Chapter 86

A few small players quickly stepped up, afraid of being late, and looked at these "Lords of Luck" with envy all around.

"Envious!"

"Damn! Why doesn't my Gwent tavern work!"

"Maybe the manager doesn't know how to run it? Try changing it to a card game next time."

"It's already 2340, how can there be no Big Bird Spinning Bar? That's not reasonable at all."

It was clearly snowing, but the surroundings were bustling with activity.

At this moment, the players gathered around the map finally confirmed their positions and started chattering away.

"Ooh, Teng Teng's little house is right next to the respawn point! Nice!"

"My butcher shop is so close to the granary, awesome."

"Damn! Why is my goblin chemical factory all the way out here!" Mosquito, looking at the map, had a face full of despair.

Chu Guang glanced at him, a slight smile in his heart.

All the way out?

It's already good that you're not outside the wall!

Everyone knows that the chemical industry is a high-risk business, especially making gunpowder. It's not a big deal if a person gets blown up, but if the surrounding houses are also destroyed, that would be a huge loss.

Chu Guang would have Luca pay attention to the raw material usage and daily production of this "Goblin Industry," keeping the stock of hazardous materials within a safe range.

If the outpost expands in the future, he would consider relocating it further out.

"Yer, I need to go to the toilet" and "Ward's Foot Fungus Who Levin" stared at the map, looking utterly confused.

The players had no objections to the location of the steel workshop, although it was next to the south gate, it was close to the main road, and the route to the warehouse was convenient. However, there was a question mark drawn in pencil on the map, which they didn't understand.

Toilet Brother looked up at the manager.

"Manager, may I ask... what does the question mark on the map mean?"

Levin Brother also nodded and asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't get it."

The question mark, of course, meant there was a quest to be accepted.

Chu Guang cleared his throat, his expression serious as he began to speak.

"Steel is the cornerstone of the outpost's industrialization. Your hard work has triggered a hidden quest. Of course, this quest is optional, and you have the right to choose whether to accept it."

Hidden quest!

The eyes of the two small players instantly lit up like light bulbs, and the surrounding players also cast envious glances.

"200 square meters of land, and a hidden quest!"

"Damn!"

"This is too awesome!"

Toilet Brother's hands trembled with excitement.

"Manager, we accept!"

Levin Brother also nodded vigorously.

"Right! I accept too!"

A slight smile crept onto the corner of Chu Guang's mouth, and he extended a task sheet that he had prepared in advance—

Or rather, a contract.

"Take a look first before making a decision."

...

[Quest: Fire of Industry (Optional)]

[Description: To stimulate the increase in steel production at the outpost and improve the efficiency of scrap metal smelting, the chief manager of the shelter has decided to allocate a budget of 2000 silver coins to support the development of steel-making technology.

If the budget support is accepted, the steel workshop will be upgraded to a joint steel factory, with the shelter holding 80% of the shares and the founders holding 20%.

The founders only need to pay 50 silver coins as registration funds to establish a corporate account for receiving budget subsidies.

Funds in the corporate account cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to purchase supplies from the warehouse, commission scavenging and exploration bounties, and pay salaries for up to four employees.

Salaries below 1 silver coin per hour and work hours less than 12 hours require only registration. If exceeded, manager approval is required.

When the corporate account has more than 2000 silver coins, profit sharing can be applied for. Dividends below 1000 silver coins within a month are tax-free, dividends between 1000 and 10000 silver coins are taxed at 4%, and dividends above 10000 silver coins are taxed at 8%, with rates subject to policy adjustments.

]

[Notes:

1. Detailed funding usage rules are outlined in the Corporate Account Management Regulations. If there are any violations, the account will be fined at least 200% of the amount and may be permanently banned.

2. Accepting the quest will trigger a series of exclusive tasks and orders, with rewards including equipment, money, contribution points, budget subsidies, land, and shares. If declined, specific conditions must be met to trigger them again.

]

Should they run a small workshop or a large factory?

