52. Level 3 Island
For the next seven days, Major Deri's directives began to bear fruit.
Before sending resources back to Earth, the Pioneers of the Garuda Nation no longer made decisions on their own. Instead, they first contacted Deri through the regional chat.
"Major, I just found this. What should I send?"
"I discovered a new material. Which one should take priority?"
Deri carefully recorded reports from each Pioneer. After considering the nation's needs as well as each person's progress, he would then give his instructions.
"Send wood."
"Send rice."
"Copper ore only."
"Keep that for now. You'll still need it later."
Almost every Pioneer followed those instructions, with the exception of Broto's group. They continued to operate independently, never joining the discussions.
Meanwhile, around thirty other Pioneers gradually began moving toward the same objective.
Over the next three days, shipments from the Garuda Nation arrived one after another.
One Pioneer who had only recently unlocked his next island sent ordinary wood, as he had yet to obtain more valuable resources.
Another shipped hardwood harvested from Cypress trees growing in the swamps.
Several Pioneers who had discovered rice fields began sending polished rice.
Others sent copper ore because their furnaces had not yet advanced enough to refine it into ingots.
Each Pioneer contributed according to their own capabilities. No one pushed beyond their limits, yet everyone followed the nation's priorities.
Among them all, Rangga's shipments remained the most remarkable.
Unlike the others, he no longer sent raw copper ore.
Instead, he delivered fully refined Copper Ingots, whose value was significantly higher and could be used immediately by the Garuda Nation.
Little by little, almost without anyone noticing, the supply coordination system Major Deri had envisioned began to take shape.
Each Pioneer contributed what they were capable of producing.
Together, they gradually built an increasingly complete supply chain for the Garuda Nation.
Over the following three days, the changes within the Garuda Nation became increasingly apparent.
Unlike before, when shipments arrived randomly according to each Pioneer’s personal judgment, every delivery now served a clear purpose.
Under Major Deri's coordination, every shipment complemented the others.
Wood was stockpiled to support emergency construction efforts.
Hardwood was reserved for projects requiring stronger, more durable materials.
Rice was immediately distributed to regions suffering from food shortages caused by the prolonged conflict.
Copper ore was sent to the nation's smelting facilities.
Meanwhile, Rangga's refined Copper Ingots were delivered directly to strategic industries, eliminating the need for preliminary processing.
Inside the presidential conference room, a massive map of the Garuda Nation was covered with colored markers.
A logistics officer continuously moved them across the map while receiving incoming reports.
"The rice shipment has arrived."
"Send it to the eastern region immediately."
"Hardwood shipment received."
"Prioritize it for defensive infrastructure."
"Rangga's Copper Ingots have been delivered."
"Transfer them to the equipment manufacturing plant."
Orders flowed one after another without interruption.
The Garuda Nation was no longer merely receiving resources.
For the first time, it could begin planning beyond the immediate future, knowing what kinds of supplies would continue arriving.
At the same time, cooperation with the Green Jaguar Nation was progressing steadily.
Materials brought back from the Pioneer World were sent to their metallurgical research facilities for joint study and development.
Meanwhile, the Golden Lion Nation also fulfilled its commitment.
Trade routes were officially opened.
Fuel supplies began flowing at preferential prices, easing several of the Garuda Nation's logistical shortages.
Everything worked together.
Resources gathered in the Pioneer World were refined through cooperation with the Green Jaguar Nation, then further strengthened by trade support from the Golden Lion Nation.
With each passing day, the Garuda Nation's capabilities steadily improved.
On the third night after the second communication, Rangga stood in the middle of his island with a wide grin.
From before the second communication until three days afterward, he had spent nearly every day exploring nearby islands in search of resources.
Unlike before, he now sent only five kilograms with each daily shipment, exactly as requested by the government.
Everything else he kept. As a result, his warehouse was nearly overflowing.
Stacks of hardwood filled one side of the warehouse. Ordinary logs were piled so high they nearly touched the ceiling.
Stone occupied another corner, while shelves throughout the building were packed with every kind of material he had gathered.
Standing before his furnace, Rangga opened the blue interface.
His eyes immediately locked onto a single recipe.
Iron Ingot
5 Iron Ore
2 Charcoal
He began counting on his fingers.
"Twenty for the island... Twenty for the workbench... Ten for the ship..."
He nodded decisively.
"Guess I'll make fifty first."
Without hesitation, he pressed Craft.
Materials disappeared from the warehouse in streams of light before flowing into the furnace, whose flames instantly roared to life.
Whooosh!
The heat became intense enough to be felt several meters away. The furnace rumbled softly as the metal inside slowly melted.
Several minutes later, the mechanism came to a stop. Fifty gleaming gray Iron Ingots rested neatly inside the furnace.
A moment later, they dissolved into light and were automatically transferred into the warehouse.
Rangga nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright... Time to upgrade."
He immediately opened his island menu.
Level 2 Island
Upgrade Requirements
100 Hardwood
50 Copper Ingots
100 Clay
100 Quartz
20 Iron Ingots
His grin widened. Without the slightest hesitation, he pressed Upgrade.
Golden light erupted across the entire island..The ground beneath his feet trembled gently as the island's boundaries slowly expanded outward.
Farther and farther still... Until the island had grown by nearly half the size of a football field.
Several seconds later, the golden light faded and Rangga looked around.
His eyes widened.
"Holy..."
His house was no longer cramped against the warehouse. The space between buildings had become much more spacious.
He took a few slow steps. His workbench, once sitting out in the open, now had its own dedicated structure.
A simple wooden shelter stood above it. Though it had no walls yet, four sturdy pillars supported a roof that protected it from both sun and rain.
His campfire had changed as well. It was much larger than before. Beside it stood a metal storage compartment with several shelves.
Neatly arranged on those shelves were bowls, plates, and various earthenware utensils he had crafted over the past several days.
Not far away, the furnace now occupied its own dedicated workspace.
Even the drying racks had been relocated, making the entire island feel far more organized.
Rangga slowly walked around the island, nodding with satisfaction at every improvement.
A broad grin spread across his face.
"Damn... My island's huge now."
His gaze eventually shifted toward the small dock along the shoreline.
"Oh, right... My ship."
He immediately walked over and the moment he reached the dock, another blue interface appeared.
Level 2 Ship
Upgrade Requirements
30 Wood
10 Hardwood
10 Copper Ingots
10 Iron Ingots
5 Mechanical Gyroscopes
5 Stabilizer Modules
Rangga checked the materials he had gathered over the past several days.
Everything was there. Without another thought, he pressed Upgrade. The required materials transformed into streams of light and flowed into the ship.
Moments later, the vessel itself began radiating a brilliant glow.
Even the wooden dock beneath it became enveloped in the same golden light. The sounds of wood and metal echoed together.
Creak... Crack... Clang...
The ship slowly transformed and it grew noticeably larger.
Its once entirely wooden hull was now reinforced with metal plating along several sections, making it appear far sturdier than before.
The bow rose higher.
The main deck became significantly wider, providing enough room for larger cargo loads and freer movement.
At the stern, a simple raised wheelhouse emerged, offering a much clearer view of the sea ahead.
Metal railings were also installed along both sides of the deck for added safety.
After a few moments, the light gradually faded. The newly upgraded vessel now rested proudly at the dock.
Rangga climbed aboard.
He slowly walked across the deck before knocking on the reinforced metal hull with his knuckles.
Tang... Tang...
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Alright..."
He turned toward the vast ocean stretching beyond the horizon.
"Now... I can finally head to a Three-Star Island."
His grin grew even wider.
His journey through the Pioneer World had just entered an entirely new chapter.