Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System Chapter 111: Homecoming

March 18th, 20xx — 2:11 PM

Zone 3A-Δ – First Floor, Jiang Roulan’s Building - Hobase

——

The journey ho wasn’t dangerous.

A few zombies lingered on the path. Probably roaming from the south, but thanks to my ability to use the sonar. We could avoid the larger packs, because even I was too tired to deal with this right now.

Four days...

That’s how long I had endured the apocalypse of the eighteen days everyone else endured.

How could they remain so strong when even with a system...

I am struggling after less than a week.

"John, is everything alright?"

"Lan’er?"

"You look tired... that’s all." I turned back, her soft voice of concern, the gentle flicker of her blue eyes, which watched quietly.

"Ah..." My throat felt dry and I couldn’t speak well. Only a breath ca out before clearing my throat. "You might be right. It’s been a long few days."

"Do you want to help carry your stuff?"

The bratty voice of Yifei bounced in my opposite ear, normally a little annoying. Now. She sounded cute and calming.

Honestly, I wanted to drag her into my bed and have Qinglan massage my back...

But those were just my erotic and deluded thoughts.

Maybe one day it could happen.

However, not now.

Even though she knew I was putting most things into my inventory, this girl’s cheeky smile was irresistible.

Behind us, Zhou Xue, Liang i and the others were all a little tired, light on their feet and staggering with each step.

’If humans or zombies ambushed us right now, it would be over.’

"It’s not far, l can manage Yifei."

"Mm, but if you need , just say so."

Shen Yifei skipped ahead from my words, her hips flicking to each side, showing none of the fatigue that spread through like a thick fog. Although I could fight... the ntal and muscular fatigue would limit .

An elbow thrust into my side, followed by a soft huff. "Don’t flirt with Yifei when I’m here."

Qinglan’s arm wrapped around mine, her soft fingers intertwining with mine."I’ll help you. Look... there’s the doors."

And she was right.

Not the ruined front we left behind days ago — not the half-barricaded ss covered in old chains and plywood.

No. This base was the upgraded version.

Polished black tal panels reinforced with segnted plating curved around the entrance like a bunker gate. I patched and upgraded the first floor with system-enhanced alloys.

The new security system glowed faint blue at the seams, humming low, subtle, but unmistakable like standing next to a sleeping engine.

No zombies. No flies. Not even crows.

They couldn’t get within thirty ters now.

Stage 3s would hesitate.

Anything under that?

They wouldn’t even try.

"Whoa..." Deng Hua mumbled. "This place looks like a goddamn fortress."

"It is," I said, walking toward it.

The reinforced doors scanned the mont I stepped close.

[Identified: John Wang —Max Authority]

[Welco Ho — Leader]

The female voice sounded like the tutorial woman’s, but I didn’t get to see these upgrades before I left because of the twelve-hour duration.

I didn’t change the settings, so most of the people in the building couldn’t leave without becoming part of my group. It might have been harsh if I stayed away too long, but Jiang Roulan promised to deal with it.

"Lan’er, Yifei, can you take everyone to the first floor?"

Before they moved, I turned to Zhou Xue and waved at her. "Miss Zhou, would you co with ?" She looked a bit stunned, but I couldn’t help it because her father was still sitting in his room on the third floor, sa as Tang Wei and her family.

With a hydraulic hiss, the door cracked open and slid back.

A cold draft slipped out — not icy, just sterile. Clean. Not the sll of rot and decay, but filtered air, dry tal, and faint antiseptic.

Mu Qinglan exhaled quietly. "This... wasn’t like this before."

"No," I said. "I upgraded it."

Yifei blinked. "When?"

"While you were sleeping."

She pouted. "Are you calling lazy?"

"I’m calling you peaceful."

She narrowed her eyes like she wanted to protest, but then grinned and followed inside.

Everyone filed in after. Staggered. Tired. Covered in street sweat and survival.

The door closed behind us, sealing with a deep thud.

Inside, the first-floor corridor was untouched by ti. Brushed steel flooring. Reinforced concrete walls. The lights glowed a clean white, solar-fed. One of the system’s passive blessings.

