Chapter 75 We Are a Proper Establishment <TOC> Chapter 77 Opening Up a New Industry
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Translator: SumTLMan
The residents of Building No. 2 and Building No. 3 have moved in en masse, and the actual situation is better than Zhou Yi expected.
There has been no littering, graffiti, or urinating and defecating anywhere.
Cao Dayuan said about this: “Chairman, everyone doesn’t have much to throw away in the first place. They have so few possessions that they’d rather pick up more things to take home——”
“As for graffiti, that’s even less likely. Even if scavengers have charcoal pencils, they are very precious; using a bit means having a bit less. Most would sell them, as very few people can read or write, so keeping them is just a waste.”
“As for urination and defecation, I have to tell you about that.”
The newly appointed community manager said: “Previously, the residents from Grub Grain Town in Building No. 2 would secretly defecate outside, then bury it and wait for it to dry so they could collect it later. Feces are one of the few good things they can produce themselves, and they wouldn’t let it be flushed away by Jade Emerald City. As a result, after a sandstorm, several people even fought over whose feces belonged to whom——”
“Now, Building No. 3 might have similar issues. I’ve already told them that they must go to designated spots outside Jade Emerald City to relieve themselves to avoid affecting the environment here. Rest assured, they wouldn’t dare defecate inside the house. The reputation of Jade Emerald City is well-known; they also know that this is inside an Abomination, and provoking the Abomination could lead to trouble and even death.”
“In the past, whether in the town or in the wild, everyone would go far from where they slept to defecate. Scavengers have rich wilderness experience and know what not to do.”
Zhou Yi nodded.
He didn’t have high demands; successfully and safely getting through the winter would be considered a success.
Jade Emerald City reported back: “The high occupancy rate has significantly promoted the evolution of the new bodies. Building Nos. 2 and 3 are continuously feeding back to my main body. After some time, they will be able to operate independently.”
Zhou Yi was puzzled: “Operate independently? You won’t manage them?”
When it came to more complex expressions, Jade Emerald City was still somewhat stilted.
After much communication, Zhou Yi finally confirmed: “You mean they will also activate regional independent consciousness through imitation and learning——but are they still part of you?”
“They can be a collective; we are all Jade Emerald City.”
The building lifeform said: “They are also different individuals. They are built based on my construction foundation but have independent selves, which is the result of postnatal environmental effects. Key factors for the emergence of self include the occupants and Dead Light.”
“Internally, we can transmit without barriers, but there are regional differences.”
Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment.
I casually said that for the sake of promotion.
But these new bodies——are they really second-generation Abominations?
“Committee head, I just found out too.”
Jade Emerald City said: “I originally thought they were just my new bodies, but later confirmed that they would operate independently. Perhaps this is what you called ‘continuation.'”
Maintaining a stable high occupancy rate and sufficient energy supply is also the basis for new building lifeforms to develop individual consciousness.
Jade Emerald City couldn’t determine the exact time; it only knew that the two new buildings are growing rapidly.
Even if independent self-consciousness doesn’t emerge, Building Nos. 2 and 3 are rapidly absorbing external Dead Light energy and can serve as Jade Emerald City’s backup energy reserves or bodies when necessary.
Zhou Yi thought again: “What’s the difference between 11-story mid-rise buildings and 33-story high-rise buildings? Are they different categories?”
“The former grows quickly; the latter grows much more slowly.”
Jade Emerald City replied: “Mid-rise buildings only continue my basic functions, including absorbing energy, repairing based on the existing main body, and to a certain extent modifying themselves, that is, creating housing units for replacement.”
“High-rise buildings of the same model as me will inherit all my functions and can also expand their bodies. They can leave here and independently build a new Jade Emerald City with themselves as the core.”
Zhou Yi’s eyes lit up.
They can replicate themselves.
This is equivalent to the reproductive ability of building lifeforms.
If the Jade Emerald City family can develop steadily, it’s enough to form a large community with them, even covering residential areas of an entire city!
In this era where Light Absorber species and Dead Light are everywhere, the Dead Sea Abomination, which integrates offense and defense, is the perfect living choice.
The future is full of hope, but for now, it still needs to be taken step by step.
