Chapter 480 Let's make a deal

  Chen Yutong didn't respond, and began to think seriously, but the young man sitting next to him blushed unconsciously.

   "Hi, girl you like? Why are you talking about this?"

  Old Bai laughed and joked.

   "Nothing, if you're shy, talk about something else."

  As if unwilling to admit that he was shy, Zhao Xiao was silent for a while, and then opened up the conversation.

   "I... come from town number 13."

"what is that?"

   "An autonomous region managed by the Science and Technology Committee. The situation in each autonomous region is different, some are tribal systems, some are kingdoms, and we belong to the former, with about one or two thousand households."

  Old Bai nodded.

   "That's pretty big."

  The average survivor settlement is only one or two hundred households, and even a dozen or so households. It seems that this wandering swamp is not as desolate as he imagined.

"Yes," Zhao Xiao seemed to be thinking about where to start. After thinking for a while, he continued, "Every December, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a 30-day assessment to recruit students who are 12 or older from each autonomous region. and qualified apprentices."

  Old Bai thought for a moment and said.

   "This apprentice... is equivalent to an intern?"

"Internship?" Zhao Xiao was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Well... Basically, one or two can be selected in each autonomous region. After becoming an apprentice, you can enter the academy, away from the hard life in the swamp, where your family and children The town gets some money too."

   "Then you can be regarded as the best among thousands of people."

  Zhao Xiao was a little flattered by the praise, and rubbed his nose with his index finger embarrassingly.

"It's okay... But after entering the academy, it's not as perfect as I imagined. The living conditions are indeed much better than in the swamp, but because of the need to cooperate with the editors to engage in some dangerous research subjects, about Only 73% of the apprentices can survive to advance to the G-level. And the promotion to the G-level is considered to be a student who truly belongs to the academy."

   "Very strict selection."

   "Yeah..." Zhao Xiao sighed with emotion, "Sometimes it is not easy to think that I can be promoted to E level."

   "For the sweetheart?"

   "Part of the reason is that we are the same batch of selected apprentices. I promised her that she would become a researcher... Then, we would bring our parents into the academy."

   Lao Bai asked curiously.

   "Aren't you already a researcher?"

  Zhao Xiao said with a wry smile.

"How is it possible, I'm just a prospector... The minimum researcher is D-level. After being promoted to D-level, you need to master at least one professional skill and pass the assessment, and you also need a mentor's recommendation. But basically... only master one major Skills are not enough, a large number of apprentices are promoted every year, and most tutors require more than three majors to be proficient."

  Old Bai joked.

   "Capacity inflation."

  Zhao Xiao nodded and sighed.

   "Well...and the prospectors have to work on the front line, it is basically difficult to spare too much time to learn those things."

  Old Bai: "Why don't you consider living in another place? This wasteland is huge."

   Zhao Xiao curled his lips and muttered.

"It's the same wherever I go, and don't look at me complaining about this and that... I think the academy is pretty good. As you said, at least I can find the meaning of living here, instead of spending it like other survivors. For the rest of my life, I will succumb to the ruins."

  Old Bai couldn't help but have a weird expression, and asked curiously.

   "Why are you so sure that the other survivors will fall for themselves?"

"Otherwise? Do you think the enterprise and the legion have a future?" Zhao Xiao glanced at the enterprise pilot who was sleeping like a pig not far away, Zhao Xiao did not hide his disdain, and said without thinking, "A fool who is addicted to pleasure." , a militaristic lunatic, if the future of this world is in their hands, it will be really over!"

   As he spoke, he squeezed the spoon in his hand tightly.

"One day...we will reclaim all the ruins, before the old heritage is squandered. At that time, we will no longer have to remember the past, we will write new history, and go to distant worlds to explore the old unimagined mystery."

   Good guy.

   What kind of "farsightedness" is this? !

  Old Bai looked at the young man in a little surprise.

  These big principles don't look like he came up with it himself.

  But it may be because I am young that I can speak out without any scruples.

  Of course, what surprised him even more was the academy.

  When he first got acquainted with it, he thought that the academy was just a simple technical officer governing the country, but he didn't expect that there was a deeper spiritual core.

  Seeing that this guy was talking more and more, Chen Yutong coughed lightly, interrupting his long speech.

