A single-player post-apocalyptic game, but with an all-female teammate mod.

When Aono opens the shop, she cannot see other people's exclusive equipment, and the same is true for everyone else.

Moreover, the exclusive equipment disappears after you buy it.

More than the effects of the equipment, girls care about customizing the appearance and the one-click outfit change function.

It's common knowledge that girls love to dress up, especially in games.

As long as a game has a dress-up feature, it can be turned into a Miracle Nikki game.

Not to mention now that reality and games are combined, they've essentially given themselves a makeover.

Even the most indifferent person like Ying is actually somewhat concerned about this.

Finally, the first outfit was set to the original purple kimono and black stockings to ensure there were no mistakes.

Next up are Asagi, Kazari Uiharu, and Nymph.

After reading the equipment descriptions and making up their minds to save up for their exclusive gear, they began searching for network-related items in the store.

“Fiber optic cable blueprints, signal tower blueprints… but those two alone aren’t enough. You need a computer, or at least a mobile phone.”

"Asagi-nee, it seems there are no computers or mobile phones, but there are CPU schematics and motherboard schematics."

"Are we supposed to manually operate our computers and phones...?"

Asagi looked like she had a headache.

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. She's an electronics empress, but this "electronics" isn't the kind of electronics from an electronics factory.

"Actually, as long as the network is set up, I can connect to the network directly through my wings."

Nymph paused for a moment, "However, if you want to utilize the network to create some software and programs, you still need the relevant equipment."

"Yeah, that's the only headache."

Asagi rubbed her temples. "Having the internet alone is useless; you need something to connect to it."

Shiori Hatsuharu adjusted the flower wreath on her head and suggested softly, "How about... we try making it first? If it doesn't work, we'll just have to see if they release the blueprints for high-tech products later."

"That's all we can do."

The three women reached a consensus.

Since there's only a local area network within the Ark anyway, and there are few people online now, there's not much point in going online.

As the population grows and the Ark's local area network develops, it might actually become the network of this world.

Qingye, having control of the core server room, naturally has absolute control.

Nymph and the other two were his top programmers, and also the people with the highest authority besides him.

By this time, Coco had browsed through all the products and noted down their prices.

Establishing a reasonable and stable economic system is no easy task.

It's not just about considering the prices in the store, but also about the gold coins that different people and different professions can earn.

Fortunately, there are still few personnel at present, so we can start trial operation and make adjustments gradually.

The economic base determines the superstructure; if this isn't handled properly, problems will definitely arise within the Ark later on.

When Aono left, he gave all the remaining gold coins to Coco.

Seeing that the three girls, Lan Yu and Qian Cong, had made a decision, she helped them buy all the necessary blueprints and materials.

After that, she found agricultural products and bought some seeds, fertilizers, tools, and blueprints.

The all-powerful manufacturing workshop can build anything as long as you have the right materials and blueprints.

That said, after the shop was unlocked, monsters stopped dropping blueprints altogether.

Aono probably won't drop it again.

The original flamethrower blueprints, like those for the Mycelium Zombie levels, were probably a beginner's bonus.

The farm will definitely be built, and the two NPCs with the relevant professions are already in Qingye's recruitment plan.

After the Ark was upgraded, just like before, the energy share used by each person was reduced by half again.

Now, each person only uses 5% of the energy, so the eight of them only use 40% of the energy and can still spend 55% of the energy, which means they can recruit 11 more teammates.

Aono definitely needs to keep two positions as backups, and if there are suitable professions available for the rest, he should be recruited decisively.

If there are no suitable candidates, recruit existing blank survivors.

Many hands make light work, and a large number of people make things easier.

In conclusion, population is an important resource, and leaving positions vacant is a waste and highly undesirable.

Putting everything else aside, the 10% combat power bonus provided by each teammate alone makes even a basic class teammate worth recruiting.

After finishing everything, Koko, Tsunade, and the other girls returned to the captain's cabin.

On the other side, Aono, along with Kage and Icarus, also completed their equipment upgrades.

Equipment upgrades, like material crafting, require no waiting time and can be completed in an instant.

The equipment level is also related to the Ark, and the highest level currently is only 3.

Each time an equipment level is upgraded, the bonus provided increases by 5%, durability increases by 100, and one more custom appearance is added.

Take Aono's axe-type weapons as an example.

Level 1 has only one alloy battle axe appearance, with a durability of 100 and an effect of +5% attack power.

Level 3 adds two more appearance slots, increases durability to 300, and grants an additional 15% attack power.

Upgrading all six pieces of equipment will increase the set bonus.

The total effect of six level 1 equipment pieces is a 10% increase in combat power, level 2 is 20%, and level 3 is 30%.

With Aono's combat power of 399, rounded up to 400, it should increase by 120, reaching 520.

His panel is currently displaying 518, which is pretty much correct.

Shadow and Icarus also received a 30% boost.

However, their base stats are significantly lower than Aono's, so their bonuses are naturally less.

