An hour later, the group had a new member.
Judging by his profile picture, he was a handsome young man with distinguished features.
Faye Yardley: Everyone, please welcome Master Donovan. A big thank you to Mr. Warren for the recommendation. Master Donovan is a really great teacher.
Leo Sloan: Welcome, Donovan.
Bonnie Callahan: Welcome, Donovan.
Zachary Pierce and Wade Warren didn't say anything. A chill ran down Wade Warren's spine. 'Did I really offend a big shot?'
Gavin Donovan: Hello, everyone. I look forward to working with you all.
Bonnie Callahan: Wow, the Master talks just like us. I thought you'd have a different way of speaking.
Gavin Donovan: Daoists are ordinary people, too.
Gavin Donovan sent a private message to Wade Warren to thank him. He felt like his luck was finally turning. If it weren't for his martial arts skills, he would have starved to death just by relying on fishing for Treasure Boxes.
Wade Warren: "Donovan, just focus on teaching the group leader well. Don't get any other ideas."
Gavin Donovan: "Mr. Warren, what are you talking about?"
Wade Warren: "It's nothing. Just remember to teach her well."
Gavin Donovan: "Of course. Right now, Yardley is my lifeline."
Meanwhile, after finishing up some work, Zachary Pierce saw the group message, smiled, and added a comment.
Zachary Pierce: Welcome, Donovan.
Then he left a message for Faye Yardley.
Zachary Pierce: "Yardley, how about I test Donovan for you to see if he's the real deal?"
Faye Yardley: "Thanks, Mr. Pierce, but Donovan has already tailored a training regimen to my physical condition. I only trained for twenty minutes, but I already feel like it's much more effective than when I was just messing around on my own."
Zachary Pierce: "Alright. If you have any problems, contact me right away."
Faye Yardley: "(#^.^#) Mmm-hmm, if anything seems off, you'll be the first person I call, Mr. Pierce."
Following her plan, she placed a planter on both the left and right sides of her door. Unlike before, she filled them with soil this time.
One planter could hold exactly one cubic meter of soil.
She had six cubic meters of soil, so she could only fill six planters.
'What should I plant outside?'
'It's probably different from planting in the real world. This is a game world, after all.'
She had quite a few seeds: 3 vegetable seeds, 3 alfalfa seeds, 20 cotton seeds, 12 strawberry seeds, and 60 rice seeds—five types in total.
One planter could hold five seeds, so she decided to start by planting 3 vegetable seeds, 2 strawberry seeds, and 5 cotton seeds.
After planting the vegetable seeds, Faye Yardley received a system notification.
[Under normal conditions, the vegetables will mature in five days after planting.]
"'Normal?' 'Five days?' So very system-like, so very game-like."
Next, she learned that strawberries would take 10 days to harvest, and cotton would take a whopping 20 days.
'It seems like there's nothing else I need to do for now.'
She opened the door, went inside, took a quick shower, and changed into some loungewear.
From her warehouse, she took out a cluster of orange-red coral, about the size of her two open palms, and placed it on her desk.
"It's beautiful. It would be even better with a base."
After a moment's thought, Faye Yardley took a short video of the coral and sent it to the group chat.
Faye Yardley: Can anyone in the group make a base for this coral? I'll pay for it accordingly.
Bonnie Callahan: Wow, that's gorgeous! Is that on the Trading Market? I want it, I want it, I want it!
Faye Yardley thought for a moment, then took a small piece that had broken off when she was collecting it and sent it to Bonnie Callahan via a designated Group Gift.
Bonnie Callahan: Whoa! So it was a private treasure from our great leader! Thank you for the generous gift, leader! I absolutely, absolutely love this pink piece.
Faye Yardley: Glad you like it.
Gavin Donovan: I can do woodcarving, but I don't have good carving knives, so I might not be able to make a particularly fine one. If you're not looking for high quality, I can carve a base for you.
Faye Yardley: I'm not picky. Just tell me what you need after you make it.
Leo Sloan: Group Leader, are you still selling water?
Faye Yardley: You can send me your empty mineral water bottles first, and I'll fill them up for you. Don't worry, it's Pure Water that's been run through the purifier.
Leo Sloan: Thanks. [Designated Gift]
Gavin Donovan: Group Leader, I'll take two bottles as well. [Designated Gift]
Bonnie Callahan: Group Leader, me too, two bottles! [Designated Gift]
Wade Warren: Have you all no shame? Group Leader, I'd like two bottles as well. [Designated Gift]
Seeing the messages in the group, Faye Yardley's mood suddenly brightened. The lively chatter made it feel as if they were all still living in a world at peace.
She accepted the Gifts one by one and lined up the empty bottles on the kitchen counter by the sink to avoid mixing them up.
She simply turned on the faucet, and Pure Water flowed out, so it didn't take long to fill a bottle.
Once they were all full, she sent them back to each person in the group chat.
After that, she stopped paying attention to the group chat and didn't even look at the public channel or the Trading Market. She was going to open her chests and reap some simple joy!
Although she had only fished for three hours that afternoon, she had still managed to catch two Iron Treasure Boxes and four Wooden Treasure Chests.
"Dearest System Father, your most beloved daughter is now praying to you. Please let me get the best and most useful things."
[Obtained: Dungeon 1 Fragment x1, Dungeon 4 Fragment x1, Matcha Coffee x3]
Talent [Double Good Luck] triggered. All items obtained this time are doubled.
[Obtained: Dungeon 1 Fragment x1, Dungeon 3 Fragment x2, towel x2, wood x10]
Talent triggered... Items doubled.
[Obtained: Dungeon 2 Fragment x1, wood x10, iron block x10, Roasted Cold Noodles x5]
Talent triggered... Items tripled.
[Obtained: Dungeon 6 Fragment x2, Dungeon 3 Fragment x2, Delicious Little Bread x10, Oil x5]
Talent triggered... Items doubled.
[Obtained: Longbow x1, Blast Arrow x10, Outdoor Solar Light x1, Power Pill x5, red dates x10]
Talent triggered... Items tripled.
[Obtained: Intermediate Spear Making Blueprint x1, Basic Long Blade Making Diagram x1, Automatic Faucet x1, Small Garbage Recycling Bin x1]
Talent triggered... Items doubled.
Looking at all her loot, Faye Yardley was a bit stunned. 'Wait, aren't the things I got this time a little strange?'
'So many Dungeon Fragments.'
'Is this encouraging everyone to run Dungeons?'
'It's only the fourth day. Is it rushing us this much?'
Speaking of which, she still had an Ordinary Island Entry Order she hadn't used yet.
'Forget it. The islands are terrifying places. Although my Attributes have improved, my methods of attack are still basic. I'll wait. I'll use it after I've trained for a while.'
'That's the only way to maximize the rewards.'
Faye Yardley told herself not to be impatient. Her goal was to clear the game, not just play for a few days until it automatically ended.
Even though her Luck Value was high and her Talent was based on good fortune, it didn't mean she could rest easy in this survival game.
She could now assemble the fragments for several Dungeons. She decided to pick one that allowed teams and get some real combat experience.
After all, she still wasn't confident enough to clear a solo Dungeon by herself.