Chapter 975 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 975: The Harvest of Victory There was an aspect that Gale (Kuang Feng) overthought. The game's developers, being incredibly busy, couldn't possibly monitor every individual player's specific actions. Since the game's launch, Chu Guang's decisions have primarily been about macro-level strategies — including manipulating public perception of the "other world." He limited information to convince mainstream society that the mysterious "Wasteland OL" was the work of extraterrestrial civilizations, which are not only neutral but also continuously express goodwill. Based on this underlying logic, think tanks worldwide and major online media outlets formulated their own interpretations. Some viewed it as a "big brother" warning, suggesting that Earth might enter a prosperous age, only to swiftly fall into decline afterwards. Others thought it was guidance from advanced civilizations searching for like-minded friends across parallel universes, predicting that trading ships might soon orbit in synchronous paths. There are also those who hypothesized that the intention was to fatten Earth's inhabitants for a more enjoyable consumption — yet this notion was untenable. After all, traveling such a vast distance solely for a meal is rather tedious compared to setting up a local farm. Some creative thinkers focused five light-years away, believing extraterrestrial life was there, possibly referring to Gaia as depicted in the game. Chu Guang was indifferent to whether Gaia existed in that realm and was unperturbed by how global think tanks analyzed the situation or the vested interests of various factions. For someone already living in this world, such matters were meaningless. People could believe whatever they wished or whatever their perspectives permitted them to see. For both sides, only one thing truly mattered — the establishment of a relatively fair trading system through sustained mutual collaboration. Under this system, players worked for him to earn silver coins. National economies reclaimed these coins from the players, using them to exchange for high-tech advancements that spurred economic growth. This formed a closed-loop chain. When he released groundbreaking technology, silver coins appreciated. Conversely, to decrease the coins' value, he could pause auctions for a few weeks or slightly dilute the technology. So long as this chain recycled stably, whether he was an extraterrestrial civilization was irrelevant. Chu Guang believed that disclosing controlled nuclear fusion technology would convince plenty of people to believe him, even if he claimed to be a deity. However, fabricating such a tale was too far-fetched; his conscience couldn't accept it, and he couldn't persuade even himself. Interspersing truth with falsehoods seemed the better approach. As for the Planck constant in the game world being smaller than in the real world, such details were beyond Chu Guang's expertise. He only conceptually understood that electromagnetic waves' emission and absorption weren't continuous but rather occurred in discrete packets (akin to having a "frame rate"). For specific values, he might need to consult a young researcher specializing in high-energy physics. Of course, whether such a consultation was necessary was another matter. The survivors of the Alliance wouldn't enjoy better lives just because the Planck constant was smaller. Swapping the reactor's ignition device, however, could make a difference. In the Alliance Building's office, Chu Guang met Wang Zhengyi, a nuclear engineer from Dawn City's nuclear power plant. The engineer, in his forties or fifties, was visibly excited, animatedly recounting his experience at the nuclear plant, hoping to convey the awe he felt to the esteemed manager. Although the engineer spoke at length without hitting the main points, Chu Guang patiently listened till the end, even instructing staff to serve him tea to continue the discussion leisurely. This patience proved wise. After quenching his dry throat with tea, the engineer seemed to forget his prior discussion points, and immediately highlighted what concerned him most. "…If we apply the cold-start technology to our reactor, replacing the outdated laser ignition, our energy efficiency could see a 23% increase!" Hearing this figure, Chu Guang's face showed surprise. "23%? Does ignition consume that much energy?" Wang Zhengyi nodded earnestly. "It's not just a single ignition; every time new fuel is added, it requires re-ignition… including reactor shutdowns for maintenance, etc." "I see." Chu Guang nodded thoughtfully, his expression growing more serious. 