Chapter 58

Yesterday's snow seemed to be just a fluke.

The next morning, the sun still carried a hint of autumn warmth.

Stepping out of the shelter, Garbage Guy cautiously looked around. After realizing it wasn't as cold as he had imagined, he finally relaxed, wagging his tail happily as he darted outside.

It was too cold at night.

His online time had to be adjusted accordingly.

Apart from Chu Guang and Garbage Guy, no one seemed particularly anxious. Instead, they had a bit of anticipation for the approaching winter.

Especially the players from the south, who rarely saw heavy snow.

Now, on this wasteland, it had started snowing in early September. If we wait another ten to fifteen days, there should be a heavy snowfall.

Crossing the perimeter of the forward base, Chu Guang patrolled his territory, silently considering which area to enclose next.

North or south?

This was a question worth pondering.

At this moment, as he walked to the gate, he noticed two young players busily working at the north gate, building a wooden frame that looked like a gallows.

Looking at its shape...

It somewhat resembled the gallows at the entrance of Brown Farm?

"…What are you doing?"

Upon seeing the Administrator, the two players immediately stopped their work, looking at him with excitement.

Yaer I Need to Go to the Toilet: "Respected Administrator, we are building a gallows!"

Chu Guang: "…A gallows? Why are you making that thing?"

Ward's Foot Fungus Who Levin: "It's more wasteland! And more punk!"

Yaer I Need to Go to the Toilet: "That's right, and it's very practical! Anyone who violates the shelter's laws, we'll hang them! Hehe."

Chu Guang: "…"

Fine.

But it's unnecessary.

Apart from these two clowns, the other players in the shelter seemed quite normal. They were either busy with quests or cutting trees and moving bricks.

The forward base was in its early stages of development, lacking everything except for work. There was no need to worry about players not having anything to do.

Occasionally, a few slackers didn't matter; let them be.

The art of management lies not in micromanagement but in controlling the big picture. As long as the players are generally diligent, it's fine.

Unless someone is offline for a long time, he would pay attention. If confirmed as AFK, he would give the beta test资格 to someone else.

As for how the system would reclaim the helmets and distribute them, and whether it would cause any trouble, that wasn't his concern.

If it can be done, there's a reason. When the clues are sufficient, it will naturally be known.

Baseless "infinite skepticism" has no meaning. Although scientific thinking emphasizes "doubt, including self-doubt," it also emphasizes that everything must be based on evidence, not conjecture.

So why worry so much about "parallel worlds"?

We can't go back anyway.

Walking to the carpentry shed, Chu Guang inventoried the equipment on the shelves.

So far, Brother Mosquito had made 15 wooden bows and hundreds of arrows, and his production skills were becoming increasingly proficient.

Not only that, but Chu Guang found this guy to be a talent, with innovative ideas and the ability to apply knowledge in various ways.

For example, with the arrows, he designed two different types of arrowheads.

One used the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, heating the arrowhead and then inserting it into a wooden shaft with a fixed slot. Once it cooled naturally, the arrowhead would be tightly joined to the shaft, allowing it to be reused many times until the arrowhead was completely worn out.

The other used a mixture of pine resin and animal fat to attach rusted iron pieces to the shaft.

This type of arrow, although one-time use and with less penetration, would effectively leave the rusted arrowhead in the target, causing continuous damage.

Even if the target didn't lose mobility immediately, they would likely die from tetanus or other infections in a few days.

"Administrator? I was just about to look for you."

Seeing Chu Guang at the door, WC Really Has Mosquito Eyes lit up, putting down his tools and standing up from the chair.

Chu Guang looked at him and said, "I was just taking a walk. Do you have something to report?"

"I've made the gunpowder you asked me to make!"

Saying this, Mosquito pulled out a glass bottle of black gunpowder from the shelf and excitedly handed it to Chu Guang, who couldn't help but take a step back, almost using his authority to kick the guy offline.

"No worries, there's no open flame here, it's very safe! Hehe."

Mosquito chuckled and continued, "I used a formula I found online, with 74.6% potassium nitrate. At this ratio, the gunpowder can burn most efficiently!"

As usual, Chu Guang ignored the game-related content mentioned by the players, took the glass bottle, and examined it carefully, nodding.

"Very good… Have you tested it?"

"I can do a test for you right now! Please follow me!"

Saying this, Mosquito led the Administrator outside the carpentry shed, taking out a small glass bottle of about 150ml capacity from his pocket.

It was filled with gunpowder, with a cotton wick inserted and sealed with animal fat.

He ran a short distance, placed the glass bottle next to a tree, lit the wick with a match, and then ran away.

