Surviving the Apocalypse with my Multiplier System novel Chapter 89

As if reading Reginald’s thoughts, the housing administrator pulled up a document listing items with their point values.

"Here is the current exchange rate for items. We accept supplies in any category, not just food, if that helps. Please take a look," she said, turning the monitor toward the family.

Ella quickly looked at the screen and noticed that a can of food was worth between 4 and 6 points, depending on the type of food. Other items, such as basic medical supplies, were between 8 and 12 points, depending on the specific item.

Reginald also glanced at the list and then asked the housing admin, "Is this a set list, or can the values change?"

The housing administrator nodded. "The values can change weekly, depending on the needs of the base. Items in demand will naturally be worth more than those we have a large supply of."

He nodded, thinking this method made sense. Still, it opened his eyes to how expensive renting a room was. He would need to pay for 100 canned food items a month if he wanted to live there, and right now, that was an astronomical price.

Ella noticed the pensive and worried expression on her father’s face and knew he was concerned about the cost. She looked through the rest of the list and noticed that only common items like food, medicine, and fuel were listed.

Looking at the housing admin, she asked curiously, "Do you have a separate list for rarer items, like luxury goods?"

The housing admin looked a little surprised but quickly pulled up a different page. "Yes, there is. These are the current exchange rates for luxury goods."

Ella looked through the new list and froze when she saw that a single pack of new cigarettes was worth 100 points! This meant that they could buy the housing unit for 60 packs of cigarettes, and she was sure that she took more than that from the gas station.

Most of the boxes she grabbed had ten packs of cigarettes per box, and she had a whole bag full!

She quickly pointed to the screen. "Dad! Look!" she said excitedly.

Reginald’s eyes widened when he saw the worth of cigarettes! He really had to thank his daughter this time! It was entirely her forward thinking that allowed them to afford a place to live with minimal losses.

Without stalling too long, Reginald turned to face the housing admin and said, "Okay. Before we agree to purchase, I would like to know if the rental cost of 400 points a month is set in stone."

If the 400 points a month was guaranteed, he would consider renting. But if not, he would agree to purchase the unit without hesitation.

"Unfortunately, no. Due to the volatile situation the world is in, nothing is really set in stone. I expect that rent will go up in the future as more and more people come flooding in," she said.