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

Chapter 111: Homecoming

March 18th, 20xx — 2:11 PM

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

——

The journey home 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 me quietly.

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

"Do you want me 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 Mei 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 me, just say so."

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

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 mess covered in old chains and plywood.

No. This base was the upgraded version.

Polished black metal panels reinforced with segmented 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 meters 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 me the moment I stepped close.

[Identified: John Wang —Max Authority]

[Welcome Home — 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 come with me?" She looked a bit stunned, but I couldn’t help it because her father was still sitting in his room on the third floor, same 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 smell of rot and decay, but filtered air, dry metal, 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 me lazy?"

"I’m calling you peaceful."

She narrowed her eyes like she wanted to protest, but then grinned and followed me 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 time. Brushed steel flooring. Reinforced concrete walls. The lights glowed a clean white, solar-fed. One of the system’s passive blessings.

"John, please get some rest..." Mu Qinglan hugged me 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 me.’

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

"Will you both join me? There’s someone I wanted you to meet, 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 something between them that I shouldn’t try to get involved with.

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

[You have protected Liang Mei and brought her to the Homebase!]

[Gained: 2000 ZKP]

[Gained: 2000 EXP]

Then we came to the updated elevators, with upgraded military grade metal, sleek black metal, 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.

"Welcome to the future."

Of course, it wouldn’t move without being a member 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 moment it closed the doors, the singular elevator replaced the double elevators from before, becoming one large one.

"Wow!"

Liang Mei’s eyes shone like diamonds.

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

"It’s amazing!"

"I cannot believe something like this exists." Zhou Xue peeked at me several times 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 moment it opened, we stepped out onto the third floor, no longer filled with barricades, and a lot of people seemed to be still moving their things to the private rooms on the first floor now.

"Ah, Mr Wang!"

"Thank you, Mister Wang."

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

"Yes, boss!"

"Come 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 smell the old whiskey and smoke scent from the door, the yellow wallpaper peeling.

—Bang-Bang!—

"Dad! Open up! Dad! It’s me, Xue’er!"

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

She always felt like a cute and fluffy sheep.

"???" The cute sheep looked up at me, 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 came back to me?"

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

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

"Kya..."

"Old Lei, come 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.

Somehow... I was jealous.

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

"JOHN!"

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