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In the synchronized picture, the collection team that was originally ordered to guard the underground and not participate in the conflict was following Luca, avoiding various phantoms along the path of Molten Hammer Town and moving towards the higher part of the town.
The closer the main perspective of the Topal mobile device is to the core of the star, the blurrier the image becomes, so it has to switch to the public frequency and use more "traditional" broadcasts to help everyone understand the situation.
[Ice-blue solid object confirmed, approximately 700 yards away from our team.]
[Is this the new palace of Cocolia? There are so many crystal clusters... Ouch, don't get close yet. Let's find a higher place and use the wire transmission equipment to send the image back.]
After a few seconds, Topa, holding the cable, took a photo of Natasha trapped in layers of crystals.
It's like the bait in the center of a spider web...but now it's possible that a larger spider web has been formed above the star core.
[Found you, Sleeping Beauty~]
[Um, Ms. Topa, I think you are the director, right? Is it a bit... dangerous to stand so close to the front?]
[Eh? Am I such a delicate woman in Miss March's eyes? Then remember to put up a shield for me next time we're together? ]
Hearing the pink-haired girl's concerned question, Topa happily took out the pistol from his waist, and his brows immediately became sharp.
312. She leaked it!
"Director, do you want to rescue him immediately?"
"Don't be impulsive. Look carefully. There might be something wrong with the ice that is sealing Natasha."
He drew his gun but did not send his men forward immediately. Instead, he glanced at the "temporary nest" below Molten Hammer Town that was built by star cores and looked like a crystal network. He pointed at the ice clusters and planned to let Zhang Zhang test it first.
"Come on, be careful. If you encounter a rift creature, just dimensionalize it. If it's suitable for a surprise attack, we will attack together. Also, even if the rescue fails, the boss's primary goal is to lead the star core into the encirclement, not to destroy it with our limited manpower - do you understand?"
"Yes, Director!"
"...Keep your voice down...If Cocolia notices us, our only option is a surprise attack!"
Even after Topal muttered to himself, he felt that his whereabouts should have been discovered long ago, and Star Core had been lying dormant and not making any movement because it was unsure of their determination to attack.
These team members are good in every way, except that they are too energetic and too concerned about performance. They are more like thugs than thugs, lacking some spirituality...
If the boss hadn't given them some rest time these days so that they could at least recover to their normal state, Topa would have wanted to reluctantly give up the job and hand it over to Yun:
"Set up high, and don't take risks if you can avoid close combat."
"Jiji!"
Where Topa couldn't see, Zhangzhang had secretly peeked into the cage where Natasha was "imprisoned".
It sniffed at the crystal—and then sneezed softly.
The not-so-small noise caused the Rift Creature, which was covered with icicles, to suddenly look back at where it was hiding, but it quickly shrank its body, shaking like its "wild counterparts" as if it was frightened.
Dimensional Piggy Banks often mingle among the creatures of the Rift. Because of their harmlessness and symbiotic properties that sometimes even provide benefits to the Rift creatures, they are usually given special care by these fellow "visitors from other worlds."
The phantoms simply glanced at its shivering fat body and went about their own business. Even though it had the scent of creatures from the outside world and had decorations that were too gorgeous for a piggy bank, they still completely ignored the threat it might pose.
[Success! I tricked them all!]
And in a place where the Rift Creature couldn't hear, the little guy was proudly taking credit to Topal and the train crew.
[Is that the sound of a bank account? ? It turns out that piggy banks can also join the public channel discussion! ] It took Sanyue a long time to react after hearing the girl's voice she had never heard before.
[Yes. When Toppa was given the right to use the public frequency, her registration name was "Toppa & Zhang Zhang", and I reserved Zhang Zhang's communication rights.]
Sora had expected Zhang Zhang's mastery of human nature: [But this is indeed her first time accessing the public frequency. ]
[Ms. Sanyue, I am a well-known investment expert in the company after all. I am so sad to hear you say that.] Zhangzhang immediately accused Sanyue in a fake crying voice.
[Hey! I, I didn’t mean to look down on you! I’m sorry! ]
After teasing Sanyue for a while and finding her reaction very interesting, and regaining a bit of sincerity that could never be obtained in the intrigues of the company, Account Accounting reported in a more serious manner.
