frightfiction Chapter 211: Equipment Production Workshop
Chapter 211: Equipment Production Workshop
Rover stood still, gripping the badge so tightly the knuckles of his fingers were white.
A long moment later, he finally breathed out.
"Still the same as before."
Nanoe looked at him.
"Same as what?"
Rover smiled bitterly.
"My parents always liked to throw me a pile of problems, then disappear before I could ask questions."
Even though that’s what he said, his expression was much calmer.
At least he knew they were still alive.
At least he knew they were waiting for him somewhere ahead.
That was enough.
Right at this moment, a notification panel appeared before Rover.
....
[Special item discovered.]
[Confirming owner...]
[Confirmation complete.]
....
[Territory Locating Badge]
[Type: Special Item.]
[Rank: Unidentified.]
[Status: Locked to owner — Rover.]
[Special Effect — Location: The badge has recorded a special coordinate located outside the Dead Zone.]
[When the owner reaches Survivor level 6 and chooses to leave the apartment complex to establish an independent territory, the system will automatically bring the owner to the recorded coordinate.]
[Note: This coordinate was prepared long in advance by the previous owner.]
[Note: The badge cannot be transferred, cannot be destroyed, cannot be reclaimed.]
....
Rover looked at the information panel.
Level 6.
Establishing a territory.
Leaving the apartment complex.
The information John had shared earlier immediately connected into a complete picture in his mind.
The dead zone was only the beginner’s area.
The apartment complex protected Survivors, but it was also a cage. To continue growing stronger, to obtain higher-level resources, to escape only passively waiting for rounds to appear, he had to leave this place.
And his father had left him a coordinate.
Not a weapon.
Not a room.
But a position for him to lay down the first foundation.
Rover looked at the badge in his hand.
The corner of his mouth slowly curved upward.
"Looks like after level 6, we won’t need to wander in the fog looking for somewhere to settle."
Nanoe also looked at the information panel.
Her gaze immediately became sharp.
She understood the value of this badge even faster than Rover.
In a completely unfamiliar area, the position of a territory determined everything. Resources, terrain, defensive capability, distance from monsters, trade routes, even the pace of development over the months or years to follow all depended on the starting point.
If Rover’s father had prepared the coordinate in advance, that place was certainly no ordinary piece of land.
Nanoe smiled.
"We have a destination."
Rover nodded.
"Mm."
"With that, the rest is much simpler."
"Reach level 6." Rover said.
"Then leave this cage." Nanoe continued.
Sunny stood to the side, not interjecting from beginning to end. He watched Rover, watched Nanoe, then looked at the badge in Rover’s hand.
A long moment later, he suddenly burst out laughing.
"As expected."
Rover turned his head.
"As expected of what?"
Sunny propped both hands behind his head.
"My luck has never been wrong."
As he spoke, he reached into his backpack and took out a card.
The moment the card appeared, golden light immediately covered the small ring of light in the basement. The surrounding air vibrated. From inside the card, faintly came the sound of hammers striking metal, furnaces burning bright, and gears turning continuously.
Rover narrowed his eyes.
Nanoe also immediately looked over.
Sunny held the card between two fingers. For the first time his expression became serious.
"I had originally planned to keep this."
"As long as I live long enough, sooner or later I could exchange it for an enormous amount of resources."
"But after entering that hospital, after seeing the badge, I changed my mind."
Sunny placed the card on the hood.
An information panel appeared before Rover.
....
[Construction Card: Equipment Production Workshop]
[Rank: Legendary.]
[Type: Territory building.]
[Usage Condition: Owner must have their own territory.]
[Effect 1 — Mass Production: After providing blueprints and necessary resources, the Workshop can automatically produce equipment along an assembly line.]
[Effect 2 — Optimization: When producing the same type of equipment repeatedly, the Workshop automatically reduces resource consumption and shortens production time.]
[Effect 3 — Auto-Research: When provided with complete weapons, armor, or equipment, the Workshop has a chance to analyze the structure and generate corresponding blueprints.]
[Effect 4 — Standardized Equipment: Can produce synchronized equipment for armies, exploration teams, or territory defense forces.]
[Special Effect — Legendary Workshop: As the territory expands, the Workshop’s scale can develop accordingly. No limit on number of production lines.]
[Note: Building has not been placed and cannot be upgraded.]
....
