Theoretically, the same applied to synthetic fabrics, but tanned animal hides and metal armor were good enough to meet the needs of the upper echelons.
In these difficult, apocalyptic times, no one could get by without working. Still, the basic standard of living was a far cry from what it used to be, so it was perfectly normal for people to feel they could no longer survive in the city.
"It’d be miserable living downtown," Pang Peng griped. "Without a teleportation hub, a round trip to the forest would mean spending most of your time just on the road."
Unlike in Oran City, the advantages of living in a prime, central location had been severely diminished.
For the powerful, the most secure and comfortable place to set up a base was really that key Rune-empowered region near the border of the Southern Territory, and its surrounding areas.
"If everyone thinks that way, competition in that area will be fierce."
The monsters in the forest weren’t an infinitely respawning resource. Besides, with the existing order and the authority of the military corps, a group of powerful individuals squeezed together wouldn’t necessarily have a good time. The fight for resources would become brutal.
There were too many people and not enough resources to go around.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint, a chaotic, messy situation was actually more conducive to leveling up.
But Dongfu City was not Oran City, after all.
Before long, they made it back to camp. Gong Jun, who had been standing guard alone, breathed a sigh of relief at their return.
"No major issues," Gong Jun said, setting down his shotgun. He couldn’t help but rub his brow, his eyes etched with weariness. "A group of strangers approached the building this morning, obviously looking for supplies, but they took off once they realized someone was inside."
"You’ve worked hard," Su Chen said.
It was clear he had been busy all night and had been working nonstop all morning. On the workbench in front of him lay a newly rifled barrel, with a pile of five failed prototypes beside it.
With the power restored, the building’s external surveillance systems were all running normally. Pang Peng went to check the monitoring feed on the first-floor computer.
Pulling up the footage revealed they were indeed just some petty thieves. They hadn’t bothered trying to pick the lock, instead attempting to use Rune Power to destroy the main door.
But the moment they got close, they triggered the shadow curtain’s Spiritual Whip effect. When Gong Jun shouted at them from inside, it amplified their terror, sending them fleeing in fear.
’I need to get some more terrain-altering and environment-shaping Runes.’
Su Chen had an Electric Grid Skill Lv4, but he hadn’t set up the invisible, high-voltage net yet.
With more and more outsiders showing up, the campsite was about to get busy again. It seemed necessary to head to the market and trade for a new batch of relevant Runes.
’I’ll have to make a trip to Qixia Border Town today, at the very least. I wonder how much it has recovered.’
’It would be great if I could visit Dongfu City’s most prosperous and developed Rune-empowered region.’
Just then, Gong Jun shared some good news.
"As of today, Dongfu City has its own teleportation hub. Right now, only ten Teleportation Gates have been unlocked, scattered inside and outside the city. If you want to get to the key Rune-architected region quickly, you can go to Qixia Border Town by East Gate 2 and then teleport from there."
The moment he finished speaking, Su Chen couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
"Excellent. Travel will finally be convenient."
He had always been drawn to that Rune Core stronghold he’d never had the chance to visit. As a premier gathering place for the powerful, with a regulated market protected by absolute order, it was far superior to Qixia Border Town.
Of course...
Gong Jun also had some bad news.
Dongfu City had been attacked that morning. The target? That very same key Rune-architected region.
The people from Oran City had made their move.

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