Chapter 1302: The Influence of Ore
This Super Player had the words "cautious and careful" etched into his very bones.
Assuming there couldn't possibly be anything left behind by Old Mr. Zhuang himself, Xu Huo decided to sit down and read through the writer's notes and materials.
After Zhuang Shanbai's father's books were recalled and banned from reprinting, he spent two years writing other types of works, mostly short, heartwarming domestic pieces featuring fictional characters. However, just from the text, it was clear that his heart was at peace—he was an old man content with his lot.
Upon closer inspection, one could still connect a certain character to his son, Zhuang Shanbai. This character was the son of a deli owner he frequented—an outstanding child who, after turning sixteen, went to study in another city and only returned home once every six months.
From his perspective, the deli owner's son was a perfect child: excellent in both character and academics, kind-hearted, and remarkably mature for his age. He understood how to care for his parents, like a healthy sapling growing steadily, inspiring hope in everyone who saw him.
Zhuang Shanbai was Old Mr. Zhuang's grandnephew; his father was Old Mr. Zhuang's nephew. Logically, during Zhuang Shanbai's childhood, Old Mr. Zhuang had already become a pivotal figure in District 001 and was engaged in evolution research. His lifespan should have been as long as other evolved humans who had been injected with agents since childhood. Yet he died before reaching seventy.
If he hadn't been injected with agents, it might be understandable. But his own notes clearly stated that he had received injections, and in the end, like Super Player Old Mr. Zhuang, he died of systemic organ failure.
This inevitably brought to mind genetic defects. Old Mr. Zhuang's heavy use of evolution agents had caused evolution sequelae to appear prematurely. His nephew, an ordinary person, also died at a similar age—it couldn't possibly be due to an overdose of evolution agents.
Although Zhuang Shanbai was a player, that didn't mean his words were entirely unreliable. Most of the Zhuang family members must have been ordinary people; otherwise, they couldn't have left so quietly. The more important and powerful a person was, the more people watched them—unless they had absolutely no value.
Perhaps Old Mr. Zhuang's lifelong dedication to evolution research was related to this.
Of course, this was a private family matter for the Zhuangs and not worth delving into.
One couldn't speculate on a Super Player's thoughts, but anyone in their position wouldn't let their family struggle for survival in the game world without any safeguards.
Xu Huo then used the Message Collection Terminal to look up data on average lifespans in District 001 and several key cities.
This statistic excluded accidental deaths, so the data was clear. Among the major cities, Fresh Flower City ranked second to last in average lifespan, though the other cities weren't much higher either.
But the difference became stark when compared to smaller cities. In some small cities, the average lifespan differed by as much as twenty years!
He noted the primary economic pillars of these cities. In cities with shorter average lifespans, mining accounted for a very large proportion. Only two medium-sized cities were exceptions, as their jurisdictions were larger and the ore veins were farther from the main residential areas.
This wasn't difficult information to find. Presumably, the District 001 government and the various cities were well aware of it, but after weighing the pros and cons, they made their choices.
For ordinary people, even knowing that living in such a place was harmful to their health, economic and other constraints left them powerless to leave. They could only accept their fate.
Elephant Mountain City happened to be a city with a relatively long average lifespan.
Xu Huo casually took a Subclass Stone from his luggage compartment and stared at the unremarkable rock. If large quantities of ore could affect the bodies of Evolvers, did that mean players who frequently came into contact with props made from ore as raw materials were also unknowingly affected?
Of course, the amount of ore used in props wasn't large, and it didn't necessarily mean that players' evolution sequelae were caused by this. The main reason was still the defects in evolution agents. It was just unknown how much impact this had on Perfect Evolution players.
"Uncle, time to eat!" Little Bald Head ran in with a flushed face and asked crisply, "Are you staying here tonight? Can I sleep with your robot?"
Xu Huo looked at Zhuang Shanbai, who had followed behind.
Zhuang Shanbai said expressionlessly, "That depends on whether Uncle is available."
Xu Huo smiled and nodded at Little Bald Head.
A child's happiness was simple. With a new toy, his eating speed increased, and soon he was off the table.
From the yard came the sound of him commanding the robot to dig. Zhuang Shanbai helplessly reminded him not to fall into the hole.
Little Bald Head had just climbed out of the pit, covered in mud, flashing his missing tooth.
"The child is adorable." Xu Huo smiled as he spoke, but these words touched a nerve in Zhuang Shanbai. He gripped his bowl and stared coldly at him.
Xu Huo said nothing more. He knew very well that Zhuang Shanbai would absolutely never reveal any information about the ore veins. Even if he grabbed and interrogated him, it would likely be useless. After all, his granduncle was a Mental Super Evolver and a super powerhouse. Since he had taken precautions, he certainly wouldn't fall for it easily. Xu Huo wouldn't show off his meager skills here. Moreover, Zhuang Shanbai had sent away the rest of his family but kept his own son. When he set up this insurance, he had already mentally prepared himself—if an accident occurred, he would have to sacrifice both father and son to protect the other relatives.
Xu Huo had no comment on this choice.
After dinner, Xu Huo helped wash the dishes. During the break, someone from the Zhuang family returned.
"Uncle!" Little Bald Head dropped his robot and ran to greet him. The newcomer was a man about the same age as Zhuang Shanbai. He lifted Little Bald Head and asked with a smile if he had been good at home.
Little Bald Head couldn't wait to introduce his new toy, but Zhuang Shanbai said with a complicated expression, "Why are you back?"
"It's been too long since I came home. I had to come back and check. Besides, a batch of fruit is ripe, so I thought I'd pick some." The man put down the child and turned to Xu Huo. "So you're the guest from Fresh Flower City?"
A powerful surge of mental energy released immense pressure.
"I'll say it again—I have no ill intentions," Xu Huo said. "If I wanted to target the Zhuang family, I could have contacted Fresh Flower City when I entered the orchard."
The man smiled. "Do you think it's still possible now?"
"Do you hold an Instance?" Xu Huo countered, then added, "If not, don't cause trouble."
This orchard might also be an Instance location. If there were a holder, it wouldn't be these two. Otherwise, Xu Huo would be hearing an Instance notification instead of idle threats.
"He's a Mental Super Evolver." Zhuang Shanbai warned, then introduced him to Xu Huo, "This is my cousin, Zhuang Shanyu. In our branch, both sons and daughters take the surname Zhuang."
Old Mr. Zhuang's elder sister died in childbirth—both mother and child lost—leaving no descendants. Old Mr. Zhuang himself had no children. The current Zhuang family members were all descendants of his younger sister.
(Chapter End)