Zhou Baike didn’t know that Diana and Harrison were discussing their “strangeness.” She was talking to Zhou Zhengping about the changing weather.
The sudden news made Zhou Zhengping, a man accustomed to storms, feel somewhat unsettled. If they treated all this as a game, what they were facing now was hell-level difficulty—one careless step and you’d fall straight into hell.
Every time life seemed to offer a glimmer of hope or a turning point, new troubles would arise.
He felt a bit sorry for his daughter.
As the lord, the pressure she faced was obviously much greater.
“Look on the bright side. At least we got the news in advance and can prepare. Also, special weather means special materials, which can be used to craft special equipment,” Zhou Bai said, looking at her father’s expression and trying to comfort him. “So far, everything that’s happened gives me the feeling that every disaster, if handled well, can bring some benefits. Since disasters are unavoidable, we might as well try to gain as much as possible from them.”
“You’re quite optimistic,” Zhou Zhengping glanced sideways at Zhou Bai, then sighed inwardly and asked directly, “What’s your plan?”
“I’ve bought quite a few materials from the system store. I’ll make a batch first, then have the tailor shop sell them to those willing to go out. As for the soldier squad, I’ll provide equipment for free, but any special materials they gather must be handed over,” Zhou Bai explained.
If other residents don’t want to go out, they can still rely on the soldier squad.
That was exactly why she recruited soldiers.
“Sounds good.” Zhou Zhengping nodded. After all these events, Lord Bai was doing better and better.
“What’s in the soldier’s big gift pack?” Zhou Bai finally asked about something she had been curious about. Getting a big gift pack from the system was rare!
“Each troop type has corresponding clothing blueprints, weapon blueprints, and other related guides. They say there are surprises if we gather the materials ourselves,” Zhou Zhengping said simply.
Hearing this, Zhou Bai’s expression paused for a moment. Truly worthy of being a system!
“How’s the material gathering going?”
“The soldier uniforms need iron ore, beast leather, and linen cloth. The main material for weapons is also iron ore. Beast leather and linen are easy to find, but iron ore is hard,” Zhou Zhengping said simply. “Two troop types are a bit troublesome: the strategists and medics. Their training and healing guides require personnel to teach.”
After hearing this, Zhou Bai pondered for a while, then said, “Dad, iron ore usually comes from iron mines. Is the system hinting that there might be iron ore nearby? Also, since teaching is needed, don’t forget we have the Hall of Heroes. Maybe we can summon the corresponding professionals.”
Zhou Zhengping: “…”
“Looks like the soldier squad is the system’s tool given to the territory,” Zhou Bai said confidently. At least it wasn’t just exploiting the lord alone.
“Then we have to work harder,” Zhou Zhengping replied helplessly. He was willing to be the territory’s tool because helping the territory meant helping his daughter!
“Troublesome,” Zhou Bai teased.
“Not troublesome,” Zhou Zhengping smiled back.
Ding Qiurou watched the father and daughter’s banter and didn’t know what to say.
Oh well, let them be happy.
Meanwhile, the nearby bustle gradually quieted down as many people started heading toward the lord’s manor.
They had finished their trading rounds, clearing out their backpack slots and contributing to the territory by delivering what was needed.
Seeing their figures, Zhou Bai immediately glanced at her own backpack.
Not good, it was almost full again.
“Dad, Mom, I’m going to the lord’s manor. You two go home and eat first,” Zhou Bai said, then headed toward the manor.
“What’s she going to do?”
“Clear her backpack! She ran out of slots. After learning from Diana that items can be stored in territory buildings, she put some on the manor’s second floor. Everyone’s harvest was good today, so it’s probably full again,” Ding Qiurou said with a smile.
“If she wants to, let her. Saving on price differences makes her happy.”
The two smiled at each other and then walked home hand in hand.
This scene was seen by many, who felt a bit envious.
After the apocalypse game arrived, the happiest people were probably those with their families around!
Where were their families? Would they still have a chance to see them?
**
Lord’s Manor.
Many only noticed from the bulletin board that the territory had added several new materials to purchase.
