Dark Ruins Dawn

Chapter 84 Aging

The underground burrows of the brown rat tribe are perpetually damp and sweltering.

Due to the scarcity of resources, a dozen or so brown rat-men often huddle together, sharing the meager shelter of a single fog-dispelling lamp.

They fear distortion.

Once the mutation deepens, they will lose their minds and become "poisonous rats" that have nothing to do with "rat people".

The Brown Rat Clan's bullet processing workshop is one of the few relatively clean places.

Three stamping presses were running continuously, and the cave was brightly lit by ample lighting.

Santa and seven other black ratmen, dressed in simple work clothes, were repeating the procedures they were doing.

They worked skillfully, stuffing brass cartridge cases into the mold, filling it with gunpowder, and then pressing in the bullets.

Several brown rat overseers patrolled the area, not treating them as harshly as slaves, only occasionally reminding them to replace worn-out tools.

In the corner were several boxes of dark wheat bread and water, which the Tataji chief had specially arranged for.

For Santa, having a safe place to stay and enough food to eat was already a luxury.

Just then, a rat guard strode over.

"Santa, the chief wants to see you."

Santa didn't hesitate. He quickly put down his tools, dusted himself off, and followed the guard.

After passing through several dark tunnels, he arrived at Tataji's "palace".

It was a huge cave converted from an abandoned station, with animal bone decorations hanging on the walls, and several searchlights illuminating the spacious and bright place.

Tataji's throne is a tire that was ripped off a giant mining truck, and half of a large white bathtub was forcibly crammed into the center of the tire.

Tataji lazily sank into the bathtub, filling the "throne" to the brim.

Santa humbly lowered his head, not daring to meet its gaze.

"Santa, I heard you've done a good job; the yield rate of bullets has improved considerably."

"It is my honor to serve the leader."

"Lord Iron Tower hasn't been in a good mood lately, you know. He really needs that Baron mech."

Tataji’s voice sounded casual.

"You guys were getting very close to that demon general before, you should know the whereabouts of the mech, right?"

Santa froze.

He certainly knew the mech's whereabouts, but if he revealed it, the Jetta team would immediately be in trouble.

"Don't be nervous, I'm just asking."

Tataji's tone softened, carrying a hint of elder-like concern:
“Santa, you are a smart child. I know that life is not easy for your Black Rat Clan outside.”

"Lord Iron Tower said that as long as the mech is found, there will be a great reward. Our Ratmen have always rewarded those who have made contributions and punished those who have made mistakes. You know what I mean."

Tataji deliberately emphasized the word "must be punished".

"Chief, I...I have my doubts."

Santa's throat went dry: "That mech is in the basement of the recycling center."

"Oh?"

"Although I've never been inside, when we were making a delivery last time, we saw some Baron mech shell parts on their weapons processing table."

"very good."

Tataji smiled with satisfaction.

It stood up, walked up to Santa, and patted him on the shoulder with its huge paw, the force of which almost made him kneel down.

"Sir Iron Tower and the others will inevitably have a life-or-death battle sooner or later. Those idiots in Jetta are innocent, and I don't want them to die in vain."

"So you'd better try to persuade them to come back. I'm short-staffed here, and I'll give them the best jobs. I'll never treat my own people badly."

"Yes, Chief, I will definitely deliver the message."

A hint of gratitude flashed in Santa's eyes; it turned out that the leader was truly thinking of his compatriots.

He respectfully withdrew and left the palace.

Tataji's smile quickly faded, and one of his trusted aides leaned closer and whispered:

"Your Majesty, shall we launch a full-scale attack on the recycling center?"

"idiot."

Tataji shook his head, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes: "Do you think I don't know that place is strange? Lord Iron Tower is afraid of that demon general, so why shouldn't I be?"

"That……"

His trusted aide's eyes lit up, and he offered a plan: "Your Majesty, since those fools from the Apocalypse Cult want to take back the Baron, why don't we just spread the word and let them scout ahead?"

"I'll eat it! Great idea!"

Tataji laughed loudly, raised his huge hand, and slapped his trusted rat hard across the face.

"Snapped!"

The confidant was beaten so badly he spun around twice, clutching his swollen face, looking completely bewildered.

