Hummingbird! And an Auction!

This little thing was actually a drone? Well, he had almost made a fool of himself. Watching the silver metal sphere floating before him with two pairs of propellers extended from its top, Chu Guang poked it with keen interest. It could even self-stabilize? "Intriguing." Swap out the propellers for wings, paint the sphere gold, and shrink it down just a bit, and it would look identical to the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter. On the pale blue label affixed to the contraption by the system were five characters: ["Hummingbird" Drone], accompanied by a lengthy instruction manual. To put it simply, this thing could connect to any electronic device equipped with display technology and data transmission capabilities, requiring only the insertion of a thumbnail-sized adapter module. The universal port on the VM happened to match this module perfectly. Still, did this thing count as a weapon? Chu Guang turned to look at Xiao Qi. "Why didn't you say something earlier?" Xiao Qi replied with an aggrieved tone. "Master, you never asked me." *Uhhh...* That was true enough. Chu Guang didn't blame her. After fiddling with the toy for a while longer, he continued asking, "What's it used for? Can it shoot?" It wasn't a suicide drone, was it? If it really were a single-use consumable, that would be downright awful. Xiao Qi said, "Its primary function is reconnaissance... In a little guy this small, squeezing in a long-lasting battery and motors was already quite an achievement. It definitely wouldn't be able to carry combat components, right?" "Reconnaissance?" Chu Guang stood beside the drone, observing it for a moment. "Why don't I see any cameras?" Xiao Qi continued her explanation. "The cameras are integrated directly into the surface material, so you definitely can't spot them with the naked eye. But you don't need to worry about performance! Though the cameras are tiny, their capabilities are formidable! A cluster of sixty dot-matrix cameras distributed across the sphere's surface captures 360-degree high-definition video without any blind spots, and it can even operate in nighttime environments." Even if one couldn't see any lenses, the entire body was covered in cameras smaller than pinholes—that was the general idea, right? Come to think of it, having cameras meant it could take photos, didn't it? Xiao Qi could take photos as well, but because her operational range was too confined, the most she could do was stand on the sanatorium roof and snap pictures of the players at work. With this thing, he should be able to capture quite a few fascinating shots. Add a light filter, and it would look like a cinematic game cutscene. Chu Guang stroked his chin and continued his questioning. "What about flight altitude? And range, operating time, and... how does it recharge?" Xiao Qi answered promptly. "Recharging is very simple. The drone has a built-in wireless charging interface. Just like me, it can automatically charge inside the shelter, and I can even share some of my battery power with it!" "As for flight altitude, low-altitude flight below one hundred meters is recommended. While theoretically it can fly several hundred meters into the air, lingering at high altitudes for too long isn't advised. Operating in high-altitude conditions for extended periods will strain the motors and introduce safety risks." "As for range, so long as there aren't too many obstacles, it works well within a three-kilometer radius, though staying too far from the terminal is also discouraged. After all, this is a short-range reconnaissance drone. Its strengths are an ultra-long battery life of nearly twelve hours and obstacle traversal in complex environments... Long-distance reconnaissance is a bit of a stretch." In areas densely packed with obstacles, signal transmission would inevitably suffer. However, the control chip of the "Hummingbird" drone featured an integrated auto-return routine. If it lost its connection, an onboard AI would automatically activate, using cached video footage and estimated flight paths to pilot the drone back to its launch coordinates or a preset rally point. Having grasped the little guy's capabilities, Chu Guang reached out, plucked the drone from the air, and found himself liking it more and more the longer he looked at it. If he tossed this drone into the sky before a fight, it would be equivalent to placing a ward directly above the enemy's head. He could receive video feeds and images straight through his VM. It was simply incredible! "Master..." "What is it?" Hearing Xiao Qi's voice, Chu Guang glanced at her curiously. "Is there another feature you haven't introduced?" "Um... could you give it to Xiao Qi?" Xiao Qi timidly suggested. "Your VM can connect directly to the shelter's main server, so whatever I see can be transmitted straight to you. If you give it to me, Xiao Qi will be able to see much farther, and it'll be easier for me to help you monitor the players' activities." "That's a great idea." Chu Guang's eyes lit up. While this gadget