Wasteland: My Items Can Be Infinitely Upgraded-Chapter 543 - 266: Confession, Turning the Salvation Army, Countering the Beast Tide
Lin Feng frowned slightly, putting on a pensive look, then nodded slightly:
"Yes, the Salvation Army is also involved in this!"
"When they initially headed to the Taishan Ruins, their infiltration into the lower levels of the underground shelter wasn’t for the armory. The shelter’s armory had been discovered years ago and was long emptied by other wandering forces."
"The real goal of the Salvation Army was actually a military factory deeper down."
"Indeed, back in the day, the scale of the Taishan Shelter was enough to accommodate tens of millions of people, with not only complete facilities but also a comprehensive industrial system."
"Among them, the military factory was the most important project, which is why it was set at the deepest level."
"Unfortunately, there are many mutants at the bottom of the ruins, originating from an Evil God sealed deep within. The divine power pollution caused severe mutations in living beings."
"The deeper you go, the more powerful and formidable the mutants become."
"Even more troubling is the high probability of being polluted, or even assimilated, after contact with the mutants, turning into a cursed mutant existence."
"Moreover, the dim underground environment, with countless mutants attacking from all sides, when engaging these creatures in close combat, even if you manage to fight a bloody path through, there’s a high chance of infection."
"And as a wandering force, even with the inheritance of the former Salvation Army, they lack sufficient firepower to remotely annihilate thousands of mutants en masse."
"That’s why they desperately need firepower support."
"Luckily, as a Gunpowder Ability User, with Father Su An’s assistance, I advanced to Late Tier One, significantly enhancing my superpower, allowing me to provide continuous firepower output."
"So we began a collaboration."
"I used my firearms to assist and cover the Salvation Army in their infiltration to the bottom of the shelter ruins, while they provided me with Leader Level Rock-Horned Horse Source Material necessary for evolution."
"I advanced from Level 17 to Level 19, with the price being the protection of their team to access the underground fifth level."
"However, through speculation, I discovered that their Rock-Horned Horse Essence Evolution Agent most likely came from the Pilgrimage Convoy of Oasis Town."
At this point, Lin Feng decided to fully disclose his previous speculations, only omitting his secret collaboration with Zong Shiyue:
"Because just before we set out to the Taishan Ruins, news came that the Pilgrimage Convoy was ambushed on its return journey, and the only one attacked happened to be the convoy sent by the Li Family to the Holy City."
"The materials that Li Family purchased from the Holy City, especially the Source Material meant to extend the life of the Leader Level Rock-Horned Horse, were robbed."
"And the Salvation Army suddenly had a large quantity of fresh Rock-Horned Horse Life Source Material. Without any accident, they are likely the only ones within a few hundred kilometers with the strength to plunder the Pilgrimage Convoy of Oasis."
"As for the follow-up, I successfully used long-range firepower output to help the Salvation Army kill a Tier Three Mutant and assist them in reaching the bottom-level military factory."
"The Salvation Army took away three large pieces of equipment, including two precision machine tools and an automatic ammunition production machine."
"This is enough for them to produce a large number of individual weapons and achieve self-sufficiency in light weaponry."
After hearing Lin Feng’s confession, Lord Bishop nodded approvingly, then asked:
"So, do you think their deliberate attack on the Li Family’s Pilgrimage Convoy and looting of materials related to the Rock-Horned Horse are in any way related to their risky underground operation to move weapon production equipment?"
Lin Feng paused before continuing his reply:
"The leader of the Salvation Army, Bai Ye, has become a Level 29 Evolver and displayed part of the Tier Three Power during the battle with the Tier Three Mutant..."
"This shows her Evolution Level is about to break through Tier Two, transforming into a Tier Three King!"
"To achieve this, she must make full preparations, including building a medium-sized settlement and constructing her own first-class Royal City!"
"That’s why she needs weapon production equipment to ensure her subordinates have the ability to independently produce weapons and equipment."
"As for the attack on the Pilgrimage Convoy of Oasis Town that specifically targeted the Li Family, it’s understandable..."
"Because they want to plunder the Li Family’s livelihood from Nongzhuang Village—the Rock-Horned Horse breeding industry—to ensure the Salvation Army’s future food sovereignty."
"The leader of the Salvation Army, Bai Ye, even mentioned this to me, asking if I would cooperate with them to initiate an attack on Nongzhuang Village and the Li Family."
"They are willing to offer more than two portions of Tier Two Rock-Horned Horse Source Material as compensation."
"But I politely declined."
Seeing Lin Feng being so honest, Lord Bishop nodded with satisfaction and subsequently asked about something else:
"Since the Salvation Army initially planned to attack Oasis Town, do you think their team is currently ambushing us as well?"
Lin Feng was startled at heart, but remained calm on the surface, thought for a moment, and then nodded:
"It’s very possible!"
"Actually, the Salvation Army leader Bai Ye mentioned during the invitation to collaborate against the Li Family that they had already had a negotiation with the Desert Wolf Race in the Fallen Wolf Valley next to the ruins."
"The Salvation Army wants to invite the Desert Wolf Race to join them in plundering Oasis Town. At that time, the Salvation Army only needs a portion of the Rock-Horned Horse breeding industry, while the rest can be left to the Desert Wolf Race to strengthen its power."
"Especially the younger generation of the Desert Wolf Race, who haven’t advanced in hundreds of years with their evolution levels stagnant, while there are many Rock-Horned Horse Path Evolvers in Nongzhuang Village of Oasis Town, especially the head of the Li Family, Li Hao, who is a Mid-Tier Two Rock Horse Warrior."
