Wasteland Development Diary

The clockwork mouse on the table was unassuming, yet it had led the local sand rats to build a vast underground city, breeding and manufacturing antlion defenses, making it the underground overlord of this area.

The claw swine tribe that provoked and slaughtered the sand rats did not die unjustly.

Zhou Yi was very interested in the details of raising antlions.

"What do you feed the antlions? They're quite large."

Nemo didn't hide anything: "The newly metamorphosed antlions aren't very big and spend most of their time sleeping. We move them to a planned underground area for placement."

"We regularly put food there, including various fruits and insects, as well as some rotten corpses we find. When they grow to a certain size, they need more food."

"Sometimes we take risks, luring claw swine, red-eyed vultures, and northern forest sheep into the antlion hunting grounds. Capturing light seeds allows the antlions to grow faster."

Zhou Yi thought, 'Good heavens, they're pulling monsters.'

Nemo continued, "The antlions have blocked the possibility of humans coming in large numbers from the west. Although the people here have also built settlements, the harm has been greatly reduced."

"But the rainfall is getting less and less, and the windy weather is getting more and more severe. Water shortage and soil losing fertility are causing plants to continue to decrease. Compared to the deterioration of the general environment, the localized desertification caused by antlions is only a small problem."

"Humans are just outsiders; they can leave here. The claw swine might also return to the northwest. But this is my home where I've lived for hundreds of winters; I have nowhere else to go."

Nemo was silent for a while.

"Whether we like it or not, we must find ways to transform the environment and adapt to the new era."

It moved its forelimbs, gesturing lightly on the table: "After investigation and experimentation, I have made two plans."

"The first is to live scattered, allowing the sand rats to be scattered in every human settlement centered on Sand Harbor, relying on obtaining rotten food from humans, or stealing a small portion of the grain stored by humans, to maintain the basic survival of the group."

"This will greatly alleviate our food problem."

Speaking of stealing strategies, Nemo was very frank: "Increasing income and reducing expenditure can buy us valuable time to achieve the real goal, which is the second strategy."

"I plan to spend a hundred winters transforming this entire land, so I need to build a large enough underground pipeline system to bring water from the northern forest area and the southern rivers behind the mushroom forest to restore moisture to the oasis, and then dig volcanic ash from the volcano and transport it underground to restore soil fertility and expand the oasis."

This kind of Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountain courage and super execution ability made Zhou Yi admire him.

"It's a pity."

Nemo's voice suddenly became a little low: "Although we have made many preparations and overcome many difficulties, the power of sand rats is limited in the face of nature."

"Before this winter came, a large number of working sand rats were suddenly massacred by claw swine groups, with a total death toll of over 7,000, which had never happened in the past."

"All along, claw swine have hunted sand rats either as a food supplement or to train their young to hunt. Sand rats are just ordinary animals and have very limited attraction to light seeds."

"The claw swine cannot capture enough forest sheep in the north, and tribal competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and they also have to face the threat of human hunting groups. Under high pressure, they become crazy and vent their pressure by slaughtering sand rats."

"In the past, we have always avoided and remained silent, because fighting against light seeds would pay a huge price. But this time is different."

The clockwork mouse made a firm and clear voice: "This battle is not my decision, but the common will of all sand rats."

"Even if the sacrifice is great, they will avenge their dead companions and fight back. They are willing to fight strong enemies anywhere, whether it is in the wilderness, in the mountains, in the rivers, in the desert, they are willing to sacrifice themselves, willing to take on any function such as death warriors, repairmen, and scouts, they will fight back against the enemy at all costs until they finally win this victory!"

This was something Zhou Yi didn't expect.

Sand rats, who are timid by nature, restrained their instinctive fear and united the entire group to fight back against opponents who were invincible in the past, which was already the beginning of wisdom and civilization.

Nemo said: "I am just listening to their voices to formulate specific plans."

Zhou Yi mostly knew what happened next.

The sand rats poisoned many members of the hostile claw swine tribe, rendering them unable to fight.

