Famine 146: Blazing Across the Plains

With the truly limited capacity for reception, Si Zhiyan couldn’t help but reassure everyone, promising to return with a team in five days to fetch them, before leading the Yan City brothers away and retracing his steps back to the Glimmer Hostel.

The heartfelt reunion between old friends brought its own share of tears, but that need not be described here.

Against the backdrop of the crowd’s warm greetings, Nidhoog’s raised voice was particularly distinct:

“Huh?! What on earth is this? You want to bring two thousand people here?! What are they supposed to eat?!”

Seeing that Nidhoog was about to erupt, Si Zhiyan was preparing to calm him down when Nidhoog suddenly fell silent. He took off his apron, lowered his head in thought, his dragon wings stirring, muttering to himself as though he’d just come up with a solution.

Nearby, Shi He was helping everyone check in, but this caught his attention, and he listened in with curiosity.

“Shit has calories, about seventy percent water content. The more they eat, the more they’ll excrete. As long as they eat shit while shitting, they can maintain ecological balance on their own—no need for me to cook…”

Shi He: “…”
Si Zhiyan: “…………”

A comment both deafening and thought-provoking.

With a face full of black lines, Si Zhiyan shoved Nidhoog aside and continued his arrangements.

First, he recruited a squad of players from the Spring Grass Mercenary Group and the core areas of Imagination Town, sending them to the Abyss to support the Glimmer Hostel.

Before, the early-day exploration had been handled by Shi He and Nidhoog. Now that they had basically figured out the rules of the Abyss, it was acceptable to redeploy people from the farm and take a little more initiative.

This group was not large—about two hundred people—all veterans who had joined the farm very early on.

Many of them were old comrades from the previous world, and even the latest arrivals had experienced at least one farm defense battle. This was precisely why Si Zhiyan chose them—they were a group he could fully trust, and who had already been tested. They knew exactly what life on the farm was like, had a strong sense of belonging, and would not be easily swayed by the twisted powers of “Friend.”

With this transfer to the hostel, Nidhoog, the head chef, had much of his burden eased. Daily tasks such as cleaning or arranging tables and chairs were covered, freeing Shi He—the main combat strength—for more critical duties.

After all, these people were the top combatants in the Hunger game’s farm. Keeping them on logistics was a waste, and Si Zhiyan could not bear to squander such talents.

As for attracting new players, both the Abyss and the hostel itself were draws.

The increased difficulty and bizarre nature of the Abyss now offered higher points and curse item drops.

Generally speaking, the Main God was relatively fair—the harder the area, the greater the rewards from combat and exploration.

Si Zhiyan could now remove most environmental constraints for these players: food, lodging, and lighting were all guaranteed. Being able to explore dangerous areas with ease, many skilled players found it worthwhile even without high salaries. They gladly stationed themselves in the Abyss, seeking opportunity.

Those with flying abilities pooled their flight equipment, formed squads, and explored deeper and farther into the Abyss.

Those without the ability to fly took shifts defending the hostel, working for room and board and earning generous wage points, which was no bad thing either.

With the help of Anderson and others, this batch of players was able to settle in within three days.

Si Zhiyan had once considered bringing in farm recruits to complete the side quest. However, the quest required “gathering 500 surviving players”; upon further inquiry, “surviving” specifically referred to living through an assault by “Friend.” Ordinary players clearly lacked the fortitude of Nidhoog and Shi He, so they still needed the blood people of the Abyss.

Thus, counting both resident guests and staff, the hostel now had a permanent population of over two thousand. Including occasional walk-in guests, it needed to supply basic needs for at least three thousand people.

Not an overwhelming number, yet not a small one—the size of a mid-sized school, staff and students combined.

Si Zhiyan set about expanding the hostel.

First and foremost, more residential areas.

At three hundred points—a relatively high price—given the complicated demographics of the Nest’s player base, diversified arrangements were absolutely necessary.

Basing himself on the existing castle, Si Zhiyan constructed several more towers. These towers were linked to the castle walls, with spiral staircases for passage, climbing up along the rock face and spreading outward. Built at varying heights and positions, they newly encircled the hostel’s grounds in concert with the walls.

On the towers’ sharp rooftops, the little flag of Imagination Town fluttered, while luminous ivy climbed the lava-baked walls. Its leaves gently swayed, adding a special ambiance.

