Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi couldn't intervene in the competition among the timekeepers and could only wait patiently while ensuring logistical support.

After waiting for two days without any response from Rolex, he received an unexpected message.

The tablet displayed [Sandsea Duke requests a call].

Zhou Yi tapped to answer.

The other party's voice immediately came from the speaker: "Mr. Zhou, there's a situation here. The representative of Drowning Duke, Land Official Ringo, has arrived in Sandport City and wishes to visit you."

Ringo?

Zhou Yi remembered this water octopus from the Wuhu overpass memory; it was also a high-level figure in the Shuanghe region.

Coming proactively during the war, it was clear that the combined A-level lineup of the Spotlight and Bone Man had put pressure on them.

"Let it come."

"Understood, I'll send it over right away."

About half an hour later, a reinforced vehicle parked outside the Emerald City's gate.

Sandsea Duke led a visitor in a black robe to 3101.

It waved its claw to indicate: "Mr. Zhou, this is Ringo."

Under the black robe was a mechanical body, a spherical metal head with a pair of electronic eyes, and eight long, foldable metal legs, resembling a mechanical octopus.

"Hello, Chairman Zhou, please excuse my intrusion."

Ringo bowed slightly.

Zhou Yi nodded and said, "Please sit down. It seems you've sent a part of your machine over here."

"Yes."

Ringo sat on the nearby chair: "This is my first time in the Sandport region. Unlike the information I had, the place has a completely new look. Of course, this is due to Sandsea Duke's efforts, but mainly because your arrival has brought about tremendous changes in a short period of time."

Sandsea Duke very tactfully said, "Then I'll wait outside; you can chat."

After saying that, it left the room.

Zhou Yi looked at the mechanical octopus: "I still have a lot to deal with here, so let's make it short. Why are you here?"

"I am also here on behalf of the Shuanghe region. Your company's strength is something we have truly understood."

Ringo said, "If my judgment is correct, the two A-level beings that attacked the Shuanghe region should both be related to you, right?"

Zhou Yi sat on the sofa and crossed his legs: "Correct, they are both employees of my company."

The mechanical octopus's electronic eyes flickered: "Although your military force is strong, you cannot penetrate the Shuanghe region with just two high-end combatants. Otherwise, the Seamaster group would have been conquered and annihilated by the Heavenly Kingdom long ago, because no one's high-end combat power can compare to the Heavenly Kingdom."

Zhou Yi couldn't help but become interested: "I'd like to hear the details."

The other party said: "The strength of an A-level life is beyond doubt; the gap cannot be bridged by B-levels relying on numbers. However, there is no absolutely invincible ability in the world; every ability has its limitations, or rather, flaws."

"For example, the Spotlight you sent has powerful penetration abilities."

"But if we deploy smoke interference, covering the area by drawing on the light fog from the Dead Sea, we can effectively weaken the Spotlight's lethality and interfere with its aiming."

"This is an effective countermeasure that has been tested in actual combat."

Zhou Yi listened quietly.

"Your company's other A-level life has the ability of sand or dust."

Ringo said, "Whether it's sand or dust, there are a lot of data and experimental records. To deal with this ever-changing ability, you need to configure corresponding isolation suits to prevent sand and dust from entering the body."

"In addition, water can also greatly block and increase the consumption of this elemental ability; water is the element that restrains it. Coincidentally, our commander-in-chief, General Bai Xing's ability is related to water, and she is also an A-level."

The mechanical octopus paused.

Zhou Yi said unhurriedly: "I understand what you mean. You have methods to deal with our company's two employees."

"Yes. A-level lives have a more important mission than war; please do not waste our core strengths on this, as it would be a loss for both sides."

Zhou Yi smiled: "Thank you for the reminder, but I personally believe in practice more than theory; actual combat will give a more accurate answer."

"..."

The other party was stunned for a moment, then sighed: "Mr. Zhou is indeed as difficult to deal with as the rumors say."

"Is that so? People who know me say I'm very easy to get along with."

Zhou Yi's tone was relaxed.

He didn't think the other party was bluffing.

Ringo was partly right.

Although A-level lives are at the top of the inner sea, it doesn't mean they are invincible. Abilities have restraints, which Zhou Yi believed.

Just like Jiong He Cang has extremely strong lethality but has difficulty destroying Wu Yi's sand body.

However, Zhou Yi's requirements were not high.

Even if it couldn't be decided with one strike, putting pressure on the Shuanghe region and increasing local economic consumption would also be beneficial to the honor war.

