7: Unknown radio station

Previously, when Jiang Ran looked at this body of water, he could only see the churning black murky waves and floating garbage on the surface.

But now, through the 'Full-Spectrum Radar's' God's-eye view, the world beneath the surface was stripped of its disguise before his eyes.

It was a horrifying yet spectacular sight.

Once bustling streets now lay silently ten meters deep underwater.

Streetlight poles resembled broken chopsticks, leaning towards the water's surface.

Countless submerged vehicles were stacked together, like a deceased steel dragon.

He could even see some human corpses, swept away by the current, hanging on billboards or tree branches.

They swayed slightly with the undercurrent, like some eerie aquatic plants.

"This is the apocalypse..."

Jiang Ran's eyes were calm.

With these eyes, he could not only avoid hidden reefs and high-voltage power line towers that could wreck the ship's bottom.

He could also see treasures that others couldn't.

"Since it's a global flood, all supplies must have sunk. Ordinary survivors can only pick up garbage on the surface, but I..."

Ordinary survivors can only pick up garbage on the surface, but I...

Jiang Ran's finger gently slid across the screen, zooming in on a main road area below.

...I can go directly underwater to 'stock up'.

His gaze quickly scanned through the countless light spots constructed by the radar.

Ordinary private cars?

No interest, only a small amount of metal, most likely no food.

Buses?

Large space but low material density, no value.

Street-side shops?

All were washed away by water pressure, and supplies had long been scattered in the mud.

Suddenly, Jiang Ran's finger stopped.

At the edge of the radar screen, about three hundred meters away from him, at a corner of an intersection, a huge rectangular light spot was overturned.

[Target Analysis: Heavy Box Truck]

[Features: Cargo compartment completely sealed, no obvious damage seen.]

[Speculation: Cold chain logistics vehicle or supermarket delivery vehicle.]

Jiang Ran's eyes instantly lit up.

If it was this kind of vehicle, the cargo compartment usually had excellent sealing and insulation.

Even if submerged in water, there was a high chance the goods inside were not damaged!

Moreover, a vehicle of this size alone would provide enough metal to increase the black iron's progress bar by another segment.

"You're the one."

Jiang Ran sharply turned the rudder.

The black iron cutter performed a beautiful drift on the water.

The hull tilted, then adjusted its posture amidst the roar of the engine, precisely rushing towards the coordinates locked by the radar.

Two minutes later.

The boat's speed slowly decreased, eventually hovering over an open expanse of water that appeared empty.

But according to the radar display, exactly eight meters directly below the ship, the huge box truck lay silently in the mud.

"System, activate capture mode."

Jiang Ran pressed a red button on the control panel. A faint mechanical opening and closing sound came from the bottom of the ship.

"Click."

The black iron's belly armor slid open to both sides.

Four thick silver metal tentacles, like the feelers of a deep-sea monster.

Carrying searchlight beams, they slowly extended into the dark, cold water, heading straight for the prey below.

The light in the cockpit dimmed, and Jiang Ran switched his view to the side monitor screen.

That was the footage transmitted from the cameras at the ends of the mechanical tentacles.

In the murky, dark depths, four silver mechanical tentacles cut through the darkness, surrounded by countless unidentified debris and sediment.

Under the pale beam of the searchlight, the heavy truck, overturned in the mud, gradually became clear.

The words "Xian Shenghuo Cold Chain" were printed on the cargo compartment, and although some paint had peeled, the overall structure remained intact.

"Time to open the can."

Jiang Ran lightly tapped a finger on the control panel.

Underwater, two tentacles exerted force, their suction cups at the tips firmly gripping the originally tightly closed rear iron door of the cargo compartment.

"Squeak—"

Through the vibrations transmitted up the hull, Jiang Ran could imagine the sound of metal twisting underwater.

Even with the resistance of deep water, the system-enhanced mechanical tentacles still possessed several tons of pulling force.

Accompanied by a churning of mud and sand. That

The two heavy iron doors were torn off like paper, revealing the dark interior of the cargo compartment.

Jiang Ran immediately manipulated the other two tentacles to reach in, simultaneously activating the system's material scanning function.

