Chapter 336 Utopia Hidden in the Tunnel
Chapter 336 Utopia Hidden in the Tunnel
It took about 10 minutes for Lu Bei to report the whole day’s work to Chu Guang.
”…Under the guidance of the gatekeeper named Tris, we entered Camp 101 and were received by the local survivors.”
”It was a camp hidden deep in the subway tunnel, with about two to three hundred people living there. The local survivors lived in square barracks. There were greenhouse plantations, generators, water purifiers and biogas pools around the camp.” ”
The situation there was completely different from that in Hope Town. They were completely self-sufficient in materials and used scientific methods to manage everything in an orderly manner.”
”That Tris took me to visit their greenhouse plantations. There were many hydroponic boxes where rice, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers… and carbon fixation devices were planted. They synthesized part of the carbon dioxide into starch and glucose to balance the carbon dioxide content in the air.”
”In short, the situation there was quite surprising. The locals called themselves ‘sheltered people’, but they were not residents of the shelter, but wastelanders who were helped by the residents of the shelter.”
”The gate of Shelter 101 is at the deepest part of the camp. The residents of the shelter taught them knowledge, and their task was to report the situation outside to the residents of the shelter.”
”According to them, their camp was originally located on the surface. Later, in order to avoid the war, the residents of the shelter lent them the material transfer area at the door, and then they had the current camp.”
”When talking to them, I can feel that they have a deep affection for the residents of the shelter. Shelter No. 101 is like a holy place to them, and the residents living there are more like teachers to them.”
After listening to Lu Bei’s report, Chu Guang looked at the notes he had written down in his hand and pondered for a long time, nodding thoughtfully.
”…Is that so.”
He probably understood.
In simple terms, Camp No. 101 is equivalent to the “spokesperson” supported by the surface of Shelter No. 101.
These spokespersons were enlightened by the residents of the shelter and obtained knowledge that was not available on the wasteland, and even some production methods and tools in the pre-war era.
While enjoying the convenience brought by the fruits of pre-war civilization, they also assumed the obligation to “watch the gate” for the shelter.
It must be said that this is a smart approach.
As for the shelters Chu Guang has encountered so far, both No. 117 and No. 401 have lost due to the reserve and arrogance of civilized people.
In contrast, the blue coats in Shelter No. 101 have adopted a more cautious strategy – selecting worthy people for training, enlightening the ignorant wastelanders, teaching them to use tableware and books, and letting them learn mathematics and physics, and look at the world from a rational perspective.
This not only guarantees their education rate and professional skills level, but also ensures that they have a similar world view, values, and consciousness-form as themselves.
In this way, the residents of Shelter No. 101 only need to pay a negligible cost to collect the intelligence and resources they need, and also avoid the trouble that may come from direct contact with local survivors. Camp No. 101
is the seeds they sow on the surface, and it is also a buffer zone between them and the wasteland.
If they fail, they can retreat underground at any time and adjust the time to 20, 50 or even 100 years later to start over again.
Once it succeeds, this seed will grow into a towering tree and establish a stable and enlightened regime on the wasteland…
their historical mission will be completed.
”…I haven’t seen the residents of Shelter 101,” Lv Bei said carefully, putting this sentence at the end, “The elders of Camp 101 told me that they would not recommend the residents of the shelter to open the door before confirming that the world outside the door is safe. Even if I tried to explain to them…we have driven away the predators, but they just didn’t believe me.”
”Later, at my insistence, they took me to the gate of Shelter 101, and the residents there didn’t listen to my explanation at all, and asked me to communicate with the people in Camp 101.”
When he said this, Lv Bei was very depressed.
He felt like a ball, being kicked around by people on both sides.
These people really don’t know what’s good for them!
Hearing the boy’s complaint, Chu Guang immediately guessed what he was thinking, and said with a smile.
”They are not worried about the predators, they are worried about us.”
Lv Bei was stunned.
”Worried about… us? But why should they worry about us?”
Chu Guang said patiently.
”Predators can also wear blue coats, and even bring our VMs. The vital signs monitor itself is not a particularly advanced thing, and it is not a patent of the shelter.”
”At the first contact, they can only judge whether we have good intentions through intuition, but in the end they still need to use their eyes to confirm whether what we claim is consistent with what we are doing.”
