Chapter 3 Preparing for the Apocalypse

After Aston left, the director's office fell silent once again.

Revan swiveled his chair toward the window, gazing at the magnificent skyline stretching across the city.

The world looked so peaceful. Yet no one could have imagined that in just thirty days, all of that prosperity would be reduced to rubble.

His phone vibrated. A news notification appeared on the screen.

Aurora Energy Group to Announce Massive Renewable Energy Project Worth Billions.

The corner of Revan's lips slowly lifted. "Just like before."

In his previous life, that announcement had sent Aurora Energy's stock price soaring. Investors rushed to buy in. Including him.

Unfortunately, it had all been an illusion. A week later, an internal audit was leaked to the public.

The entire project had been fabricated.

The company was drowning in debt so massive it could never be repaid.

Its stock price crashed to rock bottom.

Countless tycoons lost billions of dollars.

Then, one month later, the apocalypse began, and no one cared about the company anymore.

But until that happened, Aurora Energy still looked like a gold mine.

Revan pressed the number one button on his office phone, connecting directly to his secretary's desk. "Call the Finance Director and the Head of Investment Division to my office."

[Yes, Sir.]

Fifteen minutes later, two middle-aged men entered the office.

"Good afternoon, Director Sterling."

Without hesitation, Revan tossed a file onto the table. "I'm interested in acquiring Aurora Energy."

The two men exchanged puzzled glances.

"Sir... isn't their valuation incredibly high right now?"

"Exactly." Revan leaned back in his chair. "I want to secure it before our competitors make a move."

The Head of Investments nodded. "I'll contact them immediately.

"No." Revan slowly shook his head. "Do it publicly."

Both men froze. "Publicly, sir?"

"That's right. Spread the word that Sterling Group is aggressively pursuing Aurora Energy."

Silence filled the room.

Normally, acquisitions were handled in complete secrecy.

The fewer people who knew, the better. Yet their young director wanted the news broadcast for everyone to hear.

Although confused, they both nodded.

"Understood, Sir."

"We'll prepare the official offer immediately."

Revan nodded. "You two can go."

The moment the door closed, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Come on... I've already cast the bait."

On the other side of the city.

A luxurious mansion sat in near silence. Only a few servants moved quietly through the halls.

A man in a tailored suit stopped before a middle-aged woman. "Mrs. Vivian. Sterling Group has just contacted Aurora Energy."

Vivian, Revan Sterling's aunt, paused with her teacup halfway to her lips. "Are you certain?"

"One hundred percent." The man nodded. "Mr. Revan is openly pursuing Aurora."

The corners of Vivian's lips curled upward. "That boy may be hopeless when it comes to women, but his business instincts have never been wrong."

Moments later, Billy and Teressa walked into the family room.

"Mom, is there good news?" Billy asked.

Vivian handed him the report she had just received.

"Take a look."

Billy scanned it quickly. His eyes immediately lit up. "Aurora Energy?"

Teressa stepped closer. "The company that's been skyrocketing lately?"

Vivian smiled knowingly. "You both know what Revan is like, don't you?"

Billy nodded with a grin. "If he's willing to invest that much money, the company must be incredibly profitable."

"Not just profitable." Vivian's smile turned sly. "Exceptionally profitable."

Teressa immediately wrapped her arms around Vivian's. "Then we need to get it before he does."

Vivian nodded slowly.

"Exactly. Let Revan do all the hard work finding opportunities. We'll simply reap the rewards."

The three of them laughed with satisfaction. Not one of them realized they were walking straight into a trap that Revan had carefully prepared.

Back at Sterling Group.

Aston entered the director's office after receiving an update. "Sir. The news about Aurora Energy's acquisition has already started spreading."

Revan closed his laptop. "Good."

Aston hesitated. "May I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"I've reviewed Aurora Energy's financial statements. The company has an enormous amount of debt. If we're really planning to acquire it... the risk is simply too high."

Revan rose from his chair and walked toward the window. His eyes remained fixed on the bustling city below. "That's exactly why."

Aston looked even more confused. "What do you mean, Sir?"

A faint smile appeared on Revan's face. "A mouse will never walk into a trap unless it sees a piece of cheese inside."

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Revan remained standing by the window, staring at the bright blue sky.

It was hard to believe. A sky this peaceful would turn blood red in less than a month.

He turned around. "Aston."

"Yes, sir."

"I want you to find a piece of land."

"Land?"

"A large one. The larger, the better."

Aston immediately pulled out his tablet. "How large are we talking?"

"At least one hundred twenty-four acres."

Aston's fingers froze. "One hundred twenty-four... acres?"

"That's the minimum."

Aston nodded slowly. "Where?"

"On the outskirts of the city," Revan answered firmly. "The farther from the city center, the better."

Aston grew even more puzzled. After working for Revan for years, he had never once heard his boss express any interest in buying such a massive tract of undeveloped land. "Sir... may I ask why?"

Revan looked at him. "What is it?"

"What do you need that much land for?"

Silence settled over the room again.

Instead of answering, Revan asked a question of his own. "Aston."

"Yes, Sir."

"If one day I told you something that sounded impossible... would you believe me?"

Aston fell silent for several seconds.

He had no idea where this conversation was leading. In the end, he nodded firmly. "I would."

"Why?"

"Because in the five years I've worked for you..." Aston smiled faintly. "Not once have your decisions led Sterling Group in the wrong direction."

Warmth spread through Revan's chest. In his previous life, this man had been his most loyal subordinate.

Yet he had also been the first person Revan drove away because of Teressa's lies.

This time, he would not repeat the same mistake.

Revan took a slow, deep breath. "That land will become a fortress."

Aston frowned. "A fortress?"

"Yes. Because in twenty-nine days..." Revan lifted his eyes toward the blue sky beyond the window. "The apocalypse will begin."

Aston froze. Silence swallowed the room once more. For a moment, he thought he had misheard. "T-The apocalypse...?"

Revan simply smiled faintly. "You said you'd believe me."

"But..."

"We don't have much time. Starting now, we have to prepare everything carefully." Revan walked toward Aston. Looking him straight in the eye. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be buying food. Medicine. Water. Generators. Seeds. Diesel fuel. And everything else we'll need to survive."

Aston frowned. "Sir... how much?"

Revan answered without the slightest hesitation. "As much as possible. Because when that day comes... money won't be enough to buy a single piece of moldy bread."