mousepad-d2 Chapter 1064 A Fully Data-Driven City
Chapter 1064 A Fully Data-Driven City
Leaving the "Videzir Ocean Store" with its ocean-themed atmosphere.
The five members of the "Holy Bloodblade" squad continued their stroll towards the city center along the wide and clean commercial avenue.
The cool gray and matte silver tones unique to the West City appear both futuristic and tranquil under the sunlight, and the buildings cut by geometric lines are orderly and well-organized.
Occasionally, alchemical puppeteers or watchmen equipped with simple patrol kits would quietly move about, everything was efficient and harmonious.
Suddenly, Eva's keen leopard eyes caught something, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.
"there!"
She let out a soft exclamation, grabbed the equally curious Pokanasa beside her, and ran like the wind toward a shop ahead.
Adam, the flying squirrel, and Tokok exchanged a glance, then quickly followed, feeling both helpless and amused.
The closer you get to that shop, the louder the noise becomes.
A number of night watchmen had gathered outside the shop, including many familiar faces.
Adam immediately spotted the leader of the "Stonewall" team, a burly man with a thick beard, who was chatting with several team members against the wall.
Adam and the others approached, and the two sides greeted each other naturally.
Adam looked around and found that most of the Night Watchmen gathered there were men.
They huddled together in twos and threes, their eyes occasionally glancing at the closed shop door, their faces bearing a knowing look of anticipation.
Eva and Pokanasa had already nimbly squeezed into the store.
“Hey, Old Stone,” Adam called out, using the nickname of the bearded captain, and pointed curiously to the crowded shop. “What’s this shop for? It looks much more lively than the one in Vidzier.”
He looked up at the shop sign; on the silver-gray metal plaque, several words were engraved in elegant, flowing Elven script.
Jewelry of the goddess of beauty.
The captain, known as "Old Stone," stroked his thick beard, shrugged, and laughed in a rough voice.
"The signboard says it, 'Aphrodite's Jewelry. Inside is the shop of Reina and her sister Reina."
"Reina and Reina?" Adam paused for a moment, then quickly searched his memory. "Oh! They're the two elven sisters, the divine craftswomen!"
A pair of tailors and jewelers who joined the Night's Watch ten years ago.
“That’s right, it’s them.” Old Shi nodded. “You know their skills; they’re top-notch in both practicality and artistry.”
“But their shop in West City isn’t just about selling new equipment.” He lowered his voice, adding a touch of mystery. “They’ve developed a new technology that has been certified as a new secondary profession skill by the Night Watch’s technical department. It’s called ‘Transformation.’”
"'Transformation'?" Adam asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Correct!"
Old Shi explained, "Simply put, it's about 'changing the skin' of your existing equipment! It doesn't change the attributes or enchantment effects, it just changes the appearance of the equipment."
"As long as they have designs recorded in their database, or you provide a clear enough design drawing, they can help you 'transform' it into the shape you want."
"It doesn't affect the battle, it only affects how good it looks!" He pointed to the shop. "This skill is incredibly popular in the internal channels, especially among the female team members, they simply can't resist it."
"The girls on our team disappeared as soon as they went in, and I guess your two did the same."
Adam suddenly realized why Eva and Pokanasa rushed in like they had discovered a treasure.
This feature, which allows players to maintain the practicality of equipment while also changing its appearance at will, is indeed very attractive to the Night Watchers who pursue individuality and aesthetics.
Just then, another familiar face walked over. It was the tall and thin elf captain of the "Emerald Wind Arrow" squad.
“Adam, Old Stone,” he chuckled, patting them both on the shoulder, “don’t wait around like idiots, the girls won’t be out anytime soon. Come on, let me show you around somewhere else, there are plenty of interesting places in the West Side.”
He has been here for two or three days and has clearly begun to become familiar with the layout of the city.
Adam thought it made sense and called out into the shop, "Eva! Poka! Let's go look around somewhere else first, then we'll meet up on the channel!"
From inside came Eva's muffled but cheerful reply: "Okay! You guys go ahead!"
So the male members of the three teams temporarily teamed up and joined the bustling crowds in the west of the city.
Along the commercial avenue, Night Watchers from various squads can be seen everywhere, either standing in front of shop windows or gathered around novel alchemy displays on the street, full of the energy of exploring the new city.
After walking for a while, Lao Shi rubbed his stomach and asked, "Hey guys, are you hungry? I saw someone recommend a barbecue restaurant in an alley on the channel, they say it's amazing."
His words made everyone realize that their stomachs were a little empty.
Led by Lao Shi, they turned into a narrower but equally clean alley and sure enough, they found a small shop at a corner.
Several night watchmen were already leaning against the door of the shop, eating meat skewers and drinking bottled beverages with great satisfaction.
