C10
The power supply room was sparse, filled mostly with electronic circuits and switches. When Tang Bing successfully flipped the main switch, the room was instantly bathed in light.
"It's on!" Sun Meng called out excitedly from outside.
"Shh!" Tang Bing quickly gestured for her to lower her voice.
Realizing her slip, Sun Meng clapped a hand over her mouth, but her relief was evident. The corridor lights were on, illuminating every nook and cranny, easing the tension of walking on eggshells.
Tang Bing scrutinized the room, spotting a file cabinet and an office desk with a toolbox stashed beneath it. He hastened to the cabinet and began searching through it.
System notification: You've found 23 sheets of paper!
System notification: You've found a handgun manufacturing guide!
Tang Bing had already come across a fair amount of white paper, though its purpose eluded him. In an apocalyptic world, was he expected to keep a daily journal? The stiff A4 sheets wouldn't even make decent toilet paper!
The handgun manufacturing guide was a surprise. It seemed to be a type of blueprint or skill book. Finding such a thing in a hospital was unexpected—could it be that any file cabinet might contain such treasures?
The guide detailed how to make an automatic handgun—a formidable weapon against zombies, albeit a noisy one that could attract more of the undead. Using the guide would unlock the ability to craft gun barrels, butts, parts, cartridges, and bullets.
A gun! The discovery was startling, especially in a gun-controlled country. Clearly, firearms were necessary for taking on the more formidable mutant zombies.
As far as Tang Bing knew, guns were typically found in military bases or police stations. The nearest police station was several kilometers away, and the military base in A City was even farther—and still secure. Getting firearms there was out of the question. The police station, though, might be worth the risk if others hadn't had the same idea to scavenge for weapons.
Being able to manufacture his own gun was an appealing prospect. Tang Bing used the guide right away, unlocking the production methods for four gun parts and bullets.
Gun barrel: requires 100 iron ore, 100 clay, and a smelting furnace.
Gun butt: requires 5 iron bars, 10 logs, and a tool table.
Gun parts: requires 100 iron ore, 100 clay, and a smelting furnace.
Gun bullets: requires 2 iron bars, 1 spring, 5 logs, and a tool table.
It seemed he'd need to build a furnace and a tool table first, then learn how to make bullets, casings, and gunpowder. Making a handgun wasn't going to be straightforward.
"Hey! Are you finished?" Sun Meng's voice, now hushed, came from outside.
"Almost there!" Tang Bing replied, pulling out the heavy toolbox, which was crammed with items.
System notification: You've found a claw hammer!
System notification: You've found a wrench!
System notification: You've found 59 iron nails!
System notification: You've found a screwdriver!
System notification: You've found 5 rolls of tape!
The claw hammer, with an attack power of 5, could double as a weapon or be used to repair and reinforce building materials. The wrench, with an attack power of 3, was also a potential weapon and could dismantle machinery and appliances to salvage important materials. Iron nails were essential for furniture-making, and the screwdriver, also with an attack power of 3, was another versatile tool. Tape, of course, was indispensable in many situations.
Tang Bing pocketed all the useful items and swiftly exited the power supply room.
"What did you find?" Sun Meng asked eagerly as he emerged.
"Just some scrap paper," Tang Bing replied, producing a stack of A4 sheets.
"Perfect for kindling!" Sun Meng's eyes sparkled. "If the power system fails and we're left without electricity, we can use these to start a fire!"
Tang Bing thought to himself that once he had escorted her to the military sanctuary, he wouldn't have to worry about such contingencies. But aloud, he simply advised, "Let's keep it down. We need to search the entire building thoroughly tonight, arm ourselves with whatever useful supplies we can find, and stock up on food, water, and medicine. Tomorrow, we'll figure out how to break out."
"Okay!" Sun Meng nodded vigorously. "And after we break out, where to?"
"I need to stop by the Bluestar Branch first to see some people," Tang Bing said, turning to her. "After that, I'll take you to the military sanctuary."
