Chapter Nine: The Series of Tasks

"Yes, Host. In the System Mall, all items marked as 'Finished Product' are goods already manufactured by the system; they can be put into use immediately upon redemption."

"Oh..."

Lin Yang’s eyes flickered as he considered whether to redeem one right away. After all, this was a 0.1-nanometer finished lithography machine! The latest lithography machine from the Netherlands was only three nanometers, and that had almost reached the limit of current technology, with little room for further advancement. If he were to redeem a 0.1-nanometer machine, the various technical blockades currently stifling Shangxia would not only crumble, but the nation would also leap far ahead of the rest of the world!

However, the system seemed to read his thoughts and proactively advised, "Host, the system suggests you do not waste Achievement Points on finished lithography machines. Achievement Points are precious. You should redeem the blueprints for lithography machine manufacturing from the National Treasure Value Mall and guide Shangxia’s technicians to build them themselves."

"Oh? Why is that?" Lin Yang frowned slightly.

"Answering the Host: Any technical means that helps Shangxia improve can earn a certain amount of National Treasure Value. However, providing finished system items directly to Shangxia will not yield any National Treasure Value."

"Therefore, this system suggests that the Host minimize the redemption of finished items and prioritize technical blueprints. For every corresponding item that Shangxia’s technicians successfully build using these blueprints, the Host will receive a reward in National Treasure Value."

The system’s words made Lin Yang raise an eyebrow. "Are you saying it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish?"

"The Host may interpret it that way."

"Then why offer these finished products at all?"

"Finished products are essentially for emergencies. Therefore, the points required to redeem all finished items are far higher than those for the blueprints."

Lin Yang began to understand. The system wanted Shangxia to master the manufacturing technology rather than simply enjoying the fruits of his labor. This was a good system!

Then, a question occurred to him: "System, since there is more advanced lithography technology in the mall, why was your first task for me to steal the Dutch lithography manufacturing blueprints? If I had brought the cultural relics back to the country first, couldn't I have just directly redeemed the 0.1-nanometer lithography blueprints?"

"Answering the Host: First, everything this system does is premised on helping the Host earn more National Treasure Value. If you had completed the cultural relic series tasks first and directly redeemed the 0.1-nanometer technology, you would have lost the opportunity to earn the reward for the task of acquiring the Dutch lithography blueprints."

"Because, according to the system's settings, once a more advanced technical item is acquired, obtaining lower-level technical products from the same series will no longer yield National Treasure Value rewards."

"Second, the raw materials for manufacturing lithography machines are relatively high in value. The system takes into account that Shangxia's technicians have a certain technical lag in this area, so starting with a regular lithography machine as a practice run minimizes potential losses."

Lin Yang’s eyes widened. "It’s that considerate?" This system was truly heaven-defying!

It sounded as if it were systematically guiding Shangxia step-by-step from low-level technology to high-level technology. It had even thought about using lower-level products for practice.

Lin Yang then asked, "System, according to that logic, can I always redeem lower-level technology for them to practice on first, earn a wave of National Treasure Value, and then bring out more advanced technology?"

"Answering the Host: Theoretically, it is possible."

"Theoretically?"

"Answering the Host: In actual operation, it depends on whether your National Treasure Value is sufficient to support the redemption of different levels of technology within the same series."

"What do you mean?"

"Answering the Host: For some high-level technological products that far exceed the current Blue Star civilization, the difference in National Treasure Value required between the low-level and high-level technology of the same series is not large, and the cost for both is relatively high. If you redeem the low-level technology first and then the high-level, it might result in a significant waste of National Treasure Value."

"Uh... alright." Lin Yang blinked, understanding the system's intent. It seemed he could only "shear the sheep" during the early stages.

"But if that's the case, isn't this setting a bit redundant?" Lin Yang couldn't help but mutter.

"Answering the Host: Every setting of this system has its purpose. If the Host obtains low-level technology on his own, he can save a large amount of National Treasure Value to redeem high-level technology directly. If the Host provides the low-level technology he obtained himself to Shangxia, he will still receive National Treasure Value rewards."

"Fine." Lin Yang rubbed his temples. It seemed this system's settings really didn't have any major loopholes or useless features.

Finally, he asked a crucial question: "System, you just said that returning cultural relics is a series task. Is it the kind of series task that can be completed multiple times, as I understand it?"

"Yes, Host. Shangxia's cultural relics are scattered all over the world. Every time you bring back a batch of Shangxia cultural relics, it counts as one part of the series task."

"Oh, it's counted by the 'batch'? Not by the individual item?" Lin Yang asked sharply.

"Yes, Host. No matter how many cultural relics you bring back at once, it only counts as completing one task and earning one Achievement Point."

"Ah... you should have told me earlier!" Lin Yang felt like he had missed out on a fortune! There were tens of thousands of Shangxia cultural relics in the Eagle Sauce Museum. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have let the system transport all the relics from the museum back to the country in one go. He could have done it in multiple trips and "sheared" the system's Achievement Points!

"Answering the Host: The cultural relic series task is based on geographic regions. No matter how many items are obtained in a certain region, and no matter how many trips are made to transport them back, it only counts as completing the task once."

"Huh?" Lin Yang, who was already feeling the pain, was left speechless. The system was truly ruthless! It had blocked all loopholes for "shearing the wool"!

However, in the next second, Lin Yang didn't have time to complain. He hurriedly asked, "How are these regions divided? Is it by country or by province and city?"

"Also, with this setting, wouldn't it be easy to just find any one artifact in each region to finish the task?"

Given the system's current behavior, it was definitely a patriotic system, but this setting baffled him. It sounded like one could just slack off. But the system’s words quickly dispelled this thought.

"Answering the Host: Regions are divided by city-level areas. There are three levels: city-level areas are Tier 3 regions, provincial-level areas are Tier 2 regions, and national-level areas are Tier 1 regions."

"Furthermore, although each region is counted as one task, if you collect all the lost Shangxia cultural relics within that region, you will receive extra Achievement Point rewards."

"For every Tier 3 regional collection task the Host completes, you will receive a Tier 3 extra reward. For every Tier 2 regional collection task completed, in addition to all the Tier 3 extra rewards for the Tier 3 regions within that area, you will receive an extra Tier 2 reward and a special lucky draw opportunity."

"Please note: if you complete the collection of all cultural relics within a Tier 1 national-level region, you will also receive a mysterious exclusive grand prize!"