A bonfire made of wood burns.

Mars drifts into the sky with a heat wave.

Herdsmen beat leather drums and play bone flutes in front of the fire, and young dancers, with light veils covering their faces, perform a dance on the snow for the New Year.

The guards, workers, and fun-loving players who live near the outpost join in with food and spirits bought from the bazaar.

Although there is only one glass of free red wine, there are quite a few distilled spirits in the warehouse.

A long time ago, players used knotweed to make koji, and croissants as ingredients to make distilled spirits.

Compared to the red wine that takes time to taste, it is indeed this hot, blood-pumping spirit, which is more popular with wasteland guests.

It's just that this red and white drink together, and there are really few people who can stand it.

For a time, the market at the north gate was crooked.

Boss Xia still wanted to drink, but the person was already lying on the table and falling asleep.

Worried that she would catch a cold, Xiaoyu, who is very good at taking care of people, went to the bank to get a blanket and stood on tiptoe to cover her shoulders.

A brazier was placed under the table.

Xiaoyu patted her on the back and said in a childlike tone.

"Don't drink so much next time, okay?"

However, Boss Xia, who was already asleep, obviously didn't listen, and he didn't know what kind of dream he had, the corners of his lips were slightly curled, and his mouth kept chatting.

"Hey...... I still want to. ”

Not far away, a taster was anxiously looking for a toilet.

Farther away, the male duck wailed as if his throat was on fire.

"Water! Hiccup – give me water! ”

Makaba lay on the ground and screamed, until the construction boy and the brick stuffed a lump of snow in his mouth, which made the guy physically stop.

The debtor's big eyes were like a mask of pain, and he covered himself and said alone.

"Damn, what the hell is it, I feel like my stomach is growling!"

Edge Skiing looked at his already bulging belly and couldn't help but complain.

"How much did you eat?"

"Not much, just 100 million points," the debt big eyes burped and said in a vague voice, "Anyway, why have you already eaten it in the game, but you have to eat it again when you return to reality?" ”

Edge paddling: "......"

Construction site boy and brick: "......"

Is this a question that the Department of Intelligence can ask?

Fang Chang, who had drunk too much, sat crooked on a wooden chair and began his improvisation.

Listening to the nomad's iron-striking percussion and bone flute, his index finger beating on the table and his mouth humming a freshly composed ballad.

"Hmm......"

"The gears of heaven fell into the furnace."

"Boiling molten steel splashed out of the pot."

"Immortal disasters never stop."

"We will forge the kingdom of mortals."

“……”

The hoarse voice that had been roasted was like a saw blade pulling a violin, but in the rough accompaniment, there was an unexpected rhythm of modulation.

It's like half a bottle of spirits in your throat.

It is like a forging furnace with the sound of iron.

Fang Chang forgot the words halfway through the song, and the player who was coaxing next to him continued to make it up, just like that, sentence after sentence, and he was stunned to make up a song.

It's just that the more you go to the back, the more outrageous the painting style becomes, from the sacred Terra all the way to Ionia, and the slogan of "for the revival of the people" has also become "people live for xx".

Although they couldn't understand what the residents of the shelter were singing, the surrounding natives also babbled and sang along.

The song dispelled the cold.

It also blows away the barriers between people.

Even if there are completely different cultures.

People's yearning for a better life and the pursuit of beautiful things are the same.

The heat wave and the firelight reflected on their faces, and the people sitting around were not distinguishing between each other and you and me at the moment.

Zhao Rat, who was drunk, patted Yu Hu's shoulder, and his face was as red as a monkey's butt when he was illuminated by the firelight.

"Good brother, am I right? Life here is simply amazing! ”

Yu Hu also drank a little too much, and hiccups drunkenly.

"You're right......"

"Next year, I'll definitely move here next year!"

On the snow in front of the campfire, a dance ends.

The shy girl of the Frost Spear Clan bowed slightly.

But people weren't going to just let her go.

"One more!"

"Put on your crush!"

"Wow!"

