Apocalypse: I'm Bound to a Mobile Lottery Shop

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Improving the Soil

There were ten rooms in total, each designed for four people. They were separated into men’s and women’s dormitories and came fully furnished.

After setting up the employee dormitories, the Zombie King trotted happily over to Lily Hart to discuss pricing.

"How about a four-hour half-day pass and an eight-hour full-day pass? You can set the prices yourself," Lily Hart suggested.

The bathhouse was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so an eight-hour pass was perfectly reasonable.

"Okay, then how about 1088 and 1688?" the Zombie King asked.

After all, a ticket got you unlimited food and access to all the amenities. He didn’t think it was expensive at all.

Lily Hart nodded in agreement. "That works. It’s less than twenty Crystal Cores. A total bargain, right?"

’Wait, when you put it like that? It actually sounds pretty cheap, huh?’

’You get to enjoy all the amenities. If you wanted, you could even experience the services of every single one of the older, master attendants!’

Lily Hart thought it was a great deal. Any superpower user with some savings would definitely want to come in and unwind.

’As for those without money... well, they could just pretend she hadn’t said anything. No money? Then go out and hunt some zombies! Make your kills, then come back and enjoy yourself!’

The Zombie King continued, "Okay, so how about 188 for one hour, and 388 for two? The first floor’s pricing stays the same." He was still seeking her approval.

He was seeking Lily Hart’s opinion.

She just nodded, her face full of approval. "It’s your call."

The Zombie King’s confidence surged, and he was filled with motivation. As a leader of zombies, he was suddenly struck by the ambition to make his bathhouse a roaring success.

Having seen the whole process, Lily Hart felt comfortable leaving the bathhouse in his hands. She grabbed Frost Shaw and Roman Rowe, who still hadn’t had their fill of fun, and left.

It was noisy and chaotic in front of the lottery. Lily Hart boarded the RV and asked Diana Sharp, "What’s going on?"

Diana Sharp shrugged helplessly. "Someone’s insisting their prize isn’t as good as someone else’s, and they’re saying it’s unfair."

"..." ’What a ridiculous reason.’

Lily Hart folded her arms in resignation and watched the group of people arguing.

"Pay up! Give me my money!"

"Are you insane? Why the hell would I give you any money!"

"Because you won a fruit prize and I didn’t!"

"Are you nuts? If you’re so capable, go win one yourself! Why are you bothering me?!"

"I’m not capable! Are you going to pay up or not? I know people in high places!"

’I’m speechless at people who name-drop their connections at the drop of a hat. So you have a powerful backer? Big deal!’

’Actually, yeah, it is a big deal.’

Lily Hart was enjoying the show when someone suddenly called her name in a soft voice from nearby.

She glanced down and, after a moment’s search, her eyes met Stan Sterling’s shimmering, fox-like gaze. She swallowed hard and asked coldly, "What is it?"

Stan Sterling faltered, perhaps wounded by Boss Hart’s cold tone. His initial excitement suddenly fizzled out.

"It’s nothing... Can you help me redeem my prize?" Stan Sterling asked, cautiously handing over the scratch-off ticket.

Lily Hart was about to refuse, but she glanced around and saw he was a bit far from the Lucky Cat, and the area was too crowded.

She sighed. Her feelings toward him were complicated, and she couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. She took the scratch-off ticket and stuffed it into the Lucky Cat’s mouth.

"Huh? A sapling?" Lily Hart picked up the prize the Lucky Cat had spat out and examined it closely.

It wasn’t even as long as her forearm and looked very frail, with thin roots and droopy leaves. It didn’t look like it would be easy to keep alive.

A small card was attached to it with a description: "Special Plant. Can be grown in soil or water. Extremely easy to care for. Can improve soil."

The chances of winning a plant-type prize were low. The last time it happened, Zelda Whittaker had won a Laurel. Lily wondered if she had managed to kill it yet.

Far away at Bloomfall Base, Zelda Whittaker sneezed loudly while working in her office. On her desk sat that very same pot of Laurel, as vibrant and full of life as ever.

Lily Hart handed the sapling to Stan Sterling. "Here. Take good care of it."

His eyes lit up. He took it with both hands and quickly scanned the description on the card.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Boss Hart, do you think I can keep it alive? And where do you think I should plant it?"

’This man has so many questions.’

Lily Hart answered with surprising patience, "Yes. Wherever."

Stan Sterling was left speechless. The follow-up questions he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

Someone nearby craned their neck curiously. "Whoa, you can actually win a sapling? And it improves soil? Central Command has been trying to do that for years and failed."

This remark sparked a discussion in the crowd. "Exactly. Otherwise, they would’ve planted barley, beans, corn, and vegetables ages ago."

"Is it possible Central Command doesn’t even have seeds for those crops?"

"...So? So what! The soil problem still isn’t solved! They couldn’t grow anything even if they had seeds!"

"Both are huge problems. All the soil on the planet is contaminated. Nothing grows anymore, except for mutated plants..."

"Yeah, can that sapling really improve the soil? If that’s true, it’s incredible!"

"Does it improve a small patch of land, or can it fix all land?"

"It must be a small patch. If it could really fix all the soil in the world, that would be beyond legendary. Everyone would go insane fighting over it!"

Whether it could or not, that’s what the card said, and everyone was turning green with envy.

Owning a sapling like that would give someone the leverage to negotiate with Central Command.

Their life would be set. They wouldn’t have to worry about food or drink, and they’d even have a dedicated security detail when they went out.

Just thinking about it was thrilling!

In an instant, gazes filled with envy, jealousy, curiosity, and greed all focused on the sapling in Stan Sterling’s hands.

Lily Hart noticed it instantly. The stares were too blatant, and some were tinged with malice.

She said, "Alright, you’ve claimed your prize, so hurry on back. Don’t loiter around outside."

She was pretending to shoo him away, but she was actually protecting him.

Stan Sterling wasn’t an idiot; he understood perfectly. He immediately tucked the sapling away and headed back to the hotel.

Luckily, it was only a short walk. And luckily, no one dared to snatch a prize right under Boss Hart’s nose.

The small mountain that was the Base Commander’s nephew’s corpse was still on display a mere twenty meters from the RV—a clear warning to all.

Stan Sterling hurried back to his room. He wasn’t afraid in the hotel; Leo Colby, an Eighth-rank Superpower User, was guarding it.

He paced around his room but couldn’t find a suitable container for the sapling.

So, he grabbed a glass, filled it with a bit of water, and placed the sapling inside, making sure the water completely covered its tangled roots.

Within five seconds, the sapling’s previously wilted, yellowed leaves had perked up, looking much more vibrant.

Stan Sterling was amazed as he witnessed the transformation. He used his Light Brain to take videos and photos of it from every angle.

His only regret was not taking a "before" picture, which he could have used to document its growth.

Since the card said it could improve soil, Stan Sterling planned to plant the sapling near the RV in the dead of night.

After all, prizes won from the scratch-offs couldn’t be harmed by anyone but their owner. Others could look but not touch, unless the owner permitted it.

He placed the glass on the balcony to let it get some sun. The effect was remarkable—it perked up even more. The leaves that had been drooping downward were now all lifted high.

In the span of just a few minutes, Stan Sterling was beginning to believe that this tiny sapling really could improve the soil.