Simulation: Starting from Under One Person

While explaining, Hiluva asked a question in return.

"We're here for tourism..." Fang Rui explained.

"Tourism..." Hiluva gave a helpless smile, a truly leisurely answer.

"Belloburg is not a good place to travel."

“It makes no difference to me.” Fang Rui ignored Shiluwa’s words and changed the subject, “What are you here for? To go to Rocky Town?”

“No, I’m heading to the Machine Settlement. I’m looking for Schwarz.” Hilva made no attempt to hide anything.

"After discussing it with Bronya, we have decided to start cultivating the land soon, but there are some things to take care of before we start."

"After all, land reclaimed in the ordinary way cannot be used to grow crops, and preventing erosion by ice and snow is the key issue."

“So…” Fang Rui continued, “you’re planning to build a greenhouse?”

“Only greenhouses can guarantee a suitable temperature in the ice field.”

“Yes, greenhouse technology is very simple for Belloberg, after all, we’ve been using it all along.”

"Besides that," said Shiluwa, "Belberg also has many technologies like nutrient solutions, and building a greenhouse is the best option."

"But the problem is..."

After a moment's hesitation, Hiluva said, "Regarding energy!"

“The reserves of the Earth’s Essence are limited. If Beloberg wants to expand outwards, it must find new energy sources. I wonder if Schwarzlo has any records of the relevant technology.”

"If you want new energy technologies, you can buy them online. I remember that you were given communicators on March 7th."

In the interstellar era, online stores even carry items like star destroyers, not to mention common energy technologies.

"Yeah, I don't have any money," Hiluva said helplessly.

“We did consider buying it at first, but the energy technology is quite expensive.”

"Earth marrow ore is considered a rare energy ore, and its price is very high in interstellar space. Selling some earth marrow ore should be enough to buy basic energy technology, right?"

“That’s enough, but…” Hiluva said, “We can research the basic energy technology, but the energy technology we want to buy is comparable to the Earth Essence Ore.”

"Ah! If it's that kind of energy technology, it is indeed quite expensive."

Fang Rui didn't say anything more. Earth marrow ore is a highly efficient energy ore, and a small piece is enough to power a mechanical soldier for a long time.

The evaluation he left in StarCraft was also very high.

"So... you want to ask Swaro if there's any energy technology comparable to Earth Essence Ore?"

“I’m not that greedy,” Hiluva smiled. “A good energy technology is enough.”

"Easy to use..." Fang Rui pondered the two words, in other words, it has to meet your expectations.

"Alright! We happen to have some business to attend to at the Mechanical Settlement, how about we come along?"

Fang Rui extended an invitation, asking for Xiluwa's opinion.

“Of course,” Hiluva replied without refusing.

The group took a cable car to the mechanical settlement. The furnace connecting the upper and lower areas was guarded by Schwarz, so one could go directly from the furnace to the mechanical settlement.

Taking the cable car will take you to Panyan Town.

Emerging from the waiting room in Panyan Town, one enters a rather narrow alleyway. There are few people there, so Fang Rui doesn't linger in the alleyway.

Emerging from the alleyway, one finds a spacious square with some people setting up stalls. Fang Rui pays no attention to the vendors or the mine foremen recruiting workers…

Instead, they headed directly towards the mechanical settlement outside of Rocky Town.

Panyan Town and the Machinery Settlement are quite far apart, but people frequently travel between them, so the road is relatively flat.

“A rift…” Hilva looked at the black, shimmering crystals that were everywhere.

"What? You want to smash it?" Fang Rui asked.

“I would like to, but I can’t,” Hiluva said.

Rifts breed monsters, which is why Sylva hates them.

"Is that so?" Fang Rui didn't say anything like "I can handle it," but instead looked at the distant rock wall, suddenly remembering a certain witch's plan...

"Have you ever thought about trapping the Rift Monsters inside a device and using their power to create energy, such as artificial power generation, and..."

"The Rift Monsters don't need to eat, making them excellent laborers!"

Hiluva looked at Fang Rui with an indescribable gaze, her voice strained, "Isn't your idea a bit extreme?"

"The Rift Monsters have brought so much suffering to Beloborg, are you going to talk to them about labor laws?"

Fang Rui asked a question in return, seemingly puzzled.

“No, but your idea is amazing.” Hiluva’s emotions had calmed down, but her surprise had not completely dissipated.

"Moreover, the Rift Monsters are not easy to capture, so your idea is not easy to realize..."

"Moreover, the Rift Monsters are full of destructive desires. If you put them in a device, the most likely thing to happen is that they will dismantle the device."

“You’re right.” Fang Rui didn’t insist on his idea.

Ying and the others standing to the side didn't offer any opinions. Apep found Fang Rui's idea somewhat frightening, while Ying and Paimon felt it was somewhat familiar...

"I think you and Alice would get along very well," Ying remarked.

