Su Mo's words were not sarcasm, but rather cruel reality.
Actually, Su Mo didn't need to say it; from Nuobai's unwilling gaze, it was clear she had already realized it in her heart.
The only reason she was still fighting desperately was pure survival instinct, even though hope was already faint.
Nuobai did not respond, preparing to drag Su Mo away by force and make another breakout attempt.
Yet unexpectedly, Dr. Chen resisted for the first time.
Su Mo grabbed Nuobai by the collar and yelled, "Are you listening to me?!"
Nuobai was caught off guard as Su Mo pushed her down with a thud, pinning her to the ground.
She was stunned for a moment before her gaze turned sharp; she grabbed Su Mo by the collar and swung him aside, then pinned him down with another thud.
Both held onto each other's collars, pressing together, able to hear each other's heavy breathing.
Gradually, emotions vented, and both of their breathing calmed down.
"Calmed down?" Su Mo released his grip, pointing heavily at Nuobai, saying, "If you're calm, listen to me carefully! Don't think you're the only one who wants to survive; I want to survive too!"
He tore open his clothes, revealing a black cocoon-like growth at his chest: "Do you see this thing? It's a dangerous research object not tested on humans, and someone injected it into my body - I'm soon going to suffer from its side effects."
"You think your Blood Code Dissociation Syndrome is tragic? Let me tell you, if I can't be saved, my fate will be a hundred times worse than yours!"
"The company's executives don't care about me. Even if I am taken back, they will only dissect me alive to make research specimens. Now, I can only save myself."
"So understand, we are on the same boat, not enemies! We only have one common goal, which is to fight against the damned fate and survive!"
Looking at the black cocoon on Su Mo's chest, Nuobai's gaze became somewhat complex.
Although she didn't know what it was, such malignant growths are definitely not good things.
What's more, Su Mo's appearance had been increasingly haggard over the past few days, and this haggardness was clearly not from exhaustion, but rather his body being eroded by something, confirming the danger of that black cocoon.
After listening to Su Mo's heartfelt words, Nuobai finally threw away the agitation brought by despair, took out her phone, and calmly communicated with him:
[Continue, I'm listening]
[What is your idea?]
Su Mo's tone also calmed down: "As I said earlier, your commission has failed. Now, in this situation, you cannot tie me up and take me back on time, and you shouldn't consider getting medicine from the middleman."
"But you have another path, which is to come with me."
"A few days ago, I told you I know a place where there are things that can save me, and also save you."
Nuobai remembered that conversation, but she still could not judge whether Su Mo's words were true or some trick.
She typed:
[To cooperate, you must tell me more information]
This time, Su Mo did not completely hide but showed sincerity: "The place isn't in any force's territory; it is an Ancient Era Ruins."
Nuobai's eyes instantly lit up.
Ancient Era Ruins!
Anyone who has read history knows that this world once experienced a devastating global war that led to the fall of civilization from the previous era.
The current human civilization was rebuilt on the ruins of that war, and all technologies in today's world are practically the results of human exploration of Ancient Era Ruins.
The vast majority of Ancient Era Ruins are meaningless ruins, but a very few contain relics of technology from the Ancient Era.
These technological relics might be stored experimental data in equipment, groundbreaking foundational theories, or applications far surpassing current technological levels.
From "Dawn Year," civilization has been reconstrued for only 152 years.
The reason humanity could develop technology explosively is thanks to the leaps in research brought by those technological relics.
Hegemony Company's "Blood Code."
Iron Blood Alliance's "Prosthesis."
Black Domain Group's "Spiritual Brain."
And also those extensively used in civil life, such as floating vehicles, electronic instruments, high-end medicines, etc...
All are technological relics found by the predecessors in Ancient Era Ruins and successfully replicated.
Initially, medicines like "Gene Compile Protein" also belonged to technological relics of the Ancient Era, discovered and monopolized for replication by Hegemony Company.
But that does not mean only companies possess Gene Compile Protein.
Because it might still exist in some yet unexplored Ancient Era Ruins.
Of course, it is only theoretical possibility.
After thinking for a while, Nuobai quickly typed:
[Can you find Ancient Era Ruins with Gene Compile Protein inside?]
Su Mo: "Yes."
Nuobai typed and asked:
[You're only a mid-level researcher, why do you have such intel?]
Su Mo: "That's my secret, I will never tell you."
These words made Nuobai hesitate again, typing:
[This is hard for me to believe, you might be lying to me]
Su Mo didn't offer any further explanation, just looked at her calmly: "It's possible I'm lying to you, but do you have a choice now? You can only trust me."
This statement was like a knife, cutting a deep crack in Nuobai's heart guard.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze struggling and forlorn.
Yes...
In today's circumstances, there's no choice...
There's simply no other way...
Without waiting for Nuobai to respond, Su Mo reached out to point at a map he had drawn: "What I marked here are the locations of Hegemony Company's military bases in the Windswept Plains."
"Previously, we headed north; the target was too obvious, the company surely set up heavy defenses in the north; we cannot break through there."
"But that's okay, our next destination is in the opposite direction, south."
"The company's main forces and defense focus are in the north; the south is definitely loose, and might not even have a defense line. If we suddenly change directions, they won't be able to react in time."
"Based on the location of the Windswept Plains' military base, troop strength, vehicle performance, surrounding terrain and transportation routes, and the time required for action after receiving orders, I have deduced the best escape route."
Su Mo used his finger to trace on the map, winding along, finally landing on a spot surrounded by several circles drawn in stone, saying: "Our hope of escape lies here, in the south of Windswept Plains, 'Rust Wind Ridge.'"
"With your motorcycle's performance, if we depart now, following my planned safe route, we can reach Rust Wind Ridge in about 4 hours and 39 minutes."
"Closest to Rust Wind Ridge is Frosthoof Military Base; if they receive a block order, considering preparation time and travel, it will take 2 hours and 48 minutes to complete the defense."
"In other words, we just need to ensure our tracks aren't exposed within 1 hour and 51 minutes after departure, and we can safely leave Windswept Plains from Rust Wind Ridge. Moving further south, it's no longer company territory, and we can drive straight to the destination."
"Concealing for around two hours is not difficult for us."
Looking at the map on the ground, rough yet packed with key information, Nuobai was astounded.
She would also analyze intelligence before executing a commission, but definitely not to this precise degree.
Creating such a map requires a lot of intelligence, involving massive confidential data.
Isn't this "Dr. Chen" just a mid-level researcher? How could he know so much...