121: Chapter 121 Inventorying Supplies and Taking Control of Grain Production!

No time to rest.

After placing the [entropy element lantern] from his waist onto the coffee table, Lin Xiao set about repairing the damaged granite wall and the tempered glass window.

Fortunately, the window wasn't completely destroyed.

Otherwise, the cold, briny seawater flooding in would have been a headache to clean up.

After repairing the facilities, Lin Xiao proceeded to craft the [Facility Blueprint - Nautical Clock].

It was a retro-style brass mantle clock, about half a person's height, with a dial featuring intricate Roman numerals and fine gradations.

After infusing a small amount of stardust, the pendulum began to swing, and the hands started ticking again, emitting crisp 'click-clack' sounds.

[Facility: Nautical Clock]

[Level: 2]

[Durability: 25/25]

[Effect: Provides precise timekeeping, can set alarm reminders. When placed within the territory, increases all members' mental recovery rate by +5%]

The level is a bit low, but it's a good item.

Lin Xiao placed it in the corner.

His gaze focused slightly, bringing up the function interface.

After calibrating the time, the steady tick-tock of the clock echoed unhurriedly in the room, gently soothing his restless mind.

At that moment, the world seemed to slow down quietly, as if even time itself was willing to linger there.

After completing the repairs and emptying all their backpacks, Lin Xiao and The three women finally sat on the sofa for a short rest.

They ate something to replenish their strength, then immediately began taking stock of their gains from this expedition.

It must be said, the harvest from this underwater operation surpassed the total of all previous ones combined.

After all, they had killed nearly 30 elite Calamity Creaturess, earning almost thirty thousand points from those alone, not even counting the other Calamity Creaturess.

[Stage Two · First Calamity Round · Live Points]

[First Place: Car 07-01, Lin Xiao, Points 42200]

[Second Place: 05-05, Fang Yuan, Points 7500]

[Third Place: 06-01, Pei Qingzhao, Points 5400]

[Fourth Place: 03-03, Xu Shan, Points 5200]

[Fifth Place: 16-15F, Sergei, Points 4700]

...

Over forty thousand points, still holding an undisputed, insurmountable lead.

In fact, the combined points of everyone from second to ninth place didn't even match his total alone.

Before closing the rankings, the fifth-place guy, Sergei, caught Lin Xiao's attention.

Judging by the seat number, this guy should be in the second-class cabin of Car 16.

Although he didn't secure a private room, his strength was impressive.

The question is whether he can last until all the calamity rounds are over.

Normally, without a territory for defense, it's very difficult for anyone to hold out.

Besides points, there were also stardust, materials, equipment/facility blueprints, etc. The backpack, even with an additional 15 slots, was completely insufficient.

The three women's backpacks were also stuffed full. Many pieces of equipment had been hastily listed for sale on the networked market, with outrageously high, arbitrarily set prices.

Lin Xiao had already been quite restrained during the exploration.

He had secured the silver treasure chest guarded by the Mimic Frost Snail. The other silver chests that required salvaging shipwrecks were all abandoned.

They simply couldn't carry any more, and time was too tight to allow the four of them to search inch by inch. So, they left those tasks to their subordinates.

Just as he was thinking this, several different trade requests popped up in his field of vision.

The four team leaders, Fan Sinian, Fang Yuan, Xu Shan, and Zhou Jun, traded over their agreed-upon 50% share of the supplies.

Well, that did it. The 48-slot storage box was instantly overloaded.

The room was filled with materials like rubber, brass, and general-purpose plastic.

Supplies had completely overflowed storage capacity.

stardust had even broken through the one hundred thousand mark!

It wasn't just Lin Xiao who was troubled; Jiang Wanwan was too, especially Wen Yiran, who looked bewildered at the supplies covering the floor.

Left with no choice, Lin Xiao took out the briefcase, fished out a few furniture blueprints he had obtained earlier, and crafted several wooden storage cabinets to place in the workshop.

These cabinets lacked locking functions and had much lower durability compared to the storage box.

But at least they could store things.

He took out the supplies from his backpack and handed them over to The three women for sorting and categorization.

Keep what should be kept, sell what should be sold.

While Jiang Wanwan and the others were busy,

Lin Xiao opened the trade interface and sent all the [Kelp Spore Capsules] obtained from this harvest to Xiao He.

These things can be dried and pressed for oil, and can also be used for composting fertilizer.

Xiao He replied almost instantly.

[07-08 Xiao He: Received, Lin Ge. I'm just researching fertilizer formulas!]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: Didn't you mention before that you could brew corn wine? I have an idea. Help me assess its feasibility.]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: The black corn we grow now has a calming effect after consumption, providing immunity to some negative mental effects.]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: So I'm thinking, if we brew it into corn wine, whether for sale or personal consumption, it would yield better returns.]