would undoubtedly be useful in combat, he rarely went to the front lines himself. Besides, with his current defense stacked up like an iron fortress, having one more tool didn't make much difference. It would be far better utilized for peeking at screens. No, strategic reconnaissance, that was! Xiao Qi continued, "Master, while sorting through the data for you yesterday, I noticed that the guard's diary seemed to mention a signal tower. If we can restore power to that signal tower, perhaps we can expand the signal coverage of Shelter 404 even further." Chu Guang rested the drone atop Xiao Qi's head and remarked with keen interest, "You mean... the signal tower the guard used to communicate with surface survivors? I've considered that, but based on the map intel brought back by the players, there haven't been any findings." Xiao Qi continued, "The function of that signal tower probably wasn't just surface communication. According to clues in the audio logs, during the years following the war, this shelter seemed to be constantly collecting surface radio signals for sample analysis." "According to my speculation, that signal tower should possess complete signal transmission and reception capabilities. Perhaps we could use it to provide data services to the players' VM units. That way, even when they're far from the shelter, you'll still be able to issue quests to them." Chu Guang smiled. "It's a fine idea, but the problem is, where do we find this signal tower? Do you have a map?" Xiao Qi spoke up immediately. "While there isn't a map, the signal tower is clearly somewhere nearby, isn't it? If the players have already explored the surrounding two-kilometer area—" Hearing that, Chu Guang had an immediate realization. "76th Street?" Xiao Qi said happily, "Mm! Master is brilliant!" Indeed. Once all the wrong answers were eliminated, the correct one naturally surfaced. To the west and northwest of Wetland Park lay the lake; to the south were mostly wastelands, abandoned buildings, and ruined park facilities, beyond which sat Bet Street and the Fifth Ring Road south of Bet Street. As for the area north toward the abandoned tire factory, the shelter's players had mapped it out long ago. The only place left untouched was 76th Street, directly across from the east gate. Come to think of it, the greenhouse ruins were situated right at the entrance of 76th Street. The players' operational zone was drawing closer and closer to mutant territory. Looking down at the map, Chu Guang fell into deep thought. *Tch.* *I'll have to find a way to wipe out those green-skinned muscleheads in one fell swoop.* …… Early the next morning. The heavy snow had tapered off; today looked to be a rare, clear day. A bustling crowd had gathered in front of the weapons shop. Players who arrived later stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to peer over the crowd, grabbing nearby players to ask what was happening. "What's going on? Why's it so packed here?" "An auction at the weapon shop!" "An auction?! When did another raid happen? Why didn't I know about this?" "It's not a raid, just an ordinary auction! I'm not entirely sure either, seems to be a temporary in-game event. Didn't you check the official website?" "Nope! As soon as I got home, I slapped on my helmet before I even took off my clothes!" "Damn, you didn't even shower?" "I can shower when I wake up in the morning! How could real life ever beat the game?" "Madness, pure madness." Chu Guang glanced at the surrounding crowd. Seeing that nearly everyone had gathered, he cleared his throat, raised the bow in his hand, and spoke in a solemn, dignified tone. "...This is a mechanical compound bow from the deepest recesses of the shelter. Regarding its legends... well, in truth, it has yet to leave any behind." "But that does not matter!" "Brand-new limbs, a gleaming bowstring, an adjustable focal sight with a graded scale, and with a battery installed, an electric drive can assist in drawing the pulley system! It will empower you to deliver a fatal strike! It is indisputably our latest arrival, forged for the hunt. Its legend awaits your authorship!" "Starting bid: 100 silver! Each increment must not be less than 1 silver coin!" "No upper limit!" No price cap! How thrilling! The moment his words fell, the atmosphere on the scene instantly boiled over. "101 silver!" "I bid 102 silver!" "Screw you! Are you out of your mind? I bid 110 silver!" "I'll throw in a bid, 120 silver! That bow looks way more badass than a gun any day. If you pair it with three-edged broadheads, it might even punch through—" "130 silver! You talk too much!" "180!!" The shout cracked with strain. The scene fell briefly dead silent. Everyone turned to look at the bidder. They had expected it to be Mosquito, who never set foot on the front lines, but it turned out to be the official forum's "only doujin bro ever personally muted by the developer"—[Mole on the Run from the Canyon]. Did he even know how to use a bow and arrow? Feeling embarrassed under everyone's stares, Mole blushed and argued