Two Days Later
Charlie had fully recovered and spent the time learning everything he could about the system.
"Let's check my profile before I leave this place," he muttered, his expression neutral.
[ Profile]
> Name: Charlie Durante
> Level: 1
> Skill points: 0
> Skill : Locked
> Ability : Locked
> Zold coins : 0
Charlie was instructed to go to the refugee camp on Hawk Street, near Block A. Carrying a small paper bag of his personal medicine and $100 in cash as a gift.
*yawn-yawn*
"Man… they only gave me $100. I can't even survive a day with this…" Charlie muttered, a hint of frustration in his voice, before leaving the hospital in the afternoon.
Hungry, he stopped a passerby and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where I can buy some bread?" It was the cheapest food he could afford.
Before heading to the refugee camp, Charlie decided to get some food and set aside $40 in cash.
As he stepped out of the bakery, a system notification suddenly appeared."
[New Quest Available]
"What is this…? A quest?" Charlie muttered, his eyes narrowing at the screen.
[ Quest: Endurance Trial ]
Reward: 500 EXP, 10 Z-Coins
Objective: Run 2km (0km / 2km)
Time Limit: 24 hours
Failure Penalty: Mutation level will increase by 5%.
Charlie stared at the notification in disbelief before tapping on the details.
"Are you kidding me? I just recovered from my injuries, and now the system wants me to run 2km? This sucks, to be honest," he grumbled, clearly annoyed.
Charlie accepted the quest and began walking toward the refugee camp. He estimated that he would reach it within half an hour, covering nearly 2 km in the process.
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays casting long shadows on the cracked pavement. The air was dry and heavy, carrying the distant scent of smoke and dust.
Some stores had broken windows, their shelves stripped bare, while others had their doors tightly shut, as if abandoned long ago. A few people lingered by the sidewalks, their faces hollow with exhaustion, watching him with wary eyes.
*30 Minutes Later*
In the distance, he could hear faint voices—merchants shouting prices, children laughing, and the occasional honk of an old, rusted vehicle struggling through the streets.
As Charlie approached the refugee camp, the scent of burning wood and cooked food filled the air, The flickering glow of campfires cast long shadows across the worn dirt paths.
At the entrance, two guards stood watch, rifles in hand, their expressions filled with suspicion. Without hesitation, Charlie moved toward them, but they quickly stepped forward to block his path.
"Where do you think you're going, boy?" one of them demanded.
Charlie met their gaze, his voice steady. "I was instructed to come to the Hawk Street refugee camp."
The guards exchanged skeptical looks. What followed was a frustrating ten minutes of questioning, but eventually, they allowed him to pass.
Inside the camp, small fires crackled, illuminating groups of weary refugees gathered in quiet conversation. Charlie's eyes swept over the scene, taking in the tired faces and the faint hum of distant voices.
As he slowly approached one of the campfires, an elderly woman, likely in her late fifties stepped forward, her face illuminated by the flames.
"Young man, is your name Charlie?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.
Charlie froze, his heart skipping a beat. "Yes! But… how do you know me?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
A knowing smile touched her lips. "So, I was right. You really are Kevin's son. Your father was a great man—my student, back when he studied at Bourbon's finest university—"
Before she could finish, a man stepped up beside her, placing a protective hand on her shoulder,He looked to be in his early thirties.
"Mama, we have to go. It's getting late," he said gently.
The woman nodded, then turned back to Charlie. Before leaving, she introduced him to her son and extended an invitation to breakfast at her home the next morning. Her son tore a scrap of paper, scribbled their address on it, and handed it to Charlie.
Charlie accepted the note, watching as they disappeared into the pathways of the camp.
Unsure of where to go next, he approached an elderly man sitting near one of the fires.
"Excuse me ,sir , i need some help".
Fortunately, the man turned out to be the camp manager. With a kind smile, he guided Charlie toward his assigned shelter—a small, cramped room meant for survivors of the Fort City War.
In the meantime, Charlie asked around, gathering as much information as he could about the refugee camp.
As he stepped inside his assigned room, exhaustion finally caught up with him. Just as he was about to lie down, a screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[CLAIM REWARDS]
He noticed that his task of traveling 2km had been completed—the only thing left to do was claim the reward. But fatigue weighed heavily on him, and without a second thought, he dismissed the notification and collapsed onto the bed.
*The unclaimed reward will be redirected to your inventory.
*Zzzzzz… Zzzzzz…*
When he woke up, it was already 9 p.m. A quick glance at a nearby bulletin informed him that meals had to be picked up before 9:30 p.m.
"Ow...sh!t…." Charlie rushed to the canteen, grabbed his meal, and hurried back to his room.
He placed the aluminum foil-covered food on a chair before heading to the washroom to splash cold water on his face. Feeling slightly refreshed, he returned with a one time water bottle , ready to eat.
Just as he reached for his meal, he grabbed his bottle and started drinking water. Suddenly, a notification popped up.
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]
Without hesitation, he tapped on it while drinking his water.
[NEW QUEST: KILL AN INFECTED]