As the wick burned out, a thunderous explosion occurred, shattering the glass bottle and severely damaging the tree, which wobbled and nearly fell.

Many players nearby, who were cutting trees, were startled by the sound and ran over to see what happened.

"Damn! Brother, you're awesome!"

"Did you make TNT?"

"What TNT? You only know TNT. That smoke is clearly black gunpowder. But it's still very powerful! Everyone knows the formula, but the materials are hard to get."

"Awesome, bro!"

Clearly hearing the praise from the other players, Mosquito looked at the Administrator with excitement, his face flushed.

"How was it?"

Chu Guang's face was also filled with surprise.

This...

This player is too hardcore.

What does a carpenter need to know so much for?

"…Very good, your performance exceeded my expectations. Although the smoke is a bit heavy and the explosive power needs improvement, these are not problems. I will report your achievement to the organization, and you will receive 500 contribution points as a reward."

"Additionally, you can try to make smokeless gunpowder, such as nitrocellulose. If you succeed, the shelter will reward you with 1000 contribution points, and I will have new tasks for you."

New tasks?

Mosquito's expression instantly became excited.

Is this a hidden quest?

Actually, it doesn't matter if it's a hidden quest; the 1000 contribution points reward is already very tempting.

Since the alpha 0.3 version, contribution points have been reduced. Completing daily active tasks can earn about 160 contribution points, and working can earn roughly the same amount. 1000 contribution points is already very strong.

Although he is now a citizen, who would mind having more contributions? In the future, it will only become harder to obtain.

He remembered that the planner had mentioned on the official website that higher identity levels above citizen would be opened in the future, allowing the purchase of more land.

Mosquito said excitedly, "No problem, Respected Administrator! I'll try once I get nitric acid and sulfuric acid!"

Chu Guang nodded, instructed him to go back to work, and then continued his patrol to the blast furnace.

To facilitate transportation, the charcoal kilns and cement kilns were built nearby, forming an industrial area.

The furnace fire burned continuously, making the temperature around the area a few degrees higher than elsewhere.

Since "Ward's Foot Fungus Who Levin" and "Yaer I Need to Go to the Toilet" improved the smelting process, separating the carbon chamber and the iron melting chamber, and using carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion to reduce iron oxide instead of charcoal directly.

This way, the carbon content of the steel scrap as raw material would not increase much during the smelting process, eliminating the need for repeated forging and quenching to remove carbon to make steel.

Although it's impossible to restore the materials to the state of 200 years ago, the overall strength of the materials is definitely better than those smelted from raw ore.

After all, the rare metals originally mixed in the steel would not disappear and would still leave some traces.

Experience is gained bit by bit.

Looking at the players working enthusiastically, Chu Guang was filled with emotion.

A few days ago, the tools for the forward base had to be imported from nearby Brown Farm, exchanged for animal skins.

Now, the players not only learned to recycle metal scrap and smelt it, but could even produce the tools they needed themselves.

The carpentry shed met the immediate needs.

But here, true miracles could be born.

"These makeshift kilns are still somewhat inefficient. To expand facilities, more building materials and tools are needed. To achieve this, some players must directly or indirectly control production resources, which will encourage their initiative and creativity, allowing them to improve production."

"I'll think about it… In the next version, this area can be designated as an industrial zone, with land use clearly defined. Players who reach the citizen level can rent land here to set up workshops and engage in light industry, directly controlling some production resources."

"For large-scale, high-investment, and unstable heavy industries like steel and cement, a 'public' steel plant and cement plant can be established. Outstanding life profession players can be appointed as managers through 'hidden quests,' indirectly controlling production resources."

"For balance… Taxation and land rent settings can be used to solve this."

"Anyway, it's the players' own ideas."

Chu Guang, stroking his chin, pondered.

As a qualified planner, the first priority is to understand what the current version needs.

For example, if everyone can't get an ADC, then strengthen the ADC. If everyone goes for the marksman, then weaken the marksman or strengthen the jungler.

The biggest difference between games and reality is that in reality, reforms and policy adjustments have costs.

But in games, adjusting balance, players might complain about the planner, but as long as the game is still playable, they will continue as usual.

"Administrator!"

Hearing someone call him, Chu Guang stopped and turned around, seeing a player with a bow and arrow running towards him, out of breath.

"What is it?"

"Near the north side of the forward base, by the overpass, two people have arrived, leading a two-headed cow! The one in front looks familiar, similar to someone who came here before!"

The player, hands on his knees, reported the situation in a broken manner.

A two-headed cow?

Could it be the merchant from Red River Town?

So soon?

Chu Guang was slightly surprised but showed no emotion on his face, instructing the player, "Take me there."

"Yes!"