Chapter 163: Setting Off

[Item:

Letter From Luo Hua

]

"My dear friend Bucky, I have to tell you good news. With the generosity of our ally, we have successfully repaired the broken parts and will be back on the road soon!

"I remember that the last time I wrote to you was half a month ago. The reason why you haven't heard from me for so long is not that I forgot about you, but because I was sent to carry out a very important mission, serving as a liaison with our ally... This job is very important, you can think of it as being a diplomat. There is a lot of entertaining I had to do, but it is not annoying.

"I remember you told me that you wanted to go over that towering wall and go to the world outside. You want to see the mountains and lakes in the distance, and the endless deserts and swamps; you want to climb over the snow-capped mountains and jungles, and look for lost relics. I remember you once told me that you were tired of the boring life, and you were very envious that I could find a group of like-minded partners, let go of the mundane, and go deep into the wilderness occupied by chaos and barbarism.

"I mean, if that's the case... Why not try it? The road is just under your feet. And as I write this letter, we have traveled thousands of kilometers, and will soon go further.

"If you can't find the way, I solemnly recommend the partners we met in Clearspring City to you. They are a group of hardworking, brave, good people with a positive outlook on life, who live in the Shelter 404. They have an impressive culture and every day with them is such a joy.

"It's a great place. When you get there, you'll understand why I said that."

On the Pioneer.

Lying in a comfortable single room with the back of his head resting on his arms, Luo Hua faced the holographic window suspended in front of him and dictated the content of the letter.

Speaking of which, he had been away from home for more than a year. The crowded and noisy environment that he despised before was actually missed now in retrospect.

"I should write a letter to Dad as well." Luo Hua sighed softly, and was about to send it, but then he suddenly remembered that he forgot to leave his signature, so he immediately added another line.

"Your best friend, Luo Hua."

...

Two days later, on an ordinary morning...

There was no grand ceremony. As if the time was up, the steel fortress crawling in the wilderness spread out the steel structure to both sides like a gantry crane.

The robotic arm lowered from the steel structure was like a hand, picking up the modular production units previously deployed in the open space one by one and putting them back on the back of the Pioneer.

This was an incredible scene, but it was as natural as breathing to the people on the Pioneer.

Standing in front of the porthole of the office and looking at the production module slowly rising outside the window, Li De's face showed a relieved expression. "It's finally time to get back on the road."

He had waited too long for this moment.

"Yes, we have been delayed here for half a month." Standing behind Division Chief Li, although Wang Jie expressed his approval, his mood was very complicated.

On the one hand, he wanted to stay here for a few more days.

On the other, his savings was pretty much wiped out.

In fact, he wasn't the only one with similar troubles. Ever since the water truck driver came back with a bag of buns, they were unable to save any money.

Fortunately, they couldn't swipe their card to pay the blue coats. A large part of their salary was directly stored in their account. Otherwise, they would've probably used their savings.

If Wang Jie was just feeling troubled, then Division Chief Li who was standing in front of him at this moment was feeling a severe headache.

In just half a month, those blue coats actually earned 210,000CR!

Li De deeply reviewed his mistakes in decision-making.

When he signed the labor contract, he never considered that these blue coats would come to his door to do business, and he never thought that these poor blue coats would actually make money from them.

Therefore, when pricing the traded goods, Li De only referred to the most basic salary expenditures. It was estimated that he would spend 2,000CR per day, and he would spend up to 50,000 to 60,000CR at most before departing.

However, that was also something that couldn't be helped.

Who would have thought that those people would engage in value-added services, and they were also doing side business at the operation camp, so that his budget exceeded by an order of magnitude.

Those items on the list should not be sold to them at cost price!

Of course, Li De thought about it afterwards and felt that it might not be a bad thing.

Although those blue coats earned 210,000CR, after a wave of rational analysis, it showed that the trade deficit was still 0. Chu Guang eventually spent all the money back on them.

The bill circulated around and eventually flowed back to the Pioneer. The current financial situation of the logistics department was very good, and the refrigerators in the cafeteria were even stuffed with steamed buns, dumplings, and wontons made by blue coats... There was a lot of food that could be used to boost morale.

If I look at it from this perspective...

It can't be called a total loss, right

?

After taking a sip of the fragrant coffee, Li De looked out the porthole and said slowly, "Speaking of which, what did they buy from us?"

Wang Jie replied, "Some metal-hydrogen batteries and exoskeletons... The rest has been replaced by grain and crop seeds."

The purchase of exoskeletons was easy to understand. In the absence of exoframes, it was the perfect substitute.

It was just this metal-hydrogen battery...

Li De asked curiously, "What do they want metal-hydrogen batteries for?"

Wang Jie was also at a loss. "I don't know... Maybe they plan to make exoskeletons or drones themselves?"

