Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - chapter 62

The Trade Festival began one month before the arrival of the Acid Rain Season.

At night, the Radiation Storms ceased, and the radiation index dropped to its lowest point.

Even so, they could not linger above ground at night.

“We can dig a hole ourselves and crawl underground. Or we can go to a hotel,” Karl said. He came to the Trade Festival every year and knew what to do.

“There’s a hotel here?” Gu Huaiwei preferred staying in a hotel.

“Well, rather than a hotel, it’s more like the underground warehouses left behind by the large factories from before the Nuclear Explosion.”

Karl patted the gun slung across his hip, his tone tinged with pride. “This area used to be an industrial zone. Those with guns would claim the warehouses in advance and then charge others for entry.”

Gu Huaiwei caught his implication. “So, having a gun is more important than having food.”

“Of course,” Karl said, lifting his chin, hands clasped behind his back as he strode forward, his voice confident and loud. “Power is born from violence.”

When the end of the world arrived, those who hoarded supplies generally fell into two camps: one hoarded food, the other stockpiled weapons.

Those who hoarded food thought that with enough to eat, they could become hamsters, lock themselves at home, hide away, and live out their days in comfort.

Those who stockpiled weapons planned to seize power after the apocalypse, drag all the hamsters out, and claim their food for themselves.

Gu Huaiwei lowered her head. She loved power, and she loved guns.

On the Wasteland, nothing was gained through goodwill, rules, or reason.

In such an environment, morality and order were empty talk.

The Oasis Hotel, if not for its formidable security measures, would have been torn apart by the people of this world long ago-not even a door panel would be left behind.

Such were the laws of survival here.

Either accept them.

Or be devoured.

After nightfall, the bustling marketplace dispersed, and the dry wind and sand swept the streets, leaving them desolate.

The tall iron gates were mottled with rust. Several fully armed Mercenaries stood at the entrance, gripping black guns. Their gazes were cold, sweeping over everyone who wanted a room.

Many people came here, and Gu Huaiwei had to wait in line.

The lodging fee was two Gold Coins per room.

Gu Huaiwei arranged for Karl and Bai Niao to share a room, while she stayed with Li Niang and her daughter.

After paying, they followed the stairs down.

The so-called rooms were merely partitions made of iron plates, extremely crude inside. A dim lightbulb dangled precariously, casting a faint yellow glow that barely illuminated the surroundings.

The air was thick with the smell of machine oil. The beds were just a few thin wooden planks. There were no windows, only a narrow ventilation pipe.

“We’ll make do here for the night. Tomorrow we set out.”

Li Niang and her daughter were very quiet, curling up in the corner without a bed, trying to minimize their presence.

There was no one else here.

Gu Huaiwei no longer deliberately kept her voice cold. Her tone was gentle and calm as she spoke honestly to Li Niang about her plans.

“Don’t worry. I won’t sell any part of your body. I only said that at the Slave Market to avoid trouble.”

“I run a hotel in the Radiation Zone and need staff. I bought you so you could help me manage the hotel.”

Fine lines creased the corners of Li Niang’s eyes. Hearing Gu Huaiwei speak so gently, she was deeply grateful that she had chosen the right person.
“Shopkeeper Gu, thank you for giving us this opportunity. We will work hard for sure.”

Even if she were asked to kill someone with a gun, she would do her best to learn.

Gu Huaiwei continued, “This job includes food and lodging. Your wages will be used to offset the money I paid to buy you. I can guarantee that within three years, I will return your Indenture Contract to you.”

“You mean… give us our freedom?” Li Niang’s eyes widened in surprise. This meant they would no longer be slaves.

Was this… really not just comforting words?

“Yes. By then, if you want to stay at the hotel, I will pay you in Gold Coins. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”

“I…” Li Niang was at a loss for words.

Happiness had come so suddenly.

She had never imagined she could gain her freedom.

Yet this hope had landed on her so naturally.

At this moment, Li Niang felt that Heaven must have opened its eyes and looked at her, letting her meet Gu Huaiwei.

“Don’t get too excited yet. Let me be clear about the conditions.”

Gu Huaiwei hadn’t brought them back for charity.

Her tone grew serious: “I’ll give you a probation period. If you can adapt to the work, I’ll keep you. If you can’t, at next year’s Trade Festival, I’ll resell you to minimize my losses.”

Li Niang held her daughter gently, stroking her hair. In her mother’s arms, the girl had already fallen asleep.

She lowered her head, tears of joy in her eyes. It was as if she were swearing to Gu Huaiwei, and also to herself: “I am willing to devote everything I have to this job.”

The next day, Gu Huaiwei woke up early. Her back and waist ached as she got up, and she scratched her hair irritably.

She was used to the soft little bed at Oasis Hotel.

Sleeping on a wooden board outside, she felt as if every bone in her body hurt.

Karl had chatted happily with Bai Niao yesterday.

Today, Karl kept praising Bai Niao to Gu Huaiwei, saying he was knowledgeable, a promising kid worth cultivating.

It seemed Bai Niao was quite good at winning people over.

Although Karl was simple-minded, Bai Niao had maxed out his favorability in just one night, which was impressive.

Putting him at the door as a doorman was just right.

They took the Bus, and Gu Huaiwei, bringing three extra people, paid four Gold Coins with a bit of pain.

Steel Ring was three stops away from Black Tower Fortress.

Along the way, they would pass through the Tenth District and the Ninth District.

When passing the Tenth District, Gu Huaiwei looked out the window and saw guards on the high walls actually shooting at the civilians outside.

At the Ninth District stop, two burly passengers got on. Seeing that Gu Huaiwei was surrounded by women and children, they immediately drew knives, intending to rob them.

Filthy words, nothing but the usual threats.

Robbery for money and for women.

Gu Huaiwei leaned back in her seat, arm resting on the window, calmly asked Karl to shoot and break one hand and one foot of each. Only then did they settle down.

“Black Tower Fortress, next stop. Passengers getting off, please take your belongings and exit through the rear door.”

Gu Huaiwei stepped over the twisted bodies of the men on the floor, avoiding the spreading blood, and got off the Bus.

She looked up ahead.

She saw the pitch-black giant pillars stabbing into the sky.

“Welcome to Black Tower Fortress.”