The system notification left Thomas dumbfounded. "A… breathing what? A pothos?!!"
As he stared, a lush, green pothos plant materialized before him.
[Living Pothos (Mother Vine)]
Type: Rare Plant
Effect 1: Purifies the air within a 3-meter radius, removing gaseous pollutants, microorganisms, radiation, and particulate matter, converting them into growth factors for the mother vine and breathable oxygen.
Effect 2: Requires 1000ml of purified water daily. Under sufficient hydration, produces a new pothos sprout every three days (sprouts possess Effect 1 but cannot reproduce). Reproduction time decreases with sufficient growth factors.
Description: A peculiar plant from… somewhere. You might find it useful in certain environments.
Thomas's confusion turned to awe. This wasn't just any houseplant. Its value in toxic or plague-ridden environments would be immeasurable.
He placed the pothos on the coffee table. The air in the rest area, including the kitchen, felt noticeably fresher.
He watered the plant with 1000ml of purified water from his purifier. The leaves unfurled, a vibrant green, rustling softly as if stirred by an unseen breeze.
His wealth points had increased by 303 thanks to yesterday's park acquisition, bringing his total to 791.
He ate a bowl of Nourishing Mutton Stew, restoring his energy, then made a cup of tea and settled down to review trade offers.
The plunging temperatures had taken their toll. Many survivors were suffering from the cold, or perhaps just facing the reality of their situation. There were more trade offers than usual, and the quality was better. Rare items were still scarce, but not nonexistent.
Two survivors offered graphics cards, which Thomas had recently added to his wishlist. He needed to prepare for the coming blizzard.
He happily accepted the graphics cards, bringing his total to four. He was curious to see how they'd be useful later.
He finalized trades with a few other survivors offering rare items, acquiring:
["Island" Inverter Air Conditioner Blueprint] x1
[Gas Mask Crafting Blueprint] x1
[Underground Well Construction Blueprint] x1
[A Bloodstained Letter] x1
He stored the graphics cards and blueprints, then turned his attention to the letter. Dark red stains covered the envelope, which bore no markings.
[A Bloodstained Letter]
Type: Intel Item
Views: 1/1
Description: A letter carefully protected, its contents clearly of great importance.
Thomas carefully opened the envelope. A letter and a key fell out.
"Colonel, I have infiltrated the cultists. They are backed by a mysterious force, using brainwashing and control to turn refugees and survivors into loyal followers. They use a transformation potion to complete the conversion."
"The ritual is dangerous, with a survival rate of less than twenty percent. Survivors have a higher chance of success, which is why the cultists are capturing them."
"Sparrow City is the epicenter of their activity. I suspect it's connected to a lab here."
"I just participated in a ritual. I feel my mind being affected. They have discovered my identity. I am fleeing. If you receive this, investigate. I sent Lov with the encrypted drive. He worked at the Garden Station. I haven't heard from him since the apocalypse began. I hope he's alive."
Another undercover agent. And the subway worker mentioned was likely the owner of locker 45, the one with the encrypted drive. Sparrow City was a tangled web of secrets.
Thomas examined the key. The markings looked familiar.
[Blood-Red Key]
Type: Apartment 15 Key
Use: Unlocks room 704 in Apartment 15.
Description: A mysterious key. You might find a use for it.
He compared it to the rune key from the invader. Identical markings. He remembered the candlelight in Apartment 15.
"So that was the ritual," he realized.
He stored the keys. Exploring Apartment 15 or the Abandoned Factory wasn't a priority right now.
At 1:30 PM, a shimmering light screen faded, revealing the completed Intel Center. A desk with a running laptop, displaying flickering code and images of people and buildings. Files, drives, and maps littered the surface.
He eagerly checked the description.
[Intel Center] Level 1
Type: Hideout Facility
Effect 1: Provides a random piece of intel daily (40% common, 30% valuable, 25% rare, 5% critical).
Effect 2: Predicts the next disaster (1/1 use).
Effect 3: Provides a critical piece of intel (16-hour cooldown).
Next Level: Intel Center Level 2
Upgrade Requirements: Level 3 Hideout Security, Level 3 Ventilation Duct, Level 1 Intel Center, Level 3 Generator, 3 Confidential Intel, 3 Encrypted Drives, 5 Power Cables, 2 SSDs.
Upgrade Time: 4 hours.
Current Status: Cannot upgrade (requirements not met).
"What?!" Thomas stared at the screen, disbelief etched on his face. He'd anticipated many possible Intel Center abilities, but not this. Predicting the next disaster.
"Holy shit… am I the protagonist now?" he muttered, goosebumps erupting on his arms.
It took him ten minutes to calm down. The feeling of having a crucial advantage in the apocalypse was overwhelming.
"Thank god I built this today," he thought. "Every day counts."
He accessed the Intel Center's interface.
"Predict next disaster."
The laptop's chaotic display flickered, then began playing a video. Images flashed across the screen – grasslands, mountains, forests, coastlines, deserts, cities. He saw survivors scavenging, fighting refugees, even attacking each other.
Then, the sky darkened. Torrential rain began to fall, intensifying rapidly. It flooded coastlines, plains, forests, then cities, deserts, even the highest mountains. The world became a watery grave.
Giant fish, tens of meters long, swam through the submerged ruins, devouring survivors. Ninety-seven percent of the land was underwater. Countless bodies floated on the surface.
The final image showed shimmering, translucent seaweed growing on the seabed and a large shipping container drifting in the current.
The video ended, replaced by text:
Disaster Name: The Great Deluge.
Time Until Disaster: Seven days after the Polar Vortex.
Duration: 5 days.
Disaster Opportunities: Golden Whip Kelp, Random Containers.
The Great Deluge. Thomas stared at the words, his mind reeling. A flood. He was incredibly lucky to have the Intel Center.
His hideout was waterproof, but not floodproof. It wouldn't withstand the pressure or the prolonged submersion.
The "Disaster Opportunities" caught his eye. The kelp and the containers were clearly valuable, but only obtainable during the flood.
This sparked a new thought. If the Deluge had opportunities, did the Polar Vortex have them too? He was sure of it. Every disaster must have its own unique rewards, hidden and difficult to obtain. It was the game's way of offering a chance for advancement.
He looked at the Intel Center with renewed appreciation. No wonder it was so sought after.
The prediction function was now on cooldown. He wasn't worried. He suspected it would recharge after the Intel Center was upgraded to Level 2.
He needed a plan. Two priorities:
Use the Polar Vortex and the mutton stew to trade for flood-related supplies and hideout upgrades.
Find the Polar Vortex's hidden opportunity.
He started by listing necessary hideout modifications:
Reinforced Door: He needed a flood-proof, pressure-resistant door.
Airlock: A buffer zone between the door and the hideout interior was essential for safe entry and exit during the flood.
Oxygen System and Ventilation: The pothos wouldn't be enough. He needed a dedicated oxygen generator. The ventilation system needed to be flood-proofed.
Walls and Roof: Reinforcements were needed to withstand the underwater pressure.
Food and water were less of a concern. He had the purifier and the well blueprint.
Next, he needed to consider equipment for underwater travel…