Chapter 807 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 807: Mammoth City Under the Rising Sun "Wooow! Is this the legendary Mammoth State?" On the deck of the Rourou, a short-haired girl excitedly peered through binoculars, lying on the back of a large white bear as she eagerly gazed toward the distant land. Equally excited, Rourou turned its head toward the shore, shouting in exuberance. "What a huge port... and look at that church—it resembles Zhima Hu!" "What does that have to do with me..." Zhima Hu shook her head with an embarrassed smile, her cat ears on her head twitching left and right. Whenever she felt shy, her ears never seemed to behave. Curiously eyeing the approaching port, Weiba's mouth wouldn't stop yabbering with excitement. "Gosh! This place looks just like Silvermoon Bay! It's almost as if they were cast from the same mold!" "Even the statues at the dock!" "Isn't that just Zhima Hu?" "There's no way..." Listening to the lively chatter, Sisi descended the steps from the cockpit to the deck and laughed. "Yeah, you could say it's a little clever trick by the locals." From her vantage point earlier, she had already seen the entire port of Mammoth City, which was almost a mirror image of the most bustling district of Silvermoon Bay, and perhaps even more splendidly crafted. After all, the latter was built piece by piece through the explorations of Silvermoon Bay's followers, much like building blocks assembled haphazardly. In contrast, the former benefited from the experience and lessons of the latter, resembling a masterpiece re-sketched on a blank canvas. With the support of the authorities of Mammoth State, not only did they absorb the strengths of Silvermoon Bay, but they also improved upon its shortcomings. Rourou tilted her head, curious, and asked Sisi, "A little clever trick?" Sisi nodded, explaining, "Merchant ships from Silvermoon Bay, whether they're heading to the Golden Gallon Port or the western part of the Central Continent, always pass by the east coast of Polo Province. No one would refuse having an additional supply point along this route, especially when Mammoth State itself has a massive population, which is a resource in itself." "The authorities gained the trust of the followers from Silvermoon Bay through a series of strategies and then leased the land to them. The followers established churches, banks, and the port here—essentially giving Mammoth State a port without costing them a dime." Before this, it had been nothing but barren land. By any calculation, Mammoth State authorities made quite the profitable deal. Sisi imagined that the authorities of Mammoth State might have referred to the experience of the Golden Gallon Port. After all, those "independent" officers originally came from there, and even if they'd never butchered a pig, they'd definitely seen one run. "So that's how it is... Is this what they call a win-win situation?" Rourou nodded in understanding, while Weiba, lying on her back, had other thoughts. "Will there be mammoths?" Hearing such a silly comment, Rourou couldn't help but burst into laughter. "How could there be such a thing!" Weiba retorted, "Why is it called Mammoth State then?" Listening to their conversation, Sisi displayed a subtle expression, coughed lightly, and said, "Actually... there are." "Ah???" Rourou and Zhima Hu were taken aback by this unexpected revelation, especially Weiba, who nearly pounced on Sisi in excitement, eyes sparkling as she asked, "Really?!" Seeing her eager expression, Sisi nodded gently, recalling the information she'd read in documents, she explained, "I heard that due to their popularity, the Human Federation's research institutions brought prehistoric mammoths back to life using genetic engineering during the Prosperity Era, adapting them to the new world's environment. They normally reside on the plateau beneath the Zebar Mountains in northern Mammoth State, and they are said to come down to the Tasang River area only in winter." "Just because they're popular they were revived," Zhima Hu remarked with a wry smile, not sure how to respond, "Federation residents sure do whatever they like." Rourou scratched her head in confusion. "Wouldn't this impact Earth's ecological environment?" Sisi pondered for a moment and casually replied, "Polo Province during the Federation Era was a huge zoo... A few peculiar species don't really disrupt much." Moreover, the Wasteland Era fully demonstrated that the adaptability of ecological systems is stronger than humanity imagines. Not only ancient creatures like mammoths but even deathclaws, monsters, and centipedes have become just another part of the food chain. Rourou couldn't help but sigh, "What a crazy time." Weiba pondered for a long time before suddenly blurting out a question, "If they could bring back mammoths, why not dinosaurs?" Sisi hesitated, "Uh... maybe they just haven't had time yet?" As they chatted, the long whistle of the Rourou sounded, as the wide cargo ship gently neared the dock's edge. With the concerted effort of the crew and sailors, they steadily anchored the ship. Reality here was quite different from the rumors. The Golden Gallon Port's "Survivor Daily" had said that the area was a ruined wasteland flooded by river deluge, yet what they saw were smooth brick roads and Silvermoon Bay buildings carved from marble. Admittedly, the nearby city area had suffered a disaster; debris and makeshift shelters were visible from a distance. But atop the ruins, some concrete