Chapter 20

Around noon.

Chu Guang returned to the surface outpost of Shelter 404 with Ye Shi and the game animals they had hunted.

The results of this outing were quite satisfactory. Although the two mutated hyenas looked a bit thin, they each weighed around forty to fifty kilograms.

As one of the main sources of meat for the survivors in the wasteland, mutated hyenas were the most cost-effective prey. They provided several times more meat than mutated rats, and their numbers were not small, often appearing in groups of three to five. Most importantly, the risk of food poisoning was relatively low.

However, in the absence of guns, ordinary scavengers found it difficult to defeat these group-acting mutants with cold weapons.

"Two mutated hyenas, and... one piece of good news and one piece of bad news." Chu Guang threw the game animals at the entrance of the sanatorium and said to the approaching players.

Lao Bai asked first.

"What's the good news?"

Chu Guang replied.

"The good news is that along the elevated road leading north from the northeast of the Wetland Park, there is an unfinished construction site where we found a large amount of engineering limestone, which seems to have been desulfurized. There are also some abandoned hand carts that can be repaired and used."

Lao Bai's face lit up with joy, and he clenched his fists excitedly.

"Great!"

He had been worried about finding the raw materials for making calcium carbonate cement, but this problem was solved so quickly.

And it was ready-made material!

However, Fang Chang, standing beside him, felt that things were not so simple.

"What's the bad news?"

Chu Guang continued.

"Along 76th Street from the main eastern gate of the Wetland Park, there is a mutant camp. A rough estimate puts their numbers at over twenty."

The three players exchanged glances, not fully understanding the implications.

Seeing his companions' confusion, Ye Shi quickly added an explanation.

"Mutants are hostile forces! They are fierce fighters, and the most critical thing is that they eat people. We must be careful!"

Chu Guang nodded.

"Pretty much that."

The three players did not show fear but rather an eager expression. However, Chu Guang quickly doused their enthusiasm.

"Those mutants are not something we can handle right now. They are at least level 10. Engaging them recklessly will not only be futile but will also expose our position."

"From now on, everyone is forbidden to approach 76th Street or leave through the eastern gate of the Wetland Park until the threat is eliminated!"

...

The players were generally obedient.

Although they were curious about what the mutants looked like, the manager with GM authority had spoken, and they did not dare to disobey.

Being confined to a small room was a minor issue.

Losing the hard-earned goodwill would be too painful.

It seemed that he didn't need to worry too much about the players.

After a brief inspection of the morning's work, Chu Guang focused on how to process the game animals they had just hunted.

Although he had eaten this before, it was always from the barbecue stalls on Bet Street. He had never processed it himself.

Chu Guang had only heard that freshly caught game needed to be bled immediately to prevent the meat from becoming gamey and smelly. However, he was not sure about the specific method of bleeding and what to do after bleeding.

In the past five months, he mainly earned chips by scavenging, and his hunting experience was limited.

After all, hunting was too dangerous for a lone wanderer.

In any case, after killing the game, he cut the carotid artery, but he felt the blood wasn't completely drained.

Just as Chu Guang was pondering, Feng Kuang approached him.

"Respected Manager."

"Is there something you need?"

"Can I have some of the game's blood?"

"Blood? What do you need it for?" Chu Guang asked.

Feng Kuang explained.

"I want to test some hypotheses."

Chu Guang didn't think much of it, grabbed his short knife, and chopped off a front leg from the mutated hyena, throwing it to Feng Kuang.

"Take it."

"Thank you!"

Feng Kuang thanked him and walked away mysteriously.

Chu Guang was curious but didn't ask further.

Around dusk, all the players returned to the sanatorium. From Lao Bai's expression, Chu Guang knew they must have had a good day.

Chu Guang was about to ask, but Lao Bai couldn't wait to speak.

"Respected Manager, under your wise guidance, the cement kiln at the outpost is almost complete. Once the cement dries tomorrow, we can start the first batch of cement firing!"

"Very good."

Chu Guang nodded in approval and encouraged them.

"Thanks to all of you, we have taken another step toward the great goal of reviving the Human Alliance! I hope you continue to work hard, and the organization will remember your contributions."

Chu Guang felt he was getting better at painting a rosy picture.

However, the players didn't seem to care if he was just painting a rosy picture. It seemed they had found new joy in rebuilding their home.

After all, isn't that what sandbox games are all about?

Seeing the home improve bit by bit is part of the fun. Being able to experience this groundbreaking immersive virtual reality technology is a lucky thing in itself.

Chu Guang was happy that the players were enjoying themselves.

The shelter was too poor to offer any substantial rewards, so he could only paint a rosy picture and give them some air coins for now.

...

After logging out.

