Hunters Guild! And Tengteng's Artwork!

[ID: Chu Guang Gene Sequence: Administrator (Tier 2) Level: LV.17 → LV.18 —Base Attributes— Strength: 17 Agility: 12 → 13 Constitution: 16 Perception: 13 → 14 Intelligence: 15] Floor B3 Medical Room. Sitting on the edge of the scanning bed, Chu Guang looked at his newly leveled-up attribute panel on the tablet Heya handed him. To his surprise, this level-up had actually granted him two attribute points. "...Incredible. Your DNA is even more miraculous than I imagined. Is Shelter 404 the People's Federation's gene bank? Just how much modified DNA do you have in storage?" Seated on the chair opposite him, Heya wore a look of utter disbelief, chattering continuously about her astonishing discovery ever since he had sat down. However, Chu Guang, an utter layman on the subject, had no idea what she was talking about. "I don't know." "You don't know?!" Heya stared at him in shock. "When the previous shelter director handed over authority, did they not tell you the true nature of this shelter?" "That old riddler only told me this was the last hope of human civilization." Chu Guang could not even remember whether he had actually read that phrase on the note. Because he frequently invented backstories and settings for the People's Federation on the official website, he sometimes confused what had genuinely occurred in this world with the imaginative details he had crafted to flesh out the game's world-building. Did that matter, though? Not particularly. He was a pragmatist; as long as something worked, that was enough. As for the secrets buried in this shelter and whatever had transpired two centuries ago, Chu Guang admitted he was curious, but he was also acutely aware that satisfying his curiosity was not his top priority. Zipping up his coat, Chu Guang stood up from the scanning bed. "I have bad news to tell you. Based on data from my administrative clearance, the spore concentration in the air across the northern outskirts is rising. Something very bad will likely happen within two weeks at the latest." Heya's expression gradually grew solemn. "Actually, I have something I need to report to you regarding that." "What is it?" "While exploring the tunnels, your residents discovered a strange phenomenon..." Heya picked up a tablet and gently slid her index finger across the screen. Soon, a fifteen-second video clip appeared on the tablet in Chu Guang's hands. It was a fleshy-red room. At first, Chu Guang assumed the slime on the walls and floor was blood and chunks of meat, but zooming in revealed the complete opposite of what he had imagined. Dense layers of tiny, fleshy-red cilia were evenly anchored to the concrete structure, while fleshy-red fruiting bodies the size of refrigerators clung to the walls, pulsing gently like lungs drawing breath. The players' voices could even be heard in the recording. "Shit... what the hell is this thing?" "Maybe it's slime mold shit." "Not necessarily... looks kinda like a trap to me. Look at those cilia—they look like tentacles, just shorter." "Where's the squad leader? Snap a recording quick! This'll blow up on the forums for sure!" "I'm recording, I'm recording!" Chu Guang furrowed his brows slightly and looked at Heya. "What is this?" "Creep formed by mutant slime mold," Heya said gravely, crossing her arms over her chest. "According to my research, mutant slime mold attached to surfaces usually appears in black, brown, or blackish-green plaques. "However, once its thickness exceeds two millimeters, it triggers a fourth morphology... which is what you're seeing right now." "What is its purpose?" Chu Guang asked. "To incubate fruiting bodies," Heya replied. Chu Guang's expression turned grim. "In other words, those gnawers all crawl out of rooms like this?" He had heard of such things. Aside from the broodmother, scattered throughout various parts of the city were things known as 'incubation chambers' that produced spores in mass quantities, simulating the broodmother's environment to gestate fruiting bodies. While their production efficiency was far inferior to an actual broodmother, the sheer volume they yielded was staggering. That was precisely why slime-mold-type mutants seemed utterly impossible to wipe out no matter how many were killed. "Not just gnawers. The Crawlers, Detonators, Tyrants, and other variants you've encountered... theoretically, all of them can be produced through this. "When studying the creep's composition, I discovered that under most circumstances, fourth-morphology slime mold