Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Improved Sentry Gun
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The next day, right after breakfast, I headed to the workshop. I'd told Bunny that to calm her down after she was gripped by fear, but there was no way I could ignore Diablo's presence.
As I pondered what to make as a means to stop him, I soon thought of a "good item."
"Let's make an improved sentry gun."
A regular sentry gun only has a machine gun, but the improved version also mounts a rocket launcher. In a word, it compensates for the sentry gun's weakness in firepower.
An improved sentry gun should be able to deal sufficient damage even to Diablo.
The fatal drawback had been that I'd have to make the rockets myself, so I hadn't considered building one until now... but that was no longer an issue with the work android robots at my disposal.
I handed the blueprint for the improved sentry gun I'd obtained from the arms factory over to Queen. She began analyzing it at high speed.
As I waited quietly, Queen spoke up.
「I overheard your conversation with Bunny.」
「Bunny and Clone No. 37 resonate with each other, correct?」
"Yeah, that's what he said."
「The former owner, Dr. Mukuri, conducted numerous experiments on test subjects inside the secret laboratory. And I am the AI that managed and recorded all those countless experiments.」
'That's right.'
「Among the experiment logs I possess, there are similar cases. Test Subjects 335 and 107 formed a powerful bond.」
"A powerful bond."
「Most zombies recognize each other as kin. I consider this a form of bond as well. However, among the test subjects, there were individuals whose bonds were excessively strong.」
「Test Subject 115 and Test Subject 386 were serial killer brothers. Even though they were confined in separate culture tanks, they showed reactions as if they could sense each other's presence.」
A man's voice flowed out.
-Where is this place? Why have you done that to my little brother!? Let me out! Let me out right now!
-Release my big brother! You can kill me, just let him go!
「Dr. Mukuri took an interest and conducted some research for a while, but soon lost interest and discarded them. However, after Dr. Mukuri's death, Queen continued the research alone. And I was able to reach a conclusion. The powerful bond caused by blood relations, combined with the zombie virus, generates sound waves with a unique frequency.」
"So...?"
「Simply sever the sound waves. Then No. 37 won't know Bunny's location, and Shelter Apocalypse won't face any threats.」
Sever the sound waves, huh. Should I just cover the entire island with a steel barrier?
...On second thought, that would be like burning down the barn to kill a flea, so it'd be better to just confine Bunny instead.
Hoping Queen might have a solution, I asked her.
"Is there a way to sever the sound waves?"
「We just need to create a device that scrambles the frequency. This is a blueprint entirely from within Queen's mind, and I estimate it will be over 99% effective.」
「Of course, since there's still that remaining 1% chance, we shouldn't place blind faith in it, but...」
Queen trailed off mid-sentence and gazed intently into my eyes. Probably because I'd just stroked the head of her hologram. As if feeling my touch, Queen made a happy expression.
She was mimicking Zixuan's face.
'Good girl, good girl.'
"Send me the blueprint."
Queen transmitted the blueprint, and I began fabricating the frequency jammer according to it. Its structure was incredibly complex, but with my Level 10 Metal Transformation, I could manage it easily enough.
It just took a little time. Over the course of two days, I built the frequency jammer and installed it inside the building where Bunny was staying. Queen said its range wouldn't cover the entire island, but it would blanket the whole shelter.
As long as Bunny didn't step outside the shelter, there was virtually no chance No. 37 would detect our presence.
Through the frequency jammer, we'd blocked the resonance phenomenon. Bunny said she could no longer sense Diablo's presence, and doubtless the feeling was mutual for him.
That aside, I went ahead and produced the improved sentry gun. I'd already decided to make it anyway... and who knew what twists fate might throw our way.
Just like how the Tyrant had suddenly been waiting for us on Hope Bridge, there was no guarantee he wouldn't come to this island.
「Used Metal Transformation (Lv. 10) to synthesize multi-barrel machine gun x1, rocket launcher x1, steel barrel x1, Wi-Fi module x1, infrared camera x1 into Improved Sentry Gun.」
「Improved Sentry Gun」
Machine gun attack power: 61~70
Rocket launcher attack power: 151~160
Durability: 87/87
Description: An improved sentry gun personally crafted by Mechanic Park Si-hyun. Superior to a standard sentry gun in every aspect. However, due to the limitations of the materials used, durability decreases by 2 with each rocket launcher use.
