Rise of the Wasteland Chapter 5 - The Hidden Plot

Chapter 5        The Hidden Plot

Zhou Qingfeng did not have a smooth conversation with Tony Parker because apparently, the hipster saw him as his enemy.

Angelina Lawrence was well worth a chase from Zhou Qingfeng, as she was truly gorgeous. However, he chose to prioritize the robotic dog as it will be a good helper with its powerful combat abilities.

It was already eight o’clock after the dinner and their conversation. Zhou Qingfeng returned to his house after expressing his gratitude to the Lawrences. Hmmm… my charred house.

Zhou Qingfeng’s house was a hovel compared to the Lawrence family’s smart house. He did not have any of those smart robots, let alone electronic appliances with custom settings. As a result of the recent fire, his first floor was burnt badly. He directly went up the stairs without casting a glance at the first floor.

He saw himself for the first time as he looked in the mirror inside his bathroom. He did feel like he was eighteen years old, and he felt that he was now a better-looking man with his height jumping up to one point eight meters. However, he realized that he had a lean body with weight probably less than seventy kilograms after he took off his shirt.  

I’m such a freaking dreg! I need to get stronger!

The design of his bedroom was very simplistic. A bed, a table, a wardrobe as well as a few stools were all there was. However, something caught Zhou Qingfeng’s attention. The wall was covered with a variety of photos, and it seemed like they were some candid shots of a particular someone from the Lawrence family.

They were obviously not photos of David Lawrence; and neither were they photos of Zhou Qingfeng’s buddy, Angelina Lawrence. They were actually photos of the sexy yet mature housewife, Rachel Connor. 

There was a photo of her watering the garden, a photo of her sun-drying clothes, photos of her preparing dinner and photos of her reading at the balcony. Everything was normal up to this point.

However, there were also photos of her wearing pajamas in her bedroom as well as a photo of her wearing a bikini, sunbathing at her backyard after coming out from the bathroom. 

F*ck me…. Who took all these candids? Don’t tell me I’m the pervert who took all these photos. Jehovah, You better show your f*cking face! So these are the characteristics that You’ve granted me? A perverted teenager? I never would have thought that Victor….

Wait a minute…. Am I overreacting? Zhou Qingfeng thought to himself, I should view it from an artistic point of view. I would have also thrown an extra glance if I were to encounter such a sexy-figured MILF.

After all, he was only eighteen years old. I believe God will forgive his mistake. Nevertheless, Zhou Qingfeng felt that these photos should be kept in the hard drive, rather than pasted on the wall. There will be no way for him to date Angeline Lawrence if David Lawrence was to find out his wife’s nude photo in Victor Hugo’s room.

Zhou Qingfeng took the photos down one by one. He transferred the photos into a box and threw the box underneath his bed as he felt that it was a pity to burn all of them.

After settling down, Zhou Qingfeng sat in front of the desk in his bedroom as he switched on his computer. His computer was merely an old piece of junk from at least ten years ago compared to Angie’s latest virtual screen. 

The computer was considered obsolete even in 2016, let alone 2030.

Windows was still the operating system of the computer. Zhou Qingfeng began to list out the preparations required for the cataclysm.

First of all, I’ll need transport. Although my lean body has great potential, potential does not equate to practicality. Thus, I’ll need a working vehicle in order to progress faster during the early stage of the cataclysm. I can use the vehicle once I find out that I’ll need to move out. 

By the time New York would experience traffic congestion, a large vehicle would not be useful. Hence, a middle-sized vehicle with a high-powered engine will be essential. A police motorcycle might be the best vehicle in this case.

Procuring a vehicle was never a big problem anyway as the streets will be full of abandoned vehicles after the cataclysm. On the other hand, food, drinks, medicine and fuel posed as the main problems. Nobody could survive for a long period without these resources. Therefore, Zhou Qingfeng cannot leave New York during this period of time as it was easier for him to collect resources in New York.

A huge amount of money was also required if Zhou Qingfeng was planning to get these tasks done before the cataclysm. Unfortunately, Zhou Qingfeng was only a poor teenager who relied on the government’s social welfare program. The only thing in his pocket was a food coupon.

Over forty to fifty million U.S. citizens relied on these food coupons. These food coupons were distributed through their identity card, which then can be exchanged for food at some local restaurants and supermarkets. Thus, it will be impossible for Zhou Qingfeng to afford the resources using his own savings.

If Zhou Qingfeng planned to collect resources after the cataclysm, instead of money, he will need to compete with illegal immigrants as well as mobsters and criminals. With his current body size, he will never be able to compete against the mobsters, most of whom were close to two meters in height and over a hundred kilograms in weight.

There was still nothing he can do even if he was able to compete against them.  Scumbags with firearms had always ran rampant on the streets of the United States. These scums often carried one or two guns, and they came in groups. Zhou Qingfeng did not stand a chance if he was to face these gangsters.

I need to obtain a handful of money, even if I resort to robbing, stealing or scamming. I need to purchase resources that can last for at least a week. I can then relax and stay focused on getting my hands on the robotic dog.

Zhou Qingfeng took two to three hours to recall the plot of “Wasteland” entirely through his memory as he carefully noted down all the details in his computer. The only way for him to survive during the pre-cataclysm phase was to take on the difficulties by using his knowledge from watching the movie.

It was three nights before the cataclysm. Zhou Qingfeng suddenly remembered a news report which will be broadcasted the next day. A homicide would happen in this area, and the victim was a prostitute from the bar nearby. He was brainstorming, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune out of it.

Zhou Qingfeng spent an hour trying to connect unrelated pieces of information from the movie. He then left his house, ready to implement the plan which he had imagined.

It was already midnight by the time he went out. The absence of pedestrians intensified the silence of the streets. Zhou Qingfeng reached a junction after identifying the street signs and waited for a few moments. His heartbeat quickened with apprehension; after all, he was only going to bet on his own speculations.

All of a sudden, the staccato clicks of high-heeled shoes echoed off in the quiet street. A lady’s shadow appeared, and two men with Herculean physiques appeared right behind her. It did not take long before the lady’s begging and the crude remarks of the men were heard.

Homicide, that’s the homicide!

Zhou Qingfeng then showed up and shouted, “What are you guys doing!?”

The scream was truly ear-piercing. Zhou Qingfeng saw two fierce faces from the shade of the night, but he was not intimidated. The two men who committed the attack were both monstrous men. One of them with a bear-like figure and eyes like a wolf’s came out and cursed, “F*ck you, boy. Do you know you’re in a big trouble?”

Zhou Qingfeng instantly felt goosebumps as he saw the two men gradually approaching him. He kept calming himself down after he realized that he was facing the murderous Portaschi brothers. They were Russian-Americans, and as members of the mafia, they were extremely famous within the streets of Queens. 

I accidentally activated the hidden plot! And what’s worse, I skipped a level and now I’m facing an elite boss! Please give me a rewarding drop if I do complete this quest.

Chapter end