[Topa, it's a trap.]
[Are you sure? ]
[Sure, if you get close to this place, you will definitely be chased all over the street by roaming Rift Creatures. Besides, this is just an empty shell that refracts light.]
Zhangzhang's small hand scratched the ice crystal twice. As it/she moved, Nata's shadow in the crystal was covered, revealing the cold and empty core.
[Cocolia is really cunning - the Natasha people must be placed in a more hidden place, using a simple refraction effect to trick prey into coming, and with the help of the pile of crystals around them, as long as they are hit head-on, they will immediately explode and cause shrapnel and casualties.]
She circled around the crystals that created the illusion a few times, and discovered that from different angles, there were at least four or more refractive crystals in the town that were "broadcasting" the state of Nata's body.
[Oh, if the reflection continues to the higher places... She seems to have locked people up near the stalactites, which is higher than the location where we set up defenses. She has occupied the advantageous terrain in advance, and can cause the stalactites to collapse by detonating the high points.]
[……] Kong listened to this strange defensive measure and twitched his lips - if life is really full of broadswords, or everyone is a fool, even star cores are not immune.
[Can you track down Nata's exact location? If not, it's enough to determine Cocolia's location. ]
【Please wait a moment. 】
Zhang Zhang made an OK gesture to the void, and then a circle of dimensional rift suddenly appeared in front of her, and a piggy bank slightly larger than her fell out of it.
It first vigilantly checked the surrounding environment, but the moment it saw Zhang Zhang, all four of its paws shuddered, and then large clouds of white air came out of its big mouth that was cracked to the roots of its ears. It hummed at Zhang Zhang in a flattering manner, and it seemed that it really wanted to be intimate with her.
Seeing the embarrassing appearance of the wild piggy bank through the phone screen, the women on the train seemed to have a vision of a pink heart appearing above its head - Ester on the train was even more reminded of the way she herself desperately wagged her "tail" at the sky... and then her mood became even worse.
Is this a kind of metaphor in some sense?
[…You’re so cute? ]
Compared with other passengers who were grumbling, Kama's speech was as explosive and to the point as always.
[He's just a young boy who hasn't seen the world. Don't be so surprised when he orders you around.]
Zhang Zhang was not very interested in this guy who was trying to please her crazily.
[…Wow, I suddenly heard a very mean girl’s words…]
Sanyue couldn't help but complain again. Somehow, she kept stealing glances at Kong, as if she was afraid that he would learn bad things too. Little did she know that he had actually long been tired of that routine that was easy to get out of hand.
[Kong, when you were keeping us hanging, did you have the same thoughts as Chuang Chuang? ]
[How is that possible?! I just can’t do it, I didn’t deliberately keep you in suspense, okay?? Ahem! ]
After being exposed by Eula's inexplicable resentment and rare sinister accusation, Kong almost fainted from coughing.
...So, boss, you are so innocent?
Although Zhang Zhang wanted to hear more gossip about the train crew and the boss, a circle of dimensional piggy banks had unknowingly gathered around her, all of whom were madly expressing their affection for her, causing her quite a bit of trouble - this was the inconvenience of always asking the same kind to do her bidding.
"grumble."
[Can you help me collect these beautiful ice crystals? I want to use them for decoration. If I collect the most, I will consider dating it. 】
Zhang Zhang carefully held up a star core proliferation detonator and showed it to the piggy banks.
“Jiheiji!!”
Upon hearing that they could get close to the goddess, this group of creatures from another world, whose genders were unknown, immediately scattered and ran around looking for gifts for the goddess.
Zhang Zhang was adjusting the bow on the side of her head beautifully, as if the breath of those guys had blown her headdress crooked.
"Boom boom boom!"
However, the beautiful stones in front of the piggy banks exploded immediately upon contact, splashing the impatient Feiyangyang in the face.
For a moment, the entire town of Rongchui was in chaos due to the rising smoke and icy fog.
Even if Piggy Bank's body in the material world is destroyed, he will return to his original dimension, so his life will not be in danger, but Zhang Zhang's plan is really a bit "cruel".