Then, in the dead volcano, they detonated the prepared underground sulfur dust to reduce the number of remaining claw swine with combat power to the greatest extent.

In this process, more than 500 sand rats also sacrificed themselves.

There was another thing Zhou Yi didn't know.

"We also had a sand rat who took advantage of the claw swine mature body attacking here, and dug open the caves where their cubs were placed, leaving them in the open air. Red-eyed vultures will hunt those cubs, and they will not survive this winter."

Nemo said calmly: "This is a life-and-death battle between two groups, and I will not give them any chance to counterattack."

Zhou Yi looked at the little clockwork mouse on the table again.

Its job is a plumber.

But years of leading the sand rat group have made Nemo a good leader.

Zhou Yi immediately extended an olive branch to the clockwork mouse: "I understand the difficulties you are facing. I have a suggestion, you might as well join our wasteland development company. With the help of the company, your life here will be much more convenient and easier."

"The ridge hunter you caught is my company's patrol guard, and the Emerald City here is also the Dead Sea alien you have seen, which is my company's office building and employees. There is also a battle-hardened samurai crab team, they are professional soldiers and engineers, and they are also part of the company's security system."

He raised his finger: "My company can provide, one, security within the company's scope of influence, so you don't have to worry about the threat of the surrounding claw swine. Company employees are protected by the company."

"Second, provide you with the labor assistance you need. The underground water pipelines and volcanic ash excavation that you need to build take too long for the sand rats themselves, and samurai crabs will help you complete the construction."

"Third, food security. If the sand rat group lacks food or materials, they can apply to the company. If the company does not have inventory, it will go to other settlements or cities for centralized procurement to ensure that your survival is not affected."

"Fourth, an independent growth path. The sand rat group here has a preliminary germination of wisdom, and the company will maintain your independent autonomy, just like the mushroom forest. We will help you when you encounter difficulties, and you also need to share the results you have achieved with us."

"All of this is premised on, and can only be, the sand rat group you lead."

Zhou Yi's goal is very clear.

The sand rat tribe with Nemo has the development it has today. I have never heard of sand rats in other places building such a large-scale underground city.

The clockwork mouse is the key.

Such a leader who is almost immortal has an unquestionable influence among the sand rats.

After thinking, Nemo asked: "What do we need to do after joining the company?"

"In the long term, develop well."

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "But in the short term, you have lived on this land for many years, and you should be very clear about the surrounding movements. The company needs your intelligence network."

Nemo was also very decisive: "Thank you for your invitation, we are very honored to be part of such a powerful organization."

Zhou Yi was relieved: "The sand rat group operates independently internally, and continues to do what it should do. You report directly to me and are responsible to me. Are you short of food now? What about pipeline excavation? Do you need light seeds?"

The light in the clockwork mouse's eyes flashed: "Light seeds... can also be applied for?"

"Yes, as long as you have enough reason."

"To be honest, sand rats don't need it, and I don't need light seeds either. It's enough to charge during the day. Because my skills are very ordinary, just [Building Pipelines], I can reasonably use space and the existing environment to build underground pipelines."

Zhou Yi looked at the hovering Red Falcon next to him again: "Nemo's weight, you should be able to carry it, right?"

"No problem."

"Then take it to Recursive City to upgrade the hardware, repair what should be repaired, add what should be added. Now its machine is too fragile. As for which parts to upgrade, you can discuss it and see what to do. This is the funding."

Zhou Yi used the light seed box to give the Red Falcon 200 light seeds of public funds.

Nemo's beard stood up with joy: "Mr. Chairman, I will definitely not let you down! Before that, I request to meet with the sand rats first to appease them and inform them of this news to avoid them from panicking and losing order."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Don't worry, I have another idea. Regarding the new cooperative relationship between sand rats and humans..."

After listening, Nemo's small eyes glowed red, and he couldn't help but rub his plastic paws: "The strategy you proposed is full of challenges, but it also has unlimited possibilities. I will do my best to promote this matter as soon as possible."