Novels-GY-4

One month before the end, her family chose violence. Hurt their girl? You won’t live to regret it...⚡🔥💀 ---Chapter 1 Reborn !!! Sloane Walker shot upright in bed, her eyes snapping open. The room around her was pitch black and completely silent. Using the pale moonlight, she carefully looked around, and when she recognized the familiar yet strange room, her pupils widened. Is this my house? Sloane grabbed her phone and froze when she saw the time on the screen. July 4, 2123, 11:14 p.m. I went back to one month before the apocalypse? I was just fighting off a group of looters, and then there was a massive earthquake...She turned her head toward the window and noticed a few middle-aged men sitting under a streetlight yards away, wearing T-shirts and shorts, playing cards. Every summer, they did this—coming out around 9:00 p.m. and playing until midnight before heading home. Sloane had seen this scene many times before but never had it shocked her like this. A memory suddenly flashed through her mind, and she quickly raised her phone and switched on the camera, aiming it at the men. She recognized them immediately. Before the apocalypse, during a late night of binge-watching, she had witnessed them mutate and tear into each other. At the time, she thought they had gotten into a fight while playing cards. When she saw them lying motionless on the ground, she called an ambulance and didn't think much more about it after they were taken away. She never expected that moment to be the opening act of the apocalypse. She zoomed in on the video and saw one man holding a card suddenly leap at the closest person beside him. After a scream, the group began clawing and wrestling with each other. The footage lasted for over two minutes, and in the end, all of them lay motionless on the ground. Just as Sloane was about to stop recording, her breath caught in her throat. One of the bodies, which should have been dead—or at least not able to mutate for several more days—slowly crawled up from the ground. His movements were stiff as he staggered toward her building, but after a few yards, he collapsed again. Ring! Apocalypse Awakening System activated! Sloane had just lowered her phone when a strange voice sounded beside her ear. Before she could react, a line of text appeared out of thin air in front of her. "Do you accept the beginner awakening mission?" What is this? I never encountered this in my last life. After a brief pause, Sloane immediately accepted, and in the next second, she was transported to a completely unfamiliar place. There stood a small wooden cabin, a water well, and a vegetable patch roughly ten square feet in size. Is this the legendary storage dimension? In the apocalypse, anything strange could happen. In her previous life, Sloane had also awakened an ability, but it wasn't a storage dimension—it was invisibility—so she accepted this situation quickly. Excited, she immediately opened the beginner mission panel. "Prepare survival supplies for the apocalypse (0/5,000 dollars)" Is it telling me to start stocking up? Sloane felt thrilled and quickly left the storage dimension to check her room for anything suitable. Her eyes landed on the computer on the desk. If she remembered correctly, her brother Edwin Walker bought it for her just last week, and it had cost exactly 5,000 dollars. With a thought, Sloane brought the computer into the storage dimension. The red text on the mission panel turned green. "Prepare survival supplies for the apocalypse (28,500/5,000 dollars) Completed. Reward: 50 square feet of emergency preparation space." Sloane stared at the number in shock. 28,500? Edwin clearly told me he just grabbed it on the way home from work and only spent 5,000 dollars. How could this be? Understanding hit her all at once, and her eyes slowly turned red. After taking a deep breath, she continued with the remaining beginner missions and started moving more items into the storage dimension. An ergonomic office chair, 8,600 dollars. A couch, 37,000 dollars. A TV, 23,000 dollars. A trash can, 66 dollars. Socks, 1 dollar. One dollar? Sloane frowned at the socks she had just brought in, and when she realized they belonged to Edwin, she immediately tossed them back out without hesitation. Little by little, Sloane figured out the system's pattern. Early on, it was basically 1,000 dollars' worth of items for every ten square feet of storage space. She didn't know if the price would go up later, but as long as she kept throwing things in, her storage dimension would keep expanding. She also discovered that as long as the item wasn't a living creature, it could stay in perfect condition forever inside the storage dimension. The ice cream she had brought in an hour ago and forgotten to eat was still rock hard where she left it. This is the perfect place to survive and hide during the apocalypse... If only... The light in Sloane's eyes slowly dimmed as she thought of her parents next door, Felix Walker and Natasha Morris, and her brother Edwin. Her fists clenched tightly. If only they could come in too. Even though she had returned to the past, she was now fully capable of protecting herself and them, but she