Chapter 157: Newbie Period Ends, Settlement Begins

Chen Xueming pushed up his glasses, his eyes flickering with thoughtful light behind the lenses. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Boss, I have an unrefined idea."

Su Ze signaled for him to continue.

"Perhaps... we could try a retro battle formation mode."

Chen Xueming's voice carried the characteristic precision of a technical worker.

"Based on the attributes and weapons of different players, we can form specialized combat units."

"For example, players with high Strength and Stamina can form a Shield Formation to take damage at the very front."

"Those with decent speed and skill can form spear units, performing mid-range assassinations under the cover of the shield-bearers."

"As for long-range... we can pool our resources to manufacture a batch of bows. Of course, we can also continue using Iron Material to form archer units and Throwing Squads for fire support."

He spoke more and more fluently: "This way, even if individual strength is lacking, through tight coordination and formations, we can achieve an effect where one plus one is greater than two. At least when facing a small-scale zombie tide, they'll have the power to protect themselves."

This suggestion made the eyes of the other leaders present light up.

It was indeed a viable path.

Su Ze nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing: "The logic is sound, but it treats the symptoms rather than the root cause."

His single sentence doused the hope that had just flared up in everyone.

"The gap in basic combat power is too large. No matter how ingenious the formation, it's like paper in the face of absolute power. It wouldn't be too difficult for a LV4 zombie to break the formation."

"Or rather, there are even more powerful existences further ahead."

"What I need is a sustainable method for leveling up."

Su Ze stood up and stopped looking at them.

"Everyone go back. Do as I said and handle the landlord matters first."

"As for the method to increase the strength of the general player base, you can all think about it more. Let's pool our wisdom."

"Yes, Boss!"

The crowd didn't dare say more and stood up to take their leave one after another.

Soon, Su Ze was the only one left on the Rooftop.

He looked down at the massive Dormitory building below him.

The thirty thousand survivors in the building now seemed like a heavy burden in his eyes.

Once, he had felt satisfied that he could gather such a massive force so quickly.

More people meant higher efficiency in clearing zombies and a faster rate of earning copper coins for him.

But now, as the level of the zombies increased, this advantage was rapidly transforming into a disadvantage.

These ordinary players could no longer keep up with the evolution speed of the monsters.

They were no longer efficient 'gold-farming tools'; instead, they had become burdens that required him to constantly invest resources to protect.

A cold thought flashed through Su Ze's mind.

If they could no longer create enough value for him... it would be better to just disband them and let them fend for themselves.

Being in a Dormitory alone...

...would actually be more relaxed and free.

This thought only flashed by for a moment before he suppressed it for now.

After all, the plan had only just begun. It was too early to give up now.

His figure flickered and disappeared from the Rooftop.

...

For the time being, Su Ze no longer managed any affairs within the Dormitory building.

Alone, he moved like a ghost through various areas such as the Teaching Building, Library, and Gymnasium.

He collected supplies while killing zombies along the way.

Wherever he passed, swaths of zombies would fall silently.

The copper coin necklace constantly refreshed his earnings, and the number of copper coins in his backpack grew steadily.

However, Su Ze's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Too slow.

Compared to his previous terrifying speed of raking in eight hundred thousand copper coins a day while commanding from the center, these current earnings were practically a drop in the bucket.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

After getting used to that feeling of explosive wealth growth, he could no longer be satisfied with laboriously grinding mobs like an ordinary player.

He had to find a way to get those thirty thousand players moving again and turn them into the foundation of his wealth empire.

Night fell.

When Su Ze returned to the Fourth Floor carrying the scent of blood, the door to Dormitory 404 immediately opened for him.

The aroma of food wafted toward him.

"You're back."

Yao Qingya was wearing an apron, her gentle face carrying a touch of just the right amount of concern.

Holding a bowl of steaming noodles, she said softly, "Are you hungry? Come and eat something."

Liu Qiaofei's big eyes were sparkling, and the way she looked at Su Ze was always filled with deep admiration and reliance.

"Senior Su Ze, come eat!"

"Landlord~ You've worked hard~"

Su Meier pressed against him with her lithe, swaying waist, and without a word, began kneading his shoulders, her breath as sweet as orchids.

In the corner of the Dormitory, An Lan was performing some kind of strength training.

Sweat soaked her short hair; she only glanced up at Su Ze before continuing to focus on her workout.

On the sofa on the other side, Li Xinran was holding a pen and paper, legs crossed, concentrating fully on calculating something.

She seemed to be planning the financial system for the entire alliance, appearing oblivious to Su Ze's return.

Su Ze sat at the dining table, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.

Yao Qingya sat down opposite him. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke up, her face filled with worry.

"Su Ze... the 'zombie claws' material needed to manufacture the zombie serum is almost gone."

"But there are still many registered infected people. I'm afraid... I'm afraid they won't last until the next batch of serum is produced."

At her core, she was still that kind-hearted and soft-hearted Literature Department prodigy; she couldn't bear to see so many people die in despair because there was no serum.

"We'll talk about that later," Su Ze's reply was flat.

To the side, Jiang Yuwan took in everyone's reactions.

There was no expression on her cold face, but her heart was as clear as a mirror.

She knew very well that with Su Ze's personality, if those thirty thousand players couldn't prove their value and bring him enough profit...

...then Su Ze would absolutely abandon them without blinking an eye, rather than continue wasting his resources and manpower.

This man had never been some kind of savior.

Everything he did had the clearest of purposes.

Just as the atmosphere in the Dormitory was varied...

...the bell for midnight seemed to toll in the depths of everyone's soul.

Immediately following that, an emotionless mechanical notification echoed in the minds of all surviving players!

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to all surviving players for successfully passing the seven-day Novice Period!]

[Final individual settlement rewards will now be distributed based on the total number and quality of zombie kills by each player during the Novice Period!]

[Simultaneously, final Dormitory settlement rewards will be distributed based on the total number and quality of zombie kills by each Dormitory during the Novice Period!]

The final notification fell.

After a moment of dead silence, the entire Dormitory building was instantly ignited by an atmosphere of frenzy and anticipation!

The final settlement of the Novice Period... has finally arrived!