The rest area was unrecognizable. The cot was gone, replaced by a large, heated floor, its flue connecting to the fireplace. The rest area now resembled a small living room, just missing a sofa and a TV.
Thomas spread out the bedding he'd traded for: a thick wool blanket, a down comforter, a fluffy pillow, and warm wool pajamas and socks. His hideout was finally blizzard-ready. He felt a sense of accomplishment. Exhausted, he collapsed onto the heated floor, the wool blanket soft and warm against his skin, and fell asleep.
Unbeknownst to him, a series of swift, brutal attacks on refugees were occurring throughout the White Tower District. Each attack lasted only seconds, like a well-planned ambush. Fear spread through the refugee camps. The storm Thomas had unleashed was starting to ripple outwards.
He woke up at 9 PM, stretched, and got out of bed. That wool blanket was worth every penny. He hadn't felt a chill all night.
He cooked some sausage, bread, and milk in the kitchen, enjoying the simple meal. The hideout felt warmer than this morning, perhaps due to being underground. I need to get a thermometer.
He checked his status:
[Name: Thomas Smyth]
[Hideout Type: Underground Bunker
Hideout Area: 201 sq m
Hideout Facilities: Soundproof Alloy Door Level 2, Heated Floor Level 2, Kitchen Level 1, Water Purifier Level 2, Generator Level 1, Storage Room Level 2, Insulated Walls Level 1, Safety Ventilation Level 2
Additional Facilities/Items: Fireplace (Rest Area), Water Heater (Kitchen), Camouflage Coating (Door)
HP: 508
Stamina: 100
Status: Energetic]
---
[Energetic]
Effect: -50% stamina consumption for 1 hour.
Perfect timing. He equipped his gear. He'd been wanting to loot Apartment 15 and the Pinewood Hotel. He'd avoided going out during the day, but with the cloak and mask, nighttime was his domain. He also didn't want to wait until the temperature dropped further. This was his window of opportunity.
He chose the MP5 as his primary weapon. Its compact size allowed him to carry more loot.
He stepped out of the hideout, shivering. Probably around 15°C. He pulled up his hood, disappearing into the darkness, and sprinted towards the Crimson Cabaret station.
Twenty minutes later, he emerged from the station. The street was deserted. He headed towards the Pinewood Hotel. Thick clouds obscured the moon, perfect for a stealth operation. He moved like a phantom, a fleeting shadow in the darkness.
The Pinewood Hotel was five hundred meters from the station, next to the Sparrow City Bank, which was adjacent to Apartment 15. He saw the hotel's sign, half-destroyed by an explosion. The street was littered with craters and overturned cars.
Fifty meters from the hotel, he slowed his pace, crouching low. Stealth Movement activated. His footsteps were barely audible. He scanned his surroundings, vigilant. If Black Dog had a key to the hotel room, others might too.
He reached the ninth floor without incident. Room 903…
He switched off his flashlight. He was standing in front of the right door. He inserted the key, twisted, and slipped inside.
The room was dark. A suite with two bedrooms and a living room. He cleared each room, then breathed a sigh of relief. He closed the curtains, switched on his flashlight, and surveyed the living room.
His jaw dropped. This guy was just a lieutenant?
Three gun cases, two mannequins displaying tactical vests, a massive backpack, and several red duffel bags filled the living room. The mannequins also sported a helmet and a set of tactical goggles and headphones. Jackpot!
He opened the duffel bags. Bundles of Apocalypse Coins. A small fortune. And that was just the living room. He turned his attention to the bedrooms.
The first bedroom contained a pantry stocked with canned food and energy drinks: vegetable puree, peas, herring, salmon, beef stew… His mouth watered. Drawers below the pantry held chocolate, candy, and energy bars. A treasure trove of rare and valuable food. He also found a case of liquor – vodka, wine, and beer – and a cabinet filled with medical supplies: antibiotics, bandages, first aid kits, surgical kits… He even found a small injector case, a 4x4 container filled with syringes and various injectables.
He couldn't believe his luck. This food alone would fetch a king's ransom in trades, especially from survivors in less fortunate zones.
He moved on to the main bedroom. Three suitcases sat under the bed. He grinned. The real prize.
He placed the suitcases on the bed and opened them one by one. The first contained two blueprints.
[Intelligence Center Blueprint]
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect: Allows construction of the Intelligence Center facility in the hideout.
Requirements: hideout Security Level 2, Generator Level 2, Ventilation Level 2, 500,000 Apocalypse Coins, Laptop x1, Classified Intel x1, Terrain Map x1, Encrypted USB Drive x1
Construction Time: 24 hours
---
[Refugee Loot Box Blueprint]
Type: Rare Blueprint
Effect: Allows construction of the Refugee Loot Box facility in the hideout.
Requirements: Intelligence Center Level 2, 2,300,000 Apocalypse Coins, Golden Rooster x1, Rolex Gold Watches x4, Gold Necklaces x8, Gold Skull Rings x6, Bronze Lion Statues x3
Construction Time: 36 hours
Thomas stared at the blueprints, his heart pounding. These were no ordinary blueprints. The requirements were insane. Almost three million Apocalypse Coins, plus a list of rare and valuable items. Even with the blueprints, he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to gather all the necessary materials. And the construction times…twenty-four hours for the Intelligence Center, thirty-six for the Loot Box.
These blueprints were far beyond what a low-ranking refugee lieutenant should possess. Even the cultist he'd killed hadn't dropped anything this valuable. He was even more curious about the lieutenant now.
He put the blueprints away. He wasn't letting these go. He almost hoped the lieutenant had gathered all the necessary materials, saving him the trouble.
He opened the second suitcase.
Holy…
It was filled with gold: a golden rooster, two Rolex gold watches, four gold necklaces, two gold skull rings, and a bronze lion statue. A third of the materials for the Refugee Loot Box. This is getting ridiculous.
He looked at the third suitcase, swallowing hard. Don't tell me this one has the Intelligence Center materials.
He opened it. His jaw dropped. The suitcase contained a single item: a nearly new laptop.
[Laptop]
Size: 3x4
Description: A rare item in the apocalypse. Only a few possess them. Can be traded for Calamity Coins with a Collector.
Calamity Coins. He'd heard that term before. This laptop was even more valuable than he'd thought. A wave of euphoria washed over him.
He practically gift-wrapped this for me!
He noticed the suitcases were also inventory containers.
[Aluminum Suitcase]
Type: Container
Size: 4x4
Capacity: 8x8 (64 slots)
Sixty-four slots! Incredible! He wasn't leaving these behind.
He returned to the living room, swapped his 20-slot backpack for the massive "coffin" backpack he'd seen earlier.
["Camel" Travel Backpack]
Type: Backpack
Size: 5x7
Capacity: 5x7 (35 slots)
Movement Speed Penalty: -7%
Turning Speed Penalty: -4%
He went back to the bedroom, packed the gold-filled suitcase and the laptop into the travel backpack. They took up 29 slots, plus 2 for the blueprints, leaving him with 4 slots left. He was at his carrying limit. His chest rig was already full of ammo and grenades.
Still, he couldn't resist searching the bedroom one last time. He found a hidden compartment behind a painting, containing a notebook and a small ring box. He pocketed them. Too well-hidden to be unimportant. His backpack was now completely full.
He looked at the remaining loot. "I'll be back for you, my preciouses," he whispered, locking the door and melting back into the shadows.