Lynn's decision

After a hearty meal, Annabelle got to know Lucy, the beloved member of the Dawn Base, and grew closer to everyone.

While the others were chatting in the recreation area, Anthony entered the Conversion Room. He took out the zombie crystals from his bag. There were a total of 17,231 regular zombie crystals, 20 mutant zombie crystals, originally 4 Tier 1 mutant crystals, and with Dash's crystal, a total of 5. There was also Daisy's Awakened crystal.

Anthony eagerly tossed them all in. Soon, the remaining energy points in the Conversion Room displayed a significant change. Energy points +219,492. Remaining energy points: 228,186.3.

"I've become filthy rich!" Anthony blurted out suddenly. From his rebirth until now, he had never been this wealthy, and this number represented many possibilities. Thinking about it, Anthony impatiently opened the base upgrade device, saying, "List the required upgrade equipment!"

"Ding! Level 2 Operating Room (1000 energy points), Level 2 Backyard (1500 energy points), Level 3 Cultivation Room (1000 energy points), Level 3 Base (10,000 energy points)."

"Upgrade all!" Anthony stated directly.

"Ding! Would you like to spend 13,500 energy points to upgrade the equipment?"

"Upgrade!" "Remaining energy points: 214,686.3."

"Congratulations, host, for obtaining: Level 2 Operating Room (Located in the operating room, increases patient surgery success rate by 60%), equipped with a Level 1 Medical Storage (can automatically scan and detect patients, can heal most external injuries, most internal injuries, and for patients on the brink of death, it can delay death by 10 minutes. Each use consumes 20 energy points); equipped with a medical robot assistant (can assist doctors with surgical work, consumes 1 energy point per day)."

"Level 2 Backyard: Expands to 200 square meters, emits spiritual energy automatically, can simulate natural environments, increases martial arts training speed by 10%, automatically consumes 10 energy points per day."

"Level 3 Cultivation Room: Covers an area of 10 acres, consumes 20 energy points per day, can automatically cultivate, cultivated crops mature every two months and 15 days, can be automatically harvested after maturing, each acre consumes 2 cubic spirit pools, crops can be consumed three times a day, each consumption enhances attributes by 0.5 points (strength, agility, spirit), with a three-hour interval between uses."

"Level 3 Base upgrade requires 16 hours. Please wait patiently, host." Seeing the upgrade equipment descriptions, Anthony was full of joy.

Next, Anthony checked the system shop. There were still over four hours until the refresh. He thought for a moment and then exited the Conversion Room. At this point, everyone had returned to their rooms to rest. Only Annabelle remained in the relaxation area. Anthony smacked his forehead. "I almost forgot to input her room information."

Hastily, he walked over and said, "Sorry, I forgot to input your room information." While speaking, Anthony opened the Data Eye and checked Annabelle's information panel.

"Name: Annabelle

Age: 23

Affinity: 90

Intelligence: 1.1 (average human is 1)

Strength: 0.4 (average human is 1)

Agility: 0.6 (average human is 1)

Spirit: 0.9 (average human is 1)

Skill: Singing

Overall Combat Power: 3"

"Her affinity is actually at 90," Anthony was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected this young girl to be so trusting. As for the skill, Anthony couldn't fathom when singing had become a skill. Did it have a built-in hypnotic effect? Shaking his head with a slight chuckle, he said, "Let's go, I'll arrange a room for you."

After saying that, he glanced at Lynn's data next to him. Likability: 83. Anthony shook his head slightly; it seemed that Lynn's sense of belonging to the Dawn Base needed further improvement.

"Thank you," Annabelle reluctantly stood up and followed Anthony upstairs. The three rooms on the second floor were already occupied by Dash, Verna, and himself, leaving only Rooms 5 and 6 on the third floor vacant. Arriving on the third floor, Anthony pointed at Room 5's door and said to Annabelle, "Come here to input your information."

"Okay," Annabelle nodded and stood in front of the door.

