Chapter Thirty-Two: Forward!
Getting stronger really does make a difference. Last night, I drank myself into a stupor, and today I feel as if nothing happened at all.
Everyone threw themselves into their work with renewed enthusiasm.
With the farm expanded, Wang Xiao used the remaining materials to upgrade the other two farm plots to level three.
Life Support is now the busiest department; aside from Logistics, Research, and Combat, all other departments have sent people to help.
The Research Department is currently working on a battle suit designed to protect vital areas as much as possible. The prototype for this suit was equipment obtained from a treasure chest. If their research succeeds, Infinite City’s combat strength will be greatly enhanced. The main materials for making the suit come from the spoils gathered by the Combat Department.
Wang Xiao is planning to establish a Diplomatic Department soon, currently considering Xia Mengsi’s team for the role. Her department will be split into two branches: the open branch for diplomacy and the covert branch, which is the former Shadow Department, still handling their previous affairs.
Diplomacy is far more important than it appears on the surface. Beyond interacting with outsiders, they’ll also be responsible for trade.
Infinite City’s food supplies will only continue to grow, an enormous advantage they can use to trade with others.
Most new cities are currently short on food; in their rush for population, they failed to consider whether their resources would suffice. Now, they’re buying up food in bulk through the trading channel. Vegetable prices remain sky-high.
...
“Come on, everyone, don’t let Infinite City catch up to us!”
Wang Xiao called out before plunging back into the mist. The others responded loudly, moving forward in squads of five.
So far, they had already cleared a vast area of mist, leaving open ground fully exposed.
Turning his head, Wang Xiao could see Little Bone. Despite its massive size, it was not slow at all. Now Little Bone’s body towered above the mist; those inside Infinite City felt as if they stood among the clouds.
If only this world had sunlight, it would surely be beautiful.
...
Thunder rumbled across the sky, and darkness slowly descended. A heavy rain was about to fall.
Another clap of thunder rolled in, making Wang Xiao halt his advance.
“Let’s go, time to head back—it’s going to rain hard!”
Wang Xiao notified each squad leader to gather their people and return. Once everyone was accounted for, they began the journey home.
With Little Bone always following behind, Wang Xiao and his group quickly made it back to Infinite City.
Others working outdoors also began packing up, preparing to return.
---
The rain arrived on schedule, drumming against Little Bone’s back and sending up bursts of spray.
After a quick test, it was clear this was just ordinary rainwater with no corrosive properties.
People in Infinite City rushed out to greet the rain, shouting and running through the downpour.
Wang Xiao had Little Bone dig a pit at one spot, and the rainwater ran down the slope into it. Before long, the pit had collected a fair amount of water. Perhaps it wouldn’t be suitable for drinking, but it could serve other purposes.
“City Lord, someone has something to report.”
A member of the Combat Department appeared at Wang Xiao’s residence, looking solemn.
Wang Xiao was momentarily surprised, then clapped him on the shoulder. “No need to be so stiff; you look far too serious.”
The man grinned. “Haha, I just wanted to give it a try.”
Wang Xiao shot him a look. “Well? What is it?”
“She said she wants to tell you herself.”
“All right, send her in.”
A short while later, the messenger returned with a girl who looked to be in her early twenties.
Her name was Ma Si—one of the administrators from the group chat, now a member of the Shadow Department, responsible for divination each day.
“Hello, City Lord Wang!” She smiled playfully.
“Go ahead, what is it?”
She grew serious. “There’s a sign of life fifty kilometers from us.”
Wang Xiao was curious. “How do you know?”
A stack of cards appeared in her hand. “With these.”
After her explanation, Wang Xiao understood. She could use these cards to divine certain things. Though she was only at tier two and not especially powerful, her abilities with the cards often let her escape danger. So this divination was likely accurate.
Wang Xiao was still debating whether to proceed in that direction when Ma Si interrupted his thoughts.
“I also divined that this time is auspicious.”
“Oh?”
“Generally, an auspicious reading means something good is about to happen, so there’s no need to avoid it.”
“Understood.”
As Ma Si was about to leave, Wang Xiao called out to her.
“Have you considered joining the Combat Department?”
Indeed, Wang Xiao was hoping to recruit her—talent like hers was rare.
Ma Si smiled. “I’m currently the deputy head of the Shadow Department. Sister Xia treats me very well, so…”
Wang Xiao waved her off. “All right, off you go.”
The Combat Department member beside them looked disappointed. “I thought our department was about to get another woman.”
---
Wang Xiao agreed with him, but the next thing out of his mouth made Wang Xiao want to hit him.
“It’s just that our City Lord Wang isn’t charismatic enough.”
Was that something to say, especially with me standing right here?
Wang Xiao flicked him hard on the head. “Watch your mouth, or I’ll make things difficult for you.”
“Hehe, I forgot you were still here.”
Wang Xiao turned away, heading off to see what Ji Weijie was up to.
On the way, everyone greeted him warmly, and Wang Xiao returned each greeting.
“Baldy, what are you all researching over here?”
Ji Weijie and the other Research Department members were busy assembling an array of strange-looking parts. Whatever they were working on, Wang Xiao couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
“Do you know Gundams?”
“Gundams?”
“That’s right! We’re trying to build a robot like a Gundam.”
“Have you succeeded?”
“No.”
Wang Xiao was speechless. Why look so proud when you haven’t even succeeded?
“How many souls are left?”
These days, all the souls everyone in Infinite City earned were handed over to the Research Department so they could buy the materials they needed.
Ji Weijie looked sheepish. “Well, not many left.”
“How many, exactly?”
“Less than three hundred thousand.”
“Be precise!”
“Three thousand…”
Wang Xiao grabbed Ji Weijie. “You bald scoundrel, I gave you well over a million souls!”
Ji Weijie looked embarrassed, especially with the other researchers watching.
Catching their glances, Wang Xiao decided to give him some face.
“Forget it, keep working. I’ll transfer more souls to you later.”
Ji Weijie breathed a sigh of relief, but when he saw the others stifling their laughter, he was instantly annoyed.
“What are you looking at? Didn’t you hear me? Get back to work!”
The others quickly averted their gazes and returned to their tasks.