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[Alpha 0.81 Update: New Feature — "Scientific Expedition Quests"]
[Scientific Expedition Quests: Shelter 404's Scientific Expedition Team has been founded! Our objective: ruins of pre-war civilization! As expedition leader, Yin Fang will periodically post "Scientific Expedition" quests, place exploration beacons on the map, and grant rewards or hidden quests based on research-related ruin clues submitted by players.]
[Yin Fang: It was not I who betrayed the Academy; it was the Academy that betrayed me. The error shall be corrected. I will uncover what truly happened two hundred years ago and find the last hope of human civilization—Shelter 0!]
[A Quick Tip from Ah Guang: When an NPC needs assistance, a yellow question mark icon will appear over their map marker. Repeatedly attempting meaningless dialogue will not trigger hidden quests—it will only reduce the NPC's favorability. Furthermore, quests do not necessarily have to be initiated through dialogue; accepting them via VM is also supported.]
Tail: "First! (｀▽′)Ψ"
Jieyan: "Holy crap! Alpha 0.81 is out! Game Dev is a god!"
Ye Shi: "Brother Jieyan, stop right there. Ah Guang only needs one bootlicker, and that's Fang Chang. Seeing you like this breaks my heart. (Funny face)"
Fang Chang: "Piss off, when have I ever licked his boots? (Rage)"
Tengteng: "..."
Fang Chang: "?"
Having posted the announcement and quietly lurked on the forums, Chu Guang finally couldn't hold back a chuckle.
He could personally testify that Brother Fang Chang definitely wasn't a bootlicker—at most, the man just understood him quite well. In fact, more than a few of the terrible ideas sitting in his "New Folder" had been borrowed from Fang Chang.
After lurking for a while, Chu Guang's eyelids began to grow heavy. Seeing that the hour was late, he yawned, rose from his desk, and turned in for the night.
***
That night, he had a very long dream.
He dreamt he was strolling along the edge of a lake. Walking beside him was that fellow named Dr. Principle, while a younger fellow followed along behind them.
Though he couldn't see the youth's face clearly, Chu Guang had a feeling it was Yin Fang.
Realizing this left Chu Guang thoroughly exasperated. Why wasn't there a single busty woman in tonight's dream?
The dream made no sense at all.
Mist drifted across the water's surface. The road was endless, and the lake was as vast as an ocean, its shimmering ripples stretching beyond the horizon.
The moonlight was clear and bright, the night tranquil and serene.
After walking for what felt like hours, a voice suddenly sounded from beside him.
"What year is it now?"
Chu Guang opened his mouth to reply, but Dr. Principle's number-one sycophant, Yin Fang, beat him to it.
"It is the year 2340!"
Dr. Principle nodded beside them and sighed softly.
"2340, is it...?"
"It has been far too long."
The dream scattered.
When Chu Guang woke, he lay flat on his back, blinking calmly at the ceiling.
His back was soaked in sweat as though he had just been fished out of the water. Chu Guang half-suspected someone had dragged him down to the lake for a bath while he was asleep.
Both his clothes and his bedsheet were drenched through.
Needless to say, whenever this happened, it meant he had leveled up again.
"Damn it... Next time I might as well sleep in an incubation pod."
Chu Guang strongly suspected the players also broke into heavy sweats upon leveling up; it was just that the metabolic discharge was thoroughly drained away while they lay in their incubation pods.
It seemed his recent physical training had borne fruit.
Chu Guang rolled out of bed. His bones popped and crackled in a rhythmic chorus, and his vision was clearer than ever before, feeling as though he had just downed an entire crate of taurine energy drinks.
After flexing his limbs and adjusting to his newly reinforced body, he headed into the resident hall and ran a scan using the medical diagnostic equipment there.
[
ID: Chu Guang
Gene Sequence: Administrator (Phase 2)
Level: LV.11 → LV.12
— Base Attributes —
Strength: 16 → 17
Agility: 11
Constitution: 14
Perception: 12
Intelligence: 12 → 13
]
"Two attribute points this time?"
