Colin never intended to bear this burden alone. What if he carved the characters and still forgot? Only by sharing the pain could they ensure a safer future. So, of course, everyone had to carve the characters together.
Before long, everyone had carved the phrase “Kill a clone every hour” onto their arms with sterilized, sharp metal. Feeling the constant burning pain in their arms, Colin decided to lead the group back near the town.
However, he didn’t n to enter it. Instead, he chose to camp about a mile outside. This way, if there was trouble in the forest, they could escape to the town, and vice versa. If both were problematic, they would have to improvise.
As for the giant rat’s corpse, they would deal with it the next day. They had already encountered two major events today, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted. They needed a proper rest.
Dusk was approaching. After finding a t spot outside the town gate, Colin bought some stones and quickly set up a temporary camp. He then had people gather wood to build a bonfire, using blood as a stimnt. Colin spat a bit, and therge mes roared up.
As the fire zed, it was time for the group’s favorite part: eating. Some people stood guard, taking turns to rest and stay alert, keeping everyone in peak condition. Amidst the noise, Colin found a quieter spot, brought out his favorite table and chairs, and sat down. He ced antern on the table and took a deep breath, looking at the people around the campfire.
Despite the numerous dangers, no one had died.
“It’s a miracle,” Colin sighed, hoping it would always be like this, with no one dying around him until the game’s end. Sanna stood silently beside him, ensuring his safety.
Not lingering too long on their recent luck, Colin took out a scroll and entered his private channel. As soon as he entered, he saw numerous message reports. “Today, we made contact with thirty-seven lords, seventeen of whom fully pledged allegiance. The Hunters (four-car formation) found two abandoned cabins.”
“Your subordinate territories have increased to 40, with one third-level territory, eleven second-level territories, and twelve vehicles. The rest are first-level cabins.”
“The ‘Lampbearer’ squads have increased to 38, with a total poption of over 1,700. Current supplies can sustain for five days. Expansion is not rmended.”
“The roads to the church, third-level territory, and three main mine areas are mostly cleared.”
“Consider purchasing another ‘Hunter’ squad.”
“Today, the Hunter squad discovered Silvermoon Bay in the fog and encountered a significant number of mutants, facing a strong mental attack from what seemed to be a lord-level mutant.”
“To ensure the vehicles’ escape, a ‘Lampbearer’ squad chose to carry arge amount of explosives and stay behind. They were the sixteenth team; all were heroes.”
“Today’s casualties: twenty-three. Sixteen died covering the retreat, and seven died from the lord-level mutant’s mental attack.”
“This is my fault. The day’s uneventful exploration made me rx my vignce. I am willing to ept punishment.”
“——Li Hang.”
Sighing, Colin didn’t issue any severe reprimands. He understood this was the limit for ordinary people encountering a lord-level mutant, especially in a sudden encounter.
Losing only one team was alreadymendable. Even if Colin himself had been there, he might not have done better. This result, if shared in the chat, would be highly praised. After all, they were not professionals but ordinary workers recently thrown into this chaos. Managing to stabilize the situation was already an achievement.
“Make a summary of all issues. Don’t let the sacrifices be in vain,” Colin simply replied.
The lord-level mutant in Silvermoon Bay was likely the “Witch’s Head” from the sunken ship, more powerful than the “Mourning Watcher.” Its attack methods were unknown, and without Colin personally leading, figuring out its abilities would cost many lives. Ordinary people could only trade their lives for information, with no shortcuts.
To ensure no critical information was missed, the scroll was alwaysid out, even when not in use, with a servant constantly watching it to make sure nothing, especially Colin’s messages, was overlooked.
After sending the information, a reply quickly came:
“We will do our best to summarize. Thank you for your trust——Li Hang.”
The topic didn’tst long. After approving some requests, like chariot expansions, Colin returned to his previous task:
“Any ideas for the design? Make it straightforward, too much data confuses me.”
If there was a good option, Colin wouldn’t hesitate to use it. He urgently needed some transitional weapons to help him gain more benefits in the fog.
“There is, a cannon called the No-Conscience Cannon.”
“No-Conscience Cannon?” Colin was puzzled. He had asked for simplicity, but this seemed a bit too simple, almost nonsensical.
“Roughly like this.”
The data was quickly transmitted.
The “Flying Thunder Cannon,”monly known as the “No-Conscience Cannon,” is cheap, easy to produce, structurally rugged, and reliable in performance.
It can perform short-range direct fire orunch bundled explosives, hence the name “Flying Thunder Cannon.”
Most importantly, it doesn’t require high-performance gunpowder, making it suitable for mass deployment in the current situation.
Of course,pared to the historical version, many adjustments have been made, and the caliber isn’t as exaggerated…
After all, the original “No-Conscience Cannon” was basically a simple oil drum, very rudimentary.
Though they were strapped for resources, they weren’t that desperate. It seems this cannon is actually quite simr to a mortar, or rather, it’s an adaptation based on some mortar model.
And because the structure is so simple, it even has the extraputational capacity to include a shell casing…
“Good, this will do.”
After reviewing some other designs, Colin ultimately chose this weapon. While it had many ws, such as being unsuitable for narrow spaces, poor uracy, and the possibility of barrel explosions due to material quality, and its limited tactical flexibility, it was… cheap!
This made it hard to refuse.