However, the results transmitted back from the screen made him frown slightly.

Most of the cargo in the compartment was packaged in cardboard boxes.

After being soaked in water for so long, these cardboard boxes had long turned into clumps of rotten mud.

The contents—vegetables, fruits, bulk bread—had all turned into an unrecognizable murky paste.

As the water flowed out from the breach, it resembled a mass of vomit, attracting a swarm of scavenger fish and shrimp the size of fingernails.

"Indeed, it's not that easy to pick up a bargain."

Jiang Ran was not discouraged.

This outcome was within his expectations.

"System, filter out rotten organic matter, search for sealed packaging."

[Filtering...]

[Target found: located at the deepest part of the cargo compartment.]

Several faint small red dots lit up on the radar screen.

Those were several sturdy hard plastic turnover boxes, pressed beneath a pile of rotten mud.

The tentacles deftly pushed aside the disgusting decaying matter and coiled around the three blue plastic boxes.

Through the translucent boxes, a metallic sheen could be seen neatly stacked inside.

They were cans.

And they were large-portion luncheon meat cans.

Only this kind of fully sealed tinplate packaging could survive in this damned underwater environment.

"Retrieve!"

The tentacles, coiling around the three precious boxes, rapidly ascended.

A few seconds later, with a 'whoosh,' they broke through the water and steadily placed the boxes on the black iron's aft deck.

Jiang Ran didn't rush to count the food; instead, he looked back at the empty truck wreckage underwater.

The meat was eaten, but the bones couldn't be wasted.

"Devour."

The command was given.

The four tentacles, which had been swimming underwater, instantly became violent.

They no longer moved cautiously but directly pierced into the truck's chassis beam and engine compartment.

Silver light erupted in the deep water.

The nine-meter-long heavy truck, along with its thick insulated cargo compartment, heavy wheel hubs, and complex transmission shaft.

Was violently disassembled in just a few minutes.

A massive torrent of metal was pumped into the black iron through the tentacles.

[Captured high-quality steel: 2.5 tons]

[Captured aluminum alloy: 300kg]

[Hull upgrade progress: Lv1 (5% -> 12%)]

"Every little bit helps."

Jiang Ran watched the progress bar slowly climb a notch before getting up and walking out of the cockpit to the aft deck.

He pried open the plastic boxes.

There were three boxes in total, each containing 24 cans of luncheon meat.

Another half-box had leaked due to pressure and had to be discarded.

Although this was just a drop in the ocean compared to a whole truckload of supplies.

But for Jiang Ran, who was gnawing on expired ham sausage just a second ago.

These 72 cans of luncheon meat were his initial capital in this apocalypse.

"At least for half a month, I don't have to worry about starving to death."

Jiang Ran picked up a heavy can of luncheon meat; the cold tinplate felt reassuring.

The rain outside grew heavier.

The black iron cutter hovered silently on the dark water like an isolated island.

The cockpit, however, was quiet.

Jiang Ran sat in the spacious main driver's seat, holding a newly opened can of luncheon meat.

He didn't use utensils, instead using a folding knife to pick up a large chunk and put it into his mouth. Although it was cold.

But the rich fat, starch, and savory meaty taste, bursting in his mouth, was even more delicious than a Michelin-starred meal.

That was the taste of energy, the taste of life.

"Hoo..."

Jiang Ran let out a satisfied sigh.

He felt the grease slide down his esophagus, like a protective film, warming his cramped stomach.

Full and warm, with his body temperature rising, this tangible sense of being alive allowed his tense nerves to relax slightly.

However, just as he was about to close his eyes for a short rest.

The communication indicator light on the control panel suddenly turned from green to red, beginning to flash urgently.

"Zzzzz... hiss hiss..."

A noisy, static-filled electrical sound came from the speaker, breaking the quiet in the cabin.

Full-Spectrum Radar is not just eyes.

Its built-in high-sensitivity receiving array is also the only ear in this radio-silent world.

[Locking signal source...]

[Signal strength: Strong]

[Encryption level: None (civilian broadcast band)] [Content parsing...]