Shelter 101…
His last visit to Dr. Method felt like a lifetime ago.
A faint, unexpected pang of nostalgia rose in Chu Guang’s chest. After pondering for a moment, he said, “That’s a hard place to describe.”
Alisa blinked, slightly taken aback. “Hard to describe how…?”
Catching the hint of yearning in her eyes, Chu Guang figured Pai had probably bragged to her about something. He thought it over before continuing. “Most other shelters preserved survivors, specific technologies, particular projects… but what they preserved there was the memory of the Era of Prosperity.”
Alisa’s eyes lit up immediately, her small fists clenching involuntarily. “The Era of Prosperity!”
That legendary, magnificent age!
She had only ever seen passing mentions of it in a few rare books and illustrated primers!
Seeing that starry-eyed look, Chu Guang easily guessed what she was imagining. Reluctant as he was, he had to pour a splash of cold water on her enthusiasm. “It’s only a memory of the Era of Prosperity. It might not be as wonderful as you picture it. The prerequisite for entering Shelter 101 is giving up your physical body. Otherwise, you can only catch a fleeting glimpse from the outside, like riding in a tour cart.”
“Giving up your physical body…?”
“It means physically dying.”
Alisa’s breath caught in her throat.
After a long silence, she said somewhat stiffly, “That sounds… like a tomb.”
Chu Guang nodded in agreement. “Indeed. To outsiders, it’s no different from a grave. But to them, it might not feel that way at all.”
Chu Guang hadn’t fully grasped what Dr. Method meant back then, but after interacting with so many AIs of differing temperaments, he understood a little better now.
To an AI, there was little real difference between a single second and a whole century. They knew, of course, that Shelter 101 was destined to fall into an eternal slumber one day—that wasn’t hard to foresee—yet they didn’t particularly mind.
Even the sun had a finite lifespan.
What did it matter if a human, or a civilization, turned into a fleeting illusion?
Within that never-ending dream, they had already lived lives longer and more beautiful than anyone else’s, leaving them with no lingering attachments to the world outside.
From a personal perspective, even if it was virtual, there was nothing to regret. Their purpose was simply to live well on their own terms.
As for the shelter itself, its reason for being was to record their memories, thoughts, relationships, lifestyles—everything about that era—and preserve it as an inspiration for the future.
Chu Guang rarely told anyone else that such a place existed in the Alliance. Indulging in a realm of the dead was never a good idea for the living.
In a way, it was a poison far more potent than the ideals of Ideal City. Even he had entertained the thought of staying there.
If only for a split second…
Alisa fell quiet for a time.
“Actually, I never thought about living there. It’s just… sometimes I wonder how wonderful it would be if I could just catch a glimpse of that era.”
Perhaps feeling that her wish was a bit childish, she smiled shyly and continued in a softer voice, “That way, we’d know where we’re supposed to go.”
She was not the only one.
The folks in the Workers’ Association felt lost from time to time as well.
They had overthrown the feudal lords and secured a bright future, yet no one could tell them where they should head next.
Though everyone had reached a consensus to simply focus on doing their best in the present, ignoring the future entirely was impossible.
*If only I could see that era with my own eyes.*
She had daydreamed about it more than once.
Noticing the confusion in Alisa’s eyes, Chu Guang considered his words carefully. “I don’t think the answer necessarily lies there, nor do I think our destination must be an era of the past. Still, the knowledge and experience they preserve do offer a great deal worth learning from.”
“That’s why I spoke with the administrator of Shelter 101. We plan to turn the surface camp they’ve maintained into a university.”
Alisa stared at him blankly. “…A university?”
Chu Guang nodded. “Yes. You can think of it as a school. But unlike the Alliance’s other full-time schools, people there won’t just study what we already know. They will explore the future and the past.”
Watching that blank stare gradually give way to half-comprehending wonder, Chu Guang continued in a gentle tone, “It’s natural to feel lost. You’re at the age where curiosity burns brightest, and you have the courage to pursue ideals without holding back. But that alone isn’t enough. You still need to see more, understand this world, understand natural science, and synthesize your own experience and methods to find the answers… In that process of exploration, you will naturally come to know where you need to go.”