"Conclusion The doctor's theory is indeed so... However, I didn't think about it that much. I was lucky to pass the examination when I was twelve years old, and then entered the academy. In fact, I think it's good to be like you, without us With such a strict level restriction, there is more than one path in life, even if you don’t become a prospector or researcher, you can live a good life.”

"That kind of survivor settlement doesn't exist at all. Where there are people, there is a level. At most, it's just a subtle expression." Zhao Xiao said disapprovingly, "I think it's better to clearly write down the level and the way to advance. .”

  Old Bai said with a smile.

   "What you said makes sense. This is similar to a game. As long as the server continues to operate, old players and newcomers will definitely be separated. Classes will not disappear because of subjective neglect."

   "Server? Operation?" Zhao Xiao asked curiously.

  Old Bai coughed lightly and explained.

"What I mean is that even the Alliance has levels, such as contribution levels... probably similar to yours. G, F, and E-level researchers should correspond to the three levels of citizens, and on top of that, there are 'knights'. 'etc."

   "Really?" Zhao Xiao looked at Chen Yutong proudly.

  The latter did not speak, but his expression was obviously a little disappointed.

  It seems that the longing was just a short-lived misunderstanding.

  Old Bai paused, then continued.

   "However, we don't feel superior to others because we have a higher contribution level than others."

   "It's impossible, no one can say big things." Zhao Xiao said without hesitation, his expression was obviously full of disbelief.

  Chen Yutong glanced at the lunch box in his hand, but instead of instinctively skeptical like Zhao Xiao, he asked.

"Why?"

  This question is somewhat difficult to answer.

  Old Bai couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

  From a realistic point of view, this is just a game.

   Of course there are games that intentionally create conflicts among players and provoke consumption comparisons, but "Wasteland OL" is obviously not. It doesn't even have a recharge entry, let alone it is still in the beta test stage. Even if such problems exist, they are definitely not common.

  Most of the old players are still willing to bring newcomers, even if sometimes the performance of the newcomers is a bit silly, but everyone has come from that stage, so it can be more or less understood.

  As for the relationship between players and NPCs, it is relatively harmonious. NPCs don't care whether they are "citizens" or "knights", and these titles do not give the residents of the shelter the privilege of "overriding others".

   On the player side, even mosquitoes who have made contributions to the alliance will still be sent to a small black room to calm down for violating server regulations.

  Lao Bai felt it before.

   Rather than saying that those titles are a kind of identity, it is better to say that they are a kind of honor, or a kind of recognition from the collective.

   "There is no standard answer to subjective questions. I can't answer you. Everyone has a different opinion. If you have the opportunity, you can use your own eyes to confirm what kind of place the alliance is."

   Putting away the finished lunch box, Lao Bai smiled and continued.

   "By the way, let me tell you some good news. It seems that your teammates haven't given up on you yet, and they are following behind us five kilometers away."

   This is the news that Kuangfeng told him before going offline.

  Chen Yutong looked at him nervously, while Zhao Xiao cocked the corner of his mouth proudly, and said it as a matter of course.

   "Of course! As I said, it is impossible for the academy to abandon us!"

  Old Bai smiled and continued.

   "Then let's make a bet."

  Zhao Xiao: "What are you betting on?"

  Old Bai said casually: "Just bet...whether the academy will come to rescue you before we cross this mountain and enter the desert."

  Zhao Xiao: "Aren't they already here?"

   "Following behind is not counted," Lao Bai said with a smile, "People who don't know saw it and thought your people were seeing us off."

  Zhao Xiao stared at Lao Bai.

   "What about the bet?"

  Of course he would not naively think that the man in front of him would let his captives go if the people from the academy came.

   Like their sniper said, they still need him to block bullets.

  However, to his surprise, Lao Bai shrugged and said indifferently.

   "If they kill you, I will let you go."

  Based on his experience, if both sides are unwilling to admit this conflict, then not acknowledging casualties and prisoners is a high probability that will happen.

  He didn’t meet any pursuers from the college when he walked here, so there’s a high probability that he won’t meet them on the way.

   It doesn't matter if the judgment is wrong.

   Release one prisoner, and then capture two more.

  Zhao Xiao looked at him in surprise, seeing that he didn't look like he was joking, so he became serious.

   "Then what do you want from me..."