exhibits strong self-limiting properties. Typically, once it fills a single room, it ceases outward expansion and instead focuses on increasing the creep's thickness and the number of incubation units. "However, under certain specific conditions, this self-limitation is lifted." Chu Guang immediately pressed, "What kind of specific conditions?" "I don't know," Heya shook her head. "Perhaps environmental conditions are met, or perhaps when it deems it necessary to expand the colony, the creep will reabsorb a portion of the fruiting bodies it previously sent out to hunt. It will then rapidly expand its surface area within a short period, completely engulfing the original surroundings to form an even larger incubation chamber... and during that process, their color shifts to dark red." Chu Guang's Adam's apple bobbed. "...A broodmother." Heya nodded. "That is my suspicion as well." A rise in airborne spore concentration was one of the critical indicators for monitoring a 'Tide.' Yet what Chu Guang could not understand was how the first-generation manager had known about all this. Hadn't mutant slime mold only emerged after the wasteland era began? According to the information Chu Guang had initially obtained, this shelter had been sealed for over a century. Meanwhile, mutant slime mold had seemingly only begun to proliferate after the little ice age at the dawn of the wasteland era. Up until his death, that first-generation manager had likely never set foot outside this shelter, which was why he had passed down the duty and research findings to his successor. Or could it be... Mutant slime mold had already existed during the pre-war era? Or perhaps the mutant slime mold was itself some kind of doomsday bioweapon. Unaware of Chu Guang's inner thoughts, Heya looked on with a trace of worry, murmuring with a soft sigh, "The urban environment is far too hospitable for slime mold. Concrete provides excellent insulation, and with ample nutrients, the sewers, subways, abandoned buildings... those facilities are practically natural petri dishes. They are probably better suited to this city than vegetation ever was, and that is likely the true cause behind the Tide. "Sometimes, the more I study it, the more powerless I feel... Perhaps Mr. Seven was right: this planet may be beyond saving. The only thing we can do is preserve the achievements of the previous civilization, engrave them and our stories onto a gravestone, and leave it for the next heir." Seven was the manager of Vault 117. It was clear that as a member of the 'Tomb Keepers,' she held deep respect for that steadfast and benevolent manager. Chu Guang, however, could not bring himself to agree with her view. "My opinion is the exact opposite of yours. I don't care about what happens after I'm dead, nor do I waste time pondering whether things are beyond saving." Looking at the startled Heya, Chu Guang stated succinctly, "Since I am alive and standing right here, then I have to deal with it." ... Edge of the Fifth Ring Road. Amidst a ruined, debris-strewn street, a burly wild boar shook its bristling mane and crawled out from the shattered display window of a roadside storefront. The snow had already melted, and tender green sprouts were pushing through the cracks in the concrete. Just as it was rooting around for tasty morsels buried in the soil, a sharp gunshot cracked in the distance. Shot through the head, the boar collapsed on cue and lay motionless on the ground. "Nice shot!" Crouching behind a half-collapsed billboard, Li Gou pumped his fist in excitement. This was his first time venturing out on a hunt. Previously, the hunter of their household had always been his older brother, Li Niu. But a few months ago, Li Niu had gone to work in the factory, leaving the hunting to him. Not far away, Yu Hu took a deep breath, lowered his hunting rifle, and urged his companion, "Hurry over and bleed it. Wait any longer and the meat will turn sour." "On it!" Li Gou trotted over to the boar with dagger in hand, while Yu Hu slung his hunting rifle over his back and followed. Ever since Big Brother Chu had driven out the old town mayor and his family, every hunter's household had traded up for cheap, reliable rifles. Hunting with a rifle was vastly easier than using bows, javelins, or slings. More importantly, if they ran into marauders, they were no longer completely helpless. A few months ago, owning a personal rifle would have been entirely unthinkable for them. "Hiss... this boar is heavy! Must be at least eighty kilograms!" "I'll give