buildings had started to rise. Rourou quickly noticed with her sharp eyes that those buildings seemed to be built with precast concrete panels, remarkably resembling those from Boulder City. The construction equipment, visible at distant sites, further confirmed Rourou's guess. Rourou figured that the authorities might have utilized some foreign currency reserves to import equipment for producing precast concrete panels and lifting technology, then used cement and steel bought from other regions to complete these "corn buildings." It's said that Mammoth State has a population of ten million, with most of them having lived worse lives than livestock. Not long ago, they also experienced floods affecting a third of the state. Expecting them to move straight into large houses from barns was unrealistic; the Alliance itself had exerted considerable effort just to solve basic sustenance for a mere hundred thousand people initially. Yet encouragingly, the situation seemed to be improving bit by bit. Just like Dawn City back in the day. Rourou, who initially wasn't too optimistic about Laxi, found her perception subtly changed. Perhaps those stern officers weren't as bad as she'd thought? Talking about equality here was premature; first, they needed to ensure these people could eat. Once formalities like cargo delivery were taken care of, they planned to wander around the dock, intending to explore this burgeoning settlement. However, they unexpectedly ran into a familiar face. A man draped in a flamboyant robe stood, red-faced, arguing with several uniformed men—or rather, attempting to wriggle his way out of something. "I sold frozen livestock! Why are you charging fur tax on me?!" "Nonsense," a uniformed man mocked, unceremoniously pointing out, "Mink fur grows on pigs? Show me a pig with mink fur!" Mo Jiawei's face flushed. "You just haven't seen it! Who's to say they don't exist in the wasteland? In Baiyue Province, there's all sorts of strange things!" The uniformed man rolled his eyes, his expression seemingly saying, "You're insulting my intelligence." At that moment, a melodious voice chimed in from the side. "Oh! Really? But why has Weiba never seen one during her long stay there?" "!!!" "Do you have more ludicrous claims?" The uniformed man mocked as he eyed Mo Jiawei, but the latter widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at the peculiar trio and bear. "...Sisi? Weiba?" Weiba squinted at him for a moment, thinking he looked familiar. Then, recalling distant memories, she exclaimed excitedly. "Oh oh oh! You're that pelt seller!" Thunderstruck, Mo Jiawei nearly choked on his own spit, coughing vigorously to regain composure. "What do you mean pelt seller? I have a name!" "Hehe, sorry, I forgot!" Weiba awkwardly scratched her head. The men in uniforms followed Mo Jiawei's gaze and, upon seeing the large white bear, momentarily tensed up. However, the tension faded quickly, and they were surprisingly at ease once they realized the bear could speak. In the wasteland, bizarre things were common, and a talking bear was just one more oddity. As long as it could communicate, there wasn't an issue. "You guys are... customs officials?" Sisi approached the men, casting a curious glance at their uniforms. "What are you arguing about? Would it be too much to ask for us to eavesdrop... I mean, for you to enlighten us?" The head customs officer glanced at Mo Jiawei and sneered, "This guy wrapped pork in mink fur, tried to declare it as livestock to dodge the import tax on food!" At this critical time when Mammoth State was in dire need of foreign currency, sneaky traders like him attempted to swipe coins scraped together through the hard work of overseas laborers! Had their superiors not instructed them to deal with such merchants with reasoned discussion rather than force, they wouldn't have wasted their breath. Instead, they would've acted decisively. Rourou, surprised, looked at Mo Jiawei's embarrassed face and couldn't help but comment, "Wow, that's pretty sneaky of you." Mo Jiawei, knowing he was in the wrong, still attempted to argue, "But it's not my fault... It's their rules that have loopholes." Sisi subtly shifted her gaze away, musing, "While that's true, it does seem you're taking things a bit far." In such situations, wasn't a bribe customary? Judging by his frustrated look, he may have tried but failed. Soon, the commotion at the dock drew the attention of others. Within minutes, a crowd gathered. At that moment, an older gentleman, accompanied by two young men, approached, intending to inquire about the situation. However, among the crowd, he spotted familiar faces. "What happened here—Sisi?!" His face portraying astonishment, the older man was equally surprised, and Sisi and her companions mirrored that with their expressions. "...Are you Ashi?" "You remember me!" The old man, moved, came forward to embrace her hands tightly. "It's been such a long time!" Sisi smiled warmly and shook his hands back with vigor. "Indeed, it's been ages." This man was one of the elders of the Yue Resistance. Back when the White Bear Knights stormed the Golden Gallon Port, Ashi and other Yue people had made the courageous decision to stay back, offering the opportunity to escape by boat to many women and children, eventually leading to the formation of the Yue Resistance. Although this resistance fought many futile battles and even became an "experience pool" for warlords, standing against the regular army was a remarkable feat. The old