chapter 5：Ample Supplies and Future Plans

By the time Chen Dao had searched the fifth villa, it was already evening. The families around here were quite affluent, and except for the villa that served as the party venue, the other houses had an abundance of supplies.

Chen Dao had made several trips back to his temporary base, hauling a significant amount of food, tools, and materials. He even found a revolver in the nightstand of one house, meant for self-defense.

Although he preferred using his suppressor-equipped M9, he carefully stored the Smith & Wesson snub-nosed revolver. It came with only one box of low-quality aluminum-cased ammunition, but it was better than nothing.

After inventorying his supplies, he realized he now had enough resources to sustain himself for over a month. Among the bounty were over 130 cans of food, cereals, coffee, tea bags, and even enough meat and fresh produce to fill an entire refrigerator. He also collected a wide array of tools and materials, enough to fortify another hideout if needed.

Chen Dao was ecstatic. Now, he needed to store enough fresh water while it was still available from the tap. That way, he could survive comfortably here for a month. In that time, he could gradually collect videotapes and necessary books, leveling up his skills. As his skills improved, so would his chances of surviving.

He checked his watch: July 10, 7:42 PM. Looking around at the plethora of supplies in his makeshift base, Chen Dao knew he could sleep soundly tonight. He closed the garage door and double-checked the windows and doors before heading to the second floor for a well-earned bath and sleep. For the first time in ten days, he had a peaceful night's sleep.

To avoid oversleeping, Chen Dao had been setting an alarm on his digital watch, forcing himself to wake up by 9 AM every day. Despite this precaution, he was always awakened by other disturbances—zombie howls, unexpected noises, and even one day, the screams from the western middle-class residents. Never once had he slept soundly.

But today was different. Exhausted from the day's work and with the assurance of ample supplies, he slept deeply, untroubled by alarms or other noises. When he awoke, groggy and disoriented, he discovered it was already dark outside. Glancing at his watch, he was shocked to see it was July 11, 7:56 PM. He had slept for nearly 24 hours straight, evidence of how strung out he had been.

Despite the rest, his anxiety and fatigue persisted. Even his trip to the bathroom was in a half-asleep, half-awake state. However, the sight of the canned and instant food piled in the kitchen brought a smile to his lips.

The sealed-off, darkened first floor of the villa provided Chen Dao with a sense of security and relaxation. Although the tools and materials cluttered the living room, they gave him comfort.

For the first time, Chen Dao felt truly accepted by this post-apocalyptic world, finally earning his right to survive.

Sitting on the kitchen floor, Chen Dao pulled out a map of Blueberry Town from his small backpack. He also checked his skill panel and basic information, planning his next steps.

First, he needed to store water, as the water and power supply would soon cease. Finding a generator was crucial, along with a generator user manual from the bookstore, to ensure he could still use the microwave and oven post-outage.

This realization brought a long to-do list.

Riverside was well-suited for beginners, both in the game and real life. It had balanced and rich resources, crucial survival elements, and a relatively small population, much unlike the densely zombie-populated West Point or March Ridge.

Riverside had a police station with an armory containing six gun safes, full of weapons, ammunition, and various attachments. Located in the town's northwest, the station lay opposite a medium-sized gas station, offering a plentiful supply of fuel.

In-game, Spiffo's, the most popular fast-food chain in Knox, was located to the police station and gas station's east, serving excellent Spiffo's burgers. Some people reported seeing individuals go berserk and bite others after eating these burgers. Recently, Spiffo's faced lawsuits for using illegal additives and non-quarantined beef. Nonetheless, Spiffo's burgers were delicious.

East along the road lay a sandbox playground, an ideal spot for Riverside's middle-class residents to entertain their kids. South of the playground was the commercial center, housed in an L-shaped, two-story building. The VHS store, located at the "L" foot and adjacent to the playground, was a priority for Chen Dao.

Continuing east, the bustling commercial street revealed a clothing store to the north and middle-class residences to the south. The houses here were mainly wooden structures. Chen Dao had spent a nerve-wracking night here before, where the high population density converted into a perilous number of zombies.

Further east brought a south-bound intersection leading to the "Nuts 'n Bolts" hardware store, stocked with tools and construction materials. South of the store, through a tree fence-lined commuting path, lay Riverside School. The path, built for students and residents, connected to the commercial street.

North of the police station and gas station road, past an array of clothing stores, Chen Dao found the post office, motel, and the "Ingmar" bookstore. Though small, it housed an extensive collection. North of the bookstore, along the Ohio River, stood Riverside Entertainment—a high-end venue combining river views, dining, smoking, and drinking.

Further along the riverbank, east of Riverside Entertainment, resided Horus Ice Cream and the "Dots 'n Donuts" doughnut chain, the latter doubling as a coffee shop.

Opposite the bookstore was a local restaurant specializing in dinners like tacos and pies, offering a family experience. Adjacent to the restaurant was a toy store, and opposite the toy store (and hence east of Ingmar bookstore) was the town's only pharmacy, "Friendly's Pharmacy".

Upon first arriving in this world, Chen Dao discovered not only his driver's license as Seth Chen McFarlane but also a medical license and an offer from "Friendly's Pharmacy" to become their resident doctor. Sadly, with no patients left among the living, the invitation was moot.

Continuing east past the pharmacy, at a crossroads headed south, he found Knox Bank and "Superb Chain Supermarket" south of it. The supermarket boasted more supplies than the gated community, but Chen Dao had seen a daunting horde of zombies outside it when he passed by.

Only someone with a death wish would go there now.

Across the street from the bank and supermarket was the Riverside Senior Center and the town church, with "Riverside Boat Club" to the north.

