Mosquito's Business Sense and New Players Online!

Early morning. Yawning, Li Niu walked out of the workers' dormitory. As usual, he first took his aluminum washbasin to the communal sink to wash up, then went to the mill's gate to pick up two steamed buns, planning to eat them on his feet before heading inside to work. It had been two or three months since Li Niu joined No. 81 Steel Mill and became a proud worker. Catching the crisis of the Bone Chewer Tribe's invasion, the steel mill had expanded production. Relying on his hard work, diligence, and eagerness to learn, he had quickly earned a promotion from the plant manager. By now, Li Niu had advanced from an ordinary handyman to a foreman managing five or six people, knowing the operation guidelines and safety manuals distributed by the factory by heart. Not only had his monthly salary doubled, but the shelter residents had even equipped him with a VM. As everyone knew, only the factory's core employees were qualified to wear a VM and communicate directly with those omnipotent shelter residents. For the wastelanders living in this area, the VM worn on the arm was not merely a communication tool; it was also a status symbol. It meant recognition! If nothing went awry, he might well advance to workshop director by next year. In fact, it was not just Li Niu; more and more Bet Street residents had come here to work lately, and few people still bothered with scavenging and hunting. He had heard that Yu Hu kid even became president of the Hunters' Guild? Li Niu did not envy him, however. For one thing, Yu Hu truly had skill when it came to hunting; for another, Li Niu was quite satisfied with his current life. No matter what work they did, they all had a bright future! Finishing the steamed buns in his hand, Li Niu patted his palms together and was about to head into the mill when he noticed a commotion at the street corner. Was that Goblin Technology's workshop over there? Compared to the wide gate of No. 81 Steel Mill, Goblin Technology could indeed only be considered a workshop, both in its storefront and its scale. "What happened over there?" Li Niu stopped a fellow villager walking past and asked out of curiosity. "Why is it so lively?" The villager replied, "Looks like Goblin Technology opened a new plant and is hiring. I just went over to take a look—they're offering ten silver coins a day, paid monthly!" Ten silver coins could buy two kilograms of potatoes, three kilograms of corn... or two bowls of ramen. Most of the factories here provided room and board, allowing the wages earned to be saved up, so ten silver coins a day was already quite generous. And yet... That was Goblin Technology. The vast majority of survivors did not have a good impression of the place, because deafening noises could constantly be heard coming from the workshop. Strange rumors frequently circulated— That they were developing some kind of terrifying weapon of mass destruction over there. Li Niu noticed that while many people crowded outside the workshop gates, very few stepped forward to apply. He was not in the least surprised that Goblin Technology could not hire anyone... ... "Fuck! Where is everybody?" They had only hired eight people throughout the entire morning. Looking at the employee roster in his hands, WC Really Has Mosquitoes could not resist cursing. The compensation was clearly the same, so why was the gate of No. 81 Steel Mill swarmed to bursting every time they hired, while his own recruitment drive only drew onlookers? Did that make any sense?! Obviously not! After turning it over in his mind, Mosquito could only come up with one reason. Without a doubt, the damn devs were "balancing" him! A newbie standing nearby could not help but chime in, "Have you considered that maybe the wages you're offering are too low?" The other three players echoed in agreement. "Exactly. Ten silver coins a day... I can't believe you had the nerve!" "No kidding. Even a dog wouldn't work for that pittance! I delivered a batch of ammo yesterday and got ten silver and ten contribution points!" "Vile capitalist! Watch out, or you'll get strung up on a lamppost!" These four were new employees Mosquito had hired, all newcomers who entered the game in the Alpha 1.1 version. Their handles were neatly formatted two-character nicknames: Life Claimer, Soul Chaser, God of Slaughter, and Peacemaker. Judging by those IDs, they were not very old. However, all four claimed they had already graduated, even posting pictures of their diplomas. "What the hell do you noobs know!" His face reddening, Mosquito glared at the four newcomers, defending his miserly behavior. "Wages for NPCs... ten silver coins is already a lot, okay? No. 81 Steel Mill next door pays the exact same!" Speaking with a clear conscience, was ten silver coins really so little? In the previous versions, these NPCs earned a daily wage of less than two silver coins, so he was already paying plenty! It was all because the Administrator handed out money too generously and gave too many quest rewards, causing severe inflation over the past few months. Earlier on, newbies had to grind for a full day just to earn ten silver coins; people scrambled to take jobs offering five copper coins, and getting one silver made them thrilled. It was nothing like now. These newbies scoffed even at jobs paying ten silver coins an hour. And they justified their laziness with plausible-sounding arguments— For a quest that also paid ten silver coins, running errands for the shelter at least yielded