City of Time: Falling into the kill zone at the start

Downstairs, Lu Chen asked Yu: "Was this apartment bought or rented? What was the price?"

Yu told Lu Chen that it was rented.

Monthly rent [12 days].

On average, the daily rent is approximately [10 hours].

Lu Chen had originally thought that at this price, even if the low-rise building was dilapidated on the surface—or even dilapidated inside and out—it would at least be considered a cozy little home.

But when the door was opened, the scene that came into view made Lu Chen freeze on the spot.

Lu Chen ultimately overestimated the City of Time's "conscience" towards its residents.

It is no exaggeration to say;

—The interior space is exactly the same size as the door frame!

The door frame is about two meters high and less than one meter wide.

The space inside the door is also a "corridor" that is more than two meters high and less than one meter wide!

Deep in the corridor, there were several old mattresses of different colors, which should be considered beds.

Between the bed and the window, there were some miscellaneous items, serving a function similar to a storage room.

Above the "bed," at a height of about 1.5 meters, there is a wooden board with neatly folded clothes on it.

Between the bed and the door, there are two wooden planks, one meter and one and a half meters high, placed horizontally for placing items.

Gone.

A "bed" made of several layers of thin mattresses, three wooden planks serving as shelves, and some clothes and miscellaneous items.

There was no kitchen, no toilet, no shower—not even a single light!

The window was a milky white plastic panel, and it was closed.

Only a small portion of the light from outside shone through the plastic sheeting, barely allowing the enclosed interior to be bright enough to see one's own hand in front of one's face.

Lu Chen was only able to see everything clearly after Yu entered the room, stepped over the mattress, and opened the window.

"this……"

"Monthly rent [12 days]..."

A surprised murmured sound drew a burst of snickering from Yu.

He walked to the mattress, sat down, and lazily propped his hands up behind his back.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Lu Chen also subtly carried a hint of amusement.

"Monthly rent [12 days], not daily rent."

"With rent for over 10 hours a day, you still expect to stay in a star-rated hotel?"

Speechless at these words, Lu Chen's expression changed several times.

After a long while, he took a deep breath and shook his head, still somewhat confused.

"I thought that the 48-person dorm I lived in during high school was the best in the world."

"I never imagined I'd see such a 'master' in my lifetime..."

His words, half-joking and half-helpless, made Yu giggle and laugh non-stop.

A moment later, he beckoned to Lu Chen—who bent down and 'crawled' into the room, sitting cross-legged on the outside of the mattress.

After teasing Lu Chen a couple more times, Yu Cai steered the conversation back on track.

"We brought the hibernation pods and went back to the rest area last night. We're heading back to the city today."

"Number 3994 arrived at the hibernation pod area around yesterday afternoon."

"We don't know when he'll be back."

"I might go back today, or I might go back tomorrow."

"It's also possible that no new hibernation chambers can be dug out, and they will stay outside the city for seven days."

...

"We should still retrieve the other hibernation pod."

"But I'm not sure when to leave the city."

They come, the security.

Having arrived at Yu's residence, Lu Chen quickly regained his composure after a brief moment of surprise.

Again.

—No matter how big or small the space is, as long as you can lie down flat, it's fine.

It's a million times better than hanging on a rope, and much better than a car seat.

"Um……"

"It is indeed a difficult situation."

Then Lu Chen was seen sitting cross-legged on the ground, his elbows resting on his legs, his fingers gently rubbing the stubble under his chin.

"The longer this drags on, the more likely that hibernation pod will be taken by someone."

"Therefore, we must leave the city as soon as possible, while ensuring our safety."

"--Queuing to leave the city would take at least ten days, but we'll probably have to spend [20 days] to cut in line."

"But how long will it take to get out of the city if we cut in line...?"

...

"Number 3994 most likely left the city yesterday morning, a day later than us."

"If you stay outside the city for seven days, you will return to the city after six days."

"We'll leave the city when he returns..."

"Tsk, that's not very safe either."

"We've barely left the city when he can leave again, so our time will still be very tight."

"We need to find a way to stagger the timing..."

As he spoke, Lu Chen frowned and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

At the foot of the mattress, Yu wearily moved her neck, also deep in thought.

Number 3994 seemed to be an X factor that Lu Chen and Yu had to consider when leaving the city.

Unless Lu Chen and Yu abandon that "dormant storage area" and instead go to collect metals and materials.

As long as there is still interest in that "dormant storage area," the threat posed by Unit 3994 cannot be ignored.

The most crucial point is that Zhao Jie was picked up by number 3994 only the day after Lu Chen was picked up by Yu!

In other words, as soon as Yu left the hibernation pod area, No. 3994 followed the scent and went there!

Moreover, in the same pit where Lu Chen was dug out, they dug even deeper before finally finding Zhao Jie.

To this day, Yu still doesn't know how No. 3994 found that hibernation silo area.

—Is it tracking yourself?

—Or was it just a coincidence?

Jade had no way of knowing.

Currently, both sides are aware of the existence of that hibernation pod area, and neither wants it to be known by too many people.

At the same time, the possibility that No. 3994 might join forces with someone else puts Yu and Lu Chen at a subtle disadvantage in this "secret struggle".

Neither Lu Chen nor Yu dared to gamble.

I dare not gamble on number 3994. I will truly keep the secret, rather than trying to gain more benefits by sharing it.

Even greater gains inevitably come with greater risks.

"Phew~"

"If he stayed outside the city for seven days, it would basically prove that he did not find a new hibernation pod in that hibernation pod area."

"Otherwise, he would return to the city as soon as he finds and digs out the hibernation pod."

"In other words: if he returns in six days, the first thing he will do will definitely be to spend 20 days cutting in line and leave the city again as soon as possible to continue searching for hibernation pods in that area."

"The time we have left is the day he returns."

Yu once told Lu Chen: "You can theoretically choose any time to cut in line and leave the city."

The only restriction is that on the day of returning to the city, one cannot cut in line to leave the city again on the same day.

—After returning from scavenging, one must spend the night in the city.

So this day might be the only window of opportunity for Lu Chen and Yu.

"What if he's back in the next few days?"

Upon hearing this question, Lu Chen took a deep breath and shook his head helplessly.

"Perhaps we should keep watch near the city gate."

"Be prepared to leave the city at any time."

"—The moment he returned, we cut in line to leave the city."

"Arrived at the hibernation pod area that day, and left the hibernation pod area by noon the next day."

...

"Only in this way can we avoid running into him outside the city."

"And, try to prevent that hibernation pod from being picked up by other scavengers."