”This world is not black and white. Those who drive away predators may not be righteous partners, but may be another group of predators. It is reasonable for them to be alert.”
”So, before you set off, I repeatedly reminded you that you must be cautious before expressing our intentions, don’t rush to urge the other party to make a decision, give them a little more patience, and if they are hesitant, you can suggest that they come to our place to take a look.”
Lu Bei on the other end of the phone pondered for a while and said thoughtfully.
”I understand, so we should invite them to send some representatives to our settlement to take a look.”
A teachable child.
Seeing that the young man had come to his senses, Chu Guang smiled and nodded.
”Invite a few more people here. Remember, this is not a request, it’s an invitation. We need power engineers and water conservancy engineers here.”
”You can even tell them that I plan to build a dam on the west and southwest sides of the Sixin District to divert the overflowing lake water to the north and merge into the Tianshui tributary to irrigate the nearby land… This will be a long-term project and we need their help.”
Drawing cakes is also part of the art of management. The new alliance needs to find common interests with the local survivors.
Although water conservancy projects are not the top priority of Liming City’s construction work, as the settlement area expands, this will be done sooner or later.
Lu Bei said excitedly.
”I understand!”
Chu Guang nodded approvingly.
”Go if you understand.”
Chu Guang has always been very satisfied with this diligent and loyal boy, and has always been intentionally cultivating him.
For example, the reason why he was given this task was to cultivate him.
As for ability and background, these have never been a problem. Chu Guang does not believe in bloodline theory at all.
When people reach that position, they will naturally grow.
The core members of the new alliance who really have the halo are actually Yin Fang, Heya, and Old Charlie. Most of the others are born in the wasteland.
For example, Luca was just a serf who farmed the land at the beginning. He didn’t know anything about logistics management, but now he can manage the work he was assigned to do in an orderly manner.
And Shuyu, who was sent to the Stone City by Chu Guang, was just a refugee at first.
In fact, it was the same for Chu Guang himself. When the Alpha0.1 version was just starting, he didn’t even have a dog, and he was almost bitten by the dog. Now he has everything.
After hanging up the phone, Chu Guang was too lazy to go out for dinner. He directly took out a box of braised pork cans from his luggage, and ate dinner with steamed buns while browsing the forum with VM.
Today’s official website is as lively as ever.
Coincidentally, while he was eating dinner, his little players were also eating.
But because of the time difference, they had breakfast.
Tail: “Woo woo woo… Tail has clearly eaten in the game, why do I have to eat again in reality! QAQ”
Sis: “Isn’t this a matter of course…”
Tail: “I’m so angry! Why don’t you develop a culture chamber where you can just lie down and not have to worry about anything! Eating, brushing teeth, taking a shower, and going to the toilet are too troublesome! (ノ｀Д)ノ”
Sis: “Uh, do you mean the kind with intubation… I’d better forget it.”
Tail: “?”
Aoao Zhima Paste: “That being said, even if there is such a culture chamber, the anti-addiction system can’t allow 24-hour online. (ω)” Roushan Damomo:
”Ahaha… Hahaha…”
”…”
This addiction is too strong.
Looking at the discussion in the post, Chu Guang was speechless, not knowing how to complain.
The equipment for the morphogenetic field is not his responsibility, and the culture chamber… maybe there will be one, but it doesn’t really matter whether it exists or not. The helmet is enough. If you wake up because of the urge to pee, just go to the toilet and come back. Finding a place that is not in the way and lying down to log off is a basic operation for players.
Although the incubator can make players more focused on the game world, he still hopes that his little players can eat well and live well in reality.
Even if it is the only fully immersive virtual reality game in the world, you can’t dry up the pond to catch fish.
After closing the post, Chu Guang continued to browse the forum.
Most of the players are concerned about the expansion pack settlement and the prize pool for the lottery tonight. Some players also focus on the newly unlocked map of Xizhou City.
For example, Brother Fang Chang.
Just like when he went to Boulder City before, Fang Chang immediately conducted a detailed investigation of the situation there after arriving at Camp 101, and updated the summarized information on the official website without reservation.
”Shock! A high-tech town hidden in the tunnel! What I saw at Camp 101!”
Seeing this line of title, Chu Guang immediately clicked in.
It’s embarrassing to say that as a game planner, he is the last person to know the relevant information about the new map.
