Chapter 84: The Whereabouts of the Third Level 2 Mobile City

All of a sudden, the entire Tomorrow emitted a loud clicking sound like a giant spring being wound up. Its City Armor began to retract layer by layer like flower petals, revealing the inner structures that slowly stretched outward. As the gears, linkages, and hydraulic systems within began to separate and reorganize, the entire city's size visibly started to expand. The Production Workshop operated non-stop, processing the prepared Iron Ore into a large number of City Accessories, which were delivered throughout the city via conveyor belts for assembly. During this time, the prepared fuel, Saltpeter, and coal rolled along the conveyor belts into the Fuel Compartment, powering the city’s upgrade. The most astonishing transformation occurred in the middle section. The lowest middle deck slowly descended, while rows of honeycomb-shaped mechanical structures newly built by the Production Workshop rose up. As Mechanical Arms and Work Claws operated within, new houses were formed and integrated into the middle section. The lower section’s deck also descended like the middle section, with new supporting frameworks installed by the Mechanical Arms. This upgrade process lasted a full five to six hours before it concluded. As the Mechanical Arms, Work Claws, cranes, and other City Accessories came to a halt, Tomorrow had already transformed into a brand-new Level 2 City. Li Ye gazed at the Tomorrow before him and couldn’t help but express his heartfelt emotion. "What a huge change." After advancing to a Level 2 City, Tomorrow had expanded from its original 125 meters in length and 80 meters in width to 375 meters in length and 240 meters in width. Its height had also increased significantly. Its three-tiered structure — upper, middle, and lower — had greatly expanded, with the number of levels now several times more than before. Now, it looked like a small mountain. "Let’s go up and have a look!" Li Ye waved to everyone. Indeed, during Tomorrow’s upgrade process, for safety reasons, everyone had to obediently leave the city and remain on the ground. Li Ye, along with Old Zhou and Tang Fang, were the first to return to the deck via the lift platform. After the upgrade, the lift platform had also grown in size. Previously, it could only accommodate two Off-road Vehicles, but now it could hold as many as ten. The current Tomorrow was far more spacious than before. The ample space allowed it to carry more resources, grow more crops, and accommodate a larger population — as a Level 2 City, it could house 5,000 to 10,000 people. Currently, Tomorrow had only around 200 residents, making it feel especially empty. Rainbow Tomatoes, Exotic Oranges, Dragon Breath Peppers, Crystal Cabbage, Windsong Rice, Black Corn... Li Ye then planned new farmland in the middle section, where he sowed these newly acquired Level 1 Crop seeds. Adding them to the existing Morning Wheat, Blueheart Potatoes, and Emerald Lettuce, Tomorrow’s dining table would now be much more plentiful. With more fields came the need for more hands. Li Ye had to select 20 Ordinary Residents to specialize in tending the fields. Next, he convened a meeting with Tang Fang, Old Zhou, Lin Wu, and the others to jointly draft a system for work compensation. A Mobile City did not support idle people. Every resident needed to contribute through labor, skills, or combat in exchange for the resources necessary for survival. Currently, the class ranks on Tomorrow ranged from T7 to T1 in ascending order. Level 3 Residents were classified as T7. Level 2 Residents were classified as T6. Level 1 Residents were classified as T5. Combat Personnel were classified as T4. Combat Captains, Helmsmen, Lookouts, Gunners, and Mechanics — these professionals were classified as T3 and were allowed to live in the upper section. Assistants and management were classified as T2. The Lord was the only one classified as T1. Tomorrow’s "work currency" was Contribution Points. Tasks like tending fields, cleaning the deck, external mining, daily city and vehicle maintenance earned between 40 to 60 Contribution Points per day. Combat Personnel earned 100 Contribution Points daily, with additional rewards ranging from 10 to 2,000 points for destroying enemies, disabling enemy vehicles or Mobile Cities, or killing a Wild BOSS. As the most basic level, T7 had no privileges. And T6 had a 10% Contribution Point bonus. T5 received a 25% Contribution Point bonus and regular supplies of meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Residents were not limited to T5; they could continue to advance to T4 and T3. Upon reaching T3, they could move to the more spacious upper section for residence. In addition, T7 residents