Terra Tinkers Construct is fine.

Aside from that, this indicator neither affects the character's offensive and defensive attributes nor unlocks more system functions; in short, it's useless.

Milan had certainly noticed the system's shortcomings long ago. After all, aside from mining and smelting materials, the fact that he didn't get any experience orbs from killing creatures was already quite telling. But because the system was so meaningless to him, and he didn't have any means to research this ability, he hadn't paid any attention to it.

After all, he already had Tinker's Consecration at hand, so the enchanting function was basically useless to him. As everyone knows, under normal circumstances, Tinker's Consecration equipment cannot receive the benefits of enchanting because it already has material attributes.

"Wow, there really are levels now."

Accompanied by the sound of wind chimes that only he could hear, Milan could see the flames of the furnace he took out of his inventory burning fiercely, smelting the materials inside and changing them. His experience bar, which had always been gray, gradually filled with bright green. The first level was always very easy. Seeing the number 1 on the level bar change to 2, Milan became somewhat interested.

—Will real-world hierarchies have any unexpected effects?

Milan, having only advanced one level and not yet noticing any changes, was quite curious.

The other aspect, as the title suggests, is about Originium.

Previously, he had been analyzing Originium solely through the workbench, which was like using himself as the terminal to analyze the special products of this world and incorporate them into his own set of rules, which meant going against the rules of this world itself.

As a result, his satiety level would drop rapidly whenever he did this work, just like the energy he invested in the project. As for the result, he was always stuck at a certain stage and could not make any progress. He originally thought that the resources on the snowfield were limited, but after arriving in Chernobog, he had more resources at his disposal, but he still could not make any new progress.

But now it's different.

The material samples that were previously analyzed for the progress block have naturally achieved a complete analysis—just what he can see already includes the two categories of [Originium Crystal Shell] and [Originium Rough Ore].

The outer shell of Originium crystals needs no introduction: this is the crystalline substance that gradually accumulates on the outer layer of natural Originium during the crystallization and deposition process; in the field of modern Originium technology, high-quality natural Originium crystals have indeed gradually come in handy - but for Milan, it still saves a lot of trouble.

The money issue is secondary; the main point is that this thing is equivalent to a "Shard of Amethyst" in his item tagging system, which saves him the trouble of searching for white crystals in Ursus. As for quality—any kind of raw ore will have the same result when you put it into the MC furnace; his cheat is not as picky as Terran equipment.

As for [Originium Ore]...

Rough Originium ore can be smelted into purified Originium, and its stability and energy supply can basically be compared with Originium energy crystals.

[Purified Originium] can be combined into [Purified Originium Block] by placing nine blocks together on a workbench. After being smelted in a furnace, it can produce [Refined Originium].

At this level, it can be directly used as "Originium Ingots," the hard currency in the black market, or as a high-quality Originium processing product for high-standard applications.

As for continuing to follow the MC synthesis logic of nine-in-one and improving it further?

Milan hadn't given up trying, but he hadn't gotten any results from the synthesis. According to his logic, the next stage would be nothing more than [Pure Originium], at most requiring another round of smelting. However, the output of the synthesis table was blank, as if to suggest that he hadn't met the prerequisites.

(PS: Raw Originium ore with insufficient purity and activity cannot be used for energy and is therefore worthless. However, under certain conditions, it may undergo a short-term violent reaction, releasing energy and causing an explosion. Therefore, this operation does not comply with safety regulations and should not be imitated.)

—I can't possibly have to see the actual Pure Originium first, can I?

Milan's lips twitched: Forget it, that's not important. Pure Originium is just another source of income, and it's not important to Milan for the time being. More important than that is that now that he has the Originium, he really has no idea what to do with it.

—When it comes to the function of Originium, the first thing that comes to mind should be... energy?

In an instant, something that should be associated with the concept of "energy" in MC's mind came to mind, and Milan showed a thoughtful expression.

Just then, a standard knock on the door interrupted his train of thought.

"Who?"

Milan, caught up in the moment, called out without turning his head. A strange voice outside the door paused for a moment and then said, "Excuse me for visiting, Mr. Milan. I am Kal'tsit, one of the heads of Rhodes Island."

"..."

Milan paused for a moment. The Originium ingot in his hand had clearly just come out of the furnace, but there was no warmth from the furnace. He put down the Originium, got up, and opened the door. Outside was the familiar yet unfamiliar old lynx—just as all the players had expected, she possessed stunning beauty and a cold face that could easily overshadow that beauty.

Perhaps because she had taken the initiative to visit and had done a lot of mental preparation, her expression at this moment seemed somewhat tense and lively.

However, after Milan opened the door, Kelsey's gaze was not immediately drawn to Milan, but rather involuntarily drawn to the scene in the room behind Milan.

Kal'tsit: "You... huh?"

Chapter 106 Selling Crutches (13/80)

Kal'tsit envisioned many scenarios of meeting the survivors of the previous civilization.

