Chapter 230: Third Traversal, Level-4 Authority |
Watching Jia Liangcai's retreating figure, Qin Ziwen shook his head slightly.
Different people require different approaches.
If someone grew up in a feudal society, Jia Liangcai's method would be understandable, because they were raised on the Three Bonds and Five Constants.
But applying that set of values to modern people doesn't work.
So the Qin Alliance can only be an alliance, not a kingdom.
Trying to restore oneself as emperor among modern people would be very difficult.
However, just because it doesn't work on modern people doesn't mean it would fail with ancient people.
Right now, the main reason the Home had so few recruits was that there weren't many buildings that could recruit new members.
Residences.
Either upgrade the buildings, or construct more residences.
Previously he had told Jia Liangcai to recruit only craftsmen who already knew the technologies, but now it seemed able-bodied people could work too.
Qin Ziwen pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the pressure grow as the Qin Alliance expanded.
He could sense that he was carrying the Qin Alliance's growth, and at the same time the Alliance was carrying him.
If the residential complex is treated as a mobile base, then each Home Master is an independent lord.
As the elected guild leader, he appeared more and more glorious, but in truth his burden was increasing.
He needed a truly elite force that could be unconditionally loyal to him.
Nothing was more suitable than recruits from within the Home.
"Brother."
"Master."
"Guild Leader."
Members of the Core Hunting Team came forward one after another.
Qin Ziwen said, "Mm, the Alliance's hunting forces need to expand. Besides the Core Hunting Team, we'll create two main hunting teams of thirty people each. These two main teams will each need an instructor."
"Of course, right now there are only two main teams, but after new members qualify, the team sizes will continue to grow. In the end there may be around ten main hunting teams."
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other.
Deng Guang hesitated, "Guild Leader, but we don't know how."
Qin Ziwen said, "If you don't know, you can learn, and thirty people isn't many. At this stage, instructors for the main hunting teams will only be chosen from official guild members."
Seeing everyone still hesitating, Qin Ziwen smiled, "No one volunteering?"
Yang Cunshen took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Guild Leader, I'll give it a try."
"Good, one person. Anyone else?"
Qin Ziwu was silent for a moment, a flash of resolve in his eyes, "I'll try as well."
"Okay, since the candidates are decided, others don't need to rush. When the main hunting teams expand later there will be more opportunities. And even if you become an instructor, that doesn't guarantee stability — poor performance will get you removed."
"Don't worry, your positions in the Core Hunting Team will be reserved. If an operation comes up we'll call you back, so don't slack off on daily training. Xiao Wu, Cunshen, you two stay behind for now. Everyone else, you can disperse."
After the others left, Qin Ziwen said to the two of them, "The Armory Department has weapons and armor, go take them out and store them in the warehouse. When we go hunting, you can equip the main team members with them, then return the gear after the battle."
"Understood." Qin Ziwu grasped his elder brother's meaning.
Yang Cunshen nodded steadily, "Yes."
...
Until evening, the sky gradually dimmed.
A large number of residents stayed outside in the residential complex.
Some even went up to the rooftops.
After having experienced one traversal, some people had gained a lot of courage and even dared to stand outside, preparing to watch the traversal up close.
Until the countdown reached zero.
Outside the complex, the barren Gobi blurred like a canvas dampened by rain.
The rising waves of heat from the distant land were quietly smoothed away.
The wind blowing from ahead carried the salt and moisture of the sea.
The boundless sand sea receded like an ebbing tide, and the sound of waves reached their ears.
The previously dim sky brightened, switching from dark to light, time reversing.
Qin Ziwen took out his phone; the time on the screen was rolling backward.
18:07...17:59...16:32.
It finally fixed at 4:30 in the afternoon.
The sky brightened, and in view, the residential complex was surrounded by an immense, deep-blue sea.
The large complex sat atop an island reef.
Scattered across the surrounding sea were at least dozens of islands, some large, some small.
The small ones were similar in size to the island beneath their feet, barely able to hold a residential complex.
The large ones were many times bigger; some even had hills covered in dense vegetation.
[Home Settlement: Congratulations to the honorable Level-3 Authority · Home Master for successfully passing the second map]
[Current map type: Competition]
[Settling your last-stage performance: Combat S, Cultivation SSS+, Wealth SSS+++]
[Overall rating: SSS+]
[Current residential complex ranking: 1]
[Rewards obtained: Random Wonder Card 1, Random Level-2 Red Function Card 1]
As Qin Ziwen saw the rewards, waves of cheers rose throughout the complex.
Qin Ziwen took out the Random Wonder Card.
[Wonder Card] Abyssal Sea Ruin
[Construction requirements] Deep Sea Core, Abandoned Undersea City, Aquatic Rare Treasure *99
After reading the requirements, Qin Ziwen fell silent.
He could understand the Deep Sea Core and Aquatic Rare Treasure requirements. Although the quantity of 99 was a bit high, thinking it through, it didn't seem outrageous — after all, sixteen rare treasures were excavated from a single Giant Rock Dragon.
But what was an Abandoned Undersea City? To construct a wonder, he'd first have to find an undersea city, and his Home would need to be enormous to hold an entire city.
At that moment, a warning suddenly sounded in his ear.
The Home little glowing ball automatically floated up from his side; the milky-white orb was now covered with a faint red layer.
The red glow deepened, and opposite the little ball, a translucent pale-blue ship anchor drifted into view.
[Warning, an Anchor Point is attempting to lock onto your Home]
[Warning, an Anchor Point is attempting to lock onto your Home. Spend points to negate this lock attempt?]
Qin Ziwen's expression shifted slightly; he immediately recognized that the blue ship anchor was the same mark from the Giant Rock Dragon's lair.
Wasn't that from when they killed the Giant Rock Dragon and dug up its nest?
How did it trace back through the network?
He quickly took out the Red Function Card.
Without even checking its exact contents he chose to use it.
[Activate function: Level-2 Retrospection]
[Authority increased. Permission upgraded. Current authority: Level-4 Authority (1/16)]
[Level-2 Retrospection: Opens a channel that allows selection of any map that the residential complex previously traversed. Duration 6 hours, cooldown 7 days. If another residential complex exists on that map, it cannot be opened temporarily.]
[Your authority increased. Safe House function upgraded. Homes with authority not higher than yours cannot initiate Anchor Link on you.]
[Your authority increased. Those with authority lower than Level-4 cannot Insight your possessions.]
[Your authority increased. Those with authority lower than Level-4 cannot launch challenges against you.]
The next second, the blue ship anchor outside the Home little glowing ball gradually faded in color, twisting like a reluctant fish, then blurred and was completely driven away.