“These are the food supplies provided by our shelter. Every survivor who joins can receive one portion per day for free. For additional meals, it costs one Level 1 mutated crystal per portion,” Tang Ye said.
The group, who had firmly insisted they would not join the shelter, suddenly hesitated. With conditions like these, could they really refuse?
“Then… can we buy some?” Wang Hui asked eagerly.
Everyone was starving. They had been out for several days, and their dry rations were already gone. Originally, they had planned to endure one night of hunger and eat when they returned to their shelter the next day. But now that they could smell the aroma, the endurance they had long been accustomed to suddenly felt unbearable.
“Of course. It will cost one Level 2 mutated crystal per portion,” Tang Ye replied.
“A Level 2 crystal? Didn’t you say earlier it was only one Level 1 crystal?” Wang Hui frowned slightly. The pain from his wound, combined with dissatisfaction over the price, made his tone a bit harsh.
“Wang Hui, that’s enough,” Su Rui interrupted him. “Administrator Tang already said that’s the price for residents of Sunrise Shelter. We’re just here temporarily. Besides, a Level 2 crystal is already very cheap. Where else could you get food at this price?”
Chen Yu also nodded in agreement. “Don’t be upset, Administrator. He’s injured, his mind isn’t clear. We’ll buy them. Thirteen portions of food and thirteen beds. Tell us the total, and I’ll pay right away.”
Tang Ye naturally was not angry. After dealing with people like Wang Qiang and Zou Yu, there was little that could affect her anymore.
“Thirteen beds cost thirteen Level 1 mutated crystals. Adding thirteen Level 2 crystals for the food, you can also pay with three Level 1 crystals, four Level 2 crystals, and one Level 3 crystal,” Tang Ye calculated quickly in her head.
For them, this price was already very cheap. The highest denomination required was only a Level 3 crystal.
Chen Yu promptly paid the crystals. Tang Ye put them away, then returned to her room and brought back thirteen portions of food. There was no choice in selection, all of them were random.
The group sat around the spacious dining table, filled with anticipation.
Zhou Wan and the others began chatting with Jiang Qing and Jiang Hong. When they learned that the sisters had been hiding in their family’s supermarket warehouse all this time, they were both surprised and impressed. Being able to hold onto a small safe space and persist for so long was no easy feat.
“Just before the apocalypse, our supermarket was preparing for a promotion, so we stocked several times more goods than usual. On top of that, there were items provided by suppliers, and even pots and eggs meant as gifts for regular customers. We’ve been surviving on those supplies all these years,” Jiang Hong said. As the conversation continued, she gradually let down her guard, her tone becoming more relaxed.
At that moment, Tang Ye returned. The stack of food containers in her hands was almost too much to carry. Su Rui and Chen Yu quickly stepped forward and each took some.
“These can be heated with hot water or in the microwave. The taste and nutrition are identical to regular food,” Tang Ye said.
“However, before you eat, I should show you your rooms,” she added after the food had been distributed.
“Alright, thank you,” Su Rui said as he stood up, following Tang Ye along with Chen Yu and Zhou Wan.
They had already prepared themselves for less-than-ideal conditions, but the moment they entered, they were stunned.
Each room only had three sets of bunk beds, and each bed was separated with its own curtain. Though the room was small, it had everything it needed. The beds were spacious enough for one person and looked soft and comfortable.
Chen Yu, Su Rui, and Zhou Wan walked around the room, unable to stop exclaiming in amazement.
Tang Ye opened two rooms for them. Zhou Wan, the only woman in the group, said she would stay in the same room as Jiang Qing and Jiang Hong. With that arrangement, thirteen people fit perfectly.
“There are showers and restrooms outside. You may use water and electricity freely, but do not waste them,” Tang Ye said as she showed them the facilities.
After arranging everything and leaving, Su Rui’s group gradually shifted from excitement and astonishment into silence. They ate the delicious food, but their thoughts were in turmoil.
“Brother Su, do you think… we should move here?” The one who spoke was Sun Yan, one of the younger members of the group.
As soon as he said this, the others looked up almost simultaneously. Their expressions were complicated as they turned toward Su Rui, waiting for his answer.
Su Rui paused mid-bite. His mind was also in conflict. “Whether we move here or not, we still have to return to our shelter first. Our families are still there. We can’t just move here and abandon them.”
“That’s true. Then let’s go back first.”