Perhaps it's in a heavily guarded secret room within a magnificent and solemn building like a cathedral, where the other party possesses an indifferent and ruthless demeanor akin to a computer; perhaps it's in a long-buried underground stasis, where the other party exudes a weathered aura of authority and detachment; or perhaps it's at a negotiating table erected against a backdrop of tragedy, where every seemingly casual exchange with the other party is intertwined with the fate of all living beings in Terra.

Even on Rhodes Island, in what should have been her territory—just standing in front of Milan's gate, looking at the familiar Rhodes Island staff dormitory and trying to knock on the door, she had to mentally prepare herself for quite some time.

But this definitely does not include the situation described above.

To be more specific, it is definitely not the scene we see before us.

Kal'tsit was relieved that Milan hadn't directly attacked Rhodes Island; at least the room remained as it was meant to be. But through the gap in the open door, what she saw wasn't cutting-edge technology or instruments she didn't recognize—but a bunch of tools that looked extremely primitive, even bizarre.

A wooden table? Solid wooden blocks? A angular block furnace and a heater emitting flames, with a crystal-clear container on top holding a shimmering purple liquid... and an undeniable yet incomprehensible pixel art style.

It's like a toy dumped out of a young child's toy box.

Is this man really an old man from a pre-civilization era?

This surreal scene made Kal'tsit, who had just mentally prepared herself, forget what she had prepared to say.

Milan, seeing her lost in thought, followed her gaze and turned around. She glanced at the things she had scattered all over the floor and smiled knowingly.

"Don't just stand at the door, come inside and we'll talk."

His tone was as relaxed as if he were at home.

Kal'tsit: Wait, something's not right!

This is strictly speaking, Lin Er'er! Shan Ling Dan Er, which should be my home, right?

"..."

Her heart was filled with turmoil, but she still took a deep breath and silently stepped inside; the oppressive feeling of the [pre-civilization] seemed to be diluted by this strange art style. She looked at the blocks with a questioning gaze, and finally spoke... in an unfamiliar tone.

Kal'tsit (unknown language): "Excuse me for speaking frankly, but I have never heard of you before. Who exactly are you?"

Milan paused, then a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Fun fact: Milan doesn't understand Russian, and of course, she doesn't understand Ursusese either.

So how did Milan manage to communicate with people in Ursus without any barriers?

The answer is 外/Q*un迩尔彡O岜挂.

Just as a game's built-in language directly switches to a pre-set native language text, the moment Kal'tsit spoke, the unfamiliar intonation of her speech was transformed into a language completely different from the Terran language—Liao Lan could even understand the information, including its logical structure entirely different from the Terran language family—so he smiled and shook his head, replying in the same fluent unknown language:

"Are you asking this question as the leader of Rhodes Island, or as a servant of the Prophet?"

His answer was nonchalant.

But her fluent pre-civilization language immediately cut through Kal'tsit's probing; the last possibility of "it might be a coincidence or someone's agent" was also eliminated. Kal'tsit was silent for a few seconds before organizing her thoughts and saying, "It was my presumption, Your Excellency."

“However, as one of the leaders of Rhodes Island, I have a responsibility to confirm the guest’s intentions; as the Doctor’s servant, I also have an obligation to protect her. I hope you can understand.”

"Doctor, is that right..."

Milan considered it without giving a direct answer, then smiled and said, "Then just call me Milan, like I always have."

"Shaanxi 0 Qi (II) Wo Si VIII Feed U705.COM First Release - Independent Game Author, Game Module Author, Materials Scholar, Half-baked Ecological Cultivation Scholar."

Kal'tsit: "…………"

What is an ecologist? And where did this guy come from?!

Are you a member of the Preservator Project?

Seeing Milan's nonchalant expression, as if she were more interested in the various random blocks in her hands than in herself, Kal'tsit quickly continued, "Has the Preservator Project continued to this day? You mentioned the continuation plans of those Doctor's friends, is there some kind of anomaly that requires the Doctor's involvement?"

"...It seems you didn't have time to read Miss Arc's report, otherwise you would know that I don't like beating around the bush."

Milan shook his head: "Let's stop with the indirect questioning—I didn't wake up for anything, just think of me as someone who's been dozing off for too long and came out to stretch my muscles."

"I just casually asked a fellow countryman if he remembered my old neighbor. It's no big deal."

Kal'tsit: "

It was obvious to the naked eye that the caged cat's expression instantly became tense.

"So... you didn't actually have any purpose?"

With a tense expression, she said in a somewhat subtle tone, "Including the advance stay and preparations in Chernobog, contacting the Doctor, and now coming to Rhodes Island, what do these things mean to you..."

"It means it's fun."

Milan gave a frank smile, her eyes narrowing as she laughed: "It's still a long way off for something that shouldn't be said. It's not a big deal to take a breath of fresh air occasionally during such a long period of time."

"Or how should I put it, Rhodes Island is so uncomfortable with other people's kindness that it has to dig into the details? You guys are being way too sensitive, it's like you're starving."

"Including what you mentioned about Precy?"