If it were in real life, this would require serious consideration.

But in the game...

This is a hidden quest!

Although the funds in the account cannot be directly withdrawn, 2000 silver coins is still 2000 silver coins! Using 50 silver coins to gain the right to use 1000 silver coins, it's a no-brainer.

Without a second of hesitation, Toilet Brother and Levin Brother eagerly accepted the quest, signing their long IDs on the task sheet.

The main responsible person registered was "Ward's Foot Fungus Who Levin," and after discussion, they each held 11% and 9% of the shares.

"Respected Manager, what will our steel factory be called?"

Chu Guang naturally didn't want to handle such a troublesome task.

"You can decide yourselves."

They can name it themselves!

The two players' eyes sparkled, and they immediately gathered to discuss.

"How about 'Laiyang Steel Factory'? This name is awesome!"

"Ha, wait until the game is in open beta, and someone sues for copyright infringement. Let's change it to 'Lairi'!"

"Lairi doesn't have the same vibe."

"Stop dilly-dallying, think of a name quickly, or the NPCs will get impatient!"

"81, this number is lucky."

"Okay!"

Thus, the first steel factory of Shelter 404—“81 Steel Factory”—was officially established.

Toilet Brother and Levin Brother also unlocked their first exclusive quest—“Customize a set of armor for the Manager's KV-1 exoskeleton!”

The quest requirements were simple: the total weight of the armor must be less than 200 kilograms, and it must protect the wearer from light weapon fire from the front without affecting mobility.

Additionally, there were some detailed requirements, such as the chest plate thickness being between 10mm and 20mm, and being replaceable when damaged.

The quest reward was a whopping 200 silver coins!

That's 200 silver coins!

Many people, after buying equipment, can't even scrape together a two-digit amount!

When the news spread, the entire outpost was instantly in an uproar.

"Bro, is 200 silver coins as a reward too high?!"

The one speaking was Mosquito Brother.

After the land was divided, the manager returned to the third floor of the sanatorium, and the players, who had been busy all day, squatted on the first floor to eat.

Originally, he was quite excited about the approval of the renamed "Goblin Industry," but compared to the two silly steel factories, it was just a minor player.

Egg Brother also looked envious.

"Compared to 200 silver coins, I think the 2000 silver coin budget is even more outrageous! A huge boost for life players, but why not me, damn it!"

A few players from the Niu Ma group were nearby, and Ye Shi, holding a bowl and munching on a yam, chuckled.

"The manager said there are no more animals to slaughter, so you should dig trenches."

Egg Brother: "Crying, can I change the usage? Can I secretly set up a stove and open a restaurant?"

Kuang Feng: "There's a risk. You should apply for a change. Changing the land usage might result in it being reclaimed or even fined."

Egg Brother: "Wah wah wah."

Fang Chang, who had been watching, couldn't help but interject.

"Actually, it's not as outrageous as you think. Accepting a 2000 silver coin budget means a 20% reduction in control. Clearly, the planning team has considered the issue of numerical inflation. In other words, even if you earn 10,000 silver coins a month, only 2000 silver coins belong to you, and you can't withdraw that money! Dividends require a tax deduction, so each person ends up with less than 1000 silver coins."

WC Really Has Mosquito: "But it's still a lot!"

Old Bai: "Combat players are crying in the toilet."

Kuang Feng: "No, there's actually an interesting mathematical problem here, about the yield curve. Normally, a new player's earnings for a month are around 300 silver coins. If the steel factory's profit is less than 3000 silver coins, it's a loss for the two co-operators, as they could earn the same amount from regular quests. If they can improve production and reduce costs to create a profit of more than 3000 silver coins, then this quest is a gain for them."

Ye Shi: "A 200 silver coin reward for a single exclusive quest, is it hard to earn 3000 silver coins a month?"

Fang Chang: "It's still a bit difficult. Don't just look at the short term, think a bit further. Consider how many sets of armor the manager can wear?"

