Chapter 21

【System Prompt: Unknown caller signal interrupted, source untraceable, suggest remaining vigilant】

The busy signal of the hung-up phone made his eardrums ache; Lin Chen pinched the phone and flipped it over to look, the signal bars were full, yet he couldn't call that number back. Xia Nuan leaned over: "Who is it? What's the situation?"

Lin Chen didn't speak, clicking on the system panel—

【Current time: January 5th, 12:15】

【Apocalypse countdown: 9 days, 11 hours, 45 minutes】

【Warning: Space-time anomaly being corrected, material reserves seriously insufficient】

"Write a list," Lin Chen shoved the phone to Xia Nuan, "Food, drink, things that can be stored, write it all down."

Xia Nuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately took out a pen: "How much?"

"The more the better," Lin Chen looked at Su Qing, "You, come with me."

Su Qing shrank back: "I'm not going."

Lin Chen raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as ice: "Want to experience the feeling of being gnawed by the virus again?"

Su Qing's face turned pale instantly, she didn't argue further, silently following behind.

The three had just left the warehouse, and Xia Nuan's list was already half a page long. Lin Chen glanced at it: "Not enough, add everything you can think of." He turned to Su Qing, "Go drive, clear out the trunk."

【System Prompt: Triggered side quest "Doomsday Hoarding", material reserve volume will affect survival probability, current progress 0%】

The first target was a chain supermarket. Lin Chen pushed the shopping cart straight to the snack area, his fingers sliding across the shelves: "This, this, bring the whole box." Cookies, pastries, and candies piled up like a small mountain, potato chips and spicy strips swept half the shelf, instant noodles, sour and spicy noodles, and fire chicken noodles, 50 boxes of each, self-heating hot pots piled up until the cart handle couldn't be seen.

"Jelly, yogurt, milk, move them to the refrigerated area," Lin Chen directed Su Qing, turning himself toward the beverage cabinet, sweeping 20 boxes of cola, Sprite, and orange juice each, carbonated drinks piled into a tower. Xia Nuan followed behind to fill in the gaps: "And mashed potato mixed noodles! Self-heating rice too!"

【System Prompt: Material weight exceeds 500kg, suggest calling for transport tools】

The shopping cart was soon full, Lin Chen pushed another one over, then a third, a fourth... more than 20 shopping carts lined up in the store, each piled like a small mountain, attracting passersby to hold up their phones and film. Someone whispered: "Is this stocking up or moving house?"

Lin Chen had no time to care, directing supermarket employees to replenish the carts: "100 bags of frozen dumplings and buns each, take the largest portions of frozen meat." Su Qing pushed the cart, shuttling back and forth, sweat on her forehead, looking at Lin Chen with a bit of fear—this person acted like he knew the end of the world was coming.

【System Prompt: Detected a large number of onlookers filming, exposure +300%, may attract unnecessary attention】

"Checkout," Lin Chen slapped his card on the counter. More than 20 cashiers started working simultaneously, the sound of scanning codes rising and falling, the amount on the screen jumping until it made people dizzy. It took more than 100 large shopping bags to pack, and the supermarket manager called 10 employees to help move them to the entrance, piling them into a small mountain.

"Please call a truck," Lin Chen handed over a few banknotes, "Pull it to this address."

【System Prompt: First large-scale hoarding completed, survival probability increased by 15%, rewarded with 1 "Space Expansion Card"】

As soon as the truck left, Lin Chen dragged Su Qing to rush to the frozen warehouse. This was one he had rented before, hoarding quite a bit of meat. "Move it all to the basement," he directed the warehouse manager, staring at the system panel himself—

【Meat reserves: Beef 500kg, pork 800kg, frozen chicken 1000kg, progress 20%】

"Not enough," Lin Chen took out his phone and called several suppliers, "How much frozen goods do you have? Send it all over, I'll text you the address."

At 3:00 PM, Xia Nuan suddenly screamed while scrolling through Banana Short Video: "Lin Chen! You're trending!" On the screen was a video from the supermarket, the title reading "Mysterious tycoon sweeps 20 carts, supermarket emptied," the comment section was arguing—"Is this stocking up for winter?" "Are they going to war?"

【System Prompt: Internet popularity reached its peak, obtained "Mystery" buff, some NPCs' vigilance toward you increased】

Lin Chen frowned and swiped away the video: "Ignore this." He glanced at the time, "Go to two more supermarkets, clear out the remaining shelves."

Su Qing pushed the cart and suddenly asked: "Really... there are nine days left?"

Lin Chen glanced at her: "Forgot the pain of the last mutation?"

Su Qing shut her mouth, the speed of pushing the cart becoming faster.

The employees of the second supermarket recognized them, and the manager ran over: "Sir, we've prepared double the goods you wanted..."

"I want it all," Lin Chen interrupted him, heading straight to the daily necessities area, "Toilet paper, wet wipes, batteries, take them by the box."

【System Prompt: Material reserves cover food and daily necessities, progress 45%, unlocked "Emergency Medical Kit" x5】

The third supermarket's shopping carts were piled with 15 more, this time not even sparing baby formula and pet food. Xia Nuan laughed while taking the list: "We're almost becoming supermarket owners."

Until evening, the truck finally pulled the last batch of goods to the basement. The warehouse was piled full, having to turn sideways to walk. Lin Chen clicked on the system—

【Apocalypse hoarding task progress: 60%】

【Remaining to be replenished: Medicine, fuel, weapons】

"Go to the pharmacy and gas station tomorrow," Lin Chen leaned against the cargo box, gasping for air, "Su Qing, go reinforce those iron doors again."

Su Qing nodded, not arguing further.

Xia Nuan was scrolling through her phone, suddenly pointing at the screen: "Someone dug up that you're the owner of this supermarket! The comment section is all guessing if you know some inside information..."

Lin Chen was just about to speak when the system prompt suddenly popped up—

【Warning: Space-time anomaly fluctuations intensifying, the "apocalypse" in 9 days may arrive early】

【Suggestion: Complete all material reserves within 24 hours】

He stood up straight abruptly, looking at the sky that was gradually darkening outside.

Trouble might be coming earlier than expected.