37: Chapter 37: The Second-Tier Tech Tree Explodes! A Six-Barreled Heavy Machine Gun on the Roof

The mechanical arm test was complete, and Lu Chen's mood remained at a rare, extremely comfortable high.

He sat in the cockpit, which had doubled in size, with the fire control console and the mechanical arm panel arranged to his left and right, within easy reach.

Behind him was over a hundred square meters of warm space, where the constant twenty-degree air was filled with the copper-scented warmth emanating from the heating pipes.

This sense of control soothed both his obsessive-compulsive disorder and his hoarding tendencies simultaneously.

But Lu Chen never immersed himself in satisfaction for long.

He summoned the Truth Tech Tree once more.

The changes on the light screen caused his gaze to focus instantly.

The entire technology tree had taken on a brand new look.

The sixteen shimmering golden nodes from the Lv.1 stage had been compressed by the system into a small golden ring, sinking into the roots of the tree, representing the completed foundation.

Above the ring, a larger and more complex new technology tree with intricate branches rose from the ground.

The Lv.2 stage technology tree.

It still consisted of the four major branches: Armament and Weaponry, Infrastructure Armor, Ecological Logistics, and Power Engine.

The number of nodes under each branch was the same as Lv.1—three regular nodes plus one core.

However, the Truth Points required for each node had also jumped significantly.

Lu Chen first glanced at his balance.

1,100 points.

Then his gaze swept across the first node at the bottom of each of the four major branches in turn.

“System, display the detailed information for Node 1 of the four Lv.2 branches.”

Four information panels expanded simultaneously on the light screen.

[Power Engine Lv2 (Node 1): High-Energy Fuel Converter]

[Node Description: Install a Bio-Oil Cracking Furnace next to the boiler. It can convert the fatty tissue of ice field Mutant Beasts into low-quality combustible diesel through a high-temperature cracking process. This provides a second fuel source for the boiler besides sourcefire coal crystal, significantly reducing dependence on coal crystal veins.]

[Unlock Cost: 500 Truth Points.]

“Refining Mutant Beast fat into oil.”

Lu Chen repeated this function in a low voice.

“In the future, the beast meat I hunt won't just be for eating; the fat can be burned as fuel. Two benefits from one beast.”

He nodded and looked at the next one.

[Infrastructure Armor Lv2 (Node 1): Homogeneous Manganese Steel Ramming Horn]

[Node Description: Replace the original scrap steel inverted V-shaped ramming horn on the front of the vehicle with heavy ramming armor forged from homogeneous manganese steel. Its hardness and toughness far exceed scrap steel. It can directly shatter small icebergs and other light vehicles. In a frontal collision, the opponent will suffer structural destruction while your side only sustains minimal buffering impact.]

[Unlock Cost: 500 Truth Points.]

“Manganese steel ramming horn.”

When Lu Chen spoke these words, the tip of his tongue tingled slightly.

The previous scrap steel ramming horn was fierce enough, but it was essentially still scrap iron.

It was fine for ramming low-level creatures like Ice-Rock Pigs, but hitting a medium-sized vehicle would leave deformation marks.

Manganese steel was different.

That was a bona fide military-grade alloy.

“Next.”

[Ecological Logistics Lv2 (Node 1): Constant Temperature Hydroponic Botanical Garden]

[Node Description: Install a large-scale constant temperature hydroponic cultivation system in the vehicle's internal ecological planting zone. The planting area is eight times that of the Simple Soilless Cultivation Box. It features a built-in independent UV light array and nutrient solution circulation pump. It can grow high-calorie crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Maturity efficiency is increased by 40% compared to the simple cultivation box.]

[Unlock Cost: 500 Truth Points.]

“Eight times the area.”

Lin Wan's voice came from behind him.

Lu Chen turned back and glared at her.

“Why did you lean over here?”

“I... I was just looking.”

Lin Wan shrank her neck, but her mouth didn't stop.

“City Lord, a hydroponic garden with eight times the area means I can plant all the sweet potatoes and potatoes from the seed vault.”

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, her hands gesturing non-stop.

“If we can grow tomatoes too, then protein plus vitamins plus carbs—the nutritional structure would be complete.”

“We'll talk about that later. Let's look at the last one first.”

Lu Chen turned his gaze to the Armament and Weaponry branch.

[Armament and Weaponry Lv2 (Node 1): Twin-Linked Six-Barreled Heavy Machine Gun]

[Node Description: Install a twin-linked six-barreled rotary heavy machine gun turret on the front of the vehicle roof. Driven by steam power to rotate the barrels. It has an extremely high rate of fire and a very wide coverage of fire density. Ammunition consumption rules: 1 truth point can be exchanged for 10 rounds of standard caliber ammunition, which is generated directly in the ammunition feed box.]

[Unlock Cost: 500 Truth Points.]

Lu Chen stared at this text for a full ten seconds.

A six-barreled rotary heavy machine gun.

A metal storm.

One truth point for ten bullets.

His breathing hitched.

The fear of insufficient firepower, which he had kept firmly suppressed in his heart, was now clawing at the walls frantically.

No matter how fierce and lethal the previous Steam Repeating Crossbow was, it was essentially a single-shot weapon that required manual cocking.

When facing a large number of enemies, the fire density was severely lacking.

But this heavy machine gun, with six barrels rotating and firing in turn, had an appalling rate of fire.

The amount of ammunition it could spit out in one second was equivalent to the repeating crossbow firing for half a minute.

More crucial was the ammunition issue.

In the wasteland, ammunition was more precious than guns.

Many Raiders' rifles could fire, but they only had a dozen or so bullets in their pockets.

But Lu Chen's source of ammunition was Truth Points.

As long as he had Truth Points in hand, his ammunition was infinite.

“Four nodes, five hundred points each.”

Lu Chen calculated quickly in his mind.

A balance of one thousand one hundred points.

Only enough for two.

“Choices must be made.”

His fingers stopped on two nodes.

Armament and Weaponry and Infrastructure Armor.

“City Lord?”

Lin Wan looked at his contemplative expression and spoke tentatively.

“Shouldn't we plant vegetables first? The constant temperature hydroponic garden...”

“No.”

Lu Chen's refusal was crisp and decisive.

“The Snow Shard Gang's radiation mark is still on the Polaris. Six days have passed since the day we were marked. There are about nine days left.”

“Within nine days, there's no telling when those damn hornets will follow the signal to our door.”

He turned his head to look at Lin Wan, his face cold.

“Until then, planting vegetables won't save our lives. The heavy machine gun and the ramming horn can.”

Lin Wan opened her mouth, then swallowed the words she was about to say.

She knew Lu Chen too well.

This man's decision-making logic was always survival first, comfort later.

“System.”

Lu Chen's tone was resolute.

“Invest five hundred Truth Points to unlock Armament and Weaponry Lv2 Node 1: Twin-Linked Six-Barreled Heavy Machine Gun.”

[Ding! 500 Truth Points deducted. Armament and Weaponry Lv2 (Node 1): Twin-Linked Six-Barreled Heavy Machine Gun successfully unlocked!]

[Current Truth Points balance: 600 points.]

The sounds of modification hammered down directly from the roof.

The clashing of metal and the hiss of hydraulic systems intertwined, causing the entire cabin to vibrate slightly.

A true metal storm was taking shape atop the Polaris.