Thomas looked at the five rare blueprints spread before him. One was for the Hideout Trophy Display Case, the missing piece from Mad Dog''s safe. Another, dropped by Ghostface upon his death, was for a Hideout Workbench. The third, Caban''s remaining blueprint, detailed a Hideout Gym. The final two, salvaged from the fallen cultists at the Trading Center, were for a Hideout Facility Merger and a Hideout Indoor Greenhouse.


    Thomas met all the prerequisites for these blueprints, lacking only a few common materials. A quick query in World Chat solved that problem. Construction began immediately. The workbench and gym were placed in the first-floor weapons lab, while the trophy case found a home on the third floor, opposite the fireplace.


    As the construction commenced, Thomas turned his attention to the remaining blueprints: the Facility Merger and the Indoor Greenhouse. He then pulled out another blueprint he''d been holding onto: the Hideout Well. He''d acquired it alongside the Hideout "Island" Inverter Air Conditioner blueprint, a Gas Mask Crafting Diagram, and a blood-stained letter. The gas mask diagram was already integrated into the bathroom''s crafting list, but the other two blueprints, deemed non-essential at the time, had been set aside. Now, an intriguing idea had taken root.


    Thomas descended to the third basement level, stopping at the Water Collector. Although upgraded to level 2 with purification capabilities, it still relied on the city water supply. Holding the two blueprints, a flicker of concern crossed his face. The impending Apocalypse—the Great Flood—loomed large. When 98% of the landmass would be submerged, the city water would inevitably become contaminated. While the Water Collector could purify water, it relied on filters. If the contamination was severe, filter availability and cost would become a critical issue. In a flooded world, even basic supplies would be scarce, let alone specialized filters. Their trading price would likely be astronomical.


    Self-reliance, Thomas decided, was the best course of action. He recalled the teachings of Chairman Mao: "Struggle against Heaven, struggle against Earth, struggle against man."


    Without hesitation, he gathered the necessary materials for the well and selected the Facility Merger blueprint. Targeting the level 2 Water Collector and the Well blueprint, he chose a corner in the living area and initiated the merging process. The Water Collector vanished behind a shimmering white curtain. Construction time: two hours.


    A smile played on Thomas''s lips as he watched the construction in progress. He couldn''t predict the outcome, but combining two hideout facilities, along with the Water Purifier blueprint used for the upgrade, surely wouldn''t result in something useless. There was no point in speculating. He''d see the results in two hours.


    Now, only the Indoor Greenhouse blueprint remained. Thomas decided to wait until the water source was established before proceeding. Water was crucial for cultivation, and he didn''t want to take any chances. He could, however, make some preparations.


    He opened his private message list and searched for a specific contact.


    "Andrew, you still alive?" he typed.


    After thirty seconds with no response, Thomas feared the worst…


    Suddenly, a message popped up: "Legend Smyth? Is that rare plant ready to split?"


    Thomas blinked, then smacked his forehead. "Damn… I forgot about the plant!" It wasn''t intentional. His mind had been racing lately. But it wasn''t too late.


    "Hey… yeah! Just contacting you about it. Want it now?" he quickly replied, rushing to the relaxation area to check on The Breathing Pothos.


    As expected, the aerial root had split, producing a new plant. Another root was two-thirds grown, ready to split in a few hours. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief.


    Andrew''s reply arrived: "That''s great! Send it over, Legend Smyth. Thank you so much!"


    Without further ado, Thomas snapped off the mature offshoot and traded it to Andrew.


    Andrew stared at the Breathing Pothos cutting in his inventory, his excitement palpable. He verified its stats, identical to the original. Relief washed over him. The trade with Thomas had been a gamble, a bet on his integrity. He''d been waiting all morning, starting to resign himself to disappointment. This was a welcome surprise. Not just the plant itself, but the fact that Thomas had honored his agreement so readily. His respect for Thomas soared.


    Then, another message from Thomas arrived: "Hey… you got any vegetable seeds, compost, ''Golden Klaw'' fertilizer? And any of that rare plant nutrient left?"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Andrew''s curiosity piqued. "I have all of those, Legend Smyth. Except the nutrient, I only have two bottles left. Don''t tell me you''re planning on farming?"


    "Just a little experiment," Thomas replied. "Send over those two nutrient bottles."


    Andrew''s eyes lit up. Everyone knew how wealthy Thomas was, and how clever. A "little experiment"? Andrew had tried farming countless times, but ordinary methods failed with this world''s seeds. Perhaps only a rare facility could make them grow. An idea began to form in his mind…


    "Legend Smyth, how about this? Rare Plant Nutrient is precious, so we''ll work out a fair trade for that. But the seeds, compost, and fertilizer—nobody wants those. I''ll just give you as much as you need. What do you say?" Andrew''s message read. "Just… hehe… one thing… Legend Smyth, if you manage to grow any food, vegetables, or anything like that, could you spare me a little? Just a taste? I haven''t had fresh vegetables in three years!"