Anthony said, "Input information, permission set to usage only."

"Information entered successfully, door opening!" The mechanical voice sounded, and the door to Room 5 slowly opened. Just like before, the entire room was clean and tidy, all devices were fully automated, and the air was clear, giving off an extremely comfortable feeling as soon as you entered.

"You... you're really giving me this room?" Annabelle still couldn't believe it. She had been living in a dilapidated shack for a long time, and she had expected her life to continue like that. She never thought she would have such a comfortable room, and for a moment, it felt somewhat dreamlike. Much better than the room she had before the apocalypse, she couldn't help but feel amazed.

"Of course." Anthony said matter-of-factly, then looked at Annabelle's dirty appearance and smiled, "Alright, you've had a long day, go rest."

"Thank you." Annabelle bowed respectfully. Anthony smiled and nodded, then turned and left. Annabelle stood at the doorway and watched him go.

It was only when Anthony had gone downstairs that Annabelle entered the room. She looked at the comfortable and tidy bed, feeling a slight pang in her heart. She hadn't eaten and drunk so much in a long time.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Lynn was in the bathroom washing her daughter Lucy's hair. The two figures, one large and one small, were barely visible through the steam. However, Lynn's gaze was distant, indicating that her mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly, "Mom, you're hurting Lucy!" Lucy complained.

Lynn snapped back to reality and looked at her hands. She realized that she had accidentally tangled her daughter's hair while lost in thought, and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Lucy. Mommy was lost in thought just now."

"It's okay." Lucy shook her head obediently, not blaming her mother. Since the apocalypse, her mother had been finding food for her everywhere. Every time she came back, she would say she had already eaten outside, but Lucy knew her mother was often hungry. That's why she only took a few bites of her food and left the rest for her mother. So no matter what her mother did, Lucy wouldn't blame her.

But she was a bit worried about her mother's state, so she asked, "Mom, were you thinking about Uncle Superman?"

"Huh?" Lynn's seductive and glamorous eyes blinked, then she scolded with a smile, "Don't talk nonsense. What would Mom be thinking about Uncle Superman for?"

"Mom, then are you thinking about Dad?" Lucy asked in a small voice.

"Him?" Lynn murmured, feeling a bit annoyed for some reason. Since that night when she had Lucy, the man had disappeared, leaving behind a note saying that he was facing difficulties and had gone to the Chu Province to seek help.

But six years had passed, and Lynn had held back her anger. The Chu Province was less than 100 kilometers away from the Linxian city. Why should she have to go find him? Couldn't he come to see her? Moreover, in all these years, he hadn't returned even once. She had been the one working outside and raising their daughter alone. It could be said that this man didn't deserve to be Lucy's father.

Thinking of this, Anthony's face inexplicably appeared in Lynn's mind. He had risked his life to save her, and then provided her and her daughter with a safe and comfortable place to live. In this cruel post-apocalyptic world, people like him were almost extinct. If only...

But then Lynn shook her head. She was a middle-aged married woman with a child. How could she compare to the other women in the base? They were younger, prettier, and more capable than herself.

No! Lynn thought, her competitive spirit ignited. Who's to say he wouldn't like someone like me?

"Mom, you're lying. You weren't thinking about Dad, you were thinking about Uncle Superman," Lucy's voice sounded again.

Lynn snapped back to reality, her face slightly red. She scolded, "What does a little kid like you understand?"

"But... Mom looks at Uncle Superman the same way the other sisters in the base do," Lucy said with a hint of confusion.

Hearing this, Lynn's heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily asked, "Does Lucy want Uncle Superman to be her dad?"

"Want!" Lucy nodded without hesitation.

"I see." Lynn nodded gently, then turned off the shower and towel-dried Lucy's hair. She spoke softly, "Lucy, be a good girl. Go back to the tent by yourself. Mommy will come back later to be with you."

"Okay." Lucy nodded, seeming to understand.