Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.113 第113章 贵客
第113章 贵客
Chapter 113 Distinguished Guest
一片拥有数座石屋的棚区门口，挂著「爵爷用品」几个字，这是他们的棚区名。
At the entrance of their Peng Zone, which housed several stone buildings, hung a sign reading “Lord’s Supplies,” the name of their faction.
棚主爵中绝正在剔牙，忽然接到了位贵人的心灵链接，顿时脸上挂起笑容：
Penglord Jue Zhong Jue was just picking his teeth when he suddenly received a Syn-Link from an esteemed figure, causing a smile to spread across his face:
「商部长。」
“Minister Shang.”
｛告诉你多少次了，一个镇子而已，别一口一个部长的叫，徒惹人笑。｝
{ How many times have I told you? It’s just a mere town—don’t keep calling me ‘Minister,‘ it only invites ridicule. }
「哪里哪里，商…」
“Of course, of course, Shang—”
｛别废话，告诉你个好事。 杨子藏，也就是你们那边的甲子间拥有很多新诞生的地块，你找机会去讨好他，以后他应该会建起个不错的势力。 另外，他是副镇长逐银的人，你别把小聪明放到他的身上，否则荒车大货队的下场就是你的未来。｝
{ Cut the nonsense. I’ve got good news for you. Yang Zicang, from your area known as the Jiazi Term, owns many newly born plots. Find a chance to cozy up to him; he’ll likely build a decent force in the future. Plus, he’s one of Futown Chief Manager Ju Yin Chase’s people—don’t pull any of your petty tricks on him, or the fate of the Wasteland Freight Fleet will be yours to share. }
那边的人指了指他背后的大片如同油画般的写实画与地图后，快速断掉了心灵连结。
The caller gestured to the massive, oil-painting-like realistic artwork and map behind him before swiftly terminating the mental link.
「荒车？」
“Wasteland Freight Fleet?”
爵中绝愣了下，眼中精光一闪。
Jue Zhong Jue paused, his eyes flashing with insight.
「大货队已经覆灭。 现在是拿到荒车的好机会啊，但自己肯定抢不到的吧。」
“The Wasteland Freight Fleet has already been wiped out. This is a golden chance to seize the wreckage, but I sure as hell wouldn’t stand a chance at grabbing it.”
刚刚升起的小火苗迅速被压了下去，随后他想到刚才看到的那幅画和地图。
The brief spark of ambition was quickly smothered. Then, he recalled the painting and map he had just glimpsed.
如果没看错，那画面中的地块至少有几十个各种不同幕景之多，一个地方怎么会出现那么多不同的幕景。
If I hadn’t seen it wrong, the terrain in that painting contained at least dozens of various different scenes—how could a single place have so many different scenes?
难道都是那些人去搬运回来的土地？ 那得多大的工程量。
Are those all lands that people carried back there? Just imagine the scale of the work involved.
「快快快，给我准备货物，我要亲自外出。」
“Quick, quick, quick, prepare goods for me—I need to go out personally.”
爵中绝跑出岩石房间喊道。
Jue Zhongjue rushed out of the rock room and shouted.
一道声音传来：「我们刚来，你便想走？」
A voice came through: “We’ve just arrived, and you’re already trying to leave?”
天地猛地一明，只见原本永恒阴云灰暗的天际徒然出现抹碧空。
The sky suddenly brightened. Above, an eternal curtain of dark gray storm clouds parted, revealing a patch of blue sky.
棚主和外面几人愣了下，看向院子对面。
Penglord and the others outside froze for a moment, turning their gazes toward the opposite side of the courtyard.
那里几道穿著笔挺西服的身影出现，在这队人前，站著位唇色苍淡，两眼闪动金色辉光，梳著分头的灰衣少年。
There, several figures clad in immaculate suits appeared. At the head of this entourage stood a gray-clad youth, his pursed lips pale, his eyes flickering with golden light, and his dark hair slicked back in a side part.