   "It's okay to get anything from you," Lao Bai laughed, and said after thinking for a while, "Well, let me think about it... If I win, you can buy me a glass of beer."

a cup of beer? !

  Zhao Xiao was stunned, his face flushed slightly.

  The way he ignored them made him feel a little humiliated.

  However, a hero does not suffer from immediate disadvantages, so Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and nodded.

   "Deal... But you have to keep your word."

   Lao Bai said calmly.

   "Don't worry, I told you that you don't need those things."

  …

  In the northern part of the River Valley Province, on the wasteland near the nuclear bomb crater, there are rows of dilapidated tents.

   This camp has no name, and it may not even be there next year.

  The scavengers who live here are like nomads chasing grass. Wherever the garbage is picked up, they move their tents and campfires.

  If the unfortunate thing happened, the ghouls hovering near the nuclear bomb crater would naturally help the unlucky guy take care of his funeral.

   Those who choose to "degenerate" into scavengers don't particularly care whether their corpses fall into the mouths of ghouls or aliens.

  Anyway, there is no difference in the eating appearance of the two, and they are not very elegant.

  Buyers who are interested in the trash they have or how well they pick it up will naturally have a way of finding out where they are.

   One morning.

  Gust, who was over fifty, got up early as usual, and was going to drive his "Excavator No. 1" to dig some valuable treasures in the nearby ancient battlefield.

   Just as he was carrying his basket on his back and going out with his equipment, the bald-headed Aqiang from the Digging Warrior Group next door suddenly came to the door.

   "Several big families came to the settlement and said they wanted to recruit people."

  As soon as he heard that there was a big deal, Gust squinted his eyes, sat on the stool at the door, and tapped the pipe on the sole of his shoe.

   "What job?"

   "Salvage work."

"Location?"

   "North of the mountains in the northern part of Luoxia Province."

   Hearing this vague statement, Gust frowned.

   "You just say it's a wandering swamp."

   It would be too long to dig out the treasures of the Renlian era under the noses of the academy. In the eyes of those people, they are not much better than predators, and even more hateful than predators.

   Even with all his guts, he didn't dare to expand his business to the college's territory.

  The bald man said with a smile.

   "Not in the swamp, just on the edge of the swamp."

   Gust stared at him suspiciously for a moment, then continued.

   "How many people will he hire?"

  The bald man opened his right hand.

   "At least five hundred, and you must have professional equipment and experience in dismantling large machines."

   "Five hundred?!"

  The old man Gust widened his eyes and smacked his mouth.

   "That's a big guy...they're going to take something apart."

  The bald man shook his head and said.

   "Then I don't know... But they promised that as long as we can disassemble it and transport it to Xizhou City, they can pay us a total of one million silver coins."

  One million silver coins? !

   Hearing this number, Gust was instantly moved.

   This is not a small amount, it would be close to a thousand tons of wheat!

  Of course, no one would exchange silver coins for wheat. You can buy cheaper ones at No. 8 Oasis in Luoxia Province to the west.

   What is really exciting is the alliance's KV-1 exoskeleton, metal hydrogen batteries, "electric mule" light trucks, and various large-scale engineering equipment.

  For them who make a living by picking up waste, the simple, crude and cost-effective industrial products produced by the alliance are exactly what they need.

   "Sounds interesting..." Gust touched his chin, and there was obvious heartbeat in his eyes, "Those people are still in the camp?"

   Seeing the heartbeat in the old man's eyes, the bald man said with a smile.

   "It's still there, let's go together, this business cannot be eaten by a salvage team, let's work together to earn more."

   Gust glanced at him and hummed noncommittally

   "We'll wait until we go and have a look."

  …

  Center of the Scavengers Camp.

  Looking at the black and ragged beggars in front of him, Milu Mengxin, who was standing next to Lao Liu in the corner, couldn't help muttering.

   "Can you do it with these beggars?"

  Bai sniper couldn't help complaining in a low voice.

   "+1, I'm afraid that one plane will take out the parts of two planes when it crashes."

  The sixth child in the corner froze for a moment.

   "Isn't that good?"

   "What a hammer," Bai Yi rolled his eyes, "Can it fly?"

   While the players were communicating in low voices, the old man named Gust was also secretly looking at the three outsiders.

