This Game Is Too Real

There's one thing Wild Wind has been overthinking.

The dog planner's work is very busy, it's impossible to keep an eye on a specific player's game behavior.

Since the game launched, Chu Guang's decisions have been mostly macro-level deployments.

Including guiding public opinion in "another world" by releasing limited information to make mainstream society believe that the incomprehensible Wasteland OL is the work of extraterrestrial civilization.

Moreover, it is an advanced civilization with a neutral or above stance, continuously releasing goodwill.

Based on this underlying logic, think tanks from various countries and major media on the internet add their judgments.

For instance, this is a warning from "Big Brother," signaling that Earth will enter the Prosperity Epoch in the future and experience rapid decline afterward.

Some believe it's guidance from an advanced civilization; aliens are looking for friends with similar values in adjacent universes, and perhaps soon trade ships will dock in synchronous orbit.

Of course, some think it's just to fatten up the people on Earth for a tastier meal... but this reasoning doesn't hold.

After all, traveling a thousand miles just to eat your fill is somewhat boring; it would be better to open a farm nearby.

Others with novel ideas set their sights five light years away, believing extraterrestrial civilization is there, just like "Gaia" appearing in the game.

Chu Guang doesn't know if Gaia exists in that world, nor does he care how various think tanks analyze, the interests of factions, or what someone thinks.

To him, living in this world, those things are meaningless.

They can believe whatever they wish or whatever they can perceive.

The only truly important matter for both sides is the establishment of a relatively fair trading system through long-term tacit cooperation.

Within this rule, players work for him to earn silver coins, and economic systems of various countries recover silver coins from players according to market pricing, using silver coins to exchange for high-tech that stimulates economic development from him.

This is a closed-loop chain.

When he unveils an impressive technology, silver coins will rise, and if he wants to lower them, stopping auctions for a few weeks or diluting technology a bit will suffice.

As long as this chain continues to stably cycle, whether he is of extraterrestrial civilization ultimately doesn't matter.

Chu Guang believes that as long as he rolls out Controllable Nuclear Fusion Technology, even if he claims to be God, people will still believe in droves.

However, such an exaggeration is too absurd for him to handle psychologically, he can't even convince himself.

A mix of truth and lies is better.

As for the Planck constant measured in the game world being smaller than in the real world, such matters are too technical for Chu Guang. At most, he conceptually understands electromagnetic wave emission and absorption aren't continuous, but like having "frame rate," emitting bit by bit.

As for the specific numeric values, he might have to ask a junior researcher in high-energy physics to find out.

Of course, whether there's a necessity for this is another matter.

The survivors of the Alliance won't lead better lives because of a smaller Planck constant.

However, replacing the ignition device for the reactor is feasible.

In the office of the Alliance Building, Chu Guang met with Wang Zhiyi, a nuclear engineer at the Dawn City Nuclear Power Station.

The teacher, already in his forties or fifties, was filled with excitement, vividly narrating the shock he felt at the nuclear power station site to the esteemed Manager.

Although the teacher spoke for a long time without getting to the point, Chu Guang patiently listened until the end, even instructing staff to serve him tea to speak slowly.

The act proved wise.

The teacher, dry-mouthed, picked up the tea cup for a sip, seemingly unsure where he left off, immediately spoke about his main concern.

"...If the cold start technology can be applied to our reactor, replacing the outdated laser ignition technology, our energy utilization efficiency can increase by at least 23%!"

Upon hearing this figure, Chu Guang showed a surprised expression.

"23%? Does ignition require that much energy?"

Wang Zhiyi nodded, speaking earnestly.

"Ignition isn't a one-time deal. Every time fuel is fed into the reactor, it needs to be reignited... including shutdowns during maintenance, etc."

"I see." Chu Guang nodded thoughtfully, his attention more intense.

23% is theoretical data.

Actual values may be lower, but still quite considerable.

Although currently the Alliance has only one large reactor on the surface, more reactors will eventually be built with increasing electricity demand.

For example, over at the South Sea Union, Li Minghui has sought him out several times regarding power supply, hoping the Union can build another fusion power station in the south to reduce electricity costs in the southern sea area and nearby regions.

The South Sea Union's power and freshwater depend mainly on imports from Potato Harbor; while tidal and wind power are good, the maintenance costs of the facilities remain.

Additionally, power output is a major issue.

The deployment speed of ocean current power stations can't keep up with the economic growth of the southern sea area and its surroundings.

For an emerging economy in continuous growth, renewable energy is destined only to supplement non-renewable energy, rarely playing the role of a pillar.

Especially with the future space elevator planned for the southern sea area, local economic and production activities will definitely grow exponentially.

"What about the cost? Have you calculated it?"

Wang Zhiyi nodded gently.

