Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

"How about setting the price based on market rates from seven months ago?"

"A geothermal generator with a 300-kilowatt output had a factory price of about 2.5 million at that time."

"Considering your generator's advanced features and the difficulty of installation, we can offer 3.5 million per unit."

"You can use this 3.5 million as credit to exchange for resources like cement, gasoline, diesel, medicine, food, and so on at their seven-month-old prices."

Ye Luo Shuanghua sent a stream of messages, outlining a well-thought-out trade system adapted for the post-apocalyptic environment.

"Seven months ago?"

Su Wu caught on to the specific timeframe. He racked his brain but couldn't recall anything significant from that period. Yet Ye Luo Shuanghua's emphasis on this date clearly indicated it was a pivotal moment.

After pondering briefly, Su Wu decided to ask.

"Did you know about the apocalypse seven months ago?"

"You didn't?"

Ye Luo Shuanghua's reply carried a tone of disbelief. After a moment's pause, he continued.

"This wasn't a secret. The Federal Academy of Sciences determined the likelihood of extreme weather events—heatwaves and cold snaps—seven months ago."

"But to maintain social stability, they didn't inform the public."

Though Ye Luo Shuanghua's tone was casual, the implications of his words weighed heavily. The decision to withhold information had led to the displacement, destruction, and death of millions in coastal regions worldwide. If the public had been informed earlier, even those who couldn't build their own bunkers could have relocated inland, like Su Wu, avoiding the chaos and tragedy of last-minute evacuations.

Su Wu opened his mouth as if to speak, but eventually, his words dissolved into a sigh.

Although he'd learned of the impending apocalypse through different channels, he had still benefited from the secrecy. His funds for building the bunker had come from selling his coastal properties, a decision he might not have made if the truth had been widely known. He had no moral high ground to criticize others.

"Send me a seven-month-old price list," Su Wu replied. "If everything checks out, we'll deal."

His usual instinct to negotiate was dulled, partially because the offered terms were fair and partially due to a lingering sense of helplessness about the situation.

"Got it. Let me know if you have questions, but I'll need your decision by tomorrow morning. Several places are in dire need of electricity and waiting on your generators to operate."

Ye Luo Shuanghua sent two documents. Su Wu opened them and found a detailed price list and a set of restrictions on quantities and adjusted prices for certain items.

This setup wasn't surprising.

While most trades adhered to historical market prices, certain goods, such as live poultry and livestock, came with steep maintenance costs in bunkers. Pricing these items too low would be unsustainable. Similarly, the listed restrictions ensured the finite inventory of the trading parties wasn't depleted recklessly—it was, after all, a barter system at its core.

Despite the constraints, the prices in the documents were remarkably reasonable.

Live poultry was priced only about three times higher than pre-apocalypse levels. Medication costs were comparable to regular pharmacy rates. Cement was a steal at twenty yuan per bag, almost matching its factory price.

Sugar, salt, alcohol, fuel—these too were listed at near-normal rates, and the available quantities were staggering.

"So this is the official inventory. Incredible," Su Wu muttered, scrolling through the list. The sheer volume of goods available, measured in tons, made his prior struggles to secure basic supplies seem laughable.

After half an hour of careful review, Su Wu concluded that Ye Luo Shuanghua wasn't trying to take advantage. The deal was not only feasible but significantly more lucrative than his initial plan to sell excavation equipment.

"This is a golden opportunity."

"I'll finalize the trade tomorrow. Two geothermal generators totaling 7 million credits worth of resources. If I play my cards right, my bunker could leap into the ranks of Jianghe City's wealthiest small-scale shelters."

With excitement bubbling under the surface, Su Wu instructed the engineering robot in his mechanical manufacturing center to pause its work on the third underground floor's renovations and prioritize fabricating the two generator models.

Upgrading both generators required 26 survival points—a significant amount, but one he could manage. The resources he'd gain in exchange would exponentially expand the bunker's capacity. Empty facilities, like the mechanical manufacturing center with its lone engineering robot and the vast but barren third-floor farming zone, could finally be brought to life.

After coordinating further details with Ye Luo Shuanghua and confirming the delivery time and location, Su Wu stretched, feeling the day's fatigue catch up with him. He decided to take a shower and rest, preparing for the task-heavy day ahead.

The night passed peacefully.

The next morning, Su Wu woke to simulated sunlight radiating from his bedroom ceiling.

Sitting up groggily, he took a moment to shake off the remnants of sleep. Once fully awake, he reached for the tablet on his bedside table to check the bunker's activity logs.

According to the logs, the second geothermal generator would be ready in three hours.

"Guess I woke up early," Su Wu muttered with a yawn. Instead of going back to sleep, he used the tablet to issue new instructions to the artificial intelligence.

He directed a construction robot to prepare the electric truck parked outside to visit Heavy Knight's bunker and complete their battery-charging deal—a task Su Wu had almost forgotten amidst the chaos of the previous day.

With time to spare, he dec

ided to resolve that trade before diving into the day's larger mission.