    Thomas reread the messages several times, along with their previous conversation. Andrew seemed overly enthusiastic about anything plant-related. Thomas recalled their earlier exchange, when Andrew claimed to have no more nutrient. Now, suddenly, two bottles appeared. Either he hadn''t been truthful then, or… Andrew could make the Rare Plant Nutrient.


    Thomas''s eyes gleamed. If his hunch was correct, and Andrew could produce even one vial of Type I Plant Nutrient per day, he was a valuable asset. A rare talent.


    "Sounds good, Andrew," Thomas replied. "If I manage to get something growing, I''ll let you know. But if you come across anything else related to rare plants, remember to save some for me."


    "Haha, will do, Legend Smyth! I''ll keep an eye out!"


    They quickly negotiated a trade for the two vials of Type I Plant Nutrient. One MP5 submachine gun, 120 rounds of ammunition, and a level 3 ballistic vest later, the nutrient was his.


    By now, interest in Thomas''s Nourishing Mutton Stew had waned. He didn''t mind; the kitchen continued production at full capacity. He could always sell it to survivors in the frigid zones, or stockpile it for future cold snaps.


    With the necessary materials for the Indoor Greenhouse secured, Thomas returned to sorting his loot. His gaze fell upon the map-like item from Mad Dog''s safe. "Anything stored alongside two rare blueprints can''t be ordinary," he mused.


    He unfolded the map. His mind went blank. He stared, dumbfounded, then double-checked the label.


    "Holy crap… it really is…"


    CBS Laboratory Functional Area Distribution Map


    <ul><li>Type: Rare Item</li><li>Description: A structural blueprint detailing the functional areas within the CBS underground laboratory. Allows for quick navigation within the facility.</li><li>Effect 1: When within the laboratory, displays the user''s current location and the location of escape routes on the map.</li><li>Effect 2: Can be used to expand the rare special facility "Intelligence Center," adding a CBS Laboratory module.</li></ul>


    The map depicted a three-level underground laboratory, color-coded into five functional areas: Logistics, Warehouse, and Supply; Parking Garage; Laboratory and Office Area; Sterile Laboratory, Medical Support, and Quarantine; and Administration and Recreation Area. Each area was further subdivided. The Parking Garage, for example, was split into: Security Room/Parking Gate Control Room; Parking Area; Forecourt; and Parking Gate.


    In total, over forty areas were spread across the three levels, with the Laboratory and Sterile Laboratory zones occupying the largest space. This confirmed Thomas''s suspicions: the CBS Laboratory was dedicated to human experimentation, researching genetic enhancement serums like the Oceanborn formula.


    However, a blacked-out section labeled "Containment Zone" caught his attention. The name sent a shiver down his spine. Containment of what? Failed experiments? Something else entirely? He recalled the jelly-like substance found in Ghostface''s brain: the Incomplete Neural Bridge.


    And what about the escape routes mentioned in the item description? Did the lab have a specific exit, perhaps multiple or shifting exits? Or was there a condition for leaving? That would certainly explain the map''s rarity.


    Thomas rubbed his temples, pushing the unsettling thoughts aside. His head was starting to itch again.


    Looking at the item description again, he understood. Effect 1 was essentially a less powerful version of the future virtual map function. Effect 2 was tempting, but the Intelligence Center was still upgrading, and with the first Apocalypse still ongoing, he lacked a clear understanding of the true nature of this world.


    He decided to hold onto the map for now. It was in his possession; he could use it whenever he chose.


    With the most valuable blueprints and books processed, Thomas emptied his backpack, spreading his remaining rare loot on the floor. He sat down, ready for the most enjoyable part: appraisal. This haul was the most impressive he''d gathered since the Apocalypse Game began. Weapons, armor, functional gear…


    But what intrigued him most was a device resembling a single-lens telescope: a night vision device, looted from Ghostface. As a drop from the tutorial''s strongest boss, it held great promise.


    AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device


    <ul><li>Type: Rare Item</li><li>Size: 1x1</li><li>Description: AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device. A portable visual aid used by the Army/Navy, providing night vision up to 350 meters with a 40° field of view and adjustable brightness.</li><li>Suitable Environment: Low light</li><li>Usage: Handheld, head-mounted, weapon-mounted, camera-mounted</li><li>Field of View: 40°</li><li>Magnification: 1x-3x</li><li>Resolution: 64</li><li>Brightness Gain: 25-3000 (adjustable)</li><li>Diopter Adjustment: -2 to +6</li><li>Focus Range: 25cm - 350m</li><li>Operating Temperature: -51°C to 49°C</li><li>Storage Temperature: -51°C to 85°C</li></ul>