man, misty-eyed and teary, left the onlookers, particularly the newbies, awestruck. "Everyone has missed you so much... Oh, and how is Granny Sangru's health?" "She's doing great! I saw her down a whole bottle of beer last time!" Weiba enthusiastically responded. Hearing this, Ashi smiled with satisfaction. "That's good to hear... Knowing they are well off puts my mind at ease." Turning to Mo Jiawei, Ashi then looked back at Sisi. "Is he... a friend of yours?" A subtle expression crossed Sisi's face as she ignored Mo Jiawei's pleading eyes and said, "You could say that... But even so, I hope our relationship doesn't influence his treatment. Follow your established rules." No matter the justification, taking money from the poor was too much. Seeing his old friend unwilling to intervene, Mo Jiawei grew anxious, attempting to play on their emotions. "Come on! You can't do this... I helped you guys back then! Have you forgotten?" Sisi remained unmoved, keeping her gaze steady, "That's a separate matter... Back then, it was pure business. Did we ever shortchange you?" With that, Mo Jiawei had nothing left to argue. Seeing everyone's eyes on him, he surrendered, raising his hands in defeat. "Fine, I give up. I'll pay... I'll cover the duties, okay?" The young customs officer glanced at Ashi, their superior, who nodded sternly. "Issue him a ticket, waive the fine since it's a first offense, but he must pay the overdue taxes!" "Yes, sir!" The officer replied, pulling out a slip and handing it to Mo Jiawei with a sardonic smile. "You should thank our director and remember not to pull this kind of stunt again." Mo Jiawei threw him a fierce look, took the slip without a word, and hurried away. Realizing the show was over, the crowd dispersed. Looking at the benefactors he hadn't seen in days, the serious demeanor on Ashi's face shifted to warmth. "Do you have any plans from here?" Sisi glanced around, "We intended to explore a bit, looking for possible investment opportunities... Oh, and we were planning a visit to customs." Ashi's eyes lit up, immediately suggesting, "Perfect! Just follow me then! Mammoth City offers tax exemptions for imports like production machinery, improved crop seeds, food, and pharmaceuticals. I'm the one in charge of that sector and can show you around." "Then we gladly accept your generous offer," Sisi replied, grateful for the assistance and also hoping to gather information on the settlement. This was partly due to her personal interests during the trip, but also as per an assignment from their manager. Reliable sources indicated that the Legion planned to use the powder keg that is Mammoth State to pressure the Alliance, attempting to interfere with the space elevator agenda at the Minenet Assembly. The Alliance, of course, couldn't stand idly by as the Veylantans played tricks under their noses. However, before establishing any countermeasures, they needed to understand the situation in Mammoth State thoroughly. This honorable yet straightforward task naturally fell upon Sisi and her team, who were conducting business nearby. With Ashi's guidance, they headed to the customs office lounge at the port of Mammoth City. Upon arriving, they learned that the kind, elderly gentleman with them was actually the Director of the Customs Administration in Mammoth State! Weiba's eyes widened with astonishment, "Wow, you're that high up!" Ashi, caught off guard by the surprised stare, sheepishly explained, "It's not as impressive as it sounds... The port of Mammoth City has only recently opened to trade, with monthly import-export volumes barely reaching hundreds of thousands of silver coins. Our entire customs staff is just over forty people, not even enough for a full platoon." Expressing a wistful tone, Ashi continued, "I once commanded a battalion. If it weren't for being sidelined by Laxi's faction, I wouldn't have been sent here for 'retirement.'" Weiba, Rourou, and Zhima Hu exchanged glances. Getting sidelined to become the Director of Customs? Not bad... Could this even be called sidelining? Despite the reduction in personnel, wasn't this clearly a promotion? Sisi, slightly bemused, cleared her throat to change subjects, "I heard there was a recent flood here. We specifically brought some food and medicine... How's the recovery going?" "The flood was back in autumn, when the Empire conducted scorched-earth tactics in Mammoth State, blowing up the Tasang River dike... Fortunately, the dike was never tall to begin with, so the damage was limited. Our plan now is to build a broader irrigation system capable of power generation." When speaking of the flood, Ashi's eyes flickered, seemingly reluctant to delve into the topic. Instead, he focused on how well the reconstruction was going, skimming over the actual damage. This should've been a prime opportunity to tug at some heartstrings. Though feeling a tinge of curiosity, Sisi didn't press further and simply asked, "What about diseases? No epidemics, right?" Large disasters often herald pandemics, a significant concern for her. However, Ashi shook his head reassuringly, dispelling her worries. "We managed to control the situation quickly... Although there were some initial cases, we isolated them, and they're mostly recovered now." This assessment differed somewhat from the reports in the "Survivor Daily," but such discrepancies were not unexpected. Most residents of Golden Gallon Port were sympathetic to the Yue Resistance and held deep-seated animosity toward the Empire, which