Chapter 3 Hoarding Supplies

As Theresa examined her surroundings, her attention shifted to the remnants of barbed wire fencing stretching along the tunnel's exterior. Though much of it had crumbled into ruin, a plan formed in her mind. If she could restore the fencing and connect it to a power source, the security of her bunker would be elevated to an entirely new level! This was a challenge worth tackling! Just then, a familiar voice resonated in her consciousness. "Ultimate Leader System activated! Reinforce your base. Rewards will be granted based on the extent of fortification! Countdown—15 days!" She froze briefly, her mind racing as the words sank in. Just as she began to focus on the task ahead, another alert from the system interrupted her thoughts. 'Ding! One base war dog detected. Reward! Combat abilities and physical attributes of the war dog increased by 100 times!' She stood in awe as Summer's body underwent a dramatic transformation before her eyes. His frame expanded, muscles rippling with newfound strength. His claws and teeth elongated into deadly weapons, gleaming with a sharpness that could slice through steel. The frailty of old age melted away, replaced by the commanding presence of a fierce predator radiating raw power. Woof! Woof! Summer barked, his voice carrying an intensity that sent a shiver through the air. Theresa's jaw dropped, her astonishment spilling out in an involuntary gasp. … Thanks to her late mother's compact car still in working condition, Theresa had a reliable means of transport, ensuring she could dive headfirst into fortifying her base. She wasted no time heading to a barbed wire manufacturer in the construction supplies market and ordered a long razor wire and a big coiled barbed fencing. These materials were perfect for overlaying the existing, deteriorated fencing around her bunker. Minimal labor was required to install them, yet the results would be an impressive boost to security. The total price was fourteen thousand. Theresa didn't flinch as she paid the money. To her, every coin spent was a step closer to survival. The order was substantial, prompting the shop owner to dispatch a heavy-duty truck to accompany her for the delivery. She guided the vehicle to a desolate patch of land on the outskirts, far from prying eyes. "I'll arrange for someone to pick it up later," she said with practiced nonchalance. "Understood," the driver responded, not pressing for details. Determined to keep her base's location a secret, she waited until the goods were unloaded onto the empty lot. The cover of darkness provided the perfect opportunity. She instructed Summer to stand guard, then swiftly began transferring the materials into her domain, one item at a time. Her storage space had expanded to an impressive 28,900 cubic feet, and with only a fraction occupied by her furniture, there was more than enough capacity to accommodate the barbed wire. The process was efficient, and soon the lot was cleared without leaving a trace. Satisfied, she got back into her car with Summer and drove toward her hideout. As the car hummed along the quiet road, her mind churned with plans. A single warehouse wouldn't suffice for her growing needs—securing additional storage space was now a priority. After thirty minutes, she made her way back to the bunker, her determination unwavering. Once back, she immediately focused on the task at hand—repairing a long stretch of rusted, sagging barbed wire. Step by meticulous step, she reinforced the fence, wrapping it securely with the new materials she had brought. Summer proved to be an invaluable helper, darting back and forth, delivering tools and supplies with his sharp instincts and unwavering loyalty. Through the quiet hours of the night, their teamwork never faltered. By the time the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, the two of them had completed the arduous task. Every inch of the two-kilometer stretch of barbed wire fencing was strengthened, restored to a formidable barrier. Eager to discover the fruits of her labor, Theresa paused, anticipation crackling in the air. As she secured the final segment, a resonant voice filled her mind. "Reinforcement of barbed wire detected. Reward! Defensive capabilities enhanced by a factor of one hundred!" As the reward activated, Theresa watched in awe as the wire mesh she had painstakingly reinforced underwent a dramatic transformation before her eyes. The once modest strands thickened visibly, intertwining into an intricate, nearly impenetrable weave. The razor blades she had installed now gleamed with a sinister, icy brilliance, each edge sharper and more menacing than before. Even the tiny steel spikes had elongated, their menacing points ready to deter any threat! The most striking change was the gate. The flimsy, makeshift wire-mesh door she had struggled to secure had vanished, replaced by a massive steel lift gate that loomed with an air of indestructibility! Curious and eager to test the transformation, she pressed her hands against the mesh and gave it a powerful shove. Not even the faintest tremor responded to her effort—it was as immovable as a mountain! Earlier, she had been painfully aware of the fence's limitations. While it could slow down intruders or a small group of zombies, it was no match for a determined vehicle or a relentless horde. Now, however, the story was entirely different. This was no longer just a fence—it was an unyielding bulwark. Even an onslaught of thousands of zombies would be no match for her fortified defenses! Theresa was brimming with satisfaction, her thoughts racing with plans to gather more materials and further strengthen her defenses. The thrill of progress made her eager to dive back into action. Yet, before she could act, an undeniable reminder of her physical needs interrupted her. A loud rumble from her stomach broke the silence. Woof! Woof! Summer, her faithful companion, began pacing in circles, his behavior an unmistakable plea for food. "You're starving too, aren't you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Woof! Summer responded with a low, pitiful whine, its expressive eyes locked on her. They had only managed to nibble on a few scraps the day before, and after an entire day of grueling work, their energy reserves were completely depleted. With all the focus on reinforcing the base, they hadn't even started stockpiling essential provisions! A sudden thought lit up her mind—her domain still held some provisions. Recalling