could be promoted to T6 after working for 30 days, and to T5 after 60 days of work. From T5 onward, further promotions required greater and better contributions to reach T4 and T3. Residents could exchange Contribution Points aboard the Tomorrow for food, furniture, fresh water, daily necessities, and other materials. The basic ration cost 10 Contribution Points per serving and primarily consisted of a fixed quantity of Blueheart Potatoes and Morning Wheat ground into noodles. Fresh water cost 5 Contribution Points per unit, with a daily purchase limit of 3 units. The limit would be lifted when water resources were abundant. Furniture such as wooden beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs cost between 10–40 Contribution Points. Daily necessities included towels, toothpaste, and more. If residents wanted to improve their living conditions, they could also purchase Cola, Whole Wheat Biscuits, Instant Noodle Cups, Orange Juice, Iced Black Tea, and so on. In addition, the small bathhouse aboard Tomorrow would open regularly once every two weeks, with an entrance fee of 100 Contribution Points and limited slots. To improve living standards aboard Tomorrow, Li Ye also planned to build more public facilities in the future. “Your contribution determines your survival level.” — from a Mobile City Lord. In fact, many Mobile Cities had similar contribution systems. After all, it was a better way to mobilize the residents' enthusiasm and encourage contributions to the city. Li Ye then officially announced the contribution system and instructed Lin Wu, Ning Wen, and Lin Xia to pack their belongings and move to the upper section. He also specifically selected five staff members to record the contribution system, all receiving T3 treatment. As soon as the announcement went out, a large number of residents eagerly signed up. After all, T3 treatment was considered very good — just slightly below that of Combat Personnel, but without having to participate in external battles. “Tsk tsk, upgrading to a Level 2 City really is great. The space has increased so much.” Old Zhou sighed. “Oh right, A-Li, I also heard that some Mobile Cities have even built roads in the middle section, and residents there drive small cars.” “There’s really such a thing?” Li Ye was surprised. To build roads in the middle section, that would probably require a Level 4 or even Level 5 Mobile City, right? Upon thinking it through, he realized that Tomorrow was currently stationed in the Wasteland Zone, which was just a Level 1 area, so the things they could see were indeed very limited. Only by heading toward a broader world could they gain a wider vision. After becoming a Level 2 City, Tomorrow had to leave the Wasteland Zone. The resources produced by this Level 1 area could no longer meet its development needs. After crossing the Serene Lake, the Eternal Night Zone loomed not far ahead. There was no light, no movement — only endless darkness spreading in all directions. It stood in stark contrast to the warm sunlight by the Serene Lakeside. “I wonder what’s over there......” Li Ye thought silently, then waved his hand. “Let’s go. We’re heading to the Eternal Night Zone!” Tomorrow activated and began moving north. Staring at the approaching Eternal Night Zone, Li Ye nodded gently. There, he and his companions would face a brand-new challenge. At that moment, he suddenly thought of another issue. According to intelligence, there were three Mobile Cities from the human faction in the Wasteland Zone. The Lone Sail and the Silence were both at the Serene Lake. So where was the remaining Level 2 City? Meanwhile, in the western part of the Wasteland Zone. A massive creature was moving between the mountains. It was the missing Level 2 Mobile City — 『Iron Digger』. Its front section was equipped with two giant, retractable metal jaw plates filled with rotating sharp drill bits, while both ends of the city had massive spider-like mechanical climbing limbs. Dozens of steel cranes stretched across the deck. At this moment, this Level 2 City was skillfully climbing between the mountains. Exhaust pipes spewed thick smoke with a sulfur smell, and the steel cranes anchored atop a discovered mine. Miners wearing goggles fastened themselves with safety ropes onto the cranes while drilling and blasting at the cliffs, then used the steam pulleys on the cranes to transport the mined Ore back onto the deck. Unlike the Lone Sail and the Silence, which had become Predatory Cities, this Level 2 City had chosen a different path — surviving in the mountains. Its Lord was a burly man with a thick beard and a wind-hood. Watching the scene before him, he nodded in satisfaction. “Work faster! We’ll be heading to the Plateau Zone next!”