it was three days before his parents' death.

"The delay in the rescue was not an accident," Bai Qimeng said firmly. "The Gear Consortium had the capability to evacuate the core researchers, but they chose to do nothing."

The hovercar suddenly lurched violently, breaking the somber atmosphere.

Wang Xi looked out the window, where a dozen strange blue-purple lightning bolts were leaping through the clouds on the distant horizon.

Several giant electric spheres even fell like meteorites, causing massive explosions.

Flames roared through the vast forest, which resembled a primeval jungle, sending dust and billowing black smoke into the air.

"It's a ball lightning cluster, take a detour."

Upon seeing this, Wang Xi immediately offered a reminder.

Lin Xin'er immediately adjusted her driving route.

Wang Xi recalled the materials he had seen while working at the Yongxie Association, saying, "Recently, paranormal phenomena have become more and more frequent in the wilderness near Gucheng."

"The disappearance of the fixed entrance to the 'Kirin's Child's' maze has caused abnormal fluctuations in the nearby reality distortion."

After speaking, Wang Xi's thoughts returned to the photograph in his hand. He was only five years old when his parents passed away, and his memories were already hazy, but the feeling of being left all alone in the world had never disappeared.

As a child, he often dreamed that his parents were trapped in a dark place and were calling out to him for help.

'Was my parents' death really related to the Gear Corporation?'

Wang Xi couldn't help but think to himself.

He didn't completely believe Bai Qimeng's words, but he made a note of them and waited for them to be verified.

The hovercar continued to travel through the wilderness for nearly five hours.

During this time, they avoided two waves of wandering monsters and witnessed a flock of crows with human faces flying across the blood-red sky.

"Here we are."

Lin Xin'er suddenly said.

Looking up, Wang Xi saw a dilapidated high wall standing on the distant horizon, like the spine of a giant beast.

Behind the wall lay countless collapsed buildings, their silhouettes resembling menacing monsters in the twilight.

Most striking is the leaning tower in the city center, which resembles a broken sword piercing the leaden sky.

“Southern Continent A2 Disaster Zone.” Bai Qimeng said softly, her tone wistful, “Old Luo City.”

"We have come under the surveillance of the Gear Consortium."

Lin Xin'er slowed down and pointed to a rusty metal sign on the side of the road. The sign had a warning sign painted in red, and below it was the logo of the Gear Corporation—a mechanical snake biting its own tail, which looked like a giant gear.

"Orange-level disaster area..."

Wang Xi read out the danger level on the sign.

During his time serving as the vice president of the Brave Association, he not only learned about the secrets of many mazes, but also learned about the level of danger corresponding to the disaster level.

Generally speaking, disasters at the "relatively stable (grey)" and "area lockdown (blue)" levels can be resolved by the Yong-Hsieh and the defense forces.

However, when it reaches the "major change (yellow)" level, the "Taiyu" needs to take action personally.

If it is a "sudden disaster (orange)" level, then even "Taiko" can only barely buy time to contain the spread of the situation.

Only by having the three "Taiyu" join forces can the situation be brought under control.

Most of the cities that fell were destroyed under orange-level disaster conditions.

As the hovercar approached the warning line, more than a dozen black drones rose from their hiding places, their red scanning beams enveloping the vehicle.

A mechanical female voice came through the loudspeaker:
"Unauthorized entry prohibited."

"Warning! Unknown hovercraft, please leave immediately, otherwise we will consider it a danger and open fire!"

Apart from that.

Wang Xi also saw through the car window that countless metal robots were emerging all around him.

They were all dressed in black combat uniforms, with a gear-shaped corporate emblem on their chests.

"These drones and gadget sentinels are all remotely controlled by the consciousness of people within the Gear Foundation."

Bai Qimeng said calmly.

“This not only reduces the cost of lockdown, but also improves the personal safety of security personnel… They can fire at us with impunity, but they are not afraid of our retaliation, because even if the mecha sentinels are destroyed, there are backups.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xi raised an eyebrow: "Just like the avatars in fantasy novels?"

“Cyber ​​avatar.” Bai Qimeng sneered.

