Wartime Regulations!

On the streets of Boulder City, tightly shut doors and windows rattled loudly in the howling wind. Not a single pedestrian could be seen. Only in the middle of the road was a line of ragged paupers pushing cartloads of accumulated snow out of the city to dump. In the slums along the outer wall, collapsed shacks were everywhere. Disheveled people braved the screaming blizzard, digging through snowdrifts for missing family and friends. Others stood numbly beside their ruined shanties, or knelt in the snow to pray. A wooden pole slanted by the wind lay across the slum's entrance, neglected by all. Two loudspeakers bound to it with iron wire intermittently broadcast an irritating, slick voice. "...Hello, dear listeners! This is the Voice of Boulder City, and I am your beloved host, Mr. House. "Just ten minutes ago, a sudden blizzard swept across the southern reaches of the River Valley Province. This storm is expected to last for two hours. But please, have no fear! Before our towering, magnificent walls, neither the surging Tide nor the howling gales can harm us in the slightest! Under the leadership of our great City Lord, we are invincible! "Our neighbors, however, aren't quite so lucky. "Though the heavy snow obscures our view and our observation posts cannot see what's happening in our neighbors' backyards, I can only imagine what a miserable scene it must be. "If your home has collapsed, do not despair! The Far Wind Grand Hotel welcomes you with open arms! "This will be your home away from home!" ... The sudden blizzard threw the entire northern outskirts of Qingquan City into utter chaos. This was especially true for the low-level players hunting in Yumu District. Fortunately, their VMs came equipped with built-in map and compass functions, or they might never have made it out of the forest. The area was littered with trenches and foxholes left behind by the Legion. One misstep, and a player would tumble right into a ditch. Occasionally, they might even brush against a corpse that hadn't yet been picked clean by jackals, hyenas, or rats... All in all, the blizzard didn't affect the players too severely. Even if someone ran into trouble, they could send a distress signal via their map, and most nearby players would eagerly rush over to lend a hand. Compared to the players' optimism, however, the situation for the NPCs was far less rosy. Two of the tribesmen's wooden cabins had collapsed, along with a cattle shed. Chu Guang issued a quest directing Tengteng, who frequently interacted with the tribesmen, to deliver two boxes of bandages to them. He also had players with first aid or veterinary experience head over to help treat the injured people and livestock. As for the brick kiln by the river and the industrial zone, conditions remained fairly stable. Because the buildings there were made of brick, the storm had little impact on them. The workers stayed inside the factories, where temperatures were significantly higher than outdoors, so keeping warm wasn't much of an issue. At Changjiu Farm, however, the scene was grim. While the "foam houses" built with the help of the Pioneer were fine, and the brick buildings constructed later also held up, the refugee camp outside the east gate was a complete disaster. The nomads' houses were at least built of timber, granting most of them decent blizzard resistance. By contrast, the shacks inhabited by these refugees were pieced together from scrap aluminum sheets, rebar, and whatever junk they could scavenge from the wasteland. Far from withstanding a blizzard, they were prone to blowing away in a stiff breeze. Faced with this sudden storm, the shacks in the refugee camp were entirely wiped out. The entire camp looked as though it had been leveled to the ground! "Is this our new home?" A man standing at the camp entrance stared blankly at the wreckage before him, his face stiff from the biting cold. Ruins of shanties. Refuse buried beneath the snow. And injured people lying on stretchers... Standing behind the man was a crowd of villagers carrying large packs and bundles. They were from Winter Willow Camp. Many had only just escaped the marauders' butcher knives with their lives, still bearing wounds covered in crude bandages. After resting overnight at the New Union Gas Station, they had been assigned to the first convoy headed for Changjiu Farm. Yet... They had walked through the sudden blizzard with high hopes for a new life, only to arrive and witness this. A dark cloud inevitably fell over their dreams of a fresh start. "So where's the camp?" "Maybe there never was one to begin with..." "I'm starting to miss my cabin. I just finished building a fireplace for it... Dammit." "Forget it. We can't go back there anyway." While the villagers from Winter Willow Camp stood in stunned silence, at a loss for what to do, the refugees amid the ruined camp were eyeing them just as warily. Most of their gazes were tinged with suspicion and caution. Newcomers