"..."

Do they have that type of technology?

This is a bit unusual!

...

The outpost of Shelter 404 certainly didn't have technology like that, but it wouldn’t be long till they had it!

Just as the Pioneer was packing up, Chu Guang, accompanied by Luca, was counting the wool in the warehouse of the operation camp.

A total of 213,420CR, after removing the compensation of 117,000CR, was 96,420CR.

What is the concept of 96,000CR then?

It was equivalent to his players creating an income of 9,000CR for him everyday. And at least half of them were earned through trade other than labor dispatch.

Such an amazing surplus, let alone the wool of those fat sheep, even the sheepskin was almost peeled off by his players!

Excluding the 10,000CR spent on changing Boss Xia's leg, there was still 203,420CR left.

This hard-won huge sum of money was paid by his players with their endless sweat, and even their blood. So Chu Guang naturally couldn't squander it at will.

After some deliberation, Chu Guang first took out 100,000CR and purchased 50 common types of metal hydrogen batteries with an average of 2,000CR per piece.

As for why he wanted to buy batteries, the reason was very simple. It was the most cost-effective commodity, and it was difficult to buy it in Clearspring City.

According to Chu Guang's research on the KV-1 exoskeleton produced by Boulder Town, the only thing that could be called alien technology in the entire exoskeleton was a solid-state hydrogen battery.

As for the mechanical structure and engineering design, although there were some notable points, they were not excellent enough to impress people.

The metal hydrogen battery produced by Enterprise had a higher energy density than ordinary solid-state hydrogen batteries.

That was real alien technology to him and whether it was used to make a drone or an exoskeleton, it was very reliable. Even if he bought a bunch of KV-1 directly, changing their battery would improve its endurance by a lot.

The price of 2,000CR was definitely cheap!

Chu Guang estimated that in the region of Clear Spring City, this kind of good thing that could be used as a strategic reserve should be sold for 4,000CR at least or exchanged for equivalent goods.

After spending 100,000CR to buy batteries, he still had 103,420 CR left.

After some weighing, Chu Guang took out half of it and exchanged it with seeds of grains and some pre-war crops, and used the remaining half to buy 10 sets of Miner Type I Exoskeletons worth 5,000CR each.

Regarding the set of exoskeleton, anyone could tell what it was used for just by hearing its name.

But that was not important.

KV-1 was still used to move bricks, and it was welded with steel bars and steel plates, which could also be used as a pseudo-exoframe.

In particular, this Miner Type I exoskeleton had a much better design than the junk he bought from Boulder Town.

Not to mention other benefits, the metal hydrogen battery it carried was so much stronger than that of KV-1. Its excellent electronic control system and motor design not only ensured long battery life, but also provided it with stronger and more stable power output. If players wanted, thicker and heavier armor could theoretically be welded onto it!

In Enterprise, the Miner Type I Exoskeleton was a Class E trading product, and it was also the most advanced one that Chu Guang could buy under the mechanical exoskeleton item.

Of course, the set of exoskeleton was not without any shortcomings.

The explosive power of metal hydrogen was 35 times that of conventional explosives, and the detonation speed was far higher than that of Cyclonite. In theory, this thing only needed 1 liter to blow up a main battle tank. Therefore, in the later Type II and Type III, Enterprise changed the metal hydrogen back to a slightly safer solid-state hydrogen battery, and the export control was also lowered to Class F traded goods.

Interestingly, though, even though the Type II and III were safer, the best seller in the wasteland was still the original.

Even though White strongly suggested buying the safer Type II, Chu Guang insisted on his idea without hesitation.

"With these things, I feel like I don't need to sell my old armor..."

Looking at the industrial-style exoskeletons in the warehouse, Chu Guang couldn't help but ponder. However, he only thought for less than three seconds before making a decision.

"Forget it, I'll sell it.”

"Just consider it a bonus for my hardworking players."

After all, it was the armor used by the administrator. So Chu Guang decided to use the auction to determine its ownership. Only the most industrious players could have this armor engraved with honor!

Mhm, when I go back, I'll have to make two more scratches on its front armor.

As for the Miner Type I Exoskeleton, Chu Guang intended to stipulate that players were required to reach the Citizen level to purchase this kind of exoskeleton, and each account would be limited to one purchase. In addition, the exoskeleton would be automatically bound after purchase and could not be traded to players or neutral NPCs. If players didn't want it, they could only sell it to the designated warehouse or weapon store.

Considering the import price was as high as 5,000CR, the selling price of 5,000 silver coins should be more reasonable.

But if he really set a price that high, his players would probably have to save money until next year before they could afford buying one.

