Ah-Lan had them stop and wait about a dozen meters away from the fire door.
She went inside alone, leaving Old Zhao’s family watching anxiously from outside.
A moment later, Ah-Lan emerged.
In her hands were a pack of compressed biscuits and a bottle of clear, transparent mineral water.
The moment they saw these two items, the eyes of Old Zhao’s family of four widened!
Clean! It was too clean! The packaging was perfect, without a speck of dirt or any damage!
The clarity of that water was something they had only seen in promotional posters for the exorbitantly priced “Purified Water” that occasionally flowed out of the Inner City!
More importantly, there wasn't a trace of “corrosive air”!
Ah-Lan felt a bit of a sting in her heart; she had just bought these at the convenience store using her Star Coins.
But she knew this was the fastest way to dispel their doubts.
She carefully tore open the biscuit packaging, broke off about a quarter of a piece, then unscrewed the bottle cap and poured a capful of water.
“For Little Stone.” She handed the biscuit and water to Old Zhao.
Old Zhao’s hands were trembling as he took the food and water. He could hardly believe his own eyes and nose.
It really, truly wasn't contaminated!
In this Ruin Zone, only a miracle could explain the source of such food!
Old Zhao shook with excitement. The way he looked at Ah-Lan and the building completely changed, filled with unbelievable ecstasy and longing!
Even the older girl stared longingly at the remaining biscuits and water in her father’s hands, quietly swallowing her saliva.
“Do you believe me now?” Ah-Lan asked, while inconspicuously putting the rest of the biscuits and water away.
She still needed these to continue recruiting people.
“I believe you! I believe you!” Old Zhao nodded repeatedly, his voice incoherent with excitement.
“Ah-Lan, quick, take us in! We need that place! We need food and water! How much does it cost? We... we still have some salvaged parts...”
As he spoke, he prepared to rush toward the fire door.
“Wait!” Ah-Lan stopped him. “Old Zhao, don’t be in such a hurry.”
“You have to wait for the Landlord to return. Only after she personally signs a Rental Contract with you can you officially move in. I’m just the one who introduced you.”
“We still have to wait?” Old Zhao grew anxious, looking at the son in his arms. “But my son...”
Ah-Lan pointed at the fire door and said seriously, “You can’t get in right now anyway.”
Old Zhao, refusing to believe it, tried to walk through the door with his son in his arms.
However, just as he was one step away from the doorway, it felt as if he had slammed into a completely transparent yet incredibly tough wall of air!
Thud!
He and the child were gently but firmly bounced back. He staggered for two steps before steadying himself, and the child in his arms let out a weak whimper.
Old Zhao was stunned. He looked up at the open doorway, then at his own unharmed body and the child in his arms.
An invisible barrier! There really was an invisible barrier!
At this point, his last shred of doubt vanished, replaced by even deeper awe and urgency.
“This... this...” He looked at Ah-Lan.
“See?” Ah-Lan explained. “Only after signing a contract and being granted permission by the Landlord can you enter and leave freely. Those are the rules here.”
Old Zhao’s family looked at each other, feeling both the wonder of it and an immense sense of anxiety.
“Then when will the Landlord be back?” Old Zhao asked expectantly.
“It should be soon.” Ah-Lan wasn't actually sure about the pattern of Su Wan’s travels, but she could only offer this comfort.
“Find a safe spot nearby and wait. Don’t go too far, and don’t wander off. As soon as the Landlord returns, I’ll notify you.”
Left with no choice, Old Zhao’s family retreated to a nearby section of broken wall that offered some shelter from the wind, staring longingly at the door that seemed to lead to heaven.
...
After a brief moment of dizziness, Su Wan opened her eyes.
She had traveled to the Apocalyptic Plane once again.
Almost the instant her feet were steady, the system notifications began ringing in her mind one after another:
【Ding! Temporary Mission “Shelter’s Disaster Resistance Proof” has been completed!】
【Mission Completion Status: During the Death Tide outbreak, a total of 4 non-host units (Ah-Hao, Ah-Lan, Black Rat, Viper) survived within the bound building.】
【Mission Rewards Issued:】
Points +200.
Unlocked “Environment Filtration System (Basic)” blueprint. (Can be viewed and selected for installation in the building management interface; requires Points and materials.)
Reputation slightly increased. (Initial awareness of “Terminal Station Shelter” has been established among the refugees in the surrounding Ruin Zone.)
【Current Points: -23,840 (Debt Status). Reputation Status: Faint (Slightly heard of by local refugees).】
The Death Tide had passed, and the mission was successfully completed.
However, before she could carefully examine the newly unlocked “Environment Filtration System” blueprint, a faint, suppressed clamor reached her from outside the door.
Su Wan walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain to look out.
She saw a dense crowd of over a dozen people gathered in the open space outside the fire door!
There were men, women, old, and young. Every one of them was dressed in rags, sallow and emaciated, their faces bearing the characteristic wariness and exhaustion of ruin refugees. But now, their expressions were more of a mix of longing and urgency.
They huddled a few meters away from the fire door, staring longingly inside, but no one dared to actually approach the steps.
Ah-Lan was standing on the steps with her back to the door, facing the crowd, trying to maintain order. Her voice carried its usual raspiness and calm:
“Don’t crowd! Form a line! Keep your distance! The Landlord will be back very soon! You can only move in if the Landlord agrees and signs a contract! Anyone who causes trouble won't even get a chance to try!”
Standing beside Ah-Lan was the dark grey Butler-C1 robot.
The sensor array on its head flickered with a rhythmic blue light, silently scanning everyone present, clearly performing its duties of “order maintenance” and “information recording.”
Robot C1 sensed Su Wan’s return. Its head turned slightly, pausing for a second in the direction of Room 102.
Almost as Su Wan stepped into the hallway, C1’s calm, synthetic electronic voice sounded in her ear:
【Butler-C1 reporting current external conditions.】
【Statistics: There are currently 14 potential applicants gathered outside the shelter, including 8 adult males, 4 adult females, and 2 minors.】
【Preliminary Observation: All are from the surrounding Ruin Zone, attracted by the promotion of Ah-Lan (Tenant-002). Physical conditions are generally poor, with varying degrees of malnutrition, radiation sickness, and old injuries.】
【Core Intent: All 14 individuals have expressed a strong desire to rent and are willing to follow the rules and pay rent.】
【Based on the existing vacant rooms and tenant types, the suggested allocation plan is as follows...】
【Please instruct, Host: Shall I be authorized to conduct the preliminary Rental Contract signing procedure? Or will the Host handle it personally?】
Su Wan listened to the robot’s report as she walked to the fire door.
Ah-Lan heard the movement and turned around. Seeing her, Ah-Lan’s eyes immediately lit up, and she instantly raised her voice to shout to the crowd:
“Everyone, quiet! The Landlord is back!”
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