Chapter 200: Chapter 178: Military Affairs Office and Armor Refining Beetle

Wang Yi spent a full two hours at the Hundred Skills Academy before leaving. He gathered all the professional instructors and called Pei Xue over, tasking him with recording the instructors’ information and providing them with assistance in their daily lives.

The Hundred Skills Academy was equipped with instructor dormitories, so lodging wasn’t an issue. However, the professional instructors still needed to eat, and since they had just arrived, they needed someone to guide them around.

Wang Yi predicted the Hundred Skills Academy would become very lively in the future, so he built an [Automatic Toilet House] right next to it.

The [Automatic Toilet House] was the product of an [Automatic Toilet] that had been Enhanced to +3. It was more advanced than a regular toilet house; the toilets inside even had automatic flushing and drying functions. The only downside was the somewhat limited number of stalls—only 1,000 in total.

Wang Yi spent a hefty sum of 1,000 Gold Coins to unlock all the stalls in the [Automatic Toilet House].

Afterward, Wang Yi returned to the Eggshell Village square. He used his [Building Translation] skill to shift the positions of several buildings in his territory, freeing up the space where the Eggshell Castle originally stood.

He was going to build the Military Affairs Office here!

The Military Affairs Office was a national-level building. Having been enhanced six times, its functions were incredibly powerful. Once it was built, the territory would unlock the Military Merit System and begin receiving Virtual Air Force Pay, an upgrade with extremely far-reaching implications.

Soon, the Military Affairs Office building shot up from the ground. The building stood nine stories tall, its roof featuring high, upturned eaves adorned with five ridges and six beasts, all made of green bricks and jade-green tiles. The lower structure was a square, stable, and solid construction of wood and stone. The entire building exuded a distinct, ancient Chinese charm.

Below the building was a large courtyard. To even enter this courtyard, one had to be at least a One-star War General. The building itself served as the office for the Minister of Military Affairs.

’Wow, they really made it look official. Too bad it’s completely empty. There’s not a single person here!’

Wang Yi shook his head. The Military Affairs Office was now built, but other than himself, there wasn’t a single person in the new military system—not even a low-ranking One-star Soldier, let alone a Minister of Military Affairs.

The Military Affairs Office operated on a promotion system based on military merit. Even Wang Yi, as the Lord, couldn’t interfere by appointing or assigning positions directly.

Any resident of the territory who wanted to join the Military Affairs Office would be treated equally; they all had to start as a One-star Professional Soldier and climb their way up the ranks.

In the future, those with great ability, who made significant contributions and achieved military merit, would be promoted and receive pay raises quickly.

But for those who were incompetent, unwilling to contribute, and had no military merit, it would be impossible to ever get noticed in the Military Affairs Office.

And to become a Professional Soldier, one first had to report to a Military Intelligence Camp.

Military Intelligence Camps had to be built using [Construction Drawings for the Military Intelligence Camp]. He had received three of these drawings at the start, and more would be produced at irregular intervals in the future, with the production rate dependent on the number of Ministers of Military Affairs.

Wang Yi left the Military Affairs Office with the three [Construction Drawings for the Military Intelligence Camp] and soon built the first one at the "Rock Giant Scorpion’s Nest."

"DING! Military Intelligence Camp successfully constructed. The current camp is a Giant Scorpion Camp, subordinate to the Military Affairs Office. Territory residents who join will be granted the status of a One-star Professional Soldier."

"DING! The Giant Scorpion Camp is currently a small-scale camp, allowing a maximum garrison of 1,000 soldiers and providing only 1,000 recruitment slots. In the future, the camp can automatically level up based on the soldiers’ development, increasing the garrison and recruitment limits."

"DING! Influenced by the Giant Scorpion Camp, the respawn rate of Rock Giant Scorpions in this area has increased."

As the system prompts sounded, a golden light spread across the ground. The light flattened the earth, and a training ground, barracks, high platforms, fences, and more materialized.

