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As the elevator closed, the jarring noise completely vanished.
There were no buttons inside the elevator, only an LED display on the elevator door showing the floor.
Next to the red number 3 was a downward arrow, but the elevator hadn't moved at all.
The moment the elevator door closed, Yang Tao realized he had already been transferred.
The flat image on the minimap had changed.
A few seconds later, the elevator door slowly opened.
Level 4: Abandoned Office
Safety: Stable, Entity Count: Extremely Low
The main part of Level 4 is open and unfurnished, but the smaller workspaces found within the same area are not.
They contain functional, seemingly brand-new equipment and machines.
Based on their size, they can be categorized as offices, small offices, or large studios.
Some offices can comfortably accommodate fifteen to twenty people, while others are claustrophobic and cramped, barely fitting two.
Yang Tao looked at the incredibly empty main hall, a glint in his eyes.
"Level 4, here I come!"
Stepping onto the cold, light gray concrete floor, the walls were also the same color, making the main space of Level 4 resemble an unfinished construction site.
The entire main space had no lighting fixtures; the only light source was the dim sky outside the window.
It was raining outside, and the raindrops hitting the window made a pattering sound.
Though dense, it didn't cause any irritation.
He glanced at the minimap, which showed no Entity markers.
Yang Tao walked towards an office door on the distant wall.
He reached out and distorted the doorknob.
A very normal office appeared before his eyes, its LED lights emitting a bright, pale yellow glow that filled the entire space.
As he entered the room, a unique linen scent entered his nose—the smell of brand-new furniture.
"This office environment is really nice!"
Yang Tao walked to an office chair and plopped down.
The chair was extremely comfortable; working like a dog here would be more comfortable than anywhere else.
He reached out and pulled open the desk drawer, finding a bag of dried fruit and a bottle of Almond Water inside.
"Such good luck?"
The chances of getting food supplies from a desk drawer are very low; most drawers are empty.
The remaining ones might contain office supplies like pamphlets, old notes, rubber bands, markers, or scissors.
Yang Tao's initial success was purely a beginner's luck.
"And a computer... Tsk tsk, if there was enough food, living here wouldn't be bad."
He pressed the power button, and the computer emitted a very faint hum.
It didn't take long for the computer screen to light up.
"Classic XP system?!"
However, it was a shame that Level 4 had no internet or wireless network, making it impossible to connect to the Backrooms network.
"I'll go back to rest first, then come back to clean up Level 4..."
He stood up and pondered for a moment, deciding to take the office chair he was sitting on.
It was indeed comfortable.
Summoning the wooden door, he returned to the Main World.
Some Villagers had already returned and were currently gathered around the Tool Station, repairing their tools.
The Tool Station is one of the core blocks of Tinkers' Construct, used for crafting basic Tinkers' Construct tools/weapons, as well as for upgrading and repairing tools.
There were also some farmers throwing various metal items brought back from Level 1 into the Seared Furnace.
When these Villagers saw him return, they immediately surrounded him excitedly and said, "Brave one, I've dug fifteen stacks of walls!"
"I want to exchange for emeralds!"
"Me too!"
Yang Tao: "..."
"You all, don't argue for now.
I'll go buy some paper to exchange for emeralds for you."
These hard-working Villagers were so enthusiastic about their work due to the allure of emeralds.
No matter what, he had to prepare some coffee for them.
Putting stimulants in the water dispenser?
That would be too inhumane.
The Villagers listened to Yang Tao's words, expressed their understanding, and then dispersed to their own tasks.
However, a Villager with the blacksmith profession did not leave and remained standing beside Yang Tao.
Yang Tao frowned slightly as he scrutinized the blacksmith, feeling that his attire was somehow off.
He asked uncertainly, "you've become a Tinkers' Construct Blacksmith now?"
"Hmm, after getting close to the Seared Furnace, I gained a profession..."
Yang Tao curiously examined the blacksmith in front of him, simultaneously opening his trade panel.
The other party excitedly pointed at one of the trades and said, "Brave one, this large plate for one emerald is a very good deal!"
Yang Tao: "..."
One gold plate for one emerald?
Even in a game, he wouldn't be such a fool.
One gold plate requires 8 gold ingots.
Even with an equivalent exchange mod, it would only break even.
"Ahem, do you know how many emeralds you could get if you exchanged eight pieces of gold for paper or sticks, and then exchanged those for emeralds?"
"How many?"
"Enough to bury you and even give you an emerald tombstone."
"Huh?"
The blacksmith Villager's eyes widened, and he said with an incredulous expression, "Brave one, you... You're really willing to build me an emerald grave?"
Yang Tao: "..."
"You're impossible to deal with, aren't you!
Just give up on that idea.
I'll never exchange gold plates for emeralds in this lifetime.
Hurry up, if you have something to say, otherwise I'm busy."
The blacksmith recoiled, who knows how a block-shaped Villager could make such a movement.
He said loudly in a timid manner:
"Brave one, the magma has run out!
If you don't get more magma, the Seared Furnace will be useless!"
Yang Tao stared at the blacksmith, truly unable to understand how he could say something so assertive while looking so bullied.
"You all deserve this.
Alright, I'll go get some magma now, and pick up some emeralds along the way to pay you."
magma is easy to obtain.
Previously, Yang Tao was just too lazy to get it.
magma, a geological term, refers to a high-temperature, viscous molten material, mainly composed of silicates, that originates in the upper mantle and deep crust and contains volatile components.
Yang Tao only needed to heat silicates above 700° to obtain magma.
The flame temperature of a butane torch is above 1300°C, and a gasoline torch's flame temperature can easily reach 800-1000°C.
Not to mention the more powerful electric arc furnace.
Sighing, he felt like he was also becoming a workhorse.
Opening the Seared Furnace's controller panel, he wanted to take some gold to Dr. Agasa.
Such a small matter as smelting magma could be left to the doctor.
On the way, he'd exchange some money to buy some A4 paper wholesale from the paper mill, not too much, just two truckloads.
"Huh? Where's my gold?"
The blacksmith pointed to the wooden box placed next to the Seared Furnace and said, "It's in the box.
I've turned all the smelted metals into metal blocks and ingots."
Upon hearing this, Yang Tao walked to the box and opened it, looking at the large amount of iron blocks, copper blocks, tin blocks, and a small amount of other metal ingots inside.
He nodded very satisfactorily, reached out, patted the blacksmith's shoulder, and said earnestly:
"I was a bit harsh just now.
Keep up the good work, and I'll give you emeralds when I get back!"
"If there are more blacksmiths in the future, you'll be the supervisor!"
After painting a grand picture, Yang Tao took two gold ingots from the box and left the Main World.
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