106 silver and 5 copper!
This staggering sum shocked the entire shelter.
A single morning had barely passed since the bounty was posted, yet someone had already claimed the first kills!
If this efficiency wasn't the work of top-tier pros, what was?!
The moment the esteemed Administrator turned and walked away, a swarm of players surged forward, surrounding the four workhorses of the Cow and Horse Squad and peppering them with awed questions.
"Brothers! Where did you find the marauders? Did you go all the way to the tire factory?!"
"Wiping out an entire squad without taking a scratch—that's insane!"
"Take me with you, masters!"
Surrounded by so many players, anyone's head would swell, let alone a blabbermouth like Ye Shi. The guy rubbed his index finger beneath his nose and grinned cheekily.
"Sorry, boys, our squad is full. We're not taking anyone else. But don't worry, Big Brother Fang Chang will update the walkthrough guide tonight. It's just a few marauders—anyone with hands can do it!"
"What? You want to know how I took down six guys? Well, that's a long story! When those six ferocious brutes marched toward us, right on the verge of spotting our position, I didn't hesitate for a second. I drew my dagger, poised to strike, ready for a leaping slash..."
Fang Chang glanced sideways at him, at a loss for words.
Gale Force 8 looked away, pretending not to know the guy.
Only Fleeting White Horse was too straightforward to watch him show off any longer. Bracing himself, he reached out, grabbed Ye Shi, and yanked him straight out of the crowd.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't pull me! I haven't finished the story!"
"Finish what? Finish your bullshit!"
"Cut the crap, let's get ready for the next round!"
As the first squad to take the plunge, the Cow and Horse Squad naturally became the center of heated discussion among the other players.
As for the three marauders hanging from the gallows and the corpses sent to the active substance extractor, nobody paid them any mind.
After all, the Administrator's persona of abhorring evil was firmly ingrained in their minds; rendering those people down into raw material was entirely within expectations.
Unable to bear Ye Shi's bragging any longer, Fang Chang and the others didn't linger at the north gate. Pooling their freshly earned bounty to make a round 120 silver coins, they headed straight for the weapons shop.
Before long, they became Little Sister Xia Yan's very first customers, purchasing the first 7mm bolt-action rifle ever sold in the entire weapons shop!
Along with six 7mm copper-jacketed steel-core rounds priced at a steep one silver coin each, and ten cheap, low-grade bullets, Fang Chang finalized the purchase and handed everything over to Ye Shi.
With everyone's marksmanship being roughly equal, having a Perception-type player fill the marksman role was the optimal choice.
Fleeting White Horse could throw javelins and was bold when charging into melee, while Fang Chang could provide support with his bow. His proficiency was quite high now, and at short-to-medium ranges, archery wasn't necessarily inferior to firearms. As for Gale Force 8 of the Intelligence-type, tossing a Molotov cocktail or lobbing a grenade to cover a choke point in critical moments was good enough; counting on him for raw damage output was unrealistic.
At least in the current version, Intelligence-types were indeed somewhat underwhelming, but who could say what the future held?
Maybe in some upcoming patch, Intelligence-types would become the supreme overlords of the game.
"...My archery is decent enough, and this bow can hold out for a while longer. Brother, this is our squad's only 98K! Don't you dare waste ammo firing it blindly!"
"Don't worry, brother! I definitely won't let you guys down!" Ye Shi accepted it solemnly from Fang Chang's hands, hugging the rifle with deep emotion and swearing an oath that he would treat it with care.
The way he cherished it, he looked ready to rub the paint right off the barrel.
Assuming it had any paint to begin with...
And so, before the silver coins the Cow and Horse Squad had just received from the Administrator could even warm their pockets, they were spent right back at the weapons shop.
More than that, to restock gunpowder, arrows, and other supplies, the four even dipped into some of their savings.
Yet none of them felt the slightest bit of regret.
Money was meant to be spent; investing it into gear would quickly yield even greater profits.
This hunt had given them a taste of the sweetness.
Aside from the combat experience gained, as well as the bounty payout and contribution points, the loot stripped from those marauders belonged entirely to them.
Although it was mostly melee weapons and crude armor, it was still usable. Even if they couldn't use it themselves, selling it off to other players for a few silver coins would be no trouble at all.
Setting out on their journey once more with lofty ambitions, the four were primed for their next score.
Ideally, they'd bag a big catch this time.
If they could bring down a few enemies carrying guns, that would be true riches!
A gun went for at least 100 silver coins in the weapons shop; setting up a stall in the market and selling one to players for 50 silver wouldn't be excessive, right?