   Three sets of five-style "light cavalry" exoskeletons.

  This kind of equipment is not uncommon in some urban ruins, but there are only two possibilities for the new appearance, either it is an imitation, or it is in the shelter.

  Whether it is an imitation or not, of course he can tell after picking up garbage for so many years.

   There is no doubt that these three are soldiers of the Union!

   Seeing the concerns on the faces of two of them, Gust grinned and said respectfully.

   "My lord, don't look at our shabby clothes, but just picking up trash... everyone here is an expert."

   A bald man next to him also echoed.

   "That's right, our ancestors have been scavengers for generations, from the People's United Aerospace Frigate to the old popsicle cans, as long as it can be exchanged for money, we have thought about it!"

  Aerospace frigates are okay.

  Looking at the translated subtitles projected on the tactical eyepiece, Milu Mengxin suddenly showed a surprised expression in his eyes.

   "Good guy, what kind of wasteland version of beggars."

   "Hiss..." Bai Ke took a breath and touched his chin, "You make an analogy, and I suddenly feel that they can do it again."

   "Never mind him! It's all here, try it first and then talk! If it doesn't work, we're not to blame."

   Interrupting the controversy among his teammates, the sixth child in the corner took a step forward, looked at the experienced scavengers in front of him and said.

"We have just mentioned the demand. We need at least 500 experienced scavengers here to help us recover a large piece of equipment that has broken down. We offer one million silver coins, and you can discuss how to divide it among yourself...I hope you recommend it first. Come out with someone who can speak."

  Several scavengers looked at each other and whispered to each other as if they had reached an idea. The old man who spoke first took up the conversation.

"No problem my lord, as long as you are willing to pay, we promise to send the things to you, and we promise not to say a word to other people. By the way... can you tell us what we want to recycle? We can make sure what we need to bring tool."

  This request is reasonable.

  The sixth child in the corner hesitated for a while, then nodded and said.

   "It's an airplane."

   Gust hesitated.

   "What about the specific model?"

   "The captain is more than 20 meters long, about 6 to 7 meters high, weighs just over 20 tons, and has two plasma engines... that's all I can say. Knowing too much is not good for you."

  Hearing this parameter, a trace of surprise appeared on Gust's face.

   This describes…

   Is it the Enterprise's killer whale transport plane? !

  Having vaguely guessed something, the old man didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he quickly ended the topic, bowed his head respectfully and said.

   "Understood... so my lord, when are we going to leave?"

   The affairs between these big forces are not something that a few scavengers can join in the fun.

   As this Union soldier put it, it doesn't do them any good to know too much.

  Seeing that the old man didn't ask any more questions, the sixth child in the corner heaved a sigh of relief and said immediately.

   "Now! The sooner the better!"

   Gust grinned and said respectfully.

   "Obey! I assure you, our service will satisfy you!"

  The old six in the corner nodded.

"hope so."

  …

  Led by three players, more than five hundred scavengers left the camp and headed for the mountains in the northern part of Luoxia Province.

Some of them drive three-meter-high forklifts, some lead tinkering robots, and some lead two-headed cows or push broken carts by themselves... The guys in their hands are basically DIY by themselves, or It is a second-hand product scoured from a merchant, and it is almost impossible to find a few duplicates.

  Looking at these scavengers, Milu Mengxin is full of doubts, but he has come to this point, so he can only choose to believe them.

   At the same time, after nearly five days of trekking, Lao Bai and his party escorting the pilot finally walked out of the mountains and saw the endless yellow sand.

   "Eep..."

  Looking at the air distorted by the heat wave in the distance, Xiao Yu, who was walking in the team, let out a slightly tired whine.

  The temperature in the south of the mountains is obviously higher than that in the north, and the climate is dry, which makes it feel obviously uncomfortable in a humid environment.

  Luo Yu patted its little head and comforted it.

   "Hang on, we're almost there."

   "Eep!"

  The consolation seemed to have an effect, Xiaoyu made a happy sound, and the tentacles on the back of her head rippled happily like seaweed.

  Luo Yu had a smile on his face.

   This kid is too easy to coax.

  Ye Shi glanced at Xiao Yu, and muttered in a low voice.

   "Oh my god... the tentacles make me panic."

   Luo Yu said shyly.

   "Me too at first, but it's fine when I get used to it."

