Apocalypse Forecast

"Name?"

"Huai Shi."

"Age?"

"Seventeen."

"Very young, huh."

In an office that had seen better days, the 'Little Cat' sitting opposite Huai Shi sized him up.

To be precise, it was a middle-aged man inside a mascot costume, which looked like it hadn't been washed in ages, dingy and unkempt. The user showed no sign of cherishing it, sitting inside while smoking, occasionally flicking ash from a hand protruding from Little Cat's mouth.

So, wisps of smoke emerged from beneath Little Cat's two eyeballs.

Goodness, is this how one ascends to immortality...

Since his arrival at this place, he had been taken directly into this office with his badge, undergoing an interview with the 'Little Cat' manager, who looked exactly like the mascot on the sign for Little Cat Paradise.

Huai Shi glanced at the stain-covered table.

Then at the lightbulb overhead, webbed with cobwebs, and the pile of fast-food trash in the corner. Amidst the lingering smell of sweat, he couldn't help but hold his breath.

I feel like this Decayed Amusement Park is going to close down!

Is there really a future working here?

I just can't figure out what this task is all about.

After observing Huai Shi for a long moment, Little Cat suddenly said, "At such a young age, why are you so desperate as to apply here?"

"Huh?" Huai Shi was dumbfounded.

He had heard that Yingzhou People loved to ask tricky questions during interviews. He had prepared many answers on the way there, but he hadn't expected such a question thrown at him right off the bat.

He was at a loss as to how to respond.

"Well, it doesn't matter to me," said Little Cat, taking a drag on his cigarette and flicking the ash again, like an old salted fish. "As per the agreement with those guys, anyone who comes in with a badge for the job, we won't refuse. So, you don't have to worry about us not hiring you... After all, everyone works here for love and dreams. Even if you get injured on the job, we won't be responsible."

Hey, are you casually saying something incredibly heartless right there?!

"Working inside a thick mascot outfit in the heat of summer is all part of the job. Even if you faint from the heat, you can't take it off, or you'll scare the kids. Eighteen hours of intense work a day, dealing with the unreasonable demands of rude guests, developing occupational diseases before turning thirty, but still forcing a smile through tears to fulfill the visitors' wishes—that's the true flavor of a STAFF job, Little Brag!"

No, you're just plainly exploiting poor, ordinary workers!

"But you're luckier; you won't have to work so hard."

Little Cat stubbed out his cigarette in the miniature mountain within the ashtray and tossed over a tattered form. "Ping Tian occasionally sends over lots of fish, so the people recommended by his family are usually fine. Plus, looking at you, with your aggressive aura reaching the sky and a murderous vibe about you, you seem quite capable. Pick a place for yourself."

"Uh..."

Huai Shi looked down at several strange job titles, completely perplexed. "Thunderstrike Mountain? Gigantic World? Earth's Core... What on earth are these jobs?"

"You don't know?"

Little Cat's tone turned to one of resignation. "Ah, according to what you outsiders say, it should be called a 'Resurrection Match,' I suppose. Rash outsiders who don't follow the rules mess things up, then get beaten up by the local gangs. Those who don't die get sent here to see our performance—yes, your performance."

"And then what?" Huai Shi asked. "Do I play a tune, put on a show, and then everyone cheerfully enjoys a wonderful day?"

"Exactly... as if!"

"The task for the visitors," Little Cat explained with a cold laugh, "is so-called eating, drinking, and having fun. If someone manages to visit all the attractions in the amusement park within a day, let's say he has the chance to get back in the game and continue stirring things up outside. Those who die here, well, they're out of luck, permanently out of the picture."

"And my job..." Huai Shi felt an ominous premonition rising.

"Isn't it clear enough yet, Little Brag?"

Behind Little Cat's eye holes, a clear trace of malice showed. "No matter what position you work in, by what means, whatever ghostly show you put on, make sure to finish off the visitors in your attraction. The quicker, the more gruesome, the more, the better...

"That's your job. The better your performance, the higher your salary, the more chances you have for promotion. Have I made myself clear enough?"

"Err..."

Huai Shi asked one final question, "What if I'm the one who gets killed?"

"Then your contestant slot will be given to the visitor, of course."

Little Cat shrugged, then raised the mascot's paw, slapped the table, and leaned in like a boss. "Now, since you took the badge I sent out, let's just say you're my recruit, alright? Don't say I didn't look out for you. While those little punks haven't snatched up all the good spots yet, pick the best one for yourself. Let me see..."

He looked down at the form and map, then abruptly slapped it. "Here! This is the best spot. You'll also have a dozen or so veteran employees assigned to you."

"Ancient Evil Spirit Castle?"

Huai Shi spelled out the meaning of the map's markings, then looked up and asked, "So you're saying... I'll be running a Haunted House?"