had joined them occasionally in the past, but never so many all at once—more than a hundred people. "Is the disaster that bad?" "Bone Chewers... The chaos is spreading." "Great Horned Deer above, grant us peace and protection..." Leading his fellow tribesmen in the search-and-rescue effort, Jiu Xun frowned at the newly arrived refugees, then turned back into the camp to find his brother. Within the crowd, Ma Shan shivered violently. His lips trembled as he spoke, his eyes filled with despair. "I told you so... We should have fled south long ago. Look at this mess. Everywhere is hell. We've got nowhere left to run." That soldier in the exoskeleton had promised to take him to see the Administrator. Yet up until now, aside from a few guards coming to ask him questions, nothing had come of it. Perhaps the Administrator didn't want to see him at all. With all hope of entering the shelter gone, only despair remained in his heart. The biting north wind cut across their faces like knives. Feeling the eyes on his back, Ma Li swallowed hard, his neck feeling frozen stiff. "...How about I go look for the Administrator?" After all, he had been the one to represent Winter Willow Camp in agreeing to the shelter's relocation plan. Hearing his son's words, Ma Zhanqiu slowly shook his head. "When everyone is in trouble, looking for anyone is useless." No one was obligated to save them. The only ones who could save them were themselves. After a moment of silence, he turned to the villagers and shouted in a hoarse yet resonant voice, "Looks like the warm blankets and hot soup will have to wait a bit! "The wounded, elderly, and children will watch the luggage. The rest of you, follow me! "Our saviors are in trouble. We need to lend them a hand!" The survivors of Winter Willow Camp joined the search-and-rescue efforts. Thanks to their help, more people buried beneath the snow were quickly carried out. Many were breathing faintly, but they were still alive—merely frozen stiff. They were carried into hastily dug trenches, which offered some shelter from the wind and snow. The guard team set up a temporary aid station over the trenches, gathering the injured for treatment and helping splint fractured limbs. Because his truck had broken down on the road, Chu Guang had been delayed and had walked the second half of the journey to Changjiu Farm. Upon arriving at the farm, he quickly found Luka directing the rescue efforts near the east gate. Coincidentally, Wrench, the captain of the guard team, and Jiu Li, the head of the refugee camp, were both there as well. Skipping pleasantries, Chu Guang cut straight to the chase. "What's the situation?" Luka spoke with a grave expression and a heavy voice. "Sir, the refugee camp has suffered severe damage. Almost all the shacks have been destroyed. I've already ordered the laborers at Changjiu Farm to put down their current tasks and support the rescue efforts. So far, seven deaths have been confirmed, twenty-one are injured, and two are still missing... Their chances don't look good." Chu Guang's heart sank slightly. Standing nearby, Jiu Li immediately chimed in, "Sir, the old camp is no longer habitable. I beg you to allow us into the farm. We swear we won't cause any trouble." Before Chu Guang could speak, Wrench turned to Jiu Li and answered for him, "Even if you enter the farm, there aren't enough rooms for you to stay in. The new apartments are still under construction. If you come inside, you'll only end up sleeping on the bare ground. That won't solve anything." Jiu Li pleaded anxiously, "At least the walls can block some of the wind..." "How could they?" Wrench shook his head. "Even the roof of our guardhouse was blown away. I just had people fetch it back." Jiu Li was left speechless, though he still wanted to say more. Seeing this, Old Luka also chimed in to persuade him, "Wrench is telling the truth. Even if we let everyone inside, it won't make things any better." Wrench was indeed right: Changjiu Farm simply couldn't accommodate so many people. The refugee camp had grown from an initial 187 people to nearly 300. Adding the hundred-odd households from Winter Willow Camp, the population would easily exceed 500. The dormitories left behind by the Pioneer's crew had only 200 private rooms in total. More than half had already been rented by players operating around Changjiu Farm and Yumu District to use as log-off spots, while the other half housed refugees who had already secured jobs within the farm. The two "Refugee Home" apartment buildings currently under construction would only hold a little over 400 rooms in total. Even if they broke ground on a third building right now, it wouldn't be ready until next spring at the earliest. Crowding everyone inside would merely treat the symptoms without curing the disease. It solved nothing, offering little more than psychological comfort. Chu Guang pondered for a moment, then looked at Wrench. "Do you have a map of Qingquan City's northern