Chapter 18: The Exchange Hall Heist

The tutoring session for the little cat-head student ended, and Su Ya earned another 100 Road Coins.

【Road Coin Balance: 200】

Looking at the steadily increasing balance, Su Ya felt incredibly satisfied. She picked up her room card and returned to her room.

The driving time for the day had concluded, and the rankings had been posted.

【First Place: Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warlord (745)】
【Second Place: Fast and Furious (600)】
【Third Place: Pupil of the Land Flame (329)】
【…………】

Unsurprisingly, Su Ya was in first place again.

She had completed the mandatory 100-kilometer distance, exchanged a mileage card for an additional 45 kilometers, and hitched a ride on Chi Fei’s vehicle for 600 kilometers.

Given that the plague was spreading today, many players had only managed to complete the mandatory distance, so she wasn’t the least bit surprised to take the top spot.

The Golden Treasure Chest, her reward for first place, soon appeared before her. Su Ya opened it without a second thought.

【Supplies: 1㎡ Personal Storage Space Card ×1, Level 1 Armor Blueprint ×1, Level 1 Backpack Blueprint ×1, Iron Block ×20, Copper Block ×20, Wire ×20, Wood ×20, Plastic ×20, Glass ×20, Cotton ×20, Fabric ×20, Gold ×10, Silver ×10, Battery ×10, Fuel ×10】

As she expected, such a large golden chest contained not a single scrap of food or water; it was entirely basic materials and energy sources.

However...

What was a 1㎡ Personal Storage Space Card for?

Su Ya didn't recall this item appearing in any of the road survival novels she had read. Could it be that she hadn’t read enough of them?

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Su Ya decided to investigate on the spot. She picked up the personal storage card, and the game manual immediately emitted a "beep."

【Do you wish to unlock the personal storage space?】

After Su Ya clicked "Unlock," a new entry appeared in her personal information panel.

【Personal Storage: 1㎡ (Click to enter)】

Su Ya chose to enter without hesitation.

After a brief flicker of light and dark, she found herself in a small room enclosed by four walls. It was not very large—smaller, in fact, than the bathroom in her dormitory.

Such a space was currently unusable, but Su Ya wasn’t bothered; she figured she could just obtain a few more space cards later to expand it. She then exited the personal storage space and returned to her room at the Nightmare Hotel.

After putting the remaining basic materials into her backpack, Su Ya took out the tissue blueprint she had received from Chi Fei.

She owned a crafting table, and the blueprints would be most effective in her hands. Without delay, she placed all three blueprints onto the crafting table.

【Crafting Table Functions Unlocked】
【1. Salvage Chests】
【2. Merge Backpacks】
【3. Tissues (Wood ×1, Plastic ×1)】
【4. Level 1 Backpack (Fabric ×5, Cotton ×5, Plastic ×1, Iron Block ×1)】
【5. Level 1 Armor (Fabric ×10, Cotton ×10)】

With the functions unlocked, and considering her crafting table was nearing the end of its lifespan, Su Ya didn't want to push her luck; she only crafted one pack of tissues.

After a busy day, Su Ya took a hot shower to wash away her exhaustion, then lay in bed to browse the game manual.

She mostly spent her time in the Communication Hall. When recreational facilities were scarce, chatting with others was an excellent way to relieve stress, gossip, and catch up on the latest news.

[Is a Bun: So bored. Anyone want to play a murder mystery game? Single-player available. Deduction, brain-burning, horror, thriller, violence, immersive.]
[Murder Mystery Enthusiast: Oh, that sounds good? Send it over!]
[Is a Bun: (Image)]
[Murder Mystery Enthusiast: ?]
[I Am at Odds with Math: Filth! Get that away!]
[Apology or Household Registration: (Image)]
[Apology or Household Registration: Opened a pack of cigarettes. I don’t smoke, so I’m giving it to the wind.]
[Cigarettes: Bro, if you aren’t smoking it, can you sell it to me? I want it!]
[Apology or Household Registration: Sure, 100 basic materials.]
[Cigarettes: Get lost, are you robbing me? You son of a..., you disgusting..., you piece of...]
[God Also Fears My Bai: Looking for a CP! Looking for a CP! Looking for a CP!]
[Passionate American Freshman Falls for Hiroshima’s Cold Senior: Has Brother Bai not found a partner yet~]
[She Lost Both Gentleness and Him: The day I saw through you, I hated the sincerity I gave you more than anyone else.]
[Love You Without Hesitation: Does anyone have sanitary pads? Buying urgently!]
[Love You Without Hesitation: Urgently seeking sanitary pads!!!]

Seeing this message, Su Ya suddenly remembered something.

The number of road survival players was vast, and there were 9,034 players left in District 1521, half of whom were female. Excluding special circumstances, most girls would eventually have their periods. And having a period meant needing sanitary pads.

Yet, until now, no one had sold sanitary pads in either the Communication Hall or the trading market. It was possible that, having just entered the game, people hadn't realized their importance, or perhaps no one had found them yet.

Regardless, Su Ya made a mental note.

She was a girl, too, and had those few days every month.

The chat in the Communication Hall continued, with some users spontaneously copying "Love You Without Hesitation's" message to help others see it.

[Let Me Make You Rave Reviews: Sanitary pads? Is this it? (Image)]
[Love You Without Hesitation: Yes, that’s it.]
[Let Me Make You Rave Reviews: I opened them from a chest this afternoon. You wouldn't believe it, they’re great as shoe insoles. Soft, like walking on cotton.]

"Let Me Make You Rave Reviews" finished his message by posting several photos showing off his shoes and the pads tucked inside.

[Love You Without Hesitation: I want some that haven't been used. Name your price.]
[Let Me Make You Rave Reviews: I want one hundred basic materials.]
[Medicine is Madness: ?]
[Bamboo Loves Melons: Are you serious?]
[Gay Bar Model Finds Husband is a Top Tier: Why don't you just go rob someone?]
[Apology or Household Registration: If you think it's expensive, don't buy it. You women all need this stuff anyway. If you don't buy it, plenty of others will.]
[White Cloud Cocoa: I want them! Sell them to me quickly. My period is coming soon, I can't be without them.]
[Sleepy and Not Sleeping: You disgusting scum. You're just taking advantage of the fact that this is a necessity for women.]
[Let Me Make You Rave Reviews: That's right. That's just how I am. If you can, don't buy them.]
[AAA Grand Transport King: You don't have a mother? Get onto the national highway!]
[Sleepy and Not Sleeping: @Love You Without Hesitation, sister, don't buy them. Don't waste your money on this.]

The Communication Hall went quiet for a moment before "Let Me Make You Rave Reviews" posted a screenshot.

The screenshot showed his private chat with "Love You Without Hesitation."

"Love You Without Hesitation" had approached him to buy the pads, but he had first demanded one hundred basic materials, then went back on his word to demand one hundred and fifty.

In the end, a single pack containing only seven pads was traded for two hundred basic materials.

The matter ended there, leaving the Communication Hall in a state of sighs and murmurs.

The more Su Ya watched, the angrier she became. She exited the Communication Hall, not wanting to look at another word. She turned off the lights and went to sleep.