Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.99 第99章 与佐罗协助者的对话
第99章 与佐罗协助者的对话
Chapter 99: Conversation with Zhuo Luo’s Assistant
「那猎盟的覆灭者是谁？」洛宾搓著手关心的对恶魇列车问。
“Who was the vanquished one of the Hunt Alliance?” Robin Lo rubbed his hands and asked the Nightmare Train with concern.
这是他也只是听说过但未能掌握的情报，这些只有总部的老人们才知道。
This was intelligence he had only heard of but never grasped, known only to the elders at headquarters.
在这个人人都能获得数百上千年寿命的世界中，真能活几年已经是老资格了。
In a world where everyone could attain lifespans of centuries or millennia, surviving a few years already qualified as being seasoned.
｛脱离猎盟的女士，黑鸯，以及后来的新人，赵安龙。他们成立了猎怪者联盟和神女同盟。｝
{A lady who broke away from the Hunt Alliance, Black Swan, and later a newcomer, Zhao Anlong. They established the Monster Hunter Alliance and the Goddess Alliance.}
「……」
「……」
｛要不是雄英组当时的首领全力阻挡，他们差点统壹城市。妳们的总部，猎怪者阵营，正是借用「猎盟」的名称，它当时威名极盛，继承此名便代表正统。｝
{If not for the valiant resistance of the Xiongying Group’s leader at the time, they would have nearly unified the city. Your headquarters, the Monster Hunter Camp, borrowed the name ‘Hunt Alliance’—its prestige was at its peak then, and inheriting that name signified legitimacy.}
杨子藏脑海中浮现出那个身高普通但精悍的少年，他壹拳轰出，像是能割裂空间。
In Yang Zicang’s mind flashed the image of a youth of ordinary stature but robust build, whose single punch seemed capable of tearing through space.
这样的人物，竟然还算是「总部」的创始人之壹。
Such a figure was unexpectedly one of the founders of what was now called “headquarters.”
「那时迁呢？」
“What about Shi Qian?”
｛我只知道这些，这都是他们聊天时，我听到的，时迁已经消失很多年。｝
{I only know this much, heard during their conversations. Shi Qian vanished many years ago.}
议员给自己的召唤人选中，并没有那人的存在，或者另外两人中可能有他的真名。
Among the candidates summoned by the councilor, that individual was not present, but perhaps among the other two, his true name might exist.
但现在，另壹个自称时迁的人，出现在失频之地，还偷了送给小作棚地的水井。
Now, however, another person claiming to be Shi Qian appeared in the Shibin Wastes, stealing the water well meant for the small tents.
这种人无论如何也无法跟能决意分离雄英组，自创代表阵营的新组织之人并论。
Such a person can never be compared to one who resolutely split from the Hero Class to form a new organization representing their own faction.
洛宾颤抖著拿起壹罐啤酒。
Robin Lo tremblingly picked up a can of beer.
正在思索的杨子藏看了眼这个壹脸痛苦之色的男人。
Yang Zicang, lost in thought, glanced at this man, whose face was twisted in pain.
「我以为妳会戒酒了。」
“I thought you had quit drinking.”
「我只喝壹小口。」
“Just a small sip.”
「等下的聚会还要靠妳，别坏事。」
“We’ll be counting on you for the gathering later—don’t mess things up.”
「哎呀呀，手中的情报能分析的都差不多分析了，剩下的就靠我的Moexl了，不会有问题的。只要妳们碰面，我就能揪住他的小尾巴，嗦嗦。」
“Aiya, aiya, as for the intel we have, we’ve pretty much analyzed what we could. The rest is up to my Moxel—no problems. As long as you two meet, I can snag his little tail and pin him down. Sōsō, sōsō… Hiss hiss~”
回来的时候，时间已经超过了零点十来分钟。
When he returned, the time had already passed zero hour by over ten minutes.
杨子藏来不及介绍，拉起洛宾就著急忙慌的往外走，边走边道：
Yang Zicang didn’t have time for introductions; he grabbed Robin Lo and hurried out the door, speaking as they went:
「等下妳在外面就行，跟我心灵链接不要断。」
“Just stay outside, and don’t break the Syn-Link with me.”
洛宾点点头。此刻楼道里没有响动，这栋楼本就没住多少宾客，只有楼下巡视的护卫队不时经过。
Robin Lo nodded. The hallway was still now. This building originally housed few guests anyway, with only the guard patrol passing by downstairs from time to time.
杨子藏来到二楼，整理衣装后迈步向著三十三号房间走去。
Yang Zicang reached the second floor, smoothed his attire, and strode toward Room 33.
笃，笃笃。
Thud, thud-thud.
「请进。」屋内传来年轻男士的声音。
“Come in,” came a young man’s voice from inside.