outskirts with you? A paper map, I mean." "Yes, sir." Wrench immediately pulled a map from his coat and handed it to Chu Guang with both hands. Chu Guang unfolded the map and studied it for a short while, eventually fixing his gaze on the abandoned department store not far from the new industrial zone. His Ox and Horse Squad had previously discovered a personal shelter there, which was where Boss Xia's workbench had been found. Chu Guang remembered clearly that the building had a two-level underground parking garage with immense space. The radioactive contaminants and slime-mold mutants inside had already been cleared out. Though a few mutants might have wandered back in recently, their numbers wouldn't be large, making clearing them relatively easy. Most importantly, the department store was only about five kilometers away, and its proximity to the new industrial zone might allow them to find work for some of these people. The only drawbacks were ventilation and sanitation, but faced with a brutal blizzard, those were minor concerns. Chu Guang planned to temporarily house the refugees there until next spring. Conditions wouldn't be great, but it beat leaving them to fend for themselves out in the wild. Drawing a circle on the map with a pen, Chu Guang handed it to Jiu Li and instructed him, "The area around Changjiu Farm is open wasteland. Aside from withered shrubs and bushes, there's only rolling mud. There is nowhere to shelter from the wind and snow, nor are there enough materials to rebuild a camp in a short time. "We don't know when this blizzard might strike again, so rebuilding a camp out here isn't wise. Before winter ends, we must use the ruins left behind by pre-war society to establish a temporary shelter. I know this won't be easy—mutants, diseases... there are many hurdles to overcome. But right now, this is the only option that will keep the most people alive. "I need you to organize the people and lead the refugees to the relocation site on the map. I'll arrange for the guard team to assist you in setting up the temporary shelter there. "A batch of timber will be delivered to you shortly, and I'll send personnel to help you produce fuel. As for food, I'll do everything I can to sort it out. The rations will match the standards you had here. I can't promise luxury, but I can guarantee that no one will starve or freeze to death." Though his heart was heavy, Jiu Li knew this was the most realistic choice. Nodding slightly, he said respectfully, "Thank you for your generosity, sir." Both calming the refugees and arranging the relocation would take time, so Jiu Li didn't linger. He quickly turned and left with the map and the Administrator's promise. After sending Luka to assist him and wrapping up the instructions, Chu Guang didn't remain idle either. Using his Administrator privileges, he immediately posted a quest with no entry requirements on the quest channel. The quest was simultaneously posted on the notice board outside the warehouse for the newbies who had yet to receive their VMs. [Quest: Changjiu Farm Needs Timber!] [Target: All Players] ... Outpost Base. A crowd of newbies gathered around the quest notice board outside the warehouse. Staring at the lines of text, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. [Quest: Changjiu Farm Needs Timber!] [Requirement: Fell marked trees in the designated area and haul the felled logs to the collection point for loading onto trucks.] [Reward: 2 silver coins, 5 contribution points, and 10 regional reputation points (Changjiu Farm) per tree.] A buzz of discussion erupted, filled without exception by shock and bewilderment. It was almost unbelievable! "Holy crap? Two silver coins a tree?!" "Plus five contribution points and ten reputation!" "Good lord, is this some limited-time event? Why are the rewards so high!" Everyone knew that even a hardcore Level 0 grinder could only make about ten silver coins a day. Only after reaching Level 3 would daily earnings gradually rise to fifteen to twenty silver coins. This was due to the game's mechanics: early on, contribution points were far more important than silver coins. Only after reaching Citizen rank would monetary gains scale upward accordingly. As the game operator explained it, only those who made sufficient contributions to the shelter deserved to enjoy the fruits of their predecessors' labor and hold a greater share of "social resources." A normal daily quest to fell a tree offered a mere five copper coins, or perhaps two for smaller trees. Now, the reward was four times that! And with no earning cap! It wasn't just the newbies. Even veteran players above Level 6 were sorely tempted by such bloated rewards. Mole on the Run from the Canyon: "Did the AI make a mistake when generating the quest? This payout makes no sense at all! Aren't Strength-types going to farm their brains out?! I strongly demand that the developers add high-earning quests for Agility-types too!" Commander Spring: "+1. Intelligence-types