Encouraged and instigated by the people, the young girl of the Frostspear Tribe plucked up her courage, but instead of choosing her dream lover in front of the campfire, she made a fool of herself to the dark blue power armor.

"May I ask you to do a dance?"

There was a hint of apprehension in his eyes, like an unlucky child who lost a truth or dare.

Chu Guang glanced at her in slight surprise, and then joked in a gentle tone.

"You can't dance in my outfit, so find someone who can keep up with you."

The young girl blushed and turned and ran away like a frightened little animal.

Heya, who was standing by with her arms crossed and observing, glanced at Chu Guang curiously.

"Why don't you dance one?"

A little dissatisfied with this guy's look like the animal world, Chu Guang rolled his eyes at her.

"Do you know how power-hungry it is to dance in a ton of power armor?"

It's not impossible to turn on the power supply, it's probably similar to weight-bearing training, but even seventy or eighty percent of the weight can be transferred to the support structure of the power armor, and it also requires a lot of strength to drive such a heavy armor without the help of a motor.

And it's easy to hurt others.

Chu Guang chose to stand there as a background board, not without reason.

"But then you won't be able to enjoy the celebration." Hea reminded.

"You don't understand, that's how I enjoy the celebration."

What could be more enjoyable for a manager than to watch the singing and dancing of the settlement and the peaceful living of its residents?

It's the ultimate indulgence.

Hea fell into deep thought.

The expression seemed to be a reminder of Vault 117.

At this moment, Yin Fang's ridicule suddenly floated behind him.

"You broke the girl's heart."

Chu Guang didn't pay attention to his ridicule, but gave him a strange look.

"Why are you back again?"

"I'm just going back and getting something."

Yin Fang took out a small robot with four small short legs and a square head and square brain from behind him.

"The Academy does not celebrate the New Year, only the great discoveries, but you seem to have a custom here to celebrate the New Year...... I'm done too, so I'll give you a New Year's gift. ”

Chu Guang's face was full of surprise, and he reached out and took the little robot.

Unlike the original one, there is an extra camera on the boxy head.

Now it's not just the laser that maps the terrain in the near distance, but the user who wears the nerve connection device can also share its vision with the help of its camera.

It's a small change, but it's more than twice as useful.

Now this little robot is much more powerful than the original one!

Looking at Chu Guang, who was interested in playing with the small robot in his hand, Yin Fang continued.

"Reptilian, that's what I call it, or you have a better name. Compared with the original little robot, it has one more eye, and nothing else has changed much. ”

"Thank you." Chu Guang sincerely expressed his gratitude.

Yin Fang coughed lightly and said.

"Don't thank me, the materials are all from you, I just helped you deal with it."

At this point, he remembered something important, and continued.

"By the way, it's powered by metallic hydrogen batteries...... You don't seem to have much in stock, only forty or fifty. You can get more of them when you get a chance, that's a good thing. ”

Chu Guang made a helpless expression.

"I don't need you to say it, I know it."

The metal hydrogen battery produced by the company contains a number of Class A technologies, which are very sought-after everywhere.

At present, the only thing that Boulder City can produce independently is solid-state hydrogen batteries, and if you want to buy metal hydrogen batteries, you can only expect the caravan from the east coast to bring some.

Chu Guang had bought dozens of them from the Pioneer before, intending to use them to make exoskeletons.

However, at the moment, what his players need most is not exoskeletons, but cheap and easy-to-use equipment, as well as industrial equipment that can produce these equipment, so this matter has been put on hold.

Looking at the robot in his hand, Chu Guang suddenly remembered a very serious matter.

"If this thing blows up......"

Yin Fang replied in a relaxed tone.

"It's about 6 kilograms of t, and the power should cover ...... Uh, a football field? ”

Chu Guang: "??? ”

Damn?!

Without saying a word, he stuffed the robot into Yin Fang's hand, and Chu Guang quietly moved half a step to the side.

"You take it for me first."

Looking at the robot that was returned in his hand, Yin Fang was stunned for a moment, with a crying and laughing expression.