couldn't guarantee what unexpected dangers might appear later. No matter what happened this time, she would never let them leave her side. After several hours of nonstop work, Sloane had almost emptied her entire apartment. The small wooden cabin inside the storage dimension had also upgraded into a dirt house and then into a brick house. Just as Sloane was so exhausted that she wanted to crawl back into bed for some sleep, the system's alert sounded again in her ear. "Congratulations on completing all beginner missions. Reward: one family member slot. Please bind a family member within 24 hours!" Sloane froze in place. Can other people enter too? She immediately left the storage dimension and headed next door to find them. She lived in a top-floor duplex with roughly 3,200 square feet of living space, along with a 1,100-square-foot rooftop garden out front. The building was designed with one unit per elevator. The top floor of the neighboring unit was where Felix, Natasha, and Edwin lived. Between the two rooftop gardens was a low wall about five feet tall that couldn't support any weight, so Sloane decided to tear it down and replace it with a small iron door that could be opened or closed. That way, she could go next door to eat every day while still keeping her own private living space. "Sloane, are you awake? I made your favorite beef sliders and oatmeal. They're still warm. Eat first before you sleep again, okay? Ah!" Natasha, who had come up the stairs to call Sloane for breakfast, turned pale when she saw the empty living room. Did someone break in? She rushed downstairs, and when she saw Sloane pushing the door open, tears immediately fell. "Are you okay? Let me take a look!" Natasha spun around Sloane twice and only relaxed after confirming she wasn't hurt. Hearing Natasha's scream next door, Felix and Edwin also rushed over. They were just as shocked when they saw the emptied living room. "Dad, Mom, Edwin." Sloane's voice trembled. She couldn't even remember how many years it had been since she last saw them. In her previous life, they had all died protecting her during the apocalypse. She had been left alone and survived for another ten years, until that world-ending earthquake sent her back to this moment. She threw herself into Natasha's arms and hugged her tightly, crying with joy. Natasha thought Sloane had been frightened by the burglary and quickly tried to comfort her. Nearby, Edwin and Felix stood awkwardly, both at a loss. One wanted to hug his daughter, and the other wanted to pat his sister's head, but pride kept them from moving. Chapter 2 Family Member Slot Sloane had survived alone in the apocalypse for ten years, so she had long forgotten what it felt like to cry. Back then, she lost the protection of her parents and brother. Her home was taken, her food was stolen, and she had to keep running just to stay alive, all while avoiding men with dangerous intentions. In the end, when she had nowhere left to run, she was forced to kill someone. Once there was a first time, there was a second. From trembling hands to complete numbness, she killed more and more people, and fewer people dared to mess with her. By then, her name alone inspired fear—a walking grim reaper. Sloane lifted her head to look at Natasha, wiped away her tears, and forced a gentle smile as she spoke softly. "Mom, don't worry. No one broke in. I'm fine." "If no one broke in, then what happened here? Sloane, don't be scared. Come stay at our place tonight," Natasha said. After speaking, she turned around and smacked Felix twice on the arm. "This is all your fault! Look at the terrible door you bought for Sloane! How could a thief get in so easily?" "It's all my fault!" Felix said, nodding again and again with a frown. He had given up buying a house before because he worried about safety, but he never thought that even a top-floor unit could get broken into. He decided he would hire someone later to install an electric security system on the door to stop anyone from prying it open again. "There really wasn't a thief," Sloane explained. "I moved the stuff myself." She stopped Edwin from calling the police, then looked at them seriously. "Dad, Mom, Edwin—do you trust me?" Felix, Natasha, and Edwin didn't understand why she suddenly asked that, but after exchanging looks, they all nodded without hesitation. "Then if I say the apocalypse is about to arrive, would you still believe me?" Edwin frowned. "Did you have a nightmare?" "No." Sloane took out her phone and pulled up the video from last night. "Watch this." Felix, Natasha, and Edwin leaned in. After watching, their reactions were all different. Felix said, "Those guys were fighting pretty hard. No wonder I heard police cars and an ambulance this morning." Natasha added, "They play cards there every day. People get short-tempered as they get older, so arguments are normal." Edwin still didn't believe it. "This doesn't prove anything." "Then what if I say I have a storage dimension?" Sloane and Edwin locked eyes. They were five years apart, and Sloane had basically been raised by Edwin since she was little. Natasha used to be a surgeon and was always busy at the hospital, often