"Congratulations on successfully completing the mission."
"Would you like to start the next world mission?"
"Yes."
"A new mission is being prepared for you."
"Mission loading..."
"Vacation Mission—Open a hotel in the apocalypse."
After a blinding flash of light, Charlotte found herself standing on a somewhat sticky floor.
"Please name your hotel."
Rubbing her uncomfortable eyes, she murmured, "Let's call it the Vacation Hotel."
"Renamed successfully."
"Vacation Hotel: Level 1, Rooms: Two single rooms, one double room."
"Upgrade requirements: 500 points."
"After upgrading, the number of rooms increases by five, with a private owner's room and breakfast room."
"The store is now open, please check it."
A series of messages popped up in front of her. After closing them all, the space brightened again.
She could finally see her surroundings—a 15-square-meter lobby, with a glass door ahead covered in an unknown yellow-black substance that barely let any sunlight through, making the room dim.
The walls were yellowing and peeling, and dust covered the floor tiles. Behind her was a one-meter-long makeshift cashier's desk with a narrow half-meter bed and a shabby chair next to it. The sheets were black and yellow, seemingly unwashed for years.
To the right of the desk was a hallway. Charlotte walked over to check the rooms on either side. The peeling red door faintly displayed the room number 101. Across was 102, and further inside was a double room labeled 202.
Muttering to herself, she opened the door to inspect the setup—a simple wooden bed with messy bedding, a wooden table, and a broken blue plastic stool. The other room was the same.
A foul smell hit her, making Charlotte step back, fanning the air in front of her nose.
"System, will anyone stay in such a rundown place?"
The room seemed not to have been opened for ages, filled with a moldy odor and an indescribable stench.
"Yes, as it is one of the rare safe havens."
"What is a safe haven?"
Too lazy to check the double room, Charlotte turned back to the lobby, opened the glass door, and let in some fresh air.
Outside, the sun was as bright as she'd imagined, the sky clear and blue.
Ah, good weather—except for the twisted, rotting zombies nearby, surrounded by buzzing flies.
Charlotte frowned, forcing herself to look away from the zombies.
Was it her imagination, or was there a faint black aura around them? It seemed the air above them was murky. It must be toxic.
Taking a few steps forward, she saw the zombies becoming restless.
Not good, the zombies were approaching.
Retracting her steps, Charlotte stared at them intently. She just wanted to see if there was a sign for the store, not to provoke them.
The zombie horde seemed to smell something, sniffing deeply with their hollow noses, growling, and stumbling toward her.
One or two she could handle, but about ten?
Chills ran down her spine as Charlotte turned and dashed back into the store, slamming the door shut and dragging the cash register to block it, frantically searching for a weapon.
Outside, the zombies roared loudly, while inside, Charlotte's palms were sweaty, her heart pounding.
"A safe house is a place immune to threats from zombies, disasters, or human calamities. The owner recognized by the safe house possesses supreme strength within it."
So, a safe house is like a turtle shell?
This mission seemed a bit easier than expected. Charlotte silently stayed on guard. Easy missions often hid unspeakable secrets.
The devious system better not pull any tricks.
"You're overthinking it. Your last mission completion was SSS. This is a reward—Vacation World."
"?"
If it were a vacation, why not send her to a scenic coastal city? How could she enjoy vacationing surrounded by filthy zombies?
"So there's no penalty for not completing the mission this time. Enjoy the freedom of doing nothing."
No penalty?
Nice.
Satisfied with the outcome, Charlotte listened to the silence outside, recalling the system's mention of a safe house, feeling assured.
After moving the cash register away, she opened the door a crack, peering out. The zombie horde had indeed stopped, swaying side to side, their mouths gaping, bits of rotten flesh occasionally falling.
Standing up, Charlotte pushed the door open, cautiously observing the zombies, and relaxed when they didn't react.
The long-awaited sunlight spilled over the darkened floor inside.
"System, how big is the safe house area?"
"A level 1 safe house includes only the shop's area and one meter around it."
Meaning it could expand later. Good.
Charlotte pulled a stool from the corner and sat in the sunlight, soaking up the rays.
"Where do I stay?"
"Upgrading provides a private owner's room."
Meaning she currently had nowhere to live?
"How do I eat?" She couldn't hunt, could she? Was there even anything to hunt now?
"The store can exchange for a lunch machine."
Oh, right, she forgot about the store.
Opening the store, she found a lunch machine priced at 150 points, along with breakfast machines, delivery machines, etc. Just insert points, and a meal box would be ready in seconds, delivered from below.
Charlotte noticed her name and balance at the bottom, 1562 points.
"Are these my points?"
"Yes, left by the previous owner."
"The previous owner? Did I inherit her mess?" Charlotte's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The previous owner drew a direct pass and went home."
"How do you draw a direct pass?" Charlotte calmed down. She wanted to test her luck, maybe she could draw one too.
"Your balance is insufficient."
A bad feeling crept in.
"How many points to draw once?"
"A high-level lucky draw is 1999 points per attempt, with each attempt increasing luck by 1%. At 100%, there's a mysterious gift."
Of course, it wasn't that easy.
Predecessor, you're ruthless.
"So after she left, the store starts from scratch?"
"Yes."
Charlotte sighed deeply, speechless.
"With these points, upgrade to level two!"
"Not allowed, personal accounts can't be used for upgrades."
Charlotte: ...
She patted her growling stomach, quickly ordering a lunch machine and a water dispenser from the store.
The machines appeared instantly, placed in the corner as she wished. Charlotte set herself as the sole manager.
She ordered cumin duck leg fried rice from the lunch machine, placing her stool by the cashier, opening the box as the aroma of cumin and mild spice filled the air. The glossy rice soaked in dark sauce, mixed with large chunks of duck and purple onions, looked and smelled delicious.
Breaking apart the disposable chopsticks, she grabbed a big mouthful of rice and stuffed it into her mouth.
Mmm~ satisfaction!
Inside, she sat before the cashier, relishing her meal.
Outside, the zombie horde sniffed the air hungrily.
They were starving too.