Monster Dismantling Company

Chapter 44 Platform

Li Lin shook his head: "Actually, it's not really a matter of preparation. What's happening here doesn't really threaten my safety. It's just that my memories and life are more precious to me. But if my identity is really discovered, and those who have received my blood also want to leak my information, then I'll have to take some measures."

[For example, silencing them?]

"Depending on the situation, there are many things I can do—but the final solution is always the same: I will move away, go somewhere where nobody knows me, and start my life anew."

He can do that anytime.

Not everyone has the opportunity to start their life over. For most people, it requires a very complicated process.

But for a dragon, change is instinct. And if he becomes deeply disillusioned with this life, his transformation will be as natural as flowing water. From his physique and appearance to all his external features, he can change, just as [Taba] can use mirages to shield himself from outside observation; his transformation can be accomplished in the same way. And compared to [Taba]'s forceful rejection, his disguise is far more sophisticated.

However, his own changes are one thing, whether society can accept him is another—if it's just about interpersonal relationships, he doesn't care too much. After all, interpersonal relationships can be built up gradually.

However, obtaining citizenship is quite difficult.

Fortunately, in the current city-state-based system, the resident records across the entire territory are not fully interconnected. Therefore, even if Li Lin changes his appearance, he can still try to obtain resident status in another city-state.

To some extent, this is a form of social engineering. He will acquire a human identity through various means and then live as if nothing is amiss.

However, once the united government reconnects humanity, and residents' information is interconnected and all information is networked, then modifying information in one place alone will be useless—just like no matter how you change the numbers on a bankbook, the money in the bank will not increase or decrease; you need to change the bank's accounts.

If it's a local bank, it only needs to modify a few ledgers. But if it's a national bank, the changes it needs to make are extremely complex because those ledgers are distributed across all nodes nationwide.

Therefore, if the coalition government truly accomplishes the great task of rebuilding human civilization, its room for maneuver will be compressed.

Being a person is, after all, a complex thing...

"I'm also learning and trying to build more stable relationships. Perhaps Lin Zhiqing can help me in the future."

This is why both he and Lin Zhiqing believed this was a mutually supportive relationship. This kind of relationship wouldn't be alienated by the involvement of self-interest, nor would it be. Because for people to form a community of shared interests, emotions alone are unlikely to sustain it. Shared interests are essential to ensuring the longevity of such a relationship.

Lin Zhiqing was a window through which he glimpsed the mysteries of the United Government. On this train, he witnessed many of the United Government's cutting-edge technologies—trains powered by dragons, a drawing machine that shaped objects from the void to reality, and so on. These technologies were undoubtedly closely related to dragons. Perhaps, the path to transcendence lay within them.

...

Runzhou Station, we've arrived.

The familiar station announcement came from Yinlong. She herself came over to Li Lin to explain the upcoming schedule:

"Because we are an express train, we skipped the queue and went directly to the station to wait. The Yangtze River Bridge is still under maintenance, and there are also many trains coming from the opposite direction queuing at Guazhou on the other side. However, since we are traveling in the upstream direction—towards Beijing—our priority will still be higher."

"So, we'll be the first team to start?"

"Yes," Silver Dragon replied. "Once the bridge is completed, we'll be among the first to depart, if not the first. According to intelligence from the front, we'll be staying here for about 16 hours. The doors are open. You two may disembark and move around as you see fit. But please do not leave the station, as your tickets do not guarantee entry."

"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked Lin Zhiqing.

"It's not bad. I've been sitting in the car for quite a while now."

It was already past midnight, and the entire parking lot was lit up with incandescent lights. Only the outline and lights of the nearby Runzhou city could be seen; nothing could be discerned.

However, the air was quite nice at midnight. People around him gradually got off the train and went to the platform, and Li Lin stood up.

"Excuse me, are there a lot of people getting on the bus here soon?"

Yinlong nodded: "Yes, this vehicle is here empty to transport troops. A reinforced brigade of soldiers is currently waiting at the station, but they won't board now—it's too inconvenient for so many people to be here. They will start boarding an hour before departure."

These soldiers didn't originally need to be so concentrated. However, the Yangtze River Bridge accident left too many soldiers stranded, and preparations for the campaign against Raize had begun, requiring all units to assemble on time. Therefore, to save time, the United Government reassigned seats on the Silver Dragon, prioritizing the smooth operation of troop transport. Their equipment would also be transported to the rear carriages of the Silver Dragon.

As the Silver Dragon arrived at the station, the entire station became busy.

From the window, it can be seen that a cordon has been set up for the passenger and cargo sections. This is because engineering vehicles are about to arrive to transport military supplies to the rear compartments.

Li Lin was among the last to get off the bus. When he reached the door, he knew he had come to the right place—

An unprecedented amount of fresh air blew in through the car door.

Unlike Ningzhou, even after purification, the air in Ningzhou still carries an inescapable salty smell of the sea.

Runzhou is situated on the banks of the Yangtze River, where the flowing river is purifying the land and air. The natural air permeates the entire area, making it a truly refreshing place.

He took a deep breath and exhaled—he felt much more energetic than before.

"Ah~~" Lin Zhiqing stretched, "My back is a little sore from sitting for so long."

Suddenly, Li Lin put his hand on her shoulder.

"Huh? What...what are you doing?"

"I've heard that if you have back pain, massaging it can help."

"Oh... I think it's just psychological, it's not that easy... Ah~~~" A tingling, bone-deep numbness spread through her shoulder, and Li Lin pinched her shoulder with his hand—

The soreness vanished without a trace.

"You...you're a master! Where did you learn it?"

"Learned it? I haven't learned it. I just know where to press."

"Ah... being friends with you might be a good choice, at least I won't have to worry about my lumbar and cervical spine problems." She tried to stretch her arms again—however, her gaze suddenly stopped in front of her.

Security chief Lin Ling appeared on the platform in the distance with a whole squad of heavily armed infantry.

"Aunt? What's she doing here? Shouldn't she be in Jin Gang Zhou?"