23% was a theoretical value. In practice, the actual increase might be lower, but still quite substantial. Though currently the Alliance had only one large reactor on the surface, with increasing electricity demands, more reactors would eventually be necessary. For instance, in the Southern Sea Alliance, Li Minghui had frequently approached him about electricity supply issues, hoping the Alliance would build another fusion plant in the south to lower the electricity cost for the southern seas and nearby regions. The Southern Sea Alliance's power and fresh water were primarily imported from Fries Port. Though tidal and wind energy were useful, maintenance costs were significant. Electricity generation remained a major issue. The laying speed of ocean current power stations couldn't keep up with the economic growth of the southern seas and surrounding areas. For an emerging economy with continuous growth, renewable energy was destined to be a supplement to non-renewable sources, unlikely to serve as a foundation. Especially since the space elevator was planned for the southern seas, local economic and production activity would inevitably grow exponentially. "What about costs? Have you calculated them?" Wang Zhengyi nodded nervously. "We have calculated it. Completing the technology update would require a budget of about 20 million silver coins... but considering future reactor constructions, we believe the expenditure is worthwhile." Chu Guang nodded. "Since you've considered it, I have no objections. Of course, procedures must still be followed. Prepare a budget report for the Ministry of Finance; they'll set up a budgeting committee to liaise with you." Hearing the manager's support, Wang Zhengyi's face lit up with joy, nodding repeatedly in gratitude. Before his meeting, he'd been nervous about convincing the manager, not expecting the esteemed manager to be easier to communicate with than anticipated. Seeing the nodding, grateful veteran engineer, Chu Guang smiled warmly and said, "No need to thank me. If anyone deserves thanks, it's you on behalf of the Alliance." Pausing, he added, "Remember, while I nod in agreement, the necessary documents should be prepared with care. The budgeting committee also has their responsibilities, accountable to the Alliance citizens funding them." "Understood! I guarantee the task will be completed!" Wang Zhengyi, face glowing with confidence, seemed about ready to salute. Chu Guang watched him leave the office with a smile, then opened the holographic computer on his desk, flipping through his schedule. Among the first batch of coordination efforts were 21 units, including key public service establishments like Dawn City's nuclear plant, private factories building engines and reactors, and purely academic institutions. The Academy's generosity was undeniable this time. With these technological supports, constructing one or even several ideal cities in the wasteland was no longer an ordeal. Given enough time, Alliance's survivors could potentially rebuild a new world more prosperous than the old era. Despite such optimism, Chu Guang harbored a premonition contrary to these expectations. Often, like other shelter residents, he instinctively used ideal cities as benchmarks for prosperity and considered their affluence the sole prosperity measure, forgetting that assessment standards evolved. Perhaps the human-populated city's dense prosperity was historical and unlikely to reappear for quite some time. After all, today's Earth isn't the same as it was two centuries ago. Ending the wasteland era was doable, but transforming an entire planet was another matter. The Alliance might defeat the Legion, but declaring war on mutant cockroaches or rats would be laughable. It wasn't just about the planet's ecology. The people inhabiting it are no longer the same either. History gave the wastelanders not only lessons but also fundamentally transformed their values and life philosophies. These changes don't just make the reborn more tolerant of alien environments but also drive them, willingly or not, to explore further worlds, dispersing the infinite risks amassed alongside limitless prosperity. The children of the Alliance will spread like seeds, using the solar system as their hub, extending prosperity across several, even dozens of light-years. They won’t attempt to consolidate a city of prosperity over such vast distances. Chu Guang had a strong intuition. In the distant future, the Alliance's population would surpass that of the United Federation. However, unlike in the era of the United Federation, people wouldn't all be crammed onto a single home planet. Instead, they'd disperse across thousands of planets and space stations. In such a future, experiences like "constructing a large-scale laser array on the moon and directing energy back to Earth" would indeed become outdated. Decentralized power stations would facilitate more flexible resource allocation and outward expansion—more suitable for the wastelanders' "settlement-style" development. Disasters that befell the United Federation might occur again, but they wouldn’t cripple them. Perhaps in the far-off future, members of the Workers' Guild would travel to Andromeda to recreate a Stone City, while the Southern Sea Alliance might search beyond the solar system for an ocean planet to establish their hundredth artificial island. Doomsday scenarios? When the universe is filled with human homes, is there really anything to fear? If worse comes to worst, they could always seek refuge with the Academy, quietly thriving somewhere in the cosmos. Unless faced with a crisis spanning the entire universe, no disaster could sweep them away in one fell swoop. Thinking about such a distant future, a smile crept onto Chu Guang's lips. "If only I could live to see that day." ... "[Breaking News! Tensions Escalate! Zaid condemns Mammoth Nation’s occupation of Bird and Sheep states, prompting border conflicts. Under the leadership of Grove and deputy Yokale, a northern advance commences! Rumors suggest that Gray Wolf