Thomas stared at the tennis racket in his hand, a bemused expression on his face. This was the first time he'd encountered such a peculiar item. Guaranteed hits on spherical objects within 100 meters? A sudden idea sparked in his mind.
The sounds of screeching tires echoed from the street outside the private cinema. Tessia appeared before him. "Boss, we've located Room 106!"
Thomas nodded. "Wait for me outside 106. I need to run a little experiment."
He found a room facing the street. A refugee vehicle with its headlights blazing was approaching below. "Perfect," he muttered.
He pulled a grenade from his inventory, yanked the pin, and shattered the window with an elbow strike. Calculating the distance, he lobbed the grenade into the air. With the tennis racket poised, he swung with all his might.
Thwack!
The grenade, propelled by the force of the racket, shot towards the swerving vehicle like a projectile. Within two seconds, it reached the windshield, erupting in a fiery explosion. The blast reverberated through the darkened streets.
Just as the grenade left his hand, a bullet grazed his arm and ricocheted off the windowsill. The sniper on the trading center roof, alerted by the shattering glass, had taken aim.
Thomas smirked, glancing at the wrecked vehicle now embedded in a roadside tree. He nodded in satisfaction, examining the tennis racket in his hand. "Time to go."
He stepped out into the corridor where Tessia was waiting. Seeing him emerge, a faint smile touched her lips. "Experiment... complete?"
"Complete. Let's move."
They entered Room 106 together. A five-second countdown appeared on Thomas's interface. As the timer reached zero, a spatial distortion enveloped them, and they materialized back in the hideout.
It was 11 PM. As Thomas landed, he spotted Eight Lop asleep at a workbench, muttering in his sleep, "…must come back safely!" Thomas chuckled softly.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Tessia, noticing the Lop Rabbit, glanced at Thomas with a curious expression.
Thomas placed a hand on Eight Lop's furry head. "Eight Lop, wake up. It's morning!"
"Ah!" Eight Lop jolted awake. He rubbed his eyes, then, recognizing Thomas, exclaimed, "Mr. Boss, you're back!"
Tessia observed the rabbit with open curiosity. Thomas, accustomed to solitude, felt a twinge of surprise at Eight Lop's unquestioning trust and dependence. They had only met earlier that day. Could it be due to Eight Lop's empathic ability?
Eight Lop's eyes lit up as he noticed Tessia. This must be the big sister Mr. Boss mentioned! He looked at Thomas. "Mr. Boss, is this the big sister?"
Thomas nodded. "Yes, Eight Lop. This is Tessia Thorne. Like you, she's one of my employees."
He addressed them both with a serious expression. "You both understand that we're a team now. Your safety and provisions are taken care of here. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll explain your specific duties. I expect you both to give it your all. Only then can we improve this hideout and face the coming calamities."
Both Eight Lop and Tessia, recalling their past hardships, understood that survival in this apocalyptic world was impossible alone. They had witnessed Thomas's strength and strategic thinking and had no doubts about his words. They nodded firmly.
"Mr. Boss, you can count on me. I'll work hard," Eight Lop declared.
"Don't worry, I'll complete any task you give me," Tessia assured him.
Thomas instructed Eight Lop to show Tessia around the hideout, help her freshen up, and get something to eat. Tessia's quarters were in the newly expanded staff rest area. Thomas set up a bed for her, and Eight Lop enthusiastically took care of the rest, seemingly delighted to have her there.
Leaving them to get acquainted, Thomas went to the automated sorting warehouse. A pile of salvaged materials, mostly twisted and mangled weapons and armor from the explosion, lay in the receiving area. Several robotic arms were busy sorting the items, scanning and placing them on the appropriate shelves with remarkable efficiency.
He unloaded the supplies from his backpack, mostly items he and Tessia had gathered from the trading center. He checked on the facilities crafting higher-tier items, which Eight Lop had already set up. Satisfied, he returned to the living quarters on the third basement level to review the day's events.
It was then that he noticed a change in the staff management panel. Eight Lop's trust level had shifted from Trusting to Dependent. Tessia's, meanwhile, had progressed from Neutral to Friendly and now stood at Trusting.
Thomas smiled, pleased with this development. His efforts to recruit them had paid off. Trust was paramount, especially in this world where it could mean the difference between life and death. His choices had been validated.
Completing the recruitment of his staff was a crucial step for his survival. With Eight Lop managing the hideout, he could finally delegate the day-to-day tasks. And Tessia's abilities were invaluable.
He exhaled contentedly, a grin spreading across his face. "Tomorrow," he thought, "is where it truly begins."