Hei Fu used a beam to break apart the wrinkled corpse of Black Thorn, extracting a nut the size of a chicken egg.

Its surface was covered with ravines and textures, somewhat resembling a large walnut.

When Ni Ge was called over, he inspected the large nut from various angles and then exclaimed, "It's a Qianji Seed! Good stuff!"

He explained to Zhou Yi, "Chairman, Qianji Fruit is a plant cultivated by tree department naturalists. It is highly valuable and extremely important core tool for Mud Tree People."

"Qianji Seed is planted with Light Amber. Once it sprouts, it can be transplanted to the Sky-reaching Tree. It's like grafting technology here, which leads to a rapid growth period."

"Its growth cycle is similar to Dead Sea Fruit, possibly bearing fruit in two months, with red and green varieties. The red fruit is the most valuable and rare, known as Qianji Fruit."

"The characteristic of Qianji Fruit is that it can enhance existing abilities. For example, my adventure vine has 'blind area', 'identification', and 'feeding'. If I feed it Qianji Fruit, these three abilities will have a significant improvement in a short time."

"Over there, Qianji Fruit is widely used. The size of the fruit determines the extent of the enhancement and the duration. High-grade Qianji Fruit can directly break through the current class of an ability, allowing for a temporary qualitative change."

Zhou Yi felt a thrill in his heart.

It's a natural supplement for skill intensity enhancement.

"How long does the effect of Qianji Fruit last?"

Ni Ge thought for a moment, "At least 30 minutes, no more than an hour."

Zhou Yi asked again, "Can humans consume it?"

"Yes. But over there, we usually feed it to companion plants because our abilities are tied to them. Also, the fruit itself doesn't taste good."

Ni Ge squeezed the seed in his hand, "Mud Tribe warriors use this for hunting and combating Dead Sea monsters. Tree department naturalists also use this fruit to enhance the precision and sensitivity of companion plants."

"Dead Sea monsters often climb trees to steal our Qianji Fruit, which enhances their combat power. We have to deploy Mud Tribe guards to deal with them."

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

Guangna Species using Qianji Fruit seems to be no problem.

He asked, "Are there any side effects?"

"Nothing else, just can't use too many at once. Qianji Fruit can only be used up to three times in a short period. The first time has the best effect, the second time less, and the third time the least. Further consumption will have no effect."

"Long-term consumption of Qianji Fruit will gradually reduce effectiveness until it eventually becomes completely ineffective. The limit of Qianji Fruit is 3000 pieces; once consumed to this number, it becomes useless."

Ni Ge continued, "But tree department naturalists have researched many such fruits. We generally mix several kinds to avoid complete ineffectiveness."

Zhou Yi understood immediately.

This is a natural drug; overuse leads to resistance.

If we can further cultivate Qianji Fruit, it can be sold to Guangna City, providing another profitable and stable income.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind, then he asked, "What about green fruit?"

"Green fruit is not useful."

Ni Ge waved his hand, "Green fruit is called Transformation Fruit. Though it is non-toxic, it's sour and resembles an underdeveloped Qianji Fruit but has completely different abilities."

"Its only characteristic is to trigger a random ability that lasts for three days before becoming ineffective."

"The ability gained cannot be predicted, and once learned to use it, the effect disappears, making it very impractical. After the effect wears off, it causes body aches, making it undesirable. Over there, even the monsters... Guangna Species don't eat it."

Zhou Yi thought, "Some of the Dead Sea Fruits we previously cultivated had similar characteristics. Are they related?"

"Yes."

Ni Ge touched his sharp strand of hair, "Many fruits are related. Through various crossbreeding, we obtained mature usable tool categories."

"It is estimated that Transformation Fruit and Dead Sea Fruit have a common origin."

Zhou Yi nodded.

The immediate task is to plant them first.

"Cultivating Qianji Fruit is entrusted to your Mud Tree Civilization Department. Ni Ge, you and Ye Qing will handle this task."

"Yes, Chairman."

Ni Ge showed a flattering smile, "But could you allocate some Light Seeds to me? My adventure vine, Pan Tree, Black Thorn all need Light Seeds. This energy form is more advanced and efficient than ours, and plants love it. Direct absorption of Light Seeds allows faster growth."

Zhou Yi provided him with 100,000 Light Seeds as departmental funding and warned, "Continue to focus on Pan Tree and Dead Sea Fruit. Don't neglect them."

"Understood, Chairman! We will certainly cultivate Qianji Fruit well! We won't slack on both sides!"

Mud Tree People received the Guangna Box and joyfully rubbed it.

...

Qianji Fruit was buried in Light Amber, and within less than a week, it had sprouted green shoots.

This rapid growth was due to Ni Ge aggressively using 10,000 Light Seeds on Qianji Seed.

Tree Demons grafted and transplanted the shoots onto Pan Tree. Apart from the slightly reddish color of the branches, they were indistinguishable from the surrounding branches.

As Zhou Yi focused on Qianji Fruit, Yuan Tong brought Lin Chi's ship to the top of a building in Jade City.

This one-eyed minister got straight to the point, "Chairman, the manufacturing department wants to jointly establish a plastic products factory with Plastic Island."

"Since our collaboration with Plastic Island began, we've purchased a large amount of recycled plastic, which is widely applied."

"Like our basic Light Soot Dam. The Desperate Machine inside has been upgraded to its third generation. Many parts were wooden products, heavily worn due to long-term stretching and rotation in the Dead Sea. Switching to plastic and rubber extends their usage and makes replacement easier."