Chu Guang looked again to confirm. He had only gained a single level, yet both his Strength and Intelligence had risen by one point simultaneously.
"It seems physical capability does not scale entirely linearly with gene sequence development progress."
"A pity the underlying rules remain a mystery."
As Chu Guang stared at the medical report in contemplation, light footsteps echoed from nearby. Boss Xia, having just woken up, walked out of the adjoining corridor with a yawn.
Noticing the bedsheet slung over Chu Guang's shoulder, she paused, an odd expression crossing her face.
"Why do you change your bedsheets every day?"
"Not every day," Chu Guang answered offhandedly.
Xia Yan's gaze drifted downward involuntarily, catching sight of his sweat-dampened shirt and bulging muscles. To be fair, broad shoulders and cut abs weren't exactly rare, but it just so happened that they were paired with an exceptionally lethal face.
"You... go put some proper clothes on."
Her cheeks flushed pink, and Boss Xia turned on her heel and strode away.
Chu Guang paid her no mind. Taking advantage of the lull before the players' morning log-in rush, he hummed a little tune, headed down to Floor B2 for a shower, changed into clean clothes, and tossed his bedsheet into the washing machine along the way.
The communal shower area offered public washing machines featuring sanitary disinfection and automated drying, which was remarkably convenient and cost only one silver coin per cycle. Alternatively, one could wash clothes down at the lake for free—at the minor risk of serving as chum for the local anglers, though that wasn't a major issue.
After freshening up, Chu Guang returned to the administrator's office and sat down, intending to rest a moment before heading up to the surface. He hadn't even warmed the seat, however, before Yin Fang pushed the door open and burst inside.
"Are your residents insane?! They were camped outside my door early this morning! Everywhere I walk, they follow me around—it's even worse than yesterday!"
Yin Fang shot a nervous glance behind him, relieved to find that the shelter residents hadn't pursued him inside.
Amused by his sheltered agitation, Chu Guang smiled and poured him a cup of hot water.
"Relax. They were thrilled when they heard you were forming a scientific expedition team. Isn't that a good thing? Trust me, as long as you give them something to do, they'll disperse on their own... Here, have some warm water."
Yin Fang shook his head frantically as he took the cup.
"But I don't need that many people! Four, at most eight at the absolute limit!"
Clues were scarce right now. He might need more hands down the line, but certainly not in the initial phase.
"I know. You don't have to hire all of them, but you should pick a few who look dependable. There's a level rating on the player roster I gave you; generally speaking, the higher the player's level, the more reliable they are." Chu Guang shared a bit of life experience with him, a rule of thumb he had developed through trial and error.
Yin Fang let out a heavy sigh. "I have no idea how you established this ranking system, let alone how 'reliable' reliable actually is. If I may speak frankly, you should implement a vocational assessment system. Otherwise, how am I supposed to tell whether they're better at chopping trees or sifting through garbage?"
Chu Guang's eyes lit up. "Good idea. I can integrate that into the next update."
"...?"
*Update?*
Yin Fang was completely bewildered, though he didn't dwell on it.
After all, this wasn't the first time he failed to comprehend the made-up jargon that occasionally slipped from the administrator's lips.
"In any case, rein your residents in. I'm genuinely worried something is wrong with their heads. Aside from that, to begin our work as soon as possible, I need certain materials."
Chu Guang looked at him. "No problem. What materials do you need, and where are they located? We can help you retrieve them."
Yin Fang said, "Dr. Principle's footage connects three locations: the Great Rift Valley, Vault 117, and Xinwu Community College."
Chu Guang replied, "We are already clearing the entrance to Vault 117. What about Xinwu Community College?"
Yin Fang answered, "That's where we found the videotape—and the place where Dr. Principle first awakened!"
"Is there anything left worth investigating there?"
From Chu Guang's impression, the site had already been stripped clean.
According to the recorded narrative, over a thousand survivors had once taken refuge in that community college.