coming home late at night. Felix ran businesses. He started by selling fruit, then opened restaurants, and later moved into education centers. He ran many kinds of businesses. As the money increased, so did his workload. After their living conditions improved, Natasha quit her job at the hospital and stayed home to take care of the two kids, and things slowly got better. Before that, Sloane had always been with Edwin. He washed her clothes, fed her meals, played games with her, and even skipped school with her sometimes. Because of that, Edwin and Sloane had the smallest age gap in their relationship. "Mom, I need to tell you first," Sloane said. "I'm about to take you to a place. You'll suddenly arrive there, and Dad and Edwin will suddenly disappear, but don't be scared." Natasha reached out and touched Sloane's forehead. "Do you have a fever?" "I don't." Sloane held her hand, her expression serious and calm. "Are you ready?" Natasha looked at her, hesitated, then slowly nodded. In the next second, both of them vanished from where they stood. !!! Edwin sucked in a sharp breath, while Felix's face changed color as he stumbled back two steps. "Edwin, where are your mom and Sloane?" Inside the space, Natasha shivered in fear when the scene around her suddenly changed into a strange place. Ding! "Binding family member information!" Sloane listened to the system's voice and looked at the panel that appeared in front of her. It clearly displayed all of Natasha's information, but Natasha herself couldn't see anything at all. Name: Natasha Morris. Gender: Female. Age: 47. Height: 5'4". Blood type: B. Occupation: Former surgeon. Relationship: Mother and daughter. Loyalty: Will never betray. After quickly scanning all the information, Sloane pressed the bind button without hesitation, and the system sent another message. "Members can only enter or exit together with the host. The host may unbind any member in the storage dimension at will. Once a member leaves the system, all memories related to the storage dimension will be completely erased." This was basically a cheat-level ability. Sloane chuckled softly and closed the panel. "Mom, let's go out. If we stay too long, they'll definitely worry." After looking around the small house, Natasha quickly noticed that many items from their home were missing. She nodded stiffly, then grabbed Sloane's hand and left the storage dimension with her. "Do you believe me now?" After helping Natasha sit down on the bed, Sloane turned back to Edwin and Felix. Their expressions looked grim. After a short silence, Edwin asked in a low voice, "How long until the apocalypse?" "One month, but things could change. It might come earlier," Sloane said. "Edwin, do you remember those zombie movies you showed me before?" "I do. So, is the apocalypse like that?" "No," Sloane replied. "It's worse than that." The room fell silent, and no one spoke again. A few minutes later, Edwin called his company to ask for time off. He had just finished a major project and had been busy for over a year, so his unused vacation time had piled up to nearly three months. It was a slow transition period between projects, and since he had been the main person in charge, the company quickly approved his leave and told him to rest well before returning to work. After hanging up, Edwin looked at Sloane. "So, what do we need to prepare in advance?" Felix and Natasha also sat there, watching Sloane seriously and waiting for her answer. Seeing their reactions made Sloane feel relieved. They had always trusted and spoiled her without conditions. "In the first three years before things stabilize, the weather will be extreme," Sloane said. "The four seasons will still exist, but summer temperatures can reach 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter can drop to minus 80 or even minus 90 degrees. There will also be power and water outages, and zombies everywhere. So first, we need to stock up on food, clothes, and medicine." Edwin nodded thoughtfully. "But in those first three years, our biggest enemy won't be zombies, right?" "That's right," Sloane said, nodding. "It's people." When food runs short, human nature shows its true face. She told them how, in her last life, neighbors had climbed up the fire stairs to the rooftop, jumped across to their terrace, broke into their home, stole their food, and then drove them out. As Sloane spoke, Felix, Natasha, and Edwin's expressions slowly turned cold. "Edwin, let's go. We're heading to the building supply store right now!" Felix said, jumping to his feet in anger. He had worked his way up from the bottom as a street vendor. Even though he had softened a lot after having a daughter, he would never allow anyone to bully his family. This time, whoever comes, I'll deal with them one by one. If they're not afraid to die, then let them try. Chapter 3 Shopping Frenzy "Dad, I'll handle the rooftop," Edwin said. "You and Mom go to the market. You're better at picking fresh meat, vegetables, and fruit. Sloane and I can't really tell what's good." "We should split up," he added. "That way we'll be faster." "Alright, it's settled!" Felix said. "Honey, let's go. We'll change clothes