Wang Xi took out the credentials prepared by Cupid Housekeeping and held them up to the window. The drone swarm emitted a slight buzzing sound, seemingly verifying their authenticity.

"Verification passed."

A moment later, the woman's voice rang out again:

"Warning: Three personnel from Gucheng, do not approach the central area, it is too dangerous - repeat, do not approach the central area, it is too dangerous."

Bai Qimeng scoffed, "That's like burying your head in the sand."

Lin Xin'er drove the hovercar through the rusted gate, the chassis flames crushing through broken glass and metal debris with a piercing sound.

Wang Xi noticed that all the surveillance cameras on the roadside were turned towards them, and the red indicator lights were flashing like eyes.

"They are keeping a close watch."

Lin Xin'er said something.

"Boss, what's our next step?"

Bai Qimeng said, "Stop the car. We need to walk to the central area before dark. The Gear Group has a secret base underground there."

"Miss Bai, is there really evidence of their crimes hidden there?"

Wang Xi took out the company-issued wild cards, gave a few to each of them, and then asked:
"Given the Gear Consortium's formidable strength, it wouldn't be difficult for them to organize a group of high-level professional warriors and, with their internal technological capabilities, infiltrate Old Los Angeles to destroy evidence, right?"

“There’s no need,” Bai Qimeng said. “Even the Gear Consortium would have to pay a considerable price to shake an orange-level disaster domain… Moreover, the disaster domain itself is the best cover.”

The three of them put on their gear and got out of the car.

Wang Xi noticed that Bai Qimeng's hands were trembling slightly, but when she raised her head, her eyes were unusually firm.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Wang Xi asked one last time. "The Gear Consortium won't let us take any evidence easily. Even getting close to the central area could attract their attack."

Bai Qimeng's lips curled into a cold smile: "I have been preparing for this day for five whole years."

The three walked through the deserted streets.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding scenery became increasingly bizarre.

The collapsed building was covered with a layer of metallic rust, as if it had been corroded by some kind of acidic substance.

A strong smell of rust filled the air.

The abandoned vehicles on the street have become one with the ground, with vine-like metal wires extending from the windows.

There are also countless wandering automatons.

Dressed in retro-elegant clothing, with exaggerated smiles frozen on their faces, they wandered aimlessly through the ruins.

"New Los Angeles Citizens - Mad Robot (Darkened/Nemesis/Three Stars)"

Among them are quite a few blank four-star or five-star boards.

This is the danger of an orange-level disaster zone; for ordinary professional warrior teams, entering is tantamount to suicide.

...

...

at the same time.

In a concealed bunker three kilometers away, technician Chen Kai was observing the movement trajectory of three red dots on a monitoring screen.

He rubbed his sore eyes and picked up the communicator.

"Sir, they've gone in."

He spoke into the microphone.

"It is moving towards the central area."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the communicator, then a calm male voice came through: "Has the identity been confirmed?"

Li Ming retrieved the facial recognition results: "Bai Qimeng, the eldest daughter of the Bai family of the Shanshan Group in Gucheng; Lin Xin'er, an employee of the Shanshan Group; and... Wang Xi, the newly appointed vice president of the Gucheng Yongxie Association."

“Interesting.” The male voice chuckled. “Continue monitoring. If they approach within 500 meters of the central area, activate the ‘Destruction Protocol’ immediately.”

"But sir, that Wang Xi is a high-ranking three-star..."

"Execute the command, Technician 09."

The male voice said indifferently.

"The Gear Consortium will not allow anyone to affect the progress of the 'Titan Project.' It's just a mere high-level three-star hero; there's nothing to worry about."

Chen Kai swallowed hard: "Yes, sir."

He switched screens, bringing up the control interfaces for the armed drones hidden throughout the disaster area. Dozens of green icons flashed on the map, each representing a killing machine fully loaded with ammunition, as well as a special forces unit of mechs prepared specifically to deal with "trouble".

Deeper into the menu, a red skull icon quietly awaits activation—

That's the Gear Group's trump card.

If things become unmanageable, then this old base site, along with the enemy and the evidence, will be destroyed in an instant.

(End of this chapter)