Chapter Two

Six hours later, Carter and his men arrived with the money.

Two black suitcases were placed on the coffee table. Brad unzipped them, and neatly stacked green US dollars were exposed, exuding the smell of ink.

"Two million, not a penny less." Carter's face was grim. "Where's the contract?"

I produced the property transfer agreement.

Carter quickly glanced at it and signed it.

"Raine, I hope you can make good use of this money."

"None of your business." I picked up my backpack, got up, and left.

Jessica walked me to the door: "Rayne, actually, Dad's doing this for your own good..."

"roll."

The moment the door closed, I heard Brad laugh excitedly: "Two million for a twenty-million house! That loser is so stupid!"

Jessica's voice came through: "Honey, we're rich! I want to buy a limited edition LV..."

I stood outside the door, a cold smile playing on my lips.

"Dafu, they'll regret this."

"Yes, Master," Dafu wagged its tail, "they'll slowly freeze to death in that ice coffin."

Then came the preparations for the apocalypse.

I searched abandoned buildings on the outskirts of the city and located an underground air-raid shelter from the Cold War era.

It is 50 meters deep, with 2-meter-thick concrete walls and an independent ventilation system.

I drove my father's pickup truck with Dafu to check it out. The air-raid shelter was huge, the main body of which was the size of a football field, with more than a dozen small rooms around it.

"After the renovation, it can accommodate at least twenty people, plus a dog," Dafu said.

I smiled and was quite satisfied with the underground air-raid shelter.

An hour later, I received the keys and the lease agreement. The rent was $100,000 for five years, and now this is my home.

I made a purchase list: generator set, oil storage tank, water purification system, automatic rifle, ammunition, military rations, bottled water, medical supplies, winter clothing, as well as tomahawk steak and red wine.

I dialed the number of Locke, a black market dealer whom my father had known before his death.

At 10 p.m. that night, the abandoned warehouse at the port.

"Raine!" Locke opened his arms and hugged me.

After we finished exchanging pleasantries, I handed him the list: "Can you get it?"

Locke glanced at it and whistled, "You want to go to war?"

"Is it possible to get it?"

"Yes. One million, in full."

"Deal made. Deliver to this address within three days."

Three days later, Locke's goods arrived on time.

A dozen or so trucks loaded with supplies were parked outside the air-raid shelter. I hired temporary workers to unload the goods and then let them leave.

For the next two weeks, I renovated the air-raid shelter on my own.

The generator set is installed at the deepest point, the oil storage tank is buried underground, the water purification system is connected to the underground water vein, and the ventilation equipment ensures air circulation.

I was so tired I could barely straighten my back, but looking at the fortress gradually taking shape, I felt much more at ease.

The phone rang; it was Jessica.

"Rayne?" Jessica's voice was sweet and gentle. "Long time no see! How have you been?"

"good."

"Really?" she asked sarcastically . "I heard you haven't found a job yet ? Good heavens, what are you going to do..."

I didn't say anything.

"Actually, I called you to tell you some great news!" Jessica exclaimed excitedly. "You know what? Your house is worth twenty million now! The government just announced development plans; a super shopping district is going to be built around it!"

"oh."

"You just say 'oh'?" Jessica's voice was shrill. "Rayne, you lost eighteen million! That's enough for you to work for several lifetimes!"

"Um."

"You didn't cry yourself unconscious, did you?" Jessica gloated. "Rayne, I know you're really regretting it, but what can you do? Who told you to be so impulsive?"

"Have you finished talking nonsense?" I said impatiently.

Jessica's voice was shrill: "Rayne! What kind of attitude is that? I'm just concerned about you!"

"unnecessary."

"You!" Jessica exclaimed in fury, "Fine! You just wait! Brad was right, you're a worthless piece of trash who doesn't know what's good for him!"

"What the hell are you pretending for? A poor wretch is a poor wretch, deserving to be trampled on for the rest of your life!"

I hung up the phone.

"Master, are you really not angry?" Dafu asked.

"What's the point of getting angry?" I wiped my sweat. "They'll freeze to death in that house in ten days. Why should I be angry?"

Evening of the twenty-eighth day.

I went to the black market again, intending to purchase the last batch of supplies.

"Master," Dafu suddenly stopped, sniffing the air, "I smell gunpowder, a very strong smell."

"Gunfire?"

"Yes, and there's also the smell of medicine." Dafu turned to the corner, "Over there, there's a little girl, she smells strongly of medicine."

A middle-aged man with a square face, short hair, and sharp eyes sat in the corner.

He was physically imposing, but his eyes were full of exhaustion.

A little girl, about seven or eight years old, sat next to him. She was pale and wearing a mask.