As long as it could go off with a bang, people would definitely line up to buy it!
As Fang Chang and his crew strolled off humming a tune, Chu Guang remained standing near the weapons shop, observing the nearby players for a while.
It was readily apparent that, spurred by the Cow and Horse Squad's 'wealth myth,' many players were getting restless, wavering over whether they should spend the money saved for purchasing land on guns instead.
In any case, they didn't have enough contribution points right now. Without reaching citizen rank, money alone couldn't buy land, so why not buy a gun first, hunt bandits, earn money, and farm contribution points?
Especially after seeing the four workhorses of the Cow and Horse Squad wipe out an entire team without guns—if they had firearms, wouldn't they run rampant and massacre everything?
Seeing that the players were already tempted, Chu Guang decided to fan the flames.
He waved over the weapons shop's proprietress, handed her a wooden board he had prepared beforehand, and instructed:
"Hang this wooden sign at the entrance in a moment."
Taking the board from Chu Guang's hands, Xia Yan asked, looking puzzled, "What does it say?"
Chu Guang answered succinctly, "A ten percent discount on all revolver rifles in this shop, valid until midnight tonight. Fifteen revolver rifles available, while supplies last; restock date undetermined."
Holding the sign, Xia Yan gave him a strange look. "Is a discount really necessary? Our shop is the only one in the entire outpost anyway."
"Do you think I'm doing this for the few measly coins in their pockets? Shallow!" Unwilling to waste breath explaining, Chu Guang said impatiently, "Cut the chatter. Just do what I tell you. Go on, hurry."
Perhaps his tone had been a bit too harsh.
Xia Yan gave a noticeable shiver and didn't dare talk back. Holding the wooden sign, she obediently ran off.
Satisfied with her compliance, Chu Guang gave an approving nod and continued standing off to the side, admiring his handiwork.
Just as he had predicted, the moment Xia Yan returned to the weapons shop and hung the sign by the entrance, the hesitating players saw the enticing discount and hesitated no longer. They immediately reached into their pockets for silver coins, frenziedly snapping up the weapons they had coveted on the shelves for so long.
The revolver rifles were already cheap—110 silver coins before the discount, and only 99 after, not even 100!
Most importantly, revolver rifles were semi-automatic; as long as you pulled the trigger fast enough, it could fire like a repeater!
Wasn't that vastly more satisfying than a bolt-action rifle?
Buying one was practically turning a profit!
Watching these players scramble to buy, Chu Guang could barely keep a straight face.
Once they had them in hand, they would find out.
Sometimes firing too fast wasn't a good thing.
There was a reason this thing was priced cheaper than Boulder City's bolt-action pipe rifles!
Of course, even with a ten percent discount, players who could produce 99 silver coins in one lump sum were still a minority.
Of the rifles sold, at least half were bought by regular party members who chipped in together to split the cost among three or four people.
For a standard three-man team, having one gun was actually enough.
The three could take turns using it while the other two provided support with crossbows, bows, thrown items, and other melee weapons. Once they got the hang of things, upgrading the whole squad to guns wouldn't be too late.
In the early days of entrepreneurship, conditions were tough, so you saved wherever you could.
Sooner or later, everyone would have one!
The fifteen revolver rifles were quickly snapped up.
Spurred on by the promotion, not only were the battered guns captured from marauders earlier completely cleared out, but two of the non-discounted Boulder City pipe rifles were sold as well, leaving only a lone 9mm rifle hanging on the shelf.
Those players who failed to buy a gun, though disappointed, were not disheartened, and instead turned their thoughts elsewhere.
Some quick-witted players took advantage of the crowd to sell homemade weapons.
For a time, the area outside Boss Xia's weapons shop turned into a bustling bazaar for shady player deals.
"Anyone want an Entrencher's Joy Stick? Super effective! Only one silver coin each, get 'em while they last!"
"Holy crap, wrapping some wire around a stick and you dare ask for one silver? At least tie a blade to it!"
"What do you know? This is piercing plus blunt damage! If I tied a blade to it, it'd just be slashing damage!"
"Sorry, I'll stick with an axe!"
"Anyone buying a crossbow? Crafted fresh from the woodworking shed, originally 20 silver, now just 15 silver, plus five free bolts! I've upgraded to a gun and don't need it anymore, PM me fast if you want it!"
"Can you go any cheaper? I only have 14 silver in my pockets."
"Sigh, fine, fine, let's call it making a friend."