他身边的空气如高温般隐隐晃动，有模糊的各种场景在晃动的气浪中不断生灭。
The air around him shimmered like heat haze, phantom scenes clear yet indistinct constantly rising and fading within those rippling waves.
爵中绝突然感觉到莫名的压力，声音有点发颤的带着笑意问：
Jue Zhongjue suddenly felt a nameless weight of pressure, his voice trembling slightly as he forced a smile to ask:
「各位爷，这是打哪儿来呀。」
“Good gentlemen, whereabouts might you have come from?”
那少年身后右侧一位身穿西服，但脸上有着烧红烙印般的人张口，嗓音如同沉闷的巨龙：
A figure standing behind the youth, clad in a suit but bearing a face marked like a searing brand, opened his mouth and spoke in a voice rumbling with draconic depth:
「在你眼前的这位尊贵客人，是来自‘遗失幻境公司：谷风幻境‘的著名干事，尊号霄先生。」
“The distinguished guest before you is the renowned executive from the ‘Ilusionscape Corporation: Gu Feng Dreams,‘ honored by the title of Master Xiao.”
左侧一位侍者接口道：
A waiter on the left interjected:
「同时，霄先生也是‘主编‘的第二只笔，是尊贵主编的，食指。」
“At the same time, Mr. Xiao is the ‘editor-in-chief’s’ second pen, the honored editor-in-chief’s index finger.”
爵中绝茫然无比，他感觉「遗失幻境公司」这几个字虚无缥缈，「主编」一词更是如睡醒后的梦境回忆般快速变得混沌，即将想不起来他刚刚到底说的是「煮饭人」还是「敲竹板」。
Jue Zhongjue was utterly bewildered. He felt that the words “Lingdong Illusion Company” were ethereal and phantom-like, and the term “editor-in-chief” was rapidly clouding over like a hazy memory upon waking from a dream—he soon couldn’t recall whether he had just spoken of “a cook” or “beating on a bamboo board.”
少年轻轻笑，眸光中金辉缓缓旋转，带着凌厉迫人气息缓缓开口道：
The youth gave a soft smile. In his eyes, a golden radiance swirled slowly. Exuding a fierce and oppressive aura, he spoke slowly:
「这位棚主，你的发家史中，自认为最为辉煌的那部分经历，能为我讲述一下吗。」
“Sir Penglord, could you recount for me the most glorious part of your rise to prominence, in your own estimation?”
「我……」
“I…”
爵中绝脑中急转的思索着对方的话，忽地，他感觉自己不由自主想到了刚到这里的时候。
Jue Zhongjue’s mind raced as he pondered the other’s words. Suddenly, he felt himself involuntarily recalling the moment he first arrived in this place.
爵中绝略带茫然的回忆道：「那时我还只是个处男……」
Jue Zhongjue recounted with a hint of daze, “Back then, I was still a virgin…”
……
两天后，洛宾收到了独频客栈的消息，那处A级失频之地已经有眉目了。
Two days later, Robin Lo received a message from the Unique Frequency Inn, indicating that there was already a lead on that A-class Shibin Wastes.
半夜，杨子藏两人再次来到了独频客栈，这次两人都走了进去。
In the dead of night, Yang Zicang and his companion came once more to the Unique Frequency Inn. This time, both of them entered.
「叮铃。」
“Ding-a-ling.”
木门被推开。瞧见那道与传闻中覆灭了荒车大货队之人，体型百分之九十相似的两人人，酒保略显激动的主动迎了过来。
The wooden door was pushed open. Spotting two individuals whose builds were ninety percent similar to the legendary one who had wiped out the Wild Cart Cargo Crew, the bartender, visibly stirred, took the initiative to approach them.
他此刻已经确定，上次来贩卖情报的这家伙，就是覆灭大货队的几人中，特别勇猛的二号人物！
He was now certain that this person, who had come to sell intelligence last time, was the particularly fierce second-in-command among those who had destroyed the Great Cargo Crew!
「两位尊贵的客人。」酒保低声道：「我们庄老板在楼上，快跟我来吧。」
“Two esteemed guests,” the bartender said in a low voice. “Boss Zhuang is upstairs. Please, follow me quickly.”
