Chapter 22

【System Prompt: Detected material reserve gap—weapons category, survival risk assessment increased to 35%】

Lin Chen turned off his phone, his gaze sweeping over the pile of materials in the warehouse. Food and drinks were piled like a mountain, daily necessities occupied half a wall, only the things that could save their lives were missing.

"Xia Nuan, watch the warehouse," he grabbed his coat, "Su Qing, come with me."

Su Qing had just leaned against the cargo box to rest, looking up at the words: "Where to again?"

Lin Chen didn't look back, throwing over a set of car keys: "Armory."

【System Prompt: Triggered hidden quest "Armed Readiness", obtaining heavy weapons can reduce the probability of zombie horde breakthrough】

In the warehouse of an abandoned factory in the suburbs, a man in camouflage was chewing on a cigarette, lifting the canvas—underneath were neatly arranged weapons. The barrels of Gatling guns flashed with cold light, the wooden stocks of AKs gleamed with oil, and boxes of Molotov cocktails and pistols were piled nearby.

"How many?" the man squinted, sizing up Lin Chen.

"2 Gatling guns, 10 AKs, 20 pistols, Molotov cocktails by the box," Lin Chen reported the numbers, "The more bullets, the better."

The man whistled: "Are you going to war?"

Lin Chen didn't answer, transferring a sum of money directly. The man laughed immediately, calling people to pack: "Refreshing! I'll load it onto your truck right away."

Su Qing stood to the side, looking at those cold weapons, her fingers curling unconsciously—these things made her more fearful than zombies.

【System Prompt: Obtained heavy weapons, survival risk decreased to 20%, unlocked "Firepower Suppression" skill】

When they returned to the basement, Xia Nuan was staring blankly at the map. Seeing the weapons they moved in, her eyes widened: "Bought so many?"

"Not many," Lin Chen set the Gatling gun at the entrance, "When the snow starts falling, these will be enough to look at."

Xia Nuan bit her lip, suddenly pointing at the high-rise mark on the map: "How about... we buy a high-rise? One with 40 floors."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "Reason."

"In case it snows again, and zombies come..." Xia Nuan's voice trembled, "Although the basement is hidden, if it's blocked, there's nowhere to run. A high-rise can at least be defended, and if it really comes to it, we can jump out the window..."

Before she finished speaking, she shivered herself.

Lin Chen stared at the map for a long time, his fingertips tapping on the 40-floor high-rise mark: "Fine."

He suddenly raised his foot, kicking Su Qing's leg: "Go look at the house."

Su Qing staggered, covering her leg and glaring at him: "Why should I go?"

"Either go look at the house, or stay and clean the guns," Lin Chen picked up an AK, slowly disassembling it, "If they aren't cleaned properly and this gun goes off, don't blame me."

Su Qing gritted her teeth, grabbed her bag, and slammed the door as she left.

【System Prompt: Su Qing triggered side quest "High-rise Site Selection", failure to complete within 24 hours will affect safe house rating】

Lin Chen reassembled the parts, the sound of the bolt pulling back crisp and clean. Xia Nuan leaned over: "Can she do it?"

"She has to be able to," he handed the assembled AK to Xia Nuan, "Try the feel."

Xia Nuan held the gun, her hands shaking: "I... I don't know how to use it."

"Learn," Lin Chen opened the ammunition box, "There are 9 days left, if you don't learn, you'll die."

【System Prompt: Xia Nuan obtained "Firearms Entry" skill book, proficiency 0%】

By evening, Su Qing returned, her face looking ugly: "Ran to five agencies, the 40-floor high-rises are either booked or the price is ridiculously high; the agents said a lot of people have been looking for high-floor listings suddenly."

Lin Chen was labeling Molotov cocktails, his movements pausing at the words: "Others are grabbing them too?"

Su Qing nodded: "An agent secretly said that it seems some people received news that a super blizzard is coming."

Xia Nuan's heart sank: "Not a coincidence?"

Lin Chen didn't speak, picking up his phone and pulling up the unknown number—still couldn't get through.

【System Prompt: Detected abnormal social trends, "Doomsday Warning" has spread in a small range】

"Keep looking," he threw the car keys to Su Qing, "Must find one tonight, don't come back if you don't find one."

Su Qing was just about to argue, but meeting Lin Chen's gaze, she swallowed her words. The door "bang" shut, leaving only him and Xia Nuan in the basement.

Xia Nuan touched the barrel of the AK, suddenly asking: "Can we... really live to the end?"

Lin Chen looked at the mountain of materials piled at the entrance, then glanced at the Gatling gun set in the corner, his voice very light: "Live one day, count one day."

【System Prompt: Apocalypse countdown: 8 days, 18 hours, 30 minutes】

The clock on the wall ticked, Su Qing's phone call never came. Lin Chen opened a pack of cookies, just as he stuffed one into his mouth, his phone suddenly vibrated—it was a text from Su Qing.

Only three words: Didn't find one.

Lin Chen flattened the cookie bag and threw it into the trash can.

Xia Nuan looked at his tense side profile, whispering: "How about... change to a shorter one? 30 floors would work too."

Lin Chen didn't answer, grabbing his coat and walking out: "I'll go take a look."

【System Prompt: Player Lin Chen has taken over the "High-rise Site Selection" quest, current progress 0%】

The basement door closed behind him, the wind outside carrying a chill. Lin Chen looked up at the sky, the moon covered by dark clouds, as if a heavy rain were coming.

He didn't know if Su Qing's "didn't find one" was truly not finding one, or if there was some other hidden reason.

Even less did he know if those people suddenly scrambling to buy high-rises were hiding the same secret as him.

The phone screen lit up, a message from Xia Nuan: Stay safe.

Lin Chen didn't reply, quickening his pace toward where the car was parked. Outside the car window, the city lights flickered, looking exactly like a candle about to go out.

He had to find a suitable high-rise before dawn.

Otherwise, when the snow falls, they might truly have nowhere to escape.