83: A new journey

Chen Wang's hand was still on the ignition switch, but he didn't start the vehicle. The mission for the Ark Project was still flashing on the screen. He stared at it for a few seconds, then opened the main interface of the kindling system.

"We're not leaving yet," he said. "We need to think clearly about the next step before moving."

Su Ling looked up and asked, "Didn't we say we'd leave tomorrow?"

"Before we leave, we need to know what to change." Chen Wang clicked on the "Space Expansion" and "Survival Enhancement" options, and data immediately appeared in the air in the center of the vehicle.

"Look, the vehicle body is currently C-class, only able to withstand one major impact. The main cannon takes over forty seconds to charge, and the shield is completely unusable. These aren't the most troublesome issues."

Lin Wei frowned. "Then what's the most troublesome issue?"

"It can't heal people, purify water, or store electricity." Chen Wang brought up the last ten minutes of the Ice City operation — the lights flickered when Su Wan was performing surgery, the medical pod's voltage was unstable, and only three low-temperature gel rounds remained. "We almost died in the vehicle. It wasn't that we couldn't fight; it was that we couldn't sustain ourselves."

Su Wan said nothing, just lightly tapped the table twice.

"So I have an idea." Chen Wang opened a new page. "It's called 'Resource Integration.' The first step is to find rare metals to reinforce the chassis; the second step is to get space-folding components to expand the interior by another layer; the third step is to bring water purification equipment and regenerative batteries; the fourth step is to set rules, clearly outlining how things are used, how much is left, and who manages them."

Lin Wei's eyes lit up. "You want to turn the Wuling into a mobile base?"

"It always was," Chen Wang said. "We rely on it to escape, fight, save people, and sleep. But it's still a semi-finished product. If the power goes out one day, it can't even maintain oxygen circulation."

Su Ling leaned against the seat. "It's not safe outside. If you don't add weapons, others can take you down with one shot."

"I want to install a shield too," Chen Wang nodded, "but shields consume too much power, and the current energy source can't support them. Unless we upgrade the vehicle body first to save power, then we can allocate power for weapons."

"So reinforce it first?" Su Ling asked.

"Right." Chen Wang took out a hand-drawn blueprint from a drawer and spread it on the table. "This is the chassis modification diagram I drew last night. It requires a low-temperature resistant alloy for the outer frame. Without this, other modifications are meaningless."

Lin Wei leaned in to examine it. "This kind of material is usually only found in military warehouses or smelters. The places marked on the map are either empty or dangerous."

"I know a place," Lin Wei suddenly said. "I haven't reported it before. The kindling system previously scanned a abandoned smelter, seventeen kilometers west, not on the regular route. It used to supply armor materials for the Northern Legion, and there's a record in the system."

Su Ling immediately said, "Someone must be watching a place like that."

"Not necessarily." Lin Wei shook her head. "It's too remote, and transportation costs are high. It was later replaced by a new base. After the apocalypse, people who loot are more willing to take ready-made items than dismantle scrap metal."

Chen Wang rubbed the edge of the blueprint. "Are you talking about solid alloy plates?"

"Yes," Lin Wei replied. "Cold-resistant and pressure-resistant, suitable for armor plating. There's a sealed storage tunnel underground in the factory area; if we're lucky, there might still be inventory inside."

Su Wan, who had been silent, now spoke. "What about space? How will you expand it?"

Chen Wang flipped the blueprint over; it showed the vehicle's internal structure. "Using folding technology, we'll add a layer of wall within the existing framework. Once activated, the cockpit can move back 1.2 meters, and the rear compartment height will increase by sixty centimeters. This will allow us to fit the water purifier and backup batteries."

"What about the medical area?" Su Wan asked.

"I've allocated a fixed area." Chen Wang circled it with a pen. "Once the space opens up, it's yours first. Medicine, equipment, refrigerated cabinets—you can arrange them however you like."

Su Wan glanced at him, her lips moved slightly, not smiling, but her eyes were no longer tense.

"But even if we find the materials, we still need to be able to process them," Lin Wei reminded. "Cutting, welding, and calibration all require equipment. The tools in the vehicle can only handle small problems."