are crying in the corner." Midnight Chicken Slaughter: "Logging party assembling! Anyone want in? PM me fast!" Kakarot: "Brother Slaughter, take me with you! Hahaha, I'm a Strength-type!" Elven King Fugui: "Let's roll, brothers! Before the dog developer notices this bug, let's farm silver coins to the moon!" Spare the Man Under the Blade: "I'm gonna grind my damn life away!" Jieyan: "Awesome sauce!" A massive horde of players marched toward Yumu District in grand fashion. The Strength-type players in particular were as giddy as two-hundred-pound toddlers. The warehouse completely ran out of felling axes as they vowed to chop down a whole new horizon. Unlike past logging quests, this one designated a specific cutting zone, and NPCs had marked the trees. Only felling marked trees yielded rewards. The harvesting zone covered roughly ten mu, appearing as a rectangular area on the map. Every pine and cypress tree with a diameter exceeding thirty centimeters and a height over ten meters had been marked. Three guards and eight NPC laborers set up a temporary camp beside the logging zone, using saw blades and other basic cutting equipment to process the timber and load the cut logs onto trucks, which hauled them off to Changjiu Farm and the abandoned department store housing the refugees. Some might wonder: what if I mark a slightly thinner tree myself and chop that down instead? Well, sure, that would work. That would work amazingly well. As long as the NPCs were completely blind, they definitely wouldn't notice, right...? Within that ten-mu zone, the NPCs Chu Guang sent to mark the trees placed a staggering six thousand tags. The quest was originally scheduled to last a week. Yet to Chu Guang's utter astonishment, in just three short days—and without chainsaws or any modern logging equipment—his players managed to clear all six thousand-plus marked trees using nothing but axes! At two silver coins per tree, Chu Guang paid out a whopping twelve thousand silver coins for that timber over those three days! A total of 170 players took part in the quest, with average earnings reaching a staggering 70.5 silver coins! The MVP was Midnight Chicken Slaughter. He broke two axes on his own, personally contributing 120 trees, earning 240 silver coins in three days, and raising his logging level from 5 to 6. Chu Guang was sorely tempted to award him a "Forest Destroyer" achievement. At this rate, Brother Slaughter would likely become the second player in the shelter to awaken. Strength-types being the strongest class in this version was now an undeniable fact! ... Changjiu Farm. In the temporary office. Looking at Chu Guang seated behind the wooden desk, Luka cautioned hesitantly, "Sir, we have plenty of timber now, and our fuel reserves have returned above your target threshold. However, food remains a major problem. "The weather is getting colder, and game is growing scarce. Meanwhile, we now have over two thousand mouths to feed. At our current rate of consumption, our food supplies will probably only last until the end of this month..." After listening to Luka's report, Chu Guang fell into thought, lightly tapping his index finger on the desk. The first batch of corn at the greenhouse ruins would take another two months to mature. The planted area was about forty mu, with an estimated yield of 700 to 800 kilograms per mu, totaling around 30,000 kilograms. The seeds sold by the Pioneer were reliable in terms of yield. Once the breeding program in the Floor B3 cultivation area was completed and the entire greenhouse ruins were cleared, a new batch of seeds could be sown right away. However, distant water could not quench immediate thirst. He could print currency at will, but he couldn't turn printed banknotes into grain. After a moment of contemplation, Chu Guang said, "We need to hold out for two more months. "As long as we can endure until the end of January next year, victory will be ours!" There was no more food left to scavenge in the surrounding area. Chu Guang had even sent people to inspect Brown Farm; their granaries were indeed nearly empty, proving the farm owner hadn't lied to him. Game had become exceedingly hard to find in the forests of Yumu District, and inside the city... even the rats had been hunted almost to extinction. Those slime-mold mutants were ultimately inedible. Even if refined into active substances, the paste-like liquid couldn't be absorbed by the human digestive system. Unless he was willing to cross a moral line, only one option remained... Sitting before his desk, Chu Guang pondered for a long time before finally reaching a decision. He pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer, picked up a pen, and wrote down six characters— *Wartime Management Regulations* "Place certain grain varieties under control: restrict purchases, implement unified rationing, and centralize distribution." This should allow them to hold out for two months. Perhaps he should have done this long ago.