Construction Complete, Off to the Land Hotel

As the Quick-Drying Cement sealed the last gap in the exit, relief washed over Yu Yuan.

"Finally, that exit's sealed!"

According to the instructions, the Quick-Drying Cement would fully harden within an hour at most.

Then he would only need to weigh it down with blast-resistant sandbags. With the truck tarp beneath the exit hatch keeping water out, there shouldn't be any problems.

He picked up his tools and headed back. The only passage outside the Hideout's main door was already blocked by a 1.2-meter-high wall of blast-resistant sandbags. A waterproof sheet he had found at Phoenix Tree Apartments wrapped around the outside to keep water out.

He had filled the gaps where the wall met the floor on both sides with Quick-Drying Cement. It reinforced the sandbag wall and eliminated any chance of rainwater seeping through.

Unlike the cement at the exit, though, this cement had already hardened.

Yu Yuan kicked it twice. Solid as a rock. He smiled.

He carefully checked the gaps between the sandbag wall and the passage walls with his flashlight. Finding no problems, he climbed over the high barrier and entered the Hideout.

It was already two in the afternoon.

A full day and night of nonstop, grueling work had left Yu Yuan utterly exhausted, but it had all been worth it.

Of the Air-Raid Shelter Level's two exits, he had sealed one completely. Once the Quick-Drying Cement hardened, all he had to do was pile the blast-resistant sandbags on top.

At the ladder exit he used regularly, all the materials needed to seal it were in place. If necessary, he could close it off in less than half an hour.

And that was only his first line of defense against the Typhoon's floodwaters.

The second was the high wall of blast-resistant sandbags across the passage. Even if rainwater leaked through both exits, the wall would stop it from spreading.

The third was, naturally, the upgraded [Stainless-Steel Floodproof Door] before him.

[Security Level 2—Stainless-Steel Floodproof Door]

Quality: Excellent

Functions: Security level +4. Prevents backflow, corrosion, and seepage; provides soundproofing, impact resistance, and locking.

The door had silicone waterproof seals around its frame and an automatic water barrier along the bottom. Even the hinges and lock had changed to stainless steel. It looked nothing like it had before.

He had also built a waterproof slope at the entrance and sealed every joint between the frame and the wall with waterproof sealant. As long as the door stayed shut, the silicone seals would press together around every gap. Not a drop would get through.

Yu Yuan nodded slightly. The excellent-quality [Security] facility was the first upgraded facility he had built.

He had done everything he could with those three lines of flood defense.

If anything was still lacking, it was that he hadn't waterproofed the Hideout's walls. But that shouldn't be a major problem.

Back inside the Hideout, Yu Yuan lay down on his bedroll. His whole body ached, and even a slight stretch sent sharp cracks through his joints.

Building facilities in the Hideout only required him to provide the materials. Construction would finish in one step.

But he had sealed the Air-Raid Shelter Level exit and built the second flood barrier with his own hands, piece by piece. Hauling over a hundred blast-resistant sandbags and applying the Quick-Drying Cement had drained the last of his strength.

He didn't even manage to eat. As sleep overtook him, he barely had time to set his Positioning Watch alarm for six that evening before he passed out.

Ring, ring, ring...

Yu Yuan's head throbbed. He felt as though he were sinking into endless darkness, and all he wanted was to let himself go.

So tired!

I'm so tired!

Sleep!

I want to sleep!

But the ringing grew clearer in the murky darkness, gradually drawing his consciousness back.

He struggled to open his eyes.

The soft candlelight inside the Hideout greeted him. Yu Yuan remained dazed for another three seconds before his mind cleared.

"That's... that's the alarm I set..."

He turned it off.

More than half his strength had returned. His body still felt hollowed out, but he was much better than before.

He struggled upright and patted his cheeks to wake himself up.

He lit a cigarette. The harsh burn in his lungs finally sharpened his senses.

It was already 6:05.

He quickly ate and drank, then took his hand-cranked flashlight. After cranking it for a while, he left the Hideout to check the exit he had sealed earlier.

Clang, clang, clang...

The back of his Kukri struck the cement with a crisp ring.

Yu Yuan smiled. After nearly four hours, the cement had hardened completely. He immediately spread the sandbags he had prepared evenly across the cement-covered boards. The exit was sealed at last.

Back at the Hideout, he checked his Kukri, Glock 17 Pistol, twenty spare rounds, Folding Crossbow, and backpack in turn. He was ready to go.

The Marauder Prison's ambush of the Black Shield Police Department was about an hour away.

His plan was to slip in amid the chaos and seize whatever opportunity he could. He would travel light and keep things simple.

To that end, he had cleared out the supplies he had listed on Taotao Cave and fed the Kerry Hill Sheep another handful of grass.

Stroking the Kerry Hill Sheep's head, Yu Yuan murmured, "This is my last chance. Wish me luck finding a woman during this operation. Then you'll be free."

Just before leaving the Hideout, Yu Yuan stopped. He opened Taotao Cave, tapped through a few screens, and completed two trades.

He spent 75 Survival Points on ten Stone Blocks and five pieces of wood, then added five long nails and one unit of Steel from the Hideout.

He began construction.

Thirty seconds later, a square fire pit one meter across appeared in the Hideout's floor. Stone Blocks ringed the pit, with wood in the center and a stainless-steel tripod standing above it.

Once he lit the wood, he could use the tripod to boil water, make soup, or... grill food.

This was the new facility unlocked after he had finished building [Ventilation] and the [Water Collector]: [Kitchen Level 1—Hearth].

Functions: Energy level +1, comfort level +1, hygiene level +1. While burning, raises the Hideout's temperature by 5°C and the temperature within two meters by 15°C. Unlocks [Food Preparation].

Delight flashed in Yu Yuan's eyes. Three levels, each with a +1 bonus.

"That took long enough! I can finally eat a hot meal."

With that thought, he blew out the candle and left the Hideout.

Golden Orchid Avenue in District 14 was one of East City's best-known commercial districts. Before the Wasteland, luxury cars had streamed through its streets.

The Land Hotel, at the intersection of Golden Orchid Avenue and Waterfront Street, had been one of the most luxurious hotels in Green Forest City.

Countless tycoons, politicians, corporate magnates, film stars, socialites, royals, and crime bosses had passed through its doors. It had been a symbol of wealth and status, a threshold between social classes.

It had once been Green Forest City's most dazzling landmark.

Now, sadly, the Land Hotel was merely a recognizable building amid the Wasteland city's streets.

At that moment, Yu Yuan stood on a ladder in a sewer by the side of Golden Orchid Avenue. He kept his head tucked down and listened to the sounds outside.

He checked the time with some difficulty—7:15.

According to his intelligence, the clash would begin in... fifteen minutes.