Charlotte, feeling quite pleased, tossed the four crystal nuclei around. With 604 points earned in just the morning, it was quite a windfall!
After watching the wealthy Jeremy leave the inn, she tossed the nuclei into the system's backpack.
For now, she wasn't planning to upgrade the breakfast or lunch machines; she wanted to buy a television.
With a TV, she could get off work early, snuggle on the sofa, enjoy snacks, drink milk tea, and watch TV!
"System, update the glass with the business hours—9 AM to 6 PM," she said.
It was important to be relaxed about work. Work when it's time to work, and finish on time without dragging it out.
Charlotte got up and stepped outside. The sky had darkened significantly, changing from a pale white to deep gray, with wind picking up. It seemed like a storm was imminent.
Would anyone still come to the inn in such weather?
She looked around for a long time, but apart from zombies, she didn't see a single living person.
After instructing Bear to guard the entrance, she decided to explore further.
She hadn't ventured outside since arriving in this world.
Upon stepping out of the safety zone, she noticed that zombies treated her as if she were invisible and let out a sigh of relief.
Standing at a street intersection, she glanced both ways. The environment looked similar on both sides, so she decided to head right.
The main street was filled with dilapidated cars, scattered haphazardly, with shattered windows and empty interiors where any edible items had long been consumed.
Some areas near the cars were dark and stained.
Charlotte accidentally stepped on one of these patches and found it had a sticky texture.
She wrinkled her nose in disgust and scraped her shoe on the steps by the roadside.
The shops on both sides were also in disarray, with open doors revealing messy interiors.
As she continued forward, she unexpectedly encountered a person.
From a distance, the person appeared to be a zombie due to their dark, tattered clothing, filthy face, and tangled hair.
Just as she was about to ignore them, she realized the person was staring intently at her.
Their gaze was unfriendly.
Charlotte shot him a cold glare, ready to show him who was boss.
As she was about to speak, the person sniffed the air, then, like a monkey, swung around the street lamp and darted away, disappearing around the corner.
Charlotte didn't bother to chase him. In the apocalypse, without strict regulations, the only rule was survival of the fittest. Outside the base, the strongest survived.
---
"Monkey, what did you see? A well-dressed, single woman?"
On the top floor of a tall building, a tall man lounged lazily on a sofa, surrounded by an unexpectedly tidy environment.
The man called Monkey, hunched over, spoke in a surprisingly youthful voice.
"Yes, not only was she dressed neatly, but she also looked exceptionally healthy, as if she was well-resourced."
Xavier leaped off the sofa, his slightly long hair falling messily around him, hiding his bright eyes as they glinted with renewed interest.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go and attach yourself to her!"
"Wait, I just said she not only looks good but is also dressed neatly. You can't approach her like this!" Monkey raised a hand to block his path, offering a serious warning.
Xavier, irritated, touched his greasy hair and sniffed his sour-smelling clothes. "Then why are you still standing there? Go get me some water!"
Monkey shrank back slightly, cautiously pointing outside. "Did you forget that you threw her out the window last time you changed personalities?"
Xavier froze, his gaze fixed on the overly transparent glass with disbelief.
She? That somewhat powerful water-type ability user?
That old woman?
Suddenly, he began to tremble uncontrollably, a strange sound escaping his throat.
"Hahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Good riddance!"
"Very good riddance!"
Monkey, seeing his unusual behavior, had already moved aside, his eyes filled with fear.
Is he about to change personalities again?
Xavier suddenly stopped laughing, lowered his head, his hair falling to cover half his face. His back stiffened into a straight line.
In the ensuing silence, he slowly raised his head, and his aura turned dangerously intense.
"Tony."
"Y-yes, I'm here…" Monkey's voice trembled as he met the fierce, red-eyed stare. Fear surged through him like crashing waves.
"Lead the way."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Instantly, Monkey realized that Xavier was referring to finding the clean girl.
He hurriedly went ahead, eagerly opening the door for Xavier and then sprinting towards the direction where he had encountered her.
Ancestor, I hope she hasn't gone too far.
Behind him, Xavier's expression darkened with growing malice, his lips barely moving.
"Women with ulterior motives should all die."
When they arrived at the location Tony had mentioned, there was no sign of Charlotte on the street, not even a living person!
She was gone!
Tony, sweating nervously, wiped his forehead as he looked around the zombie-infested street. He glanced back at Xavier repeatedly, terrified of being punished by his second personality.
"Where is she?"
Tony, hearing those light words, felt even more frightened. "I-I'll go find her right away!"
Alive, she must be found; if dead, proof must be seen!
Before Xavier could say anything, Tony leaped from the rooftop, using the momentum to land quickly on the ground, then rolled forward to steady himself.
Several zombies, attracted by his commotion, roared and charged towards him.
Tony nimbly avoided them, twisting and turning as he dashed into the street to search for her.
From his high vantage point, Xavier looked down, his eyes filled with disdain as he watched Tony's frantic movements.
Only someone like Xavia would be interested in such trash.
The other personality's ability was even worse—just using that face to cling to women.
He recalled the last time he woke up, being confronted by that old woman in black stockings, with a seductive gaze and a tongue as red as a snake, trying to kiss him!
He had knocked her out and forcefully thrown her out...
He didn't want to experience anything like that a fifth time.
It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to deal with both of them.
As Tony scoured the street, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. Turning around, he faced the murderous intent in Xavier's red eyes...
This troublesome ancestor seemed to have murderous thoughts once again.
Tony felt exhausted. Originally, he was just a creation of Xavia's ability. Now that she was asleep, he had to keep working and constantly faced the threat of being killed.
Even a farmer's donkey wouldn't be used so ruthlessly!
Seeing Tony's increasingly diligent efforts, Xavier scoffed with disgust.
Bastard.
As if sensing something, he looked towards the east.
The clouds there were growing even darker, rolling in thick and heavy.
In the distance, on the cross of a church, stood a man in all black, his face obscured.
The two men locked eyes, engaged in a silent battle of wills.
Level 5.
Xavier smirked, feeling his combative instincts stir.
A fight?
He was eager to test his abilities, curious if they had deteriorated from disuse.
However, the man opposite him didn't even spare him a glance. Hearing the approaching thunder, he turned and jumped down, preparing to return to the hotel.
Xavier clenched his fists.
"Look at me, you bastard!"