"Steel breastplates! Want the same breastplate as the marauders? Not 99, not 88, just two silver coins to take home this melee miracle!"
Trading among players was something to be encouraged, but one had to mind the venue.
Seeing that the hawking players were already obstructing foot traffic and would block the path to the warehouse if left unchecked, Chu Guang stopped idling. He stepped forward, coughed heavily, and addressed the crowd:
"Street peddling is prohibited within the outpost. If you wish to trade, please move to the market in front of the north gate."
"This is not a place to set up stalls!"
Hearing the Administrator speak, the players scattered in an instant, surging out to the north gate outside the base to continue their unfinished transactions.
With the players gone, the entrance of the weapons shop finally quieted down.
"Does that mean I can get off work? There's only one gun left on the shelf," Xia Yan asked with an expectant look as Chu Guang walked over.
The weather was getting colder and colder; even wrapped in a deerskin coat, she was shivering a bit, and taking a nap was out of the question.
Compared to staying outside, Xia Yan would much rather enjoy the heating inside the shelter.
Sleeping down there was far more comfortable than out here!
"Of course not. Your job isn't just selling guns."
Ruthlessly shutting down her naive notion, Chu Guang continued with a smile:
"I need you to produce at least a hundred rounds of ammunition before your shift ends. If you can't manage that, I'm afraid I'll have to make you sleep in the weapons shop tonight."
Xia Yan's eyes widened in horror. "You can't do that! I'll freeze to death!"
"Don't make it sound so pathetic. It's not even below zero yet, how could you freeze to death? How did you survive in the past? Doesn't Luka sleep in the shack next to the warehouse too? Don't worry, I'll provide you with warm blankets and plenty of charcoal. Just remember not to close the door too tightly when burning that stuff; leaving a crack for ventilation is safer."
Looking at the pitiful Xia Yan, Chu Guang wore an innocent expression. "Don't look at me like that. I'm doing this for your own good. Otherwise, you'll doze off out of boredom, and falling asleep slumped over here makes it easy to catch a cold."
"You crooked profiteer! You black-hearted boss! Like hell I'd believe you!"
Seeing that playing the victim was useless, Xia Yan dropped her facade and ground her teeth in frustration, but ultimately she was powerless against Chu Guang.
Intuition told her he was genuinely capable of doing it.
"Fine... one hundred rounds, right? I'll make them, okay!"
"Now that's more like it. A person has to work to live. Look on the bright side—at least crafting bullets isn't life-threatening... as long as you're careful," Chu Guang said, giving her a caring reminder as he looked at her crestfallen face. "By the way, I'll be doing random quality checks. I'd advise against cutting corners."
"Of course, if your performance is outstanding—say, an extra fifty bullets, all of acceptable quality—I'll reward you."
At the mention of a reward, Xia Yan, who had been dejected a second earlier, instantly perked up and looked up with hopeful eyes.
"What reward? Chocolate?"
"No chocolate, but I do have a few chocolate-flavored lollipops."
This girl really has completely fallen in love with chocolate...
Watching Xia Yan nimbly pick up her tools and bury herself in work, Chu Guang nodded in satisfaction and finally left with peace of mind.
Meanwhile, having completed their transactions, the players in front of the north gate wasted no time. Driven by the lure of bounties, they charged toward the outskirts of Wetland Park.
Fanning out northward along the elevated highway, they swept the area in a carpet search for any trace of marauders.
This gave Cha, who was lurking north of the abandoned construction site, quite a fright. Terrified of alerting the enemy and jeopardizing the night's assault, he led his men in a full retreat of one kilometer before finally halting.
Though the players unfortunately failed to find any marauders—bagging only a few mutant rats, cockroaches, and hyenas—they didn't return entirely empty-handed. Before night fell, they still brought back plenty of game, restocking the granary.
Compared to a week ago, hunting had grown considerably more difficult.
Signs indicated that the migrating deer herds were leaving the northern outskirts of Qingquan City, moving south along the edge of the urban area.
With the weather turning so cold, even the hyenas stayed huddled in their dens.
Hoping to stumble across wandering mutant hyenas just by taking a casual stroll, as they used to, was no longer realistic.
What players encountered most often in the urban ruins were Gnawers, which possessed no hunting value.
As night began to fall earlier and earlier, these light-fearing mutants became far more active than before, posing a major obstacle to the players' hunts.
Like zombies, they would lurch out from the shadows and swarm their target upon locking on, making them extremely troublesome to deal with in narrow urban spaces and ruin terrain.