and head out!" Felix pulled Natasha to her feet. Even after they walked away, Sloane could still hear him cursing under his breath. "How dare they bully my daughter. I won't let them get away with it!" After their figures disappeared, Edwin turned back to Sloane. The two of them locked eyes, and he asked the question he had been holding back. "How long did the apocalypse last?" "I don't know," Sloane replied. "But from what I saw, it didn't end even after 20 years." At least, it still wasn't over when she died, and that was already year 15. Edwin asked again, "Then how many years did you survive alone?" Sloane hadn't expected that question. Edwin was quick-minded. Thinking back to her reaction when she saw them, and adding in that mysterious storage dimension, he had already guessed part of the truth. She must not have seen them for a very long time. Even though she tried to act calmer around them, Edwin could still see it. There was a sharpness and toughness in her eyes that only came from facing life and death. Even when the family was poor and crowded into a small house, Sloane had never been mistreated. Felix and Natasha never expected her to achieve great success. As long as she grew up to be a good person, happy and healthy, that was enough. Edwin thought the same way. They could earn money themselves. She didn't need to suffer. As long as she didn't go down the wrong path, they would make sure she never lacked food or clothes. But in the end, they had left Sloane alone. Edwin sighed, stepped forward, and gently patted her head. "This time, I'll stay with you until the very end." "Okay," Sloane said. "Let's eat first," Edwin added. "After we're full, we'll go buy supplies." "Okay." Sloane truly hadn't eaten sliders this good in a very long time. Memories of hunger from her past life came rushing back, and she ate over a dozen in one go. Edwin only stopped her because he was afraid she would hurt her stomach. After eating, they went downstairs and split up again. Edwin headed to the building supply store to work on the rooftop, while Sloane went to buy other needed supplies. Sloane drove to the largest foreign-owned high-end members-only warehouse store in the city, ready to start her "zero-dollar shopping." She didn't care about moral rules. The apocalypse was coming, and everyone's bottom line was simple—stay alive. She had thought about going overseas to do this, but she was worried the apocalypse might arrive early. The men who died playing cards downstairs were clearly infected. Since this had already happened, it meant the apocalypse could officially begin at any time. She didn't dare leave her family for long. The moment she walked through the store's entrance, the system's voice rang out in her mind again. "Surveillance shielding activated. The host will no longer appear on camera." Sloane smiled slightly. This system was pretty user-friendly. She needed far too many supplies. If she bought them normally, it would take countless trips. She also didn't want to be noticed, followed, or dragged into trouble. With the system's help, silent zero-dollar shopping was the best choice. She pushed a cart to the second floor. Rows of metal shelves were neatly stacked with all kinds of products, and staff members on the main aisle were offering free samples to customers. The shelves were nearly three feet deep, packed full because there weren't many workers restocking. When Sloane reached her arm deep into the shelves, even the security cameras in the distance couldn't see what she was doing. Sloane headed straight for the food section. She grabbed 50 boxes of rice, each weighing 40 pounds, and casually sent them into the storage dimension. Next was flour. High-gluten, low-gluten, and all-purpose flour, each box weighing 30 pounds. She took 50 boxes straight from an entire shelf. Then came grains. Black beans, lentils, kidney beans, oatmeal, brown rice, wild rice, risotto, and peanuts. Each box weighed 4 pounds, and she took 20 boxes of each. Next came cooking oils. Vegetable oil, corn oil, olive oil, and canola oil, each in 1-gallon jugs. She took 30 jugs of each and stored them away. It was a weekday, and it was still early at 9:00 a.m., so there weren't many shoppers. No one noticed anything strange. Sloane moved to the seasoning aisle and took 20 bottles each of soy sauce and vinegar. For spices—cardamom, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, anise seed, bay leaves, fennel seeds, black pepper, cloves, and more—she grabbed 50 packs of each. For salt, both iodized and non-iodized, each case had ten 5-pound bags. Sloane took about 70 cases in total. There was still some time before the apocalypse arrived, so she couldn't completely empty the store. Other people still needed supplies too. Also, she didn't know the current storage limit of the space. She needed variety more than just filling it with one thing, or she wouldn't be able to store other items later. Just as she thought about this, the system's voice sounded in her head again. Ding! "Limited-time double reward mission triggered! For one hour, every 1,000 dollars' worth of stored supplies will expand the storage dimension by 20 square