Wasteland Development Diary

As soon as the Red Kestrel moved away, it was no longer possible to transmit real-time images or even sound, only text messages could be received.

During some downtime, Zhou Yi held the company's first self-service barbecue team building event.

The location was outdoors, surrounding a bonfire, with stainless steel platters on the table loaded with chunks of meat, which were the wild sheep hunted by the samurai crabs.

Originally, Zhou Yi wanted to bring out seasoning bottles such as cumin, chili powder, and barbecue sauce, but he wasn't sure if these aged food products carried any side effects.

He wasn't afraid himself; his body had little difference from that of the Guangna Species.

But the two employees were humans with normal digestive systems.

Safety came first.

However, because the meat was fresh, it was delicious even with just a sprinkle of salt.

Ajin indulged heartily, grilling and eating voraciously, exemplifying letting loose. Next to him, Gong Zheng tried to maintain decorum, choosing small, slow bites, yet he kept stuffing one piece of meat after another into his mouth.

"Today is the company's first communal meal, and also your welcome party."

Zhou Yi handed them each a travel pack, "An employment welcome pack, take a look inside."

Ajin used his clothing to wipe the grease from his hands, and he turned the pack over and over, not knowing how to open it. It was Gong Zheng who had seen more of the world, figuring out how to unzip it, and thus revealing the contents.

"This clothing is quite impressive."

Ajin pulled out a black windbreaker from inside, trying it on and looking it over from all angles, his face full of satisfaction.

Both gift packs contained a windbreaker jacket, a pair of sports pants, a sports water bottle, a hat, a set of underwear and socks, two pairs of socks, a pair of sports shoes, two towels, and an umbrella.

The difference was, Ajin had an extra pair of work gloves, and Gong Zheng had an extra set of quad canes.

Dressed in the full outfit, aside from their hair and faces which were a bit dirty, they looked no different from the people of their own era.

"These shoes, completely stone-proof, don't hurt the feet at all!"

"They really look impressive."

Ajin walked back and forth, unable to stop smiling.

Gong Zheng, on the other hand, had a solemn expression, "These things couldn't be made by the cities... they are all divine relics sealed within the Dead Sea."

"Such precious items, I am deeply grateful."

The Alchemist Apprentice hurriedly bowed.

Seeing this, Ajin quickly followed suit with a bow, "Thank you, Chairman!"

Zhou Yi stated, "Eat meat."

With that, the meal officially resumed.

Zhou Yi questioned about the raider group.

They had indeed killed a trio last time, but it was best to find out whose territory Mao Valley Town belonged to. The Wasteland Development Company was setting up here, and sooner or later, there would be interactions with the local powers.

Gong Zheng put down the skewer in his hand, speaking seriously, "Chairman, the raiders always come from the west, and only Chicken Head Town to the west is a place where they can settle. But to commute between Chicken Head Town and Mao Valley Town, one must pass through Death Dune in between. We lack the necessary tools on our side to get through, so we can only wait for the traders from Chicken Head Town to come over."

"The Antlions, though vicious, have a great fear of birds. People from Chicken Head Town pave their way with chicken feathers, chicken blood, and chicken bones, which deters them from attacking and keeps the Antlions cautious. But we can't do that on our end."

"So when the traders come over from there, they undercut the prices, and we can only sell the things we find to them or trade mushrooms at a high price for burlap, gloves, and some metal tools. The items we sell to the town are usually second-hand and already damaged."

"This raider group, if they're not wandering to plunder, are generally backed by some power."

He sat on a rock, his expression revealing memories, "When I was an Alchemist Apprentice, I heard from other apprentices. It's an open secret that cities are fostering raiders. Cities compete with each other through trade economics, technological knowledge, and ideological output. On the surface, things may seem calm, but there is always the intention to swallow up competitors."

"Within a city, they compete in economic capacity, living environment, and the attractiveness to enhancers, whereas outside the city, it's all about combat mobilization capabilities. Raiders affiliated with different cities usually loom around and raid other cities, striking at competitors and reaping lucrative profits."

"As for the raiders here."

Gong Zheng brought the topic back, "I'm not sure how many people they have, but I can confirm there are enhancers. Many residents in town have seen raiders lurking in the Mushroom Forest. They have sealed off the area, and there are knights riding monsters patrolling around."

Zhou Yi recalled the thoughts of the Alchemist he had previously dealt with.

——Just at this time…

The raiders' presence in Mao Valley Town seemed to have a hidden purpose.

"The Mushroom Forest… Mr. Chairman, I did hear something from my father."

The youth, Ajin, who had been listening in and eating meat, joined the discussion, "My father said that an elder once saw a miracle in the Mushroom Forest. An elder saw a giant that couldn't stand up."

"He said that the giant was incredibly tall and strong, like a sand dune. The giant might have been injured, or had broken legs or something… It tried to get up but couldn't stand straight."

"It was like a person trying to prop themselves up, but in the end, couldn't and had to lie back down."

"However, he told me not to talk about it to anyone, to avoid trouble."

Zhou Yi asked further, "Are there any other rumors about this giant?"

Ajin shook his head.

It seemed the lead had been cut off.

Silence ensued for a while.

Gong Zheng spoke up again, "Although I don't know about this giant, I am aware of the giant mushrooms in the Mushroom Forest."

"These giant mushroom species require a long time to grow and are one of the ingredients Alchemists collect for their toxins."

"This type of large mushroom is constantly squeezing the living space of other plants around it, absorbing a large amount of Dead Light Energy in the vicinity, and has a high energy absorption rate. Living too close to giant mushrooms makes survival difficult."

"But in the southern Mushroom Forest, where there is a large cluster of giant mushrooms, it doesn't affect the growth of Black Hand Mushrooms and explosive mushrooms below at all, which is very strange."

"According to Ajin, an enhancer-led Pillage Group often appears in the Mushroom Forest, and hunting groups have repeatedly tried to enter…"

Gong Zheng paused for a moment, then said earnestly, "Mr. Chairman, allow me to make a bold conjecture. The various Guangna mushroom species led by the giant mushrooms may be parasitizing on that giant, constantly draining its energy, causing the already damaged giant to struggle, and now it's completely unable to move."

"That giant might still be under the Mushroom Forest's surface, further drained by the mushrooms."

Gong Zheng looked serious, "If this 'unable to stand' giant exists, and can sustain and grow so many mushroom communities by itself, its strength is at least C-grade. A lifeform of this level has the ability to destroy a city. If you plan to go there for an investigation and excavation, please be extremely careful."

Zhou Yi looked again at the Alchemist Apprentice.

Wasteland Era's material conditions were harsh, but there were still those of brilliant intellect.

They were just limited by their living environment and perspective.

Zhou Yi said, "This hypothesis is very valuable, I've taken note of it."

However.

The urgent task at hand was to get the farm up and running. The Mushroom Forest would have to be dealt with sooner or later, but it would have to be scheduled for later.

Zhou Yi recorded a new goal in his journal.

——Survey the Mushroom Forest, find the giant.