Chapter 18: Encountering a Level 1 Evolver, Checking the Mission

After receiving their identification cards and information booklets, the trainees went their separate ways. Zhang Ran remained in the hall, opening the booklet in his hands and turning to the first page, where a map of the base’s restricted areas was displayed.

“Chip, scan the map in front of me and, based on the results, generate a three-dimensional simulation map!”

As he studied the map, Zhang Ran memorized its details while issuing commands to the chip in his mind.

“Ding! Task being established...”

“Ding! Task complete! A three-dimensional simulation map of the area within thirty kilometers of the Forward Base has been created. Would you like to view it?”

Mere seconds after Zhang Ran’s command, the chip’s prompt sounded again.

“Of course, show me!”

With Zhang Ran’s words, a silver stream of data flashed before his eyes, and a three-dimensional map materialized in front of him. This map, rendered in red, blue, and green, represented danger zones, safe areas, and resource points, respectively.

Compared to the flat map in the booklet, the three-dimensional map created by the chip was far more intuitive. Not only that, but once the map was constructed, the chip could provide intelligent navigation, plotting the fastest and safest routes—an invaluable advantage.

Of course, since the information in the booklet was limited, the chip’s simulated map was quite basic. However, as Zhang Ran explored each area, the chip could use his senses to enrich the sections he visited, gradually building a more accurate and detailed map.

Having completed the simulated map, Zhang Ran flipped to the latter pages of the booklet, which listed the base’s purchase prices for various resources, including materials from mutated beasts, medicinal herbs from the wilderness, and relics from the ruins of the old era.

For mutated beasts, the purchase price for level-zero prey typically ranged from a few to several dozen Black Hawk coins. For example, the rabid ground rat Zhang Ran had killed before was priced at three Black Hawk coins per head, while stronger beasts like the Corpse Wolf could fetch twenty Black Hawk coins or more. Rare level-zero creatures could even be sold for hundreds of Black Hawk coins apiece.

In contrast, relics from the old era commanded much higher prices. Whether worn-out electronics, books, or seemingly trivial ornaments, all could be exchanged for a handsome sum. If one were lucky enough to find precious jewelry, it could fetch tens of thousands of Black Hawk coins.

As for the cost of living within the base, it was equally exorbitant: a single night’s lodging cost fifty Black Hawk coins, one bullet was priced at twenty, and an ordinary meal was ten Black Hawk coins. Those who wished to dine lavishly could easily spend over a hundred coins in one sitting.

It was precisely because of these high expenses that most members of the base chose to live in the wilderness, only returning to the base briefly to sell materials and replenish supplies, taking the opportunity to relax and rest.

After recording all the information from the booklet into his chip, Zhang Ran made his way to the mission hall—a spacious area furnished with steel benches, where many base members sat resting, waiting for new assignments to be posted.

At the front of the mission hall stood a wooden counter staffed by three attendants—one man and two women. In front of them, several men bearing visible injuries waited.

“These are the materials from our mission. Please appraise them.”

A sturdy man, roughly one meter eighty-five tall, his back marked with deep cuts and traces of blood still on his body, hefted a burlap sack onto the counter.

“Very well... A total of fifteen scythe mantis materials, valued at fifteen hundred Black Hawk coins, plus a mission bonus of one thousand. That’s twenty-five hundred Black Hawk coins altogether, and you’ll also receive two hundred and fifty contribution points. Here’s your reward.”

The male attendant opened the bag and counted the mutated materials. Then, a female attendant took out twenty-five golden coins and placed them on the counter.

These coins, issued by the Black Hawk Corporation, had a face value of one hundred Black Hawk coins each. There were also silver and bronze coins, worth ten and one coin respectively. Coins were used instead of banknotes because paper currency was easy to counterfeit, while minting coins required specialized equipment, making forgery significantly more difficult.

“Scythe mantis! To have slain such powerful creatures—he must be a true Evolver! Chip, assess his strength!”

Watching the man from a distance, Zhang Ran couldn’t help but marvel. The scythe mantis was rated at 0.9 on the hunting scale, the most formidable of all level-zero creatures, with stats reaching 2.5—well beyond the human limit. Even a level-one Evolver would struggle against them, and for someone to have killed fifteen such beasts, they were certainly not ordinary.

“Analyzing... Analysis complete!”

“Name: Unknown
Strength: Level-one Evolver
Age: 11
Power: 3.6
Constitution: 3.4
Agility: 3.2
Spirit: 3.0”

Three seconds later, the man’s attributes appeared before Zhang Ran’s eyes. As expected, he was a level-one Evolver.

For ordinary people, the upper limit of physical stats was two points. After advancing to an Evolver, one could break through human limitations and push all attributes above three. With each further advancement, stats increased by two points. Judging by his attributes, the man before Zhang Ran was a genuine level-one Evolver.

“Evolvers are truly formidable. I hope I can become one soon!”

Staring at the man whose attributes were nearly twice his own, and recalling all the extraordinary abilities Evolvers possessed, Zhang Ran’s eyes burned with longing. His desire to advance grew ever stronger.

“Excuse me, is there a mission list available?”

Seeing the level-one Evolver collect his reward and lead his team away, Zhang Ran approached the counter and addressed one of the attendants.

“Certainly. Here you are, but please be careful not to damage it, or you’ll have to compensate us.”

With a professional smile, the female attendant handed Zhang Ran a mission book.

“Explore city ruins, guard resource points, eliminate shadow spiders... Surely not? Are all these missions meant for Evolvers?”

As he skimmed through the mission book, Zhang Ran couldn’t help but frown.