"I haven't met Alice, so I'm not sure."

Fang Rui had heard of Alice's name and knew what her job was: handling some affairs on the outskirts of Teyvat.

As they talked, they arrived at the mechanical settlement.

Arriving at the heart of the mechanical settlement, at the castle where Schwarz and Clara lived, neither of them were home.

Therefore, the group decided to wait a while. After learning why Ying and the others had come to the mechanical settlement, Hilva began to help them assemble the robot.

Schwarzro's warehouse contained many mechanical parts, but Fang Rui and his team didn't have the password to open it. Therefore, they bought the parts from scavengers and searched the area where abandoned mechs were piled up...

"Why a mechanical dog?" Paimon asked, tilting his head as he looked at the mechanical dog that Shiluwa had made.

“There are only so many parts!” Shiluwa explained.

“But I think…” Ying looked at the mechanical soldier in the center of the square, a robot that was over two meters tall and over two meters wide.

"A robot dog that is less than a meter tall is no match for a robot."

'To be more precise, I couldn't even block a single move,' Ying thought to herself.

“Very different,” Appepp echoed.

"There was no need to challenge such a powerful opponent in the first place! We could have started by challenging someone of similar strength..."

Hiluva offered her advice, "After all, you're here to have fun. Besides, when it comes to games, start with a low difficulty level, gradually accumulate experience, upgrade your mechanical soldiers, and then slowly increase the difficulty..."

"Isn't that normal? What do you think?"

“You’re right.” Ying nodded slightly in agreement, and Paimon also agreed…

Chapter 629 Relics Exploration Team

While Ying and the others went to play the mechanical pet challenge, Fang Rui was doing something else: discussing energy issues with Shiluwa.

Energy technology is a weakness for Belloberg, as its possession of the Earth Marrow mineral allowed it to skip several stages of energy technology development.

If Yalilo were at his peak, with his advanced technology, he could have researched some useful energy technologies. But the current Belloborg...

With a technological gap and resource shortages, the energy technologies that can be researched are likely to be basic, such as wind power...

It's simple and easy to use, but the snowfield is infested with roaming Rift monsters, making the wind power generation device easy to destroy. The same problem applies to thermal and hydroelectric power generation devices.

"Regarding energy technology, I actually have a suggestion..."

Upon hearing this, Hiluva said nothing, only revealing a slightly subtle expression. "You already gave me advice, which was quite frightening and useless."

"There is a simple way to solve this problem: make a deal with me..."

"That's definitely a good idea. If we still can't find a solution by the end, we might come to you for help."

Hiluva neither agreed nor refused; if possible, she hoped that Belloberg would solve the problem himself rather than seeking outside help.

"Alright! I'll stay in Belleburg for two days. Until I leave, all promises will stand..."

After saying that, Fang Rui left the villa and wandered around the mechanical settlement.

After the Star Core catastrophe, the mechanical settlement also underwent some changes.

Other areas have already been eroded by the rift. Even if the rift stops expanding, the towns swallowed by the rift are still full of danger. They could appear from nowhere or at any time, and might even suddenly appear beside your bed while you are sleeping...

Therefore, no one has returned to the towns swallowed by the rift for the time being. They continue to live in Rocky Town, the Mechanical Settlement, and the mining area. Since it has been confirmed that they are living there permanently, some people have decided to improve their living conditions...

Rejecting tents, building a house from scratch...

Before starting work, these people consulted with Schwarzro and only began after receiving permission...

It was a lively scene, much more vibrant than the last time I saw it.

There's a problem, though. These people probably didn't have any knowledge of architecture, because the unfinished houses already look very strange.

Fang Rui had serious doubts about how long these unfinished houses could last.

Come to think of it, didn't Schwarzlo give a heads-up?

Or did Clara not give a heads-up?

After thinking for a while, Fang Rui gave up on that matter and turned to consider another thing: whether he should participate in the Mechanical Pet Challenge or go to other areas to play.

First, the areas where the rift erosion isn't as severe will definitely be the first to be reclaimed. These areas are temporarily uninhabitable, but without the energy supply from the star core, the rate at which monsters are born within the rift will slow down. With some guards assigned, they can be used for other things, such as factories...

Or rather, a breeding farm...

Now that Beloberg is a bit more stable, it's a good time to solve Beloberg's food problem, since the antimatter legion will break out of the ice as the snow melts.

Once war breaks out, it is essential to ensure a sufficient supply of food, so we must act quickly.

On the other hand, the number of animals suitable for domestication in Belleberg is relatively small, and the number suitable for underground breeding is even smaller...

Upon entering the Rivet Realm, Fang Rui saw Xi'er directing some people to demolish buildings. After learning about Xi'er's plan, Fang Rui wanted to help, but was unfortunately refused.

According to Seele, there's no need to seek help if they can do it themselves.