contribution points. With enough contribution points, one could buy land and purchase high-tech gear. Even running errands for Changjiu Farm granted regional reputation. With high reputation, one could not only open a shop, but also take up a post in municipal agencies. Wasn't that far more interesting than clocking in as a laborer?! Whenever he heard that argument, Mosquito could not help but sigh with bitter resentment. Today's little newbies truly did not have a shred of dedication left. If nobody worked hard, how was he supposed to push for Tier 0? How was Goblin Technology supposed to grow bigger and stronger? If it were not for the fact that these four possessed specialized skills in engine repair that he happened to need, Mosquito would never have hired these extra freeloaders. Life Claimer did not buy his nonsense at all, rolling his eyes without saving him any face. "How can that be the same? No. 81 Steel Mill is an enterprise invested in by the shelter. Besides wages, they also give out gift vouchers." Soul Chaser: "Exactly. And I heard that companies controlled by the shelter not only offer lifetime employment, but occasionally give out pots, pans, bowls, soap, cooking oil, salt, and all sorts of things. Work for the shelter in the first half of your life, and the shelter supports you in the second half." God of Slaughter: "Sigh, compared to that, Goblin Technology is just way too stingy!" Peacemaker: "Couldn't agree more. Capitalists are detestable!" Hearing this, WC Really Has Mosquitoes grew frantic. "Fuck! How much do those little gifts even cost?! Besides, those are game settings—you guys actually take that seriously?" The four rolled their eyes in unison. The gifts did not cost much. Then why the hell don't you give them out too! Ignoring the newbies arguing against him, Mosquito pulled out a pen and a small notebook, silently running the numbers. After thinking for a moment, he chewed on the pen cap and muttered, "Let's raise the NPC wage to twelve silver coins..." "Any higher and there won't be any profit left!" A daily wage of twelve silver coins meant three hundred and sixty silver a month. For twenty people, that was 7,200 silver coins. The thought of an added cost of 7,200 silver coins made Mosquito's heart ache. Dammit! Why couldn't they practice slavery? This was the wasteland—was spending money to buy a couple of slaves to work really so outrageous? It wasn't as if he wouldn't feed them! In the end, Mosquito still raised the wages. And facts proved that offering a bit more money did work after all. Seeing the daily wage increase by two silver coins, the temporary laborers who had been watching the commotion all morning stepped forward one after another to register. Working at Goblin Technology was scary, but as long as the pay was right, nobody cared that much. Besides... No one had heard of anyone getting blown up, had they? Just before dusk, Mosquito finally recruited enough hands. He let out a breath of relief and immediately began arranging production. As for why he was suddenly hiring, it was mainly because Goblin Technology had recently opened a new facility. And the origin of it all was that yesterday, Mosquito had learned on the forum that gas masks were selling at exorbitant prices in Boulder City, with soaring demand! Even commoners earning only two or three chips would buy one for themselves and their families to wear. With his keen business sense, Mosquito instantly smelled an opportunity to strike it rich. What was the essential necessity of the wasteland? Naturally, things that could save lives! When the Tide arrived, all of Qingquan City would be shrouded under spore clouds. Those slime molds and spores could not be killed with muscles and bullets. Even Awakened could not withstand continuously inhaling harmful matter. Whether traveling merchants heading to Boulder City to trade or locals living there, everyone needed at least one gas mask to ensure their safety. Having discovered this business opportunity, Mosquito was grinning ear to ear. Without a second word, he immediately went online, staying up through the night to visit the Administrator's assistant to register a branch company whose primary business was "manufacturing military equipment" and applied for a new workshop. How much technical skill could a gas mask possibly require? Punch three holes in rubber, stuff activated charcoal into a plastic bottle to make a filter, and sandwich a lens between two aluminum rings—problem solved! Because their neighbor, Brown Farm, grew plenty of Kham trees, rubber at the shelter was very cheap, only slightly more expensive than grain. The plastic for the filters was also extremely easy to get; the most common garbage on the wasteland was plastic bottles. Even without scavenging waste, the chemical plant in the industrial zone could synthesize polyethylene from biomass oil on its own, at a price slightly cheaper than wood. Mosquito had studied it carefully: factoring in labor costs and the procurement of raw materials, a single mask cost at most two silver coins. If production scaled up, the cost could even be driven below two silver coins! Even if a mask could only sell for ten chips, that was still more than double his money! And if he exchanged the earned chips for local specialties in Boulder City before transporting them back, the profit margins would be even more staggering. Looking at the workers busy at their benches in the brand-new workshop, Mosquito's face beamed with a smug smile, and he could not resist praising