[012] Second Ad Deployment
When Gu Weiwei arrived, the entire main lobby was extraordinarily bustling.
In front of the vending machines in particular, countless heads were packed together in front of the screen, filled with curiosity about the newly added special items.
“Is this actual equipment from the game?”
“Yeah, it can resist heat.”
“I wonder how effective it is?”
“For equipment targeting the current game zone, it’s definitely super effective.”
“It’s just pretty expensive.”
“Compared to its effects, I feel like it’s well worth it.”
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“It definitely won’t be bad. Anything produced by the Doomsday Hotel is bound to be top quality.”
“I took a look at the Apocalypse Game Mall, and similar equipment items cost at least 50 points!”
“Holy crap, by comparison, the Doomsday Hotel’s prices are practically a steal!”
“I really suspect the two sides are in cahoots to squeeze our points together! Isn’t this just standard business trickery?”
“I think you’re overthinking it. The Apocalypse Game can squeeze us openly and brazenly—why bother going through such a round-about way? If they only ran a single shop, would you really refuse to spend points at a life-or-death moment?”
“So what you’re saying is, the Apocalypse Game and the Doomsday Hotel aren’t the same entity.”
“That’s what I think so far. What do you guys think?”
“That actually… makes a bit of sense.”
“If that’s the case, will there be a Doomsday Hotel in every single game zone? If not, what are we supposed to do when we move on to the next game zone?”
“…”
As they chatted, the topic of conversation among the crowd suddenly shifted.
Zhang Jingze and Yu Siyu were also among them, and hearing this topic made their hearts skip a beat.
They had almost forgotten that this place was just one game zone among countless others, and they were only staying here for a month. So once they cleared it, what if there was no Doomsday Hotel in the next stage?
By coincidence, sharp-eyed Yu Siyu spotted Gu Weiwei lost in thought in the lobby. Calling over Zhang Jingze beside her, the two approached Gu Weiwei.
In truth, Gu Weiwei had overheard these players’ conversation as well.
Regarding the Doomsday Hotel, she had assumed players wouldn’t realize this until they entered the next game zone, so she didn’t expect someone to pick up on it so keenly already.
Actually, even now, she didn’t know which game zone she would be sent to after clearing this one. As for the Doomsday Hotel, she personally leaned toward the idea that it would follow her, but she didn’t know whether it would remain in this Arid Zone.
Of course, she didn’t care to overthink it either. She had survived thanks to the Doomsday Hotel and possessed no other special abilities—why bother worrying about the life and death of other players?
So when Zhang Jingze and Yu Siyu walked up, Gu Weiwei’s expression remained calm. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Um, will the Doomsday Hotel stay in the Arid Zone, or will it show up in other game zones as well?” Yu Siyu asked directly, her heart rate picking up slightly as she spoke.
“The game zones where it appears are random,” Gu Weiwei gave a direct answer—one based on her own deduction that the Doomsday Hotel would follow her, the “player.”
Even though she had bound the Doomsday Landlady System, in essence, she was still a “player” who could not escape the Apocalypse Game.
As for whether this answer was correct or not—if it turned out to be wrong later, couldn’t she just change her story then?
At the very least, it was better not to give people too much false hope; otherwise, if expectations weren’t met down the line, wouldn’t they end up blaming her?
Hearing the word “random,” both Zhang Jingze and Yu Siyu’s faces shifted, as did the expressions of the surrounding players.
They really hadn’t expected that encountering the Doomsday Hotel was actually a stroke of rare luck.
In an instant, their earlier excitement over the Doomsday Hotel’s upgrade—and the arrival of so many helpful survival items—was dampened quite a bit.
Gu Weiwei watched their shifting expressions without saying much.
Although this was only the first game zone they were experiencing, she knew this game was definitely no walk in the park; players had better not cling to any hopes of it showing mercy.
Still, she was quite surprised that some players could distinguish the Doomsday Hotel from the Apocalypse Game itself.
Shortly after, this piece of news spread throughout the entire Doomsday Hotel.
