Chapter 75

"Bro, this electric furnace isn't working too well."

"……It might be the power isn't enough. I'll think about it and see if I can make a bigger generator with these copper wires."

"Bro, you got this!"

As Chu Guang left the woodworking shed, he passed through the industrial area and saw a few players in front of the blast furnace, pondering how to improve steelmaking techniques.

The electric furnace made from scrap seemed to have failed, the problem likely being the power. Two players were discussing how to replicate a more powerful generator.

If they could succeed, that would be great.

Chu Guang silently cheered them on in his heart, then walked over to the brick kiln with his hammer on his back, finding "Spare No One" directing other players in brick firing.

Since Old Bai switched to being a hunter player, the position of construction captain fell to Brother Dao, who had a background in civil engineering.

"The three-meter-high wall is still too short. The second wave of raiders could come at any time. I plan to reinforce the forward base's defenses. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Spare No One was surprised that the manager would consult him on such an important issue. He immediately became serious and started thinking.

"From the raiders' weapons, they mostly use Molotov cocktails, thrown objects, and light firearms. While the wall can physically stop them from breaking through our defenses, it doesn't provide much of an advantage in actual combat!"

"My suggestion is that we focus on building 3 to 4-meter-high bunkers outside the wall and connect them with zigzag trenches!"

Hearing this suggestion, Chu Guang's eyes lit up.

This idea was indeed good.

The raiders, like goblins in fantasy movies, aren't very strong in firepower or close combat. Their advantage lies in intimidation and harassment.

Intimidation doesn't work on players; it only excites these lunatics. The only thing to restrict is their harassment ability.

A bunker provides frontal suppression, and the trenches extending from the sides perfectly limit the raiders' mobility.

Without mobility, are they still raiders?

They would just be moving "experience packages"!

Even if they grit their teeth and break through a defensive gap, jumping into the trenches, they would face an even more brutal bloodbath.

Missing a shot is a skill issue.

In the trenches, do you need to worry about that when bayoneting?

In these players' minds, there's no concept of retreat. When they get bloodthirsty, they'd rather take a few with them even if it means sacrificing themselves.

Thinking about this, Chu Guang made his decision.

"Let's do it. How many people do you need?"

Spare No One calculated in his mind and said,

"Give me 20 people, and I can finish in three days! With 30 people, it'll take at most two days!"

Digging trenches isn't difficult. With shovels and a few strength-type players, it might take less than a day.

First, dig the main structure, then reinforce it with wood later.

As for the bunkers,

Concrete-poured ones are overkill. Drag some hardened cement blocks from the abandoned construction site, use wood and scrap rebar for the beams, and building a simple bunker isn't a problem.

Chu Guang nodded.

"I'll give you 40 people!"

"40? Isn't that too many?" Spare No One was taken aback.

Chu Guang shook his head.

"We lack time, not people. A batch of reinforcements will arrive on the surface tomorrow, and I'll hand all the newbies to you."

This batch of beta testers numbered 40, the largest ever.

With so many new players entering the game, they need something to do to prevent them from wandering aimlessly around the base.

It's also a good opportunity to familiarize them with the worker culture of Shelter 404.

To emphasize the importance of this task, Chu Guang paused and continued in a serious tone,

"This task is crucial. I hope you take it seriously. Additionally, your contribution points and rewards will be determined by the quality of the defensive works."

"If your design performs well in the next battle, there will be additional rewards."

Although the manager didn't specify the rewards, seeing the NPC's serious demeanor, Spare No One immediately assumed it was a hidden quest.

He stood up straight, pressed his right fist firmly against his left chest, and said energetically,

"Guaranteed to complete the task!"

"Very good."

Chu Guang nodded in satisfaction.

"Use the rest of today to finalize the plan and mark the spots outside the wall. Start work early tomorrow morning."

"Go ahead."

...

Last night, they captured a scout, and the raiders have been quiet all day. It's unclear what the Blood Hand Clan is thinking.

Are they planning to wait for us to attack?

The raiding team and the scout haven't returned. Even if the enemy is slow, they should realize those people won't be coming back.

The hunter squads scattered on the north and east sides of the wetland park are not only hunting but also watching for raiders' scouts.

Wearing the exoskeleton is quite troublesome, especially with a 20-30 kg hammer on the back.

Chu Guang walked to the generator, took off his equipment, connected the KV-1 exoskeleton to a power source to recharge, and began patrolling the forward base.

At this moment, he noticed two players squatting in a corner by the grain warehouse, whispering. He approached to see what they were discussing.

"What are you doing?"

The two players standing up.

"Respected Manager, we think this looks familiar. It's a bit like the green wheat we ate before."

