Inside the wooden cabin, Meng Hao held the Berserker Mask in hand, a flicker of awe in his eyes.
An item that could temporarily amplify combat power—its strategic value was immeasurable.
In a life-or-death crisis, this artifact could very well tip the balance, turning certain defeat into a desperate victory.
Though it imposed a debilitating cooldown afterward, that ten percent combat boost might spell the difference between survival and death.
The existence of such an item defied all logic, a phenomenon far beyond the bounds of modern science.
Then again, the global marooning of humanity on isolated islands was itself a grotesque violation of scientific understanding.
He shook the thoughts from his head—contemplation would yield no answers now.
The pressing matter was to return the treasure chest items to his mother.
From the two chests, he had obtained:
100 loaves of bread
100 bottles of mineral water
100 packs of spicy tofu
MP5 submachine gun
Regenerative Headscarf
Berserker Mask
After a moment's reflection, Meng Hao decided to keep a portion for himself.
No one could know about the 100x reward system.
It wasn't a matter of mistrust toward his family—it was about protecting them.
All trades were publicly recorded; a spike in his exchange volume could attract unwanted scrutiny.
The island world was growing more complex by the hour.
In such a volatile environment, discretion was the key to survival.
Still, he would return as much as he safely could.
"Wait… can I pack items inside a chest?"
An idea sparked.
He stuffed the MP5, 400 bullets, 20 loaves of bread, 20 bottles of water, and 20 packs of spicy tofu into two sandalwood chests until they were bursting.
Then, he uploaded them to the trade channel:
Seller: Meng Hao746996585
Items: 2 Sandalwood Chests
Price: 0
As expected, the system only displayed the outermost container—the contents remained hidden.
Perfect. The secret was safe.
Relieved, Meng Hao initiated a private trade with his mother.
Transaction complete—resources successfully transferred.
Meanwhile, on a distant, unnamed island, Zhang Hailan opened her newly received chests—identical in number to her original trade.
But when she lifted the lids, she was stunned.
An MP5, 400 bullets, food and water in abundance—it was a fortune beyond imagining.
Family Chat
Zhang Hailan (Mom):"Xiao Hao, why did you send me so much? I can't possibly eat all this!"
Meng Hao:"It's all from your treasure chests. Just ration it slowly. You can never have too many survival supplies."
Zhang Hailan:"A submachine gun too? Your luck is insane!"
Meng Hao:"Oh, you know—just the usual. 98K, Red Hawk revolver, MP5... Whatever I want, really. I'll send one to Dad next time."
Meng Ke (Sister):"Wow! Bro, are you rich now?"
Meng Hao:"Naturally. Everywhere I go, fortune follows. Don't forget—let me open any chests you find."
Meng Nanshan (Dad):"Got it. I opened my last chest already, but I'll send tomorrow's to you."
Zhang Hailan:"There's only an hour of daylight left. Everyone stop exploring—safety first."
Meng Ke:"My barracks just produced a tree-like goblin guard! Do you have one too?"
Meng Hao:"Of course. They're not bad in a fight. I feel better knowing one's protecting you."
Meng Ke:"There's a little awning at the barracks entrance. I'll camp there tonight—no need to sleep in the open."
Meng Nanshan:"Agreed. I've surveyed all the other buildings. The barracks entrance is the safest spot to rest."
Zhang Hailan:"Bundle up tonight, everyone. The sea breeze is strong—it's easy to catch cold."
Meng Ke:"Got it! You take care too, big bro!"
Meng Hao:"I will. Don't worry."
After closing the chat, Meng Hao sat in quiet thought.
Though he had a wooden house, his family still had nowhere proper to sleep.
Blueprints for thatched huts wouldn't appear until the second island.
At best, they could construct one tomorrow.
Thankfully, the barracks had a small two-meter patch of land with shelter overhead.
It wasn't much—but it would keep out the worst of the wind and rain.
He'd given each family member a generous amount of crystals, so their facilities were progressing rapidly.
Both his sister and father had already summoned goblin guards.
His mother's guard would arrive in an hour.
Security-wise, they were holding up.
But it was the small comforts that troubled him.
"How will they stay warm tonight?"
He returned to the trade channel, scanning for bedding or winter clothing.
Same as before—water was in highest demand, followed by food.
There was a vast array of oddities for sale, but few useful items.
"No one's selling chests?"
His own treasure-chest listing had received zero replies.
The time wasn't right—players were still managing.
But by tomorrow, scarcity would bite harder.
"No bedding, no warm clothes… Looks like I won't find these things here."
He frowned, hesitating.
The sun was beginning to dip toward the sea—darkness was only an hour away.
"Should I go out once more before nightfall?"
Reason warned him to stay put—wait out the night and resume at dawn.
But the thought of his family shivering in the wild… that he could not bear.
"When you're poor, guard yourself. When you rise, protect your own."
His jaw clenched.
He made his decision.
He had exhausted his three daily island drifts.
If he wanted to act now, he'd have to go to sea.
He had no boat.
But… he had something better.
Reaching into his storage ring, Meng Hao retrieved a scroll.
[Treasure Map — Iron-Grade Item]
"Within the mist lie hidden islands filled with untold wonders. This map will reveal their secrets."
Use Treasure Map?