Zion pushed open the door of the supermarket, and a putrid stench hit his nose. "This? This is the survivor's base?" Zion looked around and saw various survivors lying on the ground. Only a few chose to sit, and even fewer walked around. Everyone seemed to be conserving their energy. Nearby, two portable toilets had long lines, adding to the overall unpleasant smell.
"Kid, new here?" A man at least six feet five inches tall with a bald head and bulging muscles approached Zion, exuding an intimidating aura.
"Don't just stand there. Follow me. I'll give you a tour and explain things. Listen first, then ask questions. Got it?"
"Okay, sir."
"Call me Hunter."
"Okay, Hunter."
Zion followed Hunter. "Kid, this is where the ordinary survivors stay. Those lying on the ground are the cowards who don't dare to go out. If they can't pay the rent after a week, they'll be thrown out the back."
"The back door? No wonder I didn't see any survivors wandering nearby when I came."
Zion nodded and quietly followed Hunter. As they passed, some people opened their eyes and eyed Zion maliciously, as if trying to see through his backpack to loot whatever was inside.
After passing this area, they came to a row of partitions. The two of them went through the security room at the entrance.
"Kid, this is where the strong live. There are professional security personnel here, along with air conditioning and ventilation systems. None of that nasty smell from outside."
Behind the security door were various tents and simple houses, the kind that Zion remembered seeing in advertisements, which could be set up in a backyard in half an hour after payment.
"This is for those who have the courage to go out and gather supplies. We respect strength here and welcome those who find resources. There are patrols, so you don't have to worry about someone stealing your things while you sleep."
Zion understood why Hunter called those outside cowards.
"Alright, let me show you the most important place here, the exchange center."
Following Hunter, they arrived at a green area with green floors and signs. It looked like the former pharmacy section of the supermarket, now converted into an exchange center. The counters were divided into five lanes, with various people exchanging goods.
Hunter took Zion to another section where the counters were empty, but the people from the other lanes dared not approach.
"Kid, this is the exchange point for the inner area. The inner area is where I showed you just now."
"Alright, what I'm about to say is important! Remember it, I won't repeat myself."
"If you want to live well in the inner area, you need to hand over more resources every week. This exchange point can convert resources into credit points for you. One can of beef is 50 credit points. A pack of biscuits is 10 credit points. In the outer area, you need 100 credit points per week; in the inner area, it's 1000 credit points per week. Alright, let's see what you've got. The people outside told me you have good stuff. Take it out."
"So that's why Hunter is so enthusiastic about me," Zion thought. "It's true that in this environment, people are driven by profit."
"Uh, okay, Hunter. I have some whiskey I found on the way."
Hearing the word whiskey, the staff at the counter and Hunter's faces lit up with excitement.
"Good boy, take it out and let me see what you've got."
Zion took off his backpack and pulled out the six bottles of whiskey he had collected at the Old Captain's Bar. He originally had eight, but two were taken as an "entrance fee."
"Not bad, not bad." Hunter took one bottle from the six and nodded to the staff at the counter.
"Kid, I'll take this bottle. The price is the same as here; I won't shortchange you."
Zion understood that Hunter had some connections outside, otherwise, he wouldn't have been the one to guide him. This exchange point would likely sell the bottle for more than 200 credit points.
"Alright, little brother, these whiskeys are worth 200 credit points each, totaling 1200 credit points. Hunter takes one bottle, so I'll give you 1000 credit points, and the remaining 200 will be transferred to you by Hunter."
The staff took out a card and inserted it into the machine. Hunter also inserted his card into the machine. After a few keystrokes, the staff handed the card to Zion.
"Alright, this card has 1200 credit points. Keep it safe. This card is also your ID. Don't lose it, or you'll become a ghost."
"Kid, the entrance fee you paid allows you to stay here for a week, but only in the outer area. If you want to move to the inner area, you'll need to come back here and pay again. Also, do you know that there are crystals in the brains of zombies? One crystal is worth 100 credit points."
"Uh? Hunter, I didn't know that." Zion was shocked. It was just like in the novels where zombies had crystal cores that could enhance strength.
"What? Kid, you haven't been on social media?" Hunter was also surprised.
"Hunter, when I was escaping, I was in such a panic that I didn't bring my phone. I then hid in one place, and it was only last night when the explosion woke me that I ran here." Zion made up a story, not mentioning that he had been in a coma for a week.
"Alright, give him a phone, put it on my tab," Hunter told the staff at the counter. "If you need anything, you can find me at the entrance." With that, Hunter left, cradling the bottle as if it were a lover.
The staff handed Zion a phone. "I've connected it to the WiFi here. You can check social media to see what's going on. If you have anything good, come to me. I'm Zack. I'll give you a very good price." Zack emphasized "very good," and Zion nodded in acknowledgment. "If I find more good whiskey, I'll bring it to you."
After bidding farewell to Zack, Zion left the exchange center. "If I use my ability to replicate some bulk liquor, I could earn quite a few credit points, but that's not a long-term plan."
Zion stopped thinking and found a corner to sit in. He opened the phone to check the latest news.
Zion opened TTapp and saw various videos posted by survivors. Some showed first-person perspectives of being chased by zombies, while others were tutorials on using terrain traps to hunt zombies. One video caught Zion's attention and he watched it several times. It featured a strong man demonstrating his superpower, breaking a baseball bat with his bare hands effortlessly. The next clip showed him smashing a zombie's head with a cast iron skillet, with red and white splattering everywhere. But what caught Zion's attention was when the strongman pulled out a transparent white stone from the zombie's brain, resembling a beautiful crystal. The strongman looked into the camera and said, "See this? This is what I need. If you want to survive, come to Klein City's downtown and find me. If you have these, I'll give you food!"
"It seems that people with superpowers have started to collect resources and establish their territories. When I entered, they also asked if I had superpowers. This place might not be simple; they've probably recruited some superpowered individuals."
Zion continued watching videos for another hour until the phone's battery died. "It looks like this world is completely doomed. There's no chance of government rescue. People have even gone to the White House and filmed videos showing it empty. I need to plan for my future; I can't stay here forever. My ability is like a bottle of water in the desert—everyone wants it, but I don't have the means to protect myself."
Zion decided to rent a room in the inner area and get a good night's sleep before making further plans. With his replication ability, he wasn't worried about credit points.