[07-08 Xiao He: Lin Ge, I heard about this from Old Fan and the others too. The mutated black corn indeed has remarkable effects.]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: But as I said before, brewing consumes grain. I'm worried about insufficient food production.]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: After all, in the coming period, many people will need food.]

Apart from random events like train care packages, the only way to obtain food was through the public store that opened after the points leaderboard settled.

At least in his previous life, surviving in the misty regions during the initial stages before achieving self-sufficiency, thousands upon thousands of people in a single area all relied on the public store opening its granaries.

But there were simply too many people.

Those who couldn't grab food and ended up starving to death were everywhere.

Having starved in his past life, Lin Xiao now placed such high importance on Xiao He, the logistics team leader.

As the old saying goes, with food in your belly, your heart is at ease!

After waiting a few seconds, Xiao He's message came through.

Contrary to Lin Xiao's expectation of difficulty, the words carried an unmistakable excitement.

[07-08 Xiao He: Don't worry, Lin Ge. The corn yield is very stable. One Planting Box can grow about 15 plants. Currently, we have 30 plants in total.]

[07-08 Xiao He: Each plant produces at least 6 ears, sometimes up to 10. And they can be harvested every 12 hours.]

[07-08 Xiao He: While you were out fighting, I harvested another large batch—a full 220 ears of corn! I was just about to trade them to you!]

Hmm...

Huh?

Lin Ge frowned as he read the string of messages.

Two hundred and twenty?

That was far more than he had anticipated.

[07-01 Lin Xiao: How is the yield so high?]

[07-08 Xiao He: Originally, the Planting Box was only 1 square meter. After the territory leveled up, the Planting Box expanded to 4 slots, each with 2 square meters.]

[07-08 Xiao He: If it weren't for your suggestion back then, Lin Ge, I'd still be toiling away on a tiny patch of land, depending on the heavens for a harvest!]

Lin Xiao nodded repeatedly.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, he pressed further:

[07-01 Lin Xiao: What about the other crops?]

[07-08 Xiao He: Speaking of which, the coconut has always been just one plant. After mutation, the yield actually halved. I'm looking for a solution.]

[07-08 Xiao He: As for the goji berries, a single Planting Box can hold 4 plants. The yield is decent, but... that effect is a bit too stimulating. Most people can't handle it.]

Lin Xiao recalled the restless energy in his blood after eating the goji berries and instead showed a satisfied smile.

As if remembering something, he rummaged through the briefcase, took out a Level 2 facility blueprint, and traded it to Xiao He.

[07-01 Lin Xiao: This is a facility blueprint for guardrails. Remember to install them on the balcony. It should reduce some threats from the outside.]

Xiao He was silent for a few seconds, then sent a voice message.

He was so excited he could barely speak coherently.

[07-08 Xiao He: Lin Ge, you... this... Ahem! A drop of kindness deserves a fountain of repayment!]

[07-08 Xiao He: To be honest, Lin Ge, don't laugh. Even though the balcony can hold Planting Boxes, it's still connected to the outside. I've been feeling uneasy these past two days, can't even sleep well!]

[07-01 Lin Xiao: Install them quickly. If you need materials, just ask anytime.]

Lin Xiao sent a message to interrupt his frenzied state.

[07-08 Xiao He: Understood! Understood!]

Along with the private message, Xiao He also traded over a batch of newly harvested crops.

But Lin Xiao only took 100 ears of corn from him, leaving the rest for him to use in brewing.

According to Xiao He, citing his teammate Du Kang, a fermentation barrel could produce ten *jin* of alcohol in 24 hours.

Previously, it took three *jin* of corn to make one *jin* of alcohol. With the current black corn, about two ears should be enough.

Two ears of corn for one *jin* of alcohol.

Lin Xiao calculated this ratio silently in his mind.

Very cost-effective!

After ending the private chat with Xiao He, Lin Xiao opened his friends list and sent group trade invitations to the team leaders of several carriages.

Twenty ears of corn each.

Note: As encouragement.

Fan Sinian was the first to reply: 'Lin Ge is generous!'

Fang Yuan followed closely: 'Don't worry, Lin Ge. I'm keeping a tight watch over Car 5!'

Xu Shan and Zhou Jun also sent their thanks. Though brief, the phrase 'Lin Ge, just give the order if you need anything' said it all.

It's important to know that the crops Xiao He grew were never sold to outsiders.

Whether it was coconuts, corn, or goji berries.

This meant Lin Xiao had absolute control over the food supply.

Food and medicine were extremely scarce resources in this survival game.

Whether now or in the future, if you wanted to eat your fill in this apocalypse, you had to bow your head and obey him.

This was the rule!