himself. "I'm a fucking genius!" Life Claimer, trailing behind him, could not help offering an honest reality check. "I remember Brother Mole came up with this idea, didn't he?" Mosquito said dismissively, "Doesn't matter! I'm the first one doing it!" Life Claimer: "..." Good grief. This guy's skin was thicker than a brick wall! ... Although other players constantly criticized him as an unscrupulous merchant, one had to admit that Mosquito's execution and efficiency were undeniably Tier 0 among all players! From a forum thread to a twenty-man factory, the guy had taken less than forty-eight hours from start to finish. While other players were still debating market size and posting their own blueprints on the forum, the gas masks produced by Goblin Technology were already displayed on the shelves by the north gate. A perfect demonstration of "time is money"! The design of the gas mask was remarkably simple. To put it bluntly, it was copied straight out of a World War II movie. A conical profile paired with two fist-sized, flattened cylindrical filters looked right out of Return to Castle Wolfenstein, with resin lenses clamped between two aluminum rings—the whole thing was practically a replica of the M38 rubber gas mask! Moreover, since the people of the wasteland had low standards for quality—as long as it worked, it was fine—Mosquito accommodated their needs by using less than half the materials of an actual M38 rubber gas mask! Mosquito simply named it the N19. Since the cost was only half that of an M38, the model number was naturally halved as well. Although this gas mask was riddled with absurd flaws, it still looked considerably better than the contraption Brother Mole had cobbled together from trash. In addition, twenty protective suits made of synthetic fiber cloth were put up for sale alongside them, colored in dark greyish-black. While slime mold and spores had no direct contact damage on a target, for players venturing deep into the infected zone to fight, these suits—which covered the entire body without hindering movement—still offered some small benefit, if only better than nothing. At least they were slightly more useful than body armor. To accommodate the players' wallets, Mosquito priced them quite "conscientiously": a single protective suit cost only eighty silver coins. If one chose the bundle of mask plus hazmat suit, the entire set was only a hundred silver coins! It could be considered quite "charitable." The person responsible for sales was a young girl from the Frost Spear tribe. Mosquito did not give her a base salary, instead promising her a fifteen percent sales commission. At a price of ten silver coins per mask, she earned 1.5 silver coins for every mask sold. Eager to earn money to support her family, the girl was full of drive, calling out vigorously the moment she took her post. Her exotic features and melodious voice drew many players over to watch. However... Shortly after the stall opened, a player immediately spotted an issue. Silver Sword: "Wait a second, why is the bundle more expensive than buying them separately?!" About to hand over money, Jieyan flinched, hastily withdrawing his extended VM. "Holy shit! It really is!" "Damn Mosquito has gone crazy for money!" "This is way too greedy!" Seeing everyone's agitated reactions, the young Frost Spear girl was at a loss, glancing pleadingly at Mosquito standing beside her. Having long anticipated that people would complain about his pricing, Mosquito picked his ear with his pinky, stepped out of the crowd, and said indifferently, "What are you shouting about? The bundle includes free gifts! Didn't you see it comes with an entrenching shovel and a belt?" The entrenching shovel was assembled from blades custom-ordered from No. 81 Steel Mill and wooden handles bought wholesale from the woodworking shed, costing him a mere five silver coins. As for the belt, that was even cheaper—scraps cut from clothing manufacturing at the tannery, bought wholesale at only three silver coins apiece. Take a loss? Nonexistent. At most, he made slightly less profit. Silver Sword: "Can I just buy the mask and the entrenching shovel?" Silver Hand: "I only want the gas mask and the belt!" Mosquito shook his head like a rattle. "No sale, no sale. The entrenching shovel and belt are bundle bonuses, not sold separately!" Silver Daddy: "Fuck!" Jieyan: "@#$%!" Despite their grumbling, quite a few players still pulled out their VMs to pay for the sake of the bonus items. Watching the gas masks and protective suits get snatched clean, Mosquito grinned ear to ear. What was a life-skilling player? This was the real deal! ... Day three of the Alpha 1.1 version launch. The countdown for the four hundred helmets finally reached zero, and the eager players who had waited countless days and nights finally logged into the game as they had dreamed. When they opened their eyes, letting the piercing white light strike their retinas, astonishment and awe were written across almost every upturned face. This light! This wind! This lifelike tactile sensation! And that solemn, majestic broadcast! The immersive shock washed over them. From every frame to every decibel, they could feel the budget burning! And this was merely the opening cutscene... "Holy shit! I get to play a game this epic in my lifetime!" "Isn't this infinitely better than whatever metaverse crap?!" "I'm crying tears of joy!" "Open the door! Let me out!" "...You have to put on pants before going out? Why wear pants? Can't we skip them?" "Can I take