Wasteland Development Diary

The invention of the 'Desperate Machine' stemmed from a simple reason and a bit of luck.

However, Wang Tai's experience made Zhou Yi realize that the difficulties faced by New Humans weren't just due to the unique natural environment, but also because this group was considered lower-class citizens in every city.

As long as New Humans couldn't match the productivity of Photon Humans, they would remain cheap labor, reduced to mere population numbers in the eyes of the territory lords.

To fundamentally change the status of New Humans in the wasteland era, they had to stand up for themselves, demonstrating value and abilities equal to Photon Humans.

This would take time.

However, within the Wasteland Development Company, Qin Mo and Qin Shu, the father and son who concocted Emerald Soup, and Wang Tai, who created the Desperate Machine, had already set a good example.

Zhou Yi also noticed an interesting phenomenon.

Whether it was Qin Mo and his son or Wang Tai, after receiving large bonuses, they didn't start enjoying life.

Instead, they became more earnestly invested in their respective endeavors.

What supported their continued progress was no longer solving the problem of basic needs but their identity and sense of honor as inventors.

This was enough to illustrate that the environment and positive incentives had a strong stimulating effect on New Humans.

Red Falcon commented, "The most special thing about humans is their imagination. They imagine the future and themselves, living in their imaginations. This imagination amplifies their situation; in times of hardship, they become more panicked, and in times of prosperity, they become exceptionally optimistic."

"Their inability to accurately position themselves also makes them full of wavering and prone to imbalance, so territory lords usually use unpredictable fear to rule them."

"You have grasped this point very accurately. You have allowed them to amplify themselves with imagination, giving them more responsibility and a sense of purpose. You have turned them into giants in their own minds, and inventors will hold themselves to the standards of giants."

Zhou Yi said, "I didn't think that much about it. Just as a human, I know what people need."

"Pragmatic and effective."

The drone rarely praised him, and then said, "Da Vinci has completed the enhanced modification of the Weapon Master. The observation period is over, and the patient is in good condition. Would you like to go and see?"

"Let's go take a look."

...

Zhou Yi arrived at Maria Hospital and found a Weapon Master talking to Da Vinci, constantly tapping its carapace with its claws.

The mechanical doctor also gently tapped its shell with a mechanical arm, responding and communicating.

Zhou Yi used mental synchronization to identify it.

It was Xie Fei from the Scavenger Team.

"Hello, Chairman."

Xie Fei hurriedly turned around, "This time I forgot to bring the transceiver for the translator, but luckily the doctor understands our language."

Zhou Yi asked what was wrong.

"It's like this,"

Xie Fei said, "I forgot to bring the medicine I was using, so I came to get some more suppressants, although there wasn't really a problem... but the captain insisted I come back first. I'm very fast now, so I ran all the way back."

Zhou Yi immediately realized, "You implanted 'Propulsion'?"

"Yes, Chairman."

Xie Fei said proudly, "Now I'm the fastest in the Scavenger Team. I'm usually responsible for scouting and relaying messages."

Da Vinci also explained, "The light imprint modification inside Xie Fei's cephalothorax is very successful. To ensure safety and stability, I purchased E-5 grade light imprints for the implantation modification surgery, covering the light-based organs that had not yet fully formed with this structure."

"Unlike humans, their bodies are stronger and more stable, with a good compatibility with light-based organs. The drawback is that, after directional modification, the existing structures they already had will be suppressed by the implanted light imprint. Unless this light imprint is removed, then they will develop again."

Zhou Yi understood.

This was equivalent to an artificial enhancement to replace the existing light-based organs that had not fully developed.

"I feel good,"

Xie Fei said, "With Propulsion, I have speed, and the Scavenger Team needs speed. Although it's an enhanced body, as long as it continues to grow, it will be the same as ordinary light-based organs. I just need to take medicine, and there's no other difference."

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision but a well-thought-out one.

Da Vinci said, "From a doctor's point of view, I don't recommend healthy individuals undergo this type of modification. But if there is a strong personal will, realizing the potential risks, I will not refuse to do this surgery."

"However, if the light-based organs are severely damaged or have strong side effects, using this surgery to reshape and compensate would be an option."

The enhancement surgery for the Weapon Master was itself very successful.

But this direction needs a long time to verify.

Zhou Yi inquired about Xie Fei's condition and learned that it had no discomfort, so he was slightly relieved.

"Has the Scavenger Team been doing well recently?"

As a result, this casual remark made Xie Fei unable to answer.

Zhou Yi's gaze sharpened.

"Speak, what's the situation."

"Chairman... that..."

The Weapon Master trembled a little, "When excavating the southern seabed far from Xiaoshan Town, we encountered some trouble. Xie Gong is missing."

Not long ago, the Scavenger Team passed through Xiaoshan Town and further developed the seabed towards the Chongqing area.

They dug a large hole and found that it was interconnected with various vehicles below.