The store was bustling with activity, and every seat was taken.
Squeezing into the not-so-small but crowded shop, a rich aroma of roasted meat, spices, and malt liquor hits you.
The most eye-catching area was the kitchen, where at least six or seven half-human chefs were busily working. They were not tall, but their movements were exceptionally nimble, and their shouts rose and fell.
"Oven number three! The ram ribs are almost ready! And another serving of the secret sauce, please!"
"Fire control rune! Turn down the temperature of grill number seven! Don't let it burn!"
"The frost-covered ale barrel is empty! Quickly replenish the ones in the ice cellar behind!"
"Abyssal Fire Lizard Skewers! Three extra spicy portions! The customers are craving them!"
A sweaty halfling standing by the counter called out to Adam and his companions without even looking up.
"New guy! To order, just open your data panel! Select your items and submit, we can see it! Find a place to sit... uh, or standing is fine too!"
The group followed instructions and brought up the store's data panel.
This data panel appears to connect the entire city, and they directly clicked into the city's store interface.
Sure enough, I found the menu of this shop called "Half-Body Barbecue Carnival" under the "Service/Food" category.
The menu was clearly designed, the pictures were enticing, and what surprised them even more was that each grilled meat and drink item had detailed descriptions of its attributes:
【Secret Recipe Rock Lamb Ribs】: Deliciousness +10, Strength +1 (temporary) for 2 hours after consumption, stamina recovery speed slightly increased. Can be magically preserved (shelf life: 7 days).
【Abyssal Fire Lizard Meat Skewers (Extra Spicy)】: Deliciousness +8 (Exclusive to Spicy Food Lovers), Fire Resistance +5% (Temporary) for 1 hour after consumption, Mental Invigoration (Slightly increases reaction speed). Can be magically preserved (Shelf life: 5 days).
【Frosty Ale】: Refreshing +12, increases sanity by 1 (temporary) for 1 hour after drinking, relieves fatigue. Can be magically preserved (shelf life: 30 days).
"This...this is an edible potion!" Momonga's eyes widened, his chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) spirit faintly burning. "This is so cool!"
"And it can be stored! Take a few copies with you on missions. In critical moments, it can both fill your stomach and boost your stats. It's so useful!" Adam exclaimed.
The only meaningful thing is that it's delicious and refreshing, but where did those attributes come from?
Where can I find such a property?
But it doesn't matter anymore.
Everyone placed orders.
Soon, their grilled meat and drinks were delivered to the pick-up area via an ingenious alchemical conveyor belt.
Several people, carrying fragrant meat skewers and chilled ale, leaned against the wall to enjoy their meal, just like the people at the entrance. The taste was indeed as good as its reputation; the meat was tender and juicy, and the seasoning was just right.
Even more amazingly, as they ate, a warm or cool sensation accompanied by a buff notification popping up on the panel truly invigorated them, sweeping away the fatigue from shopping and making them feel full of energy.
With their stomachs full and feeling invigorated, everyone strolled around even more enthusiastically.
The commercial street is lined with shops of all kinds.
"Convenience Workshop" sells everyday alchemy supplies and convenient living tools;
The "Dreamweaver's Wardrobe" showcases a variety of styles, from the simple uniforms of the Night's Watch to the gorgeous attire of elves, the ruggedness of dwarves, and even clothing with a touch of exoticism.
The "Starlight Box" displays exquisite jewelry and comes with basic protection or charm bonuses;
"Arcane Vault," a shop specializing in the sale of various scrolls and one-time-use magical items;
There's also "Rune Echoes," which offers services like rune engraving and equipment enchanting... covering almost everything a Night's Watchman needs for life and combat.
Moreover, almost every store, like "Goddess's Jewelry" and "Half-Body Barbecue Carnival," has unique new functions or services based on Xicheng's data-driven rules, making it dazzling.
After strolling around for a while, the members of the three teams split up in the middle of the commercial street to explore shops that interested them.
Adam and the others contacted Eva and Pokanasa through the team channel and met at the agreed location.
The two ladies indeed reaped a great harvest. Eva now had a silver chain on her wrist inlaid with star-like gems, and the data panel displayed the effects of "Agility +1" and "Graceful Steps".
Pocanasa wore an exquisite snowflake-shaped brooch, which exuded a faint chill and had the effects of "Frost Affinity +1" and "Calm Mind".
The two small pieces of equipment may not necessarily be of any use, but they do look nice.
It's very appealing.
After regrouping, the team continued deeper into the commercial street, arriving at the end of the commercial street, which is also the inner ring area of the city's core.
The architecture here is more grand and the functions seem to be more high-end and professional.
The first thing that catches the eye is a very conspicuous shop.
