More than a dozen hours later.

The sky was twilight, and the roar of cars could be heard in the distance on the empty highway.

The land on both sides of the road is very different from the fertile land on the outskirts of Coastal City, and the air is obviously wet, but the wasteland below the roadbed shows signs of desertification, and on the barren soil, only occasionally you can see a trace of dark green and purple intertwined, which seems to be lichen and other vegetation.

In the distance, there stood a cliff-like dirt slope, on which every three to five hundred meters there was a signal tower-like battery, with four or five radar-like receivers on the top of the battery, and two rows of barrels equipped with a whirling structure below.

Between these forts is a ruined city that has been buried by dust and sand.

The ruins can still be seen in the ruins of the lavish decoration of the past, and the gorgeous signboards have faded their colors and are inlaid in all corners of the earth in a broken posture.

The mecha remains that appear from time to time in lichens and moss seem to tell the story of the fierce battles of the past.

The towering barbed wire fence stretches along the road as if it were endless, like a boundary, separating the well-maintained road from the dilapidated ruins, and looking out through the gap in the barbed wire, there is a sense of desolation and desolation.

A dusty off-road vehicle whizzed past the empty road, wipers in the mid-range, scraping away the grit from the windshield.

The turrets on both sides seemed to be well-trained guards, and the rows of gun barrels immediately rotated automatically, locking on to the sudden off-road vehicle.

But after an intensive period of scanning, the alert was lifted, and the barrel quietly slid away, continuing to guard the surroundings.

Soon, the off-road vehicle drove through this dense path of batteries and came to a stop in front of a towering high wall.

This high wall is hundreds of meters high, and the off-road vehicle, which is considered a large in the city, is as inconspicuous as an ant in front of it.

The texture of the exterior of the wall is very peculiar, it looks like a matte metal, the whole body is dark, the wall sticks out of the dense cannon barrel, and the dense searchlights patrol around.

Bang!

The door of the SUV opened, and four figures quickly stepped out of the car.

Ghost No. 056 looked around, looked at Zhou Zhen and said, "This is the last checkpoint to enter Tongfu City. ”

"Since Tongfu City was rated as a high-risk city, all people who enter cannot leave, and we are the same."

"So I'm going to get you here."

"It has been a high-risk city for more than ten years, all the people who can be transferred have been transferred, the infected people in the city have undergone many cleanups, and the remaining 'digital virus' has undergone various changes."

"In addition to the infected, there are many 'digital forests'."

"Of course, there are quite a few compatibles in it."

"There are even a considerable number of ordinary people who live underground in the city."

"It is very not easy for people to survive in such a place, even ordinary people. Only a few of them are reluctant to leave their homeland for various reasons; The vast majority are fugitives who have committed crimes outside; And speculators who want to take advantage of the fire......"

"The law and order here are already in name only."

"When you go in, be careful."

As he spoke, Ghost 056 took out three sealed potions from his back, all three of which were sealed in the syringe of a disposable syringe, the colors of the liquid were gray, green, and light yellow, and the numbers were engraved on them: X-37, B-25, SLK-41.

Ghost No. 056 handed the three potions to Zhou Zhen and said, "These are three fast-acting memory liquids, the level is relatively high, and they can greatly increase the combat power of the compatible. ”

"It is very risky for ordinary compatibles to use it."

"But your situation...... There is no need to worry about [Spiritual Rejection] at all, after entering Tongfu City, you can find an opportunity to use it. ”

"By the way, the conventional electronic equipment here can't exchange signals with the outside world."

"The mobile phone that you are issued is a satellite mobile phone, which can be used to communicate with the outside world normally, and if you have the opportunity, you should find a way to repair it."

"Otherwise, you can only wait for the supply truck to arrive, so that I can bring you a new mobile phone by the way, but that kind of opportunity is relatively rare, and the process of applying for a replacement is very troublesome......"

Zhou Zhen took the three potions a little sluggishly, and he tried hard to think about the reason why the ghost team sent him to a high-risk city......

It seems to be ...... Something to do with a previous case?

The last case was a "digital forest", and it also involved two extremist organizations, "Twilight Trial" and "Order of Ashes......

Well...... It seems that he performed too well in the last case...... The above gave him a chance to come to a high-risk city to exercise?

Should...... That's why!

