Chapter 116: Your Sincerity is Far From Enough - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 116: Your Sincerity is Far From Enough The items presented by the "Forgotten Ones" genuinely surprised those present. Inside the box next to Zhao Yuan, there was an irregularly shaped black crystal glowing faintly, contained within a specialized shield. "Hiss... the scent of 'Rust Mist' is so strong. Is this the raw ore you’ve mined?" Wen Shengkui furrowed his brow, speaking in a deep voice. He didn't need to point it out; everyone present, being "Ascenders," could sense it. After all, the abilities of "Ascenders" originate from the "Rust Mist," and they naturally have some affinity for related substances. "Yes, this is ore we extracted from our base." Shen Qin nodded, explaining, "According to measurements, the 'Rust Mist' content is approximately between forty-five to sixty percent." This figure was quite astonishing. Due to the hindrance of aerial technology, it's difficult for people to directly interact with the airborne "Rust Mist," having to resort to indirect methods for research and analysis. The most common methods include extracting contaminated seawater or storing occasional rainfall and snow. However, such methods entail significant risks, especially during rainy or snowy weather. Though the "iron rain" penetrating the "Rust Mist" appears clear, it has severe corrosive properties. On contact, it can cause redness and pain, leading to severe skin ulcerations, and can even be deadly. Even with protective measures in the city, these aren't a hundred percent effective. After such weather events, dealing with the aftermath can be quite troublesome. Fortunately, the City of Night’s Sin has a mild climate with few extreme weather conditions. However, any unexpected occurrence of such weather feels catastrophic to everyone. Moreover, although these methods are simple, the actual amount of "Rust Mist" extractable is not high, overall causing more harm than good. Another method involves using minerals and soil as media. The City of Night’s Sin has its own mining districts, with some districts in the Sin City and Night City having mines. In comparison, this method is somewhat more efficient. However, even in the City of Night’s Sin, the ore mined never reached the high content of this piece here, generally staying between thirty and forty percent. It's this reason why the heads of the six major consortiums paid such keen attention to it. If the "Forgotten Ones" could provide such "Rust Mist" ore in large quantities, the cost of refinement could be significantly reduced. Moreover, certain technologies and equipment, such as the "Sundial" from "Serpent Circle" or inhibitors from "Prism," including "Constant Me" and others, might achieve breakthroughs, thereby increasing efficiency. In gaming terms, to craft great equipment, elite materials are naturally needed. Xu Shi nodded silently. Producing such items showed that the "Forgotten Ones" indeed displayed true sincerity. Of course, from another angle, it also highlighted how highly their base had been corroded by "Rust Mist." Before being affected by "Rust Mist," many so-called ores were merely ordinary stones. It was only after long periods in high-concentration "Rust Mist" that they began to change gradually. Hmm, it's already shaped by "Rust Mist," no going back now. Some bizarre images popped into his mind. “We have ample ore reserves, so none of you need worry in that aspect.” Song Chen continued from where Shen Qin left off, pushing two more boxes forward. The box on the left contained a vial of serum, while the right one held a pistol of peculiar design. “As for these, they are weapons we processed using the ore, and a serum used to counteract the erosion of 'Rust Mist.'" Everyone had already anticipated this; since the "Forgotten Ones" were displaying their resources, naturally, they would also reveal some of their technologies. In these areas, their standards might not lag behind the City of Night’s Sin; they might even surpass it. Take, for instance, this vial of serum. Living in an even more dire environment, the "Forgotten Ones" had to prepare more against the "Rust Mist," so the medicines developed have their unique advantages. As for the pistol, Xu Shi could also sense the integration of "Rust Mist" materials, from the gun's body to the bullets. This was no mere firearm but rather a biochemical weapon. The consequence of a large dose of high-concentration "Rust Mist" invading the body can be imagined. Even if it wasn't a gun, just a blowdart would leave quite an impact... In fact, "Serpent Circle" and "Shark Tooth" had developed similar products over the years, but in the various conflicts within the City of Night’s Sin, high-level weapons of this caliber were rarely utilized, thus the inclination was not strong. Yet, thinking it over, this could be considered a variant of the "Transcend Plan"? After all, it's a fusion of supernatural abilities and machinery. Even its appearance feels reminiscent, kind of like the zerg weaponry from the game "Halo"… Interesting. Xu Shi chuckled inwardly. Others too showed mild, or some even blatant, interest; the allure of these items was undeniable, though their motivations may differ. “I believe what we’ve provided should suffice for you to accept us?” Shen Qin sighed lightly, pulling out some documents. "As for the specific terms of exchange, we’ve prepared some details… Please have a look." To show her sincerity, she personally stood up and distributed the documents to everyone. However. As she handed the document to Xu Shi. He didn’t even glance at it and directly tore it in half. “...Chairman Xu, what is this for?” Such actions clearly took Shen Qin by surprise. She was stunned for a few seconds before recovering, incredulously asking. What did he mean by this? Shen Qin believed her current emotional state was anything but calm. When it came to animosity and resentment, hers surpassed that of Song Chen and Zhao Yuan. On the way here, the hostile words and stares had already made her uncomfortable. Not to mention, she was now face to face with Xu Shi. Thinking her brother became like he did because of him, the fury in her heart was barely containable. Yet, she could differentiate between primary and secondary concerns. The survival of the entire "Forgotten Ones" was the top priority… Hence, she managed to hold her anger, doing her best to address this enemy with humility. But his behavior was egregiously insulting! After all, she was a leader of her people, and faced with such repeated disdain, Shen Qin was genuinely finding it hard to remain composed. Her breathing involuntarily quickened. “Does Miss Nan ask what I mean?” Xu Shi, however, was indifferent to her reaction. Boredly looking at her, his tone was filled with mockery, “What I mean is quite simple.” “The sincerity you’ve shown… is far from enough.” (End of chapter)