Chapter 42、The Grand Upgrading of the Shelter!

"Gone, every last point expended."

Yi Bai had meticulously selected the technology projects and was on the verge of finalizing the purchase when Jiang Xiaoci, stationed by his side, abruptly knitted her brows.

"Sir, there remain over three hundred points, do they not?"

"Why not utilize them all?"

Jiang Xiaoci fluttered her eyelids and tenderly proffered a reminder, "Or perchance you intend to hoard them, only to have them wrested away by others?"

Precisely!

It was eminently logical!

Spend it all, down to the very last cent!

So long as it fortified the shelter's viability, any expenditure of points was well worth it!

Yi Bai nodded in assent, "You are correct. Unspent military funds are naught but a reserve for war reparations. We shan't be the hapless dupes."

"Allow me to peruse once more... This one is rather appealing. It demands precisely 350 points!"

Yi Bai singled out yet another shelter defense facility technology project.

[Underground Isolated Shelter Module]: Consumes 350 points. It engenders an underground space appertaining to the shelter beneath the principal edifice of the shelter. The space can accommodate 10 individuals and lacks supplementary amenities but exhibits a more robust capacity to withstand natural disasters.

This technology tree project further augments the shelter's disaster resilience.

"The core structure has already been fortified. Let us persist in strengthening it. What think you?"

Yi Bai regarded Jiang Xiaoci, and Jiang Xiaoci nodded in accord, "This is an astute contingency plan. In a dire exigency, we can seek refuge therein and perchance secure a glimmer of survival."

Verily, this was a trump card installation!

"Mayhap we shall never have need of it."

Yi Bai smiled and opted for all the projects, choosing to procure them en masse.

When Yi Bai consummated the purchase, a resplendent golden radiance flashed, then expanded with alacrity, unfurling from Yi Bai as the epicenter to engulf the entire shelter and subsequently enshroud the entire building.

The maidens within the building were all left agape, gaping in stupefaction at the aureate effulgence encircling them.

In the twinkling of a few eyes, the golden light dissipated, and the residential building had been transmogrified beyond recognition!

First and foremost, within the vacant chamber of the sixth-floor shelter where Yi Bai was ensconced, a power generation component facility, approximately two meters in height and honeycomb-shaped, materialized spontaneously. One after another, circuit conduits extended from it to the wall and vanished from sight after penetrating the wall.

The adjacent chamber was replete with a colossal water storage reservoir brimming with limpid water, and there were corresponding water pipes interconnecting the pool, automatically distributing and linking to diverse chambers throughout the entire residential building.

Since the technology projects procured by Yi Bai directly impinged upon the main fabric of the shelter, and albeit Yi Bai's shelter was confined to the sixth floor, the main structure pertained to the entire residential building.

Consequently, these technology projects would have a direct bearing on the entire edifice.

Beyond the application of the water and power systems, the alterations within the building were patently conspicuous.

To commence with, there were a profusion of surveillance cameras strewn about the building. The 360-degree revolving cameras, bereft of blind spots, could ensure high-definition imaging and playback around the clock.

The terminus of the surveillance screen was situated in Yi Bai's chamber. Beside his bed, there was a multi-screen surveillance split-screen, affording Yi Bai effortless access to the vistas of the majority of areas and chambers within the entire building.

In addition, there were concealed machine gun apertures on each floor. Their control terminals and surveillance terminals were integrated, permitting synchronous operation.

Simultaneously, Yi Bai had gleaned, via the surveillance terminal, that the walls of the residential building had been comprehensively refashioned.

The inner layer of the wall where the automatic machine guns were emplaced could move freely and could be sealed and opened at will, proffering excellent concealment for the machine gun firing positions.

Apart from the modifications within the building, the transformations outside the building were even more salient.

A four-meter-high, solid iron palisade sprang into existence ex nihilo, entirely enclosing the erstwhile open and antiquated building. And there were also sundry steel nets, bedecked with scintillating arcs, affixed to these iron fences.

At first blush, it resembled the exterior barricade of a military restricted zone that had materialized out of thin air!

And even if someone could breach the fence and approach the front of the building entrance, they would be stymied by the ponderous multi-level sealed iron door!