the buns she had salvaged from the house yesterday, she focused her will. In an instant, a bag of piping-hot buns materialized in her grasp. "They're still warm?" she exclaimed, incredulous. Driven by curiosity, she retrieved the refrigerator from her domain. As she opened it, her eyes widened in disbelief. Despite being disconnected from any power source, the interior was as cold as a winter's night! "No power, yet everything remains exactly as it was!" It dawned on her—the system's domain was more than just a storage solution—it was a sealed, timeless sanctuary. Items placed inside were preserved in their exact state, immune to decay or temperature changes! Her heart raced with exhilaration. This discovery meant she could amass an unlimited stockpile of supplies without a single worry about spoilage! The possibilities felt boundless. When it came time to hoard food, she could do so boldly, knowing everything would remain as fresh as the day it was stored! … "The rent is three hundred a month, with a deposit for the first month upfront!" In a quiet, abandoned farmhouse on the outskirts, Theresa stood alongside Summer, listening to the terms from a middle-aged man, likely in his late forties or early fifties. The suburban roads were lined with countless empty farmhouses, remnants of a bygone era when families lived off the land, but now left empty as most people had relocated to the city. Those in prime locations often bore signs advertising rental opportunities. Theresa had scouted this particular farmhouse for its size and accessibility. Situated conveniently along the main road near her bunker, it was the perfect spot to serve as a makeshift transit station. Her plan was simple—stockpile supplies here and discreetly transfer them to her system space, ensuring smooth operations while avoiding unnecessary attention. Yesterday's roadside unloading had been far too conspicuous, and she was determined not to repeat that mistake. "Four hundred, no deposit. Just for one month to use as a warehouse!" She pressed the landlord for a better deal. "That's not going to work." She huffed. "Then I'll look elsewhere." The landlord quickly relented, "Fine, fine, four hundred it is. But you better not mess up the place, and make sure you leave when the time's up!" She handed over the four hundred and took the keys. "Got it!" She had no intention of staying until the lease expired—she wouldn't even need to wait that long. Besides, if she had paid a deposit, it would have been a lost cause to get it back. Paying the extra hundred was a much smaller loss compared to the two hundred she could have lost. Negotiating for the bunker had been a challenge, but she wasn't about to let that happen here! After securing the warehouse, she wasted no time in gathering supplies. Her first priority was food. She made her way to ten different stores, purchasing four hundred fifty-pound bags of rice from each. Her strategy was straightforward—start by stockpiling a hundred tons of rice! While a hundred tons may sound like a large amount, it was actually quite manageable—most large-scale grain wholesalers can easily supply it. In fact, all of it would only occupy a space of about 16 feet in length, width, and height! My storage space could easily handle it! The transportation would be no issue either! The total cost for all the rice was over 400,000, but that would be enough to sustain her for multiple lifetimes! On top of that, she also stocked up on a thousand boxes of instant noodles in a variety of flavors. She made sure to get a sample of nearly every flavor available on the market! With the onset of the apocalypse, instant noodles had become a rare luxury! Not only were they easy to prepare, but they also tasted great and provided a solid balance of oil and salt, making them an essential survival food. In the harsh conditions of the apocalypse, they were the perfect choice! The price for instant noodles varied, ranging from just over fifty to more than one hundred per box. A typical box of 24 packs of braised beef noodles went for around 54, while the more premium tonkatsu flavor could go for up to 130 for thirty packs. On average, she spent about seventy per box, meaning her total expenditure for a thousand boxes came to roughly seventy thousand. Naturally, she couldn't leave out the sausages! She also bought two hundred boxes of her favorite spicy and crispy corn sausage, together with a hundred boxes of pickles. These two items set her back just under thirty thousand. After securing the essential food supplies, her focus turned to self-heating meals and pre-prepared meal kits. These offered unmatched convenience—just heat them up, and they were ready to enjoy. She visited a wide range of stores, picking up one box of every dish available. She bought braised pork, tofu, barbecue, ribs, mushroom chicken, minced eggplant, spicy chicken, curry chicken, and many others. The average price for each meal kit was around seven to eight per pack. Theresa ended up purchasing over twenty thousand packs from multiple stores, with a total expenditure of about 150,000. This stockpile would easily provide her with one meal a day for the foreseeable future, ensuring she had enough to last for years to come! Once she had secured a lifetime's worth of food, a sense of security began to settle in. With her pantry well-stocked, she could now shift her focus to other preparations. However, by the end of the day, she had already spent nearly 700,000 without even realizing it! She had started with over 300,000 in savings, half of which had come from years of rental income. After selling her house for two million, she was left with 1.7 million! And I hadn't even begun to purchase other necessities yet. It was astonishing how quickly money could vanish, and once it started flowing, it was hard to stop. Theresa's expression hardened as she extended her hand, and in an instant, a property deed materialized before her. With a steady hand, she quickly found the contact details for a local private lending firm online and dialed the number. "Hello, I'd like to use my property as collateral for a loan," she stated coolly. "Of course, come to my office tomorrow at ten in the morning to discuss the details!" She ended the call, her mind already made up. The property would be mortgaged once again. A faint, almost sinister smile played on her lips. This vendetta was personal, and she would make sure it was paid back with interest—double the price! Let the grand revenge unfold!