Army’s chief commander, Gopal, had a heated dispute with Zaid over the maturity of timing for a northern expedition. Intense power struggles within Heaven City’s upper echelon may impact front-line warfare. Yodu Mayor urges parties to stay calm, appealing to their shared humanity to sit down and negotiate. Currently, the Alliance remains silent on the issue. Representing Dawn City’s civil opinion, “Gremlin Observer” remarked that, at least, the 'Red Earth' narrowly escaped a calamity. However, New Sifang Port’s “Survivor Daily” presents a dissenting view. Unreliable sources claim that Heaven City exchanged views with the Eastern Empire regarding Red Earth. —Survivor Daily, Kingallon Port Edition.]" "[Judgment Concluded! Former Southern Legion Minister of General Affairs Geoffrey and other war criminals sentenced to death. Quick Reaction Force's commander Hines and others sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Port of Eternal Night governor Yahui and secondary war criminals received 20-year sentences. Currently, Advent City is gradually regaining order, and reconstruction in various districts is underway. Port cranes from the Southern Sea Alliance have arrived at Advent City's western port. Following supplies from the Alliance, Vilante Alliance, and corporations, materials from the Eastern Empire and New United Federation are entering Batoia Province, potentially turning Advent City into a battleground of survivor forces. (Accompanying Image: A long line in front of the talent market, signs prominently displaying vacancies like 'Hiring Marine Engineers, 30 Silver Coins per Hour.') —Survivor Daily, Advent City Edition.]" In front of Advent City’s talent market, a stream of people matched the image on the newspaper. Watching the bustling recruitment booths, a man with burn scars on his face stood in line, anxiety etched on his features. The paper claimed one could find lucrative work here, but besides shooting and driving tanks, he knew little else. Finally reaching the front, he hesitated before stepping up to introduce himself, but the staff at the recruitment booth spoke first. "Name?" Swallowing, the man replied, rubbing his hands nervously. "B... Bart." The recruiter pushed a form and pen toward him. “There are at least five or ten Barts around here... All right, write down your last name too, and include your skills so we can find you a suitable position.” Bart hastily nodded, picked up the pen, and filled in his last name. Hesitating over the skills section, he eventually listed his experience. To his surprise, the recruiter’s eyes lit up. “You can drive tanks?” “Y-Yes...” Bart responded warily, nodding slowly. Rather than calling security as Bart feared, the recruiter instead cheerfully patted his shoulder. “Fantastic, we need people to drive excavators!” Bart blinked, confused. “Excavators?” “They both have tracks, right? And both are made in the Lavender Industrial Zone. I’m sure you’ll handle this job well!” The recruiter winked and without further ado, tucked a card thicker than a soldier’s badge into Bart’s hand. “That’s your work card. Report to the address on the card by 8 a.m. tomorrow. If not, it’s void.” “I’ll be there on time!” Bart pledged, but seeing the recruiter paying him no mind, he hurriedly asked, “Is that all? No other procedures?” The recruiter waved him off with a smile. “That’s it. We need hands, as long as you can move and understand orders. Oh, if you're short of cash, take your card to the bank outside the talent market to get an emergency loan. Your hourly wage is 12 silver coins, and they’ll advance you a week’s pay based on that, interest-free if repaid within a month.” Another staff member chimed in jokingly. “He didn’t finish. Even if you’re missing a hand, we can fit you with one first." “That’s unnecessary...” Bart, never treated so kindly, was both grateful and flustered. “Thank you...” “No need, brother,” the recruiter said, patting Bart’s arm firmly and flashing a grin, “People need to look forward. Best of luck embracing your new life.” Thanking them repeatedly, Bart left the recruitment booth without further delay. He felt as if he were gliding, his steps as light as air. 12 silver coins an hour! With effort, he might earn 2000 silver coins a month! Converting that into dinars made it undeniably high-paying! No conversion was needed; the purchasing power of silver coins far exceeded that of dinars. He was eager to rush home with the joyous news for his beloved wife and children! As he reached the talent market entrance, a Velante man in a coat stopped him. “Hey, brother.” Seeing the unfamiliar face, Bart frowned slightly. “...Do I know you?” Sensing Bart’s wariness, the man didn’t mind, merely smiled, and offered. “I’ve got better-paying work. Interested?” Bart’s expression grew cautious; he immediately declined. “I don’t do anything illegal.” “Perfectly legal, just risky, but for you guys, that's nothing,” the man chuckled, lowering his voice, “Borrows Province is at war. They need instructors. You know what I mean. I can secure you this amount.” Waving two fingers, he added, “20,000 silver coins a month.” Twenty thousand! Bart stared, temptation flickering for a brief moment. But only a moment. He thought of his family, of past hardships, and after a moment's hesitation, shook his head. “No.” He realized his past actions weren’t