Chapter 501 - 346: Underground Passageway, Huge Rat Tide

Chapter 501: Chapter 346: Underground Passageway, Huge Rat Tide

Zhongjing was far larger than Qing Province. Its city walls weren’t simple physical barriers, but a complex array of extensive infrared surveillance and all sorts of high-tech devices.

Wu Liangchen drove along a small road outside the city, observing the surrounding scenery.

Despite being several kilometers away, Wu Liangchen’s vision was sharp enough to see everything with perfect clarity.

He saw that the towering alloy walls were cold and smooth, offering virtually no handholds. They were undoubtedly covered in gravity sensors that would trigger an alarm the instant they detected any change in weight.

Add to that the airtight surveillance network with no blind spots, and the patrol drones that occasionally flew by at low altitudes.

The defenses of Zhongjing were truly strict to an absurd degree.

"This place is as secure as a fortress!" Song Ling’Er, who had also been observing closely, couldn’t help but murmur.

She was no longer the naive girl from the slums. Having been through several battles—and especially after awakening her talent for marksmanship—her abilities had improved immensely in every respect.

So she, too, could appreciate the intricacies of the defenses.

Wu Liangchen said nothing, just kept driving at a slow, steady pace.

He noticed that the farther they got from the main road, the more dilapidated the surrounding buildings became.

Abandoned factories, waste processing stations, and makeshift shanties started to appear in large numbers. The air itself was thick with the smell of sour rot mixed with burnt, low-grade fuel.

Wu Liangchen pulled the car over beside a massive garbage dump.

In the shadows not far off, a group of raggedly dressed vagrants with listless eyes had gathered.

Like rats in a gutter, they struggled to survive on the city’s fringe.

"I’ll go ask around," Wu Liangchen said, getting out of the car and walking toward the group.

Song Ling’Er immediately drew her pistol, ready for a fight.

Meanwhile, Wu Liangchen’s sudden appearance drew everyone’s attention.

He was just too different—his clean clothes and handsome face made him stick out in this environment.

When the group of vagrants noticed him approaching, they reacted instantly.

They looked over warily, their hands tightening around their weapons.

Though these "weapons" were just wooden clubs and glass bottles they had scrounged.

Still, Wu Liangchen stopped in his tracks. He pulled two high-energy compressed biscuits—ones he had found in Black Stone Town—from his coat and tossed them over.

The biscuits traced a perfect arc through the air, landing precisely in front of them.

Seeing the bold lettering on the wrappers and catching the faint aroma, the vagrants all swallowed hard, but none of them dared to move.

Wu Liangchen smiled faintly. "I need to ask about something. I want to get into the city. Does anyone know a way? If you can tell me, these are yours!"

As he spoke, Wu Liangchen produced an Alliance currency card. It was like a gift card with a small number of credits, but for those at the bottom, it was the most sought-after form of hard currency.

This was another item Wu Liangchen had scavenged from Black Stone Town, and now it was proving useful.

The vagrants’ eyes were instantly glued to the pale blue card. A moment later, the burliest among them took two wary steps forward, picked up the biscuits, and then spoke in a low voice.

"If you don’t want to use the main gate, your only other option is to go under. But things have been tense lately, and you’re a new face. I don’t know if the snakeheads will be willing to take the job."

’So there is a way!’

Wu Liangchen knew he had guessed right.

Zhongjing might look bright and glamorous, but the brighter the light, the darker the shadows it casts.

He didn’t believe everyone was so law-abiding that they’d all obediently use the main gate to enter the city.

And just as he’d expected, he quickly got a lead from the vagrants.

"Take me to this snakehead you mentioned, and these are yours!" As he spoke, Wu Liangchen pulled out another currency card.

The burly vagrant’s breath hitched. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally nodded.

"Alright. But I can’t guarantee he’ll take your case."

"Don’t worry. You just have to take me to him. You don’t need to worry about the rest."

With the deal struck, Wu Liangchen explained the situation to Song Ling’Er. The two of them abandoned their car and followed the vagrant deep into the ruins.

Soon, a bar appeared before them. Its sign was mottled with rust, its neon tubes half-broken. Only the two words "Rusted Iron" were still flickering incessantly.

A few rugged-looking motorcycles were parked at the entrance. Several brawny men in leather jackets, their bodies covered in strange tattoos, leaned against the wall, smoking. They eyed everyone who approached with unfriendly gazes.

When they saw Wu Liangchen and Song Ling’Er, the men immediately grew wary.

"The snakehead I told you about... he’s in that bar. I don’t dare go any closer..." Seeing the scene, the vagrant’s face went pale, and he stammered in fear.

Wu Liangchen waved a hand. "It’s fine. You can go."

As if granted a pardon, the man turned and vanished into the ruined streets.

At the same time, one of the brawny men approached them.

"What do you want?"

Wu Liangchen’s expression was calm. "I’m here to talk business with your boss."

The man looked Wu Liangchen up and down, then glanced at Song Ling’Er beside him, who, despite her nervousness, still held her pistol tightly. He sneered, "Business? What kind of business? We don’t serve outsiders here."