Chapter 2 : Sinners of the Bitter Winter
Chapter 2: Sinners of the Bitter Winter
It had to be said—this body was unbelievably light. Her footsteps were almost completely silent, and her flexibility was exceptional.
She always felt that she could easily perform movements far beyond the ordinary.
So she gave it a try, lifting her leg high. The foot clad in black leather boots effortlessly rose above her head.
“Hiss~~”
The main body sharply inhaled.
His perspective was perfectly aligned with the clone.
As the leg lifted, the black skirt naturally slid down, revealing the black safety shorts underneath.
Clearly, she was tightly covered—no skin was exposed at all. Yet this snugly wrapped feminine curve was even more evocative than if it had been bare.
“Cough, cough!”
Su Wen quickly controlled the clone to lower her leg, his old face flushing red.
“I’m a decent person. I can’t go crazy over myself.”
His gaze returned to the wristwatch.
Su Wen noticed that aside from 【Personal Information】, there were several dimmed icons on the main interface of the watch. Only one icon named 【Construction and Recruitment】 was lit.
【Material Recomposition Protocol (Civilian Version V1.0)】
【Description: Based on pan-material conversion technology from a previous civilization, combined with imperial magic, surrounding materials can be used for recomposition to construct specific blueprints.】
【Initial Available Blueprints: Simple Campfire, Simple Stone Axe, Interdimensional Recruitment Blueprint (White Basic, Weak Contract), and corresponding resources.】
【Remaining Energy: 38/100 (Backup energy built into the wristwatch)】
“Material Recomposition Protocol… Interdimensional Recruitment Blueprint… what kind of black technology is this?”
It strangely felt like playing a game.
He carefully read the instructions beside it and roughly understood how it worked.
Simply put, that 【Interdimensional Recruitment Blueprint】 was not actually a drawing, but a packaged spacetime coordinate detector along with a corresponding construction ritual.
Once the building was printed, the magic array engraved inside would automatically activate, sending a signal to a specific otherworldly coordinate.
It was like lighting a lighthouse in the vast universe.
What it would illuminate depended entirely on what kind of entity existed on the other end of that coordinate.
The protocol would establish a specific contract with the target.
These were broadly divided into weak contracts and strong contracts.
Weak contracts had low cost and functioned like an employment relationship. Once the agreement was reached, the target could be brought over. The employer could cultivate them into trusted subordinates—or potentially face betrayal.
Generally, newly recruited individuals would have a base level of loyalty, usually around thirty to forty, considered within a trustworthy range. Whether they remained obedient depended on subsequent cultivation. Factors like the recruiter’s personal charisma and treatment would influence the value.
Strong contracts, on the other hand, had high costs and extremely powerful binding force—the other party would almost be incapable of resistance.
Su Wen clicked on 【Interdimensional Recruitment Blueprint (White Basic, Weak Contract)】.
The wristwatch screen immediately displayed a new construction interface.
【Foundation detected as level.】
【Beginning construction: Bitter Cold Wooden Hut (White, Basic, Human Race).】
【Cost: Stored resources, 20 points of backup energy.】
“Confirm.”
A small chip popped out, expanding into a blueprint that spread directly across the ground. A pile of wood also appeared beside it.
Amid light resembling magic, the wood rapidly assembled, like a time-lapse video playing.
In just over twenty seconds, a plain and unadorned wooden hut appeared before him.
The exterior was extremely simple. The walls were made of darkened wooden planks layered in a crisscross pattern, and the roof was thickly covered with thatch, seemingly to withstand the severe cold.
【Building Name: Bitter Cold Wooden Hut】
【Quality: White】
【Function: Provides basic living space and serves as a beacon connecting to the “Bitter Winter Exile Land.”】
【Recruitable: Bitter Winter Sinners (Human Race, White, Basic)】
【Recruitment Requirement: Basic Recruitment Protocol ×1】
【Recruitment Time: 1 person/minute】
【Evaluation: This is the dwelling of sinners. In this world where even breathing can freeze, survival itself is a luxury.】
“Bitter Winter Sinners… sounds pretty miserable.”
Su Wen pushed open the heavy wooden door.
Inside, the furnishings were simple—only a stone-built fire pit and a hard wooden bed covered with animal hides.
Opening the wristwatch, he found that there happened to be one Basic Recruitment Protocol available. Without hesitation, Su Wen used it.
“Consume!”
The air distorted slightly.
A middle-aged man wearing a gray fur coat, his face weathered by hardship, abruptly appeared in the center of the room.
Upon seeing Su Wen, he froze for a moment. Then, as if realizing something, he immediately put down the logging axe in his hand, brushed the snow off his body, and respectfully gave a restrained bow.
“My lord, I am Barlow from the Exile Land. I heard that here… there are no blizzards? As long as I can have a warm meal, you can use this strength however you wish.”
Though his tone was calm, his eyes revealed clear excitement.
【Recruitment Successful.】
【Unit: Bitter Winter Sinner (Barlow)】
【Race: Human (Exiled Sinner)】
【Potential: White (Basic, Civilian Unit)】
【Rank: None】
【Loyalty: 40】
【Skill: Resilient Physique (Years in extreme cold have granted him astonishing endurance. Resistance to cold, hunger, and fatigue increased by 20%)】
Loyalty at 40?
That seemed decent. According to the description, weak contracts usually started like this. His was even on the higher side, so Su Wen didn’t dwell on it.
“Hello, Barlow. Welcome,” Su Wen nodded at him. “Conditions are a bit rough for now. You should have some skills, right? Like logging or building houses?”
“Of course, that’s my trade.”
Old Barlow laughed heartily, about to say more, when he suddenly noticed the black-haired girl standing under the tree outside.
Her otherworldly beauty and pure aura stunned him instantly, leaving him frozen in place.
Seeing this, Su Wen immediately stepped forward, standing beside the girl.
“This is my shadow, and also the watcher of this forest,” Su Wen said calmly. “She does not like strangers. If you have anything to say, say it to me.”
Barlow’s body trembled, and he immediately replied respectfully, “Yes!”
“Mm. Go wait outside for now.”
Watching him obediently leave, Su Wen let out a sigh of relief.
Having such a breathtakingly beautiful young girl as a clone strangely made him feel insecure.
Just now, he had truly been a bit worried.
After all, if it were him, he would also find it difficult to resist the charm of this fantasy girl.
Not to mention, the Old Barlow before him was so strong. With his own former 996 office-worker physique, plus a delicate young girl, even together they might not be able to defeat him.
If he refused to obey, it would indeed be dangerous.
“Forget it, let’s check other things first.”
Su Wen’s gaze returned to the girl.
“Oh right, the instructions mentioned that every independent individual theoretically has a chance to awaken potential. Doesn’t that mean…”
A bold idea formed in his mind as he handed the wristwatch to the clone.