The invention of the Desperate Machine was based on a simple reason and a bit of luck.

But Wang Tai's experience made Zhou Yi realize that the difficulties of the new humans were not only due to the special natural environment but also because this group itself was considered the lower class in various cities.

As long as the new humans couldn't compare with the productivity of the Guangna Species, they would only be cheap labor, reduced to mere population numbers in the eyes of the sea lords.

To fundamentally change the status of the new humans in the Wasteland Era, it was necessary for them to stand up on their own and display value and capabilities no less than those of the Guangna Species.

This would take time.

However, inside the Wasteland Development Company, the father and son team of Qin Mo and Qin Shu, who concocted Jade Soup, and Wang Tai, who created the Desperate Machine, had already set a good example.

Zhou Yi also discovered an interesting phenomenon.

Neither Qin Mo and his son nor Wang Tai indulged in enjoying life after receiving a large sum of prize money.

They became even more serious about their respective careers.

What supported their ongoing progress was no longer just solving the problem of food and shelter, but the identity of being inventors and a sense of honor.

This was enough to show that environment and positive incentives had a strong motivational effect on the new humans.

Red Kestrel commented, "One of the most unique things about humans is their imagination. They imagine the future and themselves, living in their own imagination; this imagination amplifies their circumstances, making them more panicked in adversity and excessively optimistic in favorable situations."

"Not being able to accurately locate themselves also makes them wavering and prone to imbalance, so sea lords usually use unpredictable fears to rule over them."

"You have grasped this very well," it continued, "You have allowed them to magnify themselves with their imagination, endowing them with a greater sense of responsibility and purpose. As giants in their own imaginations, inventors will hold themselves to giant standards."

Zhou Yi said, "I didn't think that much. As a human, I know what people need."

"Pragmatic and effective."

The drone praised him rarely and then said, "Doctor Da Vinci has completed the augmentation surgery on the Weapon Master. The observation period has passed, and the patient is doing well. Will you come and take a look?"

"Let's take a look."

...

Zhou Yi arrived at Maria Hospital and found a Weapon Master talking to Da Vinci, continuously tapping his carapace with his claws.

The Mechanical Doctor also tapped its shell gently with a mechanical arm in response for communication.

Zhou Yi tuned in with his consciousness and identified it.

It was Xie Fei from the Scavenger Team.

"Hello Director."

Xie Fei turned around hurriedly, "This time I forgot to bring the transmitter of the translation device, but fortunately, the doctor understands our language."

Zhou Yi asked what was wrong.

"It's like this."

Xie Fei said, "I forgot to refill my medication before, so I came to get some Suppressant Pills. Although there wasn't much of a problem... the captain insisted I come back first. I'm very fast now, so I ran all the way back."

Zhou Yi immediately realized, "You've had a 'propulsion' implanted?"

"Yes, Director."

Xie Fei said proudly, "Now I'm the fastest in the Scavenger Team, usually responsible for scouting and passing messages."

Da Vinci also spoke about this, "The modification of the Light Imprint inside Xie Fei's carapace is very successful. To ensure safety and stability, I purchased an E-5 grade Light Imprint for the implant surgery, covering the still-developing Guangna Organ with this structure."

"Unlike humans, their body strength is higher, more stable, and very compatible with the Guangna Organ. The downside is, after targeted modification, their existing structures will be suppressed by the implanted Light Imprint. Unless this Light Imprint is removed, they will not continue to develop."

Zhou Yi understood.

This was akin to a man-made enhanced body, replacing the yet-to-fully-develop existing Guangna Organ.

"I feel good."

However, Xie Fei said, "I need speed with the propulsion, and the Scavenger Team needs speed. Although it is an enhanced body, as long as it continues to grow, it will be the same as a regular Guangna Organ. I just need to take medication, nothing else is different."

This was not a rash decision, but one that was thoughtfully considered.

Da Vinci said, "From a doctor's perspective, I don't recommend healthy individuals undergo such modifications. But if there is a strong personal desire and an awareness of possible risks, I won't refuse to perform the surgery."

"However, if the Guangna Organ is severely damaged or there are strong side effects, using this surgery for reconstruction could be a viable option."

The augmentation surgery done for the Weapon Master was very successful.

But it would take a long time to verify the direction of this process.

Zhou Yi inquired about Xie Fei's condition, learning that it wasn't experiencing discomfort, so he relaxed a bit.

"Is everything with the Scavenger Team going smoothly lately?"

His casual question, however, seemed to stump Xie Fei.

Zhou Yi's gaze sharpened.

"Speak, what's the situation."

"Director... well..."

The Weapon Master trembled slightly, "We ran into some trouble excavating the sea floor south of Small Mountain Town. Xie Gong has gone missing."

Not long before, the Scavenger Team passed through Small Mountain Town, proceeding further to explore the sea floor in the Chongqing region.

They unearthed a large hole and found it to be crisscrossed with various types of vehicles.

