Ambush

After obtaining the generator repair manual and spare parts, Kirk and Little Fatty began their busy work repairing the generator.

It was already noon on the third day. According to The Space's prompt, the walkers would undergo their second mutation tonight. Currently, there were large numbers of walkers both inside and outside the prison. If they couldn't completely clear these walkers and secure this safe haven before nightfall, the team would face a huge threat under a pincer attack from both sides.

Two hours later, sweat dripping down their faces, the two received a pleasant prompt from The Space: "Contractor No. 4444, Contractor No. 4445, you have successfully repaired the generator and completed the related hidden branch quest 'Prison Hazard - 1'."

"With the generator back to normal operation, the power grid will resume its normal defensive functions, and the prison's defensive capabilities will be comprehensively enhanced! At the same time, the repaired generator has made the team aware of the prison's hidden dangers in advance. Potential enemies cannot use it to threaten the team, thus indirectly altering the fates of important plot characters to a certain extent. Combined, this grants a total of 3.2% plot deviation. Your current cumulative plot deviation is 5.6%. Your relationships with Rick, Laurie, and Carl have greatly improved!"

"Based on your performance, considering the newbie trial environment bonus of +50% and the contractor difficulty bonus of +50%, please choose one of the following 5 options as your reward.

a. Randomly increase one of the six basic attributes by +2 (original was +1) b. Randomly increase one of the six hidden attributes by +2 (original was +1; the six hidden attributes are internal correction values for Will, Reflex, Toughness, Perception, Luck, and Elemental Affinity) c. Increase Team Contribution Value by 100 points. d. One High Protein Potassium Injection (100% vitality recovery) e. One light blue equipment (random draw)

"After completing 'Prison Hazard - 1', no similar related quests will be issued."

"Big brother, we're rich!" Little Fatty exclaimed ecstatically, "So repairing a generator was actually a hidden branch quest! This is the first time I've seen such generous rewards, and it's a 5-choice-1! So many options!"

Kirk looked dejected, "What a shame."

"Nani! What's a shame?" Little Fatty asked, confused.

"We're probably not the first contractor team to complete this quest. If we were the first to complete a hidden quest, the rewards would be 100% richer, and it would be 5-choice-2."

"How do you know?" Little Fatty's eyes widened in surprise. "Could it be?"

"Mm," Kirk nodded. "I've completed this type of mission before."

Little Fatty stared for a long time, tears streaming down his face, "Big brother, you're a true genius! Why didn't I join you sooner? I regret it so much!" He kept tugging at his already thinning hair.

Kirk wasn't too disappointed. This plot was quite obvious and relatively easy, so it was normal for other contractors to have completed it before. The nursing home quest was too difficult, which was why no one had completed it. Such things depended entirely on luck; they were rare and couldn't be forced.

He was fortunate that Ma Ruiqi, Blondie, and Sally hadn't realized it yet, allowing them to complete this mission calmly.

Now, this 5-choice-1 selection made Kirk ponder for a long time. Basic attribute bonuses were very rare; Little Fatty said that at least Sally and the others had never encountered them. 100 Team Contribution Value was very valuable. A High Protein Potassium Injection could save his life at a critical moment, just like Little Fatty's toast saved him when he was on the brink of death. The light blue equipment had a high degree of randomness; good equipment could elevate one's strength to a new level, even changing combat methods. However, in the end, he gritted his teeth and took the risk of choosing b.

This was because, even though he had completed such a difficult hidden branch quest alone last time, he hadn't received a hidden attribute bonus reward. Since they were hidden attributes, they would likely be difficult to prompt, and this option was not easy to come by. According to the explanation obtained from The Space, Will determined the positive and negative correction values when subjected to abnormal status checks from all attacks. Increasing it could effectively resist abnormal statuses, including but not limited to slowness, immobilization, petrification, etc. Reflex determined the positive and negative correction values for dodging danger and ranged weapons, increasing the success rate of dodges. Perception determined the ability to predict danger and resistance to illusions, etc. Toughness determined the positive and negative correction values for damage taken from all attacks, including the specific numerical values of damage from weapons, magic, poison, and elements. Luck needed no explanation. Elemental Affinity determined the ability to use magic and sorcery, increasing success rate, casting speed, and damage effects.

As for the other options, there were alternative and compensatory solutions. However, hidden attribute rewards were extremely rare and precious, so Kirk chose b. It seemed that as long as his luck wasn't too bad and he didn't draw Elemental Affinity, the other five options would be useful to him.

