C30 The Hotel Was Conquered

Lin Chen was somewhat perplexed by Su Wan and Tang Yuanyuan, the two ladies of high birth, who, for reasons unknown, had not stayed put in the cafeteria to await the arrival of the Imperial Capital's delegates. Instead, they had chosen to follow him on a perilous adventure.

It looked like he was in for a few more days of concern over their well-being.

The team made good time and reached the hotel entrance at 5:57 PM, just as the sky had surrendered its last light to the encroaching darkness.

A slender crescent moon climbed the heavens, casting a pale glow that offered a sliver of light to the bleak world below.

This darkness stirred a subtle unrest within the ranks.

Lin Chen set his backpack down and retrieved three powered lanterns. Once lit, he had three team members take positions at different points, lifting the lanterns high.

Zombies, driven by their olfactory and auditory senses, hunted their prey with a vision that had all but atrophied.

In a way, they were indifferent to light, perhaps even averse to it.

The team members, unaware of this, voiced their concerns.

Lin Chen offered little in the way of explanation, assuring them that there were no zombies nearby and that the odd stray zombie posed no real threat.

He was careful with his words and actions, avoiding any hint of clairvoyance. He could suggest others to uncover the secrets of this post-apocalyptic world, but he couldn't let the origins of such knowledge trace back to him.

The pressure from the incidents at the petrochemical factory and the military supply point weighed heavily on him. He couldn't afford to slip up.

His actions thus far could be rationalized; officials, if they took notice, might simply regard him as a promising talent.

But any display of excessive foresight could draw undue attention and suspicion, potentially connecting him to those past events.

That's why, upon leaving the cafeteria, he had encouraged the surviving students to devise strategies for survival, strategies he could then adopt as his own.

The hotel's doors stood ajar. The number of zombies in the lobby had swelled from twenty in the morning to over thirty by nightfall, with more than a dozen human skeletons strewn across the floor.

Clearly, in Lin Chen's absence, someone had attempted to take the hotel and had met with disastrous failure.

Lin Chen charged into the hall by himself.

After a flurry of loud crashes, Lin Chen emerged with ease, announcing, "All clear. Everyone, come on in."

The team members carrying lamps were the first to enter, setting a table lamp on the bar to light up the entire hall.

The others entered and involuntarily inhaled sharply at the sight.

In just a short time, Lin Chen had incapacitated over thirty zombies, breaking their limbs and stacking them in a corner.

The disabled zombies, overwhelmed by the scent of blood and flesh, howled in excitement, but were unable to move.

Fortunately, the hall was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate the group of over two hundred people, well away from the corner with the disabled zombies.

With the hotel's doors shut, a collective sense of relative safety washed over everyone.

To the left on the hotel's first floor was a regular-priced dining hall, and to the right, a series of storage rooms.

Lin Chen had personally cleared out the few zombies in the dining hall.

Now, with everyone inside, there was ample space for all—no more crowding.

Only once distanced from the howling zombies did everyone truly unwind, their hearts swelling with relief and joy.

Despite zombies still roaming and wailing on the upper floors, the presence of so many formidable survivors made these scattered threats seem insignificant.

In their minds, the hotel was now theirs.

They looked forward to soon indulging in a full meal and resting in comfortable beds.

Most of the people in the dining hall would have to make do with sleeping on the floor, but following Lin Chen's lead had proven to be the right choice.

Lin Chen slipped into the right-side storage room and retrieved several boxes of candles, also taking the chance to stock the room with many additional supplies.

With over a dozen candles lit, the dining hall and kitchen were bathed in light.

Lin Chen directed a group of culinary-savvy students to start preparing meals in the kitchen.

There was no immediate concern for cooking fuel. Although electricity and natural gas were cut off, the kitchen boasted an oversized gas cylinder, and another storage room was stocked with enough gas bottles to last until help arrived.

As they awaited the meal, Lin Chen gathered the sixty-plus new team members, smiling as he said, "We were too pressed for time earlier to conduct combat training. Let's begin now. Since you're likely to get sick anyway, you might as well get it over with before we eat."

The restaurant's center was cleared out, and Lin Chen directed the veteran team members to haul the disabled zombies into the service hall for the rookies to practice their killing skills on.

Hesitation gripped some of the newcomers. Lin Chen, with a nonchalant tone, remarked, "If you're reluctant to act, that's your choice. But tomorrow, those who hesitate will be sent back to sleep on the cold, hard floor of the cafeteria."

Enticed by the aroma of the cooking food and longing for the hotel's cozy beds as opposed to the cafeteria's chill, the new recruits finally steeled themselves and struck.

