Chapter 1 The Mentally Handicapped System Searches for Useful Items

Zhou Fangdong was driving on the highway when he collided with a truck traveling in the wrong direction and died on the spot.

Fortunately, he was resurrected by a real estate management game system in a parallel world, and he also inherited two buildings from a deceased distant relative.

Unfortunately, this parallel world is a supernatural world overrun by ghosts and monsters, and the legacy he inherited consists of two haunted buildings filled with ghosts and monsters.

Moreover, due to insufficient system energy, his resurrection was incomplete. As soon as he left the two buildings, his body would revert to the state it was in when the car accident occurred and continue to die.

To fully come back to life, Zhou Fangdong needs to follow the game system's instructions and rent out all the rooms in the two haunted buildings.

Even more unfortunately, the system he was bound to seemed to be an artificial idiot, completely unable to communicate.

It's only been half an hour since it was revived, and Zhou Fangdong is already almost driven crazy by it.

"System, open the door, I want to go out."

[Beep—A malevolent spirit has been detected lurking outside the door. The host will face mortal danger if they venture out; the mortality rate is 90%. New player protection measures are forcibly activated: the door is locked, and leaving the room is prohibited.]

"Okay, then I won't go out."

[Beep—Please complete the beginner's guide quest ①: Leave your birthplace [the landlord's room], search the first floor, and find a room available for rent.]

"Then open the door for me!!"

[Beep—A malevolent spirit has been detected lurking outside the door. The host will face mortal danger if they venture out; the mortality rate is 90%. New player protection is forcibly activated, the door is locked, and leaving the room is prohibited.]

...

The same monotonous dialogue repeated dozens of times, and Zhou Fangdong was on the verge of collapse.

Actually, he didn't necessarily have to go out, but as long as he remained still for more than three minutes, this damn system would frantically beep in his mind, urging him to complete the beginner's guide task.

It won't open the door, and it won't open it even if I don't do the beginner quests.

If this game system had a physical form, Zhou Fangdong really wanted to punch it a few times and help it clear out that junk program full of bugs.

Zhou Fangdong gave up on continuing the pointless conversation with this idiotic system, opened the system's main interface, and began to carefully check if there was anything else that could be used.

The system exists in Zhou Fangdong's brain, and their conversations are conducted through thought.

The system appears as a blue floating screen, but most of the screen is currently gray, with only the new player guide tasks and the system shop being lit up.

In Zhou Fangdong's mind, everything in the mall required money, so he didn't click to check it out.

Since there's no report button and no way to complete the newbie tasks, the only thing we can use right now is the system shop.

Since he's bound to a real estate game system that manages haunted houses, there must be items in the system's shop that can counteract the ghosts in haunted houses, right?

I hope there will be free ghost-repelling items, such as a beginner's gift pack.

With a "nothing to lose" mentality, Zhou Fangdong opened the online store.

The shop is currently at level 1, and most items are not yet unlocked.

Although he didn't find the newbie gift pack, Zhou Fangdong found two items among the few unlocked items that could solve his current predicament: [Low-level Exorcism Talisman] and [Low-level Purification Spell].

[Basic Exorcism Talisman] Price: 30 Ghost Coins

It can repel ghosts of C rank and below, and the repelled ghosts will not attack the talisman user again for 24 hours.

[Low-level Purification Talisman] Price: 300 Ghost Coins

The talisman purifies an area of ​​50 square meters and is effective for 30 days. During the effective period, it guarantees that no ghosts or monsters will appear in the area. (Note: This talisman is ineffective against ghosts of level B or higher.)

"System, what level is the vengeful spirit outside the door?"

[Grade C]

For a C-level vengeful ghost, a low-level exorcism talisman is enough to deal with it.

Zhou Fangdong tried to make a purchase, but the system informed him that his account had zero Ghost Coins and he could not make the purchase.

"System, how do I obtain Ghost Coins?"

Completing system tasks, unlocking tenant profiles, and clearing out ghosts will all reward you with Ghost Coins. Special tenants and long-term tenants will also drop Ghost Coins periodically.

The fastest way for the host to obtain Ghost Coins is to complete the New Player Guide Quest ①, which will reward 30 Ghost Coins upon completion.

Okay, a new vicious cycle has begun.

To leave the house, you must first deal with the ghost at the door. To do so, you need to buy a ghost-repelling talisman for 30 ghost coins. You can obtain these 30 ghost coins by completing the beginner quests. To complete the beginner quests, you must leave the house.

Damn it, is this idiotic system messing with me?

Whether it was because it heard his inner complaints or not, the system notification sound started beeping again:

[Beep—Please complete the beginner's guide quest ①: Leave your birthplace [the landlord's room], search the first floor, and find a room available for rent.]

Zhou Fangdong's blood pressure rose again.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Don't get angry, don't get angry. It's not worth getting angry at this stupid system.

Since this is a game system, his actions should follow the same logic as playing a game...

Zhou Fangdong turned and walked into the house.

If there's no newbie gift pack, then check your birthplace to see if you can find any useful items. He refuses to believe that the game system revived him just to trap him here.

Since his resurrection, Zhou Fangdong has yet to see what his room looks like.

When he was revived, he appeared in the entrance hall. After the system informed him of his current situation, it immediately asked him to go out and complete the newbie guide task... Then he was trapped in front of the door and had a long, repetitive conversation with the system for half an hour.

After bypassing the shoe cabinet that blocked the entrance hall, a familiar one-bedroom apartment appeared in front of Zhou Fangdong.