「嗯嗯。」洛宾傻呵呵的点头。
“Mm-hmm,” Robin Lo nodded with a foolish grin.
说罢，酒保转身带路，身后这两人看上去普通，但他却不敢大意。根据只有几人知晓的独家绝密消息，前几日在客栈接了刺杀此人任务的某位实力强横之人，在那晚后已销声匿迹。不是隐藏身份，因为那人的同伴都来挂过寻人启示了，开价很高。
With that, the bartender turned and led the way. These two before him looked ordinary, but he dared not take them lightly. According to an exclusive, top-secret piece of intel known only to a few, a certain formidable figure who had taken on the assassination of this man at an inn a few days ago had vanished without a trace after that very night. It wasn’t a case of hiding his identity, for that man’s companions had even posted missing person notices with a hefty reward.
而此刻，那名失踪之人要对付的人，却大摇大摆的出现，足以说明很多事情。
And now, the target of that missing person had appeared flauntingly, which said enough.
上楼后，两人被带到了个套间的客厅内。大书桌后面，高大的黑皮老板椅背对着三人。
After going upstairs, the pair was brought into a suite’s living room. Behind a large desk, the high back of a sturdy black leather boss chair faced the three.
「BOSS，您想见的人我带来了。」
“Boss, the people you wished to see are here.”
威严的声音在椅子另一面响起：「是两个人吗。」
A dignified voice sounded from the other side of the chair: “Two of them?”
「是。」
“Yes.”
「出去吧。」
“Get out.”
酒保转身离去，将房门带上。
The bartender turned and left, closing the door behind him.
「还BOSS？」洛宾小声嘀咕着看着那椅子。
“Still calling me Boss?” Robin Lo muttered as he eyed the chair.
沙沙触地声中，黑色皮椅一顿一顿的转了过来，是个矮小的瘦子，他嘴上还留着撮八字胡。
With a rustling sound against the floor, the black leather chair slowly swiveled around to reveal a short, thin man with a comically small mustache.
他的目光在杨子藏身上打量了下，突然爬到了大桌子上对两人招手，小声道：「快过来。」
His gaze swept over Yang ZiCang, then abruptly he climbed atop the large desk and waved the two over, whispering urgently: “Come here, quick.”
「这是搞哪一出啊。」杨子藏有点无语的看着这人。
“What’s this all about?” Yang ZiCang watched him, slightly exasperated.
他欲哭无泪的看着杨子藏：「快快快，再晚点就不行了，我已经看了你们十秒了。」
Looking like he was about to cry, he fixed his eyes on Yang ZiCang: “Hurry up, hurry up, any later and it’ll be too late—I’ve already been watching you for ten seconds.”
「怎么了。」
“What’s wrong?”
杨子藏和洛宾都走了上去，这个身高不到一米五的庄老板神色慌张的一直注视着房间门，见两人到来后才松了口气。
Yang ZiCang and Robin Lo both stepped forward. Barely over five feet tall, the panicked Boss Zhuang kept staring at the room’s door, only managing to breathe easy after the two had reached him.
「啊，今晚又得救了，还好在三十秒内你们到了书桌旁。」
“Ah, saved again tonight. At least you two made it to the desk within thirty seconds.”
洛宾莫名其妙的盯着他。
Robin Lo stared at him, utterly baffled.
庄老板严肃道：「我中了诅咒，只有两个以上的人在这里，我才能转过身来看门，否则就会扣掉我一千年时序。」
“I’m cursed,” Boss Zhuang said gravely. “Only when there are more than two people here can I turn around to face the door. Otherwise, I’ll lose a thousand years’ worth of Chronos.”
「那不是很简单，让你的员工来就行了。」
“Well, that’s no big deal—just get your employees over.”
「不行，只要连续三个晚上是同样的人，那么也会扣掉时序，而且他们不能在诅咒生效期内重复。」
“No can do. If the same group shows up three nights in a row, boom, bye-bye Chronos. And I can’t repeat the same group during the curse’s active period.”