"Don't get excited...... This thing doesn't blow up that easily. Moreover, 6 kilograms of T is a theoretical equivalent, and without an initiator and accelerant, how can it really achieve that power...... Again, this is not a bomb. ”

There are at least two B-level technologies between the metallic hydrogen battery and the metallic hydrogen projectile, and the oxygen in the air is simply not enough to completely react with the metallic hydrogen.

And you're afraid of a hammer in power armor!

However, Chu Guang didn't listen to him explain as much, and just wanted to stay away from this guy.

Well.

There is one more rule to be added in the future.

Metal-powered hydrogen-powered robots and exoskeletons are forbidden to stay in the shelter for extended periods of time.

……

Abandoned department store.

More than a thousand beds were crowded in the empty hall.

The New Year's song could not float here, and no one sang, only the crackling of the fire, and the mother coaxed the child to sleep.

It is a temporary shelter for the homeless people, who can only stay here until the winter is over.

Thanks to the wood sent by the Blue Jackets, the survivors who lived here temporarily used the wood to repair the broken walls, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows, and finally made the place watertight.

The remaining timber was chopped into firewood, or burned into charcoal, and thrown into a red brick stove along with the things that started the fire.

The blazing flame brought a hint of hard-won winter light and warmth to the empty hall.

The environment is a little rudimentary, but at least it is free from snowstorms and hunger.

The displaced people from the central and northern provinces of the River Valley, the survivors of Camp Winterwillow and the battery factory, are grateful for the blue coats.

The rebellious armies that fled from the front, the marauders of the Bone Chewing Tribe, and the chaos that went about evil destroyed their homes and burned down their farmland and houses.

If it weren't for the blue coats, they might have frozen to death on the road or into the marauders' oil pots.

Of course, the only thing they can represent is themselves.

And not everyone is grateful for the status quo.

Of the five survivor settlements in the first batch of relocation plans, only two were actually attacked by the marauders, and the inhabitants of the other three survivor settlements had not even seen the shadow of the marauders, and only moved here out of fear.

More than a month has passed since the first blizzard, and even if no one has died in the cold, some have suffered frostbite from working in the cold.

The terrible weather is still out of sight, the supply of supplies is getting tighter, and rumors that food is running out are often heard.

After a long time, it is inevitable that some people will murmur in their hearts.

Is it really necessary to relocate?

The survivor settlements that have not been relocated seem to be doing well.

"I'm always worried that this house is going to collapse."

Looking at the stone chips falling from the ceiling, the man wrapped in the broken futon couldn't help but say.

In fact, he didn't really think that the building would collapse, but just wanted to find an unlucky thing to vent his dissatisfaction with his bad life.

However, these words affected the people around them somewhat.

Looking at the tattered ceiling, many people showed worried expressions on their faces, exchanged frightened looks, and whispered in small voices.

"How long do we have to stay here......"

"Those blue coats say it's spring."

"Why don't you let us live in Long-Term Farm? It's not the same as what I said at the beginning. ”

"They say the house is not ...... enough"

"Heh, it's not like we can't build our own house, I think they just want to get rid of the trouble."

Most of them are residents of the Waste Pickers' Home and the Hope Hill Cooperative.

The two survivor settlements are a little further south than Winterwillow Camp, the Battery Factory, and Highway Town, and one is hidden on the edge of the city and the other in the mountains and forests.

It was now felt that the marauders might not be able to find their homes so easily.

After all, their eyes don't grow in the sky, and not all survivor colonies will be plundered......

Ma Zhanqiu, the village chief of Dongliu Camp, saw that the dissatisfaction was spreading, and in order to avoid affecting his own people, he immediately came out to appease everyone and said.

"Don't say this kind of thing, it hasn't collapsed for more than two hundred years, how can it collapse at this time!"

At this time, a discordant voice suddenly came from the side.

"That's not good."

"This year's snow is so heavy, what if it blows the building down?"

The man who spoke was Ding Tian of the House of Waste Scavengers, and one of the more influential scavengers there, Ma Zhanqiu recognized this person.

