Chapter 373.1: Actually, It Doesn't Matter If You Change Your Mind

"Is this okay?" On a hillside on the northwest side of Lucky Valley Municipality, Sesame Paste looked up at the 6 balloons floating into the sky, her eyes filled with confusion.

This...

This setup was a bit different from the communication base she had imagined.

Tail, who was standing nearby, was not worried at all. Getting up with a grunt, she clapped her hands in satisfaction and declared, "Oh, there's definitely no problem! Lord Tail here followed every step in the manual!"

The so-called communication base was actually a box the size of a washing machine, connected to 6 hydrogen balloons by a thin rope.

It was as simple to operate as it looked.

All they had to do was to find an open and relatively high location, release the signal relay attached to the balloons into the sky. Of course, they couldn’t forget to turn on the power. The entire setup would then begin working.

Containing 2 metal-Hydrogen batteries, it could operate at designated power for at least a week off-grid, providing information services within a 10 to 20 kilometer radius.

Although the bandwidth of the entire setup wasn't broad, it was sufficient for updating map information for 1,000 people and receiving missions,

Anyway, players wouldn't be streaming videos in game anyway.

As a substitute for satellites, the contraption worked similarly to a weather balloon and was incredibly handy. The only thing they had to note was the risk of being struck by lightning on rainy days. Flying too high might attract marauders or other strange things, but those were minor issues.

As a temporary communication method, providing 1 to 3 weeks of service was more than enough. No one expected it to work indefinitely.

The New Alliance's communication system primarily relied on optical cables, electrical cables, large signal towers, along with countless small bases.

Those installations were managed by professionals.

"Let's go, let's head back to the camp to meet with Sisi and Roro!" Confirming the signal was stable, Tail picked up the backpack she’d dropped on the ground.

It was filled with climbing gear, and it had been quite an effort to haul the iron box all the way up.

"But... Are you sure it’s alright to leave it here?” Worriedly glancing at the balloons that had drifted far away, Sesame Paste still couldn't quite ease her mind.

"Relax, this is the wasteland. It’s not crawling with people anyway. Plus, it took us, awakened agility type players, so long to climb up here. It should be fine!” Tail tried to reassure her."And even if it breaks, I trust our respected Administrator would surely send a plane to drop another one!"

While Tail and Sesame Paste were setting up the communication base, Sisi was standing in a tent, watching over the man named Luo Hua lying on the bed.

He wasn’t just in a bad condition.

He was wrapped in bandages, almost mummified. His faint breathing as if he could die at any moment.

If they were in the real world, such severe injuries would almost certainly mean making final arrangements. However, they were in a game, where key story characters weren’t supposed to be so easy to kill.

Sisi figured he probably had some biomechanical parts installed to keep him hanging on by a thread.

Biomechanical parts from Ideal City... Each of them were worth hundreds of thousands of chips!

It was fine if the person was alright,

But if something were to happen... It shouldn't go to waste...

At this moment, Kariman, also in the tent, had no idea what evil thoughts the beautiful girl beside him was having. He thought her drooping eyes were out of sorrow for her companion.

He sighed softly, speaking in a comforting tone. "His constitution is good, and he's recovering fast. Most people with such severe injuries would have returned to the embrace of the Spirit of the Desert by now,"

Sisi nodded.

"Hmm." Seeing the girl's silent demeanor, Kariman felt a bit of pity but couldn't think of any comforting words.

After pondering for a while, he seemed to reach a decision and he spoke again. "The Prophet tells us that our world will one day return to the embrace of the Spirit of the Desert, and the Armies that roam the universe will deliver the final judgment at the end of days. Before the eternal calm and annihilation arrives, we must adhere to mercy, not abandoning any compatriot stuck in the sand, regardless of gender, whether they are freemen or slaves... Only then can we lighten our sins."

Sisi looked at him blankly, not understanding why he suddenly started monologuing.

However, Kariman didn't stop to explain. "We set out from Oasis No.9, headed to the southern border of the River Valley Province. We shouldn't have delayed this long, but when he cast his pleading gaze at us, we couldn't just watch him be swallowed by the sands."

Sisi nodded slightly. "Thank you."

"No, I really don't deserve your thanks," Kariman said with a complex expression, "Because just last night, I was discussing with my companions about leaving him to you guys after all, we have left the desert and have no obligation to keep him any longer. The road ahead is not easy. Someone like him will just be a burden to us."

Sisi was about to tell him that there was no problem and to leave them to her, but the man didn’t give her a chance to speak. He quickly made a decision. "But now, I've changed my mind.”

"Beyond the Sands lies a barbaric wilderness filled with dangerous beasts and bloodthirsty tribes, far from the embrace of the great being. I cannot leave this trouble to a group of helpless ladies, it's against my beliefs!"

Sisi stared at Kariman, dumbfounded.

It took her a while, and then she said in less than standard Federation language, "Actually, you don't need to change your mind,"

But...

Perhaps her way of expressing was too subtle, and Kariman was completely lost in his own world.

"Don't be embarrassed, I'm just carrying out the teachings of the Spirit of the Desert! I'll bring half my guards and accompany you on the road.”

"I will be with you until you safely return home,"

His gentle gaze made Sisi cringe.

Just as she was about to say something, the device on her arm vibrated, The screen flashed with a pale blue pop-up, an incoming communication request from the administrator, interrupting her from what she wanted to say,

"I'll go and explain to my companions what we need to do." With a gentlemanly bow, Kariman turned and left the tent, leaving behind the sleeping Luo Hua and a bemused Sisi.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Never mind... I'll explain later."

She couldn’t just leave the administrator's call hanging.

Compared to an unknown dumbass, the goodwill of the faction leader was more important.

Flipping her hair and putting on her headset, Sisi pressed the answer button, and soon a calm and handsome face appeared on the screen,

"Respected Administrator, sorry for the delay, may I help you?"

"You guys found Luo Hua? Where is he?"

"He's here."

Not surprised how the administrator knew, Sisi adjusted the direction of her headset, pointing the camera at the bed where the man wrapped like a rice dumpling was still breathing.

Chu Guang breathed a sigh of relief and slowly asked, "How is his condition?"

Sisi shook her head. "It's hard to say, he's developed a serious fever and hasn't regained consciousness yet. I suggest letting him rest here for a few days until his condition stabilizes. With his current physical state, continuing the journey might kill him."

Their truck carried some basic medical supplies, including bandages, syringes, infusion bags, saline, glucose, and antibiotics. Although most players would opt to respawn after serious injuries, long-distance travel was not the same as as it was too difficult to move around their respawn point. The cost of death was too high,

If they could save him, Sisi thought they should.

Hearing her suggestion, Chu Guang slowly nodded. He recalled that she worked in a hospital in real life. Even though she wasn’t in a popular department, she should still have basic medical knowledge.

"Then let's do as you say, let him rest here for a while."

"If you need anything, just tell me, please take care of him for now. When he wakes up, please let me know immediately!"

Sisi gave a thumbs up to the camera. "Oh, leave it to me!"

Although she wasn't a very impressive doctor, she would do her best.

After the communication ended, a pale blue pop-up appeared. When she saw the task, she revealed a look of surprise. "2,000 silver coins and 1,000 contribution points?!"

Holy shit!