But all the food and drinks were gone.

The Scavenger Team quickly identified a local species, confirming they were the ones burrowing everywhere, taking away the food and drink.

"It's that."

Xie Fei stretched out a claw and took an object out of his shell.

The thing looked like a lump of coal, fist-sized, and quite unremarkable.

The Weapon Master tapped it with a claw, and the lump of coal wobbled, then out came four sharp legs and a short, sharp tail.

Zhou Yi took the creature over for a look and discovered that its structure was somewhat like a snail or a mollusk; the outer shell was just for camouflage and protection, while the inside was the fleshy main body.

The creature's head was completely hidden inside the shell; it just waved its claws, trying to run away.

"I came here to consult Doctor Da Vinci, to find out what this is and whether it's dangerous."

Xie Fei said, "I don't know if it has anything to do with Xie Gong's disappearance."

"Coal Shell Bug."

The Mechanical Doctor made a quick judgment, "This is an underground creature from the bottom of the Dead Sea, inherently non-toxic and without attack capabilities. They live deep underground, often in a near stone-like state of hibernation, difficult to recognize."

Zhou Yi was a bit curious.

He had mingled in the sea floor for many years and had never noticed such a small creature.

Maybe he had seen them before, but thought they were just rocks.

Xie Fei was somewhat disappointed, "It seems it wasn't them. These creatures have no attack strength, they just run around and dig holes with their claws, posing no danger to us."

Zhou Yi thought since he was free at the moment and said, "Take me to your excavation site to have a look."

"Yes, Chairman."

...

Arriving at the destination on the Sea God, Zhou Yi looked around.

It was a passenger station where sand and dust had buried many buses.

The hole where Xie Gong had lost contact was a sewer. The iron manhole cover had vanished, and inside, the sewer was very dry, with an airflow indicating a connection to another place.

Team Leader Xie Xun introduced by the side, "Xie Gong found that the Coal Shell Bugs were all running here, suspecting this was their main base, so he went down to check first. He had a safety rope tied to him, but after entering, the rope broke for some reason."

He picked up a broken climbing rope nearby, "It looks like it was cut off all at once, so I suspect he was attacked by something."

Zhou Yi looked down the sewer, pitch black inside.

He attempted to synchronize consciousness but found that he could locate Xie Gong's consciousness.

He was still alive.

"Where are you?"

"Chairman, you're here! I'm fighting monsters!"

Ah?

Zhou Yi looked puzzled.

"What kind of monsters?"

"Bone Fish, there are many of them here, and they suddenly attacked me, causing me to lose my direction. Later, I found that they couldn't inflict any damage against my Straw Armor and shield, so I started clearing them out one by one."

"Ey, wait for me, I need to deliver a coup de grâce, this thing is pretty tough!"

A few seconds later.

"Good thing I have the upper hand... phew, I almost got hurt by it."

"Don't move, stay where you are, I'll come find you."

Zhou Yi went down into the sewer.

Following the synchronized consciousness, he found the place where Xie Gong was.

Bones were scattered all around, Bone Fish had been smashed to pieces, at least by the dozens, and the Weapon Master Xie Gong was shrouded in Straw Armor, one claw holding an Insect Armor Shield, the other a long Nail Head Hammer.

But lying in front of him, was a C-rank life form long-necked crocodile with its head smashed. The crocodile's body was wrapped in strange silk, creating a misty effect, yet its body was in a bizarre state of suspension.

"Chairman, you've arrived."

Xie Gong said with lingering fear, "It's a good thing I had the Light Imprint 'Blunt Strike' implanted, and had the armor, so it couldn't bite me to death. It could fly too, which was troublesome. When I hit it, it seemed to struggle a bit... At first, when it ambushed me, I thought I was a goner."

Zhou Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The crew was worried you had died in there, and here you are solo-levelling an instance?

But a flying long-necked crocodile was indeed a first for him.

There were many Coal Shell Bugs all around, piling up and hiding in corners.

Xie Gong, clutching the Nail Head Hammer, said, "This long-necked crocodile controlled the Bone Fish and these bugs, and it's been managing an Underground City here."

"However, it's been tossing the food to the back to feed its pets."

He pointed with a claw towards the front.

Behind the long-necked crocodile's corpse, by the wall, was a strange large fish tank, inside which was a white and plump bug voraciously gobbling up the rice and flour in the tank.

Zhou Yi studied the bug.

Under the[Alert]perspective, it was enveloped in white light, plainly a Guangna Species.

Red Kestrel scanned, "Unidentified species, no related information in the database."

Zhou Yi suddenly noticed that the fish tank with the bug had some silk floating on it; the silk expelled by the bug. He touched the silk with his hand and found that the silk actually lifted him into the air.

The flying ability of the long-necked crocodile came from the silk produced by this caterpillar.

Zhou Yi's gaze sharpened.

This material with built-in flight characteristics was of immense value.

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