Golden System
Rangga's boat continued cutting across the sea toward the Swamp Island.
While waiting to arrive, he opened the chat feature that had been introduced only a few hours earlier.
The moment he entered the Regional tab, hundreds of messages flooded the screen, scrolling upward so quickly they were almost impossible to follow.
Broto (Garuda Nation): I'm still not sharing any information. We already send resources back to the country every day, and now we're supposed to hand over our discoveries too?
Deri (Garuda Nation): Sharing information increases all of our chances of survival. The more of us who survive, the greater the hope for our country.
Broto (Garuda Nation): That's everyone's own problem. Whatever I find belongs to me.
Several other Pioneers joined in. Some sided with Broto, but even more agreed with Deri.
Before long, the chat had turned into another endless argument.
Rangga sighed.
"Here we go again..."
He remembered the government's message from earlier that morning.
After thinking for a moment, he finally typed a reply.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): I'm with Major Deri. I'll cooperate.
His message immediately drew attention.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Rangga? The government informed me that you're currently the only Pioneer who has upgraded your boat. Is that true?
Rangga paused.
"So... They told them."
His fingers moved across the screen.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Yeah.
The chat exploded instantly.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Seriously?!
Fajar (Garuda Nation): How?!
Siska (Garuda Nation): What materials did it need?
Amid the flood of questions, one particular name made Rangga stop typing.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Rangga? You mean Rangga—the construction laborer?
Rangga frowned.
"...Broto?"
For the first time, he was completely certain.
The person behind that account really was Broto—the same man who had beaten him in the past.
He replied briefly.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Why?
It didn't take long.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Hahaha. The news from Earth has to be fake. You were too scared to fight back when I beat you up. No way you're the first to upgrade a boat. You probably just hid on your island the whole time.
Several Pioneers immediately chimed in. Some began doubting Rangga but Deri quickly answered.
Deri (Garuda Nation): That information came directly from the Government of the Garuda Nation. I see no reason for them to provide false information.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Why don't we ask how he did it instead of arguing?
Unfortunately, the discussion had already gone off the rails.
Some defended Broto. Others defended Rangga and Deri.
Rangga stared at the screen for a few moments before letting out a long sigh.
"We were finally starting to work together... And we're already arguing again."
The argument still showed no signs of ending. Then Rangga frowned.
"...Huh?"
He typed another message.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Doesn't the System already show the boat upgrade requirements?
Deri replied almost immediately.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Yes. As far as I remember, it requires Wood, Plant Fiber, and a material called Mechanical Radar.
Deri (Garuda Nation): The problem is...
Deri (Garuda Nation): I have no idea where Mechanical Radar comes from.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I've explored Tropical Islands, Rocky Islands, and Swamp Islands.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I've never found anything called Mechanical Radar.
Rangga fell silent as he watched more messages appear.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Me neither.
Fajar (Garuda Nation): Same here.
Siska (Garuda Nation): Maybe we have to craft it first?
Broto (Garuda Nation): Probably unlocked from another building.
Rangga remained quiet.
"...Wait. They don't know?"
A few seconds later, Deri sent another message.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Rangga, if you don't mind... where did you obtain the Mechanical Radar?
Rangga hesitated. Keeping the information to himself would definitely benefit him. But the government's message from earlier still echoed in his mind.
In the end, he started typing.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): From the mechanical creatures on Tropical Islands.
The chat instantly exploded.
Andre (Garuda Nation): WHAT?!
Siska (Garuda Nation): You mean those robot dinosaurs?
Fajar (Garuda Nation): They actually drop them?
Deri (Garuda Nation): How did you obtain it?
Rangga answered with a single word.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Kill them.
For a brief moment the chat became completely silent. Not a single new message appeared for several seconds.
The silence didn't last long.
Andre (Garuda Nation): How do you kill them?
Fajar (Garuda Nation): We've only got stone spears.
Siska (Garuda Nation): I'm not even brave enough to get close.
Raka (Garuda Nation): They're so fast.
Dita (Garuda Nation): I ran away the moment I saw one.
Broto (Garuda Nation): There's no way you can kill them with stone weapons.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I haven't found a safe way to fight them either.
Rangga didn't answer immediately. He simply stared at the screen, his brows slowly knitting together.
"...They... They don't know how to kill them?"
His mind drifted back to every encounter he'd had with the Mechanical Compsognathus and the Mechanical Procolophon.
Every single time he had seen their names. Their descriptions. Their weak points. Even the items they would drop.
Slowly Rangga's eyes widened.
"...Don't tell me..."
He turned toward a coconut tree growing along the shoreline. The familiar golden screen appeared instantly.
Coconut Tree
Description...
Weakness...
Rangga looked back at the chat but not a single Pioneer had ever mentioned the names Compsognathus or Procolophon.
They only called them things like robot, mechanical lizard, or metal dinosaur.
Rangga swallowed hard.
"...So... I'm the only one who can see these golden screens."
Only then did he truly realize it. The analytical ability he had assumed was part of the System was something no other Pioneer possessed.
Rangga quietly watched the endlessly scrolling chat.
A faint smile slowly formed.
"...That means... I'm progressing faster."
He looked down at his own hand.
"If I'm the only one with the Analysis System... then my chances of surviving are much higher."
His thoughts immediately turned to Putri.
"...And my chances of making it home to my little sister... are much better too."
The smile didn't last long. His eyes returned to the chat. Broto was still arguing with several other Pioneers.
Rangga quietly sighed.
"...Broto's here too... I don't need to tell everyone everything."
He decided to keep the monsters' weak points to himself—for now—and share only the information they actually needed.
His fingers began typing again.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Every mechanical creature on tropical island can drop a Mechanical Radar when you kill it. Sometimes it drops one, sometimes it doesn't. It's not guaranteed.
A moment later, Deri replied.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Are you certain?
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Yeah.
Several seconds later, another message appeared.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Understood.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I happen to be on a Tropical Island right now.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I'll try hunting several mechanical creatures.
Deri (Garuda Nation): I'll report back with the results.
The atmosphere in the chat immediately became much more positive.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Thanks, Rangga.
Fajar (Garuda Nation): That's really important information.
Siska (Garuda Nation): Good luck, Major Deri.
Raka (Garuda Nation): Finally, we've got a lead.
Not everyone believed him, however.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Yeah, right...
Broto (Garuda Nation): He's probably just messing with all of you.
Yudi (Garuda Nation): Could be trying to trick everyone into getting killed by monsters.
Darto (Garuda Nation): I'm still not convinced.
Rangga merely glanced at the messages. He had no intention of replying. Calmly, he closed the chat window.
"My own life isn't even sorted out yet... I don't have time to argue."
Just then, the boat began slowing down. In the distance, a green island covered with vast pools of murky water gradually came into view.
The Swamp Island had finally arrived.