Chapter 212 - 170: Farming Route, Activate

"What the...?! This!" Chu Bamboo stared, dumbfounded, at the video Nuwa No. 17 was displaying of the shantytown’s periphery.

’Since when were there cameras near the shantytown? And even putting aside the massive changes over there, the density of cameras elsewhere...’

"Compared to last time, it’s at least tripled!" Chu Bamboo observed, his expression gradually turning serious.

Before, the cameras basically only monitored the wealthy districts and the area around the Government Office. But now, they were installed at nearly every important intersection.

As seen on camera, the work uniforms of the shantytown laborers had become much thicker and more durable.

And the workers were no longer the skin and bones they used to be, looking as if they could drop dead from exhaustion at any moment... though their eyes were just as lifeless, like a crowd of walking dead.

"Hm?" Chu Bamboo’s gaze suddenly froze on one of the video feeds.

It was a feed from the entrance of the Police Chief Bureau. There, several patrol officers were intently operating drones, surveying the area around the Bureau and the nearby Government Office.

As Chu Bamboo kept his eyes on this scene, Nuwa No. 17 automatically brought up the drone’s surveillance feed!

"...You can do that, too?" Chu Bamboo asked, lost in thought.

"By transmitting information via the Starlink Celestial Net, and utilizing the highest-level surveillance authority for Jinghai City granted to this unit, all data captured by official surveillance systems in Jinghai City—including security cameras, video cameras, drones, and even officially issued mobile phones, not personal ones—can be searched by this unit. Furthermore, this unit possesses a certain degree of control over these official electronic devices."

Chu Bamboo fell silent. He nearly had a traumatic reaction to the words "Celestial Net." ’Which Celestial Net are they even talking about?!’

However, after a quick question, he confirmed his suspicion. ’So it’s a network of still-operational satellites in outer space?’

’This is insane!’ Chu Bamboo grumbled to himself. ’The ancient electronics still working was all thanks to the Mo Family’s Brother Tu Mu. I don’t know if it’s because of their unique Divine Techniques or if a little prayer really brings Great Joy to the Machine Soul... but how is Brother Tu Mu supposed to repair a satellite?’

’Are they going to launch Brother Tu Mu into space on a rocket?!’

"Wait!" Chu Bamboo suddenly realized something terrifying and asked cautiously, "Nuwa No. 17, can you directly control the drones?"

"Upon receiving a directive, affirmative!" Nuwa No. 17’s voice was as monotonous as ever, but the implication of its words was terrifying.

"Then," Chu Bamboo swallowed, his voice feeling drier than ever before, "can I give you the order... to control a drone!"

There was a long silence. Nuwa No. 17 calculated for a full twenty-seven seconds. "You possess Level 4 permanent authority! And Level 2 temporary authority! The Level 2 temporary authority belongs to the Police Chief Bureau sequence."

"Commencing analysis: No sequence detected for the Level 4 permanent authority. The two authorities can be relatively merged. Current authority is now: Level 4 Police Chief Bureau Sequence Permanent Authority—"

"You may issue commands to control the seventeen surveillance drones and one attack drone belonging to the Third District! Additionally, in the absence of other operators, you may control the one hundred ninety-five surveillance drones in the Second District! However, you do not have permission to use the Second District’s attack drones!"

Chu Bamboo was speechless.

Unbelievable!

This was just insane.

Chu Bamboo stared blankly. This was the first time he realized his Nuwa authority could be used this way...

’And here I thought it was just for looking up information.’

"This is so powerful!"

Chu Bamboo couldn’t help the surge of excitement he felt. ’And it was an authority merger, too... but it seems to only affect the Third District?’

’In the Second District... I can only control the surveillance drones!’

’It must be... because of the honorary deputy captain position in the Second District that Old Huo arranged for me!’ Chu Bamboo mused. ’If I were an honorary captain, I could probably control the attack drones.’

Still...

"Only a dozen or so in one, and over a hundred in the other... The disparity is huge." Chu Bamboo was at a loss for words, especially when he recalled the same was true for Transcendents: only a handful in the Third District, compared to dozens in the Second.

"The Third District gets no love!"

Chu Bamboo sighed at the sky. After a moment’s thought, he asked again, "Nuwa No. 17, how powerful is the attack drone?"

"The attack drone is equipped with a modified Type 53 light machine gun. Ammunition specification: 7.62x54mm. Muzzle velocity: approximately 820 m/s. Effective range: up to approximately 1,000 meters. Magazine capacity: forty-seven rounds!"

"Once ammunition is depleted, an application must be filed to resupply from the First District’s armory!"

"..."

’Badass.’

Chu Bamboo was shaken. ’This attack drone... at close range, even a First Realm Transcendent would probably be gunned down on the spot, wouldn’t they?’

’Even though I can only control one right now... if I ever face a real emergency, this could be my trump card to turn the tables!’

’I just don’t know if a Second Realm Transcendent could withstand it. I’m leaning toward no, but I can’t be sure... After all, I’ve never fought a Second Realm Transcendent.’

’But then again!’

As his thoughts churned, Chu Bamboo broke into a silent smile. ’Yes, yes, this is very good! An Epic Level upgrade... This is a good thing. All of it is good!’

After taking a long moment to calm himself, Chu Bamboo’s gaze sharpened. "Nuwa No. 17, bring up my diary... or rather, all the photos that Lin Xia uploaded to your file library!"

The next instant, a torrent of white light cascaded down.