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhen suddenly became energetic, and he quickly replied: "Thank you!" ”

With that, he couldn't wait to return to the driver's seat of the off-road owner, lowered the window, waved to the three ghost team members, and drove directly in the direction of the high wall.

The three ghosts of 056, 080, and 041 stood motionless, quietly watching the off-road vehicle farther and farther away, until they saw a gate open under the high wall, and the off-road vehicle roared into it, and then withdrew their gaze.

Ghost 056 suddenly said: "The target has entered a high-risk city, and the mission is complete!" ”

"Close!"

The three of them immediately turned around and quickly disappeared into the vastness.

※※※

Click......

Between the coils of heavy chains, the mechanical winch emitted a heavy hum.

The nearly 10-meter-high gate looks very inconspicuous in front of the towering high wall, and even a little low, and only by looking up in front of the door can you feel the majesty and grandeur of the building in front of you.

Behind the gate is a deep wall hole, there are a pair of street lamps every few meters, I don't know if it is to save energy, or for other reasons, the lighting here is not good, the road surface is wet, and occasionally there is a dripping sound, echoing faintly in the hazel wall hole.

Zhou Zhen turned on the headlights, slowed down the car, and slowly drove forward.

After about a few dozen seconds, a bright light appeared in front of me.

At the same time, outside the windshield, a layer of mist filled the air, and the mist poured into the car along the window that had just been opened, with a slightly cool and slightly fishy sweet smell.

Zhou Zhen raised all the windows, stepped on the accelerator, and rushed directly out of the hole in the wall and into the back of the high wall.

As soon as I left the hole in the wall, the fog suddenly became thicker, and like the road outside the high wall, there were also high barbed wire fences on both sides of the road.

However, these barbed wire fences have obvious signs of damage, and at regular intervals, there will be traces of tearing and rust.

Occasionally, there are some strange-looking vines, the vines here are also very different from the plants in the outside world, their colors are mostly dark purple, gray and black, there is a feeling of gray fluttering, it is difficult to find when you look roughly.

Due to the thick fog, the situation inside the barbed wire fence is not very clear, and only some sand and gravel can be seen nearby, which makes a dull vibration as the vehicle passes by.

Zhou Zhen looked at it a few times, then ignored it, held the steering wheel with one hand, stared at the front, and concentrated on moving towards the depths of the fog.

Jingle Bell ......

Suddenly, the phone rang in a hurry.

Zhou Zhen immediately picked up his mobile phone, looked at the screen, and found that it was Xie Qiongning calling, he couldn't help but be a little puzzled, didn't the other party have died in the "digital forest" of the "Huangjia Club"?

Did Xie Qiongning's family call him?

Thinking so, Zhou Zhen immediately connected the phone.

"Hey, you're ......"

Before he finished speaking, Xie Qiongning's slightly hurried voice came from the earpiece: "Zhou Zhen, you finally answered the phone!" ”

"The 'second tier' thing I talked about last time is about to begin!"

"Where are you now? I'll pick you up right away! ”

Hearing this, Zhou Zhen was slightly stunned, it was Xie Qiongning's voice, she was still alive?

Moreover, the other party called him by his real name and mentioned the "second ladder......

Zhou Zhen quickly came back to his senses, in that case of the "Huangjia Club" digital forest, Xie Qiongning should have escaped before the ghost of No. 017 arrived!

As for Xie Qiongning knowing his real name, it's even simpler, after that mission, he didn't hide his identity anymore, with the financial resources of Hongshan Group, he could find out with a casual check!

So, Zhou Zhen immediately said: "I'm not free, I'm in Tongfu City now." ”

On the phone, Xie Qiongning was taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "Tongfu City?" That's a high-risk city! ”

"What are you doing there?"

"I'm here, but it's a chance to be promoted to the 'second tier', and the success rate is very high!"

"You really don't want to rush back right away?"

Zhou Zhen replied while driving: "I completed the last task very well, and the unit gave me a chance to come to a high-risk city to exercise." ”

"Moreover, my current 'digital energy' should have reached the 'second tier', and I don't need your chance."

The voice on the phone fell silent for a moment.

Just when Zhou Zhen thought that Xie Qiongning was going to hang up the call, Xie Qiongning's voice finally sounded again: "You are releasing my pigeon!" ”

"We've already talked about it!"

"In this way, you say your specific location, I will ask my teacher to pick you up, and we will make it clear in person!"