The room is about 40 square meters. To the left of the entrance is the bathroom, and to the right is the open kitchen. Further in is the bedroom. The bedroom is simply furnished with only a bed, a wardrobe, and a set of table and chairs.

This room is exactly the same as the room Zhou Fangdong rented for two years in his original world, even the bedding and furniture placement are all replicated one-to-one.

Because he was so familiar with the place, he immediately noticed what had been added to the room.

—In addition to the books he often reads, there is now an antique-style kerosene lamp on his bedroom desk.

The kerosene lamp looked like it had been idle for a long time; its metal casing was rusty, its glass cover was covered in dust, and the murky yellow-black lamp oil inside the glass cover was full of flocculent impurities.

Zhou Fangdong strode over, and just as he reached the desk, the system notification sounded again:

[Beep—Host detected entering birthplace [Landlord's Room], character level interface unlocked, Landlord's Domain System activated]

As the host's character level increases, the host can designate more rooms within the Haunted Building as landlord territories, and can expand or renovate the birthplace room within these landlord territories.

[The landlord's domain belongs exclusively to the landlord; humans and ghosts are prohibited from entering.]

Going into the room to check was the right thing to do; sure enough, new information appeared.

However, Zhou Fangdong wasn't in a hurry to look at the character level interface or the landlord's domain. His level was undoubtedly at the initial state, and even if he unlocked the character status bar and the landlord's domain, it wouldn't be of any use to him right now.

The most important thing now is to find a tool to deal with ghosts and monsters before leaving the house, otherwise the system will start beeping in his head again.

Zhou Fangdong picked up the kerosene lamp, and the moment his hand touched the handle, another prompt interface popped up.

[Obtain the landlord's exclusive item: The landlord's kerosene lamp (damaged)]

(This item is bound to the host and cannot be sold or purchased.)

Item effect: Holding a lit kerosene lamp allows you to walk through the haunted building at night. The kerosene lamp light can repel all approaching ghosts regardless of level.

(Note: The item is currently damaged, and the kerosene consumption rate is x4. The current kerosene can burn for 12 hours.)

(Please replenish kerosene promptly, and find or purchase repair materials to repair the item as soon as possible.)

After seeing the effects of the props, Zhou Fangdong was immediately invigorated.

Sure enough, there are items that can solve the current predicament! He said the system wouldn't be this unfair.

Although the game's tutorial is terrible, at least it has some conscience and doesn't push players to the brink.

To prevent a repeat of the same vicious cycle, Zhou Fangdong did not leave the room immediately after obtaining the kerosene lamp, but continued searching.

There was nothing else in the room that was visible... Zhou Fangdong's gaze swept over the tightly closed wardrobe.

He opened the wardrobe door, and it was empty. All his usual clothes and bedding had disappeared, except for a set of black clothes hanging inside.

Given how conspicuous this outfit is, it probably serves some special purpose.

After being resurrected by the system, Zhou Fangdong was still wearing the suit he had on when the car accident happened. Although his body had been restored, the suit was still stained with blood and brain matter.

He happened to have a change of clothes, so he didn't hesitate and put them on right away.

The clothes are exquisitely made and have a great design.

The top is a matte black work jacket with the word "auspicious" embroidered in red thread on the left sleeve. Underneath, she wears a red turtleneck sweater with a splatter print. The bottom is a pair of tapered work pants with two large pockets on each side.

While changing his pants, Zhou Fangdong found a pair of black and white sneakers in the lower part of the wardrobe. He was very well prepared; compared to the leather shoes he was wearing, the sneakers would allow him to run faster when being chased by ghosts.

After changing everything, Zhou Fangdong patted the empty front of his clothes somewhat awkwardly.

To be honest, he didn't really like these kinds of clothes. He was already quite thin, and wearing oversized clothes always made him feel like the wind was blowing in from all directions, leaving him feeling cold all over.

Zhou Fangdong opened the other cabinet door and looked at himself in the mirror attached to the door.

The young man in the mirror had hair that reached his collarbone, tied in a small ponytail with a red ribbon. Beneath his thick bangs were a pair of almond-shaped eyes with upturned corners. Because of his small facial features, fair skin, and soft facial lines, he looked somewhat androgynous.

It feels like this revived body is several years younger than the original body. Both the face and body are in their peak condition, and there is no longer any sense of being a tired, miserable office worker.

It was this hair that he didn't like.

To appear more composed after starting work, he always kept a buzz cut. Unexpectedly, after being revived, the system gave him long hair.

Zhou Fangdong brushed his bangs to the side so they wouldn't cover his eyes.

If only this game system had a character customization feature, he's already quite handsome; having long hair only makes him look easy to bully and lacks any masculinity.

A real man should shave his head. Once he can leave the haunted building, he'll find a barbershop and shave it all off, then dye it green.

After dyeing his hair, he'll wear skinny jeans, loafers, and a few gold chains around his neck. Then, when he walks down the street, he'll be the coolest guy there.

Now that he doesn't have to work, he can have more freedom in his new life, let himself go, try everything possible, and do all the things he never dared to do before.

Seemingly having heard Zhou Fangdong's thoughts, a weak electrical sound suddenly flashed through his mind, followed by the system's voice again:

[Note: Favorability is crucial for later development. Please refrain from modifying your own appearance and respect the system's aesthetics. Otherwise, the initial favorability of special ghosts and special tenants will be permanently reduced.]

Zhou Fangdong paused in his act of brushing his bangs: "Wait, why would my aesthetic sense lower my initial favorability rating? System, are you deliberately targeting me?"

A note from the author:

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