Forty-Nine Doomsday Chapter 43: Hidden Rule Four

Lihua Hotel, Room 306.

After the Fire Thief announced the rule, Guan Tong quickly heard the hubbub coming from the lobby.

More than a hundred people had gathered there, and the rule had instantly sparked a heated discussion.

Guan Tong silently commanded.

"Personal Terminal."

He wanted to see what this hidden rule was.

Focusing his attention on the content of Rule Four, the hidden rule soon materialized.

[Hidden Rule Four: Difficult Choice]

[Hidden Rule Content: In this rule, regional snowfall amount is positively correlated with population density. The denser the population, the greater the snowfall. The sparser the population, the less the snowfall.]

[Note: Faced with extreme environments, humans instinctively choose to cluster together to survive. Knowing this hidden rule, do you have the courage to live apart and face the disaster alone?]

...What?

After reading the hidden rule, Guan Tong instinctively glanced at the heavy snow drifting outside the window.

The denser the population, the heavier the snowfall... the sparser the population, the lighter the snowfall...

Live apart and face the disaster alone...

That really is a "difficult choice."

Guan Tong had not expected the hidden rule for the fourth Doomsday Rule to be like this.

That meant that big cities like the capital Yong'an and his own Yunhua City would receive the heaviest snowfall!

Meanwhile, remote rural areas, even the uninhabited zones in the northwest, might get very little snow—perhaps only an ordinary winter snowfall.

"Big cities have good roads and transportation, ample stored resources, and high-level emergency rescue services, so they're assigned the heaviest snowfall. Remote areas lack infrastructure and stockpiles, so they get the least snowfall..."

"Is this the Fire Thief's kindness to people in remote areas... or malice targeting densely populated regions?"

Guan Tong even entertained a ridiculous thought: maybe the Fire Thief was also considering the pla's wildlife.

After all, if the whole world gets such massive snowfall, how many humans will survive a month later is one thing, but countless wild animals would likely suffer heavy casualties, even extinction.

But back to reality, what should he choose?

Knowing this hidden rule, should he stay at the Lihua Hotel?

The hotel sat by one of the city's main roads in an excellent location. Before long, officials would surely allocate large amounts of supplies here. And when there were many people, they could help each other if something happened...

Those are advantages. The downside is facing extremely heavy snowfall for an entire month, during which water, power outages, extreme cold, and other problems could occur.

If he chose to leave and head to a sparsely populated area alone?

But against a disaster of this magnitude, would being isolated and without help really be okay?

Guan Tong watched the snow grow thicker outside the window and knew he had to decide quickly.

If he delayed a few more hours and the snow blocked all roads out of the city, it would be impossible to leave!

"Knock knock knock."

At that moment someone knocked on his door, followed by Xu Xiaotian's voice.

"Brother Tong! What are you doing in your room? Come out quickly, everyone's in the lobby!"

Hearing Xu Xiaotian's voice, Guan Tong opened the door.

"Brother Tong, why haven't you gone downstairs?" Xu Xiaotian asked curiously. "A lot more people came to the hotel."

"Really. Let's go down and see."

Guan Tong and Xu Xiaotian went down to the lobby. Sure enough, the lobby that had originally held over a hundred people had nearly doubled. Another hundred plus people had arrived from outside, carrying large and small bags.

Some long-term residents couldn't help complaining: "All 150 rooms are full, so why are these people still squeezing in? Where are they going to stay?"

The newcomers immediately retorted.

"How can there be nowhere to stay? The hotel rooms are all big-bed rooms. One big bed can sleep two people! 150 rooms can sleep at least 300 people! Besides, some rooms have more than one big bed, so they can sleep even more."

"You guys who came first have beds, that's fine. I'm later so I won't fight you for it, I'll just sleep on the floor!"

"This hotel isn't yours. Didn't everyone get in here for free? I say we shouldn't do first-come-first-served. If there aren't enough beds, rotating sleep shifts would be fair."

"Everyone don't fight. The hotel is big. Apart from guest rooms there's a bar, a gym, and a restaurant—lots of spacious places. You could clear those out and many people could sleep."

"The government started calling for people to gather together so supplies can be centralized for transport. My home is nearby so I came, otherwise I wouldn't have."

"That makes sense. With this much snow, how deep will the roads be in a few days? The government can't deliver supplies to every household. They have to concentrate people together!"

Seeing people bickering and shouting, Guan Tong frowned.

Xu Xiaotian beside him looked dejected: "This rule is such a pain. It lasts the whole month. I planned to report to my academy in the capital this month, but now that's impossible... The academy will probably delay opening because of this rule, right?"

Xu Xiaotian turned to Guan Tong: "What do you think, Brother Tong?"

What Guan Tong said surprised him completely: "Xiaotian, I plan to leave here."

"Oh. Huh? What???"

It took Xu Xiaotian several seconds to process what Guan Tong had said. He stared at him with wide eyes.

"Brother Tong! What did you say? You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"But, there's so much snow outside. Where would you go? Besides, didn't that person earlier say the officials are calling for everyone to gather together!"

Guan Tong couldn't tell Xu Xiaotian that he knew the hidden rule, so he replied, "I feel that when people gather, things get chaotic. So I decided to leave."

"This... Brother Tong..."

"I'll go back and get my backpack and leave immediately."

Xu Xiaotian hadn't expected Guan Tong to suddenly decide this. Shocked, he felt the urge to say, "I'll go with you, Brother Tong!"

But looking at the swirling snow outside, he hesitated.

He honestly didn't know where one could go in such heavy snow. And being outside in this weather, wouldn't hypothermia set in quickly?

While Xu Xiaotian wavered, Guan Tong was already upstairs back in his room.

He opened the cabi, where he'd stashed some high-energy food, fast-acting medicines, and other emergency supplies.

Now he took those items out and packed them into his small backpack.

Xu Xiaotian followed him to the door and stood watching with a worried expression.

"Brother Tong, are you really decided?"

"Yes."

Guan Tong slung the backpack on, came out, and handed the Room 306 key card to Xu Xiaotian.

"Give this card to someone you trust."

"Brother Tong, you're being too hasty. I wasn't mentally prepared..."

"Time won't wait, and neither will the snow." Guan Tong patted Xu Xiaotian on the shoulder. "Live well. We'll meet again."

"...Alright! Brother Tong, you must be careful! I don't know where you're going, but be careful!"

"I will."

Guan Tong said goodbye to Xu Xiaotian and walked down to the lobby and outward.

Because he had stayed here for some time, some of the long-term residents recognized him and were surprised to see him leaving with a pack.

"Guan Tong, you're leaving?"

"Yes."

"You're crazy! With so much snow out there, aren't you going to die!"

Guan Tong didn't answer and walked straight out the door.

"...This kid must be out of his mind!"

"Let him be. First let's call the Livelihood Security Department and ask them to send food. With so many people, how much food will be consumed each day!"

"And thick clothes, heavy quilts! It's not that cold yet while the snow just started. It'll get really cold later!"

Guan Tong stepped out of the Lihua Hotel and looked at the snow filling the sky, breathing in a deep, cold breath.

"With this Constant Temperature Tech Underwear I'm wearing, I won't need to worry about hypothermia while active outside for six hours. I have to use this time to get the supplies I need, then leave Yunhua City heading to Mingdao Mountain, over seven hundred li to the south of the city. That place is sparsely inhabited—there won't be much snowfall there!"