Reaching the eastern end of Riverside, he found his current location—the gated community. His house was at the northwest entrance, close to the central community park. Safe and secure, the high iron fence kept zombies away.

Riverside was small yet comprehensive, with several notable landmarks. To the west, off the police station and gas station road, lay the homes of farmers, fishers, the poor, and workers. The roads here were poorly maintained, with crumbling streets and a vast, fenced salvage yard.

Oh, and there was the cemetery where everyone buried their dead.

Heading south past this broken-down area, you see an old bar and a small store. Welcome to Bob's Old Bar, a favorite among the lower class, workers, and veterans, serving unlimited bourbon.

Here you can shoot pool or engage in bar brawls with Vietnam vets, though local police keep a close watch. These officers typically overlook such "local fun," focusing more on hippies smoking by the river and drunken tourists at Riverside Entertainment.

Following the route south to a T-junction stood Alice and Henry's Farm, producing crops and fresh produce that congested the town. Further west along this junction was the "Recto-Macs Equipment Manufacturing Company".

Recto-Macs specialized in equipment parts, often taking military contracts. Most employees were veterans, living in the trailer camp to the factory's west. The factory and its associated warehouses might contain anything, including high-powered generators and Soviet weapons.

Recto-Macs' unaffiliated warehouse to the south housed "Classic American Storage", featuring row-upon-row of garage-style units. One unit reserved for firearms contained many private stashes—another treasure trove.

Recto-Macs not only bolstered Riverside's finances, generating over 60% of the town's revenue, but also served as the town's sole industrial foundation alongside tourism and entertainment.

This industrial hub contained the factory, storage, worker housing, a repair shop, "Simple Eats" restaurant, and "Not Just Gas" gas station-cum-grocery-and-laundry, catering to workers.

While rich in resources, the factory-area's dense population of strong veterans and workers likely turned ferociously into zombies, making it a death trap.

To the south, along the factory and worker trailer camp's road, turning south at Knox County Road, a westward path led to the Knox Highway, with an eastward path reaching the "KVM Country Club". The club was semi-enclosed by a high-wire fence.

This club featured a racetrack, golf courses, luxury suites, theaters, and swimming pools. Originally, the Independence Day celebrations were scheduled here, postponed yet attracting many visitors for the festivities.

Riverside's comprehensive layout brought clarity. Every landmark from the central town to outer supplementary areas was fresh in Chen Dao's mind.

Wait, the telecom station!

Chen Dao remembered a concrete turnoff between the highway and country club, leading to a telecom station deep in the forest. It housed a high-power radio, self-contained generators, fuel tanks, and a spiked high-wire fence.

Could the radio broadcast he heard have originated from this telecommunications station? It might signify the presence of survivors trying to reveal the truth about Knox.

Chen Dao firmly noted this potential survivor hub in his mental map. In a sprawling and sparsely populated state like Kentucky, having a righteous ally would be invaluable.

When the opportunity arose, he planned to check it out. The station would make an excellent survivor base, though its remote location made it challenging for sustained living. He feared eventually exhausting its resources.

Lost in these thoughts, Chen Dao rubbed his temples and instinctively reached for a cigarette, only to remember he had run out.

The realization hit hard: his exhaustion wasn't just from poor rest; his "Smoker" trait was manifesting negative effects. Anxiety, fatigue, and listlessness were symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Without any cigarettes left, panic set in. Chen Dao reflected on where he might find more. Gas stations, convenience stores, and bars were the usual places, though he preferred finding them on dead bodies. Yet, zombies frequently lost items, their clothing often torn from obstacles.

The closest and safest place for cigarettes nearby was Riverside Entertainment—the high-end bar was bound to have a stash of unopened packs.

With a clear plan, he would leave the gated community, head north to the Ohio Riverbank, then walk west along the river, avoiding most zombies and safely reaching the bar. The distance wasn't too far, and he could easily make the trip and return with enough smokes to last him.

Unfortunately, he hadn't found a working car, so he had to walk. Yesterday's exploration revealed all cars had either no fuel or red engine lights. A working vehicle likely awaited in a larger parking lot.

Chen Dao remembered the yacht club had a sizable parking lot, possibly housing functional cars. He decided to check it out later.

It was already past 9 PM, and Chen Dao knew he needed a good night's sleep to prepare for the next day.

He jotted down his plan for tomorrow in a notebook:

1.Search Riverside Entertainment for cigarettes.

2.Find a car at the Yacht Club.

3.Return home.

With a straightforward, three-step plan, Chen Dao couldn't overplan, knowing how unpredictable reality was and hoping for smooth sailing the next day.

He then began organizing his gear for the journey. His main objective was cigarettes, so he planned to travel light. The small backpack would suffice. He'd take the khukuri machete for defense and avoid conflicts, ready to run if needed. A shirt, sporty pants, and a denim hat would keep him cool and agile.

He debated whether to bring the M9 handgun—it was heavy, but with no other choice, he attached the suppressor and packed all subsonic bullets and magazines. A gun was essential, if not for use, then for leveling up and gaining firearm experience.

He noted the lack of a proper holster—a significant drawback. A holster could improve drawing speed and weapon readiness.

Additionally, he prepared water, some food, disinfectant, bandages, suture needles and thread, painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication, and antibiotics, ensuring he had critical medical supplies as a doctor understanding their lifesaving importance.

His small backpack packed halfway with essentials, Chen Dao calculated there'd be enough space for packs of cigarettes—more than he'd need.

Rubbing his tense temples, Chen Dao felt his anxiety and restlessness intensify. He doubted he'd get much sleep tonight.

Laying out his plan and gear, Chen Dao tried to relax, hoping for a restful night before his big mission for cigarettes the next day.