Most players quietly spent money to purchase the relatively cheaper “Sunshade Umbrellas” before heading out to work again.
Although chaos reigned outside and social order had become quite dangerous, gathering supplies had actually become easier than before.
Aside from food, many other items could be traded for points at the Doomsday Hotel. Even if each item fetched only a small number of points, small amounts add up over time!
Especially considering they might not encounter the hotel in the future and would lack a safe zone, they had to build up as much primitive capital for themselves as possible.
Before long, the number of players inside the Doomsday Hotel thinned out significantly once more.
[Item sold: Sunshade Umbrella.]
[Item sold: Heat-Resistant Hat.]
[…]
On Gu Weiwei’s end, she received a steady stream of notifications for special item sales.
Evidently, even though these special items were a bit pricier in terms of points, taking a long-term view, being able to go outside to scavenge enough supplies made it a guaranteed net gain.
By now, quite a few people had managed through teamwork to acquire enough supplies to cover a full day’s living costs at the Doomsday Hotel through the Recycling Cabinet.
Sure enough, past Day 9 of the game, the players had adapted much better to their environment.
Shortly after, Gu Weiwei strolled around the entire perimeter of the Doomsday Hotel.
It had to be said that the beautified Doomsday Hotel indeed looked much more like a proper hotel. The environment had improved immensely, and walking along the flagstone paths gave a genuine feeling that the world was still wonderfully peaceful.
However, as she walked closer to the edges, the environment shifted completely.
Beyond the fence was an entirely different world.
Outside the fence, due to the intense, scorching heat, visible heatwaves rippled through the air, and hot steam billowed from the ground.
Over fifty degrees Celsius!
Being thrown into an environment like that would make anyone feel unbearably stifled and hot.
If there were running water and electricity, staying indoors might still be bearable.
But now, with water and power cut off, most places had turned into massive smelting furnaces.
Gu Weiwei watched a group of players who had just stepped out the door; after walking only a few steps, sweat droplets rolled down their bodies continuously.
However, players equipped with the Doomsday Hotel’s special items seemed quite different.
“Holy crap, the effect of this item is seriously amazing!”
“After putting it on, I don’t feel hot at all.”
“These 15 points were so well spent!”
“We have to work extra hard today to scavenge supplies and save up points.”
“With enough points, we can live a good life.”
“Here, let me try it out.”
“…”
Overhearing these conversations, the corners of Gu Weiwei’s lips curled up involuntarily.
No matter what, knowing how to adapt to one’s environment and shift one’s mindset was a good thing.
Afterward, Gu Weiwei stayed inside the Ice and Snow World directly.
After all, surrounded by ice sculptures, just looking at them made one feel cool and refreshed.
Finding a seating area crafted out of ice sculptures, Gu Weiwei pulled out her phone.
Although water and power were cut off outside, cellular network signals still persisted.
Compared to the earliest days, recent internet posts everywhere were filled with utter grief and lamentation.
Unable to contact the outside world for nine days, the local NPC residents of the game zone had realized that a bizarre change had occurred in their city, transforming it into an isolated town.
Most of their emotions were poured out across the internet:
“What on earth is going on? Overnight, it feels like the whole world completely changed.”
“I think I have a fever, my body temperature is over 40°C already.”
“Dying of thirst! Does anyone have water for sale? I’m willing to buy at a high price!”
“A lot of the food hoarded at home has spoiled, what should I do?!”
“I left a bottle of water by the window, and today the sunlight actually burned straight through it. It’s breaking my heart!”
“Will the temperature just keep getting higher and higher?”
“It’s the end of the world, don’t even dream of surviving. The sooner we die, the sooner we’re reincarnated!”
“Since we’re all going to die anyway, let’s have one final spree!”
“Someone please save me! My baby is only 1 year old, and she just passed out from a high fever!”
“…”
Looking at the various messages across the network, Gu Weiwei couldn’t help pursing her lips.
The reactions of the NPCs in this game zone were far too realistic.
Not wanting to look at these heart-wrenching scenes any further, Gu Weiwei entered the player forum.
