After the two guests went upstairs, Charlotte shifted her gaze from the screen and directed Bear to stand by the machine.
Before she walked into her own room, she had Bear turn off the lights in the lobby.
Sitting on the soft, elastic sofa, she opened her lunch box and slowly ate a chopstick of shredded potatoes.
Earlier, she had planned to upgrade the two machines outside, but the system prompted her that she needed two level-two crystal cores.
Charlotte was speechless. Did this mean she had to go out and kill zombies? And level-two ones at that?
If it were level-one, she might give it a try, but level-two... that was basically asking for trouble.
She decided to wait until she got rewards for defense and attack before making any moves.
Charlotte opened the shop management data and saw she had accumulated 466 points.
How come there were so many?
After a careful review, she realized it was because today's income was 206 points plus the remaining 260 points from the last upgrade.
The upgraded interface now included a section for room occupancy information. By clicking on it, she could see the basic information and danger index of the occupants. Additionally, there were two color-coded squares labeled "Expel" and "Kill."
To save time, Charlotte set this authority to voice commands.
Another new section in the shop interface was the breakfast room's kitchen. She clicked on it and saw that breakfast had not yet been added.
A maximum of eight items could be added.
She chose fried eggs, soy milk, fried dumplings, stuffed pancakes, youtiao (fried dough sticks), yogurt pancakes, tofu pudding, and milk.
Reluctantly leaving out the porridge, she clicked the confirm button.
In the breakfast section, the eight items she selected were further divided into different varieties.
Fried eggs had options for well-done, seven-minute, and half-cooked.
Soy milk came in red bean flavor, plain, black sesame flavor, and salty.
Fried dumplings and stuffed pancakes were available in pork, beef, lamb, Orleans-style chicken, sauerkraut, and cabbage with scallions.
Tofu pudding also had sweet and salty versions.
Prices were listed as well, with tofu pudding being the most expensive at 3 points, fried dumplings at 1 point each, and the rest at 2 points each.
Very cost-effective.
After confirming, a gray countdown timer appeared in the breakfast room section, showing the time until it opened.
Charlotte finished the last bite of rice from her lunch box, closed it, and threw it into the trash can. She got up and wandered around the room to digest.
Though the room was cozy, it was too quiet.
Looking at the empty wall, Charlotte decided it was time to arrange a TV.
She opened the store and searched for "TV." Instantly, a long list of options appeared.
There were various sizes, all with attractive prices, but they required additional crystal cores.
A 70-inch UHD TV was priced at 2000 points plus 5 level-two crystal cores?
Wow, so aside from shop construction, everything else required crystal cores?
"System, care to explain?"
[Well, these rules were set by the previous shop owner, who was always reselling and squandering resources while keeping handsome men around. The hotel almost changed its name. The fees were extremely high! That's why she accumulated points so quickly. As soon as we arrived in this world, the main system called me for a scolding. All these rules are per its requirements.]
It was the first time Charlotte heard the system talk so much, and she could even sense a hint of grievance from its words.
But the previous owner was really something, wasn't she? Reselling, squandering, high prices, and handsome men?
Charlotte grinned mischievously. A house full of handsome men—how could that woman handle it?
When she left, her bitterness must have been enormous.
[Please put away your lewd expressions and avoid crossing the yellow line.]
"Okay, okay." Charlotte dismissed her thoughts and continued.
"Whatever the previous owner did is irrelevant to me. Those were her private actions. You can't be unfair to me just because of a bad apple. It's not fair."
"Now, even buying a TV to kill time requires 5 level-two crystal cores. Upgrading a breakfast machine needs 2 level-two crystal cores. Isn't that excessive?"
"I'm invincible in the shop, but according to your system, to live well, I need to go out and kill zombies. Tell me, what kind of vacation is this?"
[...]
Charlotte's relentless questioning had clearly stunned the system.
See, even the system felt it was being too harsh.
Maintaining a dissatisfied expression, Charlotte crossed her arms and stood on her tiptoes in annoyance.
A full act was required.
[Please hold on, applying for a gift pack...]
Woohoo, a gift pack?
[Advanced Gift Pack *1 / Basic Gift Pack *2, please choose.]
Charlotte raised her eyebrows. Anyone with common sense would choose the advanced one, right?
[Please confirm again, do you choose the Advanced Gift Pack?]
[Warm reminder: The Advanced Gift Pack will conflict with one of your current benefits. Choosing it will cancel that benefit.]
Charlotte read each word carefully.
Cancel one of the current benefits?
Could it be canceling the lottery wheel?
Well, if that's the case, then forget it. She didn't even know what was in the gift pack. She'd rather go with the Basic Gift Pack.
[Please confirm again, do you choose the Basic Gift Pack?]
[Warm reminder: The Basic Gift Pack will conflict with one of your current benefits. Choosing it will cancel that benefit.]
Hmm? Does this mean whichever gift pack she chose would cancel the lottery wheel?
"System, you're not being sincere with these gift packs." Charlotte complained. What kind of benefits were these if she had to trade off the lottery wheel?
The lottery wheel only cost 10 points per spin and had a chance to get anything. Why trade it for a one-time, unknown gift pack?
[The lottery wheel will only be available until the end of this month. The gift pack items will be bound to this world once issued, and will remain until the mission is completed and transferred to the next world.]
The lottery wheel has a time limit?
Charlotte closed the gift pack interface and switched to the store, opening the lottery wheel. She indeed found the deadline mentioned in the smallest line of explanation.
This... is so underhanded!
They played it smart!
Written so small, who would notice? It's like they're just trying to scam points before leaving!
Charlotte once again experienced the unscrupulousness of the merchant system.
Seeing there were only three draws left this week, and with the cost rising to 20 points per draw, she decided to make her final spins.
Two draws resulted in fireworks, and the last one gave her a standing air conditioner.
Charlotte placed it in the corner of the living room.
"Alright, system, I choose the Advanced Gift Pack."
[Please check.]
Charlotte opened the store, and the lottery wheel had indeed been removed. She didn't regret it too much, as it was about to end anyway.
In her personal inventory, she saw a glittering golden gift box. After clicking to open it, there was no dazzling effect, and it vanished.
Summer was stunned, waiting for the exciting moment, but soon a pop-up from the system appeared.
[The host can now go outside freely, and zombies will not notice or attack the host.]
[During outings, if attacked by anyone (whether with abilities or not), the host will retaliate with double the force. Also, at any time and place, if the host silently thinks "home," they can instantly appear in their private room.]
[An extra feature is now available: The most comprehensive food city.]
[For the next hotel upgrade, three unlimited fruit options will be added (for personal consumption or sale, priced no higher than 3 points each).]