The Niu Ma Club was buzzing with activity.

Recently, many night owls had adjusted their schedules to daytime.

Led by "Quit Smoking," people who used to stay up all night now went to bed at ten every night and woke up at five in the morning, just to watch the dog managers "stir things up."

Ye Shi: [Mutants! New faction update! The manager encountered a mutant settlement on 76th Street! It has been confirmed that mutants are hostile forces!]

Ye Shi, the first to log out, couldn't wait to share the news, igniting the gossip among the group members.

[Mutants?! What do they look like?]

[Why hasn't the official website updated?]

[Amazing! With hostile forces, the beta test should be coming soon!]

[Damn, I want to play!]

A series of messages flooded the chat.

Ye Shi continued typing.

[We don't know what they look like yet. I haven't seen them! But don't panic, the official website will update information about the mutants. I'm waiting for the news!]

Quit Smoking: [What about the other three? Why are you the only one online today?]

Ye Shi: [I don't know! Lao Xi seems to be researching cement, Feng Kuang probably has classes in the morning, and Fang Chang is always mysterious.]

(Group owner mutes Ye Shi for 1 hour.)

Lao Bai: [You try calling me Lao Xi! (Angry)]

Spare the Knife: [Haha, well done!]

WC Really Has Mosquitoes: [Excited... In two more days, I can participate in the test!]

Tomato and Egg: [+1 (Funny.jpg)]

Quit Smoking: [Damn! Ban these two show-offs too! They're so annoying! I reserved first! T.T]

Proud and Unstoppable: [Sigh, hopeless, truly hopeless.]

Even now, this guy "Proud and Unstoppable" still didn't believe in "fully immersive virtual reality online games," let alone "100% realistic."

He and his supporters firmly believed that this was a hoax orchestrated by the dog managers.

"Long Road Ahead" didn't post in the group today but updated his today's play experience on the official website forum—

Or rather, his handwritten game walkthrough.

[Today is the third day of the closed beta. The charcoal kiln has provided us with a large amount of coal, and with the successful firing of wood ash cement, we have built a larger cement kiln under Lao Xi's leadership. If the test firing is successful tomorrow, we will have more reliable building materials to construct our home.]

[I have to praise the development team. The experience this game provides is unlike anything I've ever experienced from any other game on the market. Especially when the cement kiln was completed, the sense of achievement was overwhelming and irresistible!]

[Today's test content was not much, mainly testing the sandbox system.]

[However, it's worth noting that the manager revealed that there is a mutant tribe at the end of 76th Street, confirmed as a hostile force. All players need to be cautious and avoid it, but the manager did not provide more information about the mutants. The official website has not updated any mutant photos, perhaps the plot hasn't reached that point yet.]

[If there is new information, I will update it in the post. Please stay tuned, fellow beta testers!]

"Testers" is what the reserved players call themselves.

Although there are only about forty people now, they are all active—some even fanatical users, quickly adding dozens of replies to the post.

Chu Guang silently observed the chat but did not participate in the discussion.

However, he still noted down some good suggestions and marked the particularly insightful players in the backend.

If there were new recruitment plans, these loyal users would be the first to be considered, while those who liked to argue and stir up trouble would be put on hold. It was better to let them be the atmosphere group online than to let them cause chaos inside.

After all, if you're here to cause trouble, why should you be let in?

Just because you have a big mouth and a small brain?

During the current beta test phase, Wasteland OL is more like a private server, and even a familiar server managed by the dog managers, leaving no room for troublemakers. By gradually increasing the reservation threshold, the players with game access would cherish their opportunities even more.

As for the open beta phase, that would be even easier to manage.

The open beta would have its own gameplay.

At that time, a designated area would serve as the newbie village, and without a certain level or honor title, players wouldn't even get to see him.

Chu Guang realized he was becoming increasingly cunning.

When did it start?

Never mind.

Thinking about it was pointless.

Turning off the computer, Chu Guang opened the system and confirmed the rewards for today's daily tasks.

[Task: Chop ten trees, Reward: 1 Reward Point]

[Task: Kill one mutant, Reward: 3 Reward Points]

"Today's tasks were a bit light."

Only 4 points in total.

After some internal struggle, Chu Guang couldn't resist and opened the manager's allowance, spending all 4 reward points on a basic blind box.

The alloy door opened.

The conveyor belt rolled.

Seeing the four lollipops lying at the end of the conveyor belt, Chu Guang almost let out a familiar expletive.

However, at that moment, a translucent holographic popup appeared above one of the lollipops with a light golden wrapper.

Like a label—

[Enhanced Chocolate Flavored Lollipop: Strength Boost +10%, Duration 10 hours.]

Chu Guang: "?"

What?