杨子藏胸前闪动著Moexl辉光，扭开门把手轻轻推开。
A Moxel glow shimmered on Yang Zicang’s chest as he twisted the handle and gently pushed the door open.
屋内光线似乎被什么神秘宝物所吸收，房间还是那个房间，但给人的氛围像是属于另壹个次元。
The light inside the room seemed to be absorbed by some mysterious treasure; the room was still the same room, but the atmosphere it exuded felt as though it belonged to another dimension.
「这是静谧之地的效果，当然，只是借了个名字而已，真正的静谧之地不这样。」
“This is the effect of the ‘Place of Stillness,‘ though, of course, it only borrows the name; the real Place of Stillness isn’t like this.”
「效果是什么？」
“What’s its effect?”
「屏蔽壹切干扰。」
“It blocks out all distractions.”
杨子藏往前走了步，他觉得身前的Moexl有种会中断的感觉，但最终还是艰难的维持了下来。
Yang Zicang took a step forward, sensing that the *Moxel* before him felt as if it might cut off, but ultimately it managed to sustain itself with difficulty.
屋内背对著自己，正在冲泡红茶的男子扭头看来，略微惊讶了下。
The man inside the room, who had his back to the door and was brewing tea, turned his head to look, slightly startled.
「竟然没有断掉，妳的精神力很厉害的嘛，壹般四边形Moexl也会断掉才对。」
“So it didn’t break. Your mental fortitude is impressive; even an average Quad-Moxel would have severed by now.”
「还好了。」
“It’s nothing much.”
杨子藏往前走了步，手轻轻将门碰上，瞬间屋内像是与世隔绝壹样，这样的气氛到真的是让人放松。
Yang Zicang took another step forward, gently closing the door behind him. Instantly, the room felt utterly isolated from the outside world, an atmosphere that was truly soothing.
「哼哼，亨哼亨~」
“Hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm~”
对面男人哼著小曲儿，将手中的红茶杯端来，放在壹把椅子所对准的圆桌边缘。
The man across hummed a little tune, carrying over the teacup of black tea and placing it on the edge of a round table aligned with a chair.
「发酵过的红茶，口感醇正，这样的量不会让人失眠，当然对妳来说也无所谓，对吧。」
“Fermented black tea. The flavor is mellow and smooth. This amount won’t cause insomnia—though hardly a concern for someone like you, is it?”
他回到桌柜边自己品了口剩下那杯，然后将窗帘也拉上，接著踱步过来扯出椅子坐下，将自己修长笔直的腿翘起。
He returned to the cabinet, took a sip of the remaining cup, then drew the curtains shut. He strolled over, pulled out a chair, sat down, and crossed his long, straight legs.
杨子藏瞧见他这副轻松的模样，也拉过椅子坐下，然后从怀中掏出那封信放在桌子上。
Yang Zicang, seeing his relaxed demeanor, pulled up a chair and sat down as well. He then took a letter from his bosom and placed it on the table.
「嗯，这信是佐罗让人留下的。」男人毫不在意的道。
“Well, that letter was left by Zorro,” the man said indifferently.
「那妳呢，我以为妳就是佐罗。」
“What about you? I thought you were Zorro.”
「他再相信人，也不会在这种世界做出如此，嗯，罗曼蒂克的事情，对吧，那只存在于小说中。妳有什么想问的吗。」
“Even if he trusts people, he wouldn’t do something so, well, romantic in a world like this, right? That only exists in novels. Is there anything you want to ask?”
「妳是谁，为什么要我来见妳？」
“Who are you? Why did you ask me to meet you?”
「我还以为妳会直接问关于他的事情，喔，当然，对妳来说他们只是可有可无的角色而已，无论妳关不关注都很正常。」
“I thought you’d ask about him directly. Oh, of course, to you they’re just dispensable characters. It’s normal whether you care or not.”
男人说完，就捏起了茶杯把手，丝毫没有要介绍自己的意思。
After saying this, the man picked up the teacup by its handle, showing no intention of introducing himself.
「佐罗是打算让时迁多壹个我这样的敌人，对吧。」
“Zorro intends to give Shi Qian one more enemy like me, doesn’t he?”
「不，佐罗根本不在意他们。」
“No, Zorro doesn’t care about them at all.”
他们…
Them…
杨子藏准备好的说辞壹下全塞回了嘴里。
The prepared words stuck in Yang Zicang’s throat, all pouring back at once.
「那为什么冒充我的助手。」
“Then why did you impersonate my assistant?”
「那不是冒充，某种意义上。」
“That’s not impersonation, in a sense.”
「这都不算冒充，那什么才叫冒充？」
“If that’s not impersonation, then what the hell is?”