  Zhao Xiao, who was walking not far away, looked in surprise at the matrix that lived in harmony with others, and felt that his world view had been impacted.

   But right now he has no time to digest the surprise in his heart.

  After five days of rushing, they have already reached the edge of Luoxia Province, and they will soon see No. 8 oasis after walking a few tens of kilometers.

   Owing a beer is a trivial matter.

   Zhao Xiao couldn't believe it, and what was even more unacceptable was... he was abandoned by the academy? !

  Noticing the distraught expression on the NPC's face, Ye Shi, who knew about the bet, stepped forward and made a joke.

   "Don't be so depressed, think about it from another angle... The academy may not necessarily have given up on you."

  Zhao Xiao looked up at the annoying guy in front of him, not understanding why he suddenly comforted himself.

  But soon he found that he was thinking too much.

  Ye Shi then continued in a teasing tone.

   "Maybe they just deregistered you."

   "You..." Zhao Xiao gritted his teeth and stared at him, but in the end he suppressed the phrase "fart".

  People under the eaves have to bow their heads,

  Zhao Xiao comforted himself in his heart.

  At this moment, billows of smoke and dust suddenly rose from a piece of yellow sand in the distance.

  Looking at the movement in the distance, Zhao Xiao was slightly taken aback, and hope suddenly ignited in his heart.

  He suddenly remembered that the Golden Lizard Kingdom seemed to be a "preparatory member state" of the Science Committee, which was equivalent to a quasi-vassal of the Academy.

   Those people might be the reinforcements of the Golden Lizard Kingdom!

  Although the combat effectiveness of those feudal lords' armies is low, but the size is there, even a single mouthful of saliva can drown these guys.

However-

   This joyful mood didn't last even two seconds in his heart, and trucks soon appeared behind the sand and dust.

   That was obviously not the army of the Golden Lizard Kingdom.

   It wasn't just Zhao Xiao who sank to the bottom of his mood, but also the Beacon Squad who followed him all the way.

  The rear row of the tracked vehicle.

  Jiang Xuezhou, who closed his eyes tightly, moved his lips.

   "Alliance reinforcements! There are at least three hundred... No, maybe four hundred."

  The medical soldier sitting on the side smiled wryly.

   "As for?"

   Zheng Hao, who had been silent all this time, spoke slowly.

   "These people are not here to guard against us... Most likely, they are here to deter the Golden Lizard Kingdom."

   It is impossible for the alliance to be unaware of the relationship between the Golden Lizard Kingdom and the academy.

  Although their preparations were completely unnecessary, in order to take their pilots home, the Alliance actually made preparations for war with the Golden Lizard Kingdom.

  Thinking of this, Zheng Hao couldn't help feeling a little complicated.

   Lao Song, who was sitting in the driver's seat, looked at the captain.

"What should we do now?"

   It is already impossible to rescue those captives.

  They really watched those people walk around under the eyes of the college, and then swaggered home.

  Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth.

   "Report the situation to the superior...wait for the news."

  Here has left the coverage of the signal tower, but they can transmit messages by launching drones as signal repeaters.

  Jiang Xuezhou nodded.

  She was about to launch the signal repeater, when she frowned slightly, and pressed her index finger on the edge of her temple.

   "There is a strange communication request... It should be sent by those people."

  Zheng Hao said immediately.

   "Come here."

  At the same time as the order was issued, a light blue holographic screen unfolded in his field of vision, and an unfamiliar face appeared in front of him.

   Zheng Hao saw this man for the first time.

   But looking at that person's eyes, he always has a very familiar feeling... They had met their eyes a few days ago!

   "I am Lao Bai, the leader of the Burning Legion." The man on the holographic screen said.

   Did not introduce himself, Zheng Hao stared at him and said.

   "What do you want to say."

   "It's nothing, I just think that you archaeologists are not made for war, and it's very unlucky to be sent by the superiors to provoke us."

   Zheng Hao's heart sank slightly.

  It seems that those captives should have recruited something.

  However, he didn't understand why this person wanted to contact him, let alone why this person wanted to disclose this news to him.

   "Are you here on purpose to ridicule me?" Zheng Hao frowned and said.

   "I'm not that boring."

   Smiling, Lao Bai continued.

