Chapter 330:Still buying.

Chapter 330: 330:Still buying.

He looked at the growing collection of supplies. They covered most obvious problems. Then Silver remembered the one thing none of those solved.

Communication.

He opened the electronics section.

"Show communication equipment capable of transmitting from underground."

The shop changed and several devices appeared. Silver selected the first.

His expression immediately became blank.

[Deep-Earth Quantum Communication Terminal]

[AP Cost: 18,000.]

Silver closed it.

"No."

The second wasn’t much better.

[Military-Grade Subterranean Communication Array]

[AP Cost: 11,500.]

Silver stared at the price.

"What the fuck... does it come with the military?"

He moved on.

The next one cost seven thousand. Another cost five thousand eight hundred. The cheapest dedicated deep-earth communicator Silver could find was still more than twice his current balance.

He leaned his head against the wall.

"Of course they are expensive."

Silver changed the search.

"Show me something that can help my phone connect to the normal network."

The results changed considerably. There were signal amplifiers, portable antennas, satellite relays, and network boosters. Most were affordable.

Silver opened the description of one.

[Portable Network Restoration Module.]

[Function: Detects, captures and amplifies weak conventional communication signals.]

[Compatible Networks: Civilian mobile networks, Contractor networks, Association emergency infrastructure and selected satellite relay signals.]

Silver’s eyes narrowed.

"That sounds useful."

Then he read the warning.

[Requirement: Trace external signal must be detectable.]

[Device cannot establish connectivity where external network penetration is completely absent.]

Silver looked at his phone. He checked the module description again.

"How high would I need to climb?"

[Unknown.]

Silver frowned.

"Estimate."

The system took several seconds.

[Insufficient geological data.]

[Network Restoration Module effectiveness increases as physical obstruction and signal interference decrease.]

Silver understood.

It couldn’t magically create internet several hundred meters beneath solid rock.

But if he climbed closer to the surface and reached somewhere that even the faintest network signal penetrated, the module could amplify it enough for his phone to connect.

That was significantly more useful than nothing. He checked the price.

[AP Cost: 500.]

He hesitated. Five hundred wasn’t cheap, especially just for one thing,not compared to the basic survival equipment he’d been buying.

But if it allowed him to contact Ravenna hours or even days before reaching the surface, it was worth every point.

Silver purchased it.

[Portable Network Restoration Module ×1 selected.]

[Purchase Confirmed.]

[AP Deducted: 500.]

[Installation compatibility confirmed with Host’s current mobile device.]

The device appeared in Silver’s hand. It was surprisingly small, roughly the size of a portable power bank, with a retractable antenna and several connection ports.

Silver connected it to his phone and the screen immediately displayed a setup prompt, which he accepted.

The module activated and a small indicator blinked.

[Searching for external networks...]

Silver waited for almost forty seconds then...

[No External Signal Detected.]

Silver wasn’t surprised. He left it running for another minute but nothing changed.

"At least we know it works."

He switched it off.

He looked toward the queen’s tunnel,now the objective had changed slightly. He still needed to escape but he no longer needed to reach the surface before letting everyone know he was alive.

He just needed to climb high enough. Somewhere above him, there would eventually be a point where a trace of the outside network reached through the mountain.

He only needed a fraction of one bar and the module could handle the rest.

Silver picked up the Emergency Survival Beacon he’d received from the system milestone that gave him two options.

The moment he reached a shallower depth, he could activate the beacon and begin broadcasting on Contractor emergency frequencies, then he could periodically test the network module.

Whichever connected first would tell the outside world he was alive.

Silver smiled faintly.

"Much better."

He placed both devices somewhere easily accessible. He wasn’t burying them at the bottom of his storage. If he suddenly saw network access, he wanted them immediately.

Silver checked his AP balance.

[688 AP remaining]

He had spent a noticeable amount but most of Ravenna’s reward remained. That was exactly how he wanted it.

He closed the shop.

Silver looked at the time.

His body still needed rest. The medicines were helping, but he could feel fatigue accumulating behind his eyes. He considered taking the Mental Restoration Capsule, then dismissed the idea.

That was an emergency item.

If he had to repeatedly use Spatial Sense while avoiding the queen, or if Spatial Distortion became necessary again, the capsule could be the difference between staying conscious and collapsing.

Using it now because he wanted to feel refreshed would be stupid. He removed another emergency meal. He ate and drank water, then changed the dressing on his side.

The reopened wound had already started closing again. He tested his shoulder but it was still stiff, although,better than before. He stretched his legs, finding no serious pain.

Silver opened his status.

[Physical Condition: Injured ~ Recovering.]

[Mental Capacity: 74%.]

[Spatial Reserves: 81%.]

[Physical Fatigue: Moderate.]

Silver considered the numbers, finding them not enough. He wanted his spatial reserves as close to full as possible before entering the queen’s territory.

He wasn’t expecting to fight the queen but was preparing for the possibility that avoiding it might require Short-Step multiple times.

Silver stored everything properly, then he placed one of the luminescent markers near his resting position.

He positioned himself where he could see the tunnel.

"Wake me if something comes through there."

[No automated threat-detection function currently active.]

Silver stared at the system screen.

"I wasn’t talking to you."

The message disappeared.

Silver smiled, then closed his eyes. Sleep came faster than expected. It wasn’t deep; every unfamiliar sound pulled him close to consciousness, but nothing attacked.

For several hours, Silver rested. When he finally opened his eyes again, the cavern looked exactly as he’d left it. The first thing he did was reach for his handgun, then he checked the tunnel.

He sat up.

His body felt different, considerably better. The medicine and sleep had done their job. He stretched his shoulder; the stiffness remained but didn’t restrict movement much anymore.

He touched his ribs and felt pain but it was manageable. His side was tender but not bleeding.

Silver opened the system.

[Physical Condition: Recovering.]

[Mental Capacity: 93%.]

[Spatial Reserves: 96%.]

[Physical Fatigue: Low.]

Silver smiled.

"That’s what I wanted."

He ate another meal before moving. There was no reason to begin a dangerous climb hungry. He drank, then filled his accessible water containers.

Afterward, he stood and began preparing properly. The climbing harness went on first.

He adjusted every strap, tightening it and checking the attachment points. The reinforced rope was secured so he could reach it quickly.