Chapter 5: Getting A Cheap Bargain! Facing The Threat Head-On

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The sun rose as the moon set.

After graduating from college, with the expectations of their parents, relatives, as well as societal pressure on their shoulders, many people no longer lived solely for themselves.

​​ 

Modern society was like a mold, shaping individuals with distinct personalities one by one into similar individuals, turning everyone into a gear in the bigger structure of society day after day.

Sometimes, standing before the floor-to-ceiling window while technology developed rapidly and looking out at the “prosperity” outside the window, Su Mo felt a sense of unfamiliarity even toward the real world.

After his recent transmigration, even with the enormous burden of fighting for survival, Su Mo experienced the joy of waking up naturally for the first time in a very long time.

He woke up in the dark and received good news from the system.

[Doomsday Calendar, January 2.]

[Despite feeling at a complete loss when you came to a strange world, you managed to build your shelter in the end. How exciting. (Survival points +5)]

[You upgraded your water-extracting device to ensure you have enough water every day. (Survival points +5)]

[You built a bed that barely qualifies as comfortable, and you feel that it had made you much happier in the post-apocalyptic world (Survival points +5)]

[You built a modest set of furniture (Survival points +1)]

[Your meals… are adequate (Survival points +1)]

[Scanning host’s survival environment. Survival points evaluation in progress. 11 survival points gained today.]

…

Making final calculations. You have gained a total of 73 survival points today!

Survival points remaining: 103 points!

103 points!

Su Mo’s eyes lit up. After spending 75 survival points to expand the well water extractor yesterday, his survival points were back to 103 points again today.

“Looks like getting more things done every day will earn me more survival points. Even if I just keep living while doing nothing, I can still get a dozen points steadily.”

Su Mo breathed a sigh of relief.

He was afraid that the Doomsday Survival System would force him to do missions that would wipe him out if he could not accomplish them, just like in the novels he read on Earth.

Or even worse, it might force him to do something against his will, something along the lines of betrayal and awakening, or other similar cliche tropes.

“I need to find a way to upgrade the lighting and ventilation in my base today, otherwise I’ll fall over and die inside the base first one day before I can starve to death.”

With the wooden door closed, the base was practically in pitch-black darkness. There was only a stream of light trickling in from the crack in the door.

Su Mo followed his guts; he held his wooden spear like a white cane and groped his way up the stairs. He walked up the steps and opened the shelter’s wooden door.

The morning sunlight flowed in through the open gap along with the cold.

After adapting to the glaring sunlight, Su Mo carefully leaned against the gaps of the doorway to peer outside and, after making sure that there was no danger, he opened the wooden door completely.

As the wooden door opened, the stale air in the underground shelter finally began circulating.

The wooden panels he set in front of the shelter door were still intact. It seemed that no mutant creatures had come over to attack it.

After breathing in some fresh air, Su Mo returned to his shelter again.

He first went to the well. After raising the barrel, Su Mo collected the water that had accumulated overnight.

[Record]: You gained 920ml of water.

[Record]: Your current water storage is 970ml.

The surplus he gained from today’s and last night’s collection was quite high, but he still needed a bit more to exchange for the monster illustration handbook.

Under normal circumstances, a person would drink between 20ml-30ml in one sip.

Sitting on the wooden chair, Su Mo extracted about three mouthfuls of water.

Feeling the refreshing sweetness in his mouth, Su Mo pulled up the trading panel.

Currently, he only needed to ensure he had the minimum amount of water to survive every day. He planned to trade off the rest.

The only way for him to pull ahead of everyone else in the early stage was to use his water to exchange for adequate goods.

There were more trade listings today compared to yesterday. After clicking into the collection panel, Su Mo was overjoyed.

For some reason, the seller Faith’s monster illustration handbook that required 1L of water yesterday was now 300ml lower in value, and required only 700ml of water to purchase it.

Similarly, the pear that was listed had also gone down from 100ml to 50ml water.

“What a steal!”

Su Mo was delighted, and after placing 800ml of water into his inventory, he bought the monster illustration handbook and two pears without waiting.

The transaction light flashed brightly, and the water in his inventory disappeared—a monster illustration handbook and two pears took its place.

Su Mo took out the illustration handbook and the pears and placed them on the table. He first picked up the fist-sized pear and took a bite, immediately feeling the aroma permeating his mouth.

Although the water content in the pear was not even close to 50ml, it could fill his tummy and contained vitamins. To be able to eat one in a post-apocalyptic world was nothing less than a dream come true.

