【Unlocked Blueprint: Intercity Teleportation Array (Basic Type);】
【Unlocked Function: Cross-Regional Talent Recruitment System;】
【Obtained Item: Regional Influence Expansion Order × 2; Obtained Random Lucky Draw × 3.】
【Failure Penalty: Points -30,000,000; operating efficiency of all existing facilities reduced by 40%; Area Control Authority temporarily frozen for thirty days; difficulty of the next stage of the Main Quest increased.】
Listening to the system prompts, Su Wan muttered to herself,
“Have I... left the novice village?”
Su Wan sat at the table in Room 102, her fingertips mindlessly tapping the surface, her mind still lingering on the system's long list of objectives.
A population of three hundred thousand, three cities, a combat force of five hundred people, and the active alliance or submission of two neighboring cities.
Each of these objectives was daunting on its own; combined, they formed a mountain she had to climb.
But she knew in her heart that the system would never issue an impossible quest.
Since it had provided these targets, it meant that with her current assets, it was entirely within reach.
However, she needed a systematic approach now, rather than just playing it by ear and reacting to situations as they arose like before.
“I can't keep running around all by myself anymore,” Su Wan murmured.
“I need to get the entirety of Terminal Station moving.”
She stood up and walked over to the newly hung map of Yongming Province on the wall.
This map had been brought over from the City Lord's Mansion by Zhao Wuji, and the details on it were exceptionally thorough.
Every city, every major route, and the boundaries of every Non-Safe Zone were clearly marked in different colors of ink.
Su Wan's gaze landed on Panshi City, and then she slowly traced the routes on the map.
Three hundred miles east of Panshi City lay Glory City; five hundred miles west was Fengyuan City; four hundred miles north was Tianshu City; and six hundred miles south was Tiebi City.
With Panshi City as the center, four cities were distributed within a radius of four to five hundred miles.
If she wanted to control three cities, she would have to take over at least two others in addition to Panshi City.
Su Wan tapped her finger on Glory City, then moved it to Fengyuan City and paused.
She already had an entry point into Glory City—Han Meng and the other two from the Azure Blade Gang were perfect inside agents.
Through them, she could gradually infiltrate the Azure Blade Gang, eventually influencing the entire power structure of Glory City.
One bite at a time, one step at a time.
She would start with Glory City.
Su Wan began sketching and writing on a blank sheet of paper.
She needed a comprehensive framework to measure the expansion progress of Terminal Station's influence.
First was the issue of the "token of authority."
The system quest mentioned the "Terminal Station's sphere of influence." This meant that Terminal Station's influence could not just be a verbal claim; there had to be a recognizable, traceable, and verifiable system in place.
Su Wan thought of the employee badges, membership cards, and VIP vouchers of large enterprises on Blue Star. In themselves, they were just pieces of plastic or metal, but they represented an entire identity verification and benefits system.
Terminal Station needed something similar.
Just then, the system prompt chimed.
【Ding! It has been detected that the host is formulating a faction expansion plan.】
【Based on the current development stage and quest requirements, the system has automatically generated a "Terminal Station Token" design proposal for the host's reference.】
【Would you like to view it?】
Su Wan was slightly taken aback. “View.”
The system panel expanded in her mind, presenting a complete token design proposal.
【Terminal Station Token - Standardized Design Proposal】
The significance of the token lay in the fact that it turned "Terminal Station's sphere of influence" from an abstract concept into something quantifiable and traceable.
Wherever the token holder operated, that area would fall under the coverage of Terminal Station's influence.
The Terminal Station token was officially named the "Terminal Station Order" by the system.
The Terminal Station Order was a hexagonal, dark silver metal badge. The front was engraved with the words "Terminal Station" and a unique serial number, while the back indicated the rank of the holder.
It contained a unique, system-generated energy imprint that served as proof of identity for transit and permission verification within Terminal Station's sphere of influence. It also recorded the holder's activity logs via terminal devices, which would be used to calculate the population and geographic area covered by Terminal Station's influence.
The orders were divided into four ranks: Black Iron, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, corresponding to different levels of authority. They would be manufactured and distributed by system robots, with data uploaded to the Terminal Station Central Hub in real-time.
Black Iron Rank allowed entry to public areas and access to basic supplies; Bronze Rank allowed entry to designated areas and priority supply distribution;
Silver Rank allowed participation in Terminal Station's strategic decision-making and the mobilization of resources within a certain range; Gold Rank allowed the holder to represent Terminal Station in diplomatic negotiations and sign agreements.
The first batch of Black Iron Rank orders would be distributed to all Terminal Station tenants once the relocation of Panshi City was complete.
Bronze Rank and above would be granted personally by Su Wan or by core management members authorized by her.
Looking at this detailed proposal, Su Wan felt quite pleased.
Without her having to rack her brain to design it, the system had delivered a finished product.
“System, can we manufacture the first batch of Terminal Station Orders now?”
【Yes. The manufacturing conditions are currently met.】
【Estimated production capacity: Each C-type robot can produce two hundred pieces per day.】
【There are currently twenty C-series robots in total, which can produce four thousand pieces per day.】
【The first batch is expected to require about thirty thousand pieces, taking approximately thirteen days to complete.】
【Would you like to initiate manufacturing?】
Su Wan nodded. “Initiate.”
With the most critical issue of the token resolved, the next question was: what actually constituted "controlling" a city?
The system provided an answer for this as well.
【Criteria for Determining Control Over a City】
【Hard Indicators】
1. City Key Ownership: The City Key (or core management item of equivalent authority) of the city is held by Terminal Station, or by someone with absolute loyalty to Terminal Station.
2. Armed Forces: At least seventy percent of the mid-to-high-level commanders of the city's primary armed forces (City Defense Force or equivalent organization) are members of the Terminal Station faction.
3. Administrative System: Core positions within the city's administrative system (City Lord's Mansion, municipal departments, etc.) are held by personnel authorized by Terminal Station.
4. Economic Lifeline: The city's primary trade routes and supply allocation systems accept the coordination and management of Terminal Station.
【Soft Indicators】
1. Token Coverage: The number of people holding a Terminal Station Order within the city accounts for more than thirty percent of the total population.
2. Reputation Recognition: The positive recognition of Terminal Station among the city's residents reaches a certain level, which can be statistically evaluated through the information gathering function of Terminal Station's Remote Communication System.
3. Order Dependence: When facing disasters (Death Tide, Cold Wave, Aberrant attacks, etc.), the city first seeks the support and shelter of Terminal Station.
Meeting three or more of the hard indicators above, and two or more of the soft indicators, will qualify as Terminal Station having "controlled" the city.
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