35: Chapter 35 Old Cole's Secret Commission

Just as he was planning how to proactively contact Old Cole, Xiao Haozi scurried back from the ventilation duct, squeaking excitedly with a small, dirty rag in its mouth.

Lin Qiming took the rag. On it, drawn in charcoal, was a simple symbol: a circle with a dot inside and a wavy line beneath it—this was the simple contact signal he and Old Cole had agreed upon, meaning "Urgent matter, meet at the old spot."

"Old Cole is looking for me?" Lin Qiming raised an eyebrow. "Perfect."

He needed intelligence and potential trading opportunities. As a treasure hunter for the Ashen Gang, Old Cole was well-informed and they had a history of cooperation.

"Xiao Haozi, lead the way to the vicinity of the abandoned storage room where we met last time. Be careful, observe from a distance. If it's just Old Cole, give me a signal; if there's an ambush, come back immediately."

Xiao Haozi nodded and darted out. Lin Qiming began to prepare. He brought his crossbow (having remade a few bolts), a machete, his auxiliary arm armor, and several small items that could be used for trade: a purified copper ingot, a small pouch of rare metal powder separated from ancient ones relics, and that homemade modified probe (which might demonstrate value). Of course, his vigilance was the most important thing.

He followed the marks left by Xiao Haozi (the little guy was smart, using pebbles to form arrows at forks in the path) and traveled through the complex tunnels. An hour later, he approached the area of the old storage room where they had traded last time.

Xiao Haozi emerged from a gap, squeaked softly at him, and nodded—it was safe, only Old Cole was there.

Lin Qiming approached silently and saw Old Cole squatting alone at the entrance of the storage room, wrapped in that signature greasy canvas robe, checking some parts by the light of a small lantern. He looked even more haggard than last time, with heavy bags under his eyes.

"Kol." Lin Qiming walked out from the shadows, his voice calm.

Old Cole was startled and looked up abruptly. Seeing it was Lin Qiming, he let out a sigh of relief, but a complex look flashed in his eyes. "Kid, you're actually still alive... And you look like you're doing pretty well?" He eyed Lin Qiming's noticeably superior equipment and composed demeanor.

"Getting by." Lin Qiming sat down opposite him, keeping his distance. "You looking for me?"

"I am, and it's a good thing—or maybe a troublesome one, depending on how you choose." Old Cole lowered his voice and looked left and right, even though they were the only ones there. "I have a commission. The pay is good, but the target is a bit... hot to handle."

"Speak."

Old Cole pulled a small object wrapped in a rag from his chest and carefully opened it. Inside were several dark green, irregular crystal fragments with a greasy luster on the surface, and a faint, unsettling pulsation seemed to be coming from within.

"Recognize this?" Old Cole asked.

Lin Qiming activated [Basic Mechanical Identification], combined with a scan from the stc core. Information emerged: [Decay Battery Fragment (Dangerous)]. This was a type of old-era battery that used radioactive isotope decay to generate power, usually used for devices requiring long-term, stable, low-power output. But these fragments before him were clearly damaged; radioactive material might be leaking, the energy was unstable, and... it seemed to be contaminated with something else.

"Decay battery. It's broken, and it's not clean." Lin Qiming said bluntly.

"You know your stuff." Old Cole nodded. "But this isn't just a regular broken battery. They came from deep within Zone B-9, a 'place that shouldn't be visited.' My people... stumbled upon them, but they only retrieved these few fragments, and they didn't come back."

Lin Qiming's eyes narrowed: "Zone B-9? In the direction near the Remains Mine?"

"Deeper, near the edge of the 'Deep Well'." Old Cole's voice dropped lower. "It hasn't been peaceful there lately. The Iron Tooth Gang is lurking nearby, but not to catch you (though the bounty is still on), they seem to be looking for something. And... some weirdos in robes with ragged Servitors are active in that area too. I suspect these battery fragments are related to what they're looking for."

Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators! Lin Qiming immediately made the connection.

"What is the commission?" he asked.

"Help me confirm two things." Old Cole held up two fingers. "First, what exactly is deep in Zone B-9? Is it some old-era energy warehouse? Or some other kind of 'treasure'? Second, what exactly are those weirdos (if you encounter them) and what do they want?"

"Why don't you go yourself?" Lin Qiming asked in return.

"Me?" Old Cole gave a bitter smile. "I'm just a scavenger, not a warrior, nor an explorer. Partnering with you to dig out that warehouse last time was just good luck. That place in Zone B-9... it's wicked. My people went in and never came out, only transmitting back these few fragments and the words 'There's light, and other things.' I don't dare send anyone else to their deaths. But you..." He looked at Lin Qiming. "You kid managed to disappear during the Iron Tooth Gang's raid and got your hands on that good stuff (referring to the previous ancient ones relics trade), so you must have some skills. You might be able to take this commission."

"What's the pay?"

