Hideout Resource Management Log

[Security Level 1—Worn-Out Door]

Effect: Safety rating +1

Assessment: At least you finally have a proper door. But are you sure you don't need a lock?

Yu Yuan: ...

That's it?

He opened the Virtual Light Screen to check this so-called safety rating. Only then did he notice that the Hideout information contained many other metrics, including defense rating, comfort rating, energy rating, hygiene rating, and more.

The safety rating depended on several factors, but mainly on Hideout infrastructure such as security, walls, ventilation, and the Water Collector. To unlock kitchen facilities, he had to build Level 1 Ventilation and a Level 1 Water Collector, then raise the safety rating to Level 5.

After all, a Level 1 kitchen was nothing more than a fire pit, with risks of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Ventilation and a Water Collector would help prevent those dangers.

But the maximum safety rating was Level 60. His current Level 1 rating might as well not exist.

That was fair. A door without even a lock could hardly be called secure.

Fortunately, upgrading the Hideout door to Level 2 would raise the safety rating to Level 3.

But upgrading it to [Security Level 2—Simple Security Door] required one security door lock, ten units of steel, twenty rivets, and one nail gun.

That was a considerable jump in difficulty.

People on Taotao Cave were selling those things, but every price was steep. No matter how many supplies he had, he couldn't afford to keep spending like that. Having already tried trading on Taotao Cave, Yu Yuan decided to search for the materials himself first.

Next, Yu Yuan built [Rest Area Level 1—Sleeping Mat] and [Bathroom Level 1—Washing Area].

The sleeping mat raised comfort rating by 1, restored an additional 5% stamina per hour, and increased physical recovery speed by 5%.

It looked exactly like a sleeping mat: just a yoga mat laid on the floor.

But when Yu Yuan tried lying on it, his aching muscles eased slightly. Even the scrapes he had picked up in the earlier fight began to tingle.

He hadn't felt anything like that on the mattress. Resting on the mat was clearly his best option.

[Bathroom Level 1—Washing Area] was even more basic.

Its building materials were a floor drain, PVC pipe, and cement.

Once built, it was nothing more than a square meter of cement flooring. The center dipped slightly around the floor drain.

In one corner stood the red bucket he had acquired through trade. The sight made Yu Yuan's eye twitch.

So it really is just a washing area!

There wasn't even a faucet. If he wanted to wash, he would have to get the water himself. At least it came with a drain, so washing up wouldn't flood the Hideout.

Using it as a toilet was out of the question, though. For now, he would have to go outside.

I need to upgrade the Bathroom as soon as possible... Yu Yuan resolved. The Sewer would be his home for a long time, and he had no desire to leave landmines everywhere.

Still, [Bathroom Level 1—Washing Area] had some impressive effects.

Hygiene rating +1, comfort rating +1, chance of illness -10%, chance of wound infection -5%, risk of mental breakdown -5%.

Perhaps those were bonuses for staying clean. Keeping his body clean really could help steady his mind.

With [Security], [Rest Area], and [Bathroom] all at Level 1, [Ventilation], [Water Collector], and [Lighting] unlocked in succession.

[Ventilation Level 1—Single-Pipe Ventilation] required PVC pipe, sealant, and a car air-conditioning exhaust fan.

[Water Collector Level 1—Faucet] required stainless steel water pipe, a faucet, and pipe-sealing tape.

Compared with those two facilities, Level 1 [Lighting] was so simple that Yu Yuan laughed.

[Lighting Level 1—Candle] required one candle.

As it happened, Yu Yuan had a windproof candle on hand.

He immediately chose to build [Lighting Level 1—Candle].

It took only five seconds. Once construction was complete, its effects appeared: comfort rating +1, candle consumption rate -40%, illumination range +20%, brightness +10%.

As for [Ventilation] and [Water Collector], he would have to wait until he had gathered the materials.

Still, Yu Yuan was more than satisfied with building four facilities on his first day in the Wasteland.

He checked the time. It was already 1:30 a.m. The acid rain had started at 11:50 p.m. and lasted half an hour, so it had stopped long ago.

He had planned to gather more supplies during the night, but when he reached the ladder leading from the air-raid shelter level up to the Sewer, he frowned.

He smelled faint traces of rust and rotten eggs.

The smells were faint, but unmistakable.

They had appeared after the acid rain. The rotten-egg odor might have come from the rain evaporating, while the rusty smell came from acid corroding metal.

Clearly, although the rain had stopped and there hadn't been much of it, its effects on the city had not. They were still spreading.

"I'm not going out tonight!"

If he went out now, especially while climbing out of the Sewer, he could easily come into contact with pooled rainwater. Getting burned by acid would make the trip pointless.

He would have to see how things looked tomorrow. Hopefully, everything would go smoothly.

Back at the Hideout, he spent 10 Survival Points on Taotao Cave to buy a liter of lake water. After a quick wash, he got ready to rest.

He checked the Worn Newspaper Rack specifically, but there was no new paper. Evidently, it wasn't time for one to appear yet.

As for the Fate Card, Yu Yuan planned to draw it after waking up tomorrow. If it had a time limit like the [Slaughter Card], using it now would waste the hours he spent asleep.

Yu Yuan placed cans and other noisy supplies behind the security door. If anyone tried to enter the Hideout, they would make a sound.

He lay on the yoga mat with his pistol loaded and resting on his chest, and his Kukri within reach. After blowing out the candle, he stared into the pitch-black void.

That was how his first day in the Wasteland ended. So much had happened that it was almost hard to believe.

He already had a rough idea of where to explore tomorrow, though he would have to wait for the next newspaper before deciding for certain.

Which hotel was the room card he had found on Brother Biao for...?

And whose wallet was that? Why were there condoms in it...?

Those questions kept tumbling through Yu Yuan's mind until, exhausted from the day, he gradually fell asleep.

Fish Abyss Shelter Resource Management Log

Date: Wasteland Day 2

Location: East City District 13, Green Forest City

Food: 8 cans of Canned Beef, 12 packs of instant noodles, 5 bottles of mineral water (500 ml), 34 pieces of chocolate, 33 packs of Camel Cigarettes, 7 Marlboro Cigarettes, 1 Snickers...

Supplies: 3 condoms, 9 long nails, 1 mattress...

Weapons: 1 Kukri, 1 tactical axe, 1 alloy Folding Crossbow (with 10 bolts), 1 Colt M1911A1 Pistol (with 6 .45 ACP FMJ Bullets)

Tools: 1 multifunction pliers, 1 adjustable wrench

Containers: 1 backpack, 1 canvas shoulder bag (damaged), 1 wallet