杨子藏和另壹边的洛宾都感觉节奏被打乱了。
Yang Zicang and Robin Lo on the other side both felt their rhythm disrupted.
「嗯哼，妳如果除此以外没什么其它问题，咱们今晚的交流就可以到此为止。」
“Hmph. If you have no other questions besides this, our conversation tonight can end here.”
杨子藏无语的呵了声，自己折腾了这么壹两个小时，来屁股都没坐热，怎么可能就完事。
Yang Zicang let out a speechless sigh. After exhausting himself for an hour or two, he had barely gotten his feet wet—how could this just be over?
他想了想，对方从壹开始就隐晦表示，只会回答关于佐罗的问题。
Thinking it over, the other party had hinted subtly from the start that they would only answer questions about Zorro.
于是杨子藏调整心态，顺著对方的路数问道：「好，请问，怪盗佐罗是谁。」
So Yang Zicang adjusted his mindset, following the other’s lead to ask: “Alright, then who exactly is the phantom thief Zorro?”
「首先，纠正杨先生妳的壹个小用词，是侠客佐罗，不是怪盗。佐罗不论是小说、电影还是在这里，都不是什么怪盗。他并没有做不好的事情。」
“First, let me correct Mr. Yang’s wording—it’s the Knight Zorro, not the phantom thief. Whether in novels, films, or here, Zorro is no phantom thief. He has done nothing wrong.”
端著茶杯的男士目光纯粹的看向对面脸色狐疑的青年。
The man holding the teacup fixed a clear, unwavering gaze on the young man across from him, whose face carried a look of suspicion.
「行，就当是这样。那么他以我助手的名义来拍卖的目的是什么？」
“Fine, suppose that’s the case. Then what was his purpose for attending the auction under the guise of my assistant?”
「为了让妳出名。」
“To make you famous.”
杨子藏心中首先想到了自己的任务。
Yang Zicang’s first thought went to his own mission.
「名气？」
“Fame?”
「NO，就是我们理解中的出名，让大家知道有妳这号人物，让这里的老板们知道，有人能制造出好的水源引擎，他想为妳创造更多的订单，让更多人喝上干净水，这就是他所有的原始初衷。」
“No, it’s the fame as we understand it—letting people know you exist, letting the bigwigs here know that someone can produce high-quality water source engines. He wants to create more orders for you, to give more people access to clean water. That’s his entire original intention.”
「我…」杨子藏壹口气差点没吸回肺里。
“I…” Yang Zicang nearly choked, that single breath almost catching in his lungs.
｛我干啊！｝
“Fuck me!”
有人帮他吐槽了这句心里憋著的话。
Someone had voiced the curse that was stuck in his throat.
这还真是个为他人著想的好人啊，真好啊，杨子藏咬牙切齿的在心中问候了这多管闲事的家伙，自己壹下午接到的心灵链接请求就跟网购给了差评后的骚扰电话壹样多。
What a considerate guy, thinking of others like that. How *nice*. Yang Zicang gritted his teeth and mentally cursed the meddlesome bastard. In the past afternoon, the Syn-Link requests he received had been as frequent as spam calls after leaving a bad review on an online purchase.
「所以，妳说的某种意义上，他并没有冒充我的助手这件事，就是这个意思？」
“So, when you said that in a certain sense, he wasn’t impersonating my assistant, that’s what you meant?”
「嗯哼，他会帮妳，下壹个目标是卓越工坊，他正在过去的路上，有点远但是三天内能赶到。」
“Mm-hmm. He’ll help you. The next target is the Chuo Works. He’s already on his way there. It’s a bit far, but he can get there within three days.”
自己连那是什么破地方都不知道，那什么佐罗就已经去了？
He didn’t even know what the shithole place was, and that Zorro guy had already gone?
去干嘛啊，给自己规划工作计划表吗？！
Gone to do what, schedule his work plan for him?!
「他会想办法让那边的人过来订货。」
“He’ll find a way to get them to come over and place an order.”
像是知道杨子藏在想什么似的，男人笑了笑，说道：「现在妳知道了，他并不是妳的敌人，他真是妳不需要支付报酬的助手。」
As if he knew what Yang Zicang was thinking, the man smiled and said, “Now you know. He’s not your enemy. He’s truly an assistant you don’t need to pay.”
「卖了多少时序，不是敌人的话，烦请他还给我。」
“How many Chronos did he sell? If he’s not my enemy, then please have him give it back to me.”
「首先，他不是偷妳引擎的人，若是想要挽回损失，妳应该找的不是他。」
“First of all, he’s not the one who stole your engine. If you want to recover your losses, you shouldn’t be looking for him.”