Calendars were born in the fields, not dreamed up while lying on a straw mat. In his eyes at least, the process of seeking was far more important than the answer itself.
Alisa lowered her head.
Moments later, as if she had reached a firm resolve, she nodded vigorously and looked back up at Chu Guang.
“That Xiao Yu… she became so capable because she studied at the school set up by Shelter 101, didn’t she?”
“If possible, I want to go there too!”
Work that took her a week or two of grueling overtime had been checked and verified by that girl of similar age in just three days—and Xiao Yu had meticulously pointed out every single error she had made.
That was even counting the time it took for Xiao Yu to familiarize herself with the job.
To Alisa, it seemed nothing short of miraculous.
Yet after being introduced to those marvelous mathematical tools and methods, all her disbelief had turned into pure, wholehearted respect.
That was knowledge one would never encounter in a lifetime spent in Boulder City.
She wanted to bring that knowledge back and help the people here.
Perhaps, just as the Administrator said, she might slowly discover her own path along the way.
“Xiao Yu… she’s a special case. She happens to have a natural gift for mathematics. But it’s true that she only blossomed into who she is now after studying at Camp 101.”
Meeting the girl’s eager, rekindled gaze, Chu Guang said earnestly, “As for studying at Camp 101, you should discuss it with your father.”
“I actually already asked Dad. He said I’m already an adult with my own mind now. He told me to think through things myself from now on, and if there’s anything I don’t understand, to come ask you… He said he won’t give me any more life advice.”
At this point, Alisa stole a shy glance at him, whispering, “…When I can’t make up my mind, may I ask for your guidance?”
Although he didn’t think he could be of much help, seeing the flickering hope in her eyes made it impossible for Chu Guang to give a cold refusal.
“You may. But I can only give you my advice; the final choice is always yours to make.”
Those eyes, brimmed with anticipation, instantly broke into a bright smile.
Nodding forcefully, Alisa said with delight, “Mm! Thank you!”
Looking at the polite young woman, Chu Guang smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Remembering tomorrow’s schedule, he picked up a document from the desk. “Since you’re here, there’s actually something I might need your help with—”
“No problem! Please leave it to me!”
Seeing her burst of energy, Chu Guang chuckled and handed her the document.
Taking the file, Alisa skimmed through it. “This is…?”
“The New Year’s Eve event. Every year, we vote on the most popular recipe. It’s… a tradition of our shelter. To encourage interaction between the shelter residents and the wastelanders outside, we added a ‘Most Popular Delicacy Among Wastelanders’ category starting last year, so we need several judges.”
This year’s judges were chosen via votes on the official website. Several judges were selected for each settlement, voted on by players active in that region.
Lest she get a big head, Chu Guang felt a bit too embarrassed to mention that she had ranked quite high in the forum polls.
Alisa didn’t ask why he chose her, simply assuming it was out of trust. After learning what the event entailed, her eyes sparkled.
“Right! I’ll starve myself for an entire day beforehand to make room in my stomach!”
Meeting her do-or-die expression, Chu Guang coughed lightly.
“There’s really no need to go that far…”
***
Alisa was not the only one chosen as a judge for the New Year’s Eve event. Someone else had received even more votes than her.
By a massive margin, in fact!
In a detached house by Ling Lake.
Dolly, who had just returned home from work, wore a look of utter astonishment after hearing Fang Chang’s explanation.
“Eh? Me, a judge?”
“Mm… of course, it’s just an invitation. If you’re not interested, you can turn it down.”
Having explained the details of the New Year’s Eve event to Dolly, Fang Chang looked slightly embarrassed.
This year, the players had voted for the judges themselves. He never imagined his good buddies would band together and cast their votes for his wife.
Anyone who knew him knew he hated flaunting his relationship.
Rather than showing off everywhere, he preferred peacefully enjoying their two-person world. Yet he couldn’t stop that bunch of rotten friends from snooping into his private life every single day.
Those damned bastards.
Always so interested in someone else’s wife!
If they were so curious, why didn’t they go find one themselves?!