"We calculated it, updating technology would require a budget of about 20 million silver coins... But considering we will build new reactors later, we believe this expense is worthwhile."

Chu Guang nodded.

"Since you've already considered it, I have nothing more to say. Of course, the necessary procedures still have to be followed. You need to prepare a budget report and send it to the Ministry of Finance; they will establish a budget review committee to coordinate the work with you."

With the Manager's support, Wang Zhiyi's face instantly showed a delighted expression, and he hurriedly nodded to express his gratitude.

Before coming here, he had been nervous for half a day, worried about being unable to persuade the Manager, but he didn't expect the esteemed Manager to be even easier to talk to than he imagined.

Seeing Master Wang nodding and thanking him, Chu Guang smiled and said.

"No need to thank me. If thanks are to be given, it's me thanking you on behalf of the Alliance."

After a brief pause, he added.

"Of course, don't take my agreement as a definite conclusion. The necessary documents must still be prepared earnestly. The budget review committee has its own work, and they have to live up to the money spent on them by the Alliance citizens."

"Understood! I guarantee to complete the task!" Master Wang said enthusiastically, almost eager to salute.

Chu Guang smiled and watched him leave the office, then opened the holographic computer on his desk and glanced at the schedule.

The first batch of units for work coordination included 21, among them were major public utility units like the Dawn City Nuclear Power Station, private factories producing engines and reactors, or purely academic institutions.

The Academy was indeed quite generous this time. With the support of these technologies, building one or even multiple Ideal Cities in the wasteland really wasn't a difficult task.

As long as the Alliance's survivors are given enough time, they might even rebuild a new world more prosperous than the old era.

But despite this, Chu Guang always had a premonition contrary to his intuition.

Sometimes, like other residents of the refuge, he instinctively regarded Ideal City as a benchmark for the Prosperity Epoch and its prosperity as the sole criterion for measuring success, forgetting that the standards for evaluating things evolve over time.

Perhaps the dense prosperity of the Human Alliance Era has become history, and it likely won't reappear for a long time in the future.

After all, today's Earth is not the Earth of two centuries ago.

Ending the Wasteland Era isn't difficult, but transforming a planet is another matter.

The Alliance can defeat armies, but declaring war on Mutant Cockroaches or Mutant Rats would be a joke.

And it's not just about the planetary ecosystem.

The people living on this planet are not the same as those in the past.

History has brought not only lessons to the Waste Land Wanderers but also completely changed their values and life philosophies.

These things not only allow the reborn people to tolerate alien environments more but also actively push them to explore farther worlds, passively dispersing the infinite risks accumulated alongside infinite prosperity.

The Alliance's children will be like seeds, with the Solar System as their center, sprawling prosperity across several or even dozens of light-years, rather than constructing a city at ten light-years.

Chu Guang had a very strong premonition.

In the distant future, the Alliance's population will certainly surpass the previous Human Alliance, but they won't crowd into just one mother planet like before; they will disperse to thousands of planets and space stations.

If that's the future, then the experience of "building a large-scale laser array on the Moon, generating electricity and then directing the energy back to Earth" is indeed outdated.

Distributed power stations are advantageous for the flexible allocation of resources and outward expansion, more suitable for the "settlement-style" development of Waste Land Wanderers.

Disasters that once occurred in the Human Alliance may happen again, but will no longer leave them devastated.

Perhaps in the far future, Workers' Association people might go to Andromeda to replicate a Giant Stone City, and the South Sea Union might search for an ocean planet outside the Solar System to develop their hundredth artificial island.

The end of the world?

The entire universe is full of human homes, so what is there to fear?

If worse comes to worst, they can still seek refuge with the Academy, unknown for hiding somewhere in the universe making a fortune.

Unless faced with a crisis affecting the entire universe, no disaster can ever take them away in one fell swoop.

Thinking of things many, many years in the future, Chu Guang's mouth crept up a smile.

"It would be great to see that day."

...

[Breaking news! Conflict escalation! Zayed condemns Mammoth Nation for occupying parts of Bird State and Sheep State and creating border conflicts, appointing Grov as the commander-in-chief and Yakale as deputy commander, marching north!

Reportedly, Grey Wolf Army's commander Gopal had a disagreement with Zayed regarding whether the timing of the Northern Expedition was mature, with intense power struggles among Tiandu's top brass potentially affecting the front-line battle situation.

Mayor Yoder called for calm among the conflicting parties, urging them to negotiate for the sake of their compatriots.

The Alliance has not commented on the matter, but the Goblin Observation Report, representing civilian opinions of Dawn City, remarked at least the poor "Red Soil" escaped a disaster.

However, the New West Port edition of Survivor's Daily held a contrary viewpoint.

