"Oh, Master, you've finally come to find me."
The faint "whir" sound was the rolling wheels scraping against the concrete floor.
Upon returning to the surface, Chu Guang first visited the third floor of the infirmary.
Initially, he planned to find Little Seven for a quick update. But before he even reached the window, the pitiful trash can creaked towards him, inching closer.
Chu Guang, baffled, looked at it, wondering what was wrong this time.
"What's going on with you?"
"Little Seven has only one bar of battery left."
*Sigh.*
And here he thought it was something serious.
Wait…
Chu Guang: "And where am I supposed to find a place to charge you?"
Little Seven: "I have a wireless charging port on me. Just let me stay in the shelter for a while, and I'll be fine!"
Chu Guang: "…"
No wonder he hadn't seen a single outlet in the shelter. Even the computer on the desk, without a power source, seemed never to lose charge. Apparently, everything here is high-tech.
Though, wireless charging hardly counts as high-tech these days.
Hoisting the trash-can-shaped robot, Chu Guang headed downstairs.
Obediently retracting its wheels, Little Seven suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, right, Master."
"What now?"
"I just remembered—the shelter's power system seems to be driven by a nuclear fusion core."
"Nuclear fusion?"
"Yes, so the power will last for a very, very long time."
"Oh, that's a relief." Chu Guang's mind was already spinning with ways to siphon some of that energy.
Little Seven continued.
"But…this may not be entirely good news."
Interrupted by these words, Chu Guang stopped mid-step on the staircase.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's the year 2340 now. Compared to when the shelter was built, it's been quite some time…"
What?!
Chu Guang quickly asked, "So what happens when the power runs out?"
However, Little Seven's response nearly made him spit out blood.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?!"
Such an essential issue, and you don't know?
Isn't there an emergency protocol?
Little Seven cautiously replied, "According to the plan…the shelter should have opened a century ago, but for some unknown reason, it was delayed by a full century."
Chu Guang: "…"
Seeing Chu Guang's silence, Little Seven offered a tentative reassurance.
"Actually, you don't need to be too pessimistic. The power room of Vault 404 should be on the third level. As long as you unlock that level, you can replace the fuel rods as needed."
Chu Guang almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
"And where, exactly, am I supposed to find nuclear fusion fuel rods?"
It's already the 211th year of the Wasteland Era.
Little Seven: "Uh, I'm sure there'll be a way, right?"
Chu Guang: "…"
Well, no use venting on a piece of electronic hardware. That would be petty.
Chu Guang set Little Seven down beside the elevator, watching as the trash-can robot rolled away.
He felt slightly irritated.
But Chu Guang understood that getting anxious wouldn't help now—problems had to be solved one at a time.
In the short term, power shouldn't be a major issue. Even if the shelter was delayed by a century, it had been in energy-saving mode all this time, so who knows, maybe the remaining power could last for decades.
In comparison, the approaching winter was more pressing.
Time to prepare was running out…
Leaving the infirmary, Chu Guang approached the cement kiln, where the players, brimming with enthusiasm, had already begun constructing a second kiln.
Nearby, eight neat mounds of soil were ready for charcoal.
They were skipping the agricultural age and leaping straight into industrialization!
Chu Guang felt overjoyed.
Thanks to his people-management skills and excellent village governance!
Seeing the approaching Overseer, Old Bai, smeared with dirt, didn't seem like a grown man in his thirties but rather a child, beaming as he stood up to greet him.
"Overseer, you've come!"
"Yes, I was just downstairs… Was this your idea?" Chu Guang asked, looking at the clay-built kiln behind him.
"It was a group effort!"
"No need for modesty, I've seen it all—your contributions will be remembered by the organization!"
Old Bai's face lit up.
That was exactly what he'd been waiting for!
Especially the latter part.
"…Additionally, I'll represent the organization in awarding each of you 1,000 contribution points as recognition for unlocking cement building materials. From this moment, you're appointed as the Construction Leader of the outpost for Vault 404!"
"You're free to unleash your creativity within the plan's scope and design our forward base."
If only a "ding" notification sounded right then—it would be amazing.
Or, a reward pop-up in the players' view would be nice too.
But alas, there was neither.
Even so, the mere promise and verbal commendation filled Old Bai with ecstatic pride.
Merits!
A position!
And favorability!
It seemed this game's hidden systems were more intricate than he had anticipated!
"Respected Overseer! I'll give my utmost to build our home to the best of my abilities!"
The three other players looked on enviously.
Though they all had contribution points, it was clear that the "Construction Leader" title was the real prize.
Having the freedom to construct facilities—this wasn't just any construction lead; it was like being the director of a post-apocalyptic planning office!
Absolutely awesome!
Seeing the spirited Old Bai, Chu Guang nodded approvingly and said,
"Very well, now I need you to tell me your plans."
"Yes!"
Old Bai straightened up, ready to report.
According to Old Bai, after logging off yesterday, he had done field research at a real-world cement factory, where he learned from an experienced worker that adding iron powder to cement increases its strength and durability.
Discussing real-world matters in the game seemed to be ignored by NPCs, so, seeing no reaction from the Overseer, Old Bai went straight to the point.
Considering the Wasteland was littered with rusted steel, he planned to mix collected iron rust with charcoal, using the latter as a reducing agent, to smelt iron. Then, he'd combine the resulting slag with lime ash in the cement.
Though this approach would raise production costs slightly, the cement produced could be used for building larger, more durable, and heat-resistant cement kilns.
"Relying solely on these clay kilns to mass-produce cement isn't feasible, so I intend to invest all initial cement into constructing production facilities, gradually increasing cement output!"
Chu Guang nodded approvingly.
"An excellent plan, but…how much cement can you produce with just tree bark?"
Moments earlier, Chu Guang had noticed not only a pile of felled logs but also that trees around the infirmary were nearly stripped of their bark by the survivors—even the stumps!
Old Bai, having considered this issue, confidently replied,
"That's why we need a more specialized kiln—one that reaches 1450 degrees Celsius! Then we can create calcium carbonate cement by burning limestone and clay, completely replacing the lime ash materials!"
Potash and sodium-rich lime ash cement was far from ideal, merely a substitute when conditions didn't allow.
Now appointed Construction Leader, Old Bai found his ambitions expanding.
He no longer saw just a wall or a single infirmary building in his sights.
No, he envisioned the entire Wasteland.
He was determined to reshape this world according to his vision!
"You've thought it through thoroughly. Proceed with your plan."
Chu Guang nodded, then turned to the three remaining players.
"Two new recruits will be joining us soon. I'm planning a small feast to welcome them, so we need some game for the meal…can't serve them porridge."
He paused, then continued.
"Who's up for a hunt with me?"
The moment he finished speaking, four hands shot up.
Chu Guang blinked.
Good heavens, even the newly appointed Construction Leader raised his hand!
"Ah…there's no need for so many. Night Ten, you're with me since you're a perception class."
"At your service, Overseer!"
Excited, Night Ten saluted and proudly stood beside the Overseer, while the other players looked on enviously.
Chu Guang addressed the remaining three with a serious tone.
"You also have an essential task. Cement is critical to the outpost's development. We have enough wood for now, so I need you to halt logging and focus entirely on cement production. Can you do it?"
Though a bit disappointed they couldn't join the hunt, the three players obediently accepted his orders.
"We'll complete the mission!"
Excellent.
As expected from my chosen players!
Satisfied, Chu Guang nodded, and with Night Ten grinning beside him, he strode towards the woods south of the infirmary…