The basement once again fell silent.
Rover stared fixedly at the information panel.
Even he couldn’t remain completely calm.
For a Survivor still living in the apartment complex, this was almost useless.
There was no territory here.
No army.
No large-scale exploration teams.
No need for production lines.
But once Rover reached level 6, left the apartment complex, and advanced to the coordinate his father had prepared, the value of the [Equipment Production Workshop] would immediately transform.
This was no longer an ordinary building.
This was the foundation of a faction.
With it, Rover wouldn’t need his subordinates fighting with equipment randomly picked up from monsters or supply crates.
He could produce weapons.
Produce armor.
Equip his Tenants.
Equip his subordinates.
Equip Sunako’s tribe.
Equip Rilia’s Ice Wolf Tribe.
Even, if the territory continued to expand, he could create a fully armed military force.
Not just a few people.
Not just a few dozen.
But hundreds, thousands, or even more.
Nanoe looked at the card on the hood.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
The smile on her lips was still gentle, but Sunny unconsciously felt pressure. He had met many smart people, but Nanoe’s gaze gave him the feeling she was immediately calculating the card’s full long-term value, the risks, the benefits, and the position Sunny wanted to claim in the future.
"What do you want?" Nanoe asked.
Sunny shrugged.
"I like talking with smart people."
He looked at Rover.
"I’m not selling it."
"I want to make a bet."
Rover raised an eyebrow slightly.
Sunny continued: "Not the Lamp-Bearer kind of bet. I won’t use this lantern to add more difficulty for you. I also don’t want to wedge into the betting table of John, Livia, or those other lunatics."
He lightly tapped the lantern on his side.
"I’m betting as Sunny."
"Not as a Lamp-Bearer."
"Just as someone who trusts their own luck."
Sunny pointed at Rover.
"My instincts say that if I keep this card, I’ll live pretty well."
"But if I give it to you, I can live much better."
Rover looked at him.
"The conditions?"
Sunny didn’t beat around the bush.
"After you establish a territory, give me a position."
"I don’t need an army. Don’t need too much power. Don’t need to sit as your equal."
"I only need a safe place, enough resources to get by, and the right to join explorations I find interesting."
Sunny smiled.
"Of course, if I keep finding good things, I’ll prioritize bringing them back to the territory."
Rover was silent for a few seconds.
Then he looked at Nanoe.
Nanoe didn’t answer for him. She only smiled gently and said: "Someone with good luck, who knows their own value clearly, and knows how to bet before the other party’s value rises... worth keeping close."
Sunny immediately gave a thumbs up.
"I like that assessment."
Rover picked up the card.
"Deal."
Sunny’s smile became even more cheerful.
"Then consider me aboard."
Rover glanced at him.
"My ship doesn’t exist yet."
"Doesn’t matter." Sunny answered. "You already have a territory coordinate, a Legendary-rank Equipment Production Workshop, a room full of monsters disguised as beautiful women, and a group of Lamp-Bearers competing to throw good things into your hands."
He shrugged.
"I feel the ship is only a matter of time."
Nanoe curved her lips slightly.
Rover didn’t pay attention to the teasing. He held the locating badge in one hand and the Legendary-rank construction card in the other.
A path had appeared.
Level 5.
Level 6.
An independent territory.
Equipment Production Workshop.
Tribes.
An army.
Resources.
Power.
Things that had previously seemed very far away had now begun connecting into one clear straight line.
Rover raised his head.
His gaze became sharp.
If the path was already there, he no longer needed to walk slowly.
Whatever stood in his way, crush it.
The fourth round?
The level 5 trial with twice the difficulty?
The Lamp-Bearers staring at him?
It didn’t matter.
Rover tucked the badge and construction card into his backpack.
Then he looked at Sunny.
"I will reach level 6."
Sunny nodded.
"I believe it."
Rover turned his head to look at Nanoe.
The smile on his face became even clearer.
"Then, we leave this cage."
Nanoe smiled.
"And build a territory of our own."
The flame from Sunny’s lantern flickered.
The fog beyond the ring of light continued to churn, as if countless things were lurking behind that gray-white curtain, silently watching Rover.
But this time, Rover didn’t care.
Because he already had a destination.
Had a foundation.
Had a path.
The rest was very simple.
Grow stronger.
Faster.
Strong enough that everything standing in the way would be crushed.