Chapter 21: There's Cola to Drink!

For the people aboard the Tomorrow, every time they encountered a group of Antfolk, it was like picking up money off the ground—they would all surge forward at once. At this moment, the Tomorrow had gradually ventured deep into the Rotting Lands. Outposts, fortresses, small strongholds... Antfolk strongholds were appearing more frequently, and most were elite-level. These elite Antfolk were much tougher than ordinary ones, quicker and more savage, even carrying Level 1 weapons like muskets and repeating crossbows. Some Antfolk strongholds were even equipped with cannons. The Contribution Points began to rise significantly, but so did the danger. By the time evening arrived, Li Ye glanced at the Contribution Points he had accumulated. Over the course of a day, he had amassed another 2,800 Contribution Points. After a brief moment of thought, he ordered the Tomorrow to set course back to Spore Town. Due to the long distance, the Tomorrow didn't arrive at its destination until late at night. At this moment, the entire Spore Town was bathed in a soft blue phosphorescent glow, appearing exceptionally tranquil and beautiful. But Li Ye and his crew had no intention of admiring the view; instead, they hurried straight toward the town center. The items on the exchange list had hardly changed—it was clear that the two unfamiliar Mobile Cities were still hoarding their Contribution Points to exchange for that Level 2 item requiring 8,000 points. Out in the wild, an unspoken agreement had been formed: Antfolk and resource strongholds were claimed on a first-come, first-served basis. Li Ye, therefore, exchanged for the Spore Armor and Sunshine Apple Tree Seeds with peace of mind, and used the remaining Contribution Points to trade for Frost Ore. Only one day remained, and with a bit more effort, he could finish exchanging for all the Frost Ore. Due to the large number of Antfolk he had taken down over the past two days, he had unexpectedly accumulated several thousand Crystal Coins. The corpses of Antfolk would also drop some iron ore, coal, common items, and even design blueprints. The most surprising thing he found was a blueprint for cola. 【Item Name: Cola】 【Item Grade: Common】 【Attached Effect: None】 【Crafting Requirements: 1 unit of freshwater】 “Cola, huh?” His eyes lit up. Li Ye immediately entered the cola blueprint into the Production Workshop and manufactured a batch of cola, handing out a bottle to everyone. After cracking one open and taking a big gulp, he couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction. He had to admit, having carbonated drinks on the wasteland felt really good. Even better if it was chilled. “A drink like this should be popular on the wasteland, right? Maybe I can even make some profit off it,” he couldn't help thinking. By the end of the third day, Li Ye had successfully gathered enough Contribution Points to trade for the remaining Frost Ore in one go. He immediately used the Production Workshop to craft the Frost Cannon and its shells. The Frost Cannon had a crystal-clear appearance, exuding a faint chill. As the Gunner, Ning Wen was instantly enamored, running his hands repeatedly over its barrel. Li Ye let out a relaxed breath. All things considered, he had finally managed to build this Level 1 cannon. The Tomorrow had gained an extra layer of security in the wild. “We finally have a Level 1 cannon,” Old Zhou said, caressing the Frost Cannon with satisfaction in his eyes. “By the way, A'Li, it’s about time we set off again, right?” Li Ye nodded. Considering that the Tomorrow had nearly exhausted its resources and the crew was physically and mentally fatigued from several days of high-intensity combat, he ordered the ship to set off for Roland Fortress for repairs, resupply, and recruitment. As the Tomorrow slowly left Spore Town, the corners of Li Ye’s lips curled upward slightly. He couldn't care less about which Level 1 city had acquired the Level 2 Mechanical Arm—everything the Tomorrow was meant to get, it had gotten. At the same time, he glanced at the System Panel. There were still more than two days left until the next Intelligence Refresh. This time, the refresh interval was unexpectedly long, and there would be as many as seven new entries. “There's bound to be Epic Intelligence, maybe even Legendary Intelligence,” he thought. By the time the Tomorrow returned to Roland Fortress for rest, the Intelligence would almost be refreshed. It would be the perfect opportunity to plan the Tomorrow’s next course of action based on the new intel. ... By evening, the Tomorrow arrived at Roland Fortress. At the moment of entering the fortress, Li Ye let out a quiet sigh of relief. Although the gains from this expedition were plentiful, the Tomorrow had also nearly run out of standard bullets, cannon shells, iron ore, and fuel. The crew was utterly exhausted, with many wounded during the three days of combat, and the Tomorrow had sustained multiple damages. This time, Li Ye intended to let everyone rest for a few days at Roland Fortress, prepare for the next expedition, and try to recruit more personnel. “Thank goodness for the safe harbor of Roland Fortress,” he thought. After all, resting in the wild was a dangerous thing. What surprised him was that the Conqueror and the Azure had just returned as well. The three Lords met up and briefly exchanged stories of the past few days. It wasn’t just the Tomorrow—both the Conqueror and the Azure had made gains this time. The Conqueror had successfully captured a Monstrous Town after several days of attacks, gaining a lot of resources and a blueprint for a City Accessory. The Azure also had good luck; while attacking a mine, an Elite monster unexpectedly dropped a Level 1 Heavy Machine Gun blueprint. “A Monstrous Town?” Li Ye’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, then he quickly asked, “Was it a Boarmen town?” Seeing Lei Jian nod in surprise, he sighed silently. He had originally planned to attack it once the Tomorrow finished resting, but the Conqueror had gotten there first. That was normal—he couldn’t expect all the good fortune to fall into his lap. What surprised him more was the Azure’s luck. To think they managed to get a Level 1 Heavy Machine Gun blueprint. That was arguably the most powerful weapon after Level 1 cannons, and against a Zombie Swarm, it could be even more effective than cannons. Upon learning about Li Ye’s experiences, both Li Jin and Lei Jian were stunned. “You actually got a Level 1 cannon too?” Lei Jian exclaimed. “I didn’t expect the Rotting Lands to have a neutral Monstrous Town,” Li Jin murmured. “Not only did it have Frost Ore and Crystals, it even had a Level 2 item... Why can’t I ever be that lucky?” After speaking, the two of them looked at Li Ye with eyes full of complex envy. Now, the Tomorrow not only had City Camouflage, but also a Frost Cannon, rare Level 1 crops, and two excellent design blueprints. The development speed of this Level 1 city was just too fast—it was like riding a rocket! They couldn’t help but sigh. Li Ye simply waved and smiled. After saying goodbye to the two, he returned to the Tomorrow to get back to his own business. Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. “What’s going on now?” he wondered. “Could it be an enemy attack? No way, this is a fortress.” When Li Ye stepped out of the room in confusion and saw the scene clearly, he was stunned. In the distant sky, a massive figure had appeared. A Mobile City in steampunk style, shaped like a giant hot air balloon!