feet!" The corners of Sloane's mouth lifted slightly. She sped up and walked to the refrigerated section. In front of the staff, she began tossing high-quality meat into her cart. Pork ribs, 3 pounds per pack, 120 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,200 dollars. Pork shoulder, 3 pounds per pack, 80 dollars each. Ten packs, 800 dollars. Pork tenderloin, 3 pounds per pack, 75 dollars each. Ten packs, 750 dollars. Pork trotters, 3 pounds per pack, 90 dollars each. Ten packs, 900 dollars. Black pork ribs, 2 pounds per pack, 110 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,100 dollars. Pork cartilage, 3 pounds per pack, 110 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,100 dollars. Black pork spare ribs, 1.5 pounds per pack, 130 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,300 dollars. Sliced beef rolls, 2 pounds per pack, 130 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,300 dollars. Steaks, 1.5 pounds per pack, 180 dollars each. Ten packs, 1,800 dollars. Lamb skewers, 1 pound per bag, 100 dollars each. Ten bags, 1,000 dollars. A full cart of meat totaled 10,250 dollars. It wasn't that she didn't want more. The freezer was simply out of stock. The staff assumed she was a bulk buyer. Since there was no purchase limit posted, they couldn't stop her and could only restock helplessly. Sloane pushed her cart to a hidden corner of the shelves and used the system to block the cameras. When no one was around, she transferred everything into the storage dimension, then headed to the appliance section. Even though water and power would go out during the apocalypse, her storage dimension had both. Appliances would still wear out over time. This time, with early preparation, they would have generators and solar panels, making small appliances worth stocking up on. Robot vacuums cost 3,600 dollars each. Sloane took three, totaling 10,800 dollars. Air purifiers were 4,000 dollars each. These were important, so she took every one she could see—ten in total, 40,000 dollars. Dishwashers were next. She picked the most expensive ones at 26,000 dollars each and took two, totaling 52,000 dollars. Bladeless fan and cooler combos cost 3,800 dollars each. She put five into the cart, adding 19,000 dollars. She decided not to take air conditioners, since they already had them at home and could move them into the storage dimension later if needed. PS5 consoles cost 4,000 dollars each. She grabbed two for Edwin, totaling 8,000 dollars. Drones cost 5,000 dollars each. There were six on the shelf, and she took them all, totaling 30,000 dollars. After leaving the appliance section, Sloane's total shopping spree had reached 159,800 dollars. Chapter 4 Matching the Tycoon's Level of Effort Sloane quickened her pace and stopped short when she spotted the storage containers. Her eyes lit up. Her storage dimension preserved food in its freshest state. If she pre-made meals during her free time, packed them into these containers, and stacked them on the shelves, she could pull one out to eat later. Efficient and effortless. A 12-piece container set cost 200 dollars. She grabbed ten boxes, totaling 2,000 dollars. A seven-piece knife set was 700 dollars per set. 10 sets would be 7,000. Toilet paper came in bags of 32 rolls, 280 dollars per bag. She bought 10, spending around 2,800 dollars. Flushable wet wipes, eight packs per bag, 80 dollars each. A godsend, anyone who'd used them knew their worth. Sloane took 20 bags, 1,600 dollars. Heavy-duty trash bags came 360 to a box at 70 dollars each. She took a hundred boxes, totaling 7,000 dollars. The total came up to 20,400 dollars. ... In less than half an hour, Sloane had swept through 190,450-dollar worth of goods. According to the System's exchange rate, her storage dimension should have expanded by 4099.9 square feet already. Bubbling with excitement, Sloane found a secluded, empty corner and slipped into her dimension. The supplies she'd just scanned were piled neatly on the open ground, and the small house she'd stayed up all night upgrading had transformed into a two-story villa. Let's keep going! She was determined to match the effort level of those tycoons in the novels. The kind who woke up on a massive bed and needed to drive to their ensuite bathroom. She was going to have a super-sized, utterly extravagant mega-mansion! Exiting the dimension with a spring in her step, Sloane headed downstairs to the first floor, starting in the cosmetics and skincare section. Post-apocalyptic sunlight was brutally harsh. People would get scorched dark, looking like they lived permanently under an equatorial sky. While a tan was beautiful too, she didn't want that for herself. The wealthy socialites certainly didn't either. Sunscreen would become a hard currency later on, perfect for trading other supplies. She cleared the shelf. It was 200 bucks per tube, so 70 of them would be 1,400 dollars. Large-size hand cream, 180 per tube, 50 tubes, totaling 9,000 dollars. Toothbrushes came six per box at 120 dollars each. She took 20 boxes, totaling 2,400 dollars. As for toothpaste, it came with 160 dollars per set for six tubes. Ten sets, 1,600 dollars. Just as Sloane's gaze