Chapter 48: Level 1 Warehouse
While her sister was still out, Lin Jiayao briefly examined the system interface.
Besides [Login] and [Safehouse], there was a new entry.
[Hideout].
The name sounded important.
Lin Jiayao clicked on it.
The illusory system interface transformed into a 3D overhead view.
A black, semi-transparent window popped up.
「Welcome to your exclusive Hideout!」
「You can use items and resources from the Safehouse to build and improve various areas in the Hideout. Proper use of the Hideout can make your extractions much easier!」
「Good luck!」
After the window disappeared, the entire Hideout space was revealed.
It was an X-shaped intersection, Lin Jiayao’s perspective centered, the surrounding area dim.
Lin Jiayao examined the interface, puzzled.
Was this… a virtual space, or a real place she could find?
Each corridor of the X-shaped intersection was about ten meters wide and twenty meters long, but there were no entrances or exits.
It likely existed only within the system.
In the faint candlelight, she could see several unfinished facilities.
As she focused on each, a system prompt appeared.
[Warehouse Lv.1 (Unbuilt)]
[Description: Stores supplies (only for use during extraction and by the main body, unavailable in logged-in zombie state)]
[Construction requires: Blood Crystal x1]
[Medical Station Lv.1 (Unbuilt)]
[Description: Produces various medicines by consuming blood crystals or equivalent raw materials]
[Construction requires: Blood Crystal x2, Disposable Syringe x1, Sterile Bandage x2, Assorted Medicines 500g]
[Workbench Lv.1 (Unbuilt)]
[Description: Allows you to customize, modify, or repair special weapons and craft special ammunition by consuming blood crystals]
[Construction requires: Blood Crystal x3, Multi-tool x1, Nuts x2, Bolts x2]
[Training Grounds Lv.1 (Unbuilt)]
[Description: Creates a training space where you can practice skills or combat techniques. Switch between any logged-in zombie for practice. You won’t be injured here (practice here does not consume any ammunition or blood crystals)]
[Construction requires: Blood Crystal x10]
These were the four unfinished facilities Lin Jiayao could see.
But they only occupied a fifth of the space. The rest of the Hideout was empty, likely still locked.
Even these four were enough to intrigue Lin Jiayao; the construction costs were substantial.
Besides blood crystals, she also needed ordinary materials… it seemed to just increase the difficulty; she didn’t understand the system’s reasoning.
And the cost of each facility was exorbitant.
Even the cheapest, the warehouse, required a whole blood crystal… That was 500g!
But both the warehouse and the medical station were essential.
The “special weapons” and “special ammunition” mentioned in the workbench description also sounded interesting.
Most importantly, the training grounds.
Using blood crystals or firing bullets wouldn’t consume anything there?
And using abilities there had no side effects?
It was like a training ground in a game.
She could experiment with different evolution combinations and gain combat experience without any real risk.
And target practice there wouldn’t consume any bullets.
Did this mean she could train herself into a sharpshooter?
Unfortunately, reality was harsh.
Building the training grounds required ten blood crystals… an unimaginable sum for Lin Jiayao.
And these were only Lv.1 facilities; there were likely many more she couldn’t even see yet.
The only thing she could build now was the Lv.1 warehouse, requiring one blood crystal, which she happened to have.
But the warehouse’s limitations made her hesitate.
Unlike the safehouse, it was unusable while logged into a zombie.
She couldn’t just store items there like in the safehouse, where items remained even after the zombie died.
If she needed a zombie to bring her something, it had to survive until extraction and then store the items in the warehouse from within the consciousness space.
Despite its limitations, it was undoubtedly a useful facility.
After some thought, Lin Jiayao decided to invest a blood crystal and upgrade the warehouse.
While it wouldn’t be of much help to the logged-in zombies, it would be a great asset to her.
Essentially, it was a much larger storage space than the safehouse.
After selecting “build,” the blood crystal in her safehouse disappeared, transferred to the warehouse in the Hideout.
Instantly, the unfinished warehouse, after flashing red, transformed into a large box.
And in front of the box was a grid interface similar to the safehouse.
A 10×10 grid, much larger than the 2×2 safehouse, and it could be further upgraded.
At least she wouldn’t have to worry about how to store blood crystals anymore.
Exiting the Hideout interface, Lin Jiayao heard the door open and looked towards it in the darkness.
Her sister carefully entered the room, closed and locked the door, and then tiptoed to the bedside.
Reaching the bed, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and she noticed Lin Jiayao looking at her, seemingly having been awake for a while.
“Ah… Yaoyao, when did you wake up?” Lin Xiwan smiled sheepishly, took off her shoes, and slipped into bed. “I just went to the bathroom…”
Habitually placing her legs around her sister’s, she saw Lin Jiayao still looking at her and realized her excuse wouldn’t work.
“I went out for a bit… to look for the Blood Gang,” Lin Xiwan admitted, her hand hovering over her sister’s head before gently resting there. “They… they escaped.”
“I didn’t think things through. I didn’t expect them to run away in the middle of the night…”
Lin Xiwan’s voice was filled with self-reproach, as if feeling powerless for not being able to avenge her sister.
“It’s okay, Sister,” Lin Jiayao said, smiling gently. “They might have been eaten by zombies outside at night.”
“Haha… Maybe.” Lin Xiwan chuckled, but inwardly sighed.
Going towards the city would definitely mean encountering zombies, even mutated ones, but the guards had said the Blood Gang had fled towards the highway.
Perhaps she would still encounter them on the road…
Lin Xiwan took a deep breath, feeling the weight on her shoulders increase.
“It’s alright, Sister will protect you. Go back to sleep.”
She brushed the hair away from Lin Jiayao’s forehead and kissed her.
“Mm.”
I will protect you too.
Lin Jiayao replied silently.
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