“Oho… Such a fun event! How could Miss Reporter from the *Survivor Daily* possibly miss out?”
Hanging her handbag on the coat rack by the door, Dolly wore a teasing smile as she poked Fang Chang’s arm with an index finger. “Dear Mr. Fang Chang wouldn’t let me go all by myself, would he?”
Seeing that she had no intention of declining and was instead bubbling with enthusiasm, Fang Chang put on a helpless expression. “…Of course. How could I feel safe letting my dear reporter travel so far alone?”
Seeing that bad boy show a rare flash of bashfulness, Dolly curled her lips upward in a triumphant grin, her heart sweet as honey.
Suddenly recalling what she had heard from her colleagues over the past few days, she remarked with a sigh of emotion, “Speaking of which, quite a lot has happened in Boulder City lately.”
Both inside and outside the Great Wall.
The Alliance had actually deployed troops to wipe out the slum gangs in a single clean sweep—something even she, a journalist, hadn’t anticipated.
Fang Chang nodded. “Yeah, a lot has happened. Even though it’s still called Boulder City, it’s probably completely different from the one you remember.”
“Then this is the perfect chance to go back and take a look!” A flicker of anticipation appeared in Dolly’s eyes.
The Inner City was completely gone.
What had it become now?
Seeing the light dancing in her eyes, Fang Chang could feel her emotions. He reached out and stroked her fluffy, emerald-green hair.
“Mm.”
“Once we’re back, let’s take a stroll together.”
***
Boulder City.
In a kitchen at the Alliance Army barracks, Feng Qing looked guiltily at the plates of indescribable matter lining the long table.
“So… you failed again?”
After heading back that day, the market had been locked down. She had run all the way to Dawn City, but she still couldn’t buy the items on the list.
Although Mosquito hadn’t blamed her, she still felt terribly embarrassed, staying at Dawn City until today before returning to Boulder City.
Right after that, she received a new quest—clearing out the kitchen rented by the Goblin Corps.
Her best friend, Gui Gui, had taken the quest along with her.
For some reason, a simple errand quest like this offered an astonishing reward of 200 silver coins—and it even came with a risk tag!
Still, she wasn’t worried in the slightest.
It was just hauling stuff out of a kitchen; that was far safer than test-flying new aircraft prototypes!
She had accepted it without hesitation.
Standing to the side, Gui Gui spread her hands helplessly. “Nothing we could do. Since we couldn't buy those spices, we had to use substitutes.”
“I’m sorry!”
Seeing Feng Qing bow her head in apology, Gui Gui quickly comforted her. “Ah, no need to apologize! I actually think you not finding them saved us from bigger losses. I told him ages ago, using multi-legged beasts for cooking is a dead end!”
Feng Qing hesitated. “But… what about the New Year’s Eve event?”
Gui Gui scratched the back of her head. “We’ll think of something else. Worst case, we can just whip up any random thing to slip through. Everyone gets a mystery gift just for participating anyway.”
Feng Qing breathed a sigh of relief.
Cooking had never been the forte of combat-class players like them, and she in particular didn’t know the first thing about it.
Challenging high-difficulty ingredients like multi-legged beasts right off the bat was truly asking for the impossible.
Her gaze drifted toward the supplies piled in the corner of the kitchen. Noticing a heap of blackened chunks, Feng Qing asked curiously, “What are those? Are they edible too?”
Saying that, she walked over and picked up a piece.
Just as she was about to take a bite, Gui Gui dashed over and grabbed her hand.
“Wait! You can’t eat that! That’s charcoal!”
Feng Qing froze. “Ch-Charcoal?”
“Yeah! The corps commander originally planned to charcoal-grill it. Someone told him the aroma from burning wood could mask the foul stench of the meat. But that failed too, obviously.”
Feng Qing could roughly picture the scene from Gui Gui’s expression. She then looked at another burlap sack filled with hard yellow lumps.
“Then… what about those?”
Egg yolks?
Following her gaze, Gui Gui said hastily, “Ah, that’s sulfur over there. And beside it is saltpeter and stuff.”