you a hand." The two rolled the kill onto its back. Just as Li Gou was about to sever its artery to bleed the carcass, Yu Hu's brow furrowed. "Hold on." Yu Hu reached down and pulled back the boar's ear, revealing a festering scar at the base. The scar was tiny, no longer than a pinky finger, and shielded by coarse bristles; without careful inspection, it would have been easily overlooked. "What's that?" Li Gou asked curiously. "A gnawer's claw mark. Mild infection..." Yu Hu used his dagger to part the sparse hair behind the boar's ear, then pried open its jaw to inspect its teeth, muttering as he worked, "That's bizarre." With a gnawer's sluggish pace, catching a wild boar was practically impossible. Unless... Yu Hu unconsciously swallowed hard. He had a bad feeling. Something terrible might be brewing. Seeing his cousin fall silent, Li Gou assumed there was something wrong with the meat and asked nervously, "Can we still sell it?" "Of course. It's just a superficial wound; it won't affect the meat," Yu Hu replied after examining it a bit longer. He urged, "Get to work. Let's head back early today." Li Gou nodded, wasting no more words as he began draining the blood. After a quick field dressing, the two lashed the boar to a sturdy wooden pole. Hoisting an end on each of their shoulders, they trudged nearly ten kilometers until they reached Ling Lake Wetland Park. While the butcher stall on Bet Street also bought game, their payouts were nowhere near as generous as those offered by the blue-jackets in the park. A massive boar like this could fetch a hundred silver coins at the outpost, whereas Bet Street's butcher stall would offer seventy or eighty at most. To earn an extra twenty or thirty silver coins, walking an extra five kilometers was a no-brainer. ... It was already three or four in the afternoon; dusk would arrive before long. Now that winter was over, the nights were becoming increasingly dangerous, prompting both men to quicken their pace. Following the paved road through the woods, they reached the south gate of the outpost. Just as they were about to head inside, they spotted a line of guards in black coats standing to the west, rifles slung over their backs. A rough headcount showed roughly a hundred of them. A suit of azure-blue power armor stood before them as well, seemingly inspecting the recruits. As a frequent visitor, Yu Hu naturally recognized that blue lump of iron. It was the Administrator's power armor. "Are we going to war?" Li Gou asked with wide eyes, a faint gleam of excitement in his gaze. Unlike his older brother Li Niu, Li Gou preferred soldiering over factory shifts. Those black trench coats and Arbiter rifles looked incredibly sharp! Recently, the guard team had even been issued steel helmets and entrenching shovels—the absolute dream for any young man in his eyes. "No idea..." Yu Hu shook his head, muttering softly. "I just have a feeling something big is about to happen." Not wanting to interrupt Big Brother Chu's duties, Yu Hu urged Li Gou to stop gawking, and the two hauled the boar toward the warehouse. The clerk on duty today was not Zhao Shu, but another young man whose name they did not know. Since this transaction was settled in silver coins, the process was straightforward. After confirming the carcass had been bled, the clerk weighed the game and handed Yu Hu seven silver coins along with a hundred-value paper note. "Did meat prices go up again?" Looking at the paper bill and coins in his hand, Yu Hu wore an astonished expression. The clerk smiled. "A little bit. Wild boar meat has climbed to six silver coins per jin on the market. The Administrator recently raised both the purchase price and inventory caps for meat commodities. If I knew how to hunt, I'd want to be a hunter myself." Naturally, while prices had risen, wages had kept pace. In the early days, a warehouse clerk's daily wage was only two silver coins, requiring them to pinch pennies just to eat meat. Now, daily pay had risen to twelve silver coins—enough to buy a full kilogram of meat in a single day. However, cooking was too much hassle. While they used to save up for meat to roast themselves, they now simply took their earnings to spend at the north gate market. A plump, three-liang steamed bun cost only one silver coin. Two buns washed down with a cup of soy milk or corn juice made for a hearty meal, costing next to nothing. Compared to their previous wandering life, every day here felt like paradise. After a brief discussion, Yu Hu and Li Gou spent part of their