This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 133: Training the Guard Squad!

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Training the Guard Squad!

In the end, the beautiful and kind-hearted Miss Teng Teng still paid for the machine.

Even though it wasn’t an order she had placed.

Mosquito and Brother Ciso probably also felt quite embarrassed, and they both agreed to only charge half the cost, refunding half the money to Teng Teng.

Furthermore, the two of them also requested Teng Teng to grant a few more days extension on the order and promised that this time they would definitely not disappoint her, and the remaining balance could be paid after the spinning machine was completed.

They helped move the machine into Vine Cottage.

Seeing the steam machine that occupied nearly half the space in the small house, Mosquito awkwardly scratched the back of his head, saying awkwardly,

"Uh, the main issue is that I don’t really know anything about weaving... but don’t worry! I’ll ask a few knowledgeable acquaintances, and we should definitely be able to figure it out!"

Gazing at the massive machine in the workshop, Teng Teng let out a deep sigh.

"Let’s hope so."

No matter what, having the steam machine was a good thing after all.

During this period, Teng Teng hadn’t been idle, continually researching how to turn the Devil Moth’s cocoon into raw silk.

Following modern silk-making techniques, she discovered that continuously boiling the Devil Moth’s cocoon in water at ninety degrees Celsius to cook the pupae inside, and then letting it sit in room temperature water for a while, the cocoon silk would naturally unravel.

All one needed to do then was to insert two chopsticks and stir, filtering out the "starting threads" of the Devil Silk, then it could be pulled out by hand.

Fortunately, the cocoons of the Devil Moth were large, each composed of a single thread.

And these threads were tough enough that they were difficult to cut even with scissors, making the silk reeling process easier than those of smaller cocoons in reality.

Teng Teng followed a PPT she downloaded from the internet and used a set of parts custom-made at a carpentry shop to assemble a manual silk-reeling machine. The efficiency was decent.

The inventory had already stockpiled quite a bit of raw silk, and the next step was to figure out how to weave these silks into fabric.

Of course, it would be even better if steam power could be applied to this process.

...

Meanwhile, at the western gate of the Outpost Base outside the trenches.

A group of survivors who had been transferred here from the brick factory stood in a disjointed formation. Despite many of them being gaunt and pale, they were much better off than half a month ago.

They wore newly swapped fur coats and each held a wooden stick over a meter long, staring blankly at the Manager addressing them from the front of the line.

"I have a new job for you. Of course, you have the right to decline. Drop your wooden sticks now, and you can still go back to work at the brick factory."

Chu Guang waited a moment.

No one moved.

Satisfied, he nodded and continued,

"Good, since you all voluntarily chose to stay, I expect you to demonstrate your loyalty through actions."

Clearing his throat, he raised his voice.

"Starting from today, you will be enlisted into the Outpost Base’s guard, responsible for maintaining the order of the Outpost Base!"

"The numbers on the nameplates on your chests are your identification numbers, which will stay with you until you are discharged. Your duties include, but are not limited to, patrolling, standing guard, maintaining order, upholding the dignity of the law, as well as daily practice and studies."

"And as compensation, Shelter No. 404 will provide you with a monthly salary of 80 silver coins, along with food and lodging."

A monthly salary of 80 silver coins was quite substantial.

Initially, at the brick factory, they earned only one silver coin a day, but later the Manager raised their wages to two silver coins a day.

Hearing about the raise, the previously bewildered survivors all showed expressions of joy.

Chu Guang wasn’t bothered by their mercenary attitudes.

After all, expecting a group of Waste Land Wanderers who lived like Hyenas to hold lofty ideals and faith was more unrealistic than expecting Mutants to sit down and negotiate.

But it didn’t matter.

He would teach them what obedience and discipline were through rigorous training.

"Let me know if you understand."

"I understand!"

"Louder, haven’t you all eaten?"

"I UNDERSTAND!!!"

Faced with Manager’s majesty, no one dared to slack off; they summoned all their strength and shouted out.

Although it was still somewhat lacking, this time was more passable.

Chu Guang nodded his head and then gave the order.

"Now, everyone turn left and run a lap around Outpost Base. After you’ve finished, return here to regroup! What are you still standing there for? Get moving! I’ll see who comes last and make them run five extra laps!"

Upon hearing the last sentence, the group finally snapped to their senses and dashed forward, terrified of being the slowest.

It wasn’t long before someone had completed a lap and returned to Chu Guang’s side.

Staring at the man who was gasping for air, Chu Guang spoke.

"Report your name and number."

The man, trying his best to control his breathing, respectfully answered,

"Wrench, Number 006, sir!"