Silently putting down the sulfur in her hand, Feng Qing gave Gui Gui a strange look. “Tell me… was he really trying to cook?”
“Uh, maybe?”
Gui Gui shifted her eyes with an equally awkward expression. What she had once felt so certain about suddenly seemed debatable. “Well, silver lining of silver linings… he’s probably given up.”
She felt that might not be a bad thing.
The stuff Elaina whipped up was weird at worst, but the concoctions Mosquito made were genuinely capable of sending people to the afterlife. Then they’d end up locked in the isolation cell again.
Still, it was rare to see him take such a passionate interest in food.
Feng Qing turned to a bucket of bright white crystals nearby. “And those?”
“Ah, that’s white sugar! Mosquito’s final attempt! He tried to cover up the meat’s foul odor with sweetness, but in the end, everyone ended up glued to the toilet.”
Another memory she’d rather not revisit. Gui Gui wore a look of regret.
Still, this bucket of sugar was probably the only thing in the entire kitchen that could be shoved directly into one’s mouth.
Staring blankly at the bucket of white sugar, Feng Qing said with heartache, “So much sugar… what a waste.”
“Right?” Gui Gui sighed, crossing her arms. “I’ve wanted to complain about it forever. That guy is practically committing crimes against food.”
Using spices to cover up the stench of multi-legged beast meat…
The spices probably cost more than the meat itself!
After staring at the bucket of sugar for a long while, Feng Qing’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Why don’t… why don’t we just use this sugar to make something simple!”
Gui Gui blinked. “Just with granulated sugar? What… what can we make?”
Hard candy?
That sounded a bit plain.
Looking at her baffled best friend, Feng Qing curled her lips in a proud smile. “Cotton candy!”
Although she had never made it herself, she had heard the principle was simple.
You just heated the sugar into syrup, kept spinning the heating chamber, and let the centrifugal force shoot the syrup out through tiny holes, where it would solidify into sweet candy threads in the air.
At those words, Gui Gui’s eyes gleamed.
“Great idea! That’s way better than multi-legged beast stewed with vermicelli!”
“Uh… what kind of bizarre dish is that supposed to be?”
“Inspired by snail rice noodles… Anyway, it’s settled! I’ll go find Mosquito and have him build a cotton candy machine!”
The more Gui Gui thought about it, the better the idea seemed. She pumped her fist in excitement.
Boss Mosquito would probably cry tears of joy!
His engineering talents finally had a place to shine in a normal pursuit!
Rejoice, brother!
Seeing that her suggestion had proven so useful, Feng Qing smiled bashfully. “Hehe, I want to make a bunch so we can send some over to Ganju and the others too.”
“Ganju?”
“Yeah! An adorable kid—super obedient and sensible! I promised I’d visit her when I had free time.” Looking at the quizzical Gui Gui, Feng Qing said with sparkling eyes, “I’ll introduce you tomorrow!”
“Mm-hmm! Looking forward to it!!”
Working together, the two hauled the most dangerous sacks and buckets outside first.
Soon, only beakers, conical flasks, and other glassware remained in the kitchen, along with an assortment of bottles and jars on the shelves.
Taking down a glass bottle from a storage rack, Feng Qing uncapped it, took a whiff, and furrowed her brow.
“Smells like kerosene.”
Why would anyone need kerosene for cooking?
Besides the kerosene, the bottle contained several white pellets about the size of fingernails.
There were no labels on the bottle, so she had no idea what was inside.
“Do we still need this? If not, I’m pouring it out.” Lightly shaking the glass bottle, Feng Qing called out to Gui Gui, who was busy tidying up nearby.
“Ah, pour it all out,” Gui Gui answered offhandedly without looking back. “Mosquito said he doesn't want any of the ingredients left in the kitchen and told us to dispose of them while clearing the place.”
“What an idiot of a commander. Such a waste.”
Shaking her head, Feng Qing unscrewed the cap, poured the contents of the bottle into the sink, and turned on the tap to wash them down.
Yet almost the exact instant she opened the faucet, the yellowish puddle hissed violently, and flames shot upward.
Thank goodness an Agility-type’s reflexes were sharp.