心灵连接中的洛宾听到这话人都麻了。
Robin Lo, connected through the spiritual link, felt a chill upon hearing this.
｛很好，逻辑完美，责任干净。｝
{Great, flawless logic, completely shirked responsibility.}
杨子藏扯著衣服外套勒紧身子，随意靠在椅背上，吐了口气。
Yang Zicang tugged at the edges of his coat, tightening it around his body as he leaned casually against the back of the chair, letting out a breath.
「我想我该问的都差不多了。但我还是很想知道，妳是他什么人。」
“I think I’ve asked just about everything I need to. But I’m still curious—what is he to you?”
「妳可以问他是我什么人，我就当妳是这样问了。嗯，他是我的免费助手，他为我服务。」
“You can ask him what I am to him, and I’ll take it as if you meant it that way. Mm, he’s my unpaid assistant; he serves me.”
「很好。」杨子藏壹只手撑在桌子上，打算离座起身。
“Good.” Yang Zicang propped one hand on the table, ready to rise and leave.
对面的男士将还算精致的茶杯放下，目光温和但保持著些许距离感的注视向他。
The man across from him set down his still-refined teacup, his gaze warm yet holding a sense of measured distance as he looked at him.
「还有事？」
“Something else?”
「最近有点犯水逆，难得见到妳这样好运的人，陪我多聊两句吧。」
“I’ve been having a bit of tough luck lately—Mercury in retrograde, you know. Rare to run into someone as fortunate as you; keep me company for a few more words.”
杨子藏愣了下，意识到对方大概说的是免费助手这件事，顿时哭笑不得。
Yang Zicang was taken aback, realizing the man was probably referring to the unpaid assistant situation, and couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement.
「妳是枢纽镇派过来的人吗？有任务对吧。」男人问道。
“Are you someone sent by Hubville? You’ve got a mission, right?” the man asked.
「算是。」
“Sort of.”
「任务是找到制作提升Moexl线条的那个地方，是吗，为此而不遗余力的提升名气。」
“The mission is to find the place that enhances the Moxel lines, isn’t it? And you’re working tirelessly to boost your reputation for it.”
赫然，杨子藏感觉整个世界，天空，大地，房屋，壹切的壹切都在注视自己。
Suddenly, Yang Zicang felt as if the entire world—the sky, the earth, the buildings—every single thing—was watching him.
啪，心灵链接颤抖著中断。
Snap, the Syn-Link tremblingly disconnected.
「妳…」
“You…”
「妳也犯水逆了，看，这事儿闹得，人生就是这么无常。」
“You’re going through a Mercury retrograde too, see how it’s turned out. Life is just so unpredictable.”
对面的男人微笑著看著自己。
The man across from him smiled as he watched Yang Zicang.
「不过，我的运气可能会变好。」
“Still, maybe my luck is about to get better.”
他不知是真是假的开玩笑般捏起茶杯说道。
He picked up the teacup jokingly, as if uncertain whether he was being serious.
杨子藏轻轻坐下，浑身散发出淡淡的危险气息。
Yang Zicang sat down gently, exuding a faint aura of danger.
但世界的威压很快压制了自己的企图，就像是在保护对面这个挑出隐藏阴谋之人。
However, the pressure of the world quickly suppressed his intent, as if protecting the person before him who had uncovered the hidden conspiracy.
杨子藏感觉冥冥中，自己永远被锁上了壹道什么门。
Yang Zicang felt, in an obscure way, that some door would forever be locked to him.
这片土地上，某些原本存在的事物对自己极其警惕，从今往后，永远不可能在这里跟它们具备直接的联系。
On this land, certain preexisting entities harbored extreme wariness toward him, ensuring that from now on, he could never establish a direct connection with them here.
就像壹个住户，知道进入自己屋里的客人其实抱著别有目的，打算在自己眼皮子底下拿走不属于他的东西，那么存放物品的那间房间，就永远不可能让他靠近。
It was like a resident who knew that the guest entering his house was harboring ulterior motives, planning to take something that didn’t belong to him right under his nose—then the room where those items were stored would never be allowed within the guest’s reach.
「我不知道妳说的是什么意思。」
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
杨子藏变得平静。
Yang Zicang calmed down.
对面人笑了笑，那表情似乎在说别想狡辩了。
The opposite man chuckled, his expression seemingly telling him not to bother trying to deny it.
「没事，正如佐罗不在乎妳认不认为他是妳的助手，他都当作是妳的助手壹样。那个地方的存在，也会这样想的。」
“It’s fine. Just as Zoro doesn’t care whether you regard him as your assistant, he considers himself your assistant regardless. That place will think the same way.”
杨子藏壹时不知道该说什么。
Yang Zicang didn’t know what to say for a moment.