「还有这样的诅咒？」
“A curse like that actually exists?”
杨子藏奇怪的看着这像是精神不正常的独频客栈的老板。
Yang Zicang looked curiously at the owner of the Lonely Frequency Inn, who seemed mentally unstable.
老板露出尴尬的神色。
The owner wore an awkward expression.
洛宾胸前的Moexl闪动了下，他愣了下后看向身前的老板：「你这个骗子，你没有中诅咒。」
The Moxel on Robin Lo’s chest flickered; he paused for a moment before turning to the owner: “You liar, you’re not cursed.”
「你的Moexl也能分辨真假？喔，好吧，反正效果是一样的。」
“Oh, does your Moxel distinguish truth from lies too? Well, fine, the effect’s the same either way.”
老板盘坐在大书桌上，变得趾高气昂，显得特别无耻。
The owner sat cross-legged on the large desk, suddenly swelling with arrogance, looking especially shameless.
「看来我们能让你度过今晚已经是最大的价值了对吧。」杨子藏拉过张椅子斜放着坐下。
“Seems like letting us get through tonight is the greatest value we offer, huh?” Yang Zicang pulled over a chair and sat down at an angle.
「哈哈哈，客人说笑了，明天晚上你们能继续来的话，我可以让你们免费住店一晚，当然，不包夜宵的。」
“Haha, good guest, you jest. If you come again tomorrow night, I’ll let you stay for free—excluding supper, of course.”
「那你说的一千时序的任务，是扯蛋的还是真的？」
“So that thousand Chronos mission you mentioned—was that bullshit or for real?”
在收到邀请时，独频客栈的人已经告知洛宾，有个任务想请他转告杨子藏帮忙，报酬一千时序。
When the invitation was sent, the Lonely Frequency Inn had informed Robin Lo that there was a task they wanted him to relay to Yang Zicang, with a reward of one thousand Chronos.
「对哦，差点忘了那件事了。」
“Right, I almost forgot about that.”
庄老板从书桌爬到老板椅上，脚尖惦着触摸地板，让身体跟桌子正对后，从抽屉里拿出几份文件。
Boss Zhuang climbed off the desk and into the office chair, his toes just brushing the floor as he turned to face the table, then pulled several documents from the drawer.
「嗯，找到了，是这个。」
“Hmm, found it. This is it.”
他将手上的东西丢到书桌另一端的两人身前。
He tossed the papers to the two people at the other end of the desk.
「帮一个倒霉鬼收尸，时序一千，这是他曾经留下的任务。我已经两天没收到他的心灵链接，说明这个任务激活了，他真的把自己给玩死了。」
“Picking up the corpse of some unlucky bastard—a thousand Chronos, this is a task he left behind. I haven’t received his Syn-Link in two days, which means this mission’s been activated, and he really managed to get himself killed.”
洛宾拿起来看了看后，递给了杨子藏：「这恐怕是只有你能干的事。」
Robin Lo picked it up, glanced over it, then handed it to Yang ZiCang: “This is probably something only you can handle.”
随后他就眯着眼睛盯着庄老板：「原来你们早就知道那出A级交错地的位置了。」
Then, narrowing his eyes at Boss Zhuang, he said, “So you already knew the location of that A-class anomaly zone.”
庄老板的眉毛垮了垮，眼珠心虚的左右转了下。
Boss Zhuang’s eyebrows drooped, and his eyes darted left and right with a guilty flicker.
「毕竟是绯月级的。」他哼哼唧唧着道。
“Well, it’s Crimson-level, after all,” he grumbled.
看完这上面的内容，杨子藏明白了为什么那人要留一千时序在这里，让人去给万一遭遇不测的自己收回尸首。
After reading the contents, Yang ZiCang understood why that man had left a thousand Chronos here—to have someone retrieve his corpse in case he met his end.
因为那人要去的，是类似自己上次遇到念力体的那些地方，而且更加危险。
Because where that man was headed was similar to the places Yang ZiCang had encountered psionic entities before, but even more dangerous.