"John, please get so rest..." Mu Qinglan hugged tight and kissed my cheek with a wet smack before pulling away. Gently whispering into my ear. "I’ll wait for you upstairs when finished."

Shen Yifei looked back with a sharp gaze, but didn’t say anything...

’She’s really growing on .’

The mont she left, it was only , Zhou Xue and Liang i in the hallway. It felt warm, and the soft carpet once we entered the complex was comfortable.

"Will you both join ? There’s soone I wanted you to et, Miss Xue."

"I know... This is where my dad lives."

"Good, he wanted to know you were safe."

"I see."

Her words sounded a little cold, but there might be sothing between them that I shouldn’t try to get involved with.

Liang i and Zhou Xue weren’t far off being recruitable, at least that’s what my instinct said to ... and the biggest gain was saving Liang i!

[You have protected Liang i and brought her to the Hobase!]

[Gained: 2000 ZKP]

[Gained: 2000 EXP]

Then we ca to the updated elevators, with upgraded military grade tal, sleek black tal, and a max weight of 1500 kg.

▼ Maximum Grade Blast Elevator (Shock Resistant)

An elevator able to withstand a missile attack.

Durability: 500/500

"Oh my god... It’s like a sci-fi movie."

"Third floor?" Zhou Xue asked.

"Yeah."

"Elevator works?"

I turned back and gave her a tired smile.

"Welco to the future."

Of course, it wouldn’t move without being a mber of our group and placed at the level of Mu Qinglan. We stepped into the lift — a fifteen-person ride, newly restored by the system and materials.

It had an old-school panel interface that only responded to registered people.

—Bzzt—

From the mont it closed the doors, the singular elevator replaced the double elevators from before, becoming one large one.

"Wow!"

Liang i’s eyes shone like diamonds.

The cooling breeze from the air conditioning, sothing rare in this country, flowed through the lift from the neon blue lights lining the floor and walls.

"It’s amazing!"

"I cannot believe sothing like this exists." Zhou Xue peeked at several tis before leaning against the wall, her bow held comfortably around her shoulder.

"Truly... a mystery."

I pressed the floor plate.

The doors sealed without a sound.

The ride was smooth.

Too smooth for this world and this country.

The mont it opened, we stepped out onto the third floor, no longer filled with barricades, and a lot of people seed to be still moving their things to the private rooms on the first floor now.

"Ah, Mr Wang!"

"Thank you, Mister Wang."

They greeted while I passed, "Don’t worry, we are all survivors. Make sure you settle and get so rest. Once we start working, I won’t go easy on you." I didn’t want to sound annoying, but they made embarrassed—there was a scratchy feeling in my abdon.

"Yes, boss!"

"Co on, darling, he’s with two pretty girls... don’t keep him." The middle-aged man got scolded by his wife, and their faces looked better than yesterday.

It didn’t take long to reach our target... I could sll the old whiskey and smoke scent from the door, the yellow wallpaper peeling.

—Bang-Bang!—

"Dad! Open up! Dad! It’s , Xue’er!"

I watched her rush forward, with Laing i standing beside with a smile on her face.

She always felt like a cute and fluffy sheep.

"???" The cute sheep looked up at , used to leaning against Zhou Xue, she leaned against my arm.

"Hmph!" A huff sounded from the door, the low, raspy voice of Old Zhou rumbling as the chain and bolt slowly clicked open. "Who is at my door, huh? Oh... Xue’er? Is that really you... You really ca back to ?"

The change in his voice sounded instant upon seeing her face.

His old wrinkled face suddenly lit up, his eyes flicked to for a second, tears forming in the corners, and I nodded to him, grabbing Liang i by the waist, and turned back.

"Kya..."

"Old Lei, co to the first floor when you’re ready. I’ll be waiting."

Though he didn’t speak loudly, I heard the low... "thank you." that pushed through his lips like a growl.

Sohow... I was jealous.

But that jealousy lasted less than a second as a beautiful and bright voice called out to , followed by the thud of soone darting towards like a cheetah.

"JOHN!"