Seeing him frowning, Ma Zhanqiu said in a deep voice.

"What do you want to say?"

The man in the fur coat pouted.

"What do I want to say? I also want to ask, what are we for? To fight against the marauders from the north? ”

"Or do you want to work as a laborer for those blue coats?"

Ma Zhanqiu was stunned.

Before the old man could come back to his senses, someone next to him answered.

"Maybe the people from the Chewing Bone Tribe won't come at all."

"Isn't there still eight survivors living in the same place that hasn't been moved? I think they're doing well in their own homes......"

Everyone has food here, but it's not free to stay here.

They need to go to work in factories and get a few coins that they don't know what they are for, and they can't buy what they need.

Even though the blue coats promised that the money would be useful for the spring of the following year, it seemed to them to be no different from painting cakes.

If the blue coats were going to pay them, why not use the chips?

I really can't do toilet paper on the East Coast, at least maybe someone will want it.

Complaints are pervasive.

It's not a day or two.

Out of fear of the Bone Chewing Tribe, they accepted the placement of the Blue Coats and moved here in obedience.

But it's been a month.

Many people did not see the marauders.

Except for the intensifying blizzard, I don't know when it will be a hard day, and nothing has happened.

Some people even speculate with ill intentions that from the beginning, the so-called invasion of Qingquan City by the so-called Chewing Bone Tribe was a lie.

The sleeping child was woken up and cried, and the mother coaxed in a panic, not daring to say anything to the noisy people.

Looking at the several people who were getting more and more emotional, some survivors who had seen it with their own eyes and even had wounds on their bodies wanted to refute, but they didn't dare to squeak.

Just then, someone stepped forward.

"My eldest brother is dead."

Maybe it's because I heard the word death.

Loud voices paused.

Facing the eyes of those two pairs of eyes, Ma Li was silent for a while, and slowly continued.

"The marauders slit open his stomach with a bayonet because he refused to surrender."

Ma Zhanqiu sighed softly and closed his eyes in pain.

That's his child.

It was also the last thing he wanted to recall.

Mali paused and continued.

"I didn't know until later, and I didn't even see his body until the end."

"It's true that I haven't seen the Marauders of the Bone Chewing Tribe, and I've only heard a few words about their brutality."

"But if you're going to say it's a lie, then tell me, where is my big brother? And where are the people who didn't make it here? ”

"The idea that they won't come again is not only naïve, it's ridiculous, and it doesn't even make a fool of yourself."

"The Vault dwellers, they could have stayed out of the way, as long as they closed the gates, let alone the Chewy Bone Tribe, even if the Legion drove the tank over their heads, they could have waited until those people died of old age."

No one can open the shelter from the outside until it is actively opened.

In the wasteland, this is generally accepted common sense.

Seeing that the number of people who supported him was instantly reduced by half, Ding Tian was just about to say something, when a mother holding her child also stood up.

"I've seen it too."

She sat next to the group of people at the battery factory.

Her voice trembled, like an angry lioness with eyes fixed on the man.

"We, at that time, had retreated to the warehouse, and the marauders who surrounded us rushed up one after another, and they were trying to protect us...... Died right in front of us. ”

The hall was silent.

Even the noisiest person, being watched by a pair of eyes, involuntarily silenced.

People recall the fear of that day.

I also remembered those heroes.

Ding Tian's Adam's apple moved, and a flash of annoyance and anger flashed on his face.

He knew he was at the loss.

But that doesn't mean he likes to be educated.

Especially people who seem to be much weaker than him.

Looking at the two groups of people in the stalemate, the night owl with his arms crossed shook his head, and was about to step forward to say something, but was stopped by Hook, who was standing next to him.

"What are you going to do?" The lame old man stared at him.

The night owl was straight to the point.

"Someone has to persuade them, I'm afraid they'll turn into a physical altercation in a while."

This is the wasteland.

No amount of words will work as well as fists.

Ye Nan, who was standing on the side, shook her head slightly when she heard her son's words.

