Chapter 234 - An Epic-Quality Computer!
An epic-quality design blueprint?
Well, damn!
Was an item like this something a plain, ordinary, and totally unremarkable person could possess?
However, the epic-quality orange light would not lie, the envious expressions of the people around would not lie, and the man—who gave off all the vibes of being an easy mark—certainly would not lie either.
Even if Su Mo was not willing to believe that this was real, the moment he saw the blueprint, he still had a profound epiphany about what it meant to have a fast start that would let one keep going fast!
After being in the wasteland for so long, if he had not used the ruins of time to return to the past or used the Mountain and Sea Painting Scroll card to overpower Zeta the dragon to obtain the epic treasure chest—in fact, if he were to truly consider everything from beginning to end, this would be his first time seeing an epic-quality item.
Moreover, it was a blueprint that was even more frightening than the Destroyer blueprints from before!
"Almighty Su, could I sign a contract with you? This design blueprint is something my brothers and I were only able to obtain with great difficulty, so during the exchange, they would like you to bind the seeds to each individual. This is to prevent them from killing each other in the future if they get greedy."
Seeing that Su Mo's eyes were fixed upon him unblinkingly, the honest, diffident man rubbed his head awkwardly, speaking timidly as he passed the blueprint over with relief.
There were many ways to play around with a contract.
In just ten short minutes, someone would have already worked out a new way to use it.
As long as a binding contract was established during an exchange or a trade, even if the individual in question died, the ownership of the seeds would still belong to them.
With a binding like this, even if someone killed the owner to get the seeds, the seeds would not sprout even if they were planted—they would truly become dead objects.
Of course, since the contract was under game supervision and would be signed thereof, there would be no chance for breaches of contract where individuals bound their own items and prevented others from snatching them away.
The man's request was a result of all these various reasons put together.
After around three or four seconds, right as the man was about to panic upon noticing that Su Mo still had not moved, Su Mo extended both his hands.
Those large, powerful hands slowly grasped the blueprint; it was impossible to tell whether he had any interest in it or not.
As for his face… it was still cold as ice, revealing no traces of shock or any other emotions.
"I think this epic-quality design blueprint isn't much use. There's no trace of delight at all in Almighty Su's face. He's probably seen a lot of these things."
"He's already called 'Almighty'. You think he'd still be shocked by an epic treasure chest? What are you thinking!"
"I've heard rumors that there's a layer of epic treasure chests neatly laid out underneath the floor of Almighty Su's house, and the reason seems to be…"
"You dimwit, have you forgotten? Naturally, the reason is that epic treasure chests radiate warm light—it's more comfortable at night and not as piercing to the eye!
"Bullsh*t, I distinctly heard them say it was because Almighty Su's dog only likes to sleep on epic treasure chests, which is why he had no choice but to make a treasure chest floor!"
"Nonsense, it's clearly because…"
As Su Mo's shop window was occupied due to the exchange, the refugees at the back had nothing much to do and enthusiastically discussed various pieces of gossip from the World Channel.
Based only on the information they had, the "underground" shelter that these people described was becoming increasingly frightening.
For a while, it was a supreme underground structure with eighteen floors, then it was a secret military base with concealed nuclear warheads.
As they spoke, the topic inevitably came back to Su Mo's mysterious origins as well as their own shock when the Dongfeng God had previously shown up.
Bragging with a group of strangers was always fun.
The banter went to and fro. In these ruins designated 001, without Su Mo stopping them, they started becoming noisy again. The apathy evident in other trading ruins was nowhere to be seen.
If a video were filmed and sent out, no one would be able to tell that this was a gathered group of cold, hungry refugees at all!
"Don't make wild guesses. As long as a blueprint is above rare-quality, it can't be listed on the market—and even if this kind of design blueprint is listed, it's actually no use either!"
Seeing that Su Mo was still sitting in the shop and evaluating the blueprint, the foreigner who had previously traded the rare blueprint stood up.
"Oh?" Some of the veteran players from the Regional Channel naturally still remembered him. With curiosity, everybody's gaze shifted slightly to the foreigner's golden hair and blue eyes.
"I won't disclose exactly how much materials and what conditions were necessary for me to exchange my blueprint with Almighty Su previously!
"The epic-quality blueprint that man is selling now is a level higher than even mine from before. If you had such a blueprint, would you sell it so easily?"
Seeing the crowd's stupefied expressions, the foreigner randomly pointed to a few people and asked his question.
As he had expected, the people he singled out were all unanimous in their answers.
Even if they did not know exactly how valuable an epic-quality item was, it was two levels higher than excellent-quality, so it could not possibly be something average.
How could an item like that be sold—it might be just something that could turn things around for them.
"You see, you'd all be unwilling to sell it—but why is he selling it, and why did I sell mine? Do the two of us look like fools?"
Laughing derisively and seeing the confounded looks on the faces of everyone staring up at him, the foreigner continued.
"Design blueprints, design blueprints. As the name suggests, it's just a blueprint—a design on paper. It's just like when Almighty Su bought 32 types of machine blueprints.
"Do you know what materials you need? Do you know which technology tree you'd need access to so you could make the item in question? If you were given that blueprint, would you be able to wait a whole lifetime until you were actually able to create the item?
"Don't forget, you don't even have enough food to eat—but you're still thinking of making an epic-quality design?"