earnings on salt, cloth, soap, and other daily necessities, picking up some spare ammunition while they were at it. After finishing their shopping, they still had ten silver coins left over. Dividing the remainder, Yu Hu had Li Gou carry the supplies home while he headed over to the bank to look for Xiaoyu. Compared to the twig-thin little girl from months ago, Xiaoyu was not only taller but had filled out nicely, her fair cheeks even showing a touch of baby fat. Her dark, glossy eyes were as clear and lovely as ever, reminiscent of the waters of Ling Lake. Yu Hu had always worried his little sister wouldn't be able to handle an important job like bookkeeping, especially since she always burned green wheat cakes. In his mind, anyone entrusted with ledgers was usually a steady old fellow like Old Charlie. Now, it appeared his worries had been unfounded. Though she had no talent for griddling flatbreads, she was surprisingly gifted with numbers. Could it have been that the iron pan was just too heavy for her back then? Realizing this, Yu Hu couldn't help feeling a wave of guilt. How had he never noticed before...? "Brother?" Spotting Yu Hu, Yu Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, and she immediately popped up from behind the counter. She hadn't seen her older brother in a whole month since the New Year's party. Yu Hu smiled sheepishly. "I came to check on you for Mom and Dad. How have things been lately? Anyone picking on you?" Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, then shook her head like a rattle-drum, a cheerful smile spreading across her face. "I'm doing great! Big Brother Chu and everyone else are super nice to me!" Though she had struggled to adjust at first, she was now completely adept at the work. Everyone was kind and took good care of her. The only minor frustration was that people kept secretly dropping change on her desk before running off, forcing her to ask Xiao Qi to check the surveillance footage just to figure out who had made the deposit. Especially that giant white bear—he always deposited his money so stealthily. Was she really that scary? Although Big Brother Chu told her not to worry about it, Xiaoyu still felt slightly bad about it sometimes. Seeing his sister's lively and cheerful demeanor, a relieved smile spread across Yu Hu's face. "That's good! Seeing you healthy and happy puts my mind at ease." Xiaoyu followed up, "How are Mom and Dad doing? And what about Eldest Brother? I heard they ran into marauders near the Fifth Ring Road the day before yesterday. No one was hurt, right?" Yu Hu chuckled. "No, no, don't worry. They're all doing fine. Besides, Eldest Brother's marksmanship is amazing now. Last time I watched him practice, he picked off a soda can a hundred meters out in one shot." Xiaoyu had little concept of that distance, but she still knitted her brows and said, "Even with great aim, he shouldn't show off! The shelter folks are amazing, but they still get hurt sometimes. Same goes for you, Second Brother. Even with a gun, you can't go anywhere too dangerous." "Got it, got it," Yu Hu scratched the back of his head. He had come here to look after his sister, only to end up getting lectured by the little girl. Did she think an experienced hunter like him didn't know where was safe and where wasn't? Still, being fussed over like that felt pretty nice. Just then, the azure-blue power armor strode over from the west gate. Spotting Chu Guang, Yu Hu's eyes brightened, and he called out a greeting, "Big Brother Chu!" "Yu Hu?" Chu Guang flipped up his helmet visor and smiled at the young hunter. "How went the haul today?" "Heh, pretty good! Bagged a boar over eighty kilos, traded it for over a hundred silver coins," Yu Hu replied with a bashful grin, though pride shone clearly in his eyes. "Well done!" Chu Guang nodded approvingly, teasing with a chuckle, "Looks like the barbecue stalls will have roast wild boar tonight." Yu Hu chuckled along, but then suddenly remembered something and spoke up. "Oh, right, Big Brother Chu." "What is it?" Yu Hu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "There's something I should mention. While hunting today, I felt the atmosphere within the Fifth Ring Road was a bit off." Chu Guang's interest was piqued. "Did you notice something?" Yu Hu nodded. "The mutants have been acting far more dangerous than before. The boar I bagged today actually had claw marks from a gnawer... In the past, that would've been nearly impossible." Chu Guang took on a thoughtful expression. "That is indeed a