Since it used steel instead of mithril, there was the restriction that durability dropped by 2 per rocket fired.
But that didn't matter.
With Living Machine, even if durability was consumed, it would steadily recover.
I prioritized deploying the improved sentry gun at the shelter. I planned to produce more and install them across the entire island.
Not just Diablo—no zombie would even dream of setting foot here. Most would be filtered out anyway since we'd blocked the land routes.
In any case, this wrapped up the shelter's defenses perfectly. There was still work left, but the work android robots would handle that...
Now, I had only one task remaining. Installing a power plant inside Bahara Mine and setting up Loki. I came up with an easy solution.
Detach Sirius 2 from the roof of the arms factory and bring it inside. Sirius 2 provided substantial power, but honestly, it was far inferior to the adamantium power plant.
Plus, with solar panels covering the entire shelter building, its presence or absence barely made a noticeable difference at this point.
I put it into action right away. I used Machine Repair on the worn-down Sirius 2 to fill its durability to max, then transported it to Bahara Mine.
Then I moved and mounted Loki's supercomputer. I'd worried it might not activate or run into issues, but fortunately, the supercomputer powered up without a hitch.
A hologram of Loki appeared, her face blank.
「Where is this?」
"Bahara Mine."
「...No Queen here?」
"Nope."
A smile crept onto Loki's lips. Just the fact there was no Queen had her thrilled. Queen, on the other hand, had looked disappointed when I'd said I was taking Loki with me before coming here.
I should tell Queen about this. Thinking about how those two would react when they met again already put me in a good mood.
Harboring such wicked thoughts inwardly, I directed M01 through M10—which I'd brought inside—to begin mine development.
They were far less adept than Queen, but even so, M01 to M10 picked up their pickaxes—which I'd made myself—and marched orderly into the mine.
With only ten units for now, mine development wouldn't be fast, but the more numbers we added, the quicker it would progress.
I watched the robots for a bit, then started building a metal structure nearby. A place for the supervisor to stay, right?...
Just kidding. I planned to put together a simple house for Zixuan and me to stay in.
Zixuan had mentioned occasionally wanting to come here for a change of pace and rest. And I felt the same way.
Diablo, walking toward a place where her presence could be felt while bound in restraints, suddenly looked up at the sky. The presence of Clone No. 113, which had felt so "vivid" until moments ago, was gone.
As if something had blocked it. Diablo's mind began racing.
He'd been released from the secret lab under the pretext of finding Clone No. 113.
But if it became known that he could no longer sense her presence? He'd be locked up again.
"Why isn't this thing moving?"
"Hurry up and move."
The bishops started whining as they looked at him anxiously, standing still. The command squeezing his mind.
He began walking casually.
It didn't matter that he could no longer sense her presence.
Now that he was out, he had no intention of meekly going back in. He'd seize the moment when their control weakened, kill them, and claim his freedom.
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
They encountered a group of survivors. None other than merchants from "Paradise." They'd just finished trading with Shelter D when they crossed paths.
The man in the suit eyed Diablo and lit up with interest.
"Ho, is that merchandise?"
"What brings a Paradise merchant all the way out here?"
Since they knew each other, one of the bishops scowled and asked. The man before him was no one even a Salvation Church bishop could treat lightly.
And for good reason—he was a Paradise merchant. Mess him up and sour the deal between Paradise and the Salvation Church, and the backlash would surely hit him.
"Well, wanderlust strikes sometimes, you know. Got curious about how the folks down here are faring. But hey, what's with that zombie? Looks badass as hell."
"This is Salvation Church property. Don't touch it."
"Sell it. I'll pay top dollar."
"Don't make me laugh. This isn't for sale..."
"What's not for sale? Sell it."
The man grinned as he drew his gun and aimed it at them. He'd found prime goods; no way was he letting it slip away. The Salvation Church bishops spoke in stiff tones.
"You planning to make an enemy of the Salvation Church right now?"
"You'd be smart to sell when I tell you to. Sell."
"We can't do that."
"Then I have no choice."
With a cold expression, the man pulled the trigger. Bang. The gunshot rang out as a bullet lodged in the Salvation Church bishop's skull. The other bishops hurriedly drew their guns, but...
The Paradise merchants were a beat faster. Having focused solely on controlling Diablo, they hadn't even brought proper zombies with them—they were just ordinary people.