"Great! Soldiers are armed, so taking on zombies should be a breeze! Plus, the military's firepower is bound to be stronger than a few civilians like us. Heading to the military sanctuary beats roaming around out here," Sun Meng agreed enthusiastically. "But it's quite a distance, and with terrifying zombies all over the place, how are we going to break through? And then make it that far?"
Tang Bing, realizing she had misunderstood his intentions to seek refuge at the military sanctuary, decided not to correct her just yet. "I've got a rough plan. Tomorrow, we can find a car and make our getaway! You know this area well, right? You must have an idea which car in the parking lot is the best option, and who has the keys? We need something we can get our hands on easily."
"I'm on it!" Sun Meng's eyes sparkled. "The dean's car is top-notch; he spent over three million yuan on it! I once saw him lock the keys in his office desk after arriving at work. I'm sure they're still there!"
"Oh?" Tang Bing perked up at this news. "Where's the dean's office?"
"Ninth floor," Sun Meng replied. "Two more floors up."
"Perfect, we'll search as we go up!" Tang Bing suggested. "You watch my back, and let's gather supplies quickly."
"Got it!" Sun Meng nodded in agreement.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Tang Bing cautioned as she drew near, "Keep a three-meter distance, don't come any closer!"
"Ah~" Sun Meng remembered the precaution and stepped back with a smile. "Be careful, okay? If you run into trouble, just shout. I'll be there to help!"
Tang Bing thought to himself, Just make sure you're safe if danger hits. I'm not sure your kitchen knife is going to be much of a lifesaver!
They kept their distance, meticulously checking each room. The hospital mostly had medicines and medical equipment, with scarce food and water supplies, which were generally found in the cafeteria. Occasionally, they stumbled upon an office with a few snacks and beverages.
Tang Bing stashed most of the scavenged supplies into his virtual backpack, keeping a few items in hand to avoid raising Sun Meng's suspicions after such a long search.
While on the lookout, Sun Meng was unaware of the room's contents as Tang Bing discreetly gathered various materials like mechanical and electronic parts, which he figured might come in handy later.
They searched from the seventh floor to the ninth without encountering any zombified survivors. Tang Bing found a fair amount of medicine and various materials, as well as some snacks, which he handed over to Sun Meng. He had plenty of food in his backpack, so sharing the snacks was a way to keep her trust and not disrupt his search.
Though Tang Bing saw it as a token gesture, Sun Meng was deeply moved. He entrusted her with all the food and even his safety, braving each room for provisions. Despite his average looks, his dependability shone through, especially in this apocalyptic world, giving Sun Meng a strong sense of security.
Unaware of her thoughts, Tang Bing continued his thorough search, keeping a watchful eye on the woman behind him.
Soon, they found a door that had been broken but wouldn't budge.
"There might be someone inside!" Tang Bing glanced back at Sun Meng. "Keep your distance. If something seems off, run! I can't tell if it's a person or a zombie inside."
"Okay!" Sun Meng backed off, scanning her surroundings for any lurking zombies.
After smashing the lock and opening the door, Tang Bing saw furniture piled against it. He looked towards Sun Meng and whispered, "Is anyone there?"
Silence followed, then a faint rustling sound.
"Is anyone there?" he repeated gently. "I'm a patient from this hospital; I woke up today. There's also a girl with me, an intern nurse from here."
"Are you really human?" came a cautious male voice from within.
"Yes!" Tang Bing sighed in relief, glad it wasn't a zombie. "Move the furniture so I can get in. I'm gathering supplies, mainly food and water. Do you have any?"
"Yes!" the voice replied. "How about you? Did you find any?"
"We checked the cafeteria, but there wasn't much," Tang Bing answered. "We're planning to break out and head to the military sanctuary tomorrow. There's safety in numbers. Do you want to join us?"
"Okay! Please wait," the man inside responded, beginning to shift the furniture.