concern. I've noticed it on my end as well—lately, the gnawers and Crawlers in the subway have grown visibly more aggressive..." Listening to her brother's conversation with Big Brother Chu, Xiaoyu grew worried and couldn't help piping up in a small voice, "Brother, why don't you switch to a safer job...?" "I'll be fine, I don't hunt at night," Yu Hu smiled, sensing his sister's concern. "Those gnawers only come out after dark. During the day, they hide inside buildings." Chu Guang suddenly interjected, "That might not remain true." Seeing Yu Hu look over in surprise, Chu Guang elaborated, "According to deductions from our shelter's specialists, a Tide may break out in the near future. When that happens, even the daytime won't be safe." A Tide?! Yu Hu's face paled slightly. "A Tide... Doesn't that only happen in the city center?" Chu Guang shook his head. "That is an inaccurate assumption. As long as conditions are met, a Tide can break out anywhere." Yu Hu swallowed hard. If anyone else had told him that, he would have written them off as an idiot. Boulder City sat right on the edge of the Third Ring Road, and there was no broodmother beyond it. Gnawers always converged toward dense populations; why would a Tide break out in the sparsely inhabited northern outskirts? Yet these words came from Big Brother Chu. In his experience, Big Brother Chu never joked about serious matters. "By the way, Yu Hu, have you thought over what we talked about earlier?" Yu Hu froze. "What was that?" Chu Guang smiled. "Coming over to help me once spring arrives." "Yes! Of course I want to!" Hearing this, Yu Hu nodded vigorously, scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Only... hunting is all I know. I'm afraid I won't be of much help to you." "Nonsense," Chu Guang smiled. "A seasoned hunter and guide is precisely what we need right now." Pausing, Chu Guang looked at Yu Hu with an earnest expression. "The threat of a Tide is looming. I plan to establish a Hunters Guild at the outpost to unite the local hunters and residents with hunting talents, conducting reconnaissance inward along the edge of the Fifth Ring Road. "I want you to be the guild's first president!" Yu Hu was dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss. "Me, as president? But I've never been—" "No one is born knowing how to do it. I have great confidence in your potential," Chu Guang gave him an encouraging look with a slight smile. "Don't worry. I will tell you what needs to be done and guide you through the specifics of each task. All you need to give me is a simple answer: yes or no." Compared to anyone else, Yu Hu was most familiar with the terrain of the northern outskirts. He was both an experienced hunter and a dependable guide. While the young man might not seem exceptionally sharp at first glance, he was far from foolish, and Chu Guang was confident in his own judge of character. Most importantly, he maintained solid rapport with the hunters of Bet Street and surrounding settlements, and the players were well acquainted with him too. He was the perfect fit for this functional NPC role! Seeing her brother still hesitating, Xiaoyu tugged gently on his sleeve, urging meekly, "Brother, just say yes! Working here has to be way safer than going out to hunt, and Mom and Dad will be thrilled." Yu Hu rubbed the back of his head, grumbling, "You little brat, you've only been out of the house a few days and you're already bossing your brother around?" Xiaoyu pouted. "I'm just worried about you... Besides, if Big Brother Chu thinks you can do it, you definitely can!" Ruffling his sister's hair, Yu Hu looked up at the smiling Chu Guang and stated solemnly, "Since you trust me enough to hand me such an important responsibility, I will give it everything I've got!" Chu Guang nodded approvingly. "That's what I was waiting to hear!" ... Come evening, Yu Hu headed back to Bet Street, intending to share the news with his parents and eldest brother before reporting back the following morning. Chu Guang told him there was no rush; he should settle his family matters first and report within two days. Night gradually descended. Over in Boulder City. Having eaten her fill, Tail rubbed her slightly protruding belly and walked out of the diner with a satisfied burp. "*Burp*~ Si, they've got quite a lot of tasty food here." "Mmm... I wouldn't call it delicious. Honestly, I think the snack street at the north gate tastes better," Sisi glanced at her sideways. "Ah Wei, you really ought to pay more attention to your public