indignantly, "I'm an Agility-type, is there a problem with that?" Total silence. Intimidated by his momentum, a little rookie standing near him muttered softly, "No..." "Right—" "Ahem, 188. Let's make it an auspicious number." "!" Mole, who had been smug for barely two seconds, snapped his head around toward the hand raised in the crowd. Seeing this, the players around them sighed one after another; Mosquito had indeed made his move. Once the price broke past 150, it became a clash of titans. The third-tier players had already dropped out of the bidding, while the second-tier players remained on the sidelines. Frankly, Chu Guang didn't mind who bought the weapon, but Mosquito was the one person he was reluctant to sell it to. Every time this guy won an auction, he never used the item, hoarding everything as collector's pieces. For instance, that vz. 61 Skorpion submachine gun, as well as the double-barreled shotgun dropped by the Bloodhand Clan's big boss—Chu Guang had never once seen the guy bring them out to use. What was the point of hoarding them! Could they spawn babies or something? Right at that moment, a righteous, broad hand rose into the air. "200 silver!" "Holy crap?!" "T-Two hundred?!" The eyes of both Mole and Mosquito went wide in an instant. Turning around sharply, they saw that the one raising his hand was none other than Brother Fang Chang, who had entered the game earlier than either of them. The surrounding players broke into murmurs as well. "200 silver for a bow?!" "Insane! That's enough to buy two guns!" "Actually, I don't think it's a bad deal. Imagine strapping explosives onto three-edged arrowheads... Ever played Crysis? That's what I'm talking about." "Damn it, stop talking, even I as an Intelligence-type want to buy it now!" "Sob, sob, when will I ever be that rich?" Ignoring the murmurs of the other players, Fang Chang looked at Brother Mosquito and offered an apologetic grin. "Give me some face, bro... I really have a use for it." Among all these players, there was probably no one more proficient with a bow than him. Mosquito helplessly spread his hands in surrender. "We're all comrades, I fold." He had no choice but to back down. Selling wooden bows to newcomers earlier had indeed netted him a fortune, but his expenses on "inventions and creations" were massive as well. On top of his recent shopping spree, the money in his pocket totaled only 190 silver. Mole yelled in vexation, "Damn it! Where did you guys get so much money? You must've embezzled public funds!" Before Fang Chang could speak, Ye Shi squeezed his way out. "Heh, you think we don't do anything besides bake bricks? Just the brick factory's dedicated quest alone—raising daily production above 5,000 earns a direct 100 silver coins—" Before he could finish, Fleeting White Horse clapped a hand over Ye Shi's mouth. "Alright, alright, shut your mouth." If the developer overheard, the reward might just vanish. That said, those 200 silver coins represented the entire savings of the Cow and Horse Squad. The reason Fang Chang hadn't raised his hand earlier was that he had been deliberating with his teammates. To put it plainly, he wanted this bow. His archery accuracy was already capable of hitting moving targets from fifty meters away. If he could get his hands on this bow, his combat prowess would instantly multiply, and the team's DPS would shoot up alongside it! His three teammates had raised no objections either. They played together in other games as a squad, and switching games changed nothing. Once the team's damage output climbed, why worry about not making money? Ye Shi in particular had been Fang Chang's biggest supporter. After all, the bolt-action rifle he was currently using had been bought through a group fund proposed by Fang Chang. Mole on the Run from the Canyon sighed. "Sigh, you guys are seriously rich. I'm crying." Fang Chang smiled. "Sorry about that, brother. Next time there's good stuff, I definitely won't fight you for it!" Mole on the Run from the Canyon replied, "I'm holding you to that!" With that, the clash among the wealthy players reached its conclusion, and everyone dispersed to attend to their own affairs. Brother Mole, just like yesterday, gathered the party he had recruited from the forum to tackle the greenhouse ruins dungeon together. As for the two deadweights who had wiped yesterday, they had been replaced by two Strength-type rookies. Insect-type dungeons were one of the rare instances where Perception-type players struggled to make an impact. The vast majority of insectoid mutants seemed to carry an innate stealth bonus that made them completely imperceptible. A consensus had already formed on the official forum: when tackling such a dungeon, bringing extra tanks was far better than bringing scouts. So long as you could endure the hits, damage would follow. As for the Cow and Horse Squad, Chu Guang monitored them briefly using the drone. He noticed that instead of lingering at the brick factory, they had exited Wetland Park through the north gate, heading toward a