   "I heard that this place has already left the coverage of the college's signal tower, so I'll open the skylight and speak honestly... let's make a deal."

   "What deal."

   "We are very interested in your tracked vehicles."

  Zheng Hao froze for a moment, then smiled coldly.

   "Oh, and then."

   "Leave the car, and take the prisoners away."

"hehe."

  Zheng Hao laughed out loud.

   It's okay to stay.

  He admitted that his team is not an opponent of those well-trained soldiers, just as they may not have the expertise of their own experts to deal with alien species.

   But wanting to keep this "reindeer" tracked vehicle is undoubtedly a bit of a dream.

  The off-road capability of this thing is far beyond that of those trucks.

  Expecting that he would react like this, Lao Bai continued with a smile.

   "Don't rush to say no, I can give you twenty more rifles and a truck..."

   Zheng Hao said with a sullen face.

   "What do I want those rags for?"

  Old Bai smiled and said.

   "It's useless, but you have been with us for so long... Are you willing to go back empty-handed?"

   "Don't you want to win once?"

  Zheng Hao smiled self-deprecatingly, and said in a low voice.

   "You mean to win once, does it mean that we left a tracked vehicle and finally returned with a few E-class prisoners and rifles?"

   "What if we add a little tissue sample of number X-277, a specific variant slime mold parent?"

  Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment, a trace of fanaticism suddenly appeared in his eyes, but he was not dazzled by this fanaticism, and he stared at this guy named Lao Bai vigilantly.

   "Would you...give it to us?!"

  Standing in the holographic screen, Lao Bai smiled and shook the test tube in his hand. There were a few pieces of fine tissue debris floating inside.

   "Well, our allies have authorized me to provide you with a little tissue sample of the mother body. After all, the mutant slime mold is our common enemy. If you can make progress, it will also be good for us."

   Of course, it is not the enterprise that authorizes him, but the manager.

   And the tissue fragments in the test tube in his hand are of course not the samples just collected, not even collected from Xiao Yu.

   It was extracted from the brood on the B6 floor, and together with other soldiers of the Burning Corps, it was airlifted to the vicinity of the No. 8 oasis by the enterprise's plane.

   However, it should be enough to fool this prospector.

   Presumably the academy would not believe that the alliance actually keeps a brood that can be researched at will.

   Just look at the grand occasion of the "wave" in Qingquan City every year. That kind of thing can't even be handled by the post-war reconstruction committee.

   What's more, this is a desert, and there is no brood nearby.

  Zheng Hao stared fixedly at the test tube, and silently started the pattern recognition program. After getting an 87% matching recognition result, his breathing became short of breath.

   There is no doubt that it is the tissue fragments of the mother or the brood!

  He originally thought that he would not be able to advance to the rank of researcher in this life, and he would be satisfied if he could keep his status as a D-level prospector.

  But now, this opportunity is placed in front of him again...

The doors of countless biological laboratories will be opened to him, and hundreds of mentors will throw olive branches to him, recruiting his team and projects into his own laboratory, and he and his small team members will also start from the very beginning. The investigation department with no future is transferred to the research department with a bright future!

  As for the loss of a mere "reindeer", no one will care at all, those academic experts will rush to pay for him!

   And the most important thing is that this is a harvest beyond the task!

  No one can share their credit!

   "...how to input?"

  Hearing this answer, the corner of Lao Bai's mouth curled into a smile.

   "It's very simple. We leave the captives, props, and trucks for you to run in the camp. You send someone to drive the tracked trucks, and then drive the trucks away from us."

  Zheng Hao said cautiously: "How do I know that you will not go back on your word?"

   "We have no reason to do that. If we wanted to kill you, we would have done it long ago, or do you suspect that we don't have that ability?"

  Seeing that the man did not speak, Lao Bai continued.

"And I have to tell you that although I have been authorized by my superiors, this is not a deal between the Alliance and the Academy, but a deal between the Burning Corps and the Beacon Squad. So I hope that there is no locator or locator on the crawler. Surveillance and other things... From your standpoint, you don't want today's events to be known by other irrelevant people, right?"

  Zheng Hao was silent for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth.

   "I hope you will keep your word."

  Old Bai smiled and nodded.

"We will."

   "And I always have a hunch that there are still many opportunities for us to cooperate in the future."

  (end of this chapter)