Chapter 10: Acquiring the Crystal Core

Beside the wall of the town’s primary school, several makeshift watchtowers had been erected. Through the cover, a few armed men could be seen standing guard, surveying the surroundings.

The early morning wind, carrying the gradually warming breath of early spring, brushed against Wang Ji’s resolute face as he stood by a window, watching the people outside begin their day’s work.

On this day, it had been exactly one month since Wang Ji, with Mouse and Little Yin, had arrived at Hope Primary School.

Now called Hope Camp, this place had become the refuge for nearly all the town’s survivors, numbering more than a thousand. The camp was under the leadership of Zhao Gang, a straightforward and diligent man who bore the responsibility for all aspects of daily life within the camp.

Wang Ji was the camp’s other notable figure. Ever since joining, he had set his sights on acquiring more crystal cores from others. Each time he ventured out, he returned with weapons and ammunition to trade with Zhao Gang.

Gradually, word spread that Wang Ji possessed weaponry and munitions, and others began to hunt for crystal cores in the hope of trading with him.

In just a month, through both hunting and trading, Wang Ji’s store of energy points had risen to nearly 900.

He had even indulged himself by exchanging for a new basic serum to enhance his physical abilities, only stopping when he found the improvement had diminished to just 0.1.

Host: Wang Ji
Strength: 14.1
Spirit: 16.7
Agility: 12.6
Stamina: 100/100
Status: Excellent
Energy Points: 892

This was Wang Ji’s current state and energy reserve. The saying “strength in numbers” had proved true, leaving him quite satisfied with the camp.

A month had passed since the catastrophe, and people seemed to have adapted, laboring through increasingly difficult days. With the mutant wolf leader gone, the surrounding mutant beasts posed little threat, and the hunters of Hope Camp had thoroughly cleared them out.

Feeding more than a thousand people consumed resources at an alarming rate. Zhao Gang introduced a work-for-rations policy: to earn food and other essentials, everyone had to contribute to the camp’s construction or production. In this, Zhao Gang showed his worth as a leader.

Alternatively, one could become a hunter, venturing out in teams to slay mutant beasts for resources or scavenging supplies—this group now enjoyed the highest standard of living in the camp.

Wang Ji collected his thoughts and left his room, descending to the first floor. This standalone building was his, bought outright from Zhao Gang for a hundred crystal cores.

The front of the first floor served as his business for purchasing crystal stones, while the rear housed living quarters for himself and his staff. To run the business, Wang Ji had hired two people: a man and a woman.

The man, Liu Shanye, was a middle-aged outsider who’d run a small business here; his wife and children, fortunately, had survived the disaster.

The woman, Lin Qixun, was an attractive and eloquent former jewelry store salesperson. Impressed by her quick tongue, Wang Ji had brought her on board.

Under Mouse's management, the crystal core business now ran like clockwork.

When Wang Ji came downstairs, Mouse stood up to greet him.

“Brother Wang, you’re up? Breakfast is ready—let’s eat.”

“Good morning, boss!”

“Morning, Brother Wang!”

After a round of greetings, Mouse and Wang Ji headed to the kitchen. Little Yin was already there, setting out bowls and chopsticks. Though still a child, she seemed to understand how to make herself useful in this harsh environment.

“Big brother! Breakfast is ready!” Little Yin’s eyes brightened at the sight of Wang Ji; her reliance on him now was as strong as what she’d once felt for her lost father.

“Good girl, Yin. Eat up and help Sister Qixun afterward.”

Little Yin nodded sweetly and tucked into her meal. Breakfast was modest—just rice porridge and pickled vegetables—but in the camp, such food was a rare treat.

“Brother Wang, you said I could come with you today, right? Look, my chest wound is all healed.” Mouse lifted his shirt for show. His injury had long since mended, thanks to half a month of rest and Wang Ji’s supplies. He’d helped with the crystal core business lately, but he’d been itching to hunt again.

“Put that down. Don’t forget Little Yin is here—mind your manners.” Wang Ji looked at the friend who’d once saved his life and managed a wry smile. “Alright, we need to fetch fuel from the gas station at the edge of town today. Captain Zhao’s short-handed and asked me to help. Go find Little Six and get ready—we’ll head out together.”

“Remember to bring your gear,” Wang Ji reminded him.

“Got it!” Mouse downed his porridge and dashed upstairs, elated. To keep him occupied, Wang Ji had exchanged an automatic rifle and a set of body armor for him.

Half an hour later, after Little Yin’s reluctant farewell, Wang Ji met Mouse and Little Six at the camp gate. By then, more than thirty armed men had gathered there.

“Brother Wang!”

“Good morning, Brother Wang!”

