Alien Relic Hunter

Chapter 131 Protein Blocks

The entire cleaning process took more than four hours, and the convoy was not able to get back on the road until it was completely dark.

Since the materials on the No. [-] car were swallowed by the fungus, and it was difficult to clean the inside of the car by burning, Ke Lan simply gave up the No. [-] car, and only took away the important equipment and crystallization engine on the car.

"Material losses have been counted, and this is a detailed list." Youyi handed the tablet in his hand to Ke Lan.

"This loss shouldn't have any impact on the normal operation of the base, right?" Ke Lan took the tablet and asked.

"No, you can rest assured about this." Youyi replied, "The consortium has considered the problem of accidental loss during transportation from the beginning. Even if the convoy loses half of its supplies, this mission can be regarded as a success... And taking a step back, even if we lose all the supplies, the base’s emergency reserves are enough to last for more than three months.”

"That's good." Ke Lan's eyes shifted to the top of the list—most of the items on the No. [-] car were food, except for the poultry meat, rice noodles, miscellaneous grains, and fresh vegetables provided to the management personnel. It also includes "popular food" such as compressed biscuits, canned food, and synthetic rations. However, the materials that account for nearly [-]% of the list are something called "protein lumps."

From the notes on the list, we can know that this thing is specially purchased by the base as food for the miners' rations.

"No wonder 0420 said, 'It's better to be a rich man's dog than to be a miner'... Even a dog eats better than this..."

The so-called "protein block" is a rectangular rubber block the size of an adult's palm, and the whole body is dark. The wrapping paper reads "a ready-to-eat food made of high-protein natural materials. Only one piece is enough to satisfy an adult for a day." Nutritional requirements", but there is no mention of the detailed ingredient list.

But Ke Lan knew that this "high-protein natural material" was actually a cockroach.

Cockroaches are tenacious, reproduce rapidly, and are very easy to raise... Those factories that make protein cubes will buy household garbage produced in residential areas at extremely low prices, and use them to feed these small black bugs that have a history far longer than humans, and then Then put these bugs into the machine to crush, mix with various ingredients and water...

And the last thing that comes off the production line is this kind of "nutritious protein block" with a slightly pungent smell.

It’s just that normal Ark residents rarely come into contact with this kind of food. Most of these protein blocks will be purchased by the government, and then used to relieve those “poor people” who have no income or whose income is too meager to support themselves. That part should be used here.

Although Ke Lan has never eaten protein cubes himself, he once saw a sample post titled "Ark Dark Cuisine Inventory" in the forum, which introduced this protein cube made from cockroaches.

According to the post owner, in addition to smelling a pungent smell like a chemical reagent, this protein block can also feel a disgusting bitter taste in the mouth, even if the taste is added a lot The flavoring agent can't completely cover it... If you're unlucky, you might get something like a broken cockroach leg...

But from one aspect, the price of this kind of protein block is indeed very cheap - the price of a bottle of "Roland Malt Brew" fluctuates around [-] to [-] credit points, while a standard unit of military Standard compressed biscuits only cost five credits... As for egg whites, one credit can buy a large box, enough for a week.

In order to reduce costs as much as possible, the methods of the major consortiums are almost the same-on the surface, they say that the miners will be "fed and covered", but in fact the food provided is only this kind of cockroach protein block and the minimum food that can barely be eaten. Grade drinking water, and if the miners want to improve their food, they have to pay for it out of their own pockets... Moreover, due to the precious materials, the price of everything in the mining base is several times that of the ark, and a bottle of malt brew can even Selling for more than [-] credits is an unbearable high price for the miners.

"On this condition... can we really recruit miners?" Ke Lan was really puzzled.

"Not only can we recruit, but the number of places is still very tight." Yui replied, "Our treatment of miners is already very good. The Mitsui consortium at Base No. [-] completely treats miners as consumables. Yes, even protective clothing is not willing to be equipped with miners. According to incomplete statistics, the death rate of miners on their side is as high as one year. severe radiation sickness."

"That kind of company treats people like livestock in the old era..." the old dog muttered beside him.

"Won't Ark take care of this kind of thing?"

"If you want to control it, you can't control it. The contract in black and white is placed there, and those people are voluntary." The old dog took a tissue from the side of the seat, and blew his nose vigorously, "Especially the Mitsui consortium, you know their size What is the largest industry?"

"If I remember correctly...steel and precious metals."

"That's right, but that's just a business on the surface, but secretly, they control more than [-]% of Ark's gambling business...Those miners who are forced to sign contracts for sale are basically lost in their field until they are heavily in debt and powerless. Gamblers who pay off."

"Yes." Yui nodded, "And because the official demand for all kinds of ores including crystallization is very large, they have to acquiesce in the Mitsui consortium's approach. After all, if the treatment of miners is increased, the cost of ores will also increase. A rising tide lifts all boats..."

Ke Lan noticed that Yui's eyes flickered a little when she said this - it was obvious that this smart woman wanted to pin all this big black pot on the head of the Mitsui Consortium.

But in fact, the treatment of the miners by the Soma Consortium is only half a step away.

After thinking about this, Ke Lan finally knew the real purpose of this commission: "Actually...you don't care about the missing miners at all, right?"

"Mr. Ke Lan, you are..."

"What you are interested in is actually the thing that attracts the miners to the depths of Leviathan?"

"I... I don't quite understand what you're talking about." Yui shook her head stiffly.

"First of all, that thing is definitely not a crystalline ore." Ke Lan ignored her, but analyzed on his own, "Because the crystalline ore mined in Leviathan's body is not worth a high unit without refining, and the volume is too large. It is too big, and it is impossible for miners to hide it privately.”

"Secondly, it is definitely not a certain mineral vein with rich reserves. If those missing miners really found a new mineral vein, then they can report it to the consortium in exchange for rewards—after all, with the individual strength of these miners, even if they find a new mineral vein Top-level veins, they can't realize it."

"Taking a step back, even if some of them are commercial spies inserted by other consortia, or plan to sell the news for a price, it's not like all the 28 missing miners are like this, so the second Guessing can also be ruled out."

[PS Tomorrow is March, and I'm going to start two updates every day. 】

(End of this chapter)