Unlike a typical blacksmith shop, which is full of smoky atmosphere, it resembles a small metal palace, with its facade decorated with intricate dwarven runes and shimmering magical metal, exuding an aura of solemnity and nobility.
Several powerful Night's Watchmen stood at the entrance, conversing with a sturdy dwarf with a complexly braided beard and eagle-like eyes.
Adam recognized him at a glance—the master of "legendary power," one of the most prized disciples of the Golden King of the Dwarves, and the source of much of the legendary Night's Watch's equipment, either from him or the teams he mentored.
The shop's gleaming gold signboard also testifies to this: Legendary Power.
A straightforward shop name.
"It's a place specifically for crafting and enhancing equipment for legendary powerhouses!"
Tokeke's green eyes shone brightly, filled with longing.
Adam looked at the legendary figures waiting at the door, then at the "Crimson Paladin Level 11" mark on his own panel, and a surge of desire welled up in his heart.
However, seeing how busy the master was, he decided, "I'll note down the location first and come back for a consultation later when there are fewer people."
Bypassing the "legendary power," they arrived at the largest and most crowded building in the entire business district.
This is a magnificent multi-layered structure, its design blending the geometric minimalism of the Night's Watch with the sturdiness and solidity of the Dwarves. Large numbers of Night's Watchmen come and go at the building's entrance like a tide, their clamor audible from a great distance.
Above the building, a huge magical light screen scrolled information, with three large characters at the very center: Auction House.
"This is the 'Data Hammer' auction house?" Eva asked excitedly, recalling Widzier's introduction.
As the group entered the spacious and bright hall with the flow of people, a smiling guide in uniform immediately came forward.
Without much explanation, the guide simply gestured for them to bring up their personal data panel.
Adam had a thought, and the panel unfolded.
Under the "Services/Transactions" category, the "Auction House" entry point is prominently displayed.
Click to enter, and a huge and breathtaking virtual interface instantly fills your field of vision.
The interface design is clear and efficient, with a dense array of filter tabs at the top:
Item types: Weapons, Armor, Accessories, Materials, Potions, Scrolls, Blueprints, Mounts, Pet Eggs, Curiosities...
等级要求：无、1-5级、6-10级、11-15级（传奇）…
Attributes/Effects: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Fire Resistance, Shadow Damage, Healing Bonus, Movement Speed... even down to special effects such as "underwater breathing" and "detecting invisibility".
Quality: Common, Fine, Magical, Rare, Epic, Legendary...
Sources: Abyss Battlefield, Ruins Exploration, Master Crafting, World Drops...
Transaction methods: direct purchase with gold coins, exchange with contribution points, barter, task requirements...
The entire auction page is mainly divided into two core sections:
Instant Auction Area:
Fixed Price Zone: A wide variety of items with clearly marked prices. If you see something you like, just place your order directly. The highest bidder wins.
No, it's first come, first served here!
However, popular items often sell out instantly.
Limited-time auction area: The current highest price and countdown are displayed below the item display.
You can place a bid as soon as you see something you like, and the highest bidder wins before the countdown ends.
Competition here is fierce, and prices often surge in the last few seconds.
Consignment and Buying Area:
Consignment page: Sellers can list items here, set prices (fixed price or starting price + reserve price), and transaction methods (gold coins, contribution points, exchange of specific items, completion of designated tasks, etc.).
To list an item, you need to place the physical item in a specific consignment cabinet provided by the auction house, which is connected to a spatial beacon. The system will scan and confirm the item before it will be displayed on the panel.
Purchase request page: Buyers can post detailed information about the items they need and the price they are willing to pay (gold coins, contribution points, other items, providing services, etc.).
Other Night Watch members who possess the item and are willing to trade can contact each other directly or complete the transaction through the system.
At this moment, what appears on the panel of Adam's team of five is a massive stream of item information.
Weapon blueprints shimmering with purple light, rare materials marked "Abyss Lord Core," epic accessories with powerful skill effects, and even rare magical mount reins...
Each item comes with a clear magical image and detailed attribute descriptions.
Prices range from practical little items costing a few dozen gold coins to top-tier treasures with a long string of zeros or requiring a huge amount of contribution points plus specific legendary materials.
Where did all of these come from?
Does everyone have so many treasures?
Some of the descriptions left them completely dumbfounded.
The five people were instantly overwhelmed by the flood of information, as if they had fallen into an ocean of treasure.
They completely forgot to move, standing still, their fingers flying across the virtual interface, filtering and viewing details, occasionally letting out sounds of amazement or gasps of surprise.
The convenience and impact of digitalization in Xicheng District are fully demonstrated in this auction house called "Data Hammer".
They knew that simply browsing the auction house would take up most of the day.
The core vitality of the western part of the city surrounding the tower, this "young pearl," is surging forth at this moment. (End of this chapter)