This was a far more formidable door than the rudimentary iron gate fabricated by Li Ya. It exuded the semblance of the vault door of a world-renowned bank, reflecting the frigid gleam of metal and being so weighty as to almost inspire despair.

The damsels within the building were the first to detect the anomaly within the building. They all dilated their eyes in astonishment and could scarcely fathom this miraculous tableau before them.

"Is this... still the domicile where we abide? I feel as if I have traversed through time!"

"Has that queer voice resurfaced? Is it the author of this? I sense that our building is somewhat altered. It appears more sturdily constructed. Is it a figment of my imagination?"

"This door is so capacious! Wait, we shan't be incarcerated herein, shall we?"

Sister Li, possessed of the stoutest mettle, nervously clutched a steel spear and gingerly approached the iron door at the ingress.

Before she could extend her hand to touch it, she overheard an electronic synthesized voice emanating from within the iron door.

"Beep! Target detected! Biometric identification in progress! Judgment: The target's identity pertains to the shelter residents, and the identity is legitimate! Recording biometric information characteristics!"

"Ah!"

Sister Li was taken aback. There was actually an entire suite of super-intelligent electronic identification system ensconced within this strange iron door?

"Pardon me, do you require to depart the shelter?"

The electronic voice inquired from within the iron door. Sister Li glanced back at the astounded sisters and tentatively articulated, "I desire to venture outside and behold..."

"Click!"

There was a heart-quaking sound of gears in operation from within the iron door. Accompanied by a puff of white vapor dispersing, the iron door slowly swung open.

"Wish you a secure sojourn. Please exercise caution when exploring without."

With the sonorous clang of the iron door, Sister Li espied several sisters standing in a daze outside the iron door.

They were also beholding such miraculous artifacts for the initial time and felt as if they were ensconced within a science fiction motion picture.

"Sister Li, what... what are these contrivances?"

"From whence did they hail? They seem highly compliant. We can freely ingress and egress!"

"What an ingenuous lass. Did you not hearken to what this iron behemoth just enunciated? It can identify our identities."

"Was it the leader who fabricated these things? I overheard those individuals surnamed Li deliberating afore. It seems that the shelter panel can engender a plethora of miraculous artifacts."

The women chattered and debated. Their countenances were replete with inquisitiveness and astonishment.

Soon, a maiden hastened down from upstairs, vociferously exclaiming, "There's electricity! There's water!"

"I can activate the air conditioner! I just experimented, and there's truly electricity!"

This outcry rendered the women momentarily dumbfounded.

In the next instant, everyone dispersed pell-mell and stampeded upstairs madly, hastening back to their chambers.

Subsequently.

"Pop! Pop! Pop!"

The illuminations in each chamber were successively kindled! The air conditioner outdoor units initiated a "buzzing" operational din!

"Ah ah ah ah!"

A woman screeched within the building, with voices suffused with extreme exhilaration, "There's electricity! There's veritably electricity! I can recharge my mobile phone!"

"There's water in the faucet! Sisters, we are at last revitalized! It's truly splendid!"

The girls were in a state of extreme excitation, shrieking and hollering.

Some even bolted into the chamber and divested themselves of their garments on the spot, then plunged into their bathrooms, luxuriating freely in the refreshing coolness of the cold water cascading over their forms.

And these scenes were all beheld by Yi Bai in front of the surveillance terminal.

At least half of the girls were engaged in bathing, and they were bathing with the lights aglow. Their nude forms were swaying in diverse split-screens, compelling Yi Bai to avert his gaze in embarrassment.

"Xiaoci, this surveillance function... seems rather deficient. It encroaches upon privacy to an excessive degree."

Yi Bai coughed, but Jiang Xiaoci was resolutely solemn, "Nay, sir. I deem it the most efficacious implement."

"This is an extraordinary epoch. As the leader of the shelter, you possess the prerogative and obligation to monitor every movement within the entire shelter and of all residents."

"In this era, no one can preserve so-called privacy in your presence. That is a dereliction of responsibility regarding the shelter's security and a latent menace to you."

Jiang Xiaoci was indifferent as to whether Yi Bai beheld the women's nakedness. She was solely preoccupied with the overall progression of the shelter and Yi Bai's personal safety.