Unlike other games, it is always the bad planners who reveal inside information to the big players.
Like Lü Bei, Fang Chang first combined the translator with his own understanding to give a detailed description of the background of Camp 101.
However, unlike Lü Bei, Fang Chang narrated from the perspective of the player, with a different narrative style and focus.
”…The technical level of Camp 101 is very high. According to the setting, they are a group of wastelanders who have received shelter education. They have the characteristics of both blue coats and wastelanders. I even suspect that they are hybrids of blue coats and wastelanders.”
”According to themselves, the residents of Shelter 101 will only send a small number of people out of the door when needed. Sometimes it is to collect resources, sometimes it is to collect samples from the wasteland, or to collect data, but they usually don’t stay for too long.”
”They have no currency, and they don’t even have the concept of property. Instead, they have various points, and a person’s living standard is determined by the type of occupation and the contribution of the position.”
”For example, general employees can enjoy the standard unit living rations, and employees engaged in technical jobs can enjoy certain consumer goods on the basis of the standard unit living configuration. In addition, there will be regular KPI assessments to determine the proportion of additional rations…”
”Of course, the above is the information I summarized based on the plot dialogue, and it is not necessarily accurate. Compared with Hope Town, this place is more like a paradise composed of a group of ‘lucky few’.”
”There are a lot of special technologies here. They can make drones very small and turn carbon dioxide into food. It is not clear how they do it, but one thing is certain, since there is no currency, Camp 101 may not be able to trade freely like Boulder City.”
”But this does not mean that they don’t have the need to trade. For example, energy, food and fresh water are all very precious locally. Although we also need these things, we can exchange some of our surplus with them.”
”I speculate that the transaction with Camp 101 may be carried out in a more official form. For example, professional players who run factories can hire highly educated engineers from Camp 101 to mass-produce products that the New Alliance did not have before. For another example, maybe they will open a new NPC store here and exchange resources with us for high-tech products.”
Canyon Fugitive Mole: “So that means, Camp 101 is not a map for players?”
Fang Chang: “You can say that, mainly because this map doesn’t even have a store.”
Ye Shi: “Brother Fang Chang is quite disappointed. There’s not even a bar with less and less clothes here. (Funny)”
Fang Chang: “Get lost, when the hell did I go to that kind of bar?”
Makabazi: “Hahahaha! Exposed , brother!”
Teng Teng: “You guys are so dirty. |ω`)”
Canyon Escaping Mole: “Where are the missions? Don’t interrupt! Are there any missions
in the new map?” Fang Chang: “I didn’t see it. The VM signal is very poor here… and it’s impossible to trigger missions on the newly unlocked maps, right?”
Kuangfeng: “But to be honest, the cultural level of the people here is really not ordinary. They even have their own schools. I took a curious look and found that they teach advanced mathematics.”
Garbage Picker Level 99: “Fuck?! There is even a university?”
Ye Shi: “Pfft, you are too boring.”
Kuangfeng: “No, just curious… and what surprised me even more is that the students in the classroom are relatively young. Generally, unless they are special talents, we don’t recommend contacting too professional content too early.”
Ya Ya: “Young… how young is it? 0.0”
Kuangfeng: “About 12 years old.”
Ye Shi: “What the hell!?”
Professor Yang, the King of Lightning: “Awesome!”
Lao Bai: “Twelve years old… I have forgotten whether I was in the first grade or the sixth grade at that time. (Laughing and crying)”
Irena: “Learning advanced mathematics at the age of 12, what should I learn at the age of 16? Building rockets? (Funny)”
Elf King Fugui: “If I give them advanced mathematics homework, does it count as freeloading the developer’s computing power? (Funny)”
Ye Shi: “Hello SAO. (Funny)”
Yaer I want to go to the toilet: “6666! @Ward Foot Qi Who Levin Hahaha, the thesis is settled!”
A group of engineering and science players called it an insider.
There are also cloud players in the mathematics department who said that there is no need to let the middlemen make a profit from the price difference, just post the homework on the forum, one silver coin per question, the price is fair, and no one is cheated.
When they have enough silver coins, they plan to upload the thesis topic to the game and let the NPC “write it for them” directly.
