Map of Green Forest City's East City District

"No... You're dead!" Yu Yuan's eyes flew open. He sat up and raised his pistol.

But all he saw was darkness.

"Whew..."

As Yu Yuan came fully awake, he realized he had been having a nightmare. He had seen Monkey lunging at him with a vicious grin, a crossbow bolt still lodged in his neck.

Yu Yuan let out a long breath, and his nerves began to settle.

What the hell was happening to him?

Just yesterday morning, he had been at home with the air conditioner on, drinking cola and playing games.

How had he ended up in the Wasteland World?

He shook the jumble of thoughts from his head and opened the Virtual Light Screen. It was already 6:20 a.m.

He had slept four hours at most, but his body had recovered well. Most of the muscle soreness had faded. There was still some lactic acid buildup, but it would not slow him down.

He got up and lit a windproof candle, illuminating the Hideout.

Using the flame, he lit a Marlboro Cigarette and took three drags. On the last one, he closed his eyes and held his breath for three seconds before slowly exhaling.

The nicotine sent a tingle across his scalp, followed by a rush of pleasure.

"Whew..."

His morning grogginess vanished. With the cigarette at the corner of his mouth, he looked toward the Security door. Nothing was amiss.

But when his gaze swept over the Worn Newspaper Rack in the corner, his eyes lit up. His heart beat a little faster as he hurried over.

The newspaper had refreshed!

That was not what had him rushing over, though. There was something else on the rack besides the newspaper.

He picked it up. It was a map, and delight surged through him.

A map was one of the Items he needed most right now. But when he looked closer, he found it covered in gray haze. He could not make out a thing.

Just then, a message appeared on the Virtual Light Screen.

[Spend 200 Survival Points to purchase this intelligence item?]

Yu Yuan remembered that only newspapers from the Worn Newspaper Rack were free. Other supplies that appeared at random had to be purchased with Survival Points.

He bought it at once.

Only then did he notice his Survival Points balance. Even after the 200-point deduction, he still had 230.

"That can't be right!"

He had earned only 1,300 Survival Points yesterday. Joining Taotao Cave had cost 1,000, buying lake water had cost 10, and the map had just cost 200. He should have had only 90 left.

Where had the extra 140 Survival Points come from?

He soon found the answer.

At six o'clock, he had received several system messages.

[Congratulations! You survived to see a new day. Hideout survival assessment: 140 Survival Points earned (tap for details).]

[Hideout ranking bonus assessment complete: 0.]

[Daily total: 140 Survival Points. Keep it up!]

Yu Yuan tapped for details. He learned that the Hideout awarded a base of 100 Survival Points each day, plus 10 for every level-one facility built.

Yu Yuan had exactly four level-one facilities, bringing his reward to 140 Survival Points.

His eyebrows rose, and a smile touched his lips.

That was good news. At least he had a steady way to earn Survival Points. The amount was not much, but the system was fair enough: the points earned were tied directly to the strength of the Hideout.

At least it was fair.

He looked back at the map. All its information was now visible.

[Map of Green Forest City's East City District]

Quality: Rock Tier

Description: A detailed map of the buildings and streets across East City's 15 districts. Surveyed five years ago. Accuracy: 88%.

Yu Yuan had no complaints. A five-year-old map was more than good enough. Even if things had changed in that time, the changes would be minor. The street layout and landmark buildings would still be there.

He took today's newspaper back to the Rest Area. By the light of the windproof candle, he turned the map over and studied both sides.

East City had 15 districts. Phoenix Tree Apartments, where he had gone yesterday, was in District 13. He quickly found Felwood Avenue on the map, then located Phoenix Tree Apartments and the dentist's office.

With those two places as reference points, Yu Yuan had a rough idea of where the Hideout was. That would make future supply runs much easier.

He carefully folded and put away the map, then turned to today's newspaper. Once again, the print was clear in only two sections.

[District News Section]

Quality: Rock Tier

Danger Level: Moderate

Through an informant in District 13, Marauder Prison has learned that the Black Shield Police Department destroyed its outpost. In response to this provocation, it has decided to strike back and show them what Marauder Prison can do.

According to an undercover reporter for this paper, a Marauder Prison raiding party plans to ambush a returning Black Shield Police Department patrol at the Land Hotel, where Golden Orchid Avenue meets Waterfront Street in District 14, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

For this operation, Marauder Prison is expected to deploy five homemade land mines, 20 Molotov Cocktails, 20 Grenades, two Snipers, two machine gunners, 20 raiding party members, five members of the Slave Suicide Squad, two Apocalypse Pickups, and one Scavengers armored vehicle.

[District Entertainment Section]

Quality: Rock Tier

Danger Level: Low

Acid rain last night corroded the screws on a fence at Johnk Zoo in East City's District 11. Some of the animals claimed as private property by the Aurora Animal Assistance Society escaped from the Zoo under cover of darkness.

A small number have reached the 12th Block. Three wolves and two hyenas are hiding near the north side of Newson Avenue. Eight Kerry Hill Sheep are roaming the ecological zone west of Red Bank Park, while two anacondas have entered the rainforest experience center to the north. They are badly frightened and will not leave anytime soon.

The Aurora Animal Assistance Society staff on duty have reported the situation and are organizing armed search teams, but they appear to be looking in the wrong direction.

Yu Yuan pressed his lips together as he read the newspaper.

After last night, he knew what "Low" danger felt like. He had barely made it out alive!

And now there were land mines, Molotov Cocktails, Grenades, suicide squads, armored vehicles, and pickup trucks—yet the Danger Level was only "Moderate."

That was ridiculous.

He did not even want to imagine what "High" danger looked like. A full-scale bombardment?

And yet...

He could not help feeling tempted.

If—and it was a big if—he could stay at the edge of the battlefield and pick through the aftermath, maybe...

Ideas flashed through his mind. He unfolded the map again and searched for the Land Hotel in District 14.

When he found it, his eyes gleamed.

On the map, District 13 lay between the 12th Block to the north and District 14 to the south.

To reach Golden Orchid Avenue in District 14, he only had to follow Felwood Avenue south from Phoenix Tree Apartments. Then he could head east along Golden Orchid Avenue straight to the Land Hotel.

Yu Yuan's eyes flickered with excitement. He was itching to give it a try.

"Maybe... I do have a chance!"