Chapter 6: The Gradually Forming Construction Team

"The engineering team can start construction now," Su Wu thought, surveying the scene. Though the team consisted of only one excavator and one transport vehicle, the combination was enough to form a basic operational cycle, enabling the mining project to proceed continuously. However, the setup wasn't perfect.

The soil in the area Su Wu had chosen for the shelter was relatively soft, making excavation easier but also increasing the risk of collapses. As a result, reinforcing the underground space had to happen simultaneously with the digging. There was no room for error.

Su Wu glanced at the pile of dirt the mini excavator had dug up. At this early stage, it was hard to tell how stable the ground was. But he knew that if he didn't reinforce the walls as they dug deeper, the excavator might end up buried under its own work.

Returning to the bedroom, Su Wu opened his laptop and added two new tasks to the engineering robot's queue: manufacturing a construction robot and a small cement mixer. Both tasks were relatively simple. A few hours later, after spending 5 survival points on upgrades, a humanoid construction robot stood before him.

Compared to the engineering robot, the construction robot was far cheaper, costing only a third as much. Its design was more human-like, with two robotic arms ending in bionic hands capable of using a variety of construction tools. It could also carry materials or even act as a bodyguard, making it a versatile addition to the team.

With the construction robot now operational, the engineering team was finally complete. Su Wu was freed from manual labor entirely. Tasks like cutting an exit through the courtyard wall no longer required his direct involvement—he simply gave the construction robot a command, and it handled the rest.

"Reinforce the passage," Su Wu instructed the construction robot.

By now, the mini excavator had dug a decent entrance to the underground passage. It just needed reinforcement. Ideally, wood would have been the best material for temporary reinforcement—cheap and quick to install. But since Su Wu couldn't acquire wood easily, he had to settle for steel bars and angle iron. This approach was wasteful, and it also required the engineering robot to spend extra time cutting and welding the materials, slowing down other tasks.

"It's a shame I can't just go cut down some trees," Su Wu muttered. The outskirts of the city were surrounded by barren hills and forests, but with social order still intact, cutting down trees wasn't an option. Even with the apocalypse approaching, those forests were unlikely to survive long, but Su Wu couldn't afford to draw attention by defying regulations.

After a moment of regret, Su Wu shook off the thought. There was no point in being greedy. His current situation was already far better than most. He had a highly efficient construction team that could work around the clock and a private property where he could build his shelter. Compared to the average person living in the city, unaware of the impending disaster, he was miles ahead. Those who relied on government shelters would likely face overcrowded conditions and a grim existence.

By evening, the yard was brightly lit. The two robots and two engineering vehicles worked tirelessly, digging and reinforcing the underground passage. The scene was bustling with activity. To avoid getting in the way, Su Wu retreated to the second-floor bedroom, using his laptop to monitor the construction progress remotely. Bored, he alternated between playing games and browsing online forums and news sites.

Several headlines caught his attention:

"Antarctic Temperatures Hit Record Highs; Millions of Cubic Kilometers of Ice at Risk of Melting, Threatening Over 100 Coastal Cities."

"Strongest Typhoon in History Set to Make Landfall on Dongzhou Coast."

"Dawn City to Suspend Work and Production at 8 PM Tonight in Preparation for Typhoon."

Disaster-related news like this wasn't uncommon, and most people dismissed it as routine environmental reporting or weather forecasts. But Su Wu noticed subtle differences this time. Words like "record-breaking" and "strongest in history" appeared frequently, carrying an ominous tone.

"The signs of the apocalypse are becoming more obvious," Su Wu murmured. "Could the first wave of climate disasters be extreme heat?"

He clicked on the news and watched a video of massive glaciers collapsing into the sea in Antarctica. A chill ran down his spine. He had chosen to build his shelter in the central part of the mainland precisely to avoid potential tsunamis and rising sea levels. Stable geology and low costs were secondary considerations. Now, it seemed his decision had been the right one. At the very least, he wouldn't be on the front lines when the disaster struck, giving him more time to prepare.

"It's a pity for those living in coastal cities," Su Wu thought, looking at a photo of children playing on a seawall as waves crashed dangerously close. "I wonder how many will survive."

But there was nothing he could do for them. Without the Apocalypse Survival System's warning, he would have been just another oblivious resident of a coastal city.

Switching to a communication app, Su Wu opened a large chat group he had joined a few days earlier. The group was filled with doomsday enthusiasts, and he had learned a lot from their discussions. One conversation in particular caught his eye.

A user named Chen Xin seemed deeply troubled by the news of Antarctica's melting ice and was considering moving to an inland city. However, most of the responses were dismissive or mocking. Despite being doomsday enthusiasts, few in the group took the idea of an actual apocalypse seriously. To them, uprooting one's life based on a distant, uncertain threat was excessive.

"It's wise to leave the coast as soon as possible," Su Wu typed in response. "Just look at how many goods are already under government control."

After sending the message, he closed the chat and returned to his game. He had done what he could. If Chen Xin chose to ignore the warning and follow the crowd, that was their decision. Su Wu wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Humanity's survival in the face of the apocalypse was already uncertain. A foolish person's fate was their own to bear.

(End of Chapter)