After scrolling to the bottom of the post, Chu Guang couldn’t help but sigh that his little players were really talented. They could even think of asking NPCs to help write homework and papers.
Look at your little achievements. You are so restrained
even in your dreams. If there is such an awesome game, why would you write papers for others? Wouldn’t it be better to just copy the solid hydrogen technology back?
However, it can be seen that the governments of various countries have not disclosed the “real identity” of the operators of “Wasteland OL” and even intentionally concealed relevant clues.
After all, announcing such an incredible thing as “extraterrestrial civilization” has no benefit except causing unnecessary panic, but may stimulate some unknown existence.
However, the cautious attitude of official agencies of various countries has helped Chu Guang a lot.
Even if there are people on the forum who keep telling “ghost stories” that are extremely scary, such as “Wasteland OL” is actually a real world, everyone just laughs when they hear it, and doesn’t take it seriously at all.
What about double-slit interference experiments and measuring the gravitational constant? These are experiments that anyone can do and are too simple. Slightly more complicated experiments are at most unpopular.
Not to mention that “Wasteland OL” stated in the “Publicity” that this game is based on the dream system and is constructed by the player’s subconscious and cognition.
Everything the player sees in the game is what the player subconsciously thinks he can see.
Logically speaking, the person in the box can imagine the world outside the box, but it is impossible to use the rules in the box to prove that the world outside the box exists.
The only way to prove that the world outside the box exists is to open the box.
Of course, Chu Guang will not do this.
Whether it is the first-hand truth or the second-hand truth, knowing too much is not a good thing.
But when the situation permits, he will try to open the second-hand truth and use a relatively gentle way to help his players get more benefits in reality.
This is not just money and honor.
It can even be status.
After turning the post from the beginning, Chu Guang thought for a while and made a judgment.
”… Mr. Fang’s suggestion makes sense. The social situation in Camp 101 is closer to a miniature utopia, and communication with it should be conducted in a more official form.”
”But it’s not just about introducing technical workers, but also introducing as many educational talents as possible.”
Combining the “investigation reports” of Lv Bei and Mr. Fang, the New Alliance’s investigation of Camp 101 is already very comprehensive.
The only thing that confuses Chu Guang is how this “small and beautiful” utopian society actually exists in the wasteland.
But that’s not the point.
The point is that there are many technologies worth introducing there, which is exactly what the New Alliance needs.
Chu Guang said as his index finger swiped across the VM screen.
”Xiao Qi, help me sort out the clues on the memo and update the information about Camp 101 in the official website database.”
”Okay, Master!” Xiao Qi’s energetic answer came to my ears.
Chu Guang nodded, glanced at the time, and saw that it was almost 8 o’clock, so he continued.
”By the way, there is also the settlement of the expansion pack. Have you finished it?”
”Uh…”
The energetic voice suddenly became a little subtle.
”Xiao Qi has finished it… But Master, are you sure this is really okay?”
Chu Guang was slightly stunned.
”What do you mean…”
Xiao Qi did not answer, and silently sent the settlement form.
Seeing the eye-catching string of numbers on the form, Chu Guang almost choked on his own saliva.
”One hundred million?! Are you sure you didn’t count an extra zero?!”
Xiao Qi said aggrievedly.
”How is it possible… And Master, the reward settlement of the previous battles also includes points. This war has lasted for so long, and the average score of players is almost up to 40,000…”
Chu Guang said anxiously.
”That’s only…”
He suddenly stopped talking halfway through.
This battle has been fought for two months, and new players join the pit every day. The number of players is no longer the initial 1,600.
Now the number of players in the server is close to 3,000 .
And not only front-line players can get points, but players engaged in production work in the rear also get points.
A line of words popped up on the screen.
【QAQ】
Chu Guang: “…”
Xiao Qi whispered: “How about… diluting the reward pool?”
According to past practice, the value of each point is 0.05 silver coins.
100 points are used to draw a prize. Some people can get an exoskeleton worth 2,000 silver coins, while others can only get a discount coupon or a lollipop.
If the total number of points is 100 million, in order to ensure the explosion rate, the total cost of the reward pool must be guaranteed to be 5 million silver coins.
Below this number, the explosion rate will be diluted.
Originally, in Chu Guang’s expectation, the total points issued at the end of this expansion should be around 20 million, and the cost of the reward pool can be controlled at 1 million silver coins.