"If you are really already a 'second tier', then I will help you pay off the loan and pay 10 million as a reward."

Pay off the loan?

He didn't buy a car, he didn't buy a house, he didn't have any high consumption, where did he get a loan?

Zhou Zhen replied calmly: "No need." ”

"I've really reached the 'second tier.'"

"When I go back to Binhai City next time, I can invite you to dinner."

Xie Qiongning quickly replied: "Next time? ”

"It's a pity...... Well, that's fine. ”

"Then you will come directly to my house for dinner next time!"

"Okay, you must not break the promise again this time, as soon as you return to Binhai City, you must come to my house immediately!"

"Huh? My teacher is here......"

Hearing this, Zhou Zhen was about to hang up the phone directly, when he suddenly heard another low, slightly magnetic female voice ringing out of the earpiece: "The organization has been urged, you have to hurry." ”

Immediately afterwards, Xie Qiongning's voice quickly replied: "I'm dealing with private matters, and I've already taken care of ......."

Honk!

The call came to an abrupt end.

Zhou Zhen frowned, and instantly became alert!

Organization?

Is it the "big fish" that Lu Jun mentioned before?

Regardless of whether it is or not, report the case directly to the ghost team and let the ghost team go over to confirm, and there will definitely be no mistakes!

Thinking of this, he exited the call interface, only to find that there were more than 100 missed calls in the call log, all of which were from Xie Qiongning!

The time started yesterday afternoon, and until just now, Xie Qiongning called him almost for a day!

Zhou Zhen was stunned for a moment, and then immediately understood, when the earliest phone call came, he was still locked in that "test tube", at that time, his mobile phone was at the ghost of No. 017, and it was turned off, and then ......

Because of that school, along the way, the members of the ghost team turned on the devices that blocked the signal!

Therefore, after he turned on the phone later, Xie Qiongning's phone did not come in until he was far away from the three members of the ghost team......

After thinking about it, Zhou Zhen had already dialed the phone number of the ghost group: "Hey, I'm Zhou Zhen from the special operations group 5, and I encountered a little situation here just now......

Soon, Zhou Zhen told Xie Qiongning's situation to the ghost team.

After listening to Zhou Zhen's narration, the ghost group operator on the other end of the phone quickly replied: "Received!" Members will be notified of the action immediately! ”

"Is there anything else you can do?"

Zhou Zhen did not hesitate, and immediately said: "There is one more thing, which is more important!" ”

"I've arrived in Tongfu City now, but the four ghost team members who escorted me over are now one less!"

"The missing ghost, number 024, was immediately explained to the other three members of the ghost team when I found out she was missing."

"But the three members of the ghost team, 056, 080, and 041, it's as if they have completely forgotten about 024."

"This was almost a dozen hours ago......"

Zhou Zhen quickly said the situation of the disappearance of No. 024 before, he just lowered his head and changed a mobile phone wallpaper, and when he looked up, he found that No. 024 on the co-pilot was gone.

What's more, the other three ghosts didn't react at all!

Along the way, he tried to call the Ghost Group's headquarters, but couldn't get through......

I also tried to change the phone wallpaper back, but it prompted that a password was required, the same as when deleting photos in the album......

At this time, the voice on the phone was silent for a while, and only after a moment did he say: "I did find the information of No. 024 in the internal system just now, but I can't remember the specific information of No. 024 now." ”

"This may be a serious case of 'digital virus', on the way to Tongfu City, did you encounter a 'digital forest'?"

Zhou Zhen immediately replied: "Before No. 024 disappeared, we stopped next to an abandoned high school. ”

"Me and four members of the ghost team, all of them went in."

"Something seems to have happened inside, but I can't remember it at all right now."

The voice on the phone immediately said, "Got it." ”

"It should be the school's problem."

"We're going to immediately put that school on lockdown and quarantine the three ghost members who escorted you through."

"Thank you so much for the reminder!"

Seeing that the problem was taken seriously, Zhou Zhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately replied: "Okay, there is no other situation on my side......"

At the end of the call, Zhou Zhen put down his phone, and No. 017 told him that the situation was wrong, his phone was not broken at all, and all the functions in it were normal, including the photos in the "album", and there were a lot of ......

When this foggy area is opened, all the photos in the "album" will be destroyed with [overclocking interference]......

(End of chapter)