Chapter 34: Time for a New House

Amidst the jubilant cheers of his employees, Chen Mu felt an exhilarating rush. Clutching his hand, he experienced for the first time the true essence of power. Indeed, the sensation of wielding authority and being surrounded by admirers was intoxicating, lifting him to a state of bliss.

With a mere thought, Chen Mu could control the fate of his employees. When he was pleased, their lives improved; when angered, they suffered. In this eerie apocalypse, power was especially alluring. Holding it not only ensured his own survival but also allowed him to dictate the destinies of others.

In his previous life, during five harrowing years of the strange apocalypse, Chen Mu had no control over his own fate, let alone anyone else's. At times, a single formidable anomaly was enough to snatch his life away. Reborn, Chen Mu vowed that this time, he would seize power—rule supreme in this bizarre world.

Soon, Chen Mu adjourned the meeting, sending the employees back to their tasks. One by one, the anomalous workers returned to their stations, resuming their labor.

Though it was already midnight, the employees remained full of vigor. Such efficiency would surely evoke envy from any boss in other anomalous realms. As for Chen Mu, he prepared to rest after a long day’s toil.

At the stroke of twelve, exhausted, he sought refuge in the midnight canteen’s dormitory, willing to make do with a night’s sleep away from the comfort of his own home or a hotel. Lying on the bed, he pondered whether it was time to purchase a better residence.

He no longer wished to live in the dilapidated old community of his past. As his status in this strange apocalypse rose, he deserved a grand villa with a swimming pool. But where in the city could such a villa be found?

After some thought, he recalled one place on the city’s outskirts—a villa community known as the Mountain and Water Courtyard. It had once been the city’s most prestigious enclave, home to its wealthiest magnates.

Before the apocalypse, during his school days, Chen Mu often heard tales of the Mountain and Water Courtyard’s luxury. Back then, one of his dreams was to someday own a villa there.

Clearly, for the younger Chen Mu, this was but a distant dream, one that seemed destined never to come true. After the apocalypse struck, the Mountain and Water Courtyard had fallen into disrepair, overtaken by anomalies, becoming an anomalous zone itself.

While others feared these anomalies, Chen Mu felt the opposite. It was the anomalies who should fear him, for armed with billions of ghost coins, he was unafraid of ordinary anomalies.

He mused over how much he liked the environment there. If he could purchase that anomalous zone as his property, it would give him a place to truly settle. Yet for now, his priority remained to conquer the Dark Night High School instance and claim it as his own.

After resting, he planned to visit the school during the day to familiarize himself with the situation. If he recalled correctly, the Dark Night High School instance would begin the following evening.

When that night arrived, every faculty member and student would receive a crimson note compelling their participation in the Dark Night High School mission. That moment would be the perfect opportunity for Chen Mu to acquire the school.