LOSS System: Last Store Standing

The next morning, Jack and the others ate a quick breakfast before beginning their search of what appeared to be an old-world agricultural supply center.

Gordon and Harvey led the way, taking them straight to where they had found the seeds during their previous visit. The group passed through a collapsed wall and moved around several rows of broken shelves before reaching an area covered in windblown sand.

“This is the place,” Gordon said.

Seeds lay scattered across the ground, mixed with sand and dirt. Several rotten sacks had collapsed nearby, and Jack couldn’t find a single package that was still properly sealed.

“It was already like this the last time we came,” Harvey said. “Some of the sacks still held their shape back then, but they’ve gotten worse since.”

The group began searching through what remained, but most of the seeds were blackened, shriveled, or too thoroughly mixed with the sand to identify. In the end, they found only a small amount that still looked usable.

Jack had expected as much after hearing Gordon’s description.

“Take whatever looks promising. Hal and Marg can test them when we get back.”

While the others continued searching, Mort uncovered a sign beneath a pile of debris. He brushed away the sand and studied the faded images on its surface.

“These aren’t food crop seeds.”

“What are they, then?” Jack asked.

“Flowers and other ornamental plants.”

That meant this was only one section of the agricultural supply center. If the seeds here were meant for ornamental plants, there should be separate areas for other crops.

“The rice we found last night probably came from the food crop section,” Jack said. “There may be other edible crops around there too.”

He quickly divided the work.

“Let’s split up. Everyone returns to the building before noon, whether you find anything or not. We still have to get back to the convenience store today.”

Jack reminded them not to take everything they found.

“Bring back a small sample of each useful item and remember where you found the rest. Gordon, you and Harvey search around the rice bags for other food crop seeds. Take as much rice as you can carry.”

Gordon and Harvey headed off to collect rice and other food crop seeds, while Mort searched on his own. Jack and Megan made their way toward the nearby farm-tool section.

Most of the shelves had collapsed long ago, leaving rusted hoes, shovels, and unfamiliar tools scattered among the debris.

As Jack picked his way through the mess, several large rolls on the ground caught his attention. At first glance, they looked like tightly rolled sheets of thin fabric, but the material was covered in small, evenly spaced openings. Despite all the sand and dust, the rolls themselves appeared mostly undamaged.

Jack stopped beside one of them.

“Why does this look so familiar?”

He was sure he had seen something similar before, but he couldn’t remember what it was called.

The system’s voice sounded in his mind.

“Human, Flexible-Frame Barrier Mesh detected.”

“Once deployed, the mesh will form a stable three-dimensional barrier without requiring additional support posts.”

After a brief pause, the system added,

“Acquisition recommended.”

Before Jack could respond, Megan came over.

“Isn’t that chicken wire?”

“What’s chicken wire?”

“It’s used to enclose chickens, rabbits, and other small animals,” Megan explained. “Farmers also put it around vegetable gardens to keep animals out.”

She examined one of the rolls.

“The usual kind can be troublesome to install, though. If you’re covering a large area, you need posts at regular intervals and have to pull the wire tight. Otherwise, it’ll start to sag.”

Now Jack understood the difference. Ordinary chicken wire needed additional support, while the Flexible-Frame Barrier Mesh could hold its shape after being deployed.

“No wonder the system recommended taking it.”

Megan immediately looked around.

“The system just spoke? Where is it?”

Jack pointed helplessly at his head.

“In here. It’s only a voice. It doesn’t have a physical body.”

Megan paused, then laughed.

“That makes sense. If it suddenly appeared beside us, it would probably scare someone to death.”

The thought made Jack laugh as well.

Still, he couldn’t understand why the system wanted him to bring the mesh back.

“We don’t have any chickens or rabbits. What are we supposed to use this for?”

Megan considered the question but couldn’t think of anything either.

“If the system recommended it, we might as well take a few rolls,” she said. “Maybe they’ll be useful later.”

“I guess so.”

There were at least a dozen rolls on the ground. Each one was fairly large, and none of them looked easy to carry.

“But how are we supposed to get these back?”

Megan walked over and tried lifting one. To her surprise, the entire roll came off the ground with almost no effort.

“It’s so light.”

She adjusted her grip and raised it over her head.

Jack stared at her.

“Since when were you that strong?”

“It’s not me,” Megan said. “The mesh barely weighs anything.”

Jack picked up another roll and immediately understood what Megan meant.

Rolled up, the mesh was about 1.2 meters tall and a little over twenty centimeters in diameter. He loosened the outer layer and estimated that each roll could extend for roughly fifteen meters.

There were at least nine rolls in good condition. Fully deployed, they could form more than a hundred meters of fencing.

Jack smiled.

“At this weight, each person could probably carry two.”

He and Megan set the nine intact rolls aside for the time being, then continued searching the area.

Most of the farming tools were too badly rusted to use. Some had already broken apart, so Jack simply memorized their location. Once they had a proper way to transport them, they could return and take the metal back for smelting.

Near noon, Jack and Megan returned to the building where they had spent the night.

Gordon and Harvey were already there. Their backpacks were full, and several old sacks from the ruins had been placed beside them.

“Did you find any other seeds?” Jack asked.

Gordon opened one of the sacks.

“We found several kinds besides the ones from last night, but I don’t know what any of them are.”

