January 31: Resorting to aggressive flashing is inadvisable.

"Master, there is actually another way," the AI reminded him.

"What way?" Wu Chen asked with a smile.

"Trade the modification pod." The AI had already provided a reference price. "Previously, the seller’s Model 3 Arc T850 Terminator power exoskeleton factory sold for 800 coins. Our Motorcycle Terminator Type I Transformation Armor modification pod is worth at least that much."

Wu Chen understood. "We only have nine Motorcycle Terminators. Once the modifications are complete, even if they are damaged later, we can restore them by reverting to a save. Therefore, the pod will likely sit idle. It’s better to trade it for cash."

"Correct." The AI was a competent housekeeper, fully exploiting the core rules of the Shattered City. As previously noted, only VIP players have the opportunity to embark on the 404 Road of Destruction. The biggest difference from new players is that established VIP players travel through various plot worlds, bringing their favorite plot characters or items into the high-dimensional stars of their shelters (transforming them into stars), which means that all VIP players have "plot save files." Therefore, in the Shattered City, VIP players can pay the corresponding shelter coins to load these plot save files. Similarly, all plot characters absorbed into cards with retained memories have their own 12-digit save files, which can be reverted to.

Thus, it is not hard to understand why AI Ai said the "pod would sit idle." Once modified, the "Motorcycle Terminator Transformation Armor Warrior" can be fully restored to peak condition by reverting to a save, eliminating the need for the pod to repair damage.

"List the pod on the internal network for auction, with a starting bid of 800 coins," Wu Chen added. "And agree with the buyer to deliver it within three days."

"Understood." The AI immediately listed the pod on the camp's local network.

Soon, inquiries flooded in. The AI replied to them one by one. The pod’s powerful ability to use Motorcycle Terminator and T800 parts to create transformation armor, along with the impressive attribute that transformation armor can help plot characters increase their star rating, even caught the attention of major sellers outside the camp.

Mass-producing 3-star transformation armor warriors—that was a big deal!

In truth, mass-produced equipment has little appeal to resource-strapped newcomers. The powerful attributes of the modification pod are also its strict constraints. In addition to needing a sufficient quantity of Motorcycle Terminator and T800 parts, the requirement that the riders be plot characters is also a limitation. In short, the motorcycle transformation armor must be matched one-to-one with a plot character. Both the people and the parts are expensive. Precisely because the parts come from *Terminator* plot fragments and Base 0326 cannot produce them itself, it is called a "modification pod" rather than a "manufacturing pod."

Even so, the bidding skyrocketed to 2,890 points. It should be noted that for major players, a 3-star warrior card sells for 1,000 coins. A modification pod capable of mass-producing 3-star armored warriors offers astonishing profit margins, even after subtracting the costs of purchasing Motorcycle Terminator and T800 parts and hiring plot characters as riders.

Technology is indeed the primary productive force.

Just as Wu Chen was browsing the talent trading directory with excitement, the bid suddenly jumped to 3,000 coins. There were no further bids until the countdown ended.

"Master, the buyer has sent an email to confirm the transaction date," the AI informed Wu Chen.

"We agreed on a three-day delivery." Wu Chen needed the time to purchase shelter cards and complete the final modifications. There were five days left until the Day of Purge. Calculating it, the buyer would have two days to spare after receiving the pod to complete their own modifications.

"3,000 coins have been paid," the AI relayed the good news.

"Excellent." Before going to sleep, Wu Chen achieved the four-digit peace of mind he had hoped for.

As the night deepened, Wu Chen and his group were already asleep, but the drone swarm continued to work tirelessly, tailoring a living room for the Cyber Armored Warrior, Perry. Kotal Vetriss, the bio-armored warrior who also didn't require sleep, continued to simulate armored combat day and night. Before the pod was sold, the base's AI, Ai, had to install independent pods in each of the female transformation armor warriors' living rooms. Their function was much the same as the modification pod, with the only difference being that they didn't need to be subdivided into A, B, C, and D chambers. They were specifically for maintenance and connection to the camp's internal network. By simply entering these independent pods, the warriors could complete training through the simulated battlefield built by AI Ai without ever leaving their rooms. Everything was arranged most thoughtfully.

It was the 8th day since returning to the shelter.

