Chapter 292 A new change.

"Ding!"

{Congratulations on the purchase of thirty drones, Host.}

{You have a total of twenty points remaining.}

"Oh, good! Thank you," Ivy replied with a wide smile as she watched the system interface.

The drones were another valuable addition to Hope Base. With them, the base’s overall strength would increase once again, making it easier for them to monitor their surroundings, scout dangerous areas, and respond quickly whenever a threat appeared.

And it wasn’t just the drones that were strengthening Hope Base.

Thanks to Ivy’s decision to sell supplies at low and affordable prices, more and more survivors were able to obtain the resources they needed to survive. As the members of Hope Base became stronger and more capable, the strength of the entire base continued to rise.

Ivy couldn’t help but feel satisfied.

Everything was gradually falling into place.

****

Meanwhile, at Antelope Base...

Antelope sat comfortably in his chair, while two of the soldiers he trusted the most sat directly in front of him.

A month had passed since he had last spoken to Ivy.

During that time, he had heard occasional rumors about Hope Base, but he had paid little attention to them. He was still convinced that Ivy’s so-called counterattack against the monsters was nothing more than an overly ambitious plan that would eventually fail.

"Has there been any news yet?" Antelope asked with a smirk, casually reaching for another biscuit in front of him.

He took a bite and leaned back in his chair.

"I don’t believe in her counterattack or whatever she called it. I don’t believe this so-called winter assault is even possible." He waved his hand dismissively. "So, tell me. What’s the news right now?"

His smirk widened.

"Let me hear what I want to hear."

The two soldiers exchanged a quick glance before one of them finally spoke.

"I’m sorry to inform you, Commander, but Hope Base actually annihilated one hundred and fifty thousand monsters in the High-Tech Zone recently. They also rescued more than one hundred survivors."

Antelope froze.

The biscuit in his hand slipped from his fingers and landed on the table.

"What?"

The soldier swallowed nervously before continuing.

"I was shocked when I first received the news myself, but it’s the truth. I’ve already confirmed the report several times before coming here to inform you."

Antelope’s expression slowly darkened.

One hundred and fifty thousand monsters?

Hope Base had actually destroyed that many?

****

Meanwhile, the High-Tech Zone had finally fallen into Ivy’s hands.

After several hours of clearing the remaining monsters and securing every important area, the soldiers moved throughout the zone, checking each building and confirming that there were no hidden threats left behind.

They inspected abandoned offices, warehouses, laboratories, production facilities, and every other structure that could potentially conceal monsters.

Only after they were certain that the entire area was safe did they finally relax.

Ivy stood at the entrance of the largest technological facility, her gaze sweeping across the massive building before her.

Compared to the other places they had encountered since the apocalypse began, this High-Tech Zone was practically a treasure vault.

Advanced machinery, automated production lines, agricultural technology, food-processing equipment, and countless other resources were all present.

Everything here had once belonged to a world that no longer existed and now, it belonged to her.

It was a privilege that no other base had.

Ivy’s eyes gleamed as she looked at the equipment around her.

If she could make proper use of everything in this place, Hope Base’s development would advance by leaps and bounds.

"Ding!"

{Congratulations, Host. High-Tech Zone successfully captured.}

{Special reward has been issued.}

{Industrial Upgrade activated.}

Ivy’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Industrial Upgrade?"

Before she could even ask what that meant, another series of notifications appeared before her.

{Reward: Fully Automated Farming Equipment.}

{Reward: Fully Automated Food Production Equipment.}

{Agricultural Production Efficiency increased by 500%.}

Ivy’s lips slowly curved upward.

This was exactly what Hope Base needed.

Food had always been one of the most important resources after the apocalypse.

Weapons could protect people, clothes could keep them warm while medicine could save lives but without food, none of those things would matter.

The problem was that farming required an enormous amount of manpower.

Clearing the land, preparing the soil, planting crops, watering them, removing weeds, harvesting them, transporting the crops, and processing them afterward....all of it required survivors.

And every survivor working in the fields was one less person available for construction, security, exploration, hunting, transportation, or other essential tasks.

This was one of the biggest limitations Hope Base had faced as its population continued to grow.

But with the system’s new reward...

Things were about to change.