Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - chapter 78

Chapter 78

The Fortress Lord folded his hands, his expression hidden beneath the mask. He did not respond easily, silently weighing the depth of this transaction in his mind.

“You need to prove you have the capability.”

The Mechanical Arm Girl suppressed the urge to speak up for Gu Huaiwei.

She didn’t want to expose their relationship.

Gu Huaiwei raised her hand and pointed at the presidential suite. “Isn’t a room like this enough to prove the strength of the Oasis Hotel?”

The fresh air, the radiation-free environment-indeed, only those with power equal to the Upper District could have built such a hotel.

Not to mention the vast lawns and fountains outside the hotel, where expensive water resources were used merely as decorative sprays.

The Fortress Lord pondered for a moment, his voice low and faintly oppressive: “The decision to reject wanderers in the Lower District was not made by a single district alone.

The Tenth District, the Ninth District, and the Seventh District governors jointly issued this order.

The Upper District has cut off our supply of Fresh Water, factories have shut down, and the economy is on the verge of collapse.

Do you think food alone can revive the Lower District?”

Gu Huaiwei’s expression remained unchanged, her smile ambiguous: “Whether you believe it or not, I do hope the Lower District’s economic situation improves.

I know that people in the Lower District are hunting outside now, and those mutated plants and animals can provide food for a while.

But in winter, the environment is harsh, and hunting at such times greatly increases the mortality rate.

Food isn’t everything, but it can solve urgent problems.

Moreover, if this deal goes through, perhaps we can discuss other matters, like… solving the Fresh Water issue.”

“The Lower District is barren…”

Gu Huaiwei leaned back slightly. “You’ve discovered a new Gold Mine. That’s not so barren, is it?”

As soon as she said this, even through the mask, Gu Huaiwei could sense the change in the Fortress Lord’s aura.

Gu Huaiwei’s black hair draped over her shoulders. She raised both her left and right hands, gesturing: “The Ruler and the Ruled are actually mutually dependent.

The Lower District is short on resources, chaotic in order, and rife with violence, yet it has survived in this post-radiation world for so long. This shows that your true wealth is the large population.

If everyone dies, can you, as mere commanders, really resist the oppression of the Upper District?”

The Mechanical Arm Girl spoke up at the right moment: “That’s right, Fortress Lord, this young lady is correct. The people of the Upper District cut off our Fresh Water supply, threatening us with the lives of civilians. We can’t let them get what they want.”

Gu Huaiwei brushed aside the bangs covering her eyes: “Because of the Gold Mine incident, the Upper District wanted to raise the price of Nutrient Solution and Fresh Water. You refused, so they cut off the supply.

Whether you admit it or not, the people of the Upper District don’t care about the life or death of the Lower District, including civilians, and including you three governors.”

The Fortress Lord fell silent again.

All of Gu Huaiwei’s analysis struck at the points he cared about most.

The only thing that made him suspicious was Gu Huaiwei’s mysterious background. She was too young, yet held too many resources. Even with Karl as a guarantor, he couldn’t fully trust her.

“Who exactly are you?”

Gu Huaiwei adjusted her glasses and smiled. “A Merchant.” Many people had asked her this question, and she always gave the same answer.

This answer clearly did not satisfy the Fortress Lord.

“Was your deal with Xiao Youqi?”

“You know him?” Gu Huaiwei replied.

“He used to be quite prominent in the Lower District,” the Fortress Lord paused, “but recently, he’s gone missing.”
Alive, there was no sign of him; dead, there was no corpse.

The Ninth District specifically dispatched people to search the Radiation Zone, but they found neither Xiao Youqi’s body nor any of his belongings.

“He’s not missing,” Gu Huaiwei replied lightly. “He was infected by radiation and is now receiving treatment at the Black Spiral Research Institute.”

The Fortress Lord’s gaze turned cold in an instant, his hand unconsciously tightening. “Are you from the Research Institute?”

“No.”

Gu Huaiwei was growing weary of this endless probing.

Business, as long as it benefits both parties, why bother caring about anything else?

Gu Huaiwei didn’t care about the true face beneath the Fortress Lord’s Protective Suit.

As long as the contract was honored, it didn’t matter who wore the Protective Suit to represent the Tenth District in discussions with her.

As the first step in establishing a cooperative relationship, the Fortress Lord, representing only the Tenth District and Black Tower Fortress, signed a small contract with Gu Huaiwei.

As for the escort of goods, that task was entrusted to Karl.

In this way, Gu Huaiwei successfully handed over Xiao Youqi’s previous work to Karl.

When the Fortress Lord was about to leave, the Mechanical Arm Girl secretly told Gu Huaiwei that, for Gu Changge’s sake, she would put in a good word for her and keep an eye on the business.

Because of her sister’s generosity, Gu Huaiwei was often favored by association.

It was like this in the Real World.

And it was the same in the Wasteland World.

When the first batch of loans was repaid, the money was deposited into the Paradise Card.

Gu Huaiwei, under the name of Oasis Hotel, took an interest-free personal loan from herself, then invested the money into the hotel’s construction, planning to repay it after the High-Speed Rail station began generating revenue.

In this way, Gu Huaiwei solved the problem of insufficient cash flow in the hotel’s public accounts.

The High-Speed Rail stations were: Oasis Hotel-Foul Marsh-Cleft Ridge Mountains-Falling Star Port-Neon Nest-Black Spiral Research Institute Headquarters-Silver Snow Expanse.

Beyond Foul Marsh, all were new locations.

Karl was from the Middle District.

He told Gu Huaiwei that the Cleft Ridge Mountains were above ground, rugged and treacherous, made up of bottomless ravines and towering stone peaks. There used to be many Gold Mines there, but after the mines were exhausted, the area became abandoned.

At the same time, the Cleft Ridge Mountains were also the entrance to the Seventh District.

From the Cleft Ridge Mountains to Falling Star Port was under the jurisdiction of the Middle District.

Falling Star Port was a harbor located on the Quicksand Black Sea.

To reach the Upper District, one had to cross this sea.

Neon Nest was a famous entertainment venue in the Upper District, home to the most renowned underground Arena.

Slaves, mutant creatures, and wanderers-some voluntary, some forced-participated in brutal battles here for the entertainment and betting of the Upper District’s wealthy.

Gu Huaiwei already knew about the Black Spiral Research Institute; it was located in the First District and was one of her sister’s enterprises in this world.

As for the final destination, the Silver Snow Expanse, Karl had never heard of it either.

Gu Huaiwei gazed intently at this route.

She had a peculiar feeling.

The transportation line was like the tentacles of the Oasis Hotel, taking root in the surface of this world, then continuously spreading and multiplying, expanding the hotel’s influence throughout the entire Underground City.

It was as if the Oasis Hotel was drawing power from this world, swelling and growing ever larger within it.

A four-star hotel had already connected three Underground Cities that were so far apart.

If it were to be upgraded to its ultimate form, the influence of the Oasis Hotel on this world would be immeasurable.

Gu Huaiwei’s thoughts settled on the construction of the Oasis Hotel.

She didn’t notice the footsteps gradually approaching in the Main Hall until a warm hand gently rested on her shoulder.

“Miss Gu.”