In the dark recesses of an abandoned building, Tham leaned against a cold brick wall.
His warm breath mingled with the musty scent of dampness and dust.
Despite a recent skirmish with thugs, his mind was surprisingly calm.
The fatigue from his time-travel journey and adapting to a new world still gnawed at him, but the mission ahead was paramount.
He closed his eyes. Images of people walking by on the streets remained vivid in his thoughts: clean clothes, smiles on faces, and laughter he hadn't heard in ages—all were painful to witness.
Tham knew his tattered clothes and emaciated condition were significant obstacles to accessing information. His appearance would only draw attention and suspicion.
He needed to blend in with the people of this era as much as possible, which meant finding new clothes and, more importantly, money.
"Finding money... is easier than finding food,"
Tham muttered to himself, his voice hoarse. His sharp eyes scanned his surroundings.
The abandoned building was full of rubble and trash.
He didn't need to rob anyone or commit any illegal acts. In this future world, he believed his skills were invaluable.
In Tham's collapsed world, survival wasn't just about fighting zombies or finding sustenance; it also involved "modifying" and "repairing" various items.
Repairing broken machinery, adapting equipment for different uses, and creating simple inventions from scraps were fundamental skills everyone needed to survive.
Tham himself was one of the experts in this field.
He possessed basic mechanical and electronic knowledge accumulated from learning and field experience.
He silently explored the abandoned building, his slender fingers tracing graffiti-covered walls.
His gaze fixed on the scattered debris.
"Must find something valuable..." he thought.
Tham spent almost an hour exploring every nook and cranny of the abandoned building.
Finally, he found something interesting: a pile of discarded electronic parts near an old fire escape.
There were circuit boards, old batteries, broken wires, and small metal pieces.
Tham sat down, carefully examining each item.
"This can be used... and this might be adaptable..." he mumbled to himself, separating the useful parts.
Tham remembered the structure and working principles of electronic devices from his era well.
Even though technology in 2025 had advanced significantly, many fundamental principles remained the same.
He began meticulously assembling the parts.
Old batteries were modified to be rechargeable by solar energy from a gap in the ceiling.
Some circuit boards were extended to create small circuits capable of controlling certain devices.
Broken wires were precisely connected using heat from an old lighter he'd accidentally found in his pocket.
These skills he had acquired from modifying and repairing various equipment in the collapsed world.
Time passed slowly.
Tham was engrossed in his work, oblivious to his surroundings.
As the sunlight began to fade, he had what he wanted: a "portable solar power bank" that could charge small electronic devices, and a "low-frequency signal transmitter" that could disrupt radio signals or control certain devices at close range.
[You have created: Solar Power Bank (Improved)]
[You have created: Low-Frequency Signal Transmitter (Improved)]
The system voice echoed in his head again.
Tham smiled slightly. This power bank might seem ordinary to people of this era, but it was made from scraps, and most importantly, it worked.
As for the low-frequency signal transmitter, though its use was limited, it was a good example of his skills.
"Alright... time to find some clothes," he said, putting the created devices into his torn shirt pocket.
Tham decided to go to a second-hand market or a junk shop, thinking he would find inexpensive clothes and perhaps old electronic equipment that he could repair or modify to sell.
Before leaving the abandoned building, Tham glanced at the two thugs still lying unconscious on the floor.
He shook his head slightly.
"Hope they learned their lesson."
As he stepped out of the abandoned building, neon lights from various shops illuminated the streets.
People were still bustling about. Tham tried to walk faster and kept his head down slightly to avoid drawing too much attention.
He walked down several streets before seeing a sign pointing to a
"Second-hand Market" nearby.
Tham decided to head there. It seemed like the best place to find clothes and perhaps an opportunity to use his skills to earn money.
As he entered the market, the scent of old items and dust filled the air. Tham noticed many stalls selling second-hand goods: clothes, books, furniture, and old electronic devices.
"Hello, interested in anything?" a young man's voice called out.
Tham turned to look. He was the owner of a small stall selling old electronic equipment.
Tham pulled out the solar power bank he had invented and showed it.
"I want to see if I can trade these."
The shop owner took the power bank and examined it, his face filled with curiosity mixed with surprise.
"This... Did you make it yourself?"
Tham nodded.
"Yes, it primarily charges from sunlight, and it's more durable than regular power banks."
The shop owner tested the power bank by plugging a charging cable into his old mobile phone.
A charging indicator light appeared on the phone screen. The owner's eyes widened.
"Wow! It really works! Normally, old power banks like this don't have much power left."
"And what do you want to trade for it?" the shop owner asked with interest.
Tham pointed to a pile of second-hand clothes nearby.
"I want a set of clothes, and if possible, a little bit of money."
The shop owner nodded.
"Okay! Your power bank is very interesting. I'll give you the clothes for free. You can choose as many sets as you like. And I'll add 50 dollars for your effort in creating it. Are you interested in making more devices like this for me to buy? I'll buy them at a good price."
Tham smiled slightly.
"Yes, I'll try to find more materials to make them."
[You have received: 1 set of clean clothes]
[You have received: 50 dollars]
The system voice echoed in his head again.
Tham chose a plain t-shirt, old jeans, and a pair of canvas shoes.
Getting new clothes made him feel much better, and 50 dollars should be enough to start his life in this new world.
After changing his clothes, Tham felt more blended in with the people around him.
He walked confidently down the street, no longer needing to avoid people's gazes.
"Next mission..." he thought, "is to find information about the biowarfare."
Where should Tham begin to gather such complex information?
And how will he make the most of the 50 dollars he now possesses?