From the Abyss of Stars

024. Cheese Nomi



  1. Cheese Nomi

 

"R-103 Carbine, VK-74 Vertical Rifle—where did this humanitarian aid group get these standard weapons?"

 

Due to the potential involvement of a Biomechanist, Li Aozi didn't dare touch the equipment, but Nomi, from the Rose Army, was overjoyed. After digging out a bullet from a hole, she began searching the corpses of the guards.

 

After a thorough search, she was deeply puzzled by the guards' standard military weapons.

 

"I’m not familiar with firearms. What's the deal?" Li Aozi had forgotten most of the early weapon information, so he asked.

 

"The four nations’ military weapons are basically of two types: self-developed or directly purchased from GTB. I've heard GTB firearms are extremely well-crafted, not like mass-produced killing machines, but elegant and beautiful works of art. I’d love to grab a few and see."

 

Nomi hefted the rifle, her small frame requiring both arms to hold the gun that guards needed exoskeletons and prosthetics to wield—it looked a bit comical.

 

Nomi smirked:

 

"Look, this says FPM-RFI—meaning Frost military, Life Light Weapon Industries."

 

"I know Life Light Weapons, the largest military-industrial complex in Frost. They supply weapons exclusively to the Frost Defense Forces," Li Aozi frowned at the familiar name. "Are you sure? This is a top-tier military supplier."

 

"Of course, I’m sure! Look, there’s also a serial number on the back—RFQAJ2200121, uh…"

 

A glint of insight flashed in Li Aozi’s gray eyes. He had a suspicion, but to be sure, he asked, "What does it mean?"

 

Nomi said:

 

"It means… this gun was manufactured on January 21st this year."

 

To put it directly, the humanitarian aid group had just completed a transaction with Frost’s top military-industrial complex in January.

 

Nomi’s words made Li Aozi ponder.

 

The four nations are not just countries; for the people outside, they are sacred lands, paradises, even mythological heavens.

 

The four nations monopolize all the world's energy, minerals, and sunlight through extensive hemisphere cities.

 

The red and black plague clouds cover the entire atmosphere of Blue Planet. Without sunlight, trees can’t survive. Without sunlight, the land stays frozen for long periods, with storms blowing away the nutrient-rich soil due to low temperatures and terrain differences.

 

Without these basic survival conditions, no biological communities can exist outside.

 

Hence, people only ever smuggle into the four nations, including Li Aozi. No one wants to stay outside. The harsh environment makes survival nearly impossible.

 

It’s because the four nations monopolize resources and energy that they can oppress the border towns and the outside so recklessly, leading to the rise of resistance groups like the Rose Army.

 

Energy is life, resources are lifelines, the four nations control the fate of all beings. From this perspective, any external organization linked to the four nations can be seen as part of them.

 

In other words, if an external organization associates with the four nations, it can be considered part of the four nations.

 

In the past life, people didn’t dig into this storyline much, partly because Frost is a closed-off country, and Frost players were too busy dealing with Law Four, gender discrimination, harsh leveling environments, and endless skills to pay attention to a long-term mission for a Mutant.

 

Players truly delved into the “Unremembered” questline after version 3.0, using it as a casual discussion topic.

 

Version 3.0? Blue Planet was already blown up by the players! Digging deeper into the storyline was almost impossible.

 

“The Abyss Humanitarian Relief Organization… The professor said it was established to preserve humanity in the outside. But this statement makes it sound like a local organization.”

 

Li Aozi played with a blade, contemplating.

 

“Biomechanical guards, imprisoning civilians, military transactions with the four nations, rumors of forbidden human experiments by the organization…”

 

These elements seem unrelated, but when tied to the four nations, they don't seem so confusing anymore.

 

“By the way,” Nomi suddenly realized something, carrying her wrench as she looked at Li Aozi, “aren’t those doctors nice to you? Why did you suddenly turn against them? Or are you trying to help those chaotic bandits take over and demand rewards? If it’s the latter, I suggest you don't overestimate the innocence of outsiders…”

 

“Does it matter who I go against?” Li Aozi said nonchalantly.

 

“Huh? You look decent, but when you speak… tsk tsk, how can you be so heartless?” Nomi was surprised. “I’m fighting these bastards because I have a grudge against them. What are you after?”

 

“Are the humanitarian aid people good?”

 

“No. Have you seen any good people who would kidnap young girls, remove their kidneys, perform surgeries, and lock them up while making a bunch of freaky human-machine hybrids?”

 

“Then why not fight them?” Li Aozi looked at her strangely. “Anyone who’s done bad deeds deserves to be bullied. No matter what you do to them, your morals and conscience won’t be blamed. So why not do it?”

 

“Huh, aren’t you from the four nations? How can you be so lawless?”

 

“Law?” Li Aozi chuckled. “There’s law where there’s government—does the outside have that?”

 

Nomi gave him a surprised look, then grinned:

 

“Congratulations, you’ve grasped the survival rules of the outside.”

 

Grasped? Li Aozi shrugged. He had been in this place for at least two versions.

 

The outside is lawless. Seeking to preserve humanity here… those people are crazy.

 

“This is a land where beasts survive. Humans shouldn’t come here or seek humanity's light in this place.”

 

With this thought, Li Aozi had a new idea.

 

Players used to just uncover that both the humanitarian organization and the White Fang gang were bad. They did it by progressing through the storyline and collecting text information.

 

This method isn't inaccurate but might miss some details.

 

Because players usually follow standard procedures, they might only destroy the White Fang gang and the humanitarian organization, then explore the storyline based on leftover items and information.

 

But if it involves the four nations… the “Unremembered” quest isn’t just about “bad doctors versus evil bandits.”

 

Li Aozi calculated internally. He had already activated a fourth line, the Rose Army.

 

Figuring out how to maximize the benefits and uncover the secrets behind the humanitarian organization were essentially the same task.

 

“I could just take the minimum rewards, but my strength has increased. I should try for more rewards…”

 

So why not?

 

Li Aozi wasn’t greedy, but knowing that a little effort might yield significant rewards and not doing it—why miss the opportunity?

 

Besides, if his thinking was correct, the entire “Unremembered” quest could be shortened by half. In half a month, he could earn substantial rewards and then go wherever he wanted.

 

Do it!

 

With a firm decision, Li Aozi adjusted his plan slightly.

 

“Who do we fight next?”

 

After resting a bit, Nomi poked Li Aozi’s shoulder, asking:

 

“This area is pretty quiet. Should we rest a bit more and then run while they’re fighting each other?”

 

“Fight White Fang,” Li Aozi said.

 

Nomi was stunned:

 

“What? Are you crazy? The doctors did so many bad things, you saw it yourself. Why help them…”

 

“Who said I’m helping the doctors? They’re not good, but White Fang are real scum, human garbage—they all have to die.”

 

Li Aozi tapped his temple.

 

The plan was fully formed, ready to be executed.

 

“But you’ll need to act with me for a bit.”

 

“Act? What are you going to do? Aren’t we running away?”

 

“Idiot,” Li Aozi glanced at the short girl with disdain. “Do you have three shoulders or six legs? Do you think there are no vehicles here? Or do you think I can magically produce a cheese sandwich?”

 

“You (civilized Frost) bastard (decent outsider)! I’ve been fighting outside for years, of course I know! And you could just grab their vehicles and be done with it!”

 

Nomi blushed, then her eyes lit up:

 

“—Tell me more about the cheese sandwich… where is it? Where?”

 


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