Thomas Smyth had reached the 9th floor of the Pinewood Hotel.
"Good thing I came prepared," he muttered, "otherwise getting in would've been a real bitch."
He'd used a pre-planted [Remote Emulsified Explosive] to draw the attention of the rooftop sniper and the refugees on the 7th floor to the north. Taking advantage of the chaos, he'd slipped through the shadows of the stairwell and made his way up.
The 9th floor was a stark contrast to the 7th. This level was deserted. Aside from Black Dog in room 903, there shouldn't be anyone else.
Just as he was about to insert the key into the lock of 903, Thomas paused. He slowly crouched down, his gaze fixed on a small, inconspicuous piece of paper wedged between the door and the frame.
The paper was placed with devious precision. The slightest touch of the door would send it fluttering to the floor. Even if someone noticed it then, it would be too late.
His eyes narrowed, a chill running down his spine. "Holy shit... that was close. Someone's actually this cautious, setting up an alert on their door!"
Thomas meticulously examined the door.
Damn! It wasn't just one trap!
His gaze shifted to a single hair lodged inside the keyhole. It was incredibly short, almost invisible in the dim lighting. Even with a flashlight, it would be difficult to spot. If Thomas hadn't been deliberately searching, he would have missed it.
If he had jammed the key in, the hair would have been pushed further in, revealing his presence.
"These guys are more cunning than a shithouse rat."
He checked the time: 9:45 PM. No time to waste.
Thomas scanned his surroundings, a plan forming in his mind.
10:40 PM.
Black Dog emerged from Stephen Chow's room.
"Got it, Uncle. I'll keep an eye out for anything like that. I'll let you know immediately if anything comes up."
He exchanged a few words with the refugees guarding Stephen before heading upstairs.
One of the refugees, a guy named Scorpion, suddenly called out, "Hey Black Dog, drinks are on me tomorrow night! Come back early!"
"Sure thing!" Black Dog readily agreed.
He returned to the 9th floor but didn't immediately go to his room. Instead, he lit a cigarette in the stairwell, the cherry's red glow pulsing in the darkness. His eyes constantly scanned the 9th floor, each corner, every shadow.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The dark corridor seemed to stretch into an abyss.
After finishing his cigarette, Black Dog strolled to room 903. He checked the paper and the hair he'd set up that morning. They were undisturbed.
He breathed a sigh of relief. His mind, however, replayed his uncle's earlier words.
"Black Dog, be careful around Ghostface recently. I suspect his mind has been affected, or rather, polluted by some unknown entity!"
"What? How? Ghostface is your most trusted subordinate."
Stephen shook his head slightly. "It just hit me today, something my brother said before he left. I suddenly realized. Anyway, better safe than sorry."
As the door to 903 opened, Black Dog relaxed. "Maybe Uncle's just being paranoid. Ghostface wouldn't..."
His thoughts were cut short. A silent shadow emerged from behind him. The butt of a rifle slammed into the back of his head. A searing pain exploded in his skull, and he collapsed into darkness.
Thomas watched Black Dog fall, a smirk playing on his lips.
He pulled a rope from his backpack, efficiently tying up Black Dog. He then stuffed a towel into his mouth before dumping him in the bathroom.
He returned to the room opposite 903, using tape to reattach the door he'd busted earlier. Then, he re-entered room 903.
A familiar, yet slightly different room greeted him. A wide grin finally spread across Thomas's face, his eyes crinkling into slits.
"Hehehe... my little treasures, we meet again. Did you miss me?"
He pulled out seven or eight large containers from his backpack. "Don't worry! I'm taking you home!"
Returning to room 903, he found a surprising abundance of supplies. The amount of survival resources alone was nearly double what he had found during the first wave of the Calamity.
Thomas didn't hesitate. He looted everything. By the end, the room was completely bare, stripped to the bone.
Black Dog finally regained consciousness, his head throbbing with a dull ache. He cracked open his eyes.
In the faint glow of a flashlight, he saw a figure in a black cloak, their back to him. The outfit was instantly recognizable.
His heart skipped a beat. A terrible premonition washed over him.
"Damn it, no way! Could it really be Ghostface?"
The pain in the back of his head intensified, causing him to wince. He tried to speak, only to realize his mouth was gagged with a towel.
He struggled, his body thrashing slightly, creating soft noises in the room.
Thomas had sensed Black Dog's awakening immediately. "This guy sure can sleep! It's almost midnight!"
He turned to face Black Dog, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face as he saw the shock in the other man's eyes. "That's the reaction I was looking for!"
In his hand, the Tamer's Whip appeared, and a strange aura emanated from Thomas.
"Let's see what this 'Refugee Conqueror' thing can do!"
He flicked the whip.
A minute later, the pained expression on Black Dog's face vanished, replaced by one of reverence as he gazed at Thomas.
[Survivor Thomas Smyth has successfully conquered a refugee!]
A dull, mechanical voice echoed in Thomas's ears.
He had done it. What started as a mere experiment had actually succeeded.
And at that moment, a new page appeared beneath the [Refugee Conqueror] title panel.
Conqueror's Servitor
Name: Hales Chow (Black Dog)
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Personality: Cautious, Volatile
Traits: Refugee Affinity
Talents: Tactical Expert, Resource Gathering, Leadership
Loyalty: Worship (Immutable)
Current Physical State: Injured
Current Mental State: Joyful, Excited
Note: The loyalty of a conquered refugee is locked at 'Worship' and cannot be changed.
____________________________________________________________
"I did it!"
"Hahaha... This is awesome!"
Thomas stared at the panel, ecstatic. He hadn't expected this item to be so powerful.
[Tamer's Whip]
Type: Rare Item
Effect 1: Success rate of taming, conquering, and domesticating abilities +45%.
Effect 2: When used on animals, 'Effect 1' success rate +30%; When wearing leather pants, 'Effect 1' success rate +15%.