Sensing danger, she ducked on pure instinct. Shrapnel from the explosion whizzed right past the top of her head.
“What happened?!”
Seeing the bottle rolling across the floor, Gui Gui’s face drained of color as she cried out in terror, “Sodium! Oh crap… I completely forgot!”
The explosion ignited the kerosene without suspense, and the flames splashing out of the sink set fire to the nearby shelves loaded with bottles and jars.
Under the intense heat, the assorted chemicals began undergoing bizarre reactions.
Watching the chain reaction unfolding across the shelf, Feng Qing swallowed hard and instinctively took a step back.
“That…?”
“That’s sodium! Metallic sodium!”
“??? Why on earth did he bring that into a kitchen?!”
“God only knows, aaaaahhh!!”
From the moment the first bottle exploded, what followed was practically written in stone.
A massive detonation shattered the peace of the barracks, billows of flame and thick smoke bursting through the kitchen window.
Fortunately, the blast wasn’t colossal enough to bring down the building.
Believing they were under attack from gang retaliation, the barracks blared its alarms, and a large force of fully armed soldiers rushed over.
In the end, it was a false alarm.
Upon learning that the Goblin Corps was behind the commotion, the logistics officer asked no further questions. With a dark face, he simply ordered his subordinates to send a fine to a certain corps commander.
It wasn't the first time this had happened.
Staring at the eye-watering string of zeroes, Mosquito signed the penalty notice through tears.
At least no one was hurt.
The charcoal, sugar, and other materials had already been hauled out, and the two players caught in the blast suffered only minor scratches.
If they had been bedridden for three days over something so stupid and missed the New Year’s Eve event, that truly would have been a catastrophic loss…
*[Quest: Clear the kitchen used by the Goblin Corps (Failed)]*
***
The ruckus at the player barracks was merely a minor interlude. The dishes prepared by most players were relatively normal; those daring enough to risk their lives inventing wild new recipes were a distinct minority after all.
Aside from culinary masters who were actual chefs in real life, like Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes, ordinary folks never expected to take first place through unhinged brainstorms.
Festival events like this were mostly for fun. Though many teamed up to hunt monsters and grind materials, most participated purely in the spirit of play.
Thanks to the players’ lively bustle, Boulder City—quiet and desolate for the better part of a month—finally regained some of its former vibrancy as the holiday drew near.
And so, New Year’s Eve finally arrived.
The decorated streets were adorned with lanterns and festive banners. Survivors poured out into the open, and many shops that had been closed for over half a month reopened their doors.
Beginning the previous week, the construction teams had started daily wage payouts in line with the Alliance’s minimum wage standard, while the factories had begun issuing salaries in silver coins even earlier.
Goods began “growing” back onto the shelves. Though people’s coin pouches weren’t bulging, they could finally buy a few things.
Everything was looking up.
The night sky was illuminated by kaleidoscopic fireworks.
Not only from the *Heart of Steel* anchored at Dawn City—even the anti-aircraft guns atop the Great Wall joined in, discharging volleys of festive fireworks toward the heavens.
Before the floor-to-ceiling window of the Boulder Military Industries Building, Ibers clapped his hands with a smile as he watched the colorful blossoms of fire across the night sky.
“Not bad, not bad at all… It’s rare for me to enjoy such an ingenious show.”
Under the guise of hunting mutant variants, the Alliance had quietly wiped out the marauder tribes surrounding Boulder City, then swiftly and ruthlessly purged the gang factions in the slums.
So far, the performance of this new shareholder had exceeded his expectations. It had been a very long time since an organic had astonished him to this degree.
He had originally thought the turmoil in Boulder City would keep Qingquan City destabilized for at least five or six years, but it seemed the grand play had concluded in a single month.
The time bomb buried beneath the Great Wall had been quietly defused before the countdown could even begin.
Now the reorganization of the slums was complete, and most of the city’s factories had resumed production. Before long, the state of emergency would likely be lifted.
Perhaps this celebration was the turning point.
Yet Ibers was not disappointed; instead, he grew even more thrilled.
Beneath that facade of harmony and peace, he could already catch the faint scent of blood…
Chapter 554