51: Chapter 51 Three Conditions Agreed Upon! Lin Xiao Wants to See the Divine Car

"Speak."

Lin Xiao leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes—strikingly similar to Lin Wan's—staring straight at Lu Chen.

The industrial lighting in the docking area stretched their shadows long. Residual heat from the boiler seeped out of Polaris's armor gaps, mingling with the heavy scent of machine oil from the lower levels of Black Rock City-State.

"I'm carrying a radiation mark from the Snow Shard Gang. Their vanguard will arrive in three days at the earliest."

Lu Chen spoke slowly, weighing every word.

"My car is Lv.2. Taking on a few combat vehicles is no problem, but facing the main convoy of the Snow Shard Gang head-on isn't realistic."

"You need the seed vault and Lin Wan's technical skills."

"I need a safe environment to protect Polaris until the marker dissipates."

He paused, looking into Lin Xiao's eyes.

"A partnership."

Lin Xiao didn't answer immediately.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on his arm as his gaze swept from Lu Chen's face to Polaris behind him, then back again.

"A partnership is possible."

He spoke, his voice kept low.

"But I have to clear up a few things first."

"Go ahead."

"First, the matter of Xiao Wan's safety."

Lin Xiao held up one finger.

"She's on your vehicle. If the Snow Shard Gang finds you, will she be in danger?"

"No."

Lu Chen's answer was crisp and decisive.

"Polaris's armor can tank 75mm shells from Lv.2 combat vehicles without being breached."

He reached back and rapped on the door's armor; his knuckles produced a solid, heavy echo.

"The interior has an independent ecological recycling system. Even if completely sealed, it can sustain life for at least a week."

"Furthermore, Polaris's city management system has a specific function."

He paused for a moment.

"Registered residents enjoy system-level life protection while inside the vehicle."

"Lin Wan is a registered resident. No one can harm her inside that car."

Lin Xiao's eyebrow twitched.

"System-level life protection?"

He noted the unusual phrasing.

"Your Lv.2 vehicle has a function like that?"

"It does."

Lu Chen didn't offer further explanation.

Lin Xiao stared at him for three seconds, a muscle in his cheek twitching.

"There's more to this car than meets the eye."

There was no disdain in his tone, only the deep interest of a hunter who had discovered a rare specimen.

"Fine, I trust you on the safety issue."

Lin Xiao held up a second finger.

"Second, the specific terms of cooperation."

"What do you want from me?"

Lu Chen's fingers tapped silently twice on his thigh as he quickly ran through his list of requirements.

Truth Points were his core need, but he couldn't expose the system's existence.

What he took from Black Rock City-State had to be externally visible materials or information.

"Three things."

He held up three fingers.

"First, scientific research blueprints from the Pre-Civilization era."

"The higher the tier, the better; the more complete, the better."

"A city-state-level Mobile City like yours must have excavated many Pre-Civilization ruins during its migrations."

"Those technical documents you can't decipher are useful to me."

Lin Xiao's expression didn't change, but one of the guards beside him involuntarily tilted his head.

In the wasteland, although most Pre-Civilization blueprints couldn't be interpreted by current technology, no power would easily hand them over as they were potential strategic reserves.

"We can talk about it."

Lin Xiao didn't agree directly, but he didn't refuse either.

"Regarding the specific types of blueprints, make a list later, and I'll have someone check the warehouse."

"Second?"

"Detailed intelligence on the Snow Shard Gang."

Lu Chen's eyelids lowered slightly.

"Their main force composition, common tactics, vehicle configurations, and the commander's operational style."

"You've been in friction with them for so long; you must have accumulated plenty of data."

"That's no problem."

Lin Xiao agreed immediately.

"Scouting the opponent before a fight is basic protocol."

"I can have a copy of the Snow Shard Gang files from the Military Staff Department sent to you."

"Third?"

"Temporary asylum."

Lu Chen picked up his water cup and took a sip, as if he were just reading off tonight's menu.

"My radiation mark has eight days left before it dissipates."

"During these eight days, Polaris is much safer parked inside Black Rock City-State than out on the ice shelf."

"Once the marker is gone, I will leave on my own."

"You don't need to pay anything; just lend me a parking space."

After hearing these three points, Lin Xiao stopped swirling his cup.

Silence lasted for a few seconds.

The City Lord laughed.

"Pre-Civilization blueprints are negotiable."

"Snow Shard Gang intel is ready-made."

"The parking space is free."

He slapped his thigh and stood up.

"Brother Lu Chen, these three conditions are much more generous than I expected."

"Anyone else who saved the City Lord's sister would have asked for at least a hundred crates of coal crystals and three Lv.2 combat vehicles."

"And you only want a few scraps of paper and a parking spot?"

"The things I need are quite specific."

Lu Chen stood up.

"coal crystals and combat vehicles aren't of much use to me."

This sentence caused Lin Xiao's facial muscles to tighten for a split second.

coal crystals and combat vehicles weren't of much use.

In the wasteland, what kind of confidence was required to say such a thing?

"Fine."

Lin Xiao clapped his hands together a few times.

"The partnership is settled then."

"Xiao Wan will handle the specific details; let us know if you need anything."

He turned to look at Lin Wan.

"Xiao Wan, you continue to stay with Brother Lu Chen."

"But remember, you are a person of Black Rock City-State."

"The seed vault is a strategic resource of The City-State."

Lin Xiao paused, his voice dropping half a notch.

"I'm not in a hurry to demand the seed vault back, but we'll have to talk about future arrangements slowly."

Lin Wan opened her mouth to say something but was stopped by a look from Lu Chen.

"Naturally."

Lu Chen answered for her.

"There's no rush regarding the ownership of the seed vault; we can discuss it in due time."

"The most important thing right now is the Snow Shard Gang."

"Right!"

Lin Xiao clapped his hands.

"The Snow Shard Gang!"

He turned and shouted to the guard behind him.

"Go tell the Chief of Staff to bring the Snow Shard Gang files to the docking area—the complete set!"

"Yes, sir!"

The guard turned and walked away quickly.

Lin Xiao sat back down, holding his now stone-cold water cup, but his gaze drifted toward the closed door of Polaris.

"But speaking of which."

He rubbed the scar on his chin.

"Xiao Wan praised your car to the high heavens."

"Constant twenty-degree temperature, six Cultivation Box, and an infinite supply of pure water."

The City Lord set down his cup and leaned forward, curiosity burning in those eyes so similar to Lin Wan's.

"I have to see it for myself."