Chapter 31: Vehicle Core Level 4, Double Resource Acquisition?

Lin Mu still decided to ask the panel; it couldn’t be that the only new feature was the teleportation ability.
“Panel, panel, after upgrading the vehicle to Level 4, is this really the only new function?”
[In the future, players will encounter even greater disasters, and teamwork will be essential.]
Lin Mu curled his lips—he could make an army out of himself, couldn’t he?
[After the vehicle core is upgraded to Level 4, the number of people in the vehicle will determine the amount of resources encountered. The number of people must not exceed the vehicle’s capacity.]
Huh??
“So if there are four people in my vehicle, I’ll find resources for four people at once?”
[That’s correct.]
Lin Mu had to admit, this feature intrigued him a bit. Was it really time to recruit others?
People? People?
People!
A glint flashed in Lin Mu’s eyes. “Ahem, so as long as it’s a person, it counts?”
[…]
[…]
Lin Mu’s mouth twitched. Was his panel broken? Why did it keep freezing up like this?
[They must be living people.]
Lin Mu rubbed his chin. The disabled should still count as living… right?
Should he turn the second floor into a prison and put three people inside?
Suddenly, Lin Mu slapped his thigh—this was definitely feasible!
He couldn’t help but think of the convoys behind him.
“So does that mean the convoys behind will also encounter resources for five people?”
[No. Only after upgrading the vehicle core to Level 4 is this hidden feature unlocked.]
So that means the convoy can only find ten boxes, one per person?
So…
Lin Mu recalled something from the regional channel earlier, about that team ranked eighth.
So, the convoys forming now must mostly be focused on robbing.
And robbery inevitably leads to killing.
Tsk! This game is ruthless.
…
He had five vehicles in his backpack, two of which were now fused with his main vehicle, resulting in slight improvements in every aspect.
His vehicle’s appearance had changed as well, becoming an off-road body with treads on either side and a trash container trailing behind.
Now the vehicle had taken on such a peculiar shape that most people wouldn’t recognize what it was originally.
But that didn’t matter.
He had just asked the guy he’d traded with multiple times; that guy could also store vehicles in his space, but to no avail.
“Why store cars? The parts aren’t interchangeable, and you can’t burn them. Even if the parts were usable, I wouldn’t know what to do with them.”
Come to think of it, only he had this ability right now.
Should he put up car wrecks for exchange?
A moment later, Lin Mu shook his head. That would be tantamount to exposing himself to everyone—he couldn’t do that.

Although all information was confidential for now, who knew when the game would update with something new?
He realized now that every update was a mind game, and someone might die because they knew more than others.
It was entirely possible.
At 11 p.m., Lin Mu checked the trading center.
The three items he had listed had all sold.
“So it seems I worried for nothing. Turns out plenty of people have electronic components.”
He now had 322 electronic components in hand—enough to build not just one, but two robots.
Lin Mu opened the workbench and selected [Life Assistance Robot].
Craft!
[Ding! Life Assistance Robot successfully crafted.]
A humanoid robot appeared directly in the open space behind him.
“Hello, master. I am Life Assistance Robot Number 001.”
It truly looked human, its surface skin identical to a real person’s—no wonder it required rubber.
And it was actually a female robot.
Lin Mu hurriedly grabbed a set of his unused clothes and tossed them to her.
“Put these on first.”
“Yes, master.”
Lin Mu watched the robot and noticed her movements were completely natural.
If not for the faint electronic tone in her voice, who could tell she was a robot?
“I’m hungry. Make me something to eat.”
“Yes, master. Please provide the ingredients.”
Lin Mu took out two pieces of pork and some seasonings from his backpack.
Number 001 skillfully wielded the knife: slicing, boiling water, blanching…
Lin Mu nodded in satisfaction. Life was about to get much easier.
…
The next morning, Lin Mu came down from upstairs.
The temperature below was pleasantly warm.
“Master, would you like breakfast prepared?”
“Just boil some water and make me a bowl of noodles.”
“Yes, master.”
Lin Mu went to the driver’s seat and glanced at the thermometer.
Outside: minus 75 degrees Celsius.
Inside: 27 degrees above zero.
As expected, a five-degree drop per day.
He took the teleportation scroll out of his space; today, he planned to go treasure hunting.
“I wonder how large the treasure field is—three hours should be more than enough.”
After all, he had 200 slots of storage space.
After eating, Lin Mu immediately used the treasure-hunting teleportation scroll.

A milky-white light enveloped the vehicle. Lin Mu quickly put on his sunglasses, and the dazzling brightness lessened considerably.
After a minute, the light gradually faded.
“Are we there?”
Lin Mu’s hand hovered over the ignition, ready to start up at a moment’s notice and not waste a single opportunity.
As the light vanished, the outside scene slowly came into view.
Blue sky, white clouds, green grass, no snow in sight.
The temperature had shifted from minus 75 to a balmy 23 degrees above zero—utterly comfortable.
Lin Mu panted, eyes wide with excitement.
It was clear how thrilled he was, even his voice trembled with anticipation.
“This is the treasure field???”
He opened the panel. “Hey! Are you sure you didn’t teleport me to the wrong place?”
[Don’t get too excited, player. I know you’re happy. This is indeed the treasure field.]
“Excited? That’s a landfill over there! No, a whole stretch of landfills!”
[Player, this is a survival game. For players, landfills are treasure sites. There are all kinds of materials and resource crates hidden among the trash.]
Lin Mu opened his mouth. That made sense, he supposed.
Besides, it was stated there were materials and resource boxes here—what more could he ask?
In fact, this place might be even more suited to him than he’d imagined.
He’d pictured the treasure field as a place covered with resource crates—that would’ve lived up to the name.
[Reminder: you only have three hours. Allocate your time wisely.]
Lin Mu snorted. Three hours?
I could empty this place out!
But as he drove into the field, Lin Mu realized he’d spoken too soon.
The landfill stretched as far as the eye could see.
He immediately opened the waste processing station’s hatch above the pile.
But the expected scene of trash being sucked in didn’t happen. No matter what he did, the hatch was useless.
“Panel, why can’t I collect it?”
[This is the treasure field. Players must do the work themselves.]
Lin Mu’s lips twitched. So many restrictions!
He’d hoped to make a fortune in one go—if not all, then at least clear a dozen heaps.
Now, forget a dozen—just this one would be a struggle.
Heh, you’re still too naïve.
“001! Take this shovel. See that black opening? Dump all the trash on the ground into it!”
He might tire, but the robot never would!
“Yes, master.”