Hidden Rules IV

Limei Hotel, Room 306.

After the Fire Thief announced the rules, Guan Tong soon heard the commotion from the lobby.

Over a hundred people were gathered there, and it was likely that a major discussion had already erupted regarding the current rules.

Guan Tong silently recited in his mind.

"Personal Terminal."

He wanted to check what this round's hidden rules were first.

Focusing his attention on the fourth rule, the hidden rule quickly appeared.

[Hidden Rule Four: Difficult Choice]

[Hidden Rule Content: In this round's rules, regional snowfall is positively correlated with population density. Areas with more people will have higher snowfall. Areas with fewer people will have lower snowfall.]

[Note: Facing extreme environments, humans instinctively choose to band together to survive. But after learning this hidden rule, do you have the courage to leave the group and face the disaster alone?]

...What?

After reading this hidden rule, Guan Tong subconsciously looked at the heavy snow falling outside the window.

Areas with more people, higher snowfall... Areas with fewer people, lower snowfall...

Leaving the group, facing the disaster alone...

This truly is a 'Difficult Choice'.

Guan Tong hadn't expected the hidden rule for the fourth apocalypse rule to be like this.

This meant that major cities like the Capital, Yong'an, and Yunhua City, where he was currently located, would experience the highest snowfall!

Meanwhile, remote rural areas, and even uninhabited regions in the northwest, would likely have very little snowfall, perhaps only a normal winter snowfall.

"Major cities have well-developed road infrastructure, ample resource reserves, and high-level emergency response services, so they're given the highest snowfall. Remote areas lack various facilities and have insufficient resource reserves, so they're given the least snowfall..."

"Should I call this the Fire Thief's goodwill towards people in remote areas... or malice towards densely populated regions?"

Guan Tong even had a somewhat laughable thought: perhaps the Fire Thief was also considering the wild animals on the planet.

After all, with such uniform snowfall across the globe, it was hard to say how many humans would survive after a month, let alone the countless wild animals that would likely suffer heavy casualties and become extinct.

But returning to reality, what should he choose?

Continue staying at the Limei Hotel, knowing this hidden rule?

This hotel was located right next to a main road in the city, in an excellent location. It wouldn't be long before the authorities would transport a large amount of supplies here. Moreover, with more people around, they might be able to help each other if something happened...

These should be advantages. But the disadvantage was facing extremely heavy snowfall for an entire month, during which water outages, power outages, extreme cold, and all sorts of other issues could occur.

What if he chose to leave? Go to a sparsely populated area alone?

But facing a natural disaster of this magnitude, would being alone and without help truly be okay?

Guan Tong looked at the increasingly dense snow outside the window, knowing he had to make a decision quickly.

If he delayed for a few more hours, by the time the accumulated snow blocked all the roads leading out of the city, he wouldn't be able to leave even if he wanted to!

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knock on the door suddenly sounded, followed by Xu Xiaotian's voice.

"Brother Tong! What are you doing in there? Come out quickly, everyone's in the lobby!"

Hearing Xu Xiaotian's voice, Guan Tong went to open the door.

"Brother Tong, why aren't you coming down?" Xu Xiaotian asked curiously. "More people have arrived at the hotel from outside."

"Is that so? Let's go down and see."

Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian went down to the first-floor lobby. As expected, the lobby, which had originally held over a hundred people, had now nearly doubled in size. Another hundred-plus people had arrived from outside, carrying large bags and packages.

Someone who had been staying there for a long time couldn't help but complain, "All 150 guest rooms are full, why are these people still crowding in? Where are they going to sleep?"

The newcomers immediately retorted upon hearing the complaint.

"Why no place to sleep? All the hotel rooms have double beds, one double bed can sleep two people! 150 rooms can sleep at least 300 people! And some rooms have more than one double bed, so even more can sleep."

"Isn't it okay for those who arrived first to sleep in the beds? I'm not fighting with you guys, I'll just sleep on the floor!"