Tables, chairs, wooden benches, and even the books in the library had been burned for fuel two centuries ago. The place looked as though a plague of locusts had swept through.
Yin Fang shook his head. "Unfortunately, the destruction there is severe, making it difficult to recover valuable clues. Even so, the location itself is a vital clue."
Chu Guang asked, "How so?"
"That comes down to how surveyors work!"
A confident smile appeared on Yin Fang's face as he continued, "It was common knowledge in the pre-war era that no research institution could exist independently of societal support. A single institute might oversee hundreds of research topics, funded by thousands of financial sources, with tens of thousands of researchers involved. The fruits of such labor were never stored in only one place. As long as we find a single lead, we can follow the vine to uncover everything we need.
"Certain electronic records may have been ruined by EMPs or centuries of neglect, but many critical records were kept as paper archives. Paper made from high-polymer materials and preserved with anti-oxidation ink can survive not just two hundred years, but two thousand without issue!"
*So this is what an expert looks like?*
Chu Guang nodded approvingly after hearing Yin Fang's explanation.
When it came to archaeology, people from the Academy were indeed professionals. Others merely scoured the ruins like scavengers, pretending to flip through documents they couldn't understand, whereas researchers knew how to extract real value from those records.
Many took scientific research too lightly, believing it was as simple as copying someone else's homework—handing over a blueprint and expecting an identical machine to pop out. In truth, a so-called blueprint was rarely a single document; it often consisted of countless fragmented components, and items that appeared identical on a macro level could be worlds apart at the micro scale.
Without a systematic understanding of the discipline, true archaeology was impossible.
If only he could find a way to rope more Academy personnel into working here.
Wouldn't his tech points soar through the roof?
Chu Guang didn't think his ambitions were excessive—he'd be more than satisfied if they could establish the full suite of technologies required for the industrial synthesis and room-temperature storage of metallic hydrogen.
That substance could be weaponized into explosives or harnessed as high-density batteries; it was extraordinarily versatile.
According to Yin Fang, he intended to initiate his investigation from four angles regarding Xinwu Community College: researcher dossiers, associated research programs, partner institutions, and funding sources.
This would take time, but it promised tangible results.
After lingering in the administrator's office for a while, Yin Fang noticed the players gathered outside had dispersed, so he took his leave in a hurry.
Before heading to the surface, Chu Guang checked the Administrator Allowance interface and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he could draw lottery boxes once more.
He had 111 reward points in total—an auspicious number.
After a brief calculation, Chu Guang selected one advanced, one intermediate, and one beginner blind box.
Perhaps his past bad luck had finally run its course, for the rewards turned out surprisingly decent.
The beginner blind box yielded a pack of salt-grilled dried small fish, a snack he had never seen before. The intermediate blind box produced an adrenaline auto-injector—the painless kind, capable of throwing someone into an instant berserk state.
The advanced blind box was even more astounding, yielding an SSR-tier pull—a "Hummingbird" drone!
Now Chu Guang had two cameras at his disposal!
"Master."
Xiao Qi wheeled over to Chu Guang's calf, tilting its camera upward and looking at him with longing.
Chu Guang had originally intended to keep the drone for his own surveillance use, but the little machine's voice sounded so pitiful that his resolve melted away.
Where on earth had this little garbage can stolen that voice pack from? It was ridiculously adept at playing cute.
"Fine, fine, it's yours."
Patting its round metal head, Chu Guang scooped Xiao Qi up from the floor and chuckled.
"Come on. Day's about to break. Let's take a stroll outside."
***
In reality, dawn hadn't merely broken; the sun had been up for hours. Chu Guang had simply been heading outside relatively late lately; heading out before eight in the morning counted as early for him.
This wasn't because Chu Guang was slacking off, but because his little players were too diligent. They logged in every day right on the dot, displaying more punctuality and zeal than real-world corporate employees.
