Chapter 44: The Punishment  

"Since Belle has cleaned up, the restaurant will resume normal operations tomorrow. To prevent any further malicious destruction of food, I have called everyone here to witness the punishment mechanism of this establishment."

Charlotte paused, taking in the expressions of the crowd before continuing, "Customer Tucker violated the second and third rules of the restaurant. He is required to compensate for the damages with 10 level-two crystal cores. Currently, we have received 5 level-two crystal cores and 10 level-one crystal cores. We are still short 3 level-two crystal cores."

Upon hearing that all the crystal cores had been taken by Charlotte, Belle nearly fainted.

Those were her hard-earned resources from completing tasks! How was she supposed to survive in the future?

Seeing Belle's dazed and desperate expression, Charlotte ignored her and silently activated the zombie area map. Several areas with different numbers of red dots appeared projected onto a blank wall.

"Bear, turn off the lights."

Bear complied.

The hall was plunged into darkness, with only the projected image on the wall casting a dim glow. The flashing red dots exuded an overwhelming sense of danger, as if something monstrous lurked within, poised to strike.

"According to the third rule of the restaurant, Tucker's punishment is a one-day tour of a level-five zombie area." Charlotte's face remained cold as she selected a densely populated zombie cluster and clicked to enlarge the projection, which filled half the wall.

Just then, a zombie suddenly appeared on the screen, roaring. Through the camera lens, its wide-open mouth revealed sharp, long teeth covered in fresh blood and scraps of torn clothing.

Clearly, this zombie had recently eaten. Behind it, a group of other zombies was hunched over, devouring something.

Tucker's face turned ashen. Realizing that Charlotte was genuinely going to send him there, his knees went weak, and he trembled uncontrollably, with hot liquid seeping down his legs.

He wanted to scream that he truly regretted wasting the precious food, but his throat was constricted, leaving him only able to make muffled sounds.

Save me! Let me out! Please!

Tucker banged his head on the ground repeatedly, so hard that soon a black bruise appeared on his forehead. He was truly remorseful.

But the onlookers looked at him with cold, ruthless eyes, wishing they could personally make him suffer!

This was the apocalypse, and precious resources were vital for survival. He had wasted all the food? If he wouldn't let everyone live, then he should die!

"Goodbye, hope you can run fast." Charlotte's smiling face seemed like the most evil devil to Tucker, as if she had crawled out of the depths of hell!

Daughter! Save me!

The last thing Tucker saw before disappearing from the inn was Belle's pale face, her whole body trembling as she looked down and avoided his gaze.

"What good are you to me!!"

A roar echoed through the night sky, breaking the silence and disturbing the zombie horde that was fighting over their meal.

Roar!

The zombies all looked up, their white eyes quickly identifying the source of the noise. They abandoned their scraps and sprinted towards the sound with startling speed.

Tucker hurriedly covered his mouth, panicking as he surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings.

He was in an open square with a steel-framed sculpture of a dancing girl in the center. The girl's outstretched arms pointed towards the night sky, and beneath her feet was an empty pool, surrounded by dark, ominous light fixtures that seemed to form a new fountain.

This was a place he had never been to before! This must be where the boss had thrown him!

Thinking about the level-five zombies that roamed here, he was overwhelmed with fear. His legs felt as though they were tangled and paralyzed!

Fortunately, there was a light source above him, illuminating his immediate surroundings and following closely overhead.

Tucker knew he needed to find a shelter to survive the night. But with nothing around and the illuminated area limited to the steel sculpture, he had no choice but to consider climbing on top of it.

Just as he hesitated, a group of zombies appeared at the edge of the square. Their movements were not clumsy like the lower-level zombies but rather quick and agile, almost like well-trained athletes.

!!!

Tucker's heart nearly stopped! Level-five zombies! And in groups!

Run!

His legs felt like they were made of jelly, unresponsive and numb.

"...Run, damn it...!"Tucker looked up at the approaching zombies and desperately pounded his legs, his face etched with sheer terror.

Under the light's beam, the level-five zombies easily spotted him.

As the zombies closed in, Tucker's heart raced wildly, his eyes wide with panic. But his legs felt as though they were nailed to the ground, unmoving.

Charlotte outside the screen frowned, seemingly surprised that Tucker, who was so fierce with his words, turned out to be such a coward who couldn't even run.

'System, give him a jolt.'

He couldn't run? That was not entertaining for her.

A current zapped down instantly, and Tucker jolted, finally reacting. He scrambled towards the sculpture and began climbing desperately.

During the time he hesitated, the zombies had already closed in to within 10 meters of him.

Feeling a chill at the back of his neck, Tucker heard the roars echoing just inches away and climbed even more frantically.

As the sculpture shook from his movement, he knew the zombies had reached the base. He looked down tremblingly, nearly losing his grip as he saw the horde of zombies swarming below.

How could level-five zombies climb the structure?!

Tucker stifled his breath, reaching the top of the sculpture. He grabbed a nearby pole and held it as a weapon.

Beneath him, the level-five zombies looked up, their faces smeared with blood. Their dead fish-like eyes were locked onto him, their mouths stretched grotesquely with sharp teeth still covered in blood and flesh. Their throats emitted a low, phlegm-like growl, and their gaunt hands clung tightly to the steel, climbing upwards swiftly.

"Help! Someone, save me!"Tucker's face was deathly pale, his voice filled with a desperate hope for survival. He waved the pole wildly, trying to fend off the approaching zombies.

He had climbed as high as he could, but the zombies kept coming.

Looking down, the horde of zombies had covered the entire structure, making it look like a writhing mass.

Tucker's panicked cries only fueled the zombies' frenzy further.

He continued to climb, trembling all over, until he was perched on the girl's outstretched arm. He could feel the structure shaking under the weight.

"Get away! All of you get away! Is there anyone? Please, save me! I'll give you money, all the money! Just save me, I'll give you everything!"

From his high vantage point, Tucker saw a shadow at the edge of the square watching him silently, like a last straw for a drowning man. He screamed for help as loudly as he could.

At that moment, three black plastic bags fell from the sky, landing right in front of Tucker and obscuring the view between him and the shadow.