"How dare you cram so many people into the workstation? Do you care about your tech at all?"
On the screen, tiny worker sprites poured out of the workstation, accompanied by a cacophony of noise blasting from the speakers. The heavy breathing from the other end of the phone line made it clear that his antics had truly irritated the boss.
"Aren't I just helping you find bugs? That's literally my job, isn't it?"
Wang Zhan shifted the conversation. "But, boss, how did you even know I was doing this? I just started."
There was a brief silence on the other end. Meanwhile, the chaos on the screen subsided. The Generator hummed steadily, the occasional clinking of metal against metal giving Wang Zhan a sense of reassurance.
"The data uploads in real-time. Did you really think this was an offline game?"
Wang Zhan glanced over the screen again, unable to find a network connection button. Probably a feature that hadn't been fully implemented yet.
"Well, now I know. I was starting to wonder if you'd installed cameras in my house."
"Alright, I'll patch this tomorrow. Letting all the workers huddle in the workstation like that? It's ridiculous," came the boss's weary reply.
Wang Zhan pressed further. "But this game is supposed to be about realism. Doesn't it make sense to treat the workstation like a shelter?"
"Sleeping next to machines? You've got some unique tastes."
It seemed like Mu Ye was dead set on fixing this bug. "How about waiting until after the first storm to patch it? That'd be fair, wouldn't it?"
"No. I appreciate you finding the bug, but cramming people into workstations? That's just exploitative," Mu Ye sighed. "How about this: I'll compensate you with a tech point. Deal?"
A single tech point… Still not as tempting as an overpowered workstation shelter. But the bug would inevitably be patched anyway, and it wouldn't hurt to earn some goodwill with the boss.
"Alright, but can I ask for a level 5 tech point?"
"No way. What about the prerequisite techs? I'll give you a 'Overload Operation Coupler' instead."
The Overload Operation Coupler was a second-tier tech under the heating category. It allowed the Generator to increase the surrounding area's temperature by two levels—essentially 20 degrees Celsius. However, activating it caused the Generator's pressure levels to rise over time, eventually leading to a critical point. Still, the grace period lasted about a day, making it a highly practical upgrade.
For the current situation, it was invaluable.
"Alright," Wang Zhan feigned reluctance, though he was thrilled. "Let's go with that."
"You'll see the patch notes tomorrow."
"By the way, can you tell me a bit about the Guerrilla storyline?"
Mu Ye chuckled on the other end. "Watch and find out yourself. Stop asking me."
After hanging up, Wang Zhan reclined in his chair and opened the Generator's interface, tracing where the Overload Coupler button would appear. This tech was going to be a lifesaver.
With this upgrade, Wang Zhan felt even more prepared for the upcoming storm. If he could also unlock the Originium Combustion Chamber, fuel shortages wouldn't even be a concern.
"I heard the textile factory has made some incredibly warm clothes, and they even come with lights that don't rely on Originium," Talulah remarked with pleasant surprise. "Everyone envies the children who got to wear them first."
"Well, they're still growing," replied Alina, who had already wished Wang Zhan goodnight and returned to her tent to patch up some torn clothing. "Even if they're envious, no one holds any grudges."
"Didn't expect our teacher to start reading minds," Talulah teased as she hung her coat on a chair. Carrying a basin of warm water, she sat by her bed and dipped her reddened feet into it. "It's impressive."
"I've always been sharp, haven't I? A ragged infected can't fool me, no matter how cunning they are."
With a snap, Alina bit off a thread after finishing her stitching. "Too bad, though. This coat could've lasted a while longer."
"That coat's too thin to survive the storm," Talulah said as she bent over to wash her feet. Her short gray hair fell over her face. "The Generator won't let you freeze to death, though."
"He wouldn't let that happen," Alina replied, folding the coat and crawling under her blanket. "Goodnight."
"Why so early tonight?"
Alina hesitated, considering saying something, but caught Talulah's glance. Realizing it was just an offhand remark, she pulled the blanket over her head. "You're working overtime tomorrow. Get some rest."
"What's with you?"
"Nothing. Goodnight."
The next morning, as Wang Zhan ate breakfast and settled at his desk, a new notification popped up on the screen.
[A Patch: We've updated the logic for workstations. When more than five workers enter a workstation, it will automatically shut down.]
Quick work—fixing a bug overnight. Mu Ye truly deserved his reputation as a meticulous game developer.
[The 'Overload Operation Coupler' has been added as compensation.]
Wang Zhan opened the Generator panel. Sure enough, the Overload button was now available. Mu Ye had delivered on his promise.
"Alright, time to start today's construction tasks."
Outside the canyon, Enli carried a still-warm beast carcass, casting glances at the visibly "plump" Sasha, whose new clothes looked remarkably warm. Especially the lamp on Sasha's chest—it could be hand-cranked to generate both light and heat. Such a treasure could fetch a fortune on the market.
"Stop staring at me," Sasha said, noticing Enli's envious gaze. He sighed softly. "You'll get one too."
"I'm not like you…" Enli hesitated. "You know what I mean."
"The Generator promised he wouldn't let you die. He also guaranteed everyone under its light would have new clothes," Sasha replied, his calm demeanor something Enli admired most. "You're his citizen, too."
"Yeah, but 'lords' love to make big promises, don't they?" Enli muttered. "Even Talulah isn't much different sometimes…"
"The Generator should let you freeze to death."
Enli flinched at Sasha's sharp tone. "But the Generator is different. First of all, he's not a person."
That sounded odd… but made sense upon reflection. Sasha didn't argue further.
"And secondly, unlike the lords who make us work to fatten themselves up, the Generator makes us work to fatten us up."
With a smug grin, Enli looked as though he'd just uncovered the truth of the world. "He was made for us infected."
Sasha tucked his head into his thick coat, letting the heat from the tungsten lamp burn against his fingers. The searing pain felt comforting. "Made for the infected…"
"By the way, the kid you share a tent with—his name's Ino, right? How'd you two meet?"
"...That's none of your business."
Sasha's cold tone startled Enli. After a moment, Sasha added, "He's a good kid."