"What happened to Prismus again?"

Milan blinked: "She ran out first too?"

“…That’s not the case.”

—It would have been better if she had just run out now… No, let’s forget about her running out.

Realizing that Milan wasn't actually that difficult, Kelsey still asked for the most crucial name; to her surprise, Milan's reaction was incomprehensibly indifferent, as if he wasn't familiar with Precy either.

if it is like this……

Kal'tsit, whose mood was a mix of mixed feelings and absurdity, felt a sense of relief: he was not a promoter of the Originium Project on Precys' side, but merely an observer outside the project. In addition, he seemed to have some interest in Rhodes Island—the two sides not only did not have any fundamental conflict, but also still had a cooperative relationship until now.

He is not an enemy, at least not now, neither an enemy of Rhodes Island nor an enemy of Terra.

Even Rhodes Island had already received help from the other party in advance—considering Milan's undisguised goodwill in various details, Kal'tsit's strong mental fortitude allowed her to suppress her surging emotions, take a deep breath, and make a decision.

"I understand."

Regaining her usual composure, Kal'tsit quickly organized her thoughts and said, "In that case, I wonder if you would be interested in Rhodes Island's travels across this land?"

—Anyway... a seemingly rational and kind former civilization's fun-loving person is much better than a guy with a knack for making weird faces and carrying an apocalyptic agenda, isn't he?

Kal'tsit, who had an extremely clear understanding of the fact that "old Deng from the previous civilization must have had some special skills," made this judgment.

Chapter 107 - Operator Recruitment [Milan]

Kal'tsit's logic is very clear.

First, we can rule out the possibility that they are part of the Originium Project. Second, we can rule out the possibility that they themselves have ulterior motives towards Terra. On this basis, no matter how much Milan is hiding, at least for Kal'tsit, the most basic and crucial issue of their stance has been confirmed.

There is no fundamental conflict between the two sides.

That's fine.

Even if, to her surprise, "Milan seems to be a funny person," it's not the worst-case scenario—as for how credible Milan's identity is, she no longer wants to think about that.

She had wandered in Terra for thirteen thousand years, and had seen countless heroes, valiant men, and commoners. To say nothing of the distant past, beneath Milan's seemingly naive diplomatic attitude lay an arrogance, indifference, and composure emanating from the depths of her soul, along with a touch of warm familiarity beneath the estrangement, which served only as a seasoning.

No one else could pull off this kind of performance, no matter how they pretended.

To put it bluntly, even the intelligent beings native to Terra, who are friendly people from the former civilization, would probably at least have an attitude of respect for the soul and equal communication—but Kal'tsit, this former artificial creature servant, doesn't even have the right to make any more demands on her own.

As for the claim that life forms may not necessarily be the same... the language of a pre-civilization is already sufficient as more substantial evidence, while the life forms, for a civilization that once "drifted freely in the universe, uploaded consciousness to other celestial bodies to create biological carriers and experience life," might not be as valuable as language.

Kal'tsit believed it almost completely—90% or even 90%; and as for the "independent game producer" thing, which was just like the style of Milan's tools, she didn't take it seriously at all... Ed, who made Paradise Pivot, was a wilderness survival enthusiast. Just by looking at his hobbies, could you tell that he was a crazy guy who was going to tinker with a galactic cannon and bombard lumberjacks?

Right?

Therefore, her intention was very clear: after confirming that there was not only no fundamental conflict between the two parties, but also a certain degree of subtle goodwill, her first decision was to propose cooperation.

Whether it's utilitarian or not is secondary.

The important point is that even without considering the "seeking" relationship, just the fact that a "clear-headed and free-spirited former civilized old man" might leave behind something could be an immeasurable benefit for Rhodes Island; and another even more important point is that rather than letting Milan, a living father, wander around Terra, it's better to let him establish a certain connection with Rhodes Island, so that this variable can be kept as visible as possible.

Otherwise, who knows, one day he, a neutral person who enjoys having fun, might see or encounter something that isn't funny, and a new doomsday agenda might be initiated in a place she can't even see—that's some kind of god-like being from a previous civilization, and someone who claims to be involved in materials science and ecological technology...

Nobody knows what he might pull out of his pocket.

Milan's attitude towards this is...

"It's not impossible."

Before Kal'tsit, whose expression was barely concealed, Milan stroked his chin thoughtfully, as pixelated flames of the furnace and charred heater floated out, their light flickering in his pupils.

She couldn't tell what Milan was thinking.

After a moment's thought, he snapped his fingers and said, "But first we need to define cooperation."

"Please."

Kal'tsit readily accepted good advice.

"First of all, I am not a survivor of a previous civilization; I am just a craftsman who knows a little about witchcraft and alchemy."

Milan switched back to Terra's common language and said seriously, "I have an independent cooperative relationship with Rhodes Island, not to become an operator of Rhodes Island... Of course, I don't think Rhodes Island ever intended to do so."

"...Of course, as you wish."

Kal'tsit, who dared not utter a riddle, nodded honestly.