In just the span of a few breaths, the Giant Scorpion Camp was fully constructed. It looked just like an ancient military encampment and occupied the entire Chaotic Stone Slope.

The Rock Giant Scorpion’s Nest was now located within the camp, incorporated into the training ground. As a result, the respawn rate of the scorpions had even increased.

This meant that if he moved the Giant Scorpion Camp, the Rock Giant Scorpion’s Nest would move along with it.

Wang Yi looked at the Giant Scorpion Camp’s information and thought, ’I didn’t expect the Military Intelligence Camps to have limits on their garrison and recruitment numbers.’

’Right now, I only have three Construction Drawings for the Military Intelligence Camp, which means I can only build three camps. That caps the number of Professional Soldiers at three thousand. Still, three thousand isn’t a small number. It’s enough to start farming some of that Virtual Air Force Pay...’

After a moment of thought, Wang Yi soon arrived at the Giant Crab Killing Field.

The Giant Crab Killing Field was a Small-Leveling Point where Sand River Giant Crabs would spawn. Wang Yi used a [Construction Drawing for the Military Intelligence Camp] there to build the Giant Crab Camp. This upgraded the Killing Field from a Small-Leveling Point to a medium one, greatly increasing the respawn rate and maximum number of Sand River Giant Crabs.

Like the Giant Scorpion Camp, the Giant Crab Camp was also currently a small-scale camp. It could only recruit 1,000 soldiers, and its maximum garrison size was also one thousand.

A moment later, Wang Yi used his third and final [Construction Drawing for the Military Intelligence Camp] in front of the General’s Tomb to construct the [General’s Camp].

Because of this, the number of daily resets for the [General’s Tomb] increased from five to ten!

’The three camps are built. Next up is recruiting soldiers. Only after they become Professional Soldiers can they receive a salary, earn military merit, and let me start farming the system...’

Wang Yi sighed aloud. As he gazed at the empty General’s Camp, he took out a Recruitment Scroll.

By now, Wang Yi had more or less processed all the gains from World of Suffering No. 356. All that remained was an unbuilt [Capsule Factory] and the [Golden Recruitment Scroll] he was holding.

This Recruitment Scroll had come from a Supply Treasure Chest dropped by the King Deity [Breaking the Sky]. Wang Yi used it, and a system prompt immediately sounded in his mind. "DING! Congratulations, you have recruited 99 Golden Armor Refining Beetles."

"Golden Armor Refining Beetles are King Level and quite rare. They possess four skills: [Refined Armor], [Molting Shell], [Gold Devourer], and [Evolution]."

"They feed on metallic minerals, condensing a solid alloy shell on their bodies. After consuming enough metallic elements, they will undergo Molting Shell to grow larger. Their shed shells are a natural alloy material with extremely high recycling value."

"Armor Refining Beetles have relatively low intelligence; their primary survival goal is Evolution. They typically molt in a fixed location. They have a docile temperament and can grow continuously. During the process of molting and growing, there is a chance they will evolve into an Armor Dragon."

Wang Yi was stunned.

The system prompts finished, but he couldn’t find the Armor Refining Beetles anywhere.

After a careful search, he finally found 99 tiny black bugs on the ground. They were scattered about, each only about three millimeters long. They looked just like little ants; without close inspection, they were almost impossible to spot.

’Geez, I recruited 99 little ants. If I’m not careful, one wrong step could wipe out the entire squad!’

’How strange,’ Wang Yi thought. He picked up an Armor Refining Beetle to examine it. The tiny bug had antennae, six legs, and an abdomen—it looked exactly like an ant.

The little bug wasn’t very lively, barely moving as Wang Yi held it. But it was a genuine Golden Soldier, complete with an information panel and even a proper name: Iron Head Three!

Wang Yi crouched down to look at the other "ants" and soon found Iron Head Four, Iron Head Two, Copper Head Big, Copper Head Two, Copper Head Three, and so on.

"How bizarre! Since you all feed on metallic minerals, how about I send you to a nice place?"