But the food and drinks here disappeared.

The Scavenger Team quickly identified a local creature, confirming that they were drilling holes everywhere and moving the food and drinks.

"It's this."

Xie Fei stretched out a claw and took out an object from its shell.

This thing looked like a piece of coal, the size of a fist, and was very inconspicuous.

The Weapon Master tapped it with its claw, and the coal shook, with four sharp feet and a sharp short tail drilling out from underneath.

Zhou Yi took the creature and saw that its structure was somewhat like a snail or shellfish, with the shell only for camouflage and protection, with the flesh body inside.

The creature's head was completely hidden in the shell, and it was only waving its claws, trying to escape.

"I also wanted to consult Dr. Da Vinci here, wanting to know what this thing is and whether it is harmful."

Xie Fei said, "I don't know if it has anything to do with Xie Gong's disappearance."

"Coal Shell Bug."

The mechanical doctor quickly judged it, "This is an underground creature from the bottom of the dead sea, and it has no toxins or attack ability itself. They live deep underground and sleep in a petrified state for many years, making them difficult to identify."

Zhou Yi was a little curious.

He had been in the seabed for many years and had never really noticed this little thing.

Perhaps he had seen it, but he probably just recognized it as a stone.

Xie Fei was a little disappointed, "It seems that it is not their reason. This kind of thing has no attack power, it will only run around and dig holes with its claws, it is not harmful to us."

Zhou Yi thought, anyway, he was free now, so he said, "Take me to your excavation site to see."

"Yes, Chairman."

...

After arriving at the destination on the Poseidon, Zhou Yi looked around.

This was a passenger station, and sand buried many passenger cars.

The hole where Xie Gong disappeared was a sewer. The iron manhole cover was gone, and the sewer was very dry, with airflow circulating, seemingly connected to another place.

Captain Xie Xun introduced from the side, "Xie Gong discovered that those Coal Shell Bugs were all running towards here, suspecting that it was their base camp, so he went down to check first. He was tied with a safety rope, but after entering, he didn't know what happened and the rope broke."

It grabbed a broken climbing rope beside it, "It looks like it was cut off at once, so I suspect it was attacked by something."

Zhou Yi looked at the sewer, which was pitch black.

He tried to synchronize his consciousness, but found that he could find Xie Gong's consciousness.

It was still alive.

"Where are you?"

"Chairman, you're here! I'm fighting monsters!"

Ah?

Zhou Yi had a question mark on his face.

"What monster?"

"Bone Fish, there are many Bone Fish here, they suddenly attacked me, making me lose my way. Later I found that they couldn't hit my coir armor and shield at all, so I cleaned them up one by one."

"Hey, wait for me, I'll make up for a knife, this guy is very tenacious!"

A few seconds later.

"Fortunately, I am more skilled... Huff, I was almost injured by it."

"Don't move, I'll come find you."

Zhou Yi entered the sewer.

According to the synchronization of consciousness, he found the place where Xie Gong was.

There were broken bones everywhere, at least dozens of Bone Fish were smashed to pieces, Weapon Master Xie Gong was wearing coir armor, one claw holding a Mao Armor Great Shield, and the other claw holding a long pole nail hammer.

Lying in front of it was a C-level life form Long-Necked Crocodile with its head smashed. This Long-Necked Crocodile was wrapped in a strange silk thread, creating a hazy effect, and its body was in a strange state of suspension.

"Chairman, you are here."

Xie Gong said with lingering fear, "Fortunately, this time I implanted the light imprint 'Blunt Strike', and there is armor, this guy can't bite me to death. It can also fly, it's very difficult to deal with. I hit it, it can't stand it... At first, I was attacked by it and almost thought I was dead."

Zhou Yi was a little dumbfounded.

Everyone was worried that you were dead inside, but you were soloing a dungeon?

But a flying Long-Necked Crocodile was indeed the first time I saw it.

There were also a large number of Coal Shell Bugs around, stacked up and hiding in the corner.

Xie Gong carried the nail hammer and said, "This Long-Necked Crocodile controls the Bone Fish and these bugs, it is running an underground city here."

"But the food was thrown behind it to feed the pets."

It raised its claw and pointed forward.

On the wall behind the Long-Necked Crocodile's body, there was a strange big fish tank, and a fat white worm was raised in it, gobbling up the rice and flour in the fish tank.

Zhou Yi looked at the worm.

Under the [Alert] perspective, it was surrounded by white light, obviously a Photon species.

Red Falcon scanned it, "Unknown species, there is no relevant information in the database."

Zhou Yi suddenly noticed that there were some silk threads floating on the worm's fish tank, which were the silk spit out by this silkworm. He touched it with his hand and found that the silk thread actually brought him into the air.

The Long-Necked Crocodile's flying ability came from the silk spit out by this silkworm.

Zhou Yi's eyes narrowed.

This material with its own flying characteristics is of great value.