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[The First Pioneer Group of Wildfire has been successfully organized.]
[Under Ron's personal command, the Pioneer Group departs from the Wildfire base, heading for the deeply Fragmentum-corroded Rivet Town.]
[The townspeople of Boulder Town see them off from the bottom of their hearts, hoping for the heroes' safe return from the Fragmentum.]
[The stability of the Underworld has greatly increased. The people of the Underworld will temporarily share the Trait with the Wildfire organization: United as One (Temporary)]
[United as One (Temporary): True unity can only be achieved when a nation and its people share an ultimate goal. Though brothers may quarrel within their walls, they will unite to repel an outside invader.
While this Trait is active, monthly Cohesion will increase by 10%, Population Amenity Usage will be reduced by 10%, and Governing Ethics Attraction will increase by 50%.
The "Wildfire" faction gains an additional effect—the loyalty of all members will steadily increase. The work efficiency of all members will increase by 20%, the administrative efficiency of Wildfire will increase by 50%, and the organization size penalty will be reduced by 100%.]
Looking at the text on the light screen, a relaxed smile appeared on Natasha's lips.
Although Natasha had initially hoped Ron would quickly distribute "Snowstorm Immunity" to everyone and let all the people of the Underworld evolve, it now seemed that Ron's choice was also quite good.
Not only had he successfully formed a decently-sized Pioneer Group, but he had also managed to make them a respected target for the Underworld's miners, turning them into the heroes of the Underworld...
Until the "United as One" trait disappeared, Natasha wouldn't have to worry about any conflicts arising among the people of the Underworld.
At the very least... this trait shouldn't suddenly vanish before they successfully invaded the Overworld and unified the two districts, so no unexpected problems should arise...
With these thoughts, Natasha clicked the screen. The text faded, and a panoramic map appeared.
The map meticulously detailed the layout of Rivet Town and its surroundings. Countless deep-red dots of light moved slowly within it, clearly representing the Fragmentum creations in the area.
It had to be said, Rivet Town, which had fallen completely into the Fragmentum long ago, was by no means safe. It was teeming with Fragmentum creations, and bizarre Fragmentum phenomena constantly manifested within it.
Completely clearing out the Fragmentum creations in this town and bringing it under control would be no simple task...
Natasha looked at a single blue dot on the screen. The Pioneer Group of a few dozen people was just a tiny blue speck, utterly inconspicuous amidst the tide of red dots, looking as if it would be swallowed up in the next second.
But... of course, things would not develop that way.
A new scene appeared on the screen:
Ron led the fully equipped Pioneer Group on a rapid march, finally arriving at the entrance of Rivet Town.
Everyone cast their eyes toward the town, past the heavy wire mesh fence. Through the gaps, they could see the dense swarm of Fragmentum creations within.
Bizarre and lifeless figures patrolled the town. The supposedly abandoned town looked orderly, with the streetlights emitting a soft glow, as if someone had been constantly maintaining it, living comfortably in a town corroded by the Fragmentum.
But the thought of the countless hideous, strange creations within Rivet Town, the thought of the dead who had been replicated by the Fragmentum and seemed to have returned from hell, made everyone's hearts tremble slightly. A hint of retreat even began to form.
"Th-there are so many Fragmentum creations. Can we really win with just us..."
A pioneer muttered to himself, his pupils constricting, revealing the subtle fear in his eyes.
"We can't win."
Ron was concise. "We cannot possibly handle this many Fragmentum creations. If we face them head-on, the mere act of them swarming us would be enough to completely engulf us in an instant."
"No matter how hard we fight back, we cannot resist so many Fragmentum creations. This is not something a few dozen of us can accomplish."
"Then... then should we return to Boulder Town?"
Another pioneer spoke up, his tone hesitant.
"But everyone just saw us off. They're so eagerly awaiting our triumphant return. If we go back empty-handed like this..."
His words trailed off, but Ron immediately picked up where he left off:
"If we go back empty-handed, if we just stand in front of Rivet Town, feel like we can't do it, and run back to Boulder Town with our tails between our legs, scared by the Fragmentum creations, we'd be complete cowards, right?"
Ron stood before them, his gaze sweeping seriously across their faces—fear, hesitation, the expressions on everyone's faces were different, but there was one striking similarity...
A hint of expectation shone on every face.
They hoped they could successfully take Rivet Town, to bring this former commercial hub of the Underworld completely under their control, to open up new frontiers for the Underworld, and to reclaim this developed town.
The danger of the Fragmentum creations brought them fear and indecision, but it could not erase their hope of reclaiming Rivet Town.
Ron took a deep breath and said sternly:
"Look, what kind of expressions are on your faces right now?"
"Fear? Hesitation? The Fragmentum creations in this town haven't even engaged you, and you're already so scared that you're cowering, not daring to take a single step forward?"
A rare hint of reprimand colored Ron's tone. The pioneers, who had been personally trained by Ron, stood in silence, like kittens caught by the scruff of their necks. No one dared to move an inch at this moment, to get on Ron's bad side.
But Ron didn't intend to scold them too much. Looking at the silent group, his tone softened:
"I know that everyone shrinks back in the face of danger, in the face of death. You are not to blame for this..."
As he spoke, his just-softened tone suddenly became hard as steel. "But if the warriors do not shed blood, then the civilians will have to."
"We are the pioneers, the first legion to brave the snowstorm and resist the Fragmentum... If we take one step back, the entire Underworld will have to retreat ten steps."