The towers had ventilated windows, with expansive views allowing one to overlook most of the castle cluster. By the window stood wooden desks, the floors covered with warm, soft carpets. Removed from the crowds, these rooms offered a considerable degree of quiet.

The only drawback was inconvenient access—but then again, everyone could fly.

The lower-level tower rooms kept the original price of three hundred points; the best high-level rooms with the best views were priced at five hundred points per night.

Underneath the main structure, the basement housed the kitchens, storage, and utility rooms—convenient for moving supplies.

Living quarters were not too large, and many groups in the Nest would surely require warehouse rental. In addition to the hostel’s own storage areas, Si Zhiyan made room here for a batch of empty storage rooms, from which he could collect a further rental fee.

Within the ring of towers, larger stretches of open flat land were laid out, and a six-story stone hotel was built, surrounded by beautiful gardens.

The gardens were laid with green grass; Si Zhiyan used his imagination to decorate, placing a musical fountain among them. Since the Abyss was always in eternal night, everything was illuminated by the hostel’s lights; shimmering water and starlight created a dreamlike scene.

These rooms were priced at two hundred points per night.
Guests could share a standard room with another to lower the cost to one hundred points per night per person.

The Abyss’s blood people could all fly, but not everyone from the farm had flying devices. For everyone’s convenience, Si Zhiyan built five sky-crossing walkways, suspended like bridges with colorful flags hanging down—a sightseeing gallery and an attractive feature in their own right.

On other open ground, Si Zhiyan set up small houses functioning as specialty dessert shops, convenience stores, and added two extra branch restaurants.

Perhaps the original castle walls and towers had carved out too much area—for even with these new additions, there were still some empty spaces left.

But these zones were on the outskirts.

Si Zhiyan thought for a moment and then simply laid stone paving, set out a few dummies and running tracks, and converted the space into a training field and gym.
Such pragmatic idleness, even he couldn’t criticize it himself.jpg

Besides that, Si Zhiyan called in Nidhoog, asking him to go all out: wings and fire raging, he gouged five caves into the cliff face with brute force.

Inside, ever-burning lava stones provided light, with rows of bunk beds screened by curtains—making them into capsule hostels.

The caves also had communal washrooms.

Each bed cost twenty-five points per day.

If someone had fallen on hard times and truly could not afford a standard room, they could stay here for a night’s rest and a roof over their head.

Nidhoog snorted contemptuously. “Not even making a couple points—twenty people in here can’t add up to one tower room for a night. What a waste.”

Si Zhiyan replied, “Dragon effort.”

Nidhoog: “…………”

Nidhoog let out a shrill squawk, but Si Zhiyan only smiled and left, declining to argue further.

Of course Si Zhiyan knew this wouldn’t turn a profit, but he had always been willing to designate this area for those down on their luck—to give beleaguered players a chance to stay near the hostel.

Life was not always smooth sailing; everyone would face hardship at some point.

A small gesture of goodwill—why not?

With everything done, Si Zhiyan flew up above, looking down at the splendid city of castles he had built, and nodded with satisfaction.

Everything was ready.

Three days later, the Abyss explorers and the hostel staff all moved in, beginning their training.

Five days afterward, the blood people arrived as expected.

Their grand procession gazed in delight at the magnificent, glowing hostel and rushed inside with cheers.

They filled every room, crowding into the lobby to book accommodations, calling friends, pushing open windows, marveling at this dream-like world.

There were also blood people who glanced around, self-consciously clutching their belongings, reaching out to touch the clean, bright wall tiles but pulling back, not daring to ask the price.
That was when a staff member would come over with a smile, guide them away, and lead them to the capsule hostel next door.

The matter that most concerned the blood people, naturally, was—

Where to eat?!

Si Zhiyan nodded, smiling; he had long since prepared.

As of now, the Glimmer Hostel had one dessert shop and three restaurants.

The main dining hall was, of course, Nidhoog’s Western-style buffet, with a cover charge of two hundred and fifty points per person—by far the biggest source of revenue.

On the first day of the blood people’s arrival, the main dining hall was packed to bursting, with a queue extending well outside the door.

Nidhoog was so busy he nearly breathed fire, reportedly scorching anyone in his way in the kitchen, human or god alike—a veritable executioner who terrified the new junior chefs.

The two branch restaurants offered something different—one was connected to the farm’s lakeside restaurant, with part of the self-service vending machines in use. It was a more affordable cafeteria, where a solid meal of stir-fried dishes could be had for about a hundred points per head.

