The number of players had grown from single digits to double digits, bringing not only increased productivity but also a slew of new problems.
Take, for example, the login times.
Chu Guang realized he had overlooked something— not everyone is tied down by work or school during the day.
Especially in the solo gaming community.
Here, the most common type is probably the guy who's always popping up in the group chat 24/7, leaving everyone puzzled about how he makes a living in real life.
After staying up late reading the chat and forgetting to turn off his computer, Chu Guang, dozing in his chair, was jolted awake by the incessant pings of private messages in the middle of the night.
Damn it.
Who could it be at this hour?
Rubbing his eyes, he squinted at the message pop-up, realizing it was from "Level 99 Trash Picker" of the Cattle Club.
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "Brother Guang! What's the earliest I can log in?"
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "I can't wait any longer, please let me in to start working!"
Gosh.
People like this really exist.
Not fully awake, Chu Guang took a moment before typing back.
**Guang**: "I was catching up on sleep… don't you have work during the day?"
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "Work? Who needs that? This game's gonna be huge! Better to start leveling up now, haha!"
Chu Guang: "…"
Isn't saying that to a game developer just a bit much?
Whatever.
Let's just pretend I didn't hear that.
**Guang**: "You'd better pace yourself. The official release date isn't even set; this could go through a year or two of closed beta, and another three to five of internal testing."
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "Doesn't matter! You guys have nothing to worry about, so why should I, haha."
His logic was flawless.
In fact, he seemed to have a clearer perspective than most of the other closed beta players.
No other game on the market could hold a candle to this one; they were all trash in comparison.
And let's not forget, this game lets you make use of nighttime hours—an unbeatable feature, right?
Who wouldn't want eight extra hours in their day?
A little hard work during beta is nothing; it's not like the grind would last forever. Only amateurs treat beta content as the game's entirety.
Trash Picker saw the bigger picture.
Though he didn't know when the official release would come, he was confident it would be a surefire hit when it did!
Getting early access meant every day's advantage over others, and besides, he was already deeply hooked.
**Guang**: "...Suit yourself."
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "Hey, Mr. Developer, think you could let me log in now? I promise, whatever you want tested, I'll test it!"
**Guang**: "Do whatever you like, just follow the game rules. But… won't it be pointless logging in now? The game time mirrors real time, so it should still be the middle of the night."
This was why Chu Guang hadn't required survivors to work through the night.
Even he wasn't sure he could spend a whole night in the wilderness safely.
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "That's exactly why! You might not know, but my genetic profile in the game is of a mutant! Strictly speaking, nighttime is my domain, while daytime is when I should be resting! Please, Mr. Developer, just let me in."
**Guang**: "I'll see what I can do."
**Level 99 Trash Picker**: "Thank you, Brother Guang!!!"
Chu Guang sighed, standing up and smoothing out his slightly crumpled collar and shirt buttons.
He had never seen a player this eager.
But the guy did make a valid point.
Strictly speaking, nighttime was indeed a mutant's prime hunting ground.
For a "Level 99 Trash Picker" with the lizardman gene, darkness didn't necessarily mean danger—instead, it might provide cover.
Having made up his mind, Chu Guang opened the player list and switched Trash Picker's status from [Locked] to [Enabled].
Almost instantly, the door to the next room slid open.
Unbelievable.
That quick?
Watching the lizardman emerge from the room, Chu Guang put on a serious expression, hands clasped behind his back, facing him sternly.
"You're awake? Just in time."
"I happen to have a mission for you."
A mission trigger!?
Level 99 Trash Picker snapped to attention, standing straight and energized.
"At your command, Honorable Administrator."
Chu Guang wasted no words, diving right into the assignment.
"Across from Wetlands Park's east gate is Street 76, where a mutant tribe resides. During the day, we spotted signs of raiders around the northern city highway. I suspect there's a raider outpost to the north."
"I need you to scout north along the highway and search within a three-kilometer radius for any traces of survivor activity. If you locate a possible survivor outpost, mark it on the map and report back immediately."
"Remember to stay hidden and avoid any unnecessary fights."
"Oh, and if you come across suitable prey, you can take them down for a side mission—the reward's always available."
Listening to Chu Guang's orders, the two-meter-tall player immediately bowed his head respectfully.
"As you command, Honorable Administrator!"
Finally getting the login permission he'd been desperate for, Level 99 Trash Picker wasted no time. He left the shelter, stepped onto the elevator to the surface, and quickly vanished into the night beyond the sanatorium.
Chu Guang could sense each player's approximate position and distance.
After confirming that Trash Picker was following orders and heading north, Chu Guang returned to the shelter, closed the door, and sank back into his chair to catch a bit more sleep.
…
Before six the next morning, the players began emerging one by one from their incubation pods, except for Yaya, who was still reconstructing her clone.
Trash Picker hadn't returned from his mission yet.
But Chu Guang could see from the player list that he was alive and not too far from Wetlands Park.
"Honorable Administrator, may I ask if there are any new tasks for today?" Old Bai was the first to approach, respectfully inquiring.
It was almost a ritual now, though a seemingly pointless one, as he asked it every day.
Just in case, though—what if it triggered a storyline?
Even if it didn't, it was still good to keep his presence up before the Administrator.
As usual, Chu Guang performed his duty, retrieving two experimental bolt-action rifles and handing them to Fang Chang and Ye Shi.
Along with each rifle, he gave them twenty rounds of ammunition.
He wasn't expecting these rookies to hit anything with these crude guns; they'd be lucky if they managed to intimidate a target with the noise alone.
But if they hit anything? That would be a huge bonus.
Ideally, though, no combat would occur.
"The safety's on the right side of the trigger. Familiarize yourself with it, but don't touch it unless I tell you to."
Seeing the two players fumbling excitedly with their new toys, Chu Guang continued.
"We're heading out to a nearby survivor settlement to trade for resources needed at the outpost."
"No matter what happens, follow my lead. Don't act on your own, and definitely don't fire or display hostility unless I say so."
"Remember, we represent everyone in Shelter 404."
"Understood?"
"Understood, Honorable Administrator," Fang Chang responded, standing at attention with a clumsy salute. "Your orders are our mission!"
Ye Shi, slightly slower on the uptake, mimicked Fang Chang's salute with some effort.
"I'm with him!"
Chu Guang: "…"
Which novel did they learn this from?
It sounds so corny.
But, as the Administrator, he couldn't exactly call it out. In a way, his authority was linked to how strongly the players identified with their role as "shelter residents."
The more they embraced that identity, the more inclined they'd be to follow his orders and avoid causing trouble.
"…Good, very spirited!"
Chu Guang cleared his throat and looked out beyond the sanatorium with a serious gaze.
"We'll need to bring 50 kilos of smoked jerky, 20 kilos of smoked fish, 10 hides from mutated hyenas… and a cart to haul it all."
"You two, get it all ready."
"We depart in ten minutes!"