Chapter Fifty: The Scar-Faced Pursuer

With the help of the bespectacled techie, Gao Ning quickly pinpointed the location of the mechanical police assembly plant.

These days, over 90% of law enforcement agencies had replaced their human officers with mechanical police. Given the surging population, the number of mechanical officers acting as sheriffs had surpassed 300 million units. However, with an annual attrition rate—both natural and otherwise—of up to 25%, the number of assembly plants required to keep up was considerable. In North America alone, there were more than seventy such factories, with over fifty within the United States itself—almost one per state, turning them into a standard feature.

The nearest one to Gao Ning was just over a hundred kilometers away. Once he confirmed the location, he wasted no time and called for a helicopter to take him straight there.

Despite Earth having become a veritable wasteland plagued by riots, the service industry was still thriving. As long as you had money, booking a helicopter—let alone a small spaceship—was never a problem; otherwise, how could there be so many stowaways?

In no time, the hundred kilometers were behind them. On board, aside from two PLA soldiers and Gao Ning with his brother, Lisa had tagged along as well. After giving the bespectacled man a proper beating, she forcefully rented out the entire hotel to him, then brought all her spoils from the previous night and followed Gao Ning onto the helicopter.

She was, after all, a drifter, never one to get attached. After last night’s events, she had convinced herself that Gao Ning was the man who could protect her. Even though she’d cautiously tested the waters and found out Gao Ning had no romantic intentions toward her, her initial disappointment soon gave way to relief.

Now that she had money, she had no desire to return to her old life. She wanted to start afresh in a new place, reinvent herself, and become someone who once seemed out of reach. Of course, she made sure to keep close to Gao Ning; she knew that only with her safety ensured could she truly enjoy her new life. Otherwise, if the government went on another rampage, her hard-won happiness would evaporate, perhaps even costing her her life.

This gave Gao Ning a bit of a headache. He’d tried twice to talk her out of it, but seeing her determination, he let her be. After all, having a tall, long-legged beauty around was easy on the eyes, and besides, Gao Ning did need a local guide to answer questions as needed.

The helicopter touched down gently on the helipad of a resort.

This was Montana, with a relatively sparse population, abundant freshwater resources, and a pleasant climate. Many wealthy individuals had invested in building high-end resorts here. All sorts of amenities were on offer—dining, entertainment, and leisure in one place. There were concerts, horse races, dog fights, and most famously, casinos that drew in luck-seekers hoping to turn a little spare cash into a fortune. Business was brisk.

Stepping off the helicopter and surveying the area, Gao Ning nodded in approval. The place was well built, reminiscent of a budding Las Vegas. The landscaping and architectural style had distinct character, and the guests coming and going were all well-dressed and cheerful. Compared to last night’s slum, it was a world apart.

“How far are we from the target?” he asked.

“Five kilometers,” his younger brother replied lazily, a cigarette dangling from his lips, half-burned. Gao Ning wondered how the kid’s cigarettes never seemed to run out—there was always one in his mouth, as if they regenerated endlessly.

Checking the sun’s position, Gao Ning said, “Get ready. We move tonight.”

Once darkness fell, he’d be able to summon the third PLA soldier.

“I’ve got no objections,” his brother shrugged.

Lisa, eyes sparkling as she looked around, exclaimed, “Gao Ning, look over there! There’s a hot spring. Let’s go soak in the hot springs!”

Gao Ning turned his head. His brother squinted and said, “Don’t look at me—I’m more interested in the casino.”

“Fine, then. Dismissed. Free time until nightfall!” Gao Ning said.

His brother strode off, calling over a waiter and slinging an arm around his shoulders. “Take me to the best bar! My charitable spirit is about to overflow—I need to make some donations to the lovely ladies in need. Oh, and put it all on his tab!” he said, jerking his thumb at Gao Ning.

The waiter glanced back, and Gao Ning’s face darkened. Me, again? I’m just a decent guy, all right? Could there have been a glitch in the template copying process, replicating the dark side I’ve kept buried deep inside? Otherwise, how could our personalities be so different?

The two PLA soldiers were much more natural. They simply nodded politely, said nothing, and walked off, heavy weapons packs slung over their shoulders. After activating their arsenal last night under demanding conditions, they still had over twenty top-tier firearms left, packed into two weapon bags, each hanging from a soldier’s back. Each bag weighed over a hundred pounds. Apparently, even cyborgs found them burdensome; the two soldiers looked in dire need of rest.

Lisa pulled Gao Ning along. Together, they followed a staff member to deposit all their cash, completed the check-in process, and then launched into a marathon of eating and exploring. Who would have thought that in a world half on the brink of apocalypse, chance would turn their journey into a pleasure trip?

If not for the Red Alert mission nagging at him, Gao Ning might have been content to laze his days away. The life of the wealthy truly was blissful.

Meanwhile, the bespectacled man, who had inexplicably become the owner of a hotel, was once again captured. This time, the ones who came were mercenaries disguised in SWAT gear, driving military vehicles.

The man in the lead, a scar-faced brute, pressed the bespectacled man to the floor, grinding a heavy boot into his cheek. “Where did that man go?” he demanded coldly.

“I don’t know…” the bespectacled man began, but before he could finish, the boot slammed into his abdomen, sending him skidding two meters across the floor. He curled up, face flushed red, eyes bulging.

“I don’t want to hear that answer! Tell me where he went!” the scar-faced man barked.

His team had already swept the hotel, finding nothing but a pile of corpses on the top floor—no sign of a second person.

“For God’s sake, I swear to God, I really don’t know! I’m just an innocent bystander! Last night I hid in a dog kennel, trembling till dawn, barely escaping with my life! I had just stepped out when I was dragged off. They only wanted me to find the location of a mechanical police assembly plant! Dammit—there are over a thousand such plants worldwide! How should I know which one they’re after?” The bespectacled man spoke in a rapid-fire torrent, tears streaming down his face. With cracked glasses, disheveled hair, and a muddy boot print smeared across his cheek, he looked utterly pitiful.

Scarface glared coldly at him. “When did they leave?”

“Three hours ago! By helicopter!” the bespectacled man blurted out, hastily adding, “An old model, fully modified to jam signals! Please, let me go—I swear that’s all I know!”