Chapter 25: The Tyrant Who Built His Own Shelter

Outside the Shelter:

The sky remained a suffocating blanket of low, black clouds, visibility reduced to a dismal blur. The ground, a desolate expanse of gray-white ash, stretched out on either side of the road, a silent testament to a world stripped of life. Even the wind, a constant companion elsewhere, seemed to have abandoned this forsaken place.

Click!

The mechanical whir of gears announced the arrival of a robust, skeletal robot, emerging from the tilted passage leading from the shelter. It planted its heavy feet on the ashen ground, its high-definition camera and night vision sensors sweeping the surroundings. Instantly, the data streamed into its intelligent core, and within milliseconds, a simple action plan was formulated: proceed forward, navigate around a heap of discarded steel, enter the makeshift carport, and board the medium-sized truck parked within.

Inside the Shelter, Control Center:

On the deserted console of the shelter's second-floor control center, a monitor flickered to life. Artificial intelligence, Luo Tianyi, diligently updated the screen with task information.

"Construction robot A04 entering lift platform... departing shelter... entering truck cab..."

"Surrounding environment: safe."

"Initiating driving route planning; destination: reinstalled Knight's refuge."

...

Su Wu finally stirred from his slumber. After a quick wash and a hearty breakfast, he entered the control center, just in time to see the medium-sized truck nearing the reinstalled Knight's doorstep.

"Hey, I'm here," Su Wu announced, switching to the chat software and initiating a voice call with the Knight. "Is it a good time for you to come out?"

A few seconds later, the Knight's voice, concise and powerful, crackled through the speakers. "Give me half a minute. I'll open the door." Rapid footsteps echoed in the background, a clear sign of his hurried movement.

"I'll wait," Su Wu replied, satisfied with the Knight's efficiency. Through the truck's onboard camera, he soon spotted a nondescript shop with a rising rolling gate. A forklift, loaded with cargo, emerged.

"Here," Su Wu signaled, honking the horn and directing the construction robot to exit the cab.

"You're... Su Wu?" The middle-aged Knight, seated on the forklift, stared in surprise at the approaching robot. The exposed skeletal frame suggested no human pilot.

"Remote controlled robot," Su Wu explained. "I'm still in the shelter." He then directed the robot to assist in transferring the cargo from the forklift to the truck bed.

The air shimmered with heat, the temperature hovering around a dangerous 65 degrees. Every second of exposure increased the risk of heatstroke. This was no time for leisurely conversation.

"Damn, you're playing with robots now? That's awesome!" The Knight, already drenched in sweat, gazed at the robot with undisguised envy, like a child admiring a coveted toy. "Are those all the batteries for charging?"

Understanding the Knight's urgency, Su Wu instructed the robot to gesture towards the truck cab, inviting the Knight to join him. The truck, converted into a mobile survival point, boasted a high-quality air conditioning system, capable of operating under extreme temperatures. While not as cool as the shelter, it offered a welcome respite from the oppressive heat.

"Thank you," the Knight said, nimbly hopping off the forklift and into the passenger seat. The cool air washed over him, eliciting a sigh of relief. The outside temperature was a form of torture.

"That's all the batteries," Su Wu confirmed. "And I added the rewards. Twenty kilograms of smokeless gunpowder, military-grade quality."

This was the result of their previous night's negotiations. Initially, the Knight had offered an imitation military pistol and ammunition. Su Wu, however, knowing his robot could replicate such weapons, opted for the more valuable gunpowder.

"How powerful is it?" Su Wu asked, curiosity piqued.

"If used right, you could bring down a building," the Knight boasted. "Absolutely explosive." He paused, his tone shifting. "But using this quality of gunpowder for bombs is a waste. It's best used for making bullets, stable and reliable."

Su Wu nodded, confirming his intention to manufacture ammunition.

"You seem very knowledgeable about this stuff. Military background?"

"No way, you overestimate me," the Knight chuckled. "I'm just a landlord, relying on rent from a few buildings." He gestured towards the row of six- or seven-story buildings lining the street. "These, these, and these are all mine. Rent collection was a hassle, dealing with all sorts of people. Now, I'd give anything for those days to return."

Ten days in the underground shelter had instilled a profound sense of isolation in the Knight, especially without internet access. The silence was suffocating.

"Several buildings..." Su Wu was momentarily speechless. His own shelter's construction had been funded by a single, modest apartment.

The reality was clear: those who could build their own shelters were a different breed altogether.

(End of Chapter)