them off once I step outside?" The chattering voices were identical to previous batches. Once the broadcast finally finished, the four hundred-plus newbies surged out of their rooms in a swarm, packing into the plaza under the guidance of the announcement. Unlike Shelter 404, the neglected facilities of Vault 117 appeared slightly worn, though the space was relatively larger. Naturally, these newcomers did not care about that. Becoming one of the lucky few chosen out of tens of thousands to witness the birth of an era-defining game was a cause for celebration in itself. As for which vault they spawned in, who cared? Under the gaze of countless expectant eyes, a suit of azure power armor strode forward in front of all the players. The gleaming armor and the warhammer radiating power drew all eyes the moment it appeared. The helmet's faceplate lifted. Looking across the players present, Chu Guang cleared his throat and solemnly recited once more the opening speech he had painstakingly devised. "...It is now the two-hundredth year after the apocalypse. Fortunately, we have successfully endured the most arduous years. Standing here, you are already luckier than twelve billion people. Now, I need you to recognize our reality as quickly as possible and fulfill your pledge under the banner of the Human Alliance—to rebuild our home!" "Beside me is my assistant, Xiao Qi. If you have any questions regarding the shelter or anything you don't understand, you may ask it." After concluding the routine procedure, Chu Guang left the remaining time to his assistant Xiao Qi and the veteran players nearby. The threat of the Tide was looming. Hands were needed everywhere. When it came to how Wasteland OL should be played, these players—each with an imagination wilder than the last—were far more unhinged than he was as the developer. All they needed was a bit of proper guidance. Once the "Passing the Torch" quest was completed, these newbies would surely have a basic grasp of the game's rules and mechanics. With the opening cutscene finished, the newbies scattered in an instant. A curious little player peeked around, walked up to Jieyan, and asked inquisitively, "Big bro, how do you play this game?" Hearing someone call him a veteran big shot, Jieyan beamed with pleasure. Hastily adopting an expert's demeanor, he calmly glanced at the player. "What's your handle?" The player chuckled. "Corner Camper! I'm cracked at sniping—flick shots, jump shots, quick scopes, no-scopes, I do it all. Quick question: where do you buy a sniper rifle in this game?" Jieyan looked at him with gentle pity, speaking patiently. "First off, a baseline LD-47 assault rifle costs two hundred silver coins. For newbies, I recommend the Pu-9, which has better handling, or the bolt-action Ripper... Before you think about buying any gun, check your pockets first." Corner Camper patted his pockets, pulling out a coin with the letters N and F stamped on either side. "Uh, I only have five silver coins... What can I buy?" Jieyan gave him a startled look. "The starter pack increased to five silver coins?" Back in his day, it had been one silver coin; it had actually quintupled! Corner Camper blinked. "Is that a lot?" Jieyan chuckled. "About enough for a bowl of noodles." Corner Camper: "..." Jieyan patted him on the shoulder like a seasoned veteran. "Don't be discouraged. Everyone starts out like this. Anyway, pick up the torch-bearer quest first. I'll guide you through the beginner quests so you can save up five hundred contribution points and fifty silver coins to buy a VM. Without the player interface, everything you do will be a pain." Corner Camper was stunned. "What the fuck?! You have to spend money just to get the system interface in this game?" Jieyan nodded. "After all, that was a feature we forced the devs to add. At the start of this game, forget an operating interface—we didn't even have currency for trading." "Awesome!" Corner Camper looked at him with deep envy. "Big bro, you must be a top-tier player, right?" Jieyan offered a mysterious smile. "I wouldn't say that. The waters run deep in this game, and there are plenty of true masters. I'm just average." Hearing that, Corner Camper's eyes lit up. With words like that, he was definitely a master without a doubt! "Big bro! Can you carry the bros I queue with too?" Jieyan smiled and said, "Sure. I can take up to four people. How many do you have?" Corner Camper grinned. "Not many. Counting me, exactly four!" What the hell? Four got in all at once? Jieyan looked at him in surprise, raising his arm to tap on his VM. "What are your three friends' handles?" "Donation Sniper, Utility Master, and Lost Rookie!" Fair enough. Judging by those IDs, they were FPS players through and through. Jieyan typed the handles onto his screen and hit apply. As long as they went over to Xiao Qi to confirm, the Passing the Torch quest would officially begin. "All set... Speaking of which, you guys must have waited in line for quite a while, huh?" Corner Camper smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, we waited pretty long... Anyway, I only signed up for the pre-registration after seeing promotional screenshots of the new map in Alpha 1.0. I camped for about a month." As he spoke, he could not help but sigh with feeling. "This game has blown up lately—the pre-registrations have topped a hundred thousand!" Jieyan: "..." Motherfucker! Waiting only one month counts as long?! His mood, which had been so pleasant from being called a veteran master, instantly soured.