Before Chu Guang had even settled on a name for the heavy industrial base sandwiched between the outpost and Changjiu Farm, his industrious players had already reclaimed the abandoned tire factory from the clutches of the mutants.
Carcasses of mutant rats and giant cockroaches were piled into small hills, and the greenhorns wielding melee weapons had gone into a full-blown frenzy.
Progress on Vault 117 and the greenhouse ruins was also advancing steadily.
The former was especially remarkable: the players had spontaneously developed an entirely novel raid system, leaving even Chu Guang thoroughly impressed.
As the saying went, third-rate developers were harvested by their players, second-rate developers harvested their players, and first-rate developers harvested and cultivated players alike.
Yet a god-tier developer, intimately versed in human nature, could mobilize players to harvest one another while keeping them perpetually motivated on their own.
"Life is good."
Everyone was turning a massive profit.
A world where nobody lost was truly wonderful!
Stepping into the elevator, Chu Guang rode it to the surface. As soon as he stepped outside, the new warehouse manager Old Luka had trained walked forward to greet him, bowing respectfully.
"My Lord, an envoy has arrived from Brown Farm."
Chu Guang recalled that this middle-aged man's name had originally been Guoba. He had once been a slave at Brown Farm before ending up in the Bloodhand Clan's dungeons. Because that name was too reminiscent of crispy scorched rice, Chu Guang had arbitrarily localized it to Guo Niu.
As for the other granary manager, he had named him Guo Ma.
"An envoy from Brown Farm? What do they want?"
Guo Niu reported respectfully, "The envoy brought five thousand kilograms of ram horn potatoes and five thousand kilograms of Chinese cabbage. He said it was a tribute from Mr. Brown to you, and the envoy emphasized that they truly have nothing left to give."
*Nothing left to give?*
Chu Guang was momentarily taken aback, thoroughly confused by the statement.
He didn't recall ever demanding anything from them.
Still, credit where credit was due: this Mr. Brown, whom he had never even met, was remarkably generous. Ten tons of provisions, surrendered without batting an eye—he had to be exceedingly wealthy.
Chu Guang couldn't help but ponder whether he could borrow a bit more down the line.
"Did the envoy say anything else?"
Guo Niu nodded and continued, "The envoy also said he hopes your residents can exercise a bit of restraint... For several consecutive days, they have heard gunfire and explosions from the direction of Huayuan Street Subway Station, which is less than a kilometer from Brown Farm. His exact words were: 'If this is a joke, it isn't funny in the slightest.'"
Hearing this, Chu Guang's expression turned subtly amused.
The moment explosions were mentioned, he immediately guessed what had happened. It was almost certainly Brother Mole and Mosquito making too much noise clearing the entrance to Vault 117, frightening the wits out of the folks at Brown Farm.
Then again, it made sense.
Living next door to an exceptionally martial neighbor who had nothing but surplus guns and ammunition, having cleared out everything to the north, east, and south in the span of a single month—leaving only the western lake untouched simply because there was nothing to shoot—anyone would feel uneasy.
Now that this neighbor had brought a private army right to their doorstep, opening fire and detonating explosives daily, they clearly weren't celebrating an early New Year.
Anyone in their shoes would panic.
Chu Guang just hadn't expected the plantation owner to be such a coward that he would immediately haul tons of grain over to beg for mercy.
Seeing the administrator fall silent, Guo Niu asked cautiously, "My Lord, the envoy is waiting in the reception room. Shall I escort you to meet him?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Chu Guang looked at Guo Niu.
"No need. Have him carry a message back to the master of Brown Farm for me: convey our gratitude for their generous donation. Furthermore, explain that our residents had no intention of causing a disturbance; they were merely conducting... er, an anti-mutant combat exercise."
Pausing for a beat, Chu Guang added, "The exercise will conclude within a week. Tell them not to overthink it, and there is no need to worry. Shelter 404 is a guardian of regional order, and we look forward to conducting friendly, equitable trade with them.