“There are also several full sacks of rice back there,” Harvey added. “We couldn’t bring them with us. They’re too heavy.”

Jack tried lifting one of the sacks they had managed to move closer. It barely shifted.

There was no way they could carry something that heavy all the way back to the convenience store.

“Leave the rest where they are,” Jack said. “We’ll come back for them when we have a proper way to transport them.”

Mort returned not long afterward, with small black devices stuffed into his clothes and belt. Several more were tied to the outside of his backpack.

“What did you find?”

“No idea.” Mort took one of the devices from his belt and handed it to Jack. “But I think it has something to do with water.”

The black device was about the size of a fist, with a single button and what looked like a hose connection.

“There are plenty more where I found it,” Mort said. “These were still in good condition, so I brought as many as I could carry.”

Jack examined the device but couldn’t figure out what it was used for.

The system soon provided the answer.

“Precision water-distribution sprinkler detected.”

“Once connected to a water source, the device will automatically adjust its output according to the needs of the target area. No manual control of watering time or water volume is required.”

Jack’s eyes lit up.

Connected to the convenience store’s water supply, the devices could water the growing area automatically. They could even place a few around the store to keep the surrounding ground damp. The soil there was so dry that the slightest wind sent dust everywhere. Keeping the surface moist would reduce the dust and help cool the area at the same time.

“What is it?” Megan asked.

Jack handed her the device and quietly repeated the system’s explanation. He then told her how he planned to use it.

Megan smiled. “That could be useful.”

With everyone back, they gathered their finds and divided the load. Gordon and Harvey carried the rice and other food crop seeds they had collected, while Mort kept the precision water-distribution sprinklers.

Jack had originally planned to take more of the Flexible-Frame Barrier Mesh, but everyone was already carrying plenty. Since they still didn’t know what the mesh would be used for, there was no reason to leave more important supplies behind for it.

In the end, Jack, Megan, and Mort each took one roll. Jack and Megan also helped carry some of the seeds.

Once everything had been packed, Jack took one last look at the agricultural supply center.

They had barely begun to explore the place, and plenty of supplies were still waiting inside. But they had no time to search any further. If they wanted to return to the convenience store as soon as possible, they needed to leave now.

“Let’s go.”

The group picked up their supplies and followed the same route out of the ruins.

After leaving the agricultural supply center, the group headed straight back to the convenience store. Other than stopping twice to eat, they barely rested along the way.

By the time the convenience store’s lights finally appeared in the distance, it was already well past midnight. Everyone relaxed at the sight.

Megan stopped for a moment and stared at the brightly lit building. Jack had already told her that the entire store had been transported with him, but seeing it for herself still felt unbelievable.

“It really did come with you.”

Jack heard her quiet remark and smiled.

As they drew closer, several figures appeared outside the convenience store, all carrying weapons.

Reed had been on night watch when he caught an unfamiliar scent approaching through the darkness. Unable to tell who was coming, he had immediately woken the others and prepared for trouble.

Instead, they found Jack and the others returning with backpacks full of seeds, black devices tied to Mort’s clothes, and three large rolls of mesh.

Jack nodded approvingly when he saw the weapons in their hands.

“Not bad. You’re all staying alert.”

Cass lowered his two-pronged weapon and rolled his eyes.

“A group shows up in the middle of the night, and we’re supposed to assume they’re friendly?”

Jack smiled without arguing.

Elias was already examining the supplies when he noticed Megan among the group.

“And who is this?”

“This is Megan Hall,” Jack said. “She’s an old classmate of mine.”

Elias studied her with some surprise.

Jack gestured toward him. “And this is Elias. He’s basically the manager around here.”

Megan greeted him, and Elias returned the greeting before glancing between her and Jack several times.

Jack soon noticed.

“Why are you looking at us like that?”

“No reason.”

Elias turned back to Megan.

“Welcome. Since you and Jack knew each other before coming here, don’t dwell too much on what happened. Focus on staying alive.”

Megan immediately caught the meaning behind his words.

“You know that we—”

“It’s late,” Elias interrupted. “You’ve all been traveling all day, so get some rest. We can talk about everything else later.”

He motioned toward the supplies.

“Leave these to us.”

Megan still had questions, but Jack could only spread his hands.

“Come on. Take a shower and get some sleep.”

“A shower?”

Her attention immediately shifted.

“You can shower here?”

“Of course. There’s hot water too.”

After being trapped in the cave with barely enough water to drink, Megan had almost forgotten what a proper shower felt like. The thought of hot water immediately lifted her spirits.

Jack told the others to get some rest and led her toward the convenience store.

As Megan stepped inside, she noticed a small head peeking out from one of the tents. Ava was watching her with open curiosity.

Jack walked several steps before realizing Megan had stopped. When he looked back, he found the two staring at each other.

The sight made him laugh.

“Hello, Ava. Did we wake you?”

Ava stuck out her tongue.

“No, Uncle Jack. Ava woke up when she heard the noise.”

“Then be good and go back to sleep, all right? Uncle Jack needs to sleep too.”

“Okay. Good night, Uncle Jack.” Ava then looked at Megan. “Good night, pretty lady.”

Before Megan could reply, Ava disappeared back inside the tent.

Jack called Megan over and led her upstairs. The moment they reached the second floor, he sent her to take a shower before she could start asking questions again.