Be in one's position and fulfill one's duties.

"You are correct. I am overly antiquated in my thinking."

Yi Bai smiled and felt more at ease.

"Sir, I opine it is requisite to institute some novel shelter regulations."

Jiang Xiaoci gazed at the surveillance screen and reminded with a furrowed brow, "For instance, the edict of water conservation. We must apprise them of the value of water resources and preclude them from squandering it thus."

"It is tolerable. Permit them to revel on this inaugural day."

Yi Bai regarded the screen and stated placidly, "Even I pine for the days when there was water and electricity. They have endured a great deal as well. Taking a bath will not fritter away an inordinate amount of water."

Yi Bai was supremely confident. After all, albeit the price of the water resource system was steep, it could furnish the daily water requisites of 50 residents.

This also encompassed the fundamental living water needs for ablutions, imbibing, and cleansing.

Moreover, the water storage pool is automatically replenished daily, thus obviating concerns of depletion.

"Sir, you are overly indulgent."

Jiang Xiaoci shook her head but refrained from further persuasion.

She was more cognizant than anyone else in her heart that it was due to Yi Bai's leniency and benevolence that she was willing to contribute more of her faculties to Yi Bai.

Yet being willing was one aspect. She would still center her attention on the long-term development of the shelter and would not countenance the women's profligate use of water resources.

"Sir, we ought to be capable of extracting the water from the storage pool, ought we not?"

Jiang Xiaoci reminded, "We can append additional water storage capacity, extract the water conserved daily, and fully exploit the automatic restoration function of the storage pool."

"An excellent proposal. You invariably cogitate one step ahead of me."

Yi Bai nodded in concurrence. Jiang Xiaoci's intellect was truly remarkable and functioned more expeditiously than that of the commonalty.

The commonalty might still be enmeshed in the jubilation of the restoration of water and electricity and unable to extricate themselves, whereas Jiang Xiaoci had already embarked on ruminating about how to utilize the restored water and electricity to augment the resource reserves of the shelter.

"If sir grants permission, I aspire to formulate some novel blueprints now and make optimal use of these novel technology project facilities."

Jiang Xiaoci regarded the girls' felicity, paused momentarily, and then enunciated, "And also institute more comprehensive shelter statutes."

"Very well, you may proceed. I repose complete trust in you."

Yi Bai smiled and nodded. He had already ascertained the loyalty of the talents. Even in the absence of the [Loyalty] trait like Lin Yue, each talent harbored a relatively elevated degree of loyalty to the shelter.

So long as he did not act erratically, the talents were improbable to defect with ease.

"Yes, sir."

Jiang Xiaoci nodded and promptly arose and took her leave.

When she had just reached the doorway, she suddenly recollected something and wheeled around to address Yi Bai, "Sir, I have one further matter..."

Before she could conclude her utterance, Jiang Xiaoci was rendered speechless.

She espied that Yi Bai had half-extended his torso. His posterior was still seated on the chair of the surveillance terminal, but his upper body had already reached the computer desk adjacent to it.

He was powering on the computer.

The computer chassis emitted a faint "buzzing" sound, and the screen gradually illuminated. A beautiful two-dimensional anime girl desktop was mirrored in Jiang Xiaoci's pupils.

"Xiaoci, is there aught else?"

Yi Bai scratched his pate and inquired, glancing back.

"Sir..."

Jiang Xiaoci suddenly smiled and shook her head, "Naught. I shall manage all affairs adroitly."

"Then I... may I continue?"

Yi Bai gestured at the computer, and Jiang Xiaoci's smile at the corner of her mouth became even more tender, "Sir, enjoy your gaming."

Thereafter.

Jiang Xiaoci departed the chamber with grace.

Yi Bai seemed to overhear Jiang Xiaoci's suppressed laughter from without the room.

"He's truly a frolicsome young lad..."

"Er."

Yi Bai blinked and murmured, "Is this a compliment?"

Nevertheless, computer games were truly delightful!

"Forget it, pay it no heed. I'm itching to play!"

Yi Bai directly shifted his position, seated himself comfortably in front of the computer, randomly selected a single-player game from the computer, and double-clicked to initiate it.

"Let's play! Do naught today but engage in gaming!"