collapsed department store situated between the tire factory and the abandoned construction site. Was there something there? Chu Guang was curious, but he didn't send the drone to follow them. After all, venturing further would exceed the three-kilometer mark, and the signal would inevitably degrade. In any case, if they discovered anything valuable, they would bring it back to him sooner or later. When the time came, checking the guides on the official website would clear everything up. …… With all the combat-class players dispersed to their tasks, the only ones remaining at the base were newcomers running errand quests and production-class players who treated *Wasteland OL* like a leisurely life simulator. When Chu Guang walked into Tengteng Cottage, the dexterous Miss Tengteng was standing on a stool before a wooden board scribbled over with charcoal, teaching three Intelligence-type newcomers how to use scrap leather left over from making fur coats to craft holsters, scabbards, and other leather goods. "...No two leaves in the world are completely identical, and no two pelts in the world are completely identical either. You must remember these words well." "If you want to become a qualified designer, you must first learn to distinguish subtle differences among furs of similar sizes. Only after selecting the right materials can you move on to the next step!" "Did you get all that?" Standing on the stool lecturing, Tengteng looked just like a preschool teacher. The three players stared blankly at one another, having clearly understood nothing, but they nodded dumbly nonetheless. "Understood!" "Wonderful!" Seeing that her students were so quick to learn, Tengteng gave a satisfied nod, patted her soot-smudged hands, and hopped down from the stool. Just then, she spotted the Administrator standing in the entryway, and her eyes instantly brightened. A hidden quest delivered right to her doorstep?! "Um, you guys tinker with it yourselves for a bit!" Tossing out that parting remark, Tengteng dashed over to the entryway and said excitedly, "Respected Administrator, sir, what orders do you have for me?" Chu Guang cut straight to the point. "The outpost recently secured a batch of devil moth cocoons. The devil silk drawn from these cocoons is a top-tier material, and I want to ask if you have a way to weave it into usable fabric." "Weave fabric?" Tengteng wore a blank expression. "I remember that before weaving, you have to reel the silk first?" To be completely honest, she had no idea how. Just designing clothing never required such "primitive" knowledge. In fact, even the fur processing she was currently doing had been self-taught from materials downloaded online after she started playing *Wasteland OL*. Now the Administrator had presented her with another tough problem. While finding public reference materials wasn't difficult with the internet, what she wasn't sure of was whether the information she found would still apply to devil moth cocoons. Besides, did anyone truly make clothes out of mutated moth cocoons? It sounded downright bizarre. Chu Guang looked at Tengteng and continued, "Whether it requires reeling silk or whatever else, I need it turned into usable thread and cloth. If we can put these materials to use, we can produce lighter, more durable armor, and the surplus can be traded for the food supplies we desperately lack... Do you have any good ideas?" Though she lacked confidence, learning the importance of the task from the Administrator's own mouth filled Tengteng with drive, and she nodded vigorously. "Even though I haven't tried it before, I think it's worth a shot!" The moment her words fell, a quest pop-up appeared on her VM. [Quest: Textile Craft] [Briefing: The outpost has acquired a batch of devil silk, all of which is high-quality material. However, to turn these materials into thread and fabric, we must first solve the problem of production tools.] [Requirement: Construct a spinning wheel and a loom.] [Reward: 100 silver coins] [Remark: While a manual spinning wheel and loom are sufficient to complete the quest, integrating the outpost's current needs to create higher-performance production machinery may trigger an additional hidden reward.] 100 silver coins! The moment she saw the quest reward, Tengteng's eyes practically turned the color of silver coins. Especially that closing remark. If she could construct higher-performance production machinery, she might even trigger an extra hidden reward! "Rest assured, respected Administrator, sir!" Her index finger tapped against the VM screen with a firm snap. Tengteng raised her head excitedly and vowed with absolute conviction, "Tengteng definitely won't disappoint your expectations!" "Mm, I'm counting on you." Chu Guang nodded with satisfaction. If he had to figure out these troublesome matters all on his own, just steelmaking alone would keep him occupied until next year. Yet with these hardworking, courageous little players around... Chu Guang suddenly felt that wasteland life wasn't nearly as difficult as he had once imagined.