"You can only take one more!"
Qishan City Carbon-based Biological Zone, at the "Gift Distribution Point No. 56" not far from the intersection of West Second Ring Road and "Wancheng Street", the concierge stood behind the counter with his hands on his hips, holding back his anger and speaking word by word. said.
Outside the counter, a plasma creature controlled a huge metal claw, pointed at the glass cabinet, and said slowly: "I~want~one more~pig~doll~"
"NO!" The concierge held up a plastic pig, "According to the regulations, you can only bring one more pig doll!"
"I~'Eternal Magnetic Field' Zlenku~is privileged and exempt, so, two~pig dolls."
"NONONO~~One, a pig doll."
"two."
"one!"
The inside and outside of the counter are completely sealed.
When Tao Yiran arrived, he saw such a scene of "big eyes staring at small eyes".
To be precise, the plasma creature stuck in front of the counter did not have eyes, but a ball that controlled a mechanical body.
The one-meter-diameter transparent sphere is filled with colorful thick slurry, flowing and tumbling irregularly. The slurry sometimes shrinks suddenly, emitting fine arcs.
The mechanical structure under the ball is very similar to a metal "scorpion". Four pairs of long legs support the body. The scorpion tail is raised to protect the ball. Two metal pliers are held in the air. The right plier is tapered and the left plier has a tip at the end. Claws for grasping.
"You're finally here, sir," the concierge said with relief.
Tao Yiran came back to his senses and asked with a straight face: "What's going on?"
"It turned over and over to collect gifts, coming every few minutes. In three hours, it had collected more than 70 dolls," the concierge said helplessly.
Tao Yiran looked serious on the outside, but he was cursing in his heart.
Since she started patrolling, she has encountered things like this seven or eight times, and the most serious one almost resulted in a fight.
From a human perspective, since they are all members of delegations from developed civilizations or organizations, they have to be somewhat graceful. After all, every word and deed represents the quality of their entire civilization. Unfortunately, the actual situation is that many "representatives" do not take themselves seriously at all. Being an "outsider" is simply greedy.
She finally felt what the consultant called the "difference in thinking". Many civilizations had no concept of "private property" and rules and regulations. Even after being disciplined by the carbon-based civilization with an "iron fist" for several epochs, some people still went their own way.
This is the result of careful screening, and those invited are all representatives of "advanced civilizations." If it were completely open, it is hard to imagine what kind of chaos it would be.
The Twin Gods did not hesitate to spend "a lot of money" to purchase armaments, and at the same time they frantically expanded their armies. They were indeed very foresighted. Guys who were completely different from these life forms could not reason at all. The truth was only within the range of cannons.
Thinking of this, Tao Yiran turned around and said righteously: "Hello, Zlenku Ukash, according to the "Makosik Convention", human beings have independently defined property within the gate of spiritual logic and its corresponding space. title's rights, at the same time, under the Law and Order Commonwealth Consular Privileges and Immunities Regulations..."
"One, Piggy Doll," the plasma creature interrupted.
"No," Tao Yiran picked up the doll and handed it over, "It's the last pig doll."
"Yes."
The plasma creature took the doll, and the mechanical structure below slowly raised a container. The next moment, the metal claw suddenly heated up, and the pig-shaped plastic doll quickly melted into a liquid state and flowed into the container.
Tao Yiran was stunned for a moment. It turned out that this guy was collecting plastic.
"You like plastic?"
"Precious polyvinyl chloride, sacred plastic," the plasma creature's voice sounded inexplicably pious.
"..."
Watching the plasma creature leave, Tao Yiran shook his head and said to himself:
"Plasma balls are also living things..."
The concierge shrugged and said with a smile: "Plasma can indeed show the main characteristics of life, metabolism, growth, self-replication, information transmission, identity of ingredients, strict and orderly structure, and steady state. I have done experiments with argon gas. At low temperatures, the ions and electrons caused by the discharge accumulate in high concentration at the positive electrode and immediately form spheres. When they grow to a certain size, they can also split and replicate themselves, and they can also capture surrounding argon atoms. The most interesting thing is that they can also Information can be transmitted to other plasma spheres through electromagnetic wave radiation, causing the atoms in each sphere to vibrate at specific frequencies.”
Tao Yiran looked at the concierge next to him in surprise. This girl was wearing a colorful tutu skirt and looked to be in her early twenties. She had the typical fair skin and sweet appearance of an uptown girl.
"Have you done experiments?"
"Yes, I have been working in the physics laboratory of the Temple Academy of Sciences."
"Then why are you giving out gifts here?"
"Uh, because... I like it. Physics and receiving aliens are both interesting," the concierge said matter-of-factly, "By the way, sir, I will do it at the 'Chinese Cuisine' restaurant in "Mexico Street" after the opening ceremony. Dishes, if you have time, you can come and try them.”
"...Okay," Tao Yiran nodded in agreement.