那就是自己找的那处跌落进此的A级失频交错地。
It was the very A-class descent-frequency anomaly zone he was looking for.
「他是想寻找念力型的能力吗。」
“Was he trying to seek out psionic-type abilities?”
「没错。」庄老板点点头。
“That’s right.” Boss Zhuang nodded.
洛宾看着他道：「你到底为什么会因独自看门这种事情每晚扣掉一千时序？」
Robin Lo stared at him and asked, “Why exactly are you deducted a thousand Chronos every night for something as trivial as standing guard alone?”
庄老板左右看了眼，呵了声后低声道：「你打算用什么来换这个情报。」
Boss Zhuang cast a furtive glance around, snorted, then lowered his voice: “What are you willing to trade for that intel?”
鬼才要换。杨子藏诽腹着。
Like hell I’d trade for it, Yang ZiCang scoffed inwardly.
洛宾拉过把椅子坐下：
Robin Lo pulled over a chair and sat down.
「之前我卖掉的关于甲子间的情报只有一小部分，我可以拿更多的部分来跟你交换。」
“The information I sold earlier about Jiazi Term was only a small part. I can trade more to you in exchange.”
杨子藏一脸有病的表情看向洛宾。
Yang ZiCang looked at Robin Lo as if he were insane.
庄老板看了眼杨子藏，他还没见过主动卖自己情报的人，关键是卖的情报还是真的。有病吧。
Boss Zhuang glanced at Yang ZiCang, having never seen someone willingly selling information about themselves, and on top of that, the intel was genuine. Must be crazy.
「这位就是甲子间了吧。」他道。
“So you’re Jiazi Term, huh?” he said.
杨子藏胸前亮起圆环，里面只有自己能看得到的数字快速变小，外貌从五十来岁变为了三十岁左右。
A ring lit up on Yang ZiCang’s chest, the digits visible only to him rapidly decreasing as his appearance shifted from fifty-something to around thirty.
「没错，我就是甲子间，大甲方筑货队的现任负责人，我为枢纽镇副镇长供货。」
“That’s right, I’m Jiazi Term, the current head of the Major Client Construction Cargo Crew, and I supply Futown Chief on a long-term basis.”
「副，副镇长！」
“Wait, Futown Chief!”
矮瘦的老板腾地下就站起身来站在地板上，视角一下变得好矮。
The short, skinny boss instantly jumped to his feet on the floor, making his perspective suddenly very low.
「不好意思。」他重新跳上椅子。
“Sorry about that.” He hopped back onto the chair.
「你竟然为副镇长供货，那个人是连续三年排名第十二的城市的老大哥欸。」
“You supply Futown Chief? That guy is the big shot of City Number Twelve, ranked twelfth for three years running.”
杨子藏有心想得知更多关于逐银的情报，但此刻却故作高深的道：「对啊，有什么不妥吗。」
Yang ZiCang was eager to learn more about Ju Yin Chase, but he deliberately put on a mysterious air: “Yeah, so what’s the problem?”
「没，没有。」
“Nothing, nothing.”
庄老板摆了摆手后，继续问道：
Boss Zhuang waved his hand before continuing to ask:
「你是从几号城来失频之地的？ 难道也是排名第十二的城市吗。」
“Which city did you come to Shibin Wastes from? Could it also be City Number Twelve?”
如果是以前，杨子藏可能就毫不犹豫的将自己的老底给说出来了。 但此刻，他学著这两个家伙道：
If it were in the past, Yang Zicang might have blurted out all his background without hesitation. But at this moment, he mimicked those two fellows and said:
「你打算用什么来换这份情报？」
“What are you planning to trade for this information?”
庄老板没露出任何觉得不妥的神色，他埋头思索起来。
Boss Zhuang didn’t show a hint of discomfort; he simply lowered his head and began to ponder.
杨子藏不禁心中微讶的想到，这样提要求真的可以？ 这就是情报人员的作派吗？
Yang Zicang couldn’t help but think with a hint of surprise, is it really okay to make demands like this? Is this the way intelligence operatives do things?