As he spoke, Wang Yi extended his left hand and gathered the Armor Refining Beetles into his palm one by one. He thought about exiling them to Yamero Star, where he could let them roam free to molt and grow on their own.

「Half an hour later.」

Wang Yi returned to the Exile Court and successfully exiled all 99 Armor Refining Beetles to Yamero Star.

Of course, the "sentence" was only for one day, and there was no way he could forcibly change their class.

’If I can exile these little ants to Yamero Star, then it shouldn’t be a big deal to exile myself there. Getting there is the easy part. The real question is... how do I get back?’

Wang Yi rubbed his chin, pondering silently.

If he self-exiled to Yamero Star, Wang Yi figured he could build a Shanhai Pass there.

Shanhai Pass could respond to a Town Recall Scroll.

In theory, then, he could use a Town Recall Scroll to return. In the future, he could even use the scrolls to lead large forces to and from Yamero Star.

Town Recall Scrolls could be created with the Heart of Chaos for 10,000 Chaos Energy points each, a price Wang Yi could afford.

However, Yamero Star was a billion light-years away—an absurd distance. Wang Yi was worried that Town Recall Scrolls might not work there.

If they didn’t, it would be a disaster.

In short, Wang Yi didn’t dare to rashly exile himself just yet. He figured he needed to find someone to take a Town Recall Scroll and test it out. Once he confirmed it was foolproof, he could go himself.

’The closest Chaos Lord to my location seems to be Qiao Meng, the Kaiyuan County Magistrate. Maybe I’ll ask him for a favor...’

With this in mind, Wang Yi decided to send someone to invite Qiao Meng for a visit. He happened to spot Jin Buhuan loitering in front of the Exile Court’s entrance and called him over.

Jin Buhuan was a master forger and a natural-born craftsman, skilled in smithing, casting, and pottery. He had an incredible photographic memory, could imitate anyone’s handwriting, possessed a strong mental fortitude, and was extremely adept at spreading rumors—in short, he was prime material for an undercover agent.

He had once created a fake Spiritual Artifact rice cooker, successfully fooling Lu Aqi and earning a silver reward. After recruiting him, Wang Yi had assigned him to the Intelligence Department, though he currently had no specific duties.

Wang Yi figured that since Jin Buhuan was idle, it wouldn’t hurt to send him on an errand.

"Jin Buhuan, I have a task for you. Go to the Kaiyuan County Yamen, give these two items to County Magistrate Qiao Meng, and tell him to bring a Town Recall Scroll and meet me here!"

As he spoke, Wang Yi took out two High-Level Chaos Crystal Stones.

These two Chaos Crystal Stones could replenish a total of ten thousand points of Chaos Energy, enough to cover the cost of creating one Town Recall Scroll.

Jin Buhuan bowed in acceptance and was about to leave.

But Wang Yi called out again, "Wait! I’ll have someone give you a ride."

To speed things up, Wang Yi had Frank, the All-Purpose Driver, take Jin Buhuan to Kaiyuan County in the Galaxy Airship. He even assigned two Fire Fire Evil Gods to act as his bodyguards.

After the Galaxy Airship departed, Wang Yi built the [Capsule Factory] next to the Eggshell Pier.

The [Capsule Factory] was a building exclusive to Space Technology. Inside it, large items such as vehicles and ships could be modified. Without affecting their performance, they could be converted into a capsule form for easy carrying.

Wang Yi had the Starlight Bracelet, so Space Capsules weren’t particularly significant for him. For ordinary people, however, they were incredibly useful. For instance, if the Mobile Storm Jade Jiaolongs used by the Brocade Guard of the Western Depot were converted into Space Capsules, the guards could carry them at all times, making travel much more convenient.

However, the Capsule Factory was still a factory. Despite its high degree of automation, it still required workers for routine management and operation.

Wang Yi walked around inside the Capsule Factory, thinking to himself, ’Time to hire again. I still don’t have enough manpower in my territory. Ah, well. I’ll hold a territory-wide assembly first!’