landed on the shelf of sanitary pads, she overheard two employees walking in the distance, whispering. "What's going on today? Why are so many shelves empty?" "No idea. I swear everything was stocked this morning. How did it all sell out so fast?" "Probably another group of resellers buying in bulk. So annoying." Hearing their conversation, Sloane smiled slightly and moved on to the first-floor fresh produce and fruit section. Since staff were actively restocking there, it wasn't the best moment for this "reseller" to make a move. The produce section was almost empty of customers. Here, fruits were sold by the box or case, stacked against the walls, with hundreds of cases of each variety. Sloane took 30 cases of each type, hardly a dent in the overall inventory. She simply needed to act like a regular shopper, discreetly placing her hand on items while "selecting" them. In the blink of an eye, the goods vanished into her dimension. Even someone with perfect vision would just think their eyes were playing tricks. Moreover, Sloane's observation skills, honed from years of solitary survival in the apocalypse, were top-notch. There was no chance of being caught. Grapes: 50 dollars per crate. 30 crates, 1,500 dollars. Watermelons: 60 dollars per crate. 30 crates equals 1,800 dollars. Blueberries: 70 dollars per box. 30 boxes, 2,100 dollars. Kiwis: 300 dollars per case. 30 cases, 3,000 dollars. Cherries: 200 dollars per case. 30 cases, 6,000 dollars. Apples: 100 dollars per case. 30 cases, 3,000 dollars. Bananas: 80 dollars per case. 30 cases, 2,400 dollars. By the time she left the fruit section, her hour was almost up. But just ahead was the beverage and liquor aisle. Another goldmine. The premium cognac was locked in cabinets, requiring special purchase qualifications. But other top-shelf whiskeys and vodkas? Money could buy those. Her dad liked to drink occasionally. Most importantly, alcohol could be used for sterilization and disinfection in a pinch, making it indispensable for the coming times. She swept through the aisle, collecting over a hundred grand's worth of alcohol before finally leaving, completely satisfied. When the one-hour limit ended, she'd stockpiled 403,250 dollars worth of supplies, converting it into another 8675 square feet of space. Sloane casually tossed a few more items into her conspicuously empty shopping cart, checked out, and headed for her next target. Blancova was a big city, with several other large, foreign-member wholesale clubs just like this one. And Sloane, the ultimate shopaholic in her past life, happened to hold membership cards for all of them. She had to visit every single one. Fairness was key. At the next store, Sloane focused on sanitary products and family planning supplies. She didn't need the latter herself, but they'd be incredibly valuable for bartering later. Plenty of rich people would be desperate for them. Then she continued stockpiling the most fundamental and crucial supplies: pasta, flour, cooking oil, salt, water, and seasonings. She left home at 8 a.m. and returned at 8 p.m., a solid 12 hours. Sloane had acquired three grand's worth of goods without spending a cent. While these high-end clubs had inflated prices, the quality was guaranteed. Since her dimension's expansion was calculated based on the listed price, she wasn't losing out at all. Tens of thousands of pounds of food now sat safely stored inside her dimension. Sloane felt a deep, comforting sense of security. When she entered the house, Edwin and their parents were already back. They'd been worried about her safety and were even planning to go look for her. Felix and Natasha had visited several markets, buying about 200 pounds of meat and 100 pounds of eggs, along with some durable, low-profile vegetables such as potatoes and cabbages. Edwin had already had contractors come to measure the rooftop and scheduled the installation of a glass greenhouse and security mesh for a week later. "You were out all day and this is all you brought back?" Edwin was lounging on the sofa, eyeing the four large plastic bags in Sloane's hands with open disdain. She rolled her eyes at him and plopped down on the other end of the couch. "What do you know? You don't flaunt wealth. Everything's in the dimension." "How much did you spend? I'll reimburse you." "No need. I got it all for free." To demonstrate, Sloane made her car keys vanish and reappear in her hand. The sight made Edwin and their parents visibly uncomfortable. "Sloane... Taking things without paying isn't right, is it?" After hesitating for a long moment, Natasha voiced her concern. Sloane had expected this. In normal circumstances, this would be theft. Not just unethical, it was criminal. By today's haul alone, she'd be looking at a life sentence. But the circumstances were anything but normal now. "Mom, I know what you're worried about. But even if I don't take these things, in a month at most, they'll be submerged by floodwaters. Ordinary people won't be able to go out and gather supplies. The apocalypse will come early. All I want is to prepare decades' worth of supplies for us before it arrives, without anyone noticing. Nothing else matters right now."