It took Chu Guang a while to realize that "Wrench" was the fellow’s name.

Well, what a casually chosen name.

Was it because there just happened to be a wrench lying next to the bed when he was delivered?

Unable to come up with a fitting surname for such a name, and not being great at naming to start with, Chu Guang couldn’t be bothered to bestow one upon him.

"Number 006, starting from today, you are the captain of the guard squad. Your sole task is to train the rookies behind you and train with them."

As he spoke, Chu Guang tossed a VM into his hands.

Watching Wrench, whose face showed utter astonishment, loosen his grip on the stick to hastily catch the VM, Chu Guang continued sternly,

"The training schedule will be sent to your VM later, and the drone flying overhead will record your training results. I allow you to use any means necessary, with only one requirement; that is to keep them alive to complete the daily training tasks."

"If you can’t manage that, it will only prove your incompetence. I won’t blame anyone else, I’ll only hold you accountable."

"Do you understand?"

Looking at the Manager, Wrench nodded nervously.

"I understand, sir!"

"Cough."

"Yes, Commander!!"

Good.

Pretty sharp.

Glancing at the stick lying on the ground, Chu Guang continued speaking.

"Pick up that stick on the ground. Until you receive your weapons, it is your weapon, and I expect you to treat it as your own life."

"Train well. I’ll be watching from above."

Watching Wrench hastily bend down to pick up the stick, Chu Guang left these words behind and then turned to walk towards Outpost Base.

Not long after he left, Wrench, having received the training schedule, immediately started rallying everyone to begin training.

As Manager had said, the drone was hovering above, keeping a clear and close watch on everything they did. To avoid punishment, Wrench pushed them ardently, not daring to relax even slightly.

To be honest, Chu Guang didn’t know much about training.

After all, in his previous life’s trajectory, he had only ever experienced high school military training and freshman military training during college.

Neither of which were anywhere close to the intensity of legitimate military training.

But it doesn’t matter if they don’t know how; they’ve never eaten pork but have seen pigs run, right?

A lot of information can be found online—all they need to do is edit it according to the needs and conditions of the Wasteland, and it can be used.

Like running drills, standing at attention, low crawling, basic combat, and bayonet fighting training, etc.

Master these basic skills, improve physical fitness, develop discipline, nurture a bit more spirit and vitality, and that should be about it.

Chu Guang didn’t need them to have strong combat power; he just needed them to be loyal, loyal, and even more loyal!

As for fighting, that was the players’ work.

After all, no matter how much these survivors trained, the idea of beating a group of fearless, stable "awakened" clones was simply impractical.

...

Noon.

Quality Square in front of the sanatorium.

A group of players, holding their bowls and excitedly chattering, gathered here for lunch.

"Have you guys noticed? It seems like our Outpost Base has gotten a batch of new NPCs?"

"I saw it too! At the west gate, right? When I went to look, they were practicing bayonet fighting! I don’t understand, can we take them with us in a fight?"

"What do you mean ’a new batch’—those people at the west gate are the prisoners we rescued from the Blood Hand Clan’s dungeon. They even said before that to repay us for saving them, they would help us work at the brick factory."

"Damn, it’s them? Okay, I’m a bit face-blind, and my vision isn’t great, plus those people don’t often wash their faces, so it’s not surprising I didn’t recognize them!"

"It looks like those people have fully joined us now, exciting! The number of NPCs at our Outpost Base is increasing!"

"That security team captain seems to be carrying a VM! Speaking of which, can he trigger a quest? Has anyone tried?"

"I’ve tried! Just nag him a couple of times, and you can trigger a quest to train with them. But honestly, that quest is pretty boring. Following them for an hour only earns you 5 copper coins! I’d rather go rent an axe at the woodworking cabin and chop trees!"

"Do you think if we train with them all day, we might unlock a quest to join the security team?"

"Are you dumb... The security team’s quest has always been available from the Manager, it’s just the standing guard task newbies do."

"Shit!"

Initially, many players were curious about this group of NPCs that suddenly appeared at the west gate, skillfully handling clubs.

However, this curiosity lasted only a morning.

As players found out these NPCs neither triggered quests nor interacted much with them, they gradually lost interest and went about their own business.

Perhaps, the planners haven’t worked out this part of the content yet.

After all, it’s the closed beta phase; it’s understandable if there’s a bit less content!

...

After lunch, players dispersed from the Outpost Base.

The team led by the strategist, lacking their advisor, temporarily disbanded.

Old White and Wild Wind went to the brick factory, figuring out how to further increase the output of the kilns. Meanwhile, Night Ten went to the lake and spent some time studying casting and feeding techniques with the fishers.