"Master, that man isn't a bad person," Dafu said earnestly. "I can smell it; the killing intent emanating from him isn't directed at innocent people. He's a soldier, and a good person."

I walked over and sat down opposite the man.

"Who are you?" The man looked at me warily, his right hand on his waist.

"Someone who needs help." I cut to the chase. "Are you a veteran?"

The man was silent for a few seconds: "How did you know?"

"You smell of gunpowder on you," I said, borrowing Dafu's words.

The man nodded. "You have a very keen sense of smell."

" My name is Craig, a former Navy SEAL sergeant." Craig cut to the chase . "What do you want?"

"I'll hire you," I said bluntly.

"I'm not taking mercenary jobs anymore," Craig shook his head. "My daughter is sick, and I need to be with her."

What illness does she have?

The little girl looked up and said weakly, "Daddy, I'm alright..."

"Leukemia." Craig's voice was hoarse. "It requires imported, highly effective drugs, which are very expensive. I've saved up for a year, and it's still not enough..."

How much money do you need?

"At least three hundred thousand dollars," Craig said with a wry smile. "I only have fifty thousand right now."

I took the check out of my backpack, signed it, and pushed it in front of him.

"Three hundred thousand US dollars, all for your medicine. I'll also hire you for ten thousand US dollars a month."

Craig picked up the check with trembling hands, looked at the numbers, and tried his best to remain calm .

What do you want?

" I only need your fighting strength ."

I looked at him, and after a moment of silence, I said , "In thirty days, the world will plummet to a frigid hell of minus eighty degrees Celsius . "

" I need someone as capable and upright as you to protect my refuge . Your daughter can also live in the fortress and won't have to go hungry or cold ."

Craig stared at me, as if trying to determine if I was crazy.

"are you serious?"

"I'm very serious. In three days , the sun will move away from the earth , and the temperature will plummet. Ninety percent of the people will die."

Craig remained silent for a long time.

"I need to see the shelter."

"Okay." I stood up. "Come with me."

An hour later, I took Craig and his daughter to the air-raid shelter.

The heavy blast-proof door opened, and Craig saw the mountain of supplies and weapons, his eyes flashing with shock.

"Enough for twenty people to live on for ten years," I said. "Craig, I'm not kidding."

Craig walked into the armory, looked at the rows of automatic rifles and ammunition boxes, and took a deep breath.

How many people do you have?

"I'm all alone now."

"One person can't hold them off." Craig turned to me. "You need at least five who can fight."

Do you have comrades-in-arms?

"There are a few. They're all veterans, and they're not doing well now."

"Contact them. Ten thousand US dollars per person, including food and lodging, for a month."

Craig's eyes lit up.

"I'll give it a try."

He took out his phone and made a call.

I led his daughter to the medical room.

"This will be your room from now on," I said. "There's heating, medicine, and lots of snacks."

The little girl's eyes lit up as she looked at the medical equipment and toys.

"Uncle, thank you..."

"You're welcome."

Craig walked over, a warm expression appearing in his eyes for the first time.

"Raine, my comrades have promised. They'll be there in a few days."

"Very good." I walked to the monitoring room and turned on the TV.

In the news, a weather expert with a grave expression said, "Recent solar activity has been abnormal, and unidentified dust has appeared in the atmosphere. The public is advised to stock up on supplies..."

Craig stared at the screen, his expression grave.

"If what you're saying is true..."

"Then everyone outside will die," I said, turning off the TV. "Including...the people I hate."

I took out my phone and saw Jessica's last message:

"Raine, are you having a really tough time right now? Want to come work for us? I can get Brad to find you a security guard job~ But you'll have to call me 'boss lady,' hahaha~"

I didn't reply.

I blocked her immediately and turned off my phone.

"We'll meet at the bunker in two days, for your daughter's safety."

I said to Craig.

He nodded and took the little girl to buy medicine.

Two days later, Dafu and I successfully picked up Craig. He had bought a whole carload of medicine and looked extremely tired.

"Gathering all these things in two days almost killed me."

Dafu and I helped him move his things back to the bunker.

Soon, the time came for the extreme cold to arrive.

"Master, there are ten minutes left." Dafu lay down at my feet.

"Craig, close the door."

Craig activated the hydraulic system, and the explosion-proof steel door, half a meter thick, slowly closed.

"Click."

The door lock is engaged.

We are completely isolated from the outside world.

On the monitor screen, the time jumped to 23:59.

One minute left in the countdown.

I stared at the screen, waiting for that world-changing moment.

"Thirty days have finally come."

The time on the screen changed to 00:00.

Day 30.

The extreme cold has arrived.