As expected, Kirk drew one of the five-sixths of the time, Luck +2. Although it wasn't the hidden talent awakening value he wanted most, Toughness or Will, no one would complain about having too much luck. It was still a good outcome.

Little Fatty, without hesitation, chose the High Protein Potassium Injection. When Kirk asked for his reason, Little Fatty looked at him as if he were an alien, "Big brother, in this godforsaken place, is there anything more important than saving your life?" Kirk was speechless, but this choice was certainly not wrong. If Little Fatty hadn't risked his life to get that life-saving toast, Kirk wouldn't be alive now.

Kirk had already asked Little Fatty. When he completed the hidden side quest last time, Little Fatty hadn't received any prompts from The Space. It seemed The Space was quite considerate, not broadcasting it everywhere and causing trouble for the explorers who benefited. The two also whispered for a while, agreeing to keep their wealth hidden.

As for the awarded plot deviation, Little Fatty said he also received a prompt and gained a 1% deviation reward. Kirk himself hadn't figured out the use of plot deviation, but he figured it couldn't be a bad thing. Little Fatty sighed with emotion.

Now that the power was restored, using the loudspeaker required entering the control room and turning on the audio switch. However, this was clearly not difficult for them. The control room was right next to the generator room. The two boldly entered again, eliminated two tuning walkers, and took control of the control room.

"Big brother, how should we use the terrain? If we lure all the walkers here, I'm a bit worried," Little Fatty asked anxiously.

"Don't worry," Kirk said with his usual enigmatic expression. "I have my ways. We found quite a bit of diesel in the generator room, didn't we? We need to do a small test."

Ma Ruiqi was leading her team towards the generator room. A strong man was at the front, while she continuously fired her automatic weapon. Watching the kill count increase, Ma Ruiqi secretly rejoiced.

Why didn't I think of using the generator to lure the walkers earlier? Even without a loudspeaker, Rick showed me the entire prison layout. The control room is not far from the generator room, and there should be broadcasting equipment there. As long as I lure them over, I can brush for contribution points as much as I want. Ma Ruiqi thought smugly. She knew the external loudspeaker would also sound, attracting walkers outside, but she didn't care. As long as she benefited, she didn't care about the team's overall situation. The fewer people there were, the less competition she'd have.

Just as she was feeling proud, she heard a sharp alarm. Others looked confused, but Ma Ruiqi's heart sank. Her sharp fingernails dug deeply into her other hand, drawing blood without her noticing the pain.

"Who? Who activated the generator room first?" she gritted her teeth, her beautiful face contorting.

"Hurry! Hurry!" she screamed hysterically, her submachine gun no longer conserving bullets as it spat fire, "Tutu tut," felling the walkers in front of her.

Blondie, who was enthusiastically killing walkers, also heard the alarm. Although some people found it strange, Blondie casually dismissed it, saying it was normal for the prison to have an alarm and perhaps a walker had accidentally pressed a button. He continued searching for walkers.

Kirk only triggered the alarm for a little over ten seconds. He saw a few walkers quickly approaching, their hunger making them impatient. The control room and generator room were the core of the prison, and their defense was fully considered during construction. Only a corridor leading upwards could reach here. The two, looking down from above, poured a lot of diesel. Seeing the walkers ascend, Little Fatty immediately ignited the diesel in the corridor. The two watched the walkers.

Under normal circumstances, walkers feared fire and instinctively fled from a sea of fire. Now, it depended on whether they would continue to charge forward under the stimulation of the alarm.

Indeed, stimulated by the sharp alarm, the walkers went berserk. Seeing the living people in the distance, they roared for a while before their bloodthirsty instincts could no longer be suppressed. They let out low growls and slowly charged forward.

Little Fatty couldn't help but cheer, "Grandpas! I was afraid you brats wouldn't come, but it's easy once you do!"

Walker after walker walked through the sea of fire, turning into burning figures, becoming walking skeletons. The scene was both terrifying and eerie. However, halfway through, they finally fell, growling as they were burned to ashes.

"Huh? Why only 1 point for burning a walker?" Little Fatty exclaimed in surprise.

"1 point is good enough. We're using a shortcut to kill walkers, so The Space will naturally give a discount. Besides, we want more Team Contribution Value, and the diesel has no cost. What's wrong with getting something for free?" Kirk chuckled.

"That's true, big brother is wise," Little Fatty understood.

After this successful experiment, the two brazenly sounded the alarm loudly, and a large number of walkers rushed over.

The battle was about to break out!