The south entrance of Linghu Wetland Park.

5 people and 1 bear were escorting the caravan from the outpost. They marched towards Boulder Town with high morale.

Although there were more guards this time than last time, Qian Duo, who was walking in the caravan, couldn’t help but feel his eyelids twitching rapidly.

He didn’t doubt the fighting strength of those blue coats. After all, he had seen it several times for himself.

Whether it was the archer, the hunk who could use a machine gun as a rifle, or the guy with a mechanical arm, the combat effectiveness was all the same.

However…

Those people were slightly injured in the last battle. This time, he was heading to Boulder Town with another bunch.

He didn’t look down on them. It was just that this new group gave him a feeling as if they were going on an outing...

"Damn it! It’s clearly my bear..."

"Okay, okay, don’t be sad," Sisi patted Tail while comforting her, "After we recover Yaya’s VM later, it will be your turn to ride her, okay?"

"What the hell? Why are you so sure that I’ll die?!" Yaya, who was riding on the back of the big white bear, protested.

Roshan growled, "Wait, wait a minute, why do I feel like I’ve become a mount?"

Sisi looked away with an awkward expression. "I didn’t say that."

Teng Teng, who was walking in the back, said with some worry, "Yaya, focus. You are our eyes, keep your eyes on the front."

Speaking of which, since she got the alpha version test qualification, she had been playing Wasteland Online as if it was a business simulator. Every day she would either manage her workshop, or visit Autumn Weed and Autumn Leaves.

It was her first time on such a dangerous mission.

Looking at the timid Teng Teng, Yaya raised her chin slightly while riding on Roshan’s back. "Hehe, don’t worry, my perception type’s intuition is triggered passively! I’ve tried it several times!"

Roshan grumbled, "Stop moving around, My... I mean the bear’s fur is all tousled up by you."

"It’s okay! I’ll help you groom it!"

Regarding those strange fools’ request, Xia Yan had no choice but to help them make a leather saddle for the bear.

But honestly speaking, Xia Yan’s hands-on ability was very strong. The products made by her were much easier to use than the unreliable clown tools made by Mosquito.

Yaya was like a heroic female knight while riding on Roshan. Her 300 kilograms plate armor gave everyone a sense of security.

Of course, the premise was that she didn’t open her mouth.

The caravan guards looked at each other before turning to the only normal outpost guard.

Kaeya gulped nerviosuly. "Are you sure they have fighting power?"

Both of his arms were injured and he was hoping it wouldn’t be the last mission of his mercenary career.

Xu Shun nodded and said seriously, "Of course! I have seen it for myself."

Qian Lai coughed lightly. "To be honest, I have an ominous feeling... The group of people we met before were obviously not ordinary marauders."

Wang Zhong, who had been silent all this time, nodded. "Indeed, they looked like cannon fodders who had been gathered to make up the numbers."

Xu Shun frowned. "Doesn’t that just mean that they are a bunch of rabble?"

Qian Lai shook his head. “Rabble would not take the initiative to shoot at us. They were not professional marauders, but a group of temporary workers. It was obvious that they were organized by someone." Ȓ𝘈ŊО𐌱Ě𝒮

It may be incomprehensible to those who had not been to Boulder Town, but for those who lived there, things like that was commonplace.

Militias and mercenary groups weren’t the only ones who would recruit soldiers in the slums. Marauders could do the same. And because the gangs there generally sold stolen goods for marauders, it was easy for marauders to find a group of temporary workers, as long as they paid for weapons in advance.

As long as enough was given, it was even fine if they didn’t issue weapons. Many scavengers could make iron pipe weapons themselves. This was the same as building a shack, it was almost an essential survival skill for them.

According to Qian Lai’s experience, that attack was more like a test.

The other party was not sure, so they decided to mobilize some cannon fodders to test their strength. It was hard to say how the other party would evaluate their strength, and whether they would give up the idea of attacking them.

He had suggested to his boss that it would be better to rest for a few days before shipping another batch of goods to Boulder Town.

But his boss couldn’t wait to trade psychoid leaves for chips. This time, not only did the load of the shipment double, but he even gave him a purchase list worth 100,000 chips.

The portable steam engine could no longer satisfy the appetite of the ruler of the northern suburbs. That ruler was obsessed with buying second-hand machines from Boulder Town, and wanted to get back a bit of everything.

"Just be more careful." Glancing at the cemetery-like city in front of him, Qian Lai muttered in a low voice.

Hopefully, nothing will happen...

...

A city full of concrete ruins was like a labyrinth. There was more than one route leading to Boulder Town from the northern suburbs. Experienced merchants would usually memorize more than 10 routes, and analyze which one to take each time based on all factors such as weather, temperature, intuition, and other factors.

For the hunter in the labyrinth, it was not an easy task to catch the rabbit. Of course… There were always more solutions than difficulties.

Most marauders would set up an observation point at a high place, monitor a block or two that could be seen, and then predict which route the merchant would choose based on the direction of their movement.

On a tall building within the fifth ring, a mercenary in a gray overcoat was lying on the side of the damaged wall, looking at the street not far away with the binoculars in his hand.

His name was Sha Chi, one of Wu Chou’s capable subordinates, and he mainly served as a sniper and scout in the team.

When he saw a caravan appearing in the distance, there was a look of surprise in his eyes. He immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and said excitedly, "Boss, they’re set off!"

After some brief static, Wu Chou gasped sofly. "You’re sure?"

Those people had just crossed the edge of the fifth ring in the morning. It hadn’t even been a day, but they immediately set off to Boulder Town again.

Don’t these people plan to take a day off?

Sha Chi replied immediately, "I’m sure… That direction can only be from the Wetland Park! There are 9 people in total, except for the two-headed ox carrying the goods, and a white bear, which should be their pet. They are heading to Street 1101. They probably intend to pass through the commercial complex there. This group is different from the ones we met before, the previous 4 ability users are not in this group!"

Hearing his report, Wu Chou’s eyes flashed with excitement.

The commercial complex on Street 1101 was a half-collapsed shopping mall. It was a good place to lay an ambush, especially if the 4 ability users were not in the group. It was great news for him.

The only pity was that the time was too short. They didn’t expect the caravan to pass through the area and they hadn’t laid an ambush.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

However, that wasn’t a big problem for them! They had twice the number of people on their side.

Wu Chou said decisively, "Go around to their west side and support us from the roof! Wait for my signal!"

"Copy!" There was excitement on Sha Chi’s face.

Putting down the walkie-talkie in his hand, he was about to put away the binoculars and pick up the sniper rifle on the ground. However, he saw the armored creature riding on the bear staring straight at him.

The gaze made him tremble all over. The binoculars almost fell out of his hands, and he quickly hid behind cover.

Coincidence? Doesn’t look like it...

That was too obvious!

Realizing something, Sha Chi’s expression changed slightly.

The person riding on the bear’s back is probably an ability user!

...