"Intelligence sharing." Old Cole said. "You help me figure out those two things, and I'll tell you everything I know about the Iron Tooth Gang's recent movements, scattered intel on those weirdos, and... some contacts within the Ashen Gang who are interested in 'new technology.' This should be very useful for a tech kid working alone like you." He paused. "Also, these battery fragments are yours. I know you're interested in things that 'have energy.' Although they're dangerous, there might still be some residual power, or... you might be able to see more into it."

Lin Qiming pondered. The reward was tempting: critical intelligence, potential contacts, and these decay battery fragments that might contain special energy or information (the stc core might be able to absorb or analyze them). The risk was also high: exploring an unknown dangerous area, potentially encountering the Iron Tooth Gang, Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators, and the threats that might exist in the area itself (wicked).

But this was also an opportunity. Obtaining energy (potentially increasing his reserves), understanding the purpose of the Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators, and incidentally scouting the movements of the Iron Tooth Gang. Furthermore, deep in Zone B-9... could there be a signal for ancient ones relics?

"I need more detailed information." Lin Qiming said. "The exact location where your person last sent a message? A specific description of the 'light' and 'other things' they mentioned? Also, the specific areas where the Iron Tooth Gang and those weirdos are active in Zone B-9?"

Seeing he was interested, Old Cole perked up and began to explain in detail. He took out a rough hand-drawn map (a simple diagram of parts of the Hive Bottom) and pointed out several key points: the approximate location where his men lost contact, the tunnel entrances where Iron Tooth Gang squads were observed entering and exiting, and areas where traces of the suspected weirdos (Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators) were active.

Regarding the "light" and "other things," the information sent back by his men was extremely vague: "Green light, flashing... and a sound, like many metal sheets scraping... something feels wrong, it's very cold..."

Green flashing light? Metal scraping sounds? Lin Qiming's heart skipped a beat. This description... why did it sound a bit like Necrons?

"I'll take the commission." Lin Qiming finally decided. "But I don't guarantee I can find the answer, nor do I guarantee I'll come back alive. I will do my best. I'll take these fragments to study first. If there's news, I'll contact you using the old method."

"Refreshing!" Old Cole breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the battery fragments to Lin Qiming. "Be careful, kid. Zone B-9... is really not the same. I have a feeling something has 'woken up' there, or never went to sleep."

The deal was struck. Lin Qiming collected the fragments and the map, and left quickly.

Back at the outpost, he immediately studied those decay battery fragments. Hephaestus performed a deep scan.

[Decay Battery Fragment (Damaged, trace radioactive leakage).]

[Energy residual: Extremely low and unstable, high risk of direct absorption (may introduce radioactive contamination or unknown energy disturbances).]

[However, there are faint information-state imprints remaining on the surface of the fragments... unrelated to ancient ones technology, more like... remnants of some encrypted identification of the Imperium of Man?]

[Suggestion: Attempt extremely slow, cautious energy stripping and information extraction using the stc core in a shielded environment; focus on information, not energy.]

Lin Qiming complied. In a small space temporarily enclosed with lead plates (dismantled from old radiation protection equipment), he placed a fragment near the stc core and let Hephaestus attempt contact at the lowest power setting.

The process was very slow. A few minutes later, the fragment completely turned to ash, the energy was absorbed by the core (+0.5 ENU, pitifully little), but a fragment of an information stream was extracted.

It was a blurry identification: an Aquila symbol, a cog, and a broken line of serial numbers — "...Ⅳ-09-████... Emergency Quarantine... Do Not Approach..."

"Imperial serial number? Quarantine zone?" Lin Qiming frowned. "Zone B-9... could it be some quarantine facility or experimental site established by the Imperium in the early days? Abandoned for some reason, and now the things inside... have leaked? Or been disturbed?"

Combined with the "green light," "metal scraping sound," and "very cold" described by Old Cole's men, his ominous premonition grew stronger.

But regardless, he had to go. For intelligence, for possible relics, and also to... see exactly what kind of thing made someone like Old Cole feel it was "wicked."

He looked at the task list. Energy reserves: 58.5 ENU.

Perhaps the answers and the energy were both in the depths of Zone B-9.

[Task Triggered]

Task Name: Mystery at the Edge of the Deep Well (Old Cole's Commission)

Type: Exploration / Investigation / Optional

Target Description: Head deep into Zone B-9 and investigate the following: 1. The secrets existing in that area (Energy warehouse? Quarantine facility?). 2. The purpose of the "weirdos" (Adeptus Mechanicus Explorators) active in that area. 3. The activity intent of the Iron Tooth Gang in that area. Obtain key evidence or information if possible.

Reward: Sharing of Old Cole's intelligence network, potential technical contacts in the Ashen Gang, decay battery fragments (already obtained), EXP +800 (depending on completion).

Failure Cost: May anger Old Cole or the Ashen Gang, losing a source of intelligence; worse, may disturb unknown dangers in the area, bringing disaster upon oneself.

System Evaluation: A place that even a seasoned scavenger finds "wicked" usually means there is either a great treasure or a great trouble, or both. And you, are preparing to go see it for yourself. Good luck, you might need it.