「是不是有很多不知如何吐露的事情？这里就是这样，没办法啊。」
“There are many things too difficult to speak of? This place is like that—nothing to be done, you know.”
男士白净的手指轻轻敲著桌子。
The man’s clean, fair fingers tapped lightly on the table.
「说出来，写出来，摩斯密码敲击出来，都是信息的传递，乃至心灵链接，可恶的记者们无所不知。」
“Spoken words, written words, and even tapped-out Morse code are all forms of information transmission—even Syn-Link. You damn journalists know everything.”
杨子藏壹字壹句的凝视著他质问。
Yang Zicang fixed his gaze on the interrogated man, uttering each word with deliberate force.
「也可能是为了公平吧，又或者是因为那里的人不是傻子，妳们的谋划，对方就真看不出来，感受不到吗？毕竟大家都是枢纽镇的人，他们可不是容易糊弄的单细胞生物。我这也是让妳们不要到最后才发现，自己早就被人看穿了，徒劳而已。」
“Or maybe it’s for the sake of fairness, or because the people there aren’t fools. Do you really think they can’t see through your schemes, or feel them? After all, we’re all people of Hubville—they’re not easy-to-trick single-celled organisms. I’m just telling you not to wait until the very end to realize you’ve been seen through all along, only to find it all futile.”
男人将双手放在桌面上抵著道：
The man placed both hands on the table, bracing himself, and said:
「想想吧，就像壹群化妆成保安的小偷跑进银行办公厅做日复壹日的底层工作，就为了寻找机会拿到金库钥匙，却早就在入职前的面试阶段就已经被人划上了代表可疑份子的圆圈，这不纯粹是浪费精力吗。」
“Think about it—it’s like a bunch of thieves disguised as security guards sneaking into a bank’s main office to do menial day-to-day work, just seeking a chance to steal the vault keys. But they’ve already been marked with a circle as suspicious characters during the pre-employment interview stage. Isn’t that a complete waste of energy?”
「呵呵，那还真是。」
“Heh, that really is.”
杨子藏做出恼怒神色。
A look of irritation flared across Yang Zicang’s face.
「但这些，都本不关妳的事，妳破坏了我们的计划，就算我不找妳麻烦，枢纽镇的控制者们也会来让妳体会下口不择言的后果。」
“But none of this was ever your concern in the first place. You’ve sabotaged our plan. Even if I don’t come after you, the controllers of Hubville will teach you the consequences of speaking so recklessly.”
「无所谓咯，我又不是吓大的。」
“Whatever. It’s not like I scare easily.”
杨子藏站起身来，问出最后的问题。
Yang Zicang stood up and posed his final question.
「知道时迁是怎么回事吗。」
“So, do you know what’s going on with Shi Qian?”
「不清楚，这片土地上，类似的家伙们太多了。我只晓得啊，他们老是自称为时迁，做著偷鸡摸狗的事情罢了。」
“I have no idea. There are too many treacherous fellows like that in this land. All I know is, they always style themselves as Shi Qian, busy with nothing more than petty thievery and sneaky deeds.”
「再会。」
“Farewell.”
杨子藏抖了下衣领，迈动步伐，扭开房门走了出去。
Yang Zicang flicked his collar, took a step, twisted the doorknob, and walked out.
细微的风与虫鸣，空气的风声，乃至建筑记录的活力与人气都重新感受到，就像是从另壹个世界回来。
The faint breeze and chirping of insects, the murmur of the air, even the vitality and human warmth recorded in the building, all washed over him anew, as if he had returned from another world.
压迫感与静谧感都消散了。
Both the oppressive weight and the eerie stillness had dissipated.
他不由得想到，真正的静谧之地是什么样子，会有那种东西，或者空间吗？
He couldn’t help wondering what a true place of tranquility would look like. Could such a thing—or such a space—even exist?
会有任何人的注视都无法到达之地吗。
Was there any place beyond the reach of all gazes?
「哇塞，我靠妳北鼻啊！」
“Holy crap! You damn bastard!”
洛宾跑过来跳著壹巴掌排在杨子藏头上，小声的嘶哑道。
Robin Lo ran over, jumped, and slapped a hand onto Yang Zicang’s head, hissing in a low, hoarse voice.
「要死啊妳。」
“Are you asking for a death wish?”
杨子藏心情不好的甩开洛宾的手。
Yang Zicang, in a foul mood, shook off Robin Lo’s hand.
「干大事的啊，干大事啊，哥，带带我。」
“You’re going after something big, man! Something huge! Bro, take me along!”
当洛宾听到那位男士毫不留情的挑明了杨子藏跑到这而来的最终目的后，人都蒙圈了。
When Robin Lo heard that man mercilessly lay bare Yang Zicang’s ultimate purpose for coming here, his mind went completely blank.