"…You should be thankful that you don't have a woman like this around you."
Watching the live broadcast on the phone of the explosion scene with flying ice chips, Eula gently patted Kong's shoulder and clicked her tongue several times.
"It means that such a woman will not be favored by the Master. Ha, that piggy bank that looks like a pig probably doesn't regard other pigs as the same kind, so it doesn't count as playing with their feelings."
The God of Love made a sharp comment, but March could not accept it.
[Isn't it worse if we don't treat each other as the same kind? ? ]
[Don't worry, Miss March. I just want the other piggy banks to experience the "essence" of human society in advance. They won't really get hurt.]
With no sense of guilt, Zhang Zhang took out the map of the mining town from the dimensional space he carried with him, and marked all the routes that had just been cleared of traps according to Kama's reconnaissance information.
Then Zhang Zhang put his paws together, as if he hoped everyone was OK: [It's a pity for those kind-hearted handsome guys. I guess it will be another week before we meet again. ]
[What does one week later mean?] Kong was full of questions - is this the fixed refresh time of Feiyangyang?
[…Basically, all the traps on this road have been cleared. Well, the traps are not triggered by humans, and I don’t know if Cocolia will react… Topa, please “invite” Cocolia out according to the route I drew.]
"Let's go!"
Topa and Zhang Zhang were so familiar with this kind of "harming" behavior that they didn't even plan to explain it to their boss.
Sometimes when they are outside and it is not convenient to use credit points, Zhang Zhang will "collect" some gifts from other piggy banks to supplement the household expenses. It can be said that although Topa is the leader of the partner group, some of the little tricks were taught to her by Zhang Zhang. Although she has good social skills and her dressing style is more "attractive", Topa is not as good as Zhang Zhang in this aspect.
The collection team jumped out of the bunker and marched towards Molten Hammer Town. Luca, who served as a guide, also brought enough people. On the way to the interior of the Crystal Network, he looked at his "hometown" that had been completely changed. His face, which seemed to be always generous and enthusiastic, finally revealed a bit of solemnity: "Be careful not to show off too much. Big Brother wants us to try our best to ensure the safety of our people and not to get seriously injured. Big Sister and the others are worried!"
The main reason why this hot-blooded idiot made such a cautious explanation was that Cocolia's lair was so intimidating. The cave ceiling with icicles and the phantom of Nata that could be seen from different angles was simply the lair of a dragon in a storybook.
Those who dare to invade the territory of a "double-ranking envoy" must have a trump card in mind - they are not heroes who draw swords against dragons, but baggage personnel who transport the heroes' equipment.
The star core with double blessing can easily take their lives, Kong emphasized it many times... Therefore, they have to rely on this big guy behind them to force Cocolia to the ground in advance.
"Please, Mr. Screw-Gum."
"You're welcome, Mr. Luca."
The voice of a mechanical gentleman came from the walking "Bear" mecha: "Activating the 'resonance' device here can make the star core retreat, but before the system warms up, I need you to help me resist the gathering of rift creatures."
"Don't worry, I won't let a fly go!"
……
Just as Topa had worried, Cocolia had already ambushed Nata with him when the two teams arrived at the outskirts of the town.
The knowledge retained in the former Great Guardian's mind told her that even if she had the energy reserves to easily wipe out these guys, she should try to save some, let the Rift fight them, use bait and traps to wear down their energy - so that she could have plenty of energy to deal with her possible encounter with another star core explosion.
After retracting the barrier she had set covering the entire Yalilo-VI, hoping that the Legion could be thawed as soon as possible, she was now more powerful than ever before, yet also more weak than ever before, as her ability to collect information from the outside world had weakened, and she could not even see the specific situation on the ground.
What if these people are just here to test us?
Xing He had a bit of a fluke mentality. She thought that as long as she didn't reveal her exact location, she wouldn't be forced to move. If she could delay the coalition forces here for more than a day, she would have a better chance of waiting for Bu Liren to keep his promise.
But as a series of inexplicable traps exploded, her carefully designed defense network was cleared out to create a safe corridor.
The collection team first rushed into the street as if they were risking their lives, but suddenly braked on a flat ground 500 meters away from their hiding place.