However, while Su Mo was eating the pear, he was unaware that a fiery discussion had broken out in the World Channel because of his extravagant spending.

“That old dog Faith’s illustration handbook has been auctioned off. That’s 700ml of water. Holy sh*t, that’s a f*cking tycoon, that is.”

“It seems that Su Mo is the buyer? That guy sold off 200ml of water yesterday and 700ml today. Does he have too much water to spare?”

“Hey Su Mo, can you please say a few words? How did you extract water? Guys, let’s collect ten thousand petitions to ask for his strategy (1/10000).”

“Petitions (2/10000)”

“I still have some food here. Do you want it, Su Mo? I’m dying of thirst!”

“If I’m not mistaken, he’s probably found a water storage. Sigh, how lucky.”

…

A group of people was discussing it.

In just one day, Su Mo’s name had been imprinted in the minds of many people.

Others were desperate to double their 1ml of water, whereas that guy had the luxury of spending 700ml for a rubbish illustration handbook that had little use in the early stage.

Meanwhile, Su Mo picked up the handbook after finishing the pear and the last piece of beef sandwich from last night.

[Prompt]: Do you want to use the monster illustration handbook? Once used, you’re not allowed to trade it.

“Yes.”

As soon as Su Mo’s words fell, at the end of the four functions on the game panel, a new function called “Illustration” emerged.

Su Mo clicked on it.

A compact list appeared.

…

[Dead Leaf Snake]

[Green-headed Turtle]

[Mutant Hawk]

…

Select, Dead Leaf Snake.

View details.

[Dead Leaf Snake]: The snake has a dark brown back with vermillion horizontal spots. Its abdomen is olive-grey with white dots scattered throughout. Head and neck are light yellowish-white color with dark brown markings. Low aggression.

[Weakness]: Extremely afraid of fire and blunt force trauma.

[Danger factor]: 80

In addition to the description, there was also a 3D image of the Dead Leaf Snake, which could be adjusted to be viewed from different angles and perspectives.

After observing a few creature illustrations, Su Mo could not help marveling at what a steal this was.

Although the illustration handbook seemed to be of little use now, the remarks on the creatures’ weaknesses were extremely useful. There were hundreds of creatures of all sizes listed here, which could save him a lot of effort.

Moreover, this illustrated book also had a “bug” function.

“Scan!”

As soon as Su Mo’s voice fell, a radar-like graphic appeared on the game panel, followed by a red exclamation mark underneath.

[A mutant camouflaged chameleon is detected 265 meters away from the player. Danger factor 65. Treat with caution.]

[Today’s count 2/3.]

“I can’t believe there’s actually one.”

Su Mo climbed out of the shelter doorway and followed the radar scanner to look. He broke out in cold sweat immediately.

The mutant camouflage chameleon was lying at the exact same spot where he cut the trees yesterday. Even though he was actively looking for it now, it was still difficult to make out the exact spot the chameleon was lying at.

He gripped the wooden spear in his hand firmly.

Rush over to kill it right now?

Of course not.

“This is too dangerous. The wooden spear’s sharpness aside, my current half-assed level is enough to guarantee that I’ll become an easy dinner if I rush over.”

He pulled up the illustration handbook and after finding the entry for the mutant camouflaged chameleon, Su Mo began reading patiently.

[Mutant camouflaged chameleon]: The mutation of the chameleon’s skin has greatly enhanced its camouflaged abilities. Its venomous tongue allows it to sneak up on its prey and give it enough time to kill. Average aggression.

[Weakness]: The mutation enhances its camouflage ability but causes a delay in reaction and makes it physically fragile.

[Danger factor]: 65

It was not a completely hopeless situation, Su Mo thought.

Under the blazing hot sun, the chameleon needed to eat and drink too, right?

It would be an easy win for him if he attacked when the creature was at its most exhausted state.

“I’ll first think of a way to upgrade my weapons. When the sun is out in full force, then I’ll take the advantage and teach that sneaky beast a lesson.”

After making up his mind, Su Mo, who felt a great sense of crisis, chose not to go out and collect materials anymore and simply returned to the shelter and shut the door, lighting up the torch.

He sat on the chair and drew out his wooden spear, placing it on the table. Su Mo concentrated and looked at it.

[Wooden spear]: A brand new wooden spear. The spearhead’s lethality is concerning. Not recommended to be treated as a main weapon of survival.

First upgrade option: Upgrade the overall material and improve the sharpness of the spearhead. Survival points required (5).

Second upgrade option: Upgrade the overall material. Adding an electric booster can significantly improve attacking speed. Survival points required (40).

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