image." Tail retorted nonchalantly, "What does it matter? Is it a crime for an Awakened to have a big appetite? Besides, it's just a game. Even if I gain a tiny bit of weight, all I have to do is die once!" "Well... resurrection coins did get cheaper, but using one for that was definitely not on my bingo card." The two had each eaten a large bowl of noodles, costing four chips in total. Objectively speaking, it wasn't as good as the cooking of that low-level player at the north gate, Zhang Hai. The two reached a unanimous verdict: the people of Boulder City truly lived in dire straits. Aside from salt and vinegar, their noodles had virtually no seasoning at all! Where was the chili? Did ramen without chili even have a soul? Sisi unfolded the slip of paper in her hand, which listed the checklist of items she planned to investigate. Having checked off over twenty items already, only a handful remained. "Next stop: the tavern." "The tavern!" Tail's eyes lit up instantly. "Ooh, there are bound to be tons of mercenaries there, right?" "Theoretically, yes," Sisi looked left and right. "Though... this street seems entirely full of shops. None of these signs look like a tavern." Brother Fang Chang's strategy guide hadn't mentioned one either. Leaving out such vital intel didn't match that guy's usual style... Tail declared with boundless energy, "No problem! It's the perfect chance for us to explore!" "Yeah, that's what I was thinking too." The two strolled along the street, heading toward the inner city. Before long, a massive signboard caught their attention. Painted upon it was an alluring woman leaning back against a wine barrel, a beer mug clutched in her hand, framed by flashing multicolored neon lights. Though the art style leaned on the wild side, it was unquestionably an establishment serving drinks. "Si! Found one!" "Mmm... I don't think that's the kind of tavern we're looking for." "Who cares? If the developers put it in the game, it must have a purpose!" "Huh? Put that way, you actually have a point." Truth be told, Sisi was also curious to see just how realistic this game could get. Seeing the sheer anticipation written across Tail's face, Sisi flashed a helpless 'what am I going to do with you' expression before leading her over. The security guard by the entrance gave the two a startled look, but said nothing. After collecting two chips per person for admission, he let them through. Inside, the lights swirled wildly and the music blasted with an intense, thumping rhythm. Having never visited a nightclub in real life, both felt completely out of place in this atmosphere. Even the usually hyperactive Tail felt somewhat uneasy. "Si, honest question: how do you act like a regular when it's your first time in a club?" "I think treating it like a school cafeteria might feel more natural." Tail stared at Sisi in disbelief. "Whoa! Does Sisi usually hang out at awesome places like this?" "Do you honestly think that's possible for someone who plays video games every single night?" Sisi shot back. This place didn't resemble the cozy RPG taverns frequented by adventurers. It was much more like a modern nightclub. Finding an inconspicuous spot at the bar, the two took low-profile seats in the corner. Soon, the bartender served two glasses of watered-down beer. Sisi politely thanked him in the Federation language and gave the glass a sniff. Rather than drinking, she surveyed their surroundings. Beyond the dance floor, the lighting was dim, obscuring the faces of the patrons around them, and nobody paid the two girls any mind. Just as Sisi was pondering where to begin their investigation, the club's music abruptly shifted. A host stepped onto the stage, babbling into a microphone. Moments later, an avant-garde dancer strode onto the platform. A roar of excited cheers erupted all around them. The deafening wave of noise practically drowned out the music! The dancer on stage cast a sultry glance over the audience below and began her routine. Yet what drew everyone's attention was not the dance itself. It was the outfit she wore. Sisi froze, her expression shifting into utter shock. Isn't that Tengteng's... Before she could say a word, Tail jumped up beside her like she had just discovered a new continent, tugging Sisi's arm and pointing excitedly at the stage. "Holy crap! Si, look!" "Isn't that Tengteng's artwork?!" A subtle, complicated look washed over Sisi's face as she seemed to foresee everything that would unfold over the next few hours. "Yeah... I see it." "...That's pretty impressive."