"The situation is like this."

Qian Su relayed her conversation with Uncle Zheng.

"The Elder Council was originally composed of elderly or disabled enhancers to help each other out. As the number of enhancers grew, the size of the organization kept increasing."

"Even after retiring from various organizations, most of these enhancers still have savings, and some are quite capable. They are supported and welcomed by various cities when they stick together in the Elder Council."

She added, "However, the Elder Council itself is quite loose; there's not much in the way of compulsory power over its members."

Zhou Yi said, "Tell me about the Elder Council in Sand Port City."

"There are 40 people in the Sand Port City Elder Council, with 12 healthy and active members, who are also the group most likely to be recruited."

Qian Su adjusted her hat, "Uncle Zheng previously served as a mediator in the Elder Council, helping to resolve disputes and lawsuits. His reputation is good within the Elder Council because he is selfless and friendly."

"However, Uncle Zheng also said that his recommendation letter might not be very effective since the members of the Elder Council are old and not easily persuaded or changed."

Zhou Yi expressed understanding, "Don't force it."

After all, he had already found the Scavenger community – they are the most stable residents of Jade City.

Zheng Tao's only request was to have his servant Zheng San become a Guangtai worker here.

He treats his own people quite well.

Zhou Yi was curious, "What illness does he have?"

"Blood death disease caused by internal organ damage."

The girl said, "Two years ago, Uncle Zheng went to Gongneng City for treatment. It's a highly developed Mechanical City, known for their advanced equipment and technology in treating various critical illnesses and transplanting organs in enhanced bodies."

"The local doctors believed that his condition was already very serious and beyond the best treatment period. The death rate for the surgery would exceed 80%. They refused to perform the high-risk surgery and suggested he undergo conservative treatment."

Qian Su rested her arms on her knees with a look of regret, "This was basically a death sentence. So Uncle Zheng wanted to spend his last days in peace, which is why he came to Jade City."

Mechanical City only recognizes data.

Zhou Yi thought perhaps someone unorthodox like Da Vinci was the fresh blood most lacking among mechanical doctors.

The young arms dealer made an 'oh' sound, "There's one more thing. Uncle Zheng specifically mentioned a Bone Man named Jacob, asking me to seek him out for persuasion, saying he has done research on the Dead Sea."

"Jacob was found with a wrecked ship in the sands on the edge of the Outer Sea near Sand Port, possibly a castaway from a shipwreck."

"He acts normal at night, but during the day, he talks to himself and says strange things. Jacob doesn't remember how he got here or the name of his hometown. His skull is missing a large part, and his abnormal brain might be related to that."

Qian Su paused briefly, "Also, Jacob believes that aliens are tools created during the Divine Era, just like Bone Men or humans, who are powerless by themselves. Only by combining aliens with different characteristics can the might of the Divine Era be recreated."

Zhou Yi's eyebrows twitched.

This Jacob is interesting.

"Uncle Zheng said, Jacob specializes in copying documents in the Elder Council and also goes into the Dead Sea to survey and map in exchange for Energy Packs. If you want to recruit him over, it should be very easy."

Zhou Yi said, "Then please help me with this task."

"It's a small matter."

Qian Su smiled.

Firstly, there were the Monster Attraction Mushroom collection and processing issues, and now Uncle Zheng with a critical illness.

Zhou Yi immediately ordered the Red Kestrel, "Tell Doctor Da Vinci about the situation here and ask him to come back once."

Moments later.

The drone replied, "Doctor Da Vinci said it has five emergency surgeries and asks for three more days."

Zhou Yi said okay.

...

In this winter, Zhou Yi finally saw the results of the agricultural development he had first laid out.

The 100-mu trial farmland cultivated by the Agricultural Machinery Brothers finally welcomed a bountiful harvest nearly four months later.

According to data provided by Tie Ma, the peanut yield was about 120 kilograms per mu, with 50 mu producing 6,000 kilograms, and the sweet potato yield was 200 kilograms per mu, resulting in 10,000 kilograms from 50 mu.

A total of 16,000 kilograms of food were harvested.

Tong Niu transported these grains in batches to Jade City, where they were stored in the cellars that the samurai crabs had prepared in advance.

After the initial tilling of the land, as long as it was replenished with legume nitrogen fertilizer, the next round of sowing in two months would be even simpler, and the seedlings and seeds could be directly taken from this batch's harvest, greatly reducing the cost.

The Red Kestrel did a calculation.

"Based on the human standard for maintaining basic life, each person needs at least 250 grams of food per day."

"There are a total of 211 human residents in Jade City, and this batch of food can sustain them for 250 days. At a moderate-to-high standard of 500 grams of food per person per day, it is also enough for the residents to have full bellies for four months. This winter's food supply is already sufficient."

Zhou Yi immediately ordered that, through the high-temperature baking of Jade City, each resident be given a sweet potato to let everyone enjoy some warm, new food.

The sweet potatoes produced here were not much different from those in his memory—just smaller in size and long in shape, though the yield was significantly reduced.

The taste was still sweet, fragrant, and soft, very delicious.

Zhou Yi rode a samurai crab all the way to the farmland area.

Tie Ma had said that once this round of sowing was over, it wanted to leave to repair its body in Recursive City.

Upon seeing the Agricultural Machinery Brothers, Zhou Yi was surprised.

Tie Ma, who had previously appeared so majestic, now limped along and moved somewhat lopsidedly on the ground.

"Old buddy, I won't hide it from you."

Tie Ma said, "My engine is failing, the steering gear has issues, and there are poor contacts in the Light Imprint Structure—these little problems have become more and more serious since that attack. So, I need to go back to Recursive City for repairs, or I could be scrapped at any moment."

Zhou Yi asked, "Are you short of money?"

"Are you kidding? We brothers have saved up a bit over the years..."

"Little brother, tell the truth."

"Short..."

"How much are you short?"

"Since only about 50% of the expenses can be reimbursed, the replacement and repair will probably cost around 1,200 Light Seeds."

Zhou Yi took out a Guangna Box and tossed it to him, "I'll lend it to you. You brothers join the Wasteland Development Company, and the salary will be as previously discussed until it's fully repaid. If you brothers want to leave, I won't stop you."

"..."

After some hesitation, Tie Ma finally agreed.

With the help of the Red Kestrel, both parties signed a long-term contract agreement and did a remote certification through Recursive City.

Zhou Yi let the two brothers from Tie Ma return together for mutual support.

After all, the crops here had already been harvested, and the land still needed two months of rest.

The two agricultural machines slowly drove toward the distant horizon.

On this seemingly smoothly-running day, however, a sudden accident arose.

The Lin Chi returned unexpectedly.

It was emitting black smoke, with severe damage to its wings and fuselage, managing to make an emergency landing on the rooftop of Jade City.

The Lin Chi issued a warning, "Don't go to sea this winter, there is a Breaker beneath the Dead Sea."

Zhou Yi was full of question marks.

Breaker?

What was that?