One might think she was stupid to do such a big favor for people who had never believed her. But although the majority of the world had treated her as a heinous villainess near the end of her life, there were still people she was genuinely grateful to.
Without them, an orphan like her would never have survived eight years in the apocalypse.
That was why she cleared the dungeon. To repay the help she had received in the past.
If she had any regret before dying, it was that she hadn't been able to spend the money she had been saving for retirement.
With all her savings, she could have bought a seaside villa, enjoyed the ocean view all day long, and lived out the rest of her life feasting on good food and fine wine!
Now… all of it seemed impossible.
Invisible tears slid down her cheeks.
My money!
A machine-like voice suddenly entered her ears. It was the same cold, emotionless voice that had accompanied the apocalypse.
[That offer was true! Your contribution in clearing the final dungeon was invaluable. It is a pity that you could not enjoy the final rewards, which is why the system devised a viable solution.]
Before her death, this very voice had given her an enticing offer. It promised her a second chance at life and a leisurely future as a landlady.
But now, it seemed like a scam!
It had thrown her into another apocalyptic world!
[As long as you help the system collect water beast cores, the system will assist you in upgrading the wooden raft into a Floating City, fulfilling your dream of becoming a landlady.]
Isla Lane frowned. "Are you saying this world has monsters like the nightmares from my previous life and that I have to become a hunter again? If that's the case, I might as well jump into the sea and drown."
Trying to make her work again? Dream on!
She'd had enough of fighting. And in this flooded world, where was she supposed to get food? Without food, she would starve to death sooner or later!
[No. You do not need to hunt water beasts or extract their cores personally. You can obtain water beast cores through rent and sales.]
"Rent and sales?" Isla Lane was completely confused until the scenery before her suddenly changed.
The floating garbage and debris vanished, leaving behind nothing but the endless sea and the wooden raft beneath her feet.
Then, right before her eyes, the raft expanded, growing larger and larger until it reached the size of an island, transforming into a massive floating platform.
Buildings began to rise one after another.
Luxurious villas.
Apartment complexes.
Thirty-story hotels.
Shopping malls, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, cell towers.
Food and clothing factories, entertainment facilities, orchards, thousand-acre farmlands, livestock areas, granaries.
Train stations. Docks. And countless others…
The image of being a "landlady" she had imagined was merely owning a small apartment building.
She had never expected to own an entire city.
[You are now bound to the Floating City System. All of this can be yours with just a click. You'll simply sit back and count the money rolling in. Isn't it beautiful?]
Isla Lane nodded silently.
It was beautiful...so beautiful that her eyes began to sting.
Was her dream finally about to come true?
However, her joy was short-lived.
After calming down, practical questions quickly surfaced—starting with security.
When she transmigrated into this new body, her abilities hadn't followed her. She was an ordinary person now.
How was she supposed to protect such massive properties? And what about utilities like electricity and water?
[Do not worry about personal or city security. All structures within the city are indestructible. As long as you remain inside the city, you are immune to all forms of attacks.]
[All future buildings and facilities are fully automated. Unlimited electricity and water will be provided. You only need to pay 20 F-Class water beast cores per month for utilities.]
"F-Class?"