According to unreliable sources, Tiandu allegedly exchanged opinions with the Eastern Empire on the Red Soil issue.

——Survivor's Daily Jinjaron Harbor Edition

]

[Judgment concluded! Former Southern Legion Corps General Affairs Department Minister Jeffrey and other war criminals sentenced to death, "Iron Crossbow" rapid response force commander Hains sentenced to life imprisonment, Evernight Harbor's former governor Ya Hui and other lesser war criminals sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Currently, Yavente City has gradually restored order, and the reconstruction work in various districts is underway, with port hoisting equipment from the South Sea Union arriving at the western port of Yavente City.

Following the Alliance, Welch Alliance, and corporations, supplies from the Eastern Empire and New Federation are gradually entering Bartoya Province, making Yavente City possibly a battleground for various survivor forces.

(Picture: a long queue forms in front of the talent market, with the most conspicuous sign reading "Hiring ship engineers, hourly rate 30 silver coins")

——Survivor's Daily Yavente City Edition.

]

At the entrance of Yavente City's talent market, the continuous stream of people resembled the images in the newspaper.

Looking at the continuous stream of recruitment points, the man with burn scars on his face stood in the queue, a bit apprehensive.

The newspaper said that one could find profitable work here, but besides shooting, he could only drive a Tank and couldn't do anything else.

The queue finally reached the front; he hesitated as he walked forward to introduce himself, but before he could speak, the recruiting staff spoke first.

"Name?"

The man swallowed and rubbed his hands as he spoke.

"Ba... Barter."

The hiring staff pushed the form and pen towards him.

"There are at least five to ten people named Barter here... well, write down your last name too, and also list the skills you have, so we can find a suitable job for you."

Barter nodded quickly, picked up the pen, and wrote his last name on the form.

When he saw the skills section, he hesitated for a moment and eventually decided to write down his resume.

The staff, upon seeing it, brightened up immediately.

"You can drive a Tank?"

"Yes..." Barter cautiously looked at the recruitment staff, nodded slowly.

The staff did not react as he expected by calling the guards but enthusiastically patted his shoulder.

"Great, we need someone for driving excavators!"

Barter was taken aback.

"Exca, excavators?"

"Well, they both have tracks, don't they? And they're all produced by the Lavanka Industrial Zone. I believe you can do this job well!"

The staff winked at him and without further ado, shoved a card thicker than a military badge into his hand.

"This is your work badge. Report to the address on the badge at 8 am tomorrow morning. If you don't come, it's void."

"I'll definitely be on time!" Barter hurriedly assured, but seeing the staff not even paying attention, he quickly asked, "Is that all? No other procedures?"

The staff smiled and waved his hand.

"That's it; it's the hiring period now. As long as you have hands, feet, and understand human speech, you're good. Oh, if you urgently need money, you can take the work badge to the bank outside the talent market to apply for a relief loan. Your hourly rate is 12 silver coins, and the bank will consider your hourly rate to provide you a week's advance salary which is interest-free if repaid within a month."

Another staff member nearby playfully chimed in.

"He didn't finish; actually, even without hands, it's fine, we can equip you with one first."

"No need for that..." Never treated so warmly before, Barter felt somewhat apprehensive yet grateful towards them, "Thank you..."

"No need to be polite, buddy," that staff vigorously patted his arm and grinned at him, "People have to look forward, wishing you a speedy start to a new life."

After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, Barter did not linger further and quickly left the hiring point.

He felt an incredible lightness in his steps, as if floating in the air.

12 silver coins per hour!

If I work hard for a month, maybe I can earn 2000 silver coins!

Converted into dinars, that's card-carrying high pay!

Actually, no need to convert to dinars, what silver coins can buy is far more than dinars.

He couldn't wait to fly back home to tell his beloved wife and children the good news!

However, just as he reached the entrance of the talent market, a man dressed in a coat from the Welch Alliance stopped him.

"Hey, buddy."

Looking at the unfamiliar face, Barter frowned slightly.

"...Do I know you?"

Sensing his wariness, that person didn't mind, only smiling and speaking to him.

"I have a more profitable work offer here, care to consider?"

Barter's expression became more alert and he immediately said.

"I won't do anything illegal."

"It's not illegal, but it's risky, though I know for you guys, it's nothing," the man smiled and lowered his voice continuing, "There's a war in Poluo Province and they need instructors. You know, I can help you secure this rate."

As he spoke, he wagged two fingers.

"20,000 silver coins a month."

Twenty thousand!

Barter was stunned at him, indeed felt tempted for a moment.

But it was only a fleeting moment.

He thought of his family and his past days. After hesitating for a while, he finally shook his head.

"No."

He somewhat realized that what he had done before was neither honorable nor glorious.