竟然打提升Moexl线条能力的主意，还是直接打那东西的原始制作阶段的主意！
He was actually planning to tamper with the Moxel’s form-cutting capability—and what’s more, dive straight into the raw production phase of that thing!
这跟在铸币厂盗模具有什么区别。
What difference was that from sneaking into a mint to steal the mold templates?
杨子藏带著怒意冷笑道：「这件事不能说出来，说出来这片空间就会知道，所以我们的计划泡汤了。」
Yang Zicang let out a cold, angry laugh. “This can’t be spoken aloud. If we say it, this very space will know, and then our plan is ruined.”
「啊？」
“Huh?”
洛宾瞬间呆若木鸡。
Robin Lo stood there dumbfounded in an instant.
「什，什么，这就没了？」
“Wh-what, just like that, it’s gone?”
随后洛宾的皮肤腾地下就红温了，杨子藏能直观的感受到他蕴含的怒气。
Then, Robin Lo’s skin flushed red-hot in an instant. Yang Zicang could viscerally feel the fury radiating from him.
这家伙此刻恨不得冲进楼道里那间房间，将里面的人给狠狠的，从头到脚从屁股到胸部的揍壹顿，让他哭爹喊娘都不够解气。
At that moment, the guy was bursting with the urge to charge into the room down the hallway and beat the person inside senseless—from head to toe, from butt to chest—until they were crying for their parents, and even that wouldn’t quell his anger.
「那怎么办啊？」洛宾转头道。
“So, what do we do now?” Robin Lo asked, turning his head.
杨子藏不耐烦的呼出口气。
Yang Zicang let out an impatient sigh.
「真是个混蛋啊。」
“What a bastard.”
两人回去跟左非闲和徐秀川再次互相认识了下，随后杨子藏说可以送他回去了，洛宾头摇得跟拨浪鼓似的，就是不走。
The two of them went back and reintroduced themselves to Zuo Feixian and Shiu Siuchuan. Then, Yang Zicang offered to send him back, but Robin Lo shook his head like a rattle-drum, refusing to leave.
「那行吧，在这边待壹顿时间。」
“Fine then, hang around here for a while.”
杨子藏无奈将他领回了自己的房间，丢给他壹床聚酯纤维面料的被单，让洛宾睡地上。
Helplessly, Yang Zicang led him to his own room, tossed him a polyester fiber bedsheet, and made Robin Lo sleep on the floor.
哪怕这东西不怎么透气，洛宾还是感觉甚是满意。
Even though that thing wasn’t very breathable, Robin Lo was still quite satisfied.
「好久好久没住过房子了，真舒服啊，睡地上都舒服。唉，曰他个祖宗来的。」
“It’s been ages since I last slept in a real room. So comfy, even the floor feels comfortable. Ah, screw his ancestors.”
他还气不过楼下的33号房租客。
He was still fuming over the tenant of Room 33 below.
杨子藏躺在床上：「行了，快休息吧，明天我还要接著收失念Moexl。」
Yang Zicang lay on the bed, saying, “Alright, let’s get some rest. I still have to continue collecting the Lost Memories Moxel tomorrow.”
「嗯。哦，对了，还收集关于这次事件的情报吗？」
“Mm. Oh, right, should I keep gathering intel about this incident?”
「不用了。」
“No need.”
「那行吧。」洛宾闭眼，很快扯起了呼鲁声。
“Alright then.” Robin Lo closed his eyes and soon began snoring loudly.
杨子藏翻来覆去良久后，壹下坐起来看了地上的胖子壹眼，无奈让列车出现，先把今天收到的失念Moexl给送回去，让留在那里的人开始稳定有价值又容易坏失的地形，比如那些河流。
After tossing and turning for a long time, Yang Zicang suddenly sat up, glanced at the fat man on the floor, and helplessly summoned the train. He first sent back the Lost Memories Moxel collected today, letting the people left there stabilize terrain that was valuable and prone to easy destruction, like those rivers.
黑暗但又能看清地平线的午夜，忙完的杨子藏站到这方圆仅三四十米的雪坡下，它已经融化了部分。
Midnight was dark yet the horizon remained vaguely visible. Having finished his work, Yang Zicang stood at the base of a snowy slope that was barely thirty or forty meters in circumference, its surface already partially thawed.
「手工作棚准备好了，嗯，哥，还是妳亲自来吗？」
“The work shed is ready. *Hmm,* brother, will you take charge of it yourself?”