“This place is basically my dream home. If I could live here forever, I’d probably turn into a cheerful, lively girl,” Zhou Wan said half-jokingly.
Though it was said as a joke, many of the survivors agreed.
While they discussed, Tang Ye returned to her room. The mutated crystals she had just collected had already been converted, totaling one thousand four hundred thirty energy points.
Adding the previous two hundred, she now had one thousand six hundred thirty energy points.
Survivors usually appeared in groups, so having just one dormitory was clearly not enough. Tang Ye immediately exchanged for two more eighteen-person dormitories, and also spent two hundred energy points to stock up on food. In total, she used eight hundred points, leaving her with eight hundred thirty.
At that moment, Tang Ye truly realized how insufficient energy points were.
When she opened the room panel again, she noticed a laboratory. Unlocking it required five thousand energy points, the same as the cafeteria. More importantly, the laboratory could produce anti-radiation agents. After entering the human body, these could alleviate the radiation toxins absorbed from the air. It could also produce radiation-protective suits and gas masks.
Protective suits and gas masks were essential in the apocalypse, making this a very important facility.
There was also a medical room costing three thousand energy points. Altogether, she needed to save thirteen thousand energy points to unlock these three critical facilities. It was a long road ahead.
Tang Ye closed the panel, heated a meal for herself, and prepared to rest.
Outside the window was a dark night sky. The moon hung high above, and the shadows of trees swayed gently in the wind, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Tang Ye gradually fell asleep in this setting. Her dreams were still chaotic. When she woke again, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
She got up, washed, and prepared breakfast. It was only six-thirty in the morning.
When Tang Ye stepped out of her administrator room, she saw that the door next door was already open, with voices coming from inside.
For the first time in a long while, they had slept exceptionally well. Upon waking, they felt full of energy, something they had not experienced in a long time.
On the other side of the corridor, two new rooms had appeared overnight, now labeled 01, 02, and 03.
The layout inside was identical to Room 01. Tang Ye checked each one.
As she stepped out, she saw Su Rui, Chen Yu, and the others standing outside.
“When we came yesterday, this place… was still just rock, right?” Chen Yu said, his voice slightly dazed.
“That’s one of our shelter’s features. Rooms can be built quickly, and no matter how many people come, we can accommodate them,” Tang Ye replied without going into detail. The uniqueness of Sunrise Shelter could not be hidden, and more people would notice it over time. There was no need to fabricate explanations.
Seeing this, Chen Yu, Su Rui, and the others became even more certain that this shelter was extraordinary, perhaps backed by some powerful force.
“We’re going to head back now. We’ve been gone for quite a while, and our families must be worried,” Zhou Wan finally said.
“Alright. You can go. You’re welcome to come again anytime,” Tang Ye nodded calmly.
“We’ll definitely come back!” Zhou Wan said emphatically. “Hopefully next time, we’ll become true members of the shelter.”
Tang Ye curved her lips into a faint smile. “That would be even better. Sunrise Shelter welcomes everyone.”
Before leaving, they purchased fifty portions of food from Tang Ye. This kind of food was extremely convenient, whether in a shelter or out in the field.
They also wanted to bring some back for their families and friends. Everyone knew how rare such food was in the apocalypse. They had not eaten anything like it in years.
Fifty portions of food meant fifty Level 2 crystals, equivalent to five thousand energy points. Tang Ye now had a total of five thousand eight hundred thirty energy points. The energy that had nearly run out suddenly became abundant again.
Jiang Qing and Jiang Hong also came out to see them off. The two had gotten along well with Zhou Wan and had learned about conditions in other shelters. Only then did they realize how fortunate they were to have encountered Sunrise Shelter first.
After seeing off the thirteen survivors, the shelter became quiet again.
Now that she had five thousand energy points, Tang Ye decisively exchanged for a laboratory and placed it next to the water purification room and the power generation room.
The laboratory contained production machines, but required someone to place raw materials inside and package the finished products at the output.
The raw materials could all be found in the system’s logistics interface, with different functions and prices.
For example, the materials for anti-radiation agents were mostly rare medicinal ingredients, each costing over one hundred energy points. A full set of materials cost about eight hundred points, but could produce five doses. Materials for gas masks were cheaper, costing twenty energy points to produce ten masks. Materials for radiation-protective suits cost one hundred energy points and could produce five suits.
The laboratory also had specialized refrigerated sterilization cabinets for storing anti-radiation agents, along with several storage cabinets for other items. It was fully equipped.