"Also, treat the envoys to lunch before sending them on their way. They generously donated so much grain; the least we can do is show proper hospitality."
Guo Niu bowed reverently. "Understood, My Lord."
***
Inside the reception room, Liu Jiuyue paced back and forth, his face etched with worry.
Mr. Brown hadn't slept a wink last night. He had thrown a furious tantrum, making life miserable for all the servants.
Early that morning, his superior, Liu Zhengyue, had summoned him and ordered him to lead a loaded wagon convoy to Ling Lake Wetland Park four kilometers away, to present the cargo as tribute to the lord there.
When Liu Jiuyue took inventory of the wagons, he found a staggering twenty thousand jin of provisions, which had shocked him to the core.
One had to understand that this early winter had deprived the farm of an entire harvest season. Not only had the farmhands' meals been slashed to one a day, but the rations for servants like him had also been repeatedly cut until their bowls lacked even a drop of grease.
Giving away so much food to a neighbor—was the master truly not worried about starving this winter?
Still, that was far beyond the scope of what an underling like him could question.
Just then, the door swung open.
Guo Niu, who had received him earlier, stepped inside.
Liu Jiuyue recognized the man. He remembered him as a former farmhand who used to harvest wheat on the estate. But under the circumstances, he had no choice but to feign ignorance, pasting a polite smile on his face as he stepped forward.
"Sir, did you speak with the Lord Administrator?"
Showing no preferential treatment to his "fellow townsman," Guo Niu maintained an entirely businesslike demeanor.
"The Lord Administrator has noted your concerns and expressed his gratitude for Mr. Brown's generous donation. The exercise at Huayuan Street Subway Station will conclude within a week. He emphasized that this is not directed at you, so there is no need for alarm. Furthermore, to prevent accidental injuries, he requests that your people avoid approaching the area for the duration of the exercise. It is for your own safety."
Liu Jiuyue looked entirely blank. "Exercise?"
"Yes. The Lord Administrator stated that it is an anti-mutant combat exercise." Guo Niu had no idea how to explain the term either, so he simply parroted the administrator's exact words.
Liu Jiuyue nodded numbly.
From the sound of it, the gunfire at the subway station would continue for another week?
At least what was happening over there wasn't aimed at them, and they were told not to worry.
In any case, he had received an answer, which meant his mission was accomplished and he could return to report. He only hoped this response would satisfy Mr. Brown; that man's rages were truly terrifying.
"Thank you for hearing our petition. I will relay your words to Mr. Brown," Liu Jiuyue said with deep deference.
Guo Niu nodded and continued, "Additionally, the Lord Administrator instructed me to invite you to lunch before you set off, provided you are in no rush. Road conditions will also be safer around midday."
Liu Jiuyue did not refuse.
On one hand, it was true that traveling at midday was far safer than in the morning. On the other hand, getting a free meal before heading back was vastly preferable to traveling on an empty stomach.
Before setting out, he hadn't eaten anything at all, having only a single cold, rock-hard green wheat cake stuffed in his pocket. The canteen of boiled water at his waist had long since turned freezing cold, and it was a stroke of luck that it hadn't frozen solid yet.
"Thank you!"
Watching the servile, timid man before him, Guo Niu suddenly felt a twinge of pity.
Back when they were at the farm, the farmhands had envied nothing more than the servants who waited on the plantation owner's family. Those servants were treated as human beings, whereas the field hands were regarded as little more than draft animals.
Even the washerwomen and the cobbler who polished the master's boots enjoyed far higher status than them. Not only did they get to live in wooden or brick houses and eat two hot meals a day, but an occasional mistake resulted merely in a scolding or a beating, rather than being dragged out and disposed of just because they grew old or crippled.
Yet now, the man who had once stood so high above him seemed like nothing more than a pathetic wretch.
Perhaps in this world, only the Lord Administrator could truly liberate people like them.
"You are welcome."
Guo Niu paused, repeating the administrator's words.
"The Lord Administrator said that it is only proper hospitality."
Chapter 178