Morning came.
[182nd Day of Cataclysmic Flood]
On the previous spot where the small bread store was, a new building stood.
Ron looked at the flower logo printed on the signboard.
Wells was beside him, also looking at the new store.
Axel and his team had been heading out for breakfast when they stumbled upon this surprise.
"You didn't tell us there was a convenience store too," Earl said excitedly.
After waking up yesterday, he had been thrown into one shock after another. Not only had they survived, but they had also found a paradise, eaten noodles and bread again, taken a warm bath, and slept in comfortable beds surrounded by peace and comfort.
"Because there wasn't one yesterday," Rose answered.
"Rose is telling the truth. The small wooden shop selling bread and water was supposed to be here," Uncle Rick added.
"Let's check it out first," Axel said.
Finding the door not lock, the six people strode in, their eyes roaming around the place after Isla opened the door and welcomed them into the convenience store.
Seeing the array of products neatly displayed on the shelves made their hearts burst with excitement.
"Captain, it's flour—wheat flour! It's only three points per kilogram! That's so cheap!" Earl exclaimed in shock.
After waking up, he had been stunned again and again by everything he saw, ate, and experienced.
He had thought the noodles from the shop next door were already the most shocking thing.
But this...is entirely a different level.
"A bag of this could feed many people. If we can bring some back, it would be a huge help," Uncle Rick said, equally astounded.
"I hope what Ron and Wells said about the boat having storage space is true," Axel said as he flipped over the flour bag.
Yesterday, after registering for IDs, they had inquired about the boat, and Miss Lane had mentioned that it could be rented.
He was sure these items weren't scavenged. He had never seen these packaging designs before, and the condition of the products looked as though they had just come fresh out of the factory.
He turned the bag over and saw the logo and details on the back—
A Product of Solace City.
Did she make her own packaging?
His eyes held genuine confusion and awe.
Isla had become even more mysterious in his eyes.
"Captain! Look what I found!" Rose rushed over, holding packets of condiments.
"Salt, pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, and oil?" Uncle Rick's eyes widened.
With only sea salt as their condiment, meals had become monotonous and bland. Naturally, they craved variety, which explained their obsession with the noodles and bread.
Although having sea salt readily available was fortunate, consuming only sea salt for long periods could lead to faster dehydration.
"Rose, where did you find those?" Axel asked.
"The next aisle is full of them!" Rose said excitedly.
The four hurried to the next aisle, where they found condiments packaged in different sizes.
Axel's heart thumped loudly.
"Let's grab some baskets," he said.
"Okay, Captain!"
Rose and Earl rushed off excitedly like children visiting a supermarket for the first time.
Meanwhile, in the spice section across the aisle, Ron thoughtfully examined the spice packaging.
Beside him, Wells looked at the seasonings on the shelves, his eyes gleaming with thought. He grabbed a basket and began placing seasonings inside in bulk.
On her way back with a basket, Rose spotted something and quickly made a detour.
"Toothpaste for five points! Mint and eucalyptus shower gel for seven points! Lavender Calm and Chamomile detergent for ten and twelve points! Finally, I can take a proper bath and do laundry!" Rose squealed happily as she quickly tossed the toiletries into her basket.
After all, washing with only water didn't remove odors or stains properly.
On the other hand, Earl found something too.
"Are these brand-new underwear? Not secondhand? Only twenty points for a six-pack?"
Earl carefully inspected and even sniffed the underwear.
Clothes traded at the Base weren't necessarily expensive compared to food and water, but most of them were secondhand scavenged items or hand-me-downs. Being soaked in seawater for months had made many fabrics tear easily, while the surviving clothes carried a distinct stale smell. Finding brand-new clothes—especially underwear—was incredibly difficult, which explained his reaction.
"Do they have my size?"
Earl rummaged through the packs and found one that fit. He picked the Clean Wave Set, which consisted of white, pale blue, and soft gray colors. He did the same for sleepwear.
"Just in time. I lost my spare clothes," Uncle Rick said as he followed Earl and filled his basket with underwear and sleepwear from the Verdant Guard Set, which came in moss green, bamboo, and earthy tones.
"How about you, Captain—"
Earl stopped and looked around.
"Where is he?"
Meanwhile, Axel was looking at the aisle where the solar lamp were displayed.
The lack of light at night was extremely dangerous for people like them who constantly traveled.
Usually, they relied on resin sold at the Base, extracted from a certain aquatic plant, or lamps fueled by water beast oil.
However, the resin was expensive, while the second option gradually dulled their sense of smell over time.
Axel read the information tag on the shelf and saw that the solar lamp came with a mini solar panel and charging cord.
If this lamp really worked, this would greatly reduce the danger at night.
Axel took one set and walked toward Miss Lane at the counter.
When Axel and his team registered for IDs, they had recharged an enormous amount of points.
That amount had nearly made Isla drop to the floor and kowtow on the spot.
In Isla's eyes, Axel was basically a walking golden dungeon chest.
Toward such a VIP, no matter how tired Isla felt, she flashed him a bright, fawning smile.
"Mr. Axel! What can I do for you?"
"Miss Lane, I wanted to ask about this solar lamp."
"No problem!"
Isla plugged in the cord, and the lamp immediately lit up, illuminating the counter.
The strange thing was that although it was bright, it didn't hurt the eyes.
"This lamp runs on both solar and electrical energy. It's waterproof and comes with a retractable, foldable stand accessible from the back. It has a ten-meter radius and, at full charge, can continuously provide light for an entire month," Isla pitched.
"A full month?!"
Axel felt that sounded ridiculous.
If it could really last a full month, then the charging time must be absurdly long too.
"As for charging, a full charge takes eight hours with the cord and sixteen hours using solar panels." Isla further explained.
Axel's face remained full of doubt.
Isla knew her sales pitch alone wouldn't be enough to convince a cautious man like him. Even after witnessing the miracles inside Solace City, he remained guarded.
Experience was still the best way.
"We offer a one-week return and refund policy."
"In that case, I'll take two," Axel said immediately.
"Good choice! That'll be two hundred points."
Isla packed the two solar lamps into boxes.
She understood Axel's hesitation a little. The lamps weren't cheap.
As Axel waited, his gaze drifted toward the two glass display cabinets mounted on the wall behind Isla.
One contained a small black bottle.
The other held a silver gun.
"Wait. Can I take a look at those two?"
Isla paused and followed his line of sight.
At the opportunity for another round of profit, she quickly opened the display cabinets.
With a grin, she presented the products to Axel.
"What a good eye you have. This bottle is a wound spray, and this is a stun gun capable of stunning D-Class to C-Class water beasts and seriously injuring E and F class water beasts..."
Axel's expression immediately turned serious as he examined the two items more closely.