"So this time it's not just about transportation." Chen Wang put away the blueprint. "We need to bring a cutting machine, hydraulic pliers, a portable welding torch, and also prepare protective suits. There might be radiation there."

Su Ling stood up. "I'll check the detectors and night vision devices. The factory area has a complex structure; we can't rely solely on eyesight."

"I'll go too." Lin Wei opened the engineering terminal. "I'll organize the smelter data and mark the entrance and warehouse locations."

"I'll make a list of medicines." Su Wan took out a notebook. "Which ones can be replaced, which ones must be replenished, and prioritize them."

Chen Wang didn't move. He reopened the kindling map and set the smelter as the primary target. A red dot flashed, and a warning popped up next to it: [Unidentified signal source detected nearby, recommended to avoid].

He didn't close the prompt, silently noting the coordinate deviation.

A few minutes later, Su Ling returned. "The detector is normal, and the battery is full. But I recommend bringing two sets of power supplies to prevent loss of contact midway."

Lin Wei looked up. "I've already exported the factory's 3D map and found a ventilation shaft on the east side leading to the underground storage. If it hasn't collapsed, we can enter from there and avoid the main road."

"Safer." Chen Wang nodded. "We'll take that route."

"But time is critical," Lin Wei said. "The kindling system shows an increased frequency of black tide activity, and the next warning might come earlier. We must complete the mission and evacuate within twenty-four hours."

"Get in, get out," Chen Wang said. "No fighting, no extra taking. Get the materials and withdraw."

Su Wan closed her notebook. "I've finished counting; existing medicines are enough for fifteen people for ten days. But antibiotics and anticoagulants are insufficient and need to be prioritized for replenishment."

"Mark what's missing," Chen Wang said. "Once the space modification is complete, we'll immediately arrange storage locations."

"One more thing," Lin Wei said. "If we're really going to turn the Wuling into a mobile base, this one trip isn't enough. We need to establish a recycling process. Scrap metal can be remelted, and broken parts can be disassembled and reused."

"You're in charge of this," Chen Wang looked at her. "From now on, all recycled materials will be uniformly registered and categorized by use for storage."

"I'll keep records," Su Wan said. "The same goes for medical consumables: how much was used, how much is left, checked regularly."

Su Ling interjected, "Vigilance can't be relaxed either. Every time we go out, at least two people will take turns on guard. I'll make the schedule."

"Good." Chen Wang picked up a pen and sketched a new armor layout on the blueprint. "Tomorrow, everyone prepare tools and protective gear. Tonight, I'll refine the blueprint, and we'll depart early the day after tomorrow."

The vehicle quieted down.

Lin Wei connected her terminal and began organizing the smelter data. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and the screen constantly switched between pipeline layouts and structural diagrams.

Su Ling hung her sniper rifle back on its stand and turned to check the detector in her tactical bag. She took out the spare batteries, tested their voltage one by one, and after confirming they were correct, placed them in a sealed bag.

Su Wan walked to the storage cabinet, pulled open a drawer, and checked the medicine codes. She picked up a syringe of adrenaline, checked its expiration date, and placed it in a box labeled "Emergency Replacement."

Chen Wang bent over his drawing, each stroke clear and strong. Every seam and the thickness of every plate were marked with specific values. The bottom right corner of the blueprint read: Phase One · Basic Reinforcement.

Outside, the wind hadn't stopped, and ice shards rattled against the vehicle, making a rustling sound.

The headlights illuminated a stretch of road ahead, and dust motes slowly floated in the beam of light.

The wuling divine vehicle remained stationary, its engine off, all systems in standby mode.

Chen Wang stopped writing, gently blowing away the pencil dust from the paper.

He looked up, scanning the surroundings.

Lin Wei was exporting the last segment of data.

Su Ling placed the detector into a waterproof bag.

Su Wan closed the last medicine box.

He folded the blueprint and placed it in the compartment next to the driver's seat.

Then he reached out and set the main control authority of the kindling system to "Planning Mode."

The panel displayed: [Resource Integration Plan · Phase One Preparation Initiated]