High-rise buildings are constructed slowly. Zhou Yi decided to focus on mid-rise buildings first, to quickly increase the number of faster-growing individuals to form a certain scale. The next step is to improve quality.
In the afternoon, Gong Zheng came to report on recent material inventory.
As Zhou Yi’s assistant, he has gradually adjusted his schedule, mainly working during the day and resting at night, returning to the traditional routine of ancient humans after the Divine Era.
“——The edible mushrooms from the Mushroom Forest have a very high yield. This winter, without the destruction of the Ridge Spine Hunter, coupled with the reclamation of farmland and the bugs driven away by Iron Horse and Copper Bull, some of them ran into the Mushroom Forest and became nutrients there.”
Gong Zheng opened his small notebook and read line by line: “This winter, the company’s mushroom reserves are very abundant. Chairman, Old Cao and I were thinking of mobilizing these new residents, using mushrooms to hire them to make tools from wood, branches, dry grass, and other materials, which can all be done indoors, so it’s not dangerous.”
“Things like drying racks, tables and chairs, woven baskets, ropes——these are all daily necessities that we can’t have too many of.”
Zhou Yi nodded.
He suddenly thought: “Where is Yuan Tong? Is he still drawing flyers?”
“Yuan Tong has been busy with something else recently.”
Gong Zheng hesitated: “Chairman, he wants to go to sea.”
“Oh?”
Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow.
Going to sea during winter is extremely risky.
But Yuan Tong is an old pirate; perhaps there’s some hidden reason.
“Yuan Tong said that he observed that the near-sea area near Jade Emerald City is very safe because the aerial bombardment from Jade Emerald City has scared away the nearby Light Absorber species. So he has a bold idea.”
Gong Zheng explained: “Yuan Tong wants to sail in the shallow coastal areas to collect ‘Light’ manually, which can generate revenue for the company.”
Light?
Zhou Yi remembered that Yuan Tong had mentioned that it was a material used in shipbuilding.
“Let’s go take a look.”
The two of them took the elevator down.
Outside Jade Emerald City, near the Dead Sea area, Yuan Tong was talking to two young men, gesturing continuously.
Zhou Yi had an impression of those two; they were both former subordinates of Yuan Tong.
Yuan Tong, sharp-eyed, immediately came over and greeted: “Chairman, you’re here.”
Zhou Yi nodded: “Tell me about the ‘Light’ thing.”
The former pirate captain tugged at the band around his left eye and said: “As you know, the ‘Light Print’ technique requires ‘Light’ as one of the core materials. ‘Light’ floats in the fluid of the Dead Sea, especially on the sea surface, because they are very small and are pushed up by currents, then slowly fall down, like ash from a volcanic eruption.”
He pointed to the white misty Dead Sea ahead: “In the past, during the off-season when we had less work, we’d find a hidden place to anchor in areas covered by the Dead Sea Knights fleet, then fish for ‘Light’ in the mist above the sea surface.”
“Back when I was at the shipyard, I learned from a worker who used to be a ‘Light’ worker. Because of the war, the Light Port was destroyed, so he ended up here. The simplest way is to make a net out of double-layered burlap and scoop in the mist above the Dead Sea. When the burlap accumulates a thick layer of impurities, bring it up and soak it in cold water, and you can scrape off the ‘Light Sand’ from the impurities.”
“Cities everywhere collect ‘Light Sand,’ and the price is higher than copper.”
“It’s just that people get easily fatigued on the Dead Sea. Even getting close to the Dead Sea has this effect. Unless they’re Enhancers, their strength and stamina are much weaker on the sea than on land. Running a few steps on the deck can leave them breathless. So working on the ship is much harder than it looks.”
“Although the simplest manual collection is slow, I thought that since we have the protection of Jade Emerald City here, we might as well try to collect some ‘Light Sand’ this winter.”
Yuan Tong adjusted the band covering his left eye and continued: “In the past, we relied on this extra income to get through many tough times. I was thinking about this during the winter. Since it’s safe here, can we give it a try?”
Zhou Yi was moved.
This is what they call ‘having many skills not weighing you down.’
He immediately said: “Go ahead! Whatever you need, just ask.”
Yuan Tong’s face immediately lit up with a smile: “Yes, Chairman!”
Chapter 75 We Are a Proper Establishment <TOC> Chapter 77 Opening Up a New Industry