After the upgrade, two more appearance slots were added, and Qingye created another appearance consisting of a loose short-sleeved shirt, beach shorts, and slippers.

When I return to Ark, I can simply switch to this outfit with one click, and I'll feel instantly more relaxed.

Leave the last one empty; set it as needed.

Aono's personality has always been like this; he likes to keep something in reserve just in case.

The weapon and accessory appearances remain unchanged; we'll set them later when we see styles we like.

I don't know if Shadow and Ika have received any new outfits, but their weapons are the same as his and haven't changed.

Leaving aside the watermelon that Ika is holding, any changes in the appearance of other weapons—knives, spears, clubs, axes, hooks, and forks—will more or less alter the weapon itself.

This means that you need to familiarize yourself with the place again, or even find your footing again.

Therefore, the appearance will generally not be adjusted unless absolutely necessary.

After upgrading their equipment, Aono returned to the captain's cabin with the two women.

Although most of the work had been assigned, he, as the captain, still had things to do.

There are so many things to do in the early stages of land reclamation.

For example, the selection of the vice-captain, tomorrow's exploration arrangements, recruiting new teammates, etc.

69. The Vice-Captain & Full of Food and Warmth, Thinking of XX

When Aono returned to the captain's cabin, a warm and pleasant aroma wafted out.

Dudu, wearing a small apron with a cartoon bear printed on it, is busy working in the upgraded open kitchen.

Ying quickly stepped forward and began to observe carefully from the side.

They also help prepare some ingredients from time to time.

She's terrible at cooking, but she's a pro at handling ingredients.

The carrot cubes she cut were perfectly sized.

In the living room, Tsunade sat cross-legged on a cushion, enjoying a drink from a bottle, her fair face flushed slightly.

Like a loyal little tail, Ika followed closely behind Aono, clutching a watermelon-shaped weapon in her arms.

This watermelon weapon looks abstract, but it's really useful for her.

It provides emotional value in ordinary times, increases attack power in battle, and you don't have to worry about it getting damaged.

When you have something to do, you can simply hide it to immediately free up your hands.

At the round table in the center of the living room, Coco was surrounded by Lan Yu Qiancong and Chu Chun Shiori, with several semi-transparent light screens floating in front of the three of them.

The three women were racking their brains over "full wireless network coverage within the Ark" and "a planned economy system centered on the exchange of goods."

Nymph seemed to be less knowledgeable about these things and did not participate in the discussion, instead continuing to analyze the data from the sidelines.

Without disturbing the women who were busy with their own tasks, Aono patted Ika's head and led her through the living room, heading straight into the adjacent office area.

He closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside, and lay down on the large leather armchair.

"Hmm~"

After letting out a comfortable groan, he summoned the Ark's control panel.

After the Ark was upgraded, the control panel, which was originally fixed on the desk and didn't fit the overall atmosphere at all, also changed.

Like the equipment, it has an additional hidden function that can be brought out when needed.

Hide the console when not in use, and the office can be used as a study.

In addition, the Tier 3 Ark has officially unlocked the Vice Captain function.

The vice-captain had to manually configure the settings via the control panel, which is why he left it to the last person to try.

Aono's gaze swept over each name.

Coco is undoubtedly the top choice; her talent for "strategic planning" is practically tailor-made for the vice-captain.

But then she thought, the farm isn't up and running yet, so Coco's talent doesn't seem to be of any use.

"Does the lack of specific job requirements mean that anyone can become the vice-captain...?"

Aono tried setting Kage as the vice-captain.

[Setup successful]

[Vice-Captain: Lei Yingdian]

[Effect: All Ark crew members receive +5% increased lightning damage]

"It really works, and it even has a bonus."

Although it's not much, this 5% is practically a free boost to combat power.

As I said before, this percentage-based bonus becomes stronger as the game progresses.

Aoya became interested and, after confirming that there was no cooldown period for changing candidates, tried all the other people one by one.

Dudu grants "Cooking Skill +3%", Blue Feather Asagi grants "Recovery +3%", and Nymph grants "Perception +2%".

Even Tsunade, who was just giving up, had "Chakra Limit +2%".

The bonus from early spring decorations is the most unique, but also the least useful.

The effect is "living comfort +1%".

Like Shadow, Ika has a 5% bonus, which is a direct 5% increase in damage.

However, the restriction is that it is "effective in air combat mode", which means air combat damage is increased by 5%.

After trying them out, Aono had a good idea of ​​what to expect. Without a character that matched his talent, the bonus seemed to be capped at 5%.

He tapped his finger lightly and ultimately set Ying as the vice-captain.

While Koko's buffs are good, Shadow's buffs are currently the most practical.

Under the daily guidance of the Kage and Tsunade, he has successfully mastered the transformation of lightning-style chakra.

While achieving a complete "Lightning Release Chakra Mode" is still a long way off, enchanting a weapon is still achievable.