Chapter 1: New Task Unleashed
"Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the task."
"Do you want to embark on the next world mission?"
"Yes."
"Your new task will be initiated soon."
"Loading task..."
"Vacation task - Please open a hotel in the post-apocalyptic world."
...
After a blinding light, Xia Yan steps onto the somewhat sticky ground.
"Please name your hotel."
Aprubbing her aching eyes, she murmurs: "Let's call it the Vacation Hotel."
"Name has been changed."
"Vacation Hotel: Rank One, Room Count: Two single rooms, one double room."
"Upgrade conditions: 500 points."
"After the upgrade, the room count will increase by five, and there will be an owner's private room and breakfast room."
【The marketplace is now open, please check】
A series of messages instantly sprung up in front of her. After Xia Yan clicked through them all, her sight finally restored to brightness.
Now, she could clearly see her location—she was standing in a hall that was about 15 square meters in size. Straight ahead was a glass door, obscured with a murky mix of yellow and black substances which made it difficult for any sunlight to penetrate, rendering the room gloomy beyond comparison.
The walls were festering and peeling, and the tile floor was camouflaged in layers of dust.
Behind her was a simple cash desk roughly a meter in length, containing a narrow bed half a meter wide. Beside it lay a chair shedding its stuffing.
The sheets were speckled with splotches of black and yellow, as though they hadn’t been washed in years.
To the right of the cash desk was a corridor. Xia Yan walked over to inspect the rooms on both sides.
The faded crimson door barely revealed a room number: 101.
Across from it was room 102, and further in was the room with the number 202 - a double room.
Muttering to herself, Xia Yan unlocked the door to inspect the interior.
A simple wooden bed, ragged bedding, accompanied by a wooden table and a worn blue plastic stool.
The next room was outfitted the same.
An unpleasant, fishy smell wafted towards her, causing Xia Yan to take a step back and wave her hand in front of her nose.
"System, would anyone want to live in such a decrepit place?"
Who knew how long this room had been left unopened. The musty smell, combined with other unknown odors, made the room unbearably stinky.
"【Yes, after all, this is one of the rare safe havens here】"
"What is a safe haven?"
Xia Yan, too lazy to inspect the double room at the far end, turned back to the lobby, opened the glass door, intending to let in some fresh air.
The sunlight outside was as beautiful as she had imagined, the sky clear and bright blue.
Hmm, it's great weather after all.
However, it would be perfect if one could ignore the sight of the distorted limbs of the rotting corpses swarming with flies nearby.
Xia Yan wrinkled her brow, forcibly averting her eyes from the pile of zombies.
She couldn’t help, but notice a faint aura of darkness emanating from the group of zombies.
It seemed as if the air above them was murky.
Must be toxic.
She took a few steps forward, only to see the zombies grow restless.
Not good, the zombies are heading this way.
Xia Yan hastily withdrew her foot, her eyes fixed rigidly on them.
She had only wanted to go out to check if there was a signboard for the store, not to attract them.
The group responded as if they smelled something, their empty nostrils drawing in air deeply before they let out an earth-shattering roar, and clumsily charged at her.
She could perhaps tolerate one or two Xia Yan, but there were almost ten of them now?
Xia Yan felt her scalp tingle. She turned around and darted into the store, slamming the door behind her. She pulled the cash register over to block the door, and started to look for something she could use to defend herself.
Not far from the door, zombies roared loudly. Inside, Xia Yan's hands were sweating from nervousness, her heart pounding heavily.
【"The Safe House is an absolutely safe place that cannot be threatened by zombies, natural disasters or man-made disasters. The master recognized by the Safe House possesses the supreme power within it."】
So, the Safe House is like a tortoise shell?
The task seemed a bit easier this time.
Xia Yan became silently alert. Tasks that seemed easy often had secrets that couldn't be disclosed.
She hoped this deceiving system wouldn't be pulling any tricks behind her back.
【"You are overthinking. Your previous task was completed with an SSS grade, this time it's a reward specifically given to you—a vacation in this world."】
"What?"
For a vacation, why didn't it send her to a beautiful seaside city? Being sent to a pile of zombies, who could feel the joy of a vacation amidst all that filth?!
【"So, there's no punishment for not completing the task this time, please enjoy the pleasure of slacking off to your heart's content."】
No punishment?
That's not bad.
Feeling satisfied with the outcome, Xia Yan noticed that there was no movement outside the door. She remembered what the system had said about the Safe House, and felt a bit more reassured.
After moving the cash register aside, she opened the door a crack and looked outside.
Sure enough, the horde of zombies stopped. They swayed side to side, their large mouths opening and closing, with rotten flesh falling off from time to time.
Xia Yan straightened up, pushed open the door, and cautiously observed the zombies. Seeing they indeed didn't react, she completely let her guard down.
The long-lost sunlight shone on the dark floor in the room.
"System, how big is the safe house?" she asked.
"The area of a Level One safe house includes the area of the shop, plus one meter around it." The system responded.
So she could expand the area later. That was possible.
Xia Yan pulled out a chair from the corner and sat under the sunlight, basking in its warmth.
"Where do I live?" she asked.
"Private bedrooms will be available for the owners after an upgrade," the system replied.
Did that mean she didn't have a place to live at present?
"How do I eat then?" She couldn't possibly go out hunting, could she? Besides, was there anything even left to hunt?
"Lunch machines can be redeemed in the mall," the system answered.
Oh, she had forgotten about the mall.
She opened the mall page, and sure enough, she found the lunch machine inside, selling for 150 points.
There were breakfast machines, takeout machines, and so on. All you had to do was insert some credits, and in a few seconds, a box of food would be ready and come out of the delivery slot below.
Xia Yan noticed at the very bottom of the screen the display of her name and balance: 1562 credits.
"Are these my credits?"
【Yes, they were left behind by the previous owner.】
"The previous owner? So, I've taken over her mess?" Xia Yan widened her eyes in disbelief.
【The previous owner drew a direct ticket and went home.】
"How did she draw this direct ticket?" Xia Yan calmed down, thinking of trying her luck. Maybe she could get a direct ticket as well.
【Your balance is inadequate】
A retreat kicked in.
"How much does it cost to draw once?"
【One spin on the high-level fortune wheel costs 1999 credits. Each spin accumulates 1% luck. Once you reach 100%, you will receive a big mystery gift.】
Great, she knew it wouldn't be that easy.
To the previous owner, you really did a number.
"So, after she left, this shop started from scratch?"
【Yes.】
Xia Yan breathed out a long sigh, unable to utter a word.
"Since we have so many points, let's upgrade to level two directly!"
【Not possible, personal account cannot be used for upgrades】
Xia Yan: ...
She patted her growling stomach and quickly placed orders for a lunch machine and a water dispenser in the online shop.
The two machines immediately appeared in the small shop, placed in the corner as per her wishes.
Xia Yan set herself up as the sole manager according to the instructions.
She ordered a portion of cumin duck leg fried rice from the lunch machine, set a stool in front of the cash register, opened the lunchbox, and a whiff of cumin and mildly spicy rice aroma stormed her senses. The smooth and plump grains of rice were coated in a dark sauce, large chunks of duck leg and purple onion mixed in, appealing to the sight, smell, and taste.
She broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, rubbed them together, picked up a large clump of rice, and shoved it into her mouth.
Mmm, satisfaction!
In the shop, she sat at the counter, heartily enjoying her meal.
Outside, a group of zombies sniffed the air tirelessly.
They were hungry too.