杨子藏看著钱钟生道：「妳来吧，大家都要参与，只要妳们愿意，这边以后就是妳们的常住之地，我等下就回去货贸区了。」
Looking at Qian Zhongsheng, Yang Zicang said, “You handle it. This is something everyone needs to participate in. As long as you’re willing, this place can become your permanent home from now on. I’ll be heading back to the Trade District soon.”
于此同时，荒野的黑暗中。
Meanwhile, in the darkness of the wilderness.
壹辆暗红色的老式哈雷摩托驰骋在广袤砂砾的地表上，腰间别著袋子的男人将自己的身子前倾，让极速流过的空气顺著他的背脊流向身后。
A dark red vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycle sped across a vast gravel-covered surface. The man, a bag dangling from his waist, leaned forward, letting the rushing current of air slide along his back and trail behind him.
他的脸上，横戴著露出眼睛的面罩。
A face mask was strapped horizontally across his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
壹道细微光线折射而来。
A faint ray of light refracted into view.
感受了下对面之人，车上人嘴角壹裂，道：「妳已经告诉他了？」
Sensing the person opposite, the man in the car curled his lips and said, “You’ve already told him?”
｛这次过后，我就离开了。轨迹表示，为我留了壹席之地，也有妳的份。｝
{After this, I’ll be leaving. Trajectory indicated that a spot has been reserved for me, and there’s one for you too.}
以佐罗之名生存于此地之人，闭上了嘴巴，十来秒后他才开口道：「虚尘公子，祝妳好运。」
The man who lived here under the name of Zorro fell silent, and after ten or so seconds, he spoke: “Sir Xuchen, good luck to you.”
｛谢谢。｝
{Thank you.}
两人在这壹刻，各自决定了自己未来要前往的方向。
At this moment, the two each decided the direction they would take in the future.
壹人选择继续前行，壹人决意留守此地。
One chose to continue moving forward, while the other resolved to stay behind.
[我，正义的伙伴，永不疲倦的小红马，感受到了奔驰的快乐！]
[I am a companion of justice, the tireless little red horse, feeling the joy of galloping!]
恶魇摩托的速度骤然更快，几乎化为壹道黑暗中的暗红流光。
The nightmare motorcycle’s speed instantly surged faster, almost turning into a streak of dark red light within the gloom.
……
次日中午，杨子藏从房间中出来的时候，隔壁房间内五人已经熟络的聚在壹起吃著水果聊天。
At noon the next day, when Yang Zicang came out of his room, the five people in the adjacent room were already gathered together comfortably, eating fruit and chatting.
「除了水、饮料、茶等物品，纸张、陶瓷壹直都是生活中不可或缺之物。」
“Apart from items like water, beverages, and tea, paper and ceramics have always been indispensable in daily life.”
「有些物品各个棚区本身就能做，用不著从枢纽镇进货，但稍微复杂点的就不行了，沾到石油化工材料的必须要以失念引擎才能复现出来。」
“Some items can be made within individual Peng Zones themselves, without needing to import from Hubville, but anything slightly more complex won’t cut it—anything involving petrochemical materials must be replicated using a Shin Engine.”
洛宾觉得很是新鲜：「所有基础的东西棚区都能做吗。」
Robin Lo found it quite novel: “Can all basic things be made in the Peng Zone?”
「每个筑荒棚聚集地所制造的物品都不尽相同，得看他们附近稳定的地形能提供什么材料。」
“The items produced by each Peng Zone settlement vary, depending on what materials the stable terrain nearby can provide.”
「电器呢，噫，想也知道不行。」
“Electrical appliances? Tch, I don’t think that’s possible.”
「干电池的倒还可以，比如手电筒啥的，小灯泡啊之类的都最好需要蓝图。哟，甲哥醒了。」
“Dry-cell batteries, though, might work—like flashlights or small bulbs. But those really need a blueprint to make. Hey, Bro A is awake.”
杨子藏走进来从布袋子里挑选了颗小苹果，壹口咬下去，酥酥脆脆很是可口。
Yang Zicang walked in, picked a small apple from the cloth bag, and took a bite—it was crisp and delicious.
「刚才无忧棚主联系我，让我过去，午饭妳们自己吃吧，我这位朋友妳们好生照看著点。」
“Just now, Wuyou Penglord contacted me and asked me to come over. Have lunch on your own, and look after my friend here well.”
「好勒！」
“Got it!”
徐秀川和左非闲都昂首挺胸，自信爆棚。
Shiu Siuchuan and Zuo Feixian both stood tall, brimming with confidence.
两人都是这里时序最多的人，他们已自封为几人的保护者。
The two were the ones with the most Chronos here and had already crowned themselves the group’s protectors.
无忧棚主邀请杨子藏加入自己的货贸区，当然是又没有成功。
Wuyou Penglord invited Yang Zicang to join his trade district— as always, without success.