The other was for economical sale of ready-made farm products. Here, cheap sandwiches, grilled wings, and rice porridge were on offer. On an ordinary day, if you just wanted a casual meal, thirty points could cover all the necessary nutrition.

Nidhoog roasted for two days and then stormed into Si Zhiyan’s office, throwing down his utensils in protest.

Si Zhiyan took no issue with this. He wasn’t in the least angry, and simply poured Nidhoog some Cola, inquiring after his health and expressing his appreciation for his hard work.

This only made Nidhoog feel somewhat guilty—praise even made him a little embarrassed as he drifted out the door.

Si Zhiyan had thought this all through—

Nidhoog was number one under the Main God in Hunger, and could handle a few days in the kitchen as a novelty, but expecting him to remain a diligent chef day in and day out…was unrealistic. Cooking was demanding work, far too time-consuming, and Si Zhiyan had no wish to squander him in such a role.

Long ago, Si Zhiyan had commissioned several excellent Western chefs from the farm to join the hostel staff, assigning them to the kitchen in the main dining hall.

If Nidhoog was in the mood, he could prepare a main dish or two; if not, the other staff would keep the kitchen running smoothly.

But every time he was absent…

Some players would linger pathetically by the entrance, and the servers would be bombarded day after day with questions—

“Is there crispy pork knuckle today?”
“Ah, it’s not available today again? How about tomorrow?”
“Come on, say something nice on our behalf, good fellow.”
“What do you mean ‘the special chef is off’? When will he be back? Could I go invite him myself?”
…

The servers were nearly moved to tears by the pestering.

You dare to ask!! Do you even know who made that crispy pork knuckle for you?!!

Have you heard the all-world broadcast?! That’s the top Main God candidate! Who would dare tempt fate by bothering that demon star!!!

As for expanding the restaurant, there was really no need.

The buffet was too expensive, so most players saw it as an occasional treat. Once the first flurry of excitement subsided, they’d return to the ordinary cafeteria.

Just as Si Zhiyan had predicted, after the initial week’s novelty, the lines thinned out.

In time, everything gradually fell into place.

The hostel’s pretty gardens were filled with strolling guests, each walking at their own pace, chatting and laughing, but bearing no real difference in spirit from the players on Imagination Town’s streets.

In the training center, people practiced on dummies, sighing with satisfaction at having such a place to hone their skills—something the Nest seriously lacked.

Some entrepreneurial minds quickly spotted business opportunities, spreading waterproof mats at the edge of the square to hawk their trophies and small goods…

Even the blood people, with blood flowing down their faces, radiated the vital energy of the living.

One afternoon, Si Zhiyan soared into the sky, gazing down at the hostel below.

From its beginning as a mere flicker of light, the Glimmer Hostel had, after several expansions, spread outward like wildfire, becoming a vast and brilliant city. Every window flickered with clear firelight, pennants and ribbons fluttered in the air.

This was the Glimmer Hostel, and also the outpost of the Abyss.

The vine curled around Si Zhiyan’s shoulder and neck, whether it understood or not, resting against his cheek, its tip extending quietly, watching with him.

Leaning against the rock wall, Si Zhiyan gently stroked the vine, brushing his temple against it as he spoke softly:
“Look.”
“We’ve brought light to the Abyss.”

The vine tightened ever so slightly, and from it came a profound warmth and joy.

[Ding!]
[Side Quest—A Dream That Holds the Soul—Completed!]

[Quest target: Gather 500 surviving humans in the Abyss. Current progress: 2,437/500.]

[Quest reward distribution in progress…]

[Lava Land upgrade slots unlocked]
[Weapon Configuration Subsystem unlocked]

[Coordinates for Hephaestus Castle marked on the map]

[……]

[Spirit of the Mine recognition being distributed…]

Hm? Si Zhiyan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Suddenly, in the gardens below, the blood people out for a stroll all stopped in unison.

Those eating froze mid-bite, those checking in stood transfixed as though turned to statues, while Yan City’s forces, weapons still drawn, halted their moves, axes falling from their hands with a clang and sticking into the ground.

“Sir, please transfer your renewal payment… Sir?” In the lobby, Shi He suddenly looked up. “What’s going on?!”

No one answered.
As if a pause button had been pressed, all the blood people in the Glimmer Hostel seized up at once in eerie stillness.