At this moment, a Timoleon squirmed closer and passed a ball into the counter with his tentacles.
The concierge caught it with both hands and put it into the pheromone translation and synthesis device beside him.
A mechanical voice came from the device: "Pig dolls, the more, the better."
"..."
Tao Yiran and the concierge looked at each other and smiled bitterly at the same time.
————————
Human time has reached midnight, and the Carbon Zone of Qishan City is still brightly lit and bustling with activity.
"Day and night alternation" and "sleep" are not common sense in the spiritual world, especially for the majority of inorganic beings, there is no difference between day and night.
But Tao Yiran, a human being made of flesh, was already trapped in a lake of consciousness. Fortunately, he could take a rest in ten minutes.
In the mini patrol boat, Li Xing and Tie Zhui, who were sitting in the back row, were in high spirits. Ever since the three of them met half an hour ago, the two guys had been chatting away.
"...I really want to ask the Twin Gods to give me a pair of eyes that I have never seen the Sayad Demon before," Li Xing looked at the sky.
Iron Hammer wondered: "Why?"
"They're... so long!" Li Xing spread out his arms to show off, "They were dazzling right in front of your eyes. One time they almost hit me in the face."
"What's so long?"
"Shut up," Tao Yiran said angrily, holding on to the rudder, "Don't teach the children bad things."
"Did you see it too?" Li Xing grinned.
Iron Hammer snorted: "I know what you are talking about."
"What?" the other two said in unison.
"The high priest of the Temple of Abundance also has a very long..." Iron Hammer waved his hand and gestured, "Staff."
Phew~
Li Xing was overjoyed and received a look back from Tao Yiran.
Sudden.
A voice sounded from the patrol boat: "There is an emergency at No. 337 Zhongjing Street. Please go to the above location immediately and handle it properly to avoid escalation of the situation."
"receive!"
Tao Yiran immediately cheered up and steered the patrol boat towards the target location.
She was already familiar with the map of Qishan Carbon Zone and arrived at the scene a few minutes later.
A fungal creature was standing on the roadside with its teeth and claws open, and several concierge staff were surrounding it, trying to calm it down. However, the operation of the "Transmitter Translation Synthesizer" was cumbersome and the communication efficiency was low. "I'm about to go crazy."
Tao Yiran and the others rushed forward. Fortunately, Li Xing happened to receive a delegation of fungal organisms today. He grabbed the "Transmitter Translation Synthesizer" and quickly delivered a message.
Sure enough the fungal creature calmed down.
After another exchange, everyone finally figured out the whole story.
A parasitic spore... ran away and lost contact with the host body, and the big "mushroom" in front of him was the host body.
Tao Yiran recalled the key points made by the consultant. All fungal civilizations are "crazy poor", including the most powerful mandosha people in the "One Great Symbiosis" organization. As long as there is an opportunity, they will secretly spread spores, making it impossible to prevent them. , although most spores will only do some petty theft, but one thing that needs special attention is that the fungal organisms will make a fuss about the loss of spores and demand compensation from the host.
Li Xing had obviously thought of this, and his expression became extremely serious. However, after the conversation, a strange expression appeared on his face.
"What's wrong?" Tao Yiran asked.
"It doesn't want to compensate," Pear Star frowned. "It said that the spore is very important to it and must be found. Now that it has completely lost contact, it thinks there is only one possibility. Someone has imprisoned the spore."
Tao Yiran nodded: "The consultant said that the host of Mandosha has a large sensing range for spores. It can be sensed as long as the space is connected. If contact is lost, it is likely to be locked in a confined space."
"What should we do now?" The concierge staff next to him spread his hands. "The reception level of the Mantosha people is quite high. If this matter gets serious, the higher-ups will definitely take action."
Another person smiled bitterly: "But how can we find it? The city is so chaotic. Many delegations live in the facilities they brought. We can't get in at all."
While several people were discussing, Iron Hammer walked straight towards the patrol boat.
"Hey, why are you going?" Tao Yiran shouted.
"I know where it is."
Tao Yiran and Li Xing looked at each other, then quickly chased after them.
When the patrol boat started, Li Xing stuck his head out and shouted hurriedly, "Steady it!"
The unfortunate concierges looked like they were about to cry.
——————
The patrol boat speeded along the "Zhongjing Street" in the direction of the World Tree.
"World tree?" Tao Yiran looked through the windshield at the towering tree standing far away at the end of the road.
Li Xing's voice came from the back row: "Do you think it fell into the Well of Eternity?"
"Well," Iron Hammer held the rudder with a serious expression, "In addition to confined spaces, the Well of Eternity can also block the perception of Mandosha people."
"If you guessed wrong, a Mandosha man was losing his temper, and then the three of us left the scene without permission..."
"This..." Tie Zhui was stunned for a moment, "I never thought about it."
Pa~
Tao Yiran held his forehead.
OK, done.
