Chapter 414.2: We Have To Start Scamming Somewhere...

In fact, when purchasing industrial equipment from Boulder Town, he had adopted this method of establishing exchange mechanisms and procurement channels, letting lifestyle gamers and factory-owning NPCs purchase suitable equipment according to their needs.

However, the situation in Ideal City was clearly different from that in Boulder Town.

The distance of 3,000 kilometers made it difficult for the two parties to form a stable trading market, preventing the New Alliance from earning foreign exchange from Ideal City.

He only had 30 million CR to use, which couldn’t be entirely left to market adjustments.

The total procurement list given by industry representatives had 317 items, 57 of which were prioritized.

Among these 57 items, 80% were in heavy industry, 20% in light industry. Based on Yi Chuan’s assessment, the costs far exceeded the 30 million budget.

At least 50 million CR was needed.

To secure more aid, significant victories had to be achieved on the battlefield. Only seeing the effectiveness of the spent money would the corporations be willing to bet more.

However, Chu Guang always felt that while he was painting a rosy picture for those on the East Coast, they were also painting one for him.

Want a munitions factory that can produce 10,000 shells a day?

Want a coal mine with an annual output of 10,000 tons?

Including automated cable factories, auto repair shops, tractor factories...

Do you want them?

Just beat up the big noses on the West Coast, and they're yours.

That first 30 million in aid was more like a down payment.

Looking at the funding gap of at least 20 million on the list, and the production lines suggested by players, Chu Guang couldn't help but sigh.

"If only there was a way to make some CR."

Sitting at the computer desk, Little Seven tilted its head and buzzed, "Master, isn’t 30 million enough?"

Chu Guang shook his head. "Not enough, I consulted with a representative from the Silver Wing Corporate Group, just the quote for a paving machine is close to 30 million... That doesn’t even include maintenance costs."

Little Seven showed a surprised expression and whispered. "30 million... that’s enough to build 300 kilometers of road."

Leaning back in his chair, Chu Guang nodded. "Yes, including maintenance costs, the total mileage would be less than 500 kilometers. It's better to just outsource the project to the Ideal Corporation, so I didn’t even include it in the first batch of procurement."

Little Seven thought for a second before mumbling, "So how do you plan to solve the funding gap?"

Although it didn’t have any good ideas, it felt sure its master would one.

Chu Guang sighed, staring at the ceiling, and muttered to himself, “Right now, there’s only one way, and that’s to achieve impressive victories on the front lines. That way, we also have enough leverage to ask the Enterprise to increase their support."

But... Relying on others’ charity is never a long-term solution.

Once the war ends and the Army is driven out, aid from the East Coast will naturally cease.

If only there is a way to rip them off...

It was a shame they sent and android army this time. There wasn’t even a way to scam their wages. Not only would the androids not spend any money... They would even power off normally when there was nothing to do so as to save electricity.

To rely on the four representatives... There was no way they could gather 20 million! Even if they stuffed themselves full of food and the New Alliance raised their prices to the limit, they would earn 20,000 to 30,000 at most.

It was basically nothing in the face of what they required!

When Chu Guang’s head was starting to hurt, a notification appeared on his VM. It was sent by Pai, the genius from Camp 101.

[My teacher told me to inform you that the power station should be fixed soon! We will start it up in a day or two, will you come to take a look?]

Chu Guang snapped upright when he read it.

Oh yeah! The Controlled Fusion Power Station!

I completely forgot!

“AHA! I GOT IT!” Chu Guang yelled suddenly.

Seeing its owner jumping in excitement all of a sudden, Little Seven blinked slowly. “What did you get?”

“We’ll get them to commission us to do it!” Chu Guang laughed. With a fire burning in his eyes, he continued, “We can get them to place some orders for parts with us, and they’ll help us set up the factories to do it! After that, we’ll produce what they need and we’ll be able to do more in the future!”

What the hell... I’m a fucking genius!

He had been meeting the representatives from the various corporations all day, and he had tunnel vision on how to scam their money. He completely forgot that he could make an even bigger killing!

Little Seven buzzed at the side, “Hmm... But, didn’t you say that 3,000 kilometers is too far and sending things over will be a problem?”

“That was then, this is now!” Chu Guang declared.

“As long as we activate the Controlled Fusion Power Station, West Continent Municipality will possess the same level of electrical power as Ideal City! In fact, our cost of electricity might be lower than theirs!”

West Continent Municipality’s power station was left behind from the pre-war era. It was supposed to be a third generation ultra advanced model. It was said to possess the same level of technology as that in Ideal City.

Just based on the technology used alone, there shouldn’t be much of a difference.

Of course, they couldn’t just care about the ability to produce and their cost of electricity... There was still the matter of transportation and escorting their products...

Moreover, at their currently level of production, even if they moved a portion of industries over from Dawn City, they wouldn’t be able to fully make use of the electricity produced by the Controlled Fusion Power Station. In other words, there would be a surplus of energy they had to find a way to use anyway.

From a certain standpoint, it was true that the New Alliance could provide electricity cheaper than Ideal City. If they stored all the excess and made some value out of them, it was basically free money!

To the Enterprise, they would have to fly their planes over anyway when sending aid. When they went back... Why couldn’t they just bring some stuff back? They were going back anyway.

With the excess electricity in West Continent Municipality... Ideal City could move some less important industries over and send their products back!

Even though it sounded counter intuitive, if West Continent Municipality’s Controlled Fusion Power Station was really up and running, they would still be able to save a bunch of money by producing there!