"To eke out a meager existence under the Fragmentum's corrosion, to live in constant fear with a crisis hanging over our heads, is that really what you want?!"
"Do you still remember the oath you swore when you became pioneers, when you consumed 'Snowstorm Immunity'?"
"Everything... To become pioneers, we must give our everything."
"For the future of the Underworld, we must press forward bravely."
"Even with so many Fragmentum creations, it's not like there's no solution... as long as we don't face them all at once."
"Stop hesitating... First Pioneer Group of Wildfire, listen to my command!"
The pioneers instinctively stood at attention, awaiting Ron's order.
Ron wasted no more words. He unhesitatingly kicked open the heavy wire mesh fence blocking the entrance to Rivet Town and took the lead, striding inside.
"Charge with me!"
The scene on the light screen faded, and new text appeared:
[The First Pioneer Group of Wildfire hesitated in the face of Rivet Town's danger.]
[Ron successfully rallied them. They were greatly influenced, and their morale has increased dramatically.]
Natasha looked at the panoramic map on the side—
The pale blue dot of light had steadily arrived at the entrance of Rivet Town, and then, like a sharp knife, it thrust fiercely into the town, rushing into the dense mass of deep-red dots.
These red dots swarmed toward the pale blue dot like mad, but the Pioneer Group moved like ghosts, weaving through the gaps in the dense swarm, not hindered by a single red dot.
New text appeared on the screen:
[Your assistant Ron has led the First Pioneer Group into Rivet Town, avoiding all direct confrontation with the Fragmentum creations, and successfully reached the highest point in Rivet Town.]
[Under Ron's command, the Pioneer Group methodically fortified the orphanage, making it impregnable. It has become the Pioneer Group's temporary base.]
Natasha looked at the panoramic map. A small blue area had now appeared on it, representing the orphanage that had been completely occupied and converted into a temporary base by the pioneers.
Countless red dots surged toward the orphanage like a tide, but due to the terrain, only a small number of Fragmentum creations could charge up at a time, and they were then easily dealt with by Ron and his pioneers...
Seeing the scene on the map, Natasha couldn't help but feel a little emotional. She never expected that such a difficult assault would turn out like this under Ron's command.
She had thought that only Seele was capable of traversing the Fragmentum, flitting through all obstacles like a ghost.
Because of Seele's unique abilities and her familiarity with Rivet Town, Natasha often asked her to retrieve some supplies from the town and bring them to the clinic to help patients who couldn't be treated due to a lack of resources.
But she hadn't expected Ron to be able to lead so many people and accomplish the same thing Seele did alone... They couldn't turn intangible and phase through space with the blessing of a Path. It was hard to imagine how Ron had managed it.
Unfortunately, Natasha had not accompanied Ron and the Pioneer Group to Rivet Town, so she couldn't see in more detail how Ron had done it. She could only see the simple summary provided by the Life Simulation Game.
As one of the only two leaders of Wildfire, after Ron left Boulder Town, Natasha had to stay behind to manage the organization and prevent any problems from arising.
And... she needed to stay in the clinic, not just for the patients of Boulder Town, but also for the Blessed Berries.
To support the new Pioneer Group, Natasha had already started cultivating the Blessed Berries on a very small scale to produce "Snowstorm Immunity" in small batches.
Ron had demanded that Natasha must guard these berries well, ensuring that not a single one was leaked and that no irrelevant parties learned about them.
Although Natasha herself felt the matter wasn't that serious, Ron had told her with extreme gravity:
"Never test the greed and vileness of human nature, Natasha."
"It is an unchangeable flaw in humanity... No matter how much effort we put into the future of this world, in the face of sufficient profit, the greed and vileness of human nature are enough to drag us down to hell."
Therefore, Natasha could only stay in Boulder Town and did not go to Rivet Town.
"Forget it. Ron can solve the problem in Rivet Town without me anyway. It's not really necessary for me to go..."
Natasha muttered to herself and clicked the screen, watching as a new line of text popped up:
[Ron is leading the Pioneer Group to advance steadily in Rivet Town, gradually expanding their gains.]
Looking at the panoramic map, the blue dot representing the Pioneer Group was advancing steadily within Rivet Town, starting from the orphanage and gradually expanding its sphere of influence.
The small blue area, under the assault of the endless tide of red dots, had not shrunk. In fact, it was slowly expanding.
And the dense swarm of Fragmentum creations in Rivet Town was also gradually thinning out... The battle situation was improving, and victory was imminent.
Looking at the map, Natasha smiled faintly, feeling completely at ease.
As expected of Ron, he's about to reclaim Rivet Town with such ease...
After Rivet Town is fully reclaimed, I'll try to persuade Ron to head to the Overworld... By then, we should have the ability to completely unify the upper and lower districts.
With these thoughts, Natasha clicked the screen and let the simulation continue.
New text appeared:
[You have greeted a new day.]
[To produce "Snowstorm Immunity," you have cultivated a small number of Blessed Berries in the secret room of the clinic. Today is the day of harvest.]
[You carefully lock the clinic door and seal the windows, ensuring that you can open the secret room without any interference.]
[You see that the secret room is in a mess. The small patch of berry bushes has been trampled, its leaves scattered. The once bright red berries have vanished.]
[A smiley face mask lies nearby, its smile seemingly mocking your negligence.]
[The Blessed Berries have been stolen.]