"Then there's our refrigeration box shell, glider's collision structure, airship's gondola outer wall, and electrical equipment's outer shell and insulation layer, all gradually being replaced with plastic."

"We've developed many fields for plastic use."

Yuan Tong enumerated, "Daily necessities like plastic kettles, bottles, water tanks, storage boxes, tables, chairs, sealing tapes, fuel tanks... And in agriculture, old Zheng uses plastic to produce film for greenhouses, with high demand. Additionally, plastic pipes needed for drainage systems."

"The entire plastic industry can play a significant role in the company system."

"To better produce our needed molds and cable insulation layers long-term, Chairman, we request to jointly establish a plastic products factory with Plastic Island."

"This way, plastic could be used to encapsulate copper wires and metal equipment directly at the production site, reducing many work processes and resource waste."

Zhou Yi listened carefully.

Even without witnessing pig production, he ate pork.

Old human life was filled with plastic everywhere.

This indeed aligns with the company's emphasis on cost-performance and practicality.

"I think it's feasible."

Zhou Yi turned to Lin Chi's ship, "What is Plastic Island's opinion?"

Lin Chi's ship replied, "Mr. Zhou, Plastic Island is very willing to jointly operate this production plant with your company."

"If the plastic factory were entirely self-managed by Plastic Island, it would be stressful. Since cities can be unstable, governance forms could change anytime. The current external environment is far more dynamic than any period in the past."

"Previously governed by Law, now under Mechanical Knights, and future potentially managed by external mayors like other mechanical cities."

"Changes and adjustments in systems can lead to policy shifts, and factories might be shut down the next year."

"Switching to a joint factory ensures stable operation of this industry."

"Therefore, our Municipal Department hopes your side holds over 51% of the shares in the joint factory. It provides stable employment for Plastic Island residents, and we are willing to offer four years of tax exemption."

Plastic Island willingly offered the majority share, seeking investment from the company.

Zhou Yi immediately asked, "Old Yuan, what's the scale of this joint factory, and how much do we need to invest?"

Yuan Tong saw hope and responded enthusiastically, "Chairman, we plan to first build a small to medium-sized plastic processing factory, with a daily output of 0.5-3 tons and yearly output of 200-1000 tons, depending on demand."

"The equipment needed includes injection molding machines, extrusion machines, blow molding machines, crushers, mixers, cooling systems, etc. Approximately 10-20 mechanical workers are required, working in two shifts year-round. The wages will follow market standards, with preliminary annual salaries set at 12 Light Seeds."

"The factory will have three main production lines corresponding to three types of products."

"First, daily use items like plastic basins, barrels, hangers, tableware, etc. Second, packaging materials like plastic bottles, boxes, films, etc. Third, industrial components like plastic pipes, cable insulation layers, various equipment shells, etc."

"The factory will first meet company needs and Development Alliance orders, not open to the public."

"In summary, including equipment, personnel, location, and initial costs, Lin Chi's ship and I calculated along with Red Kestrel. We estimate it requires 50,000 Light Seeds. With our side holding 51% stake, it amounts to an investment of 25,500 Light Seeds."

Zhou Yi's suspended heart finally settled.

Just that much?

Opening a factory is much cheaper than planting trees.

Zhou Yi generously said, "The company will provide."

Yuan Tong immediately felt rejuvenated, "Plastic Island has an existing factory that can be directly transformed. With mold casting and parameter testing, production can officially start within a month."

Zhou Yi said, "No rush. Quality is important for our usage."

"Understood, please rest assured."

This manufacturing minister confidently asserted, "Our company's quality control is already strict. Plastic Island is a mechanical city where every process phase is clearly defined, and substandard products cannot leave the factory."

Zhou Yi nodded.

Speaking of processing and manufacturing, mechanical life is indeed superior.

He raised a point of his own curiosity, "Lin Chi's ship, you mentioned frequent changes in governance systems within mechanical cities... What's the deal with external mayors?"

The drone responded, "Mr. Zhou, similar to our Plastic Island, many mechanical cities changed following the destruction of Spring City."

"Among the small and medium-sized mechanical cities around the Development Alliance, 11 have adopted mechanical knight governance over cities, with Law becoming auxiliary programs."

"This reduces military expenditure, avoids the heavy debt burden on the city, and escapes the war clouds of the Legal Front."

"Our attempts show that the Municipal Department can lead the city without harm. Because the Law program still operates, providing various analyses and suggestions, we decide whether to use them."

"Some mechanical cities have promoted another city governance method, publicly recruiting external mayors to administrate. Usually offering high salaries, such as 10,000 to 30,000 annually, with some including profit-sharing agreements. This trend is becoming popular."

"External mayors need years of urban management experience or expertise in managing large organizations."

"This professional talent is severely scarce in mechanical cities and challenging to nurture."

Lin Chi's ship continued, "For instance, the former sea lord of Fanyun City, Lord Fanyun, now serves as the mayor of Mechanical Bay. This large mechanical city was the first to implement this mechanism reform."

"After assuming office, Lord Fanyun cut a large number of patrolling drone-like robots and transformed them for agricultural and commercial use. He sold all the mechanical thugs held in the city to Mechanical City as workers, relieving this burden group and generating additional revenue."

"In Mechanical Bay, Lord Fanyun is widely acclaimed and highly supported."

Zhou Yi was astonished.

This person who cashed out Fanyun City is now a mayor in a mechanical city!

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