The player forum was equally lively.
#This garbage game is far too torturous#
#Can anyone really survive a full month in this game? I feel like I can’t even last right now#
#I’ve already used up all my player points, what should I do?#
#Someone please save me, I’ll give you all my points#
#So hungry! I only have 11 points left—if I buy food, I’m completely finished#
#Luckily I’ve held back from spending points and kept hoarding supplies non-stop#
#Hoarded a month’s worth of food and water, now found a relatively cool cave, hoping to make it to the end#
#…#
Evidently, as time progressed, the situation for players grew increasingly difficult alongside the deteriorating world, gradually revealing sharp disparities.
Players who prepared early weren’t faring too badly.
What Gu Weiwei hadn’t expected, however, was that the Doomsday Hotel had a remarkably strong presence on the player forum.
#Is the Doomsday Hotel real?#
#Can’t endure it anymore, considering heading to the so-called safe zone#
#Do players over there rob people? I went to a player-built shelter before, only to have all my points drained and then get thrown out#
#Suddenly so many players are recommending the Doomsday Hotel, feels like a trap#
#The Doomsday Hotel has had a presence since the start of the game until now, hasn’t it collapsed yet?#
#Wasn’t it called Doomsday Apartment before?#
#Looks like today specifically, tons of players started talking about Doomsday Hotel. Before it was just a few accounts promoting it casually, but no matter how amazing they made it sound, I didn’t believe it#
#Grandly recommending the Doomsday Hotel to everyone today—pictures attached as proof#
#…#
Reading further down, Gu Weiwei finally realized that the discussions about the Doomsday Hotel were sparked by a specific promotional thread.
Gu Weiwei was certain she hadn’t posted it.
She clicked into it directly to read through.
Inside, the situation of the Doomsday Hotel was introduced in rich detail:
The 4-point beds in Octuple Rooms along with their supporting amenities, the tent pricing and environment in the Tent Area, the items sold in vending machines, the restaurant, the Recycling Cabinet, the Ice and Snow World, the heat-resistant equipment, and the vibrant, lush greenery of the hotel grounds.
Every item introduced was accompanied by a photo.
It honestly looked pretty impressive.
Yet in an environment like this, fewer people were inclined to believe it.
What caught Gu Weiwei’s attention, however, were the supportive comments below:
“The Doomsday Hotel is real—I’m staying in it right now!”
“Anyway, I strongly suggest players come to the Doomsday Hotel—it’s your only way to survive.”
“Why did everyone swarm out to speak up now? Wasn’t it because we were afraid you’d take up spots and we wouldn’t get rooms before? But now! Hotel upgrades are tied to tenant numbers—we want you to come so the hotel can upgrade!”
“The Doomsday Hotel can upgrade! Telling you guys saves our fellow compatriots while improving our own living environment—why not do it?”
“…”
Gu Weiwei hadn’t expected that hotel upgrades could actually drive players to swarm online to speak up on behalf of the Doomsday Hotel!
Before this, she had mostly been promoting the Doomsday Hotel by herself!
Shortly after, Gu Weiwei searched directly through her control panel.
Finally, her eyes locked onto a specific item.
[Item: Run Advertisement]
[Price: 5 / 10 / 20 / 50 / 100 / 1,000]
This item had multiple price tiers.
Earlier, the 5-point ad was an automatic system prompt that brought in several hundred people; Gu Weiwei figured that was related to broadcast range.
Now that she had ample points on hand and her initial foundation was stable, she could indeed expand her promotional reach.
Ad notifications appearing directly on player panels were far more reliable than messages on the public internet.
[Spend 100 Points to run advertisements to players?]
“Yes.”
She would start with a 100-point ad first to test the waters.
And right at this moment, many players holding their phones were fiercely condemning the Doomsday Hotel’s “false advertising.”
Suddenly, a forced advertisement popped up right across their screens.
What kind of advertisement could bossily hijack the Apocalypse Game’s player panel?
What? It’s the Doomsday Hotel?