"It's not our business."

"But ......"

"Go notify the guards and let them take care of it."

At this moment, the main entrance of the lobby on the first floor of the department store suddenly opened.

The whistling north wind swept a few snow leaves in.

Two guards in black coats and rifles walked in with an iron frame on their backs. There was some carbon in the iron shelf.

Behind them, several residents of the Vault were also followed.

That energetic temperament, even if they don't wear a blue jacket, they can recognize it.

"Happy New Year!"

"New Year's gift! Let's keep you waiting! ”

The cat's ears shook happily, but the hat was removed, and with a sesame mush, he recklessly bent down to pick it up.

Standing at the doorway, Tail turned his head to look at Sisi next to him.

"The tail thought it was some kind of task, but it turned out to be running errands."

Say yes about the hidden mission!

She's even got her gear!

“emmm…… Compared with being forced offline because of a bad stomach, Sisi thinks it would be better for Ah Wei to blow a cold wind. ”

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Including the two groups of people in the confrontation, they were also stunned.

They didn't understand what the blue coats were saying.

But fortunately, at this time, the guard who put down the barbecue grill came to the rescue in time and stepped forward to say in a human language.

"Today is the last day of the year 211!"

"Your Excellency Manager asked me to bring you New Year's gifts, thank you for your cooperation, we have survived the most difficult days."

The people in the shelter whispered.

"New Year's ...... Gift? ”

"What's that?"

This time they understood, but there was still confusion on their faces.

The young guard didn't explain, and politely motioned to the "player" wearing the chef's hat next to him to start.

On the charcoal fire, the tomato scrambled eggs were brushed with a brush on the iron rack, and then the palm-sized crab meat cake was placed on the iron rack.

"Everyone line up and come one by one."

"Enough things."

"Everyone has a share!"

The guards maintained order at the scene and led everyone to form a long line.

The sound of oil is sizzling, the smell of meat is permeating the hall, and the soft and fragrant crab cakes have an indescribable taste of happiness.

There's still meat to eat!

All the rumors about food shortages are self-defeating.

Almost all of them have longing imprinted in their eyes.

Looking at the meatloaf in his hand, Ding Tian's eyes couldn't help but feel a touch of shame, and the people who had followed him before were all silent, bowing their heads and eating the cakes.

Standing at the door and looking hungry, Tail couldn't help but swallow his saliva, and his eyes looked directly at the barbecue grill.

"Do you have a copy of the tail too?"

Sisi tugged at her clothes.

"It's time to go, everyone at Changchang Farm is still waiting. If you want to eat, I'll order you a takeout when it's offline. ”

"The tail should smell like beef!"

Belch!

This man—no, this tail!

Sisi looked at her in surprise.

"I'll just be polite."

Tail: "Chicken-flavored ones are OK!" ”

Siss: "......"

Outside the door.

on the trunk of the truck.

A large rat in a coat was rubbing his hands in the cold wind.

Next to him were supplies that were about to be sent to the long-term farm.

Fearing that his appearance would scare the residents of the shelter, he was left behind to watch the truck's supplies and prevent xenomorphs from coming over to steal food.

Before leaving, those people repeatedly told him not to eat the task props.

These people really are!

I'm not a real rat!

Where is the trust between people!

But......

It smells so good.

Is it gnocchi?

Feeling the instinctive impulse of the creature, the strongman decided not to look that way, nor to think that way, but to look at the street on the side.

The street is quiet.

The snow in the moonlight was peaceful.

There is not even a shadow of a xenomorph here, and if it weren't for the broken buildings and walls, it wouldn't have been reminiscent of a wasteland.

Sure enough, I entered the server by myself, wasn't it time?

I heard that the previous versions fought every day.,The front is down, and the back is followed.,The life professional players who fought were all copied on the guy.,The resurrection coins are almost finished.。

If only I had come in earlier.

Looking at the quiet street, the big mouse sighed softly and spat out his words.

"It's too peaceful."

-

(The next chapter is around eleven o'clock!) ）