"Mr. Zhou, we acknowledge your company's strong strength, so I came here with General Bai Xing's permission, hoping to reach some new consensus and agreements with you."

The mechanical octopus said, "We are willing to make the greatest possible concessions."

"As long as Beishell City and its surrounding areas are all划归(assigned to)the Shuanghe region, this honor war can be ended."

Zhou Yi was amused.

The solution proposed by the other party was actually ceding territory, and they thought they were giving a great discount.

How arrogant.

"Then there's nothing to talk about."

Zhou Yi said coldly: "Let's continue fighting; we are not afraid of fighting."

"What a pity."

The mechanical octopus said again: "Then can we exchange prisoners?"

"We have captured two of your Northern Ocean Corps soldiers, and you have captured one of our mutants. We hope to do a prisoner exchange."

Zhou Yi became alert.

Ceding territory to stop the war was more like a feint.

Bei Du Gong captured a mutant alive, which is how they learned about the mechanism of the parasitic colony in the brain of this unit.

It seems that this mutant is of high value.

"The matter of exchanging prisoners can be discussed after the war is over," Zhou Yi refused outright.

The mechanical octopus seemed to have expected this: "Alright then."

"The above is about the honor war part of the mission. Next, I will represent Lord Drowning Duke and hope to discuss something else with you."

"Oh? Please speak."

Ringo said: "Since you have A-level combat power, I wonder if you have any plans to develop other areas? I mean, the outer sea or... interdimensional travel?"

"The outer sea is currently plagued by atmospheric creatures, but it is also a good opportunity. If several Skywalkers can travel in groups, safety is still guaranteed. Many areas have had their flow changed by atmospheric creatures, and some areas that could not be developed can now be explored."

"Regarding interdimensional travel, we hold a high-quality advanced dark domain that can safely cross dimensions through the passage. It is currently being used by General Bai Xing."

"If your company is interested, we are willing to share it with you, and we can discuss the specific conditions."

Zhou Yi felt a bit surreal for a moment.

The two sides were still at war.

From winter until now, two months, hundreds of people have died on the front lines, but Ringo came to talk about high-level cooperation.

Zhou Yi said: "We are still in the war stage; it's not appropriate to talk about these things, right?"

"Not appropriate?"

The other party seemed a bit puzzled: "But this shouldn't affect anything, right? Isn't the core of the war the struggle between us for the right to rule over land and civilians?"

"But no matter which side wins, it has no impact on our superiors; it is just an increase or decrease in existing bargaining chips."

"A-level lives themselves are on another level. Even if this area or the Shuanghe region is destroyed by natural disasters, A-level lives will still exist."

"The war game between your company and ours is over, and no matter who wins, our fundamental strength remains. We are the players behind the scenes, aren't we?"

"It's just a matter of changing to another place and starting over. The ultimate goal of the strong is above the outer sea, and even to travel beyond the world... We have no conflict in this regard."

Zhou Yi understood a bit at this point.

This was a difference in common sense.

He believed that a region was a community of interest from top to bottom.

In the wasteland era, different classes belonged to the same camp; having an A-level life meant belonging to the ruling class.

In the eyes of the governor or Seamaster, the lower-level civilians were not their own people, but merely labor and tools to create wealth for themselves.

There was no concept of nation or ethnic subject here.

So Ringo didn't care about the war at all.

Before, Sandsea Duke spoke of running away very naturally.

After Zhou Yi understood this, he came back to his senses.

From this perspective, it was really not easy to give birth to a Heavenly Kingdom.

Compared to these Seamasters, the Black Emperor was indeed ambitious and principled.

Zhou Yi directly refused: "The matter of cooperation can be discussed after the war is over."

Although the mechanical octopus didn't understand, it was still very polite: "In that case, I apologize for the intrusion. Thank you very much for being willing to take the time to meet."

"Then I'll take my leave; I wish you a pleasant life."

The mechanical octopus was sent away by Sandsea Duke.

...

This visit by Land Official Ringo touched Zhou Yi.

From a bad perspective, even Skywalkers find it difficult to break the current wasteland order. As strong as the Heavenly Kingdom was, it ultimately compromised, using the governor system to reduce regional conflicts and contradictions.

But from a good perspective, the wasteland's characteristic method of governance makes it difficult for civilians in various places to have any sense of belonging. So they go wherever it's good, and being captured or defecting is a very natural thing.

As long as the Sandport region continues to develop and grow, it will be very smooth to absorb external immigrants.

The outer sea is not being considered at the moment.

There is a dark domain here, though.

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

It might be a good idea to let two A-level employees explore the Dead Apostle world.