3,000 kilometers of distance was nothing! Even though there was a limit of how much they could ship back, at the very least, it would be more than enough for the time being! It could deal with the New Alliance’s problem at the very moment.

When the cost of transport finally reached a problematic state in the future, West Continent Municipality would have been developed countries times over. Even Heavenly Water Tributary would have grown.

They could build massive ships then and when that happened, they wouldn’t just have to trade with Ideal City. They would be able to trade with any survivor settlements thousands of miles away!

Thinking of the massive plan that would be put into motion in the future, Chu Guang felt the path ahead opening up and he couldn’t help but laugh.

It wasn’t just a win-win situation! He basically struck the jackpot!

While not wanting to interrupt its master's daydreaming, Little Seven couldn't help but whisper a reminder, "But master... Isn’t nuclear fuel limited? Little Seven thinks it would be better to conserve it."

Chu Guang replied without hesitation, "You’re right, but no matter how thrifty we are, limited stocks will one day be exhausted. Problems caused by development must be solved by development!"

One cannot stop eating for fear of choking.

As long as the nuclear fuel in the southern part of the River Valley Province lasts until the New Alliance is capable of resuming sub atmospheric flights, these problems will naturally be solved!

But by the time it developed to that stage, the New Alliance would presumably no longer need to depend on anyone...

As his fingers flew over the keyboard, Chu Guang hit the enter button, sending a reply to Pai in West Continent Municipality.

"Of course I do! I’ll come over!"

...

While Chu Guang was busy communicating with Camp 101 about igniting the reactor, Dawn City’s First Hospital welcomed a special guest.

Walking along the hospital corridors next to Yunyi, Yu Feng quietly explained, "... When we passed through Forever East Municipality earlier, we ran into a bit of trouble. The mutated Slime Mold there is quite different from other places, having evolved to be exceptionally aggressive and even capable of disguising as ordinary survivors."

"To break through, 20 soldiers from the assault team were infected and are now unable to complete their mission. Our captain left them here for treatment."

He was Hedin’s apprentice and employee, the logistic officer of the expedition team.

To help the New Alliance build ammunition production lines and introduce instant noodle production technology, his boss asked him to stay to link up with the reinforcements that would arrive later.

It was worth mentioning that since the assault team’s logistics were outsourced to a corporate partner, he and his boss, like the employees of the Enterprise, did not have resident status in Ideal City but were ordinary wastelanders born in a settlement in the Among Cloud Province.

For him, high-ranking Enterprise employees were definitely big shots.

Even engineers and other technical staff were considered much more important people.

After hearing his account, Yunyi slowly nodded. "I’ve heard about your situation, the Silver Wing Corporate Group mentioned the anomaly in Forever East Municipality in their report, but we can’t spare attention for that now. The crew of the Pioneer and Shelter 0 are the highest priority... How severe are their injuries?"

Yu Feng shook his head. "Pretty bad... The New Alliance has some excellent biologists and experience in combating Slime Mold, but as you can see, the medical conditions and research infrastructure here are too backward."

"All they can do is maintain the status quo, preventing the soldiers’ conditions from worsening. For complete recovery, they’d likely need to be transferred to a hospital in Ideal City."

Yunyi sighed softly and consoled, "You’ve had a hard time... Once we refuel, our plane will take you home."

Yu Feng smiled awkwardly. "Actually... it’s not really hard, the living conditions here are okay. Of course, it’s definitely not as lively as Ideal City."

Yunyi didn’t respond. To her, that obviously sounded like a comforting lie.

After all, no matter how she looked at it, the level of development was far below Ideal City, not even comparable to some of the larger survivor settlements in the Among Cloud Province.

It could only be said that, compared to other survivor settlements inland, the lifestyle in the New Alliance was relatively more civilized.

After all, quite a few wasterlanders also lived there, which might have influenced their lifestyle.

Led by Yu Feng and a hospital nurse, Yunyi arrived at the door of the ward, faintly hearing voices from inside.

"Pair of aces!"

"Damn, I can’t beat that!"

"Shit! Hurry up and stop him with a four of a kind!”

"What the hell? Where am I supposed to find that?”

"Hahaha, the bomb’s with me! Four threes, byebye!"

"@#%!"

"Stop dawdling, hurry up!"

Standing at the door, Yunyi was slightly stunned, not quite understanding their discussion.

Pair of aces?

Bomb?

Were they discussing a battle plan?

Thinking of those poor kids being sent to far-off battlefields to bleed and sacrifice for people they’ve never met, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.

If it weren’t for that obstinate expedition, they wouldn’t have had to endure such hardships.

Taking a deep breath, Yunyi pushed open the door.

However, when she saw the situation inside, she was stunned.

The messy ward was filled with a dozen shirtless men gathered around a small table.

Scattered papers and silver coins covered the table, and beer bottles and cigarette butts littered the concrete floor nearby.

Seeing Yunyi at the door, a few of the men continued to deal cards playfully, completely oblivious, while Shen Rui, whose arm was wrapped, gasped in shock.

Others might not recognize this person. But as an old soldier under Yun Song, he certainly did...

Noticing the frantic looks from Yu Feng, Shen Rui was about to say something to alleviate the awkwardness.

However, before he could speak, a soft cough from the doorway broke the room’s raucous laughter and banter.

Looking at the young men, Yunyi slowly spoke from the doorway, "What are you doing?"