"Correct."

Little Cat was satisfied with his prompt understanding and pointed at him. "You've got a horror attraction!"

"..."

For some reason, it felt as if he had just said something momentous.

Even the Book of Fate seemed to sense the terror in those words and began to quiver subtly.

"Don't like being called that?"

Little Cat looked at him quizzically. "Alright then, if I have to give you a new name for operating such a bizarre and terrifying place, let's call you the Mysterious..."

"Wait a minute!"

The Book of Fate shook even harder, and Huai Shi quickly raised his hand. "Let's pick another one."

"Not this, not that, you're such a handful, eh? Since you're officially on board, how about we call you Full-time High..."

"Boss, can you stop messing with me like this?"

"Then how about... Mr. Marries-In..."

"Forget Mr. Marries-In; what does that have to do with me!"

"Ah, I thought you had married into the Ping Tian family. But now it seems, aren't you a disgrace to men?"

"Could you not automatically cast me in the role of a scumbag? Also, you're getting more and more out of line!"

"Alright, alright."

Little Cat scratched his chin and sighed helplessly. "Since you're unwilling, I won't meddle any further."

With that, he turned his head to look at the 'big brother' beside Huai Shi—who had been ignored for a long time by his own underlings and by Huai Shi. Carelessly, he said, "As for you..."

He paused mid-sentence and suddenly looked up.

Gazing at Yuan Zhao, Little Cat gasped in surprise, as if in shock. "It's been many years since I've encountered someone with such talent!"

"Hm?"

Yuan Zhao was puzzled, but soon, his eyebrows slowly rose.

He knew his uncarved talent was too earth-shattering; even the unidentified demon or ghost in front of him was shocked.

The cat scrutinized him and said earnestly, "It's clear you must have a lot of experience with long weapons, right?"

"Absolutely! 'A streak of cold gleam arrives first, followed by a dragon-like spear thrust,' you know that one?"

"That formidable?"

Little Cat was delighted. "If you're quick, what about your strength?"

"Strong and powerful, you know?" Yuan Zhao gave a thumbs up and pointed to his nose. "That's me!"

On the side, Huai Shi, who always felt there was something fishy, couldn't help but shake his head. After being praised a couple of times by Little Cat, this Little Brag is nearly floating up to the sky... Did he really think that such a ruthless capitalist would have a daughter to marry off to him?

"It's great to be young; your future achievements are boundless!"

As he spoke, the cat handed a shovel into Yuan Zhao's hands and sincerely suggested, "Seeing as you're young and look hardworking, stay and help me scoop cat litter."

"What?"

Yuan Zhao stared, holding the shovel, dumbfounded.

"It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I've had a bit of dysentery these past few days, so I'm using a bit more cat litter..." The cat pointed to the mound outside the window, swarming with countless mosquitoes and flies. "See that little dirt pile? That's your job. Shovel it all away before sunset... Go for it, you can do it."

With that, he waved his hand.

Yuan Zhao, who had been inside the room, suddenly disappeared. In the next instant, he was screaming as he fell from the sky outside, landing in the cat litter...

"That's rough."

Huai Shi involuntarily shrank his neck back, feeling genuine pity for the Little Brag.

Meanwhile, Little Cat was already sitting in his chair, contentedly lighting up a cigarette. He casually tossed a badge into Huai Shi's arms while waving and calling out, "Next!"

The door opened, and the waiting applicant walked in.

But this time, without the prestige of the Ping Tian family, Little Cat's tone became impatient. "Surname, name, where are you from, what's your job?"

Without waiting for the newcomer to respond, an astonished voice came from Huai Shi, "How is it you!"

"That's my line..."

The Teenage Girl with the sword looked up at him, her eye twitching slightly. "It's just that now, it seems we're competitors, Legendary Sauce."

Huai Shi just smiled and shook the badge at her. "Then you better work hard, Amber dear."

The young man pushed open the door and walked out. Time waits for no one. With just an hour left before the park officially opened at eight, he had to quickly familiarize himself with his work environment and new subordinates. Whatever this task was, it seemed that unless he met the performance standards, his next step would be indefinitely postponed.

The thought of facing off against competitors like himself made Huai Shi rub his hands together in excitement.

「Ten minutes later.」

Huai Shi was in despair.

Before coming, I wondered if this 'Ancient Evil Spirit Castle' with its ominous name might have zombies inside.

And damn, it really did...

At the edge of the Decayed Amusement Park, within a dilapidated castle covered in dust, signs of struggle and combat were everywhere. A gloomy atmosphere spread all around. A gust of wind blew through, causing the ramshackle wooden door to emit a series of sharp, grating sounds.

It looked eerie and oppressive.

However, in the rest area at the top of the castle, it was filled with the air of a salted fish.