11: Chapter 11 Information Traffickers

Chen Mo rested in the Farmhouse for three days.

During these three days, he did several things.

First, he sorted and organized all the supplies and recorded the quantities.

Twenty barrels of fuel, five rifles, two thousand rounds of ammunition, ten medical kits, and enough compressed rations for a year.

He hid these supplies in several concealed locations in the Farmhouse so that even if one was discovered, the others would still be secure.

Second, he properly familiarized himself with using the guns.

He practiced shooting in the wild fields behind the Farmhouse, firing fifty rounds.

The feel was good, and the accuracy was acceptable.

To deal with an f-grade Ghost Shadow, a headshot would solve it.

But to deal with an E-grade, he needed to hit the weak point, which required the cooperation of the Pupil of the Sequence.

Third, he studied a document found in the warehouse.

The document was in military format and recorded the origin of this warehouse; it turned out to be a supply point established by an organization, but that organization had lost contact three months ago.

The document mentioned a name: "Old Driver Alliance".

On the fourth day, Chen Mo drove to Trading Post No. 1.

Old Zhou was still behind the cashier counter; when he saw him enter, his eyes lit up.

"Still alive?" Old Zhou said. "I thought you died on Highway 13."

Chen Mo didn't respond; he pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket and placed it on the counter.

Old Zhou opened it and saw ten f-grade fragments.

"This is what I owed you last time," Chen Mo said. "For the perception potion."

Old Zhou was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"You're an interesting person." He put the fragments away. "Tell me, what do you want this time?"

"Information," Chen Mo said. "The latest news about the Old Driver."

Old Zhou looked at him and lowered his voice. "Are you sure you want to hear it?"

"Sure."

"Fine." Old Zhou took a notebook from under the counter and flipped through a few pages.

"Three days ago, someone saw his car on Highway 17. A heavy truck, modified, with a skull logo on the front. He was trading with a team at the time, exchanging information for supplies."

"What information?"

"About the 'Source of the Sequence'," Old Zhou said.

"He said he knew how to enter the core area, but it required enough strength and preparation. That team believed him, followed him, and then..."

"And then?"

"And then there was no 'then'." Old Zhou closed the notebook.

"That team had five people in total, and none of them came back."

Chen Mo was silent for a few seconds.

"You asked me to go to the church to see that thing last time," he said. "I've seen it; it's hibernating."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure." Chen Mo didn't mention the Chosen Ones who had been devoured. "But I don't know when it will wake up."

Old Zhou nodded and made a few notes in the book.

"This news is worth five fragments," he said. "Do you want to settle the bill now, or trade for something else?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment.

"Settle the bill now."

He took out five fragments and placed them on the counter.

Old Zhou put them away and asked again, "Anything else?"

"Yes," Chen Mo said. "I want to buy information about the 'Old Driver Alliance'."

Old Zhou's expression changed.

Not surprise, but a kind of... vigilance.

"How do you know this name?"

"I found a document in a warehouse," Chen Mo didn't hide it. "That warehouse was built by him."

Old Zhou was silent for a long time.

So long that Chen Mo thought he wouldn't answer.

Then Old Zhou spoke, his voice very low.

"The Old Driver Alliance was founded by the strongest among the first batch of Chosen Ones.

They wanted to unite to find a way to leave this world, but later..." He paused. "Later, something happened."

"What happened?"

"Infighting."

Old Zhou said, "Some wanted to monopolize the way out, and some wanted to stay and rule over others."

"And some... were eroded by the will of the ghost realm, becoming things that were half-human, half-Ghost Shadow. The Alliance disbanded, and the Old Driver was the only one who survived."

Chen Mo listened, his mind quickly organizing this information.

"What is the Old Driver now?" He asked. "Human or Ghost Shadow?"

Old Zhou shook his head.

"I don't know. Some say he is still human, others say he died long ago, and what's alive now is just his shell. But one thing is certain—"

He stared into Chen Mo's eyes.

"He is very dangerous, more dangerous than any Ghost Shadow."

Chen Mo nodded.

"One last question," he said. "Where is the headquarters of the Old Driver Alliance?"

Old Zhou was silent for a second.

"At the end of Highway 17," he said.

"There is an abandoned military base; that was their stronghold back then. If you really want to find him, go there and wait."

Chen Mo placed ten fragments on the counter.

"Thanks."

He turned and walked toward the door.

"Chen Mo," Old Zhou called out to him.

Chen Mo turned back.

Old Zhou's expression was complex.

"Be careful," he said. "Those who went to that place didn't come back."

Chen Mo didn't speak; he pushed the door open and left.

Just as he reached the parking lot, he was stopped by someone.

It was a woman, around thirty, with short hair, wearing a tactical vest, with two pistols tucked into her waist.

Behind her stood two people, a man and a woman, both dressed the same way.

"Chen Mo?" the woman asked.

Chen Mo looked at her.

Pupil of the Sequence scanned—human, f-grade, armed, no hostile signals.

"Yes."

"My name is Lin Wei," the woman said. "I want to discuss a collaboration with you."

"What kind of collaboration?"

"Finding the Old Driver together," Lin Wei said. "We are looking for him too."

Chen Mo didn't speak.

Lin Wei continued.

"We have a team of six, all survived the first night. We have cars, weapons, and supplies, but we lack someone who can see through the weaknesses of Ghost Shadows. I heard you have this ability."

"Who did you hear that from?"

"The regional channel," Lin Wei smiled. "The First Night Kill King, who doesn't know that?"

Chen Mo was silent for a few seconds.

"I don't team up."

"It's not teaming up," Lin Wei said. "It's cooperation. We explore together, and when we encounter danger, we rely on our own skills. After finding the Old Driver, we share information and split the supplies evenly."

Chen Mo looked at her.

Pupil of the Sequence scanned carefully; what she said should be true, no signs of lying.

But Old Zhou said, don't trust anyone.

"I'll consider it," he said.

Lin Wei nodded and pulled a slip of paper from her pocket.

"This is our channel password. Contact us when you've made up your mind."

Chen Mo took the slip of paper and stuffed it into his pocket.

He returned to his car and started the engine.

In the rearview mirror, Lin Wei was still standing there, watching his car drive away.

After driving a long distance, until he couldn't see Lin Wei and her group anymore.

Chen Mo took out the slip of paper from his pocket.

He glanced at it, memorized the content, tore it up, and threw it out the window.

He didn't need teammates.

At least not right now.

In this environment, the human heart is something even more terrifying than ghosts.

But he remembered the name Lin Wei.

Maybe it would come in handy later.

The pickup truck drove out of the Trading Post and onto the highway.

Ahead was the direction of Highway 17.

Chen Mo stepped on the gas and accelerated into the night.