————
Half an hour later.
"There!"
Iron Hammer opened his eyes and suddenly pointed in a certain direction.
"Quick, quick, quick!" Tao Yiran turned the rudder and steered the patrol boat close to the surface of the Well of Eternity.
The arc flashed by the electromagnetic engine stirred up ripples in circles, and the native creatures of the spiritual world growing in the "lake" below stretched out their branches. After being hit by the arc, the lotus-like bones at the top bloomed immediately, and the "flower core" was like a living thing. Things are squirming in threads.
Li Xing leaned half of his body out of the cabin, holding a long-handled fishing net in his hand, and moved hard in the direction pointed by the hammer, but nothing was caught.
"At the bottom of the lake," before he finished speaking, Iron Hammer jumped up without hesitation and jumped directly.
Plop!
Li Xing was stunned, turned around stiffly and asked, "She should be able to swim, right?"
"It seems... not."
"..."
Just as the two people on the boat were about to jump into the lake, there was a turmoil in the lake below.
Wow~
A pair of hands lifted a round spore out of the water, and then the hammer popped up, beating and shouting: "Hot, hot, hot..."
Li Xing leaned forward and pulled Tie Hanhan onto the patrol boat with the spores.
"Hot, hot, hot..." Tie Shui's face turned red and he kept fanning his face with his hands, "It's so hot, so hot, so hot..."
Tao Yiran quickly reached out and touched her forehead, only to find that her body temperature was normal and the "water" in the Well of Eternity was ice cold. He couldn't help but asked anxiously: "What's hot? Where is it hot?"
"Huh~huh~huh~" Tie Shui gasped, "The water is so hot."
"I understand," Tao Yiran suddenly realized, "Is the concentration of spirits in the Well of Eternity too high..."
Although they have not systematically learned magic, someone has told them that the most important reason why they were selected to join the army is that they have a talent called "inspiration", and their "eye disease" is derived from inspiration.
"How do you feel now?"
"Much better," Iron Hammer blinked in shock, "Well, how about the spores?"
Li Xing poked the spores in her arms and said with a smile, "It seems to be still alive."
——————
On the beach beside the Well of Eternity, the three of them watched the mandosha man walk away, with the naughty little spore still bouncing on the host's head.
Tao Yiran breathed a long sigh of relief and looked down at the time.
Before I knew it, it was already two o'clock in the morning.
She turned around and asked, "Tie Hammer, why don't we go find Mr. Tang and ask if there are any side effects from drinking the water from the Well of Eternity."
"I'm not looking for it," Tie Hammer said, swaying with eyes hazy and drunk, "I just want to sleep."
Tao Yiran said helplessly: "Then let's go back to the camp first and find Mr. Tang tomorrow."
Putting the hammer on the patrol boat, she was about to get in with her when she suddenly noticed a figure not far away from the corner of her eye.
Turning around and looking, it turned out to be a thin old man, holding his hands behind his back, looking up at the crown of the World Tree.
If you look closely, you can see that the old man has his hair tied in a bun and is wearing a dirty robe.
What kind of outfit is this?
Judging from the appearance, the old man is obviously a human being, but with the opening ceremony coming soon, there are no real idlers in the entire Qishan City. Except for the military and bionic people, all kinds of service personnel from the upper city area will be uniformly dressed. Those who previously handed out gifts The tutu worn by the concierge is also a uniform.
How could someone wear a robe of this style and then hang out here with nothing to do?
Tao Yiran turned around and said, "Li Xing, look at that person."
"What?" Li Xing looked up blankly, "Who is it?"
"That old man."
"What old man?"
Tao Yiran turned around and saw a tall Pangbotan man blocking his view. He had his hands on his hips and looked left and right, showing no intention of moving.
"I can't do it anymore. I'm exhausted. Let's go back to the camp quickly." Li Xing rubbed his neck and got into the patrol boat.
Tao Yiran thought for a while and got into the cockpit.
There should be nothing wrong. After all, the Twin Gods are in Qishan City. Maybe the old man is also from the Outer Territory Army and came to take a walk during his break. He just likes to dress like that.
The patrol boat slowly lifted into the air, its perspective shifted away from the Pangbotans.
Tao Yiran saw the old man again and shouted unwillingly: "Li Xing, Li Xing, look... Li Xing..." When she found that there was no movement behind her, she looked back and saw that Li Xing was asleep.
Falling asleep so quickly?
She stared at the old man, suddenly feeling an inexplicable feeling, and drove the patrol boat to the camp in a panic.
She didn't come back to her senses until the curved dome of the fortress came into view. After some inner struggle, she asked her comrades to take Pear Star and Iron Hammer back to the dormitory, and drove the patrol boat back to the shore of the Well of Eternity alone. .
Unfortunately, the old man is missing.
She asked several nearby sentry posts, including the patrolling androids, but no one had seen any old man in a robe.
it's wired.
