Chapter 34

The number of players had grown from single digits to double digits, and the increase wasn't just in productivity but also in a host of new problems that came with it.

For example, online time.

Chu Guang realized he had overlooked something: not everyone needed to work or go to school during the day.

Especially in the single-player game community.

The most common type of player was probably the one who was always active in the group 24/7, making it hard to figure out how they made a living in real life.

He had been peeking at the screen until late at night, forgetting to turn off the computer.

Chu Guang, who had fallen asleep in his chair, was woken up in the middle of the night by the pinging sound of a private message.

Damn.

Who could it be at this hour...

Rubbing his eyes awake, Chu Guang squinted and opened the private message, finding it was from "Trash Collector 99" of the Niu Ma Club.

Trash Collector 99: [Brother Guang! When can you come online earliest?!]

Trash Collector 99: [I can't wait any longer, please let me go online and work!]

Giao.

How can there be such a person.

Chu Guang, still half-asleep, took a moment to type his response.

Guang: [I was just taking a nap... Do you not have to work during the day??]

Trash Collector 99: [Hehe, work? This game will definitely make big money in the future! Better to level up as soon as possible, hehe!]

Guang: [“...”]

Is it really okay to say such things in front of the game designer?

Forget it.

Let's pretend I didn't hear it.

Guang: [You should take it easy. The beta test date hasn't been announced yet. It might last a year or two, and the internal test could go on for three to five years.]

Trash Collector 99: [Not important! Your company won't go bankrupt, so I don't worry about it at all, hahaha.]

His thinking was clear.

Even clearer than most players who had received the beta test资格.

The games currently on the market are nothing compared to this one, all of them are just trash.

Not to mention, just being able to free up the night time is already a huge advantage, right?

Who would refuse to have an extra eight hours in their day?

Being a bit more tired during the beta test is nothing, it's not like it will always be this way, and it's not like you can keep working until the server closes. Only the little paratroopers would think the beta test content is the whole game.

Trash Collector 99 had a broader perspective.

Even though he didn't know when the public test would start, once it does, it's a sure thing!

Playing early is a win, starting a day earlier means having a day's advantage, not to mention the game itself is already enough to make him addicted.

Guang: [...Do as you please.]

Trash Collector 99: [Then, Brother Designer, can you let me go online, hehe. I promise, whatever you want me to test, I'll test!]

Guang: [I don't care what you do, just follow the game rules. But... it's the middle of the night, what can you do? The game time is synchronized with real time, it should still be midnight in the game.]

This was also why Chu Guang didn't let the survivors work at night.

Even he wouldn't dare to stay out in the wild all night.

Trash Collector 99: [It's precisely because it's midnight! You might not know, but my gene sequence in the game is of a different kind! Strictly speaking, the night is my main stage, and the day is when I should be sleeping! Hehe, Brother Designer, please let me go online.]

Guang: [I'll apply for it.]

Trash Collector 99: [Thank you, Brother Guang!!!]

Chu Guang sighed, stood up from his chair, and straightened his slightly disheveled collar and buttons.

He had never seen such an enthusiastic player.

However, what this guy said did make some sense.

Strictly speaking, the night is indeed the main stage for the different kind.

For the lizardman "Trash Collector 99," darkness doesn't necessarily mean danger; it could even be a cover.

With a plan in mind, Chu Guang opened the player list and changed Trash Collector's device from "Locked" to "Enabled."

Almost immediately, the sound of the cabin door opening came from the next room.

Good guy.

So fast?

Seeing the lizardman walk out of the room, Chu Guang hid his surprise, crossed his arms behind his back, and said sternly.

"Wake up? Good timing."

"I have a mission for you."

Mission triggered!?

Trash Collector 99 stood at attention, full of spirit.

"Please give your orders, respected manager."

Chu Guang got straight to the point.

"There's a mutant tribe at the east gate of the Wetland Park, and we found traces of raiders in the northern part of the city. I suspect there's a raider base in the north."

"I need you to investigate north along the elevated road, searching for any survivor activity within a 3-kilometer radius. If you find a suspected survivor base, mark it on the map and report back immediately."

"Remember to stay hidden and avoid any unnecessary fights."

"Also, if you find suitable targets, you can do some hunting side quests. The rewards are always valid."

After hearing Chu Guang's orders, the 2-meter-tall lizardman bowed respectfully.

"Yes, respected manager!"