As for Brother Mole, he tearfully pulled out 200 silver coins collected and bought the priority right of exploration for the second floor of the Greenhouse Ruins from the team, taking Gnome King Riches, Elena, and four other passersby as teammates, and began a new round of dungeon raiding fiercely.

Whether this snowball could keep rolling depended on if he could conquer the second floor’s challenge within seven days!

In theory, it wasn’t very difficult.

After several past battles, Brother Mole had already gained a wealth of experience in "moth warfare," becoming quite adept at dealing with these bugs.

However, the situation they now faced was not very optimistic.

The main reason was the awkward location of the Greenhouse Ruins, right at the entrance of Street No.76, just around the corner from Edge Brother and his frequently injured teammates, as well as mutants ready to shoot cold arrows.

This meant that while Brother Mole and his teammates tried to conquer the dungeon, they also had to be wary of the mutants’ harassment.

After all, no one could guarantee those mutants wouldn’t decide to come their way.

Before, Brother Mole had heard that the Manager intended to utilize the first layer of the Greenhouse Ruins, but due to the threat of the mutants, the plan had to be temporarily shelved.

However, it was fortunate that Brother Edge did not give up, and it seemed he had completely antagonized the mutants, attracting their animosity to some extent.

After a morning of reorganization, he incredulously gathered a group of even more skeptical teammates and launched the second round of today’s assault against the mutants.

This time, he had learned his lesson and did not take the main road. Instead, he bypassed from the south gate of the Wetland Park, followed the street adjacent to Street No. 76, crossed the ruinous terrain, and infiltrated the side of Street No. 76.

This surprise attack seemed very successful.

The dispersed mutants had not anticipated that a troop would infiltrate their flank.

Caught off guard, a lone mutant archer was surrounded and shot dead by the players, who then severed his head.

The sounds of gunfire and explosions rose again from a distance and lasted for quite a while.

War clouds hovered over the airspace of Street No. 76.

Compared to the players who paid no heed to danger, the nomadic tribe at the east gate was in a state of panic.

Most in their tribe were elderly, women, and children; some babies had not even been weaned yet. The remaining capable young adults found it difficult to fight ordinary looters, let alone withstand mutant attacks.

However, unlike the anxious tribe members, their chief, Wu Tieaxe, was not very worried, especially after receiving the "do not initiate attacks" promise from the clan leader, he felt even more at ease.

This clan leader was very kind.

Knowing their tribe had few men, he had no intentions of using them as cannon fodder.

As for safety, Wu Tieaxe was even less concerned.

That man was strong, and so were his subordinates; just a few mutants could not possibly be their match!

This could be seen from the attitude of the mutants themselves.

Those mutants did not dare to attack proactively, only daring to shrink back and set up defenses and ambushes on Street No. 76. In Wu Tieaxe’s view, this was not because those bloodthirsty beasts did not want to counterattack, but because they simply did not have the capability to do so!

And they dared not enter the forest either!

However, out of caution, Wu Tieaxe still warned his tribespeople not to go hunting in the east, advising them to head north or south as much as possible.

Based on his exploration these days, the area near the fifth ring had a good hunting ground.

There were many tall building ruins hiding small animals like squirrels and rabbits, and quite a few mutated hyenas that had taken refuge there after winter began.

With a bit of patience and by setting traps and baits, there were occasionally some gains to be made.

As for the north, the direction they had come from, there were not many animals to hunt. Especially along the elevated road leading out of the city, there was a long uninhabited area.

In this wasteland, any place with a bit of food source or other valuables would not be completely deserted.

Third floor of the sanatorium.

Chu Guang, sitting in the chair, stared at the VM screen, watching through a drone as the retreat of the "Edge Shoveling" group moved south along the path he had planned.

About twenty minutes ago, Chu Guang had already arranged for twenty fully-armed players to stand by near the retreat point through the task assignment method.

If the mutants chased after them, they would face a fierce counterattack!

Speaking of which, was this micro-managing?

Maybe not.

At that moment, Xiao Qi, crouched by the window, suddenly turned the camera towards Chu Guang sitting in the chair and said,

"Master, Xiao Qi feels like the weather is changing."

"Changing?" Chu Guang looked up at the white snow outside the window, then strangely at Xiao Qi, "What more could change with this damn weather?"

Could it drop another ten degrees?

Xiao Qi shook the camera and whispered,

"Xiao Qi doesn’t know either, just feels the clouds are moving a bit fast."

Chu Guang furrowed his brow slightly.

Just as the conflict between Shelter No. 404 and the mutants was escalating, near the elevated bridge in the northern part of Wetland Park, a group of uninvited guests appeared...