Chapter 106: Fortune Base
’Can I please stop this habit of wanting to touch anything fluffy I see!’
"Are you guys awake over there?" Lily Hart asked, turning around.
"We’re awake." The tips of Frost Shaw’s ears quietly turned red. He followed her into the RV, his hair slightly messed up where she had brushed against it, but he had no desire to fix it.
The space was clearly large and spacious, but Frost Shaw felt a little stuffy. He unconsciously looked over at her.
She was wearing a cute, thin pajama set with a rabbit design, the hood sporting a pair of long, drooping ears.
Her hair looked uncombed, draped casually over her shoulders, yet it was still smooth and glossy. The whole outfit made her seem incredibly soft and cuddly.
Frost Shaw stared for a few seconds before daring not to look any longer, afraid of being caught. Still, his eyes would dart over to her from time to time.
"What do you want to eat?" Lily Hart asked, one leg crossed over the other, one hand resting on her ankle and the other fiddling with her Light Brain. She looked up just in time to meet his deep, focused gaze.
Lily Hart pouted. ’What’s this kid staring at? I know I haven’t washed my face, and I might have some sleep in my eyes, but does he really need to look so intently?’
Frost Shaw jolted and immediately said, "How about wontons?"
"Sure." Lily Hart ordered two bowls of wontons, and the two of them began to eat face-to-face. The wrappers were thin and soft, and the filling was generous and delicious.
Lily Hart had to eat each wonton in two bites. Without bothering to blow on them, she’d just pop them in her mouth and go SSS-HA SSS-HA before swallowing.
Frost Shaw deliberately slowed his pace to wait for her, thinking how cute she was when she ate. *Nom*, there goes another bite.
A bowl of wontons didn’t take long to finish. Just as they were done, Leo Colby walked in through the still-open door of the RV.
He glanced at the large bowls in front of them, from which he could vaguely tell what they had eaten. He was hungry but pretended to be casual. "What are you eating?"
The subtext was: ’That smells good. I’m hungry. I want some too.’
Lily Hart rolled her eyes at him. ’Men just love to say one thing and mean another.’ She ordered another bowl. "Here."
The word had barely left her lips when Roman Rowe arrived with five little kids in tow, and the RV instantly became lively.
She did a head count and simply ordered a bowl of wontons for everyone. After they had all eaten and drunk their fill, Lily Hart sat in the driver’s seat.
She set the destination to Fortune Base, pressed the drive button, and the RV slowly started to move.
The ride was completely smooth; you could even have hot pot inside without any issue. Lily Hart leaned against the window to look down at the vehicle’s underside.
She discovered the RV’s wheels weren’t even extended. It was completely suspended about half a meter off the ground.
"Whoa, is this another one of the upgraded features?" Lily Hart marveled. ’It’s like a spaceship.’
She looked at the convenience store and hotel not far away, which were also floating at the same half-meter altitude, moving in unison with the RV.
"So advanced," Lily Hart said, propping her chin on one hand on the windowsill and watching the scenery rapidly recede outside.
The original skyscrapers, long abandoned and without human upkeep, were gradually collapsing.
Some left only half a foundation behind, while other buildings were completely overgrown with mutated plants, as if they were parasites.
From time to time, they could spot a few vacant-looking zombies aimlessly wandering about, waving their arms, always ready to devour human flesh.
Inside the RV, it was boisterous and noisy. Roman Rowe was organizing a game of poker, and it was clear he adored the activity.
However, he was the type who was terrible at it but loved to play anyway. His face was covered in long white strips of paper, and there was nothing left in front of him.
Even Easton had two or three Crystal Cores he’d won. Roman was truly at the bottom of the food chain.
And at the top of the food chain was Diana Sharp. You wouldn’t expect it, but with her stern, unsmiling little face, she was an absolute master at Fight the Landlord.
Everyone was her defeated opponent. The pile of Crystal Cores in front of her was enough to make Roman Rowe die of envy.
"Again, again! I don’t believe this!" Roman Rowe clamored.
Frost Shaw flicked him on the head and chided, "Again? We’re already at Fortune Base."
Roman Rowe snapped out of it as if from a dream. "Huh? We’re here already? I haven’t had enough fun yet!" The paper strips on his face swayed back and forth, adding a touch of irony.
Diana Sharp stood up, gathered the playing cards, and swept her winnings—the Crystal Cores—into her pocket. After all, nobody was playing for imaginary stakes.
Lily Hart opened up the four sides of the RV, propped her hands on a table, and stood on her tiptoes to look out. "Fortune Base! I’m here!" she cheered.
"Ah..." Frost Shaw subconsciously took a step forward, his hands lifting slightly. His body instinctively commanded him to protect her, but his mind reined him in.
He stopped in his tracks and lowered his hands, simply standing to the side and watching her.
Leo Colby, sitting in a chair and idly playing with a Crystal Core, watched Frost Shaw’s small movements with great interest, a flash of displeasure in his eyes.
Lily Hart planned to launch her new scratch-off ticket game starting at Fortune Base. For now, there was only one type of ticket, but it came in three different price tiers.
She bought sixty books of them at once, fully confident she could sell them all. And if she couldn’t, well, just pretend she never said that.
To let everyone know she had arrived at Fortune Base, she even made a special post on the "Human Social Sphere."
[I’m at Fortune Base, come quick! Waiting online!] She didn’t forget to include her real-time location.
Those who had Lily Hart on their special notifications list immediately received the message and rushed to comment below.
[AHHH, Boss Hart, why did you go to Fortune Base instead of coming to my Prosperity Base!]
[What a coincidence, I’m at Fortune Base right now! Wait for me, Boss Hart!]
[Wait for me +1, putting on my shoes and coming right now!]
[Wait for me +2, AHHH! I’m just gonna change my clothes and I’ll be there. I have to meet Boss Hart looking my best.]
[Wait for me +1,000,000...]
Lily Hart smiled in satisfaction. ’Heh, still got the charm.’
Meanwhile, the customers staying at the Dawn Hotel woke up to find themselves in a completely different place, as if they’d been teleported across the world.
Fortune Base was the closest base in Gilden City to Riveria Base, but they were still separated by seven or eight hundred kilometers.
They had been completely unaware, as if they had just had a bizarre, fantastical dream and woken up at their destination! Amazing!
The main gate of Fortune Base was usually kept tightly shut, but less than ten minutes later, it slowly creaked open.
Dozens of residents came running out one after another. Even from a great distance, they were already cheering, "Boss Hart, we’re here!"
Lily Hart waved back at them, creating a perfect, mutual rush of excitement. At the very back of the crowd was a young man riding a bicycle.
His clothes and style were clearly different from the other residents. Gradually, the cyclist overtook most of the crowd and became the first to arrive.
He dismounted his bike with a flourish, flicked his slightly-too-long bangs out of his eyes, and trotted up to Lily Hart to introduce himself. "Hello, Boss Hart. I am the humble Douglas Donovan, the untalented Base Commander of Fortune Base."
He even stuck out his hand, holding it unabashedly right in front of her. The dirt under his nails hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned.
Lily Hart’s mouth twitched. ’This man talks in such a stilted, scholarly way, but he gives off a... stench of money.’
"Hello, hello," Lily Hart said perfunctorily, having no desire to shake his hand.
’I only want to shake hands with fragrant, soft, pretty girls, or tall, handsome, strapping men. A somewhat greasy young man like this? I’ll pass...’
"Welcome, Boss Hart, to Fortune Base! Everyone, give her a warm welcome!" Douglas Donovan suddenly raised his voice.