Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Travis nodded in confirmation.

"I'm sure you're already aware of it since I already gave some… However, I recently obtained another Talent… Ahem… Anyway, what I wanted to say is that my blood's value had gone up. You know that a few drops of this can enhance physical strength, increase vitality, or even aid in certain alchemical processes. But aside from that, you can also use this blood as a weapon itself… I know you deal with all kinds of rare materials, so I figured this might be something of value to you."

Shane picked up the vial as he confirmed that its quality had indeed improved.

It seemed that Travis had really obtained a good Talent.

"It's tempting," Shane admitted. "Dragon Blood is rare, even more so in pure form. But you'll need more than just this to secure a steady supply of Spirit Stones."

Travis expected that. "Of course, I can offer more." He pulled out a dozen of vials with the same golden liquid.

It didn't end there as he placed other items on the table one by one. "How about these Recruitment Stones, chicken mushrooms, and crude oil?"

Shane's eyes lit up as he realized that Travis seemed to have access to crude oil… Although he still needed to process it, he was confident that with his A.I. and his Talent, it wouldn't be difficult to refine it!

As for the mushroom, it seemed that Travis's shelters were actually farming it to the point that they could supply him as well. They must have a huge farming facility or land.

Shane picked up one of the Recruitment Stones, inspecting it before placing it back on the table.

It was just a normal recruitment stone that could call out ordinary people with the most basic skills or maybe even none.

"You're offering good items, but Spirit Stones are in high demand. Even with these, you're asking for a large discount."

Travis chuckled. "I wouldn't be here negotiating if I could get them elsewhere at a better deal. You've got one of the most stable sources of Spirit Stones around. And let's be honest—you're expanding. You need valuable resources too."

Shane was aware of it as well since he indeed needed a steady supply of ingredients from others if he wanted to have better quality foods. After all, there was no way he could make everything within the shelter with their current situation.

Shane thought for a moment before he leaned forward. "I can agree to a deal, but there will be conditions. First, I won't give you bulk shipments at a loss. The amount I supply depends on what you can offer in return."

Travis nodded. "Fair enough."

"Second," Shane continued, "if you really want a steady flow of Spirit Stones, I want first rights to any unique materials or artifacts you come across before you trade them elsewhere."

Travis smirked. "A monopoly deal? You really don't hold back, huh?"

Shane shrugged. "I want this cooperation to last long, Travis. If it's not you, I won't even bother doing this. If I supply you with a valuable resource, I expect something equally worthwhile in return."

Travis considered the proposal before finally nodding. "Alright. I can agree to that." He extended his hand.

Shane clasped it, sealing the deal. "Good. Let's get started then."

Soon, the two of them finalized the deal. Of course, Shane called for three people to help him with this matter. They were Diana, Edwin, and Lysandra…

Diana and Lysandra were more updated with the value of items as they would always browse the Market and system stores. As for Butler Edwin, he was also quite used to making contracts or deals, so he was the one who prepared the documentation for them.

***

As soon as Shane and Travis finalized their transaction, Shane quickly transferred the agreed-upon Spirit Stones to Travis' clone.

It was a total of 300 low-grade Spirit Stones and 10 mid-grade Spirit Stones.

In return, Shane and Travis visited an empty warehouse since they needed a huge room for the resources Travis had to provide.

Soon, Travis accessed his System Inventory, bringing out the resources. Apparently, Travis could actually temporarily switch with his Clone to fully use the Inventory since Clones had limited access.

Travis could only do it for 90 seconds but it was enough.

He soon provided the 65 Normal Recruitment Stones.

Next, 150 crates of chicken mushrooms appeared in the storage warehouse… It immediately filled the air with a distinct earthy but pleasant scent.

This food was valuable. According to Travis, it was both nutritious and had a long shelf life, making it a strategic stockpile for the settlement.

Finally, the most anticipated part of the deal—50 massive steel drums of crude oil—manifested a few meters away from the crates.

The heavy scent of unrefined petroleum wafted out.

Shane immediately had to store the mushroom crates and recruitment stones in his inventory because of this. He needed to store those crates elsewhere.

Shane observed the steel drums with satisfaction. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

This was exactly what he needed.

While crude oil in its raw state wasn't immediately useful, Shane had already anticipated this concern while completing the transaction.

Fortunately, his Otherworldly Mechanic Talent, along with A.I. Cloud's assistance, gave him access to knowledge about industrial refinement.

After Travis' Clone left to look around the shelter, Shane didn't waste his time. He immediately checked his Anima Store and purchased the materials he needed.

***

On the next day, Shane felt that he already made enough plans. He just needed the others to fill through the missing parts.

Soon, he summoned Eliot Mercer, the Eclipse Domain's lead engineer, and several other technical experts within the settlement. They gathered in the main hall of the shelter, where Shane laid out his plans.

Well, he couldn't just complete the project on his own.

"I want to set up a Refinery Unit here…" Shane said, spreading out several blueprints purchased from the Anima Store.

"We'll need a Distillation Tower and a Furnace System to process this crude oil into something usable—fuel, lubricants, and even refined chemicals."

Eliot rubbed his chin, scanning the designs. He only knew so much but he was at least aware of what Shane wanted to happen.

"This isn't impossible, but it's ambitious. If we work around the clock, we could probably have something operational within a week."

Shane smirked. "Good. Then let's get to work. I will have Anna do something about this Dragon Blood… I believe she could make 10 potions for each drop. These potions can be used to enhance the ordinary human's body without negative side effects. All of you will have priorities once it's made."

As soon as they heard about the reward they could get, everyone felt excited. This includes Eliot even after he already obtained similar potions in the Springriver Manor.

"We will do our best, Lord Shane!"

With such a motivation, the project began immediately.

Shane purchased a High-Heat Resistant Furnace Core, Temperature Control Pipes, Refined Catalystsm, and other items from the Anima Store. These items weren't cheap, but they drastically cut down the time needed for construction.

It seemed that the southern part of the shelter had started to become an industrial sector of the Eclipse Domain…

It soon became a construction site, with workers assembling the Distillation Tower piece by piece.

There was also a team of Blacksmiths, including Diana that helped forge durable metal plates, while the technicians, including Shane himself, ensured that the processing mechanisms were properly installed.

This was definitely not easy without A.I. Cloud, guiding their plans.

A.I. Cloud did a lot of things for them… It also assisted them in optimizing the design and adjusting the heat flow systems to make the process as efficient as possible.

On the sixth day, the Refinery Unit was completed.

The tall, steel structure of the Distillation Tower made the shelter look a bit more advanced or perhaps, apocalyptic… Shane looked at its metallic pipes zigzagging around like veins. He couldn't believe that they were able to create such a structure in just seven days.

They were ready to refine the crude oil into various useful products!

***

As soon as Shane confirmed that the new structure was working fine, he immediately went to visit Anna's workshop…

Well, Shane really appreciated her contribution to making this project happen.

Although she had never visited the construction site, she had been busy refining the Dragon Blood that helped all the workers!

As he entered the workshop, Shane was welcomed by the scent of herbs and alchemical substances.

Unlike the other places in the shelter, this place felt quiet or solemn. It felt peaceful for Shane.

Soon, Shane's eyes landed on Anna, resting on a makeshift couch near her alchemy station.

There were strands of her hair that slipped loose from her usual ponytail… She seemed really tired after all that work.

Shane then pulled up her lab coat, which was loosely draped over her shoulders.

Even in sleep, she still looked… graceful.