“Wind and rain orchid? Bamboo strips? Eucalyptus resin, rain tree resin? What are these? I’ve never heard of them. The purchase prices are high, several over 10 copper coins.”
“But the territory suddenly wants to buy these, they must be useful, right?”
“Let’s pay attention tomorrow.”
Silently noting these materials, they continued selling their gathered materials to the territory.
While they sold, Zhou Bai felt what it meant to have a sweet burden.
She had to pretend to be selling items while stuffing large amounts of wood and stone onto the manor’s second floor.
After several rounds of this, Zhou Bai silently vowed that the next building she unlocked must be a warehouse.
**
Day 4 since the apocalypse game began.
Because new skills were triggered, many got up early to gather their teams for hunting, but when they opened the door, they saw heavy rain pouring outside, loud and relentless, blocking many people’s steps.
Opening the wooden door, everyone started chatting loudly.
“So, the game world has rain too?”
“Such heavy rain, no one can go out today.”
“Perfect, let’s just take a day off.”
“Four days into the apocalypse game, and we haven’t had a proper rest in the first three days.”
“Rest is fine, but have you forgotten the territory war that must happen within a month? If we’re not strong and the territory is broken again, people will die.”
“…”
Once the topic of territory war was raised, some brave people stepped into the rain to test if they could move freely.
But as soon as they stepped out, they kept receiving system notifications.
【HP -1】
【HP -1】
【HP -1】
【…】
Those who ran out quickly returned inside.
“No good, moving in the rain reduces HP rapidly. We probably can’t last long.”
“A day or two is fine; we can survive on our savings from the past few days. But if it lasts longer, it just feels wrong.”
“Do you think the apocalypse game is gaslighting us?”
“The canteen might be closed too. Let’s just stay home and chat.”
“Maybe it’ll stop soon!”
“…”
Everyone chatted back and forth, enjoying this rare leisure time.
Zhou Bai blended in, watching everyone relax in this weather, feeling a bit sorry inside.
The future is unpredictable; better to adapt early.
The next moment, she unapologetically opened the mission system and started adding missions.
【Mission 1: Gather Special Materials】
【Type: Rainy Day Limited Mission】
【Reward: 20% wage bonus】
【Target: Soldier Squad (mandatory)】
【Note: Rain travel gear will be provided free by the territory. Please collect it at the tailor shop. Special materials belong to the territory.】
【Mission 2: Gather Special Materials】
【Type: Rainy Day Limited Mission】
【Reward: Harvest belongs to the individual】
【Target: All residents (voluntary)】
【Note: Rain travel gear can be purchased at the tailor shop. Limited equipment, first come first served.】
After adding the missions, Zhou Bai immediately notified everyone.
The next moment, everyone’s control panels received the message.
Many were stunned upon seeing it.
After a second of silence, a burst of discussion erupted.
“The territory is heartless!”
“They actually issued missions.”
“But it’s a rainy day limited mission, and voluntary too.”
“But because it’s voluntary, it makes it feel very important.”
“Special materials? What special materials?”
“I suddenly have some memories.”
“What?”
“Last night at the manor, I saw the lord’s new purchase missions mentioning wind and rain orchid, rain tree resin, bamboo strips… these materials seem related to rain?”
“But besides rain-related materials, there are also mint leaves, honeysuckle flowers, wind-stopping grass… Damn, could there be high heat, heavy snow, and strong wind weather too?”
“This… might really be possible!”
“So the game world’s weather is so variable?”
“This life is too hard, right?”
As they talked, many keenly sensed something was off from the territory’s purchase materials.
“I’m a bit scared!”
“Me too! If the weather is abnormal every day, how can we live?”
“Don’t panic. The territory has already stocked up materials and sells rainproof gear. They must be prepared.”
“Should we do the mission then?”
“…”
While everyone was pondering, Zhou Bai, having issued the missions, was already running fast through the heavy rain from home toward the tailor shop.
Seeing her swift figure, many reacted.
They realized one thing: the tailor shop’s equipment was limited.
Looking at Zhou Bai running at the front, everyone’s mind had only one thought left.
This person is so competitive!
They can’t lose!
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