He pointed to a few green wheat stalks swaying by the grain warehouse.

Actually, they looked more like foxtail grass. Thin stalks topped with unopened ears, with tiny green seeds nestled in the fine hairs.

Chu Guang hadn't grown this before, only tried to grow yam potatoes, which didn't succeed.

Although they imported a lot of green wheat, he never saw where it came from and couldn't decide.

Thinking of the knowledgeable person in the forward base, Chu Guang went to the warehouse and called over Old Luca, who was familiarizing himself with his new role, and brought him to the grain warehouse.

Luca just glanced and nodded confidently.

"Sir, this is indeed green wheat, and it looks like it's been growing for about half a month. However, it was planted at the wrong time and is about to fall over. With the frost this morning and snow expected in two days, it won't last long."

What the heck?

It's really green wheat?

Staring at the few swaying stalks, Chu Guang guessed they must have fallen during the grain transfer.

"Can you grow this?"

"Sir, you're joking. I've been a farmer for decades... Besides, green wheat isn't wheat. It's actually a type of foxtail grass, and it's not hard to grow. Unlike yam potatoes, which need to sprout, cut, and dusted, green wheat can be sown directly. Plant it, and in two to three months, you'll have a crop, just like grass," Luca said softly.

"Really that easy?" Chu Guang was surprised.

"Not exactly easy, but... this isn't a great food. It's usually for us lower-class people. If you've seen it freshly cut, you'd understand. It has a sour smell, like grass, and only gets slightly better after drying."

Chu Guang: "..."

Luca cautiously looked at Chu Guang and continued,

"But it has its advantages. It grows quickly, has deep roots, is drought-resistant, and can survive in various temperatures with minimal care. The downside is that it doesn't yield much. The ears can fill your stomach and feed livestock. The stalks can be burned for ash, which can be used as potassium fertilizer, or composted... We usually intercrop it with other crops."

"If there's some residual fertility in the soil, like after another crop, you can get 400-500 pounds per acre. If planted alone, the yield is much lower, with small ears, similar to what's growing by the wall, maybe a few dozen pounds per acre."

"In my experience, merchants from the north and nearby survivor outposts buy this, but those from the south rarely do."

Chu Guang had always been curious about the origin of green wheat. Now he knew.

Turns out it's a mutation of foxtail grass?

No wonder the survivors in Bet Street ground it into flour or cooked it into porridge, probably to reduce the oxalic acid.

So, he's been feeding the players grass?

Chu Guang's expression was a bit awkward.

Anyway, better not update this on the official website.

"What other crops did you usually grow?" Chu Guang changed the topic.

"Many. Green wheat and yam potatoes were the cheapest and available year-round. Vegetables and fruits were more expensive and mostly grown in greenhouses. The most profitable and easy to sell was red rib leaf, which could be dried and used as tobacco. Scavengers and merchants could afford it, and some used it as a spice to mask odors. There was also a crop called the Kam tree, which bore yellow-green fruits."

"What's that?" Chu Guang asked immediately.

Luca shook his head.

"Sir, the farm owners wouldn't tell us such things. I only saw merchants from Stone City buying them in bulk. Honestly, it doesn't taste good, like chewing on a tire. But cutting the bark yields a lot of oil, which we use in our generators. It can be refined and used."

Chu Guang pondered for a moment.

"Maybe the Kam fruit isn't meant for eating."

With Luca's knowledge, he couldn't understand this, but he was smart enough to remain silent, waiting respectfully and only answering the owner's questions.

Chu Guang took out a notebook and jotted down a few notes.

1. Wasteland Tip: Brown Farm grows a crop called the Kam tree. The fruit may be used to extract rubber, and the tree oil can be used as fuel.

2. Faction Intelligence: Brown Farm has extensive business dealings with the outside world, keeps slaves, and stockpiles weapons, hiding its true strength. Its actual economic and combat capabilities may be stronger than it appears. Adjust threat level from C- to C, maintain neutral (0) faction goodwill.

3. Faction Intelligence: The relationship between Shelter 404's forward base and the scavengers of Bet Street is friendly. Maintain threat level at E-, increase faction goodwill from neutral (30) to friendly (50).

4. New NPC at the Forward Base: Warehouse Manager Luca. Old Luca is a tragic former serf saved by the manager and pledged loyalty to the shelter. His goal is to eliminate hunger in the wasteland.

He suffers from severe arthritis and can't do heavy work. Helping him with tasks might improve his goodwill. Note that stealing will decrease his opinion of you. His knowledge of wasteland plants is valuable and could be useful during the spring planting season.

Today's official website update.

That's it for now!