He no longer wanted to return to that kind of life.

The man showed a disappointed expression on his face, but didn't say anything. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Alright, I'll ask someone else... If you change your mind, and I haven't found anyone else yet, you can come back to me."

Barter nodded but didn't accept the business card in his hand and hurriedly left with the work badge in his pocket...

Not far from the doors of the talent market, in a tavern that sold beer at night and coffee during the day, Fang Chang sat by the window, comparing two different editions of the Survivor's Daily in his hands, and suddenly let out a heartfelt sigh.

"I remember that our refuge's Manager said we needed to make many copies of the Survivor's Daily, so that we could ensure the newspaper truly belonged to the survivors, and it wouldn't be stolen and claimed by some brat on a day after he left."

Dolly, sitting across the dining table, smiled softly, took a sip of her coffee, and said.

"Turns out, his good assistant didn't expect that someone had already stolen the title before he even left?"

The newspaper office in the Lavanka Industrial Zone had already been established and was running smoothly.

Since the liberation of Yavente City, she had rushed over with Fang Chang at the first opportunity, and established a branch of the Survivor's Daily here for Yavente City and even the entire Bartoya Province.

All the reporters and editors were locals from Yavente City, including people from Welch as well as other survivors.

Listening to that pleasant voice, Fang Chang shook his head and said in a casual tone.

"Whether it counts as stealing is debatable, but we certainly saw the disparities in the world through the newspaper."

The branches in Mammoth City, West Sail Port, and Tiandu had essentially been delisted by other newspapers. Even if they were reprinted, it wouldn't be as news but merely as news material.

The newspaper office registered in New West Port was on the verge of blacklisting... The reason it's not on the list is partly due to a "beginner's protection period," and partly because occasionally, the newspaper there could leak some useful information, not entirely serving as Salen's personal megaphone.

As for whether the brand of the Survivor's Daily was stolen, Fang Chang tended to believe it wasn't.

That thing was never the property of the Alliance to begin with, rather it was a newspaper for the survivors, so how could it be said that it was stolen?

It was always theirs, full of lies, because they were either intentionally or unintentionally being deceitful.

Regarding whether the Poluo were deceived, he also tended to think not.

Why, you ask? Perhaps because he watched them step by step get to this point.

Just as the Manager said, this is a conspiracy crime.

And predictably, the punishment of fate has already descended.

Dolly looked at him intently, then suddenly turned her gaze outside the window and sighed softly.

"I just find it pitiful that although they are the victors, they have to endure sufferings even losers haven't suffered... Maybe there's a better way. Besides, the war is over, can't we find a way to help them?"

"...Our aid has been plentiful. Apart from a profound lesson, I can't think of anything more to give them."

Fang Chang turned a page of the newspaper in his hand, paused, and said again.

"Besides, the war isn't over... The culprit of the murder case still hasn't been caught."

"Do you mean the Enlightenment Society?" Dolly frowned slightly, her face carrying a trace of worry.

She had heard about what happened at the Tower of the World, including the monster with twisted tentacles.

Fang Chang shook his head.

"It's not just the Enlightenment Society, there's also a suspicion of celestial beings standing behind them... Of course, so far only the former has surfaced."

That little mouse of the Enlightenment Society...

The guy was running around with a Gauss Rifle and possibly wearing optical camouflage.

They still didn't know whether this guy was in the city or if he had run off long ago.

Moreover, people from the Eastern Empire and the New Federation were also active around Yavente City, collecting engineers and unemployed officers from the Southern Legion under the guise of rescue, dividing up the unfinished cards in Teil's hands.

It's worth mentioning that the Southern Legion is not without high technology, at least in jet planes and missiles they have made some achievements, though not as outstanding in Metallurgical technology.

And, the Enlightenment Society also used the Residents of the refuge to help Teil train some high-tech talents.

When the final battle broke out, not all those people were in the Building of the Tower of the World, and quite a few lucky ones survived.

However, compared to the threat from Lagrange Point, Fang Chang felt that those spies poaching talents were not much of a threat.

There was even a hint of naivety.

After all, the truly valuable talents had already been divided up by the City of Dawn and Triumph City, so what's left can be taken as scraps.

The Alliance doesn't lack those anymore.

Just don't cause trouble at a critical moment when they are full.

Seeing the trace of worry hanging between his brows, Dolly suddenly felt a bit heartbroken, involuntarily wanting to stroke his head.

This guy worried incessantly for the Alliance, even when he was with her.

"If there's ever anything I can help with... be sure to tell me."

Meeting those eyes filled with concern for him, Fang Chang showed a gentle smile.

He didn't say anything like "take care of yourself" or "just don't cause trouble" which would spoil the moment, but simply reached out and patted that cute little head.

"Mm, definitely."