Pointing at a few people whose faces displayed obvious discontent and then seeing them deep in thought, the foreigner nodded in satisfaction.
"It's only Almighty Su who has the capital to do it. This kind of item only has value in his hands.
"If not for Almighty Su on our channel, even if you gave me this epic-quality design blueprint, I'd rather you give me a catty of seeds."
At this well-structured, logical speech backed up by concrete facts, realization "dawned" on everyone.
"That's true!"
"The logic holds water—a big nose like you really has a damn way with words!"
"In that case, wouldn't Almighty Su suffer losses then? What's the point of collecting this rubbish!"
"He would definitely suffer losses if he can't make the items in question. Anyway, if these things can be exchanged for a catty of seeds, then it's a straight profit!"
"This person is lucky too. Otherwise, if he met someone else, they would've given him something random and sent him on his way!"
The crowd's earlier enthusiasm was doused in an instant after discovering the true value of the epic-quality design blueprint, and a discussion broke out.
Of course, when the gossip at the back reached the ears of the man at the window, although it was somewhat harsh, it could not be denied that…
This was actually the truth!
Rare-quality blueprints and those above that level could not be listed on the market. It was a set condition that these items either had to be traded face-to-face or brought into the secret trading realm.
However, the problem was…
These items could not be sold!
There were genuinely no purchasers to be found for such items. The individuals who wanted them did not have a cent to their names, and the ones who could buy it were not willing to spend money on a piece of trash that could only be looked at but not used.
It was not certain if these bigshots could even survive until the next day. Although this epic-quality design blueprint was good, it was just like a drawing of a piece of flatbread—it could not be eaten and was completely useless.
"Almighty Su, this… I know this thing of mine isn't very much use. Take a look and see—maybe you can take pity on me and spare me a little something.
"My brothers have been hungry for days, and there are still over a dozen mouths to feed below. Please be charitable."
Inside the window, Su Mo's gaze was still scanning over what he had been handed as he checked out the properties of the blueprint. He seemed to be weighing something up.
His manner, which gave no hint of whether he was interested or not, was about to scare the man at the window into tears. The man's mental state deteriorated even further, particularly when the voices discussing outside got louder.
However… what he did not know was that, after evaluating the properties of the epic-quality design blueprint, Su Mo was utterly staggered!
Wow…
Like a watery glimmer, the properties panel shifted and undulated in front of him in a dimension the others could not see.
In this panel, the progress bar of the system appraisal was steadily going up. Each percentage seemed to be incomparably difficult as if it had met some kind of massive resistance.
'The last time something like this happened was with the Divulgence of Heaven's Secret talisman. Could it be that this design blueprint is also hiding some special properties?'
If this were viewed through the lens of the characteristics extracted by the game properties panel—and although this was an epic-quality design blueprint—the nonsensical thing was that…
The object on the blueprint was…
A computer!
Not only that, it was a clunky old desktop!
This kind of computer processor was old and run-down, and the display was a huge, clunky computer. It was most probably eliminated from the market back on Earth after the '00s and replaced with LCD screens.
Moreover, the design blueprint's creation requirements were very complicated. At a thought from Su Mo, the properties from the game panel's appraisal slowly popped out from the side of the system panel.
[Code 01—Storage-type Desktop Computer (Epic)]
[Description]: The design blueprint contains the complete design process of Code 01—Storage-type Desktop Computer. After the design has been scanned and the materials provided, a high-speed electronic computing machine can be created.
[Creation]: After using the design blueprint, the player can obtain a memory transmission and automatically deepen their understanding of the Code 01—Storage-type Desktop Computer creation process during their night-time slumber. At the same time, basic programming knowledge and design knowledge can be obtained as a bonus.
[Additional]: Using the game or system to create the 01 computer, there is a very small chance (as small as 0.0001%) that it may contain memory with varying amounts of correlated knowledge.
[Limitation]: All materials must be provided before this item can be created. Furthermore, once the creation process has been initiated, it cannot be exited. Once creation is complete, the materials cannot be used for creation a second time. Please choose carefully.
[Limitation 2]: Needs a shelter upgraded to lv5
[Limitation 3]: Needs 5000 Disaster Points
[Limitation 4]: The created computer needs to be set in a fixed location and not transported around, or it will cause irreversible damage.
[Limitation 5]: When creating the computer, environmental suitability must be an 80% match or higher before creation authorization can be obtained.
[Limitation 6]: Finished computer x3 must be provided in the creation materials, and the computer quality needs to be excellent. Please pay attention to your collection.
[Resale Value]: 1500 Disaster Points
"There are many limitations, and I don't see any highlights that might make it epic-quality. If you really want me to evaluate it…
"These functions are excellent-level at best!"
What a peculiar design blueprint. Who would have thought that creating a computer would still require three finished computers?
This seemed to be completely unnecessary!
However, complain as he might, when he saw that the system's progress bar was just about to slowly reach 100% and the orange light denoting epic-quality, Su Mo still chose to patiently wait for the appraisal process to be completed.
One second… two seconds…
The instant the progress bar jumped to 100% after five seconds, Su Mo eagerly focused his gaze as he stared at the panel that appeared in front of him.
However, with just this cursory glance and one more look at the man at the window who looked as if he were about to cry, Su Mo did not even give it a second thought. His booming voice resonated through the ruins.
"I'll take this item of yours. As for the price…
"Here's what I'll give you! 30 catties of excellent-quality seeds!"