A light of realization appeared in WC Really Has Mosquito's eyes. He runs a store in real life and immediately understood.

"Wait, what you're saying... I think I get it."

Fang Chang, who enjoys talking to smart people, smiled.

"Right?"

Ye Shi still looked confused and, seeing that Fang Chang wasn't going to explain further, quickly asked.

"What, what, what do you mean? I still don't get it!"

Fang Chang, impatient to explain, said.

"Tsk, to put it bluntly, exclusive orders are actually limited! This game has a concept that many MMORPGs lack, which is 'demand'!

NPCs won't buy everything life players produce like a black hole. Most of what life players produce needs to be sold to other players, meaning the steel factory's profit is not determined by itself but by other players' purchasing power, especially combat players!

So, if I'm a combat player with 100 silver coins and I plan to spend 50 silver coins on upgrading my weapons and armor, life players might earn those 50 silver coins, but they have to compete with NPCs. Do you understand now?"

Ye Shi, half-understanding, said.

"...So, the amount of money life players can earn actually depends on how much combat players earn from quests? Hiss, I think I get it..."

Fang Chang: "That's about right. For example, if I plan to buy a power armor, the engine, steel, sensors, and other components will create corresponding demand. Life players need to make sure I can afford it. Where does my money come from? From quests, of course. Most players are the same!"

It's a simple principle. If a game plans to put an item on the store shelf, it will ensure that some players can afford it.

Either pay with real money or spend time grinding.

So, overall, the total earnings of combat players will not be lower than those of life players, because the latter's production is consumed by the former.

Even if the numbers inflate, they will inflate together.

For example, if the gene sequence level reaches LV10 and a new dungeon for abandoned shelters is opened, the reward for clearing it might be as high as 1000 or even 10000 silver coins.

That's not impossible!

Old Bai immediately asked.

"So, the first tier is still combat players?"

He is a strength-type player, so this is what he cares about most.

Fang Chang nodded.

"Right, at least as long as combat is the main theme, the 'version child' will definitely be born on the front lines, just a matter of which gene sequence! Combat players earn money from quests, and life players earn money from combat players, forming a closed economic loop in the game, preventing numerical inflation. There won't be too much money with nothing to buy, or things with no one to buy them."

Kuang Feng, holding his bowl and pondering for a long time, added.

"Currently, the economic model of the shelter is military-oriented. If the external environment changes, such as the addition of an export system to sell goods to other survivor settlements, this theory might not hold."

Fang Chang, with a relaxed tone, said.

"Right, so I'm talking about the 'version child,' not the planner's favorite. The possibility you mentioned might take many versions to materialize. We haven't even solved the basic survival needs and the threat of the Blood Hand Clan, and the map of the Rock City hasn't been opened yet."

Kuang Feng: "True."

Old Bai thought for a moment and suddenly spoke.

"But if what you say is true, doesn't it mean that life players will have a strong period in the future?"

Fang Chang laughed.

"Version rotation is normal. Isn't that natural?"

Old Bai: "Should we also set up a steel factory to hedge our risks? If combat players become less popular one day, we can still earn money from the industry."

Fang Chang glanced at him.

"...Do you know how to smelt steel?"

Old Bai chuckled.

"I don't know how to smelt steel, but I know how to make bricks and cement! Especially bricks. In my hometown, there are many brick factories. I've seen them use a rotary kiln, where bricks are placed on a kiln car that moves along a track into the furnace. As the car moves, the newly placed bricks go in, and the baked bricks come out, ready to use. I've heard that some can produce over a million bricks a day!"

Ye Shi: "...What? That's amazing?!"

Kuang Feng: "The shelter's warehouse sells red bricks for 1 silver coin per 100, and buys them for 4 copper coins. The theoretical daily income for a factory producing a million bricks a day would be 4000 to 10000 silver coins. However, I think, given the conditions of the outpost and the setting of Wasteland OL, it's unrealistic to set up a 20-acre brick factory."

Old Bai: "No kidding! Setting up such a brick factory would cost at