honorable, nor respectable. He no longer wished to live that way. The man gave a disappointed sigh, shrugged. “Alright, I’ll ask around elsewhere... If you change your mind and I still haven’t found someone, you can always come back to find me.” Bart nodded but refused the man's card, clutching his work badge and hurrying on... Not far from the talent market entrance, in a pub that sold beer by night and coffee by day, Fang Chang sat by the window, comparing two different editions of the "Survivor Daily." He suddenly remarked with genuine admiration. “I remember our shelter manager said multiple editions of the Survivor Daily were necessary to ensure it belonged to the survivors, so some punk wouldn’t claim it after he left.” Across the table, Dolly smiled, sipping coffee lightly. “And his good assistant didn’t foresee someone would steal the brand even before he left?” The newspaper office in the Lavinca Industrial District had been established and was already on the right track. As soon as Advent City was liberated, Dolly immediately dragged Fang Chang along to set up a branch of the "Survivor Daily" specifically for Advent City and the wider Batoia Province. All the reporters and editors were locals of Advent City, including Velante people and survivors from other ethnicities. Listening to the pleasant sound of her voice, Fang Chang shook his head and said in a casual tone, “Whether it counts as stealing is debatable, but we've certainly seen the world's diversity through these newspapers.” The Mammoth City, Westwind Port, and Heaven City branches had mostly been expelled by other newspapers. Even if they were reprinted, it wouldn’t be as news but rather as news material. The newspaper at New Westwind Port that had been illegitimately registered was hovering on the edge of the blacklist. It remained off the list partly due to a "beginner's protection period" and partly because it occasionally divulged useful information, not being entirely Saren’s personal mouthpiece. As for whether the "Survivor Daily" brand had been stolen, Fang Chang leaned toward believing it hadn’t. From the start, it wasn’t the Alliance's but the survivors' newspaper, so how could anything be stolen? It belonged to them all along, filled with fabrications because they were consciously or unconsciously deceiving. As for whether the Boro people had been deceived, Fang Chang believed they hadn’t. Perhaps he felt this way because he had watched them reach this point step by step. Just as the manager said, it was a conspiratorial crime. And predictably, the punishment of fate had already descended. Dolly watched him intently and suddenly turned her gaze outside the window, letting out a gentle sigh. “I just feel that though they are victorious, they must endure hardships even the defeated didn't, which is rather pitiful... Maybe there was a better way. Besides, the war is over; can't we find a way to help them?” “…We've provided plenty of aid. Besides a significant lesson, I can't think of anything else to give them.” Fang Chang turned a page of the newspaper in his hand, pausing before continuing. “Furthermore, the war isn’t over... The culprit behind that massacre hasn’t been caught yet.” “You mean the Enlightenment Society?" Dolly’s brows furrowed slightly, a touch of concern appearing on her face. She’d heard about the events at the "Tower of the World," including the monstrous entity with twisted tentacles. Fang Chang shook his head. “Not just the Enlightenment Society, but also the suspected Celestials behind them... Though, only the former has emerged so far.” That little mouse from the Enlightenment Society... The creature was causing havoc, armed with a Gauss rifle, possibly equipped with optical camouflage. They weren't even sure if it was still in the city or had already slipped away. Besides, agents from the Eastern Empire and New United Federation were also active around Advent City, under the guise of rescue, recruiting engineers from the Southern Legion and unemployed officers, taking advantage of the cards Tyrell left unplayed. It's worth noting that the Southern Legion wasn't devoid of high-tech; achievements were made in jets and missiles, though metallurgy wasn’t their strong suit. Additionally, the Enlightenment Society had used shelter residents to train some high-tech talents for Tyrell. When the battle climaxed, not all these people were in the "Tower of the World," and some fortunate souls survived. Compared to threats from the Lagrange point, Fang Chang regarded those talent-scouting spies as minor threats. Almost trivial. After all, the truly valuable talents had long been divided by Dawn City and Triumph City; they could take the remnants if they wished. The Alliance wouldn't miss these trivialities. As long as they didn't cause trouble at crucial moments, it was acceptable. Noticing a hint of unease crossing his expression, Dolly suddenly felt a pang of sympathy, resisting the urge to pat his head. This guy worried so much about the Alliance, even when beside her. “If there's anything I can help with... please let me know.” Seeing the concern in her eyes, Fang Chang's face softened into a warm smile. He refrained from saying anything cliché like “take care of yourself” or “just don’t cause trouble,” instead reaching out to gently pat that adorable little head. “Mm, definitely.” To be continued...