Wasteland Hideout: Upgrading from the Sewers

Chapter 77: Mutant Giant Serpent, Lilith? The Nightingale's Complex Components

"Have you ever seen a snake that's twenty to thirty meters long?"

Qingqing's voice was very soft, but it struck Yu Yuan's ears like a thunderclap.

If this had been before today, he probably wouldn't have felt anything about this statement.

But he had just seen a video on Ning Zhe's phone showing a king cobra over ten meters long.

Now, hearing Qingqing's words gave him a completely different feeling.

His arms unconsciously tightened around Qingqing as he lowered his head.

"Where did you see it?" Yu Yuan's voice remained steady and firm.

Qingqing hadn't expected that the man before her wouldn't think she was talking nonsense or being delusional.

This feeling left her somewhat stunned.

She couldn't help but look up at Yu Yuan, and when she saw the serious, solemn look in his eyes, she was slightly taken aback.This man's current demeanor was completely different from before.

But for some reason, she inexplicably felt more at ease.

"Since that's the case..." Qingqing didn't know why, but this man gave her a sense of trust. After hesitating for a moment, she finally revealed the secret she had been holding in for several days.

"Right in this building! That day when I was using the restroom, I accidentally heard something slithering through the hallway outside. I peeked through the door crack, and then..." Her voice began to tremble.

"Then, I saw a very thick giant snake crawling through the hallway. That snake... was very, very long... I don't know exactly how long, but it was definitely at least twenty to thirty meters."

At this point, Qingqing looked up at Yu Yuan and gently touched his cheek.

"I'm telling the truth. I was so scared at the time that I didn't dare make a single sound. I stayed in the restroom for a long time before I dared to go out, but there was nothing in the hallway.

At first I thought it was just a hallucination, but there was a peculiar fishy smell in the hallway. And when I was about to go back, I saw a clear scratch mark on the wall. I definitely didn't mistake it."

"Because before I entered the restroom, there was no scratch mark there."

Yu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Why are you so sure the scratch mark on the wall appeared after you entered the restroom?"

"Because I have a habit of walking while touching the wall, watching the wall extend as I walk. It makes me feel like I'm still alive!" Qingqing's tone suddenly became serious.

"So I'm absolutely certain that scratch mark wasn't there before I entered the restroom."

Hearing this, Yu Yuan stopped speaking, and the two just held each other.

After a long while, Yu Yuan finally spoke softly.

"Then have you ever seen a black sun symbol?"

"Black sun? What's that?" Qingqing asked in surprise.

"It's just a black circle, but it gives the immediate impression of a 'black sun,' like during a total solar eclipse. Have you seen anyone with this symbol on them?"

This time Qingqing thought for quite a while before gently shaking her head.

"No, I really haven't noticed that symbol. I'm usually confined to the dormitory and cubicle areas. I can't go to other places, and every area has people guarding it."

Yu Yuan wasn't too disappointed about this. Accidentally discovering clues about mutated creatures was already a pleasant surprise.

"Then you can keep an eye out for that symbol. It might be connected to the snake you mentioned."

Qingqing nodded slightly at Yu Yuan's words.

Now that he understood Qingqing's fears, Yu Yuan began inquiring about what concerned him most.

"You mean Enforcer Fries?" Qingqing gave Yu Yuan a strange look, as if she didn't understand why he would ask about him.

"Yes, and before I came here today, I saw people from the Black Shield Police Department arriving. Do you know who they were?"

Qingqing released Yu Yuan, her brows already furrowed.

"What exactly are you trying to do? Aren't you a scavenger? Why are you asking about these things?"

Yu Yuan shook his head slightly.

"Some things are actually very dangerous for you to know."

As he spoke, Yu Yuan took another gold ring from his satchel. These were trophies he had found in Mahada's backpack earlier, and he hadn't expected they would come in useful here.

He handed the ring to Qingqing.

"Consider it a transaction. You take the supplies to resolve your current situation, I get information. Afterward, you act like you know nothing. That's all."

Looking at the gold ring in her hand, Qingqing thought for a few seconds before gently biting her lip.

She grabbed the ring and stuffed it into a hidden compartment in her underwear.

Then she gave Yu Yuan a glare, moved closer, and gave him a hard pinch.

"Alright, what do you want to know? Ask quickly!"

Yu Yuan grimaced in pain, thinking to himself: What a fierce woman.

But having successfully dealt with Qingqing, he knew time was tight and immediately asked, "I heard Fries and your leader are lovers. Where do they usually go? And who were those people from the Black Shield Police Department who came tonight? Do you know?"

"Bullshit! Who said Fries and Mother Lilith are lovers? That's pure bullshit!" Qingqing said disdainfully.

"How could that bald guy be worthy? He's just responsible for security here. But Sister Mei does indeed have something going on with him. The people who came tonight seem to be important figures from the Black Shield Police Department. I don't know exactly who."

"Sister Mei? Who is she? And who is Lilith?" Yu Yuan pressed, sensing there seemed to be some significant misunderstanding here.

"Mother Lilith is our Nightingale leader. Even though we call her 'Mother,' she's only in her thirties! We rarely get to see her normally. Sister Mei is one of the sisters who helps Mother Lilith manage us. I've seen her being intimate with that bald guy several times."

"That guy always gets handsy with us when he sees us. If Mother Lilith didn't make him somewhat cautious, probably... hmph..."

Yu Yuan instantly understood, but immediately asked the next question.

"Then what did you mean earlier about Fries being responsible for security here? He's an enforcer from the Black Shield Police Department. This is just a scavenger organization. How could he be responsible for your security?"

"And isn't Nightingale secretly supported by the Black Shield Police Department? Why would the Mother Lilith you mentioned make even Fries cautious!"

Qingqing looked at Yu Yuan in surprise upon hearing this.

"I'm becoming more and more curious about your identity now. But you're right, knowing too much isn't good for me. Alright, this is the last question. After I answer, you need to leave quickly and act like these questions were never asked."

Yu Yuan nodded.

"No problem!"

"Those things you mentioned are all messages we deliberately spread. This isn't some scavenger organization. The Black Shield Police Department is only responsible for our security. We're all under Mother Lilith's management. As for anything else, I don't know..."

"Alright, I've told you enough today. Don't say I told you! Hurry up and leave! I need to go back and rest too, you troublesome man!"

Hearing this, Yu Yuan knew it was indeed time for him to leave.

"Fine. Keep an eye out for me about the identities of the people from the Black Shield Police Department who came tonight, and whether Fries has any residences or similar places around here. Help me watch for that. Next time I'll exchange supplies with you again, guaranteed to satisfy you!"

Hearing Yu Yuan's words, Qingqing rolled her eyes at him, but after thinking for a moment, she nodded slightly.

"I can only do my best! No guarantees!"

"Understood. Judge the situation yourself."

When Yu Yuan retrieved his weapons from the exchange counter and returned to the opera building's main entrance, it was almost 4 AM.

Surprisingly, someone else was preparing to leave at the same time. The moment the other person saw Yu Yuan, they immediately became guarded and stopped in place.

Clearly, they didn't intend to leave together with Yu Yuan.

Regarding this, Yu Yuan merely gave the other person a brief glance before leaving the opera building under the watchful eyes of the burly guards.

After briefly getting his bearings, he disappeared into the darkness.

What he didn't notice was that a pair of eyes had locked onto him the moment he appeared, continuing to stare intently even after his figure completely vanished, with a profound gaze.

Only when a new figure emerged from the opera building did those eyes finally look away...