oppressed many communities, even organizing donations for the resistance's cause. Regional media outlets, while attempting to report the truth, also inevitably become a reflection of their audience's consciousness. Objectivity is always a relative concept; even Dawn City's "Survivor Daily" cannot claim absolute objectivity. Relieved to hear that the local situation was stable, Sisi nodded in satisfaction. "That's good to hear... Seems like our concerns were unnecessary." "Not unnecessary at all—just perhaps a bit exaggerated," Ashi remarked, trying to lighten the mood with a smile. He continued, "Thanks to your support, we've been able to recover rapidly. Recently, many Alliance merchants have come to establish factories here. Mr. Lister, for example—I'm envious of the houses he's built for his workers! I won't lie; my own place still leaks, while his workers are already living in apartments!" Zhima Hu's surprise was evident. "Are the houses we saw at the port his work?" Rourou murmured in disbelief, "Who would've thought he'd be so generous." Sisi wasn't surprised, commenting softly, "Traders who've survived the major reforms of Boulder City typically adhere to the rules—it's nothing unusual." Weiba nodded earnestly. "After all, those who don't follow the rules either end up bankrupt or worse." Engaged in a conversation incomprehensible to Ashi, with the bear and three companions, he cleared his throat before continuing, "I can't speak for the entire Mammoth State government, but as someone who's received your help, I'm sincerely inviting you to stay longer. It would give us a chance to host you properly." "However, during your stay, I'd advise sticking within the Silvermoon Church district whenever possible. If you must leave, avoid heading southwest, particularly near the front lines. Recently, Gray Wolf forces obtained new weapons, and their assaults on the front line have taken a toll." Rourou expressed concern, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" Ashi responded with a kind smile, "Don't worry. We've endured worse. Now that we have our own stronghold, nothing can be as difficult as it was before." His eyes reflected hope and pride, indicating that despite being "pushed out" of the military by Laxi, he harbored no ill will against Mammoth State's development, speaking highly of it even. Although Laxi looked down on the Resistance elders, after gaining power, he did not crush them entirely. Instead, he integrated them into the "cabinet." Whether this was a promotion or demotion, or merely a gesture to appease benefactors from Golden Gallon Port, Fries Port, or their backers in the Alliance, Laxi showed tolerance toward dissenting voices. This alone set him apart from the warlords of Tiger State or Leopard State, who made no such pretenses. Reflecting on it, Sisi found herself thinking that perhaps no one else could handle it better than they did. That evening, the group opted to stay at a hotel near the Customs Administration. Ashi not only provided warm hospitality but also arranged for all their living needs during their stay in Mammoth State. He even courteously assigned four female soldiers as bodyguards and guides. After disconnecting from the virtual world, Sisi, having feasted online, wasn't exactly hungry but experienced some low blood sugar. She opened the fridge, grabbed a can of cola, and lounged in the living room. Picking up her laptop from where she'd tossed it on the sofa, she sat cross-legged at the coffee table, sipping her drink through a straw as she compiled the 2,000-word "investigation report" requested by her manager. Her report included observations on the region's development potential, local culture, and initial impressions of Laxi's governance— [... It is difficult to definitively assess whether the Mammoth State authorities are a capable governing body, given they've only been here a few months. Local opinions on Laxi are not unfavorable, but it's hard to say whether that's because things couldn't be worse. Objectively, they are making efforts to do what they can with limited resources to improve living conditions here. While my report isn't an investment recommendation, I am considering expanding the White Bear Knights' Bank services to this region.] Unintentionally, her intended 2,000-word report had grown into a lengthy piece over 10,000 words. Realizing this too late, Sisi couldn't conceive what to cut, so she submitted the entire report intact. Later, she planned to share this report on a forum, hoping it would interest her peers. "Phew... Finally done..." Stretching triumphantly, Sisi leaned back into the sofa, acknowledging the emptiness in her stomach and rubbing it absent-mindedly. This game had its downsides—despite eating in-game, she had to eat offline as well. Especially when she'd eaten too much in-game, making her genuinely lack appetite offline, this strange dual-hunger state was downright tormenting! Though she knew the developers would likely never see it, and had never responded to her emails, she couldn't help but sit back up, slipping some "personal notes" into her in-game report: [If the esteemed game developers see this, could you consider designing a "Wasteland OL" game pod with a life-support system? I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult for your company, and most players would likely be willing to pay for it.] [Eating two meals in succession is just too much. If this continues, I feel like I'll starve to death in bed...] To be continued.