"I'll sell it for 2,000 silver coins then... But there should be an additional threshold. Not only do they have to be a Citizen, but they also have to reach level 10 before they can buy it!"

Hoarding the equipment and storing in the warehouse without using them is something that only the old leech would do.

As long as the equipment could be obtained by the highly active Combat Profession players, whether they were using the equipment to move bricks, scavenge, hunt or do other things, it was the most profitable choice for Chu Guang.

Basically unless they happened to be the intelligence type, Lifestyle Profession players would find it difficult to quickly level up in the early stage.

The most typical representative of them was Mosquito. Since his genetic sequence was an agility type, he often stayed in his workshop and rarely went out to do missions, so his level was still only LV5. Tomato Eggs, who started playing the game with him, had already reached LV6 before the expansion. He was now almost LV7, and was already a mature constitution type tank.

After asking Luca to arrange trucks to transport some of the goods back to the outpost, Chu Guang, who walked out of the warehouse, glanced at the employees of Pioneer who were busy packing outside the camp, his eyes full of unwillingness.

If only they could stay a few more days.

Popcorn has only just become popular on the Pioneer. It's really a shame that we haven't been able to sell much...

...

It took them ten minutes to deploy, but one hour to pack up.

Before eight o'clock in the morning, the people of Pioneer finally finished packing.

However, this steel behemoth did not take everything away. For example, the operation camp about 100 meters away was kept intact.

Not only that, but in the period after encountering the Army, the Pioneer also helped the local shelter residents to reinforce the operation camp for the second time.

The current operation camp not only had a three-meter-tall reinforced concrete wall, but also had a five-meter-tall trapezoidal gun tower at the four corners of the camp.

In addition, there were 300 tons of cement that hadn't been used, which was also left in the camp by the Pioneer's crew.

Together with the supplies that Chu Guang bought with CR, they were placed in different warehouses.

"... This is a little token of goodwill from us, I hope they can help you." Captain Lu Yang, wearing an exoframe, walked up to Chu Guang and a group of shelter residents, and lifted the visor of his helmet.

Chu Guang looked at him and said solemnly, "Thank you, you have helped us a lot, I will remember this favor."

To be honest, Chu Guang seldom revealed his heart to others in his previous life or in this.

However, his words were absolutely genuine.

It was rare to see such a serious expression on this friend's face, but Captain Lu Yang didn't keep it in mind and smiled heartily.

"Likewise, you have also helped us a lot. Without your help, we would not have been able to get back on the road so soon."

After a moment's pause, that hearty smile suddenly became a little melancholy.

"Goodbye, my friend. If all goes well, we will meet again!"

When he came back, he would come back victorious!

Chu Guang nodded. "Definitely, I wish you victory and a worry-free journey."

"Thank you!"

After fist-bumping each other as a final goodbye gesture, Lu Yang, who left in a dashing manner, waved his hand and stood on the elevator leading to the steel fortress.

That would be the final batch.

The elevator rose slowly, and the doors slammed shut.

The ground trembled heavily, making a dull sound. Driven by fusion energy, the magnificent Continental Vessel started to move again.

The steel crawler moved forward slowly and firmly, running over the snow-covered ground and the frozen branches, and finally merged with the stalwart figure into the winter morning mist, leaving only a dozen ruts-like ravines.

This shocking scene made the players standing at the gate of the operation camp widen their eyes in shock as if their eyes were glued to the invisible fortress.

"They... Left?"

"This, is, freaking, AWESOME! This fortress can really move! I'm beginning to doubt the authenticity of this game's physics engine!"

"After a wave of rational analysis, with nuclear fusion, it is indeed possible... But the material is probably not ordinary steel, otherwise it will not be able to withstand its huge weight."

"Alright, alright, stop analyzing it. I just want to know if this expansion is over now?"

"Probably? The scavenging mission in the northern town has been gone since yesterday. Did you guys pay attention to the VM at all?"

"Wait a minute, aren't there more than 100 unlucky players who haven't been resurrected?"

"Damn it, those developers are really ridiculous. They definitely can't fix the bug, so they decided to close the expansion instead!"

"Hahahaha, well said, brother, well said!"

Hearing the chatter of the players, Chu Guang smiled lightly.

Looking away from the fortress that disappeared into the distance, Chu Guang stretched out his index finger and swiped on the VM.

The pre-edited server announcement was immediately sent to each player's VM and the official website.

[Server announcement:

The prosperity of the operation camp has reached 100 points, and it has grown into a survivor's stronghold. It is now renamed to, Longevity Town.

]

[Server announcement:

The Continental Vessel expansion has been successfully completed. The players who couldn't be resurrected can now log in to the game normally.

]

[Server announcement:

100 new players who have been invited in Alpha 0.8 version have logged into the game, let's welcome them together!

]