Night deepened.
The urban area outside Wetland Park was the first to be swallowed by darkness.
The players who had ventured out returned one after another, and the outpost livened up once again.
Just like before, they set up stalls before the north gate, shouting their wares and trading the day's harvest with others.
Some particularly entrepreneurial players were no longer merely selling raw materials, venturing into food catering instead.
Take Yaya, the mushroom seller, for instance.
This player was getting savvier by the day. She had bought a large pot, stoked a fire with charcoal, and started stewing right at her stall in front of the north gate.
Roasted mushrooms were priced at two copper coins a skewer, and mushroom soup at three copper coins a bowl—bring your own bowl.
"Mushroom stall's open! Fresh mushroom soup and roasted mushrooms, come get 'em!"
A large ring of people encircled the stall.
"Boss Ya, do your mushrooms dance?"
"Can they chant the Great Compassion Mantra?"
"Can you release them into the wild after boiling them?"
"Can you stew a Paimon in that pot?"
"Boss Ya, how about showing us how you stew yourself in an iron pot?"
"Do you want me dead?!"
Admittedly, the mushroom soup smelled thoroughly appetizing. Even Chu Guang's mouth watered; he couldn't resist buying two bowls, bringing one over for Xia Yan.
Sitting by the entrance of the weapons shop crafting bullets all day, Xia Yan's fingers had rubbed raw and red, her stomach was rumbling, and she felt thoroughly aggrieved.
Seeing the piping hot mushroom soup Chu Guang handed her, the young woman was moved to tears. She picked up the bowl and gulped it down until not a drop was left.
"What soup is this?! Uuu, it's way too delicious!"
Chu Guang smiled warmly.
"Just an ordinary bowl of mushroom soup. Don't worry about it; it's my treat."
"Since when are you this nice?" Holding the empty bowl, Xia Yan looked at him suspiciously. "I feel like something's off. Are you hiding something from me?"
"Am I that kind of person?"
Seeing that she had even licked the bowl clean, Chu Guang waited a moment before picking up his own bowl and taking a small sip.
Mmh.
The flavor was indeed wonderful, tasting reminiscent of chicken broth. Could it be the legendary chanterelle mushroom? To think this forest held quite a few treasures.
It just lacked a bit of salt.
...
Outside the perimeter wall.
The forty greenhorns shouldering shovels finally received their wages for the day after shoveling the last scoop of the trench.
A total of ten silver coins plus 100 contribution points.
For rookies, this income was considerably handsome.
With his shovel planted by his feet, Spare the Life Under the Blade stood by the edge of the trench, speaking to the newcomers with an impassioned, resounding voice.
"Congratulations! You have proven your loyalty through your actions!"
"Look beneath our feet and behind us! This trench will become our sturdiest first line of defense, and it is the fruit of our shared labor!"
Brother Blade had delivered all the rousing words Chu Guang had originally planned to say.
Thinking it over, there wasn't much left to add, so Chu Guang walked over to these dirt-smudged rookies whose faces brimmed with joy and offered a practiced conclusion:
"Welcome to the wasteland."
"From now on, this is your second home."
He dismissed them.
The rookies took off at a sprint toward the market at the north gate, eager to spend their hard-earned money.
Many were starving already.
Digging trenches here didn't even come with meals provided; in real life, who the hell would do such labor!
The bustling commotion lasted late into the night. Only when the main gate closed did the clamor gradually subside.
On the wall stood guards on watch.
Inside the wall hummed the bustling industrial zone.
Sitting on the third floor of the sanatorium, Chu Guang yawned and glanced at the time displayed on Xiao Qi's back. Without realizing it, he had stayed up until midnight.
Twelve midnight.
The first late-night shift rotation had already begun.
Chu Guang rose from the armchair Mosquito had crafted for him, stretched his back, and picked up Xiao Qi.
"Let's go. Time to get you recharged."
"Master."
"What is it?"
"Approximately 521 meters from our northern perimeter wall, there are about eleven people. Another ten people have circled around to our northwest and are currently moving toward the west side, at a direct distance of 611 meters."
"...What?" Holding Xiao Qi, Chu Guang froze. Subconsciously craning his neck, he peered out the window. "How come I don't see anything?"
Xiao Qi tilted its camera, answering as if it were the most natural thing in the world:
"Because my camera can capture infrared light. Generally speaking, most cameras can do that, right?"
"...?"
Holy crap.
A sneak attack?
Chu Guang, who had been feeling drowsy, snapped wide awake in an instant.
Chapter 79