"This hotel doesn't belong to you either, aren't we all staying here for free? If you ask me, there shouldn't be a first-come, first-served basis, it's more reasonable to take turns sleeping if there aren't enough beds."

"Everyone, don't argue. The hotel is huge, besides the guest rooms, there are also spacious areas like the bar, gym, and restaurant. We can sleep quite a few people if we tidy them up."

"It's the official call, asking people to gather together so that supplies can be transported efficiently. My home is nearby, so I came over. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

"That makes a lot of sense. With such heavy snow, how deep will the snow on the roads be after a few days? The authorities can't possibly deliver supplies to every single household then, they'll have to have people gather together!"

Seeing the people arguing and making a racket, Guan Tong frowned.

Xu Xiaotian was still looking troubled beside him, "This rule is really annoying, it lasts for the entire month of June. I was planning to report to the Academy in the Capital this month, but now, I definitely can't go... However, the Academy will surely postpone its opening because of this rule, right?"

Xu Xiaotian turned to Guan Tong, "What do you think, Brother Tong?"

What Guan Tong said completely surprised him, "Xiaotian, I'm planning to leave here."

"Oh. Uh? What???"

Xu Xiaotian took several seconds to process what Guan Tong had said, his eyes widening as he stared at him.

"Brother Tong! What are you saying? You're leaving?"

"Mhm."

"No, there's so much snow outside, where are you going? And didn't that person just say the officials are calling for everyone to gather together!"

Guan Tong couldn't tell Xu Xiaotian that he knew the Hidden Rules, so he simply said, "I have a feeling that once there are too many people, things will get chaotic. So I've decided to leave."

"This... Brother Tong..."

"I'm going back to get my backpack and leave immediately."

Xu Xiaotian hadn't expected Guan Tong to make such a sudden decision. While astonished, he also felt an urge to say, "I'll go with you, Brother Tong!"

But looking at the swirling snow outside, he hesitated again.

He really didn't know where he could go in such heavy snow. And wouldn't staying outside in this weather lead to hypothermia very quickly?

While Xu Xiaotian was hesitating, Guan Tong had already gone upstairs back to his room.

He opened the cabinet in the room, where he had previously stored some high-energy food, quick-acting medicine, and other emergency supplies.

He took these items out now and packed them into his small backpack.

At this moment, Xu Xiaotian also followed him, standing at the doorway and watching Guan Tong pack his things with a worried expression.

"Brother Tong, you've really decided?"

"Mhm."

Guan Tong slung his backpack on and walked out, handing the room card for 306 to Xu Xiaotian.

"Give this room card to someone you find agreeable."

"Brother Tong, you're too rushed. I haven't even prepared myself mentally..."

"Time waits for no one, and neither does the heavy snow." Guan Tong patted Xu Xiaotian's shoulder. "Live well, and we'll meet again."

"...Mhm! Then Brother Tong, you must be careful! I don't know where you're going, but be extremely careful!"

"Okay."

Guan Tong bid farewell to Xu Xiaotian and walked out of the first-floor lobby.

Because he had lived there for some time, some of the older residents recognized him. Seeing him walk out with a backpack, they were surprised.

"Guan Tong, you're leaving?"

"Mhm."

"Are you crazy! With this much snow outside, aren't you looking for death!"

Guan Tong didn't answer and walked straight out the door.

"...This kid must be crazy, completely crazy!"

"Never mind him. Let's call the Life Support Department first and ask them to send food! With so many people, how much food will be consumed every day!"

"And thick clothes, thick quilts! It's not that cold yet since the snow just started, but it will definitely get extremely cold later!"

Guan Tong walked out of the Limei Hotel and looked at the flying snow in front of him, taking a deep breath of cold air.

"With this [Thermostatic Tech Underwear] I'm wearing, I don't need to worry about hypothermia if I'm active outside for 6 hours. I must obtain the necessary supplies within this time and then leave Yunhua City, heading for Mingdao Mountain, which is over seven hundred miles south of the city. It's sparsely populated there, and the snowfall definitely won't be heavy!"