Chapter 142: Seeds of Technology!
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Novak was quite satisfied with Daphne.
She hadn't directly used the Golden City Building Token herself. Even though, had she done so, Novak could have easily relinquished control, her choice to hold back showed that she was well aware of her place.
As he held the Golden City Building Token in his hand, Novak glanced at her and asked, "Zogwort gave this to you, so why not use it yourself? Why give it to me?"
Daphne cast him a somewhat resentful look, "Aren't you just asking to hear what you already know? Without you, this City Building Token wouldn't have been so easily won. And without you, this gathering place wouldn't have held together."
She wasn't wrong.
Novak looked down at the token and nodded.
[Golden City Building Token (S-Class)]
[Item – Special Category]
[After usage, and once conditions are met, it allows the creation of a city recognized by the Cosmic Will. Depending on the level of the token, once the city is completed, you will receive city-building rewards of the corresponding tier!]
[City Building Requirements: No large-scale species capable of threatening the territory within a 20,000-meter radius; a complete city wall; population of the territory: 5,000.]
[Note: The requirements have already been fulfilled. After usage, the ground beneath your feet can serve as the foundation for city creation, as approved by the Cosmic Will.]
[Do you want to use the Golden City Building Token?]
"Yes!"
In an instant, a golden light radiated from the token and it vanished.
Simultaneously, a message from the Cosmic Will flashed before Novak's eyes.
[The Golden City Building Token has been successfully used. Please confirm the attributes of your city gathering place.]
[You have used the Golden City Building Token (S), and received the Heart of an S-Class City.]
[City Name: Unnamed]
[City Number: 001]
[City Rank: F (100 copper coins/day)]
[Primary Authority Holder: Novak Yie]
[City Heart (S): This allows for the distribution of permissions. Those with permission will have all attributes increased by 100% while within the city territory. Hostile individuals will have their attributes reduced by 50% upon entering. Permission holders also gain a 20% increase in experience and drop rates.]
Novak narrowed his eyes slightly. First, he renamed the city to White Emperor City, then began distributing permissions.
Daphne had been watching as Novak effortlessly transformed the Golden City Building Token into white light. When it disappeared, she couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. But the very next moment, a voice echoed in her ears.
[You have been promoted to one of the highest authority holders of city number 001: 'White Emperor City'.]
Highest authority?
Daphne was taken aback. Before she could fully process it, another message from the Cosmic Will flashed in the corner of everyone's vision.
[The evolver 'White Emperor' has created the first player gathering place: 'White Emperor City'. 5 Prestige Points have been awarded! Additionally, rewards will be given based on the level of the City Building Token used.]
Everyone received this notification instantly.
Given the recent events they'd witnessed through live broadcasts, no one was particularly surprised. Instead, curiosity bloomed about something else.
[What exactly is a City Building Token? And how do you obtain one?!]
[High-priced offers for random-grade City Building Tokens from D-aet Province! Brothers, if you get one, bring it to us. We won't let you down!]
[I wonder what grade White Emperor's City Building Token is?]
[Rumor has it White Emperor's City Building Token is an A-level...]
But Novak paid no attention to the buzz on the forums. His focus remained on the rewards from the Cosmic Will.
City-building rewards!
In his previous life, he had only used a C-level token. After its completion, he had been rewarded with a special building blueprint: the Temple of the City God. It reduced the threat of undead enemies, though it hadn't been too useful, as undead were relatively rare during the post-apocalyptic era.
Now, with the chance to use an S-level Golden City Building Token, Novak could only imagine what rewards awaited him this time.
The mystery was quickly revealed.
[You have received special rewards for using the S-level Golden City Building Token: S-level Smart Core Module, A-level Lathe Workshop Construction Blueprint.]
What?!
City-building rewards typically didn't provide direct power boosts to the evolver. Most were designed to support city construction. This seemed to be the case again.
Novak checked his inventory, where the two new items had appeared.
[Smart Core Module (S)]
[Item – Building Component]
[A computer's core module. Any mechanical creations built using this will be recognized by the Cosmic Will. These creations also have high growth potential.]
[Usage: Insert into any computer that hasn't been completely destroyed.]
[Note: Mechanical creations recognized by the Cosmic Will are true mechanical creations!]
"Holy Cow?!"
Even Novak, usually calm, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Ever since the apocalypse, the Cosmic Will had disabled all thermal weapons, mechanical devices, and electronics. Human evolutionists had often longed for the speed and convenience that mechanical technology provided before the collapse of civilization. To now have the means to use mechanical devices again... it was unheard of!
This was huge! A truly rare find!
Novak then turned his attention to the other reward—the Lathe Workshop Construction Blueprint.
[Lathe Workshop Construction Blueprint (A-Level)]
[Construction – Manufacturing]
[With this manufacturing lathe, basic items that require processing can be mass-produced. The workshop also has independent R&D capabilities.]
[Construction Requirements: 20 tons of steel, 3,000 square meters of open space, 100 workers with basic processing experience.]
[Note: This is the processing plant we need!]
Goodness!
Novak couldn't believe his luck. Combining the Smart Core Module with this lathe workshop could potentially allow him to manufacture firearms, vehicles—even aircraft and tanks—in the future!
Of course, it would be difficult for such advanced items to gain approval from the Cosmic Will, but still, having this setup was like planting the seeds of future technology.