Chapter 9: Rescue

Su Xiao stayed on the small fishing boat until the safehouse was successfully bound an hour later.

Strictly speaking, this place wasn’t all that remote, yet she hadn’t seen a single other survivor during that time.
On second thought, it wasn’t surprising.

Blue Star had a population of 10 billion, and 30 million safehouses. Even if every person had one, the probability was only 0.3%.
Assuming the distribution of safehouses didn’t take population density into account, this city had roughly 18 million residents passing through. Based on that ratio, there might be around 54,000 safehouses here.
If someone owned two or more at once, the number of people with access would shrink even further.
On top of that, different types of safehouses had different mobility restrictions. Some could only be moved in specific ways, severely limiting their usage.

Survivors without safehouses were too busy scrambling for basic supplies to bother treasure-hunting, so it was only natural that few had made it here.

【Congratulations! You have successfully bound Level 1 Safehouse No. 283947】
【This is your second bound safehouse. Instructions will not be repeated.】
【Here’s a friendly tip from Xiao Mo: Binding a third safehouse may trigger a special event.】

A special event requires a third safehouse?
Then what exactly is that event?

“Xiao Mo, open the information panel.”

【Level 1 Safehouse (Owner: Su Xiao)】
【Space: 0/4】
【Storage: 0/10】
【Indoor Temperature: 23°C】

So, each safehouse had a base storage capacity of ten items, but the internal space varied.
Thankfully, this boat didn’t need to store oxygen.

After reviewing the info, Su Xiao disembarked.
Once off the boat, she glanced back. The small fishing boat safehouse in her hand had turned into a toy-sized miniature.

Interesting.

She tucked the toy boat into her pocket and casually collected the nearby red treasure chest. As expected, it contained a hammer—there was no need to open it again.

Suddenly, she noticed a red toy car under the willow tree—the same one that had fallen off the man after the tree devoured him.
Staring at the toy boat in her hand, Su Xiao recalled how the red Ferrari disappeared when those two men arrived earlier.

Could it be—
She picked up the toy car.

【You’ve acquired one unbound Level 1 Safehouse. Bind it now? Yes/No】

What luck! She was just nodding off, and someone handed her a pillow!

Of course she would bind it!

The next second, the toy car transformed into a full-sized red Ferrari right before her eyes.

Upon entering, Su Xiao realized this was essentially a camper. The windshield provided a wide field of view over the surrounding street, making it easy to monitor the terrain. Inside was a single driving seat, which could recline into a bed.

【You now own three Level 1 Safehouses. You are eligible to upgrade.
As the first survivor on Blue Star to possess three Level 1 Safehouses, a personalized upgrade will be designed for you.
Before upgrading, please complete the Safehouse Experience Survey and Upgrade Intent Form.】

Su Xiao was momentarily stunned.
So this was the special event?

【Are you satisfied with your current safehouses? Please rate from one to five stars. One being dissatisfied, five being very satisfied.】

Most people would be grateful for just one safehouse. She had found three—what was there to complain about?
Without hesitation, she selected “Yes, very satisfied.”

【Are you satisfied with the safehouse assistant Xiao Mo? Please rate from one to five stars.】

Xiao Mo?

Su Xiao realized she hadn’t really used Xiao Mo much yet, but it seemed like an AI assistant.
Now that a feedback survey had appeared, she took it seriously.

Of course—five stars again.

【Next is the Upgrade Intent Form. After the “beep,” please speak your desired upgrade plan aloud. Your suggestion will be submitted to headquarters in text format.】

Beep—

Seriously? A pop quiz? And she had to improvise on the spot?

Clearing her throat, Su Xiao spoke steadily and without hesitation:

“I hope the upgraded safehouse can combine the strengths of all three current safehouses, and be accessible in any area.
Since the underground cellar has the drawback of being immobile once the user exits, while the fishing boat and the car are portable but prone to being lost, I’d like the upgrade to eliminate these weaknesses.
Given that this is now a bound and upgraded safehouse, it should be fully under the player’s control.”

She paused.
Her mind briefly stalled.
She couldn’t think of anything else on the fly.

【Thank you for your input. Your suggestion has been submitted to headquarters. Please wait for your upgrade plan.】

Wait—
She wasn’t finished yet!

“Xiao Mo!”

Xiao Mo: “I’m here.”

“I didn’t finish saying everything just now. Can I add a bit more?” Su Xiao asked cautiously.

The time limit had caught her off guard. She hadn’t thought it all through yet.

Xiao Mo: “The Upgrade Intent Form has already been submitted to headquarters and can no longer be modified.
However, if you have suggestions for Xiao Mo’s service, feel free to share.”

“No, it’s just…” Su Xiao paused, “About the special prompts found on buildings or plants outside—sometimes they lead to treasure chests, but sometimes they summon Doomsday Monsters. Is there a pattern to this?”

Xiao Mo: “The gameplay and mechanics of the Doomsday Game must be explored by survivors themselves. Xiao Mo cannot assist with that.”

Su Xiao: …

Fine.

“Xiao Mo, open the info panel.”

She checked the Ferrari safehouse’s data.

【Level 1 Safehouse (Owner: Su Xiao)】
【Space: 0/4】
【Storage: 0/10】
【Indoor Temperature: 23°C】
【Fuel Range: 4.6 km】

Hm?
Fuel range?

So Master Turtle was right. Different safehouses had different mobility types and their own pros and cons.
Even though both the boat and the car were mobile, the underground cellar was still more efficient. Save where you can.

Su Xiao left the Ferrari, now carrying two safehouses—a toy car and a toy boat—in her pocket.

She retraced her steps to the cellar, though the entrance was so well hidden that, even with landmarks, it took her a while to locate it again.
Once inside, she checked the digital map, then took out her phone and opened the notepad to record the coordinates.
She marked the location as: “Level 2 Doomsday Monster Area.”

She’d come back once her weapon was upgraded to level 2.

At present, she still hadn’t figured out where to obtain wood planks and iron blocks, which were necessary to upgrade her weapon.

After making the note, Su Xiao noticed group notifications piling up—999+.
She had muted the groups earlier to avoid distractions.
Now, her compulsion won over, and she tapped them open.

Most of the groups were forwarding the same message—

【@Everyone: Global disaster alert. The worldwide doomsday contingency plan has been activated.
The Alliance has deployed military rescue units.
Anyone who survived the hurricane, please share your coordinates and await rescue.
If you have a bound safehouse and are willing to offer it for research, the Alliance will provide additional compensation.】