Perry the Cyber Armored Warrior’s exclusive Perrier water package and mocha package arrived on schedule. The sudden surge in assets put Wu Chen at ease. Raising one more Cyber Armored Warrior who only drank Perrier was no longer a problem; it was a breeze. As the base population grew, so did the number of Omega membrane network nodes, and Wu Chen’s status and abilities increased day by day. He was in a great mood.

No motorcycle escort was needed. The group traveled together in the AE86 to the talent trading market in the F-011A section of the forging workshop to hire riders for the remaining six Motorcycle Terminator transformation armors.

One man and four women filled the car perfectly. They were in high spirits, laughing and talking along the way. The base AI’s rapid moral education had been highly effective; the plot characters had quickly adapted to the camp's new environment and gained a rough understanding of the Shattered City. As for how they viewed Wu Chen, their master with high-dimensional shelter attributes, each had their own perspective. Regardless, once integrated into the membrane network and becoming a mental node, the fusion of spirit and flesh was inevitable: "Irreversible, it's only a matter of time."

The Shattered Traveler Camp was vast, and because a large number of players gathered there with their own exclusive shelters, it generated high-dimensional attributes, further facilitating the extension of plot lines. The Shattered City was unimaginably huge and boundless, as could be seen from the four-spiral structure alone.

Perhaps because of the influx of new players, the camp's talent market was much livelier than when they had first arrived. While not shoulder-to-shoulder, there were small groups everywhere, and players were gathered in front of every service desk.

"Wu Chen!" Baili Yan and the couple were also there.

"Baili," Wu Chen replied with a smile.

"Wow." Seeing the four female warriors who never left Wu Chen's side, Baili Yan couldn't stop praising him: "No wonder the ancients said, 'One should look at a scholar with new eyes after three days of separation.'"

"The Day of Purge is coming soon. What did you buy?" Wu Chen asked with a smile.

"Plot characters are too expensive, so we mostly bought technological creations. Turrets, land barriers, unmanned combat vehicles, and the like," the male player from the couple replied.

The female player added, "Our three bases are connected together, so we must watch out for each other and defend together when the time comes."

"Definitely." Among the three, Wu Chen had the strongest force. As long as he was willing to assist in the defense, surviving the first Day of Purge should not be difficult. After all, this was the first battle for the new players, and it was said that veteran players in the camp would also look after the newcomers. Watching out for one another was a VIP consensus.

Baili Yan added, "By the way, I have a damaged Motorcycle Terminator in my base. Others can only strip it for parts, but you must have a way to repair it."

"Where did you get it?" Wu Chen happened to be short of one.

"It was a free gift from the seller when I bought the unmanned combat vehicle," Baili Yan laughed.

"Wait." Baili Yan said it without thinking, but Wu Chen was intrigued. "Did the seller also have a T850 Terminator power exoskeleton factory selling for 800 coins?"

"That's right, that's him." Baili Yan nodded gently. Most players in the camp traded anonymously, used encrypted email communication, and relied on public drones for deliveries, so they generally didn't know the specific names or addresses of the trading parties. But since the goods were on the shelves, the same items could always be distinguished.

"Let my base's AI upgrade your unmanned combat vehicle's core code later," Wu Chen said, shaking his head with a wry smile. "His habit of violent firmware flashing is not worth mentioning."

"Okay." Baili Yan opened her phone to show Wu Chen the quadruped unmanned combat vehicle she had purchased. As expected, it was the T-7T quadruped terminator from the *Terminator* plot fragments, commonly known as the "Spider Terminator." It cost only slightly more than the Motorcycle Terminator Wu Chen had bought.

Unmanned vehicles had their own advantages: thick armor, fierce firepower, and a lack of fear. Most importantly, they were cheap. Used for static defense, they could truly fight to the death without retreating, providing enough self-protection for a base. Their biggest drawback was the violent firmware flashing, which left them with incomplete functions and too many vulnerabilities. A hacker-class player, a plot character, or even a small electronic warfare drone could completely paralyze the vehicle by releasing a simple worm virus.

With Wu Chen’s base AI helping to upgrade the core code, patching the vulnerabilities, and enhancing its intelligence, the increase in combat power was easy to imagine.

Baili Yan and the others, their worries relieved, followed Wu Chen straight to the service desk where the T850 was located.

"Good day, distinguished guest," the T850 recognized Wu Chen at a glance.

"Hello," Wu Chen replied with a smile.

"How can I help you?" the T850 asked expectantly.

Wu Chen had already prepared his request. "I need seven riders compatible with the Motorcycle Terminator transformation armor. Preferably 2-star rated."