Unexpectedly, it has increased fivefold.
”I neglected it… This battle is too expensive.” Chu Guang looked at a face full of laughter and tears. He opened the system interface and took a look at the points he had saved.
From the end of the last wave to now, except for occasionally drawing a primary or intermediate blind box, most of his points have been left unused, and he has only saved about 1,500 points so far.
15 premium blind boxes…
I originally wanted to save up 20 to draw together, but now it seems that I can’t save them.
I hope I can get something good.
Otherwise, he has to find a way to get leeks again…
…
At the same time, in the management center of Camp 101, the air purifier made a humming sound.
The gray-haired old man sat on a chair, his eyes slightly closed and fell into deep thought, as if he was asleep.
His name is Horn, and he is the mayor of Camp 101. He is responsible for all matters in the camp and the appointment of various affairs officers.
Half an hour ago, the representatives sent by the New Alliance invited them to visit the settlement.
Camp 101 does not have an affairs officer specifically responsible for foreign affairs. The biggest force they encountered before was the Bone Chewing Tribe.
As for survivor communities with dozens or hundreds of people like the “Good Weather Cooperative” and “Happy Home”, they don’t need to deliberately contact each other.
The tradition of Camp 101 is to let experts take charge of specific issues. However, what bothers Horn is that he can’t find anyone to discuss this issue with, so he can only call all the affairs officers over.
Slowly opening his eyes, he looked around at the many officers present.
”What do you think?”
Seeing the mayor looking at him, the education officer hesitated for a moment and answered in an uncertain tone.
”He’s a very polite child.”
This statement was recognized by many people.
Although the four bodyguards were a little curious and even accidentally broke into their classroom, the representative Lu Bei was indeed very polite.
This was also the most confusing thing for them.
Those who looked most like residents of the shelter were behaving beyond their common sense.
Horn sighed softly.
”I’m not asking you about your evaluation of that child. What I want to ask is what you think of the New Alliance.”
The security officer thought for a while and said.
”They are very powerful. It only took two months to end this war.”
When the war was going on outside, Camp 101 was not completely unaware. They had been secretly spying on the screen.
Including using cameras installed on the surface and releasing short-range drones.
The weapons of the New Alliance were not very technologically advanced, but they were sufficient in number.
The overwhelming firepower and continuous air strikes helped them win the war.
If he were asked to comment, he would have only one opinion.
This survivor is very powerful!
The production affairs officer whispered: “…but they use child labor, that child should be a soldier.”
The education affairs officer: “Most of the survivors outside are like this. After all, their average life expectancy is only 35 years old. We can’t ask them to be like us and take up key positions after the age of 40.”
Tris, who was standing aside, suddenly said: “Maybe the other party just sent a young man here to express goodwill.”
Although he is not an affairs officer, as a “gatekeeper”, his status in Camp 101 is not low.
That Lu Bei gave him a good first impression.
Generally, the awakened people in the wasteland would like to jump their noses to the sky, but the young man was very polite.
The other party did not send an aggressive representative to show them hegemony, which at least shows that they have the idea of getting along in a friendly manner.
This sentence was recognized by many people present.
”I think we should go to their settlements, not just in Dawn City, but also to their capital… the place called Dawn City.”
”Indeed, it would be best if we could meet their administrators. Shelters are different from each other…”
Horn said after thinking for a long time.
”I think so too. We can’t be isolated from the world forever, and we can’t hide underground forever… Besides, they have expanded their territory to our doorstep.”
Everyone whispered.
At this time, the Education Affairs Officer spoke.
”But the question is… who should we send?”
Horn thought for a moment and said slowly.
”They sent a child here, so we should send one too.”
The Security Affairs Officer hesitated, “Is this… too dangerous?”
”Of course, it’s impossible to send only one person for this kind of thing. Industry, economy, population… we have too little information, and there are too many things to investigate.” The
Production Affairs Officer nodded.
”My suggestion is that we should send at least two or three experts.”
The Security Affairs Officer frowned.
”But what about safety? There are more dangers outside than just predators… Don’t forget how much we paid to collect samples from the nearby forest.”
There are not enough people…
Horn leaned back in his chair, thinking for a long time, and made a decision.
”I will ask my master to arrange a bodyguard for him.”
(End of this chapter)
