Chapter 11: Scrap Iron Trading
Su Wu commanded a construction robot to bring over a large pile of scrap iron. With everything ready, he initiated the upgrade. In a flash of white light, 8 survival points vanished from the system panel, and the second-hand tractor transformed completely.
The upgraded vehicle bore no resemblance to its former self. It had expanded into a medium-sized truck with a heavy, metallic finish. Its speed and load capacity had tripled, and thanks to the added armor, its tires were now solid instead of inflatable. The cab was reinforced with thicker walls, and the windows were replaced with bulletproof glass, capable of withstanding attacks from machetes, hammers, and even pistols.
"This should be secure enough," Su Wu thought, feeling a surge of confidence. But something still felt incomplete. Passive defense alone wasn't foolproof. To truly ensure safety, he needed offensive capabilities.
After a moment of consideration, Su Wu returned to the bedroom. He pulled up a design for a hand crossbow on his laptop and transmitted it to the engineering robot, instructing it to prioritize crafting the crossbow and a set of bolts.
The design was a specialized model he had downloaded from a niche, restricted website. It could fire three bolts in rapid succession with an effective range of 50 meters. Under federal law, such designs were classified as prohibited knowledge—illegal to sell, disseminate, or carry. In normal times, Su Wu wouldn't dare to touch it. But with the apocalypse looming and law enforcement preoccupied, he figured the risk was minimal as long as he kept a low profile.
The next day, armed with the newly crafted crossbow and 30 bolts, Su Wu loaded three diesel-powered mini excavators into the truck's cargo bed. He then climbed into the cab alongside a construction robot, which would serve as both a porter and a bodyguard. The robot's strength would be invaluable for loading and unloading the scrap iron, and its humanoid form made it a decent last line of defense if things went south.
The electric-powered truck handled smoothly, its near-silent engine making the drive feel effortless. Su Wu navigated through the city with ease, though the atmosphere was noticeably tense. Most shops were closed, and the streets were eerily empty except for official trucks transporting supplies to shelters. Despite the grim mood, order seemed to hold, thanks to the government's timely announcement of shelter plans. Su Wu's nerves eased slightly as he blended into the convoy, eventually arriving at the steel plant on the city's outskirts.
The handover went smoothly. After delivering the three mini excavators, Su Wu received access to a warehouse containing 260 tons of scrap iron and 4 tons of primary-processed steel plates. But as he surveyed the mountain of materials, a new problem emerged.
The medium-sized truck had a maximum load capacity of nearly 10 tons. However, the irregular shapes of the scrap iron meant the truck could only carry about 5 tons per trip. This halved the transportation efficiency, requiring at least 50 to 60 round trips to move everything. Factoring in loading and unloading time, it might take until the apocalypse to complete the task.
Frustrated, Su Wu turned his attention to another upgrade option for the truck: electronic information systems. This upgrade, costing 3 survival points, would integrate autonomous driving, remote communication, and terrain radar scanning. Once upgraded, Su Wu could use his laptop and primary AI to control the truck remotely, allowing it to drive itself to the steel plant and back while the construction robot handled loading and unloading. The entire process could operate autonomously, freeing Su Wu from the tedious task.
To avoid drawing attention to the driverless truck, Su Wu applied a one-way filter film to the cab windows, obscuring the interior. While not entirely compliant with regulations, he reasoned that with the apocalypse approaching, authorities would have little time to scrutinize minor infractions.
With the upgrade complete, the driverless truck joined the bustling convoy on the streets, shuttling back and forth between the farmyard and the steel plant. Day and night, it transported scrap iron in small batches, steadily moving the mountain of materials to Su Wu's shelter.
Over the next few days, aside from the devastating tsunami that struck coastal cities, little of note occurred. Su Wu spent his time in the farmyard, alternating between watching the news, chatting in forums and groups, and playing games. His life felt oddly relaxed, almost as if he had returned to the peaceful days before the apocalypse.
One notable development was his newfound status in the Doomsday chat group. Thanks to his transaction with the steel plant, Su Wu had proven his resourcefulness and was promoted to an administrator. He was also invited to a smaller, more exclusive group called the Jianghe City Doomsday Survival Preparation Group. This group, consisting of about 20 members, included influential figures from private and corporate shelters in the area. Its purpose was to facilitate material trades and information exchange among local shelters.
Through this group, Su Wu gained access to a wealth of insider knowledge, much of which was unknown to the general public. It was a valuable resource, one that would undoubtedly prove crucial in the days to come.
(End of Chapter)