Chapter 65: No Leftovers Today—Everything Must Be Finished

He did some quick calculations. To upgrade the vehicle core to Level 9, assuming all the vehicles he encountered had Level 4 cores, he would need sixteen of them. Sixteen vehicles! How many had he even come across today? If he hadn’t arrived at this so-called Battleground, he might never have acquired so many cores.

And now it was already seven o’clock, with only thirteen or fourteen hours left until the end. To gather sixteen cores in that time was certainly a challenge. Looking at it this way, it was understandable why some vehicles only had Level 3 cores. Upgrading a core required not only strength but also a great deal of luck.

He closed the vehicle core interface and opened the vehicle menu. Since the core had reached Level 8, the vehicle itself could now be upgraded. Lin Mu rubbed his hands together—such a rare opportunity for an upgrade, there had better be something worthwhile.

[Ding! Vehicle upgraded to Level 9. Vehicle space doubled. Second form unlocked.]

[Vehicle: Garbage Disposal Truck]
[Quality: Class C]
[Level: 9]
[Fuel Tank: 652L/1000L]
[Fuel Consumption: 1L/20km]
[Speed: 180km/h]
[Features: Advanced Cold Resistance, Advanced Heat Insulation, Superior Defense, Intermediate Attack Capability, Firearms Module]
[Vehicle Skill: SSS Class Unique Skill – Infinite Modification]
[Trait: [Waste Utilization]—Place scrap into the rear seat recycling port to process through the onboard garbage processor. Can decompose corresponding items, decomposition efficiency increased by 50%.]
[Upgrade Requirements: Mithril Ingot x500, Universal Materials x500, Iron Ingot x2000, Glass x40, Electronic Components x1000, Vehicle Core Level 10]

Lin Mu frowned at the list of required upgrade materials. Was this a mistake? Wasn’t this requirement a bit excessive? Two thousand iron ingots? Who in their right mind would have so many?

After a moment’s thought, he decided to consult the system panel.

[Please view the second form before making further inquiries.]

Right, he hadn’t checked the second form yet—perhaps it was related to this.

A new option had appeared at the bottom of the vehicle panel: [Second Form]

Upon opening it, two choices were presented:

[Form 1]: Flight Mode—High fuel consumption, high speed.
[Form 2]: Waterway Mode—Low fuel consumption, average speed.

“...” Lin Mu’s lips twitched. That was it? Just two lines per option, summarizing speed and fuel consumption? Wasn’t this a bit perfunctory?

Lin Mu stroked his chin as he looked at the two options. The descriptions were simple—basically, one was a plane, the other a boat. It seemed he would have to choose between the two in the future, or perhaps even use both. He pondered for a moment, then consulted the system again.

“Can the vehicle form be used indefinitely? In other words, will the highway always be present?”

[Vehicle form can be used at all times. Highway Survival is mainly based on the road.]

Reading this, Lin Mu fell into deep thought. So, no matter what, the road would always be there. But the existence of two forms must serve a purpose—and perhaps in the future, a third form would appear, one he hadn’t chosen this time.

Given that...

Of course he’d choose flight mode—was there even a question? Who said a plane couldn’t be used as a boat? Aren’t seaplanes still planes? With his modification skill, even if there weren’t options, he could create his own.

A smirk appeared on Lin Mu’s lips as he selected option one.

A flight interface appeared, and a basic propeller plane materialized before his eyes.

[Plane Form]: After activation, the vehicle will transform into airplane mode within one minute. Specific stats will be unlocked upon first use.
(Note: Each transformation has a 48-hour cooldown. Use with caution if energy supply is insufficient.)

A forty-eight hour cooldown?

Lin Mu narrowed his eyes. This second form wasn’t as simple as it looked; it might even be a trap. In the real world, something like this would consume an enormous amount of fuel—much more than the “high fuel consumption” description suggested.

...

“Dinner time, Brother Mu!” Jiang Ying waved at Lin Mu.

“Coming,” Lin Mu replied, stepping out of the vehicle and approaching the table, surprised by the spread of dishes.

“You all really went all out—there’s so much food.”

They were all familiar homemade dishes, but with the unique flair found only on Blue Star. Although 001 could cook a few stir-fries, the variety was nowhere near as broad as this. 001 simply made things edible, using seasonings in precise ratios, so every meal tasted exactly the same.

“Come try this smashed cucumber—it’s delicious!” Jiang Ying eagerly pushed a plate in front of Lin Mu. If she could please him, maybe she’d get some snacks in return—perfect. The more she thought about it, the happier she became.

Staring at the slightly blackened cucumbers and the inky sauce, Lin Mu’s lips twitched.

“Is this your first time cooking? Have the others tasted it?”

“How did you know? They haven’t tried it yet—I wanted you to have the first bite, since we’re all eating thanks to you.”

No need for that!

He dipped his chopsticks in the sauce, face contorting in hesitation. Just as he suspected—the dark color and flavor could only come from dark soy sauce. Where on earth had she learned this recipe for smashed cucumber?

“Ahem, I prefer meat dishes. You all have the vegetables.”

He put down his chopsticks and added, “And no leftovers today. Everything must be eaten—don’t waste a thing. Whatever you can’t finish, the person who made it eats the rest.”

“Huh? But I’ll burst!” Shu Xin grumbled, dismayed. Half the dishes on the table were hers—there was no way she’d finish them all without exploding.

The chubby boy patted his belly. “Don’t worry, Sister Shu, I’m here.”

Shu Xin rolled her eyes. “Shoo, kids shouldn’t get involved.”

Wang Changjun stood nearby, eyes darting anxiously between everyone. The electrical current from his collar fluctuated—his arm would jerk involuntarily, and his eyelid twitched endlessly. How could this thing be so smart? Every time he even thought of doing anything to Lin Mu, the collar would shock him. The greater the harm he imagined, the stronger the current. In the end, he thought about it so much that simply having Lin Mu’s name cross his mind would earn him a shock. Wang Changjun was starting to suspect the thing was broken.

Lin Mu noticed Wang Changjun’s left hand twitching nonstop. “You’re not still plotting against me, are you? If so, I salute your tenacity.”

Wang Changjun was almost in tears. “I think this thing is broken. Every time I think of your name, it shocks me! I swear, I’m not plotting anything—I’ve given up!”