"Idiot! Who are you calling a fool? Have you forgotten who you are now?!"

Tataji's voice suddenly rose: "I am now the new Patriarch of the Apocalypse Church, are you calling me an idiot?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I deserve to die!" The confidant immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Your Majesty, should this matter be reported to the Patriarch over there?"

"Of course we must report it!"

Tataji sneered: "Lord Iron Tower is right. Watching from the sidelines and reaping the benefits is the smartest thing to do."

The night was as dark as ink. In a room on the second floor of the recycling station, Hua Xin wrung out a towel and carefully placed it on Zhuang Fan's burning forehead.

This is the third time I've had a high fever today.

Zhuang Fan's appearance remained unchanged, but his hair slowly turned gray, which stood out starkly under the light.

The skin on my arms is wrinkling at a visible rate, like dried tree bark.

He is slowly aging.

Hua Sheng could no longer sit still. He grabbed the panel and urgently contacted Chu Ningyan.

"how is the situation?"

"My fever has spiked to 42 degrees Celsius again. My skin is aging, and I've even started growing some gray hairs."

Watson spoke with restraint, but his anxiety was hard to hide.

Chu Ningyan remained silent for a moment. Zhuang Fan's situation was indeed beyond her comprehension.

"Wait a moment, I'll go ask someone."

After a while, communication was restored.

"It seems he is severely malnourished, and his bodily functions are starting to suffer. Continue to give him the full-effect vitamin solution and increase the flow rate."

"it is good!"

Watson hung the new vitamin solution on the IV stand and adjusted the drip rate.

The liquid flowed rapidly into Zhuang Fan's body through the tube.

A miracle happened.

As the vitamin fluid was injected, Zhuang Fan's burning forehead began to cool down, his hair turned black, and the fine wrinkles on his arms miraculously faded away.

He also discovered a pattern: whenever Zhuang Fan had a high fever, his skin would age faster.

At this point, it is essential to replenish vitamin fluids; otherwise, the consequences could be dire.

He kept changing the IV fluids, one bottle, two bottles, three bottles...

It wasn't until she finished the third bottle that Zhuang Fan's body temperature finally stabilized, and the signs of aging in her skin were halted.

Watson sat on the edge of the bed, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open.

Chu Ningyan appeared at the doorway.

She changed out of her military uniform and into simple casual clothes, but her capable demeanor remained undiminished.

She walked to the bedside, took off her gloves, and touched her forehead with the back of her hand. Only after confirming that the fever had subsided did she feel a little relieved.

"At this rate of absorption, he needs at least ten bottles a day."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

Watson was stunned. Ten bottles a day, that's ten thousand gold coins. If this continued for a month...
After Chu Ningyan finished speaking, she took out a thick stack of gold banknotes from her pocket and placed them on the bedside table.

"Here are 20,000 gold coins. Use them for now, and I'll bring them over next month when I get my salary."

"This"

"Take it."

"Thank you."

Watson did not refuse again.

But everyone present knew that 20,000 gold coins was a drop in the ocean, enough for only two days.

Watson did a quick calculation: "We have enough money, enough to last for more than a month, we'll be fine."

"Well, I hope so."

Chu Ningyan did not linger.

She glanced at Zhuang Fan one last time before turning and leaving.

The hovercar glides through the night.

Pipi skillfully maneuvered the steering wheel, and the car was completely silent.

"Pipi, thank you, I'll pay you back next month."

"Team leader, why are you being so polite with me?"

Pipi smiled and said, "Tell me if you need more money. I have some savings."

The money is far from enough.
Chu Ningyan suddenly remembered something: "By the way, could you keep an eye out for guilds and see if there are any high-paying bounties?"

"Team leader, are you crazy? Where did you get the time?"

"Nighttime is the perfect time to catch fugitives."

Pipi couldn't help but frown. "You also have to take care of things on the nuclear side. If this continues, your body won't be able to handle it."

Chu Ningyan simply smiled and remained silent.

Pipi glanced at her, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

"Team leader, who exactly is your friend? Is he/she worth you risking your life for?"

This is a good question.

Chu Ningyan looked out the window at the receding wilderness and hills.

After a long silence, he uttered two words softly:

"Fellow fellow."

(End of this chapter)