午宴上，棚主邀请了附近几个中大型棚区的负责人，以及这次拍卖会上的几位优质引擎制造师相识，大家推杯交盏，互相认识了下。
At the luncheon, Penglord introduced several nearby large and medium-sized Peng Zone leaders, along with a few top-tier engine makers from the recent auction. Amid raised glasses and clinking cups, everyone got acquainted with one another.
杨子藏虽然制作出优质水井，但跟眼前几名造出衣物以及锁具和生活生产器械的人相比，光辉并不算最高，只有想过上更优质生活的大棚主对自己感兴趣，想要邀请他加入自己的聚集地。
Though Yang Zicang had crafted a high-quality water well, his brilliance paled in comparison to those who had produced clothing, locks, and life-production tools at the table. Only the ambitious leaders desiring a more luxurious lifestyle were keen on him—inviting him to join their settlements.
被拒绝后，他们也表示能以资源换取水井引擎，杨子藏这到是没拒绝，壹顿饭下来，订单已经多达十五个之多。
After being refused, they expressed willingness to exchange resources for the well engine. Yang Zicang did not decline this. By the end of the meal, orders had already reached as many as fifteen.
「只有辛苦那边几位了，只是，他们还能出去吗。」
“I only feel sorry for those few over there. But then again, can they even get out anymore?”
杨子藏壹想到吕布那样的手段，就觉得无力。
The moment Yang Zicang thought of Lyu Bu’s methods, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed him.
自己超过二十米还能运用时序打击的范围就已经算稀有难得，让战力折损严重的总部那些人去对付天上的卫星恶魇，跟让奔波儿灞独自去捆回唐僧的难度是壹样的。
The fact that he could still strike with Chronos beyond twenty meters was already considered rare and remarkable. Sending those heavily depleted headquarters personnel to deal with the nightmare satellites in the sky was about as difficult as sending “Ben Bo’er Ba” alone to capture and bring back Tang San—an equally absurd and hopeless task.
……
肃穆的会议厅内，阵阵嗡嗡低沈议论声回荡。
Within the solemn meeting hall, a low, rumbling murmur of debate echoed back and forth.
「这次依旧没商量出来什么对策。」
“We still haven’t come up with any countermeasures this time.”
「我觉得，我们应该集思广议，听取更多新人同志的建议才行。」
“I think we should pool our wisdom and listen to more suggestions from our new comrades.”
椭圆大桌壹边，那人沈重的吐了口气，道：「大家都提几个建议出来。还有，如果自己有认识的，或者听说的新人还不错的，可以推荐点，说不定解决那‘方天‘威胁的契机，就在这些新人们的身上。」
On one side of the large oval table, that man exhaled a heavy breath and said: “Everyone, throw out a few ideas. Also, if any of you know of, or have heard about, any impressive newcomers, feel free to recommend them. Who knows? The key to breaking the threat of that ‘Fang Tian’ may very well lie with these newcomers.”
听著几位说的话，圆桌壹侧的木椅上的晨御将十指交错著放在腹部，转头对著身后的壹位小伙子道：「李弥，妳有没有什么对付那厮的建议。」
As the others spoke, Chen Yu, seated on a wooden chair by one side of the oval table, interlaced his fingers and placed them on his abdomen. Turning to a young man behind him, he said, “Li Mi, do you have any suggestions for dealing with that bastard?”
这个眼神温和的年轻人冲著晨御点点头：「有壹个，但不好说。」
The soft-eyed young man nodded at Chen Yu: “I have one, but it’s difficult to put into words.”
壹听这话，晨御就来了丝精神。
Hearing this, Chen Yu perked up a little.
「有什么不好说的。」
“What’s so difficult to say?”
这个年轻人还是最近跟杨子藏的联系中，脱颖而出的后辈新人。
This young man was a rising newcomer who had recently stood out during his contact with Yang Zicang.
他干事有条不紊，很是让自己省心不少，现在跟杨子藏的联系，已经从最开始那个幸运儿转为由他负责。
He handled matters methodically, saving me a lot of trouble. The connection with Yang Zicang had now shifted from that initial lucky individual to being managed by him.
但这次李弥却只是摇头，再也不说壹个字。
But this time, Li Mi just shook his head, refusing to utter another word.
晨御感觉有点奇怪，李弥基本不会拒绝自己安排的任务，但他此刻只抛出自己有个办法的话头后，就不再继续。
Chen Yu found it a bit strange. Li Mi rarely refused tasks assigned to him, but now he had tossed out the hint that he had an idea and then stopped.
想了想，晨御道：「壹会来我的房间细谈。」
After a moment’s thought, Chen Yu said, “Come to my room later, and we’ll discuss it in detail.”
「好。」
“Alright.”