Birth Of The Crafts-God

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 : The Wastelands

[AN: Changed mission location from Beast continent to the Wastelands][[ Mission Overview: You have finally received your first custom order. It's time to let the world witness your light.

Mission Description: Craft a high quality weapon, using the Violent Sun ores from the Wastelands, in one month.

Reward: Bronze Grade Card.

Penalty: Loss of reputation.

]]

"System, this says the Wastelands right?" Lucas couldn't help but ask.

"Yes."

"Same region swarming with desolate beasts, correct?"

"Indeed."

"How am I supposed to, you know, go and not die?"

"As a legacy inheritor of a god and the successor to the Crafts-God, the host should be familiar with the term 'miracle'. With that in mind, the mission has been with the host's strength put under consideration."

'Bullshit.' Lucas cursed internally.

The Wastelands was one of the most dangerous places in Eretre. To the people of Baylands city, the Wastelands was a risk-filled location with many desolate beasts all over the place. It was home to a horde of desolate beast with varying degrees of strength. Here, there were desolate beasts of all levels.

It was even rumoured that a few of them could compare with city-lord class existences, in other words, ten Apertures Opening stage stellar practitioners. However, this rumour was either false or the number was far too small, otherwise, the desolate beast would have overrun Baylands City.

With his current strength, heading over to this region was no different from suicide.

Lucas ignored the system and began thinking of how to make it work. He could have placed an order for the Violet Sun ores and commissioned a freelancer to get it for him, but the system clearly stated that Lucas had to make the trip himself.

'Wait, it didn't.' Lucas suddenly thought of something.

"System, do I have to do it myself? Can't I just commission someone to get it?"

"No, as doing so would eliminate the purpose of the mission." The system replied.

Lucas sighed. He was partly expecting such a response, and the system lived up to his expectations. Even so, Lucas wasn't entirely disappointed or frustrated. He couldn't keep living like this—locked up in a store and only working on vestiges. He had to get stronger to secure his safety.

Although this mission was very risky and even deadly, since the system gave it to him, there was a significant chance of survival. With that being the case, there was no reason for Lucas to reject it.

This was an opportunity to see the world outside, beyond the walls of the city. He would encounter different desolate beast and people. As long as he was careful and planned properly, there shouldn't be much harm.

Freelancers frequented the Wastelands in

While this might sound sad, some saw it as a means of population control, and so, didn't stop anyone. As long as one was of age, they could get a ride. The only difference was that non-freelancers would have to pay a fee, albeit a small one of three federal coins.

Using a light-rail train, it would only take thirty to thirty five minutes to cover the distance even with disturbances. Despite being called a train, it was actually a flying shuttle merely shaped just like a train. In truth it could go faster, but due to the weight and weapons attached to it, as well as other safety reasons, it maintained a speed of between 1200km/hr-1350km/hr.

Nonetheless, this speed was already fast enough for most.

Very soon, the light-rail train had landed at its destination and everyone inside stepped out.

The base station in the Wastelands was a small camp made up of a couple buildings. Some of these buildings were lodges and the others were varied spots like bars, restaurants, shooting ranges and even training centres. At the edge of the camp was the landing zone for the light-rail trains.

The base station was made by the city-state government, but other forces helped with the further development, investing their resources into the place. For instance, some companies, especially those related to freelancers and basic needs, had their branches set up here. However there were few such companies.

This was because the base station was located in the Wastelands, and very few individuals would want to work there.

The living locations were only accessible to freelancers so if a regular individual wanted to work in the Wastelands, they would have to commute from the West Wing district. As a result, most stores were operated by robots.

The Wastelands base station was the gathering spot intended for the freelancers who worked here. It wasn't a strange thing for freelancers to spend months in the Wastelands. The city-state government hence built the base station just at the outer edge of the Wastelands. This was another incentive program to motivate freelancers to spend more time in the Wastelands.

Although it didn't have everything, the base station had everything one needed.

Lucas admired the sight and thought to himself that it would have been better if he had set up his store here instead.

While others could buy vestiges, the major customers of a vestige store were freelancers. Other parties, like students and the city patrol corps, didn't engage in much combat, and as such, their vestiges were usually in top form. However, freelancers fought day and night as it was their source of income. This led to their equipment being damaged regularly.

Just the expenses on maintenance alone was the bulk of a freelancer's expenses. If Lucas had set up shop here, the money he would have made from maintenance in two weeks alone might have cleared his debt.

'No use crying over spilt milk.' Lucas thought as he walked away from the port and towards the base station. His first task at the moment was to find a map to help him navigate to his destination.