Thỏ Vorpal Và Ông Chú Pháo Đài - Chương 2330: Tập 2330: "Liên kết phân tử"

Một chiếc máy bay falling at the landing site of 〈クラオカミ〉 exploded and caught fire, but was extinguished by the fire NPCs waiting there, and the dismantling of the wreckage began. Just before that, a container that had been purged opened its parachute and slowly fell, and crew members wearing protective suits crawled out from inside the aircraft.

"Today it crashed, huh. Well, whatever, I hope the cargo is safe."

Arriving at the speed of sound was the head researcher of the production band 〈プレプロポリプロピレンプールラボ〉, Appricot Punipuni Purin Purin Princess — commonly known as Professor Punipuni.

The type-fairy girl, after taking off her protective suit to reveal a pristine white coat, looked at the devastation behind her with a serene smile, as if she hadn't noticed it at all, and gazed at the long-awaited 〈クラオカミ〉.

"This event seems to be a chance for producers to shine too, how exciting. For now, let's go to the control tower. Puchipuru Puru Patch, let's go!"

『Pui!』

Calling out toward the charred surface of the container, a thick protective armor wall was flung outward from the inside, crashing into several fire NPCs who were clearing debris, creating a loud noise.

What emerged from within was a multi-legged mechanical beast enveloped in a pale blue, semi-transparent gel. This was Professor Punipuni's earliest "research achievement" and her long-time partner. Puchipuru Puru Patch, as her name suggests, has a jelly-like body that jiggles all over as she lifts a large portable storage container from the back of the container.

The type-fairy Appricot Punipuni Purin Purin Princess was physically weak, so the strength of Puchipuru Puru Patch was essential for carrying heavy loads.

『Pui〜』

With soft, squishy footsteps, Puchipuru Puru Patch arrived, and Professor Punipuni gently stroked her legs to comfort her, then headed toward the control tower in the center of the town.

"As expected of a newly built town, it's quite lively."

『Pui!』

〈クラオカミ〉 was completed, but cities are always under constant renovation. And this was especially true for a city that floated in the sky, leisurely flying and frequently attacked by native creatures. Merchants set up stalls everywhere, and there was no end to the development of commercial areas, with many craftsmen working desperately to repair the city's defensive walls.

『Welcome, survey and exploration member Appricot Punyu, Appricot Punipuni, Appricot Punipuni Purin Purin Princess. We are pleased to meet you.』

"Oh, Kuraokami-chan! Nice to meet you!"

At the front of the control tower stood the administrator, wearing a flight cap over her violet hair. She was welcoming survey and exploration members who wished to participate in the special exploration directive, while also unveiling herself as the newly appointed administrator.

Professor Punipuni also hugged and shook hands with the new administrator, then received a pre-briefing about the 11th Special Exploration Directive: "Dark Ice Village."

『The ultimate goal of this large-scale operation is to reach the ice and snow continent said to exist in the north. However, the path is blocked by angry native creatures, and the treacherous walls of rough seas and storms. Without your abilities, it would be impossible to overcome this.

You seem to be skilled in production skills. Please strengthen and reinforce this city. Of course, we have prepared appropriate rewards for your achievements.』

The way the event plays out depends on your playstyle. One approach is to defend the city's defensive facilities while repelling the approaching native creatures. Although they can fly, there are many formidable native creatures, such as swarms of jet bikes. Even for a seasoned survey and exploration member, repelling them without the support of the city's defensive facilities would be difficult.

However, if the city is attacked by native creatures, it will also be damaged, and bullets will be consumed. What is required of production-class characters like Professor Punipuni is to repair damage and strengthen the city's defensive facilities.

"From basic material delivery quests to high-level synthetic product delivery quests... I see, so players of all levels can enjoy this accordingly."

The event quest list is diverse, catering to various playstyles of survey and exploration members.

"Delivering 5,000 units of logs, 1,000 units of energy drinks... The unit prices are decent, but I'm not sure about precision parts or high-performance machinery."

Among the delivery quests, those requiring high-level production skills are indeed the most cost-effective. Especially high-level AI cores and small BB reactors, which are in high demand and traded at high prices in other cities, are very efficient.

"However, just making and delivering things isn't very interesting."

Though they are all producers, their specialties vary widely. Looking only at the 〈Blacksmith〉 skill, there are craftsmen like Crowry of the 〈Damascus Guild〉 who specialize in small precision machinery, and others like Tangan Ski of 〈Prometheus Industries〉 who are famous as experts in large smelting furnaces. Some focus on mass-producing the same product in quantities of 1,000, while others pour their soul into creating extremely difficult and innovative products.

Appricot Punipuni Purin Purin Princess, the head researcher of the New Tech Department at 〈Prepro Polypropylene Pool Lab〉, was a researcher who played a leading role in manufacturing materials for which no recipes yet existed.

Her goal was to create entirely new materials, and she was not particularly interested in quests that involved delivering large quantities of items.

"Something fun, maybe..."

While flipping through the massive quest list, the girl searched for something appealing. Just as she reached the end, her bamboo-leaf-shaped ears twitched.

"New city defensive equipment manufacturing competition... I see, I see. Hmm, this looks interesting."

What she found was something quite different from the previous delivery quests. Looking closely, the quest issuer was not Kuraokami. After reading the content carefully, Appricot Punipuni Purin Purin Princess smiled.

"Puchipuru Puru Patch, let's go!"

『Pui!』

Accompanied by her multi-legged skeletal jelly-coated mechanical beast, she set off toward the underground of the floating city — the complex, winding, dark depths of the city's infrastructure.