“Brother Wang, about that sniper rifle you mentioned last time—I’ll have enough crystal cores soon. Save it for me, alright?” The speaker, Li Chengming, was a hunter team captain and Wang Ji’s biggest client after Zhao Gang.

“No problem,” Wang Ji replied with a smile. A few team leaders gathered around to chat before Zhao Gang approached with his men.

“Up early, everyone! Thanks for giving me face. Once the task is complete, each team gets an extra fifty rounds of ammunition,” Zhao Gang announced. His every move exuded leadership. Wang Ji and he exchanged glances and nodded.

The team captains cheered. Fifty bullets might not seem like much, but it was worth ten crystal cores!

Indeed, Wang Ji’s business in camp involved doubling his return: five crystal cores for the cost of one unit of energy.

“Alright, since everyone’s confident, I’ll be brief. Our mission at the gas station is simple: protect the logistics team so they can move fuel safely. The most crucial period is the hour it takes to load the fuel—stand guard and keep the area secure. Each team that completes the mission receives five hundred rounds of ammunition. Any other gains along the way are yours, according to your contribution. Understood?”

“Understood!” came the unanimous reply.

“Good. Gather around—let’s go over the route and each team’s responsibilities.”

After about ten minutes, Wang Ji and Mouse climbed into a pickup driven by Little Six.

Before the disaster, Little Six had been a nineteen-year-old apprentice at the town’s auto repair shop. Only he and his elderly mother had survived. His nickname came from his habit of exclaiming “six six six!”—so his friends had christened him Little Six.

Wang Ji had seen his talent for car repair and driving, so he’d hired him as both driver and support. On hunts, Little Six was also in charge of butchering mutant beasts and collecting crystals.

“Little Six, I’m telling you, my marksmanship is no joke...” Mouse and Little Six quickly found common ground in their banter. Wang Ji, unimpressed, closed his eyes to rest. With fewer mutant beasts nearby, he rarely hunted in the area anymore; the trickle of energy points no longer interested him.

The convoy rumbled along for over an hour before finally reaching the gas station.

The gas station stood at the entrance to the town. Now, wild grass grew thick on the ground, and after a month without people, it looked as abandoned as a derelict house.

“All teams, clear the area! Logistics, check your equipment—prepare to start fueling,” Zhao Gang ordered as he leapt from his vehicle.

Wang Ji led Mouse toward the northwest grove—the area they were assigned to secure.

“Be careful, Mouse. These woods often harbor resting mutant beasts,” Wang Ji warned sternly, taking the lead into the trees. Little Six stayed behind with logistics, awaiting orders.

Mouse nodded seriously, checked his weapon, and followed close behind. Before long, he noticed something odd in the underbrush ahead.

“Brother Wang, I think I see something!” Mouse whispered, pointing toward the shadow.

Wang Ji nodded with satisfaction; through his goggles, he’d already spotted the resting mutant beast. He wanted Mouse to have the practice, so he hadn’t acted yet.

“Quietly now. Take it out,” Wang Ji signaled. The two attached suppressors to their pistols and began to flank the target.

When they were within about ten meters, the mutant beast suddenly lifted its head, alert, staring toward Mouse.

“Fire!” Wang Ji commanded in a low voice. His gun issued a muffled sound as he fired three rounds in quick succession.

A triple shot—Wang Ji’s practiced hand sent bullets into the beast’s eye, jaw, and neck.

At the same time, Mouse reacted, firing three single shots from his pistol. Luck was with him: one bullet pierced the throat, blowing out the beast’s brain.

“Not bad,” Wang Ji praised, then approached the mutant beast and used the X System to automatically absorb two points of energy.

“Let’s keep going.” Wang Ji’s tone was relaxed. With this mission, he would likely hit 1,000 energy points. He was already contemplating how to manifest a production line for individual weapons—another income stream to save energy on manufacturing.

Working together, Wang Ji and Mouse cleared the woods in about ten minutes.

“Mouse, climb up and keep watch. Stay alert. I’ll fetch Little Six to help process the spoils,” Wang Ji instructed.

“Got it, Brother Wang!” Mouse agilely climbed a tree, settled into the branches, and scanned the area through his rifle’s scope.

Before long, Little Six followed Wang Ji into the woods, grinning with a butchering knife in hand.

“Brother Wang, another haul today—let’s keep a little for a treat tonight?”

Wang Ji glanced at the scrawny Little Six and chuckled softly. “No problem, take a hind leg back with you.”

“Thanks, Brother Wang!” Little Six replied, redoubling his efforts.

He earned thirty bullets a day working with Wang Ji, but a hind leg alone weighed at least ten pounds and could fetch ten bullets or more in camp.

And so, the work continued.