Finally getting permission to go online.

Trash Collector 99 didn't waste a moment, leaving the shelter and boarding the elevator to the surface, quickly disappearing into the night outside the sanatorium.

Chu Guang could sense the approximate location and distance of each player.

After confirming that Trash Collector was following his orders and heading north, Chu Guang returned to the shelter, closed the door, and sat back down to continue dozing off.

...

The next day, just before 6 AM.

Except for Ya Ya, who was still making a new clone, the other players had gradually climbed out of their incubation pods.

As for the Trash Collector who had gone out earlier, he hadn't returned yet.

However, Chu Guang could confirm through the player list that he was still alive and not too far from the Wetland Park.

"Respected manager, do you have any plans for today?" Lao Bai stepped forward and asked respectfully.

Although it was a routine question, he asked it every day.

What if it triggers some plot?

Even if it doesn't, it's good to show presence in front of the manager.

Chu Guang, as usual, fulfilled his duty as an NPC and answered routinely.

"Same as yesterday, the tasks are written on the bulletin board. Besides that, you can do as you please. The outpost is currently in dire need of food, building materials... and defensive structures."

One wall of the outpost had already been built.

The remaining three walls should be completed within two days.

What Chu Guang was more worried about was that the increasing activity at the outpost might have attracted the attention of the mutant tribe on 76th Street to the east.

The entire outpost currently had only three guns, two of which were 5mm small-caliber rifles. Against those green-skinned muscle guys, they wouldn't be completely helpless, but they would definitely take a beating, and only Chu Guang himself might be able to escape.

If those beasts caught them, it would be a living hell, and the mind would break before the body...

Of course, if the players were captured, they would probably be forcibly disconnected, and they wouldn't feel anything that happened afterward.

The players came to the surface in batches, ready to start their new day with high spirits.

"Where's Trash Collector? Why can't I see him?" Ye Shi looked around and noticed the big lizard was missing.

Chu Guang glanced at him and said.

"He's already set out. I have a special mission for him."

Hearing this, the nearby players all showed envious expressions.

Special classes are indeed different.

While they were still working, this guy had already triggered a special mission.

Damn lucky guy!

"Ye Shi, you and I will go on a trip... and Fang Chang, you too." After much thought, Chu Guang decided to take someone with a brain.

Fang Chang, looking flattered, quickly abandoned the "gloomy" Lao Bai and ran over.

Although they had agreed to study primitive steelmaking together before going online, steelmaking couldn't compare to going on a mission with the SS.

Not to mention the generous rewards.

Just the fresh first-hand information was enough to make him excited!

"Brother, wait for me to come back!"

"Get lost, don't come back."

Ignoring the exchange between the two players, Chu Guang took off the two 5mm iron tube rifles from his back and threw them to Fang Chang and Ye Shi.

At the same time, he gave them 20 bullets each.

He didn't expect these rookies to hit anything with these guns that didn't even have rifling, but it would be useful to fire a few shots to scare the enemy and hold the line in a pinch.

What if they hit something?

Even one hit would be a huge gain.

Of course, it would be best if no fighting occurred.

"The safety is on the right side of the trigger. Familiarize yourself with the position, but don't touch it unless I tell you to open the safety."

Looking at the two players excitedly fiddling with their guns, Chu Guang paused and continued.

"We're going to a nearby survivor base to trade for some supplies the outpost needs."

"Whatever happens, you must follow my orders. Do not act on your own, especially do not fire or show any hostile behavior."

"Remember, we represent the entire 404 Shelter."

"Understood?"

"Understood! Respected manager, " Fang Chang stood at attention and gave a clumsy and unstandard military salute, "Your orders are our mission!"

Ye Shi, a bit slower to react, but quick to catch on, quickly mimicked Fang Chang's salute.

"I, and he, are the same!"

Chu Guang: [“...”]

Where did they learn this from?

It sounds so awkward!

However, as the manager, he couldn't say such things. His control over the players was, to some extent, related to their immersion in the game.

The more the players identify with their "shelter resident" identity, the more likely they are to follow his orders rather than cause trouble.

"Very good, very spirited!"

Chu Guang cleared his throat and looked seriously at the outside of the sanatorium.

"We need to bring 50 kilograms of dried meat, 20 kilograms of smoked fish, 10 pelts of mutated hyenas... and a cart for transportation."

"You two go prepare."

"We'll set out in ten minutes!"