Predictably, the sounds of retching filled the restaurant, adding a new layer to the already pungent odors of blood and decay.

The gruesome task of dispatching the zombies dragged on for over twenty minutes. It took a group of more than sixty to put down the thirty-odd zombies, but at last, the vomiting ceased.

The rookies, faces ashen, gratefully gulped down the mineral water passed by their peers.

In a flurry, the seasoned members removed the zombie corpses from the hotel, disposed of them, and cleaned up the mess before sitting down to eat.

Despite the power outage since midnight, the deep winter cold had preserved the ice in the hotel's freezers, keeping the frozen food from spoiling. It was estimated to last another couple of days. As a result, the table boasted an abundance of meats and rare delicacies seldom enjoyed by the students.

Many hadn't eaten properly since the day began. Now, despite the less-than-ideal taste, the unsettling dining atmosphere, and the lingering stench of blood and decay, they devoured the meal voraciously.

The human capacity to adapt is remarkable indeed.

Even the girls who usually obsessed over dieting were now eagerly tucking into the meat.

The whole team appeared to revert to the hearty eating habits from their military training days.

With bellies full, the table was soon laden with bananas, apples, pears, and other fruits.

Contented sighs filled the air, reinforcing their belief in Lin Chen's leadership.

They thought of those back in the cafeteria; sure, they might be full, but how could that compare to the luxury of the fine ingredients here? The post-meal fruits? The promise of a warm bed to come?

Su Wan and Tang Yuanyuan increasingly recognized Lin Chen's discerning eye and acknowledged him as a true talent.

They knew that if they had stayed in the cafeteria, they would certainly have enjoyed the finest amenities.

But no matter how appealing the cafeteria's offerings, could they truly hold a candle to what they had here?

Indeed, having a keen eye and making the right choices were crucial.

Both women were inwardly pleased with their decisions, exchanging a proud, haughty snort before turning their heads away from each other.

Lin Chen paid no mind to the ladies' subtle gestures. With a clap of his hands, he captured the attention of the group and began what was perhaps his umpteenth speech of the day.

"My friends, the apocalypse has officially descended upon us, and its duration is unknown. It's time to confront our new reality. We must let go of our lives of peace and quickly adapt to our roles. From this moment on, we share one identity: survivors of the apocalypse."

"Welcome to the end times, everyone!"

A quiet chuckle spread through the ranks.

"The apocalypse is here, and while the government will undoubtedly send aid, let's be realistic. We're neither high-ranking officials nor scientists. In the apocalyptic social order, our presence or absence makes little difference. At best, the government will ensure our survival, but don't expect to be well taken care of."

"To live better than others in these times, we must rely on our own efforts. As I've said before, no one belongs to anyone else. Placing your hopes in others is a fool's errand."

"If you all share the desire to take control of your destinies, possess the resolve and courage to strive and fight, and place sufficient trust in me, Lin Chen, to join my team, then I make you this promise: Follow my lead, and I will guide us forward. I will not easily abandon any team member. I will offer you all the assistance within my power."

"However, be warned: the apocalypse is fraught with peril, and no one is entirely safe. You must be mentally prepared for this."

"I believe that by choosing to fight, you've already begun to fortify yourselves mentally. Remember, this mental fortitude must be maintained daily, hourly, constantly—it can never be too much."

"Now, as we've banded together as a combat team, we must set aside our former student identities and hold ourselves to the standards of warriors."

"I hereby announce the official formation of the Y University Engineering Department's Disaster Self-Rescue Team, to be known as the Y University Self-Rescue Team. I will serve as the commander, overseeing all operations. There will be no limit to the number of squads we can form. In line with today's combat approach, each squad will consist of ten members, which includes three three-person combat teams. Squad captains will be appointed by me for the time being."

"Tomorrow morning, I will lead you in a mission to aid the adjacent Education College and Teacher Academy. Our primary goal is to ensure that everyone receives combat training. Upon our return at noon, squads will be formed on a voluntary basis, with captains chosen by their members."

"After we establish the squads tomorrow afternoon, we will not be adding more squads in the short term. Instead, following the recruitment principles I set forth today, each squad captain will be responsible for expanding and training their own team."

"Once the government's rescue efforts reach us, we will reassess the Self-Rescue Team's role based on the circumstances. Until then, the team must follow my command. Those who cannot follow orders or are dissatisfied with the team are free to leave; I will not impede their freedom."

In times of crisis, the need for a strong and decisive leader becomes paramount.

Lin Chen has risen to meet this psychological need among the people. His team members now feel a renewed sense of confidence about the future, their confusion replaced by a surge of enthusiasm.

Undeniably, Lin Chen's team has begun to develop a significant level of unity.